Latest news with #AnneMuhammad
Daily Express
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
BN-PH pact stands despite GRS-PH deal: Zahid
Published on: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 30, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, FMT Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( pic ) has reiterated that the coalition's alliance with Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming Sabah state elections is final, after Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) announced a similar pact with PH. Zahid maintained that BN and PH's cooperation was 'locked in' following an agreement made at the federal level. 'We have already finalised our collaboration with PH, which means that both BN and PH have been locked in as partners for the Sabah state elections. 'Meanwhile, PH and GRS have also finalised the cooperation between them,' he said when met on the sidelines of an event at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre here. This indicates that BN and GRS are likely to clash in the upcoming state election. On Sunday, GRS chairman Hajiji Noor announced that the Sabah ruling coalition and PH had agreed to form an alliance in the upcoming state polls. He said seat negotiations had commenced and a basic formula established, with several 'minor matters' needing to be finalised. Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud later confirmed that Sabah PH's components had also agreed to the pact. In May, the head of the unity government's secretariat, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki of Umno, and PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that BN and PH would work together in the Sabah polls. Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin later said the coalition would not work with GRS in the state election, but would only consider cooperation after the outcome of the polls. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had, however, hoped that all three coalitions would be able to work together for the polls. Sabah Umno and GRS used to be allies in the state government, but Bung led a failed attempt to unseat Hajiji in January 2023 by retracting support for the chief minister. Hajiji remained as chief minister with the backing of PH, which is now part of the state government. Umno sits in the opposition with Warisan. - FMT * 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
Daily Express
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
LIVE: I'm not attending rally, says Tian Chua
Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar, Yee Suet Mun, FMT Text Size: Kuala Lumpur: What started as a protest against the planned Urban Renewal Act (URA) quickly shifted to a rally at Dataran Merdeka demanding for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister. According to the organisers, PAS Youth, 300,000 participants are expected today, but police estimates put it at 10,000 to 15,000. Stay tuned as FMT's Afizi Ismail, Andrea Edmonds, Anne Muhammad, Hizami Safri, Moganraj Villavan, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar and Yee Suet Mun bring you live coverage of the protest. 2.06pm – Tian Chua skipping rally Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua said he will not be attending today's rally, although he was slated to speak at Dataran Merdeka around 3.15pm based on a schedule sent by organisers. 'I'm not going to the rally although the organiser sent me an invitation,' he told FMT. 1.45pm – Gerakan leader addresses crowd in Mandarin At Dataran Merdeka, a rather amusing scene cropped up as a Gerakan leader started addressing the crowd, who are mostly Malay, in Mandarin. Malaysiakini reported that the protesters were in the dark as to what he was saying in his speech, but still shouted in support while all smiles. 1.38pm – Over 3,500 protesters at Sogo Policemen estimate that over 3,500 protesters are gathered at Sogo, though rally-goers claim that there are nearly 10,000 of them. They will begin moving towards Dataran Merdeka at about 2.30pm. 1.37pm – PN has capable leaders Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said no prime minister is 'irreplaceable'. He claimed that Perikatan Nasional, the coalition his party is a component of, has capable leaders, but did not name anyone in particular. 1.32pm – From Bersih to 'Turun Anwar' with kids in tow Zulaikha Zaidi, 29, from Muar, Johor, had brought her three children, aged four, eight and 11, to the rally but said this was not her first time bringing her child to such an assembly. She said she had also attended the Bersih 5 rally in 2016 with her eldest child, who was a year and a half at the time. Zulaikha acknowledged that the law did not allow parents to bring children under the age of 15 to rallies, but said this was to give them 'experience'. She said she had no one else who could look after them while she was at the rally. 1.25 pm – Organisers had no permission to set up stage at Dataran Merdeka Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said the rally's organisers did not apply for any permit to set up a temporary stage at Dataran Merdeka. The stage has since been removed by DBKL. He said there were safety concerns over the stage's structure, adding that there was no indication as to how many people would be on the stage at any one time. 'The earlier agreement between the police and the organisers was that two Toyota Hiluxes would be used as a 'stage',' he said in a brief statement to the media. 1.10pm – Business opportunities at rally Under the scorching sun near Sogo, a group of teenagers found a way to show support and make some pocket money by selling cold drinks. The three friends, all aged about 17, set up a roadside stall with nine large jars of different beverages, selling the drinks at RM5 a cup. 'It's really hot today, so we thought people would definitely want a cold drink,' said one of the teenagers, known only as Aidil. Another group of friends – four to five men in their 40s – took the opportunity to sell t-shirts and headbands at RM20 and RM5, respectively. One of them, who introduced himself simply as AG, said they were here to 'do business and call for the prime minister to step down'. 12.58pm – I wasn't invited, says Anwar Met at an event in Putrajaya, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim quipped that he will not be attending today's rally as he was not invited by the organisers. 'I wasn't invited,' he said briefly when asked by reporters. 12:55pm – Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan addresses crowd at Sogo Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan reminded the protesters of their right to assemble and to free speech, which was guaranteed under the Peaceful Assembly Act and the Federal Constitution. Takiyuddin, who is the PAS secretary-general, also reassured the crowd at Sogo that today's assembly was legitimate as they had informed the authorities about the gathering much earlier. He thanked the police for facilitating the rally and for keeping the peace. Takiyuddin also called on the protesters to make citizen arrests if they come across those who incite violence and hand them over to the police. 'We need to ensure that the rally does not breach any law or violate the constitution,' he said. 12.54pm – Masjid Jamek protesters start marching to Dataran Protesters gather outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad have started marching to Dataran Merdeka, while those at Sogo are expected to start moving at about 2pm. 12.46pm – Family on holiday turns up for rally Met at the rally, Mohamad Zaini from Kedah said he and his family were supposed to be in KL for a short holiday and to attend his wife's convocation ceremony. 'It so happened that the rally is taking place while we are in town, so we decided to come and support,' said Mohamad, who was accompanied by his wife and their two children, aged 10 and eight. 12.42pm – Over 2,000 gather at Masjid Jamek More than 2,000 protesters have gathered outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, according to estimates by policemen. During the speeches, one protester on a megaphone said they were there 'not to terrorise anyone but for the rakyat's voice to be heard', drawing cheers from other rally-goers. 12.12pm – 'Hidup Rakyat', 'Turun Anwar' chants ring out Chants of 'Hidup Rakyat' and 'Turun Anwar' have started ringing out from Sogo and Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad. The protesters were informed that they will start marching to Dataran Merdeka at 1pm. Using a megaphone, one protester said they were all gathering 'from Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak to call for Anwar to step down'. Attendees were spotted wearing black t-shirts listing various grievances with the government, including the expanded sales and service tax, the URA, and the apparent lack of reforms implemented by the government. 11:55am – Crowd continues to swell The number of participants gathered continues to swell, with about 1,000 now gathered outside Sogo. The atmosphere remains lively, with traders selling 'Turun Anwar' merchandise like headbands, t-shirts, fans and stickers. Some protesters were seen with their children in tow too. The Peaceful Assembly Act prohibits bringing a child to protests. PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was spotted outside Sogo briefing the party's volunteer corps, Unit Amal, which has been tasked with crowd control for the rally. At Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, more than 300 people have gathered. One participant who resides in Bangsar said the reason he was participating in the rally was to show the government that it 'cannot just do whatever it likes'. 'They made a lot of promises before this but they have not been fulfilled,' he said. 11.45am – DBKL seizes stage meant for rally Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has confiscated a stage and equipment that were set up at Dataran Merdeka this morning for the rally. In a Facebook post, PAS member Nurul Islam Yusoff criticised the authorities, saying party workers had started setting up the stage at 3am. PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden claimed the authorities had agreed to allow them to set up the stage yesterday. 11am – Hundreds gather at 5 meeting points Hundreds of rally-goers have started to gather at five meeting points around the city centre, namely Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex. The atmosphere at Sogo is more lively but there are fewer protesters outside Masjid Negara. PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah was among those spotted at the rally so far. * 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
Daily Express
20-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Debt reduction key to investor confidence, says Anwar
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, FMT Reporters Text Size: Putrajaya brought the deficit down from 5.5% in 2022 to 5% in 2023, and 4.1% last year. PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today reiterated the government's commitment to gradually reducing the national debt while ensuring continued development and investor confidence. Speaking at the finance ministry's monthly assembly in Putrajaya, Anwar said continuous efforts had been made since 2022 to bring down the country's fiscal deficit from 5.5% to the latest projection of 3.8% this year. Advertisement 'Some people ask why we are so focused on reducing it. They say we should just give more to the people. But without this effort, there will be no (investor) confidence,' he said. Anwar, who is also finance minister, added that investor confidence would translate to investments, which could help raise the national revenue, provide job opportunities, and contribute to the nation's overall development. Putrajaya brought the deficit down from 5.5% in 2022 to 5% in 2023, and 4.1% last year. The Treasury had said this would slow the growth of the national debt with a drop in new government borrowings each year, from nearly RM100 billion in 2022 to RM92.6 billion in 2023, and around RM77 billion last year. Advertisement Anwar also dismissed claims that the government's debt reduction efforts had compromised public welfare, saying the approach should be seen as a long-term strategy. 'Since we took over, the debt has been reduced by RM20 billion. 'It's like someone inheriting a company after his father passes away. The company owes RM50,000. The son can't be expected to settle the debt in a year – it has to be done in stages,' he said. * 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
Daily Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Letting US-based firm make e-cigarettes in Johor ‘a huge mistake', says expert
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, FMT Text Size: Ispire Technology Inc claimed to be the only company fully authorised to manufacture, import, and export nicotine products in Malaysia, and said it could start operations immediately. (LinkedIn pic) PETALING JAYA: A health expert has criticised the move to grant a US-based company licence to manufacture electronic cigarette devices with nicotine-based liquids or gels in Johor, describing it as 'a huge mistake'. Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the green light for Ispire Technology Inc would give the impression that the government endorsed the vape industry. He said this was at odds with its efforts to curb smoking, especially among the youth. 'It is a huge misstep by the government, and now they are in damage control mode,' he told FMT, referring to the health ministry's assurance that nicotine-based vape liquids remain tightly regulated. 'Malaysia aims to become a tobacco-free nation by 2040, but this licence is inconsistent with its goal.' Health think tank CodeBlue recently reported that Ispire Technology, which operates a facility in Senai, Johor, had its interim licence approved last month by both federal and state authorities. The company claimed to be the only one fully authorised to manufacture, import, and export nicotine products in Malaysia, and said it could start operations immediately. The health ministry subsequently said that nicotine-based vape liquids remained tightly regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), despite their approval for sale in Malaysia. The ministry said these products fell under the category of 'smoking products', under Section 2 of Act 852 which covers any substances used for smoking including nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, and triethylene glycol. It also said that the manufacturing licence was issued by the investment, trade and industry ministry through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975. The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) agreed that granting Ispire Technology a licence would send mixed signals. Fomca CEO T Saravanan said it would give the impression that the product was safe for consumption despite the lack of evidence that vape is a healthier alternative to smoking. He added that public health should not take a back seat to the vape industry. 'If the government is really committed to protecting the younger generation from nicotine addiction, they should bar manufacturers from selling the product in the local market,' he said. * 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
Daily Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
GRS's 52-seat bid risks straining ties with national party allies, says analyst
Published on: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 28, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, FMT Text Size: An analyst said a proposal for GRS to contest 52 out of 73 seats in the upcoming state polls could spark dissatisfaction among national party allies. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: An analyst has cautioned that the call for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to contest 52 out of 73 seats in the upcoming state election risks stirring discontent among its potential allies from national parties. Syahruddin Awang Ahmad of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said parties like Umno, which had a strong historical presence in Sabah, would see this as an attempt by GRS to 'take over' their seats. He added that GRS's proposal would have significant political implications on cooperation with Sabah's ruling coalition ahead of the state polls. 'An unfair seat distribution, or one that doesn't reflect the actual strength of each party, will have consequences,' he said. Lee Kuok Tiung, also of UMS, said three-cornered or multi-party contests would be unavoidable, even if GRS cooperates with national parties ahead of the state election. 'Overlapping areas are difficult to avoid,' he said. Advertisement Last Sunday, GRS vice-president Masiung Banah said GRS was expected to field candidates in at least 52 out of the 73 state constituencies at the next state polls. He said the remaining 21 seats would be allocated to national parties that agreed to cooperate with GRS. GRS and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are currently allies in the Sabah state administration while the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) sits in the opposition. PH and BN have announced an alliance for the state polls, while talks are ongoing to include GRS in the pact. On Sunday, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar expressed hope that her party would be able to contest a minimum of 13 seats in the Sabah election. The following day, Sabah DAP deputy chief Chan Foong Hin said the state chapter was eyeing at least 10 seats in the state polls. Sabah Umno had said it hoped to contest 40 seats in the 17th state election. * 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
