KOTA TINGGI, June 2 — Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties should consider fielding young and new faces as candidates in the upcoming Johor state election, particularly in constituencies with a high percentage of young voters, Umno Information Chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said.

The move would not only have a positive impact on BN but would also create opportunities for a new generation of leaders to emerge as the party’s future leadership through the state legislative assembly, she added.

“We have to accept the reality that many young people are now voters. Even in my constituency, about 40 per cent of the electorate are young voters. My hope is that this will be given emphasis,” she told a press conference after launching the Madani Adopted Village Programme in Kampung Tanjung Serindit here today.

She pointed out that the final decision on candidate selection rests entirely with the state BN leadership and political bureau.

At the same time, Azalina, who is also Pengerang MP, expressed hope that the two incumbent state assemblymen under her parliamentary constituency — Aznan Tamin (Tanjung Surat) and Fauziah Misri (Penawar) — would be retained as candidates for this election, and that the election would proceed in the spirit of democracy, free from violence or any untoward incidents.

On the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, Azalina said the state government under Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had the right to dissolve the assembly with the consent of the Johor Palace.

According to her, the decision was made following continued positive support from the people of Johor for the state government’s leadership under BN.

“Perhaps with what has happened, such as the Umno 80th Anniversary Celebration at Istana Besar Johor and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s 12th Super League title victory, I see a great deal of positive support from the people of Johor towards the state government’s leadership. Maybe these are among the factors,” she said.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly with effect from June 1 after receiving the consent of Johor Regent, Tunku Mahkota Ismail. — Bernama

KOTA TINGGI, June 13 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said will seek an allocation under Budget 2027 to expand the establishment of Legal Aid Department (JBG) satellite offices to rural areas nationwide.

She said the move is important to ensure that the public, particularly those in remote and rural areas, have easier access to legal aid services and are aware of their rights to legal protection and assistance.

“When we talk about legal aid, we must provide protection to the people so that they know they have the right to obtain legal assistance.

“That is why I will apply for an allocation in next year’s budget. If we can establish more satellite offices in districts located far from state offices, it will make it easier for the public to access legal aid services,” she told reporters after officiating the JBG Satellite Office at the Pengerang Court in Bandar Penawar here today.

Elaborating further, Azalina, who is also the Member of Parliament for Pengerang, said the service would be further strengthened through the use of JBG mobile vans under the Justice on Wheels (JOW) programme, which can reach villages and remote areas, including in Sabah and Sarawak.

Azalina said the approach is in line with the government’s aspiration to bring legal aid services directly to the people rather than waiting for them to visit JBG offices.

“For me, there is no point amending the Legal Aid and Public Defence Bill if people do not know where to seek protection and assistance.

“I have also instructed the Director-General (of the department) to ensure that these services are provided in all areas, including constituencies represented by the opposition. We will send letters to every Member of Parliament so that they can choose suitable dates according to their respective states,” she said.

Earlier in her speech, Azalina said the opening of the JBG Pengerang Satellite Office marked a strategic step by the Madani Government in strengthening access to justice through legal aid services that are closer, more accessible and more responsive to the needs of the people.

She said the establishment of the satellite office would reduce the need for members of the public to travel long distances to obtain legal aid services, thereby saving time and costs.

The minister said the establishment of the JBG Pengerang Satellite Office was the result of collaboration among various stakeholders within the justice sector, particularly the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia.

She said the synergy among the relevant agencies demonstrated that efforts to expand access to justice require continuous commitment and cooperation to ensure that the services provided genuinely benefit the community.

“The opening of the JBG Pengerang Satellite Office will bring legal aid services closer to the people, in line with the Madani Government’s commitment to enhancing access to justice, because justice is not a privilege but a right of every citizen, ensuring that no one is left behind by the nation’s justice system,” she said. — Bernama

KOTA TINGGI, June 13 — The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has instructed personnel of the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-13 to strengthen security measures and remain vigilant after two Malaysian peacekeepers in Lebanon sustained minor injuries from bomb splinters following an airstrike on Thursday.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the move was important to ensure the safety of Malaysian peacekeepers currently serving in the conflict area.

“We (the ministry) have provided guidance that such threats and challenges can indeed occur, and we have advised the contingent to take precautionary measures,” he said after officiating at the ministry’s Jiwa Murni Madani Programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Johor Kampong here today.

He said the injuries were caused by bomb splinters that landed near the personnel’s location and not from a direct attack near Haris in southern Lebanon.

“All injured personnel received treatment from the medical team on duty there, and their condition is stable,” he said.

Mohamed Khaled also said the United Nations Security Council is reassessing the position of peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, as the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is scheduled to expire in December.

According to him, the government’s current plan is to bring home all Malbatt personnel by the end of this year.

“However, if the UN decides that the presence of peacekeeping forces should continue to prevent Lebanon from descending into complete devastation, Malaysia is prepared to consider such cooperation,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude that, thus far, there have been no fatalities involving Malaysian personnel, unlike the situation faced by some other countries’ peacekeeping forces in the conflict area. — Bernama