BN will defend all the seats it previously won in the upcoming Malacca state election, said its chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The coalition won 21 of 28 seats in the Malacca legislative assembly during the 2021 state polls.
New Straits Times reported the Umno president saying that the coalition decided not to give up any of its current seats to other parties.
“The Malacca Chief Minister (Ab Rauf Yusoh), who is also the Malacca BN chairperson, has informed me that he is determined to defend all 21 seats won by BN,” Zahid reportedly said.
The High Court hears that a United Kingdom-based financial fraud investigator did not establish whether the US$620 million Najib Razak returned to Tanore Finance Corporation was later redirected to the former prime minister
Updated 1 day ago · Published on 05 Aug 2026 8:05AM
Investigator concedes under cross-examination that he had not investigated the movement of the funds beyond their return - August 5, 2026
THE High Court was told that a financial fraud investigator did not trace whether the US$620 million returned by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to Tanore Finance Corporation was subsequently channelled back to him.
Richard Templeman, a United Kingdom-based financial fraud investigator, acknowledged the omission during cross-examination by Najib's lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, in the civil suit filed by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and four of its subsidiaries against Najib and six former company executives.
Muhammad Shafee noted that Najib had received US$681 million before returning US$620 million to Tanore several months later, and questioned whether Templeman had investigated if the returned funds had ultimately found their way back to the former prime minister.
Templeman admitted that he had not.
Muhammad Shafee: "Don't you think that is a critical issue, given that you are acting as a fraud investigator?"
Templeman: "I believe I have investigated the relevant matters."
Muhammad Shafee: "But you did not investigate whether the US$620mil somehow went around and came back to Najib?"
Templeman: "No. I do not believe I have ever claimed that."
The defence also questioned whether Templeman had investigated Najib's claim that the funds were transferred into his bank account with the approval of Bank Negara Malaysia.
"I have not seen that document," Templeman replied.
Muhammad Shafee further highlighted that Templeman only assumed responsibility for the investigation in July 2021, approximately two months after 1MDB had commenced the civil action, suggesting that the investigator had been brought in to support an already-filed claim.
Templeman agreed that the lawsuit had been initiated before he began his investigation.
Muhammad Shafee then suggested that the witness had been called to testify to "bolster a claim that had already been made", to which Templeman responded that he could not comment.
The civil suit was filed on May 7, 2021, by 1MDB together with its subsidiaries, 1MDB Energy Holdings Ltd, 1MDB Energy Ltd, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Ltd and Global Diversified Investment Company Ltd, formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Ltd.
In addition to Najib, the plaintiffs named former 1MDB finance officer Terrence Geh Choh Heng, former executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, former chief investment officer Vincent Beng Huat Koh, former chief operations officer Radhi Mohamad, former investment director Kelvin Tan Kay Jim and former SRC International Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil as defendants.
The plaintiffs allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties and duties of trust, abused their positions and conspired to misappropriate funds belonging to 1MDB.
The hearing before Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Redzuan Idrus continues today. - August 5, 2026
Detroit, Michigan – Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive public health advocate, has won the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate, overcoming more than $60m in campaign spending, mostly from pro-Israel groups.
The Associated Press News Agency and other major outlets called the narrow race for El-Sayed on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after the polls closed. With nearly all the votes counted, El-Sayed had a one percent lead.
The result of the vote, which took place on Tuesday, represents an enormous blow to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which led the way in the effort to defeat El-Sayed, backing his opponent, US Congresswoman Haley Stevens, with more than $30m.
El-Sayed will face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in November. The race is considered one of a handful of competitive Senate contests in the November midterms and could determine which party controls the chamber for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term.
If El-Sayed – who is of Egyptian descent – wins in November, he would become the first Muslim senator in US history.
Tuesday’s result in Michigan – a swing state that voted for Trump in 2024 – will have major implications for the Democrats’ policies on conflicts in the Middle East.
El-Sayed recognises Israel’s atrocities in Gaza as a genocide and argues that money spent on conflicts that benefit Israel should be invested in local communities in the US to address healthcare, housing and infrastructure problems.
Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, a non-partisan advocacy group that does not endorse candidates, called El-Sayed’s victory a “big deal”.
She said voters “did not buy” the avalanche of ads that did not talk about policies and only launched negative attacks “about an Arab American Muslim man named Abdul”.
“I am thrilled for the rest of the country to learn that Michigan is not going to take it,” Berry told Al Jazeera.
Stevens endorses El-Sayed
Stevens and her allies tried to paint El-Sayed as sexist – a push that Arab American advocates say tried to play up tropes about Arab men.
The congresswoman is a staunch supporter of Israel, and AIPAC backed her heavily in 2022 to defeat Andy Levin, a progressive Jewish legislator.
The Michigan election result on Tuesday is the latest election defeat to pro-Israel Democrats as the party’s base – and US public opinion generally – turns against the Middle East ally.
Polls had suggested that El-Sayed was set for a comfortable win, but Stevens outperformed expectations across the state and had a strong showing in Detroit, Michigan’s largest city.
As the night went on, Stevens kept closing in on a lead that El-Sayed had built in from early returns. The race remained too close to call for hours after the polls closed.
“Michigan… We won,” El-Sayed wrote in a social media post on Wednesday after hours of uncertainty about the fate of the race. “I am so proud to be your Democratic nominee for US Senate. Let’s win in November.”
Stevens endorsed El-Sayed almost immediately after the race was called by AP. “I want to congratulate Abdul El-Sayed on winning the Democratic nomination for US Senate,” she said in a statement. “He is a doctor, a community health official, a Rhodes Scholar, and a dedicated Michigander. I am proud to offer my support as he takes on Mike Rogers in the general election.”
On Tuesday night, NBC News was the first major network to project El-Sayed as the winner.
As soon as that announcement was made, Mallory McMorrow – a state legislator who was in the US Senate race but dropped out weeks before the elections – endorsed El-Sayed.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Gary Peters, who had backed Stevens in the primary, also voiced support for El-Sayed against Rogers on Wednesday.
2:06
Gaza holds mass funeral for 112 victims recovered after three years
‘Mike … we are coming for you’
El-Sayed will now look to unite the Democratic base after a bitter primary where Israel and AIPAC’s spending took centre stage.
Even before his victory was assured, El-Sayed called on his supporters to “begin to mend fences” within the Democratic Party.
“I’m going to ask all of us as we think about where we go from here, always magnanimity in victory,” he said.
“So if your instinct is to be like ‘I told you,’ no. Let’s come together to build a movement that’s even bigger, that’s even stronger, that’s even more powerful, that reaches into the very depths of this state, that reminds us the best of who we are and who we can be.”
The Democratic candidate went on to warn that the primary contest “pales in comparison to the cynicism” that Rogers and Trump will unleash in the general elections.
El-Sayed vowed to go on the attack against Roger, painting the Republican candidate as beholden to Trump and corporate interests.
“Mike – and I know you’re listening, Mike – we are coming for you,” he said.
Trump said El-Sayed’s victory was “great news” for Republicans.
“El-Sayed, a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel, is the projected winner in his race with the Socialist,” the US president wrote in a social media post.
“As usual, the Polls were way off on this one. She was not expected to do nearly as well as she did. Now, the Dumocrats crazy policies will only get worse!”
US President Donald Trump again claims Washington is in talks with Tehran and says he prefers diplomacy to war.
Yemen’s Houthis claim attacks on two Saudi oil tankers near Yanbu port in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden.
Israel launches deadly air strikes on southern Lebanon after two Israeli soldiers died in an explosion in the town of Majdal Selem.
51m ago
(03:20 GMT)
Israel’s military confirms death of 2 soldiers in Lebanon
The Israeli military has issued a statement on the death of the two reserve soldiers in Lebanon yesterday, saying they were killed in combat.
It said four others were severely injured and were evacuated to a hospital.
The soldiers were killed in an explosion in the Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun, the military said.
It has since launched a series of attacks across southern Lebanon, killing at least one person.
57m ago
(03:15 GMT)
El-Sayed rejects US funding for defensive systems like Israel’s Iron Dome
We have more from the Democratic candidate’s comments to CNN.
Abdul El-Sayed made clear that his opposition to unconditional aid for foreign governments extends to defensive military technology, including Israel’s Iron Dome system.
“I don’t believe that there’s really a difference between offensive or defensive weapons, and I also don’t believe it’s my responsibility to buy defensive weapons for a foreign government when our kids are defenceless against schools that have been underfunded for a very, very long time,” he said.
“My responsibility as the next senator from Michigan is children in Michigan, rather than thinking about what’s in the interest of a foreign government.”
When asked to confirm if he opposes funding for defensive systems like the Iron Dome, El-Sayed reiterated his position.
“I am against it, in large part because I just don’t understand why anybody thinks it’s the right thing to do to send our tax dollars abroad to fund foreign militaries when our own kids barely get to go to schools that are functional.”
Lim Lip Eng says the report is inconsistent in recommending no amendments while proposing powers similar to a state legislative assembly for the council
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the feasibility report on amending the Federal Capital Act 1960 fails to explain how the proposed FT ministers’ council can enact by-laws under the current legal framework. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has criticised a feasibility report on amending the Federal Capital Act 1960, saying one of its recommendations contradicts both existing laws and its own findings.
According to Lim, the report recommended that the Act remain unchanged while proposing that a federal territories ministers’ council play a “role similar to the state legislative assembly” and be empowered to “enact by-laws, regulations and rules for Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s use”.
He said the report failed to explain how the proposed council could exercise such powers without legislative amendments, given that the Local Government Act 1976 designates the Kuala Lumpur mayor as the local authority and grants the mayor the power to make by-laws.
While the Federal Capital Act 1960 allows the mayor to delegate some duties, Lim said the power to make by-laws could not be delegated.
“Therefore, the FT ministers’ council cannot assume that power without legislative amendments,” the federal lawmaker said in a statement.
“If the FT ministers’ council merely intends to propose draft by-laws, the report must state this clearly. However, the report uses the word ‘enact’, which implies the exercise of legislative power.”
Lim said the government could not maintain that the Federal Capital Act did not need to be amended while proposing to give the council powers not permitted under the current legal framework.
He also said the council could not be equated with a state legislative assembly merely because it comprised ministers and MPs.
“Without clear legislative amendments, the council can only function as an administrative or consultative body,” he said.
The report, prepared by International Islamic University Malaysia, found that many issues affecting DBKL stemmed from governance and administrative weaknesses rather than gaps in the law.
The study recommended strengthening DBKL’s existing governance structure and internal administration rather than amending the law or introducing a councillor system.
Lim also took issue with the report’s citation of a 2014 Federal Court ruling involving the Penang government to argue against reviving local elections.
He said the court only ruled that Penang could not unilaterally revive local elections because doing so would conflict with the Local Government Act 1976.
“The Federal Court did not rule that local elections are prohibited by the Federal Constitution or that Parliament cannot amend the relevant laws,” he said.
Lim said Parliament had the power to establish local elections in Kuala Lumpur and called for the Federal Capital Act to be amended to establish a city council with a majority of members elected by residents.
He said the government should also amend the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act or expressly exempt Kuala Lumpur from them, before empowering the Election Commission to conduct local elections in the capital.
“Political appointments must not deprive the people of their rights,” he said.
“Those responsible for overseeing DBKL must be elected by the people of Kuala Lumpur through the ballot box, not determined by the government.”
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaks during the monthly assembly of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry in Putrajaya on August 6, 2026. — Picture by Yusof Isa
Summary
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed optimism that Barisan Nasional's (BN) recent success in Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections could precipitate a "blue wave" reaching Putrajaya.
Speaking at his ministry's monthly assembly, Zahid suggested that this political momentum could potentially extend to other regions, although he expressed uncertainty about it reaching Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.
Nonetheless, he committed to ensuring its presence in Perlis.
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid First Published: Thursday, 06 Aug 2026 11:06 AM MYT
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 6 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said a “blue wave” could extend beyond Johor and Negeri Sembilan and soon reach Putrajaya, following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) strong showing in the two state elections.
Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, made the political remarks during his ministry’s monthly assembly here.
“Politics is a different matter but God willing the blue wave will come,” Zahid said with a smile.
“The blue wave will continue. From Johor to Negeri Sembilan, and God willing, arrive here. I’m not sure if it will reach Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah but I will make sure it reaches Perlis,” he added.
MORE TO COME
***
Ingrate, arrogant and treacherous, PMX deserves him.
If Anwar can be assured of Sarawak and Sabah's backing, just sack him lah!
By the by, bloke has also sent a warning to PAS, wakakaka - this man has no loyalty nor friendship.
Syaza Shukri says the party will probably disregard Khairy Jamaluddin’s suggestion as a personal view
Analyst Syaza Shukri said Umno will likely argue that it was not the sole party responsible for any mismanagement of Tabung Haji.
PETALING JAYA: An analyst believes that Khairy Jamaluddin’s call for Umno to acknowledge its shortcomings in managing Tabung Haji (TH) will likely fall on deaf ears.
Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said the party would likely disregard its former youth chief’s suggestion as his personal view and not that of the grassroots because Khairy was no longer seen as representing the grassroots.
“The best thing for Umno to do is to follow what Khairy suggested – to be honest about the governance failures that plagued the pilgrims’ fund,” she told FMT.
However, she said Umno would likely point out that it was not the sole party responsible for any mismanagement of TH, or that the fund was only plagued by issues between 2014 and 2017.
The 252-page royal commission of inquiry (RCI) report on the investigation into TH’s management and operations from 2014 to 2020 was declassified and released last Wednesday.
The RCI found, among others, that TH had concealed the true state of its finances for years, reporting a RM3.4 billion profit for 2017 when it should have recorded a RM1.4 billion net loss under proper accounting standards – a shortfall of almost RM4.8 billion.
On Tuesday, Khairy said Umno would show that the party was changing for the better if it admitted to these weaknesses and failures.
Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting said Khairy’s call for Umno to acknowledge its failures in managing TH was more than just a criticism of the party.
“It is an implicit admission that the political culture entrenched within the country’s economic institutions has long been a liability for Malaysia.”
Zaharuddin also asked why billion-ringgit financial institutions and GLCs remained vehicles for the appointment of political figures even though the public ultimately bore the risks.
“This is no longer an Umno issue, but a bipartisan disease that has taken root over the past few decades,” he said.
***
Aiyah, why worry when Muslim voters will always vote Muslim candidates even if the latter are corrupt - they'll still be light-years better than non-corrupt 'non' candidates
Besides, the TH corruption is just sap sap suoi - there were others who used Bank Negara money to play in "casinos", wakakaka.
Syaza Shukri says Perikatan Nasional will use its hold on three of the six parliamentary constituencies in the state as its bargaining chip
PN largely made way for BN to contest more seats in Negeri Sembilan, but an analyst expects the PAS-led coalition to demand an equal share at the Melaka polls.
PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional (BN) is likely to demand at least half of the 28 state seats up for grabs when Melaka goes to the polls next, according to an analyst.
Its demand will largely be based on its victory in three of the state’s parliamentary constituencies in the 2022 general election (GE15), Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia told FMT.
BN failed to win any parliamentary seat in Melaka in GE15 despite chalking up a convincing victory in the state election the previous year.
Syaza said that while BN fielded candidates in only 25 of the 36 seats in the Negeri Sembilan election on Aug 1, leaving the remaining 11 to PN to avoid a direct clash, it is more likely to be “closer to a 14-14” formula in Melaka.
While PN banks on its hold on the three parliamentary seats, BN is not without its bargaining chip. The coalition won convincingly in the state election the previous year, garnering 20 of the 28 seats available.
“PN has shown that it has been gaining strength (since the last Melaka election), so it will not want to be treated as a junior partner in this pact,” Syaza told FMT.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said recently that the BN-PN cooperation in the Melaka polls could look different from that in Negeri Sembilan. Nonetheless, he did qualify that comment with the caveat that it would depend on local developments.
In response, Melaka BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh said the coalition was willing to explore working with any party under a BN-Plus formula. But he also cautioned that talks would not necessarily result in an agreement, as they would depend on each party’s strengths.
Bersatu won Masjid Tanah in GE15 while PAS won Tangga Batu and Jasin. There are 14 state seats within these three parliamentary constituencies.
Bersatu has since fallen out with PAS and is not expected to contest under the PN banner despite still being a component of the coalition.
PAS in April announced that it intended to contest 16 seats in Melaka, including Tanjung Bidara, now held by Rauf.
No upper hand for PN
Universiti Malaya’s Tawfik Yaakub shares a slightly different view. He pointed out that while the three parliamentary seats may give PN bargaining power, it will not necessarily give it the upper hand.
“Winning a parliamentary seat does not automatically translate into state-seat entitlement,” he told FMT. “PN cannot demand half the state seats simply because it holds half of Melaka’s parliamentary seats.”
However, Tawfik noted, BN also cannot dismiss PN as a minor player at the state level given that PN had already defeated BN in the contest for three parliamentary seats.
Nonetheless, he said, various issues such as voter turnout, what they look for in a candidate, and the factors they consider when casting their votes could produce contrasting results at the state and federal levels.
For now, he believes BN’s hold on the Melaka administration, extensive network of incumbents and recent wins in Johor and Negeri Sembilan would strengthen its bargaining position.
Winnability over arithmetic
Tawfik said the incumbency rule could be a starting point but should not be applied rigidly, as it would fail to reflect prevailing political realities.
He said a fair seat-sharing arrangement should consider incumbency, recent election results, polling district outcomes and local realities, including party machinery, candidate suitability, grassroots acceptance, and vote-transferability between BN and PN supporters.
“Under this hybrid formula, BN could retain most of its strongholds while PN receives several genuinely winnable seats,” he said, arguing that winnability, not numerical parity, should ultimately determine seat allocation.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said it would be an uphill battle for BN and PN to hammer out a deal in Melaka given that negotiating solely on PN’s parliamentary gains and BN’s strength at the state level “cannot hold water”.
He expects Umno and its BN partners to insist on incumbency, contesting 20 seats and leaving the remaining eight for PN to divide among its component parties.
If talks fail
In the event that BN and PN fail to come to an agreement, BN could try to strike a deal with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Syaza pointed out that PH still has a strong presence in Melaka. Besides its hold on five state seats, it also has the remaining three parliamentary seats it won in GE15.
In that sense, Azmi believes, PH could gain from a partnership with BN.
Investigator concedes under cross-examination that he had not investigated the movement of the funds beyond their return - August 5, 2026
