Warisan's pledge to erase student debts sparks rift within GRS
It has also revealed an unexpected divergence of opinion within the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
The plan drew...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Don't let minor issues affect our unity, Sabahans urged
KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans have been urged to prevent minor and isolated disputes, especially those involving race and religion, from undermining unity in the state and country. Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said that although Sabah does not have major issues related to race and religion, occasional arguments arise. 'These small incidents can affect the harmony of our multicultural and diverse community,' he said when launching the district-level Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang (KMJG) in Tambunan on Sunday (Aug 10). 'We cannot let these incidents (go unchecked... because, if) accumulated and unresolved, they could result in an unhealthy situation and become a more serious matter,' he said. Kitingan said efforts to preserve and protect the peace and unity in the state have to continue consistently, along with initiatives to boost patriotism. He said the people must work hard to ensure that the peace and harmony we currently enjoy are preserved and protected for the sake of economic and social development. He said unity is the core element that keeps this country going strong. 'Therefore, we must work harder and together to keep what we have, so that we can achieve objectives, plans and policies meant for the nation and its people,' he added. He said programmes such as KMJG are important to spread awareness of the need to stay united and work as a team to achieve greater success. The KMJG, which started officially on Aug 1, involves a convoy of 20 government and private agencies travelling 2,500km across the state, stopping at 75 checkpoints along the route.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Zara Qairina death probe: No one will be shielded, deputy minister tells Parliament
KUALA LUMPUR: No individual will be shielded or protected in the case of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir as alleged by certain quarters, says the Education Ministry. Its deputy minister Wong Kah Woh said with respect to incidents that occur, whether disciplinary cases or bullying in schools, the ministry has established clear guidelines and circulars that are enforced from time to time. "The Education Ministry will not, and has never, attempted to protect anyone involved, contrary to certain claims that have been made by certain quarters," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna) during Ministers' Question Time. Shafie wanted to know the concrete actions taken on the case of Zara Qairina and how the ministry plans to tackle the issue of bullying at schools Wong stressed that at all levels and at all material times, the ministry remains ready to cooperate fully with the police and to assist in every aspect of the investigation into this case. "In the case of Zara, we now know that the matter is under police investigation. "This issue is currently being handled by the police, and the Education Ministry will leave it to the authorities to carry out their investigations," he said, adding that the ministry will not compromise on the issue related to bullying. The lawyer representing the family of the late Zara Qairina said an inquest may be requested if the results of her post-mortem examination are deemed unsatisfactory by the family. Lawyer Shahlan Jufri said a complete post-mortem report is not yet available, as the procedure was only completed at 7.30pm on Sunday (Aug 10) after beginning at 11am. "The complete post-mortem report is not yet available. It still needs to be prepared," said Shahlan. On Aug 8, the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) instructed the immediate exhumation and post-mortem of deceased Form One student Zara Qairina by the police. Zara Qairina had been pronounced dead at a hospital in Sabah on July 17, a day after she reportedly fell from the third floor of her school dormitory. Her tragic death went viral and sparked mass reactions on social media, which included widespread allegations of bullying.
Daily Express
5 hours ago
- Daily Express
GRS accuses Warisan of hypocrisy
Published on: Monday, August 11, 2025 Published on: Mon, Aug 11, 2025 Text Size: Joniston, who is also Parti Bersatu (PBS) Information Chief said while Warisan has the right to contest all 73 state seats, politics should not be reduced to a game of one-upmanship. Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan's claim it wants to contest all 73 seats in the coming state election so as to block peninsula-based parties interfering in Sabah politics smacks of hypocrisy, says GRS Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai. He recalled the party's action in teaming up with peninsula-based Umno in the failed attempt to unseat the Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor-led State Government in January 2023. Advertisement 'Wasn't Warisan's move in the 'Langkah Kinabalu' plot to give Umno a lifeline? 'Warisan's action shows it is prepared to do anything that serves its interest,' he said. Joniston, who is also Parti Bersatu (PBS) Information Chief said while Warisan has the right to contest all 73 state seats, politics should not be reduced to a game of one-upmanship. 'Even in Sarawak, PBB could govern independently but chose to form GPS for a more inclusive state government,' said the Kiulu assemblyman during a meet-the-people session in Kampung Ranau-Ranau in his constituency. Advertisement He also said political stability from the very first day after polling is critical to ensuring that the government can immediately focus on serving the people. Joniston stressed that Sabah's political realities demand an end to post-election horse-trading, which risks delaying the urgent work of governing. 'We must be realistic. The priority is to have a stable government from day one, without endless bargaining or prolonged negotiations after the election. 'The sooner we have clarity, the sooner we can get to work,' he said. He noted that just as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah works closely with Pakatan Harapan (PH) today, such cooperation safeguards Sabah's voice at the federal level while ensuring the state remains steady in its own governance. He stressed that the partnership is built on mutual respect, with Sabah's leadership and decision-making firmly in the hands of GRS. 'When the state and federal governments can work in sync, Sabah gains in funding, development, and policy support. That's what matters to our people,' he said. Joniston said only with stability can the government fully focus on solving pressing issues, from improving rural infrastructure to ensuring a reliable water and electricity supply and creating more economic opportunities for the people. He added that consistency in principles is essential to earn and keep public trust, especially when safeguarding Sabah's autonomy. While acknowledging that the people's mandate will ultimately shape the next government, he said GRS is committed to placing Sabah's stability and development above political brinkmanship. * 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
