AGC says Najib’s house arrest should be temporarily postponed pending legal clarification

AGC says Najib’s house arrest should be temporarily postponed pending legal clarification



In a statement today, the AGC said Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s detention status should remain unchanged at his existing place of detention while the legal issues were being examined. — Picture by Raymond Manuel


Summary

• The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has temporarily postponed Datuk Seri Najib Razak's house arrest pending legal clarification on his conditional pardon and a High Court order.
• The conditional pardon allows Najib to serve his sentence under house arrest, but interpretations differ on whether paying the RM50 million fine completes his prison sentence.
• Legal complexities may also affect Najib's 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case sentence, necessitating clear legal clarification before further implementation.

First Published: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 6:53 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) says the implementation of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest should be temporarily postponed pending legal clarification on the interpretation of his conditional pardon and the effect of a High Court order issued today.

In a statement, the AGC said Najib’s detention status should remain unchanged at his existing place of detention while the legal issues were being examined.

The conditional pardon granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim on September 18, 2026 allowed Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine and compliance with the stipulated conditions.

However, the AGC said two possible interpretations had arisen over whether payment of the fine meant Najib’s prison sentence in the SRC International case remained in force or was considered completed.


Under the first interpretation, payment of the RM50 million fine would fulfil only the financial component of the sentence, while the prison term would continue until August 23, 2028.

House arrest would therefore be an alternative means of serving the remaining prison term, rather than an indication that the sentence had ended.

Under the second interpretation, payment of the fine would allow the pardon to take full effect, meaning the entire sentence for the SRC International case, including the prison term, would be considered completed.

The AGC said the issue also involved the legal effect of an Order of Discharge on Payment of Fine issued by the Kuala Lumpur High Court today after the RM50 million payment was recorded.


The order directed Najib’s immediate release, while also stating that the remainder of his sentence should be served under house arrest until August 23, 2028 in accordance with the conditional pardon.

The interpretation of Najib’s remaining prison term in the SRC International case could also affect the implementation of his sentence in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case, the AGC said.


This is because a court order stipulates that the 1MDB prison sentence must begin after the completion of his sentence in the SRC International case.

The AGC said the matter also needed to be examined in light of the High Court’s rejection on October 14, 2026 of Najib’s application for a stay of execution of his sentence in the 1MDB case.

Describing the issues as legally complex and unprecedented, the AGC said clear and definitive legal clarification was necessary before any further implementation action could be taken.

It said the proposed temporary postponement was not intended to challenge or set aside the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree, but to ensure that the royal pardon and related court orders were implemented accurately and in accordance with the actual legal position.

The AGC said it would take further action once the review and clarification had been completed.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke resigns as Najib returns home to begin house arrest

Transport Minister Anthony Loke resigns as Najib returns home to begin house arrest



Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has announced his resignation after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak left Kajang Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin


Summary

• Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook announced his resignation after Najib Razak left prison for house arrest.
• Loke stated his resignation is effective immediately upon Najib's arrival home.
• He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his 47-month term as Transport Minister.

First Published: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 5:36 PM MYT
Last Modified: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 6:06 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has announced his resignation after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak left Kajang Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Loke said his stance on the matter had not changed and that his resignation would take effect the moment Najib arrives home.

“I would like to record my appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the trust and mandate given to me throughout my 47 months serving as Transport Minister, from December 2022 until today,” he said at a press conference.

Loke said he had been informed that the RM50 million payment issue involving Najib had been settled at the High Court this morning and that he would be released from prison.


“However, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had informed me that Najib had not yet been allowed to return home,” he said.

He added he had also received confirmation that Najib had been taken to a dental clinic for an examination, as scheduled, following media reports that the former prime minister had left Kajang Prison.

Loke reiterated that his resignation would take effect immediately once Najib arrived at his residence, adding that he would submit an additional letter to Anwar to formalise the matter.

“My resignation letter had already been submitted earlier and my position remained unchanged,” he said.


Asked whether Anwar had contacted him over the matter, Loke said they had spoken after the Cabinet meeting, but maintained that he would remain consistent with his earlier position.

“This is my party’s decision and I will abide by it,” he added.


Meanwhile, Loke said he had chaired a post-Cabinet meeting at the Transport Ministry today to settle administrative matters and ensure a smooth transition of duties.

“Although, my resignation will take effect immediately once Najib arrives home, I have already been invited by the Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri M. Jana Santhiran to attend the Deepavali celebration next Wednesday.

“Therefore, I will return on Wednesday and that may also be my last official engagement with the ministry,” he said.

He also expressed his appreciation to the ministry’s secretary-general, deputy secretaries-general, division secretaries and all ministry officials for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure.

On the ministry’s ongoing plans and initiatives, Loke said all programmes would continue as scheduled, expressing confidence in the ability of its officers to ensure continuity.

Among the initiatives, he said the MyKomuter50 programme would be launched by December, while East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) was scheduled to begin operations on December 12.

He added that the Rapid Transit System (RTS) project was also scheduled to begin in February.

Loke said he would continue supporting the ministry even after leaving the Cabinet, as he would remain a Member of Parliament.

“I am still a Member of Parliament, so I will continue to provide support to the ministry’s officers. Whatever I can help with or contribute, I will do so,” he said.

PAS’ latest kid on the block: Decriminalise ‘khalwat’ offence, it’s inherited from the British

PAS’ latest kid on the block: Decriminalise ‘khalwat’ offence, it’s inherited from the British

By Pragalath K
6 hours ago

PAS’ prominent new member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is pushing for the repeal of khalwat or close proximity offence again. He tried in the past but it was not successful.

The crux of his argument against khalwat is investigations involve intrusion into other people’s privacy. Privacy much be protected since there are laws in Quran and the Hadith regarding protecting privacy.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

on Wednesday

For many years now, I have advocated for the repeal of Khalwat offences, but in vain. But will try again

The investigations for “ close proximity “ entail massive intrusions into someone’s privacy, even the privacy of homes, which must be protected. There are laws in the Quran and the Hadith on the subject of protecting privacy

Why do we still follow the British Khalwat laws? Because these Khalwat laws were put in place for adultery, and we dare not repeal them or are too laz...

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The former politician who was in various different parties went on to claim that the law against close proximity was inherited from the British.

“Why do we still follow the British khalwat laws? Because these khalwat laws were put in place for adultery, and we dare not repeal them or are too lazy. It’s adultery that is a serious offence in Islam; not close proximity.”

It must be noted that khalwat is a sharia offence, not an offence listed in the Penal Code. Adultery is not an offence in civil law but it is an accepted ground for divorce under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

The arrest of young couples is to show that the government is doing something to prevent immoral activities, and to collect fines.

The former de facto law minister made the call following media reports which stated that Kelantan had recorded 2,000 arrests for khalwat.

The podcaster also pointed out that it was impossible to prevent close proximity by spying on people. Most cases would end up with those detained paying fines as they cannot afford lawyers. The public also want to avoid getting embarrassed by being in open court.

Close proximity would continue to rise for various reasons. In the case of Bersama co-leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad it was for work, he claimed.

The former UMNO member said the government should instead just educate the public on morality.

Detaining and jailing the people would not work since the rich can fly to Phuket.

The government was told that the public would be happy if the offence is decriminalised and the government can focus on combating adultery.

The one-time DAP member added that the upgrades of the sharia courts and new batches of Islamic scholars does not mean that the institution and scholars are tasked with spying and arresting people.

The current government was told to focus on the law of privacy which is central to Islamic jurisprudence and repeal khalwat as an offence.

“Go after the adulterous relationships which are the offences you want to curb. Then we can see if spending money on our scholars is justified.” ‒ Nov 6, 2026

“Perhaps ultra-sensitive, pious Muslims should refrain from visiting Hindu idol worshipping Bali”

“Perhaps ultra-sensitive, pious Muslims should refrain from visiting Hindu idol worshipping Bali”

SUCH is the insinuation from an open-minded Muslim to her brethren who recently stepped foot in Bali only to badmouth or to make unpleasant remarks about the “Island of the Gods” which draws millions of visitors each year for its unique culture, volcanic landscapes, beaches and spiritual retreats.

In fact, many fellow Muslins concurred with Threader @eirenesultan for ticking off a purported Muslim woman tourist in a long thread for feeling spooky, eerie or creepy passing by Balinese temples in her quest to conclude that visiting Indonesia’s most popular island attraction is her worst travel experience.

“Bali is a Hindu island. You go on a holiday to Bali and then you want to write a long thread that you feel is scary, you pass by their temple and you get goosebumps, you see things staring at you and you can’t sleep and it was your worst experience,” ridiculed the presumably travel bug poster.

“Sis, you just go to Pulau Tioman. Don’t plan to go on a holiday to Sri Lanka either because you see others going there happily, you get itchy to go there and then come back and write a long thread that you didn’t hear the azan (Muslim call to prayer).”

Interestingly, a commenter value-added the poster’s account of the seemingly ultra-sensitive or pious tourist by revealing that her family even had the audacity “to ask the villa owner to remove any Balinese sculptures and decorations before they check in”.

“The entitlement is disgusting. I would have just cancelled their reservation,” chastised the commenter.

This was when one Muslim netizen remarked that “it’s pitiful to see travellers instead of having opened eyes and minds become even more stick-in-the-mud”.

“In Islam, traveling to seek knowledge has many rewards. But that will be difficult to achieve for people with narrow mindset.”

As more Muslims spoke up against that feeling entitled traveller, one woman commenter wondered “how hard could it be to respect other people’s cultures”.

“Don’t they check things or do some reading before they travel? ” asserted the self-proclaimed “full-time baker-turned-weekend baker”.

The crux of the confusion could be she thought that Bali is a Muslim-majority island when 90% of its populace are Hindus by faith.

Even if Bali boasts an abundance of Hindu influence, Muslims can still appreciate beauty and charm of the scenic island rather than be overwhelmed by its religious elements, attested one Muslim commenter who recalled visiting the Uluwatu Temple with his other half.

This is when one commenter took a pot shot at the pious female traveller by revealing her hypocrisy in that she had no qualms “snapping photos in front of the Duomo and cathedral” when she visited Italy.

“There are also many idols, etc at the Duomo but she made no mention of her hair suddenly stood up,” she mocked.

At the end of the day, what the so-called pious traveller did has tarnished the image of Malaysians in the eyes of their Indonesian neighbours.

Hi i am Balinese Hindu. Indeed, the island is Hindu-majority with thick Balinese culture. But there’ll be a lot of halal food you can find everywhere.

We do have a lot of mosques that you can use together with our Indonesian Muslim family who live here.

The azan you can watch in all national tv channel, too. As I live in Dubai now, I , too, have to respect and follow their culture and rule.

I believe Malaysians are more open minded than us (but now) I can see how well your country has developed.  – Nov 6, 2026

Who funded Najib’s RM50 mil fine? What are the terms for house arrest? Questions remain unanswered

Who funded Najib’s RM50 mil fine? What are the terms for house arrest? Questions remain unanswered

By Pragalath K
4 hours ago

QUESTIONS over the identity of funders who donated to UMNO’s Najib Razak Solidarity Fund remains unanswered as the party has successfully collected the RM50 mil funds that needs to be paid by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The need for transparency on the funds was raised by Facebook user Dr Kamsiah Haider, a dentist via Facebook.

DR ASYRAF WAJDI DUSUKI

6 hours ago

KENYATAAN MEDIA

1. UMNO ingin mengumumkan bahawa jumlah kutipan dana melalui Tabung Solidariti Najib Razak yang dilancarkan pada 18 September lalu bagi membantu bekas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sudahpun mencapai sasaran dan mencukupi.

2. UMNO telah menyelesaikan segala proses pembayaran kepada pihak Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pagi tadi.

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The paid amount will enable him to undergo the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest.

This was confirmed by party secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki in a brief statement.

UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki

The Najib Razak Solidarity Fund that was launched on Sept 18 to aid the former UMNO president is now closed as it collected the required amount via crowdfunding.

Asyraf also thanked God and was grateful to UMNO members and members of the public who have been donating to the account.

Najib’s lead counsel Datuk Shafee Abdullah meanwhile told the media that terms for the house have been briefed to Najib but it has been kept under wraps.

The RM50 mil is part of Najib’s sentence after he was found guilty in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.

The amount is also a discounted amount as the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong reduced the sentence from 12 years in jail and RM210 mil fine to house arrest on the condition that he paid the fine.

Earlier today, Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor downplayed reports of the fine being paid off.

Rumours about the fine being settled first appeared on Nov 4. It was dismissed altogether.

Najib is expected to undergo the house arrest until Aug 23, 2028. After that he would be required to return to prison complete his prison term for the 1MDB case unless he gets his conviction overturned.

DAP had been among the most vocal parties that is against Najib undergoing house arrest.

Party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook had offered to quit his cabinet position as Transport Minister when Najib begins his house arrest.

Another question that arises is, will Loke make a U-turn from his decision?– Nov 6, 2026

“PH set to be doomed in Melaka as fence sitters have already given them two chances in 2008, 2013”

“PH set to be doomed in Melaka as fence sitters have already given them two chances in 2008, 2013”

By Pragalath K
6 hours ago

PAKATAN HARAPAN (PH) is on its way to meet its defeat once more the way it lost in Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

This is based on the sentiments of the fence sitting Malay voters which is also shared by the non-Malays in Melaka, claimed BERSAMA co-leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.

In the eyes of fence sitters across the racial divide, they have given PH opportunity to rule in two elections – about 10 years – and they felt that PH did not deliver.

Rafizi revealed that he conducted a major survey in August 2026 which led to a consistent trend.

“We asked one question: Would you agree that in the coming election, you would like to see PH to lose, regardless who wins? That is a profiling question I asked. The results were shocking,” he said last night (Nov 5) during a ceramah in Kesidang, Melaka.

The former economy minister was not surprised that 43% Malays wanted PH to lose. That the percentage of Chinese sharing similar sentiments was higher at 44% and Indians at 49% surprised him.

He concluded that the higher percentage among non-Malay voters were because they wanted to drive home a message to PH.

Similar to Johor and Negeri Sembilan, fence sitters in the Melaka state polls have decided they don’t care whether it is UMNO or PAS. They just want to deliver a message to PH.

Trump and Anwar rescinded on their words

He pointed out that the trend was also similar to the results of the US mid-term elections that saw the Republicans trumped.

“At least the Malay voters are not discriminated. The Chinese and Indians backed PH in 2008 and 2013. Najib asked what else the Chinese wanted. They backed PH, attended Bersih rallies. Finally, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became Prime Minister in 2022.”

PKR’s former deputy president pointed out that Anwar had rescinded on his word, just like US President Donald Trump. Trump had promised an end to wars, petrol price reduction in 2024 and yet rescinded on his word after coming into office.

“The ones who are releasing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak are not from UMNO. The one who cancelled 47 charges against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi isn’t UMNO. It is Anwar Ibrahim.

“Previously it was easy for PH because it was united with a goal to have a corrupt free leader,” he explained.

Zahid received a discharged not amounting to acquittal over corruption, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust charges tied to his own foundation in 2023.

On another note, he also equated his former party and coalition to a colonial bungalow that needs to go undergo major repair works but co-tenants were reluctant to do it.

This is in relations to objections that he faced when he wanted to conduct reforms. Hence, the need to form BERSAMA for the future of Malaysians. ‒ Nov 6, 2026

Beijing says opposes US ‘sabotage’ of Cuba-China relations

ALARABIYA


Beijing says opposes US ‘sabotage’ of Cuba-China relations


China's foreign ministry vehemently opposed the move, calling the sanctions illegal and an example of 'long-arm jurisdiction'

Chinese ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun participates in a press conference in Beijing. (EPA Images pic)

BEIJING: Beijing condemned on Friday new US sanctions against Cuba which it said sought to “sabotage” Chinese relations with the island.

The new wave of sanctions announced by the state department on Thursday targets Cuba’s oil and electronics sectors.

It also includes, for the first time, two Chinese companies accused of supplying the island’s military with electronics and other security equipment.


China’s foreign ministry vehemently opposed the move, calling the sanctions illegal and an example of “long-arm jurisdiction”.

“China firmly opposes US interference in and sabotage of China–Cuba cooperation,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing.


He warned that Beijing would take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its businesses.

Since January, Washington has launched devastating new sanctions and an oil blockade against Cuba, crippling its economy and leading to widespread blackouts and shortages of necessities.

US President Donald Trump has hinted at launching a military intervention to overthrow the island’s ruling Communist Party, and last month the American Secretary of State urged Cubans to work with US intelligence services.

The Chinese companies sanctioned on Thursday include the state-owned China National Electronic Import-Export Company (CEIEC) and private firm Beijing H&C Technologies.

The list also extended to Any Rodriguez Lastres, the daughter of the head of Cuba’s largest military-controlled business conglomerate, the Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA).

 

Israeli settlers seize 8 Palestinian homes in Jericho, displacing dozens

UN says settlers reportedly used live ammunition and beat Palestinians, forcing families to flee for their safety.

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An armed Israeli settler associated with the right-wing Nachala organisation stands at his new house in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho on November 5, 2026 [Ilia Yefimovich/AFP]

By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP

Published On 6 Nov 20266 Nov 2026

The United Nations has condemned the seizure of eight Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, saying the settlers assaulted residents and forced dozens of people to flee.

Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters on Thursday that the settlers reportedly “used live ammunition” during the takeover on the previous day.

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They also “physically assaulted Palestinian residents” and threw stones, “prompting the flight of families for their safety”, he said.

Some of those displaced now “lack adequate shelter”, while the Israeli military has since declared the area a closed military zone, preventing humanitarian workers from reaching those affected.

“We once again condemn all of these violent activities by the Israeli settlers,” he said.

The incident involved some 30 Israeli settlers, who came to take over the houses in Ein a-Duyuk a-Tahta on the outskirts of Jericho on Wednesday afternoon, according to Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now.

The group said that, according to reports, the settlers “assaulted and robbed two Israeli activists and shot a Palestinian man in the leg” during the seizure.

The settlers claimed they legally purchased the homes, but Palestinian officials say the sale documents were forged.

Hanan Greenwood, a settler representative, told the AFP news agency that Nachala, a right-wing Israeli organisation, had bought the eight homes “with our help”. He said he was “very excited” to be there.

Nachala funds the establishment of new settlements in the occupied West Bank and campaigns for Israel to annex the territory.

But Hussein Hamayel, governor of the Jericho region, told the AFP that the land belongs to the Palestinian Authority and cannot be sold.

“What is being promoted is a forgery, not a sale, and what is being circulated is settler propaganda,” Hamayel said.

The land is located in the West Bank’s Area C, which has been under Israeli control since the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements there, which are illegal under international law.

Settler pogroms in the occupied West Bank have approached all-time highs this year, and several Palestinian communities in the greater Jericho area have already been driven from their homes.

Residents said they feared the new settlers would step up pogroms in the area and bring a heavier military presence.

That pattern has played out in Hebron, where some 400 settlers live in the Old City, in a city of about 250,000 Palestinians.

According to Peace Now, the Israeli presence in Hebron has notably “led to constant friction and violence, severe restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement” and also “resulted in the displacement of thousands of Palestinians“.

COMMENT | Shuhaily: Victor or villain?

COMMENT | Shuhaily: Victor or villain?


Mariam Mokhtar

Published: Nov 6, 2026 11:08 AM


COMMENT | Shuhaily Zain is no ordinary police officer.

A senior police officer with over 26 years of service, he has headed Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department and served as Kuala Lumpur and Penang's police chief.

His appointment to head Malaysia's Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) was based on his experience and integrity, according to the then inspector-general of police.

He earned public attention for speaking openly about corruption within the police force and warned officers who worked with criminal syndicates that they had to change, or face consequences.


Eight months after his appointment, Shuhaily found himself facing two charges of voluntarily causing hurt following an alleged confrontation with two junior Special Branch officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Sept 28.

He has pleaded not guilty.


Bigger story to be examined?

So, is this simply a case of a senior officer losing his temper and crossing the line? Or is there a much bigger story that Malaysians should be examining?

Many people are unaware that in an unusually candid interview with The Star on Feb 7, 2026, Shuhaily spoke about what he had inherited at MCBA.

Shuhaily Zain at the Sepang Magistrate's Court on Nov 2

He described decades of entrenched corruption, collusion, coercion, compromise, weak discipline and a system in which officers could be pressured to participate in corrupt practices simply to survive.

He said that cleaning up the system would take years.


These were not allegations his critics made. These were Shuhaily's own words.

So, could the problems he described in that interview be linked to the KLIA confrontation?

Challenging a system

Shuhaily was challenging a system that possibly did not want to change. He should not be left to fight his battles alone.

He has received significant moral support from G25. They publicly recognised his long record of service and called for the allegations against him to be handled fairly and impartially.

This is not a declaration that he is above the law, nor a verdict on the charges; but the G25 members, with their considerable experience of public institutions, believe his record. Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding his case deserve serious consideration.

There is also a wider question worth asking: if an officer who was trying to confront entrenched problems within the border system loses institutional support, what message does that send to others who might attempt the same reforms?

Malaysia has no shortage of announcements about institutional reform, but what we lack is a willingness to confront the people, practices and vested interests that stand in the way of change.

Shuhaily's operational experience and record of getting things done suggest that he was prepared to bring discipline to an institution that needed serious reform.

Who allowed practices to persist?

In cleaning up the system, he discovered that the problems were far more entrenched than anticipated. Transferring a few officers or issuing new instructions would probably not solve the problem.

We should ask: Who allowed these practices to persist? Who benefited? Why had previous leadership failed to address them?

Shuhaily also highlighted the problem of divided command whereby personnel seconded from other agencies continued to report to their parent organisations.

It is difficult to impose discipline when officers refused to answer exclusively to him. How could he establish a common working culture when competing institutional loyalties remained?

So, why establish MCBA if its director-general could not exercise effective command over the people expected to make it work?

Shuhaily had also sought greater independence and investigative powers, including transforming MCBA into a full-fledged security force.

Did Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Home Ministry give serious consideration to his proposals?

A government cannot expect one man to dismantle decades of entrenched practices while leaving the structural weaknesses intact.

Diverting attention

Shuhaily said that cleaning up MCBA would take years, with legal processes, manpower shortages and difficulties dealing with problematic personnel being huge obstacles.

So, what happens when someone begins challenging arrangements that have benefited certain people for years?

A screenshot of a viral video showing Shuhaily Zain's confrontation with two junior police officers

Political pundits have suggested that the controversy surrounding Shuhaily may serve a wider purpose: diverting attention from his reform efforts and giving those who benefited from the old arrangements time to protect their interests, put their affairs in order or tie up loose ends.

We cannot say if anyone deliberately engineered the controversy, but the possibility that vested interests might benefit from the distraction deserves examination. Who benefits if the reform agenda loses momentum?

Undoubtedly, Shuhaily's KLIA confrontation, the viral video and the subsequent police reports have shifted public attention towards his conduct.

The two junior officers have filed a civil suit alleging assault, battery, false imprisonment and defamation. Shuhaily has pleaded not guilty to two criminal charges of voluntarily causing hurt.

However, what exactly were these two officers doing? Were they conducting legitimate intelligence work, monitoring an operation involving a suspected drug tout, or interfering with an enforcement operation through a breakdown in communication between agencies?

Was Shuhaily right to suspect that an operation was being compromised, or did he lose his temper and cross the line? Was the confrontation symptomatic of the wider institutional tensions he had described?

The focus on the confrontation is distracting the public from the more difficult questions about corruption, divided command and resistance to reform.

Malaysians need an explanation

With Shuhaily's intended departure from MCBA, more questions are raised. What will happen to his proposed reforms?

Anwar and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail owe Malaysians an explanation.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

The real question is not simply what happened to Shuhaily at KLIA. It is what was happening inside MCBA before that incident, what he was trying to change, and whether those changes will now be allowed to proceed.

If the system was resistant to reform before he arrived, why should Shuhaily's departure suddenly make it willing to change?

More importantly, who is protecting the public interest when those entrusted with protecting it are themselves part of the problem?

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Find her on her website and on X.

Audit donations raised to pay Najib’s fine, says Pua

Audit donations raised to pay Najib’s fine, says Pua


DAP's former Damansara MP says this is to ensure that the funds collected are legitimate, and not laundered

DAP’s Tony Pua said the money could have been better used ‘to help ordinary Malaysians’.

PETALING JAYA: DAP’s Tony Pua has urged the authorities to audit the donations raised to help settle the RM50 million fine allowing former prime minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his corruption sentence under house arrest.

The former Damansara MP said an audit by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was vital to ensure the funds raised were legitimate and not laundered.

Earlier today, Umno said it had settled the RM50 million fine after collecting enough funds through a donation drive launched by the party in September.


Pua questioned Umno’s decision to settle the fine, arguing that the money could have been used to help ordinary Malaysians.


By choosing to allow Najib to go under house arrest, “Umno colours shine very brightly”, he added in a Facebook post.


Najib was jailed in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million.

In January 2024, then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah halved Najib’s prison sentence and reduced his fine to RM50 million as part of a royal pardon.

In September this year, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.

This was subject to Najib paying the RM50 million fine and complying with other stipulated conditions.

Anwar disagrees with Umno paying RM50mil fine for Najib

Anwar disagrees with Umno paying RM50mil fine for Najib


4 hours ago
Nur Alif Hazmi


Umno today settled Najib Razak’s RM50 million fine through funds raised from a donation drive launched in September



Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today he does not want the public to think that large-scale corruption can go unpunished. (Bernama pic)

AMPANG: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he disagrees with Umno paying Najib Razak’s RM50 million fine, which has paved the way for the former prime minister to serve the remainder of his graft conviction under house arrest.

Former Umno president Najib was granted a house arrest order by the Kuala Lumpur High Court today after Umno paid his RM50 million fine using funds collected through a donation drive launched in September.

“My personal view is that I disagree with this as it could give the public the impression that large-scale corruption can go unpunished,” Anwar told reporters after Friday prayers here.


Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced earlier today that the party had settled the fine through funds raised from a donation drive launched in September.

Najib’s lawyer Farhan Shafee later confirmed that the fine had been paid, and he would deliver the house arrest order to Kajang prison – where Najib has been held since 2022.


Najib was jailed in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million.

In January 2024, a royal pardon halved his prison sentence and reduced his fine to RM50 million.

In September this year, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.

The release was subject to Najib’s payment of the RM50 million fine and his compliance with other conditions.

Najib exits Kajang Prison to serve out SRC sentence under house arrest

Najib exits Kajang Prison to serve out SRC sentence under house arrest



Prison vehicles spotted entering former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak's house in Kuala Lumpur. — AFP pic


Summary

• Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been released from Kajang Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence under home detention after paying a corresponding fine, as reported by an AFP journalist on-site.
• The 73-year-old was transported from the prison in a silver car, accompanied by a convoy of vehicles.
• Further details are expected to follow.

First Published: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 3:10 PM MYT
Last Modified: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 3:15 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — Malaysia’s former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak left prison on Friday after paying a fine that allows him to serve the rest of his sentence at home, an AFP reporter saw.

Najib, 73, was whisked from Kajang Prison in a silver car followed by a convoy of vehicles, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

MORE TO COME

What Trump Should Do Now

What Trump Should Do Now

by Portfolio Armor
Thursday, Nov 05, 2026 - 13:27

What a Bad Night Frees Trump to Do


In Blue Crush, we argued that the Iran war cost Republicans the midterms. Some of the sharpest criticism since the election has come from Trump’s own side. Matt Walsh called him a lame duck and said the party’s immediate task was to find its next leader. We think that rush to move on is unfair to Trump and premature for JD Vance.

Trump kept campaigning after the shooting in Butler and a second assassination attempt in Florida. He did it while fighting politically motivated prosecutions, including this New York case. He went through that while running on promises his supporters had waited years to see acted on.


Trump Voters Largely Got What They Voted For

Granted, they didn’t vote for the Iran War. Nevertheless, on immigration and antiwhite discrimination, the Trump Administration has delivered. Trump’s immigration policy is the most restrictive in a century, argued Josef Burton, earlier this year. U.S. consulates issued 49% fewer immigrant visas in February 2026 than in February 2024. Over the same period, Cato’s David Bier found that student visas fell 42% and H-1B and H-4 visas fell 78%. Trump imposed a $100K fee for certain new H-1B hires from abroad (though courts have so far blocked collection). In fiscal 2026, refugee admissions fell 84% from Biden’s last full fiscal year and 81% from Obama’s. Nearly all were White South Africans.

On the southwest border, Border Patrol recorded more than 2.7 million direct releases into the U.S. under Biden from February 2021 through December 2024. Under Trump, it reported zero direct releases from May 2025 through September 2026. Apprehensions in fiscal 2026 were 95% below Biden’s annual average. The Migration Policy Institute projects 382% more deportations following interior arrests in fiscal 2026 than in Biden’s last full fiscal year. It estimates voluntary departures in Trump’s first 18 months were 100% to 300% above previous highs in its data going back to 2014.

Trump also ordered federal DEI preferences ended, extended the campaign to federal contractors and challenged racial preferences in university admissions and private employment. That includes discrimination against white applicants and workers.

Vance Named Four Things to Fix

Vance’s post on Wednesday relayed a pollster’s findings about Trump voters who switched sides. They wanted an end to the war, action on the cost of living, an America First foreign policy and a different relationship with Israel. The pollster’s findings, as Vance described them, offer a better place to start than writing off the administration or its presumptive successor.


When Democrats take both chambers in January, Trump will need their votes for tax legislation. He can still set enforcement priorities, open negotiations and propose changes to where American forces are based. The midterms are behind him, and he has no reelection campaign to protect. Being unpopular gives him a kind of freedom. He can spend the next two years on decisions that may be unpopular now and look a good deal better by 2028.

Finish the War With Iran

Trump should negotiate an end to the war around two red lines. Iran must forgo nuclear weapons, and commercial vessels must be able to navigate freely through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said at the UN that Iran won’t seek a bomb. Turn that declaration into a commitment the International Atomic Energy Agency can verify, with access to the relevant facilities and nuclear material. The agency has spelled out what access it still needs.

Everything else should be on the table. Trump should be prepared to offer phased sanctions relief, normalization of relations and the drawdown or removal of U.S. bases in the region. Tie each step to reciprocal commitments. The most useful sign of a deal will be tankers sailing through Hormuz routinely and underwriters willing to insure them at ordinary rates.

A wider agreement could trade an end to Iranian-backed attacks on Israel for an end to Israeli covert operations against Iran. Pursue that separately if it takes longer. An enforceable U.S.–Iran agreement on nuclear weapons and navigation would be worth taking even if the Israeli and Iranian governments remain at odds.

Put America First by Reducing the Risk of War

Trump should say plainly what the Iran war taught us. American military power has limits, and so does Americans’ willingness to incur casualties in a long war overseas. If the country won’t bear the costs of decisively defeating Iran, Washington should rethink plans that assume it would sustain a direct war with Russia or China. It was less costly to learn that lesson in the Persian Gulf than it likely would’ve been in a fight with either of them.

Start with a workable peace with both powers. Trump should seek a settlement in Ukraine, ideally with Kiev at the table. Washington should work to reduce tensions with Moscow regardless of whether those talks move forward. It can start by proposing reciprocal limits on deployments and military exercises near Russia. Treasury’s license for Russian diesel expires April 7, 2027. A lasting agreement to ease energy sanctions would give buyers and shippers more certainty. The drop in Russian exports has already tightened the diesel market. Steadier flows of Russian oil and fuel could lower energy and freight costs and ease inflation.

In the Taiwan Strait, Washington should negotiate limits on close military encounters and provocative deployments in exchange for concrete Chinese steps to reduce military pressure on Taiwan. Keep direct military hotlines open and agree on what ships and aircraft should do when they encounter one another. The aim is to make it harder for an incident to become a war.

Trump has already proposed talks with both countries on cutting nuclear arsenals and military spending. Start with verifiable limits and inspections, then cut forces and spending as the agreements take effect. A smaller bill for overseas contingencies is one benefit. The larger one is a lower chance that an American president has to decide whether to fight a war the country is unwilling to sustain.

Make the Israel Aid Decision Stick

On Election Day, Trump said the aid would end this year. He put it at about $4 billion a year and said of Israel, “They don’t need it.” The existing aid agreement runs through fiscal 2028, subject to congressional appropriations. Trump should work with Congress to put a timetable in law and explain in a speech what comes next. Israel can buy American weapons with its own money, and the countries can keep cooperating where their interests coincide.

Most Jewish voters backed Kamala Harris in 2024. Some Jewish donors support Republicans, but the larger constituency Trump needs to speak to about this decision is evangelical Christians. Pew found 81% of white evangelical Protestants voted for him in 2024.

Ask Ambassador Mike Huckabee to help write the speech. He’s a former Baptist pastor and a longtime supporter of Israel who has also publicly criticized West Bank settler violence. He can help Trump explain why continued friendship, frank disagreement and an end to the subsidy can go together.

Ask Congress for a Payroll Tax Increase

Restoring oil traffic is the first cost-of-living measure. Gasoline accounted for over half of September’s monthly rise in consumer prices. A tax increase can cool demand, but it can’t move a tanker through Hormuz. The case for raising taxes rests on what’s still driving inflation after energy supplies start to recover.

During COVID, Trump signed the bills that sent the first two rounds of checks to American households. Biden signed the third. The money helped keep the economy going while people were out of work. It also gave households more to spend while businesses struggled to supply goods and services. San Francisco Fed researchers estimated fiscal support added about three percentage points to U.S. inflation by the end of 2021.

That episode illustrates an argument made by Modern Monetary Theory. Government can support spending when demand collapses. When spending outruns what the economy can supply, taxes can take some demand back out. Stephanie Kelton, a leading MMT economist, backed the 2021 rescue package. A year later she explained why a payroll tax could cool excess demand by reaching households that spend much of what they earn. She opposed a hike in 2022. She saw other causes as more important and argued that higher taxes would squeeze households already struggling with inflation. Sending people checks in a crisis is easier politics than taking money out of their paychecks when prices are already high. With the midterms behind him, Trump can make the case for the harder half of the policy.

Trump should ask Democrats to negotiate a temporary Medicare payroll surcharge if spending continues to outstrip supply. Taxing high earners can raise revenue, but if the aim is to slow household spending, the tax has to reach paychecks well below the top. Congress has a separate reason to act. The Medicare trustees project the hospital trust fund’s reserves will run out in 2033 under current law.

Spell Out What Workers Would Pay

One starting point for negotiations would be an employee-side surcharge of 1.5 percentage points on the first $200,000 of annual wages and 3 percentage points on wages above that. The higher rate would apply only to earnings above the threshold. At $60,000 a year, the proposal would take $900 a year, or $75 a month, out of a worker’s paycheck. That’s a real cost to ask people to bear after an election about affordability, but the pandemic checks helped push prices up in the first place. If spending still outruns supply once fuel costs ease, a temporary payroll surcharge would help slow further price increases while shoring up Medicare.

Dedicate the proceeds to Medicare’s hospital trust fund and have Congress’s budget scorekeepers estimate the effect on take-home pay, demand and the fund. Set a two-year expiration, with a fresh vote required to extend it. If demand is already cooling by the time a bill is negotiated, scale down or defer the surcharge. A sounder Medicare balance sheet and slower inflation are achievable aims. It will take cheaper energy, more supply or rising real wages to give households back purchasing power.

Make a Tariff Deal With Democrats

Trump should ask Democrats to put a targeted set of tariffs into law, with rates set for several years and a fixed review schedule. Biden’s decision to keep and selectively raise Trump’s China tariffs gives them a place to start. A company deciding whether to build an American factory has to estimate what its competitors will pay to import the same product by the time the plant opens. If the tariff could disappear before then, waiting may be the better investment. Congress can give manufacturers a policy they can plan around and use some of the revenue to help pay for its priorities.

Set Vance Up For Success

Vance can argue for these changes now and help deliver them (or he can distance himself from the payroll tax increase if he wants, and let Trump take the heat alone for that). If by 2028 the U.S. is at peace, tankers are moving through Hormuz, fuel prices and inflation are down, and Congress has done something serious about Medicare’s finances, he can run on that. The voters he wrote about will be able to judge what changed after they sent their message.

For investors, the first signs that an Iran deal is working would be more tankers moving through Hormuz and lower shipping insurance costs. If sanctions on Russia ease, steadier fuel shipments could also bring down fuel and freight costs. A broad payroll surcharge would take spending power out of the economy. For businesses that depend on discretionary purchases, the rates and effective dates of any bill will matter.