SNAPSHOT | Muhyiddin won't stand in Gambir; MOH, MOHE told to resolve Egypt pharmacy grads issue

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

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Subang, PJ constituents can still apply for funds: Fahmi; EC to meet on Johor polls June 12

2pm

Johor election

• Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin will not contest the Gambir state seat he vacated since the previous 2022 state election, according to Johor Perikatan Nasional chief Dr Sahruddin Jamal.

  According to Berita Harian, Sahruddin said there have been no discussions for the Pagoh MP to return and contest the state seat held by BN’s Sahrihan Janji, who wrested the seat from Bersatu in a four-cornered contest.

  Muhyiddin last won the Gambir seat in the 2018 14th general election.

• MCA president Wee Ka Siong said the party will field its candidates in the 16th state election, with the number of seats still under discussion.

  According to Berita Harian, the Johor MCA chief also dismissed a purported list that named him as the BN candidate for the Skudai state seat, held by DAP’s incumbent Marina Ibrahim.

  “Why would MCA not contest? We will contest, but it is not my style to jump the gun (and announce) out of respect for parties in discussion,” the Ayer Hitam MP was quoted as saying.

  

  In 2022, MCA contested in 15 seats in Johor, and won four - Paloh, Bekok, Pekan Nanas and Yong Peng.

Politics

• Johor DAP vice-chairperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali has argued that Pakatan Harapan’s dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly and BN’s earlier move in Johor were driven by different circumstances.

  He claimed Negeri Sembilan's assembly dissolution follows alleged BN-led efforts that failed to topple the state government through a "backdoor" move, resulting in a minority government and political instability.

  "In such circumstances, dissolving the assembly and returning the mandate to the people became a necessary step to resolve the political impasse and establish a government with a clear and legitimate mandate through support in the assembly," he said.

  By contrast, Sheikh Umar said Johor's assembly was dissolved despite the government retaining its majority, alleging the move was motivated by BN's ambition to contest all 56 state seats and strengthen its political dominance.

  

  "So yes, there is a difference. The similarity is that both situations ultimately stemmed from BN's actions in their respective states," he added.

• Despite two upcoming state elections, Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul said the next parliamentary sitting will proceed as scheduled, beginning June 22.

  Bernama quoted him as saying this in response to rumours that the sitting will be cancelled to make way for the state elections.

Education

• The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has directed the Higher Education Ministry and the Health Ministry to resolve the recognition issues raised by Malaysian pharmacy doctorate students at Egypt’s Alexandria University.

  In a statement today, the PMO said it has directed the ministries to finalise a solution to the matter as soon as possible for the benefit of the students involved.

  

  It added that while the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) has no objection to the academic recognition of the programme, the Malaysian Pharmacy Board is required to provide its professional recognition for pharmacists’ registration.

READ MORE: Egypt pharmacy graduates in limbo: 'Do we have to bang tables to be heard?'

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