Sabahans urged to back local governance
Published on: Sun, Jul 20, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice president Datuk Peter Mak ( pic ) has urged Sabahans to unite in support of greater state autonomy to ensure the state's development keeps pace with the rest of the country. Speaking at the PBS Api-Api, Luyang and Likas joint AGM, he said meaningful progress is possible only when Sabah has full control over its own affairs.
Advertisement Mak said local leaders are better placed to understand and address community needs, drawing from his experience leading PBS in Labuan. He clarified that the autonomy push should not be viewed as anti-Federal, but rather a step toward development driven by local priorities and realities. He also called on voters to support Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the upcoming state election, saying a strong mandate is essential to uphold Sabah's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). * 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
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Cambodia's Information ministry appeals for public to cease social media attacks on foreign leaders
A fake Facebook profile which contained false information related to the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. - Photo: Anti-Cyber Crime Department PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Information has issued an urgent call for all content creators, social media users and members of the public to immediately cease any form of insult or defamation targeting foreign heads of state or leaders, even in the context of current border tensions. The request was issued Tuesday (July 29), following a noticeable rise in edited images, inflammatory content and inappropriate commentary circulating online. These actions have caused insults affecting the honour and dignity of individuals, including politicians and members of royalty. The ministry urged all social media users to conduct themselves with integrity, responsibility and respect, and to adhere to ethical standards of public discourse. It stressed that its goal is to maintain public order and uphold peaceful online environments, free from incitement, hate speech, racism or ethnically charged rhetoric. The statement advised the public to avoid sharing or producing unverified information that could lead to confusion, anger, violence, hatred or racial discrimination. It also called on journalists, content creators and the public to verify information with official sources — particularly on sensitive issues such as the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict — before sharing it. Additionally, it asked people to refrain from posting doctored images or false content that could be viewed as defamatory, especially toward royal institutions. The ministry concluded by praising responsible media professionals and users who have contributed positively to Cambodia's messaging, helping uphold accuracy and diplomacy in addressing the conflict. It commended their ethical behaviour, respect for others' rights and commitment to a peaceful, law-based resolution in line with international law. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Internal Security Department
SINGAPORE: A volatile global landscape arising from developments like the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to drive the high terrorism threat in Singapore, said the Internal Security Department (ISD). It released its annual report on terrorism on Tuesday (July 29), saying terrorist organisations have exploited situations like the one in Gaza to spread propaganda, using them to reinforce their violent narratives. ISD said ISIS and Al-Qaeda have incited attacks against Israeli and Jewish interests, and those of nations seen as supporting Israel. This has corresponded with an increase in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide and in Islamophobia overseas, it added. ISD said there is currently no specific intelligence about an imminent terrorist attack against Singapore. But the country continues to be viewed as an attractive target by terrorists because of its friendly relations with Western nations and Israel, and its status as a secular and multicultural state. Since its last report in July 2024, ISD has dealt with eight self-radicalised Singaporeans: six males and two females aged 15 to 56. Four of them had been influenced by the re-escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people. Of the other four cases, two were radicalised by pro-ISIS extremist ideologies and two by violent far-right extremism. ISD warned that ISIS is resilient and remains one of the world's largest Islamist terrorist organisations. It has cash reserves of around $12.9 million and has between 1,500 and 3,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. The department said that far-right extremism ideologies have gained ground in Singapore, especially among the youth. Since 2020, four youths have been dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for subscribing to such ideologies. Two of them, aged 18 and 17, had been self-radicalised separately after becoming inspired by the shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 2019. The shooter, Brenton Tarrant, murdered 51 Muslims and live-streamed the killings. Both teens idolised Tarrant and identified as East Asian supremacists, believing in the superiority of Chinese, Korean and Japanese ethnicities. The 17-year-old had identified five mosques in Jurong West, Clementi, Margaret Drive, Admiralty Road and Beach Road as potential targets and planned to kill at least 100 Muslims as they were leaving after Friday prayers. He had been influenced by anti-Semitic content online and fantasised about killing Jews, but did not have any concrete attack plans. ISD said an increasing variety of online platforms used by youth in self-radicalisation cases here is also of concern. It said self-radicalisation remains a key domestic terrorism threat, with 60 self-radicalised people issued orders under the ISA since 2015. Of these, 48 were Singaporeans. Singapore adopts a whole-of-society approach to counter extremism, combining preventive measures such as public outreach with rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. ISD works with government agencies and grassroots and community partners to conduct outreach across different segments of society, to raise public awareness on the threat of terrorism and online radicalisation. It stressed the importance of knowing how to spot signs of radicalisation and the need to report at-risk individuals early. Some of these signs include expressing support for terrorist groups online, frequent surfing of radical websites and making remarks that promote ill will or hatred towards people of other races, religions or communities. ISD said public vigilance is critical to combating the terrorism threat, and early reporting enables the person to receive timely help. This maximises the chances of the individual's successful rehabilitation before he or she becomes more deeply rooted in radical ideologies. Since 2002, ISD has issued ISA orders against 148 Singaporeans for terrorism-related conduct. Of these, 102 were issued orders of detention, while 46 were issued restriction orders. Of those detained, about four out of five detainees had made good progress in their rehabilitation, leading to 85 of them being released. Of those issued with restriction orders, 39 have had their orders lapse. ISD said most of these Singaporeans have found stable jobs since their release. It said countering terrorism is everyone's responsibility. 'The ever-evolving threat of terrorism is real and demands unwavering vigilance, cooperation and resilience from every sector of society.' It added that 'every action taken, every report made and every initiative launched' bring Singapore one step closer to a safer, more united nation. Members of the public are encouraged to take part in the SGSecure movement and learn how to spot suspicious behaviours and signs of radicalisation, and how to respond if caught in a terror attack. Anyone who knows or suspects that a person has been radicalised should call the ISD hotline on 1800-2626-473 or e-mail isd@ - The Straits Times/ANN
Borneo Post
10 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Kota Belud MP urges unbiased action on Sabah corruption revelations
Isnaraissah KOTA KINABALU (July 29): Kota Belud Member of Parliament Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis has called for impartial and immediate investigations into all allegations of corruption, regardless of the individuals involved. Speaking on Tuesday, Isnaraissah emphasised that any case, exposure, or allegation should be met with swift action from the authorities. 'Whoever it is, investigate immediately,' she urged. She expressed her full support for the government's anti-corruption efforts, stressing that such action must be taken against offenders at all levels regardless of rank, race, religion or political affiliation. 'Investigations and prosecutions must be carried out promptly and, most importantly, without bias or favouritism,' she said. While debating the Whistleblower Protection Bill last week, Isnaraissah highlighted four critical points: 1. All whistleblowers must be protected. 2. All individuals involved in corruption must be investigated. 3. Investigations must be swift and non-discriminatory. 4. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should be placed under Parliament for independent oversight. Referring to past cases involving Sabah State Assembly members, Isnaraissah expressed concern over the manner in which the MACC and Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) handled the investigations. 'Whether we like it or not, the way these cases have been managed has tarnished the image of a government that claims to prioritise anti-corruption and good governance,' she said. She noted that eight months after Malaysiakini first exposed a corruption scandal involving video evidence, only two state assembly members and a businessman had been charged in court. 'This raises a serious question — why only these three? Why is there silence on the others shown in the video? If there's insufficient evidence, just say so. Or is this issue being used as a tool to pressure or threaten the state leadership?' she asked. Isnaraissah also referred to a second wave of exposes by Malaysiakini — dubbed 'Series 2' — that implicate several political leaders in Sabah, potentially affecting nearly the entire state government. 'True or not, this is humiliating for us Sabahans. It makes it look like Sabah is a haven for corrupt individuals. If proven true, it suggests the entire current state leadership is compromised,' she said. Rather than allowing Sabah's name to be repeatedly tarnished in the media, Isnaraissah urged those implicated to take legal action. 'Don't just deny it. Take action against Malaysiakini if the claims are defamatory. Your dignity is on the line — why remain silent?' she challenged. She also questioned the MACC's inaction regarding the new revelations. 'Has the MACC launched an investigation into this new expose? Why hasn't there been a single official statement? What more are you waiting for?' she said. Touching on another controversy involving Sabah's mineral resources, Isnaraissah alleged that top state leaders and a powerful Peninsular Malaysia figure were involved. 'People are asking — who is this person that seems immune from investigation? Initially, he denied involvement, but after evidence surfaced, he avoided the media,' she claimed. 'From every direction — land, sea, left, right — Sabah's resources are being plundered. And what do the people of Sabah get in return?' she asked. Next Article Joniston applauds formation of Tawau Tourism Working Group
