
Focus on coalition unity, says MP amid Tengku Zafrul poser
PETALING JAYA : An MP from PKR has urged his party to focus on maintaining a united coalition government, as former Umno man Tengku Zafrul Aziz seeks to join PKR.
Segamat MP R Yuneswaran said he acknowledged Tengku Zafrul's contributions to the nation and government, but warned that PKR's ties with Umno could be hampered if the investment, trade and industry minister becomes a party member.
'It's essential to consider the implications of the relationship between Umno and PKR. Currently, the focus should be on a unity government and establishing a united coalition, which is of utmost importance.
'Anything that can break the trust and stability (within the unity government), must be avoided,' he said in a post on X.
Tengku Zafrul resigned from Umno on Friday and said he intends to join PKR, citing 'compatibility and suitability'.
However, many Umno leaders have warned PKR against accepting the senator as a member, with a Kedah leader also calling for a review of Barisan Nasional's alliance with Pakatan Harapan if Tengku Zafrul successfully defects to PKR.
However, PKR Youth chief Kamil Munim supported accepting Tengku Zafrul, saying it would boost support for the party.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said no official discussion has been held on Tengku Zafrul's application to join PKR, adding that his Cabinet would be unaffected.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Malay Mail
40 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Anwar eyes long-term benefits from stronger Malaysia-France relations ahead of Macron meeting
PARIS, July 4 — Malaysia hopes its continuous engagement with France will benefit the country in the long run. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter would be discussed during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow. 'We will find ways to explore this. In fact, we have expanded our ties over the years, from not just buying products such as planes but also supplying parts for their manufacturing,' he said on Thursday. Speaking at the gathering with the Malaysian diaspora here in conjunction with his two-day visit to France, Anwar said Malaysia continues to be a top destination for high-tech industries such as electrical and electronics (E&E). 'In the past, we bought a lot of planes from Airbus and Boeing. Now we have companies producing parts for these plane manufacturers in Malaysia,' he added. Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. The Prime Minister said Malaysian students studying in France should also take advantage of the growing high-tech industries back home and come back after completing their studies here. Anwar is undertaking an official visit to France at the invitation of Macron. He is scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with Macron at the Élysée Palace, with key agenda items including trade, investment, renewable energy, semiconductors, defence, education, digital economy, and artificial intelligence (AI). France remains one of Malaysia's top five trading partners within the European Union. In 2024, bilateral trade totalled RM15.95 billion (US$3.63 billion), with RM6.26 billion (US$1.49 billion) recorded between January and May this year. — Bernama


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Sentiment likely to improve in second half
CGSI Research has put its year-end-2025 FBM KLCI target at 1,670 points. PETALING JAYA: After a tumultuous first half triggered by external headwinds, one research house sees the market staging a comeback in the second half of 2025 (2H25), albeit with volatility. CGS International (CGSI) Research said that it sees US tariff tensions ebbing in 2H25, although it remained cognisant that bouts of escalations could still sprout within the broader de-escalating trend. 'As tariff negotiations between Malaysia and the United States appear to be progressing well, we are cautiously optimistic that a mutually beneficial outcome can be achieved,' it told clients in a report. It said given their record low shareholding, it reckons foreign investors have yet to fully appreciate Malaysia's ongoing rejuvenation – which is already seeing economic reforms in motion, influx of approved investments and a more stable political landscape. CGSI Research has put its year-end-2025 FBM KLCI target at 1,670 points, premised on a 15 times price earnings (P/E) tagged to the 2025 earnings per share. 'Our ascribed P/E multiple is in line with its post-pandemic average,' the research house said. 'Rock-bottom foreign shareholding offers a downside cushion, we opine.' CGSI Research said the ongoing tariff woes will still have an impact on Malaysia's open economy. Its 2025 gross domestic product forecast of 4.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) is below the government's 4.5% to 5.5% projection. 'Still, we get a sense that this has not deterred the unity government from its economic reform agenda. Revisions to the sales and service tax were done twice (in March 2024 and July 2025) to broaden the public revenue base, while subsidy rationalisation efforts are ongoing.' The research house also noted that the government has developed various strategic plans, which have helped boost approved investments in Malaysia to new record highs. 'In our view, this has started to bear fruit, evident from the robust growth in gross fixed capital formation averaging 11.6% y-o-y from the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24) to 1Q25. Malaysia's political landscape is also now on firmer ground with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his government outlasting the past three administrations, alongside a rise in approval ratings.' CGSI Research noted in 1H25, the benchmark FBM KLCI declined by 6.7% with the losses largely cushioned by the ringgit's 6.2% appreciation, bringing its currency adjusted returns to a slight dip of 0.9% over the said period. Nevertheless, the latter still lagged the regional MSCI AC Asean Index which gained 3.4% in 1H25, mostly aided by Singapore's stock market benchmark index.


Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
TNB's share price falls after Federal Court decision on LHDN case
The dispute arose when the Inland Revenue Board disallowed Tenaga Nasional Bhd's claim that the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity was not manufacturing of electricity. PETALING JAYA : Tenaga Nasional Bhd's shares plunged a day after the Federal Court overturned a ruling in the largest corporate tax dispute in the country's history, resulting in losses of over RM3 billion in its market capitalisation. TNB's shares fell as much as 74 sen, or over 5%, to its lowest level since June 3, The Edge reported. The counter closed at RM14.02. Yesterday, the apex court overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that found the national utility company to be in the business of manufacturing electricity. The Federal Court said TNB should actually have been considered a utility company under Schedule 7B of the Income Tax Act 1967 (ITA). The dispute arose when the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) disallowed TNB's claim under Schedule 7A of the ITA on the basis that the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity was not manufacturing of electricity. TNB had also argued that it was only a service provider. In 2022, the High Court allowed TNB's judicial review application to set aside LHDN's RM1.8 billion tax assessment for the year 2018. Two years later, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's ruling. TNB has already paid the sum. Today, analysts told The Edge about the possibility of hefty provisions and potential implications for the company's other outstanding court cases. The Edge quoted CIMB Securities as expressing concerns that the case might set a legal precedent for TNB's other pending court cases for notices of additional assessment from LHDN.