Setiausaha Agung Loke Siew Fook kata DAP terima teguran Sultan Selangor dan sedia membuat penjelasan.
DAP menerima teguran Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah berhubung LRT3, kata Setiausah Agung Loke Siew Fook.
MUAR: Setiausaha Agung DAP Loke Siew Fook memaklumkan beliau akan memohon mengadap Sultan Selangor susulan teguran terhadap pemimpin parti berhubung LRT3 Shah Alam.
Loke berkata DAP menerima teguran Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah dan sedia menerima penjelasan. Loke juga adalah menteri pengangkutan.
“Saya akan memohon untuk menghadap Sultan Selangor. Teguran itu kita terima tapi saya akan cuba memohon untuk menghadap Sultan Selangor untuk memberikan penjelasan. Bukannya soal kita nak membatalkan projek itu, cuma untuk merasionisasikan kos projek tersebut,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas ceramah Pakatan Harapan sempena PRN Johor, di Bakri.
Terdahulu, Lim Guan Eng yang juga penasihat DAP dan bekas menteri kewangan, serta bekas setiausaha politik beliau, Tony Pua, menjelaskan kos, skop, dan garis masa LRT 3 dalam satu artikel.
Loke menarik perhatian kepada penjelasan berkenaan. “Hari ini juga ada kenyataan bersama daripada Lim dan Pua berkenaan fakta-fakta yang perlu diketengahkan.”
Dalam perutusan sempena pembukaan LRT3 Shah Alam, semalam, Sultan Sharafuddin bertitah projek itu pernah tergendala lebih 18 bulan selepas pertukaran kerajaan pada 2018, selain berdepan kelewatan 19 bulan lagi akibat pandemik Covid-19.
Titahnya, Lim yang menjadi menteri kewangan ketika itu bersama Pua telah mengecilkan kos pelaburan untuk projek itu atas alasan kononnya ia projek ‘mega’, juga mengecilkan saiz setiap stesen dan mengurangkan jumlah gerabak keretapi selain membatalkan lima stesen.
Namun baginda bersyukur apabila Anwar Ibrahim sebaik mengambil alih jawatan perdana menteri dan menteri kewangan bersetuju untuk meneruskan projek LRT3 dengan mengembalikan semula lima buah stesen yang telah dibatalkan. - FMT
The premier says Sarawak is also open to receiving incentives instead of a larger cash allocation.
Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg at the launch of Sarawak Western Digital’s plant at the Samajaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching today. (Ukas pic)
PETALING JAYA: Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg says detailed discussions have yet to take place on the proposed increase in the annual special grant the state is expected to receive from Putrajaya.
He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had briefly raised the matter during their recent meeting in Bintulu, but no detailed negotiations had been held, the Borneo Post reported.
“He said he would look into increasing the allocation, but he did not go into the details.
“I simply kept quiet and thanked him,” he told reporters at the launch of a Western Digital plant at the Samajaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching.
He also thanked Anwar for stating in Parliament that Sarawak should receive an interim payment similar to Sabah under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
Abang Johari suggested that federal government support could also come in other forms, particularly incentives for emerging industries such as renewable energy and hydrogen.
“Perhaps support us through other means, such as tax incentives. We Sarawakians are not greedy.
“That is the spirit of partnership, and that is how Sarawak has always been,” he said.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday that negotiations between the federal and Sarawak governments to increase the state’s special interim payment were expected to be finalised soon.
He said Sarawak deserved an increase in its special interim payment, similar to Sabah, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963. - FMT
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil says the event can be held in Johor Bahru.
Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi (left) previously turned down a challenge to debate former education minister Maszlee Malik ahead of the Johor state election.
MUAR: Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is ready to facilitate a dialogue session between Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi and former education minister Maszlee Malik.
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil raised the possibility of the event being held in Johor Bahru, adding that it could be a “civil discussion” on Johor’s direction ahead of next Saturday’s state election.
“I believe Onn Hafiz is ready to be invited for a dialogue — not a debate,” he said.
On June 23, Maszlee accepted a challenge issued by Facebook page WOW Malaysia to debate Onn Hafiz ahead of the state election.
However, Onn Hafiz turned down the challenge, stating that it was not the “Johor way” to engage in verbal sparring or hold open debates.
Onn Hafiz, the Johor Barisan Nasional chairman, will defend the Machap seat in the July 11 state polls, while Maszlee will be looking to win the Puteri Wangsa seat. - FMT
FORMER prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent call for loyalty primarily to the Malay race and Tanah Melayu reflects a nation-building philosophy shaped by a different era.
While such views may resonate with some historical sentiments, they do not fully address the realities of modern Malaysia or the challenges facing the country today.
In an increasingly competitive and interconnected world, nations succeed not by emphasising ethnic divisions but by strengthening social cohesion, attracting talent and creating opportunities for all citizens to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Malaysia’s greatest strength has always been its diversity. Our multicultural society is not a weakness to be managed but an asset that has helped shape the country’s economic growth, cultural richness and global identity.
The challenge before us is not how to separate ourselves from one another, but how to build a stronger sense of shared purpose and belonging.
A nation that allows all citizens to feel valued and included is better positioned to innovate, attract investment and retain talent.
Conversely, when people feel excluded or disconnected from the national story, the country risks losing valuable skills, ideas and future leaders.
This does not mean abandoning cultural identity or historical heritage. Malaysians should be free to take pride in their respective traditions, languages and communities.
However, loyalty to one’s heritage and loyalty to the nation are not mutually exclusive. A strong national identity should be broad enough to embrace both.
Patriotism is not measured by ethnicity but by a shared commitment to the country’s success and well-being. Malaysians from all backgrounds contribute to the economy, serve in public institutions, strengthen communities and help shape the nation’s future.
As Malaysia looks ahead, the focus should be on building a society grounded in fairness, opportunity and mutual respect.
The countries that thrive in the coming decades will be those that are able to unite their people around common goals rather than divide them along racial or communal lines.
Malaysia’s future will not be secured by emphasising what separates us. It will be secured by recognising what we share as citizens and by ensuring that every Malaysian has a stake in the nation’s success.
A stronger, more confident Malaysia is one where diversity is respected, opportunity is widely shared and national unity is built on inclusion rather than division.
KT Maran is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
THE United States’ decision to restore the name Pacific Command (PACOM), replacing the Indo-Pacific Command established in 2018, may appear to be little more than a bureaucratic adjustment. In international politics, however, symbolism often carries strategic significance.
For Malaysia and ASEAN, the move raises important questions about the future of regional security, the South China Sea, and the long-term role of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).
When the command was renamed Indo-Pacific Command during President Donald Trump’s first administration, it reflected Washington’s broader strategic vision of linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans into a single geopolitical theatre.
The change also acknowledged India’s growing role in regional security and reinforced cooperation among the United States, Japan, Australia and India through the QUAD.
While the return to PACOM does not alter the command’s operational responsibilities, strategic messaging matters.
For some observers, removing “Indo” from the title could signal a shift in American priorities at a time when relations between Washington and New Delhi face economic and political challenges.
(Image: VCG via Getty Images)
For Southeast Asia, the implications deserve careful attention. The region remains central to an evolving security landscape, with the South China Sea continuing to be one of the world’s most contested maritime flashpoints.
China’s expansive claims under the Nine-Dash Line overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several ASEAN member states, including Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei.
In response, Malaysia has consistently advocated peaceful dispute resolution, adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the early conclusion of an effective ASEAN-China Code of Conduct.
The concern is not that PACOM’s restoration changes American military policy overnight. The Pentagon has stated that the command’s mission and regional commitments remain unchanged, while US alliances and security partnerships across the Asia-Pacific continue to operate as before.
The more important question is whether the move signals a broader recalibration of Washington’s strategic outlook.
If the emphasis on the Indo-Pacific concept weakens over time, ASEAN could find itself increasingly exposed to intensifying competition between the United States and China.
This would place greater pressure on regional states to preserve ASEAN centrality while avoiding strategic polarisation.
The development also raises questions about the future trajectory of the QUAD. Since its revival in 2017, the grouping has expanded beyond traditional security concerns to include cooperation in areas such as maritime security, critical technologies, supply chain resilience and cybersecurity.
The PACOM rebranding alone is unlikely to diminish the QUAD’s relevance. Its institutional foundations are considerably stronger today than they were a decade ago, supported by shared concerns over regional stability and maritime security.
(Image: The Star)
However, if the name change reflects a broader reduction in Washington’s emphasis on India, questions about the grouping’s long-term direction may inevitably emerge.
For ASEAN, this presents both challenges and opportunities. A less India-focused American strategy could increase ASEAN’s geopolitical significance as the region’s diplomatic and economic crossroads.
At the same time, any weakening of strategic balancing mechanisms could complicate efforts to manage growing regional tensions.
Malaysia should therefore continue strengthening its maritime domain awareness, defence capabilities and regional security partnerships
ASEAN, meanwhile, must work towards a more coherent position on the South China Sea while deepening practical cooperation among member states and external partners.
Ultimately, the restoration of PACOM serves as a reminder that geopolitical strategies and narratives are constantly evolving.
For Malaysia and ASEAN, long-term security cannot depend solely on the policies of external powers. A resilient ASEAN, supported by strong regional cooperation and a commitment to international law, remains the best foundation for peace and stability in an increasingly uncertain environment.
R Paneir Selvam is Principal Consultant at Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd (ARRESCON), a think tank specialising in strategic and geopolitical analysis.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
