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Key Highlights
Ministry gets ‘F’ in flags, ‘A’ in facepalm
MIC – M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
Rafizi losing his grip on PKR
Ministry gets ‘F’ in flags, ‘A’ in facepalm
The Education Ministry found itself the “star” of a patriotic plot twist after unveiling a version of the Malaysian flag,
After the authorities threw the book at others - including a Chinese newspaper - for flag fails missing the crescent, the ministry upped the ante: unveiling a Jalur Gemilang with a bonus star and fewer stripes.
The graphic made its appearance in the SPM Analysis Report, featuring students in a classroom with the “oops version” of the Jalur Gemilang hanging on the wall.
The ministry quickly issued an apology and launched an investigation, but the irony wasn’t lost on those who wondered if the police would get involved, or if the minister and officials might end up in the same boat as the Chinese newspaper editors, who were detained for questioning and suspended from work.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has previously made it clear that flag faux pas are far from trivial, has promised there will be no double standards.
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MIC – M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
It seems the classic Mickey Mouse Club theme must have been playing in Urimai chairperson P Ramasamy's head as he reminisced about MIC – once a roaring tiger, now a squeaky mouse.
“Surely, even in its weakest moments, MIC leaders must show more dignity and fortitude. Instead of passively seeking accommodation from those perpetuating these injustices, the community deserves a firm, unapologetic stand for its rights and heritage,” he said.
Urging MIC deputy president M Saravanan not to seek “bread crumbs” from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Ramasamy emphasised that the time has come to move beyond “cosmetic appeals and symbolic gestures”.
“What is required is not just a directive, but a national reckoning with how Malaysia treats its minority faiths and a government willing to back its multicultural rhetoric with genuine policy change,” he added.
Ramasamy was commenting on Saravanan’s appeal for the prime minister to direct government agencies and departments to refrain from using the term “kuil haram” or “illegal temples”.
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Rafizi losing his grip on PKR
The recent PKR divisional election was a setback for deputy president Rafizi Ramli’s camp, with several of his key allies losing out. This signals a tough fight ahead in the party's central leadership elections next month.
The results matter more than just symbolically. Thanks to changes in the party's electoral system, the outcomes of these divisional elections will have a direct impact on the national-level leadership vote.
PKR often tweaks its internal election rules, and this time, it’s brought back the delegate system. About 30,000 delegates from 222 divisions across the country will vote for 20 central leadership council members and six top posts: president, deputy president, and four vice-presidents.
To make things even trickier, there’s the issue of how these delegates are selected. Malaysiakini dives into the matter.
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Views that matter
 | By R Nadeswaran |
 | By Lim Teck Ghee |
 | By Mahathir Mohd Rais |
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