SNAPSHOT | New parties won't impact BN in polls, Zambry says; 2 die after grenade training

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

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6pm

State polls

• BN secretary-general Zambry Abd Kadir said the emergence of new political parties would not affect BN’s chances in the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan polls.

  According to Bernama, he said BN remained focused on its preparations and strategies, particularly in seats it plans to contest.

  Zambry did not believe parties such as Parti Wawasan Negara and Parti Bersama Malaysia would pose a threat.

  “Johor Umno and BN have made extensive preparations, and I believe the formation of a new party will have no impact on BN, based on the efforts and preparations that have already been set in motion,” Zambry (above) said.

• Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the coalition will not take the emergence of Wawasan Negara and Bersama lightly, Bernama reported.

  He said Harapan’s machinery would intensify efforts to engage with the people and address their problems more effectively.

READ MORE: Rafizi: Bersama aims for 50pct female candidates, 70pct under 50 years old

Parliament

• Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul has not received any notification regarding former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin’s reinstatement as the parliamentary opposition leader.

  He said the last letter he received from Perikatan Nasional was nearly two weeks ago, detailing the appointment of the coalition’s chairperson, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, as the opposition leader.

  

  Free Malaysia Today quoted Johari as saying that while changes can be made before the next Dewan Rakyat meeting begins or during its session, such changes will not affect his decision if there is no official notification.

  Parliament is scheduled to sit for its second meeting of the year between June 22 and July 16.

READ MORE: Hamzah reveals new 'Wawasan Negara' party, reappointed as opposition leader

Accident

• The army confirmed that two of its members were killed following an incident during a grenade-throwing training session at Hobart Camp in Gurun, Kedah, earlier today.

  In a statement, it said Norazmi Abu Bakar from the Sixth Battalion Royal Malay Regiment and Siti Khadijah Sungip from the First Squadron Royal Army Engineers Regiment sustained injuries due to an explosion during the training.

  They were later confirmed dead en route to the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani, with the bodies to be sent to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar for post-mortem.

  Expressing his condolences, army chief Azhan Othman said he has ordered an investigation to identify the cause behind the incident.

  “The army guarantees that all aspects of training safety will continue to be given attention and appropriate improvements will be implemented based on the investigation results,” he said.

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