Malaysia Edition: Zahid leaves Anwar govt exposed | Plans for 'modest' air stewardess uniform criticised

Shannon Teoh

Asian Insider: Malaysia Edition helps you connect the dots on the biggest stories playing out in Malaysia every week. Sign up here to get the newsletter in your inbox.

We hope you’ve had a good Chinese New Year. Those who crossed the Causeway over the long weekend encountered a smoother process, with Singaporeans now allowed to use immigration e-gates at Johor checkpoints.

In other travel news, Malaysia Airlines has been mulling a change to its signature kebaya uniform for stewardesses to one that is “more modest”. Critics say the troubled carrier should instead prioritise profitability and efficiency.

Despite presiding over Umno’s worst ever general election, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi appears to have emerged stronger from his party’s annual assembly, thanks to a no-contest motion for the posts of Umno president and deputy president.

In the short run, this ought to provide greater stability to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan-led (PH) government, which counts Umno as a crucial partner. But ring-fencing the existing Umno leadership, which is burdened with graft charges, leaves Malaysia’s ruling parties exposed to attacks ahead of upcoming state polls.

To round off the week, read all about the student activist Adam Adli who spent most of the past decade in trouble with the law, but is now deputy youth and sports minister.

Follow ST's coverage as we continue to bring you the latest developments. Thank you for reading The Straits Times.

Umno’s ring-fencing of Zahid leaves Anwar govt exposed at state polls

Zahid Hamidi is set to remain as Umno president after party delegates earlier this month resolved to bar a leadership challenge.
PHOTO: REUTERS

Avoiding leadership tussle at party polls will not necessarily heal rifts in Umno that could destabilise Anwar government.

READ MORE HERE

Deputy youth and sports minister aims to be ‘conscience’ of motley govt

Malaysia's Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli has seen a rapid rise in politics since joining PKR in 2021.
ST PHOTO: RAM ANAND

Adam Adli says he has not left his activist views behind following his swift political ascension.

READ MORE HERE

Criticism over Malaysia Airlines’ plan to relook cabin crew uniform

This is not the first time the issue of cabin crew attire has been criticised by various quarters.
PHOTO: MALAYSIA AIRLINES/FACEBOOK

Aviation experts are concerned plans to change the sarong kebaya of its air stewardesses could divert attention from more pressing issues.

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Singaporeans can start using e-gates at Johor checkpoints

The new measure is one of the short-term solutions aimed at relieving human congestion at both checkpoints.
PHOTO: BERNAMA

Singaporeans who want to use the immigration e-gate facility must hold e-passports with a validity period of at least three months.

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Top court rejects Najib’s attempt to recuse judge

The court ordered the defence to proceed with its application to review former premier Najib Razak’s guilty verdict and imprisonment.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

The former prime minister is seeking a review to overturn his guilty verdict and prison sentence over a 1MDB-linked corruption charge.

READ MORE HERE