Anwar’s crackdown on Tabung Haji, FELDA, an act of revenge or good governance?

Anwar’s crackdown on Tabung Haji, FELDA, an act of revenge or good governance?

By CS Ming
3 hours ago

THE mismanagement at Tabung Haji is certainly a strong wake up call for all the Muslims in Malaysia who have been diligently saving their money into the financial institution, hoping to fulfill their spiritual obligation someday.

Only recently, Muar MP, Syed Saddiq, announced in a post on twitter that seven investments made by Tabung Haji lost 100% of its investment.

“The worst one is the Al Rawda investment. More than RM1.5 bil paid upfront to Al-Rawda as the middleman. No bank guarantee. Due diligence in shambles,” said Saddiq, adding that TH’s protection is just a promissory note personally guaranteed.

According to him, the accommodation benefits for pilgrims weren’t delivered as planned either. Rental collections were halted for years and billions have been paid yet there was nothing to show for it. To recap, RM19.9 bil was required to bailout Tabung Haji.

“Tabung Haji does not belong to the government or any political party. It is a trust that belongs to Muslims who save little by little in the hope of reaching the house of Allah,” said Minister of Finance II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan during the winding up of the debate in Parliament.

The political fires of war are far from being extinguished, and if there is anything to be said about it, it is about to get bigger.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim added that the government will expose various governance irregularities alleged to have occurred within FELDA, the land development agency that previously shouldered a heavy debt burden.

“Last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong told me not to stop with just Tabung Haji, but to press on. His Majesty asked who is overseeing FELDA now, and I replied that I am. Very well. So, once Tabung Haji is settled, uncover the issues at FELDA as well,” he said.

Syahir

@syahir

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Presiden KEADILAN baru umum dalam Kongres selepas Tabung Haji, FELDA pulak akan disiasat. tindakan tegas bermula sekarang. semalam KJ cakap dalam KS benda ni, PMX akan mula guna kuasa dia betul-betul sekarang. 🫪

11:43 AM · Aug 15, 2026

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But there are parties out there who disagree with the current investigations being carried out towards Tabung Haji and FELDA.

According to @shanindddd in a post on X, Anwar only used his power for real now. Before this he was only trying to please his UMNO ally.

“No choice, given the defeats in the Negeri Sembilan and Johor state elections. Later will become the former Prime Minister,” mocked @Ronnie50604835.

“PMX has revealed his trump card?” said @Farhan_WolfXX.

@x_randomsham_x added that this was similar to the crab in the bucket concept where he was trying to drag other people down now that he was losing.

But netizen @WarriorK31136 thinks the rice has turned to porridge.

“The Malays and the minority groups have already rejected him, only now he wants to open his eyes, oh dear sir,” pointed out @IbnRidwann.

Perhaps, there is no better way to end this fiery topic than @Zaki_Yamani_ who inquired if MARA will be investigated too.

Anwar in a statement last month said the government today pays about RM980 mil every year just to service Felda’s RM10 bil debt.

He said FELDA had once been among the world’s largest and most successful plantation organisations, generating billions of ringgit in annual profits and providing good returns for settlers and their families.—Aug 16, 2026

 

Ronnie Liu appointed PBM info chief

Ronnie Liu appointed PBM info chief

2 hours ago

FMT Reporters

PBM secretary-general Munan Laja says the party's supreme council decided to appoint the former DAP leader to the position at a meeting today.

Former DAP veteran Ronnie Liu announced his entry into Parti Bangsa Malaysia last week.

PETALING JAYA:

Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) has appointed Ronnie Liu as its information chief, a week after he joined the party.

PBM secretary-general Munan Laja said the party’s supreme council decided to appoint the former DAP veteran to the position in a meeting today.

The party also made several other appointments – William Low (deputy information chief), Benny Sieh (treasurer-general) and Sieh Ing Qing (deputy treasurer-general).

Munan added that party president Larry Sng appointed Engga Unchat and Saarah Ali Bashah to the supreme council under the president’s appointee quota.

“It is hoped that these appointments will further strengthen the party’s leadership and machinery as well as boost the spirit of cooperation and commitment among all quarters in elevating the party.

“PBM is confident that this strengthened leadership lineup will continue to make positive contributions towards expanding the party’s activities and advancing PBM’s cause and aspirations for the people,” Munan said in a statement.

Liu, the former state assemblyman for Sungai Pelek in Selangor, announced his entry into PBM on Aug 9.

He said he chose to join PBM after discussions with Sng as its political outlook was the closest to his own, while their experiences complemented each other, with Sng being more familiar with Borneo and Liu with the peninsula.

Sng previously described Liu’s entry into the party as part of its efforts to expand PBM’s leadership.

Political analysts had poured cold water on Sarawak-based PBM’s plans to expand its presence in Peninsular Malaysia, expecting little impact even with Liu leading the charge.

 

US to tell partners they must pick sides in AI race with China

US to tell partners they must pick sides in AI race with China

13 hours ago

Reuters

The US warns countries they could be excluded from its AI coalition if they sign up for Beijing’s competing framework.

The US launched the Pax Silica initiative to secure supply chains for AI models, semiconductors and critical minerals amid a fierce technology rivalry with China. (AFP pic)

WASHINGTON:

The US is preparing to tell dozens of countries they must pick sides in the artificial intelligence (AI) race with China, warning they will be excluded from a US-led AI coalition if they also sign up for Beijing’s competing framework, according to a US official and an internal draft reviewed by Reuters.

Washington last year launched the Pax Silica initiative aimed at securing supply chains for AI models, semiconductors and critical minerals, amid a fierce technology rivalry with Beijing.

About two dozen countries have joined, including Kazakhstan, a key potential source of critical minerals that has also joined China’s coalition, as well as close US allies such as Japan, Australia and South Korea.

The draft letter, prepared by the state department, is addressed to the 35 signatories of a US “AI Opportunity Statement” signed in June, which includes members of the non-binding Pax Silica framework and other countries that have expressed a desire to align cooperation on AI with Washington.

By pressing countries to choose sides the US hopes to starve China of resources in a race to make the most sophisticated AI, which could be used for military or economic dominance.

In July, Chinese president ​Xi Jinping launched a rival “World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization”, promoting his country’s open-weight technology as a challenge to US influence over ‌the fast-moving sector.

Kazakhstan is the only country so far known to have joined both initiatives, setting off alarm bells in Washington.

“To be part of everything is to be part of nothing. Signature of the Pax Silica Declaration is not merely a membership subscription, but a commitment,” the letter says, urging countries to “choose deliberately” on AI.

“It cannot be held alongside membership in duplicative initiatives whose expectations conflict with our own,” the letter said, without specifically mentioning China.

Reuters could not determine when the US intends to send the letter or whether it might be amended before sending. The draft was undated.

The state department told Reuters it would not comment on “purportedly leaked internal documents”.

China’s embassy in Washington said the country opposes politicising trade and technology issues.

“Such actions will only stifle global AI advances and serve no one’s interests,” an embassy spokesman said.

The Kazakh embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

‘Can’t have it both ways’

The Pax Silica agreement aims to push US allies and partners toward joint projects and export controls, and ultimately reduce reliance on adversaries for critical minerals, AI models and the semiconductor chips that power them.

The race between the US and China for technological leadership has reached a pivotal moment, as Chinese open-weight AI models have made rapid gains against proprietary systems from US companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

The exponential growth of the technology’s capabilities, including the ability to hack autonomously, has forced a global reckoning over its power.

Beijing is weighing restrictions on overseas access to some ​of China’s leading AI models, highlighting the growing tension with its stringent national security agenda.

The US touted Kazakhstan in June as the first country in Central Asia to join Pax Silica, bringing significant reserves of critical minerals that fuel advanced technologies.

China has used its current near-monopolies over critical minerals as a retaliatory weapon in a tariff war launched last year by US president Donald Trump, who has ramped up US efforts to source the minerals domestically and from allies.

Members of Pax Silica have access to shared investment opportunities in AI-related projects while those who sign the AI Opportunity Statement have symbolically agreed on a “common purpose” and “shared vision” with the US, according to the statement posted on the state department’s website.

US officials drafted the letter to make clear that “you can’t have it both ways,” the US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity given ongoing internal discussions on the issue.

“It’s difficult to see how a country can credibly position itself as trusted partners in one technology ecosystem while simultaneously signing up for an initiative designed by China to advance a competing vision for AI,” the official said.

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Wanks always want every competition to be HOSTILE, a 'I WIN-you LOSE' situation