Tok Mat: Umno, BN open to working with Sabah parties in state polls
TANGKAK: Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) are open to forging alliances with Sabah-based parties for the coming state election.
Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that BN recognised the need to work with other parties.
"We can no longer go it alone. We need other partners to face this state election," he said, adding BN has already agreed to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the polls.
He added that the coalition was also exploring cooperation with local parties.
"We want to enter the Sabah state election as a strong team, not one that is forced to fend off all sorts of things," he said after officiating the Ledang Umno divisional meeting here today.
Mohamad said a strong team would ensure voters are not confused when giving their support, thus enabling them to govern the state.
Previously, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) rejected political cooperation with BN in this state election. PBS was a former BN component party before leaving the coalition after the 14th General Election, following BN's defeat.
The Sabah State Legislative Assembly is scheduled to be automatically dissolved on Nov 11 this year.
Earlier this week, Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin denied inviting PBS to rejoin the coalition or work together in the coming election.
Previously, Sabah Umno chief Datuk Bung Moktar Radin denied inviting PBS to rejoin the coalition or proposing cooperation with the party.
This followed PBS' statement that the party would not work with BN in the polls.
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Malaysiakini
an hour ago
- Malaysiakini
PM chooses key people in govt, not the royals
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It's the prime minister who chooses the key people in his or her government, not the royals, as the royals in this country, according to the Federal Constitution, do not govern. Top appointments to the government are the PM's choices. As long as the choices are made according to the constitution, the king makes the PM's choices official. That's the meaning of the king acting on the advice of the PM. It takes a PM with a backbone, not a glib mouth, to advise the king on his role. Apparently, Anwar can't do the job. Just resign and spare us this misgovernance. BobbyO: What a lame excuse. Anwar, do you think the people are fools, or do you think that power is in your hands and you will decide according to your own selfish agenda, just as you did in extending MACC Azam Baki's tenure not once but thrice? Remember, even the toughest and cruellest dictator has fallen, as they think that power is theirs to wield as they like. Remember Umno and jailed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak. They thought that they were unbeatable as they had the finance, resources, and manpower. Look at where they stand today. Such a lame excuse, and Malaysians can very clearly see through you and your motive if you do not want to extend Tengku Maimun's tenure. Why then did you extend Azam's tenure? Is it because it worked in your favour? Was it not a political move? Why were the others due for promotion made to wait? What about the inspector-general of police and his deputy? Why was the deputy not promoted to the next level? It is so clear to see that you are frightened of promoting decent and honest civil servants. Seriously, Anwar, stop taking the people for granted. Umno did, and they lost big - four states to the opposition. What will be PKR's position at the next election? Reduced to the level below MIC and MCA? Half full Cup: Let's face it, our PM does not welcome most of the people's opinions, especially the professional group and his supporters, because he feels he is now the maharaja of the day. In fact, he has even forgotten or refused to recognise who his supporters are for the past 20 over years. The fault lies in his supporters (especially the urban citizens). If we look at what he did when he was in Umno, he was a very racist leader, hence his meteoric rise to be the deputy president of Umno. He was almost on the verge of becoming the president (prime minister). Most of his reforms at the time were very much at the expense of a certain group of people. We have been badly mistaken, or maybe we have fooled ourselves. Has DAP also taken advantage of the people's foolishness to gain power and enjoys that power now? BetterMY: Thank you for shooting yourself in the foot once again! The rakyat is fully aware of your administration's tactics of only retaining those subservient to you. Where you should have retained talent, you let them go, and where you should have dispensed with them, you gleefully retained. We will keep this in mind when voting in the 16th general election. Mind you, we're not racist to completely dispel of BN and PN, there are good administrators there too. It's just a matter of ridding BN and PN of the extremist and corrupt voices. Once that is done, we'll have a credible alternative to your incompetent administration. We have given you an opportunity, and you squandered it. We have given you that opportunity despite your entitled attitude towards the top post since 1998. Your days at the administration are numbered, and you will soon join the one-term PM list. And before any ardent and blind supporters of Pakatan Harapan jump on this, please be known that I have voted for Harapan since GE10. So my thinking is both reflective of the groundswell against Harapan and also the maturing of our electorate. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Academic freedom under siege
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From US funding cuts to structural constraints in Malaysia, science faces mounting political and institutional pressures. Under President Donald Trump, research funding was slashed at will – putting the global scientific community at risk and reversing years of progress. The Harvard Gazette (2025) interviewed researchers affected by the funding freeze. Some warned their work would vanish entirely without continued support, including studies on tuberculosis immunity and gut neuron ageing, with implications for neurological diseases. This affects not only research progress but also the people involved, especially emerging talents. Although the cuts mainly affect US-based universities, the impact is global. US institutions anchor countless international research efforts, especially in climate science, global health and advanced technologies. Curtailing their work may delay progress and fragment the global knowledge ecosystem. 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Pregnant women remain excluded from many studies today, leaving gaps in treatment safety and efficacy. Without inclusive, well-funded and politically independent research, these blind spots will persist, with serious consequences for public health. Can the global research community fill the vacuum left by what was once the world's leading funder? The challenge highlights just how deeply global science has relied on US institutions and why countries like Malaysia must now accelerate efforts to build their own research capabilities: financially, structurally and in terms of talent. This includes tackling brain drain. As highlighted by Emir Research, misalignment between higher education, industry demand and research incentives have driven skilled Malaysians abroad, weakening our innovation ecosystem just as global research and development (R&D) leadership shifts. Emir Research has previously noted that shifting global push-and-pull dynamics are prompting Chinese nationals to return home. While US hostility towards certain sciences has played a role, equally important are China's rising R&D investments and reforms aimed at attracting and retaining talent. While the US rolls back funding for climate and green energy research, China is accelerating – most notably with the world's first operational thorium-based nuclear reactor, offering more abundant fuel and lower proliferation risks. Despite concerns over human rights and transparency, China's sustained R&D drive stands in stark contrast to recent US trends. Meanwhile, the European Union has allocated €500 million to draw global scientific talent – signalling a broader recalibration of research leadership. In this fluid and opportune moment, Malaysia must not be left behind. This recalibration is about more than funding or geography; it is about values, structures and priorities. 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Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Daily Express
Umno postpones general assembly to November to focus on Sabah election
Published on: Tuesday, July 01, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 01, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: The 2025 Umno General Assembly, originally scheduled for August, has been postponed to Nov 26-29 in view of preparations for the upcoming Sabah state election. Umno Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, in a statement, said the decision was made during the Umno Supreme Council (MT) meeting held at Menara Dato' Onn, World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur on Monday (June 30) night. The meeting chaired by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and was also attended by vice presidents Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, along with other supreme council members. In March, the Umno supreme council had initially set this year's General Assembly for Aug 20 to 23. The five-year term of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly is scheduled to expire automatically on Nov 11 this year, paving the way for the 17th Sabah state election. Additionally, Asyraf Wajdi said Umno will conduct a mid-term review of the effectiveness and performance of the Malaysian unity government, including the achievements of the Umno leadership within the administration, and in government-linked and affiliated agencies. Meanwhile, he said Umno sees no justification for parties in the unity government to absorb members from other component parties, in order to prevent misunderstandings and disharmony within the government. He added that the meeting also decided that the supreme council may consider any appeal submitted by members subjected to disciplinary action, in line with Clause 20.12 of the Umno Constitution. Asyraf Wajdi also expressed Umno's appreciation to the Umno Liaison Bodies of Terengganu and Perak for assisting in the management and delivery of aid to the victims of the tragic bus accident in Gerik on June 10, which claimed the lives of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. * 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
