SNAPSHOT | Umno's 80th anniversary: Over 13k apply for membership; M'sians on Gaza flotilla released

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 11am, 2pm, and 6pm.

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11am

Umno anniversary

• Umno has recorded 13,954 new online membership applications from April 20 to 8am today, according to party secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

  Addressing party leaders and members gathered in Dewan Merdeka to mark Umno’s 80th anniversary, Asyraf said, from the figure, Umno Youth recorded the highest number of new members with 8,233 applications.

  The remaining applications comprise 3,221 ordinary members, 1,260 Puteri and 1,240 Wanita.

  Nationwide, he said Johor recorded the highest number of new members, followed by Pahang and Perak.

• Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan sets the tone for the party’s 80th anniversary today by also marking his own 70th birthday.

  In his opening speech, Mohamad celebrated Umno’s revival and took swipes at detractors who once left the party after it lost power and “prayed” for their demise.

  

  “Those who once wanted to recite for us the final prayers (talkin), they are the ones who now covered themselves with the burial shroud (kafan),” he said.

  For nearly 30 minutes, Mohamad reiterated the importance of unity in shaping Umno’s past glory and future paths towards facing upcoming state elections and the 16th general election.

  “Today I also speak in conjunction with my 70th birthday. I have got nothing to lose. I am not talking about my career anymore, but I want to give back to my party, I want to give back to my country,” he said.

• Johor Umno chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi recalled the party’s formation in his home state, 80 years ago, at the Istana Besar Johor Bahru on May 11, 1946, supported by the ruling monarchs.

  “Umno was not born out of a struggle for power, but out of an awareness that the nation’s future had to be defended.

  “Umno was born from the realisation that politics must be used to save the country.

  “So when we speak about Umno, we are speaking about a vehicle that once safeguarded the future of the nation and the country,” said the Johor menteri besar.

Global Sumud Flotilla

• All 10 Malaysian activists who were on the latest flotilla of aid ships sailing to Gaza but intercepted by Israel have boarded a flight to Turkiye from Greece, said one of its organisers.

  Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) director Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby reportedly said the 10 were among 165 activists who had been released at the Lerapetra Port, Crete, Greece, yesterday.

  According to Sinar Harian Online, Sani said the 10 had boarded a flight provided by the Turkish government and were expected to arrive in Istanbul at 11.45pm on Friday.

  

  Sani also told the media that the 10 Malaysians will be assessed by a team from the SNCC on whether they will continue the mission or return to Malaysia.

  The 10 are Ahmad Musa Nuwayri Kamaruzaman, Zainal Rashid Ahmad, Hanafi Salim, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, Osman Zolkifli, Dr Jihan Alya Mohd Nordin, Shamsir Isa, Redzal Amzah, and Muhsin Zaidi.

Nearly 40 hours on, no news of M'sians abducted on Global Sumud Flotilla vessels

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