{
  "id": 18283616,
  "title": "Akmal and I only talk about goats, fish and family, says Solehin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/akmal-and-i-only-talk-about-goats-fish-and-family-says-solehin",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T09:41:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/05/akmal-and-i-only-talk-about-goats-fish-and-family-says-solehin"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Solehin Saleh, brother of Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, is vying for the Bemban seat in the upcoming Melaka state election under the Bersama ticket. Solehin explained that despite political differences, he and Akmal make a conscious effort to keep politics out of their home life, focusing instead on family matters. They refrain from discussing politics when they are together, remembering their late father's advice and their mother's emphasis on this principle. When Solehin returns home, he and Akmal converse about their children, while Akmal shares updates about his tilapia fish and Solehin talks about his pygmy goats, which have recently given birth. Akmal continues to show respect for Solehin as his elder brother, while Solehin maintains his love for Akmal as his younger sibling, emphasizing that divergent political views are not uncommon in families. Concerning his campaign in Bemban, Solehin acknowledged Akmal's popularity, which assisted him when initially announced as a candidate in August. However, after approximately three months of interacting with voters, Solehin noted that residents now recognized him for his individual efforts and approach. He did not view Akmal's popularity as an impediment, as Akmal's community work had contributed to his introduction to the public. Solehin embarked on his political journey with Bersatu in 2018, but left the party following the Sheraton Move due to his disappointment with political developments perceived as a betrayal of the original cause. He subsequently joined Amanah before transferring to Bersama, which he believes provides a more moderate platform that unites people from various ethnicities. In terms of his prospects in Bemban, Solehin stated that the seat is up for grabs by any party, as BN, PH, and Bersatu had all won it in the past. The incumbent, Dr Yadzil Yaakub from Perikatan Nasional (PN), Rabaie Ab Hamid of Bersatu, and independent candidate Abd Halim Said are among his opponents. In the 2021 Melaka state election, Yadzil secured the seat with a majority of 328 votes.",
  "summary": "Bersama’s Bemban candidate Dr Solehin Saleh says he and younger brother, Umno’s Dr Akmal Saleh, made it a point to keep politics out of the home.",
  "key_points": [
    "Dr Solehin and Akmal focus on family topics, avoiding politics",
    "Akmal runs a tilapia fish business, Solehin cares for pygmy goats",
    "Solehin won Bemban seat in 2021 with 328 votes majority"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}