Latest news with #HassanKarim
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PKR can suspend us but we'll still speak up, says Rafizi
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and eight other MPs from PKR had called for a public inquiry into delays in the appointment of top judicial positions. PETALING JAYA : Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has fired back at calls to suspend him and eight other MPs from the party for pushing for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on judicial appointments and alleged interference in the judiciary. Rafizi said suspensions would do nothing to solve the underlying issues and would not deter them from fulfilling their duties as elected representatives. 'This move only reinforces the perception that PKR no longer tolerates dissent, especially when other MPs like Hassan Karim have criticised the prime minister even more harshly in the past, yet faced no consequences,' he said in a post on X. Rafizi also said that the suspensions would reduce PKR's numbers in Parliament to 22, fewer than DAP, Barisan Nasional (BN), and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). PKR currently holds 31 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. The nine MPs that the PKR division chiefs are seeking to suspend are Rafizi (Pandan); Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa); Rodziah Ismail (Ampang); Wong Chen (Subang); Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju); Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau); Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Ledang); S Kesavan (Sungai Siput), and Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat). The group called for the establishment of an RCI and a hearing by a parliamentary select committee following delays in the appointment of the chief justice and Court of Appeal president, which they said amounted to a constitutional crisis. PKR division chiefs said the MPs' actions not only breached party discipline and ethics, but also cast a negative light on the prime minister's leadership and opened the door to political manipulation by rivals. Rafizi today pushed back against the group's critics, reminding them that PKR was built on freedom of speech and activism, not blind loyalty or the silencing of dissent. 'We were once popular with the public because we were the fastest and loudest in championing their issues,' he said. 'That's what we 'old-timers' practised until PKR succeeded in forming the government, opening the door for new leaders, such as these division chiefs, to now hold high positions.'
Shafaq News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Forgotten language: Kurdish sidelined in Iraqi curriculum
Shafaq News Despite being recognized as an official language in Iraq for nearly two decades, Kurdish remains largely sidelined in Arabic-speaking public schools, where it is often taught in name only. In classrooms from Baghdad to Dhi Qar, Kurdish textbooks gather dust, unqualified staff substitute for instructors, and students sit through what they call 'placeholder lessons' — symbolic sessions with little substance. The neglect reflects deeper structural gaps in Iraq's multilingual education system and highlights the challenges of enforcing constitutional rights without supporting legislation or oversight. A Constitutional Language in Name Only Kurdish, spoken by an estimated 30–40 million people across Iraq, Iran, Turkiye, and Syria, is Iraq's second official language under Article 4 of the 2005 Constitution. The law guarantees Kurdish equal status with Arabic in government institutions, education, and public communication. In practice, however, implementation outside the Kurdistan Region remains minimal. While Kurdish is the primary language of instruction across schools in Erbil, Al-Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok, its presence in Arab-majority provinces is often superficial, hampered by teacher shortages, weak enforcement, and a lack of political will. 'There are no assignments, no exams, and no preparation. Even in final exams, the subject doesn't count,' said Hassan Karim, a fifth-year student at a Baghdad high school. He told Shafaq News that his Kurdish teacher visits the school only once a month and rarely stays more than a few minutes. 'Most of the time, that hour is used for math or English revision,' he added. No Teachers, No Tracking In Dhi Qar, English teacher Maytham Abdulrazzaq confirmed that many schools leave Kurdish grades blank on student report cards. 'Only the elite private schools take the subject seriously and record actual assessments,' he said. The Iraqi Ministry of Education admits the problem but insists it is committed to Kurdish language instruction. Ministry spokesperson Karim Al-Sayyid acknowledged the shortage of qualified Kurdish teachers in Arab provinces, but said inspection teams from the ministry's Kurdish language department regularly monitor schools. 'The ministry treats Kurdish seriously and evaluates students based on their level,' he said, denying that Kurdish is treated as a supplemental subject like art or physical education. Meanwhile, officials in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) say they are not responsible for enforcing Kurdish curriculum standards outside the Region. 'The teaching of Kurdish in Arabic schools is a federal matter,' said Saman Soaily, a spokesperson for the KRG Ministry of Education. 'While there is coordination between the two ministries, implementation depends on Baghdad.' A Legal and Political Void For lawmakers, the failure to institutionalize Kurdish in the national curriculum stems from a lack of legislative backing. 'There is no law requiring the enforcement of Kurdish language rights in education,' said MP Zlikha Elias, a member of Parliament's Education Committee. A former school principal, Elias recalled having to rely on administrative staff — or even school clerks — to cover Kurdish lessons due to the absence of trained educators. 'In many areas, one Kurdish teacher is assigned to three schools,' she said. Without a legal framework or clear accountability, Kurdish instruction has been reduced to improvisation, undermining the spirit of Iraq's post-2003 constitutional reforms. 'This sends a dangerous message to students — that the language of millions of Iraqis can be ignored without consequence,' Elias warned. Some parents are turning to private schools that offer Kurdish instruction alongside English and French, seeing them as the only way to preserve cultural and linguistic inclusion in their children's education.
Free Malaysia Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Hassan warns PKR MPs over RCI push
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim questioned whether the PKR MPs calling for an RCI into judicial appointments and alleged interference in the judiciary fully considered the long-term consequences of their actions. PETALING JAYA : Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has warned the nine PKR MPs pushing for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into judicial appointments and alleged interference in the judiciary that they must be prepared to face the consequences of their actions. Acknowledging their concerns about judicial integrity, Hassan nevertheless said the group, led by former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, must also consider the political implications of an RCI, including the pressure it could place on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government. He questioned whether the MPs had fully considered the long-term consequences of their actions, asking if they were driven by genuine reformist ideals or personal political interests. 'Their action is progressive, radical, and popular with the people. But it comes with risk,' said Hassan, a PKR backbencher. 'Are they ready for the government to fall over this? If they are, then it's clear that a revolt is taking place within PKR. 'This is a direct internal rebellion against Anwar, as both PKR president and prime minister. This has never happened before.' Rafizi, the Pandan MP, and the eight other MPs from PKR had called for the establishment of an RCI and a parliamentary select committee hearing following delays in the appointment of top judicial positions, including the chief justice, which they said amounted to a constitutional crisis. Such concerns arose ahead of the mandatory retirement last week of former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim. While it remains unclear who will be appointed to the two top posts, Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim is currently serving as acting chief justice, while Federal Court judge Zabariah Yusof has been named acting Court of Appeal president. Earlier today, the Attorney-General's Chambers said any suggestion of a crisis was unfounded, and that the appointment process was proceeding in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
I oppose nepotism, but Nurul Izzah deserves to be PKR No 2, says Hassan
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said Nurul Izzah Anwar has proven her mettle, having been part of PKR's struggle since the age of 18. PETALING JAYA : Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has again stated support for Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR deputy presidency, saying her qualifications to helm the post had nothing to do with her father being the PKR president. Hassan said he was against nepotism in political parties or the government, but Nurul Izzah had proven her mettle, having been part of PKR's struggle since the age of 18. 'Who are we to deny Nurul Izzah's right to contest for the post just because she's Anwar Ibrahim's daughter?' he said, according to Utusan Malaysia. 'I myself have been outspoken in opposing nepotism, whether in political parties or the government, but Nurul Izzah has (earned the right to contest for the PKR deputy presidency) in her own capacity. 'This is an important position and she deserves to helm the post,' said the two-term PKR MP. Hassan welcomed contests for the post in the central leadership elections, saying it would allow delegates to decide who they wanted to serve as Anwar's second-in-command in PKR. In 2023, Hassan had urged Anwar, the prime minister, to review Nurul Izzah's appointment as his senior economic and financial adviser amid claims of nepotism. After several weeks, she left the post and was instead made co-head of a secretariat for the advisory committee to the finance ministry. Numerous top and divisional leaders have stated their support for Nurul Izzah to contest the deputy president's post, which is currently being held by Rafizi Ramli. This followed Rafizi's leave of absence after the PKR divisional polls, which saw the defeat of several bigwigs aligned with him. Rafizi has confirmed that he will defend his PKR deputy presidency, while Nurul Izzah said she would make 'the best decision possible' following calls for her to challenge for the post. Nominations for PKR's central leadership elections opened today and close at 11.59pm tomorrow.
Free Malaysia Today
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Working with BN has cons for PH too, says PKR's Hassan
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said MCA and MIC were not losing political relevance due to PH but because race-based parties had grown less popular among non-Malay voters. PETALING JAYA : Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has admitted that Pakatan Harapan's cooperation with Barisan Nasional is a double-edged sword, following criticism by a Johor MCA leader over the party's dwindling political relevance. However, Hassan said the reality was that both coalitions needed each other at this juncture. The PKR man described the current PH-BN partnership as a symbiotic, mutually dependent relationship which brings pros and cons to both coalitions. 'There are positives and negatives to this cooperation. It affects not only BN but also PH,' he told FMT, while warning MCA that breaking away from BN would be political suicide. The Umno-led BN played a crucial role in enabling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to form the unity government in the wake of the 2022 general election (GE15), which resulted in a hung Parliament. However, internal tensions and ideological differences between parties in the unity government have continued to spark debate over the sustainability and future direction of the alliance. MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon recently called for the party to chart its own course if BN continues to delay making clear decisions regarding its direction. Johor MCA Youth chief Heng Zhi Li subsequently said PH was not 'saving' BN but dismantling it from within, adding that blind cooperation with PH would only render BN parties politically irrelevant. Hassan argued that MCA and MIC – the core non-Malay components of BN – were not losing political relevance due to PH but because race-based parties had grown less popular among non-Malay voters. He said the emergence of coalitions like Gagasan Rakyat, Barisan Alternatif, Pakatan Rakyat and then Pakatan Harapan sparked a shift towards building a multiracial national identity. 'These multiracial coalitions have rendered their race-based ideology increasingly irrelevant,' he said. Separately, a senior PH MP, who asked to remain anonymous, said MCA was disgruntled with BN's cooperation with PH as it was not in MCA's interest for the alliance to continue. He said while Umno seemed to be slowly making a comeback based on recent by-election results, MCA remained sidelined with nearly all seats with sizable Chinese voters dominated by PH parties. 'If PH and BN form an alliance for the next general election, how is MCA going to contest for these seats when they were won by PH in GE15? 'It's like how PAS cannot work with Umno, because both are vying for the same Malay-majority seats,' said the MP.
