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

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Shahril: Voters prefer grounded leaders; Bersatu holding PN meeting tonight?

9am

Johor polls

  • DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke announced that 33-year-old lawyer Chu Poh Yee will contest for the Mengkibol state seat in the upcoming Johor election.

    He said incumbent assemblyperson Chew Chong Sin, who has served the constituency for two terms, is slated to contest for the Labis parliamentary seat in the next general election after incumbent MP Pang Hok Liong indicated that he would not seek re-election.

    Loke touted Chu’s track record in assisting local elected representatives with legal aid-related cases.

    “And this is also in line with the party’s aspiration to provide greater opportunities for women candidates,” Bernama reported him as saying.

    Loke also confirmed that the party’s selection committee has finalised DAP’s list of candidates for the 17 state seats it will contest in the state election.

READ MORE: Johor Umno Youth, veterans come to Onn's defence over 'no DAP' stance

Education

  • Putrajaya has approved the establishment of the National Tahfiz Council to streamline the direction, education model, recognition standards, and academic pathways for tahfiz students.

    Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the approval was given at last week’s cabinet meeting.

    Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

    “The prime minister asked me to be the chairperson (of the National Tahfiz Council). Insya-Allah, with everyone’s support, it will be a major step forward,” Bernama reported him as saying.

    Zahid expressed hope that the establishment of the council would position tahfiz education as a recognised educational pathway within the education system.

READ MORE: UEC grads, tahfiz students allowed into public unis for four programmes