SNAPSHOT | Guan Eng labels KJ 'fake progressive'; Issue is fund misuse, not foreign source - Kamil

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

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Selangor PN wants DAP rep to apologise to sultan; party saboteurs, be responsible - PKR VP

2pm

Politics

• DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng branded Khairy Jamaluddin as a “fake progressive” after the latter reportedly defended Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh’s controversial style of politics.

  Lim noted that if Perikatan Nasional is lambasted as “wrong” when indulging in extremist actions to reinforce Malay nationalist support, it is equally irresponsible and unacceptable for Umno Youth leaders to follow suit.

  Asserting that Khairy now appears to be a “very different” politician compared to when he was sacked from Umno three years ago, Lim said the former health minister had previously espoused a “non-racial line” and progressive policies, which were portrayed as fair and beneficial to Malaysians.

  “Those who placed some expectations and even hopes on Khairy can now see that both Khairy and Umno are leopards that cannot change their spots,” Lim added.

Foreign funding

• PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim reiterated that he has never opposed any party receiving foreign funding or grants, as long as such funding is used lawfully.

  In a Facebook post, he said that both former PKR Young Women’s chief Ainie Haziqah Shafiee and he were alumni of a political training programme run by the Institute for Policy Research, which itself is funded through grants from the Germany-based, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

  

  He clarified that his call for Mandiri to be investigated was not about foreign funds in general but the purported misuse of such funds, particularly in relation to claims that they were used in ways that could threaten national sovereignty.

READ MORE: Did Kamil forget his foreign-funded training with PKR, ex-party leader asks

• In a separate Facebook post, Kamil confirmed receiving Mandiri's letter of demand, and maintained that his initial remarks linking the group to foreign funding were never intended as political pressure or an attack against NGOs.

  Kamil said he had no objection to the matter being settled through legal proceedings and was prepared to follow the judicial process.

Law and order

• A group of individuals allegedly ignited flares in Bukit Bintang while filming a promotional stunt for a clothing store entering its sixth year of operation.

  Harian Metro reported that the store owner, together with several others, was detained after a video featuring flares being set off on a four-wheel drive vehicle in the business and entertainment district went viral on social media.

  

  The report quoted Dang Wangi district police chief Sazalee Adam saying that 14 men and one woman, aged between 17 and 30, were detained within 24 hours.

  He added that the arrests were made between 12.30pm and 10pm at various residences in Batu Caves, Kajang, Shah Alam, and Dengkil.

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