Latest news with #NurulIzzahAnwar
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
No guarantees for runners-up, says Saifuddin Nasution as PKR rethinks Sabah seat strategy
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Just one week into his new role as co-director of elections for PKR, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has wasted no time preparing for a potentially pivotal state poll in Sabah. Speaking to Berita Harian, Saifuddin, who shares the post with PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, said coalition parties held talks three days ago in anticipation of Sabah's 17th state election. He also reportedly said the discussions — involving allies Barisan Nasional (BN), DAP, Amanah and the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) — focused on electoral data and the division of seats. 'Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional have agreed to work together in facing the Sabah polls,' Saifuddin said in the interview published today. 'We're also open to collaborating with other coalitions in the state, including Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).' Saifuddin, who also serves as the home minister and PH secretary-general, signalled a departure from past electoral strategies. In a notable shift, he said the coalition may no longer automatically allocate seats to parties that placed second in the previous state election. 'The rankings of first and second place are dynamic,' he reportedly said to the national daily. 'Some constituencies we lost in the 2020 state election later showed majority support for us in the 2022 general election. 'We're looking at current data — it's not a rule that a second-place showing guarantees a seat.' The remarks come amid growing speculation that Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor could dissolve the state assembly in late July or early August. Previously, Hajiji, who chairs GRS and leads the Gagasan Rakyat party, said the timing would be announced after GRS's annual assembly next month. Saifuddin described recent the government's meetings on Sabah as 'highly productive,' adding that the coalition was already evaluating seat demographics, candidate suitability and ethnic composition in key constituencies. The latest coordination effort comes as PH seeks to expand its influence in Sabah, where it currently holds nine state assembly seats, including two under PKR. BN, which won 14 seats in the last state election in 2020, left the ruling coalition in early 2023 following a political rift.
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
As exit nears, Saifuddin Nasution urges Nik Nazmi to reconsider resignation from Cabinet
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — With less than a week to go before Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad's resignation takes effect, PKR election co-director Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is still hopeful the minister of natural resources and environmental sustainability will reconsider stepping down from Cabinet. Saifuddin, who is also home minister, believes there is still time for Nik Nazmi to rethink the move, saying his skills and talent remain valuable to the government. 'I've known Nik for a long time — since I was PKR deputy Youth chief. He's very talented, very intellectual, and works in a systematic way,' Saifuddin said in an interview with Berita Harian published today. 'He has chosen to resign, with his leave ending on July 4. With this small window of time left, I'm still hopeful he will return to his post. 'I believe there is still room for Nik to consider and reflect. I'm making the same appeal, as I don't side with either Damai or Hiruk.' Damai, or Dari Akar, Membina Aspirasi Inklusif, was the campaign platform led by PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar during the party's recent internal elections, while Hiruk — Hidupkan Idealisme Reformasi Dalam Ujian Kuasa — was the slogan of former deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli's camp. Nik Nazmi, who was aligned with Rafizi's camp, failed to defend his position as PKR vice-president in the party polls last month. Earlier, he had also lost the contest to retain his Setiawangsa division chief post. Following the defeats, Nik Nazmi — who is also MP for Setiawangsa — announced on May 28 that he had submitted his resignation as minister, effective July 4, mirroring Rafizi's move to vacate the Economy portfolio after losing his own re-election bid. Saifuddin, who is also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, said his appeal to Nik Nazmi was in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's open-minded approach. After both leaders announced their resignations, Anwar had urged them to reflect deeply before leaving their Cabinet posts. Rafizi, the MP for Pandan, went ahead with his resignation, which took effect on June 17. Commenting on Rafizi's departure, Saifuddin said he respected the former minister's decision, but continues to stay in touch with him. As a PKR veteran, Saifuddin also pledged to continue playing a unifying role within the party leadership. 'I was closely engaged with both Nurul Izzah and Rafizi right up to the end before the party election. Just a few hours before heading to Johor, I invited them over for a three-hour heart-to-heart discussion. 'There were points of agreement and disagreement. I believe I can still play that role between the two of them and will continue doing so. 'I'm not concerned about whether my position in the party is strong or weak, or whether I hold a high post. I define my success in PKR by staying consistent and making a meaningful contribution,' he was quoted as saying.
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Speed up surveys for Sarawak native customary land, Nurul Izzah says
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar said that for communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan, land is more than just a place to live. PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has called for the expedition of land surveys and ownership approvals for native customary land in Sarawak, and a halt to the issuance of new licences on disputed land. She said for communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan, land was more than just a place to live. 'It is their source of livelihood, a place for worship, where they celebrate their customs and raise their families. Most importantly, it is part of their soul and identity. 'I urge that the process of surveying and granting ownership of native customary land be expedited, and that no new licences be issued on land still under dispute,' she said in a statement. Citing veteran advocates like Harrison Ngau and the late Bill Kayong, she said their unwavering spirit must live on. 'This spirit shines through their struggle – never afraid despite pressure, never silent even when sidelined. Their resilience reminds me that this is a fight worth continuing, to defend the native customary rights that form part of Sarawak's soul and history.' Although native customary rights are recognised under federal law and the Sarawak Land Code, Nurul Izzah said only a fraction of such land had been formally surveyed and allowed legal ownership. 'Many remain unresolved. As a result, the majority of indigenous communities are vulnerable to encroachment, forced eviction, and exploitation,' she said. She also criticised the expansion of oil palm plantations and logging activities which she said had come at the expense of these communities. 'Land is leased to large companies without consultation, without consent, and without proper compensation,' she said. While courts have repeatedly affirmed native rights based on ancestral customs and in line with the Federal Constitution and international human rights standards, she said enforcement remained inconsistent. 'This has forced many indigenous people to face serious legal, bureaucratic, and financial challenges just to have their rights recognised. 'All development must receive free, prior and informed consent from the land's original owners, and fair compensation must be given to any affected or displaced community,' she added. Last month, the Sarawak government affirmed its commitment to recognising and protecting legitimate native customary rights over land, in accordance with land laws. Deputy premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said that since the New NCR Land Survey Initiative began in October 2010, up to April 30 this year, a total of 1,200,766 hectares had been surveyed perimetrically. 'Of this, around 935,760ha have been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserves (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. These surveying efforts are based on applications from the communities involved,' he said. Awang Tengah said that since 2017, surveying efforts had also covered individual lots for land titles in gazetted areas where claimants had applied and were ready. He added that as of April 30, 99,438 individual lots had been surveyed, covering 118,749ha, with land titles issued or in the process of being issued. * 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
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Nurul Izzah: Act against online child sexual exploitation
PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has called for immediate and coordinated government action to combat online child sexual exploitation. She described the issue as a 'national disgrace' that demands collective responsibility from the authorities and society. Her remarks come in the wake of the exposure of a Facebook group, Group Budak2 Sekolah Rendah, which had amassed more than 12,000 members who were allegedly sharing and passively viewing sexually explicit content involving primary school children. 'This is not just an alarming incident; it is a national disgrace. 'Shutting down the group is not enough. We need immediate, coordinated and decisive actions,' she said in a statement yesterday. Nurul Izzah urged agencies such as the Communications Ministry, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), police and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) to intensify efforts against digital predators preying on children. She called on the MCMC and the Communications Ministry to disclose their current monitoring mechanisms and demonstrate their effectiveness in detecting child exploitation online. She also urged the police and KPWKM to release public updates on the recent case and similar cases that have remained outside public scrutiny. Nurul Izzah also demanded a progress report on the implementation of the Online Safety Act and a briefing in Parliament on the effectiveness of the D11 sexual crimes unit, including additional funding to enhance its operations. 'Malaysia must upgrade its systems to provide early warning for the public. To protect our children, we must emulate global initiatives like the Europe-Latin America Initiative for the Safety of Children and Adolescents, a cross- continental police cooperation network tackling child exploitation online,' she said. Nurul Izzah also proposed public access to the Child Sexual Offender Registry, which was established in 2019, not for public shaming but to safeguard communities. She urged the Education Ministry to strengthen its health syllabus with digital safety awareness topics. 'We applaud social media activists and influencers such as Mekyun and others for bravely exposing online sexual exploitation to raise public awareness. It is time to band together,' she said. The former Permatang Pauh MP also spoke of her own experience as a victim of online threats, when she received gang rape threats earlier this year. She said the individual was formally charged with 11 counts of posting indecent and obscene comments about her on Facebook. Nurul Izzah stressed that while legal tools exist to tackle online sexual crimes, many gaps remain in terms of enforcement, awareness and prevention. According to official 2023 data, child sexual crimes increased by 26.5%, while child pornography cases surged by an alarming 139.3%. 'These are not just numbers. They are a collective cry for immediate, systemic reform, not just well-worded laws that gather dust,' she said. Nurul Izzah announced that PKR is launching a grassroots campaign to focus on raising public awareness, creating safe spaces for children and strengthening community partnerships with NGOs and educational institutions. 'Parents, teachers, religious leaders, NGOs and the public must rise to protect our children from this growing digital threat,' she said.
Barnama
6 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Nurul Izzah Calls For Comprehensive Action To Combat Online Child Sexual Exploitation
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has called on the authorities to swiftly implement comprehensive measures to tackle the increasingly alarming crime of online child sexual exploitation. In a Facebook post today, she stressed that all forms of cyber threats, particularly those targeting children, must be addressed firmly and without delay. Her call came in response to the shocking discovery of a Facebook group dubbed 'Group Budak2 Sekolah Rendah', which allegedly shares sexually explicit content involving primary schoolchildren and has over 12,000 members. 'It is understood that several existing legal provisions can be used to prosecute perpetrators of online sexual crimes against this group, and the move is very much welcomed. 'However, there are still many gaps that need to be addressed, weaknesses that should be improved, and follow-up actions that must be implemented immediately to protect those most vulnerable to this threat,' she said in the post. Nurul Izzah said perpetrators of sexual crimes were becoming increasingly sophisticated, including by using technology and the dark web to cover their tracks. In this regard, she proposed that a structured, firm and comprehensive effort be initiated by government agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM). She also urged the Ministry of Communications and MCMC to present a clear, transparent and effective monitoring mechanism to assess the level of digital protection for children. In addition, she called on KPWKM and PDRM to release public reports on both current and previous cases related to online sexual crimes in the interest of transparency and full accountability to the people.
