Good morning. Here's what you should know today.
Key Highlights
PM gives first signal for snap GE
Rafizi, Nik Nazmi’s new party
Court deals Madani govt a slap
UEC recognition, sort of
Anwar gives first signal for snap GE
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has finally given a signal that he may hold snap elections, after months of speculation.
Anwar told the Pakatan Harapan convention in Johor that he would discuss the matter with coalition leaders soon.
The Harapan chairperson blamed the development on fracturing ties with BN, after the latter decided to contest all 56 state seats in Johor.
He and other Harapan leaders have signalled they would retaliate in kind and contest in all seats in any state BN chooses to do so.
However, hours after his speech, Anwar indicated he was not ready to give up on his friend BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yet - and will be seeking “harmonious” talks with the latter to sort things out.
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Rafizi, Nik Nazmi’s new party
Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad are quitting as MPs and PKR members.
This is to pave the way for them to take over Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) - a Penang-based local party that the duo has given a new paint job and a new kancil mascot.
The duo claimed that resigning as MPs means they don’t have to pay their election bond to PKR, but it’s likely the party will try to sue them for it anyway.
Thus far, only Rafizi and Nik Nazmi have confirmed jumping over, but they expect more to follow suit once Parliament is dissolved.
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Court deals Madani govt a slap
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that the Health Ministry’s decision to delist liquid and gel nicotine from the Poisons List in 2023 was illegal and irrational.
Judge Aliza Sulaiman ruled that the then-health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa’s decision to delist the products used in vape and e-cigarettes was primarily to allow the government to tax the products despite knowing the products were dangerous.
Previously, critics highlighted how the delisting allowed children to buy these nicotine products before they were regulated a year later.
Zaliha defended her decision, saying it was needed to regulate the black market.
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UEC recognition, sort of
The government has finally allowed Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders who did not sit for SPM to apply for spots in public universities.
However, these UEC holders must sit for the Malay language and History SPM papers, and get a minimum distinction and a pass, respectively.
However, they will only be able to apply for four Chinese-related courses.
Dong Zong said this was unfair and questioned why not all courses were opened up to them.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir responded by reiterating that the Malay language and History must be upheld - which wasn’t what Dong Zong was complaining about.
Meanwhile, tahfiz school graduates can also join public universities, but are likewise limited to courses related to Islam.
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Views that matter
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