Malaysia Edition: Anwar's daughter fights for PKR's No. 2 post
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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has retained the presidency of his ruling Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) unopposed for a final term. The real drama now lies in the battle to be heir-apparent.
His daughter, Ms Nurul Izzah, is challenging incumbent Rafizi Ramli for the number two spot, sparking outcry of nepotism in the party where only Datuk Seri Anwar or his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail - who now chairs PKR's advisory council - have ever been president.
If Ms Nurul were to win the deputy president's post, that would signal a comeback of dynastic politics that seemed to be on the wane. Two other political families in Malaysia, the Lim family of the Democratic Action Party and former premier Najib Razak, whose father Tun Razak Hussein led the country in the 1970s, have been losing prominence in recent years.
Najib is seeking to be put under house arrest for the remainder of his reduced six-year sentence related to the 1MDB scandal. He can submit another appeal for clemency next year,with a new Malaysian King presiding over the Pardons Board. But, a survey of over 1,200 Malaysians found that less than a third say he deserves an early release.
Follow ST's coverage as we continue to bring you the latest developments.
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Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Straits Times
Malaysian political cartoonist's travel ban stirs anger, but police call it a mistake
– The Malaysian government faced accusations of stifling dissent after a June 7 Facebook post by popular local political cartoonist Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin, saying he had been banned from leaving the country. Backbench MPs, analysts and the public said the ban was unwarranted. But on June 8, the police claimed it was a mistake, caused by 'procedural confusion' in placing him on an observation list. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered the police to provide an explanation, stating that the government 'respects personal freedom, provided it does not compromise national security or violate any existing laws'. In his Facebook post, Mr Fahmi said he was stopped at immigration at Kuala Lumpur International Airport while on his way to Singapore to see his favourite punk rock band. He claimed an immigration officer told him that Bukit Aman – the Malaysian police headquarters – had prohibited him from travelling abroad. 'I asked, 'Why?'' Mr Fahmi wrote on Facebook. 'The immigration officer replied, 'You need to ask Bukit Aman'. 'What's my offence? 'Only the Bukit Aman police and the Malaysian government can answer'.' His post garnered more than 19,000 reactions, 6,400 comments and 3,300 shares on June 8. Malaysia's police chief Razarudin Husain said Mr Fahmi was not subject to a travel ban, but he is under surveillance as part of an ongoing investigation. No details on the investigation were given. 'There was a confusion during the checkpoint verification process on June 7, which led to the erroneous issuance of a travel ban. The situation is currently under review and appropriate measures will be taken to update the relevant procedures,' Tan Sri Razarudin said in a statement . Mr Fahmi was dissatisfied with the police statement and said he will initiate legal action against the government. 'I did not see any officials dare to be responsible for their error to block my personal freedom of movement... Now it's time for the people to drag the authority into the court,' the activist said. In 2016, Mr Fahmi rose to prominence after caricaturing then Prime Minister Najib Razak as a 'sinister clown' in connection with the multi-billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. He was charged with the improper use of network facilities with the intent to offend and annoy others. In July 2019, he was fined RM10,000 (S$3,030). In December 2024, Mr Fahmi was arrested and probed for ridiculing incoming Sabah governor Musa Aman as ' No 1 Corrupter' in a n artwork that depicted him with a RM100 note in place of his tongue. Tun Musa was accused of being involved in a US$63 million (S$81 million) timber kickback scheme during his tenure as Sabah chief minister from 2003 to 2018. But the charges against him were withdrawn in June 2020, causing widespread criticism. On May 29, 2025, the Sabah state government, which has the immigration autonomy , denied Mr Fahmi entry into the state – without giving an explanation. On Mr Fahmi's Facebook post about being denied freedom of travel, Asian Studies professor James Chin of Tasmania University described the Malaysian government's move as authoritarian. 'Silencing dissent and cracking down on political satire is not a national security matter – it's an excuse. Blocking someone from travelling over criticism is authoritarian, plain and simple. 'People are starting to see no real difference between Madani and Barisan Nasional (BN), and it's becoming clearer by the day,' Dr Chin penned in a Facebook post on June 7. Madani refers to Datuk Seri Anwar's slogan for civilised society under his administration. Before coming to federal power in May 2018, the Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan criticised the then-BN government for imposing travel bans on dissidents – most notably political cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, who goes by the pen name Zunar; then-MP Tony Pua and Miss Maria Chin Abdullah, then chairwoman of the Bersih electoral reform group. Democratic Action Party (DAP) MP Syahredzan Johan stated that a travel ban cannot be imposed without strong justification. Mr Syahredzan, a lawyer who represented Mr Fahmi in the Najib caricature case, noted that the cartoonist had been allowed to travel abroad during the legal proceedings and had always cooperated with the authorities when required. 'If the travel ban is due to an ongoing investigation, such action is unnecessary, as Mr Fahmi is not a flight risk,' the DAP national vice-chairman said in a statement on June 8. Lu Wei Hoong is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in transport and politics. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Straits Times
Malaysia matriculation U-turn: Top scorers denied entry after quiet grading policy shift
The SPM exam is equivalent to Singapore's O levels. The matriculation programme, which is akin to pre-university education here, takes one or two years to complete. PHOTO: BERNAMA KUALA LUMPUR – When Ms Veronica's daughter scored 10 As in her school-leaving exam, the family was confident she would secure a coveted place in Malaysia's public pre-university course, known as the matriculation programme. This was because Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had publicly assured on June 30, 2024, that all students with 10 As – typically defined as a mix of A+, A and A- grades – for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams would be guaranteed a spot in the programme, regardless of race. The SPM exam is equivalent to Singapore's O levels. The matriculation programme, which is akin to pre-university education here, takes one or two years to complete. The latter is a public education route that is much highly sought after, as those on it are guaranteed places in Malaysia's public universities, making it a cheaper option than private local colleges. As a reference, the cost to study computer science at a public university can cost about RM10,200 per course, while the cost of attending a local private tertiary institution starts from approximately RM62,000 for the entire course. Ms Veronica's 17-year-old daughter scored A+ grades in six subjects, A in two subjects, and A- in another two, and got a near-perfect merit score of 99.46 out of 100 for her academic achievements and co-curricular activities. But when the placement results were released in May , she was unexpectedly left out. 'We genuinely had high hopes of her getting into the matriculation programme. We believed she had a fair chance, so when she wasn't offered a spot, it was a real disappointment for our family,' said Ms Veronica, a government servant who declined to use her full name for fear of repercussions. 'It's deeply disheartening and frustrating. We understand there are limited places, but when near-perfect students are rejected with no clear explanation, it raises serious questions about fairness,' she said, adding that her daughter's friend was similarly disappointed despite scoring even better grades. Mr Anwar's 2024 announcement had been lauded as a bold step towards meritocracy and raised hopes among students, in a system where 90 per cent of the available slots in matriculation colleges are reserved for bumiputeras – categorised as Malays and other indigenous ethnic groups. But with a limited 30,000 spots available per intake and a longstanding racial quota, the latest disappointment faced in matriculation placements has reignited debate over fairness, meritocracy and the need for reform in Malaysia's post-secondary education system. It was also revealed in an April 30 circular by the Education Ministry that an A- grade will no longer be considered an A grade under revised matriculation entry requirements. As a result, students must attain A and A+ grades to get the straight As required for admission to the matriculation programme . The change was later confirmed by Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh via a Facebook post on May 9. The policy shift has drawn the ire of hundreds of high SPM scorers, who got their results on April 24, many of whom would have qualified as having scored 10 As under previous grading interpretation. The youth wing of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), which is part of the ruling unity government, said that more than 400 students have sought its assistance over the matter. On June 4, the party submitted an official appeal, including academic transcripts, to the Education Ministry for the students to secure matriculation spots. MCA Youth central committee member Ong Chee Siang said the grade classification was unfair and came without any warning. 'The government should have announced this earlier, at least three to five months before they took the SPM exams,' he said. He also noted some inconsistencies, highlighting a case where twin sisters had both scored 9As and 1A-minus for their SPM results and had nearly identical co-curricular points. One received a placement in the matriculation programme, while the other did not. 'If two students have similar SPM results but only one secures a spot in matriculation, something isn't right,' Mr Ong said. He added that a 2009 circular had classified A- as part of the A range. But considerations for matriculation placement do and should go beyond just getting straight As, several experts told The Straits Times. And while the dashed hopes in light of earlier assurances by PM Anwar are understandable, guaranteeing admission based solely on top grades is not the answer to improving post-secondary education. A government source familiar with the matter guided ST through the criteria for matriculation entry, explaining that admissions are multifaceted. Socio-economic background and racial quotas play a significant role, in addition to merit-based scores. These criteria vary across streams such as science, engineering, computer science and accountancy. A student's merit score is calculated based on four core subjects – of which mathematics is compulsory – making up 90 per cent of the total score. The remaining 10 per cent is derived from co-curricular activities. He explained that students from families in the bottom 40 per cent of income earners, known as the B40, are also given priority over academically stronger candidates from the middle (M40) and top (T20) income brackets. Basing admission to matriculation colleges on just on a straight-A metric itself is flawed, said higher education policy researcher Wan Chang Da, who is also a former director of the National Higher Education Research Institute, a government agency. 'Using grades alone is a narrow way to measure talent,' he told ST. 'Students who can afford tuition are more likely to get top scores. It perpetuates inequality.' The discussion has devolved into a 'hair-splitting' debate, said Dr Lee Hwok Aun, senior fellow and co-coordinator of the Malaysia Studies Programme at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, adding that the initial promise of guaranteed placements should not have been made in such a 'knee-jerk' manner. 'I understand that the government seeks a clear and straightforward method using an easily understood metric, but any 'guarantee' of admission is bound to become problematic because the real world is more complex and diverse,' he told ST. Spots in matriculation collages are also extremely limited. And while the government tried to increase the yearly intake to up to 40,000 students for the 2020 academic year, a review determined that only 30,000 students could be admitted due to the limited capacity of the matriculation colleges. The current intake for the matriculation programme has not changed. And of these, 27,000 spots are allocated to bumiputera students, while 3,000 are reserved for non-bumiputera students – maintaining the 90:10 quota ratio. For the non-bumiputera allocation, the 10 per cent quota is further divided by ethnicity: 5.43 per cent for Chinese students, 3.72 per cent for Indian students, and 0.85 per cent for students of other minority backgrounds. Circling back to the discussion about matriculation spots, Dr Wan said: 'This is a critical moment for Prime Minister Anwar to reform post-secondary pathways and improve university access to retain Malaysia's talent.' As for Ms Veronica's daughter, if she is unable to secure a spot in the matriculation programme for medicine, she plans to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Her parents believe her academic performance may qualify her for a scholarship, to help offset the cost. 'Initially, she couldn't accept the idea, but after discussing and analysing the situation with her and some friends, she is now open to considering it as her Plan B.' Hazlin Hassan is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
18 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Thailand and Cambodia reinforcing troops on disputed border after May skirmish, Thai minister says, Asia News
BANGKOK -Thailand has reinforced its military presence along a disputed border with Cambodia, following an increase in troops on the other side, Thailand's defence minister said on Saturday (June 7). Tensions between the two Southeast Asian countries have been simmering since a Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 in a brief conflict in an undemarcated border area. For days, the two Southeast Asian governments have been exchanging carefully worded statements committing to dialogue. But Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as Thailand's deputy prime minister, said Cambodia had rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that could have led to a de-escalation. "Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border," Phumtham said in a statement. "Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly." He did not provide details on the extent of reinforcements by either side. In a separate statement on Saturday, the Thai army said Cambodian soldiers and civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand's territory. "These provocations, and the build-up of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force," the Thai army said, adding that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the border with Cambodia. Although border checkpoints between the two countries remain open, they may gradually become more restrictive, ranging from earlier closing times to complete closures, depending on security assessments in each area, Thai army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree said. Thailand currently operates 17 official border crossings with Cambodia, spanning seven provinces along their shared 817-km (508 miles) frontier, government data shows. A spokesperson for Cambodia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on the Thai army's announcement. "This is our stance, not to initiate conflict, but to defend ourselves," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in speech earlier on Saturday. [[nid:716740]] "Our guiding principles are ... respect for international legal frameworks. These grounded strategies are key to safeguarding our nation's sovereignty," he said, adding that its armed forces were ready to defend against aggression. Thailand remains committed to pursuing bilateral dialogue as a means to restore stability, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday. "The Thai side reaffirms its readiness to engage through established bilateral mechanisms, particularly the upcoming meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), scheduled for June 14," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters. "We sincerely hope that the negotiations will proceed in good faith", he added. The military reinforcements come despite efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current chair of the Southeast Asian Asean bloc, and China to reduce tensions. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817 km (508 miles) land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Current governments in both countries, however, have enjoyed warm ties. Former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen have had a close relationship, and Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are now the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. Still, nationalist sentiment has risen in Thailand and the Thai military said on Friday it is ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty. Cambodia said this week it would refer disputes over four parts of the border to the International Court of Justice and asked Thailand to co-operate. Phumtham reiterated in his Saturday statement that Thailand does not recognise the jurisdiction of the court and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
