Good morning. Here's what you should know today.

Key Highlights

  • Anwar and Dr M roles reversed

  • Selangor's interfaith hardline

  • Umno's new veeps

Anwar and Dr M roles reversed

In 1998, Anwar Ibrahim and his followers dubbed then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as "mahazalim" (great oppressor) for the oppressive crackdown during the Reformasi movement.

Fast forward to today, and it is Mahathir calling Anwar oppressive - to the Malays in particular.

This is after a Malay proclamation event Mahathir was supposed to attend was repeatedly called off due to venue cancellations.

Mahathir insinuated that the government had torpedoed the event out of fear of Malays uniting.

Anwar, however, called on Malays not to be fooled by rhetorical pandering.

HIGHLIGHTS

PKR special congress: Party president hits back at political foes
Please drop 'Malay-only' plan, Ronnie Liu tells Dr M
Hassan backs Anwar's warning, but cautions against Dr M tactics

Selangor's interfaith hardline

Religious authorities in Selangor are taking a hardline on interfaith events, in the aftermath of the Jom Ziarah programme.

This is despite no Muslim youths being involved in the interfaith programme visiting houses of worship.

Last week, state Religious Affairs exco Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni made a blanket statement that any programme involving Muslims at non-Muslim houses of worship is not allowed.

Meanwhile, Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof claimed the Jom Ziarah programme could subtly influence Muslim youths to take an interest in other faiths - which he said was illegal.

Putrajaya's response to the backlash outside the Youth and Sports Ministry has been tepid, with de facto Religious Affairs Minister Na’im Mokhtar saying it was up to each state to decide on the matter.

Meanwhile, despite the controversial Jom Ziarah programme to a church in Selangor being cancelled, police are still investigating the matter as reports had been lodged.

Police are also investigating critics of the programme.

HIGHLIGHTS

Zero tolerance for inciting racial, religious sentiments - Anwar
'She has never preached her religion to me' - Yeoh's secretary
Ex-CM: Don’t be surprised to see Muslims at church weddings in Sabah

Umno's new veeps.

There's been a shakeup in the Umno vice-presidents lineup.

Khaled Nordin is the sole incumbent vice-president to retain his spot.

Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Federal Territories Umno chief Johari Abdul Ghani secured the other two spots.

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said - the only woman in the race - came in fourth spot.

The results of the vice-presidents race and that of the supreme council, indicate that most elected party leaders are in Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's camp.

HIGHLIGHTS

Umno can no longer appeal to nostalgia, says Azalina
'Just dissolve if can't win elections' - Loke takes jibe at Gerakan
Govt inherited a 'damaged house' - Rafizi

Views that matter

Stern warning must be followed up with action
By R Nadeswaran
The smarter you are, the stronger your faith
By Zan Azlee
Johari should probe more than just Goldman-1MDB deal
By P Gunasegaram

Other news that matter

  • Reform movement Aliran called for a forensic audit to be conducted on the Goldman Sachs settlement reached with the Malaysian government over 1MDB in July 2020 when Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister.

  • A teacher shortage in the public education system continues to persist at the start of the new academic year, with Design and Technology, English and Malay languages, as well as Islamic Studies subjects being affected.

    Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek previously vowed to resolve the problem before the school year starts, but it may actually take up to three years to resolve.

  • Opposition-led states, including Kelantan, will not be sidelined from any federal development projects, said Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming

  • Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh denied using her power to sideline Kelantan from hosting the Malaysian Games (Sukma) 2024, as claimed by Kelantan PAS Youth chief Mohamad Kamal Mohamed.

    Kelantan exco member Wan Roslan Wan Hamat claimed it was a misunderstanding.

  • Egg importer J&E Advanced Tech Sdn Bhd admitted that they called MCA president Wee Ka Siong but denied that any threats were ever made.

    Meanwhile, Wee is asking why a J&E director shares an address with controversial businessperson Deepak Jaikishan.

  • A proposal to penalise adult children for not supporting their senior citizen parents despite being capable of doing so has raised serious concerns for experts on the welfare of senior citizens.

  • DAP’s Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng launched a fundraising campaign to pay RM2.25 million in damages to e-commerce firm Monspace (M) Sdn Bhd and its founder Jessy Lai.

    He risks bankruptcy and being disqualified as an MP if it he does not make the payment on time.

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