Latest news with #NorazlinahArif
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Kunak rep pooh-poohs drug cartel ties claims
Published on: Monday, August 18, 2025 Published on: Mon, Aug 18, 2025 By: FMT Text Size: Norazlinah said she has instructed her legal team to take immediate action against the TikTok account owner and anyone who spreads the allegations. PETALING JAYA: Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif has rubbished claims in a viral TikTok video that she and her husband had received funds from a drug cartel in Sabah. Norazlinah, formerly of Warisan, dismissed the claims as baseless and malicious. Checks found that the video in question cannot be accessed on TikTok anymore. 'I firmly deny these slanderous claims in the strongest terms. All the allegations involving my husband and I are untrue, malicious in intent, defamatory, and an attempt to tarnish my reputation as the Kunak assemblyman,' she said in a statement. The Kunak Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah chief said neither she nor her husband had ever been involved in drug activities in any way. She said the allegations were a deliberate attempt to damage her reputation and erode public trust. Norazlinah said she has instructed her legal team to take immediate action against the TikTok account owner and anyone who spreads the allegations. 'As the assemblyman for Kunak, I will continue to focus on fulfilling my mandate and serving the people, unaffected by irresponsible attempts to discredit me,' said the two-term representative. Norazlinah won the Kunak state seat on a Warisan ticket in 2018 and 2020. She was formerly head of the party's women's wing. She left the party in February 2023 to join Gagasan Rakyat, a component of ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. * 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
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Warisan will have trouble getting Chinese votes, says ex-Wanita chief
Norazlinah Arif says Warisan's exit from Pakatan Harapan in the run up to the 15th general election has complicated its relationship with Chinese voters. KOTA KINABALU : A former Warisan leader says the party may face difficulty securing support from Chinese voters in Sabah due to several unpopular decisions made during its tenure in government, including perceived favouritism towards certain communities in public sector appointments. Norazlinah Arif, the party's former Wanita chief, claimed there was internal dissatisfaction with Shafie Apdal's leadership between May 2018 and September 2020, particularly over the appointment of state department heads. The Kunak assemblywoman said Warisan failed to uphold its own 'unity' slogan when it ran government, instead allowing widespread nepotism in appointments to senior positions. 'It's not just the Chinese. Other races also do not feel Warisan is fighting for Sabah anymore,' she told FMT. Norazlinah Arif. Norazlinah, who left Warisan on Feb 6, 2023, said the party's decision to exit Pakatan Harapan and contest the 15th general election independently has complicated its relationship with Chinese voters. GE15 saw Warisan lose the Penampang and Sepanggar seats to PH. Ahead of the upcoming Sabah polls, Shafie recently unveiled the party's new 'Save Sabah' slogan, positioning Warisan as a Sabah party to win voters over. However, Norazlinah said such rhetoric would only lead Warisan to repeat its defeat in the 2020 state election, when the party lost control of the Sabah administration. 'How can we believe in a party, which was supposedly established on the basis of unity, but only focuses on certain communities?' she said. Mohammad Mohamarin, another assemblyman who left Warisan together with Norazlinah, said the 'Save Sabah' slogan fails to address basic issues such as water, electricity and roads. Mohammad Mohamarin. The Banggi representative said the party's narrative makes Sabah seem like it is in dire straits, even though chief minister Hajiji Noor has been working hard to resolve the state's longstanding issues. 'In the Warisan state government, we waited for over two years for initiatives to resolve these issues. We were forced to meet with the chief minister (Shafie) but received no aid. 'The current (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) state government has implemented many initiatives, so the notion that Warisan will 'save Sabah' is not accurate,' said the former Warisan supreme council member.
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Youths must show patriotism in daily life: YB
Published on: Friday, August 15, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 15, 2025 Text Size: Norazlinah signing the KMJG 2025 record book. KUNAK: Young people must play their part in showing love and loyalty to the country, said Kunak Assemblywoman Datuk Norazlinah Arif. She said youths should fulfil their responsibilities as Malaysians by demonstrating patriotism in their daily lives. 'My call is especially to the youths in Kunak, Sabah and throughout Malaysia — let us fulfil our responsibilities as citizens. Despite whatever polemics may arise, we must first prove our commitment to the nation. Before voicing too many negative views, it is far more important to set a good example, and that example must come from within ourselves. Let us prove our love and patriotism for our country,' she said after officiating the Kunak District-level Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang (KMJG) 2025 programme. Norazlinah said youths should not be excluded from nurturing a love for the nation. She commended Kunak's youth for winning first and second place in the National Storytelling competition organised by the Malaysia Information Department (JaPen). 'This shows that young people are no exception in having love for the country. I believe competitions and activities like these can inspire greater patriotism among our youths,' she said. The KMJG 2025 convoy, led by Sabah JaPen Director Jainisah Mohd Noor, arrived at the Kunak Youth Arena Hall after a 10-day journey covering 37 stops. * 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
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Kinabalu Move' the ultimate betrayal of Sabahans, says Kunak assemblyman
Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif says Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor is a fair and more accessible leader who does not place reliance on rhetoric. KOTA KINABALU : The infamous Kinabalu Move, aimed at ousting Hajiji Noor as Sabah chief minister, was the ultimate betrayal of Sabahans, according to Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif. Norazlinah was with Warisan in 2023 when the party, led by president Shafie Apdal, plotted with Sabah Umno to replace the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government. The two-term assemblyman said Warisan members were hoping the memorandum of understanding — struck between the party, GRS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan on Dec 16, 2022 — would benefit the people. The intention was to back the newly established unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, she added. 'Our hope at the time was that the leaders of the respective parties and coalitions would unite to prioritise the rakyat above their personal interests or that of the party. 'Unfortunately, the opposite happened,' she told FMT, referring to the failed 'coup' led by Sabah Umno. In January 2023, Bung Moktar Radin, the Sabah Umno chief, announced that the party was withdrawing its support for Hajiji. However, six Umno assemblymen pledged continued support for Hajiji, foiling Bung's plans which had the backing of Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat. Pakatan Harapan and GRS assemblymen also pledged their undivided support for Hajiji, who assumed the top post in September 2020 following a state election. Bung was subsequently dropped as the state's deputy chief minister. Last month, Norazlinah claimed there was nothing altruistic about the Kinabalu Move. She said she and several others were informed that four or five Warisan leaders would be named to the state Cabinet if they backed the Bung-led coup. Following its failure, Norazlinah and several other Warisan assemblymen threw their support behind Hajiji. Norazlinah is grateful the attempted coup failed due to a lack of support for Warisan president Shafie Apdal as the next chief minister. 'Many assemblymen, mainly from BN and PH, were also in favour of retaining the current administration (under Hajiji). 'For me, that was a sign that we were betrayed by a party that was supposedly championing the people's rights.' Hajiji has treated us well The Kinabalu Move was the straw that broke the camel's back for Norazlinah. On Feb 6, 2023, she left Warisan, a party she had been with since its founding in 2016. She expressed no regrets for her decision, especially after aligning with Hajiji, whom she praised for addressing the people's issues through action rather than rhetoric. 'Hajiji treats all assemblymen fairly, myself included, despite the fact that I only recently joined GRS,' she said, adding that the chief minister was also more accessible. According to Norazalinah, there is talk of Warisan joining forces with BN for the upcoming state election, despite Shafie previously stating that the party intends to contest all 73 seats on its own. She said such talk contradicted Warisan's previous stance on an alliance with BN. 'When we first joined the party, we were indoctrinated to think that our mission was to topple BN. 'Their (Warisan's) ego is forcing them to forgo that very principle — all because they are power hungry.'
Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
GRS-PH alliance built on stability, not corruption fears - Norazlinah
Norazlinah KOTA KINABALU (July 7): Kunak assemblywoman Datuk Norazlinah Arif has dismissed as baseless and malicious the claim by Kota Belud member of parliament Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) allied with Pakatan Harapan (PH) because it was 'forced to' due to corruption scandals. She described the allegation that GRS continued its collaboration with PH merely to shield leaders involved in court cases as a desperate attempt by the opposition to gain political mileage by sowing distrust among the people. 'I strongly refute Munirah's statement linking the GRS-PH cooperation to alleged corruption cases. Such accusations are not only irresponsible but also an insult to the political maturity of the GRS leadership, especially Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor,' she said in a statement today. Norazlinah stressed that the strategic partnership between GRS and PH was not formed under duress, but built on solidarity, mutual trust, and the need to ensure continued political stability in Sabah. 'We cannot deny PH's role in standing firmly behind the state government during the attempted power grab known as the 'Langkah Kinabalu' incident. Without their support and trust at that time, the GRS government might have fallen,' she said. 'This is not about any 'cases' or being 'forced'. It is about acknowledging their contribution and protecting the state's stability.' She described the GRS-PH collaboration as a manifestation of mature politics and gratitude — qualities she said were lacking in Parti Warisan, which had previously allied with PH during the 2020 state election but chose to contest alone in the 15th General Election (GE15). 'What happened in GE15 clearly shows that the people do not support opportunistic politics. Warisan only won three parliamentary seats, which is a clear signal that the people reject a party that fails to build alliances and focuses solely on its own agenda,' she added. Addressing the two GRS assemblymen currently facing court cases related to mineral license applications, Norazlinah urged all parties not to politicise the issue. 'Court cases should not be used as tools for slander or to create false perceptions. Every accused person has the right to defend themselves, and we must respect the legal process. GRS has never obstructed or interfered with judicial matters,' she said. She expressed confidence that the GRS-PH cooperation would continue to benefit the people of Sabah and play a vital role in the upcoming state election, adding that GRS would remain the leading force in championing the 'Sabah First' agenda. 'We are confident that GRS will continue to lead the state government. We do not just want to win — we want to ensure the ongoing fight to uphold Sabah's rights within the Federation continues through a stronger and more inclusive platform,' she said. Norazlinah also criticised Isnaraissah's claim that the Federal Government is reluctant to work with Warisan because its president is 'too outspoken' in defending Sabah's rights, calling it mere political rhetoric. 'If being outspoken alone is the key to developing Sabah, why did the Warisan government collapse? What we need are leaders who not only speak up but deliver results, build strategic partnerships and ensure stability. That is exactly what Hajiji and the GRS leadership have done,' she said. She urged the public not to be influenced by narrow political rhetoric but to judge a government by its ability to safeguard the people's welfare and secure Sabah's future. 'The GRS-PH cooperation is not about saving any individual, but about ensuring that Sabah does not return to instability. Now is the time to keep moving forward with a spirit of nationhood, not hatred,' she added. Norazlinah also pointed out the irony in Warisan's criticism, as the party remains part of the federal Unity Government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'If Warisan truly rejects working with PH, why are they still in the same government in Putrajaya? Or are they actually worried that the strategic partnership between GRS and PH in Sabah will become a political reality that threatens their position ahead of the next state election?' she asked.
