Flash floods in Cameron Highlands draw federal probe, geologists deployed

Flash floods in Cameron Highlands draw federal probe, geologists deployed



Vehicles were moved by strong currents during flash floods triggered by heavy rain in Cameron Highlands. — Pictures via Facebook

Tuesday, 21 Apr 2026 5:04 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry will dispatch geologists to Cameron Highlands following flash floods that sent muddy torrents onto a main road, as authorities move to pinpoint the cause and prevent a repeat, the New Straits Times reported.

Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the ministry would work with multiple agencies — including the Public Works Department (JKR), the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) and local councils — in a coordinated investigation.

“We are aware of the incident, which occurred last night. This effort requires cooperation between multiple ministries and agencies.

“For our part, we will send geologists to conduct studies and provide technical assistance. A report will be issued once investigations are completed to determine what happened and how we can avoid similar incidents in the future,” he told reporters after attending the Climate Change and Sustainability Conference 2026 in Petaling Jaya today.


Heavy rain lasting more than two hours yesterday triggered the flash floods in the Habu Heights area, with runoff from surrounding hills surging onto the Ringlet main road.

Cameron Highlands police chief Azri Ramli said the downpour began at about 2pm in the hilly terrain, sending muddy water cascading downhill and across the roadway.

“The runoff from hilly areas surged onto the main road, causing flash floods. However, the situation remained under control, and the waters fully receded by around 4pm,” he said.


The incident briefly disrupted traffic along the route as water and debris flowed across the road.

No casualties were reported, though two police reports were lodged involving vehicles caught in strong currents.

“The involved vehicles were only pushed forward by the force of the water, and no injuries were reported,” he added.

Authorities have since cleared the affected stretch and confirmed it is now safe for road users.

Evil beasts of Babylon

 

Rising waters push KL river past danger mark, says Irrigation and Drainage Dept

Rising waters push KL river past danger mark, says Irrigation and Drainage Dept



Water levels at one Kuala Lumpur river exceeded the danger threshold this afternoon, with an upward trend recorded, according to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage. — Bernama pic

Tuesday, 21 Apr 2026 4:32 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — One of 29 rivers in the capital breached the danger level this afternoon, with authorities flagging a rising water trend.

In a statement on its website, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage said the reading involved the Flat Sri Johor Retention Pond Outlet Channel Station (F2), despite no rainfall being recorded in the area.


The water level at the station stood at 33.03m, or 0.37m above the danger threshold, with an upward trend recorded at 2.30pm.

The station’s thresholds are set at 27.5m (normal), 31.66m (alert), 32.16m (warning) and 32.66m (danger).


Elsewhere, water levels at two stations — Sungai Bidor near Changkat Jong in Hilir Perak and Sungai Perlis at Bukit Tok Poh (F2) in Kangar, Perlis — were recorded above warning levels.


At Sungai Perlis, the water level reached 2.06m, or 0.06m above the warning threshold, with an upward trend observed at about 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, Sungai Bidor recorded a reading of 3.49m, or 0.27m above the warning level, with an upward trend noted at 2.45pm.

3 nabbed for allegedly pilfering RM230mil in zakat funds

3 nabbed for allegedly pilfering RM230mil in zakat funds


A source says MACC also seized 18 luxury vehicles, including Porsches and a Mercedes-Benz, as well as properties worth RM11 million

Three of the 18 luxury vehicles seized by MACC following an operation around the Klang Valley this afternoon.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested three men, including the deputy chairman of an NGO, for allegedly misappropriating RM230 million in zakat funds.

An MACC source said the suspects, in their 50s and 60s, are believed to have colluded to commit the offences between 2018 and 2024.

Two of the men are company directors.


The source said the NGO involved had received the zakat funds from the public that were meant to be redistributed to those in need.

“Investigations found that the deputy chairman of the NGO had transferred the RM230 million into his company’s bank accounts for personal and investment purposes,” the source said.

Two of the men were arrested between 3pm and 5pm today in an operation around the Klang Valley. The other suspect was detained at 2pm while giving a statement at the Selangor MACC headquarters.

In the operation, MACC also seized 18 luxury vehicles, including Porsches and a Mercedes-Benz, as well as properties worth RM11 million. Also seized were various other assets, including luxury watches and cash.

MACC has also frozen 33 bank accounts holding a total of RM120 million.

Selangor MACC director Azwan Ramli confirmed the arrests and seizures, and said the suspects will be brought to the Shah Alam magistrates’ court tomorrow to be remanded.

'Guan Eng is not my enemy and never done anything to me' - Witness

'Guan Eng is not my enemy and never done anything to me' - Witness

Gnanaraja said Guan Eng was not his enemy and the DAP advisor had never done anything bad to him.


Updated 1 hour ago

Published on 21 Apr 2026 4:36PM

Gnanaraja denied that he lied in his statement regarding Guan Eng's arrival at his house at 3am. - April 21, 2026


THE main prosecution witness in the Penang road and undersea tunnel construction project corruption case involving Lim Guan Eng, insisted that he had no intention or motive to accuse the former chief minister until he was charged in court.


Businessman, Datuk Seri G Gnanaraja who is also the 37th prosecution witness said that such an accusation was unreasonable because Guan Eng was not his enemy and the DAP advisor had never done anything bad to him.

According to Gnanaraja, if he had a tendency to deceive as alleged by the defence, he would have stated that the four bags of money given by the former Director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB), Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, were for Guan Eng.

"But I have no intention of accusing Guan Eng with a motive of fraud...I have admitted from the beginning to have taken RM19 million.

"If I don't confess, that would be a lie, here I am telling you what I took and I also confess what I gave to Guan Eng," he said.

Gnanaraja said this when answering re-examination questions by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin at the corruption trial.

On August 27 last year, Gnanaraja told the court that he himself handed over two black bags containing RM2 million to Guan Eng after receiving them from Zarul Ahmad at the Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya on August 18, 2017.

Meanwhile, Gnanaraja denied that he lied in his statement regarding Guan Eng's arrival at his house at 3am.

According to Gnanaraja, no one had ever come to his house at that time even though he had friends who were ministers.

"Only Lim Guan Eng," he said.

Wan Shaharuddin: You agree with the lawyer that Lim Guan Eng's arrival at your house at 3am is unreasonable, can you explain why you agree?

Gnanaraja: I agree with the lawyer that it is not reasonable because it is not credible or acceptable for a person of the rank of Chief Minister to come to my house at 3 am.

Gnanaraja said he also disagreed with the claim that he had made a deal with the prosecution to be a witness in the corruption case to get a lower charge for the case he was facing in Shah Alam.

"Initially in the Shah Alam case I did not deny receiving money from Zarul Ahmad, I just wanted to tell who I gave the rest (money). This is how my involvement in this case began," he said.

On April 3, 2019, Gnanaraja pleaded not guilty in the Shah Alam Sessions Court to three charges of defrauding Zarul Ahmad involving RM19 million.

He was charged with deceiving Zarul Ahmad into believing that he could help close the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against him.

However, the case was later classified as no further action (NFA).

After Gnanaraja finished giving his evidence, the proceedings continued with the hearing of the prosecution's application to amend the first charge against Guan Eng.

Judge Azura Alwi then set May 6 for the verdict and to continue the trial.

Gnanaraja gave evidence against Guan Eng, who was allegedly the Chief Minister of Penang at the time, for using his position to receive RM3.3 million.

This was by helping a company owned by Zarul Ahmad to be appointed to implement the Main Road and Tunnel Construction Project in Penang worth RM6.3 billion between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister's Office.

The Bagan MP was also charged with asking for a bribe of 10 percent of the profits to be obtained from Zarul Ahmad as a reward for helping the businessman's company be appointed for the same project.

The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here between 12.30 midnight and 2am in March 2011.

He also faces two charges of causing two lots of land owned by the Penang Government worth RM208.8 million to be disposed of to a developer company in connection with an undersea tunnel project in the state.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Penang State Land and Mines Office, Komtar on February 17, 2015 and March 22, 2017. – April 21, 2026

Military Watch:

Russia Marketing Su-57 Stealth Fighters to Replace Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKMs

Asia-Pacific , Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft

Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff

April-20th-2026

---

Su-57 Fifth Generation Fighter

The state intermediary agency for Russian defence exports Rosoboronexport has displayed the Su-57 fifth generation fighter at the Defense Services Asia (DSA) international armaments and military equipment exhibition in Malaysia, which is being held in Kuala Lumpur from April 20-23. It reported that the fighter is "an excellent option for the modernisation and development of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, taking into account the compatibility of a number of systems and weapons with the existing Su-30MKM fleet." This occurred less than a week after Rosoboronexport confirmed that multiple countries have now placed orders for Su-57, although not elaborating on the specific clients.

Su-57 Prototype at the Dubai Airshow (top) and Aero India in 2025

Rosoboronexport has made persistent efforts to market the Su-57 to potential Southeast Asian clients, reporting in May 2025 that the aircraft “will be of interest for both representatives of the Malaysian Royal Air Force and other Southeast Asian countries. Its basic advantage before a small group of rivals is its successful combat experience in a real armed conflict amid the enemy’s use of advanced aerial attack, ai defence and electronic warfare capabilities.” As the Singapore Air Force is expected to rapidly re-equip with F-35 fifth generation fighters from the United States beginning in near the end of the decade, Malaysian sources have widely speculated that procurement of aircraft from the same generation could be perceived as necessary. 

U.S. Air Force F-35A

The Royal Malaysian Air Force was the first service in Southeast Asia to procure ‘4+ generation’ fighters when it took delivery of its first Su-30MKM heavyweight fighters in 2006, which were at the time the most sophisticated combat jets Russia had ever exported. Closely based on the Su-30MKI customised to meet Indian requirements, the Su-30MKM was a radical departure from the original Su-27 and Su-30 designs, and benefitted from features first demonstrated on the Su-35 and Su-37 prototypes including fully digital cockpit displays, electronically scanned array radars, thrust vectoring engines, greater uses of composite materials and modern electronic warfare systems and beyond visual range missiles. While the Su-30MKM currently forms the backbone of the fleet, and is still considered the most capable fighter type in Southeast Asia rivalled only by Singapore’s F-15SG, its standing is expected to rapidly diminish over the next decade. 

Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKM Fighters

Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia have long been considered leading potential clients for the Su-57, which is the only fighter type of its generation in production outside China and the United States. With the U.S. imposing extensive conditions on clients for the F-35, and seriously limiting their autonomy using the aircraft, the fighter is not expected to be a viable option for any of these countries, much as it was not for India. Territorial disputes with China, meanwhile, are expected to also exclude Chinese fighters from consideration in Vietnam and Malaysia. Reports first emerged in mid 2017 from Vietnamese paper Dat Viet that the acquisition of 12-24 Su-57s was being planned from around 2030. Further reports to this effect emerged in early January 2019. Algeria in November 2025 became the first foreign operator of the Su-57, with a number of sources having indicated that India and Iran may have placed orders. Although Malaysia cannot be ruled out as a potential client, its sensitivity to Western political pressure makes this appear to be a less likely outcome than Vietnam placing orders. 

Football analyst shocked by 'TMJ's support' needed for FAM top post remark

Football analyst shocked by 'TMJ's support' needed for FAM top post remark


Published: Apr 21, 2026 4:22 PM
Updated: 7:22 PM


A prominent local football analyst has expressed shock and concern over former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Yusoff Mahadi’s remarks that candidates for the association’s top post must have the backing of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

“I am very shocked that such a statement came from an important individual who once served as acting president and deputy president of FAM.

“It clearly shows the existence of an unhealthy culture within the organisation,” Pekan Ramli was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

“Perhaps this was not visible to outsiders before, but now everything has been exposed. People now know what has actually been happening,” Pekan (above) added.

The popular analyst, who often appears on Astro’s football programmes, said Yusoff’s remarks appeared to confirm allegations of a “cartel” within national football.

Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim


“It is as if it confirms what fans have been saying all this time, that there is a cartel or ‘tokong’ (kingmaker). This is no longer just bullets - it’s now like guided missiles being fired at supporters.

“The situation is becoming increasingly chaotic, especially when the issue of seven players who falsified documents earlier has also tarnished the image of national football,” he added.


‘Not in line with Fifa’s rules’

Pekan also stressed that the claim about needing approval from an “outsider” who is not part of FAM’s affiliates is not in line with the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) regulations.

“In any sports organisation statute, including Fifa, it is clearly stated that there must be no external interference in determining leadership.

“So, when it is said that approval is required, that is incorrect and goes against the rules,” he said.

Pekan pointed out that the matter could potentially attract Fifa’s attention.

“After this, Fifa will definitely look into it and may investigate the statement because they are very strict about external interference. The biggest stakeholders in football are the fans and the public,” he said.


‘Don’t question TMJ’s commitment’

Yesterday, Yusoff was reported as saying that the commitment shown by Tunku Ismail, who is popularly known as TMJ, towards national football should no longer be questioned.

Yusoff Mahadi


“If Tunku Ismail does not wish to hold the (FAM president) position, then the FAM president should be chosen from among individuals who have His Highness’ trust and support…

“However, the reality is that without the support of a figure who has a strong influence within the national football ecosystem, the path to success will inevitably be more difficult.

“That is the reality of modern football - not just about positions, but about strength, networks and the ability to move the entire system forward. Think about it,” he said.

Lawyer: Head-stepping occurs when cops think they can get away with murder

Lawyer: Head-stepping occurs when cops think they can get away with murder


Published: Apr 21, 2026 5:28 PM
Updated: 8:06 PM



Any inaction by the police against its officers investigated for the murder of three suspected robbers in Durian Tunggal, Malacca, will strengthen impunity within the force, a lawyer said today.

Rajesh Nagajaran claimed that an example of such impunity or a sense of “getting away” without repercussion for an alleged breach of procedures is the latest incident involving a police officer stepping on a man’s head in Kulim, Kedah.

“When officers believe they will not be held meaningfully accountable, for example, in the Durian Tunggal case, the line between lawful force and abuse collapses.

“Stepping on an individual’s head is not policing - it is pure violence,” Rajesh (above) stressed.

Earlier today, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail ordered an immediate investigation into the Kulim incident, based on a 29-second video clip on social media that showed two police personnel and a man being pulled off his motorcycle.

One of the police personnel was seen in the video stepping on the man’s head after he fell off his motorcycle.

Kulim police subsequently confirmed the incident but clarified that it occurred during a crime prevention operation, and that the suspect, who tested positive for drugs, had allegedly resisted arrest.


Real consequences

Commenting further, Rajesh said, “Are the public safe from the police? Where are our constitutional protections against arbitrary and excessive state power?

“A swift investigation is necessary, but that alone is not sufficient; what the public wants is real consequences.”

He also insisted that even a high level of public pressure has not expedited action in the Durian Tunggal case, with no further developments after nearly five months since the fatal shootings.

“Their (police) ally is the passage of time. As time goes on and on, people will forget, other issues come up, and they will just keep quiet.

“That’s exactly what they are doing, even in a matter as high profile as Durian Tunggal, when there is an audio recording of the police shooting,” he said.

On Nov 24, the police shot and killed three men, aged between 24 and 29, after one of them allegedly used a machete to attack a police officer in an oil palm plantation in Durian Tunggal.

Malacca police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar at the time defended his team’s actions, alleging that the incident caused a corporal, in his early 30s, to suffer severe injuries to his left arm.

The victims’ families have denied the allegations, prompting the police to form a special task force to investigate the incident.

On Dec 16, the Attorney-General’s Chambers reclassified the incident as a murder case after examining police reports.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M Kumar said on Dec 29 last year that the police officers involved have been removed from active duty amid ongoing investigations.


Durian Tunggal updates

Quizzed on updates to the Durian Tunggal probe, Rajesh said he was informed as of three weeks ago that police are still waiting for a post-mortem report of the victims before proceeding with further actions.

“This itself to our mind is absolute nonsense because the post-mortem is not a prerequisite for you to bring charges.

“So why are the police saying they need to wait and look at the post-mortem report? It’s completely irrelevant,” he stressed.

Rajesh said in normal murder cases, the person is immediately arrested, remanded, and charged, while everything else comes later.

“In the Durian Tunggal case, the murder occurred in November last year; now it is April, and they are still sitting on it? It is completely unacceptable.

“We are very disappointed that the police and the AGC still have not charged the police officers involved in this murder.

“We hope charges will be brought as soon as possible because the credibility of the police is at stake here,” he added.

Head-stepping cop: Saifuddin wants swift probe, stresses fairness

Head-stepping cop: Saifuddin wants swift probe, stresses fairness

Shakira Buang
Published: Apr 21, 2026 1:57 PM
Updated: 6:12 PM



Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has ordered an immediate investigation into an incident involving a police officer stepping on a man’s head in Kulim, Kedah.

The minister said he had also spoken to Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah to ensure the investigation is expedited, including a review of whether the officer’s actions complied with established standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“Any enforcement action by police officers is subject to existing SOPs,” he told reporters in Putrajaya today.

However, Saifuddin stressed that action should not be taken hastily based solely on a short viral video clip of the incident.

“We cannot take rash action that could undermine the morale of police officers carrying out enforcement duties.

“We are only seeing a few seconds of the incident, but we must also examine what happened before that,” he added.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

Saifuddin said the investigation must take into account the possibility that the suspect could have been aggressive.

“Let the police investigate first. Do not judge based only on a few seconds of video,” he added.


‘Suspect resisted officers’

Earlier, Kulim district police chief Tengku Faisal Tengku Yeng said the incident, which took place in front of a motorcycle accessories shop, was linked to a crime prevention patrol operation.

He said the 29-second video clip on social media shows an incident involving police officers and a suspect who was pulled off his motorcycle.

“While attempting to detain the suspect, a struggle occurred when the suspect resisted the officers by kicking a police motorcycle and fleeing on a motorcycle recklessly, against traffic, and in a manner dangerous to other road users.

“However, police officers managed to locate the suspect in front of a motorcycle accessories shop on Jalan Tunku Putra and successfully apprehended him shortly afterwards,” he said, according to Berita Harian.

In a later Bernama report, Tengku Faisal said the suspect has been remanded for three days until Thursday.

In the meantime, the police’s Integrity and Standards Compliance Department has been tasked with investigating the officer involved.

“The officer involved has been reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation,” he said.

Cemetery sex couple freed

FMT:

Cemetery sex couple freed

The couple have served 28 days in prison since their arrest on March 23

The High Court reduced M Jegathesan and Halila Abu Bakar’s jail term for gross indecency from 12 months to 28 days.

PETALING JAYA: The couple convicted of gross indecency at a Penang cemetery last month and sentenced to one year in jail were released today after the George Town High Court reduced their sentence.

Justice Rofiah Mohamad upheld the conviction of M Jegathesan, 58, and Halila Abu Bakar, 37, but ordered their jail term to run from their arrest on March 23 until today, effectively reducing the sentence to 28 days in custody.

“The conviction is maintained… (but) the 12-month sentence is replaced with imprisonment from the date of arrest until today,” she said, as reported by the New Straits Times.


The pair had pleaded guilty at the George Town magistrates’ court to gross indecency at the Batu Gantong Chinese cemetery on March 22, an offence under Section 377D of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years.

Their lawyer, Naran Singh, had sought a review of the sentence, arguing it was excessive.

Deputy public prosecutor Muna Jaafar said the prosecution accepted the defence’s representations which had proposed that the conviction be maintained but with a reduced sentence.

Naran said he was satisfied with the outcome.

“I’m very happy with this revision. The sentence has been reduced from 12 months to 28 days, which is the minimum,” he said.

“We did not challenge the conviction. It stands, but the sentence was set aside as it’s excessive for this case.”

US prepares for Total Destruction of Iran

From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi 

dopsSertno01t2hi265c49c7lfif1cm0g1ftlc11mhu1372t64h7lc9uh26f ·

While the news media is full of articles about possible US peace talks, analysts are watching what the US is actually doing

... probably to please its shailok Master and Overlord

From The Independent:

Donald Trump insisted he was “under no pressure whatsoever” to make a peace deal with Iran, as the end of the two-week ceasefire looms with no sign of an extension.

The US president wrote on Truth Social Monday that he was “winning a war” and “things are going very well”, taking aim at the “fake news media” and “the Democrats” who downplayed his leverage.

Trump was resolute that the US military blockade of Iranian vessels would stay in place “until there is a ‘DEAL’”, as Iranian officials said they would not respond to coercion.

2 hours ago

Recap: Trump gives Wednesday ceasefire deadline

Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran would expire on “Wednesday evening Washington time” on Monday, with the deadline fast closing in.

The president clarified the deadline in a call with Bloomberg, in which he also said he was unlikely to accept a ceasefire extension.

“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” he said.

Trump announced the two-week ceasefire with Iran on April 7, and had not specified when precisely it ends.

A Pakistani source involved in the talks said previously it would expire at 8pm ET on Wednesday, which would be midnight GMT or 3:30am Thursday in Iran.