SNAPSHOT | Ex-Federal Court judge first media council chair; Adam urges stronger press-govt ties

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

2pm

Press freedom

• The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has appointed former Federal Court judge Nallini Pathmanathan as its inaugural chairperson.

  In a statement today, the council said its board members unanimously agreed to the appointment during a May 26 meeting.

  MMC described the appointment as an important milestone in strengthening the council's role as an independent, credible, and public-interest-based self-regulatory body for the media industry.

  Nallini retired from the Federal Court in February after serving 18 years in the judiciary, authoring about 325 reported judgments, including landmark decisions involving constitutional and commercial law.

• Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim has called for stronger ties between the government and the press, highlighting the crucial role journalists play in giving the public a voice.

  

  According to Bernama, Adam said the government has always recognised the media’s role in delivering accurate and reliable information to the public, particularly in combating the spread of fake news and misinformation across social media.

  “We will continue to defend press freedom and ensure the media is empowered so that it can report news freely and independently.

  “In the current climate, the role of the media is increasingly vital to ensure the public receives factual, accurate information that is not driven purely by sentiment,” the PKR communications director said after the Hang Tuah Jaya Parliamentary Media Bowling Championship last night.

  The Hang Tuah Jaya MP also expressed hope that journalists could carry out their duties professionally and provide balanced coverage ahead of the upcoming elections.

State polls

• A total of 5,953 police officers and members of other agencies will be deployed throughout the Negeri Sembilan state election to ensure a smooth and orderly process.

  

  State police chief Alzafny Ahmad said the figure comprises 4,845 senior police officers and rank-and-file personnel, while the remainder will serve as support personnel, including members of the People’s Volunteer Corps and police volunteer reserve.

  “We are maintaining a high level of readiness through various comprehensive preparations that have been put in place from the outset, including security measures, traffic control, monitoring of campaign activities, law enforcement, and preparations for any eventuality throughout the election period,” he said, as reported by Bernama.

  Police will continue to respect the right of all parties to conduct campaign activities as provided for under the law, he added.

• MIPP will field candidates in the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan polls and will also prepare for the Malacca election.

  Its secretary-general Sathes Kumar Nilameham, in a statement today, said the Perikatan Nasional component party has identified four seats in Johor and three in Negeri Sembilan it intends to contest.

  “All prospective candidates are capable young Indian community leaders with the potential to represent the voice of a new generation.

  “MIPP's election machinery in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca has been fully mobilised and is actively carrying out various grassroots programmes to engage with the public,” he said following an MIPP central committee meeting last night.

Public apology

• Negeri Sembilan caretaker menteri besar Aminuddin Harun’s press secretary Ahmad Shahir Shah today apologised to the Undang Yang Empat over his use of a title associated with the undang institution during the launch of Pakatan Harapan's Negeri Sembilan election machinery on Saturday.

  Shahir said that as a Negeri Sembilan native who deeply respects the state's customs, culture and the undang institution, he took the use of the title “Datuk Undang” seriously because it involved the sensitivities of the Perpatih custom, which everyone should respect regardless of political affiliation.

  

  “I would like to begin by apologising to the Undang Yang Empat for my remarks made in jest with DAP secretary-general and Seremban MP Anthony Loke, in which I referred to a title used for him on social media, namely ‘Tok Undang’.

  “Following this lapse in judgment, I acknowledge my mistake and hope the matter will help clear up any misunderstanding that has arisen,” he said, according to Bernama.

Orang Asli rights

• Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) president Rajesh Nagarajan has slammed the Orang Asli Development Department’s (Jakoa) “disgraceful” denial against accusations that it had confiscated gazetted Orang Asli land.

  In a statement today, Rajesh emphasised that the “real issue” is how vast areas of Orang Asli customary territory remain ungazetted despite having been occupied for generations.

  He insisted that Jakoa bears responsibility for the alleged failure, which he said has caused such land to be exposed to encroachment by plantation companies and developers, “often with state backing.”

READ MORE: 'Gone in the blink of an eye': Orang Asli man recounts how he lost his home

World

• Oil prices fell sharply late Sunday after an agreement was announced to end the conflict between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, Anadolu Agency reported.

  

  Brent crude futures, which had traded above US$87 (RM352), fell below the US$84 mark, down about four percent as of 10.22pm following news of the planned agreement between Washington and Tehran, which is expected to be signed on Friday.

  Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced early Monday that the US and Iran had reached an agreement after intensive negotiations, with both sides declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations across all theatres, including in Lebanon.

  According to Sharif, the formal signing ceremony is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland.

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