Latest news with #UMNO
Focus Malaysia
2 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
2 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Sabah UMNO's identity crisis and the cost of being an easily-swayed political ‘lalang'
SABAH UMNO wants Sabahans to believe that it has always been a 'local boy', has deep roots in the Bornean soil and that its leaders are true sons of the land. This is certainly a bold move from a party long seen as an extension of peninsula politics, especially by those who still remember how the phrase 'Sabah for Sabahans' was once dismissed as insular, unpatriotic or even divisive. But politics – like the jungle wind – often blows in new directions; for Sabah UMNO at this very moment, the breeze seems to be blowing towards survival at any cost. Embracing the slogan it once mocked In a recent statement, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, UMNO's war room strategist and supreme council member, remarked hat UMNO should not be viewed solely as a Peninsula-based party. 'UMNO in Sabah is no longer a Malayan party. When a party has existed for 34 to 35 years in the state, it is no longer accurate to call it a Parti Malaya. Its leadership today is made up entirely of local Sabahans,' he enthused. This is a striking change in tone as once upon a time, Sabah UMNO was viewed as the regional arm of a national powerhouse. Its central leadership in Kuala Lumpur called the shots while state leaders – even senior ones – were often expected to toe the line. But as UMNO's influence continues to wane across Malaysia, the Sabah chapter seems to be scrambling to find a new identity. One that appeals to the growing grassroots sentiment that Sabah's fate should be decided by Sabahans, not Putrajaya. The irony is that this same sentiment, 'Sabah for Sabahans,' was long treated with suspicion by UMNO and its allies – painted as parochial and even anti-national. But now, with its influence diluted and voter trust on shaky ground, the party appears ready to adopt the very rhetoric it once ridiculed. This shift, however, is not just about public messaging. It's about political survival. Fractures below the surface The internal cracks in Sabah UMNO are already visible. The party's Sabah deputy chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan recently broke ranks to criticise the infamous Langkah Kinabalu. It was a decision by Sabah UMNO to pull out of the state government in early 2022. In Abdul Rahman's view, it was a strategic misstep that has 'greatly weakened' the party, leading to a loss of credibility and a wave of defections. Instead of making a principled stand, he argued, party leaders should have resigned if dissatisfied, not torpedoed the entire coalition from within. These are not small words. Coming from someone of Rahman Dahlan's stature, they point to unresolved tension within the party. It's something that Sabah UMNO's current leadership is keen to downplay. In response, state chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin issued a carefully worded statement by contending that while differing views are respected, the party has since moved forward through consensus. But consensus doesn't always mean unity. Sometimes, it's just plain silence. The broader question is what does Sabah UMNO actually stand for today? Is it still the same party that believed in top-down politics and centralised decision-making? A party in the wind Right now, the signals are mixed. The 'Sabahanisation' of UMNO feels more like re-branding than re-invention. It's seen as an attempt to stay relevant in a political landscape that has dramatically shifted. Local parties like PBS and STAR – who are part of the ruling GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) state government – have anchored themselves in Sabahan identity and issues. For them, the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment wasn't just a slogan. It was the foundation of their political existence. But for Sabah UMNO, it's a costume worn out of necessity. This lalang a.k.a. sitting on fence mentality of shifting positions depending on political winds has long haunted Malaysian politics with Sabah UMNO being no exception. Their decision to leave the Sabah state government in 2022 was framed as a stand on principle. Now, it's being quietly acknowledged as a mistake. UMNO's embrace of Sabah-centric rhetoric is framed as organic evolution but in truth, it smells more like desperation. Voters have lived through a decade of instability, crossovers, defections and backdoor deals. The old model of loyalty to party brands no longer holds. Sabahans are now asking sharper questions such as who fights for Sabah's rights? Who listens? Who flip-flops when it's convenient? Sabah UMNO is running out of time to answer those questions convincingly. If the party hopes to reclaim its footing, it will have to do more than tweaking its messaging. It must show through action that it has shed its peninsula-first instincts, that it can be trusted to put Sabah first even when it's politically costly. Until then, Sabah UMNO remains a party adrift – caught between its past and its future – with no clear anchor but the pursuit of power. – July 22, 2025 Main image credit: Sabah News
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Kutty' row ends as Dr Mahathir, Zahid withdraw legal actions against each other
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today agreed to withdraw their respective defamation lawsuits filed against each other at the High Court here. Dr Mahathir, 100, withdrew his suit against Ahmad Zahid, 73, over allegedly defamatory remarks related to the 'kutty' issue, without the right to refile the case. In return, Ahmad Zahid withdrew his suit accusing Dr Mahathir of abusing his position to interfere in his ongoing court case. He also dropped contempt of court proceedings related to a press conference held by Dr Mahathir at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex lobby on Dec 5 last year. Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong allowed both applications and ordered the cases to be resolved without any order as to costs. Dr Mahathir had initially filed the suit over remarks allegedly made by Ahmad Zahid during the Kelana Jaya UMNO Division meeting on July 30, 2017, which were later published by several news portals. The contempt proceedings were related to Dr Mahathir's press conference, during which he displayed documents including his identity card after testifying in the suit against Ahmad Zahid. — Bernama
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Ramasamy defends Bersatu, takes a jibe at Puad Zarkashi's fear of UMNO losing grounds among Malays
UMNO supreme council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi may soon earn the image of a politician who cannot differentiate between outright lies and facts. In his recent Facebook posting, he ridiculed Bersatu for calling a meeting of political parties not aligned with the government in an attempt to forge a united opposition front against the Madani government. He not only mocked Bersatu for inviting leaders of what he termed 'mosquito' political parties but also questioned the participation of Urimai's chairman Prof Ramasamy Palanisami, a former DAP member and former Penang deputy chief minister II, and P. Waytha Moorthy, the president of MAP (Malaysian Advancement Party) and a former HINDRAF (Hindu Action Front) leader. In his usual characteristic UMNO fashion, Puad falsely claimed that PAS did not participate in the gathering because the party opposed these Indian-based political parties due to their support for ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racism) – an issue PAS has historically rejected. The Johor state assembly speaker fails miserably to realise that Urimai is not yet a registered political party and was only formed two years ago. Come November 2025, Urimai – or the United Rights of the Malaysian Party – will mark its two-year anniversary. Urimai was refused registration likely due to its vocal stance as part of the opposition front. As for MAP's supposed support of ICERD, this is a matter best clarified by its president Waytha Moorthy. Fear of UMNO losing ground Puad may be a gung-ho UMNO leader but he conveniently ignores his own party's questionable alliance with DAP – a party once considered UMNO's sworn political enemy. The allure of political power and positions has pushed leaders like Puad to overlook past hostilities, embracing instead what is now a marriage of convenience with DAP. Rather than commenting on PAS's absence from Bersatu's recent meeting, wouldn't it be wiser for Puad to justify UMNO's alliance with DAP – a partnership still widely opposed by the party's Malay grassroots? If PAS is truly against Urimai and MAP, then why did the party previously participate in the 'Secretariat for the Defence of the Judiciary' alongside leaders Ramasamy and Waytha Moorthy? Puad's sudden interest in Bersatu's united front initiative signals a growing fear that UMNO is steadily losing ground among the Malays. UMNO's obsession with the royal addendum enabling house arrest for incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak only reflects the party's internal dilemma. Puad, acting as UMNO's unofficial loudspeaker, is merely trying to project political relevance amid rising discontent with the party among Malay voters. The house arrest arrangement for Najib may provide UMNO with temporary leverage but it does little to resolve its credibility crisis. In the meantime, Puad would do well to refrain from relying on lies and half-truths in his attempts to re-establish UMNO's political standing. – July 22, 2025 Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image credit: Malay Mail
Focus Malaysia
3 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
