Tengku Zafrul's exit from UMNO: No rift, tension within party

LONDON: The decision by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz to quit UMNO has not disrupted or raised tension within the party, according to Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the UMNO President, stated that most grassroots members view Tengku Zafrul's resignation from the party as appropriate given his lack of loyalty to UMNO.
'I don't see any indication of 'temperature rising' within UMNO. It's better for him to leave if there is no loyalty to the party. Don't disturb him because he is currently performing the Hajj, hopefully, peace will surround his mind,' he said.
He made these remarks during a press conference after chairing a pre-meeting with the Malaysian delegation in conjunction with his four-day working visit to the United Kingdom, which began today.
Last Friday, Tengku Zafrul announced via a Facebook post that he had submitted his resignation from UMNO to join PKR.
Meanwhile, addressing the question of a cabinet reshuffle if Tengku Zafrul's position as Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry needs to be replaced, Ahmad Zahid said discussions on the matter should be held internally within the Unity Government.
'The absolute right to appoint ministers rests with the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), and in this matter, it is better for us to hold internal discussions to avoid various interpretations,' he said.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid was reported to have said that UMNO wants its quota of seven full ministers in the Federal Cabinet to be restored to the party following Tengku Zafrul's action.

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Zahid leads Malaysian delegation to Geneva disaster risk reduction meeting

The Star

25 minutes ago

The Star

Zahid leads Malaysian delegation to Geneva disaster risk reduction meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is Malaysia's delegation to the Eighth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva on Wednesday (June 4) and Thursday (June 5). Wisma Putra said, in a statement Wednesday, that Ahmad Zahid was accompanied by senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office and the National Disaster Management Agency. "The Deputy Prime Minister was scheduled to deliver Malaysia's National Statement at the eighth GPDRR. He spoke at a ministerial roundtable session on the topic 'Safe Schools Now: Protecting Every Child from Disaster and Climate Risk'," it said. Ahmad Zahid reiterated Malaysia's ongoing commitment to disaster management through initiatives such as the launch of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy, the implementation of the Safe School Programme and the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, as well as the introduction of a Disaster Risk Reduction education programme, the statement added. During his time in Geneva, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, was scheduled to meet Kamal Kishore, the United Nations assistant secretary-general and special representative of the secretary-general for disaster risk reduction. "The meeting aimed to explore potential areas of collaboration between Malaysia and international partners on disaster risk management," the statement said. The GPDRR serves as a platform for evaluating the progress made by United Nations member states in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Malaysia is a founding member of this network and remains steadfast in its commitment to managing and pre-empting disasters in accordance with the 2030 National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy. – Bernama

[Watch] Man United's New Bad Boys: David Beckham Calls Out Young Stars' Fan Fiasco In Malaysia

Rakyat Post

37 minutes ago

Rakyat Post

[Watch] Man United's New Bad Boys: David Beckham Calls Out Young Stars' Fan Fiasco In Malaysia

Subscribe to our FREE Manchester United's post-season tour in Asia has spiralled into a middle-finger fiesta, with club legend David Beckham stepping in to read the riot act to the team's young troublemakers. The drama kicked off when Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho, United's rising stars, were caught flipping the bird at fans during their stop in Kuala Lumpur. Making matters worse, the team managed to lose to the ASEAN All-Stars, adding insult to, well, insult. Beckham, never one to mince words when it comes to United's reputation, didn't hold back: 'Players are not acting in the right manner,' he said, clearly unimpressed with the youngsters' antics. Coming from a man who won six Premier League titles with United, that's got to sting. Middle Finger & Mother Issues Diallo, caught giving the middle finger not once but three times, tried to justify his actions on social media, claiming fans had insulted his mother. 'I shouldn't have reacted like that, but I don't regret what I did,' he posted on X. The excuse fell flat with Malaysian fans, who pointed out that in Malaysian culture, insulting someone's mother is considered highly taboo and culturally unthinkable, especially in a public setting like a football match. Many local supporters criticised Diallo's statement as a convenient cover-up, noting that Malaysian fans are renowned for their hospitality and respect toward visiting teams, making his claim particularly hard to believe. tak payah dah la nak minat kelab sampah tu. buat rosak nama Malaysia je. bila masa tah org panggil dia diallo + hina mak dia. kau tu turun2 bas terus tunjuk jari fuck. — Irfan.H (@irfanhazim97) Meanwhile, Garnacho was spotted not just flipping off fans but also shoving one after the embarrassing defeat. The whole mess unfolded during United's 6,678-km round-trip to Malaysia and Hong Kong, a tour that probably seemed like a good idea on paper but ultimately turned into a PR disaster. The team even managed to need a comeback against Hong Kong's national side after losing to the Southeast Asian all-stars. Fans Pay Big Money For The Bird The incident has led to a heated debate about player conduct, fan behaviour, and what it means to wear the United badge. Local fans, some of whom reportedly paid RM1,500 for tickets, weren't thrilled about getting the finger instead of autographs. 'Paid RM1,500 to get the middle finger. Why Amad, why?' one disappointed supporter posted. For now, the club hasn't officially responded to the incidents, but with Beckham's public criticism and growing fan outrage, it's likely this won't be the last we hear of United's Asian tour fiasco. Bayar RM1500 untuk dapat jari tengah. Why Amad why😔 — Hafiz Razak (@hrfuturesnq) READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

Singapore to acquire 0-79ha of Malaysia-owned land for Woodlands Checkpoint extension

The Star

an hour ago

The Star

Singapore to acquire 0-79ha of Malaysia-owned land for Woodlands Checkpoint extension

Once completed, the redeveloped checkpoint will allow ICA to improve clearance efficiency across all transport modes and reduce the average travel time from the current one hour to 15 minutes during peak periods. - ST File SINGAPORE: The Woodlands Checkpoint will be redeveloped and extended over the next 10 to 15 years, with the first phase of construction works set to begin in the third quarter of 2025. This will serve as a long-term solution to the chronic congestion at the land crossing, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said in a joint statement on June 4. The first phase of redevelopment will involve extending the Woodlands Checkpoint at the Old Woodlands Town Centre. To facilitate the redevelopment project, the Government will acquire two separate small land parcels totalling about 0.79ha and owned by the Malaysian government. Singapore had previously written to Malaysia in May 2022 and November 2023 to propose the purchase. The land parcels, which are located near the middle of the redevelopment profile, are vegetated and not in use, the statement said, adding that the SLA has gazetted the acquisition of the land parcels on June 4. 'SLA and ICA will work closely with the Malaysian Government through the acquisition process,' it added. 'This extension will comprise new automated clearance facilities for cargo vehicles, arriving cars, and arriving motorcycles,' the statement said. The Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) will also be extended to create a direct route for vehicles exiting the checkpoint to access the expressway, so as to reduce traffic congestion on local roads during peak hours, it added. Daily traveller volume at the Woodlands Checkpoint increased by 22 per cent to 327,000 in 2024 from 269,000 in 2023. A record 376,000 travellers crossed the checkpoint on Dec 20, 2024, amid the year-end school holidays. By 2050, the average daily number of travellers passing through the checkpoint is projected to reach 400,000. Subsequent phases of the project will include the building of additional clearance facilities and retrofitting the existing checkpoint. Once completed, the redeveloped checkpoint will allow ICA to improve clearance efficiency across all transport modes and reduce the average travel time from the current one hour to 15 minutes during peak periods. Additionally, the authority will also be able to incorporate more automation to increase efficiency, conduct security checks away from the checkpoint's core structure to mitigate security risks, and provide holding areas for traffic within the checkpoint to reduce congestion on the BKE and along the peripheral roads. 'The redeveloped Woodlands Checkpoint will enhance the immigration clearance experience for travellers crossing the Causeway,' the statement said. 'ICA will continue to leverage technology and develop innovative solutions to facilitate cross-border travel and trade, while keeping our borders secure.' - The Straits Times/ANN