05/07/2026

NATIONAL 2 theSun on Sunday JULY 5, 2026

‘PH manifesto result of good planning, not copied’ Data clearly shows ideas original, developed by coalition leadership after months of deliberation following indications that state polls would be held, says PKR veep candidate Guna Balakrishnan.

KLUANG: PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has dismissed claims that Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) manifesto for the 16th Johor state election was copied from those of other parties. He said it was developed by the coalition’s leadership over several months, and that initiatives such as affordable housing and healthcare assistance were the result of careful planning by the PH leadership. “It is up to them to say whatever they want but the data and facts clearly show that these are original ideas developed by the PH leadership after months of deliberation following indications that a state election would be held,” he said. He was speaking after the Jelajah Johor Ke Depan, Undi Harapan programme in Simpang Renggam here on Friday, Bernama reported. Also present were PKR vice-president R. Ramanan, Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil, PH candidate for Machap Nur Hafiz Roslan, PH Benut candidate Abd Razak Ismail and PH Layang-Layang

Johor to gain if federal, state govts under same coalition: Minister KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on the right track under the Madani government, and strong cooperation between the federal and Johor state governments is key to accelerating development and economic growth in the state, said DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming. He said in a statement that Johor stands to benefit further when both levels of government are administered by the same coalition. “Close collaboration between both levels of government has enabled development plans, infrastructure projects and public initiatives to be implemented more efficiently for the benefit of the people.” Nga said a stable relationship between the federal and state governments would help boost economic growth, attract more investments and create better job opportunities for local communities. He cited the RM110 billion in investments secured by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority for Johor last year. He added that closer coordination would further position Johor towards sustainable and inclusive development. Nga said the Madani government remains committed to supporting Johor through continued investment, quality public services and people-centric policies aimed at improving living standards. He stressed that political stability, policy consistency and strong cooperation are essential to sustaining investor confidence and ensuring long-term prosperity. He highlighted Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for foreign investors as one of the nation’s achievements. Nga said clear policies, strong fundamentals and stability had attracted RM426.7 billion in FDI in 2025. He also cited the country’s resilient trade performance, with Malaysia recording a trade volume of RM3.1 trillion in 2025 despite global economic uncertainties. Nga further pointed out Malaysia’s improved ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index from 67th to 54th place, as well as stronger international credit ratings following Moody’s upgrade of the country’s outlook to A3 stable. – Bernama A total of 172 candidates are contesting the 56 state assembly seats. Polling has been set for July 11 and early voting will be held on July 7. had yet to openly express their support. He said the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PH chairman, at campaign events in Johor would boost the morale of party workers and strengthen voter confidence in PH.

“We set a bold target because the need is substantial. It is based on surveys and focus group discussions with our team. “The figure is based on necessity, not capability, and we will work towards achieving it.” Amirudin, who is also PH Johor election machinery director, said grassroots campaign efforts had received encouraging feedback, although he believes that many voters

Commenting on criticism that PH’s affordable housing target would be difficult to achieve, Amirudin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, said the target reflects the current needs of the people. He said the Selangor state government had approved the construction of 174,000 affordable housing units, of which 40,000 had been completed.

Anwar launches platform for development of Bumi entrepreneurs PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated at the launch of SParK 2026: Business Transformation, the flagship platform of Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB). Anwar, flanked by Rastam (second from left), presenting the Aspirasi PUNB award to Mohamad Emir Mohamad Fauzi and Siti Nurdiana Kamalul Arifin at the event in Putrajaya yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Grow to as low as 3.5% per annum at the same event. sustaining long-term growth. “PUNB’s priority is to ensure that more bumiputera companies are capable of expanding their businesses, to strengthen corporate governance and grow

It also introduced three programmes – Prosper Grow Biz Express, Prosper Grow Fuel Up and Prosper Grow Auto Biz – to improve financing access and strengthen entrepreneurs’ working capital. The financing target will be achieved through PUNB’s existing financing facilities, which include Prosper Grow, Prosper Great and Prosper Impact/Nova, alongside enhancements to programmes that are more targeted to meet entrepreneurs’ needs. Held ahead of PUNB’s 35th anniversary, SParK 2026 brings together PUNB entrepreneur partners, bumiputera entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, industry players, digital ecosystem participants, development agencies and strategic partners through conferences, knowledge-sharing sessions, business exhibitions and sales activities. “SParK is not just an annual event but also a transformation platform that reflects PUNB’s commitment to developing bumiputera entrepreneurs to be more structured, competitive and capable of

sustainably in line with the nation’s development agenda,” said PUNB chairman Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa. PUNB has supported the development of more than 15,500 entrepreneur partners through various financing and business support programmes since it was established in 1991. Its total approved financing has reached RM5.15 billion across a wide range of bumiputera business sectors. Rastam said PUNB’s role has continued to evolve, with its financing and support no longer focused solely on the conventional retail and distribution sectors but also on high-impact sectors and high-value economic activities. At the same event, PUNB exchanged an MoU with the Statistics Department and the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation to strengthen entrepreneur development through data, technology and innovation. – Bernama

The agency has announced a financing approval target of up to RM2.25 billion for the development of bumiputera entrepreneurs from 2026 to 2030. The target, under the R30 Strategic Framework, is to accelerate the growth of bumiputera companies, enhance their commercial scalability, create quality employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s key supply chains. Anwar said the national agency, established to develop bumiputera entrepreneurs, has performed well. “If it continues to perform well, we will increase the allocation (from the Finance Ministry). “PUNB is currently one of the agencies implementing the government’s agenda by focusing on the priorities we have outlined, while also working closely with all relevant agencies,” said Anwar. The agency also announced the reduction of the financing rate for Prosper