
PKR sec-gen Fuziah to officiate PKR youth, women's wings congresses
JOHOR BARU: Speculation on who would officiate the PKR Youth and PKR Wanita congresses in Johor Baru on Thursday (May 22) has been resolved after PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh confirmed to Astro Awani that she would be taking on the responsibility.
The Malay language portal also reported that although it was customary for the party deputy president to officiate the congresses of both wings, the incumbent, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, had earlier confirmed he would not attend.
Quoting online reports, Astro Awani reported that Fuziah had said the responsibility for officiating the congresses was given to her because other senior leaders were involved in the central leadership council (MPP) elections.
Although Rafizi confirmed he would not be officiating at the congress for these wings, he will still be in Johor Baru on May 20 for the final Hiruk series before attending the PKR national elections and congress on May 23 and 24.
Rafizi's campaign goes by the acronym Hiruk, which stands for Hidupkan Idealisme Reformasi Dalam Ujian Kuasa (Reviving Reform Idealism in a Test of Power).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Borneo Post
an hour 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.


Malaysiakini
8 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Umno veterans tell Dr M to stop acting like a 'rogue hantu raya'
Umno Veterans Club has told Dr Mahathir Mohamad to stop playing the role of a 'rogue hantu raya' following his renewed push to unite the Malays under a new umbrella movement. Its secretary-general Mustapha Yaakub reminded the former premier that Umno members would not be deceived by the formation of a so-called Malay secretariat committee. 'Mahathir was the one who


Borneo Post
11 hours ago
- Borneo Post
‘The banker who crossed the aisle'
Tengku Zafrul (left) seen with Anwar during the Asia-Pacifi c Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders Week (AELW) in Peru last November. – Bernama photo TENGKU Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, former finance minister, has officially left Umno, and is expected to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Does this breaking news raise eyebrows? No. This kind of headline on party-hopping of politicians has been a norm in Malaysian politics. Most Malaysians do not see this as a betrayal these days. Is it a political upgrade, or politics of convenience? Prof James Chin of the University of Tasmania believes that Tengku Zafrul's recent announcement did not catch PKR or Umno off guard. He said the timing was no coincidence as PKR had just completed its party's election. Chin did not expect tensions between PKR and Umno as the exit was planned, and he dismissed warnings from some Umno leaders as 'mere smokescreens'. 'Umno already knew he was leaving. 'The fact that Umno has not attacked (Prime Minister and PKR president Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim openly since February, means that they have already come to an understanding.' Tengku Zafrul brought banking sector boardroom discipline into the Cabinet during the Covid-19 time in 2020. He was appointed into Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's Cabinet as Minister of Finance after being made a senator. Tengku Zafrul's journey in politics, with no grassroots base and little political baggage, has been unorthodox from the start. He was fielded in Kuala Selangor in 15th General Election (GE15), but he lost. But that did not quite end his political ambitions. He was made a senator again in December 2022 and appointed as the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry in PM Anwar's Cabinet. As his senatorship ends in December 2025, and constitutionally he cannot be reappointed a third time, Tengku Zafrul needs to find a political home – or rather, his future in politics. His shift to PKR feels less like a reinvention, and more like realignment. Some call it survival, others call it strategy. Chin opined that Tengku Zafrul might be eyeing an appointed post in PKR leadership, as well as a winnable seat for the next general election. He said Umno had already viewed Tengku Zafrul as an election candidate with low winnability, particularly in the Malay heartlands. '(Figures like Tengku Zafrul) can only win in mixed areas, so he probably thinks PKR is a better fit for him. 'Since his senatorship can't be renewed, his best chance to continue to serve in government is to stand as a candidate in GE16. 'And since he thinks PKR is a better bet, now is the best time to go in, (after the PKR elections and) two years before GE16.' Well, this is simply Malaysianstyle politics. Tengku Zafrul's decision to join PKR, the very party that was forged in the crucible of 'Reformasi', will raise many uncomfortable questions. Many have asked: 'Is PKR simply broadening its base to include Malaysia's elite, even at the cost of its founding ethos, 'Reformasi'? To some within PKR, his entry is welcomed. Undoubtedly, Tengku Zafrul brings in credentials, networks, and an aura of technocratic professionalism. But to others, especially those who have fought for decades in the political trenches, this cuts deeper. The 'Reformasi', at its heart, was about a struggle for justice, accountability, and a break from entrenched power structures. Today, many critics think PKR is increasingly moving out of the very structures that it once sought to dismantle. Tengku Zafrul is not the first Umno member to walk through its doors. He joins a growing list of former adversaries turned allies. The labels of 'Reformasi' have faded. What remains is a machinery that seems less interested in ideology, and more focused on winnability so as to remain in the government. Questions arise here: Is PKR evolving to reflect Malaysia's new political realities, or is it diluting itself in the process? Can a party remain a vehicle for reform while welcoming those who once upheld the old order? Certainly, Tengku Zafrul is making a bet – that PKR offers the best platform for his future. It's a calculated move. Umno, weakened by electoral losses and internal rifts, offers little more than nostalgia now. PKR, in the government, provides proximity to power. For a man who has tasted ministerial life, it's a logical next step. But for Malaysians watching from the sidelines, this is more than just another political crossover. It signals the continued erosion of ideological clarity in our party system. We are fast becoming a nation where parties are no longer platforms for ideals, but transit lounges for ambition. In this new Malaysia, politicians don't need to believe in a cause – they just need a sense of which way the wind is blowing. Tengku Zafrul has made his move. It might pay off; it might not. But it leaves us with a familiar taste – the tang of disillusionment. Former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has shared the guiding principles behind his decision-making. 'We make all kinds of decisions every day. There are big decisions, and there are small decisions. 'Here is my tip for making decisions. It is not about what we want. 'It is about what needs to happen,' he said in a social media post. PKR, once a symbol of 'Reformasi', perhaps can take this tip in making its decision while asking itself a question: 'Is the party building a broader tent, or simply housing yesterday's power players?' As for the rest of Malaysians, we have seen this play before. We know the ending. And yet, we keep watching.