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Anwar’s pro-Palestine stand
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Key Highlights
Anwar’s pro-Palestine stand
Booze and pork
Ramasamy needs help
Anwar’s pro-Palestine stand
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has been vociferous in his condemnation of Israel, cannot afford to be ambiguous on this issue, according to analysts.
Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Julia Lau and Francis E Hutchinson noted how younger Malaysians are growing more religiously conservative and Perikatan Nasional making significant inroads in the elections.
“Taking this strong pro-Palestinian stance is politically expedient in today’s Malaysia,” they said.
However, Lau and Hutchinson pointed out that Malaysia’s economy and policy frameworks relied on foreign direct investment and cited the “enthusiasm” in the response to investments by Tesla and Infineon.
“Some finesse is needed to ensure that foreign sentiment vis-à-vis Malaysia is not spooked, although Western leaders would understand that Anwar must allow some space for his fellow citizens to vent their feelings.
“Anwar has explained to Malaysians that the country will not soon send its armed forces to Gaza. The prime minister will need to draw on his fabled oratorical skills, backing them with nimble diplomacy, in the weeks ahead,” they added.
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Booze and pork
As the Isareli-Palestine conflict continues to grab headlines around the world, the consumption of booze and the selling of “confusing” pork dishes have been making the news in Malaysia.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing has been trading barbs with opposition lawmakers over videos of him drinking and dancing at an event in Pahang last month.
The Sarawak politician is now threatening to haul Bersatu lawmaker Wan Saiful Wan Jan to court if he continues to harp on the matter. He also told the latter to focus on his corruption case instead of sticking his nose in others’ affairs.
This is after the Tasek Gelugor MP said it was wrong for the minister to consume alcohol in public after Tiong argued that since he was not a Muslim, it was fine for him to do so.
As for the nasi kandar babi saga, stall owner G Suresh said he bore no hard feelings against the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma), which kicked up a fuss claiming that Muslims might become confused.
Suresh also revealed that business has boomed since the controversy erupted.
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Ramasamy needs help
The civil court has ordered former Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy to fork out RM1.45 million in defamation damages to Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik.
This was after the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed the two civil actions by the Indian national against the former DAP leader.
Ramasamy, who plans to appeal, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money and promised to be transparent with the collection. He pledged to use the excess funds for the public’s benefit.
The former Penang assemblyperson also said the decision would not deter him from speaking up.
“I will continue to speak on behalf of the voiceless in Malaysia, whether Chinese, Indians, Malays, Iban (and so on).
“This is a temporary obstacle and I hope to do what is best for Malaysians,” he added.
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Views that matter
 | By S Thayaparan |
 | By Ong Kian Ming |
 | Humility, discursive Islam, and a culture of ambiguity By M Bakri Musa |
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Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has come under fire for defending the proposed constitutional amendments on citizenship.
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