The Umno president was granted a conditional discharge on 47 charges involving corruption, CBT, and money laundering on Monday.

From article:

Following a police report issued by a Selangor based contractor named Haizal bin Hanif last week, Sarawak Report has been passed an extensive dossier containing what appears to be significant new evidence relating to a scandal that broke in July 2019 over alleged multi-million ringgit kickbacks paid in return for a major ‘direct nego’ development project, supposedly in a joint venture with the state government.

The courts have concluded the so-called Salak Tinggi housing project, involving 100 acres and projected to be worth RM600 million, was a fraudulent scheme that had not in fact been authorised by the state government as believed by the developer.

However, the evidence, if true, indicates that many senior political figures, including the former MB Azmin Ali, were seeking to push through the project from as early as 2016 in return for purported political donations.

A content creator says he took more than a year to secure a home, saying his search was hampered by the racial discrimination he experienced.

JOHOR BARU: There will not be an increase in Malay votes for Perikatan Nasional in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections like what was seen in the six recent state elections, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

from the article

A man arrested last November, shortly after he sounded the alarm that inflammatory content was being posted on TikTok, is pleading with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for help.

Zulfadzli Halim is seeking the country’s top leader’s assistance in getting an update on his case, saying that the authorities have reportedly stonewalled him.

His story began on Nov 21 last year, two days after the 15th general election.

Zulfadzli (above) had tweeted about his discovery and concerns that hate speech and racially motivated provocative content - including threats of a repeat of the May 13, 1969 riots - were being posted on the social media platform.

Screenshots and screen recordings taken by him and other netizens led to the discovery that at least three of the provocative content on TikTok had been paid for.

However, in a twist of events, it was Zulfadzli that police acted against, probing him under the Sedition Act - allegedly for insulting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He has denied doing such an act and contests that police have not been able to pinpoint which of his tweets did so either.

He was released three days later.

the rest at the article at the link. BM version: https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/676572

PM wants affirmative action policies to extend from race- to needs-based

https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/458218

@politics

got this in my Kini Morning Brief Email.

Summary: Perak MB says there are plans to trigger by-elections in at least four seats by convincing those ADUNs to defect to PN - no other details given.

[...] Saarani after a meeting with 33 Perak legislative assembly government members at the Impiana Hotel in Ipoh, Perak yesterday, according to Sinar Harian.

"We are gathered today because we don't want suspicion among the 33 assemblypersons and ensure their loyalty to the state government."

The Perak legislative assembly has 59 members, with 26 seats held by the opposition. They must win at least four more seats through by-elections to govern the state.

Like most states, Perak has enacted laws that will trigger a by-election if an incumbent lawmaker defects.

4 states under PN rule might use a different logo and theme for Hari Merdeka

https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2023/08/1142449/4-negeri-di-bawah-pn-mungkin-guna-logo-tema-hari-kebangsaan-berbeza

@politics

#MYToots #Politics #MyPoli #Feditiam

The Home Ministry raided and conducted a seizure at the Toko Buku Rakyat bookstore owned by local author Benz Ali at Wisma Central, Kuala Lumpur, earlier today.

When contacted, Benz confirmed the incident and expressed his disappointment with the confiscation.

“You can’t do this. What’s more, under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This is just like the previous BN government.

“It’s your government, yet you can’t even control the Home Ministry. I sell books that are not listed in the banned book list.

Episode description: Ethnonationalism, religious nationalism, neo-fascism and other forms of right-wing and ultra conservative populist movements are on the rise, in Malaysia and across the globe.

From the growing popularity of PAS and Perikatan Nasional in Malaysia, Narendra Modi and his Hindu Nationalist project in India, to strongman Donald Trump or the Evangelical Christians of the Republican Party in the US, and the anti-immigration Marine Le Pen in France, the list goes on and on. This has led to massive polarisation across ethnic and religious lines.

While each country and region has its own unique historical and sociopolitical contexts, one can’t help but wonder what are the parallels that can be drawn. Why are we polarised and could class struggle be a remedy? We speak to Assistant Professor Peter Beattie, Political Economist and Political Psychologist, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).