
Top students plead to home minister to resolve citizenship woes
Three top-performing students have made an emotional appeal to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to resolve their long-standing citizenship issues so that their future can be safeguarded.
At a press conference organised by Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today, 26-year-old Virman Juri, a scholarship recipient who holds two degrees, said he is still fighting for recognition as a Malaysian citizen despite his academic achievements.

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The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Anwar's approval rises to 55% amid economic stability
KUALA LUMPUR: A survey by Merdeka Center, an independent organisation focused on public opinion research and socio-economic analysis, found that a majority of Malaysian voters gave Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a positive approval rating of 55 per cent in May this year compared with 43 per cent in June last year. The centre said the survey on 1,208 registered voters showed that Malaysians are beginning to feel that the country is finally on steadier ground with political turbulence easing and Anwar now leading a government with a two-thirds parliamentary majority. 'Institutional reforms like the revived Parliamentary Services Act 2025 also signal a return to principled governance,' it said in a statement today. It said public frustration over the cost of living has also been mitigated by the government's minimum wage increase to RM1,700 combined with festive cash aid for civil servants and ongoing fuel subsidies amid inflation at a three-year low of 1.4 per cent in March 2025 and economic growth hitting 4.4 per cent in the first quarter. 'While the survey continues to show that the public's top concerns remain the economy, the absence of price shocks despite the withdrawal of diesel fuel subsidies in 2024 has helped ease sentiments,' it said. The centre said Anwar has also enhanced Malaysia's global profile by hosting China's President Xi Jinping and chairing ASEAN in 2025 which gave him a diplomatic spotlight. 'New investment deals, trade cooperation and leadership in Global South initiatives have bolstered his image at home,' it said. At the same time, the centre said the federal government's rating also improved to 50 per cent in May 2025 compared with 40 per cent in June 2024. It said dissatisfaction towards the federal government eased to 48 per cent compared with 58 per cent a year ago. 'The tight spread between positives and negatives are largely driven by persistent concerns about cost of living pressures and some anxiety over subsidy cuts slated to take place in the near future,' it said. It said the number of surveyed voters who think the country is headed in the wrong direction declined to 50 per cent compared with 61 per cent a year ago while the number of voters thinking the country is heading in the right direction improved to 43 per cent compared with 29 per cent in June 2024. 'The major reasons for the wrong direction remain focused on the trajectory of the national economy and the performance of the current administration,' it said. The survey was carried out between May 12 and May 23 to gauge voters' perceptions of current developments as the MADANI administration marks the midpoint of its term in office. Respondents who comprised 52 per cent Malay, 29 per cent Chinese, seven per cent Indian, six per cent Muslim Bumiputra and six per cent Non-Muslim Bumiputra from Sabah and Sarawak, reflective of the national electoral profile, were interviewed via fixed line and mobile telephones.


Borneo Post
16 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
Take lesson from Sinar Harian case, media organisations advised
File photo for illustration purposes KUCHING (June 23): The Malaysian Media Council has stressed that all media organisations must be held accountable for their content, following a recent publishing error by Sinar Harian involving the profile of the newly-appointed Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Having said that, the council also emphasised that responsibility, accountability and press freedom must go hand in hand. 'Media outlets should implement robust internal procedures that reflect professional journalistic standards and ethical practices. 'This is vital in sustaining public trust and upholding the integrity of the media profession,' it said in a statement today. However, the council also warned against heavy-handed or disproportionate responses from the authorities when addressing errors made by media outlets. 'Invoking punitive laws to penalise journalists or publications would risk undermining media freedom. The solution to flawed journalism is better journalism, and not intimidation or suppression. 'In reference to the Sinar Harian case, it is noted that the publication has since apologised and requested a meeting with the IGP, who has reportedly agreed,' said the statement. Thus the council expressed hope that the issue can be resolved in a constructive and respectful manner, underscoring the importance of addressing errors within the proper frameworks. The Council also acknowledged that mistakes, while unfortunate, are part of any profession. It said what matters most is how the media responds to such lapses through transparency, humility, and a commitment to continuous improvement. 'Although the Malaysian Media Council has not yet been fully constituted, the founding board issued the statement to reaffirm its commitment to fostering a media environment that upholds freedom of expression while maintaining high ethical and professional standards,' said the statement. The Council thus reiterated the importance of fact-checking, particularly when reporting on key national institutions, and advocated for constructive accountability rather than punitive control. The statement was signed by the Founding Board of the Malaysian Media Council, which includes representatives from media owners, media practitioners and civil society. Representing media owners are Phyllis Wong Yang Yong of Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo, James Sarda of Sabah Publishing House, Premesh Chandran of Malaysiakini, and Ashwad Ismail of Astro Awani. Representing media practitioners are Radzi Razak from Geramm, Teh Athira Yusof from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ronnie Teo Teck Wei of the Kuching Division Journalists Association, and Muthameez Manan from the Tamil Media Association. Representing civil society and academia are Gayathry Venkiteswaran from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, Celine Lim from SAVE Rivers, Terence Ooi Guan Tseng of Wiki Impact, and Azmyl Yunor from Sunway University. The Malaysian Media Council is established under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025.

Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Merdeka Center's Survey Shows PM Anwar's Approval Rating Rises To 55 Pct
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- A survey by Merdeka Center, an independent organisation focused on public opinion research and socio-economic analysis, found that a majority of Malaysian voters gave Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a positive approval rating of 55 per cent in May this year compared with 43 per cent in June last year. The centre said the survey on 1,208 registered voters showed that Malaysians are beginning to feel that the country is finally on steadier ground with political turbulence easing and Anwar now leading a government with a two-thirds parliamentary majority. 'Institutional reforms like the revived Parliamentary Services Act 2025 also signal a return to principled governance,' it said in a statement today. It said public frustration over the cost of living has also been mitigated by the government's minimum wage increase to RM1,700 combined with festive cash aid for civil servants and ongoing fuel subsidies amid inflation at a three-year low of 1.4 per cent in March 2025 and economic growth hitting 4.4 per cent in the first quarter. 'While the survey continues to show that the public's top concerns remain the economy, the absence of price shocks despite the withdrawal of diesel fuel subsidies in 2024 has helped ease sentiments,' it said. The centre said Anwar has also enhanced Malaysia's global profile by hosting China's President Xi Jinping and chairing ASEAN in 2025 which gave him a diplomatic spotlight. 'New investment deals, trade cooperation and leadership in Global South initiatives have bolstered his image at home,' it said. At the same time, the centre said the federal government's rating also improved to 50 per cent in May 2025 compared with 40 per cent in June 2024. It said dissatisfaction towards the federal government eased to 48 per cent compared with 58 per cent a year ago.