Latest news with #SukriOmar
Malaysiakini
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
PSM inches forward, PN hogwash a dud
Good morning. Here's what you should know today. Key Highlights PSM inches forward, PN hogwash a dud PAS 'threatens' S'pore polls Miti plagiarism scandal PSM inches forward, PN hogwash a dud The Madani coalition won the Ayer Kuning by-election on Saturday. However, the coalition's joint vote share declined compared to 2022. PSM - while losing its deposit - doubled its votes, seemingly buoyed by protest votes from disgruntled Harapan supporters. As for PN, its attempt to rile up Malay voters by playing up pig farming did not gain traction. HIGHLIGHTS PAS 'threatens' S'pore polls Singapore has accused two PAS leaders of trying to meddle in the city-state's upcoming election. PAS treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad and Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar were accused of trying to instigate racial and religious sentiments. The duo have denied doing such a thing, with Iskandar saying that he merely highlighted Muslim candidates contesting in the polls for the knowledge of Malaysians. HIGHLIGHTS Miti plagiarism scandal The Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry is being accused of appropriating a company's design for the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, without any credit or compensation. Businessperson Fey Ilyas claimed his company worked on the project for about two years, just for it to be 'taken' by the ministry. He also claimed to have been advised to stay quiet in order to get future jobs. The ministry said it is investigating the claims. HIGHLIGHTS Views that matter In case you missed it Other news that matter
Malaysiakini
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Racist slur by S'pore politician shocking, disappointing
COMMENT | Just as the ink was hardly dry on my advice to Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar not to interfere in Singapore's internal affairs, a particular development across the Causeway has made me rethink my position. The recent actions of Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Gigene Wong have cast a troubling light on the calibre and quality of political candidates in Singapore. In an appalling move during her party campaign, Gigene used a racial slur against her own GRC teammate, Ariffin Sha. She first referred to him using the slur 'keling kia' - a derogatory term targeting people of Indian descent - and later compounded the insult by calling him an 'elephant'.
Malaysiakini
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Racist slur by S'pore politician shocking, disappointing
COMMENT | Just as the ink was hardly dry on my advice to Selangor PAS Youth Chief Sukri Omar not to interfere in Singapore's internal affairs, a particular development across the Causeway has made me rethink my position. The recent actions of Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Gigene Wong have cast a troubling light on the calibre and quality of political candidates in Singapore. In an appalling move during her party campaign, Wong used a racial slur against her own GRC teammate, Ariffin Sha. She first referred to him using the slur 'keling kia' - a derogatory term targeting people of Indian descent - and later compounded the insult by calling him an 'elephant'.
Daily Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Malaysian trio's bid to influence Singapore polls: Posts by PAS leaders, ex-ISA detainee blocked by Meta
Published on: Sunday, April 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Apr 27, 2025 By: CNA Text Size: (From left) Sukri Omar, Zulfikar and Iskandar. – Pic source The Straits Times SINGAPORE: The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has issued directions to Meta to block Singapore users' access to several instances of online election advertising (OEA) posted on Facebook by foreigners. These posts were made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee who is now an Australian citizen. Among other things, they criticised the Singapore government's handling of sensitive religious issues, and urged Singaporeans to vote along religious lines. Stressing the importance of not mixing religion and politics, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Elections Department Singapore (ELD) said in a statement on Friday (Apr 25) that it had identified a 'number of foreigners' attempting to influence this General Election (GE), which will see Singaporeans heading to the polls on May 3. 'We must not mix religion and politics. Singapore is a secular state,' the joint statement added. 'Bringing religion into politics will undermine social cohesion and harmony, as we have seen in other countries with race- or religion-based politics.' They added that it is an offence under the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) for foreigners to participate in elections activity or publish OEA. Under the PEA, any material which is published online that can 'reasonably' be regarded as intended to promote or prejudice the electoral success or standing of a political party or candidate is defined as OEA. 'Foreigners must not direct, fund or in any way influence Singapore's elections,' said the statement. 'Singapore's politics must be for Singaporeans alone to decide.' In its statement, the authorities said the OEA it has directed Meta to block had been posted by: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia's (PAS) national treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad. Facebook user 'Zai Nal', identified as Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff. PAS Selangor youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar, who reposted Zulfikar's post. The posts, which can no longer be viewed by users in Singapore, expressed support for certain opposition candidates running in GE2025 and criticised decisions made by the ruling government. Two articles were also published in the PAS newsletter, one of which named several Malay opposition candidates running in GE2025, highlighting their educational and career backgrounds. The other criticised Singapore's housing policies, linking them to immigration. According to the authorities, Zulfikar is an Australian citizen who renounced his Singapore citizenship in 2020. In 2016, Zulfikar had been detained under the ISA for his 'promotion of terrorism' and glorification of the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) online, the statement said, adding that his actions 'contributed to the radicalisation of at least two other Singaporeans'. Zulfikar had called on Muslims to 'reject the constitutional, secular, democratic state in favour of an Islamic state governed by Syariah law' and apply violence to achieve this goal if necessary, said the statement. For the post in question, Zulfikar accused several of Singapore's Malay-Muslim ex-Members of Parliament (MPs) of failing to represent the interest of the Muslim community, and said that the local Muslim community did not need another Malay MP who does not represent their views. Gurmit Singh, president of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), said that religion has to be kept out of politics 'for the common good'. 'In Singapore, we have witnessed the dangers of racial and religious conflicts in the past,' said Singh in a statement posted on Facebook by IRO honorary secretary Lawrence Chong. 'This can come about when religion is mixed with politics, as witnessed in parts of the world.' He added that in Singapore, religion has 'always been kept separate from politics', as religious harmony is an integral part of the country's identity. The peace in multiracial and multireligious Singapore did not come about by chance, he said. 'We work at it continuously. It is always (a) work in progress. It cannot be taken for granted. It is something that all Singaporeans are proud of.' Work is being carried out 'tirelessly' within Singapore's diverse communities to cultivate trust and understanding, said Mr Singh, adding that people in Singapore do it not only by appreciating the differences but also by celebrating these differences. 'This is what makes us an oasis of harmony in a divided world. Let us continue to safeguard our cohesion and unity to keep us together,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
I have right to be concerned for S'pore Malays, says PAS man
Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar said the Malays of Singapore deserve fair and equitable opportunities in all aspects of life as full citizens. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A Selangor PAS leader has denied claims he was trying to interfere in Singapore's upcoming general election through his posts on social media. Sukri Omar, the Selangor PAS Youth chief, said any concern he had about the Singapore election was only for the nation's 'marginalised' Malay-Muslim community. In a Facebook post today, he said he fully respected the sovereignty and laws of Singapore, but that his concern stemmed from a 'moral responsibility as a Muslim'. 'I have never intended, whether directly or indirectly, to interfere with the democratic process of the country. 'The right to uphold justice, dignity, and the future of a people is not an act of 'foreign interference' when it is done with courtesy, principle, and a love for humanity, without coercion or incitement towards any political party abroad,' he said. Yesterday, the Singapore home ministry and elections department said in a joint statement that several online posts had urged Singaporeans to vote along racial and religious lines, which in turn sparked more social media content of a similar nature. They called out PAS leaders and a former detainee, now an Australian citizen, for allegedly trying to influence the country's general election on May 3 with posts that could harm racial and religious harmony. The Singapore government ordered Facebook parent Meta to block Singaporeans' access to posts made by foreigners, ahead of the election, under rules restricting their social media posts. Sukri had shared a post by Facebook user 'Zai Nal', identified as Zulfikar Shariff, who renounced his Singaporean citizenship in 2020 and is now an Australian citizen. In his post, Zulfikar accused several Malay-Muslim MPs of failing to represent the Muslim community and said Singapore does not need another Malay MP who did not reflect their views. PAS national treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad also expressed support for a candidate in the Singapore election. The Singapore government said religion must not be mixed with politics, as Singapore is a secular state. 'Bringing religion into politics will undermine social cohesion and harmony, as we have seen in other countries with race- or religion-based politics,' it said. However, Sukri argued that the Malays of Singapore deserve fair and equitable opportunities in all aspects of life as full citizens. 'Speaking out against injustice is not a crime. It is a moral and religious obligation. 'Defending the Malay-Muslim identity does not threaten peace. Instead, it strengthens genuine social justice,' he said. Iskandar also defended himself in a Facebook post, saying he was merely reporting on a few notable Muslim candidates from the opposition parties taking part in the election. 'As a politician, I cannot be faulted for having an interest in the political developments of other countries apart from Malaysia. 'I have written extensively on the political developments in the UK and hoped for a Labour victory in the last general election. 'However, it would be ridiculous to accuse me of interfering with the election process of that country. I have also commented on the politics of other countries, without any repercussions,' he said.
