SNAPSHOT | Gobind praises PM at DAP's 60th anniversary; cops record statements from hiker's rescuers

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DAP 60th anniversary

• DAP national chairperson Gobind Singh Deo praised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s performance in leading the nation, particularly in economic progress.

  During his speech at the screening of a documentary in conjunction with the party’s 60th anniversary, the digital minister said Malaysia was doing better economically compared with other countries in the region.

  

  At the event held in Confucian Private Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur, he attributed the ringgit’s strength to the country’s political stability, which was a strength of the Madani government in the face of various challenges.

  Gobind added that the party must continue to move forward for its own success and towards national progress.

  Stressing DAP’s beginnings as a grassroots opposition movement, he said party leaders must ensure that younger members do not forget the sacrifices of party veterans.

• At the same event, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang questioned whether citizens are becoming more Malaysian even as the country matures.

  

  In his speech, Lim asserted that the party’s goal is to influence citizens to be more Malaysian without erasing their ethnic identities. 

Rescued hiker 

• Police have recorded statements from several Orang Asli villagers who found and rescued hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, after she spent 14 days missing in Gunung Batu Putih, Tapah, Perak.

  Tapah district police chief Abdul Malik Hasim said those whose statements had been recorded included Nazri Bah Eng, 51, and two of his friends, who found the victim in a forested area near Kampung Lubuk Gaharu, Pos Musoh, yesterday.

  

  “Police are also waiting for Jaslinda’s condition to stabilise to enable us to record her statement and complete investigations into the case,” Malik said, according to Bernama.

  He said the statements were important to assist investigations and provide a complete picture of the victim’s condition and location when she was found.

  According to Malik, Jaslinda is still receiving treatment at Tapah Hospital.

• Malaysian Mountain Guides Association president Muzafar Mohamad has attributed Jaslinda’s endurance not only to her hiking skills but also to her mental strength and determination to overcome the ordeal.

  “This is not just about skill, but the will to stay alive and find a way out of the forest. Her survival instinct was incredibly strong,” said Muzafar, as quoted by Malay daily Sinar Harian.

  Based on the route she was believed to have taken, Muzafar said Jaslinda likely followed a river, which played a crucial role in sustaining her.

  

  “If we look at the path she took, the area is extremely difficult, with valleys and waterfalls. Even mountain guides faced challenges reaching the location.

  “Usually in situations like this, a lost person will try to stay close to a water source. If she had been far from the river, her chances of survival would have been much lower,” he explained.

Media

• A rapidly changing media landscape, marked by rising living costs, has driven young journalist couples raising a family to explore a “second career” through entrepreneurship without abandoning their primary profession.

  For Malay Mail photographer Sayuti Zainudin, 36, his days off are now filled with running a small coffee catering business alongside his wife, Siti Sofia Md Nasir, 39, who is also a journalist at Media Selangor.

  

  In an interview in conjunction with the annual Hari Wartawan Nasional, Bernama reported that the couple had chosen coffee through their brand, Kopi Tanjong, as their second source of income since 2022.

  “Every time we put on our aprons, we see ourselves as business owners, not media people. But in truth, both fields demand high levels of discipline and integrity,” he said.

  Recalling how the business began, Sayuti shared that their deep love for coffee and the cafe-hopping habit they picked up while working in Penang led them to start a home business with various coffee bean varieties.

• For Wan Anis Ilyani Wan Azhar, 38, an editor at The Rakyat Insight, many media professionals are now turning to small businesses to supplement their income.

  The mother of two says she started Sukabites as a home-based food business after being laid off in 2018.

  “After I was laid off and hadn’t received any new job offers yet, I started an online business from home. Then I began joining events, opened a kiosk last year, and this year added dessert table services.

  “During Ramadan and festive seasons, I focus on making festive cookies and hampers,” she told Bernama.

  

  Wan Anis Ilyani said balancing journalism and her baking business was challenging due to time constraints, but added that the communication skills she developed as a journalist had proven invaluable in dealing with customers.

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