Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.
Key Highlights
Rafizi’s party poised for ‘leap of faith’
DAP in royal crosshairs
Sabah scandal fuels push for third rally
Rafizi’s party poised for ‘leap of faith’
Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli’s Bersama party has jolted a stagnant political landscape, with Pakatan Harapan supporters growing disillusioned and Perikatan Nasional still trapped in circles.
Emphasising that his party would place merit and competence above all else, the former PKR deputy president said Bersama aims to build a new structure and political culture capable of winning the confidence of young talents who had previously stayed away from politics.
Rafizi said several young professionals had already expressed willingness to leave their careers to join the movement, including some planning to return from overseas to contest elections, although he acknowledged the challenge of persuading more to take the same step.
“It’s a leap of faith. It will depend on how many such figures we can put forward, because I think the country needs it. So everything that we do must be in this direction,” he added.
Rafizi is confident that the strategy might work, citing recent global voting trends where young professionals succeeded in elections.
He pointed to New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, and the recent victory of C Joseph Vijay in Tamil Nadu.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
DAP in royal crosshairs
Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has urged all state assemblypersons to visit the newly installed Rukun Negara monument plaque at Dataran Selangor at least twice a month, saying it is essential for deepening their understanding and appreciation of the national principles.
He went further, suggesting that DAP’s Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Wong Siew Ki and the party’s former Selangor exco Ronnie Liu make even more frequent visits to better grasp the importance of respecting the royal institution and maintaining proper conduct.
Wong had faced accusations of disrespecting the ruler’s decree banning pig farming in the state after she urged the state government to consider modern pig farming systems and raised concerns about equality rights under the Federal Constitution.
In the ensuing backlash, several leaders, including Liu, defended her and called on the state government to address growing concerns over its pig farming policy.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Sabah scandal fuels push for third rally
Civil rights groups are gearing up for a third “Gempur Rasuah Sabah” rally, escalating pressure over the handling of a mining scandal that has implicated state politicians.
Bersih Sabah vice-chairperson Fadhil Kasim said an official press conference will be announced soon on the rally, which is being organised with student group Suara Mahasiswa UMS.
Fadhil said public frustration has grown as a year has passed since the scandal broke, yet only two individuals have been charged, while others named in exposés remain untouched by prosecution.
He also noted that ahead of last November’s state election, then MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki had said six others were still under consideration for charges pending a decision from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Reiterating calls for the MACC to publicly clarify the status of other politicians implicated in the scandal, Fadhil said several individuals accused of corruption have since been appointed to government-linked positions.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By Wong Chin Huat |
 | By Mohamad Shafiq Sahruddin |
 | By Mahathir Mohd Rais |
In case you missed it
 | |
 | |
 |
Other news that matter
 | |
 | |
 |
