Latest news with #PAS-inspired
Focus Malaysia
21 hours ago
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Greedy detractors lament PMX's chicken feed 'extraordinary appreciation' package
AS Madani government backers and cybertroopers cheered PMX's delayed 'extraordinary tribute for Malaysians' in the name of gratefulness, their opposition peers berated the 'the sweetener' as an insincere gesture based on its pathetic quantum. Claiming that this is a frantic attempt to buy the heart of man-on-the-street-Malaysians ahead of this Saturday's (July 26) PAS-inspired Turun Anwar rally, they enlightened those charmed by PMX's 'salesman gimmick' that all the so-called tribute is after all funded by taxpayers, not PMX nor his Madani Ministers. Describing PMX's doling out of the so-called tribute yesterday (July 23) as 'the most time-wasting announcement in history', UMNO renegade Isham Jalil hit out at the illogic of the one-off RM100 for every Malaysian aged 18 and above after having squeezed an average RM6,375 per family based on the projection of RM51 bil SST (Sales and Services Tax) collection. 'Worse still, this comes in the form of 'coupon' as opposed to cash and is only redeemable as selected grocers such as Mydin, Lotus's, Econsave and 99 Speedmart,' he teased in a Facebook video. Likewise, the former UMNO supreme council member who was sacked for opposing the party's cooperation with DAP the in by-elections on Dec 7, 2023 also viewed as 'mind-boggling' for the Madani government to reduce the RON95 petrol price by a mere 6 sen to RM1.99/litre from the current retail price of RM2.05/litre. 'Imagine after 20 plus years of promises and days of waiting for this tributary announcement, only to be told that petrol price has dropped by 6 sen. 🤦🏻♂️' he elaborated in a series of FB posts. More brickbats Specifically on the RM1.99/litre RON95 pricing, it has to be borne in mind that there is eligibility factor in play, hence there is still likelihood that personal wealth level may be a criteria to qualify for this perk. Even as PMX has stated that the lower RON95 retail price is expected to benefit 18 million motorists, including gig entrepreneurs, the devil is in the details as the Madani government irons out the nitty-gritty of its target subsidy reform with an end-September deadline. Over on his Facebook page, detractors, too, ridiculed PMX with one Muslimah (modest) fashion retailer ticking off the former for only having managed to slash RON95 price by 6 sen after three long years 'instead of your earlier promise of 24 hours (should he win the election)'. 'Why? Because your promise was motivated by power craze, hence you failed to see through the logic back then' justified the commenter. 'Such promise earned you emotional votes from the rakyat. Now that you hold power, you've begun to feel the implication yourself. Bitter, right?' Another commenter fumed at PMX for 'getting carried away with the by UMNO culture of throwing RM1 and squeeze RM1,000 from the rakyat'. 'It's never worth it to dole out one-off candies only to end up in misery with the economy getting bleaker, investors fleeing and subsidies being withdrawn one by one,' he lambasted. One commenter contended that he would rather 'swap the RM100 hand-out with elimination/reduction of taxes' or if need be, 'a 2% SST should suffice'. Another aptly put it that what was dished put hy PMX 'didn't match the impressive teaser'. 'I'm sure if PMX were to be the Opposition head at this juncture, the government of the day would have come under heavy fire,' he added. – July 24, 2025
Focus Malaysia
3 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
PMX must be careful with what he wishes for after he mocks opposition to table no confidence motion
'IF HE is as gutsy as he has sounded, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should hold a secret vote of no confidence which is free from (party) whip restrictions. But he's unlikely to do so.' Such is the challenge threw at PMX yesterday (July 22) by Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz after he dared the opposition to bring on a vote of no-confidence in Parliament if they plan to remove him from power. This came about after PMX told a gathering of the Prime Minister's Department staff in Putrajaya that he had reminded the police not to block this Saturday's PAS-inspired Turun Anwar rally This is when he insinuated that he would be waiting for the motion of no confidence with yesterday (July 21) being the first day of the Dewan Rakyat session. 'If there is a majority, if there are enough numbers, go ahead,' he challenged. Elaborating on his proposed secret vote of no confidence without party whip restrictions, Tun Faisal said this was the quickest way to unseat PMX. 'If we hold a vote of no confidence in secret today without (party) whip restrictions, tomorrow, God willing, the country will have PM11 and a new government,' he said in a comment to a Malaysiakini Facebook post entitled 'Anwar Signals Gov't Will Allow Vote of No confidence in Parliament'. 'With reference to the previous Langkah Dubai (Dubai Move), the government had claimed that the PM11 candidate from the opposition bloc could secure up to 123 votes. 'Since Anwar is highly unlikely to hold a vote of no confidence in secret and free from (party) whip restrictions, then on July 26 the rakyat shall continue to gather and demand that Anwar steps down and resign.' Interestingly, PMX's latest gesture of turning the tables on the opposition received mixed responses with some reminding the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition that PMX has thrown the ball back to their court while some cautioned PMX to be extra careful with what he wishes for. Some even wondered if the opposition has the guts to push through the no confidence motion while others are wary if the 'backdoor government gang' of Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin (Bersatu president) and Tan Sri Hadi Awang would make a comeback. Others went on the lambast the opposition for being 'weak' and unable to play 'a proper check and balance role'. – July 22, 2025
Focus Malaysia
4 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
'Turun Anwar' rally alone won't dethrone PMX but a successful aftermath can rub off on MPs to vote him out'
THE PAS-inspired Turun Anwar campaign which is currently underway at state level prior to taking shape this Saturday (July 26) at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur will not be able bring down Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on its own. Taking the cue from PMX who has stated that he will not step down because he did not steal money belonging to the rakyat, veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin reckoned that pending the 16th General Election (GE16), 'the only way to make him fall is by authentically proving that there is support from at least 112 MPs'. 'The Turun Anwar tour is more relevant to his opponents in preparation for the GE which must be held before Feb 17, 2028,' the national journalism laureate penned on his Facebook page. 'But if the rallies, protests and marches cause his supporters in the Parliament to defect, the possibility that he (PMX) will lose his majority and be forced to resign cannot be ruled out.' At any rate, Kadir does not expect PMX to retaliate by taking harsh action against the perpetrators and detractors, be they the opposition or even former PKR deputy president and ex-economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli's faction. 'Harsh action could further damage PMX's image as a reformist while increasing public sympathy and support for the opposition,' opined Kadir who is perceived by Madani backers to be a loyalist to twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is now an adviser of Perikatan Nasional (PN). 'However, this does not mean that state apparatuses such as the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will not act'. The former editor-in-chief of mainstream New Straits Times further corrected public misconception that PMX on his own did not win the 2022 national polls through the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition which he helms as chairman. 'The PH he led didn't have enough seats to form a government. Once again, UMNO defected by giving support to PH and PMX. As a result, PMX has enough seats to form a government and become PM,' recounted Kadir. 'UMNO which campaigned on the slogan 'No Bersatu, no Anwar, no DAP' went on to win the Deputy PM post following which the DPM (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) was further rewarded with DNAA (discharge not amounting to acquittal) on 47 prima facie cases.' – July 21, 2025 Main image credit: PAS Johor/Facebook
Focus Malaysia
4 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Madani gov't trolled for using KSN to ban civil servants from joining 'Turun Anwar' rally
DETRACTORS have questioned the rationale behind the call for civil servants to stay away from this Saturday's (July 26) PAS-inspired 'Turun Anwar' rally. This is because civil servants must adhere to the pledge enshrined in the Rukun Negara, particularly by upholding the principle of loyalty to king and country, according to Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. 'They cannot attend. Civil servants recite the pledge every day, every week,' justified Shamsul who succeeded Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali on Aug 10 last year. 'Have they forgotten? Be loyal to the king and country,' he said after launching the Association of Former Students of Mara Junior Science Colleges (ANSARA) Sports Carnival 2025 in Putrajaya yesterday (July 20). While Shamsul did not specify if the nature of disciplinary action to be taken on errant civil servants, a majority of commenters to the NST Online Facebook post of Shamsul's message felt that it is unbecoming of the Madani government to even use the KSN as its protective shield. After all, they recounted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had in fact instigated civil servants to take to the streets to protest against injustice inflicted on him, notably his sacking as deputy PM following which the Reformasi movement was born. After all. Saturday is an off day to most civil servants, henceforth it is their right to decide what they wish to do during their spare time so long as their action does not disrupt their workflow. Therefore, Shamsul's directive is deemed as both 'army twisting method and double standard'. As a learned commenter put it, the KSU cannot deny the basic rights and freedom of all citizens as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, namely the right to free speech and the right to assemble and association. '(The) KSU is clearly fear mongering and threatening civil servants,' he attested. As a commenter aptly pointed out, the Madani government has nothing to fear if it is doing a good job 'unless this Madani (government) is so unstable that it feared that the opposition might influence their (civil servants) support towards this government'. Another contended that 'a democracy would not order such a thing but civil servants can be reminded that action can be taken against them if their behaviour during such a rally led to arrest and/or detention'. In fact, a commenter opined that civil servants are duty-bound 'to speak out if the government is harming the country'. The bottom-line as one commenter noted, 'public sector workers will STILL go to work tomorrow if the government falls or a new government comes in'. As 'they work for the country, the King and not a POLITICAL PARTY', he urged PMX 'not to be arrogant but to understand hardship of sorts the rakyst are experiencing from Perlis to Sabah'. – July 21, 2025 Editor's Note: A recent Utusan Malaysia report citing Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth Chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has estimated a turnout of 300,000 (up from 50,000) at the 'Turun Anwar' rally slated to be held at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday (July 26). This is in stark contrast to Kuala Lumpur Acting Police Chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad who previously expected 10,000 to 15,000 people to attend. He nevertheless confirmed that the organisers have informed the Dang Wangi district police headquarters about the rally following which some 2,000 officers and personnel will be deployed to ensure the rally runs smoothly and to safeguard the participants and the public. Main image credit: Utusan Malaysia
