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Key Highlights

  • Tech giants vs minister

  • Muhyiddin charged

  • Mixed-race Mahathir

Tech giants vs minister

A group of tech giants including Google, Meta, and Amazon came out swinging with an open letter brazenly calling the government's planned social media licensing plan "unworkable".

This directly contradicted Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil's claim that social media platforms had responded positively to the licensing framework.

However, the tech giants - banded together as the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) - quickly undermined their message.

First, Grab Malaysia, which was originally listed as one of the platforms backing the letter, distanced itself publicly.

The letter was then edited to remove several AIC members, including Pinterest, Spotify, and FedEx.

The letter also removed the more spicy language in the original copy, including that the framework was unworkable.

A third edit of the letter removed all logos of AIC members from the document, giving room for the MCMC to dunk on the tech giants‘ arguments and multiple revisions.

HIGHLIGHTS

Social media licensing to continue despite pushback: Fahmi
'Don't create panic,' Loke tells Wee over alleged MAS confidence crisis
'Relax lah, brother' - Wee to Loke over highlighting MAS issues

Muhyiddin charged

Perikatan Nasional chief Muhyiddin Yassin pleaded not guilty to a sedition charge over his remarks about the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong not inviting him to form a government after the last general election.

The trial could be an avenue for Muhyiddin to reveal each of the 114 MPs other than himself who had backed his bid to become prime minister in 2022.

Prosecutors had also tried to impose a gag order on Muhyiddin but the Gua Musang Sessions Court rejected this.

HIGHLIGHTS

PAS spiritual leader claims efforts made for party to join federal govt
Malacca honours firebrand Akmal with datuk title
Prosecution wants Daim to undergo mental evaluation

Mixed-race Mahathir

It is very well established that Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a very, very proud Malay.

And while he has never denied his Indian ancestry, the former premier appeared to have, for the first time, expressed something that remotely resembled pride in his mixed-race heritage.

Testifying against Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a defamation suit, Mahathir said he was "not ashamed" that he has Indian blood.

However, he stressed that this does not mean he is not a Malay.

HIGHLIGHTS

Zahid lied, nobody referred to my name as 'Kutty' - Dr M tells court
'Kutty' suit: Politicians lie when opportunity arises, says Dr M
DAP leaders refute rumour Jalan Yap Ah Loy renamed Jalan Palestin

Views that matter

Anwar should look at his backyard, not India on minority issues
By S Thayaparan
Ignore noise from tech giants, our citizens must be priority
By R Nadeswaran
Yasin's sentence: Drug reforms falling short
By Martin Vengadesan

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