Mahathir urges Malays to vote in upcoming Malaysia state elections to ensure Perikatan victory
The 98-year-old has criticised PAS in the past, saying among other things that the party abused Islam to serve its political goals.
Dr Mahathir was Malaysia’s prime minister from July 1981 to Oct 2003 and again from May 2018 to Feb 2020.
In the 15th general election last year, Dr Mahathir failed to defend his Langkawi seat, losing his deposit after finishing fourth in a five-cornered fight.
It was his first electoral defeat in 53 years.
Since failing to defend his seat, he has authored a Malay Proclamation that purportedly aims to protect the interests of Malays.
The 12-point document is also intended at uniting the community to “restore the political power of Malays”.
Dr Mahathir has also warned about the potential erosion of Malay rights under the current government.
Earlier this month, Dr Mahathir said that a multiracial Malaysia will erode Malay rights and make them “poor”.
His campaign for PN comes on the heels of a recent meeting with its chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, believed to be the first since the so-called “Sheraton Move” in 2020 when a number of Members of Parliament (MPs) defected from the then-ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.
This triggered the collapse of the short-lived PH government led by Dr Mahathir, paving the way for Muhyiddin to take up the mantle as Malaysia’s next prime minister.
Dr Mahathir had previously called Muhyiddin a traitor for his role in the Sheraton Move.
Polling for the upcoming six state elections in Malaysia will take place on Aug 12, with nomination day on Jul 29.
The six states – Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan – did not hold their state elections concurrently with the 15th general election (GE15) on Nov 19 last year. They instead dissolved their legislative assemblies last month.
There are 45, 32, 36, 40, 56, and 36 seats in the respective state assemblies.
Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah are under the rule of PAS, which is a member of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition together with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Parti Gerakan Malaysia (Gerakan).
Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Penang are under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition which leads the current unity government.
PH will be working together with former rivals Barisan Nasional (BN) in the state elections, which many observers say will be a crucial test for the unity government.
After the last general election resulted in a hung parliament, BN became part of the unity government, together with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Parti Warisan.
PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as prime minister on Nov 24 last year.
More than 9.7 million people will be eligible to cast their votes during the state elections.
Baton now passes to Pheu Thai
Senators press party to leave MFP behind
Even though the Pheu Thai Party is now in charge of forming a government, it will find it hard to secure the support it needs for its PM candidate from senators so long as the Move Forward Party (MFP) remains its coalition ally.
The MFP on Friday announced its decision to step aside and let Pheu Thai have a go at forming a government, even though it remains in the eight-party coalition.
But the senators have insisted that the new government must not support any move to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law — one of the MFP’s flagship policies.
In light of this, Pheu Thai will have to tread carefully to ensure its prime ministerial candidate will land the job with the support from senators in the next round of a PM vote next Thursday.
If a PM candidate from Pheu Thai fails to win the post because the MFP is still part of the coalition, it remains to be seen whether Pheu Thai will exclude the MFP from the coalition if it wants to form a new government successfully, according to observers.
Speaking after a meeting of the eight coalition allies at Pheu Thai’s headquarters on Friday, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said the eight parties concluded that they will seek support from the Senate and other political parties outside the eight-party bloc in order to secure enough votes to back Pheu Thai’s PM candidate in the joint parliamentary session next Thursday.
The eight parties will also discuss the conditions laid down by the senators in exchange for their support, Dr Cholnan said.
But if the eight parties fail to gather sufficient support from senators, Pheu Thai will have the freedom to hold talks with parties outside the bloc to seek their backing, Dr Cholnan said.
“Attendees at the meeting also agreed that if the two approaches mentioned before do not work, Pheu Thai will decide what to do next,” he said.
Asked if the MFP had been asked to back down from its plan to amend Section 112, Dr Cholnan said that the issue was raised at the meeting.
MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said the MFP wanted to consider the conditions laid down by the senators and that Pheu Thai will hold talks with senators to allay their concerns.
Dr Cholnan also said that several parties outside the eight-party bloc have insisted they will not support a PM candidate from Pheu Thai if the MFP remains in the bloc. Therefore, the meeting decided to give Pheu Thai the right to hold talks with them, he said.
Dr Cholnan added Pheu Thai will nominate only one PM candidate for the vote, and the party is expected to announce who will be the candidate next Wednesday. So far, Pheu Thai has named three PM candidates — Srettha Thavisin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Chaikasem Nitisiri.
Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, a list-MP and leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, on Friday said the MFP should make sacrifices by leaving Section 112 alone so a new government can be formed. Seri Ruam Thai is a member of the prospective eight-party coalition.
Senator Somchai Swangkarn on Friday on Facebook congratulated Pheu Thai on its chance to form a government.
He also urged Pheu Thai to give assurances that its PM candidate meets all the qualification requirements and to ensure that all coalition parties in the new government have no policies to support any move to amend Section 112 or to rewrite the constitution in a way that threatens the country’s institutions.
Mr Somchai also wrote that the new government must not issue an amnesty for those convicted under Section 112 and those who committed severe criminal offences, and it must handle the unrest in the deep South without supporting any move to seek the separation of the region from the country.
“If Pheu Thai still cannot reach a conclusion [among its coalition allies], it can ask the parliament president to postpone the session scheduled for July 27 so that everyone involved can think carefully before parliament can finally vote on the country’s 30th prime minister,” Mr Somchai said.
Earlier on Friday, the MFP announced its decision to step back and allow Pheu Thai Party to take charge of forming a government.
With Mr Pita having been blocked twice from being selected, the MFP has now decided to give Pheu Thai the opportunity, Mr Chaithawat said.
In the next parliament meeting on July 27 to select the prime minister, the MFP would nominate a candidate from Pheu Thai for the position, while Pheu Thai could also nominate a candidate of their choice, he said.
Meanwhile, Pornchai Theppanya, an independent academic, on Friday petitioned the Ombudsman to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the parliament’s resolution to reject Mr Pita’s renomination for prime minister was constitutional.
Four parties refuse to team up with MFP
PUBLISHED : 22 Jul 2023 at 05:10
Four political parties have announced they will not join a Pheu Thai-led coalition as long as the Move Forward Party (MFP) remains in it.
Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation, the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), and Chartthaipattana made their stance clear after Pheu Thai took the lead in forming the coalition.
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said his party stands firm against any attempt to amend Section 112, the lese majeste law, and it will not work with a political party advocating changes to that law.
The party has not been approached by Pheu Thai to join the coalition yet, so it does not know Pheu Thai’s plan, he said, adding it will definitely not take part in it if the MFP remains in the alliance.
“The MFP is the only party that seeks to amend the law and doesn’t appear to be backing down. The party heavyweights, the Progressive Movement and their supporters are adamant on pushing this policy through despite objections, although it is causing divisiveness,” he said.
UTN leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga wrote on his Facebook that the party will not join the coalition or vote in favour of a prime ministerial candidate in the coalition if the MFP is still in it.
He said the UTN realises the country needs a government, but it also places emphasis on the three key pillars of the nation. The party cannot endorse MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat because it does not believe his party shares those same principles, he added.
“In the next round of voting for the prime minister, if the MFP remains in the coalition, the party will not vote for a candidate of this bloc. Based on the MFP’s political activities, we don’t believe it can change its political path and ideology,” he wrote.
PPRP MP for Kamphaeng Phet, Phai Lik, who spoke on behalf of his party, said the PPRP is against any attempt to amend the lese majeste law and will also not take part in a coalition that includes the MFP.
Chartthaipattana leader Varawut Silpa-archa said his party is willing to vote for the Pheu Thai candidate as long as it does not work with a party that supports amending the lese majeste law.
âOne chance to make it rightâ: The volunteers and nurses caring for the dying despite emotional challenges
COPING WITH EMOTIONS
While Mr Koh finds joy in providing companionship to terminally ill patients, he also acknowledges the sombre aspect of his role, with “mixed feelings” being present during their final moments.
“I’m saddened to lose a patient, but at the same time, I’m relieved that the patient’s suffering has come to an end … because sometimes the pain really is overwhelming,” he said.
It can be more difficult to cope if the patient is young.
“Young people, thirty-something, just pass on like that … usually they have problems with their family, that’s why NODA comes in,” he said.
“They don’t talk to their mother, father, you know, they have nobody to go to … and their partners are not responding to them”.
By finding solace in the knowledge that his companionship has brought comfort to the patient, Mr Koh said he is able to come to terms with loss and shift his focus towards the meaning of his work.
“I think being present at that moment is very important, it can make a big difference to the life of the patient,” he added.
For Ms Quraisyah, it can get quite challenging when a patient, with whom she has developed a rapport and cared for over a significant period, dies.
The care assistant said she tries not to focus so much on the deaths.
“I just think positive – that they are not suffering anymore and (are) passing on comfortably,” she told CNA.
“It’s a privilege that I actually get to spend the last moments with them,” she added.
“If I ever, like, feel sad, I always have my other nurses to talk (to).”
End-of-life caregivers may also encounter challenging situations during their shifts, especially when patients are struggling with intense emotions during the final stage of life and are not fully conscious.
Mr Hor once encountered an elderly patient who tried to strangle him out of anguish.
“That old lady keep calling ‘papa, papa’, so it’s very obvious at that moment she was looking for fatherly love, and I just act accordingly and try to comfort her,” he recounted.
“However, in the next moment, her emotions just turned the other way.
“She just show(ed) anguish, and then she raised up her hand and gave me a gesture to come closer to her, and next moment she kind of like want(ed) to strangle me,” he said.
“I think it made me ponder what she had gone (through) in her life … that she (has) such (an) intense emotional reaction in her final stage of life.”
Commentary: Tourists are flocking to heatwave zones to experience 56°C temperatures. Why?
Perhaps they might want to reflect on the fact that Earth has already warmed by around 1.1 to 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times.
Many may not realise that even if worldwide fossil fuel combustion was immediately eliminated, the roughly 0.5 degrees Celsius cooling contribution of atmospheric aerosols – also the result of existing fossil fuel combustion – would rapidly dissipate through gravitational settling and precipitation scavenging of these aerosols.
This would cause the Earth to warm rapidly to around 1.6 to 1.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The warming does not end there, as the planet is on course to go well above 2 degrees Celsius in the decades ahead once reduced aerosol cooling, permafrost melt and other greenhouse gases are taken into account.
I suspect that these travellers are unaware that when these other pesky greenhouse gases are included, the net radiative effect is equivalent to 523 ppm CO2e, of which only 417 ppm is from CO2 alone.
THE PARIS AGREEMENT
Governments worldwide have signed on to the 2015 Paris Agreement committing nations to collectively limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels while pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The Paris Agreement might appear promising. But the reality is that the 1.5 degrees Celsius guardrail cannot be met, and that socioeconomic inertia prevents us from even staying below the 2 degrees Celsius threshold. Even if every country met its promised emissions reductions, global mean temperatures would still soar past 2 degrees Celsius.
IN FOCUS: With rising private home prices, is climbing the property ladder harder?
HOUSING & SOCIAL MOBILITY
Given that HDB flats – which house 78 per cent of the Singapore population – remain affordable to most Singaporeans, what is the significance of having some of the most expensive private residential real estate in Asia? After all, Singapore has one of the highest home ownership rates in the world.
If condominium price increases are much faster and greater than HDB price appreciation, some potential buyers will choose to invest in private condos, said Dr Lee Kwan Ok. As a result, the markets will diverge further and this may lead to unequal financial outcomes among households.
Dr Lee Nai Jia thinks that the quest for property isn’t solely a matter of securing a roof over one’s head. A potential consequence of two diverging housing markets is the deepening divide within society, particularly between asset-rich parents and those without such advantages, he said.
“It’s intrinsically tied to the aspiration of social mobility … Therefore, we need to rethink housing solutions that don’t just address affordability, but also foster a healthy social fabric and personal development,” he said.
“Such an economic chasm poses a threat to societal stability. This is precisely why the government’s strategic emphasis has been directed towards preserving our social contract and prioritising the accessibility of public housing.”
But Professor Qian Wenlan, director of NUS’ Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies, does not see a sharp divergence materialising and thinks that the majority of the Singapore population would be more concerned about the affordability of public housing.
Furthermore, she sees the spillover effect also moving in the opposite direction, with public housing prices possibly affecting private property prices.
“The injection of supply downstream will mitigate inflation in the public housing market, which may even have a spillover effect on the property market as a whole,” she said.
“By and large, we expect public housing to remain highly affordable to the majority of the population, especially since the government’s policy is to price BTO flats according to median incomes rather than market demand.”
“PRIORITISING WHAT REALLY MATTERS”
Analysts agreed that in general, the Singapore government has done a good job at housing the nation.
This is unlike cities like Seoul and Hong Kong where residents “struggle a lot” due to housing attainability, said Dr Lee Kwan Ok.
“For example, public housing supply is limited and private housing prices are very high in Seoul, so many young people give up their marriage and childbirth due to housing unaffordability,” she said.
“In Hong Kong, the waiting time for public rental housing is very long, and many are forced to turn to private housing which is very unaffordable.”
Sociologist Tan Ern Ser said that in a society like Singapore, social mobility is always possible to all, but the probability of moving up is unequal across classes.
He thinks the government has been making make public housing more affordable and attractive, with new housing developments, such as Bidadari, Tengah, and the Southern Water Front, for instance; while persuading Singaporeans to redefine success in less material terms.
“I don’t think we could solve this problem of the bifurcation of public and private housing satisfactorily, but we could aim to live a ‘good enough’ life, prioritising what really matters: our mental and physical health, family and friends, and community life,” said Dr Tan.
Closing the ‘world’s best beach’: Balancing tourism and sustainability on Thailand’s Koh Kradan
Nearly the entire 2.4 square-kilometre island falls under Hat Chao Mai National Park, meaning authorities have a mandate to enforce an annual, seasonal closure period.
This began in Koh Kradan more than five years ago, and similar closures of national park areas happen right across Thailand during this time of year.
There is no permanent local community on the island, and all of the small resorts on the island are meant to cease operations during the seasonal closure and not bring in any tourists. When CNA visited, one resort remained open despite the decree, amid an ongoing land dispute.
As the island breathes, local officials from the Department of National Parks are making preparations for when it can reopen on Oct 1. A modern tourist centre has been constructed and management plans are being put in place to better organise increased arrivals and deal with waste.
“After it was selected (as the best beach), the number of tourists has increased a lot, which is a good opportunity to start over,” said Pharit Narasaridkul, the chief of Hat Chao Mai National Park.
“The increased number of tourists means that Trang province’s economy is better. There’s more spending in the economic sector, social sector and also in local areas. So, we consider this as a good opportunity for the local people to upgrade their quality of lives,” he said.
Closing the “world’s best beach” seems like a difficult decision to make, when the economic benefits of staying open could be lucrative for local communities.
Nikhom Phatthana hit hard by heavy rain, floods
PUBLISHED : 22 Jul 2023 at 04:35
RAYONG: Local authorities on Friday sped up helping those badly affected by flash floods in several parts of Nikhom Phatthana district in this eastern province after continuous heavy rain since Thursday night.
Rescue workers tried to evacuate locals from inundated areas to safer ground.
Heavy downpours had battered Rayong since Thursday night, with Nikhom Phatthana reported to have suffered the worst damage, with roads blocked by floods and cars submerged.
The situation was handled by Nikhom Phatthana Police, Nikhom Phatthana Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO), Siam Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation and the Siam Rayong Rescue Foundation.
Staff have been evacuating residents and their property as weather forecasts predict that precipitation will increase soon, according to local officials.
Prasong Leklong, chief of Nikhom Phatthana TAO, said that backhoe loaders would be brought in to dig temporary channels to drain flood water from roads where over 60-70cm floods are blocking traffic.
Rayong governor Traipob Wongtrairat has ordered people to move their assets to top floors and be alert for flash floods.
Mr Traipob said on Friday that the rainwater precipitation was at 2.06 metres as of 11am on Friday, while the bank can handle a 2.5-metre water level.
“Initially, I have ordered related agencies to check water levels and assign district and village chiefs to prepare for evacuation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) reported on Friday that the Mekong River level has risen, and the Mekong Hydrological Cycle Observation Stations in Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, and Ubon Ratchathani will see water levels increasing this week.
According to forecasting by One Map, the ONWR said that three southern provinces — Krabi, Chumphon and Surat Thani — will likely see floods by the end of this month.
The ONWR also reported that the South of the country is likely to see floods until the end of this year and recommended that people pay heed to regular updates.
Nikhom Phatthana hit hard by heavy rain and floods
PUBLISHED : 22 Jul 2023 at 04:35
RAYONG: Local authorities yesterday sped up helping those badly affected by flash floods in several parts of Nikhom Phatthana district in this eastern province after continuous heavy rain since Thursday night.
Rescue workers tried to evacuate locals from inundated areas to safer ground.
Heavy downpours had battered Rayong since Thursday night, with Nikhom Phatthana reported to have suffered the worst damage, with roads blocked by floods and cars submerged.
The situation was handled by Nikhom Phatthana Police, Nikhom Phatthana Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO), Siam Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation and the Siam Rayong Rescue Foundation.
Staff have been evacuating residents and their property as weather forecasts predict that precipitation will increase soon, according to local officials.
Prasong Leklong, chief of Nikhom Phatthana TAO, said that backhoe loaders would be brought in to dig temporary channels to drain flood water from roads where over 60-70cm floods are blocking traffic.
Rayong governor Traipob Wongtrairat has ordered people to move their assets to top floors and be alert for flash floods.
Mr Traipob said yesterday that the rainwater precipitation was at 2.06 metres as of 11am on Friday, while the bank can handle a 2.5-metre water level.
“Initially, I have ordered related agencies to check water levels and assign district and village chiefs to prepare for evacuation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) reported on Friday that the Mekong River level has risen, and the Mekong Hydrological Cycle Observation Stations in Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, and Ubon Ratchathani will see water levels increasing this week.
According to forecasting by One Map, the ONWR said that three southern provinces — Krabi, Chumphon and Surat Thani — will likely see floods by the end of this month.
The ONWR also reported that the South of the country is likely to see floods until the end of this year and recommended that people pay heed to regular updates.
DSI charges two Stark execs
PUBLISHED : 22 Jul 2023 at 04:20
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has pressed charges against two former executives of scandal-hit Stark Corporation for breaching the Securities and Exchange Act, DSI spokeswoman Pichaya Tarakornsanti said on Friday.
The pair were later identified as former chief financial officer Sathar Chantrasettalead and his secretary Yosboworn Amarit.
The DSI has accepted the case as a special case for a month, after the Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed charges with the DSI, accusing Stark Corp and nine others, including the firm’s largest shareholder Vonnarat Tangkaravakoon, of financial misconduct.
Ms Pichaya said the DSI also issued a summons to Mr Vonnarat to acknowledge the charge, but he asked to postpone meeting DSI investigators, claiming he was sick. He submitted a medical certificate as evidence.
In addition, the DSI asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Stark Corp’s former chairman Chanin Yensudchai — who is accused of financial misconduct — after he failed to report to the DSI to acknowledge charges concerning irregularities in Stark’s financial statements.
The DSI also asked the Department of Consular Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to revoke the passport of Mr Chanin in accordance with the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s regulations.
Investigators submitted a letter to the Land Office, asking it to confiscate two land plots and a house for investigation, she said.
The DSI has also questioned related individuals from Stark Corporation, Phelps Dodge International and Thai Cable International and is also currently checking the transaction routes associated with the case.
Ms Pichaya said DSI director-general Suriya Singhamongkol also urged his DSI investigators to speed up the transaction investigation and gather evidence to take legal action against the alleged wrongdoers.