Latest news with #SaifuddinAbdullah
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Malay teachers must reclaim role as community activists, says PN leader
Published on: Saturday, May 31, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 31, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Bersatu's Saifuddin Abdullah said Malay teachers have long played a pivotal role in shaping national identity and in community leadership. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: A Perikatan Nasional MP has urged Malay teachers to revive the historic role they played in activism that contributed significantly to the Malay independence movement, culture and politics. Saifuddin Abdullah said Malay teachers should serve as catalysts contributing ideas, community leaders and political activists to steer the nation's future. 'Historically, Malay teachers have provided crucial leadership and have taken management roles in political parties. 'Their involvement has enabled parties to reach their peak and played a key role in advancing the interests of the Malay community,' the Indera Mahkota MP said when delivering a keynote address at the Forum Pendidikan Melayu, organised by the Selangor Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semananjung, at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 'With teachers playing such key roles, they were known then as 'parti berjuang' (parties that led the struggle). Today, with fewer teachers involved, some parties have become 'parti berwang' (cash-rich parties).' Saifuddin, who heads the PN education bureau, also said teachers must be meaningfully involved in decision-making at all levels — from the schools right up to the education ministry. Advertisement To better support teachers, he proposed expanding the number of subject matter experts, increasing funding for education research, improving career schemes, and easing teacher workloads by hiring more support staff and clerical personnel. He added that these ideas were part of PN's education reform proposals, completed in March last year. They outline reforms in philosophy, policy, curriculum, technical and vocational education and training, digital technology, human capital development, governance, and broader stakeholder involvement by parents and alumni. * 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
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
‘New national consensus' must reject discrimination, says PN MP
Saifuddin Abdullah said there needs to be a new kind of politics based on the struggles of various races, as well as moderation and reducing extreme polarisation. PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional's (PN) vision of a 'new national consensus' must include components that promote inclusivity and reject discrimination, says Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah. Saifuddin, a senior Bersatu leader and former foreign minister, said the proposal announced by PN deputy chairman Hamzah Zainudin was significant, as it sought to unite all levels of politics and civil society, regardless of race, religion, or region. Saifuddin Abdullah. He said any such framework must be grounded in religious values, historical and cultural experience, and the founding principles of the nation as outlined in the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara. 'To uphold inclusivity means enhancing the spirit of developmental partnership and consultation between the three key sectors of society – government, business, and civil society – in the decision-making process,' he said in a commentary published by Sinar Harian. 'There needs to be a new kind of politics based on a multiracial struggle, moderation, and centrism, while reducing extreme polarisation.' Saifuddin said the public sector must empower itself through commitment, expertise, and the use of technology, while the business community must strengthen its competitiveness to support Malaysia's growth as a trading nation. 'The government should facilitate the business sector by acting as a 'shareholder', not merely a 'tax collector'. 'Civil society must become more professional. The world of volunteerism has been enhanced with new approaches (such as the solidarity economy and social entrepreneurship),' the Bersatu Supreme Council member added. On the principle of rejecting discrimination, Saifuddin said no one should be left behind, marginalised, or be underserved. 'More specifically, there must be no discrimination against citizens based on religion, race, descent, birthplace, or gender.' Hamzah outlined his vision for a 'new national consensus' on May 22 at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. He said the initiative aimed to bridge Malaysia's political and social divides and chart a path towards a more prosperous future. His proposal centred on three core pillars: shared goals, shared prosperity, and compassionate governance.
Malaysiakini
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Ex-minister, UN experts: Anwar must now drive Asean's Myanmar shift
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has triggered an Asean reset on Myanmar and must now lead the charge for a new regional approach to be adopted at the upcoming Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah and three UN experts on Myanmar opined. In a joint statement today, Saifuddin, along with Marzuki Darusman, Yanghee Lee and, Chris Sidoti, proposed that this initiative take the form of a new five-point consensus on Myanmar. They noted that since the 2021 coup, Myanmar's junta led by Min Aung Hlaing has...
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Debunking the Histrionics: Why Anwar's Myanmar engagement does not legitimise the junta — Phar Kim Beng
MAY 19 — The recent Malaysiakini article titled 'Ex-minister, UN experts: Anwar must now drive Asean's Myanmar shift' is a prime example of well-meaning commentary lapsing into histrionics. While the intentions of the UN experts and former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah may be commendable, their criticism of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent engagements with Myanmar lacks both geopolitical nuance and diplomatic logic. Their central claim—that Anwar risks conferring legitimacy on Myanmar's junta by meeting with its leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing—is not only weak but based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how legitimacy operates in international relations. The idea that a short, humanitarian-focused meeting automatically translates into recognition or political validation is intellectually disingenuous and diplomatically naïve. Meeting a dictator does not confer legitimacy Let us first dismantle the central assumption of the article: that engaging with Min Aung Hlaing somehow lends him credibility or legitimacy. That is categorically false. A junta, by its very nature, is illegitimate in democratic terms. It seizes power by force, not consent. Its existence violates the foundational principles of constitutionalism, rule of law, and representative governance. No amount of bilateral meetings or photo-ops can suddenly elevate a military regime to the status of a legitimate government. If diplomacy alone could perform such a feat, then we must believe that Kim Jong Un became a democrat after his three meetings with Donald Trump—an absurd proposition. The international community has long maintained relations with regimes it does not recognize as legitimate. The United Nations' humanitarian arms routinely engage with the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Assad regime in Syria, or North Korea's leadership—not out of approval, but out of necessity. Malaysia's meeting in Bangkok with the junta leader occurred in the context of a humanitarian crisis, specifically following a deadly earthquake in Myanmar. That context cannot be ignored. Anwar's engagement was humanitarian, not political It is disingenuous for critics to conflate humanitarian diplomacy with political endorsement. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was not in Naypyidaw shaking hands for a trade deal. He was in Bangkok participating in a regional meeting convened to address the earthquake that had left thousands dead and many more displaced. In that context, Malaysia pledged RM10 million for humanitarian assistance, a move consistent with both international law and ASEAN's own frameworks for disaster relief. To suggest that this humanitarian outreach was a coded signal of political approval is not only false—it is morally questionable. Are we now to hold the lives of innocent civilians hostage to an impossible political purity test? Refusing to engage with the junta at all, even to save lives, would have been the real dereliction of moral responsibility. Malaysia has been consistently balanced on Myanmar More importantly, Anwar Ibrahim's approach to Myanmar has been far more comprehensive and principled than the article gives credit for. His administration has quietly engaged with Myanmar's shadow government, the National Unity Government (NUG), in addition to supporting regional efforts to uphold the Five-Point Consensus adopted by ASEAN in April 2021. Anwar's Malaysia has maintained the firm position that the junta should not be allowed political representation in high-level ASEAN meetings. Indeed, during Malaysia's current ASEAN chairmanship, no senior representative of the junta has been invited to any ministerial-level meeting. The country's position is thus crystal clear: humanitarianism does not equal recognition. This balanced strategy—engaging both official and unofficial stakeholders—aligns with the long-standing Malaysian diplomatic ethos: quiet engagement, firm principles, and consistent multilateralism. Anwar (second from left) and Thaksin (second from right) held a discussion about neighbouring Myanmar and cryptocurrencies on February 2, 2025. — Picture from Facebook/Anwar Ibrahim Saifuddin Abdullah's critique rings hollow The lead critic quoted in the article, former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah, appears to be engaging in political point-scoring rather than offering genuine foreign policy insight. During his tenure, Saifuddin made similar overtures toward the NUG but stopped short of any decisive policy change. The suggestion that Anwar is 'backtracking' or lacks direction ignores the fact that Malaysia's regional leadership under Anwar is arguably firmer and more pragmatic than during previous administrations. It is important to recall that diplomacy is not theatre. It is not measured in hashtags, press releases, or loud condemnations. It is measured in results—lives saved, conflicts de-escalated, and influence preserved. By that metric, Anwar's strategy, while less visible, is far more grounded in strategic rationality. Asean is not a blunt instrument The article also fails to appreciate the structural limitations of ASEAN itself. It is not a supranational body like the European Union. It does not possess enforcement power or a standing military. ASEAN works on the basis of consensus, non-interference, and dialogue. Any meaningful progress on Myanmar must therefore be delicately negotiated among ten very different member states. Expecting Malaysia alone to impose a new direction on ASEAN without fracturing the group is both unrealistic and dangerous. Anwar's cautious balancing act reflects the burden of leadership within ASEAN: too firm, and you lose the group; too soft, and you lose credibility. Walking that tightrope is not cowardice—it is statesmanship. Conclusion: Pragmatism over posturing The Malaysiakini article, while reporting on a legitimate policy debate, ultimately suffers from dramatization and a shallow understanding of diplomacy. It unfairly casts Anwar Ibrahim's nuanced diplomacy as indecision or appeasement, when in fact it is consistent with Malaysia's historical approach to international crises. Humanitarian engagement with the junta does not equal political endorsement. Malaysia's record speaks for itself: strong support for democracy, open channels with the NUG, and a refusal to allow the junta any formal platform in ASEAN. Critics who ignore these facts in favor of rhetorical flourish risk undermining Malaysia's diplomatic leverage and distorting public understanding of a complex crisis. In international affairs, symbolism matters—but not as much as substance. And on Myanmar, Anwar Ibrahim is prioritizing substance: saving lives, preserving Malaysia's influence, and steering ASEAN forward—however slowly—toward a just resolution. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malaysiakini
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Ex-minister, UN experts: Anwar must now drive Asean's Myanmar shift
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has triggered an Asean reset on Myanmar and must now lead the charge for a new regional approach to be adopted at the upcoming Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah and three UN experts on Myanmar opined. In a joint statement today, Saifuddin, along with Marzuki Darusman, Yanghee Lee and Chris Sidoti, proposed that this initiative take the form of a new five-point consensus on Myanmar. They noted that since the 2021 coup, Myanmar's junta led by Min Aung Hlaing has...
