Haters gonna hate
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Haters gonna hate - Azam Baki unfazed
PKR's 'enduring friendships' and grounded chairs
Teoh Beng Hock - NFA and broken promises
Haters gonna hate - Azam Baki unfazed
Azam Baki, whose tenure as MACC chief commissioner has been extended for a record third time, is under no illusion about his popularity or the lack thereof.
But the 62-year-old graftbuster is not losing sleep over it.
'I know that people do not like me. This is a free country,' he said when asked about an upcoming protest against him.
The protest, organised by Sekretariat Undur Azam Baki (Step Down Azam Baki Secretariat), aims to express public dissatisfaction over his continued leadership.
That his reappointment comes under a prime minister and coalition who had previously been vocal critics has raised eyebrows, prompting speculation that Azam may have some political leverage over those in power.
And the chorus of discontent even includes the prime minister's own daughter, who called the extension 'unwelcome'.
HIGHLIGHTS
PKR's 'enduring friendships' and grounded chairs
As the PKR election enters its final stretch, deputy president hopeful Nurul Izzah Anwar praised Rafizi Ramli, assuring that their friendship remains strong despite the heated contest.
To lighten the mood, party information chief Fahmi Fadzil quipped he was relieved the polls stayed free of flying chairs and broken ballot boxes - true to Nurul Izzah's 'peace' campaign.
Sharing the stage with her, Fahmi couldn't resist a subtle jab at Rafizi's 'Hiruk' campaign, adding, 'My only regret is that at the central level, in the past week or two, it became a bit too 'noisy' (hiruk-pikuk).'
Nurul Izzah, daughter of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, emphasised she is running on her own merit and not riding on her father's coattails.
'They call it nepotism, but I never used power. Every step I took was my own - on the streets, among the people, fighting for true justice,' she said.
HIGHLIGHTS
Teoh Beng Hock - NFA and broken promises
The authorities have classified the police investigations into the death of former DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock as 'NFA' (No Further Action), much to the disappointment and anguish of his family.
His sister Teoh Lee Lan said the outcome fails to reflect the promises previously made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Beng Hock's death in 2009, when being questioned overnight by the MACC, has been a significant point of contention and campaign rhetoric for Anwar and his coalition for more than a decade.
Despite Anwar now serving as prime minister and Pakatan Harapan leading the government, his family questioned whether they remain 'trapped in the era of BN's rule'.
'The same MACC remains unaccountable. The same police force refuses to investigate the MACC. The same opaque conclusions are drawn, and the same murderers walk free.
'On Aug 1 last year, Anwar urged the Teoh family to trust the 'new police force' and the 'new system' under his administration. But what has this so-called 'new system' brought to the Teoh family? Only continued disappointment,' said Lee Lan.
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The Star
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- The Star
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Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
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Rafizi can still play powerful role outside Cabinet, says Shahril
Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said Rafizi Ramli should not be seen as sulking or becoming irrelevant by resigning, but rather as someone who can continue contributing from outside the government. PETALING JAYA : Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli is likely to remain influential in the party even after stepping down from his Cabinet position, says former Umno leader Shahril Hamdan. Shahril, a former Umno information chief, said the outgoing economy minister still brings unique value to PKR's campaign efforts, despite losing the party's No 2 post to Nurul Izzah Anwar. 'Rafizi can still play a role as one of the most unmatched campaigners in PKR, and can still build a movement that contributes to the party's struggle without appearing to abandon it,' he said in the latest 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast episode, which was recorded before Rafizi's resignation. Before the PKR polls, Rafizi had said he would quit as the economy minister and go back to being a regular MP if he failed to be re-elected as the deputy president. Shahril said Rafizi should not be seen as sulking or becoming irrelevant by resigning, but rather as someone who can continue contributing from outside the government. 'He can still play a powerful role outside the Cabinet, campaigning, mobilising, inspiring the base (voters). He's unmatched in that area within PKR. He can still build a movement that contributes to the party, without being in government,' he said. Shahril also dismissed claims by analysts that the deputy presidency race was a victory for grassroots-friendly candidates over those perceived as elitist. 'Just because someone is intellectual or policy-focused doesn't mean they're out of touch with the grassroots. You can be both. 'There are people with both intellectual standing and grassroots connection. And there are also those who lack both. But in overly simplistic analyses, we reduce things to black and white,' he said, citing outgoing natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as an example. 'There were claims that Nik Nazmi didn't serve Setiawangsa well. I don't know. We're not there, and we're not PKR members there. But I think that view is too simplistic. 'The more important issue is this: this election could mark a turning point for PKR. What happens next will determine whether this is a generational renewal – where new leaders rise – or the moment when some supporters begin to lose faith in the party,' he said. 'Nurul Izzah must now prove she's worthy' Shahril's co-host, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, said while Nurul Izzah's win was decisive, it has revived talk of nepotism in PKR due to her being the daughter of party president and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Khairy said the burden is on Nurul Izzah to prove that her win was based on merit and not family ties, adding that the real test for her would come during the next general election. 'It's now up to her and the party to dispel that perception (of nepotism). She must prove not just to her supporters, but especially to sceptics, that she can match or surpass Rafizi in certain aspects. If not, that perception will stick and that could have serious long-term consequences,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
PKR veep rubbishes claims 11 MPs retracting support for Anwar
PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang said Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned from their Cabinet posts to uphold the spirit of democracy. PETALING JAYA : PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang has rubbished claims that 11 MPs from the party are retracting their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the party's president. Responding to a text message making the rounds on WhatsApp, Chang, a federal minister, said the claim was 'nonsense'. 'Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned from their Cabinet posts to uphold the spirit of democracy. Other parties need not fish in troubled waters,' he said in a Facebook post. The viral message claimed that 11 MPs have withdrawn their support for Anwar as the prime minister, including Chang, who was a running mate of Rafizi in the recently concluded PKR central leadership elections. The others listed in the message include Rafizi and others aligned with him, such as Nik Nazmi, PKR vice-president Aminuddin Harun, Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir, Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar, Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Subang MP Wong Chen and Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing. The message claimed that the MPs would be holding a press conference on Friday on their decision to retract their support for Anwar. Nik Nazmi had also lost in the PKR central leadership polls, failing to defend his vice-presidency. Chang was retained as a PKR vice-president, while the other three posts were filled by Aminuddin, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari and Sungai Buloh MP R Ramanan. Earlier today, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi resigned from their posts as economy minister and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, respectively. Bernama quoted political analyst Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia as saying that it was possible that other ministers or deputy ministers aligned with Rafizi would also step down from their posts.
