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Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
On the Akmal-Kerk exchange, the chips are getting better bluer
From Terence Netto The latest exchanges between Umno Youth leader Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee show signs of heading towards where democratic discourse could become – a prod towards alleviation. In response to Kerk's challenge to Akmal to be 'a leader for all Malaysians', Akmal has asserted he is already such a leader, citing how he has helped his constituents in Merlimau regardless of their race or religion. The good thing about the tenor of these exchanges is that they induce the protagonists to expand the ambit of their concerns. This is a plus point because it goads them to want to be seem bigger than the concerns that impel them: in Akmal's case, the issues that concern the Malays; and in Kerk's case, the ones that typically consume the attention of a DAP rep – mother tongue education and the like. This invitation to be expansive gradually draws the protagonists to see the bigger picture, a process that would make them soften the edges of partisanship and see people as individuals and not as members of a bloc. In fact, one can see the effects of this process in Akmal's posting on Facebook: 'I have no issues with the Chinese or Indians. In fact, I help everyone equally, regardless of their race.' Sceptics may see this kind of talk as rhetorical exaggeration, normative to politicians. But in a polarised society, this hyperbole is preferable to bald assertions of fact. What is at work is that the speaker is being tempted to go beyond the boundaries of his core concerns. Akmal lambasts Kerk as a 'narrow-minded' politician who keeps on 'threatening the racial harmony that we share'. This claim is a bit tricky because it's loose and lacks substantiation, but it is excusable because in our racially divided polity, this kind of talk is difficult to banish. However, if the speaker does not confine his spiel to only this kind of porousness, but instead leaves room for alleviation by claiming he has gone beyond narrow sectarianism in his actions, you have the beginnings of fruitful dialogue. After implying that Akmal is an 'extremist', perhaps Kerk should go beyond mere criticism and think of some endeavour or project that invites collaboration between DAP and Umno Youth. He could obtain the help of the chief minister of Melaka, Ab Rauf Yusof, of whom Kerk has a benign view. He describes Rauf as an 'inclusive' politician. The latter has been in politics for a long time and should have some ideas to encourage Kerk in a quest for collaboration rather than just criticism of Akmal. Just as Kerk has challenged Akmal to rise above sectarianism, so he should also rise above mere antagonism towards the Umno Youth leader. Terence Netto is a senior journalist and an FMT reader. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Akmal fires back at ‘narrow-minded' Melaka DAP rep
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh urged DAP assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee to reflect on his own party. PETALING JAYA : Dr Akmal Saleh has hit back at Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee after the latter challenged the Umno Youth chief to become a 'leader for all Malaysians'. Akmal said he was already a leader 'for all races', citing the way he has helped his constituents of various backgrounds equally, regardless of their skin colour, ethnicity or religion. 'I have no issues with the Chinese or Indians. In fact, I help everyone equally, regardless of their race,' he said in a video posted on Facebook. 'My issue is when some leaders try to disturb my religion and my race, (which have special privileges) enshrined in the Federal Constitution. I would be a coward if I don't defend my religion and race from such leaders. 'I have issues with leaders like (Kerk) who are narrow-minded and keep on threatening the racial harmony that we share,' the Melaka executive councillor said. Akmal, the Merlimau assemblyman, also parried Kerk's jab on being a 'narrow factional voice', urging the DAP man to reflect on his own party. 'Look in the mirror so that DAP would become a (party that champions) all races by respecting the sensitivities in this country. Before asking others to respect you, please respect what's enshrined in the constitution.' Earlier, Kerk challenged Akmal to rise above the politics of race and religion and become a leader for all Malaysians, saying the Umno man's past remarks had been 'divisive and regressive'. The Melaka legislative assembly's deputy speaker said Akmal should offer a vision for inclusive leadership instead of playing the same old card of ethno-religious provocation. Kerk also called for the Umno man to look to Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh as an example of how an Umno leader could govern inclusively.
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Army sergeant pleads not guilty to raping 13-year-old girl in Melaka
Army sergeant Zulfikar Ishak is accused of raping the girl when she was 12 years and six months old. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : An army sergeant was charged in the Ayer Keroh sessions court in Melaka today with five counts of rape, sexual assault and child grooming of a 13-year-old girl earlier this month. Zulfikar Ishak, 32, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before judge Haderiah Siri, Berita Harian reported. On the first charge, the father of one is accused of raping the girl when she was 12 years and six months old. On the second and third charges, he is accused of sexually assaulting her. The rape charge falls under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 20 years' imprisonment and whipping, if convicted. The sexual assault charges are under Section 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences against Children Act (SOAC) 2017, which also provides for up to 20 years' imprisonment and whipping. On the fourth charge, Zulfikar is accused of grooming the girl via telephone communications to encourage her to do sexual activities, an offence under Section 12 of the SOAC punishable with up to five years' imprisonment and whipping. On the fifth charge, he is accused under Section 13 of the SOAC of meeting the victim after grooming her, having driven the girl out of her hostel in his car, an offence punishable with up to 10 years' imprisonment and whipping. All the offences were committed in a car at the parking lot of a supermarket in Cheng, Melaka, at about 1pm on on May 4 The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Wardah Ishhar, while SS Amritpal Singh represented the accused. The prosecution proposed bail of RM90,000 on all the charges and the additional conditions that Zulfikar report to a police station once a month and not disturb the victim, her family or prosecution witnesses. Amritpal pleaded for the minimum bail, saying Zulfikar had served in the army for 10 years and was unlikely to flee, and that he was the sole breadwinner of his family. The court set bail at RM25,000 and granted the additional conditions requested by the prosecution. It set June 26 for re-mention of the case and the handover of documents.
Malay Mail
20-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Army officer charged with raping, grooming tween in Ayer Keroh
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — A military sergeant faced five charges, including rape and sexual assault, involving a 13-year-old schoolgirl at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court today. According to Berita Harian, Mohamad Zulfikar Ishak, 32, pleaded not guilty to all charges read before Judge Haderiah Siri. The first three charges accuse the father of one of raping a 12-year-old girl, and two counts of physical sexual assault against the victim. The rape charge falls under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and caning upon conviction. The sexual assault charges are under Section 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, with a maximum 20-year prison sentence and caning if convicted. He also faces charges under Section 12 and Section 13 of the same Act for child grooming and meeting the victim after grooming. All alleged offences occurred in a Perodua Viva car in a supermarket parking area in Cheng on May 4, around 1pm. Deputy Public Prosecutor Wardah Ishhar represented the prosecution, while SS Amritpal Singh represented the defence.
Malay Mail
15-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Five men plead not guilty to iron bar assault at Ayer Keroh's Arena Night Club
MELAKA, May 15 — Five men pleaded not guilty in the Ayer Keroh Magistrate's Court today to two charges of assaulting two youths in an incident at the Arena Club, here last week. They are Lai Jing Ho, 27, Lim Koon Leng, 42, Yee Pao Wei, 30, Bong Jia Jun, 23, and Kevin Fong Tze Weng, 40, who made the plea before Magistrate Sharda Shienha Mohd Suleiman. On the first count, they are jointly charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same law, voluntarily causing hurt by using an iron bar on Tan Wei Jie, 33, at the Arena Club, Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz here at about 2.15am last May 7. The second charge, framed under Section 323 of the same law, was for allegedly voluntarily causing hurt to Randy Tan Kuan Chye, 33, at the same place, time and date. The magistrate allowed them bail of RM5,000 with two sureties each and set June 23 for mention. Deputy public prosecutor Hanis Aliah Ahmad Kamarulnajuib prosecuted while the five men were represented by lawyer Nuradzlyn Sharmine Azrin Sham. — Bernama
