Former Felda DG charged with cheating board over Jalan Semarak land transfer

Former Felda DG charged with cheating board over Jalan Semarak land transfer



A general view of Menara Felda in Kuala Lumpur on October 9, 2019. — Picture by Choo Choy May


Summary

• A former director-general of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, has been charged with deceiving Felda's board of directors regarding a power of attorney related to the transfer of 16 parcels of land at Jalan Semarak in 2014.
• By allegedly concealing the details of the power of attorney, Faizoull is accused of inducing the board to approve the transfer of ownership to Synergy Promenade companies, when they otherwise might not have done so.
• He pleaded not guilty to the charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which could result in a prison sentence and a fine if convicted.

First Published: Wednesday, 30 Sep 2026 9:54 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — A former director-general (DG) of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) was charged at the Sessions Court here today with deceiving the authority’s board of directors in connection with a power of attorney used to transfer the ownership of 16 parcels of its land at Jalan Semarak in 2014.

Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, 66, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.

Faizoull, in his capacity as Felda DG, is accused of deceiving the board by concealing a power of attorney dated June 3, 2014, granted Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd authority to transfer ownership of the 16 parcels of land involved in the proposed Felda Lot Development Project at Jalan Semarak.

The act induced the board of directors to agree to the power of attorney, resulting in the transfer of ownership of the said Felda land to Synergy Promenade KLVC Sdn Bhd and Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd, when the Board would not have done so had it not been deceived.


The offence is alleged to have been committed at the Board Meeting Room, Level 50, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC here on Sept 2, 2014.

He was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of between one and 10 years and caning, as well as a fine, upon conviction. — Bernama

Malaysia denounces Israeli settler raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque, urges UN action

 

Malaysia denounces Israeli settler raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque, urges UN action



Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives for an event marking the Jewish holiday of Sukkot outside Kibbutz Nir-Am near the Israel-Gaza border on September 27, 2026. — AFP pic


Summary

• Malaysia has condemned the recent incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by over 1,000 Israeli settlers and officials, led by Israel's national security minister, which was protected by Israeli forces.
• The Malaysian Foreign Ministry highlighted this as a breach of international law and a deliberate effort to change the character of the site.
• Urging action from the international community, Malaysia reiterated its support for Palestinian rights and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

First Published: Wednesday, 30 Sep 2026 10:20 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Malaysia strongly condemned the latest incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem by more than 1,000 illegal Israeli settlers and senior regime officials, led by Israel’s national security minister, under the protection of the regime’s occupying forces on Sept 28.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry, also known as Wisma Putra, stressed that the repeated incursions constitute a serious violation of international law, as well as the historical and legal status quo governing occupied East Jerusalem and Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

“These actions are not merely isolated provocations, but part of the Israeli Zionist regime’s ongoing efforts to alter the identity and character of Al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied East Jerusalem.

“Malaysia categorically rejects any such attempts and stresses that the sanctity of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and the religious rights of Muslim worshippers must be fully respected and upheld,” it said.


Malaysia also urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to take urgent and concrete action to compel the Israeli Zionist regime to immediately cease such deliberate and flagrant violations.

“The Zionist Israeli regime must be held accountable for its continued attempts to undermine the historical and legal status quo at Al-Haram Al-Sharif,” it said.

Malaysia also reaffirmed its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, and reiterated its longstanding support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. — Bernama

Dr Mahathir admitted to IJN for observation

Dr Mahathir admitted to IJN for observation



Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrives for the funeral of his wife, the late Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, at Pusara Negara in Putrajaya on September 28, 2026. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, aged 101, has been admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for observation following the passing of his wife, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
• Dr. Siti Hasmah, who was 100, passed away after a heart attack and was subsequently laid to rest at Pusara Negara in Putrajaya.
• The couple, both trained doctors, were married for 70 years and had seven children.

First Published: Wednesday, 30 Sep 2026 10:21 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) yesterday for observation, his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir reportedly said today.

According to Bernama, the 101-year-old statesman was admitted a day after the death of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, at the same hospital.

Dr Siti Hasmah died at IJN on Monday at the age of 100 after her condition deteriorated following a heart attack, and was laid to rest at Pusara Negara in Precinct 20, Putrajaya, later that day.

Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah, both doctors by training, were married for 70 years and had seven children.


MORE TO COME

Negeri Sembilan MB seen leaving palace after nearly three-hour audience with Tuanku Muhriz

Negeri Sembilan MB seen leaving palace after nearly three-hour audience with Tuanku Muhriz



Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim had arrived at about 10.50am. It is learnt that his vehicle left the palace before 2.30 pm through another exit and was therefore not spotted by media personnel waiting at the main gate. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim met with the Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz, at Istana Hinggap for nearly three hours.
• The meeting was reportedly related to the administration and ongoing situation in Negeri Sembilan.
• Tuanku Muhriz previously revoked the appointments of 10 members of the State Executive Council, effective 20th September.

First Published: Tuesday, 29 Sep 2026 7:28 PM MYT


SEREMBAN, Sept 29 —Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim concluded an audience with the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, at Istana Hinggap here after spending nearly three hours at the palace.

Ismail had arrived at about 10.50am. It is learnt that his vehicle left the palace before 2.30 pm through another exit and was therefore not spotted by media personnel waiting at the main gate.

A vehicle carrying Tuanku Muhriz was later seen leaving the palace at about 2.30 pm.

Earlier, vehicles carrying Undang Luak Sungai Ujong Datuk Klana Petra Muhammad Faris Johari and Undang Luak Rembau Datuk Sedia Raja Hassan Ab Hamid were also seen entering the palace grounds.


The meeting is understood to be related to the state’s administration and the ongoing situation in Negeri Sembilan.

Tuanku Muhriz had previously revoked the appointments of 10 members of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council (Exco), effective Sept 20. The revocation was gazetted on Sept 24.

The affected Exco members are Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli, Datuk Zaifulbahri Idris, Datuk Mustapha Nagoor, Siow Kong Choon, Siti Nur Umaira Hasim, Datuk Mohd Asna Amin, Datuk Mohd Razi Mohd Ali, Suhaimizan Bizar, Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa and Datuk Razali Abu Samah. — Bernama

 

World Most Delayed Fighter Delivery Faces Uncertain Future as U.S. Postpones F-16 Transfer to China

Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff

September-29th-2026

F-16D

The Republic of China Minister of National Defence Wellington Koo has confirmed that there are no financial penalty provisions attached to the delayed delivery of 66 F-16 Block 70 fighters ordered in 2019, while stating that Taipei and Washington are discussing compensation measures for the delays. Koo said the F-16 transfer has reached the stage at which some of the aircraft are ready for delivery, with preparations for accepting the fighters proceeding according to the schedule established by the U.S. program office. He said the schedule for the aircraft’s ferry flight to bases on Taiwan Island will be announced once it has been confirmed.

Republic of China Air Force F-16 Block 70 Fighter in the United States

In early September the first two F-16 Block 70 fighters were forced to turn back to Hawaii shortly after taking off for the next stage of their first journey across the Pacific, introducing another delay into a long-troubled delivery to equip the Republic of China Air Force. The two single-seat aircraft, bearing serial numbers 6727 and 6728, departed Hickam Field in Hawaii on September 7 but reportedly returned to the base shortly after takeoff. The reason for the aborted flight remains unclear, with unconfirmed reports having indicated that one of the aircraft suffered technical difficulties after takeoff.

Republic of China Air Force F-16A/B Block 20 Fighters Acquired in the 1990s

The Republic of China Ministry of National Defence in July confirmed that it was seeking compensation from the United States and the manufacturer of its new fighters Lockheed Martin. Regarding compensation for the delayed deliveries, Minister Koo said the Air Force and the U.S. side are currently conducting discussions. He emphasised that the arms sale itself does not contain financial penalty provisions, but said the United States has demonstrated goodwill regarding compensation and that Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense will coordinate the matter. He added that concrete compensation measures are expected to be established following the ongoing discussions, with details to be announced once an agreement has been reached.

Republic of China Air Force French-Origin Mirage 2000 Fighter - These Ageing Fighters Will Be Replaced by New F-16s

A U.S. Congressional report previously stated that the 66 aircraft were originally intended for delivery during 2025–2026, although with none yet delivered, the possibility has been raised that the last of the aircraft may only enter service in the 2030s. The Republic of China Ministry of National Defense previously attributed some of the difficulty to the fact that the Block 70 configuration being produced for Taiwan incorporates a new combination of systems requiring extensive flight testing and calibration. In March, the ministry said 59 of the 66 aircraft were already undergoing assembly or modification and that there were no major shortages of materials or personnel on the production line.

Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-20S Fifth Generation Air Superiority Fighter - Weibo

Compensation claims over delayed F-16 deliveries are far from unprecedented, with Premier Cho Jung-tai having in October 2025 stated that the government did not rule out “taking legal action against the manufacturer.” The deliveries are far from isolated, with outstanding backlogs of undelivered U.S. equipment to the Republic of China Armed Forces having in December 2025 reached over $21.45 billion. The Taiwan-based Republic of China relies heavily on U.S. defence supplies for its ongoing state of civil war with the mainland-based People’s Republic of China remain, with both claiming to be the sole legitimate Chinese governments. The People’s Republic has developed multiple types of fifth generation fighters and currently leading the world in sixth generation fighter development, compared to which the ageing fourth generation F-16 has long since been considered obsolete.

***

Trump may well be playing Taiwan out - not to be unexpected.

DAP leaders: Declassify Pardons Board meeting minutes on Najib house arrest

DAP leaders: Declassify Pardons Board meeting minutes on Najib house arrest

Published: Sep 29, 2026 4:36 PM


Former DAP lawmaker Tony Pua has urged the government to declassify the minutes of the Pardons Board meetings to clarify the ministers' true stance on opposing a second pardon for Najib Abdul Razak, which would dispel external doubts that the coalition government made secret compromises.

Pua (above, left) also threw his support behind DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke's decision to relinquish his post as transport minister as a gesture of accountability - something the latter had voiced to him privately in March this year, when rumours of Najib's pardon first surfaced.

This comes amid criticism of DAP and Pakatan Harapan for their perceived failure to stop Najib from getting clemency. DAP and Harapan have been trying to shift responsibility by arguing that board decisions are the sole prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by DAP national vice-chairperson Teo Nie Ching, Pua pointed out that only by declassifying the board meeting minutes and making them public can the truth be restored, proving that Harapan ministers did not pave the way for Najib within the system.


"This is so everyone can see who actually made the decision to release Najib or place him under house arrest."

Pua stated that DAP and Harapan's stance as a whole has always been clear: individuals involved in corruption must serve their full sentences. He added that their government representatives also expressed opposition during the Pardons Board meetings.


Teo (above) backed the same demand, explaining that since board meeting minutes are bound by the Official Secrets Act (OSA), ministers are legally unable to disclose meeting details to the public, leading to public suspicion and even the misconception that the government is putting on a show behind closed doors.

"If you want to verify what the attorney-general's stance was in the meeting, or what (DAP deputy secretary-general) Hannah Yeoh's stance was... the best way is to declassify the meeting minutes and lay them out in the open.


"People won't need to harbour doubts or guess whether the government or Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had a different stance during the meeting."

Not an impulsive decision

Touching on Loke's resignation, Pua revealed that the move was not an impulsive one, but something the former had considered well in advance.


Pua recalled that as early as March this year, when rumours were circulating that Najib might receive a pardon or serve house arrest, Loke had already gotten wind of the news and specifically invited him to dinner to discuss strategies and public sentiment.

"When he (Loke) spoke to me about it, it was already March this year. So frankly, the rumour that Najib might be released to stay at home was already circulating. By then, Loke had received the news."


Pua (above) revealed that during the dinner, Loke evaluated various political options, including resigning in protest. The former MP noted that back then, he opined that the entire cabinet, not just Loke, should quit, as it would look awkward otherwise.

However, he added that as the situation has evolved and Harapan government representatives explicitly expressed their opposition within the Pardons Board, circumstances have shifted considerably.

Measured yet powerful

Pua further revealed that after the Pardons Board announced its decision, the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) held an intense debate during a recent meeting over whether Loke should resign alone to take responsibility, or if all five ministers and seven deputy ministers should resign en masse in protest.

Pua admitted that he originally advocated "if we resign, everyone resigns," but the party ultimately considered the bigger picture and political realities.

"If everyone resigned, frankly, a general election would happen next month, which plays right into Umno's hands. They want Parliament dissolved quickly so they can form a new government under current conditions and make (Umno president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi the prime minister. That would be walking straight into the opponent's trap."

Teo chimed in, saying that having the secretary-general resign alone is a measured yet powerful political statement. This way, DAP ministers still retain a certain level of influence within the cabinet, demonstrating that the party has not given up on the reform process.

She added that this move sends a clear warning to Anwar, proving that principled DAP ministers are prepared to step down, while also ensuring the party retains governance influence in the government to prevent their cabinet positions from falling to others.

Resignation 'a first step'

Pua believes that Loke's (below) resignation is not a compromise, but the "first step" in pressuring Anwar to advance reforms.


"What the public wants to see is action. I hope Loke's resignation applies pressure on the prime minister to intensify institutional reforms while ensuring government stability.

"Loke's resignation is the first step. If after the most heavyweight party leader resigns, the government still fails to respect the people's demand for reform, then there is no point in other ministers remaining in government."

Pua also pointed out that stepping down from his cabinet post frees Loke from the constraints of "collective cabinet responsibility," allowing him to take a firmer stance outside the system to represent public sentiment and oversee the administration.

"He is no longer a minister and no longer shackled. Outside, he can freely bang the table and explain the real situation to the public."

No statutory law for house arrest

In the podcast, both Pua and Teo questioned the legal validity of the board's decision, with the former pointing out that Malaysia has no statutory law for house arrest.

"The board has the power to pardon Najib or reduce his sentence, but does it have the authority to change the punishment from prison to staying at home? Even if there were precedents in the past, if it is legally wrong, doing it before does not make it legal now."

Teo added that if DAP were to file a court challenge on the pardon against the king's prerogative, political opponents could easily hype it up into a racial conflict.

She believed it would be more appropriate for neutral professional bodies, such as the Malaysian Bar, to pursue judicial review to keep the discussion strictly focused on constitutional and legal grounds.


Both leaders also raised doubts about Umno's fundraising to pay Najib's (above) fine, with Teo saying that Najib previously declared in court proceedings that his personal assets were less than RM5 million, and that he still owes the Inland Revenue Board nearly RM1.7 billion.

Pua bluntly stated that public fundraising is merely a political tactic to disguise the source of funds and generate grassroots support, and that Najib will ultimately find a way to pay the full fine to secure house arrest.

***

Eeejiiits - declassify Pardon Board members just to "clear" one DAP sweetie on the Board? No respect for the King nor privacy protocols?