(From left) Former Pejuang leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, lawyer Shamsher Singh Thind and Urimai chairman P Ramasamy posing for a photo at the briefing. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: A briefing on the proposed Urban Renewal Act was held yesterday with opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin in attendance, joined by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Urimai chairman P Ramasamy.
Hamzah said the briefing, organised by Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid, was in view of concerns on how the proposed law would affect the people, “regardless of skin colour or religion”.
He said that while the session was conducted with Mahathir, many stakeholders had joined to defend the people’s rights, including those from the Indian and Chinese community.
“PN will oppose any form of injustice in this Act and urges the government to set up a committee involving stakeholders, including opposition representatives and NGOs,” the Bersatu deputy president said in a Facebook post.
Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir, Malaysian Indian People’s Party president P Punithan, Urimai deputy chairman David Marshel and former DAP member and lawyer Shamsher Singh Thind were also present. - FMT
Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing has chastised Rais Yatim after the latter accused a pro-China reunification group of being an unregistered society promoting communism in Malaysia.
He vouched for the group’s legitimacy and said the former Dewan Negara president should rely on facts rather than an unverified video to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and tensions.
“This type of baseless allegation is reminiscent of the McCarthyism era in the United States, where ideological labelling was used to suppress dissent and target specific groups.
“Such an approach contradicts the principles of rationality and the rule of law in a democratic society,” Tan said in a statement today.
Former Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim
He was responding to media reports yesterday that Rais lodged a police report against the Malaysian Association for Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China after watching a brief video about them.
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain has vowed a comprehensive investigation against the group and warned against threatening public order in the country.
“Malaysia has sternly rejected communist ideology since 1948, and any form of promotion and glorification of such beliefs can be classified as a threat to public order and national unity,” he said.
However, Tan said the group is a registered non-profit under the Registrar of Societies to promote friendship and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia.
He said the group also aligns with Malaysia’s longstanding “One China” policy of rejecting Taiwanese independence and supporting China’s sovereignty over the island.
He also highlighted that China has longstanding good relations with Malaysia, being this country’s largest trading partner for many years and having deep cooperation in education, technology, healthcare, and culture.
“As public figures, we must be cautious and responsible in making statements to avoid misleading or unsettling the public. Given today’s uncertain global landscape, we must value domestic stability and harmony even more.
“We should foster an open and rational public discourse, embracing inclusivity and reason to guide our diverse society toward a more positive and progressive future,” Tan added. - Mkini
MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong said the latest development presented the party with a good opportunity to strengthen itself and attract new talent.PETALING JAYA: MCA Youth has sought to play down the recent defection of its former secretary-general, Leong Kim Soon, to Bersatu, purportedly with about 100 others.
MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong said the group’s decision to go on another path would not affect MCA, citing the party’s extensive political history.
He said the latest development presented the party with a good opportunity to strengthen itself and attract new talent.
“MCA needs to be close to the grassroots and heed the people’s aspirations, while daring to initiate changes for the sake of a better future.
“As the next generation of leaders in the party, MCA Youth is working towards executing holistic transformation (of the wing) which comprises young leadership, digital approaches and progressive policies,” he told FMT.
Leong, who was a political secretary to former MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, announced on Monday that he had quit the Barisan Nasional component to join Bersatu.
He reportedly submitted about 100 other membership applications to Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin at a breaking of fast event in Bentong, Pahang.
Leong was also immediately appointed as the head of the Pahang and Bentong chapters of Bersatu’s associate wing, which caters to non-Bumiputeras.
When contacted, MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon simply said he was “very disappointed with Leong’s actions”. - FMT
Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said Penang Development Corporation’s involvement in the Bayan Mutiara land sale followed standard procedures. (Johnshen Lee pic)GEORGE TOWN: Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has rubbished claims that the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) had dealings with the now-defunct pyramid scheme firm, MBI International.
Chow said PDC had no direct dealings with MBI, whose founder Tedy Teow is facing fraud charges in China, and that the state agency’s involvement in the Bayan Mutiara land sale followed standard procedures.
“I have read reports that Bukit Aman is investigating a company named MBI, and there was mention of Bayan Mutiara.
“My office and PDC can only respond on matters related to Bayan Mutiara because anything else is under the jurisdiction of the police,” he told reporters.
The 102.6-acre Bayan Mutiara state land was sold via open tender to Ivory Properties Group Bhd for RM1.07 billion in 2011. The company completed the payment in 2018.
However, after Ivory Properties and its partner Tropicana Corp Bhd pulled out in 2018, ownership of the land was transferred to Hemat Tuah Sdn Bhd.
The Penang government approved the ownership transfer in 2019 by signing new agreements. These agreements allowed Hemat Tuah to take full control of the project.
“There was a change in equity, and PDC had to approve it as per our agreement terms. That is why we signed the novation agreement. So now, Mutiara Metropolis Sdn Bhd is the entity implementing the project,” the chief minister said.
Chow said PDC operated under strict rules, ensuring that companies buying state land actually developed it instead of holding it for speculation.
“We don’t allow land banking. If a company doesn’t start work within the agreed time, we can buy it back at the original price. Even if ownership changes decades later, they still need PDC’s approval,” he added.
The Edge had reported that Hemat Tuah’s major shareholders included Teow Wooi Pin, Tedy’s brother, who held a 45% stake in the company.
Another shareholder, Tan Kim Hee, said to be Teow’s brother-in-law, owns a 15% share.
Pressed on whether PDC had any past dealings with MBI, Chow reiterated that it did not.
“PDC has no connection with MBI and I’ve already stated what I know of the matter here,” he said.
The Edge also reported that a police crackdown on MBI’s money trail saw several corporate figures in Kuala Lumpur and Penang being questioned, including lawyers who handled key transactions related to Bayan Mutiara. - FMT
Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said March 31, which is expected to be the first day of Aidilfitri, would be a replacement public holiday for the official birthday of the state’s governor.KOTA KINABALU: March 30 has been designated as a public holiday for Sabah in conjunction with the official birthday celebration of the state’s governor, Musa Aman.
Since this falls on Sunday, the following day will be a replacement public holiday for the state, said chief minister Hajiji Noor in a statement.
“The state government has determined that if the next day (Tuesday) is also a public holiday, then April 2 will be a public holiday for the state of Sabah,” he said.
The first day of Aidilfitri is expected to fall on March 31. - FMT
Actor and PKR member Hans Isaac was previously Finas chairman from 2019 to 2020 when Pakatan Harapan led the federal government.PETALING JAYA: Actor and PKR member Hans Isaac has been appointed chairman of the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) today, a post he held from 2019 to 2020.
Finas announced that Isaac’s appointment came into effect today. He takes over the post from Kamil Othman, whose tenure ended on Feb 22.
Isaac was previously Finas chairman from 2019 to 2020 when Pakatan Harapan led the federal government.
In June 2023, he was appointed as chairman of the Malaysia Stadiums Board for the 2023/2025 term. His tenure ended on March 18 after he resigned from the post.
A PKR member since 2020, Isaac began acting in 1995 and was featured in numerous local movies and TV series until he announced his retirement from show business in 2021. - FMT
