Good morning. Here are our picks for today.
Key Highlights
Saifuddin doubles down on BM
Hadi’s math: Harapan + Israel = police report
Umno stands firm behind Anwar
Saifuddin doubles down on BM
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has been under fire over an incident involving an immigration officer censuring a woman and her daughter for not being able to converse in Bahasa Malaysia.
The minister’s stand - all Malaysians must know the national language.
He also claimed that it helped authorities uncover cases of fraud. However, his critics pointed out that it was not a requirement with regard to passport applications.
Malaysiakini’s fact-check also revealed that fluency in BM is not a criterion.
Saifuddin then became embroiled in an exchange with activist Michelle Yesudas on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the latter said Malaysians would need to read Hikayat or Malay folklore.
“Bahasa Malaysia is the national language. No compromise,” responded the minister, adding that it did not mean having to master the Hikayat.
To strengthen his case, Saifuddin also roped in his boss, Anwar Ibrahim, pointing out that the prime minister had mandated the use of Bahasa Malaysia in correspondence involving the government.
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Hadi’s math: Harapan + Israel = police report
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is no stranger to incendiary statements, which result in police reports being lodged against him.
This time around, Amanah marched to the police station after Hadi equated Pakatan Harapan with Israel despite the coalition’s chairperson Anwar Ibrahim being among the most vocal leaders on the conflict in Gaza.
“Lie, malicious and slanderous!” These were the words Amanah mobilisation bureau secretary Mohamad Faridul Amini Suhaimi used to describe Hadi’s latest article titled 'How Israel and Harapan Follow the Method of Hypocrites in Fighting Islam’.
Faridul alleged that Hadi’s article was also seditious against the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and could jeopardise the country's harmony and create disunity among the people.
He then cited a slew of laws which can be used to investigate the PAS leader, including the Penal Code, Sedition Act, and the Communications and Multimedia Act.
In his article, Hadi compared Harapan to Israel over the denial of funding for opposition MPs.
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Umno stands firm behind Anwar
From bitter foes to strongest of allies. Umno has pledged its unwavering support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government.
Party secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Umno will continue to strengthen and defend the coalition government, which was formed following the political deadlock after last year’s general election.
“The supreme council also attests that all (Umno) MPs and assemblypersons will support the party's stance to support the leadership of Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister, and the leader of the coalition government,” he added.
The statement comes in the wake of calls for Umno to cooperate with PAS again in the next general election.
The issue cropped up after PAS scored a victory in the Kemaman by-election, which saw Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar decimating Umno’s Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor.
However, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dismissed rekindling the past alliance.
In a sarcastic swipe, he said it must be painful for PAS to sit in the opposition despite having a large number of parliamentary seats under its belt.
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Views that matter
 | By S Thayaparan |
 | By Lew Guan Xi |
 | By Tapan Kumar Nath |
Other news that matter
The Malaysia Medical Association has urged the public not to ignore flu-like symptoms as Covid-19 cases rise. But Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the situation is under control.
After failing to get an appointment to see Anwar Ibrahim, the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement will visit the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya on Dec 13.
Police have arrested a 36-year-old man to assist in the investigation regarding his purported statement to support the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Israel.
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