SNAPSHOT | Networks ready to provide stage for Onn-Maszlee dialogue; alleged child sex offender nabbed

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 11am, 2pm and 6pm.

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11am

Johor polls

• Astro Awani is prepared to collaborate with Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to provide a live broadcast platform for an interactive dialogue if caretaker Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi agrees to face Maszlee Malik, Pakatan Harapan's candidate for the Puteri Wangsa state seat.

  Astro Awani editor-in-chief Zaiful Ariffin was reported as saying yesterday that the collaboration aims to provide a platform to foster democracy and intellectual discourse, while promoting it as a new political culture in Malaysia.

  On Thursday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said RTM is prepared to provide a platform for a dialogue session involving Onn Hafiz (above, right) and Maszlee.

  He reportedly said the offer aimed to give both leaders an opportunity to openly explain their vision for the state to the public.

Crime

• Shah Alam police have arrested a suspected child sex offender at a restaurant in the area, at approximately 12.01am early today, Shah Alam district police chief Sarudin Samah told the media.

  In a statement yesterday, Sarudin said that on July 3, two 15-year-old boys who are students at a college in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, had lodged a police report against the suspect, who is also a staff member at the same college.

  

  The first victim alleged that he was molested in the college hostel toilet, while the other victim alleged that he was sodomised at the suspect's house in Section 18, Shah Alam.

  Police then launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is in his 30s.

  Sarudin said that checks revealed the suspect has a previous criminal record for a sexual offence against a child. The first case is being investigated under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, while the other investigation is being conducted under Section 377C of the Penal Code.

Politics

• DAP deputy chairperson Nga Kor Ming said that Malaysia is on the right track under the Madani government.

  In a Facebook statement, the Housing and Local Government minister said that Johor stands to benefit even further when both the federal and state governments align under the same coalition.

  “Close collaboration between both levels of government has enabled development plans, infrastructure projects and public initiatives to be implemented more efficiently for the benefit of the people,” he said in his speech at the Yong Peng DAP fundraising dinner last night.

  

  Nga said a stable and cooperative relationship between the federal and state governments would accelerate economic growth, attract greater investment, and create better employment opportunities for local communities.

  He noted that this includes the RM110 billion in investments secured by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) in Johor last year.

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