Good morning. Here are our picks for today.
Key Highlights
Rumbles of discontent in Penang
All that glitters is gold
Enter Azmin - PN’s ‘albatross’
Rumbles of discontent in Penang
The decision to drop several DAP incumbents for the Penang state election has courted displeasure, with one dropped leader claiming that it is the handiwork of the “emperor”.
Satees Muniandy also claimed that the “emperor”, whom he did not name, was riding on the “Green Wave”, using it as a fear-mongering tool to make himself more powerful.
P Ramasamy, the caretaker deputy chief minister who was also not included in the line-up, pondered if this is the same DAP he had joined close to two decades ago.
Similarly, Wanita DAP chief Chong Eng regretted the decision to leave her out of the race, noting that the party’s current success was due to the sweat and toil of numerous individuals.
However, David Marshel did not pull his punches.
After quitting DAP, he announced that he would be contesting as an independent candidate in the Perai seat in an attempt to keep the state “free of (DAP chairperson) Lim Guan Eng”.
The former Seberang Perai city councillor said the main reason for entering the fray is to ensure that Chow Kon Yeow continues as chief minister after the election.
He accused Lim of wanting to become chief minister again.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
All that glitters is gold
Two hundred kilogrammes of gold worth RM60 million, RM38 million in cash and 17 high-end vehicles. This is what MACC had seized from a film distributor after he was arrested in connection with a money laundering investigation.
Former cabinet minister and MIC deputy president M Saravanan’s name also cropped up with a source telling Malaysiakini that MACC would record his statement. Saravanan has claimed to have no knowledge about the matter.
According to MACC chief Azam Baki, it was Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF) operation which his officers had spearheaded.
The operation involved 315 officers and personnel from six agencies and was conducted at 34 locations around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
On Tuesday, Malaysiakini reported that MACC arrested two businesspersons renowned for distributing Indian movies and bringing in artists from India to perform in Malaysia. Also arrested was another businessperson aligned with Bersatu, who was hoping to contest in the upcoming state polls.
All three are believed to have been released pending investigations.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Enter Azmin - PN’s ‘albatross’
Bersatu supreme council member Azmin Ali, who wanted to put his political career on pause, has decided not to hang up his boots. He will be contesting in the Selangor polls but will not be defending his Bukit Antarabangsa seat.
The former Selangor menteri besar will instead contest in Hulu Kelang, which he won in the 1999 general election during the height of the Reformasi movement.
However, his successor Amirudin Shaari believes that Azmin is more of a bane than a boon for Perikatan Nasional and his presence would not impact the outcome of the election.
Amirudin, who is the caretaker Selangor menteri besar, had defeated Azmin in last November’s general election in his federal stronghold of Gombak. He claimed that even leaders and members of PN consider the latter to be an albatross around the coalition’s neck.
Azmin, however, said that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin wanted him to contest.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By Wong Chin Huat |
 | By S Thayaparan |
 | By Justice For Sisters |
Other news that matter
Najib Abdul Razak’s legal team is mulling whether to petition Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah to disqualify himself from hearing the former premier’s 1MDB corruption trial. This followed Sequerah’s disclosure that he used to be partners in a law firm with the now-arrested 1MDB-linked fugitive, Jasmine Loo.
Being the subject of humour and memes has not dampened Lee Kim Noor's spirit. On the contrary, the 59-year-old Muda candidate welcomed the free advertising. She wants to show that age is not a barrier to serving or to join Muda.
Two footballers are hoping to score victories in the upcoming state election after being named as Perikatan Nasional candidates in Kedah. One of them, Muhamad Radhi Mat Din, will be having a rematch with Kedah Pakatan Harapan chief Mahfuz Omar.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
