Latest news with #powerstruggle
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Sarawak deputy premier: No truth to alleged power struggle within PBB
MIRI, July 20 — Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has dismissed a recent article alleging an internal power struggle within Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), describing it as 'baseless and lacking credibility.' 'The thought of engaging in political deceit, let alone a power struggle, has never crossed my mind. The article by FMT (Free Malaysia Today) carried no credibility whatsoever; it didn't even state its sources. It's nothing more than rubbish,' he told reporters after chairing a PBB Bukit Sari branch committee meeting at a hotel in Lawas last night. According to Awang Tengah, such unfounded claims have, to some extent, sparked suspicion among certain quarters, painting him as someone 'power-crazy'. Awang Tengah, who is PBB deputy president, said he was taught the values of loyalty and unity by former Chief Minister and Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. 'He always reminded us that the strength and interest of the party must come above all else,' he added. He said similar advice had also come from former Chief Minister the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, fondly known as Tok Nan, and the current Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, both of whom he regards as mentors. 'I hold firmly to these principles. I believe in what was instilled in me, which are the spirit of teamwork, loyalty to leadership and prioritising the party over any form of factionalism,' he stressed. Awang Tengah reiterated that during PBB's most recent convention, he once again declared his full support for the leadership of Abang Johari, and that his stand has never wavered. 'I am not one to pretend. My support for Premier Abang Johari's leadership is undivided,' he added. He believed that the article in question was clearly an attempt to sow discord within the party leadership. 'However, such a culture does not exist within PBB,' he said. The article published by FMT alleged that a 'quiet leadership contest' is brewing in Sarawak, claiming that factions aligned with Abang Johari and his deputy Awang Tengah are beginning to position themselves ahead of what could become a battle to shape the state's future direction. According to the portal, an anonymous source suggested that the issue of succession could lead to heightened political manoeuvring in the coming months, particularly with the next state election scheduled for 2026. — The Borneo Post
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Regional powers clash after Israel targets Syrian territory in defense of vulnerable Druze civilians
Israel's military strikes in Syria this week — launched in response to atrocities against the Druze minority — represent a strategic turning point in a deeper power struggle that now entangles Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the U.S., according to regional analysts. Just days ago, speculation swirled about a potential normalization agreement between Israel and Syria — a breakthrough quietly brokered by U.S. officials, but that fragile prospect has been swiftly overtaken by violence, as Israeli airstrikes this week struck near Damascus. A ceasefire agreement between Druze factions and the Syrian government, announced July 16, was meant to calm days of deadly clashes, but it remains tenuous and largely unenforced, with sporadic fighting continuing and tensions running high. "For the Druze in Israel, what's happening in southern Syria feels like October 7 all over again," said Avner Golov, vice president of the Israeli think tank Mind Israel. "Israel can no longer treat Syria as just a neighboring crisis. It's now a domestic one." In a rare scene, Israeli Druze citizens crossed the border into Syria to support their embattled relatives — prompting a stern warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "My Druze brothers, citizens of Israel... Do not cross the border," Netanyahu said. "You are putting your lives at risk — you could be killed, you could be kidnapped — and you are harming the IDF's efforts. Let the IDF do its job." In his first televised address since the Israeli strikes, Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa framed the Israeli intervention as a destabilizing act. "Government forces deployed to Suweida succeeded in restoring stability and expelling outlawed factions despite the Israeli interventions," he said, warning that the strikes led to "a significant complication of the situation" and "a large-scale escalation." He insisted that protecting the country's Druze minority was a top priority and declared that Syrians "are not afraid of war." Within Israel, the collapse of order in Syria has triggered sharp debate. Some policymakers argue for supporting Sharaa as an anti-Iranian strongman, while others advocate broader military action to create a buffer zone in southern Syria. Golov supports a middle course: conditional strikes paired with demands for Druze autonomy and accountability for war crimes. "If Sharaa shows he's willing to punish those responsible for the massacre and agree to Druze autonomy, then Israel can gradually work with him," Golov told Fox News Digital. He also called for a regional diplomatic effort to stabilize Syria. "We need a regional summit — the U.S., Saudi Arabia, even Turkey, and Israel" he said. "Bring positive forces into Syria and use Israeli military power not just tactically, but to gain diplomatic leverage." "There's a temptation to miss the victory lap," said Behnam Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). "Rather than see Syria through the prism of competition with Turkey, Israel should first see it through the prism of diminished competition with Iran. That in itself is a huge achievement." While Iran's position has weakened, Turkey has quietly expanded its footprint in Syria by backing the al-Sharaa government. Turkey's strategic interest in Syria, Sinan Ciddi, a senior fellow at FDD and director of the Turkey program, explained, is to fill the vacuum left by Iran with its own political and economic influence — using al-Sharaa regime as a conduit. "Turkey has a lot riding on al-Sharaa success," he said. "They'd like to see increased trade, the reconstruction of Syria through al-Sharaa. They want to use him as a means to influence the region politically." However, Israel's military response has triggered alarm in Ankara. "Turkey is not in a position to militarily challenge Israel — it would be a disaster," said Ciddi. "They're talking tough, but they're deeply concerned." Ciddi emphasized that Turkey's aging military hardware and lack of air defense leave it highly exposed. Yet, Turkey is deeply invested in al-Sharaa political survival, hoping to leverage him for influence and economic ties in post-war Syria. A direct clash between Turkey and Israel, Ciddi warned, would "result in a diplomatic fiasco... and require the United States and European countries to step in as mediator." Even as Israel dismantled key parts of Iran's military infrastructure in Syria, Tehran remains a long-term threat. Taleblu said Iran is now lying in wait — ready to exploit missteps by others. "This is a regime that capitalizes on the mistakes of others," he said. "They don't need to win outright — they just need everyone else to lose." Tehran is betting that the region's rival powers — Turkey, Israel, the U.S. and the Gulf — will overplay their hands, allowing Iran to reenter through proxies, sectarian militias, or diplomatic manipulation. Though President Trump recently said Syria's internal affairs are "not our war," his administration's tone has shifted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for de-escalation, and regional partners are urging a clearer U.S. role. "Real success will come from creating contingencies," Taleblu said. "What are the costs if Syria collapses? What if Turkey overreaches, or Israel overextends? What if Iran comes back? The states that prepare for these questions."
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
PBB info chief denies talk of power struggle, says Sarawak politics rooted in respect
KUCHING, July 17 — Claims of a power struggle brewing in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) have been dismissed as the work of those with ulterior motives wishing to stir things up. PBB information chief Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it was unfounded to claim PBB president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is facing a challenge from PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan for the premier's post. 'As far as I know from being a member of the party as well as in the supreme council, I don't see there is any rivalry. 'There is always respect for the leader — the one who is higher than you in the Sarawak political hierarchy. That's how I noticed all these years,' he told reporters after launching the Kuching Half Marathon Heritage Run 2025 here today. He was responding to a Free Malaysia Today article titled 'Silent rivalry brewing in Sarawak over premiership?', which cited unnamed sources. Abdul Karim stressed that Sarawak politics is grounded in a culture of respect and discipline, in contrast to the political dynamics seen elsewhere. 'I can't comment about other regions. In other regions, sometimes, those who are at the top, those who are at the bottom, want to jolok-jolok (provoke) to bring someone down. 'But it does not happen in Sarawak. We have our very deep culture of letting the top leader be in charge until such time when he feels that he needs to step down. Then they will look for whoever is going to replace them. That's what I see,' he explained. According to him, even during candidate selection for elections, PBB members have always shown discipline and loyalty. 'When it comes to PBB, there has never been anyone who has been dropped, complaining or revolting. Not that I know. They would willingly let go when told by the leader their time is up. 'We know this is normally one of the big problems in elections. Those who have been there for many years, they refuse to let go. And when let go, they go against you. They support the other side. This is not the culture in PBB,' he said. While pointing out he could not speak for other components within Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), he stressed PBB members have consistently demonstrated discipline and unity. 'So, all this speculation, all these rumours, I believe are just rumours by those who have got other ulterior motives behind it — mahu jolok sana, jolok sini (trying to stir things up),' he added. — The Borneo Post
Russia Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Trump and Musk allies fight for control of DOGE
A power struggle is underway at the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), The Wall Street Journal has claimed. Allies of Elon Musk are reportedly trying to retain influence as the White House moves to scale back the agency's power. Current and former officials told the outlet that DOGE staffers are being questioned in closed-door meetings about whether they support President Donald Trump or Musk, the tech billionaire who led the department until last month. Musk quit as the head of DOGE amid disagreements with Trump over a sweeping tax and spending package called the Big Beautiful Bill, which included a $5 trillion debt ceiling hike. He criticized the legislation as undercutting DOGE's mission to reduce federal spending. Tension and paranoia have reportedly taken hold inside DOGE's shrinking ranks. White House officials are now said to be working to limit the department's influence. Despite resigning, Musk's influence reportedly persists through Steve Davis, a longtime aide who left his government post in May. Davis has continued to interact with DOGE staff, and according to some insiders, still issues guidance. In private conversations, he has supposedly even claimed his departure was 'fake news.' A DOGE official close to Musk, however, said Davis' contact with staff is informal. Some in DOGE say Musk loyalists are pushing for a reboot under as DOGE 2.0, with a focus on modernizing government websites and IT systems rather than downsizing staff. Others, including White House officials, suspect Musk and Davis are leveraging government ties for private business interests. WSJ noted that the struggle poses political risks for Musk, whose companies Tesla and SpaceX rely on federal contracts and are currently facing financial pressure. Last week, Trump escalated the feud, telling reporters: 'We might have to put DOGE on Elon... DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon.' On July 5, Musk announced the launch of the America Party, which he says will break the two-party system and win enough Congressional seats to gain leverage.
Harvard Business Review
02-06-2025
- Business
- Harvard Business Review
How Do I Co-Lead with a Challenging Partner?
His leadership role requires him to co-lead a project with someone he finds challenging to work with. With clashing styles and unclear roles, their partnership feels anything but collaborative. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through the root of the power struggle, and guides him toward a more intentional co-leadership path. Further reading: How Co-Leaders Succeed 8 Reasons Why Co-Leaders Fail What is a RACI chart?
