PH seeks to avoid three-cornered fights in state polls
Published on: Sun, Aug 03, 2025
By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Anwar attends the meeting with other PKR leaders. - Pic by Bernama KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Harapan (PH) is aiming to avoid three-cornered contests in the upcoming 17th State Election, with cooperation among allies being the central strategy. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs PH, said the coalition is prioritising arrangements that prevent internal clashes and promote unity. He noted that PH is working towards a consensus to ensure candidates do not overlap, as such scenarios risk fragmenting voter support. 'But if it has to happen, our position is that we will refrain from contesting to avoid causing divisions,' said Anwar, who also leads Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). He shared this after a closed-door meeting with Sabah PKR leaders here on Sunday when asked about PH's approach if GRS and BN candidates contest the same seats. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
PKR leader's claims linked to internal auditing, police probe finds
Wangsa Maju PKR division chief Lai Chen Heng said a video clip had been selectively edited and circulated to smear his image. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A police investigation into claims by a PKR leader on unaudited contributions to a division found that the issue revolved around internal auditing, the home minister said. Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it was also related to issues with the administration of the party. He said this in a written parliamentary reply to Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who wanted an update on an investigation into a viral video clip featuring a man believed to be the Wangsa Maju PKR division chief. In May, a video, which surfaced on several social media platforms, appears to show Wangsa Maju division chief Lai Chen Heng commenting on financial contributions to the division from a prominent businessman. He allegedly referred to them as 'unaudited funds' associated with a senior political leader. But Lai maintained that the clip had been selectively edited and circulated to smear his image. In April, he had denied claims that the division's 2024 financial statements had been manipulated. He said such claims were baseless and politically motivated, adding that the financial report presented during the division's annual general meeting on March 1 did not receive any objections.
Focus Malaysia
3 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
What is so special about tourism investment zones?
LAST Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled in Parliament the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with RM611 bil earmarked to be spent from 2026 to 2030. What caught my eye was the heading of a Bernama report 'Malaysia tourism growth under 13MP with new investment zones'. Those who have attended the Travel and Tours Enhancement Course (TTEC), rolled out after I have conducted the Training-Of-Trainers in February 2022, may be able to recall that one of the six transformation strategies in the National Tourism Policy of 2020-2030 is to create 'Special Tourism Investment Zones'. Undoubtedly, the many grand master plans unveiled by the federal government over the years have always been world-class, but not so when it comes to implementation and execution. By the end of this year, six years would have elapsed in the 11-year National Tourism Policy. And now, the narrative on STIZs seems to have shifted with the latest announcement that they will be established from next year, and four states have been identified viz. Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak for preserving heritage sites and enhancing rural homestays. According to Anwar, these zones will be the catalyst for new tourism products based on artistic, cultural, and heritage assets, as well as environmental areas like the Sungai Batu archeological site, the Lenggong Valley, and the Niah Caves which are recognised by UNESCO. He added that homestays will be upgraded to spur rural economies, aligning with Visit Malaysia 2026 preparations. Additionally, the Kuala Lumpur Heritage Initiative will restore landmarks such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Merdeka Square, blending modernity with cultural preservation. When conducting TTEC from 2022 to 2024, I informed participants that special tourism investment zones have yet to be established. But their potential will be immense if modelled after free trade zones (FTZs), such as those in Sungai Way and Ulu Klang in Selangor. FTZs were created after a huge piece of land was allocated and many factories built. Before commencement of manufacturing, the entire area is fenced up and the customs will ensure that materials are brought in from entry points and goods sent out to exit points directly without duty. Hence, I imagined that new zones will be created for STIZs with incentives to attract substantial investments on new tourism goods and services. But from the recent announcement, STIZs will now be used as the banner to rehash, upgrade or revitalise existing tourism products. When STIZ was first proclaimed in 2019, four areas were identified for pilot projects, specifically in Langkawi, Putrajaya-Sepang, Port Dickson and Tuaran-Kota Belud. Incentives such as tax reduction, grants, and infrastructure development were still in the works. That year, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad spoke at the World Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur that the STIZ will focus on infrastructure and technology-based investments. The aim was to stimulate and develop new and alternative tourism areas and products. Since then, the STIZ has not progressed beyond vision and mission statements to pragmatic ideas and concrete actions. But the latest announcement has won praises from various tourism industry leaders, either afraid of offending the government or being left out in future dialogues. One of the most effective new ways to develop and promote international and domestic tourism is to set up one-stop centres in cities and major towns all over the country. These tourism centres are to assemble all the best local foods, goods and services under one roof, making each one a unique experience for visitors. They can be a massive shed using the ground floor only or multi-stories like shopping centres. Success is assured if they are professionally managed like commercial malls. But they will fail if operated like government-built food courts where vendors are given priority over customers. The foods, goods and services offered should not be limited to halal only as they must also cater to non-Muslim visitors. If such one-stop tourism centres offer a great variety of local specialities, visitors would be happy to spend many hours shopping, dining and being entertained. Since 2018, I have written numerous published articles on my concept of one-stop tourism centres. Essentially, they require the help of the federal, state and local governments to provide the land and facilitate, and the private sector to build and operate, efficiently and profitably. The catchy name of Special Tourism Investment Zone (STIZ) ought to be used for developing and offering new tourism products, such as one-stop centres, which can become a must-visit in every city and major town. STIZ should not be used to rebrand or hype up long existing products. ‒ Aug 4, 2025 YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Bernama
Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Masiung rejects PM's proposal for GRS-BN-PH alliance
Masiung (right) meeting with community leaders in Tongod yesterday. TONGOD (Aug 4): Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) vice president Datuk Masiung Banah has rejected Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's proposal for Barisan Nasional (BN) to form a tripartite alliance with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) ahead of the 17th State Election. 'Such an understanding is unlikely to materialize as it would confuse voters. Moreover, GRS and PH have already agreed to continue their political cooperation,' Masiung said in response to the Prime Minister's suggestion made yesterday. He added that if a three-party alliance were to take shape, Gagasan Rakyat would stand by Anwar's earlier statement made in Tawau on May 11, where the Prime Minister expressed support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor to lead the seat negotiation process. During a special meeting with Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, Anwar had expressed his intention to mediate negotiations between GRS, BN and PH to avoid three-cornered contests in the upcoming state election. However, Masiung firmly dismissed the idea, describing it as a political 'love triangle' that Gagasan Rakyat — the backbone of GRS — would not support. He emphasized that GRS and PH Sabah already have a solid foundation of political cooperation, particularly in the administration of the state government. 'GRS has lost trust in BN/Umno due to their betrayal during the 'Langkah Kinabalu' episode,' he said, referring to the political manoeuvre he claimed was orchestrated by BN/Umno to undermine the ruling coalition. Masiung pointed out that since the episode, BN/Umno leaders have continuously acted with hostility toward GRS, employing various tactics to destabilize the alliance. 'At the same time, Umno/BN Sabah has also declared that it will no longer work with GRS,' he noted. He urged the Prime Minister to respect GRS's position and honour his earlier commitment to allow GRS chairman Hajiji Noor to lead the seat negotiations among aligned parties ahead of the state polls.
