SNAPSHOT | New J-Kom chief continues to draw flak; Fahmi tells PJ MP to explain resignation to PKR voters

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

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6pm 

New J-Kom chief 

• The Madani administration’s new Community Communications Department (J-Kom) director-general, Hisyamuddin Ghazali, continues to be roasted for his comments that government critics will be immediately arrested (kutip terus).

  Malaysians Against Governmental and Institutional Corruption founder Mahajoth Singh said J-Kom is not tasked with law enforcement.

  

  “A taxpayer-funded agency tasked with communicating government policy has no business declaring an ‘offensive’ against government critics or publicly calling for individuals to be ‘kutip terus’,” Mahajoth said in a statement.

  Earlier, Muda leader Rashifa Aljunied had criticised Hisyamuddin’s recent remarks regarding the agency’s perceived role as a “frontline fighter” in defending Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Madani government. 

PKR politics

• PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil today expressed regret following Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung’s resignation as a party central leadership council member.

  Speaking at the weekly post-cabinet meeting press conference in Putrajaya, the communications minister said Lee should explain his decision to PKR members who voted him in the last party election.

  

  “One of my close friends, Elizabeth Wong, frequently expresses opinions in central leadership council meetings that are very different from those of the president or other leaders.

  “But that is the platform she uses to ensure that, in her view, the party remains on the right track,” said Fahmi.

  “And that is what Lee should have done as well, but he has not attended the council meetings for a long time,” he added.

Politics 

• Perikatan Nasional is already at risk of losing in the Negeri Sembilan polls, says a Bersatu leader, as the party continues to rant about its fallout with coalition member PAS.

  Bersatu supreme council member Sri Sanjeevan Ramakrishnan said this is because ever since the Negeri Sembilan assembly was dissolved early this month, there have been no meetings to set PN’s direction in the polls or to appoint officials to oversee campaigning.

  

  Bersatu and PAS remain in the PN opposition bloc despite having ended political ties.

  No state chairperson, no coordinating committee and no explanation on the direction of the coalition. This is not just one or two weaknesses but the total failure of the top leadership,” said Sri Sanjeevan in a statement.

  “If this situation is not rectified immediately, PN does not need to wait for polling day to lose. Defeat is already happening, slowly, within the bloc.” 

‘Illegal settlements’

• Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said his government will take action against all illegal settlements in the state, regardless of the nationality of its occupants.

  “This issue is not about whether it involves Rohingya, Indonesians, Vietnamese, Nepalese, or any other group.

  “It is about administration and management, land approvals, land use, and local authority approvals,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

  

  However, he added that land forfeiture is not a simple matter due to the legal process that must be followed, including giving landowners sufficient time to rectify issues before stronger measures are taken.

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