Fight against abuse of power must go on, PKR members told

 PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil reminds members not to misuse their positions or engage in activity that could tarnish the party’s image.

PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil at the Federal Territories PKR annual meeting. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Members of PKR were told today they must continue the party’s struggle against abuse of power, with PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil warning that any misconduct would not be tolerated.

Speaking at the opening of the Federal Territories PKR annual meeting, Fahmi reminded members not to misuse their positions or engage in activity that could tarnish the party’s image.

“Don’t disgrace the party by ‘inspecting licences’,” he said, alluding to two members of the chapter’s residents’ representative council who are currently being probed for allegedly demanding protection money from a massage parlour in Wangsa Maju.

Fahmi said that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the PKR president, had made it clear that no one would be protected if found guilty of wrongdoing.

“This includes ministers. If it is proven that there was misconduct on their part, they will be charged. Good luck to them.”

He said the party had previously held rallies against abuse of power which saw them come face to face with the police riot squad.

“We must not now allow the same thing (abuse of power) to happen within our own ranks.”

Fahmi also called for accountability within the party, urging members to raise concerns through proper channels rather than airing them publicly.

“If we don’t call each other out, who will? Use the proper channels. There’s no need to start a podcast,” he said, in what appeared to be a swipe at former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who makes his views known via podcasts.

Fahmi added that while Anwar is known for his patience, it has its limits.

Separately, Fahmi said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had taken down 159 pieces of fake news on social media linked to the global energy crisis.

Fahmi, who is also communications minister, said such disinformation includes claims on fuel price hikes, that Malaysia would be charged to use the Strait of Hormuz, and inaccurate reports of Tenaga Nasional Bhd tariff increases. - FMT

Man nabbed after video shows kitten being flung at wall

 The viral video clip showed a man repeatedly throwing a kitten against a wall at a self-service laundry.

The Selangor veterinary services department said the man was detained after an inspection was made following public complaints. (Rawpixel pic)

SHAH ALAM:

 A man has been detained on suspicion of abusing a kitten at a self-service laundry in Kajang after a 59-second video went viral on social media showing a man repeatedly throwing a kitten against a wall and a mattress.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, was detained after the Selangor veterinary services department conducted an inspection following public complaints.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident took place at about 3.40am yesterday, the department said. The kitten and a mobile phone believed to belong to the suspect were seized for further examination and investigation. - FMT

17 face probe for spreading disinformation on global energy crisis

 Among them are those who edited pictures and infographics displaying false information to give the impression that the content originated from local news agencies.

Deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching at a youth creativity workshop in Kulai today. (Teo Nie Ching’s office pic)

KULAI:

 Seventeen people are under investigation by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission on suspicion of spreading disinformation on social media about the global energy crisis.

Among the 17 are those who edited pictures and infographics displaying false information to give the impression that the content originated from local news agencies, deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching said.

“There are those who edited pictures from TV3 or Astro and stated that the price of petrol and electricity will rise, but the total and the information in the pictures are all wrong,” she said at a youth creativity workshop here today.

She said the global energy crisis not only had an impact on Malaysia but also the entire world with some countries implementing work from home measures for civil servants.

“There are countries where petrol stations are closed because petrol has run out. This is a challenge that Malaysia isn’t facing alone, but affects the whole world.”

Teo said while Malaysia has its own oil resources, they are insufficient to meet local demand and 38% of the country’s oil needs come from crude oil that passess through the Strait of Hormuz.

She expressed hope that the public, especially the youth, would play their role in disseminating accurate information by creating content that educates the public.

Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister had previously reminded all parties against sharing unverified information that could confuse the public.

He stressed that the government was committed to continue channelling the latest information transparently about the current situation on the global energy price and supply crisis to ensure the public had a clear picture without causing unnecessary concern. - FMT

Ex-DAP veteran Ronnie Liu believed to join PBM

 Parti Bangsa Malaysia president Larry Sng was reticent when asked about the rumours but stopped short of denying them.

Former Selangor DAP strongman Ronnie Liu left the party in 2023 over a move to expel members who do not toe the party line.

PETALING JAYA:

 Former DAP strongman Ronnie Liu is believed to have joined Larry Sng’s Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), more than two years after quitting DAP.

When contacted, Sng was reticent when asked about the rumours but stopped short of denying them, saying he would make an announcement “in good time”.

He told FMT: “There will be a proper announcement later with the appropriate designation.”

FMT has also sought comment from Liu. The former Sungai Pelek assemblyman left DAP in June 2023 due to dissatisfaction with the leadership’s move to amend the party’s constitution regarding the termination of memberships.

The amendment allowed for DAP elected representatives to automatically lose their membership if they do not toe the party line on fundamental issues, which Liu contended was undemocratic.

The former Selangor executive councillor had been a DAP member for 41 years, serving as a member of its central executive committee for several terms. He was assemblyman for Pandamaran from 2008 to 2013 and represented Sungai Pelek from 2018 to 2022.

He was known to be an outspoken figure in DAP and had been chided by Hannah Yeoh and Tony Pua in 2021 after saying the party should not “dilute its Chineseness“.

Liu was also openly critical of Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he led the Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 until its collapse in February 2020. - FMT

“Populism or compassion?”: Aid to accident victim’s family sparks political debate

 

A TRAGEDY is worth a thousand picture opportunities, especially for publicity-hungry politicians wanting to capitalise on another’s misfortune.

This seemed to be the sentiment in a post on Facebook highlighting Transport Minister Anthony Loke handing over aid to the family of the victim who was killed in an accident involving an intoxicated driver in Klang on March 29.

It was highlighted by Facebook user Aman Muhammad on the perceived difference in offering support to the deceased’s family.

The Madani administration, via the Seremban MP, was lauded for dealing directly with the widow and her family. Among the aid offered was the proposal to make the children wards of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), thus securing their future.

This was contrasted with representatives from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition pact, who sought out the widow during the court hearing of the drunk driver, allegedly for the benefit of media attention.

The poster then added that, apart from the photo op, these opportunistic opposition politicians did nothing except ride on the widow’s grief and use it as a stick to beat the Madani administration.

The post has generated 2.6K likes, 1.2K comments and 83 shares, with opinions divided over this perceived notion of politicians from both sides of the divide being publicity hounds.

Many comments reflected the division between pro-Madani and opposition backers, as exemplified by a comment that compared the Madani administration to the United States, which offers aid to Palestinians but hypocritically backs Israel in its continued aggression in Gaza.

There was much pushback to this comment. It was “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” One observer challenged El Farouqi to forward his message to the widow and advise her that she should not accept the aid. It was then suggested that El Farouqi himself provide the aid.

That bitter comment drew widespread condemnation, with one comparing the black-heartedness to that of Zionists.

Another questioned when the US had provided aid to Palestine, suggesting the logic was flawed. It was also surmised that “flies can only see sh*t,” implying that some netizens are simply unable to get past their political prejudices

The heated nature of the debate, which showcased commenters’ political affiliations, was evident throughout the comments section.

For instance, it was argued that this was the responsibility of the sitting government, hence it was for the Madani administration to do the necessary. It was claimed that PAS had already acted earlier in offering aid.

That claim was quickly rebuked by another commenter who pointed out that no such aid was forthcoming when PN was in Putrajaya, citing a recent accident in Senawang where no help was offered by PN politicians to the Malay victim’s family.

The great political divide was also highlighted in the observation that it was not necessary for politicians to try to hog the limelight by escorting the widow to court.

It was then argued that the opposition faction had offered free legal services to the widow, to which it was countered that this was unnecessary, given that the case was under the purview of the public prosecutor’s office.

The post and the many comments highlight the unfortunate byproduct of partisan  politics—citizens are unable to separate their views from their political affiliations. What is the Transport Minister supposed to do in this case?

Ignore it, and he will be rightly criticised. Offer aid, and he is similarly slammed. Perhaps Malaysians need to focus on the welfare of the victim’s family without over-politicising it. ‒  Focus Malaysia