Up to Bersatu to discipline Perlis assemblymen, says Hadi

FMT:

Up to Bersatu to discipline Perlis assemblymen, says Hadi

The PAS president says he will leave the issue of Bersatu assemblymen withdrawing support for the Perlis MB to the party, adding that political solidarity ought to guide their actions

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party had faced similar political challenges in the past, including the fall of state governments due to discontent and defections, but it had remained committed to loyalty and discipline. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said it is up to Bersatu to decide whether to discipline five of its Perlis assemblymen who withdrew support for menteri besar Shukri Ramli, leading to the state’s political crisis.

“That is up to Bersatu. It is Bersatu’s decision,” he told a press conference in Marang, Terengganu, where he was asked if the two parties had discussed possible action against the five assemblymen.

Pressed on whether PAS expected Bersatu to punish them, Hadi said the decision should be left to their “conscience” (hati), while adding that political solidarity ought to guide their actions.


“Solidarity (kesetiakawanan) should exist. If there is solidarity, they should defend one another,” he said.

However, Hadi stopped short of blaming Bersatu as a whole, saying the party consisted of individuals with differing views and internal positions.

“We cannot judge Bersatu in its entirety because it is made up of many people. There are different views within Bersatu,” he said, adding that PAS was aware of internal differences within the party.

Asked again whether PAS hoped action would be taken against the five assemblymen, Hadi replied simply: “We hope so.”

The Marang MP’s remarks come amid growing tensions within Perikatan Nasional following the collapse of support for Shukri, who resigned as menteri besar yesterday, citing health reasons.

PAS had earlier terminated the membership of its three Perlis assemblymen – Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) – for allegedly joining their Bersatu counterparts in submitting statutory declarations to the state’s ruler to withdraw support for Shukri.


The five assemblymen from Bersatu allegedly are Abu Bakar Hamzah (Kuala Perlis), Izizam Ibrahim (Titi Tinggi), Megat Hashirat Hassan (Pauh), Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak (Tambun Tulang) and Marzita Mansor (Sena).

After news of the SDs broke out, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari urged Bersatu to take disciplinary action against its assemblymen.

Hadi also said PAS had faced similar political challenges in the past, including the fall of state governments due to discontent and defections, but the Islamic party had remained committed to loyalty and discipline.

“We have experienced situations like this in certain states before. There were no-confidence motions, assemblymen being bought over and all sorts of things. All of these are tests (we have to face),” he said.

***

He grips his bola tightly even as he speaks softly and sweetly because he still needs BERSATU to reach Putrajaya and then RUU533. But after that he will frigg BERSATU kaukau, wakakaka.

Judge: Najib no ‘country bumpkin’, attempts to paint him as ignorant doomed to fail

Judge: Najib no ‘country bumpkin’, attempts to paint him as ignorant doomed to fail



Supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak outside the Federal Court in Putrajaya, December 26, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Friday, 26 Dec 2025 2:39 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Dec 26 — The High Court today described former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as no “country bumpkin,” saying he possessed of superior intelligence, an impeccable family and political pedigree, and extensive experience in both regional and national administration.

Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, the Federal Court judge who previously presided over the 1MDB trial at the High Court, said any attempt to portray Najib as ignorant of wrongdoing around him would “fail miserably”.

He was reading out his findings ahead of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial decision fixed for hearing earlier.


Sequerah said there were no reports lodged by Najib with law enforcement authorities regarding the embezzlement of 1MDB funds, including claims that the latter’s signature had been on certain forged documents.

“Such an omission can only reasonably be constructed as an act of condonation on the part of the accused who at the material time wielded considerable powers as both Finance Minister, chairman of the board of advisors and prime minister.

“The accused is no country bumpkin but possessed of not only an impeccable family and a political pedigree, but of superior intelligence, given his academic background and his previous experience in politics and in the administration not only regionally but also on a national level.


“Any attempt to paint the accused as an ignoramus or as hopelessly unaware of the misdeeds going around him must therefore fail miserably,” he said.

Sequerah also said Najib took various, at times drastic, actions to protect and consolidate his interests in the former sovereign wealth fund.

These include the disbandment of a special task force — set up to investigate 1MDB and deposits into Najib’s personal account — in July 2015, and the removal of key figures involved in the investigations.

The key figures were former Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

Sequerah also said Najib had attempted to persuade then Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz to issue a statement declaring “no wrongdoing” in connection with funds deposited into his accounts.

“All of the above clearly shows the accused have a moment of passing interest in the affairs of 1MDB and serves to highlight the extent of the steps of action that he (Najib) took in order to protect and consolidate that interest.

“All of this evidence when viewed cumulatively forms a continuous and consistent pattern that these were the irresistible conclusion that the accused had taken various forms of action, sometimes drastic, in relation to matters involving 1MDB in which he undoubtedly had interest,” the judge said.

In this case, Najib is alleged to have misused his positions in the government and 1MDB to obtain RM2.22 billion for himself, and to have laundered money by receiving, spending and transferring funds belonging to the company.

Under the four charges of abuse of power, Najib is accused of using his three position — as prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers — to obtain financial benefits totalling RM2.22 billion for himself.

He also faces 21 charges of allegedly laundering said illicit funds through his personal AmIslamic Bank account.

Nga Kor Ming says urban cleanliness is shared responsibility, warns of stiffer fines from Jan 1

Nga Kor Ming says urban cleanliness is shared responsibility, warns of stiffer fines from Jan 1



Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming expressed his disappointment that there still were some who littered, especially in city centres and public areas. — Bernama pic

Friday, 26 Dec 2025 8:44 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming stressed today that urban cleanliness was a joint responsibility and not solely the government’s or local authorities’ duty.

He also expressed his disappointment that there still were some who littered, especially in city centres and public areas.

“Malaysia is progressing towards being a developed country and will hold Visit Malaysia 2026, but irresponsible attitudes like this tarnish a city’s image and the country’s reputation in general and among tourists,” he said in a statement today.

His ministry, through Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) and local authorities are committed in conducting cleaning work and coutinuous enforcement, but success depends on public awareness and cooperation, he said.


He added that stiffer action would be imposed on those who litter in public areas from Jan 1 next year, including fines of up to RM2,000.

“Besides fines, additional penalties such as community service of a maximum of 12 hours in six months can be imposed,” he said, adding that the approach was aimed to educate the public to be more disciplined and responsible towards the environment.

Nga urged all parties to respect public areas during any festivities or activities by throwing trash into garbage cans and to obey the law to ensure clean, comfortable and orderly cities for all.

“Clean cities reflect a cultured society. Let’s support the efforts of SWCorp and local authorities in ensuring our cities are cleaner, sustainable and liveable for the next generation,” he said. — Bernama

***

Sing enforced this 60+ years ago.

Palm oil remains top contributor as Malaysia’s agriculture sector expands 3.1pc in 2024

Palm oil remains top contributor as Malaysia’s agriculture sector expands 3.1pc in 2024



The strong performance of palm oil continues to be the main driver of growth in the country’s agricultural sector, which expanded 3.1 per cent in 2024 compared with 0.2 per cent in the previous year, according to the Selected Agricultural Indicators 2025 report released today by the Department of Statistics Malaysia. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Friday, 26 Dec 2025 1:33 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Dec 26 — The strong performance of palm oil continues to be the main driver of growth in the country’s agricultural sector, which expanded 3.1 per cent in 2024 compared with 0.2 per cent in the previous year, according to the Selected Agricultural Indicators 2025 report released today by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin stated that palm oil recorded a growth rate of 5.1 per cent in 2024, compared to 0.2 per cent in 2023, thereby contributing significantly to the value-added of the agricultural sector.

“Palm oil remains the largest contributor to the value added of the agricultural sector with a contribution of RM38.1 billion, or 36.8 per cent, followed by other agriculture segments at RM29.7 billion, or 28.7 per cent, while the livestock subsector recorded a contribution of RM17.4 billion, or 16.9 per cent,” he said in a statement here today.

Commenting on agricultural production performance, Mohd Uzir stated that the production of fresh fruit bunches (palm oil) recorded the highest volume among agricultural commodities, at 100,163.5 metric tonnes, representing a 5.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year. “The highest increase in production was recorded by cocoa beans at 33.3 per cent, followed by selected vegetables (11.8 per cent), kenaf (dry stalks) (11.5 per cent), natural rubber (11.1 per cent), pepper (7.5 per cent), and selected fruits (4.5 per cent),” he said.


For the livestock subsector, Mohd Uzir noted that the number of chickens increased by 3.5 per cent to 327.3 million birds in 2024 compared with 316.2 million birds in 2023. Chicken meat production rose by 13.7 per cent, followed by beef and buffalo meat at 9.6 per cent and fresh milk at 5.7 per cent.


He said brackishwater aquaculture production in 2024 declined by 0.4 per cent to 392,400 metric tonnes compared with the previous year, while marine fish landings and freshwater aquaculture production increased by 9.6 per cent and 5.7 per cent, respectively.

From a regional perspective, Mohd Uzir said that the contribution of the agricultural sector to gross domestic product (GDP) among Asean countries ranged from 0.03 to 20.8 per cent. “Myanmar recorded the highest contribution at 20.8 per cent, followed by Laos (16.8 per cent), Cambodia (16.6 per cent), Indonesia (12.6 per cent) and Vietnam (11.9 per cent). Malaysia, with a contribution of 8.2 per cent, ranked eighth out of ten Asean countries,” he said.


Mohd Uzir highlighted that the agricultural sector plays an important role in ensuring that the country’s food supply remains sufficient, while also contributing significantly to national income and export earnings.

“The total exports of agri-food and selected agricultural products increased from RM160.7 billion in 2023 to RM179.2 billion in 2024. At the same time, total imports rose to RM154.4 billion in 2024 compared with RM135.4 billion in 2023, with the country’s food imports amounting to RM93.8 billion in 2024,” he added. — Bernama

1MDB verdict: Court rules Arab donation letters were forged

1MDB verdict: Court rules Arab donation letters were forged

Farah Solhi
Published: Dec 26, 2025 11:44 AM
Updated: 3:20 PM



The Kuala Lumpur High Court has dismissed the Arab donation letters presented by former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's defence team in his 1MDB trial as "forgeries".

In reading out the court verdict this morning, judge Colin Lawrence Sequerah ruled that Najib’s summary of his own narrative in relation to the funds being Arab donations renders it implausible.

"Arab donation narrative is not meritorious. The Arab donation letters were forgeries, and the evidence pointed unmistakably to the fact that the monies were, in fact, derived from 1MDB funds.

"This court has found the Arab donation defence to be incapable of belief and has not succeeded in rebutting the presumption of gratification under Section 23 of the MACC Act," the judge said.

In January, Najib testified that the Arab donation into his private account did not violate the Code of Ethics for Members of Administration.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak


The former Pekan MP told the High Court that this was why he did not disclose the alleged Saudi royal donation to the then-cabinet in 2013.

During the corruption trial on Jan 13, he explained that he only disclosed to the cabinet that the late Saudi monarch King Abdullah would support his administration without disclosing the donation in detail.

Najib also disputed that the four letters addressed to him carried a personal tone.

READ MORE: Prosecution: Najib, Jho Low faked 'Arab donation' to cover up scandal

Najib’s 25 charges

Najib was accused of four counts of power abuse and 21 money laundering charges in 2018. The trial began the following year.

The former premier had allegedly used his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014, at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on Jalan Raja Chulan in Bukit Ceylon.

For the 21 money laundering charges, he is accused of committing the offence at the same bank between March 22, 2013 and Aug 30, 2013.

His power abuse charge was framed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, carrying 20 years imprisonment and a fine of either five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Najib’s money laundering charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act, which provides a maximum fine of RM5 million and imprisonment of up to five years or both.

He was ordered to defend himself against the charges on Oct 30, 2024, after Collin found the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.

***

Najib should apply for a FULL pardon a.s.a.p.

Najib factor may drive BN to go solo in GE16, says analyst

FMT:

Najib factor may drive BN to go solo in GE16, says analyst

7 hours ago
Minderjeet Kaur

Analyst Azmi Hassan sees Umno maintaining cordial ties with PKR and Amanah, and a begrudging partnership with DAP, similar to that of BN-GRS

DAP leaders’ reaction to Najib Razak’s failure to get his jail sentence converted to house arrest now threatens its ties with Umno.

PETALING JAYA: The DAP’s stand on former prime minister Najib Razak may drive Barisan Nasional (BN) to go its own way in the next general election (GE16), a political analyst says.

On the other hand, if it is forced to team up with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form the government again, BN lynchpin Umno will likely maintain cordial ties with PKR and Amanah, but will remain openly unfriendly with the DAP, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara told FMT.

PKR, DAP and Amanah are partners in PH. PH and BN are allies in the unity government, together with Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

“This means Umno and DAP will end up as begrudging partners, much like the relationship between BN and GRS now,” Azmi said.

He was referring to the GRS-BN alliance that was hammered out after the Nov 29 Sabah election that left GRS just short of a simple majority despite garnering the highest number of seats.

GRS and BN had gone into the polls as rivals but separately as partners of PH. However, PH managed to win only one seat, dashing hopes of it playing a major role in Sabah politics. Umno’s support enabled GRS chairman Hajiji Noor to remain as chief minister.

Nonetheless, a 2023 bid by Sabah Umno to unseat Hajiji is still fresh in the mind for many GRS supporters.

Azmi’s comments come in the wake of the open support from several DAP leaders for the high court’s decision to throw out Najib’s application to serve the remaining years of his sentence for corruption in the SRC International case under house arrest.

Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin bore the brunt of the backlash for her coments that the ruling was “another reason to celebrate this year end”. In response, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said it might be time for Umno to review its cooperation with DAP.

Azmi said the decision against Najib will become a powerful mobilisation tool for Umno to woo its core voters, which is what he believes the party is doing currently.

“Umno is trying to galvanise its grassroots by portraying Najib as a victim after the judgment,” he said, adding that DAP was doing the same with its urban supporters through its leaders’ reaction to the court’s decision.

It’s only political theatre

However, Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia has a contrarian view.

She said both Umno and DAP are just riling up each other’s supporters, but they still need each other. “It’s just political theatre,” she told FMT.

She expects the kerfuffle over Najib to pass, just like other issues that saw Umno and DAP leaders locking horns in the past three years, including the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah”.

Meanwhile, Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said DAP is “stuck between a rock and a hard place” as it seeks to retain its core supporters while trying to expand its Malay support.

“By celebrating (the court ruling), DAP angers Umno. If it dials it down, it will appear to have no real influence over its core supporters,” he said.

He agrees that Yeo and other DAP leaders risk alienating the Malay voters and Malay parties with their messaging. “Repeating these statements can also damage inter-party relations,” he told FMT.

“There has to be a line,” he said. “Statements made by DAP leaders reflect the party as a whole. They should leave it to top leaders to manage differences.”

PAS has submitted candidate list for Perlis MB post, says Hadi

FMT:

PAS has submitted candidate list for Perlis MB post, says Hadi

The party president says PAS is also prepared for the possibility of a by-election or state election

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang refused to reveal the names submitted for Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail’s consideration.

PETALING JAYA: PAS has presented a list of names for the Perlis menteri besar’s post following Shukri Ramli’s resignation yesterday, says party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Speaking after his lecture at Masjid Rusila in Marang, Terengganu, this morning, Hadi confirmed the matter, but refused to reveal the names submitted for Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail’s consideration.

“PAS has six assemblymen (in Perlis) and we have presented a list of suitable candidates,” Utusan Malaysia reported him as saying.


Hadi also said PAS is prepared for the possibility of a by-election or state election.

Yesterday, Shukri, who is also PAS’s Sanglang assemblyman, resigned as menteri besar after three years in the post, citing health reasons.

His resignation came after eight Perikatan Nasional assemblymen withdrew support for him, including three from PAS who had their memberships terminated the day before that.

The retraction of their support meant Shukri had lost majority support as he only had the backing of six PAS assemblymen in the 15-member Perlis legislative assembly.

Body-in-bag case: Suspect charged with murder of Suri Narudin in Tampin

Body-in-bag case: Suspect charged with murder of Suri Narudin in Tampin



The suspect was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries a death sentence or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years. — Bernama pic

Friday, 26 Dec 2025 11:14 AM MYT


TAMPIN, Dec 26 — A 51-year-old man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court here today with the murder of Suri Narudin, whose body was discovered in a bag buried behind a house near Rembau.

Zainizan Zainal nodded in understanding after the charge was read before Magistrate Mohamad Redza Azhar Rezali. No plea was recorded, however, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The unrepresented man is accused of murdering Suri, 53, behind a house at Jalan Pedas Linggi, Rembau, between Dec 7 and 18.

He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries a death sentence or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years.


If the death sentence is not imposed, the offender shall also be punished with at least 12 strokes of the cane.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi did not offer bail. The case was adjourned for mention to Jan 27, pending the forensic and post-mortem reports.

Previously, Negeri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said that following the discovery of a body buried behind the house in Rembau, two men, aged 51 and 41, were detained to assist with the investigation.


He was reported as saying the body was believed to be that of a woman missing from Ampang since Dec 8.

Subsequently, the deceased’s identity was established as Suri, based on a matching fingerprint comparison with records from the National Registration Department. — Bernama

Butterworth man charged with murder of mother and adopted sister in Teluk Air Tawar fire

Butterworth man charged with murder of mother and adopted sister in Teluk Air Tawar fire



Daniel Qayyum Kamalrolzlan, dressed in a blue T-shirt, nodded in understanding after the charges were read separately before Magistrate Balqis Roslin this morning. — Reuters pic

Friday, 26 Dec 2025 11:48 AM MYT


BUTTERWORTH, Dec 26 — A 23-year-old surveyor has been charged with murdering his mother and adopted younger sister at a house in Teluk Air Tawar on Dec 10, according to Sinar Harian.

Daniel Qayyum Kamalrolzlan, dressed in a blue T-shirt, nodded in understanding after the charges were read separately before Magistrate Balqis Roslin this morning.

No plea was recorded, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.


He faces two charges: one for the murder of his mother, Hayani Yaakob, 51, and another for killing his six-year-old adopted sister.

Both offences are alleged to have occurred at 9.45 am at No 4, Lorong Nakhoda 5, Taman Teluk Air Tawar.

Daniel is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or up to 40 years’ imprisonment and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if convicted.


Deputy public prosecutor Inspector Nor Idayu Yusoff did not offer bail, noting that magistrates have no power to grant bail in murder cases.

The magistrate adjourned the case to Jan 29 pending forensic and post-mortem reports.

Sinar Harian reported that Daniel had been remanded until Dec 25 to assist with investigations.

The fire, which broke out at 9.41 am, involved a semi-detached class A house and caused an estimated 85 per cent damage.

During the blaze, a male victim in his 20s was rescued and treated at the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Seberang Jaya, while the mother and her adopted child were found charred in the living room near the main exit, according to Sinar Harian.

Negeri Sembilan Bersatu calls for disciplinary action against Chegubard

FMT:

Negeri Sembilan Bersatu calls for disciplinary action against Chegubard

They accuse the Port Dickson division chief of being focused on stirring internal conflicts and undermining party leadership

Badrul Hisham Shaharin said yesterday that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin should resign if he fails to order his son-in-law Adlan Berhan to return for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu’s Negeri Sembilan chapter has called for the party’s top leaders to take disciplinary action against Port Dickson divison chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin for publicly criticising the party and its president.

Several Negeri Sembilan division chiefs, including Rasah and state Bersatu chief Hanifah Abu Baker, accused Badrul, better known as Chegubard, of being a traitor focused on sowing internal conflicts and undermining party leadership.

“The Negeri Sembilan Bersatu leadership takes serious note of the repeated statements and press conferences by Chegubard, who has openly criticised the president (Muhyiddin Yassin) and his party.


“His actions are extremely uncouth and undisciplined, and go against the party’s code of conduct. They clearly damage the organisation’s image and undermine its stability.

“His actions cannot be regarded as a healthy expression of differences in opinion, reflecting instead clear intent to disrupt the party from within,” they said in a joint statement today.

Utusan Malaysia reported Badrul as saying yesterday that Muhyiddin should resign if he fails to order his son-in-law, Adlan Berhan, to return for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

By-elections in Perlis may trigger PAS-Bersatu showdown, analysts say

FMT:

By-elections in Perlis may trigger PAS-Bersatu showdown, analysts say

Yesterday
Minderjeet Kaur

They, however, say that by-elections for Chuping, Bintong, and Guar Sanji are necessary to obtain a fresh mandate from the rakyat and remove possible instability

Perlis assembly speaker Rus’sele Eizan said he would write to the Election Commission to ask for by-elections to be held for the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji seats to ensure political stability. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Analysts foresee a real chance of a clash between PAS and Bersatu if by-elections are called after the seats of three assemblymen from the Islamic party were declared vacant today following the cessation of their membership.

No by-elections are necessary for the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji seats as the state assembly automatically dissolves in two years.

However, Perlis assembly speaker Rus’sele Eizan said he would write to the Election Commission to ask for by-elections to be held as it was necessary to ensure political stability.


Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara warned that the rift between PAS and Bersatu seemed “severe” and that this could lead to a direct contest if by-elections took place.

“If by-elections were to be held, the two parties would almost certainly go head on against each other,” he said, adding that Barisan Nasional, particularly Umno, would likely capitalise on the split.



“Perlis was under BN rule for a long period and Umno still has local strength. Pakatan Harapan would likely play a more limited role.”

Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) had their party membership terminated after allegedly withdrawing their support for Perlis menteri besar Shukri Ramli, who is also from PAS.

The trio were said to have been part of a move, alongside five Bersatu assemblymen, to remove Shukri as menteri besar. Shukri resigned from the post earlier today, citing health reasons.

A source was previously quoted as saying that Bersatu was behind the plot to oust Shukri in a bid to install its own menteri besar. Bersatu was reported to have submitted the names of its assemblyman – Abu Bakar Hamzah (Kuala Perlis), Megat Hashirat Hassan (Pauh) and Izizam Ibrahim (Titi Tinggi) as candidates for the post.


Azmi warned that political instability would persist without by-elections. “Without fresh mandates, governing as a minority administration would be extremely difficult.”

He said the issue was fundamentally a contest between PAS and Bersatu for control of Perlis, with broader implications nationwide.

“What is happening now is essentially a power struggle between PAS and Bersatu over control of the Perlis state government. Beyond Perlis, it is also about who controls the Perikatan Nasional bloc at the national level.”

Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said a PAS-Bersatu clash is possible but not inevitable.


“The risk arises because the three seats were won under PAS, yet Bersatu may argue they deserve to contest as equal PN partners, especially if the balance of power in Perlis is at stake,” he said.

Sivamurugan said the speaker’s warning about a potential hung assembly shows the urgency of the situation. “Without fresh mandates, legitimacy and stability will be contested,” he said.

He cautioned that at the national level, an open confrontation would strain the PN bloc.

“But both parties have strong incentives to manage this pragmatically, likely through seat negotiations, to avoid signalling disunity ahead of future elections,” he added.

Bersatu feeling ‘threatened’?

Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi noted that if by-elections for the three seats were to be called, it could expose deep fault lines within PN.

He said Bersatu had been left in a weaker and dependent position in Perlis, with the menteri besar having been from PAS and the Islamic party holding a majority of seats in the assembly following the last state election.

“Bersatu increasingly feels marginalised and treated as a junior partner. Over time, this creates anxiety within Bersatu,” he said.

“When a party feels threatened in this way, coalition cohesion begins to fray.”

I never saw it coming, says Shukri on ‘plot’ to remove him

FMT:

I never saw it coming, says Shukri on ‘plot’ to remove him

Yesterday
Dineskumar Ragu

The former menteri besar says that he made a mistake by being too nice to his friends in PN, who, he claims, orchestrated the move to oust him

Shukri Ramli resigned as menteri besar after eight PN assemblymen, including three from his own party, submitted statutory declarations to the Perlis ruler stating that they were withdrawing their backing for him. (Bernama pic)

ARAU: Sanglang assemblyman Shukri Ramli said he was caught off guard by a move by some Perikatan Nasional assemblymen to oust him from the post of menteri besar, describing the plot as “an act of betrayal”.

Shukri, who earlier announced his resignation as menteri besar after three years, said the ouster plot was well-orchestrated.

“I did not get any prior information on the move, and it just happened,” he said at a press conference held at the menteri besar’s official residence today.


“I only learned about it on the day of the incident. It shows how cunningly they planned this.”

Shukri also expressed disappointment with his former party colleagues – assemblymen Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) – for pulling their support.


“I made a mistake by being too nice and appreciative of the friendship that I had (with them). I did not expect that this friendship would result in me being treated this way,” he added.

Shukri’s resignation came after eight PN assemblymen withdrew support for him, including the three from PAS who had their party membership terminated yesterday.

The retraction of their support meant that Shukri had lost majority support as he only had the backing of six PAS assemblymen in the 15-member Perlis legislative assembly.

Asked how PN could restore trust among its component parties after this political episode, Shukri said this was something that needed to be discussed among the top brass of the coalition.


However, he stressed that his successor should be a PAS assemblyman as the Islamic party held the majority of the seats.

As of now, PAS holds six seats, Bersatu holds five, PKR one – with the remaining three seats declared vacant after Saad, Fakhrul and Ridzuan ceased to be members of the Islamic party.

***

Too arrogant to be even aware he isn't well liked, wakakaka

Bersatu cannot stay silent on Perlis plot, says Tuan Ibrahim

FMT:

Bersatu cannot stay silent on Perlis plot, says Tuan Ibrahim

The PAS deputy president says Bersatu must follow suit and take stern action against its Perlis assemblymen to ensure that intra-coalition ties remain intact

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said what happened in Perlis was far more serious than in Nenggiri, Kelantan, as it directly affected the stability of the PN state government.

PETALING JAYA: PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has called on Bersatu to act against its five Perlis assemblymen who reportedly signed statutory declarations (SDs) to withdraw support for Shukri Ramli as menteri besar, saying that the Islamic party has taken action against its own representatives who had done the same.

In a statement, Tuan Ibrahim stressed that Bersatu must take stern measures as a sign of respect towards its fellow component party in Perikatan Nasional (PN), as well as to ensure that intra-coalition discipline and ties remained intact.

Tuan Ibrahim reminded Bersatu of its decision last year to sack former Nenggiri assemblyman Azizi Abu Naim for supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, paving the way for a by-election in that Kelantan state seat.


He said what happened in Perlis was far more serious than in Nenggiri as it directly affected the stability of the PN state government.

“PAS has acted by taking disciplinary action (against its representatives), and now I feel that Bersatu should do the right thing with its representatives,” he added.


Yesterday, the Islamic party terminated the membership of its three Perlis assemblymen – Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) – for joining their Bersatu counterparts in retracting support for Shukri.

Shukri resigned today as menteri besar, after three years, citing health problems.

He expressed disappointment in his PAS colleagues for betraying him in the ouster plot, which caught him off guard.

Meanwhile, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari had a stronger message for Bersatu in urging it to take disciplinary action against its assemblymen.


“Failure to do so could be seen as a signal that Bersatu is no longer interested in maintaining political cooperation with PAS within PN,” he said in a Facebook post.

***

What can PAS do if BERSATU remains mute? Frigg-all lah, you need them to reach Putrajaya - wakakaka

Genocide???

 

PAS to Amanah: Ta'ada 1 ADUN pun, nak komen. Podah

FMT:

No seats, no say, PAS deputy hits back at Mahfuz

Yesterday
Chia Wan Rou

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says Mahfuz Omar should first reflect on Amanah’s performance before questioning the Islamic party’s ability to govern Perlis

Amanah’s Mahfuz Omar said Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia, with its state assembly only consisting of 15 members, but yet fraught with instability due to infighting between PAS and Bersatu. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: PAS has fired back at Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar for claiming that the tussle for the post of Perlis menteri besar reflected Perikatan Nasional’s incompetence, describing his statement as coming from a person “without substance”.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Mahfuz should first reflect on Amanah’s performance before questioning PAS’s ability to administer the state.

“This is a comment from someone without substance. What about Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, which are much larger than Perlis? The excuse that Perlis is small does not hold water.


“Amanah is even less qualified (to govern a state), having failed to win a single seat in Perlis in the last general election,” he told FMT.

Mahfuz said Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia, with its state assembly only consisting of 15 members, but yet fraught with instability due to infighting.


Commenting further, Tuan Ibrahim said the party had taken appropriate measures to ensure organisational stability, including taking firm action against party “traitors”.

Earlier, it was reported that eight PN assemblymen, including three from PAS, had submitted statutory declarations (SDs) to the Perlis ruler stating that they no longer supported menteri besar Shukri Ramli.

This prompted PAS to terminate the membership of the three assemblymen – Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) – which also resulted in the loss of their positions as elected representatives.

Shukri, who is also the Sanglang assemblyman, announced his resignation as menteri besar this evening, citing health problems.

‘We never expected this from our friends’, says Mohd Shukri Ramli amid Perlis political turmoil

‘We never expected this from our friends’, says Mohd Shukri Ramli amid Perlis political turmoil



Sanglang assemblyman Mohd Shukri Ramli said he was not angry with the assemblymen but acknowledged he may have been ‘too kind’ and placed too much trust in the friendships he had formed. — Screengrab from Facebook/Mohd Shukri Ramli

Thursday, 25 Dec 2025 8:14 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Mohd Shukri Ramli has insisted that his resignation as Perlis menteri besar was due to health reasons and not connected to the ongoing political upheaval in the state.

The Sanglang assemblyman and former Perlis PAS commissioner told a press conference, broadcast live on his Facebook page, that he was unaware of statutory declarations (SDs) filed by eight assemblymen withdrawing support for him until the day they were submitted, according to a report by the New Straits Times.

Shukri said he was not angry with the assemblymen but acknowledged he may have been “too kind” and placed too much trust in the friendships he had formed.

“I didn’t know about the move. I had no information. It happened so suddenly. I only learned of it on the day itself, so it was their own decision,” he said.


“To say I am disappointed, maybe not, but it was my own mistake for being too kind and valuing these friendships so highly. We never expected this from our friends, yet I was treated in this manner.”

On Perikatan Nasional (PN), Shukri said the coalition’s leaders would meet to reassess internal ties and evaluate how member parties interact and work together.

“I must leave this to the PN leadership. They will meet to reassess acceptance and the relations between the parties within the coalition,” he said.


Before his resignation, reports emerged that a number of PN assemblymen, including those from PAS, had submitted statutory declarations signalling their decision to withdraw support for Shukri as menteri besar.

Last night, PAS confirmed it had expelled three of its Perlis assemblymen: Chuping’s Saad Seman, Bintong’s Fakhrul Anwar Ismail, and Guar Sanji’s Mohd Ridzuan Hashim.


***

Aiyoyo YB Mohd Shukri Ramli, kalau tidak ada angin takkan pokok boleh bergoyang

Christmas and bikers brouhaha in Malacca

Christmas and bikers brouhaha in Malacca

Andrew Sia
Published: Dec 23, 2025 9:00 AM
Updated: 12:02 PM



COMMENT | Malacca became a great port 500 years ago because it welcomed traders of all races and religions. That was the source of its wealth and power.

Yet in the 21st century, the Malacca Islamic Affairs Department (Jaim) banned Christmas decorations at halal restaurants.

For a state that depends on tourism revenue, this doesn't seem like a wise way to usher in Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Did Jaim fear that Muslims would get “confused”, which is the word often used, about their religion if they saw Santa Claus and his reindeer sleigh?

Yet when I go to malls around Kuala Lumpur, I see many Muslims happily posing for photos with the Yuletide decor.

Perhaps Malacca’s religious bureaucrats have more serious sins to address, such as smoking - which has been declared haram -drugs, the Mat Rempit culture and yes, corruption.

All that may be a wee bit more important than nitpicking over hotel Christmas decor.

Confusing clarifications

Rahmad Mariman, the Umno state exco overseeing religious affairs, “clarified” that Jaim’s circular didn't impose a “blanket ban” for Christmas decor in the whole hotel, but only to areas where food is prepared or served.

His “clarification” reminded me of the brouhaha over banning little “Merry Christmas” creamy squiggles on cakes two years ago.

At that time, there was also a “clarification” that the ban was only for cakes publicly displayed in the bakery, but if they were quickly whisked away in boxes for takeaways, that was allowed.

Fortunately, the Madani government of Putrajaya has now intervened, saying halal-certified eateries are allowed to display non-Islamic festival decorations.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan explained that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) already decided on this at the national level in 2023 after the Christmas cake controversy. So why did Jaim decide to contradict Jakim?

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan

This is an unnecessary kerfuffle as public Christmas decor is already “sanitised”. Look carefully. Notice that malls never portray Jesus or Mary, but only “harmless” pine trees, candy canes and snow.

In other words, it's a Christmas without Christ. How can that affect the halal status of food?

Malacca invaded

Just before this controversy, Malacca was invaded, not by the Portuguese, but by 30,000 Yamaha motorbikes during a weekend event called “RXZ X 125 ZR Melaka Attack 2025”, which was also called “RXZ Members Ride Edition Melaka 3.0”.

Instead of Santa on his sleigh sharing friendly ho-ho-ho vibes, the town was flooded with vroom-vroom-vroom vexation.

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong said the RX-Z event led to numerous complaints of late-night noise, racing and people feeling unsafe on roads.

I am all for two-wheeled tourism myself, but please do it in smaller groups, not a huge horde that overwhelms a town.

Rather than addressing these concerns maturely and rationally, our good doctor Akmal Saleh, who is a Malacca state exco member, diverted the topic to why DAP was silent on drunk drivers.

The Umno Youth chief has made his “name” on various issues, from socks and flags to bak kut teh and chicken ham. Does he want to add alcohol to that list?

But it's easy to answer him - because there haven't been hundreds or thousands of drunk drivers in one weekend.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh


Instead, some of the 30,000 RX-Z riders were “drunk” on speed and lawless behaviour, including running red lights and riding against traffic as seen in this video.

Akmal himself admitted this but claimed they were just a small “minority”.

But what would the poor patients at Malacca Hospital feel as bike exhaust blasted into their wards?

Noise, pollution and danger

Another video uploaded by Malacca Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh himself shows how dangerously close together the bikes are speeding on the roads. One mistake and many riders will tumble over with injuries or worse.

My tourist guide friend YF was leading her group in Malacca when the rowdy riders were there.

“There was noise and air pollution everywhere. Many bikes gathered around Dataran Pahlawan and the World Heritage town area. My foreign guests complained. I really felt embarrassed as a local guide.”

Another friend, JS, said he was on the highway to Malacca then.

“The bikers were acting like Mat Rempits, and no one stopped them. They swarmed a Petronas station in Ayer Keroh, and no car could go in or get out.”

In town, they were riding their noisy bikes up and down the streets every few minutes, disturbing the residents, he recalled.

“We heard a police siren once and thought action was being taken. But the police were only escorting some VIP,” added JS.

Another friend, EL, who lives in Malacca, said the bikes were “exceptionally” noisy and rowdy throughout the day, disrupting the peaceful town.

“I wonder if free t-shirts or food were given out by the state government for this? Is this the type of tourism we want?” he asked.

“Imagine guests staying in posh hotels only to be woken up by loud bike noise. When walking in the streets of old Malacca, the noise and unruliness leave them with a bad impression. Do you think they will return to visit?”

One mindset dominates

One does wonder if the Christmas controversy and rowdy riders would have happened in Sarawak or Penang?

Why did it happen in Malacca? Is it because the state is dominated by one worldview from one racial party?

In the last state election, Umno won a landslide of 18 seats, with MCA and MIC having consolation prizes of two and one seats.

While Umno and Pakatan Harapan work together in a “unity government” in Putrajaya, they do not in Malacca and Johor.

Instead of revving up a riders’ romp on the streets, the Umno-led Malacca government should think about rebuilding urban seaside recreation areas, which have been mostly destroyed by land reclamation.

This historic city has lost its marine charm as previous dubious land reclamation schemes, such as Melaka Gateway, have failed.

But the state is undeterred and wants to double down on an even bigger reclaimed Waterfront Economic Zone over 10117.141ha of land across 33km of the entire coastline. This will be an environmental fiasco, warned one NGO.

Malacca should remember the roots of its success 500 years ago - making all races and religions feel welcome upon its scenic shoreline, not nitpicking religious rules and rowdy riders.

Especially not for Visit Malaysia 2026.



ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com

In good times and bad. PH will not survive without DAP, say analysts

theVibes.com:

In good times and bad. PH will not survive without DAP, say analysts

DAP holds about 40 parliamentary seats, making it the largest bloc within PH.

Updated 3 hours ago · Published on 25 Dec 2025 3:35PM

A DAP exit could open up a different political dynamic, particularly for Barisan Nasional (BN). - December 25, 2025


by Alfian Z.M. Tahir


POLITICAL analysts have offered differing but intersecting views on the potential fallout should DAP leave Pakatan Harapan (PH), with them agreeing that such a move would fundamentally reshape Malaysia’s political landscape.


Professor James Chin, an academic at Tasmania University, said PH would not survive in its current form without DAP, which he described as the coalition’s backbone.

He noted that DAP holds about 40 parliamentary seats, making it the largest bloc within PH.

“Without DAP, PH would lose roughly half of its strength. In practical terms, it is not viable,” he said.

Prof Chin also rejected the argument that PH would become more appealing to Malay voters in DAP’s absence.

He said voters who prioritise Malay supremacy narratives are already aligned with PAS or Bersatu.

“With or without DAP, PH does not gain traction among that segment. If DAP were to leave, it would likely lead to the collapse of PH,” he added.

Tensions between DAP and Umno has almost reached a boiling point after several leaders from DAP poked fun at former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s failure to obtain a house arrest ordee from the Kuala Lumpur High Court recently.

Umno retaliated with its Selangor chapter submitting a memorandum of protest in front of the office of Puchong Member of Parliament, Yeo Bee Yin to condemn the representative's statements and social media posts which were allegedly rude, cynical and were politically provocative.

Yeoh was reported to have uploaded a post believed to be referring to the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision rejecting Najib’s judicial review application regarding the Royal Addendum which aimed to allow him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

In the post, Yeoh reportedly wrote: “Another reason to celebrate the end of the year.”

The post was uploaded hours after High Court Judge Alice Loke Yee Ching ruled that the Addendum was never discussed or decided at the 61st Pardons Board Meeting which convened on January 29, 2024.

The memorandum stated strong objection to Yeoh’s statements which allegedly belittled legal issues involving Najib, in addition to tarnishing political harmony in the Unity Government.

Selangor UMNO Youth chief, Datuk Mohd Imran Tamrin said, as a member of Parliament and leader in the government, such actions are deemed irresponsible and contrary to the ethics of leadership and the spirit of unity that are often preached.

“We strongly object to statements that are sarcastic and seem to celebrate the hardships of other parties, especially involving the judicial process,” he said.

Echoing the importance of DAP’s electoral machinery, Dr Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara pointed to the 15th General Election (GE15) results, noting that many PKR and Amanah candidates won their seats with strong support from DAP voters.

“Based on the 2022 election results, PKR and Amanah depend on DAP’s support. In this sense, PH — particularly PKR and Amanah — needs DAP,” he said.

However, Azmi said a DAP exit could open up a different political dynamic, particularly for Barisan Nasional (BN).

He argued that if DAP were no longer part of PH, Chinese voters would likely need to be courted by BN through parties such as MCA and MIC.

From UMNO’s perspective, he added, a PH without DAP could simplify negotiations on seat allocations due to fewer overlaps compared with negotiations involving PAS and Bersatu.

“In such a scenario, PH and BN could find it easier to negotiate seat distribution because there would be less overlap,” Azmi said.

Nevertheless, he cautioned that the strongest political arrangement, particularly in terms of consolidating Malay voters, would ideally include Perikatan Nasional (PN).

“A broader arrangement that includes PN would be stronger from the standpoint of Malay voter support,” he added. – December 25, 2025

PAS man urges Bersatu to act against five Perlis reps

PAS man urges Bersatu to act against five Perlis reps


Published: Dec 25, 2025 6:35 PM
Updated: 9:47 PM



A PAS member has urged Bersatu to take firm and immediate action against five of its Perlis assemblypersons accused of signing statutory declarations (SDs) to withdraw support for the state menteri besar.

In a statement today, PAS central information committee member Nurul Islam Yusoff said the Perlis political crisis began after reports emerged that eight state assemblypersons - comprising five from Bersatu and three from PAS - no longer backed Menteri Besar Shukri Ramli.

He pointed out that PAS had summoned its three assemblypersons - Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) - who then admitted to signing the SDs.

“Based on their own admissions, PAS took disciplinary action, and their memberships were terminated immediately under Clause 15A of the PAS Constitution.

“Once their memberships were terminated, their seats were automatically vacated in accordance with Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis state constitution,” Nurul Islam (above) said.

Earlier today, Berita Harian quoted Fakhrul as defending his actions along with the two others.

“Our actions are right in our judgment and wrong for those with different views.

“What is certain is that the MB’s action has indeed weakened PAS in Perlis. He must be changed.

“Wait until the new menteri besar is appointed, then we will list them,” he said without elaborating.

Bintong assemblyperson Fakhrul Anwar Ismail


‘Act decisively’

Nurul Islam further said that Bersatu should similarly summon its five assembly members to determine whether they had signed the SDs.

“If they did not, Bersatu should immediately issue a statement declaring that its assembly members never signed any SDs, continue to support the leadership of Shukri, and will defend the Perlis state government,” he said.

However, he added that if the five did sign the SDs, Bersatu must act decisively, as PAS had done.

He pointed out that Bersatu had previously expelled six of its MPs and one assemblyperson, and in the latter case had written to the Kelantan state assembly speaker to vacate the Nenggiri seat.

The six Bersatu MPs who pledged support for Anwar Ibrahim


“Why can’t the same be done in the Perlis case?” he asked.

Nurul Islam described the actions of the five Bersatu assemblypersons as a clear attempt to bring down the Perikatan Nasional-led Perlis government, calling it an act of sabotage against the PAS menteri besar.

“If Bersatu fails to act, it will send the wrong signal and be seen as undermining unity within PN,” he said, adding that such inaction would reflect weakness in Bersatu’s leadership and discipline.

Some DAP leaders want Umno out of govt, says Puad

FMT:

Some DAP leaders want Umno out of govt, says Puad

Puad Zarkashi says these DAP leaders see Umno as an obstruction to their greater agenda of 'making Malaysia a liberal nation'

Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi claimed that some DAP leaders were trying to provoke Umno members into urging the party to quit the unity government.

PETALING JAYA: Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi claims that some DAP leaders want his party out of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

Puad said this was why some of them were trying to provoke Umno members into urging the party to “pull the plug” on the unity government, referring to the reaction of DAP leaders to the High Court’s dismissal of Najib Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his six-year jail sentence under house arrest.

“These DAP leaders see Umno as an obstruction in the Cabinet to their greater agenda of making Malaysia a liberal nation.

“These leaders want Umno to voluntarily leave the government so that DAP isn’t perceived as the bad guy. And they’re not worried because the government won’t fall if Umno leaves,” he said in a Facebook post.

The Rengit assemblyman said this is why the likes of Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin and former Damansara MP Tony Pua were unlikely to apologise for “celebrating” the High Court’s decision on Najib’s house arrest bid.

Yeo and Pua drew sharp rebukes from a myriad of Umno leaders, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, for their celebratory social media posts on the High Court’s verdict.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki described Yeo’s remarks as “very rude and inhumane”, and said it might be time for Umno to review its cooperation with “those who did not appreciate the party’s contributions”.

The duo’s reaction also drew rebukes from leaders from PKR and Amanah, as well as DAP’s former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.

Mohd Shukri Ramli resigns as Perlis menteri besar over health reasons

Mohd Shukri Ramli resigns as Perlis menteri besar over health reasons



Mohd Shukri Ramli said he had informed the Ruler of Perlis of his decision to resign due to health reasons. — Picture via Facebook/Mohd Shukri Ramli

Thursday, 25 Dec 2025 6:34 PM MYT


KANGAR, Dec 25 — Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli today tendered his resignation as the menteri besar of Perlis due to health factors.

At a press conference held at the menteri besar’s official residence here, Mohd Shukri said he had presented his resignation letter to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, this afternoon.

In relation to this, he said that the resignation would take effect upon receiving the consent of Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

“I hereby leave it entirely to the wisdom of His Royal Highness Tuanku to consider my decision,” he said.

The Sanglang assemblyman also expressed his deepest gratitude to all state government administrative staff and the people of the state for the excellent cooperation provided throughout his administration as menteri besar. — Bernama

MORE TO COME

***

Told to podah, kuai kuai go, wakakaka

F-35 Hits New Low: 8th Pentagon Audit Failure Tied To Stealth Jet’s 238-Day Delays & Unaccounted Spares

Thursday, December 25, 2025


F-35 Hits New Low: 8th Pentagon Audit Failure Tied To Stealth Jet’s 238-Day Delays & Unaccounted Spares

By Prakash Nanda
-December 24, 2025


The mandarins at Lockheed Martin may not celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve with traditional fervor now that its much celebrated F-35 fighter aircraft has failed again to impress the financial auditors of the U.S Department of Defense (now Department of War under the Trump Administration), who have released their latest report last week (December 19).

This comes three months after the U.S. Government Accounts Office (GAO), in its report, made public on September 03, found out how the F-35 was struggling with reliability, costs, and political baggage, and how the nations across Europe and Asia, as a result, were turning to alternate proven, battle-tested platforms like the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafael and Gripen, apart from investing in their collective efforts to develop new fighters like the ambitious Future Combat Air System (FCAS with Germany, France and Spain as partners) and the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP with the UK, Japan and Italy as participants).

Apparently, the GAO’s September report had found that most F-35s delivered in 2023 by contractor Lockheed Martin and engine maker Pratt & Whitney were late, arriving an average of 61 days behind schedule.

In 2024, the problem worsened markedly: every F-35 delivered was late, with an average delay of 238 days.

The report attributed the bulk of the delays to the Technology Refresh 3, or TR-3 — a suite of hardware and software upgrades that form the foundation of the $2 billion “Block 4 modernization” effort. That program is also now expected to cost about $6 billion more than planned and be finished at least five years later than initially projected.

The GAO report said that the US Department of Defense has paid millions of dollars in incentive fees to contractors to improve on-time delivery.

“However, the structure of on-time delivery incentives allowed the contractor to deliver aircraft up to 60 days late and still earn some of the fee,” the watchdog agency said.


The GAO report made it clear that the F-35’s acquisition costs, including development and procurement, have grown to more than $485 billion as of December 2023. That’s a nearly 10% increase from the December 2022 estimate of $442 billion, and more than double its original baseline cost from 2001.

Those costs are also $89.5 billion higher than projected in 2012. In fact, the F-35’s lifetime cost, including sustainment costs, is now more than $2 trillion.



It is against this background that last week’s financial audit conclusion, failing the Pentagon for the eighth consecutive year (since the U.S. Congress mandated annual reviews beginning in 2018), is all the more noteworthy.

Among 26 material weaknesses and two significant deficiencies in the department’s controls for financial reporting in fiscal 2025 that the report identified, the one on the F-35 “Joint Strike Fighter Program) was striking.

According to the report, the department did not report the program’s assets in the global spares pool, resulting in “a misstatement.”


It said, “Because the DoD is unable to provide or obtain accurate and reliable data to verify the existence, completeness, or value of its Global Spares Pool assets for the Joint Strike Fighter(JSF) Program, we could not quantify the material misstatement in the DoD’s assets on the Agency-Wide Financial Statements”. This resulted in “a material misstatement on the Agency-Wide Financial Statements”, it added.

It may be noted that the JSF program is a joint effort among nine countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Denmark, Norway), each planning to purchase a certain number of aircraft from the program.

In July 2019, the United States removed Turkey from the list of allies after its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system. Turkey had initially planned to buy approximately 100 JSFs through the program.


The JSF program is managed by a Joint Program Office (JPO) of more than 2,200 personnel worldwide for international partners and foreign military sales customers.


The JPO oversees development of three different variants: the F-35A for the Air Force, the F-35B for the Marine Corps, and the F-35C for the Navy and Marine Corps.

And it is the JPO that is upgrading the aircraft in order to remain relevant against future threats, such as advanced fighter aircraft, uncrewed aircraft, or long-range surface-to-air missiles.

However, reports suggest that the JSF program has been slow due to a combination of its immense technological complexity, the goal of producing three highly distinct aircraft variants from a single design, significant supply chain and manufacturing issues, and persistent software development problems.

It is said that the F-35 is one of the most technologically sophisticated weapons platforms ever developed, pushing the boundaries of engineering with integrated stealth technology, advanced sensors, and complex avionics. Integrating these numerous new systems requires years of prototyping, simulation, and iterative testing.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (3L) and Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey (3R) stand in front of an Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet as they talk with Royal Navy Vice Admiral Andrew Burns (L), Commodore James Blackmore, Captain Will Blackett (R) and Air Wing Commander Captain Colin McGannity (obscured) on the flight deck of the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince Of Wales, in an undisclosed location, on April 24, 2025, following its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. (Photo by Richard Pohle / POOL / AFP)


Secondly, a core challenge has been designing a single aircraft frame to serve three distinct military needs: conventional takeoff (F-35A), short takeoff/vertical landing (F-35B for the Marine Corps), and carrier-based operations (F-35C for the Navy).

This has created immense design complexity and required compromises that introduced unique technical challenges for each variant.

Thirdly, software development has also been cited as a major obstacle. The current Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) hardware and software upgrade, which is critical for the “Block 4 capabilities, has faced repeated delays due to stability issues and supply chain problems.

Fourthly, the program has consistently faced issues with contractors delivering engines and aircraft late due to manufacturing problems and parts shortages. At times, dozens of jets have been pulled from the production line and stored due to missing components.

Fifthly, the program has now been viewed as the most expensive weapon system in U.S. history, with operating costs exceeding $1 trillion. In fact, rising costs and limited annual funding have led the Pentagon to intentionally slow production at times to better manage risks and budgets, which in turn extends the overall timeline.

All these compounding issues, resulting in significant schedule slips and cost increases, seem to have created significant openings for rival fighter jets in the global market. Saab Gripen (Sweden) has capitalized on F-35 delivery and cost concerns.

In 2025, Colombia and Thailand ordered Gripen E/F fighters over F-16s. Switzerland and Canada are also re-evaluating their commitments, considering the Gripen to fill gaps caused by F-35 budget caps and concerns about industrial benefits.

Facing strong political pressure and potential cancellation of its $9 billion order due to Trump-era tariffs and trade disputes, lawmakers in Switzerland are reportedly pushing to review the deal.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is reportedly weighing whether to proceed with its planned fleet of 88 F-35s from Lockheed Martin or diversify toward a mixed fleet that could include Saab’s Gripen E.

Following his re-election, Carney has advocated for greater “diversification” in Ottawa’s defense and industrial partnerships. That stance was underscored by a new defense and trade cooperation framework signed with the European Union in June 2025.

Dassault Rafale (France) is succeeding in finding customers, with its latest major agreement being the 26 Rafale-Marine jets for the Indian Navy.

Even the closest American partner, the UK, is debating whether to increase Eurofighter production rather than pursue further F-35 acquisitions to protect domestic industrial bases.

Countries like Spain have formally cancelled F-35 plans in favour of European alternatives (Eurofighter/FCAS). Portugal has also shown wavering interest, highlighting broader international reconsideration of the costly F-35 program amidst geopolitical and economic tensions.

Here, of course, tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have created further complications, making American jets less attractive than European options. A shift away from the U.S., particularly in Europe, is now affecting defense procurement choices.

A push for greater self-reliance and European defense cooperation is also influencing decisions, favoring joint European projects such as FCAS and GCAP.

Author and veteran journalist Prakash Nanda is Chairman of the Editorial Board of the EurAsian Times and has been commenting on politics, foreign policy, and strategic affairs for nearly three decades. He is a former National Fellow of the Indian Council for Historical Research and a recipient of the Seoul Peace Prize Scholarship.

Akmal tells PAS to revive MN, Fadhli says only after Umno leaves Harapan

Akmal tells PAS to revive MN, Fadhli says only after Umno leaves Harapan


Published: Dec 25, 2025 3:45 PM
Updated: 7:50 PM



Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has called for Perikatan Nasional to be dissolved amid fresh signs of infighting within the coalition, particularly in Perlis.

In a Facebook post, Akmal said Umno had repeatedly urged PAS to prioritise strengthening the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact shared by the two Malay-Muslim parties before the 2022 general election.

However, he said PAS instead chose to reinforce its alliance with Bersatu under PN.

“Today, you see each other’s true colours, getting stabbed in the back,” he said, referring to eight PN assemblypersons withdrawing support for Perlis Menteri Besar Shukri Ramli.

“Just dissolve PN and revive MN. How about that?”

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh


MN was formed by Umno and PAS in 2019, marking a breakthrough in consolidating Malay political power after decades of rivalry between the two parties.

However, following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government and the appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister in 2020, PAS opted to work with Bersatu to form PN - a move Umno viewed as a betrayal.

PAS had also insisted on including Bersatu in MN, which Umno opposed. The pact ended in December 2022, with Umno backing PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

PAS leaders have repeatedly floated the idea of reviving MN, although party president Abdul Hadi Awang has said this must not involve Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Separately, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said he fully agreed with Akmal’s call to revive MN, describing it as a key step towards “uniting the ummah”.

“Once Umno-BN declares that they are leaving the alliance with Harapan, we can relaunch MN,” he said in a Facebook post.

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari


He added that negotiations should resume through a committee comprising leaders from both PAS and Umno.

Different view

Perlis Harapan Youth, however, has taken a different view on the vacancy of three state assembly seats in Perlis and the state assembly speaker’s intention to hold by-elections.

Its chief, Dr Ahmad Fadhzil Mohamad, said parties in the state government - PAS and Bersatu - should set aside their egos and engage in discussions to resolve the crisis.

“Even if Harapan and BN were to win all the by-elections, should they be held, it would still not change the position of the existing state government.

“Therefore, efforts to undermine the state’s political stability on such grounds are baseless and irresponsible,” he said in a statement today.

The 15-seat Perlis state assembly initially comprised 14 PN lawmakers - nine from PAS and five from Bersatu - while PKR’s Indera Kayang assemblyperson Gan Ay Ling represents Harapan as the single opposition.