PAS reminds Harapan to abolish laws suppressing free speech
This followed a landmark ruling by the Federal Court, where it struck down a provision under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) which requires rally organisers to give a five-day notice to authorities.
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New Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Not impossible for BN-PH to wrest Perlis, Kedah and Terengganu from PN
LANGKAWI: A senior Umno leader believes there is an opportunity for Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to recapture opposition-held states such as Perlis, Kedah, and Terengganu in the next general election. Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan described the Perikatan Nasional-led administrations in the three states as "unstable". The Pontian member of parliament said that half of the voters in these states still support Umno, while the rest are fence-sitters who could influence the election outcome. "We lost before, but it's not impossible for us to win these three states next time. "This means half the population supports us, and the others are in the middle... so these observers or undecided voters will play an important role," he said after opening the Langkawi Wanita Umno division delegates' meeting here today. Also present were Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Langkawi Wanita Umno chief Hisham Suhaily Othman. Ahmad added that if the people in the three states are dissatisfied with the PN government's performance, they are highly likely to return their support to Umno. Commenting on the three motions debated during the meeting—namely, the role of women in politics; the demand for the Langkawi parliamentary seat and two state assembly seats to be returned to Umno; and the call to defend Datuk Seri Najib Razak—Ahmad said Umno has always upheld democratic values. "At every delegates' meeting involving the women's, youth, puteri, and division wings, we always receive many motions that are discussed respectfully before being adopted. "This is our way of gathering grassroots feedback and reflects that Umno is a party that embraces democratic practices," he said.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Afghans both hopeful, disappointed after Russia's Taliban recognition
KABUL: Russia's decision to formally recognise the Taliban government has been seen as an opening for a stronger economy by some Afghans, while others were sceptical that it would improve their lot. Russia became the first country to acknowledge the Taliban authorities on Thursday, after a gradual building of ties that included removing their 'terrorist organisation' designation and accepting an ambassador in recent months. The Taliban authorities had not been recognised by any state in the nearly four years since sweeping to power in 2021, ousting the foreign-backed government as US-led troops withdrew after a two-decade war. Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world and in a fragile recovery from four decades of conflict. 'With the current situation in Afghanistan, with all the challenges, everyone is worried. If the world recognises Afghanistan, we will be happy, currently, even the tiniest thing matters,' Gul Mohammad, 58, said on Friday in the capital Kabul. Despite having bitter memories of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, when he 'lost everything' and became a refugee in Pakistan, he acknowledges that 'the priorities are different now'. Jamaluddin Sayar, 67, predicted that 'trade and economic prosperity will now blossom'. The retired pilot said other countries, 'both western and eastern', should recognise the government and 'stop spreading propaganda against the Islamic Emirate', using the Taliban authorities' name for their administration. - Won't 'lead to anything' - Russian and Afghan officials praised the move as an opening for deeper cooperation, notably in economic and security arenas. Security concerns have been a key avenue for coordination between the Taliban authorities and the international community, amid fears Afghanistan would become fertile ground for increased militant activity. The authorities have prioritised security and made repeated assurances that Afghan soil would not be used by any group to plan attacks on other nations. However, Pakistan's ties with the Taliban authorities have been strained over a surge in militant activity since their takeover and last year, an attack claimed by the Islamic State group's branch in Afghanistan killed 137 people in a Moscow concert hall. In a country where dissent and protest is tightly controlled, some Kabul residents were afraid to openly criticise the Taliban authorities. Atef, not his real name, was unconvinced better relations between Afghanistan and Russia would improve the livelihoods of ordinary Afghans. 'I think Afghanistan will fall into the traps of the Russians again, the issues and challenges will increase, and there is nothing that can help ordinary people,' the unemployed 25-year-old said. 'People are struggling, and they will still struggle with or without the recognition.' For Afghan women's rights activists, particularly those who have advocated for isolating the Taliban government, the recognition was seen as a setback that 'legitimises' restrictions on women. The Taliban authorities, who also ruled the country between 1996 and 2001, have again imposed an austere version of Islamic law. Norway-based Afghan women's rights activist Hoda Khamosh was defiant against the impact of the Russian move. 'Human rights organisations right now are trying to recognise gender apartheid in Afghanistan because the Taliban are a repressive regime against women,' she said. 'Therefore, these recognitions will not lead to anything.'
Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Prosecution argues Court of Appeal wrong to acquit ex-Felda chair
The prosecution has listed 24 grounds in its petition of appeal on why the Court of Appeal erred in acquitting former Felda chairperson Isa Abdul Samad of nine corruption charges. In the petition filed at the Federal Court on June 26, the prosecution sought to reinstate the High Court's 2012 decision, which found Isa guilty and sentenced him to six years' imprisonment and a fine of RM15.45 million, in default 18 years in prison. A check on the court's e-filing system showed that...
