No party tension after Zafrul's Umno exit
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.
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
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
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
SBEU calls out committee overseeing MTUC for 'overstepping mandate' on congress exclusion from ILC
Andrew Lo KUCHING (June 4): The Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU) has criticised the Joint Special Committee (JBK) overseeing the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) for allegedly overstepping its mandate by protesting the government's decision to exclude MTUC from the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland. SBEU chief executive officer Andrew Lo said the union had been made aware that the JBK had misused its platform to issue a protest statement. 'We are very concerned at such a statement as this is not within the mandate of the Joint Special Committee to nominate any officials to be a delegate. 'In absence of such a nomination, the government is unable to grant credentials from MTUC,' he said in a statement. Lo, who is also Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) deputy president, pointed out that the JBK was only empowered to conduct a Special Delegate Conference to elect new MTUC office bearers, and to administer MTUC affairs temporarily. 'On 21 Feb 2025, pursuant to a High Court Order (with the consent of the disputing parties), a Joint Special Committee shall be formed for the Malaysian Trades Union Congress with very specific role to conduct a Special Delegate Conference to elect new office bearers. 'Such Special Delegate Conference shall be carried out within 90 days from February 21, 2025, to i.e. May 22, 2025. 'It is unfortunate that the Joint Special Committee was unable to conduct the Special Delegate Conference within the stipulated time. As a result, as to date, there is no new officer bearers to carry out the functions of MTUC.' He stressed that by the consent order, the JBK's only role was to hold the Special Delegate Conference and to perform administration of MTUC until May 22 this year. 'It does not give the Joint Special Committee the mandate to nominate anyone to be a delegate of, or to represent MTUC, at any conference or organisation. 'Such actions may be seen as contempt of Court and MTUC may be sanctioned by the court,' he said. Lo stressed that it is imperative that MTUC gets its internal issues in order. 'This is so that we can play our proper role to represent the interest of workers in Malaysia. 'These should be the priority instead of harping about attending a foreign conference,' he said. On June 3, MTUC JBK chairman J Solomon in a statement had expressed shock over the failure of the Ministry of Human Resources to include MTUC, which is the official workers' representative in the official Malaysian delegation, in the ILC for the first time ever. 'The ministry has registered 40 government officials and eight employer representatives, but not a single representative from MTUC. 'This is a clear violation of the ILO Constitution, which requires full tripartite representation,' he said. He described the exclusion as an 'extreme embarrassment to Malaysia and the ministry officials especially when it is currently the chairman of the Asean.' 'It is an action that equates to backward countries like of Myanmar,' he said. He said MTUC has since filed a formal complaint with the ILO Credentials Committee over this serious breach.
Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Daily Express
Brunei ruler returns home after hospital admission in Malaysia
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah ahead of the 46th Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur. (AP pic) Kuala Lumpur: Brunei's ruler Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah returned home on Tuesday, the Prime Minister's office said, after resting in Malaysia following his admission to a Malaysian hospital with fatigue last week. Sultan Hassanal returned to Brunei with his consort Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, after meeting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the office said in a statement on Tuesday night. He was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for fatigue during a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders last week in Kuala Lumpur. He was discharged at the weekend and had remained in Malaysia to rest. 'He is in good condition and the recovery process has gone smoothly after being discharged from the IJN recently,' Anwar said in a post on X. Sultan Hassanal holds multiple roles in the small Southeast Asian nation, serving as Brunei's prime minister, armed forces commander, finance minister, foreign minister and defence minister. * 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
