
PMX extends olive branch to ‘Turun Anwar rally-goers': Have a safe journey home, be back to visit KL's historical sites
With a tinge of sarcasm, he even reminded them to return to Kuala Lumpur (KL) in the future as domestic tourists in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026).
This came about as PMX expressed his gratitude to all security personnel – from the police, firefighters, medical teams to volunteers – who have served with agility, discipline and high dedication to ensure public safety and order as well as the smooth running of the rally.
'To all attendees – whether voicing opinions, showing solidarity or coming from afar – I wish you a safe return to your respective destinations. May your journeys be eased and protected,' penned PMX on all his social media pages.
Saya rakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada semua petugas pasukan keselamatan; dari polis, bomba, pasukan perubatan dan sukarelawan yang telah bertugas dengan ketangkasan, disiplin dan dedikasi yang tinggi menjamin keselamatan dan ketenteraman awam serta memastikan… pic.twitter.com/vfYsJVT89e
— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) July 26, 2025
'And if you have the opportunity in the future, don't forget to return to KL. Historical landmarks around the capital, including the Sultan Abdul Samad Building at Dataran Merdeka is currently undergoing large-scale preservation to boost tourism and support the economy in the Federal capital in conjunction with VMY 2026.'
On a more serious note, PMX who is also the Finance Minister reiterated that he remains steadfast and consistent in upholding democratic principles, namely freedom of speech and the right to express criticism.
Peaceful rally
'Criticism and differing views should not be seen through the lens of hostility; rather, they should continue to flourish and thrive as the heartbeat of a mature, progressive and sovereign nation,' he asserted.
'What matters is that it must proceed in an orderly, peaceful manner and in the spirit of love for the homeland.'
At the same time, PMX also subtly took a jibe at opposition leaders with tendency to absent from Dewan Rakyat proceedings.
'The same principle has been instilled through the Prime Minister's Question Time (PMQT) session in Parliament whereby MPs are free to directly pose any questions and raise objections to me as PM,' he justified.
Thank you Awani sebab sebut puluh ribu je 🤣#TurunAnwar pic.twitter.com/jL1KxSoRv2
— Kak Ton (@AzfarinazAmran) July 26, 2025
'I urge you to continue pressing MPs to actively participate in all sessions, especially the PMQT.'
Though his gesture of extending an olive branch received widespread praises from Madani backers with some even described it as 'masterclass', those who are more neutral reminded PMX that the opposition deserved to be credited for staging a truly peaceful and civilised rally 'unlike the past when even the police car was overturned'.
'As promised by the organisers, the purpose of the rally is not to bring down the government of the day or to stage a riot and far from damaging public assets, but simply to ask the PM to resign,' recounted s commenter.
'This action is completely different from the previous street protest groups such as BERSIH and anti-government (anti-BN) groups.'
While praising PMX for his goodwill gesture to the opposition, another commenter apologised for having to caution PMX before 'matters fall further astray'.
'Please don't take the rakyat's opinions and voices lightly. Don't listen to the bootlickers around you. Keep working for Malaysia. ✨' – July 27, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Federal debt at RM1.3tril as of end-June
Deputy finance minister Lim Hui Ying said the government remains committed to achieving a fiscal deficit target of below 3% of the GDP, and keeping the debt-to-GDP ratio under 60% in the medium-term. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia's federal debt rose to RM1.3 trillion at the end of June, largely driven by continued fiscal deficits to fund public development spending, says deputy finance minister Lim Hui Ying. Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Lim said the increase from RM1.25 trillion at the end of last year was to support strategic development expenditure, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection programmes. She said the fiscal deficit reduced from 5.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 to 4.1% last year, and is projected to fall further to 3.8% in 2025. Debt growth is also slowing, from 10.2% in 2022 to 6.4% in 2024, with a further drop to around 6% projected for 2025. 'This is in line with the government's commitment to achieving a fiscal deficit target of below 3% of GDP, and keeping the debt-to-GDP ratio under 60% in the medium-term, as provided under the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act,' Lim said in response to a question from Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) during an oral question-and-answer session. Lim also outlined several control measures to curb debt growth, including broadening revenue base, rationalising subsidies, and enforcing strict guidelines for government guarantees and public-private partnerships. She said future borrowings would also be limited to high-impact development projects, while government guarantees would be capped at 25% of the GDP under the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act. To strengthen governance, enhance accountability, and improve institutional efficiency, the government is in the process of drafting the Government Procurement Bill and another bill to regulate state-owned enterprises, she added. BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, previously reported that Malaysia would likely miss its fiscal deficit target this year, as spending was seen exceeding projections and revenue might fall. Separately, Lim said household debt in Malaysia stood at RM1.65 trillion as at the end of March 2025, or 84.3% of the GDP. She said this should be viewed in the context of household financial assets remaining significantly higher than the total debt, indicating that the public's overall financial position remained strong. 'On aggregate, household financial assets continue to exceed debt by 2.1 times, providing a solid buffer for households,' she said in response to Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang), who inquired about the debt-to-GDP ratio. She added that the government and Bank Negara Malaysia remained committed to assisting credit users who faced financial difficulties.

Barnama
4 hours ago
- Barnama
Malaysia To Ensure ASEAN Unite For Regional Stability And Peace
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will ensure that ASEAN will be stronger and move in step or in tandem for global stability, prosperity and peace, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said Malaysia is committed to driving the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), accelerating the ASEAN Power Grid and finalising the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement to ensure an open, fair and sustainable economic future for the 660 million people in the region. "Therefore, ASEAN will continue to speak out, ensure harmony and lead with determination, and not just follow the global order," he said in a Facebook post today. The Prime Minister said the world is currently beset by great power tensions, a gruelling geo-economic race and the collapse of multilateralism. Anwar said in this regard, ASEAN must not weaken, divide and lag behind but must unite to strengthen ASEAN's role and ensure that the region's voice continues to be respected. For example, he said Malaysia as the 2025 ASEAN Chairman has led efforts to reconcile Cambodia and Thailand, two neighbouring countries that were almost dragged into a more serious conflict. "With the active involvement of China and the United States, we have succeeded in reaching an agreement on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. "This is proof that diplomacy must underpin our efforts to embody peace and firm leadership," he said. Anwar, who is currently on a working visit to Indonesia, also announced that he was appearing for the first time at the ASEAN Secretariat Building based in Jakarta in conjunction with Malaysia's important role as ASEAN Chairman this year.


New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Dewan Rakyat passes Fisheries Bill amendment to curb illegal fishing
KUALA LUMPUR: The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the intrusion of foreign vessels, was passed in the Dewan Rakyat today. In his winding-up speech, Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said the Bill had undergone an inclusive and holistic review process and had been carefully refined. "It not only addresses domestic needs but also aligns Malaysia with international standards, including the requirements of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the recommendations of the European Commission, positioning the country as one that takes a firm stance against such fishing activity. "This Bill is not merely a legal amendment, but a reform initiative to enhance the governance of the national fisheries sector, ensure resource sustainability, and protect the rights of fishermen, including small communities in rural and island areas," he said. A total of 29 Members of Parliament took part in the debate on the Bill. Touching on the leakage of national resources and losses due to encroachment by foreign fishermen between 2020 and 2024, Arthur said the estimated losses amounted to around RM823 million. These included lost commercial fish catches, the destruction of marine habitats, and pressure on local fishery resources. "This is also related to the intrusion of foreign fishermen into Malaysian waters. The Fisheries Act 1985 already provides authority under subsection 15(1) to act against such intrusions. In 2019, amendments were introduced to raise the maximum fine from RM1 million to RM6 million for vessel skippers, and from RM100,000 to RM600,000 for crew members. "Section 52 also provides for the forfeiture of vessels upon conviction in court. From 2020 to 2024, a total of 515 foreign vessel intrusion cases were recorded, of which 367 involved vessels from Vietnam," he said. He added that Section 25 has been amended to increase the general penalty from RM20,000 to RM100,000. Section 26 raises the maximum fine for fishing offences involving explosives, poisons, or similar substances from RM20,000 to RM250,000, along with imprisonment of up to five years. He said the Bill also addresses ongoing encroachments into restricted fishing zones by trawlers where Subsection 13(3) empowers the Director-General to suspend, revoke, or reject renewal applications of licences belonging to individuals who commit offences in coastal zones. Penalties under this subsection include licence suspension of up to one year, compound fines, and the confiscation of equipment. "Furthermore, subsection 13(3a) allows the Director-General to bar individuals whose licences have been revoked from reapplying for up to five years. This serves as a preventive and deterrent measure to protect national fishery resources and is considered a severe penalty to curb repeat offences," he said. The Bill also introduces amendments to Section 31, aiming to strengthen the compounding mechanism in a way that is fairer to small-scale fishermen. "The minimum compound amount has been reduced from RM500 to RM100, and the cap on the number of compoundable offences has been lifted. "Offences such as fishing without a vessel licence under paragraph 8(a) may now be compounded if they involve traditional fishing methods that do not damage resources or cause encroachment. "Compound regulations are detailed under Section 61. These amendments represent a firm yet compassionate enforcement approach where it is strict on serious offences, but considerate towards minor infractions, reflecting the aspirations of the Madani Government," Arthur said. Arthur also noted that the Bill strengthens joint legal and operational coordination through amendments to Sections 46 to 56, which streamline collaboration between the Department of Fisheries (DOF), the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the police, and the Royal Malaysian Navy. KW: Passed, fisheries, enforcement, IUU, foreign vessels, penalties, Malaysia, The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2025