logo
Ayer Kuning by-election: Increased support for UMNO among Malay, young voters

Ayer Kuning by-election: Increased support for UMNO among Malay, young voters

The Sun01-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The outcome of the Ayer Kuning state by-election reflects growing support for UMNO among Malays, young voters, and various ethnic communities, said secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
He said the victory also demonstrated the public's rejection of racial politics, hate speech, slander, and narratives suggesting that Islam and the Malay community are under threat.
'UMNO extends its gratitude to the machinery of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and Friends of BN, as well as our partners in Pakatan Harapan (PH), who worked tirelessly to secure victory for the BN candidate.
'We are also deeply grateful to all voters in Ayer Kuning for their trust and confidence in UMNO and BN, which led to a decisive win across all polling districts except one,' he said in a statement issued after the UMNO Supreme Council meeting at Menara Dato' Onn, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) last night.
In the three-cornered contest, BN candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir retained the seat with 11,065 votes against PN's Abd Muhaimin Malek (6,059 votes) and PSM's Bawani KS (1,106 votes).
Meanwhile, Asyraf Wajdi also announced that UMNO will hold its first Patriotic School Convocation in conjunction with the party's 79th anniversary celebration at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, WTCKL on May 11.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Some truth to Malays feeling sidelined, says Umno veteran
Some truth to Malays feeling sidelined, says Umno veteran

Free Malaysia Today

time2 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Some truth to Malays feeling sidelined, says Umno veteran

Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, a former minister, says the government cannot avoid or ignore the proposed 'Malay unity' movement. PETALING JAYA : An Umno veteran says the unity government must look to regain the confidence of the Malays, following former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's latest effort to unite the Malays and 'restore their political power'. Former minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the government cannot avoid or ignore this movement as there was truth to the notion that the Malay community feels sidelined under the unity government. He added that Mahathir recognised this and was seeking to exploit it for his own political gain. 'Maybe it's merely a matter of perception or imagination (to some parties), but I think that there's truth to it (at the grassroots level). And something needs to be done to regain the confidence of the Malays. 'Whatever excuses we want to give, when you go to the grassroots, the reality is that many Malays feel sidelined, and Mahathir is exploiting that,' he told FMT. Raja Nong Chik claimed that, based on feedback he received, nine out of 10 of his close Malay peers have expressed concern about the fate of the community under the current administration. 'They worry for the future of the Malays, and these are highly-educated guys. We're not even talking about the grassroots level yet. 'However, this doesn't mean they will vote for the opposition just yet, it's just that they want some assurance (that the special privileges of the Malays would be safeguarded,' said the former Lembah Pantai Umno chief. The new Malay unity alliance was launched by Mahathir on Wednesday, with the backing of Perikatan Nasional's major components, PAS and Bersatu, as well as several Malay-based NGOs and academics. Mahathir, a former Umno president who later led Bersatu, Pejuang and Gerakan Tanah Air before leaving all three, said the alliance would not be a formal political party for now but a loose coalition to gather the Malays under one 'big umbrella'. Raja Nong Chik said the government led by Anwar Ibrahim must handle this new political threat wisely to ensure his administration retains the trust of the Malays.

Clarity sought on 'Sabah native' definition to protect indigenous rights
Clarity sought on 'Sabah native' definition to protect indigenous rights

Borneo Post

time4 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Clarity sought on 'Sabah native' definition to protect indigenous rights

Henrynus Amin KOTA KINABALU (June 8): Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) has called for a clearer definition or a more precise list of 'Sabah native' races, similar to what exists for Sarawak, in order to bring clarity and remove any doubt and ambiguity. This call aims to remove existing ambiguities and protect the rights and heritage of genuine indigenous communities in Sabah. Anak Negeri President Datuk Henrynus @ Rinus Amin also wants to add a clause no native certificates are valid without an 'appropriate declaration made by Sabah Native Court.' Henrynus said he also wants a clause that specifically states if evidence emerges that a citizenship and/or a native certificate was obtained fraudulently, the issuing authority (such as the Native Court in Sabah) has the legal basis to revoke it, and those involved in the fraud may face further legal repercussions. Anak Negeri is championing the rights of genuine native communities to protect their ancestral land from encroachment by individuals it deems 'bogus natives.' There's an urgent need to resolve this issue because foreigners, who are reportedly posing as Malaysian citizens and natives with fraudulently obtained identity cards, are illegally occupying native or customary land across Sabah 'We're getting troubling reports about customary native land being occupied by newcomers with dubious identity in several districts of Sabah, including Ranau, Keningau, Sook, Nabawan, Tongod, Beluran, Pitas, Sipitang, Lahad Datu and Kalabakan. 'These reports indicate that newcomers with questionable citizenship are allegedly purchasing or occupying these lands and creating new settlements,' said Henrynus in a statement on Sunday. He also expressed concerns about shifting demographics resulting from the existence of new land owners in Sabah claiming to be natives. He said there are allegations that thousands of acres of land have been granted to 'dubious natives' (individuals of questionable native status) in several districts of Sabah. These individuals are reportedly establishing new settlements and villages, and then registering as voters, which critics argue is fundamentally altering the political demographics of these areas. Claims have been highlighted that as many as 500,000 individuals in Sabah may have obtained Malaysian identity cards (MyKad) through questionable means. This issue is particularly concerning given the reported shifts in ethnic demographics. Currently, the Kadazandusun population now stands at only 19% of the total, and the Bajau at 14%. In contrast, the Malay population, which was previously negligible, has reportedly surged to 9%. The question being raised is the origin of this new Malay population. If they are not from Peninsular Malaysia, the conclusion drawn is that they are individuals from neighboring Indonesia who are allegedly masquerading as Malays to obtain identity cards and subsequently claim rights to native land, said Henrynus. The party is also particularly concerned about coastal squatter settlements near major towns, which it alleges are populated by individuals of questionable citizenship claiming native status and seeking state recognition for their villages. Henrynus said in Sabah, the primary enactment that defines 'natives of Sabah' is the Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance 1952 (Sabah Cap 64). Unlike Sarawak, which lists specific indigenous races, he said the Federal Constitution for Sabah refers to 'a person of a race indigenous to Sabah,' again deferring to the Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance 1952. He said the status of Kadazandusun, Murut and Sungai or collectively Momogun is not clearly defined in Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance 1952. 'This lack of a precise list casts doubt on the validity and relevance of the existing definition,' said Henrynus who launched Parti Anak Negeri Village Committee at Kampung Kinaundusan (N36 Kundasang) Ranau recently. But amendment to the definition of 'native' in Sabah has been a long-standing and complex issue which no state government was willing to take on. He said the issue was deemed not a priority and thus relegated to the political backyard by the current state administration. He said he is not sure what is being done by the GRS State Government, but questioned why Kadazandusun assemblymen from Star, PBS, and UPKO who were outspoken on the issue during election, are seen as largely oblivious to the facts, and remain muted after the election. 'Have they forgotten their roots?' he asked. The Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance 1952 provides a legal framework for who is considered a native in Sabah. There are several criteria, including: 1. Persons both of whose parents are or were members of a people indigenous to Sabah. 2. Persons ordinarily resident in Sabah and live as a member of a native community, with at least one parent or ancestor being a native within the meaning of the first point. 3. Persons ordinarily resident in Sabah who are members of certain other indigenous peoples (e.g., from Sarawak, Brunei, Indonesia, or the Sulu group of islands in the Philippine Archipelago) and have lived as and been a member of a native community for a continuous period, among other requirements.

Call on federal agency to seek guidance first before distributing Aidiladha korban meat
Call on federal agency to seek guidance first before distributing Aidiladha korban meat

Borneo Post

time5 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Call on federal agency to seek guidance first before distributing Aidiladha korban meat

Abdul Karim cuts the 'korban' meats before distributing them to villagers. KUCHING (June 8): A federal agency has been called on to first seek guidance from Islamic authorities in order to properly distribute Aidiladha 'korban' meat, according to Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. The Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts said this in response to the federal Sarawak State Development Office (SDO), which held a 'korban' ritual in Kampung Asajaya Laut two days before Hari Raya Aidiladha. 'Animals that are slaughtered during Aidiladha, there are certain 'pahala' (rewards from God) — even the blood that flows from the sacrificed animals. 'However, if the animals are slaughtered two days before Aidiladha, then the meats are not 'korban meats; they are just ordinary meats distributed to the villagers. 'Before holding the 'ibadah korban' (sacrificial rites), the SDO director must first consult those who are knowledgeable in Islam,' he told reporters after distributing 'korban' meat at Masjid Darul Ehsan at Kampung Asajaya Laut in Asajaya today. While he commended such an act by the SDO, Abdul Karim warned organisers against associating such events with the 'korban' ritual. 'They may have good intentions, but if the supposed sacrificial meats were distributed before Aidiladha, then it is just a normal meat. Don't make assumptions — this can create confusion among the people.' Also present at the event was Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang. abdul karim rahmah hamzah Hari Raya Aidiladha lead State Development Office

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store