JOHOR BAHRU, June 1 — Johor DAP has clarified that the party had offered to appoint incumbent Skudai assemblyman Marina Ibrahim to helm a statutory body and not a government-linked company (GLC) as seen in a letter that went viral.

Johor DAP vice-chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said there is a difference in a statutory body and a GLC.

He said Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching had stated that she offered Marina to lead a statutory body and not a GLC.

“Statutory bodies are established by an Act of Parliament or state enactment to fulfill specific public policy or socio-economic objectives, while a GLC is incorporated under the Companies Act 2016 and the government acts as a majority shareholder.

“In this recent issue, Teo had offered Marina to helm a statutory body that is related to social welfare work.

“This is actually a good fit for Marina who has been passionate and known for her welfare activism over the years.,” he said when contacted by Malay Mail today.

The DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) member was responding to criticism that the party is allegedly using positions in GLCs as political tools.

Sheikh Umar said the unnamed statutory body was a right fit for Marina based on her work in welfare activism.

“In fact, the party’s leadership felt Marina would be able to perform well and assist in shaping policy by being appointed to the statutory body.

“The proposed appointment by DAP is not a form of reward that is used to lure or motivate someone to perform a task,” he said, adding that it is normal for DAP to initiate moves that are strategic for the party’s long term.

Meanwhile, Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Aminolhuda Hassan said that such appointments, especially to statutory bodies, was a normal practice for any political parties that are part of the government.

The Johor Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chief also clarified that for such appointments only eligible and hardworking party members who have promise will be considered.

“Generally, the person being considered will normally be a subject matter expert or have a good knowledge of the field that the statutory body is established under,” he said, adding that statutory bodies, unlike a GLC, are under the purview of the government and not a corporate company.

KOTA KINABALU, June 7 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) plans to strengthen the Ihsan Food Bank (i-FB) programme this year through the development of a comprehensive action plan aimed at enhancing its implementation nationwide.

Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the initiative would serve as a guide for all stakeholders involved in carrying out the programme more effectively and systematically.

“We intend to strengthen the i-FB programme so that we can develop and publish an action plan that will serve as a reference for all parties involved in implementing the initiative,” he told reporters after officiating the Ihsan Food Bank (i-FB) Initiative Programme here today.

Armizan said the action plan would help align the direction and objectives of the programme while improving coordination among participating organisations and agencies.

He also called on the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and related institutions to participate in the initiative, either as food contributors or as partners in distribution efforts and the identification of target groups.

According to him, the involvement of various stakeholders would help create a more conducive ecosystem for the programme and ensure its objectives are achieved in a more organised and effective manner.

“The i-FB initiative emphasises the values of kindness and compassion by encouraging society to work together in caring for communities, particularly vulnerable and underserved groups.

“This initiative combines three main objectives...caring for the community, protecting the environment and rescuing surplus food that remains safe for consumption,” he said.

On the programme’s implementation, Armizan said QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd was among the ministry’s earliest strategic partners in strengthening the initiative through the i-FB@KFC project.

The project currently involves 10 KFC restaurants in Sabah working in collaboration with 10 NGOs to distribute surplus food to those in need.

Armizan said the i-FB@KFC initiative would be expanded nationwide in phases, with the participation of more restaurants, NGOs and related institutions to enhance food rescue efforts and provide greater assistance to vulnerable communities.

He added that the expansion reflects the government’s commitment to reducing food waste while strengthening food security support for those most in need. — Bernama

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — After three decades in the music industry, Indonesian rock powerhouse Dewa 19 proved that its music continues to resonate across generations, drawing thousands of fans to the “Dewa 19 – Cintaku Tertinggal di Malaysia” concert at Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil, last night.

The concert, organised by Icon Entertainment, ran for more than three hours and saw fans enthusiastically singing along to nearly every song, rekindling memories associated with the band’s extensive catalogue of hits.

Many concertgoers were willing to walk more than 30 minutes from distant parking areas to ensure they did not miss the opportunity to watch the legendary group perform live.

The evening opened with an energetic set by fellow Indonesian rock band Padi Reborn, who performed popular tracks including Menanti Sebuah Jawaban, Patah and Hitam. Their performance was met with a sea of illuminated mobile phone lights as fans recorded the memorable moments.

The atmosphere intensified as anticipation built for Dewa 19’s appearance, with the band finally taking the stage at around 9.50 pm to thunderous applause from the crowd.

Performing 24 songs, including fan favourites Dewi, Sedang Ingin Bercinta, Risalah Hati and Roman Picisan, Dewa 19 delivered a captivating show featuring band founder Ahmad Dhani alongside Virzha, Ello, Alass and Javier Parisi.

Virzha, dressed in black, immediately connected with the audience when he greeted fans by asking, “Kuala Lumpur! Are you OK tonight?” before launching into the song Perempuan.

The concert also featured a special appearance by Ahmad Dhani’s eldest son, Al Ghazali, who took to the drums for several songs, including Larut and Satu.

Throughout the night, the predominantly black-clad audience immersed themselves in the performance, passionately singing along and celebrating the music that has defined generations of Dewa 19 fans.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, several lucky attendees received exclusive merchandise and souvenirs tossed into the crowd by the performers, bringing an extra layer of excitement to an already memorable evening. — Bernama

PASIR PUTEH, June 7 — Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who survived a bus crash in Gerik, Perak, on June 9 last year are still recovering from their trauma, thanks to the continued support of their families, friends and the university.

A crash survivor, Abdul Wafiy Kamaruddin, 24, said he has managed to deal with the trauma of using public transport, even though he had trouble being inside vehicles following his ordeal, thanks to the university’s continuous counselling support for survivors.

“Initially, I was afraid when getting into vehicles and would worry, but Alhamdulillah I’m getting better in stages and now I don’t have trouble taking the bus or public transport.

“The UPSI counsellors always follow up on those of us who survived the crash and that really helped our emotional recovery,” he told reporters during a UPSI gathering for students and families involved in the crash in Tok Bali today.

He recounted how he saw many of his fellow students staggering around injured right after the crash, while he was fortunate to sustain only minor injuries.

“I was sitting in the last back seat on the right side. When I regained consciousness after the crash, I saw many of my friends injured and wanted to help them, but I was not physically able to do so.

“I could only help those near me, and this has haunted me for almost two to three months before I managed to slowly recover,” Abdul Wafiy said.

He also pointed out that many survivors have improved emotionally after receiving various forms of support.

“So far, 27 survivors are more stable and are recovering emotionally. This shows how vital families, friends and educational institutions are in helping victims like us carry on with life after facing tragedies,” he said.

He admitted that the June 9 crash, which killed 15 UPSI students, would remain with him for the rest of his life.

Everyone on the bus was in a festive mood because of Aidilfitri, he recalled, with laughter and smiles all around.

“But in the blink of an eye, 15 of us were killed and for those of us who survived, our lives have changed forever,” he said.

Besides focusing on his recovery, Abdul Wafiy also shares his experience and views on road safety on various platforms, having appeared as an invited panellist at the Road Safety Congress in November last year. — Bernama

IPOH, June 13 — Buildings constructed without planning permission are illegal and will not be allowed access to water or electricity supplies, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said.

He said the policy was intended to prevent the emergence of illegal settlements, including those linked to foreign communities such as the Rohingya.

“The issue of Rohingya refugees falls under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Department, which conducts regular inspections and enforcement operations.

“However, the government’s policy is clear. Anyone entering the country, whether on humanitarian grounds or as a refugee, must obtain government approval,” he told reporters after visiting an unclaimed money mobile counter here today.

Nga was commenting on reports of an unauthorised four-storey building constructed by the Rohingya community in a remote area of Sungai Tekali, Hulu Langat, Selangor.

Meanwhile, he said the government had revoked 26,108 business licences operated by foreign nationals through 4,000 enforcement operations carried out nationwide as of May this year.

“Foreign nationals are not allowed to run businesses or hold business licences. They may work as employees, but they cannot own businesses,” he said.

Nga added that local authorities nationwide had been directed to step up enforcement efforts, while urging the public to report the presence of illegal immigrants or any suspicious activities to the authorities.

On the unclaimed money campaign, he said RM13 billion is currently available for claim and encouraged the public to check their status.

“The process is simple. Citizens only need to bring their identity card and a bank statement,” he said.

Nga said the initiative is in line with Section 13(1) of the Unclaimed Moneys Act 1965, under which funds left untouched for more than seven years are transferred to the Unclaimed Moneys Account managed by the Accountant General’s Department.

“The money belongs to the rightful owners, but many are unaware that they have unclaimed funds,” he added.

“Starting this week, we will launch the campaign beginning in the Kepayang state constituency, with Pakatan Harapan elected representatives visiting constituencies across Perak to assist the public in reclaiming their money,” he said. — Bernama

A century has passed since the day that forever changed the life of Salvador Dalí: his second dismissal, this one permanent, from the Special School of Drawing, Sculpture and Printmaking at Madrid’s prestigious San Fernando Fine Art Royal Academy. In such a rigid, rule‑bound environment, Dalí felt out of place — and perhaps for that reason, this academic period has been overshadowed in scholarly writing. What dominates the narrative of those years in Madrid — which he described as the happiest of his life— are his escapades and artistic exchanges with Federico García Lorca, Maruja Mallo, and Luis Buñuel, his companions at the Residencia de Estudiantes, a pioneering cultural and academic residence, and a circle of mutual inspiration.

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Design:

Ruth Benito

Development:

Fernando Anido

Graphic design:

Inés Arcones

Coordination:

Brenda Valverde Rubio

Featured image:

Salvador Dalí and his classmates at the Special School of Painting, Sculpture, and Engraving (Academy of San Fernando). 1922–1923. GALA-SALVADOR DALÍ FOUNDATION