Kini Roundup: Zakir resurrects unity gov't talk, S’wak tycoon campaigns in school
Here’s a recap of major headlines yesterday you may have missed.
Zakir Naik resurrects unity gov't talk
International Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has resurrected talks of an Umno-PAS unity government following his comments that the union between the two rival parties was good for Malaysia.
PAS leaders are split over the proposal; some are dead set against it, while others are open to discussing the matter with Umno president, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Umno leaders welcomed Zakir's proposal for a unity government between the two Malay-based parties, noting that the suggestion must have merit coming from the Indian-based preacher who has no vested interest in the matter.
S’wak tycoon campaigns in school
The BN direct candidate for Dudong, Tiong Thai King, raised eyebrows when he took over the distribution of federal government aid and gave packages of instant noodles to underprivileged parents at a school, asking them to ensure electoral victory for ruling coalition candidates in the upcoming state polls.
Tiong, the sibling of billionaire timber tycoon Tiong Hew King who founded the Rimbunan Hijau Group and owns four major national Chinese dailies, also told voters to look at his generous heart and not the cash in his pocket when judging his worthiness.
Another tycoon-related candidate Janet Lau, whose family runs timber and media conglomerate KTS Group and fielded by the BN to contest the Pelawan state seat in Sibu, argued there was nothing wrong for family members of tycoons or timber merchants to contest in the state election.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Worker's Party (SWP) president Larry Sng, son of Kapit-based business tycoon Sng Chee Hua, has quit as party chief and withdrawn from the electoral race for the state seat of Bukit Goram, because he felt he could not truly serve the constituents without being in BN.
Racism row sparks constitutional debate
National Civics Bureau (BTN) chief Ibrahim Saad's statement that racism in Malaysia peaks during the election season has sparked discussion on how the federal constitution and the way it is structured may contribute to the matter.
In a hard-hitting media statement, MCA's Ti Lian Ker blamed the constitution for accentuating the inherent racism in Malaysia due to its provisions for race and religion, made worse by institutions tainted with racial and religious sentiments.
Weighing in on the racism row, constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari sniped at MCA, saying that the party helped draft the federal constitution that Ti found to be so problematic.
Activist probed over Citizens' Declaration petition
Activist Azrul Mohd Khalib who started an online petition in support of the Citizens' Declaration asking for Najib to step down is being probed by police under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
Former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan said that up to eight other activists and journalists would be called up in connection with the case, including those from Malaysiakini and the now-defunct The Malaysian Insider .
More Kini bites
The parts Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chief Hasan Ariffin deleted from the committee's 1MDB report detailing Bank Negara's information that Good Star Ltd, where US$1.03 billion from 1MDB flowed to and was owned by an individual unaffiliated to the PetroSaudi group, were crucial to the investigation, contended Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua.
PKR has entered the ‘mascot war’ in the Sarawak state election by introducing its new mascot - a Borneo rhinoceros.
Wanita PKR election director Haniza Talha ticked off Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem for fielding only five women out of 82 candidates in the coming May 7 state election.
DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has offered to help Najib clear his name over the RM2.6 billion donation scandal, provided that the PM can prove that the money did not come from 1MDB.
Looking ahead
The appellate court in Putrajaya will decide on former Langkawi Wanita Umno member Anina Saadudin's appeal against the High Court's decision to strike out her suit against Umno over her dismissal from the party.
Rosmah Mansor is set to launch Permata International at Seri Perdana, the prime minister’s official residence.
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