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Will DAP general meet his Waterloo in Negeri Sembilan?
Malacca is latest flashpoint in uneasy alliance
Syed Saddiq walks free, heads towards wedding bells
Will DAP general meet his Waterloo in Negeri Sembilan?
Decimated in Sabah, wounded in Johor, DAP and its general Anthony Loke are now marching towards the frontlines of Negeri Sembilan, which will go to the polls on Aug 1.
Unlike the previous two elections, Loke will be in the heart of the battle as he attempts to defend his Chennah constituency, which he has held since 2013.
Loke, who is also Negeri Sembilan DAP chief, faces another crucial test in his home state, where the party is defending all 11 seats it currently holds. There, DAP is set for another showdown with an invigorated BN, buoyed by its landslide victory in Johor.
Malaysiakini's analysis of voting trends from the 15th general election suggests BN could unseat Loke in a straight fight if PAS throws its support behind the coalition.
DAP's central executive committee said the party will defend its 11 seats with eight incumbents and three new faces. It added that the lessons from Johor would be carried into the Negeri Sembilan campaign in the hope of securing a better outcome.
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Malacca is latest flashpoint in uneasy alliance
DAP’s four Malacca assemblypersons have resigned from the state government, fulfilling their pledge to step down if the state constitution was amended to allow for appointed assembly members.
However, Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim has urged the four assemblypersons to put their decision on hold, calling for discussions to resolve the differences.
Anwar, who is also the prime minister, said disputes should not be allowed to disrupt the state administration, urging them to first seek a resolution with Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh to ensure the government could continue serving the people.
"I spoke to (DAP secretary-general) Anthony Loke and also to the chief minister. If possible, let them negotiate first. Postpone for a while so that we can focus on state matters first," he said.
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Syed Saddiq walks free, heads towards wedding bells
The Federal Court has upheld Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s acquittal over charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering involving funds linked to Bersatu Youth.
In a 2-1 decision, the three-member bench led by Court of Appeal president Abu Bakar Jais found no legal misstep in the Court of Appeal’s decision last year to clear Syed Saddiq of the charges.
The apex court’s verdict marks the end of a long legal battle for the former youth and sports minister, who can now turn the page from courtrooms to, perhaps, wedding bells.
Adding a lighter touch to the courtroom finale, Court of Appeal president Abu Bakar Jais - who led the Federal Court panel - told the 33-year-old politician to “proceed with his plans” after the verdict was delivered.
“We, judges, are also ordinary people. We also follow the developments around us. We observe (and) we know what is going on around us. We know…. The respondent (Syed Saddiq) has a plan for what to do next,” he said, expressing hope the plan proceeds well.
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