Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.
Key Highlights
Loke bares his fangs: Has the old DAP returned?
Rafizi & Co: Amend bill or no backing
Hamzah believes aerospace engineer will propel PN
Loke bares his fangs: Has the old DAP returned?
Critics have accused DAP - once famed for its razor-sharp fangs - of losing its bite, despite being the largest party in the Madani government.
But with support among its core voters waning, as seen in last November’s Sabah polls, and a special national congress looming to decide DAP’s role in the current administration, secretary-general Anthony Loke seems to be adopting a more aggressive stance.
His first target: the MACC, whose chief commissioner, Azam Baki, once a figure of derision for Pakatan Harapan, has now won over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with his so-called bravado - so much so that Anwar extended his tenure three times.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Loke said DAP would push for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into allegations that MACC officers, including its top brass, are involved in a “corporate mafia” scheme.
“We first raised this proposal at the last cabinet meeting and will continue to push for it. This is DAP's position," said the transport minister.
Loke noted that the so-called “corporate mafia” scheme represented a far graver issue than the shareholding controversy involving Azam, which is currently under investigation by a special task force led by Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar.
“What is being alleged now concerns the entire MACC as an institution," he said, adding that the special task force lacked sufficient powers to investigate such claims.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Rafizi & Co: Amend bill or no backing
A group of 10 PKR backbenchers has called on Putrajaya to amend the proposed bill separating the roles of the attorney-general (AG) and the public prosecutor, stressing that their support hinges on these changes.
The MPs want Parliament involved in appointing the public prosecutor, arguing that the current draft concentrates power with the prime minister and the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC). They referenced civil society organisations’ (CSOs) call to strengthen the separation of powers and checks and balances.
“The CSOs proposed that the appointment of the public prosecutor go through a transparent and accountable layered process involving parliament as the largest institution elected by the people,” the MPs said in a joint statement.
“We are responsible for conveying the aspirations of progressive voters who want such a layered process to prevent the power to appoint and remove the public prosecutor from being concentrated among only a few individuals.
“Our support for this constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds majority, is dependent upon and subject to the government’s openness to consider our proposals,” they added.
The statement was signed by Rafizi Ramli (Pandan), Wong Chen (Subang), Lee Chean Chung (Petaling Jaya), S Kesavan (Sg Siput), Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat), Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju), Hassan Karim (Pasir Gudang), and Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau).
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Hamzah believes PAS’ aerospace engineer will propel PN
Sacked Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and 18 other lawmakers aligned with him believe that the aerospace engineer from PAS is the right person to captain the Perikatan Nasional coalition, which has been shaken by internal disputes.
They expressed their unequivocal support for Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who succeeds Hamzah’s former boss-turned-nemesis Muhyiddin Yassin as PN chairperson.
“This appointment was a serious consolidation that PN is ready to serve the rakyat and build this country.
“In our capacity as elected MPs, we will continue to support PN under the leadership of PAS as its core party,” they said in a joint statement.
There was resistance from other PN components regarding plans to nominate Samsuri as coalition chief, including objections from Muhyiddin’s faction, who argued that the PN chairperson should be a party president.
However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan clarified that the coalition’s charter does not specify who can serve as chairperson, meaning the role is not limited to a president or deputy president.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By Wong Chin Huat |
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By Murale Pillai |
In case you missed it
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
