JOHOR BAHRU, May 17 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has told MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong to direct his complaints regarding the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to his own coalition partner, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.

Speaking at the 2026 Pakatan Harapan Convention today, Loke pointed out that since Zambry is from Barisan Nasional (BN) and MCA is a component party, any dissatisfaction should be resolved internally within their coalition.

“If you are not satisfied, please look for the minister from BN, as he determines the conditions and policies,” Loke said.

“He agreed with the Cabinet decision. So, don’t blame Anthony Loke and DAP. We also want to resolve the issue quickly.”

Loke reframed the debate by stressing that the UEC is an issue of educational access, not a political tool or a threat to the national language.

“Today, we have a prime minister who wants to provide fair access to education for all,” he said, adding that the mandate to resolve the long-standing issue came directly from the prime minister.

Addressing concerns within the Malay community, Loke gave his assurance that the status of Bahasa Melayu as the national language is secure and will never be disputed by DAP.

“The Malay community does not need to worry, as Bahasa Melayu will forever be the national language,” he affirmed.

“Today, we want Malaysian children to master various languages. This is the Madani government and our philosophy.”

JOHOR BAHRU, May 17 — Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today affirmed that the political alliance between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in his state remains “strong and stable,” drawing a sharp contrast with the political developments in Johor.

Speaking at the 2026 PH Convention here today, Chow insisted that Penang has prioritised political stability to safeguard the state’s future for its people, investors, and youth.

“It is very important to ensure that the cooperation between the parties in the government can be strengthened,” he said.

“The people at present want stability, investors want stability, and young people looking for jobs and a future also want stability.”

Chow, who also serves as the Penang PH chairman, explained his governance style, saying that he has opted to make responsible, albeit sometimes unpopular, decisions over populist moves to protect the state’s long-term interests.

“I chose to continue with important policies and decisions in order to maintain the state's financial position and infrastructure development for the future of Penang despite being aware that some decisions may cause dissatisfaction,” he said.

Chow’s remarks come just a day after Johor BN chairman and Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced that his coalition will contest all 56 state seats solo in the next election.

The move effectively ends any potential electoral pact with PH in the state.

Johor is not a coalition government and instead has been governed alone by BN since the 2022 state election.

PH is part of the “balancing force”, the term Johor uses for what is effectively the state’s opposition.

KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin, a former minister in various cabinets, is seen as a popular figure among young Malaysians, particularly among the Malays, and he did not hide his ambitions to become the country’s youngest Prime Minister.

However, with the defeat of his party, Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 2018 elections, his dream of becoming PM at a tender age was destroyed.

At 50 now, he can’t become the youngest PM because, historically speaking, the youngest PM was Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the father of fallen PM Najib Razak. Abdul Razak was 48 when he became PM.

Recently, Khairy raised the issue of becoming Prime Minister again. This time, in an interview with Malay Mail, the former health minister said becoming prime minister remains a “lifetime ambition. However, he added that he no longer sees himself as a failure if it never happens.

“It has been a lifetime ambition for me to be in a position of leadership in politics, and being the prime minister is the best position, simply because you can do the most and help the most. 

“I always felt that I would not be a success in life if I didn’t become the prime minister,” Khairy said. 

“Now, I feel that it is okay if I don’t become the prime minister. 

“I will not see myself as a failure, and I will still be enough as a person,” he added. 

While 2018 will remain a great defeat for BN and Umno, the last general elections turned out to be a personal stinging defeat for Khairy. He lost to a virtually unknown PKR candidate.

Following this defeat, Khairy was expelled from Umno in January 2023 over alleged breaches of party discipline, including criticising the party leadership and not aligning with its official campaign direction. 

He returned to the party after its leader, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is a deputy Prime Minister, called on members expelled or suspended and those who left the party after its double defeats in the general elections to return to their former abode.

But since 2023, Khairy has been active as a radio presenter, joining Hot FM and launching a very successful podcast, Keluar Sekejap, with a former Umno information chief, Shahril Hamdan, and taking on several brand endorsements.

He told Malay Mail the last three years were “commercially successful”, adding that he also spent more quality time with family and friends and led a less stressful life than when he was managing the Covid-19 pandemic as the health minister.

But he did not forget his dream, saying that he will take the opportunity if it knocks.

“If the opportunity knocks and if the rakyat will have me, it is still my lifetime ambition, but it is not everything.

“I’m not here anymore to go quickly to the job,” he said. 

If he does become Malaysia’s prime minister, Khairy said he wants to lead Malaysia to fulfil its true potential, even if that means taking political risks.

“In my view, Malaysia is a slightly under-performing student for reasons of its own making.

“If it gets over itself, there is nothing that can stop this country apart from physical limitations.

“We have to risk some political capital to re-punch our weight, which we are not doing now, but it can be done,” he said. 

This article (Ex-minister is back to revive dream of becoming Malaysia’s PM) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

NEW DELHI, May 15 — Malaysia has reiterated its position that all disputes in West Asia must be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

In a Facebook post today, he said the position was conveyed during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Seyed Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the 2026 BRICS Partners Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here yesterday.

Mohamad said that during the meeting, he also obtained the latest updates on the conflict in West Asia, which continues to affect regional stability and international security.

At the meeting, Mohamad also held bilateral discussions with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla.

He said the discussions touched on the current geopolitical and economic situation in Cuba, as well as the latest developments in West Asia, which continue to draw international attention.

According to Mohamad, Parrilla also expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s support towards efforts to end the United States’ unilateral sanctions against Cuba.

“Malaysia and Cuba remain committed to further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on international platforms, including BRICS, NAM and the G-77,” he said.

Mohamad also paid a courtesy call on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office in Seeva Teerth here.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the delegates and shared his views on efforts to strengthen cooperation within the BRICS framework, particularly towards closer, more inclusive and mutually beneficial relations,” he said.

The 2026 BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting brought together ministers and representatives from BRICS member states and partners to discuss global geopolitical developments, economic cooperation and issues involving countries of the Global South. — Bernama

Eudaemonius posted a photo:

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee and President of the Republic, thanked Panama for its support of the UN resolution against the U.S. blockade of Cuba and called for increased economic and commercial exchange during a meeting with Mr. Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Foreign Minister of Panama