SNAPSHOT | Tian Chua tells PKR to restore membership; axed controversial academic to take IIUM to court

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

Latest:

Harapan mulling new coalition structure, says Fahmi; Malacca polls: Amirudin meets Anwar

9am

Politics

• Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua wants the party to reinstate his membership rather than require him to submit a fresh application to rejoin.

  "I am not doing a new application. It's up to the party to (restore) my membership," The Star reported the former Batu MP saying.

  He said he had yet to contact anyone from the party regarding his status.

  Chua (above) was sacked from the party after deciding to contest the Batu parliamentary seat as an independent candidate during the 15th general election.

READ MORE: Rafizi says Anwar's 'return to PKR' call not for him, Nik Nazmi

IIUM controversy

• Former International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer Solehah Yaacob is challenging her termination and has accused IIUM of unprofessional conduct in its decision.

  Free Malaysia Today reported that the controversial academic is taking the university to the Industrial Court.

  “I was dismissed within 24 hours and not allowed to appeal. IIUM wanted to pay me the equivalent of six months, but I refused,” she reportedly said.

  

  Yesterday, Berita Harian reported a statement from IIUM announcing that Solehah’s service as an academic staff member at the university had ended, effective April 27.

  IIUM had previously established an inquiry panel to investigate her, after she faced ridicule for claiming that Romans had learned shipbuilding from the Malays.

READ MORE: IIUM regrets don's 'Romans learned shipbuilding from Malays' claim

Sports

• National hockey great Sarjit Singh died today at 63, following a battle with an undisclosed illness.

  Sarjit was regarded as one of Malaysia’s finest hockey players and went on to serve the national game in two capacities: first as a player and later as national coach.

  

  The New Straits Times reported that Sarjit had two spells as national coach, first from 2007 to 2008 and later from March 2024 until March 2026.

  The report said that in his most recent stint, he led the national side to fourth place at the World Cup Qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt, in March.

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