Azmin quizzed over PKNS document leak, say cops

 

Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said Hulu Kelang assemblyman Azmin Ali was one of 16 people who had their statements taken.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor Perikatan Nasional chief Azmin Ali was questioned by police over an alleged leak of confidential documents linked to a statutory body in the state.

Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said, contrary to claims, Azmin was not grilled over what the latter had raised in a state assembly sitting in February.

“The public should not speculate on the matter until the probe is complete,” he said in a statement.

Hussein also revealed that the former Selangor menteri besar was among 16 people who had their statements taken.

Azmin had earlier claimed that he had been summoned by police over his allegation in the state assembly that the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) had engaged in misconduct.

The Hulu Kelang assemblyman claimed that the notice was unconstitutional and intended to intimidate him.

In March, Azmin had urged the Selangor government to explain PKNS’s decision to sell its development rights on PJ Sentral, which was expected to yield a return of RM1.04 billion, to Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) for RM270 million.

A month later, he alleged that Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari had ordered that a police report be made against him following his exposure of alleged misconduct within PKNS.

He claimed the police report was aimed at silencing him.

Earlier today, PN chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan said the decision to summon Azmin highlighted Putrajaya’s cowardice, and called it a desperate attempt to cover up the government’s shortcomings. - FMT

16 Malaysians on board London-Singapore flight

 

According to Singapore Airlines, 18 people were hospitalised while 12 received outpatient treatment. (X pic)

SINGAPORE: Sixteen Malaysians were among the 211 passengers aboard Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, which was forced to make an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, earlier today.

However, in its latest update at 10.35pm on its Facebook page, SIA did not specify their condition.

There were also passengers from Australia (56), the UK (47), Singapore (41), New Zealand (23), the Philippines (5), Ireland (4), the US (4), India (3), Indonesia (2), Canada (2), Myanmar (2), Spain (2), Germany (1), Iceland (1), Israel (1) and South Korea (1) on board the flight.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport director Kittipong Kittikachorn said the one fatality in the incident was a 73-year-old British man.

SIA said the flight encountered sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000ft about 10 hours after departure from Heathrow Airport, forcing the pilot to declare a medical emergency and divert the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to Bangkok.

SIA said, as of 7.50pm, 18 people were hospitalised while 12 received outpatient treatment. The airline added that the remaining passengers and crew were being examined and given treatment, where necessary, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport itself.

“SIA is working with the authorities on the investigation into this incident,” the airline said.

It added that an SIA team is on its way to Bangkok to provide further support and that, in the meantime, it was working with local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary assistance.

Relatives seeking information may call the Singapore Airlines hotline at: +65 6542 3311. - FMT

Sabah rejects Putrajaya’s Madani village development committee proposal, says Jeffrey

 

Jeffrey Kitingan said as a member of the MA63 technical committee, he had personally asked for the initiative not to be implemented in Sabah as it was not being implemented in Sarawak. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Sabah will not implement the Madani village development committee (JKDM), an initiative by Putrajaya that is aimed at eradicating rural poverty in the state, deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan said.

Kitingan said the state government already has the Village development and security committee (JKKK) initiative and did not want another one that would confuse and divide the people, The Borneo Post reported.

“We reject it. And we will reject it formally. We will also deliver the stance of the state government to the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) on the 31st (of May),” he was quoted as saying.

Kitingan went on to say that as a member of the MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) technical committee, he had personally asked for the initiative not to be implemented as it was not being implemented in Sarawak.

“Let it be implemented only in Peninsular (Malaysia).”

He also revealed that the state government had only discussed the JKDM initiative “informally” and that a formal discussion had yet to be held.

Two days ago, Sabah leaders had questioned Putrajaya’s move to establish JKDM, saying a similar body already exists.

Upko president Ewon Benedick said Sabah had amended the Rural Administration Ordinance for village administration to ensure the state had only one village management body, the JKKK, The Star reported.

Ewon said if JKDM was a national policy it should be implemented nationwide.

“But it is not in Sarawak and some other peninsula states,” he was quoted as saying.

However, Sabah Umno leaders are defending the initiative, which falls under the purview of the rural and regional development ministry. The ministry is led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also Umno president. - FMT

PM vows strong response after recent terror attack

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was sad over the recent incidents at a time when the country is witnessing economic growth, with investments worth billions of ringgit.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has vowed a strong response to the terror attack that claimed the lives of security personnel recently.

Anwar said it was unfortunate that such an attack took place when the country was witnessing economic growth, with investments worth billions of ringgit.

“In the past week, our country was rocked by a terror attack that took the lives of our security personnel.

“I want to assure you that we will take stern action against this group and God-willing, things will be under control,” he said in a televised address this evening.

While Anwar did not go into specifics, it is believed he was referring to the attack on a police station in Johor.

Last Friday, a man attacked the Ulu Tiram police station with a gun and a parang, killing two constables and injuring another before he was shot dead at the scene.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail later said that the 21-year old was believed to have acted alone and did not have any links to any extremist groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) as previously suspected.

The attack on the police station came soon after national footballer Faisal Halim was splashed with acid at a shopping mall in Kota Damansara, leaving the winger requiring multiple surgeries.

More recently, DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok received a death threat along with two bullets in her mailbox.

Earlier today, Bukit Aman said police have tightened the security at government buildings, high-traffic areas and key facilities in view of the recent security threats. - FMT

Comedian Douglas Lim highlights the ludicrousness of blaming the DAP for everything

 

“Ni semua salah DAP (This is all the fault of the DAP) …”

Whatever the social ill, it is a convenient excuse for some to simply lay the blame at the door of DAP. After all, the party is home to descendants of communist and separatist ‘Type Cs’ if a certain learned doctorate degree holder is to be believed.

That familiar sentiment was mocked by comedian Douglas Lim in his latest video which he shared on his social media platforms. In it, he assumes the persona of radio DJ Ha Lim of the fictional station Aduh FM who takes a call from regular listener Kipitriel.

The irate caller claimed that the reason for Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) victory in the recent Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election was because of the pro-DAP tunes constantly being played by the DJ.

Flummoxed by the claim, DJ Ha Lim denies this saying Aduh FM has never played songs affiliated to the DAP or any other political entity for that matter. Arguing his case, Kipitriel proceeds to highlight the tunes which he perceived to have subliminal messages praising the DAP.

This hilariously included Phil Collins singing about DAP Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin whose name rhymes with the song You be in My Heart to Europe’s anthemic Final Countdown celebrating “going to Venus” which is only possible on “a rocket” (DAP’s party symbol).

Lim seems to have the knack for capturing the zeitgeist as the many comments on his X (formerly Twitter) page highlight. Here is a sample of the feedback to his latest slab of satire.

Some highlighted to the opposition this is how to do satire which can be a very useful weapon when trading political barbs.

Some even chipped in with song suggestions for the skit.

Another observed Lim’s firm grasp of the national language which allowed him to nail the persona of a DJ on a Malay-language network.

The skit obviously highlights the utter silliness of it all but the reality is that many citizens still swallow such excuses when trotted out by an intellectually-bankrupt opposition bloc.

If all this sounds too much like a pro-DAP piece, it is not. Rather it is to highlight that there are countless pertinent issues that need addressing instead of constantly trying to colour everything in racist tones.

The opposition is doing a desperately poor job if this is all it can harp on. The unity government is far from perfect and there should be plenty of ammunition for opponents to legitimately attack.

If PAS, Bersatu et al want to gain credibility with a younger and increasingly sophisticated electorate, it needs to ditch these hackneyed and tired tactics. Lest it wants to appear as deluded and out-of-touch as Kipitriel. – Focus Malaysia