SNAPSHOT | Minister reminds all to unite in Wesak Day message; Zunar launches Madani book

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

Latest:

Cops seize Perlis MB's shotgun over cow shooting; Perlis ruler launches free-trade zone

2pm

Wesak Day 

• National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang called on all Malaysians to continue strengthening humanitarian values, fostering the spirit of unity and building a more ethical, civil and responsible digital society.

  Extending Wesak Day greetings to Buddhists in the country, he said this year’s national-level celebration theme, “Navigating the Digital Era, Cultivating Shared Wisdom”, carries a highly significant message for all Malaysians.

  

  “A single post can unite society, but a single slanderous statement can also damage national harmony,” he said in a Facebook post today.

  He said the government also views interfaith dialogue as key to strengthening national unity, and that the country’s harmony and stability are rooted in its ability to embrace diversity.

  Wesak Day, to be celebrated tomorrow, commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.

Book launch 

• Cartoonist Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar, has released his latest book, “Membangun Masyarakat Madani Versi Kartun”, which was launched by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in conjunction with the ongoing Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair.

  According to Zunar, the 114-page full-colour book took nearly a year to complete, involving extensive research, scriptwriting, and illustration work to ensure the message conveyed is accurate and effective.

  

  “Madani is not a political slogan; it is a framework of values and ethics.

  “That is why I took the initiative to produce this book by conducting factual research, writing the script and drawing it myself,” he said, as quoted by PKR’s online portal Suara Keadilan.

  He said the book covers a range of key topics, including efforts to combat corruption, strengthen governance and support national development initiatives.

Sports

• National sprinter Azeem Fahmi continued to make headlines after equalling his own national record with a time of 10.09 seconds in the quarter-finals of the NCAA Track & Field East Regional Championships in the United States early today.

  Bernama reported that Malaysia Athletics, in a statement today, said the 22-year-old is also the first Malaysian to qualify for the NCAA Grand Final in the men’s individual 100m event, which is scheduled to take place in Oregon next month.

  

  Representing Auburn University, Azeem clocked 10.13s in the opening round to secure his place in the quarter-finals.

  He then improved on that performance in the quarter-finals, posting a time of 10.09s to match the national record he set at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, in 2022.

• National men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi admitted that Malaysia’s top pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, struggled to match the pace and power of China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang before crashing out in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Singapore Open yesterday.

  Chia and Soh, seeded second, were forced to concede defeat 15-21, 15-21 to the fifth seeds in the Super 750 tournament, ending their hopes of defending the title they won last year.

  Herry said the world number two pair also made too many mistakes throughout the match at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, while their style of play was effectively read by their opponents.

  

  “In my view, Chia and Soh were already beaten in terms of energy and speed. This situation caused them to be under constant pressure,” he said, according to Bernama.

  The result extended the 2022 world champions' poor record against the world number five pair, having now lost 11 of their 14 meetings.

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