This isn't a police state, Hassan says after cops keep mum about PM critic's arrest

This isn't a police state, Hassan says after cops keep mum about PM critic's arrest

Zikri Kamarulzaman
Published: Apr 15, 2026 10:08 AM
Updated: 1:00 PM


Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has urged police to confirm whether they have arrested a woman for allegedly criticising Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

This is after the police’s silence for more than 24 hours since press queries about the reported arrest of a TikTok user who goes by Jorjet Myla under the Sedition Act, purportedly over a video rant against the premier.

When contacted, Hassan said under the Police Act, all police action must be transparent and in compliance with regulations.

"There can't be any secret police action when a member of the public is arrested.

"Police action in criminal matters must comply with the Criminal Procedure Code. Malaysia is a democratic country, not a police state," he told Malaysiakini.

The PKR lawmaker added that police must disclose to the public and the press whether Myla had indeed been arrested.

Hassan also called for the woman to be immediately released without condition.

"There is no reason to detain her without strong reasons. The Sedition Act should be put on moratorium so it can be abolished," he said.

Lack of confirmation

Yesterday, social media was rife with posts claiming that Myla had been detained and remanded for three days.

The posts alleged that the arrest was over a TikTok video where she railed against Anwar, accusing the prime minister of constantly blaming others for his perceived ineptitude and lacklustre performance.

She said Anwar was still behaving like he was an opposition leader, and suggested that the PKR president may find it more comfortable not to be in government.

TikTok user Jorjet Myla


Malaysiakini had repeatedly requested the police to confirm the arrest and other details since yesterday morning.

The portal has not been able to verify the case facts due to the lack of confirmation, including whether Myla was arrested for the video in question or for other reasons.

Myla was said to be unrepresented during her remand hearing.

Malacca PAS Youth paints state raya do as un-Islamic

Malaysiakini:

News

Malacca PAS Youth paints state raya do as un-Islamic

Malaysiakini Team

Published:  Apr 15, 2026 9:00 AM

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Updated: 11:00 AM

Quick highlights:

• PAS Youth pans Aidilfitri ‘concert’

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9am

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Politics

• Malacca PAS Youth defended their criticism of the state government having artistes sing at Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on Sunday.

  State wing chief Zulhilmi Suboh told Malaysiakini the criticism was aimed at improving public awareness about what forms of entertainment are appropriate for official events, especially those involving Muslims.

  

  Previously, Malacca PAS Youth had said that having artistes sing at the Aidilfitri celebrations was an affront to the state’s history as a beacon of Islam.

Scams in the digital age: How hackers and AI are reshaping online fraud in Malaysia

Scams in the digital age: How hackers and AI are reshaping online fraud in Malaysia



Online scams have transformed from individual acts into structured operations. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Wednesday, 15 Apr 2026 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — When a caller claims to be from Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia (LHDN), the message is rarely ignored.

It often appears to be a routine spot check — a flagged tax record, an unpaid amount or a possible investigation — followed by instructions to transfer funds, verify details or click a link, leaving little time to question the request.

By the time doubt sets in, the damage is often irreversible.

Authorities have repeatedly warned that such messages are fraudulent, yet scams persist.


The reason lies in a deeper shift: what were once isolated attempts at deception have evolved into coordinated systems designed to feel real and immediate.


Transition into systems

Online scams have transformed from individual acts into structured operations.


Earlier schemes relied on impersonation and fear, with callers posing as police officers, bank staff or court officials while warning victims of investigations and pressing them to act quickly.

The formula was simple and effective: authority combined with urgency.

As enforcement improved, scammers adapted by building networks.

A key development was the use of mule accounts, which allow funds to be moved rapidly and make financial trails harder to trace. This turned isolated scams into repeatable processes capable of operating at scale.


From pressure to persuasion

Tactics have shifted over time.

Rather than relying solely on intimidation, scammers began operating within everyday digital spaces such as messaging apps, email threads and social media platforms. Interactions often start casually and only later involve requests for money or sensitive information.

Because these exchanges take place in familiar settings, they feel routine.

The risk is not always obvious, as the interaction blends into normal communication.


Precision, scale — and the role of AI

Scams today are more refined and targeted.

Messages are polished and increasingly personalised, often drawing on publicly available or leaked data.

Technology allows scammers to reach large numbers of people while tailoring each approach.

Artificial intelligence is accelerating this trend.

Voice cloning can replicate a person’s speech using short audio clips, enabling scammers to send convincing voice notes or make calls that sound like a colleague or family member.

Deepfake videos have also been used to impersonate public figures or company executives, sometimes to promote fraudulent investments or authorise payments.

At the same time, AI-generated phishing messages can mimic tone and context with minimal effort, removing many of the inconsistencies that once made scams easier to detect.

This is why impersonation scams — including those involving LHDN— can be difficult to dismiss.


Why scams still succeed

Scams continue to work not because people are careless, but because they are designed to influence behaviour.

They create urgency and limit the time available for verification.

A person who feels pressured is more likely to act quickly rather than question the situation.

At the same time, the environment plays a role.

Requests that appear in familiar chats or ongoing conversations carry an inherent sense of legitimacy.

What seems like a single interaction is often supported by coordinated roles behind the scenes, making the process more efficient and consistent.


Why the problem persists

In Malaysia, the persistence of scams is linked to high digital adoption, the availability of mule accounts and the involvement of cross-border networks.

These factors make enforcement more complex even as authorities intensify efforts.


The hidden layer: when hacking comes first

Another major shift is where scams begin.

Rather than relying solely on fabricated messages, scammers often gain access to real accounts — email inboxes, messaging apps or social media profiles — and operate from there.

In business email compromise cases, attackers monitor ongoing conversations and step in at key moments, inserting payment instructions that align with the context.

Because the request comes from a legitimate account, it is less likely to be questioned.

A similar pattern can occur in personal settings, where compromised accounts are used to contact friends or colleagues.

Hacking, in this sense, is no longer separate from scams; instead, it enables them by providing access to trusted communication channels.

In many cases today, scams begin with a compromised account rather than a suspicious message.


Reducing the risk of being compromised

Since many scams now depend on account access, basic digital habits are increasingly important.

Authorities such as Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the police advise strengthening account security through measures such as using unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.

Caution with unexpected links or attachments also remains critical, as these are common entry points.

Periodically reviewing account activity for unfamiliar logins can help detect issues early.

The aim is to make it more difficult for attackers to gain initial access — a step that often determines whether a scam can proceed.


If this happens, do this

As many scams rely on urgency and leave little room for checks, BNM and the police urge consumers to pause and verify requests through official channels.

If money has already been transferred, immediate action — such as contacting the bank and the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 — may help limit losses.

If a call claims to be from an official organisation, verify directly through official channels before taking any action.

If a message from a known contact requests money, confirm through a separate method such as a phone call.

Avoid clicking unexpected links, even if they appear legitimate. Access services by manually entering official website addresses instead.

In workplace situations, requests involving payments or changes to bank details should always be verified through another channel.

If funds have already been transferred, contact the bank and NSRC 997 immediately, as early reporting may prevent further movement of money.

Pope vs Dr Not Jesus: Why the US religious right is turning against Trump

Pope vs Dr Not Jesus: Why the US religious right is turning against Trump



An illustration shows a picture of US President Donald Trump and an AI-generated picture he posted on his Truth Social platform depicting himself as Jesus Christ on April 13, 2026. — AFP pic

Wednesday, 15 Apr 2026 7:00 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, April 15 — US President Donald Trump has feuded with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war – setting off an unholy row that could have serious political implications for the Republican leader at home.


Trump has drawn barbs even from some allies over the attacks on the US-born pontiff, who has criticised the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown, the intervention in Venezuela and the Iran war. The president risks alienating the religious right in November’s crucial US midterm elections.


So far the unprecedented clash between the leader of the most powerful military on Earth and the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics shows no signs of abating.

“There’s nothing to apologise for. He’s wrong,” the 79-year-old Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.


In the post on Sunday, Trump called the pontiff “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” suggesting that Leo was elected pope in May 2025 only because he was American and a possible bridge to the Trump administration.


Trump then posted an AI-generated image seemingly depicting himself as a figure like Jesus Christ, which he later deleted. He insisted on Monday that he believed the image showed himself as a doctor.

For his part, Pope Leo told reporters on the papal plane en route to Africa earlier Monday that he has “no fear, neither of the Trump administration nor speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel.”


Leo had earlier this month branded Trump’s threat to destroy a “whole Civilization” in Iran as “truly unacceptable.” He has also previously criticised Trump’s mass deportation campaign as “inhuman.”

Three-times married billionaire Trump has long reached out to America’s evangelical Christians with his conservative, nativist vision.

They backed him in his election wins in 2016 and 2024 despite a series of scandals and an ambiguous personal relationship with religion.

But Trump, who has previously hawked US$60 Bibles branded with his name, appeared to have had something of an awakening during his second term.

At his inauguration last year he said he had been “saved by God” after a 2024 assassination attempt on the campaign trail and has taken a more explicitly religious tone.



An AI-generated image of Donald Trump as the pope, which the US president posted on social media in 2025.

’Evil tirade’

Yet over the recent Easter period, which is sacred to Christians, Trump has made a series of eye-opening posts when it comes to religion.

On the morning of Easter Sunday, as Christians were celebrating around the world, Trump posted a profanity-laced warning to the “crazy bastards” of Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or else – bizarrely signing off: “Praise be to Allah.”

Then, amid what appeared to be increasing frustration after talks with Iran produced no breakthrough, came Sunday’s attacks on Pope Leo.

“I am disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father,” the head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul Coakley, said in a statement.

At least one prominent Catholic in Trump’s administration backed the US president over the pontiff.

US Vice President JD Vance, a recent convert, told Fox News on Monday, “in some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality... and let the President United States stick to dictating American public policy.”

There was no immediate reaction from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic.

Perhaps more worrying for the White House is the ire on the religious right, particularly among former allies.

Any slackening of support for Trump will add to concerns among Republicans that they could lose control of Congress in November’s mid-term elections, with the economy already a worry amid high oil prices caused by the Iran war.

“On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus,” one time ally and former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene said.

“This comes after last week’s post of his evil tirade on Easter and then threatening to kill an entire civilization. I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it!!!”

Conservative commentator Riley Gaines also railed against the apparent Jesus image.

“Seriously, I cannot understand why he’d post this,” Gaines said on X, urging Trump to show humility and adding: “God shall not be mocked.” — Reuters

***

😂👍👍👍

Dr Mahathir in his own words, on his fall: ‘I just lost control of my legs’

Dr Mahathir in his own words, on his fall: ‘I just lost control of my legs’

Tun Dr Mahathir described what led to his hospitalisation at Institut Jantung Negara. — Instagram screenshot

Tuesday, 14 Apr 2026 7:39 PM MYT


SHAH ALAM, April 14 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has recounted the moment he fell during a walking exercise earlier this year, an incident that left him with significant injuries and required urgent treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN).

In a podcast snipped posted on his social media accounts, Dr Mahathir said the fall occurred in January when his right leg suddenly lost strength while he was walking.

The unexpected loss of control caused him to collapse, resulting in a fractured hip joint and a head injury.

“I just lost control of my legs before I fell,” he said.


The 98-year-old statesman said the pain was severe enough that he had to be rushed to IJN, where doctors struggled initially to ease his discomfort. He remained under treatment for several months before being discharged in March.


“They tried to reduce the pain but it was difficult. Only after a few days did the pain begin to lessen, although it was still there,” he explained, adding that the fracture occurred at the joint between the leg bone and the hip.

Three months on, Dr Mahathir said he has regained the ability to stand, though he continues to face challenges in controlling his leg movements.


“My leg has healed and I can stand. But I still can’t control my legs — it feels like I don’t have legs,” he said.

The incident had sparked public concern earlier this year as the former Langkawi MP’s health condition became the subject of widespread attention during his extended stay at IJN.

***

We wish Tun the best and urge him to take it easy - please enjoy life with your family.

Rafizi should roll the dice and quit Madani

Rafizi should roll the dice and quit Madani

S Thayaparan
Published: Apr 13, 2026 8:00 AM
Updated: 10:00 AM



“Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy.”

- F Scott Fitzgerald

COMMENT | Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said that he was not going to contest the 16th general election on a PKR ticket, but (from reportage) “… winning is not necessarily a major objective for him”.

“Instead, his objective is to ensure the survival of progressive multi-racial politics and continuous political change.”

In this case, the former PKR deputy president should eschew the drama that comes with PKR scheming to get him out and quit Madani.

Rafizi finally took his shot against Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim. No more sniping from the sidelines.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim


He has essentially said that Anwar is obsessed with being in power and doesn’t care for the sacrifices others have made to get him in the Putrajaya hot seat.

Mind you, Rafizi just described nearly every politician in this country, but I get his point.

Propping up Anwar

Also, keep in mind that Rafizi has done his fair share of propping up Anwar and PKR.

Back in the rancid days of the PKR elections, which he lost, Rafizi had to remind his opponent, Nurul Izzah Anwar, not to revise history when she denied or downplayed his involvement in the 2018 electoral seat negotiations with the old maverick, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with Rafizi voluntarily taking on the role as “bad guy”.

Anwar is a special case. We have all carried water for Anwar, including this writer, and his failure to reform the system has splashed back on us in a big way.

Rafizi has made it clear that he really doesn’t need all the aggravation that comes with politics, unlike his one-time comrade.

I mean, four years ago, when PKR was out in the cold, Rafizi was warning folks not to be bootlickers when it came to Anwar.

Fast forward a few years, and nobody really paid attention to Rafizi, and when he said those words, he was Anwar’s right hand.

Rafizi said that he wants PKR to sack him because under the party’s constitution, a sacked member retains his seat, while a member who resigns would have their seat vacated.


Pointing out the emperor has no clothes

Here is the thing, though. I have no idea what purpose it serves for Rafizi to remain an MP since Madani has the support it needs from the so-called “progressive wing” - DAP - of the coalition.

Truth be told, I was shocked when people who support progressive politics emailed me with long diatribes of how Rafizi is rocking the boat.

As someone who has no problem rocking the boat, I assumed that folks would be happy when Rafizi points out that the emperor has no clothes.

It says a lot about the progressive forces in this country that Rafizi does not get the support he needs from the progressive wing of Madani.

In fact, the narrative that he is a political operative peddling his sour grapes overrides whatever he says about reform and the failures of the audacity-of-hope type of politics.

When Rafizi was on the campaign stump for the PKR elections, he exposed all sorts of chicanery, which put PKR in the light it deserved.

Anwar Ibrahim and Rafizi Ramli at the PKR national congress in May 2025


From claiming the fix is in when it comes to this election for the second-highest post, from the various snubbings of party pow-wows to claiming bots are used, much like Umno does to amplify messaging on social media.


Where does Rafizi stand?

Rafizi was all over the place in painting why the rakyat should not vote for PKR.

He was right to draw attention to personality politics, but his big ideas depend on the political support from his party and comrades, which has changed with the ascension of Madani.

You need a strong personality to do that, especially since you have a generation of young leaders who want to “inherit” from their elders instead of taking over and establishing a political agenda of their own.

Rafizi’s supporters have told me that by sticking with his MP gig, he can continue to build on the momentum he created, and this would be a tactical advantage when defending his seat. He needs to be the rakyat’s eyes and ears, they tell me.

In his posting about his return to active political life, Rafizi made it clear he wants to stake out the multiethnic middle ground.

What this means remains to be seen, especially since the various parties in Madani adhere to the old Umno/BN formula, which Harapan (especially the DAP) always downplays with the Bangsa Malaysia kool-aid.

The fact is that what Rafizi offers obviously does not resonate with PKR’s grassroots, and this says more about what the party has become rather than his ideas, which, for the most part, are utilitarian in nature and would benefit the bumiputera community.

Rafizi talks about a culture of luxury seeping into PKR. He talks about how new members are only there for the positions and perks.

The way Rafizi paints it, who needs Umno when there is PKR?

Folks these days are struggling with issues, and they have very little time for the internal politics of PKR. Anwar knows this, and he is correct in focusing on the economic storm coming our way.

All this makes the drama that Rafizi is creating seem self-serving, which is what the narratives of Madani and their cyber warriors are peddling.

Rafizi claims that moves are being made in his Pandan seat to oust him from the halls of Putrajaya.

As he said, “We can’t really be surprised if they go ahead and do it anyway, even though there shouldn’t be a by-election - I mean, this is the Madani era.”

This is why he should roll the dice and quit PKR instead of being forced out in some underhanded manner, which would go unnoticed because Malaysians mudah lupa.

The only reckoning or repudiation Madani will understand is if Rafizi wins as an independent.

S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

Trump backs out again

Trump backs out again

P Gunasegaram
Published: Apr 14, 2026 8:00 AM
Updated: 10:00 AM



COMMENT | Not a day has passed since his announcement that he will blockade the Strait of Hormuz, but US President Donald Trump “Taco-ed” (Taco - Trump Always Chickens Out) again - the blockade will not apply to those ships that are not leaving from or heading to Iranian ports.

Here’s what the US Central Command said: “US Central Command forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10am ET (Eastern Time), in accordance with the president’s proclamation.

“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the (Persian) Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Centcom forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

This is a clear indication that vessels that are going in and out of non-Iranian ports will have freedom of navigation. The ones that will be affected are those going to or leaving Iranian ports.


What blockade?

That is very different from what Trump had announced earlier, which is a total blockade of the strait.

To be clear, here are extracts from Trump’s statement when talks broke down, and his vice-president JD Vance flew back: “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the finest in the world, will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach an ‘all being allowed to go in, all being allowed to go out’ basis.

“...Their navy is gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft and radar are useless, (Ali) Khamenei, and most of their ‘leaders’, are dead, all because of their nuclear ambition.

“...Additionally, and at an appropriate moment, we are fully ‘locked and loaded,’ and our military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!”

The new conditions make a huge difference because oil and gas from other producing countries in the Persian Gulf can exit through the strait, which would help bring oil supply to more normal levels and prices back down.

US vice-president JD Vance


That flow - 20 percent of world production - was blocked for some six weeks, leading to an oil supply crisis with reverberations to all commerce.


Oil prices could rise

On paper, this should help stabilise oil prices and even bring them down, provided that the conditional opening is effective and Iran does not react against it.

That’s unlikely since Iran, if the blockade is effective, is being prevented from exporting to countries like China, to which much of its oil exports go, unless the ban on Iranian ports is lifted.

China may not face an immediate threat from this - reports say there are many Iranian tankers at sea which can supply oil to China for a while.

For example, Bloomberg reported yesterday that two sanctioned Iranian supertankers have dropped anchor off Indian ports.

The buyers of the two shipments are unclear, with state refiners including Indian Oil Corp, Reliance Industries Ltd, and Bharat Petroleum Corp operating in the areas where the tankers are anchored, Bloomberg said.

Trump’s announcement of the oil blockade sent oil prices jumping. Anyone who had advanced information on this would have made a huge killing in the markets by taking a leveraged position that oil prices would increase.

Similarly, those who have information that Trump will announce a blockade only to and from Iranian ports will likely take a position that oil prices will ease. It’s a major development - after six weeks - oil and gas from the Gulf states can reach world markets.

There are still outstanding issues. The first question to be answered is whether Iran will retaliate against the blockade.

The second, what would happen when tankers taking badly-needed Iranian fuel to countries like China and India pass through the strait? Will the US stop them forcibly?

Unlikely. It’s a situation that everyone will want to avoid. However, what puzzles is how two US warships are sailing through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf without attracting Iranian fire?

Surely, this will not happen without some kind of agreement in the works with Iran.


The nuclear problem

For some answers, let’s look at Trump’s statement on social media. The first sentence on that post reads, “So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, nuclear, was not.”

And then followed the rant, ending with a promise to finish off Iran.

But those who are enlightened know that Iran had complied with everything the US wanted way back in 2015.

On July 14, 2015, the US and its international negotiating partners reached an agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme: the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the Iran nuclear deal.

The agreement was formally adopted on Oct 18, 2015, and would only go into effect after Iran completed several initial steps.

As a part of the deal, Iran also agreed to implement the Additional Protocol, which is an expanded set of requirements for information and access to assist the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its task of confirming that states are using nuclear material for peaceful purposes.

It was Trump who withdrew the US from the JCPOA in May 2018, even though Iran was still in compliance at the time. The deal was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, making it part of binding international law. The US’ European allies (UK, France, Germany) opposed the withdrawal.

So, Trump had everything to do with Iran becoming a rogue state, reimposing sanctions on Iran, which then embarked on a nuclear programme progressing rapidly with uranium enrichment programmes to reach near weapon-grade levels.

The only beneficiary from this one-sided treatment of Iran is Israel, which the US has used for decades as its instrument of foreign policy through force in West Asia and supporting it with the latest weapons and hundreds of billions of dollars in aid.

Even now, Iran is willing to abandon a nuclear weapons programme but not uranium enrichment totally. If Trump wants peace with Iran, go back to the original JCPOA - under a different name if that is more politic which provides safeguards for peaceful use of nuclear energy. It’s really as simple as that.


Back against the wall

But currently, Trump, with his back against a wall on a regime he could not vanquish completely, wants an exit that will make it appear, at least to his support base and the undecided voters, to be an American victory. It is not.

That’s what all this is about: a face-saving exit for Trump. It will probably help him in the mid-term elections for the House of Representatives, where there is a good chance that he will otherwise lose the majority and face consequences such as impeachment.

The rest of the world has to suffer, and Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Venezuela and Cuba terribly so, because of US domestic politics and its penchant for world dominance at all costs and times. It shouldn't be that way.

P GUNASEGARAM says the world has become lopsided and lawless following Donald Trump’s ascendancy to the US presidency. But what can we expect from a felon?

Pejabat Mat Sabu nafi imej palsu galak penjawat awam tanam ganja di rumah, sudah lapor MCMC

Imej manipulasi digital yang cuba mengaitkan Mohamad Sabu dengan ganja disahkan palsu. - Gambar Facebook Mohamad Sabu, 14 April, 2026


Pejabat Mat Sabu nafi imej palsu galak penjawat awam tanam ganja di rumah, sudah lapor MCMC


Orang ramai dinasihatkan supaya tidak menyebarkan kandungan palsu serta sentiasa merujuk saluran rasmi


Wartawan Scoop
Dikemaskini 47 minutes lalu
14 April, 2026
11:06 AM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR – Pejabat Menteri Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan menafikan sekeras-kerasnya imej manipulasi digital di media sosial yang mendakwa Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu menggalakkan penjawat awam menanam ganja di rumah.

Menurut kenyataan rasmi, dakwaan itu adalah fitnah serta manipulasi digital yang tidak benar dan berpotensi mengelirukan orang awam. Pejabat Menteri menegaskan imej berkenaan tidak pernah dikeluarkan dan tidak mencerminkan pendirian Mohamad.

“Sehubungan itu, laporan rasmi dibuat kepada Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) untuk siasatan dan tindakan lanjut terhadap pihak berkenaan. Orang ramai dinasihatkan supaya tidak menyebarkan kandungan palsu serta sentiasa merujuk saluran rasmi bagi mendapatkan maklumat yang sahih,” katanya.

Imej palsu itu sebelum ini cuba mengaitkan kenyataan Mohamad dengan konflik di Asia Barat, seolah-olah beliau mencadangkan penjawat awam mula menanam ganja di rumah. Namun, muat naik berkenaan kemudian dikemas kini dengan label jelas bahawa ia adalah palsu.

Hakikatnya, pada Mac lalu Mohamad hanya menggalakkan penjawat awam yang memiliki rumah bertanah supaya menanam sayur sebagai langkah menambah bekalan makanan domestik sekiranya konflik di Asia Barat berlarutan. Cadangan itu adalah sebahagian usaha meningkatkan keterjaminan makanan negara.

Penafian tegas ini sekali lagi menekankan bahaya penyebaran maklumat palsu di media sosial. Pejabat Menteri mengingatkan orang ramai agar lebih berhati-hati, tidak mudah terpedaya dengan manipulasi digital, dan sentiasa merujuk sumber rasmi bagi memastikan maklumat yang diterima adalah sahih. – 14 April, 2026

***

I'm reminded of a story my (late) grandma told me when I was a small kid. Grandma grew up in Southern Thailand and was obviously fully aware that the Thais there grew ganja and consumed them not as smokes but as salad (ulam), wakakaka 😂😂😂

M’sia has fiscal room to support industries amid Iran war, says Tengku Zafrul

FMT:

M’sia has fiscal room to support industries amid Iran war, says Tengku Zafrul

Malaysian Investment Development Authority chair Tengku Zafrul Aziz said savings from a reduction in fuel subsidies prior to the conflict have helped cushion its impact

Tengku Zafrul Aziz said Malaysia entered the crisis with strong fundamentals. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia still has room to deploy fiscal support for industries impacted by the fallout of the Iran war, according to Tengku Zafrul Aziz, chair of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

“We are bracing ourselves to ensure that the Malaysian government can support some of these industries,” Tengku Zafrul said in an interview with Bloomberg TV’s Haslinda Amin on Tuesday. “We still have the fiscal space.”

The country entered the crisis with strong fundamentals, Tengku Zafrul said, while savings from a reduction in fuel subsidies prior to the Middle East conflict have helped cushion some of the impact.


Still, a prolonged war and continued disruption to energy supply will weigh on the country’s fiscal position. The government is under pressure to contain rising living costs and manage a swelling subsidy bill due to higher oil prices. The nation’s monthly subsidies for both petrol and diesel have climbed to RM6 billion, from RM700 million before the conflict.

Authorities will discuss measures to address surging fuel and essential goods costs driven by the Middle East war in a meeting on Tuesday.