Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.
Key Highlights
The headless opposition
After DNAAs and NFAs, comes DPA
Rainbow eclipsed by death threats
The headless opposition
Perikatan Nasional remains leaderless following the resignation of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, as PAS - the coalition’s largest component - continues to sit on the fence.
Adding another twist to the saga, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man dismissed claims that party vice-president and Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, long touted as prime minister material, had been nominated for the top post.
“That is only a rumour,” said Tuan Ibrahim, stressing that PAS has yet to make a final decision.
He was responding to Bersatu supreme council member Rahim Thamby Chik, who claimed that PAS had put forward Samsuri.
Muhyiddin, who served 17 months as prime minister after Perikatan Nasional seized power in the 2020 political coup that toppled the Pakatan Harapan government, stepped down with effect from Jan 1.
For months, pressure had been mounting on the Bersatu president to go, with PAS seemingly backing his deputy - opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin - as a possible successor.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
After DNAAs and NFAs, comes DPA
Criticism has been mounting over corruption cases involving high-profile politicians who appear to walk free through mechanisms such as DNAA (discharge not amounting to an acquittal) or even NFA (no further action), most notably in the case of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Against this backdrop, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki floated the idea of introducing yet another acronym - DPA, or deferred prosecution agreement - a move that swiftly drew brickbats from the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center).
The C4 Center slammed Azam’s proposal to extend the mechanism to individuals, allowing high-value corruption cases to be resolved without a full trial, describing it as nothing short of ridiculous.
“This mechanism would effectively encourage leaders to commit massive amounts of corruption to qualify for a DPA: why misappropriate RM50 million and face criminal charges when one could take double that amount and settle the case out of court?
"In a worst-case scenario, they would simply be required to return the money that was already stolen. How is it logical to remove true accountability for the most serious offenders? What is the deterrent for grand corruption once this proposed DPA scheme is in place?" C4 Center asked.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Rainbow eclipsed by death threats
The “Glamping With Pride” programme, organised by local NGO Jejaka and which even drew the attention of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has been cancelled following mounting pressure, including death threats.
Jejaka stated that the venue owner called off the booking on safety grounds and that the organisation had received credible and explicit threats via social media.
“Before the event was sensationalised, only 14 participants were registered. Over the course of a single weekend of hysteria, around 50 people expressed interest in joining what was, in reality, a small, private, health-focused community activity.
“Because of intimidation and threats, 50 people are now denied a safe opportunity to learn about health, well-being, and community care in Malaysia’s natural environment. This is the real cost of stigma and moral panic,” it said.
Jejaka, which emphasised that the incident would not weaken its resolve, also reminded critics that LGBTQ+ community members exist everywhere and are not “outsiders.”
“We are not a threat. We are Malaysians. Our right to live safely, with dignity and without fear, is protected by the Federal Constitution and by the rule of law. That protection is not optional,” it added.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By Hanipa Maidin |
 | By M Vivekananthan |
In case you missed it
 | |
 | |
 |
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
