[WATCH] Azmin not the cause of Bersatu’s woes, but external elements are: Tun Faisal

[WATCH] Azmin not the cause of Bersatu’s woes, but external elements are: Tun Faisal

Bersatu information chief dismisses internal faction claims, pointing to political rivals as key beneficiaries of party instability

Fabian Peter
Updated 4 hours ago
9 November, 2025
8:00 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz has pushed back against the narrative of a party divided by competing camps loyal to deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, suggesting the rift is being amplified by ‘external elements’.

Instead of confirming a power struggle between the two party stalwarts, Tun Faisal framed the issue as a misinterpretation fuelled by rumours, which he claimed are being leveraged by those who stand to gain from Bersatu’s instability.

Speaking on the Trick Lama podcast by PodaBoom, he revealed that the notion of an “Azmin camp” was first brought to his attention by the media, who questioned him on a supposed internal divide stemming from the party’s Gopeng retreat.

“FMT also asked me, ‘Is it true that Azmin’s camp is opposing because Azmin’s camp holds the view that the Gopeng retreat was about the party election?’” Tun Faisal said.

Tun Faisal said this during the interview with hosts Datuk Zainul Arifin, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Big Boom Media, which publishes Scoop, and Big Boom Media Editor in Chief Terence Fernandez.

However, he was quick to dismiss the premise, stating that the retreat’s purpose was to empower party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to formulate a long-term succession plan, not to facilitate an immediate handover of power as has been claimed.

Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz speaking during an interview on the Trick Lama podcast, produced by PodaBoom and published by Big Boom Media. – Scoop pic November 9, 2025.


Tun Faisal argued that this misunderstanding became the basis for the stories of internal factions, a narrative he previously accused his predecessor, Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, of misrepresenting.

“That was the formula endorsed by the delegates,” he stressed, referring to the outcome of the 2024 party assembly where Hamzah was elevated to deputy president while Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu took on a vice-president role.

By deflecting the idea of a formal Azmin-led faction, Tun Faisal painted a picture of a small, disgruntled group whose influence is being exaggerated.

“The ones making a fuss, making noise, are actually just a handful. They are not many. But they are noisy,” he explained, adding that their voices were “drowned out” during the party’s general assembly by the majority who support Muhyiddin.

Tun Faisal suggested the turmoil benefits Bersatu’s political rivals, namely Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

“The biggest beneficiary, the ones who profit the most, are Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan,” he asserted. “That’s why I do not see this as an internal matter. I see external elements.”

He elaborated that a cohesive Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) pose a significant threat to the current government, giving them a motive to encourage internal dissent.

This theory, he said, explains the series of events that has destabilised the party, from public disagreements to statutory declarations (SDs) calling for a leadership change.

He pointed to conflicting narratives surrounding the 120 SDs that were supposedly signed to pressure Muhyiddin to step down. According to him, the purpose of these SDs was never clear, with different proponents offering different reasons for their existence.

“So, I think some people were not clear on what was actually happening, and some were not clear on why they were signing,” he said, concluding that the party’s troubles are not as severe as they are portrayed.

“The situation is not like that,” he insisted.

While he acknowledged that a “crisis” exists within the party concerning its leadership, he maintained that it is being contained and handled through internal processes, including the appeals board.

He urged party members to respect the decisions made at the annual general assembly and to focus their energy on winning the upcoming Sabah state election and preparing for the 16th general election.

“We need to go back to our focus and our larger purpose,” he concluded.

The Trick Lama podcast, produced by PodaBoom and published by Big Boom Media — which also runs Scoop — features in-depth political conversations with current and former policymakers. – November 9, 2025

***

Azmin is ambitious and specialises in 'Pearl Harbours' and '6 Days War', wakakaka

FAM scandal: Questions they hope you’ll stop asking

FMT:

FAM scandal: Questions they hope you’ll stop asking

11 HOURS AGO
Frankie D'Cruz

If Malaysia's football naturalisation scandal was about forged papers, the cover-up is about withheld answers

There’s still anger in the air. But you can already feel the edges of it fading: that slow Malaysian slide from outrage to resignation.

That must not happen.


The naturalisation scandal that has shamed the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) cannot be allowed to follow the familiar national script: fury, statement, committee, silence.

Because if the shame was about forged papers, the cover-up is now about withheld answers.

Public fatigue is the best ally of those who fear scrutiny. When people stop asking questions, institutions stop feeling accountable.

We’ve seen this pattern across every sport, every crisis — when attention moves on, truth is buried in “ongoing investigations”.

This time, Malaysians must resist that fatigue. Because this case isn’t only about footballers and forged documents; it’s about trust, transparency, and the price of national embarrassment.

If we stop asking, FAM wins twice: first, by escaping responsibility for the disgrace; and second, by proving that silence still works.


Don’t let the story die

When the next news cycle takes over, the story could easily fade from the national conversation. That’s what those responsible are counting on.

But this story deserves endurance. It deserves to stay in the public eye until answers, not promises, arrive.

The football community, fans, and citizens should keep pressing FAM because it has yet to provide the most basic clarifications.

We still do not know whether the seven players involved hold dual citizenships, and if they do, which countries they are tied to.

We have not been told who acted as their agents or which local officials processed the documents, nor whether those agents are still operating within the system.

It also remains unclear whether an audit is being conducted on all previously naturalised players, or even how many foreign-born players currently hold Malaysian passports.

No one has explained how much money changed hands in fees, commissions, or facilitation costs during the naturalisation process.

We have also not been told whether the seven players are still in the country, or whether they are cooperating with investigators.

The public deserves to know why the police do not believe a crime has been committed when the case revolves around forged documents, and whether any legal advice has been sought by the authorities to test that assumption.

We have not heard the side of the seven players themselves: what they were told, who handled their papers, or whether they knew their documentation was falsified.

Just as important, we don’t know what safeguards have since been put in place to prevent a repeat of this fiasco.

Has the immigration department reviewed its vetting process? Have FAM and the national registration department exchanged data to verify existing passports?

Has the home ministry stepped in to ensure all naturalisations under the sports category are legitimate?

And crucially, FAM and the government have yet to disclose the terms of reference for the two investigative committees, or confirm whether their reports will ever be made public.

Each of these questions is basic. None of them should still be unanswered.

A national embarrassment, a quiet pivot

For weeks, Malaysians were glued to the story, one that stretched from Putrajaya to Zurich.

Fifa’s verdict confirmed what many feared: forged papers had been used to naturalise players for the national team; seven players suspended for a year, FAM fined RM1.8 million; and the country’s football integrity called into question.

The backlash was immediate, emotional, and deeply personal.

Football is not just sport here, it’s sentiment, identity, and weekend ritual.

But after the storm came a subtle shift. The language turned procedural: “internal probe”, “disciplinary review”, “moving forward”.

That phrase, “moving forward”, is football’s favourite escape hatch. It’s a polite way of saying, let’s not dig too deep.

Committees and comfort

FAM announced an internal committee, and the government formed another. Names were released, but little else.

The public still doesn’t know their terms of reference. Will they audit the process or just examine files? Who will they question? And when will their reports be released, if ever?

Who will review their findings? Will anyone face disciplinary or law enforcement action if negligence or collusion is found?

It’s a familiar script: investigate, report, forget. This time, Malaysians must not let the ending be written in the same way.

FAM has said it will appeal Fifa’s ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but only after receiving the written judgment from the world governing body’s appeals committee.

That judgment, expected soon, will outline the reasoning behind the penalties and the scope for any challenge.

Until then, FAM’s position is suspended between intention and action.

But even as it prepares for Lausanne, one thing is clear: the appeal is not just legal housekeeping. It’s a test of transparency — of whether FAM will finally explain what went wrong, not just what it plans to contest.

FAM’s credibility is now on the line, not because of Fifa’s punishment, but also because of its response.

Integrity begins with clarity. If the association cannot even outline how the scandal happened, what hope is there for reform?

These are not hostile questions. They are the minimum owed to the Malaysian public.

The reckoning Malaysia needs

Football in Malaysia has always been more than a game. It’s where national pride gathers when politics divides us.

That’s why this scandal hurts so deeply. It wasn’t just about eligibility, but about authenticity.

To wear Malaysia’s colours is to represent every fan who sings the anthem and believes in the flag.

To betray that trust through falsified papers isn’t just an administrative failure, it’s a moral one.

Now, Malaysians are being told to wait for “process”. But process without transparency is just performance.

Silence as strategy

FAM’s greatest skill right now isn’t crisis management, it’s patience. It knows that in Malaysia, time erases everything.

If this story fades from the public’s mind, then the committees can report quietly, the findings can be filed discreetly, and the same people can carry on.

That’s why this humiliating episode in Malaysian sport must stay alive. Because silence isn’t recovery — it’s strategy.

When the CAS appeal is finally filed and heard, Malaysia’s name will once again echo through international headlines.

But the real test won’t be in Lausanne. It will be here, in how FAM answers, in how the government responds, and in whether Malaysians still care enough to keep the pressure on.

The outrage is still alive. Let’s not let it fade. Not this time.

Philippines evacuates nearly 1 million as super typhoon nears

FMT:

Philippines evacuates nearly 1 million as super typhoon nears

With a radius spanning nearly the whole of the Philippines, Typhoon Fung-wong is expected to bring destructive winds and heavy rain

HIMAWARI satellite imagery of super typhoon Fung-wong as it approaches the Philippines. (US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/AFP pic)

MANILA: Nearly a million people have been evacuated and floodwaters were rising in the Philippines on Sunday before Typhoon Fung-wong’s expected late-night landfall on the east coast.

The super typhoon, which comes just days after another storm ravaged the country, was working its way west with winds of 185 kph near the centre and gusts of up to 230 kph as of 11am, the state weather service said.

With a radius spanning nearly the whole of the Philippines, Fung-wong is expected to bring wind and heavy rain to broad swathes of the archipelago nation, which last week saw more than 220 people killed by Typhoon Kalmaegi.


Schools and government offices were ordered closed Monday across the main island of Luzon, including the capital Manila, where nearly 300 flights have so far been cancelled.

Catanduanes, a small island the state weather service said could take a “direct hit”, was being lashed by wind and rain early Sunday, with storm surges sending waves hurtling over streets along the coast and floodwaters rising in some areas.


“As we speak, they are feeling the impact of the typhoon, especially in Catanduanes, because the storm’s eye is closest there,” civil defence deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro said at a press briefing, adding that 916,863 people had been evacuated nationwide.

“The waves started roaring around 7am. When the waves hit the seawall, it felt like the ground was shaking,” Edson Casarino, 33, a resident of Catanduanes’ Virac town, told AFP.

“Heavy rain is pouring now, and I can hear the wind whistling.”

Video verified by AFP showed a church in the town surrounded by floodwaters that reached halfway up its entrance.


Flooding was also reported in southern Luzon’s Bicol region, Alejandro said, adding officials had anticipated water would “rise in the Bicol River basin”.

In Guinobatan, a town of about 80,000 in that region’s Albay province, verified video showed streets that had become a raging torrent of floodwaters.

Typhoon Fung-wong is expected to bring about 200 mm or more rain in many places, according to government meteorologists.

Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful due to human-driven climate change. Warmer oceans allow typhoons to strengthen rapidly, and a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, meaning heavier rainfall.


‘Strapping down the roofs’

On Saturday, Catanduanes rushed to prepare for the onslaught, with residents tying down their houses with ropes and putting weights on their roofs.

“They decided to do our tradition of strapping down the roofs with big ropes and anchoring them on the ground, so they won’t be blown away by the wind,” provincial rescue official Roberto Monterola told AFP.

In Sorsogon, a city in southern Luzon, some sought refuge in a church.

“I’m here because the waves near my house are now huge. I live near the shore, and the winds there are now very strong,” Maxine Dugan told AFP on Saturday evening.

Only days earlier, Typhoon Kalmaegi sent floodwaters rushing through the towns and cities of Cebu and Negros islands, sweeping away cars, riverside shanties and massive shipping containers.

The typhoon, the deadliest of 2025 according to disaster database EM-DAT, killed at least 224 people and left 109 missing, according to government figures updated Sunday morning.

On Saturday, rescue official Myrra Daven told AFP the approaching super typhoon had forced the suspension of search and rescue activities in Cebu, home to the majority of Kalmaegi’s deaths.

“We cannot risk the safety of our rescuers. We don’t want them to be the next casualties,” she said.

Viral video: Insp Sheila reprimanded cops accused of extortion - lawyer

 

Viral video: Insp Sheila reprimanded cops accused of extortion - lawyer

Farah Solhi
Published: Nov 8, 2025 2:44 PM
Updated: 8:56 PM



Summary

• The lawyer of suspended police officer Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar said his client was only reprimanding police officers who were allegedly attempting to extort money from a foreigner.

• She is now under investigation for allegedly obstructing public servants and insulting behaviour, with three previous charges against her still pending in court.

• A video of the confrontation between Sheila and the police officers went viral recently.

A recent viral video, of suspended police officer Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar publicly berating police officers, was just her reprimanding them for allegedly trying to extort a foreigner, said her lawyer.

M Manoharan told Malaysiakini that his client was in the vicinity when she witnessed the purported incident, prompting her to interfere.

“(There were three) police officers trying to extort money in the sum of RM200 (from a Pakistani). Sheila noticed the confrontation when she was passing by, went to the foreigner’s aid to help, reprimanded the officers, (and) assisted the foreigner to lodge a police report at the Dang Wangi police station afterwards.

“What the police (tried to do) was very serious. There is nothing wrong for Sheila to confront them and reprimand them.

“Instead of issuing summons for whatever alleged wrongdoings of the foreigner, police personnel (attempted) to extort money from the foreigner,” Manoharan said.

Recently, a video circulating on social media showed Sheila (above), clad in a black t-shirt, berating several police officers by a roadside.


Investigation against Inspector Sheila

Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus reportedly said on Thursday that the police officers have since lodged a police report against her over the incident.

He said the case is being probed under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from carrying out their duties, and Section 24 of the Minor Offences Act for insulting behaviour.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus


He claimed the officers stopped a 34-year-old Pakistani after finding he did not have a licence, and that Sheila approached them while they were attending to him.

According to Bernama, Fadil said the investigation against Sheila has been completed, and the investigation paper would be handed to the deputy public prosecutor’s office soon.

However, Manoharan told Malaysiakini that Sheila was never called to give her statement to the police.

Sheila was previously charged with seven offences, including threats, public nuisance, and insulting modesty. She was suspended from the police force.

However, she was acquitted of four charges, leaving only three pending in court. The pending cases are under Section 509 of the Penal Code for allegedly insulting a fellow police officer’s modesty, Section 506 for alleged criminal intimidation, and Section 286 for allegedly causing public nuisance.


Pakistani man lodges police report

The Pakistani national also lodged a police report, urging authorities to investigate the Nov 4 incident involving himself, his workmate, three police officers, and Sheila.

A document sighted by Malaysiakini showed that the 34-year-old man claimed he was stopped by three police officers at a traffic light near Titiwangsa Sentral while driving a Toyota Innova, with his workmate in the passenger seat.

He claimed the officers did not introduce themselves when he was stopped, nor were any name tags visible on their uniforms at the time, and that one of the officers asked him to show a Malaysian driving licence as well as both his and his workmate’s Pakistani passports.

He said that he had cooperated by showing a copy of his passport and work permit on his phone, and that the officer told him he should always carry the original documents at all times.

He then admitted his mistake, apologised, and offered to take the officers to his nearby residence.

However, he said the officers refused this and asked him to step out of his vehicle, telling him that they would issue a summons to him and his employer, as the latter “must be responsible for supervising their workers at all times.”

“What I can interpret from the conversation with the officers is that I had to pay them RM200 to ‘save’ me and my employer from being taken further action by the authorities,” the man’s report read.

He said that in panic, he spoke to his workmate, who then stepped out of the car and asked the police why they would fine their employer, saying it was illogical and that the summons should be issued to the driver if he did not have a licence.

He said the situation escalated, which was when Sheila, who happened to walk by with her two friends, saw the incident and intervened.

“She (Sheila) then started questioning them about their name tags, as it was not seen on their uniform, prompting them to put their name tags on.

“She also asked them why they were questioning me like I am a wanted suspect, which they did not give a straight answer. Soon after, the officer who questioned me ordered one of the two officers present to issue me a summons and left,” he said in the report.

Police to seek remand extension for Namewee over death of Taiwanese influencer ‘Nurse Goddess’

Police to seek remand extension for Namewee over death of Taiwanese influencer ‘Nurse Goddess’



A still from an online video shows Namewee unmasked outside a police station ahead of his surrender on November 5, as officers investigate the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh.

Sunday, 09 Nov 2025 3:36 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — Police are set to apply for a remand extension against Malaysian rapper and filmmaker Wee Meng Chee, popularly known as Namewee, as investigations continue into the death of Taiwanese social media personality Hsieh Yu-hsin at a hotel in the city last month, The New Straits Times reported.

Dang Wangi district police chief Assistant Commissioner Sazalee Adam confirmed today that the extension would be sought tomorrow, once the current remand order expires.

The case has drawn widespread attention in both Malaysia and Taiwan, following reports that Hsieh, known online as Iris Hsieh, was found dead in the bathroom of a hotel room along Jalan Conlay on October 22.

The 31-year-old influencer was said to have been staying there with Namewee, 42, who later surrendered himself to police in the early hours of November 5.


Officers subsequently secured a remand order for questioning until November 10.

Namewee’s arrest was made under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Authorities have not disclosed whether any foul play has been confirmed pending the completion of toxicology and post-mortem reports, which could take up to three months.


Namewee, known for his provocative lyrics and satirical takes on Malaysian politics and culture, has courted controversy throughout his career — including previous run-ins with authorities over alleged sedition and public obscenity.

Hsieh, who gained a following in Taiwan for her travel and lifestyle content, had been visiting Malaysia for work engagements prior to her death.

The case has sparked a wave of speculation online, prompting police to urge the public to avoid spreading unverified information.

DAP sec-gen flags possible double polls, tells Penang to plan early and stay sharp

DAP sec-gen flags possible double polls, tells Penang to plan early and stay sharp



DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said 2026 is a critical year as several state assemblies were due to expire, and the prime minister might advise the King to dissolve Parliament early. — File picture by KE Ooi

Sunday, 09 Nov 2025 5:06 PM MYT


BUKIT MERTAJAM, Nov 9 — The Penang DAP has been reminded not to be complacent but to begin early preparations to face the possibility that the 16th general election (GE16) and state elections are called simultaneously.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said next year is expected to be a critical period as the legislative assemblies of several states, such as Johor, Melaka and Sarawak would reach the end of their terms.

“If the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) decides to hold GE16 simultaneously with the states, Parliament might need to be dissolved early.

“I didn’t say it will happen, but my duty is to remind the Penang leadership to be prepared to face any possibility, even though the state’s term is still long,” he said when officiating the Penang DAP annual convention attended by 696 delegates here today.


He explained that unlike the previous general election when Pakatan Harapan-led states held elections separately, the situation has changed as the federal and state governments were under the same administration, thus requiring a more coordinated political strategy.

Loke also stressed that unity and party discipline remained vital to maintaining public trust towards DAP in Penang.

“We are in a comfortable situation with a good record of administration, but don’t be complacent.


“Voters hate it the most if the party is not united. Penang DAP’s strength relies on unity,” he added.

He also urged all party members to respect last year’s party elections and to support Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim, who replaced Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow after he chose not to contest.

The Pakatan Harapan-Barisan National pact won 29 out of 40 seats contested in the Penang state election in 2023. — Bernama

OPINION | Good Riddance to ‘Muslim Choice’: One Label Too Many

OPINION | Good Riddance to ‘Muslim Choice’: One Label Too Many


8 Nov 2025 • 3:00 PM MYT


Mihar Dias
A behaviourist by training, a consultant and executive coach by profession

https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/755254/berita/nasional/mfw-mohon-maaf-isu-muslim-choice

By Mihar Dias November 2025


At last, sanity prevails. The dissolution of Muslim Friendly Watch (MFW) and its ill-conceived “Muslim Choice” initiative is a welcome end to what could have become another layer of unnecessary confusion in an already crowded space of religious certification.


For years, Malaysia’s halal ecosystem — anchored by JAKIM — has stood as one of the most respected and stringent systems in the world. It is internationally recognised, meticulously regulated, and trusted by Muslim consumers across continents. So why anyone thought it wise to create a parallel label called “Muslim Choice” remains baffling.


The name alone carried an air of self-righteousness — as though those not bearing the label were somehow less Muslim-friendly or not worthy of Muslim patronage. That was where the danger lay. It implied a moral hierarchy where one didn’t exist. Worse, it risked turning the halal space into a marketplace of piety, where private groups, with no religious authority, could dish out “Muslim-approved” badges like supermarket promotions.


Let's emphasise that Halal is not a marketing gimmick. It is a legal, religious, and social trust backed by a proper certification process that examines every stage — from sourcing to storage, from slaughter to sale.


When private groups start creating alternative labels, they dilute this trust and undermine the authority of the very system that guarantees it.


To its credit, MFW finally acknowledged its mistake. Its dissolution statement — citing obedience to religious authorities and the need to safeguard the good name of Islam — was the right tone and a responsible move. The group’s apology to JAKIM and the public shows a degree of humility that should be commended. Not everyone in this country has the grace to admit when they’ve crossed a line.


The Minister for Religious Affairs and JAKIM acted swiftly and decisively. Their firm stance sends a clear message: religious certification is not a playground for private branding.


There is no need for competing seals, catchy logos, or self-declared endorsements. In matters of faith, clarity is mercy.


At a time when consumers are already overwhelmed by labels — “organic”, “eco”, “gluten-free”, “low GI”, “vegan-friendly” — the last thing we need is another label that confuses the faithful.


The halal logo from JAKIM is sufficient. It carries legal weight, religious integrity, and public confidence.


So yes, good riddance to “Muslim Choice.” It was not a good choice to begin with.


Let this episode remind all well-meaning NGOs that when it comes to Islam, sincerity must be matched with discipline — and good intentions are no substitute for proper authority.



In the end, sticking to the official Halal certification from JAKIM isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s the only choice that truly matters.

‘I stand by my principles’: Ewon quits Cabinet over federal stance on Sabah’s 40pc entitlement

‘I stand by my principles’: Ewon quits Cabinet over federal stance on Sabah’s 40pc entitlement



Datuk Ewon Benedick speaks at a previous event in Kota Kinabalu. The Upko president announced his resignation from the federal Cabinet over the government’s stance on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 09 Nov 2025 8:25 AM MYT


KOTA KINABALU, Nov 9 — After weeks of speculation, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president Datuk Ewon Benedick has announced his resignation from the federal Cabinet, citing what he described as the Attorney General’s Chambers’ (AGC) disregard for Sabah’s constitutional right to 40 per cent of federal revenue derived from the state.

In an official statement on social media late last night, Ewon said he made the decision after reviewing the written judgment by Kota Kinabalu High Court Judge Datuk Celestina Stuel Galid on the judicial review filed by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) over the federal government’s failure to pay the sum owed to Sabah.

“The position and views expressed by the AGC disregarded the historical foundation of Malaysia’s formation — including the terms and conditions under which Sabah agreed to form the Federation of Malaysia.

“I cannot agree with the position and interpretation taken by the AGC, who serves as the legal adviser to the prime minister and the federal government.


“It would therefore be highly improper for me to continue serving in the Federal Cabinet given the AGC’s position, which I believe will remain unchanged,” he said.

Ewon said he had been part of a group of Pakatan Harapan (PH) elected representatives who filed an originating summons against the federal and Sabah governments in June 2022 over the 40 per cent issue, which was later withdrawn in September 2023 after PH formed the federal government.

However, Ewon — who is now Sabah PH chairman — said he had long been at odds with the federal government’s approach to Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement throughout his three years serving in the Cabinet as entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister.


He said he had been clear from the start that he would not support any decision contradicting the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling on October 17 and was prepared to resign if that happened.

“I believe the AGC will advise the prime minister and the Federal Cabinet, but based on the stance it took in court — as reflected in the written judgment — I do not expect any new advice to emerge.

“For that reason, I stand firm on my principles, as stated in the Upko Constitution — to continue fighting for the implementation of MA63 and Sabah’s constitutional rights.

“I maintain my position that the AGC should not file an appeal but instead begin negotiations with the Sabah government to implement the 40 per cent entitlement.

“As Upko president, I want to see Sabah’s rights implemented — that principle is the very reason I joined politics,” he added.

Ewon said he would formally notify Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of his resignation and would convene a special meeting of Upko’s supreme council next week to discuss the party’s “Sabah First” agenda, which he said would continue to guide its direction.

He also thanked the prime minister for the opportunity to serve in the Cabinet, saying it had provided him with “a platform to champion Sabah’s rights.”

Norway urged to tap vast wealth to back major Ukraine loan as critics decry ‘war profiteer’ windfall

Norway urged to tap vast wealth to back major Ukraine loan as critics decry ‘war profiteer’ windfall



Ukrainian recruits train with a 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun at an undisclosed location, in this photograph released by the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 65th Mechanized Brigade on Nov 5, 2025, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. — AFP pic

Sunday, 09 Nov 2025 7:00 AM MYT


OSLO, Nov 9 — Norway has grown vastly richer after overtaking Russia as Europe’s main gas supplier following the invasion of Ukraine, sparking calls in Oslo for the Scandinavian nation to use its colossal sovereign wealth fund to help Kyiv.

With some in Norway saying their country’s windfall makes it a “war profiteer”, several Norwegian political parties, including allies of the Labour government, are pushing for Oslo to help lift a main obstacle blocking Europe from using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine financially.


Western nations have frozen billions in Russian assets over Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including approximately 210 billion euros (US$243 billion) held in Europe.

Ukraine’s European allies have been using interest from those funds to support Kyiv, but are keen to go further by tapping the funds themselves—a proposal some warn carries huge risks, including spooking other foreign nations into pulling their money from the European Union.


That is where Norway comes in.


“It is absolutely essential for Europe’s security that Russia does not win its illegal war of aggression,” the head of Norway’s small opposition Liberal Party, Guri Melby, told AFP.

“Norway has the financial means to guarantee a loan that would enable Ukraine to better defend itself against Russia, and I think we should do it,” she said.


Backing for mega-loan

The plan goes like this.

At a time when many EU member states have strained public finances, the European Commission plans to use part of the frozen Russian assets to give Ukraine a 140-billion-euro loan, interest free, to finance its budgetary and military support over the next two years.

But Belgium, home to the international deposit organisation Euroclear, which holds the bulk of the frozen assets, has demanded strict guarantees from other EU countries in order to share the risks in the event, for example, that Russia were to regain possession of its assets.

Some heavily indebted countries, such as France, would have a hard time agreeing to such a demand.

Arguing that Norway, Western Europe’s biggest oil and gas producer, made an extra 109 billion euros from soaring gas prices after Russia’s invasion, two Norwegian economists have suggested their country should step up even though it is not an EU member.

“By hoarding these profits, Norway’s government turned the country into a war profiteer,” the duo, Havard Halland and Knut Anton Mork, wrote in an op-ed last month.

Thanks to its AAA credit rating—the highest awarded by rating agencies—and its sovereign wealth fund, the world’s biggest, valued at around US$2.1 trillion, Norway “could singlehandedly take on the contingent liability associated with fresh Ukrainian debt, and without a dent to its credit rating”, they said.

The idea resonated with some European political leaders.

“That would be great,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during an EU summit in Copenhagen last month.

Norway’s government, which has already earmarked civil and military aid of more than 275 billion kroner (US$27.4 billion) to Kyiv over the 2023-2030 period, is proceeding cautiously.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and continuing our dialogue with the European Union,” said finance ministry state secretary Ellen Reitan.

Moral obligation

According to AFP’s sources, Norway is in talks with Brussels but has no current plans to provide a single-handed safety net to Kyiv.

Norway’s Greens Party is considering making the issue one of its demands in upcoming budget negotiations with the government, which needs the Greens’ support, among others, to pass its 2026 budget bill.

“Norway is the only country in Europe that has so much money set aside and can allocate such a sum without needing to take on debt or raise taxes,” Greens leader Arild Hermstad told AFP.

“And besides, we have made so much money as a result of this war that it is simply a moral obligation.” — AFP

US diplomats raised red flags over Israel’s Gaza tactics, but Trump officials looked the other way

US diplomats raised red flags over Israel’s Gaza tactics, but Trump officials looked the other way



Benjamin Netanyahu (right) described US President Donald Trump as ‘the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House’ in a video statement in English on October 13, 2025. — Reuters file pic

Saturday, 08 Nov 2025 9:00 PM MYT

• State Department lawyers raised concerns about Israel’s military conduct
• Biden administration debated US complicity if Israel faced war crimes charges
• US maintained support for Israel despite internal war crimes concerns
• Trump administration showed little interest in Israeli war crimes allegations, former officials say

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 — The US gathered intelligence last year that Israel’s military lawyers warned there was evidence that could support war crimes charges against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza – operations reliant on American-supplied weapons, five former US officials said.

The previously unreported intelligence, described by the former officials as among the most startling shared with top US policymakers during the war, pointed to doubts within the Israeli military about the legality of its tactics that contrasted sharply with Israel’s public stance defending its actions.

Two of the former US officials said the material was not broadly circulated within the US government until late in the Biden administration, when it was disseminated more widely ahead of a congressional briefing in December 2024.

The intelligence deepened concerns in Washington over Israel’s conduct in a war it said was necessary to eliminate Palestinian Hamas fighters embedded in civilian infrastructure – the same group whose October 7, 2023, attack on Israel sparked the conflict. There were concerns Israel was intentionally targeting civilians and humanitarian workers, a potential war crime which Israel has strongly denied.


US officials expressed alarm at the findings, particularly as the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza raised concerns that Israel’s operations might breach international legal standards on acceptable collateral damage.


The former US officials Reuters spoke to did not provide details on what evidence – such as specific wartime incidents – had caused concerns among Israel’s military lawyers.

Israel has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians during a two-year military campaign, say Gaza health officials. Israel’s military has said at least 20,000 of the fatalities were combatants.


Reuters spoke to nine former US officials in then-President Joe Biden’s administration, including six who had direct knowledge of the intelligence and the subsequent debate within the US government. All spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Reports of internal US government dissent over Israel’s Gaza campaign emerged during Biden’s presidency. This account – based on detailed recollections from those involved – offers a fuller picture of the debate’s intensity in the administration’s final weeks, which ended with President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, declined to comment when asked for a response about the US intelligence and the internal Biden administration debate about it. Neither the Israeli prime minister’s office nor the Israeli military spokesperson immediately responded to requests for comment.

Debate intensified in final days of Biden term

The intelligence prompted an interagency meeting at the National Security Council where officials and lawyers debated how and whether to respond to the new findings.

A US finding that Israel was committing war crimes would have required, under US law, blocking future arms shipments and ending intelligence sharing with Israel. Israel’s intelligence services have worked closely with the US for decades and provide critical information, in particular, about events occurring in the Middle East.

Biden administration conversations in December included officials from across the government, including the State Department, the Pentagon, the intelligence community and the White House.

Biden was also briefed on the matter by his national security advisers.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “We do not comment on intelligence matters,” a State Department spokesperson said in response to emailed questions about Reuters reporting.

The American debate about whether the Israelis had committed war crimes in Gaza ended when lawyers from across the US government determined that it was still legal for the US to continue supporting Israel with weapons and intelligence because the US had not gathered its own evidence that Israel was violating the law of armed conflict, according to three former US officials.

They reasoned that the intelligence and evidence gathered by the US itself did not prove the Israelis had intentionally killed civilians and humanitarians or blocked aid, a key factor in legal liability.

Some senior Biden administration officials feared that a formal US finding of Israeli war crimes would force Washington to cut off arms and intelligence support – a move they worried could embolden Hamas, delay ceasefire negotiations, and shift the political narrative in favor of the militant group. Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 in its October 7, 2023, attack, prompting Israel’s military response.

The decision to stay the course exasperated some of those involved who believed that the Biden administration should have been more forceful in calling out Israel’s alleged abuses and the US role in enabling them, said former US officials.

President Trump and his officials were briefed by Biden’s team on the intelligence but showed little interest in the subject after they took over in January and began siding more powerfully with the Israelis, said the former US officials.

State Department lawyers repeatedly raised concerns

Even before the US gathered war crimes intelligence from within the Israeli military, lawyers at the State Department, which oversees legal assessments of foreign military conduct, repeatedly raised concerns with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel might be committing war crimes, according to five former US officials.

As early as December 2023, lawyers from the State Department’s legal bureau told Blinken in meetings that they believed that Israel’s military conduct in Gaza likely amounted to violations of international humanitarian law and potentially war crimes, two of the US officials said.

That sentiment was largely reflected in a US government report produced during the Biden administration in May 2024, when Washington said Israel might have violated international humanitarian law using US-supplied weapons during its military operation in Gaza.

The report stopped short of a definitive assessment, citing the fog of war.

“What I can say is that the Biden administration constantly reviewed Israel’s adherence to the laws of armed conflict, as well as the requirements of our own laws,” Blinken said through a spokesperson for this story.

International concerns about possible war crimes

Last November the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

Hamas has since confirmed Israel killed Deif.

Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza.

Hamas leaders have dismissed allegations that they committed war crimes.

Among the issues debated by US officials in the final weeks of the Biden administration was whether the government would be complicit if Israeli officials were to face charges in an international tribunal, said people familiar with this debate.

Israel, which is fighting a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, rejects genocide allegations as politically motivated and says that its military campaign targets Hamas, not Gaza’s civilian population. It says it takes steps to minimize civilian harm and says Hamas fighters embed among civilians.

US officials publicly defended Israel but also privately debated the issue in light of intelligence reports, and they became a point of political vulnerability for Democrats. Biden and later Vice President Kamala Harris waged ultimately unsuccessful presidential campaigns.

Biden did not respond to a request for comment. — Reuters

***

The MOST powerful nation in the world yet the MOST idiotic in its obsessive way it blindly defends Israel and being led by its nose hither thither by the Shailok State.

Amanah delegate questions absence of allies’ leaders at national convention this year

Amanah delegate questions absence of allies’ leaders at national convention this year



Amanah Perak deputy youth chief Ahmad Munzirie Ahmad Kabir noted that the 10-year-old party has been holding its national conventions annually, but pointed out the alleged absence of such leaders today. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Saturday, 08 Nov 2025 6:40 PM MYT


SHAH ALAM, Nov 8 — Parti Amanah Negara’s 10th national convention this year saw a noticeable lack of leaders from its political allies, one of its delegates highlighted today.

Amanah Perak deputy youth chief Ahmad Munzirie Ahmad Kabir noted that the 10-year-old party has been holding its national conventions annually, but pointed out the alleged absence of such leaders today.

“Today there are no leaders from other parties who attended,” he said on stage during the Amanah National Convention 2025, drawing thumps on tables from other delegates.


“This is not a state convention, this is not a division meeting, this is Amanah’s national convention,” he said.

While acknowledging that the Sabah state election is coming up soon, he said Amanah’s allies should still attend to hear party president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu’s speech at the national convention.

“There are no leaders who attended, none,” he said, adding that he hoped this would not be repeated in the future.


Ahmad Munzirie said this as a delegate debating Mohamad’s speech.

Earlier today, Amanah secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil, in his welcoming speech, thanked allies PKR, DAP and Umno for sending representatives despite preparations for the upcoming Sabah state election.

Campaigning for the Sabah state election will run from November 15 to November 28, with polling day on November 29.

At Amanah’s 2023 national convention, multiple leaders from its allies attended, including DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke; Umno’s Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir; PKR’s Fadhlina Sidek, Fahmi Fadzil and Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari; and Parti Bangsa Malaysia’s Datuk Larry Sng.

Anwar to announce decision on 40pc appeal soon, says Loke as DAP backs Sabah’s court win

Anwar to announce decision on 40pc appeal soon, says Loke as DAP backs Sabah’s court win



Loke said that the prime minister will decide on the federal government’s next move over Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement case. — Bernama pic

Saturday, 08 Nov 2025 3:45 PM MYT


KOTA KINABALU, Nov 8 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke today said the party will leave it to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to announce the federal government’s decision on whether to appeal the High Court ruling on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement.

He said the issue was discussed at the Cabinet meeting and that the national DAP’s position mirrors that of the state — that due process must take place.

“You will know the answer before nomination day. The answer will be unveiled in the next few days. A clear position will be made.

“The prime minister will be here tomorrow. I am sure he will touch on this subject very clearly,” he said when speaking to reporters today.


Loke said DAP’s national leadership had thoroughly discussed the matter at its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting last week, where it heard and adopted Sabah DAP’s sentiment that the federal government should honour the court’s decision.

“The court ruling says the federal and state governments must comply with the court’s ruling and begin negotiations within 180 days, and due process must now take place,” he said.

“We fully respect the court decision. The 180-day negotiation process should be expedited,” he said, adding that DAP had also shown solidarity with the Sabah Law Society (SLS) in its legal pursuit of the matter.


Loke also took a swipe at political rivals who have accused the federal government of neglecting Sabah’s rights, saying the 40 per cent entitlement issue is not new and should have been reviewed every five years since 1974.

“Those who talk big today should ask themselves — why didn’t they pursue this when they were in power? The court ruling is clear that a review must take place every five years. But this was never done by past governments. So this is also a failure of previous administrations.

“As the federal government, we are committed to giving back fairness to Sabah. But at the same time, those who are pointing fingers now should take responsibility for their past inaction,” he said.

Loke also dismissed claims that the government had failed to uphold Sabah’s rights, pointing out that the federal administration has already established a joint committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and launched various development initiatives for the state.

“There is no issue of us not honouring what should be done. We have been working hard to bring development to Sabah — way before the court decision,” he said, citing increased flight routes, infrastructure works and other ongoing projects.

Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Ginger Phoong said support for SLS had been consistent from the start, even before the party entered the federal government.

“In 2022, when we were still in the opposition, we supported SLS in filing the case. After we formed the federal government in 2023, we gave way for the process to take place,” he said.

OPINION | When Half-Baked Educators Serve Half-Baked Ideas

OPINION | When Half-Baked Educators Serve Half-Baked Ideas


8 Nov 2025 • 2:00 PM MYT


Fa Abdul
FA ABDUL is a former columnist of Malaysiakini & Free Malaysia Today (FMT)

Photo by Amar Syazwan Rosman on Unsplash


Only in Malaysia can you wake up, scroll TikTok, and discover that the Romans apparently learned how to build ships from the Malays.


Yes, according to Associate Professor Solehah Yaacob from IIUM, our ancestors didn’t just sail the seas, they taught Caesar how to float. The lecture went viral, and Malaysians did what we do best - comment section comedy. One wrote, “Did the Romans walk to the Malay Peninsula and return by sampan?” Another added, “Next week, she’ll say Malays built the pyramids.”


Now, let’s be clear - I love celebrating our history. We do have a proud maritime past. Our ancestors sailed far and wide before many others even figured out what a compass was. But saying the Romans learned from us? That’s not heritage - that’s historical fan fiction.


And here’s the problem: Solehah isn’t even a maritime historian. She teaches Arabic linguistics. That’s like a dentist giving a TED Talk on black holes. Just because you can speak doesn’t mean you should lecture.


If she truly believes what she’s saying, her credibility to educate students should be questioned. But if she doesn’t - and is just talking from her arse for attention - her credibility should still be questioned. Either way, how is this okay?


Worse still, this isn’t her first rodeo. Earlier, she claimed that the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Khadijah, was from the “Malay realm.” Before that, she hinted that ancient Malays had supernatural abilities - including the ability to fly. (Yes, fly. Not MAS, not AirAsia. Fly.)


And yet, here she is again, confidently dropping another “revelation” like she’s narrating a historical Marvel movie. Which makes me wonder: Why is this clown still teaching our students?


Are we not worried about what she might be saying in closed-door lectures - without cameras, without public fact-checking, without accountability? This is someone who seems obsessed with crediting every major human achievement to the Malays. That’s not national pride; that’s being delusional. And frankly, I don’t want people like that anywhere near our education system. Do you?


If this is the kind of “knowledge” being served, then we’re raising a generation of students on half-baked ideas from half-baked lecturers. We don’t need educators chasing viral fame or ethnic glorification. We need teachers grounded in facts, research, and integrity.


The Education Ministry must draw the line - not to silence lecturers, but to protect students. Let academics dream big, but demand evidence when those dreams turn into “lectures.” Because when the classroom becomes a stage for fantasy, the only thing that sinks faster than a Roman ship is our faith in the education system.

al Jazeera:

Gaza ‘reduced to dust’ as world commits in Doha to eradicate poverty

Gaza’s devastation starkly contrasts global promises to ‘leave no one behind’ at the recently concluded Second World Summit for Social Development.

A displaced Palestinian fixes a tent in Gaza City, November 4, 2025 [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]

By Usaid Siddiqui

Published On 7 Nov 20257 Nov 2025

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For Gaza resident Yassir Shaheen, nights were the hardest part of living through Israel’s devastating two-year war on the enclave.

“Many nights, we lay awake, our lips dry, our hearts pounding in fear, feeling as though the sky itself was collapsing on us,” he told Al Jazeera.

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The Strip lies in tatters – its economy destroyed, infrastructure in ruins, and its people displaced, as a fragile US-brokered truce barely holds. More than 68,000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, with some 10,000 still buried under the rubble, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

As world leaders in the Qatari capital Doha pledged this week to “leave no one behind” at the United Nations Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD), the commitments stood in stark contrast to the reality in Gaza, where access to basic needs remains a luxury.

“Even bread can feel out of reach,” Shaheen, the team lead for the charity Humanity First UK in Gaza, revealed.

Food distribution by Humanity First UK in Gaza [Courtesy of Humanity First UK]

While prices have fallen compared with the worst periods of the war, they are still six to 10 times higher, Shaheen said.

On Thursday, Gaza’s Government Media Office said Israel has only allowed 4,453 trucks to enter, barely a quarter of what was supposed to enter daily according to the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10.

Meanwhile, infrastructure in the enclave has been almost completely destroyed, Shaheen lamented, with only rubble remaining “where streets and buildings once stood”.

According to UN estimates, 92 percent of all residential buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since Israel’s war on the enclave began on October 7, 2023, producing between 55-60 million tonnes of rubble.

“Schools, clinics, shops, homes … everything that allowed life to function has been reduced to dust,” he said

Development ‘impossible’ amid lack of rights

At the WSSD this week, which concluded on Thursday, member states repledged commitments made at the 1995 summit in Copenhagen, including the eradication of poverty, providing “decent” work, social integration, education and healthcare to the world’s most vulnerable populations.

The resulting Doha Political Declaration, adopted at the end of the summit, was a “booster shot for development”, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Nevertheless, global declarations such as the WSSD do little in the face of the dire situation in Gaza, according to Rohan Talbot, director of advocacy at the UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians.

“Despite the ceasefire, the situation in the health sector remains catastrophic, with severe shortages of medical equipment and medicines, and hundreds of healthcare workers killed or still detained,” he told Al Jazeera.

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“Development is impossible while Palestinians are denied the most basic rights to safety, movement, and dignity.”

Echoing Talbot, the head of Humanity First UK, Aziz Hafiz, said “no declaration, however eloquent, can substitute for the fundamental right to freedom and security”.

“Development cannot flourish in isolation from justice and peace,” he told Al Jazeera. However, he asserted that does not mean “we wait for peace to act.”

“Every vocational programme, school rehabilitation, or psychosocial initiative becomes an act of resistance to despair,” he said. “While permanent peace remains the ultimate enabler of prosperity, maintaining human dignity in the present moment is equally critical.”

MAP’s Talbot asserted that for any “meaningful development”, the international community must ensure that humanitarian law is upheld.

“There must be genuine pressure on the Israeli government, as the occupying power, to enforce a permanent ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow the unrestricted entry of aid and medical supplies for thousands of injured Palestinians,” he said.

‘Rebuilding feels like a dream’

After two years of relentless Israeli attacks and destruction, Shaheen said what Palestinians most want in Gaza is to “rebuild [their homes] with their own hands, and to regain a piece of normal life again”.

“Living in the displacement camps is one of the hardest things people are going through now,” he pointed out.

“Most people have no real shelter, only thin, flimsy tents that barely stand against the wind. There’s no space, no privacy, no comfort. When it rains or when the sun burns, there is nowhere to escape.”

However, Shaheen says the scale of devastation raises painful questions about what rebuilding looks like.

“How long will it take just to remove the rubble? We hear that it could take years. And if clearing the debris takes that long, then how long will it take before rebuilding can even begin?” he said.

A view of the heavily damaged Jabalia neighbourhood in northern Gaza [File: Anas Zeyad Fteha/Anadolu Agency]

But more importantly, for Shaheen, rebuilding is not just about “concrete and walls”.

“It is about rebuilding their lives, their sense of safety, and their dignity. They do not just want buildings to rise again, but life to return.”

Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 80 times, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. More than 240 Palestinians, including dozens of children, have been killed by the Israeli army since the ceasefire began.

MAP’s director of advocacy Talbot said the only path to sustainable peace and development in the Strip were “justice and accountability” for the atrocities committed.

“Declarations and summits will remain hollow exercises unless they are matched with political will to end the root causes of Gaza’s suffering, including Israel’s ongoing military occupation and blockade,” he said.

“Palestinians must have self-determination to lead their recovery and define what their future will look like.”