From Statesman to Controversy: Mahathir’s Reputation Under Fire

From Statesman to Controversy: Mahathir’s Reputation Under Fire


4 Jan 2026 • 12:00 PM MYT


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Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has once again found himself at the centre of political controversy, this time over his apparent association with controversial blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, widely known as Papagomo. The development has reignited debate about how far Malaysia’s longest-serving leader is willing to go in his continued opposition to the current government, and what it means for the legacy he leaves behind.


Dr Mahathir, who turned 100 in 2025, once stood as one of the most dominant figures in Malaysian politics. However, his influence has waned significantly in recent years. The 15th General Election marked a historic low point when Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, the party he founded, failed to secure a single parliamentary seat. Dr Mahathir himself also lost his long-held Langkawi seat, a defeat that symbolised the collapse of his political comeback.


Against this backdrop, public attention was drawn to a recent appearance in which Dr Mahathir and Papagomo were seen together, prompting strong reactions across the political spectrum. Critics viewed the association as a stark contrast to Dr Mahathir’s former image as a statesman, arguing that aligning himself with a figure frequently linked to provocative and divisive rhetoric reflected a troubling shift in judgment.


Papagomo has long courted controversy due to statements widely criticised as defamatory or racially charged. His legal troubles have further fuelled public scrutiny. In August 2025, he pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to charges related to failing to notify authorities of changes in business details involving a company allegedly used to collect public donations. These donations were reportedly linked to the payment of a defamation fine stemming from a case involving Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Earlier, in 2024, the High Court ordered Papagomo to remove defamatory remarks made against Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain after ruling against him in another defamation suit.

For many observers, Dr Mahathir’s willingness to appear alongside such a figure has raised uncomfortable questions. Critics argue that the move undermines the moral authority he once commanded and risks overshadowing decades of influence with decisions seen as driven by political bitterness rather than principle. Some have suggested that the alliance reflects a continued determination to destabilise the current administration, regardless of the reputational cost.


Supporters, however, maintain that Dr Mahathir remains a significant voice of dissent and argue that his actions should be viewed as part of a broader struggle against what he percees as governance failures. They contend that age and electoral setbacks have not diminished his right to participate actively in political discourse.


Still, as public debate intensifies, the episode has reinforced a growing perception that Dr Mahathir’s post-premiership years are increasingly defined by controversy. For a leader once synonymous with power, reform, and national direction, the question now being asked is whether these late political choices will ultimately redefine how history remembers him.

***

I have a feeling no one cares a hoot

Muhyiddin could still be PM despite resigning as PN chief, analysts say

FMT:

Muhyiddin could still be PM despite resigning as PN chief, analysts say

4 hours ago
Nur Alif Hazmi

Azmi Hassan says Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to step down from the top post could be a strategic calculation

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as PN chairman effective Jan 1.

PETALING JAYA: Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman does not necessarily shut the door on the Bersatu president being considered as a prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 16th general election (GE16), according to analysts.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Muhyiddin’s decision to step down from PN’s top post could be a strategic calculation, particularly as PAS has yet to put forward a credible figure to lead the coalition.

“Muhyiddin knows that PAS does not, at this point, have an individual whom it can put forward as a prime ministerial candidate. The argument that approval from the PN council is required merely masks that reality,” he told FMT.


Azmi said the situation was compounded by the Perlis crisis, which he said had “plunged the opposition coalition into turmoil”, putting the leadership rivalry between PAS and Bersatu on full display, alongside the resignations of several senior leaders.

Azmi Hassan.


“If PN remains divided and fails to present a clear leadership, it will make it easier for Pakatan Harapan to work with Barisan Nasional to apply pressure on PN, including in the SG4 states,” he said, referring to the four state governments led by the opposition.


Muhyiddin stepped down as PN chairman effective Jan 1, following a political upheaval in Perlis which saw a change of menteri besar between PAS and Bersatu.

The former prime minister however said that he remained president of Bersatu and was committed to ensuring that the party continues to cooperate within PN.

Universiti Malaya’s Tawfik Yaakub said Muhyiddin would face significant challenges in climbing to the top post.

Tawfik Yaakub.

He said the Pagoh MP was dealing with an internal party landscape that was not fully stable, leaving his political standing fragile in the event that he seeks to re-emerge as a prime ministerial contender.


However, he said Muhyiddin still wielded political influence and retained support among the Malays, enabling him to play other meaningful roles within the opposition bloc.

“His role is now better suited as the backbone or a ‘de facto leader’ to stabilise Bersatu and maintain Malay support for PN, rather than a prime ministerial candidate,” he said.

Tawfik did not rule out the possibility of Muhyiddin returning to consideration if GE16 results in a hung Parliament or necessitates the formation of a grand coalition.

“From a constitutional standpoint, there is no obstacle to his appointment as prime minister if he commands the majority support. Politics is dynamic – there are no permanent friends or enemies,” he said.


Nevertheless, he said PAS and the PN leadership appeared more inclined to seek a fresh face to generate a new wave of support, as the current leadership was seen as “worn out”, including in efforts to attract non-Malay backing.

“Pressure from PAS and internal conflicts are what pushed Muhyiddin to step aside. This is a signal that the opposition is searching for a new direction,” he said.

Denmark blasts Trump’s Greenland obsession: ‘Stop threatening your allies’

Denmark blasts Trump’s Greenland obsession: ‘Stop threatening your allies’



Danish navy vessels P572 Lauge Koch is moored in the harbour in the capital Nuuk, Greenland, on March 11, 2025, on the day of Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory, legislative elections. — AFP pic

Monday, 05 Jan 2026 10:15 AM MYT


COPENHAGEN, Jan 5 — Denmark called on the United States to stop “threatening” Greenland Sunday as President Donald Trump told US media he “absolutely” needed the territory, a day after Washington seized the leader of Venezuela.

Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears for Greenland, which Trump has repeatedly made clear he wants to become an annexed part of the United States.

Those fears were underscored by Trump’s comments to The Atlantic magazine and a social media post by the wife of his most influential aide showing Greenland in the colours of the US flag.

“I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement late Sunday.

She called on Washington to stop “threatening its historical ally”.

The United States’s European allies were rattled by Trump sending in his military on Saturday to attack Caracas and grab Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, who is now being held in New York.

Trump has said the United States will now “run” Venezuela indefinitely and tap its huge oil reserves.

In Greenland’s case, Trump has claimed that making the Danish territory part of the United States would serve US national security interests, given its strategic location on the Arctic.

Greenland is also rich in key critical minerals used in high-tech sectors.

Asked in a telephone interview with The Atlantic about the implications of the Venezuela military operation for Greenland, Trump said that it was up to others to decide, according to the magazine Sunday.

“They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know,” Trump was quoted as saying.

He added: “But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.”

Late Saturday, Katie Miller — wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller — posted the contentious image of the Danish autonomous territory in the colours of the US flag on her X feed.

Her post had a single word above it: “SOON”.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called the post “disrespectful”.

“Relations between nations and peoples are built on mutual respect and international law — not on symbolic gestures that disregard our status and our rights,” he stated on X.

But he also said that “there is neither reason for panic nor for concern. Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts”.

Allies?

Denmark’s ambassador to the US, Jesper Moeller Soerensen, reacted earlier on Sunday with his own post saying “we expect full respect for the territorial integrity” of Denmark, above a link to Katie Miller’s image.

Moves edging towards that goal by his government — including his appointment of an envoy to the Danish territory — have drawn the ire of both Copenhagen and the European Union.

Stephen Miller is widely seen as the architect of much of Trump’s policies, guiding the president on his hardline immigration policies and domestic agenda.

Denmark’s ambassador gave a pointed “friendly reminder” in response to Katie Miller’s post that his country — a Nato member — has “significantly boosted its Arctic security efforts” and worked together with the US on that.

“We are close allies and should continue to work together as such,” Soerensen wrote.

Katie Miller was deputy press secretary under Trump at the Department of Homeland Security during his first term.

She later worked as communications director for then vice president Mike Pence and also acted as his press secretary. — AFP

***

(The late) Dale Carnegie was an American writer and teacher of courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. On the recommendation of a school matey, an Indian whose English was super-duper and should have been 1st Class Honours in English when we were still in class in MBS, I improved on my English by buying and reading Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, a bestseller that remains popular today.

But today a possible new author Donald Trump may (yet) write a new book titled How to LOSE Friends and PISSED OFF People - watch out for it, wakakaka.

If the US can, so can China — Hafiz Hassan

If the US can, so can China — Hafiz Hassan


Monday, 05 Jan 2026 8:33 AM MYT


JANUARY 5 — Only three months ago I wrote that territorial sovereignty is paramount in international law.

After Article 1 of the United Nations (UN) Charter sets out the purposes of the UN, Article 2 states explicitly that the UN and its members must act in accordance with the seven principles of the Charter.

The fourth principle prohibits the use of force against the “territorial integrity or political independence” of a member state.

I was writing days after Israel struck Hamas in Qatar on September 9, 2025, which killed five Hamas members and a member of the Qatari security forces.


I had this question: What can one say of Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar?


So, here’s a similar question: What can one say of the US’s strikes on Venezuela?

The answers are similar to Israel’s strikes in Qatar.


First, the strikes on Venezuela violate the sovereignty of a member state of the UN and Article 2 of the UN Charter.

Second, they violate Article 51 of the UN Charter. Any use of force requires either the authorisation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), or a justification that force is being used strictly in self-defence.



Military equipment of the ground forces takes part in long-range live-fire drills targeting waters south of Taiwan, from an undisclosed location in this screenshot from a video released by the Eastern Theatre Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on December 30, 2025. — Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters



According to Geoffrey Robertson KC, a founding head of Doughty Street Chambers and a former president of the UN war crimes court in Sierra Leone, there is no conceivable way the US can claim that the strikes were taken in self-defence.

“If you are going to use self-defence you have to have a real and honest belief that you are about to be attacked by force. No one has suggested that the Venezuelan army is about to attack the United States.” Robertson told The Guardian.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has rightly raised “deep concerns” about the US’s strikes, calling them “a dangerous precedent”.

The dangerous precedent is alluded to by Robertson in the following words:

“The most obvious consequence is that China will take the opportunity to invade Taiwan. This is the most appropriate time for it to do so, bolstered by the precedent of Trump’s invasion of Venezuela.”

If the US can, so can China.

God forbid.

***

Does Xi suffers from the same evil mentality as the Clown?

Perlis crisis reinforces the need for law reform

FMT:

Perlis crisis reinforces the need for law reform

4 hours ago
Letter to the Editor

A host of constitutional and political dilemmas have emerged to demand attention and reckoning

From Shad Saleem Faruqi

In the general election on Nov 19, 2022, Perikatan Nasional (PN) won an overwhelming 14 out of 15 state assembly seats in Perlis. PAS assemblyman Shukri Ramli was sworn in as the chief minister of the state.

However, the near-clean sweep by PAS did not last the whole five-year term. On Dec 22, 2025 – slightly more than three years after the state assembly was first summoned on Dec 19, 2022 – eight Perlis assemblymen submitted statutory declarations (SDs) to the Raja of Perlis, expressing their loss of confidence in Shukri. The eight comprised five assemblymen from Bersatu and three from PAS.

The SDs eventually led to the collapse of the PAS-led government and its replacement by a Bersatu-led administration. A host of constitutional and political dilemmas also rose to the surface, emerging from the shadows to demand attention and reckoning.


Casual vacancy

The three PAS assemblymen who signed SDs were penalised by their party. A provision in the PAS constitution was invoked to cease their membership of the party.

PAS then wrote to the speaker of the Perlis assembly that the termination of their memberships attracted Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis constitution. The article stipulates that an assemblyman shall cease to be a member of the assembly if he ceases to be a member of his political party or coalition. His seat shall become immediately vacant on a date on which the speaker determines that a “casual vacancy” is established under Clause (3).


Expulsion from party

To rebut the above contention, the three assemblymen could invoke Article 50A(2)(c) of the state constitution, which sets out that a member of the assembly shall not cease to be a member of the assembly only by reason of expulsion from his political party.

Under the 2022 anti-hopping law at the federal and state levels, expulsion from a party is not grounds for a loss of membership of the assembly and the creation of a casual vacancy.

Speaker’s discretion

On behalf of the three expelled assemblymen, it could also be argued that while under Article 50A(1) of the Perlis constitution, the discretion to establish a casual vacancy belongs to the speaker, such discretion is not, and cannot be, absolute.

The speaker is still bound by Article 50A(2) of the Perlis constitution – that expulsion from a party does not result in a casual vacancy.

The Perlis speaker seems to have given greater weightage to the PAS constitution than to Article 50A(2)(c) of the Perlis constitution.

The speaker seems to have relied wholesale on the decision by PAS leaders that the three assemblymen had ceased to be members of their party. The expelled members’ declaration that they did not resign from their party, or join another, and that they still owe loyalty to PAS, does not seem to have influenced the Perlis speaker.


By-elections

Are by-elections for the three constituencies previously held by the assemblymen – Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji – necessary?

The Perlis constitution in Article 55(5) mandates that if a casual vacancy arises in the assembly within the last two years of the five-year term, there is no need to fill the vacancy.

However, there is an important exception: if the speaker notifies the Election Commission (EC) in writing that the numerical strength of the party that constitutes a majority is being affected by such vacancy, then the vacancy must be filled with a by-election within 60 days.

The three assemblymen may submit to the court that the speaker has no legal basis to unilaterally advise the EC to call the by-elections for three reasons.

Firstly, there are no casual vacancies because of Article 50A(2)(c) on expulsion. Secondly, the Perlis assembly has less than two years left before the next election. Thirdly, the numerical strength of the present government is not in danger.


Judicial review

Do the courts have the power to review the above issues?

It is submitted that the courts are generally reluctant to interfere in any internal matter of parliamentary proceedings or privileges. But when jurisdictional or other constitutional issues arise, judicial review is a constitutional duty. Note the case of Gobind Singh Deo (2015) where the suspension of an MP for contempt was upheld, but not the withholding of his salary, as that is provided for by the law.

Subsequent to the 2022 constitutional amendments on party-hopping, a shift towards judicial justiciability is likely to arise. Matters such as party-hopping or defections, “ceasing to be a member of a party”, casual vacancies, and by-elections are not likely to be regarded as matters of an assembly’s internal proceedings but as constitutional questions with legal guidelines.

The speaker’s role will remain important but will probably no longer be constitutionally unbounded.

As to the issue of his unfettered, unreviewable discretion, I am reminded of the elegant statement by the late Lord President Raja Azlan Shah (as His Majesty was then) in the case of Sri Lempah Enterprises (1979) that “every discretion cannot be free from legal restraint; where it is wrongly exercised, it becomes the duty of the courts to intervene”.

We may also note the recent High Court decision on the Najib Razak addendum case, that even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the exercise of the power of pardon under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution must act in accordance with constitutional prescriptions.


Conclusion

The Perlis crisis reinforces the need for removing some of the defects in the law on party-hopping.

Firstly, the distinction between expulsion from a party and “ceasing to be its member” must be clarified with illustrations. Is termination or forced resignation similar to expulsion? Is ceasing to be a member the result of a member’s own actions like resigning from the party, joining another, failure to pay subscriptions, criminal conviction, bankruptcy, etc?

Secondly, the anti-party hopping law should not apply for a short interim period (let us say two weeks after election) in case there is a hung parliament. If no one has an absolute majority in Parliament, then political parties or coalitions should be allowed to realign (but not hopping by individuals) in order to form a stable, unity government expeditiously. However, once a post-election government is in the saddle, the anti-party hopping law should have full force.

Thirdly, the Federal Constitution should be amended to put a ceiling on the number of ministers, deputy ministers, parliamentary secretaries and political secretaries that can be appointed at the federal level. State constitutions already provide the permissible upper limit of exco members, and the federal government should emulate the states on this point.



Shad Saleem Faruqi is principal research fellow at Universiti Malaya.

***

A very enlightening article by a legal expert

Defence Ministry orders probe into viral claims of alleged misconduct in military camps

Defence Ministry orders probe into viral claims of alleged misconduct in military camps



File photo of Malaysian Armed Forces personnel taking part in rehearsals for Merdeka Day celebrations. The Defence Ministry has urged the public not to speculate while investigations into the social media claims are ongoing. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Monday, 05 Jan 2026 9:41 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — The Ministry of Defence has ordered an immediate internal investigation following viral allegations circulating on social media involving military camps.

In a statement today, the ministry said it views seriously claims relating to the entry of unauthorised individuals and alleged immoral activities said to have taken place within military facilities.


As a result, the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) has been directed to conduct a comprehensive internal probe to determine the authenticity of the allegations.

“The Malaysian Armed Forces has been instructed to conduct an immediate internal investigation to comprehensively ascertain the validity of the allegations,” the ministry said.


The ministry did not specify the nature of the viral allegations, which have been circulating on social media in recent days.

The Defence Ministry stressed that the allegations do not reflect the culture, values or practices of the ATM, which it said are grounded in discipline, professionalism and strict adherence to security procedures.

“If found to be true, firm action will be taken without compromise against any party involved, in accordance with existing regulations, procedures and laws,” it said.


The ministry also urged the public not to engage in speculation or draw premature conclusions while investigations are ongoing, warning that such actions could mislead the public and damage the reputation of the Defence Ministry and the armed forces.

It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding discipline, integrity and professionalism among defence personnel, stressing that it would not tolerate any conduct that could undermine the image and credibility of the country’s defence institutions.

***

Don't just target the defence forces. The country is choc-a-bloc full of immorality and immoral persons - incest, rapes, marriage of underaged girls, sex cults, scams, paedophilia, corruption, nepotism, racism, etc etc etc.

Pyongyang flaunts hypersonic missiles, Kim warns nuclear forces primed after Venezuela fallout

Pyongyang flaunts hypersonic missiles, Kim warns nuclear forces primed after Venezuela fallout



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a missile launch in Pyongyang on January 4, 2026, in images released by KCNA. — AFP pic/KCNA via KNS

Monday, 05 Jan 2026 10:01 AM MYT


SEOUL, Jan 5 — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test-firing of “cutting-edge” hypersonic missiles to ready Pyongyang’s nuclear forces for war, state media said Monday.

Pyongyang said Sunday’s test was made all the more necessary by “recent geopolitical crisis” — a clear nod to this weekend’s events in North Korea’s socialist ally Venezuela.

Seoul and Tokyo said Sunday they had detected the launch from near Pyongyang of two ballistic missiles.

It was the country’s first test of the year and came just hours before South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung headed to Beijing for a summit.


Lee has said he hopes to use the visit to harness China’s clout over North Korea to improve Seoul’s ties with Pyongyang.


On Monday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as saying the test showed “the readiness of the DPRK’s nuclear forces”, referring to North Korea by its official name.

“Important achievements have been recently made in putting our nuclear forces on a practical basis and preparing them for an actual war,” Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA.


Pyongyang’s activity, he said, was “aimed at gradually putting the nuclear war deterrent on a high-developed basis”.

“Why it is necessary is exemplified by the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events,” he said, a clear reference to Washington’s weekend capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The operation represents a nightmare scenario for North Korea’s leadership, which has long feared a so-called “decapitation strike” of that kind and accused Washington of seeking to remove it from power.

Pyongyang has for decades justified its nuclear and missile programmes as a deterrent against alleged regime change efforts by Washington.

North Korea’s new weapon system using hypersonic missiles was first tested in October.

Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.

They have been deployed to deadly effect this year on cities in Ukraine by Russia, with whom North Korea has deepened ties in recent years, and by Iran against Israel. — AFP

***

Wankees had (likely still has) an 80-nuke strike plan against North Korea, so can't blame Kim Jong-un for being ready (and scarily, edgy).

No impact from Umno exit but DAP’s decision critical, says MP

FMT:

No impact from Umno exit but DAP’s decision critical, says MP

PKR's outspoken MP Hassan Karim looks at the possible outcomes of yesterday's Umno Youth call for the party to leave the unity government

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim says a possible DAP pullout of its 40 MPs would leave the unity government without a parliamentary majority.

PETALING JAYA: The unity government will remain in power even if Umno pulls out as demanded by Umno Youth, but the government’s fate would hang on DAP’s call for a reassessment of its position, says PKR’s outspoken MP Hassan Abdul Karim.

He said the unity government would continue to have a majority even if Umno’s MPs leave, but a possible pullout of DAP’s 40 MPs would lead to the collapse of the unity government which would be left with only 83 seats, far short of a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

(Umno has 25 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, while its partners in Barisan Nasional hold 4 seats.)

Under the constitution, the government would have to resign or call for a general election, he said.

Hassan’s assessment was made in a Facebook post this evening in which he reviewed the possible outcomes of yesterday’s Umno Youth call for the party to leave the government.

He said the reputations of Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook would hang in the balance following their calls for a reassessment of their parties’ position in the government.

He said Akmal would have to resign if Umno decided to remain in government, despite the Umno Youth call, while Loke’s reputation and that of the DAP would be ruined if the party also remained in the government if reforms were not carried out over the next six months as the party had requested.

“People will no longer respect DAP,” said Hassan, who is MP for Pasir Gudang.

Last month, Loke said the party would reassess its role in the government if meaningful reforms were not delivered within the next six months. He had pledged to accelerate the reform agenda after the party lost all its eight seats in the Sabah state assembly.

Hassan speculated that the bigger threat to PH would lie in a possible Malay-Muslim alliance should Umno leave the government to team up with PAS and Bersatu.

“Won’t the coalition that brands itself as a single Malay-Muslim coalition be the biggest challenge to PH in the 16th general election?” he said.

The next general election must be held by February 2028.

Floodwaters rise — and so does crocodile risk, Beaufort residents warned

Floodwaters rise — and so does crocodile risk, Beaufort residents warned



Flooding in Kampung Brunei. Police warned residents in flood-affected villages to stay away from rivers due to the risk of crocodiles entering residential areas. — Daily Express pic

Monday, 05 Jan 2026 10:54 AM MYT


MEMBAKUT, Jan 5 — Several villages in the district remain flooded following river overflow, including Kg Brunei, Kg Tengah, Kg Skim and Kg Laut.

District Police Chief Supt Wong Leong Meng said no residents have been evacuated so far as the situation remains under control. He said access at Kg Tengah is only by large and high-clearance vehicles.

“Alternative access to Membakut town is via the Bandau-Pamparingan Road, but traffic remains under control.”

Wong advised residents to remain cautious and not allow children to play in flood-affected areas, warning that the Kampung Brunei River is dangerous and poses the risk of crocodile presence.

“The situation is extremely dangerous should the reptiles enter residential areas and threaten public safety,” he said.

According to Wong, Beaufort is currently the only district that has carried out flood evacuations, involving residents from Kg Suasa and Kg Bangkalalak, affecting 118 heads of households (KIR) with a total of 328 family members.

Meanwhile, District Fire and Rescue Station Chief Ishak Jabas said flood levels around town have receded to 9.15 metres but continue to rise in upstream areas, including Kg Suasa and Kg Bangkalalak.


“We are still conducting evacuation operations in Kampung Kangsa, transferring flood victims to the Selagon Hall Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS),” he said.

In one operation, two households involving nine victims who were trapped in their homes due to flooding in Kg Kangsa were safely evacuated using a fire engine.

All victims were placed at the Selagon Hall PPS. The operation was concluded after no further victims were identified, with continuous monitoring ongoing.

Ishak said 118 households involving 328 individuals have been evacuated so far, comprising 58 adult men, 106 adult women, 84 boys and 70 girls, five male and five female infants, five elderly men and 23 elderly women, as well as 14 persons with disabilities (OKU).

In Sipitang, a landslide was reported along the Sipitang-Tenom Highway near Kampung Marau Damai following heavy rain at 6.57pm on Friday.

“Road users are advised to exercise caution, especially when using the route at night,” he said. — Daily Express

‘Pay big price’: Trump warns Venezuela’s new leader of severe consequences if she resists

‘Pay big price’: Trump warns Venezuela’s new leader of severe consequences if she resists



Members of the ‘Colectivos’ militia march in Caracas on January 4, 2026, demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro after his capture in US strikes. — Reuters pic

Monday, 05 Jan 2026 9:47 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, Jan 5 — President Donald Trump threatened Sunday that Venezuela’s new leader will pay a “big price” if she does not cooperate with the United States, after US forces seized and jailed her former boss Nicolas Maduro.

If interim president Delcy Rodriguez “doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic in a telephone interview.

US forces attacked Caracas before dawn Saturday, bombing military targets and spiriting away Maduro and his wife to face federal narcotrafficking charges in New York. The deposed leader is due to appear in a Manhattan court on Monday.


The Trump administration says it is willing to work with the remainder of Maduro’s government as long as Washington’s goals, particularly opening access to US investment in Venezuela’s enormous crude oil reserves, are met.


Opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, in an Instagram post Sunday from exile in Spain, said the capture of Maduro was “an important step, but not enough” to return the crisis-hit nation to normal.

Gonzalez Urrutia called for the results of the 2024 election — which he claims to have won — to be upheld and for all political prisoners to be freed to ensure a “democratic transition.”


Venezuelans braced for the political aftermath of the stunning raid, in which US commandos swooped in on helicopters, backed by fighter jets and naval forces, to capture Maduro.

Residents queued up to buy food in grocery stores, and the masked and heavily armed police visible the previous day were gone, AFP correspondents said.

Some 2,000 Maduro supporters — including rifle-wielding men on motorcycles — rallied Sunday in Caracas, however, with crowds shouting and waving red, blue and yellow Venezuelan flags.

The Venezuelan military announced it recognised Rodriguez — previously Maduro’s vice president—as acting president, and urged calm.

No Venezuela death toll has been announced, but Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said a “large part” of Maduro’s security team were killed “in cold blood,” as well as military personnel and civilians.

Who will run Venezuela?

Despite the success of the initial US operation, questions mounted over Trump’s strategy.

The Senate’s top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, told ABC News that Americans were left “scratching their heads in wonderment and in fear.”

Trump said Saturday the United States will “run” Venezuela, a South American country of about 30 million people.

And he told The Atlantic that “rebuilding there and regime change — anything you want to call it — is better than what you have right now.”

But Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed Sunday that Washington is not seeking complete regime change or elections, but rather, “we’re going to make an assessment on the basis of what they do,” he told CBS News.

The United States is fighting drug traffickers, “not a war against Venezuela,” Rubio told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

However, he said a large US naval presence would remain in the Caribbean to enforce a blockade of Venezuelan oil exports for “tremendous leverage.”

Trump has made clear Washington intends to call the shots in Venezuela, with a focus on securing access to the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

“We’re going to run the country” until a transition can be made, he said Saturday, also insisting that military “boots on the ground” remained a possibility.

In her first remarks since the US attack, Rodriguez struck a defiant note, saying Maduro was the country’s sole legitimate leader and that “we’re ready to defend our natural resources.”

‘Good night’

Handcuffed and in sandals, Maduro was escorted by federal agents through a Manhattan US Drug Enforcement Administration facility late Saturday, a video posted by the White House showed.

“Good night, happy new year,” the 63-year-old leftist was heard saying in English.

Earlier, he was photographed aboard a US naval ship blindfolded and handcuffed, with noise-cancelling ear protectors.

Maduro, a self-described socialist, led Venezuela with an iron fist for more than a decade through a series of elections widely considered rigged. He came to power after the death of his charismatic mentor, Hugo Chavez.

As news of Maduro’s capture rippled out, exiled Venezuelans waved flags and celebrated in plazas from Madrid to Santiago. About eight million Venezuelans have fled the grinding poverty and political suppression of their homeland. — AFP

Could China move in on Taiwan now after US strike on Venezuela? Analysts weigh in

Could China move in on Taiwan now after US strike on Venezuela? Analysts weigh in



China conducted a live-firing exercise involving its land, air, and sea military units around Taiwan in December 2025. — Reuters pic

Sunday, 04 Jan 2026 9:00 PM MYT

• China could leverage US strikes to strengthen its claims over Taiwan, South China Sea islands – analysts
• US attack an opportunity for China to boost criticism of Washington
• China likely won’t use attack as example for action against Taiwan

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Jan ​4 — The US attack on Venezuela will embolden China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and ‌parts of the South China Sea but will not hasten any potential invasion of Taiwan, analysts said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s considerations about Taiwan and his timeline are separate from the situation in Latin America, influenced more by China’s domestic situation than by US actions, they said.


Still, analysts said, President ‍Donald Trump’s audacious attack on Saturday, capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, hands China an unexpected opportunity that Beijing will likely use in the near term to ‌amplify criticism of Washington and bolster its own standing on the international stage.

Further out, Beijing could leverage Trump’s move to defend its stance against the US on territorial issues including Taiwan, Tibet and islands in the East and South China seas.


‘Cheap ammunition’ for a China pushback

“Washington’s consistent, long-standing arguments are always that the Chinese actions are violating international law but they are now damaging that,” said William Yang, ‍an analyst at International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based NGO.

“It’s really creating a lot of openings and cheap ammunition for the Chinese to push back against the US in the future.”

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own province – an assertion the island’s government rejects – and claims almost all of the South China Sea, a position that puts it at odds with several Southeast Asian nations that also claim parts of the vital trade route.

China’s foreign ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office, and Taiwan’s presidential office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Beijing condemned Trump’s strike on Venezuela, saying it violated international law and threatened peace and security in Latin America. It has demanded the US release Maduro and his wife, who are being detained in New York awaiting trial.

Hours before his capture, Maduro met with a high-level Chinese delegation in Caracas, according to photos he posted on his Instagram page.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the whereabouts of the delegation, which included China’s special representative for Latin American and Caribbean affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi.

On Sunday China’s official Xinhua news ‍agency called the US attack “naked hegemonic behaviour.”

“The US ‍invasion has made everyone see more and more the fact that the so-called ‘rules-based international order’ in the mouth of the United States is actually just a ‘predatory order based on US interests’,” state-run Xinhua news agency said.

‘China isn’t the US, Taiwan isn’t Venezuela’



This is a handout photo taken on December 29, 2025 and released on December 30, 2025 by the Taiwan Coast Guard shows a Taiwanese coast guard ship (left) sending warnings to a Chinese coast guard ship in the waters off Taiwan’s Cape Fugui. — AFP pic


Taiwan, in particular, has been facing growing pressure from Beijing. China last week encircled the island in its most extensive war ​games to date, showcasing Beijing’s ability to cut off the island from outside support in a conflict.

But analysts said they did not expect China to capitalise on the Venezuelan situation to escalate that into an attack anytime soon.

“Taking over Taiwan depends on China’s developing but still insufficient capability rather than what Trump did in a distant continent,” said Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing.

Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society, said China sees Taiwan as an internal affair and so was unlikely to cite US actions against Venezuela as precedent for any cross-strait military strikes.

“Beijing will want a clear contrast with Washington to trumpet its claims to stand for ‌peace, development and moral leadership,” Thomas said. “Xi does not care about Venezuela more than he cares about China. He’ll be hoping that it turns into a quagmire for the United States.”

Wang Ting-yu, a senior lawmaker from Taiwan’s ruling party who sits on the parliament’s foreign affairs and defence committee, rejected the idea ‍that China might follow the US example and strike Taiwan.

“China has never lacked hostility toward Taiwan, but it genuinely lacks the feasible means,” Wang posted on Facebook. “China is not the ‌United States, and Taiwan ‍is certainly not Venezuela. If China could actually pull it off, it would have done so long ago!”

Still, the situation amplifies risks for Taiwan and could press Taipei to seek more favour from the Trump ‍ administration, some observers said.

On China’s Weibo social media platform, discussions of the US attack trended heavily on Sunday, with several users saying Beijing should learn from what Trump did.

Lev Nachman, a political science ‍professor at National Taiwan University, said he expected Taiwan’s government to express lightly worded support for American action on ⁠Venezuela.

Taiwan has not yet made any statement.

“What I do ‍think Trump’s actions could do is to help Xi Jinping’s narrative in the future to create more justification for action against Taiwan,” he said. — Reuters

***

Most of all, China does NOT want to kill any Chinese (Taiwanese) unlike the wankees who couldn't be bothered about killing Latinos or Arabs or Iranians.

Now Venezuela, Next Greenland, Then Canada, Etc

Guardian:

US attack on Venezuela raises fears of future Greenland takeover

Danish ambassador posts ‘friendly reminder’ about defence ties after provocative Maga post over territory

Deborah Cole

Sun 4 Jan 2026 22.49 AEDT

The US bombardment of Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolás Maduro, have renewed fears of an American takeover of Greenland, as members of Donald Trump’s Maga movement gleefully set their sights on the Danish territory after the attack in South America.

Just hours after the US military operation in Venezuela, the rightwing podcaster Katie Miller – the wife of Stephen Miller, Donald Trump’s powerful deputy chief of staff for policy – posted on X a map of Greenland draped in the stars and stripes with the caption: “SOON.”


The threat to annex the mineral-rich territory, which is part of the Nato alliance, drew immediate outrage from Danes.

Copenhagen’s ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen, reposted Miller’s provocation with a “friendly reminder” of the longstanding defence ties between the two countries.


“We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security,” he said. “The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic.”

He said Denmark had increased defence spending in 2025, committing $13.7bn (£10.2bn) “that can be used in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Because we take our joint security seriously.”

He added: “And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

Trump recently named Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, as a special envoy to Greenland. Landry, a former state attorney general, thanked Trump for his appointment in December, saying it was “an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US”.

On Saturday, Landry welcomed Trump’s toppling of Maduro by force.

“Having served as a sheriff’s deputy and AG, I have seen the devastating effects of illegal drugs on American families. With over 100k opioid-related deaths annually, I am grateful to see a President finally take real action in the war on drugs,” he posted on X.


“Thank you @realDonaldTrump for holding individuals like Maduro accountable.”

Since taking office a year ago, Trump has rattled European allies with his stated designs on Greenland, which is seen as strategically important for defence and as a future source of mineral wealth. It is home to the US’s most northerly military base, at Pituffik, which Trump’s vice-president, JD Vance, visited in March.

The US president has refused to rule out military action to gain control of the territory at a time when the US, China and Russia are jockeying for power in the Arctic, a prospect that has triggered widespread condemnation and disquiet on the island itself.

“I don’t rule it out. I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly,” Trump told the US broadcaster NBC in May when asked about a potential takeover by force.


You cannot annex other countries, Danish and Greenlandic leaders tell Trump

Read more

“Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.”

In response to a constant drumbeat of threats against the territory, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service last month labelled the US a security risk in a dramatic change in transatlantic relations.

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland, Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said at the time: “We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law … You cannot annex other countries.”

The vast majority of Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants want to become independent from Denmark but have no wish to become part of the US, according to a poll in January. The territory has had the right to declare independence since 2009.

Jennifer Kavanagh, the director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, a thinktank that advocates restraint in US foreign policy, said she had long dismissed Trump’s sabre-rattling toward Greenland.

“Now I’m not so sure,” she said. “It wouldn’t be that hard for the US to put a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it’s not clear to me who could do anything about it.”

Analyst: Umno Youth chief Akmal wrongly frames DAP criticism as 3R breach

Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat has criticised Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh for accusing DAP of crossing the “red lines” involving race, religion and royalty, saying the narrative misrepresents criticism of corruption as an ethnic provocation. — Social media pic, January 4, 2025


Analyst: Umno Youth chief Akmal wrongly frames DAP criticism as 3R breach


Wong Chin Huat says attack ignores corruption and risks shielding former premier Najib


Scoop Reporters
Updated 49 seconds ago
4 January, 2026
12:47 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR — Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat has criticised Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh for accusing DAP of crossing the “red lines” involving race, religion and royalty, saying the narrative misrepresents criticism of corruption as an ethnic provocation.

“That comment is not about race, religion or royalty. It is about corruption,” Wong said, describing it as the “fourth R, rasuah” (corruption).

Akmal made the remarks at a recent Umno Youth special convention, warning that continued cooperation in the Unity Government depended on respect for agreed red lines.

“If the ‘red lines’ agreed upon during the formation of the unity government were crossed, the youth wing would oppose it,” he said, accusing government partners of repeatedly showing disrespect towards Malay institutions, Islam and the monarchy. The remarks were prompted in part by DAP Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin’s reaction to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s legal setback.

Wong said DAP had in fact been “very prudent and considerate” on sensitive issues, sometimes to its own political cost, including losing support in Sabah.

“DAP has been careful on the 3Rs to the extent that it has even been punished by its own base,” he said. “This is being framed as a 3R issue when it is really about corruption.”

Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat says DAP has been “very prudent and considerate” on sensitive issues, sometimes to its own political cost. — Social media pic, January 4, 2026


According to Wong, Akmal, and young Turks in PAS are trying to revive Muafakat Nasional to monopolise Malay nationalist and conservative votes, which could then free Najib and protect future corrupt politicians in their camp.

Wong also questioned the assumption that ordinary Malays would rally behind Najib, citing the scale of his financial crimes: “The RM44 billion embezzled through SRC International and 1MDB is equivalent to what about half a million youths aged 18 would need to work for 30 months if they were paid RM3,000 a month,” he said.

He said Akmal and PAS hardliners believed that Malays were stuck in identity politics and lacked class consciousness and appetite for good governance, but they could be wrong.

Whether this voice grows louder or fizzles out in the next two weeks, leading up to the Umno General Assembly, will depend on how Madani and Umno top leadership respond, Wong said.

He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s avoidance of drawing a line on Najib had resulted in Najib growing greedier. “His daughter admitted that he wouldn’t pursue the addendum if he knew it was a dead end,” Wong said.

“Yes, Zahid lacks credibility to talk about integrity. But other Umno ministers, especially Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, have no such issues,” Wong said.

“Leaders like Johari who have the most to lose if Akmal’s narrative sweeps through the party have to step forward and not expect the desperado narrative to fizzle out,” he added.— January 4, 2026

Man with 17 prior offences arrested over attempted cable theft near Semenyih

Man with 17 prior offences arrested over attempted cable theft near Semenyih



Police said a motorcycle believed to have been used in the attempted cable theft was also seized during the arrest. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Sunday, 04 Jan 2026 5:41 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — Police have arrested a man with 17 prior criminal records for his alleged involvement in an attempted cable theft in the Sungai Lalang area near Semenyih last Friday.

Kajang Police Chief ACP Naazron Abdul Yusof said the 31-year-old suspect, who works in the private sector, was arrested in Semenyih yesterday along with a motorcycle believed to have been used in the incident.

“Initial urine screening tests found the suspect positive for methamphetamine. He has been remanded for four days until Tuesday to facilitate investigations, while efforts to trace the remaining suspects involved are ongoing,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the case is being investigated under Section 379/511 of the Penal Code, which provides for a sentence of up to seven years’ imprisonment or a fine.


Members of the public with information related to the case are urged to contact the nearest police station or the investigating officer, Sgt A. Vaelmurgan, at 019-6111660.

Meanwhile, Naazron said another man, aged 30, was arrested yesterday to assist investigations into a brawl at the Sungai Long Toll area last Friday.

He said the suspect has been remanded for three days until Monday, and the case is being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which provides for a sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine or both, in addition to Section 48(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.


He said members of the public with information on the incident may contact the nearest police station or the investigating officer, Inspector Ghazali Zulkifli, at 016-9740758.

In the 9.08pm incident, police received a report of a brawl involving two individuals, one of whom was seen holding an object believed to be a stick in the Sungai Long Toll area, heading towards Balakong, which disrupted traffic for highway users. — Bernama

Johor police: Singapore-registered car in viral RON95 refuelling clip traced, owner summoned

Johor police: Singapore-registered car in viral RON95 refuelling clip traced, owner summoned



A video circulating on social media shows a Singapore-registered vehicle refuelling RON95 petrol, with part of the number plate obscured.

Sunday, 04 Jan 2026 5:29 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — Police have identified the man caught in a viral video pumping subsidised RON95 petrol into a Singapore-registered car as a Singapore permanent resident, and have instructed him to present himself to assist with investigations.

Kulai district police chief Tan Seng Lee said the owner of the vehicle had been traced in Singapore following the incident, which spread rapidly online over the weekend.

“We have gotten in touch and directed him to come to the traffic department at Kulai’s police headquarters to assist with investigations,” he said today, according to The Star.

Tan said the case is being investigated under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which relates to exhibiting an altered or tampered vehicle registration number.


“The public is reminded not to alter or attempt to hide certain characters of their vehicle registration plate as they please because it is against the law,” he said.

Under the law, only Malaysian-registered vehicles are eligible to purchase RON95 petrol, regardless of the driver’s citizenship status.

Since 2010, all foreign-registered vehicles, including those from Singapore, have been restricted to purchasing only unsubsidised RON97 or higher-grade fuel.


The incident came to public attention on Friday after a video showed two individuals refuelling RON95 petrol into a Singapore-registered vehicle in Kulai, with part of its number plate obscured by a black sticker. In the clip, the pair can be heard claiming to be Malaysians before driving away.

***

KIASU lah 😂😂😂

Venezuela watch out,. here comes the Yanqui Carpet-Baggers

Trump says US oil firms to head into Venezuela



NYPD cars taking part of the caravan for Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro arrive to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (MDC Brooklyn) after the United States struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores overnight, in New York City, January 3, 2026. — Reuters pic

Sunday, 04 Jan 2026 4:54 PM MYT


WASHINGTON, Jan 4 — President Donald Trump said on yesterday he would allow American oil companies to go into Venezuela to tap its massive crude reserves after a US military operation seized its leader Nicolas Maduro.

The US military carried out a series of air strikes on Venezuela’s capital Caracas early yesterday. Maduro and his wife were captured and flown to New York City, where they face drug-trafficking and weapons charges.


“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” Trump told a news conference in Florida.

Trump also said that “the embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect.”


Washington imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela in 2017, followed by oil sanctions two years later.


Venezuela produces just under a million barrels of crude a day, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and sells most of it on the black market at steep discounts.

Trump claims Caracas is using oil money to finance “drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.”


At the start of his second term in 2025, he ended licenses that had allowed multinational oil and gas companies to operate in Venezuela despite the sanctions, with US company Chevron the only one to receive an exemption.

Chevron operates four oil fields in Venezuela in partnership with state-owned PDVSA and its affiliates.

Washington has also imposed a total blockade on sanctioned tankers going to and from Venezuela.

Venezuelan territory contains about 17 per cent of the world’s oil reserves, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2023, but is far from being a leading producer after years of mismanagement and corruption.

Venezuelan oil is of lower quality and is mostly processed into diesel or byproducts such as asphalt, rather than gasoline. The United States has refineries around the Gulf of Mexico specifically designed to handle it.

“The United States is doing just fine without Venezuelan oil,” Stephen Schork, an analyst at consulting firm the Schork Group, told AFP last month, pointing to political reasons instead. — AFP

***

Here comes the wankee looters

DAP will not bow to outside pressure or provocation to quit unity government, says Loke

DAP will not bow to outside pressure or provocation to quit unity government, says Loke



DAP secretary‑general Anthony Loke has advised party grassroots not to be swayed by others or easily provoked over calls for the party to leave the unity government. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 04 Jan 2026 2:42 PM MYT


MELAKA, Jan 4 — DAP secretary‑general Anthony Loke has advised party grassroots not to be swayed by others or easily provoked over calls for the party to leave the unity government.

In a Sinar Harian report today, Loke said DAP would not make any decisions based on external pressure, but would chart its course based on its own considerations, in the interest of the party and the voters it represents.

“Melaka DAP chairman Khoo Poay Tiong had earlier responded to the issue. I leave it to the Melaka leadership and delegates to debate the matter, and the outcome would be reported by the state chairman to the Central Executive Committee (CEC),” he was quoted as saying when officiating the Melaka DAP Convention at LTP Restaurant here on Sunday.

On Saturday, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh had challenged DAP to resign in Melaka, noting that the party is part of the state government led by Barisan Nasional (BN).


Following that, Melaka executive councillor for Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, Allex Seah of DAP, said in a Facebook post on the same day that he was prepared to resign if the unity government in Melaka were dissolved.

Loke stressed that DAP would not rush into any decision, Sinar Harian reported.

He also reminded party members and leaders not to be easily influenced by provocations or challenges from certain quarters.


“We must not allow ourselves to be provoked or challenged. It is not that we fear being challenged — we never have, and we refuse to back down from it.

“But at the same time, we must not be easily provoked. We will make our own decisions. No one else needs to tell us what to do. What we should do will be determined by us, not by others.”

‘Let Venezuelans decide’: Anwar urges release of Maduro, says US action violates international law

‘Let Venezuelans decide’: Anwar urges release of Maduro, says US action violates international law



A photograph which US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social account shows what he described as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship on January 3, 2026. — Reuters pic

Sunday, 04 Jan 2026 4:59 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by a United States (US) military operation in Caracas was unprecedented in scope and nature.

In a Facebook post, Anwar said he was closely monitoring developments in Venezuela with grave concern, describing the US action as a clear violation of international law and an unlawful use of force against a sovereign state.

He stressed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, must be released without delay, warning that the forcible removal of a sitting head of government through external intervention sets a dangerous precedent.

“It erodes fundamental restraints on the use of power between states and weakens the legal framework that underpins the international order.


“It is for the people of Venezuela to determine their own political future. As history has shown, abrupt changes in leadership imposed through external force often bring more harm than good, especially in a country already grappling with prolonged economic hardship and deep social strain,” he said.



Anwar reiterated that Malaysia remains firm in upholding international law and respecting sovereignty as essential foundations for peaceful relations between states.


“Constructive engagement, dialogue and de-escalation remain the most credible path towards an outcome that protects civilians and allows Venezuelans to pursue their legitimate aspirations without further harm,” he said.

According to US President Donald Trump, US forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday and flew them to New York, where they are expected to face federal charges.

Trump also announced that the US would administer Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” is secured. — Bernama

Venezuela’s Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodriguez become interim president

Venezuela’s Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodriguez become interim president



Acting Venezuela President Delcy Rodriguez (right) is seen with deposed president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores (left). — Reuters pic

Sunday, 04 Jan 2026 10:59 AM MYT


CARACAS, Jan 4 — The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered yesterday that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was detained early yesterday morning in an operation by US forces.

The court ruling said that Rodríguez would assume “the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation.”

The ruling added that the court will debate the matter in order to “determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defence of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the ⁠Republic.” — Reuters

‘Act of war’: Expert rejects Trump rationale for Venezuela attack

al Jazeera:

‘Act of war’: Expert rejects Trump rationale for Venezuela attack

Professor slams US attacks and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power as an ‘illegal use of force’

Demonstrators take part in a protest in Atlanta, Georgia, against US military actions in Venezuela, on January 3, 2026 [Erik S Lesser/EPA]

By Al Jazeera Staff
Published On 3 Jan 2026


US President Donald Trump and his allies have defended the US attacks on Venezuela and the removal of President Nicolas Maduro from power amid widespread condemnation that the actions violate international law.

Trump told reporters on Saturday that Maduro was “captured” after US military strikes on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, for carrying out a purported “campaign of deadly narco-terrorism against the United States”.

He said the US government would “run” the South American country during a political transition, promising the Venezuelan people that they would become “rich, independent and safe”.

But Claire Finkelstein, a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania, has rejected the Trump administration’s arguments in defence of the attacks and removal of Maduro, as well as its plans to exert control over Venezuela.

“I don’t think there’s any basis under international law for the action that occurred overnight by the US government,” Finkelstein told Al Jazeera, describing the attacks as an “illegal use of force [and] a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty”.

“Maduro has personal jurisdiction rights, so not only is it a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, but it’s a violation of his personal, international rights,” she said.

Numerous statutes of international law – including the UN Charter – prohibit states from attacking another country without provocation.

“All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations,” the UN Charter says.
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The US actions came amid a months-long pressure campaign against Maduro, whom the Trump administration accused, without evidence, of being linked to drug traffickers.

Washington had carried out deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, seized vessels carrying oil off the Venezuelan coast, sanctioned members of Maduro’s family, and threatened to launch attacks on the country’s soil.

“Nicolas Maduro wasn’t just an illegitimate dictator, he also ran a vast drug-trafficking operation,” US Congressman Tom Cotton, a top Trump ally, wrote on social media on Saturday, welcoming the moves against the Venezuelan leader.

Before he was seized, Maduro had said he was open to dialogue with the US on drug trafficking. He also had accused the Trump administration of seeking to depose him and seize control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.



What are the implications of the US capture of Nicolas Maduro?



Maduro brought to New York after being seized by US in Venezuela


‘No imminent threat’

Democratic Party lawmakers in the US had been demanding answers from the Trump administration about its aims in Venezuela, accusing the Republican president of seeking to unlawfully carry out acts of war without congressional oversight.

Under the US Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war.

But that authority has been weakened over the last several decades, with the US carrying out military strikes around the world during its so-called “war on terror” based on loosely-interpreted congressional authorisations.

On Saturday, Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said that, despite the Trump administration’s claims, “there was no imminent threat to the United States” from Venezuela, “certainly not one that justified military action without congressional authorization”.

“These actions violate both US and international law and, by Trump’s own admission, this is not a limited operation,” Meeks said in a statement shared on social media.



‘Team’ from US to run Venezuela after 'capture’ of Maduro


This was echoed by the University of Pennsylvania’s Finkelstein, who said there was no “immediate threat” to the US that would justify the executive branch carrying out attacks without notifying Congress.

“It was an act of war against Venezuela, and we did not have the kind of self-defence justification that would normally justify bypassing Congress,” she told Al Jazeera.

“Even if you believe the US is at grave danger because of drug trafficking, there isn’t the kind of imminence there that would justify the president moving unilaterally and not turning to Congress and trying to get them on board.”

Finkelstein also rejected Trump’s plans for the US to “run” Venezuela as “incredibly illegal”.

“States have sovereignty rights, and you cannot just invade them and take them over,” she said.

“Even if Maduro were to fall of his own accord and we had not brought that about, we don’t have the right to go in and start running their government,” Finkelstein said.

“Democracy is premised on the idea that the people are sovereign and the people choose their own leaders, and that’s something we should be promoting in Latin and South America, not trying to undermine.”

***

Clown shows his brazen-faced daylight-robber illegality and lawlessness