‘Mere politics’ behind calls for new Tabung Haji probes, says Puad

‘Mere politics’ behind calls for new Tabung Haji probes, says Puad

Yesterday

FMT Reporters

The former Umno Supreme Council member said the calls were made in order to dismiss the findings of an RCI which were declassified in July.

Former Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi (in red) at a forum in Johor Bahru today. Also on the panel was Amanah deputy president Mujahid Yusof Rawa (in blue). (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Calls for new investigations into irregularities at Tabung Haji were mere politics aimed at dismissing the findings of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI), said former Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi.

“The RCI report should not be politicised and action must be taken against the culprits,” he said at a public forum in Johor Bahru on the affairs of the pilgrims’ fund.

His remarks were in response to a call by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for a new investigation by the Public Accounts Committee, while Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan called for another RCI to investigate TH affairs in the subsequent periods to the first report.

The report, declassified in July, showed a government bailout of almost RM20 billion to cover losses caused by poor investments, weak decision-making, misconduct of former directors and suspicious approval processes. Four people have been charged, including a former chairman, with a former minister also expected to face charges.

On the meaning of ‘sakau’

Puad described the RCI report as exemplary as it exposed mismanagement, presented 75 recommendations and proposed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police begin investigations. He noted that several people had been charged.

He said the act of “sakau” (looting or embezzlement of public funds) should not be narrowly defined. “Sakau isn’t just about embezzling funds,” he said. Violations of the Tabung Haji Act, receiving excessive allowances or distributing hibah at high rates despite the fund’s strained finances were also a form of “sakau”.

His reference to “sakau” appeared to be a response to Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh who called for proof of claims that there was theft of TH funds. Akmal had also questioned whether the provision of high dividends to depositors and subsidies for pilgrims’ costs could be considered “sakau”.

Former minister Jamil Khir to face three charges over Tabung Haji probe tomorrow

 

Former minister Jamil Khir to face three charges over Tabung Haji probe tomorrow



Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom is scheduled to appear before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad at 9am tomorrow. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa


Summary

• Former minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom is set to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court regarding an investigation into Lembaga Tabung Haji, following a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report unveiling management issues and questionable transactions.
• The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has recommended three charges for dishonest misappropriation of property under Section 403 of the Penal Code.
• Jamil Khir was previously detained for providing a statement linked to the RCI findings and was released on bail after a seven-day remand.

By Malay Mail
First Published: Sunday, 13 Sep 2026 8:22 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom is reportedly set to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court tomorrow in connection with an investigation into Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) arising from a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).

According to Bernama, the court system showed that Jamil Khir is scheduled to appear before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad at 9am.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman reportedly said on Thursday that the commission had recommended three charges against the former minister under Section 403 of the Penal Code for dishonest misappropriation of property.

Jamil Khir was released on bail on September 8 after being remanded for seven days from September 2.

He had earlier been detained after arriving at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to give a statement as part of investigations linked to findings in the TH RCI report.

The RCI report, made public on July 29, documented management and operational weaknesses at TH between 2014 and 2020 and identified several problematic investments requiring forensic audits.

The report also referred to suspicious transactions and the concealment of information.

How the Houthis went from Yemen’s fringes to controlling a global chokepoint

How the Houthis went from Yemen’s fringes to controlling a global chokepoint



Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities, march during a rally to recruit more fighters, in Sanaa, Yemen on September 10, 2026. — AFP pic


Summary

• In recent developments, Yemen's Houthi militia, an Iran-backed group, has seized control of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait and the entire Red Sea coast, solidifying their position as a significant regional force.
• Originating from Yemen's Zaidi minority, the Houthis have expanded from an isolated faction to a key player in the Middle East, with considerable military strength and strategic alliances, including close ties with Iran.
• Their control over key maritime routes enhances their ability to disrupt commerce, particularly affecting Saudi Arabian oil shipments.
• The group's actions align them with Tehran's "Axis of Resistance," though they maintain some autonomy from Iran.

First Published: Sunday, 13 Sep 2026 9:00 PM MYT


DUBAI, Sept 13 — Within a matter of days, Yemen’s Houthis have swept south and seized the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, cementing their rise as a force to be reckoned with in the constellation of Iran-backed armed groups across the Middle East.

Once considered a relatively isolated religious and military movement, the Houthis now hold all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, as well as significant territory in the country’s north, including the capital Sanaa.


Minority community

The Houthis belong to the Zaidi community, an offshoot of Shia Islam, which is a minority in Yemen’s mostly Sunni population.


They rose up in the 1990s in response to alleged sectarian discrimination against the Zaidis, who are mostly present in the country’s impoverished north.


The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), is named after its late spiritual leader Badreddin al-Houthi and his son Hussein, who was killed by Yemeni government forces in 2004.

Houthi’s other son, Abdulmalik, assumed the reins of power, delivering fiery speeches and transforming his group from an isolated faction in the northwest into the ruling power in the capital and a regional player.


He now has tens of thousands of fighters, that are well-trained, tenacious and battle-hardened in Yemen’s harsh, mountainous terrain.



Mohammed Ahmed Miftah, the Houthi authorities’ caretaker prime minister, holds a press conference in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on September 12, 2026. — AFP pic



The Houthis control areas where the majority of Yemen’s population lives, though the internationally recognised government still holds more territory.

The group’s missiles and drones also pose a threat to the country’s oil-rich Gulf neighbours, as well as Israel, which it targeted repeatedly after the outbreak of the Gaza war.

Decades-long rise

Between 2004 and 2010, the group fought six wars against Yemen’s then-government and battled Saudi Arabia in 2009-2010 after storming across the border.

They also took part in protests that forced former ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh from office in 2012 following the Arab Spring protests. But they later formed an alliance with him before again falling out and killing him in 2017.

Their big move came when they took over Sanaa in 2014, setting off a Saudi-led intervention against them in March 2015, followed by a brutal civil war that left hundreds of thousands dead and triggered a massive humanitarian crisis.

In 2022, they reached a truce with the Saudi-backed government, but remained in control of a large part of the country’s north.

The Houthis triggered a return to hostilities in July, when they let an Iranian plane land in defiance of Saudi control of Yemeni airspace. The government retaliated by striking the airport.


‘Axis’-aligned

The Houthis are part of the Tehran-led “Axis of Resistance”, which also includes Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Palestinian Hamas movement and Iraqi armed groups.

Saudi Arabia and the United States have long viewed the rebels as an Iranian “tool”, accusing Tehran of supplying them with weapons — a charge it had previously denied.



Yemeni prisoners loyal to the Houthi authorities stand in line after being liberated from prisons on the west coast where they were being held by Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces, as they arrive in the capital Sanaa on September 12, 2026. — AFP pic



Unlike Hezbollah, the Houthis do not subscribe to the belief that Iran’s supreme leader is the ultimate authority. They have, however, grown closer to Iran over the years.

In 2024, Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea that they said were linked to Israel, saying the move was in support of Palestinians during the Gaza war.

The campaign forced many shipping companies into a lengthy detour around the tip of southern Africa.

The Houthis joined the Middle East war in support of Iran in March, claiming new drone and missile attacks against Israel, without causing significant damage.

Despite their close ties to Iran, the Houthis have managed to retain a degree of autonomy from their backer and mostly rely on them for military support.


Battle for Bab al-Mandab

The Houthis have long been able to disrupt commerce with their attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, its southern gateway.



Black smoke billowing over the desert southeast of Medina along the general route of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline (Petroline) on September 10, 2016. Attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis are hurting Saudi Arabia's oil industry and risk dragging it back to full-scale war. — Copernicus Sentinel Data handout pic via AFP



The sea, which links Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal, has become a crucial artery to their foe Saudi Arabia, which turned to the waterway to keep up oil exports after Iran largely cut off shipments from the Gulf with its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

In July, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, and have since repeatedly targeted its ships in the Red Sea.

Not long after hostilities with Yemeni government forces resumed, the group launched on September 3 a major assault focused on capturing the Bab al-Mandab.

A week later, they had seized the entire Red Sea coast, as well as strategic islands in and around the strait, boosting their ability to exert control over navigation and target Saudi tankers. — AFP

Home minister: New deputy IGP chosen after consultation with King, announcement due soon

Home minister: New deputy IGP chosen after consultation with King, announcement due soon



The new deputy IGP could be announced within hours or in the next one or two days, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail today. — Picture by Raymond Manuel


Summary

• The appointment process for the new deputy inspector-general of police has concluded and will be announced shortly, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
• This process, conducted under the Federal Constitution, involved input from the King and followed recommendations from the Police Force Commission.
• Saifuddin highlighted that several candidates were considered, all holding the requisite rank of police commissioner, before the final decision was made.
• Additionally, he discussed a 12-kilometre road project that will enhance connectivity between Kedah and Penang, reducing travel time and benefiting local residents.

First Published: Sunday, 13 Sep 2026 5:12 PM MYT


KULIM, Sept 13 — The appointment of the new deputy inspector-general of police (IGP) has been finalised and will be announced soon, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He said the appointment process had been completed in accordance with procedures under the Federal Constitution, including obtaining the views of the King.

“The process begins with the Police Force Commission (SPP), which I chair together with the committee appointed by the King in accordance with the Constitution,” he told reporters after inspecting development projects under RP1 of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) by the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) here today.

Saifuddin Nasution said several names had been considered and discussions held before the process was finalised.


“Everything has been completed. We have named the candidate and the announcement will be made as soon as possible, either within the next few hours or in the next one or two days,” he said.

On the eligibility criteria for the deputy IGP post, Saifuddin Nasution said all officers holding the rank of police commissioner (CP) were eligible for consideration.

He said PDRM currently has 25 CP-ranked officers, while three others hold the rank in special capacities appointed by the inspector-general of police.


In July, Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who reached mandatory retirement age, handed over the deputy IGP duties to Special Branch director Datuk Seri Ibrahim Darus, who is currently serving as acting deputy IGP.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said the Kampung Badlishah/Ayer Putih Junjong road project near here would provide an alternative route for motorists travelling between Serdang, Kedah and Seberang Perai, Penang.

He said the 12-kilometre road project would reduce travel time by more than 30 minutes, providing greater convenience and delivering a positive impact to residents. — Bernama

Long-Term US Unemployment Rate Creeps Up To 27% Despite Blockbuster August Hiring

Long-Term US Unemployment Rate Creeps Up To 27% Despite Blockbuster August Hiring

by Tyler Durden
Sunday, Sep 13, 2026 - 10:45 PM


Despite the recent blockbuster August jobs report, the anemic pace of hiring in prior months has been exacerbating challenges for long-term unemployed Americans, new research from the Richmond Federal Reserve finds.

The long-term unemployment rate - those who are out of work for 27 weeks or longer as a share of the total unemployed - has been steadily climbing since early 2023.

Of all unemployed Americans in August, more than one-quarter (27 percent), or 1.93 million, had been out of work for a prolonged period, according to last month's Bureau of Labor Statistics report.



This is up from 25.5 percent, or 1.77 million, in July.

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh gave the labor market glowing marks during his keynote address at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium last month.

With an unemployment rate hovering around 4 percent over the past couple of years, job conditions would suggest that the Fed has achieved its maximum employment mandate.

Last month's nonfarm payrolls also surged by 162,000, blowing past the consensus forecast of 56,000.

A job seeker waits to talk to a recruiter at a job fair in Sunrise, Fla., on Aug. 28, 2025. Marta Lavandier/AP Photo


But, as Andrew Moran reports for The Epoch Times, the situation might not be optimistic for Americans who have been out of the job market for many months.

This year's sluggish growth in U.S. payrolls is likely to present fresh hurdles for job hunters, regional central bank researchers warn.

"In the current 'low-hire, low-fire' labor market - which features both slower job creation and less job separation activity (including firings and layoffs) - becoming unemployed can be particularly challenging as finding a new job can be more difficult," the Richmond Fed economists wrote in a Sept. 1 paper.

America's labor market has been entrenched in an environment in which employers are neither increasing headcount nor laying off workers.

Weekly unemployment claims have been stuck in a historically low range of 189,000 to 230,000 - near 57-year lows. The number and layoff rate are near record lows. The jobless rate has been down in 241 of 387 metro areas over the past year.

Continuing jobless claims have also been on a downward trajectory since late 2025, a measurement that could signal two trends in the U.S. economy.

First, workers are finding it easier to locate job opportunities. Second, Americans have exhausted their benefits since many states cap eligibility at 26 weeks.

For a growing chorus of workers who have been searching for several months, the search may no longer be worth it, which could help explain the drop in workforce participation.

"The data have yet to show that job-finding prospects are improving meaningfully for those who have been jobless for an extended duration," the Richmond Fed said.

"In particular, those who have been out of work for a year or more are experiencing more challenges seeking reemployment relative to the 'standard' long-term unemployed."

The U.S. labor force participation rate ticked up to 61.6 percent in August - from 61.4 percent in July - hovering close to its lowest level since the 1970s (excluding the pandemic).

While part of this can be explained by older workers exiting the labor market, young men are not pursuing employment opportunities.

The participation rate for males aged 16 to 24 plummeted to around 56 percent last month, from 69 percent in 2000.
Skills Shortage

But while job growth has been choppy this year, labor demand has been robust.

Job vacancies are close to 7.3 million, and small businesses have indicated they plan to bolster their hiring plans in the coming months.

The challenge for employers is finding qualified workers to fill these openings.

According to the Federal Reserve's Beige Book - a periodic report summarizing economic conditions across the central bank's 12 districts - employment demand in the construction and manufacturing sectors was "healthy" this summer.

"Labor availability was mixed. Skilled trades and technical workers were difficult to find," the report stated.

It is estimated that employers face a talent gap of approximately 1.3 million workers, according to an Aug. 25 report by labor market intelligence firm Lightcast.

Additionally, seven of the 10 most in-demand skilled-trade occupations - construction, electricians, and technicians, for example - already face significant labor shortages.

"The impending lack of skilled trades workers has been a resounding issue in our economy for years," Ron Hetrick, principal economist at Lightcast, said in a statement.

The skills shortage comes at a time when the United States is witnessing a rebirth of manufacturing amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

The data-center expansion has already brought on about 315,000 additional skilled-trade workers in the past five years, the report found.

"Not Entirely Satisfied": German Foreign Minister Grumbles That Ukraine Isn't Buying Enough German Guns

"Not Entirely Satisfied": German Foreign Minister Grumbles That Ukraine Isn't Buying Enough German Guns

by Tyler Durden
Sunday, Sep 13, 2026 - 11:20 PM


Authored by Andrew Korybko via Substack,


The more upset that his taxpayers become with their country's lack of tangible returns from the billions of euros that it's given to Ukraine, the more that support for the AfD is expected to surge...

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul complained that Ukraine isn't buying enough German guns. He told Bild, "We are now Ukraine's strongest supporter in terms of financial and military assistance. And naturally, the German defense industry should benefit from this. I told President Zelenskyy this during my last visit. We stand by you, we support you. But I also have to explain this to German taxpayers, and the very least you can do is involve the German defense industry in all procurement projects."

Wadephul then said that "At the moment, we are not entirely satisfied with the number of orders we are receiving in Germany. Therefore, we have asked the Ukrainian government to review the situation and ensure that it improves." For background, Germany and Ukraine agreed to jointly develop their deep-strike capabilities earlier this spring, which coincides with Germany's rapid remilitarization to the tune of at least €800 billion. The regular large-scale sale of arms to Ukraine can accelerate this trend.

There are three primary reasons why Ukraine hasn't met Germany's expectations:

The first of which is that the US remains Ukraine's top security partner due to the indispensable role of its arms, intelligence, and Starlink in perpetuating the conflict. In connection with this role, Trump recently posted that "Hundreds of Billions of Dollars was given to Ukraine and NATO, free of charge, that Europe would have paid for - If they were only asked, but we will be asking for that money, though somewhat belatedly!"

A creative solution for recouping these costs could be for European NATO to continue purchasing American arms at full price for donation to Ukraine, with this arrangement continuing after the large-scale phase of the conflict is over indefinitely or at least till Trump is satisfied with the profits.

In parallel with these sales, as well as after the scenario of them possibly being scaled back, Germany must compete with the UK and others like China (whose drone sales are indispensable to Ukraine's war effort).

Germany doesn't have the political sway over Ukraine that the UK does, nor is domestic drone production anything remotely close to China's, so it's expected to struggle in this arms competition.

Finally, the last point is that drones occupy a grossly disproportionate share of the casualties that Ukraine inflicts on Russia and are widely regarded as one of the reasons why the frontline has barely shifted in recent years, so German arms companies' traditional wares aren't needed as much anymore.

Despite Germany's disappointment at Ukraine's unsatisfactory purchase of its defense products, they still remain close at the political level and are coordinating a regional power play against their shared Polish "frenemy", which was elaborated on here over the summer. This joint effort advances the grand strategic goal of German domination over the post-war European security architecture west of the new "Iron Curtain", which is more important for Berlin than arms sales to Kiev, so no rift is likely over this issue.

The takeaway from Wadephul's complaint is therefore that German taxpayers are becoming increasingly upset with their country's lack of tangible returns from the billions of euros that it's given to Ukraine. It's not just their arms industry that's struggling to leverage aid for future profits but their reconstruction one too since it's expected that American and Chinese companies will dominate this industry too. The more fed up that Germans become with Ukraine, the more that support for the AfD is expected to surge.

Judiciary as a nation’s conscience

Judiciary as a nation’s conscience

By Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi

Tuesday, 08 Sep 2026

Words from a member of the judiciary, who has been in the trenches fighting to uphold Malaysia’s Constitution, offer renewed hope for the future




JUST before the end of August, I attended a lecture given by Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, our illustrious former chief judge who had been appointed professor of practice by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) last year.

It was a public lecture but I had been officially invited in my capacity as a member of UKM’s board of governors.

But even without an invitation, I would have made it a point to attend as an ordinary Malaysian citizen because I wanted to hear what a woman who had been a singularly courageous judge had to say.

And I would have done so even though she was speaking about the responsibility of the judiciary, a topic that I had previously not cared about much.

You might wonder why I hadn’t cared about this issue considering I am passionate about nation- building. But you see, apart from not being a student in law, I had not liked our judiciary much for a while now.

Firstly, there was the issue of Tun Salleh Abbas being unceremoniously dismissed as head of the judiciary in 1988. That left a bitter taste in my mouth for the profession.

Then came Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s trials in the late 1990s. Let’s just say that I felt the proceedings were not honourable and every argument by the prosecution filled me with dismay.

I decided then that the judiciary is something lesser men like me should not deal with in this life; best to leave it to the Hereafter.

But listening to Tengku Maimun’s speech gave me a slightly different perspective. She mentioned three cases in which the judiciary had upheld the constitutional rights of Malaysians and served as a conscience to the nation.

First there was the case involving author Mohd Faizal Musa, who writes under the pen name Faisal Tehrani; the Home Ministry banned several of his books beginning in 2012, saying that they were disruptive to the culture and faith of a certain race and religion.

The novels, I understand, are about issues of alternate lifestyles that are not discussed in polite conversations at kenduri and family get-togethers, much less examined in university courses.

The judiciary took a courageous stand and lifted the ban, citing the author’s right to freedom of expression, and that the content was not tantamount to causing harm to the nation. I knew about the case, but I thought the 2018 result a fluke.

The next case she cited was the one in which lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter challenged some of Kelantan’s shariah laws. The 2024 judgment partially allowed the challenge and is considered a landmark decision.

Tengku Maimun, who led the bench that came to that judgment, recounted the contempt heaped on the judiciary after that case and the toxic narratives spun to paint it as an agent out to destroy Islam.

She said it is the judiciary’s role to interpret the Constitution in letter, spirit and rule accordingly without any agendas or prejudice, and to ensure that a state’s legislature does not violate the limits set by the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land.

She mentioned how it was personally challenging for her to be accused of trying to undermine the sanctity of Islam. To me, sitting attentively in the audience, it was a jolt in my unimpressed-by-the-judiciary perspective.

I knew of the case, of course, and had followed it diligently, knowing that Nik Ellin and her daughter must be going through hell with people cursing them at every turn. I can certainly understand the feeling, having shared similar experiences.

Finally, Tengku Maimun touched on the SRC International case involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

SRC is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd, and Najib was found guilty of seven charges in 2020 and sentenced to prison.

Tengku Maimun said a person’s status in society must not be seen as something that would ever sway the judiciary in pronouncing justice. That statement was a stinger in my ears.

To pronounce judgment on a personality as huge as the former prime minister, a man who led a party that holds the hearts of a large majority of people in this country – I would never be as brave or as courageous as that, looking from the perspective of my family and children. But she said it.

I left the big hall after the lecture and drove off to meet my wife for lunch. I did not stop to say thank you to the woman who looked small physically but was a giant in courage I would never cross.

But her words did make me rethink my view of the judiciary as a nation’s conscience.

During the recent National Month, I heard many politicians claiming many things about our Constitution that would divide us as a people forever.

But I am slightly soothed that there are people like Tengku Maimun to remind those in power that the judiciary, for now, remains a defender of the Constitution for all the people of Malaysia, not just for the popular or the powerful.

Her lecture turned out to contain just the spirit I was looking for as we marked our independence and looked to the future as a nation and as a people.

Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at the Tan Sri Omar Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Studies at UCSI University. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

Annuar hits back at Umno after Tok Mat's sincerity dare

Annuar hits back at Umno after Tok Mat's sincerity dare

Published: Sep 13, 2026 12:12 PM


Perikatan Nasional information chief Annuar Musa has hit back at Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan’s challenge for PAS to prove its sincerity by triggering a state election in one of the four states it governs.

Responding less than 24 hours after Mohamad issued the challenge at the Umno general assembly, Annuar suggested that Umno should first examine its own political arrangements.

“I want to see what formula you’re going to use.

“It might also be good for you to look at what formula you’ve already used. We’re okay with it,” said Annuar (above), who is a PAS central committee member and a former Umno and BN secretary-general.


Yesterday, Mohamad proposed that PAS-PN dissolve the state assembly in either Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, or Terengganu after the upcoming Malacca state election, saying this would allow Umno to assess PAS’ sincerity in political cooperation and seat negotiations.

“After Malacca, let’s try and test just how sincere our friends are. We ask one of the SG4 states to hold an election.


“You hold an election, and I want to see what formula you use, right?

“For example, hold one in Terengganu. How about it? Show us if we are both sincere,” Mohamad (above) said while winding up debates at the Umno AGM.


Mohamad argued that Umno-BN had already demonstrated its willingness to cooperate with PAS in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

The four PN-led states have a combined 128 state seats - 15 in Perlis, 36 in Kedah, 45 in Kelantan, and 32 in Terengganu.

PAS holds 116 of those seats, while Umno-BN has two, both in Kelantan. Pakatan Harapan holds five seats - three in Kedah and one each in Perlis and Kelantan.

Of the remaining five seats, two are held by independents while three are vacant.

Foreign influence, covert activities within Malaysian politics and society

Murray Hunter


Foreign influence, covert activities within Malaysian politics and society

Clandestine operations, as was seen with the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, do occur, but the public rarely becomes aware

Murray Hunter
Sep 12, 2026







MOST will remember the dramatic assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Um’s half-brother Kim Jong-Nam at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport back in 2017.

The assassination was just like something out of a James Bond or Mission Impossible script.

It’s very rare that Malaysians are made aware of clandestine intelligence operations going on in Malaysia.

Malaysia, just like the rest of ASEAN, is a target for foreign soft power and intelligence operations.

These activities are undertaken by agents of various countries, focused on collecting intelligence, seeking political influence, assisting their nationals’ commercial activities, and disseminating information and propaganda.

These activities centre around the nation’s corridors of power, the defence establishment, the commercial arena, academic circles, and the public at large.

The objectives of undertaking intelligence and utilising various forms of soft power include;

· Influencing Malaysia’s defence and foreign policies

· Undertaking political, economic, and commercial information gathering,

· Gaining commercial advantages and furthering commercial interests,

· Influencing Malaysian citizens both culturally and religiously, and

· Observing their own diaspora.

Clandestine operations, as was seen with the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, do occur, but the public rarely becomes aware.

Just as the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) reportedly has more than 1,000 operatives overseas, foreign agencies have their own operatives; many are housed at foreign embassy complexes. In addition, there are sponsored or paid operatives who operate freelance within Malaysia, usually on an ad hoc basis.

Some of these foreign agents are clearly identifiable and here on an official basis, while others can be fairly easily spotted and identified.

External attempts to influence Malaysians in politics and business began in the 1950s with both the Colombo Plan and the Fulbright Student Program, which were sophisticated attempts to guide and influence Malaysian post-independence students into thinking favourably towards Britain and the United States.

Since those early days, many nations have carried out and sought to influence Malaysia.

The United States

The International Republican Institute (IRI) President Daniel Twining claimed the US played a role in the victory over UMNO in 2018, a political party that held power for 61 years.

The United States has long been involved in attempting to influence politics and society within Malaysia.

The US has a large intelligence capability housed within its embassy in Jalan Ampang. There are also a number of unofficial satellite offices around the country.

The allegations made by the PAS leader Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang are not new or confined to Malaysia.

Back in 2023, the US embassy in Bangkok was also accused of meddling in the affairs of Thai politics through its support for Move Forward, which won the popular vote in the 2023 and 2026 general elections.

From Twining’s omission, it can be assumed similar operations have occurred in Malaysia.

Most US funding into Malaysia came through the now-defunct USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and its affiliates.

The US long considered Malaysia a strategic partner in the fight against communist expansion during the Cold War.

However, over the last decade Malaysia has sought to improve bilateral relations with Beijing, abandoning its Cold War stance. This has concerned the US State Department in its pivot to Asia.During the lead-up to the 2018 general election, the NED reportedly directly and indirectly funded many pro-democracy, human rights, anti-corruption NGOs, and liberal leaning news portals.

In 2022, the NED, through INVOKE Taiwan, is alleged to have funded the expansion of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s election analytics firm INVOKE.

This was the primary reason the MACC raided the INVOKE offices in 2022.

In a 2022 NED country report, the organisation reported that it had directly spent USD 1.6 million on operations in Malaysia.

The NED had financed local academics and journalists.

Through affiliates like the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a number of local think tanks have been financed.

There are numerous relationships between the NED, its affiliates, and local organisations and political parties in Malaysia.

One has to delve a little bit into the sources of funding of these organisations, much of which is on public record.

China

The major objective of China is to influence Malaysian foreign policy towards Chinese interests.

China had a very close relationship with Malaysia during the Datuk Seri Najib Razak era, which stepped back slightly under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed.

It’s yet to be seen how close Malaysia will be to China under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Nevertheless, China has a massive intelligence presence in Malaysia, probably only second to the United States.

China’s equivalent to the NED is the CCP United Front Work Department (UFWD). However, the UFWD is much more hands-on than the NED.

The UFWD is much more involved in grassroots activities, particularly through the Malaysian Chinese communities.

China influences local Chinese media through networking with the owners and journalists, and providing content.

Chinese diplomats in Malaysia also write frequent Op-eds.

Confucius Institutes in several Malaysian universities teach Chinese language, culture and history.

They have been criticised in a number of Western countries for providing a slanted view of China.

This is disputed by Chinese scholars.

The UFWD is alleged to have close ties with the MCA, and assists in the funding of several cultural and business programs across the country.

The UFWD has cultivated politicians, journalists, and academics over the years, facilitating visits to China.

China’s influence in Malaysian politics and society is a very scantily studied area, which needs much more attention.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has extensively focused on and propagated the spread of its Islamic doctrines in Malaysia over the last 30 years. This is partly dakwah and partly an attempt to stem the spread of the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in Malaysia.

There is a proxy war between two Islamic doctrines in Malaysia today.

Saudi Arabia funds Islamic schools, sends teachers, assists in the building of mosques, and provides scholarships to Saudi Arabia for students to study Islam.

More controversially, an organisation dubbed the Alumni, made up of Islamic graduates, primarily from the MENA region, is provided with a monthly allowance to spread the word of Islam within their workplaces in an apolitical manner. Members of the Alumni exist within the civil service, military, schools, universities, and top echelons of government.

Thailand

There is a lot of uncorroborated evidence of Thai security forces running clandestine operations in Malaysia against political opponents and criminal elements.

There was a dead body of a Malaysian national, Zahri Bin Abdullah, floating in the Kolok River, which runs along the Thai-Malaysian border back in 2023.

The Royal Thai Army claims Zahri was a member of the BRN youth insurgency wing. Zahri had been a resident of Rantau Panjang, a town on the Malaysian side of the border, for many years.

News reports indicate Thai security personnel in three cars came across the border, abducting Zahri in the open.

His tortured body was found in the Kolok River. This incident was reported in the Thai media, but largely unreported in Malaysia.

World Economic Forum (WEF)

The WEF has an agenda to centralise governments and introduce policies that favour a centralised approach to solving world problems. A number of local politicians are members of the WEF.

These include Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abul Aziz, Hannah Yeoh, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Khairy Jamaluddin, and entrepreneur Vijay Eswaran.

AirAsia, Khazanah, Astro, Axiah, and CIMB are corporate members.

Khairy Jamaluddin was elected vice president of the WHO World Health Assembly and was instrumental in pushing for WHO recommendations on public health emergencies to be mandatory for governments to follow.

Malaysia has hosted at least four major WEF events in the region, and WEF economic policies such as Industry 4.0 have been incorporated into Malaysia’s national policy.

There is much foreign influence on Malaysia’s government and society from many quarters.

The examples above come from publicly available information. Under the surface, there could be much more.

Anwar Ibrahim and strategic independence

There is, however, an important distinction between foreign powers attempting to influence Malaysia and actually controlling Malaysian policy.

Whatever one’s domestic political view of Anwar Ibrahim, his foreign policy since taking office provides little evidence that Malaysia under his leadership is simply following the agenda of any particular power bloc.

If anything, his positions have sometimes irritated almost everybody.

Anwar has maintained good relations with Washington and Europe while being one of the Muslim world’s most outspoken political leaders on Gaza and sharply criticising Western support for Israel. At the same time, Malaysia continues to engage economically and diplomatically with the United States.

He has strengthened relations with China and recently reaffirmed Malaysia’s longstanding One China policy — including a position on Taiwan strong enough to provoke a public rebuke from Taipei — yet Malaysia continues to describe peaceful resolution and Malaysian national interests as central to its policy.

Nor has closer engagement with China prevented Anwar from expanding Malaysia’s relationship with India. Narendra Modi’s February 2026 visit produced an extensive strengthening of the Malaysia–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, covering defence, security, semiconductors, trade, technology and other areas.

At the same time, Anwar has been willing to engage Russia when much of the Western world has sought to isolate Moscow.

Malaysia has characterised this engagement not as choosing Russia over the West, but as exercising the country’s longstanding strategic autonomy.

Malaysia is simultaneously developing relations across South Asia. Anwar has strengthened ties with India while maintaining Malaysia’s relationships elsewhere in the region, including Bangladesh, whose new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chose Malaysia for his first official bilateral visit abroad in June 2026.

There is a pattern here.

Washington cannot reasonably claim Anwar as its man. Neither can Beijing. Neither can Moscow, New Delhi, nor Brussels.

Indeed, Anwar himself has described Malaysia’s approach very simply: friendship with the major powers does not mean surrendering Malaysia’s principles or national interests.

That does not mean foreign governments will stop attempting to influence Malaysia. They will not. Every serious power pursues its interests.

But influence attempted is not necessarily influence achieved.

Malaysia’s present foreign policy increasingly resembles the traditional ASEAN instinct of strategic autonomy: talk to America, trade with China, engage Russia, deepen relations with India and the rest of Asia, disagree with the West when necessary, agree with it when Malaysian interests coincide, and refuse to be permanently placed inside anybody else’s geopolitical camp.

For a relatively small trading nation sitting at one of the world’s most strategically important crossroads, that may not merely be independence.

It may be a necessity. – September 10, 2026

***

Two M'sian PMs stand out very well on the international stage, namely, PMX and Najib.

Three more Indonesian volcanoes erupt amid heightened volcanic activity

Three more Indonesian volcanoes erupt amid heightened volcanic activity

Saturday, 12 Sep 2026 | 3:04 PM MYT

A drone view of Anak Krakatau volcano documented by a team from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMG) on Sept. 5, 2026. (Courtesy: Geological Agency)


MEDAN: Three volcanoes erupted around the country on Friday, spewing ash into the sky and underscoring heightened volcanic activity across the archipelago, following the eruptions of Mount Sinabung and Mount Anak Krakatau earlier this month.


The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation’s (PVMG) MAGMA site reported on Friday that the eruptions involved Mount Semeru in East Java, Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Mount Ibu in North Maluku.

The eruptions occurred at different times and lasted from 41 to 187 seconds, detik.com reported.


The 1,325-metre Mt. Ibu is in West Halmahera Regency on the Halmahera Islands. The volcano erupted twice on Friday morning.

The first eruption at 8:56 a.m. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT), two hours ahead of Jakarta, was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 18 millimetres and a duration of 41 seconds.

The second eruption at 8:58 a.m. WIT had a maximum amplitude of 28 mm and lasted 45 seconds.

Visually, however, the eruptions were not observable.

Earlier, Mt. Ibu erupted at 12:49 a.m., with a maximum amplitude of 28 mm and a duration of 48 seconds. A 400-metre grey ash column was seen above its summit.

The ash column was thick and headed northwest.

In NTT, Mt. Ili Lewotolok also erupted twice.

The first eruption was recorded at 7:09 a.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA), which is one hour ahead of Jakarta. The seismograph recorded a maximum amplitude of 28 mm and a duration of 48 seconds.

There was also a grey ash column of about 600 m above its 1,449-metre summit.

The second eruption was recorded at 8:02 a.m. WITA.

Earlier, the 1,429-metre Mt. Ili Lewotolok in Lembata Regency on Lembata Island had three eruptions after midnight, at 12:57 a.m. WITA, with a maximum amplitude of 40 mm in 70 seconds.

The second eruption at 2:08 a.m. WITA had a maximum amplitude of 40 mm in 63 seconds. A grey ash column of some 500 m was visible above its summit.

The third eruption at 2:21 a.m. WITA had a maximum amplitude of 40 mm in 94 seconds. A thick grey and black ash column was seen heading west.

On Java Island, Mt. Semeru on the borders of Malang and Lumajang regencies also erupted in the early hours of Friday at 12:26 a.m., 4:27 a.m., 5:05 a.m. and 6:16 a.m.

The first three eruptions were not observable visually. The fourth eruption reached a maximum amplitude of 23 mm at 187 seconds.

Mt. Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, erupted on Aug. 31 after a five-year hiatus, while Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait erupted more recently on Sept. 4, following an eruption on July 2.

Meanwhile, authorities in Karo regency have returned 650 evacuees to their homes in batches after Mt. Sinabung showed reduced activity recently.

In the first batch, 418 evacuees from Jambur Arih Ersada and Losd evacuation posts in Sukatepu village returned to Kuta Tengah village in Karo regency on Monday.

Military and police personnel assisted the evacuees, consisting of 210 males and 208 females.

Karo Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) executive director Juspri M. Nadeak said the evacuees were returned to their homes following a meeting of the Karo regency disaster response task force.

The meeting was chaired by Military District (Kodim) 0205/Tanah Karo commander Lt. Col. Robert Panjaitan, who is also task force chairman.

Robert was accompanied by task force vice chairman who is also Karo Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Pebriandi Haloho, Karo regency secretary Gelora Kurnia Putra Ginting and Juspri.

Juspri said on Monday that the meeting decided evacuees from Kuta Tengah village could return home because the village is no longer included in a red zone.

“The PVMBG narrowed down the recommended danger zone from a radius of five to six kilometres in the south and southeast direction,” he said.

One evacuee, Nande boru Ginting, said she was happy to return home after evacuating for about one week to Jambur Aris Ersada.

She said that she always followed the government’s direction when there is an eruption.

“When Mt. Sinabung erupted, we were told to evacuate; we duly evacuated,” she told The Jakarta Post on Monday. “Now that we are allowed to go home, we are very happy.”

Nande said that during the evacuation, together with her husband and four children, she always tended her vegetable fields, located near her house in Kuta Tengah village.

“During the eruption, vegetables in my field were covered with volcanic ash and had to be immediately cleaned,” she said. “Otherwise, my cabbages, tomatoes and chillies would die.”

Mt. Sinabung monitoring post head Armen Putra said the volcano’s activity had declined with fewer eruptions and seismic activity, and the danger zone was reduced from 6 km to 5 km.

“The red zone, however, remains at 3 km,” he told the Post on Monday. “We have recommended allowing evacuees to return home because Sinabung’s activities have reduced.”

Armen said seismic activities had also reduced, with no observable eruption because the summit was covered by haze.

“The returning refugees, however, must remain vigilant because the volcano alert status remains at Level III siaga [alert],” he said. “Mt. Sinabung still has the potential to erupt again.” - Jakarta Post/ANN