Sabah PH meeting on seat distribution, manifesto, election preparation
Published on: Sat, Jul 05, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Saifuddin stressed the urgency of forming a strong election team, stating, 'It must happen now, for (waiting until) the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved, will be too late.' KOTA BELUD: The recent Pakatan Harapan (PH) meeting in Kota Kinabalu centered on three critical matters in anticipation of the upcoming Sabah state election. PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that discussions revolved around seat distribution, election machinery readiness, and finalizing the coalition's manifesto.
Advertisement Saifuddin stressed the urgency of forming a strong election team, stating, 'It must happen now, for (waiting until) the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved, will be too late.' He also expressed satisfaction with the progress in manifesto negotiations. The meeting saw attendance from key PH leaders, including Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad, PH Sabah chairman Datuk Ewon Benedick, Sabah PKR's Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, Sabah DAP's Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, and Sabah Amanah's Datuk Lahirul Latigu. With the Sabah State Assembly set to dissolve automatically on Nov 11, PH aims to solidify its strategy early. Saifuddin assured his direct involvement in Sabah to oversee implementation. * 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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Bangladesh pledges full cooperation in militant probe involving its nationals
KUALA LUMPUR: Bangladesh has pledged full cooperation with Malaysian authorities in investigations involving 36 of its nationals arrested in recent security operations for alleged links to a radical militant movement. Its Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a statement, said the government is closely monitoring developments, with the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur maintaining close communication with the relevant Malaysian authorities. "Bangladesh once again reiterates its firm stand against all forms of terrorism, violent extremism and militancy, and remains ready to extend full cooperation to the Malaysian authorities in this regard. "The Bangladesh High Commission will provide the necessary support to Bangladeshi expatriates wherever needed," it said. The ministry said the High Commission had immediately engaged with the Malaysian authorities and formally requested the identities of the individuals and further details regarding the allegations made against them. "Of the arrested or detained individuals, formal charges have been filed against five in Malaysian courts. The rest are currently under further investigation or facing deportation," it added. On June 27, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said police had detained 36 Bangladeshi nationals who were found to be directly involved in a radical militant movement based on Islamic State (IS) extremist beliefs and violent ideology. He said the planned security operation, which began on April 24, was conducted in three phases across Selangor and Johor. "Of those detained, five have been charged under the Offences Relating to Terrorism (Chapter VIA) of the Penal Code in the Shah Alam and Johor Baru Sessions Courts. "Another 15 individuals have been issued deportation orders, while 16 remain under investigation for their involvement in the militant group," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, earlier today, Bukit Aman Special Branch director Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud said the Bangladeshi Radical Militant Group (GMRB), which had been spreading extremist beliefs and ideology among Bangladeshi nationals in the country, has been successfully dismantled.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
ASEAN security agendas for September meeting in Melaka
SEMPORNA: A total of 10 security agendas will form the consensus and focus of discussions at the ASEAN Ministers' Meeting on Security in Melaka in September. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who will chair the meeting, said among the topics to be discussed are tackling cross-border crimes, intelligence sharing, capacity building and joint operations. 'To tackle cross-border crimes, we will leverage our ASEAN Chairmanship this year as the best platform to exchange information and ideas that can be developed into strategies for effectively addressing security issues,' he said. He told reporters this after the Security Briefing and Monitoring Programme with the Home Minister and Foreign Delegates here today. According to Saifuddin, the three-day meeting would be fully utilised at the ASEAN ministerial level to present and discuss ASEAN security issues for the common interest. 'We can see certain things, but there are also some things we can't see, but our neighbours (neighbouring countries) can. These are among the matters that can be presented at the ASEAN meeting,' he said. - Bernama
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
New joint committee set up to tackle Sabah's long-standing statelessness crisis
KOTA KINABALU: The state and federal governments have set up a joint committee to look into Sabah's long-standing issue surrounding statelessness and undocumented migrants. Home Minister Datuk Seri Nasution Ismail said that the issue could no longer something that can be swept under the rug and must be addressed head-on. 'This issue is something everyone in Sabah knows. Let us not deny it. It is a real and pressing problem,' he said. The joint committee known as the Foreign Nationals Management Committee - co-chaired by Saifuddin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor - would meet twice a year and be tasked to oversee a major data-gathering initiative aimed at understanding the true scale of the problem. Led by the Chief Minister's Department, a state-wide census is being carried out using the latest biometric and digital tools, including thumbprint and facial recognition technologies, to register undocumented individuals and those without citizenship status. 'So far, over 107,000 to 108,000 individuals have been recorded, and the number continues to rise. This is a necessary step. We cannot work with assumptions. 'Once we have credible data, only then can we plan and implement meaningful solutions,' Saifuddin told reporters during the security briefing and engagement with international delegates on Saturday (July 5). He said that many of the affected individuals, including children, were born in Sabah to foreign parents who entered Malaysia through irregular means or overstayed their permits. These children, although born on Malaysian soil, remain unrecognised by any country, leaving them stateless and without access to basic rights. 'They were born here, they live here, and yet they cannot return to any other country; this is their only home,' he said. While there is currently no set deadline for completing the data collection, Saifuddin said the aim was to finalise it 'in the near future', adding that the matter requires sustained attention and commitment from both state and federal authorities. 'For too long, this issue has been politically sensitive and conveniently avoided. But that cannot continue. We need to face it, understand it, and find a way forward, for the sake of national governance and human dignity,' he said. Stateless individuals in Sabah face multiple hardships, including being denied access to public education, healthcare, and formal employment. Many live in overcrowded settlements, including water villages, with limited protection and opportunity, making them vulnerable to exploitation and poverty. The joint committee's work is viewed as a long-overdue step toward finding long-term, systemic solutions to one of Sabah's most persistent humanitarian challenges.
