Zuraida quits Bersatu
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Key Highlights
Zuraida quits Bersatu
Jail for ex-Sabah minister
MCA internal fight
Zuraida quits Bersatu
After months of speculation, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin finally quit Bersatu, parting ways with her once close ally Azmin Ali, with whom she had defected from PKR.
When the defectors left PKR, they had initially planned to set up their own party but later joined Bersatu due to the belief that there won't be enough time to prepare for the general election, leading to a difference of opinions.
Bersatu said it had already expected Zuraida's resignation while other party members accused her of being opportunistic.
Zuraida, who had for months been sidelined in Bersatu, is set to move to Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) where her lieutenant Hizwan Ahmad had been laying the groundwork for her eventual arrival to lead the party.
Zuraida did not immediately resign as a minister but said she will discuss the matter with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
It is unclear if Ismail Sabri will retain Zuraida after her move to PBM but Bersatu is expecting to fill the position with someone new from their own party.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | 'Party hopping erodes public's trust.’ |
 | 'He owes it to the people.’ |
 | The public is encouraged to endorse the manifesto. |
Jail for ex-Sabah minister
Former Sabah minister Peter Anthony was jailed for three years and fined RM50,000 for forging a letter in relation to a system maintenance contract.
However, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court allowed an application to stay the sentence pending an appeal.
Anthony quit Warisan last December to become a government-friendly assemblyperson amid the trial.
He is planning to form a new government-friendly party.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | He claims being slandered. |
 | The 30-year-old library features a fresh look. |
 | It includes a sky wheel. |
MCA internal fight
The internal dispute in MCA boiled over with Pontian MCA chief Tee Siew Kiong quitting the party.
Tee also challenged party president Wee Ka Siong, who was MCA's sole MP to win in the 2018 general election, to contest in a Chinese-majority seat.
Wee's Ayer Hitam seat is Malay-majority with a substantial Chinese population.
The internal dispute had escalated when MCA surrendered the Pulai Sebatang seat to Umno during the Johor state election, which Tee had contested in since 2004.
Following a public outburst by Tee over the decision, Wee lodged a disciplinary complaint, prompting Tee to be suspended for five years.
Tee is seen to be close to former MCA president Chua Soi Lek, who was Wee's rival.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | He says outsiders are creating discord. |
 | This is over the case involving the Naza Group boss. |
 | She says she never asked the Gombak Setia rep for money. |
A daily glance at Covid-19
1,845 new cases yesterday (May 26) bring the cumulative infections to 4,499,057.
Three new fatalities put the death toll at 35,656.
New cases by states
Selangor (851)
Kuala Lumpur (274)
Penang (117)
Negeri Sembilan (112)
Perak (109)
Sabah (75)
Sarawak (72)
Malacca (49)
Putrajaya (49)
Johor (44)
Kedah (36)
Pahang (25)
Kelantan (15)
Terengganu (11)
Perlis (3)
Labuan (3)
What else is happening?
Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong warned e-hailing services that their licences could be suspended if they imposed an excessive surcharge.
Putrajaya said it is prepared to discuss with retired judges the dispute over pension payouts.
The MySejahtera app will be utilised to facilitate surveillance efforts against the monkeypox that is spreading across Europe, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | She seeks to debunk the misconception. |
 | No cases recorded in M’sia so far. |
 | Malaysian Trustees filed a civil suit. |
What are people saying?
 | By Andrew Sia |
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By S Thayaparan |
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