Latest news with #HassanKarim
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
I oppose nepotism, but Nurul Izzah deserves to be PKR No 2, says Hassan
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said Nurul Izzah Anwar has proven her mettle, having been part of PKR's struggle since the age of 18. PETALING JAYA : Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has again stated support for Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR deputy presidency, saying her qualifications to helm the post had nothing to do with her father being the PKR president. Hassan said he was against nepotism in political parties or the government, but Nurul Izzah had proven her mettle, having been part of PKR's struggle since the age of 18. 'Who are we to deny Nurul Izzah's right to contest for the post just because she's Anwar Ibrahim's daughter?' he said, according to Utusan Malaysia. 'I myself have been outspoken in opposing nepotism, whether in political parties or the government, but Nurul Izzah has (earned the right to contest for the PKR deputy presidency) in her own capacity. 'This is an important position and she deserves to helm the post,' said the two-term PKR MP. Hassan welcomed contests for the post in the central leadership elections, saying it would allow delegates to decide who they wanted to serve as Anwar's second-in-command in PKR. In 2023, Hassan had urged Anwar, the prime minister, to review Nurul Izzah's appointment as his senior economic and financial adviser amid claims of nepotism. After several weeks, she left the post and was instead made co-head of a secretariat for the advisory committee to the finance ministry. Numerous top and divisional leaders have stated their support for Nurul Izzah to contest the deputy president's post, which is currently being held by Rafizi Ramli. This followed Rafizi's leave of absence after the PKR divisional polls, which saw the defeat of several bigwigs aligned with him. Rafizi has confirmed that he will defend his PKR deputy presidency, while Nurul Izzah said she would make 'the best decision possible' following calls for her to challenge for the post. Nominations for PKR's central leadership elections opened today and close at 11.59pm tomorrow.
Free Malaysia Today
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Working with BN has cons for PH too, says PKR's Hassan
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said MCA and MIC were not losing political relevance due to PH but because race-based parties had grown less popular among non-Malay voters. PETALING JAYA : Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has admitted that Pakatan Harapan's cooperation with Barisan Nasional is a double-edged sword, following criticism by a Johor MCA leader over the party's dwindling political relevance. However, Hassan said the reality was that both coalitions needed each other at this juncture. The PKR man described the current PH-BN partnership as a symbiotic, mutually dependent relationship which brings pros and cons to both coalitions. 'There are positives and negatives to this cooperation. It affects not only BN but also PH,' he told FMT, while warning MCA that breaking away from BN would be political suicide. The Umno-led BN played a crucial role in enabling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to form the unity government in the wake of the 2022 general election (GE15), which resulted in a hung Parliament. However, internal tensions and ideological differences between parties in the unity government have continued to spark debate over the sustainability and future direction of the alliance. MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon recently called for the party to chart its own course if BN continues to delay making clear decisions regarding its direction. Johor MCA Youth chief Heng Zhi Li subsequently said PH was not 'saving' BN but dismantling it from within, adding that blind cooperation with PH would only render BN parties politically irrelevant. Hassan argued that MCA and MIC – the core non-Malay components of BN – were not losing political relevance due to PH but because race-based parties had grown less popular among non-Malay voters. He said the emergence of coalitions like Gagasan Rakyat, Barisan Alternatif, Pakatan Rakyat and then Pakatan Harapan sparked a shift towards building a multiracial national identity. 'These multiracial coalitions have rendered their race-based ideology increasingly irrelevant,' he said. Separately, a senior PH MP, who asked to remain anonymous, said MCA was disgruntled with BN's cooperation with PH as it was not in MCA's interest for the alliance to continue. He said while Umno seemed to be slowly making a comeback based on recent by-election results, MCA remained sidelined with nearly all seats with sizable Chinese voters dominated by PH parties. 'If PH and BN form an alliance for the next general election, how is MCA going to contest for these seats when they were won by PH in GE15? 'It's like how PAS cannot work with Umno, because both are vying for the same Malay-majority seats,' said the MP.
Malaysiakini
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Hassan wrong about Rafizi's Ayuh Malaysia
A PKR Youth leader has hit back at party veteran Hassan Karim for labelling the party's 'Ayuh Malaysia' initiative as 'cartel politics'. In a statement, national PKR Youth exco member Arshad Hassni claimed the accusation made by Hassan was wrong and 'baseless'. 'As one of the party leaders involved...
