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

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

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Politics

• Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said voters now prefer grounded, less confrontational leaders like Perikatan Nasional chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar for leadership roles.

  According to Free Malaysia Today, Shahril (above) said the current political mood suggests voters are becoming averse to leaders who rely on fiery rhetoric and grand promises.

  “There was a time when inspiration, urgency, or even a ‘Let’s go for change’ mentality may have worked. But after years of disappointment, there seems to be a shift towards more understated candidates.

  “Samsuri would embody exactly what I am describing. He represents almost everything that is the opposite of the traits people may now be growing tired of,” Shahril said.

READ MORE: Samsuri to lead PN for the general election; Albert welcomes J-Kom DG’s debate challenge

• An AI-generated poster announcing a Bersatu-organised Perikatan Nasional gathering is circulating on social media.

  The poster, featuring an image of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, states that PN supreme council members will meet at 8pm tonight.

  

  The Star reported that a statement from Bersatu Youth urged supporters to arrive an hour earlier and to wear the coalition’s blue attire.

  The planned meeting comes in the wake of leadership changes in PN, which saw Bersatu leaders Azmin Ali and Radzi Jidin removed from key positions in the coalition.

• MCA Youth criticised the Madani administration for allegedly trying to take credit for Johor’s economic development.

  In a statement, it also accused Pakatan Harapan of failing to deliver meaningful economic progress in Negeri Sembilan.

  “Now, they are trying to push the narrative that the federal government also played a role in Johor’s economic development, which was primarily driven by caretaker Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s administration.

  “Therefore, voters should punish Harapan in the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan elections,” MCA Youth added.

READ MORE: Johor polls: Soi Lek credits ‘good salesperson’ Onn Hafiz for state’s growth

• Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan has criticised a former MCA-affiliated Johor councillor over a Facebook post featuring an AI-generated image of Chinese women in tudung and red T-shirts with the DAP logo.

  He said the post, written in Chinese and aimed at the Chinese community, sought to portray DAP as having “sold out” the community to gain Malay support.

  

  Syahredzan added that such posts could hurt Muslim sensitivities, stressing that the hijab should not be used as political ammunition, as it is part of Muslim identity and a religious obligation.

  The post has since been deleted. Malaysiakini has contacted MCA leadership for comment.

State government aid

• The Selangor government plans to expand its Selangor Advance programme to help companies involved in state infrastructure projects manage cash flow pressures from global supply chain disruptions.

  Bernama reported Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari saying the proposal, under phase two of the Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package, aims to support logistics and manufacturing firms facing higher costs.

  Since its launch during the Covid-19 pandemic, the RM100 million initiative has reportedly benefited 1,398 companies and is expected to assist another 500 businesses and contractors.

  

  Amirudin also said the state will introduce interest-free financing of up to RM10,000 for micro, small, and medium enterprises through a collaboration between Yayasan Hijrah Selangor and Platform Selangor.

  Support for the agricultural sector will also be enhanced, with 2,469 farmers and fisherfolk set to receive assistance in the form of feed, fertiliser, and fuel vouchers, as well as cash aid ranging from RM300 to RM600.

Local council

• Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has reminded local councils, especially in tourism hubs like Putrajaya, to be more proactive in maintaining the cleanliness and safety of public facilities without waiting for issues to go viral.

  She said this in response to social media complaints about damaged public facilities, including lifts and escalators in Putrajaya.

  

  “Putrajaya is a tourism hub. The leadership of Putrajaya Corporation has gone to the ground and carried out some repair works.

  “But in the future, all local authorities will have no excuse for neglecting issues related to cleanliness and safety.

  “I urge all parties to conduct more frequent site visits to monitor the situation,” Bernama reported her as saying.

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