Wednesday, January 07, 2026

An Indian account on the Chinese


From the FB page of:
Johnny Good


onsrStpdeo fmf7614caeembi 1a430495r i6i 1a0h5:ct0atM7PieDu42a ·


*Subject: An Indian account on the Chinese*

The accuracy of this Indian writer is astounding
Kudos to him for writing this piece
Ramesh Rajaratnam |


posted by blogger kayteemoc 😂😂😂


Since the Chinese in Malaysia are unable to decisively reprimand a certain minister for his racist rants, let me, an Indian Malaysian, remind them what being a Chinese is about.

At the outset, I got help for this article from one originally written by Dr Chan Lui Lee of Melbourne.

This is also meant to be a wake-up call for those who threaten everyone else (by using state machinery) and think that the country owes them a living and everyone else is a threat.

Chinese people don't go about bombing, terrorising others, and creating religious hatred.

They don't enter into a country on the pretext of humanitarian reasons and then try to take over the country by applying warped ideologies.

They don't impose "no go zones" for their hosts and don't demand separate laws for themselves.

They don't hatch plots to kill non-believers, nor do they harbour or finance such attempts.

They live peacefully with everyone on Earth, and if you send them to Mars, they will make it very liveable, too.
Take along the Indians too, then it would be a thriving technology-spurred economy.

Why do Chinese succeed in life?

Here is why the Chinese are welcomed almost anywhere:

1. There are over 1.4 billion Chinese on this earth.

They are like (after all, all look the same) carbon copies of each other.

You get rid of one, five magically appears (like ballot boxes in some countries).

They acknowledge that they are replaceable, and they are not particularly 'special'.

If you think they are smart, there are a few thousand more people smarter than them.

If you think they are strong, there are a few thousand people stronger than them.

2. They have been crawling all over this earth for far more centuries that most (except for the other hardy people, the Indians)
civilisations. Their DNA is designed for survival.
Put them anywhere on earth, and they will make a colony and thrive.

They survive on anything around and make the best of it.

In Klang, they threw chicken & pig parts into a broth to feed their coolie lot a 100 years ago
and today it's a delicacy.

Some keep migrating but others will stay and multiply.

3. Nobody cares if they succeed as individuals or not.
But their families take pride in knowing they have succeeded.

Yes, some will fail.

They take nothing for granted.

They don't expect privileges to fall on their laps.
No one owes them anything.

4. They know they have nothing to lose if they try to succeed.

They have no fear in trying.
That is why Chinese are attracted to gambling.
They thrive on taking risks.
Winner takes all.

5. From young they are taught to count every cent.

What they take for granted like money management, is not something other cultures practice at home with their children.

(It didn't surprise me as I was like them too - some say I'm more Chinese than most Chinese).

But the truth is not all societies or cultures teach their young this set of survival skills because it is considered rude.

Yes, most of them can count wonderfully because they are forced to,
and the logic of money is pounded into them from the beginning of time

(when mama tells them how much she has spent on milk and diapers).

Nobody lowers the benchmark to allow them to "pass" Mathematics.

6. They acknowledge life cycles.

They accept that wealth in a family stays for three generations.

That, every fourth generation will have to work from scratch.

That is, the first generation earns the money from scratch, second generation spends the money on education,
third generation gets spoiled and wastes all the inheritance.

Then they are back to square one.

Some families hang on to their wealth a little longer than most.

I'm not sure where Yap Ah Loy's wealth is now but I sure hope his descendants are benefitting from it.

7. It is their culture to pressure the next generation to do better than the last.

Be smarter.
Be stronger.
Be faster.
Be more righteous.
Be more pious.
Be more innovative.
Be more creative.
Be richer.
Be everything that you can be in this lifetime.

And if you have some money, take it to the next life when you go.

8. Their society judges them by their achievements.

.. and they have no choice but to do something worthwhile because

Chinese New Year comes around every year and Chinese relatives have no qualms
about asking them straight in their face -

how much are you making?
When was your last promotion?
How big is your office?
What car do you drive?
Where do you stay?
Do you have a boyfriend?
Do you have a girlfriend?
When are you getting married?
When are you having children?
When is the next child?
When are you getting a boy?
Got maid yet?
Does your company send you overseas?

It never ends... so they can't stop chasing the illusive train -

they are damned to a materialistic society.
If you are not Chinese, consider yourself unlucky.

9. They have been taught from young that if you have two hands, two feet, two eyes, and a mouth, what are you really doing with them?

"People with no hands can do better than you!"

Chinese people never beg, they earn their living.

They don't expect government contracts. They get it..
. well, with their hard-earned money.

They sometimes buy it, but that's economics.

10. Ironically, the Chinese also believe in giving back to save their rather materialistic souls.

Balance is needed.

The more their children succeed in life, the more their parents will give back to society as gratitude for the good fortune bestowed on their children.

Yes, that is true. See the most Chinese Tycoons in Malaysia.

That is why Chinese society progresses in all environments.

Nobody pities them, and they accept that

. No one owes them anything, and they know that
. There are too many of them for charity to reach all of them, and they acknowledge that.

But that does not stop them from making a better life.

Opportunity is as we make of it.

So, pardon them if they feel obliged to make a better place for themselves in this country we call home.

They are not ‘puak pendatang’ and it is the same home as you and me.

It is in their DNA to seek a more comfortable life.
In whichever country they reside in.

But if history were to be our teacher, look around this globe.

Almost every country has a Chinatown, but how many governments/countries are 'taken' over by the Chinese people.

Don't be afraid of them overwhelming your majority. They are not looking to conquer.

China is probably the only major power (besides India) that didn't go on a crusade to further its boundaries and religion.

I think their real religion is money, and there's no harm in that.

The more money they make, the more to go around.
Win-win for all.

If they have moved away from China and Chinese-governed countries,

they are not looking for another country to administer.
They are more interested in making money than to run a country, seriously.

Their representatives are only there to look after their collective welfare.

I don't think a Chinese man wants to be a prime minister in Malaysia.

He'll be better off being a business tycoon for sure.

They prefer to blend in and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

They enjoy the company of like-minded people of all races.

After all, just like you and me, they are only passing through a small period in the history of time...

so, use their skills, and we can all progress forward together.

Calling for a boycott of Chinese-owned business is not only foolish but, in the end, self-destructive.

*If you are Chinese, you must read this article written by n Indian.
😂😂😂👍👍👍











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POLITICAL SPIN Mahathir Hadi's Brilliant Idea - Episode 1





POLITICAL SPIN Mahathir Hadi's Brilliant Idea - Episode 1


5 Jan 2026 • 6:00 PM MYT


Santhira Morgan
Santhira Morgan is the writer, director & producer of Serious Comedy Studio



https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/e8qrnLQfK6rHVXjDoG9Nq Some politicians enter politics and see many ‘lubangs.’


POLITICAL SPINS


This is a FICTION based on the political situation in Malaysia. The main characters do not reflect anyone living or dead and if they do, it would be a mere coincidence. This piece is for comedic entertainment only.


Mahathir Hadi’s Brilliant Idea – Episode 1


Mahathir Hadi is a fresh university graduate. He just started working as a lawyer at a reputable legal firm. After a hard day’s work he went to his favourite Mamak stall for dinner. He ordered 2 Roti Canais and a Teh Tarik. After having them he was browsing through his phone. Something caught his attention. He was totally engrossed in it. He scrolled the screen with his forefinger slowly. He kept his phone down and went into deep thoughts. His chin was resting on his right thumb with his fingers folded down while his forefinger was tapping his cheek. His eyes were staring penetratingly at the fan above the table in-front of him. Then, he took his phone and made two phone calls. The calls were short. It appeared as though he called two friends over. But instead of waiting there, he paid his bills and left.


Back in his room, he was early waiting for the arrival of his two friends. Lim Kuan Yin and Kappal Samy arrived in a hurry.


Samy: Mahathir, what’s up brader.


Lim: You’d better make sure your idea’s good.


Mahathir: Now, let’s take a deep breath. In….and out….. In…..and out….Now relax.


Lim: Apa ini, drama RTM, TV3, TV9 or Netflix?


Mahathir: No, I called you both to do some sharing.


Lim: Sharing?


Samy: About what?


Mahathir: About our future. We have to plan our future. Let me ask you. How much do you make as a new Engineer?


Lim: About 4K


Mahathir: How about you accountant?


Samy: Close to 4K.


Mahathir: As a brand new lawyer, I only get about 1 thousand five. It took me years to be here. How long did it take you to finish your studies?


Lim: (shows four finger)


Samy: 4 as well


Mahathir: Plus your allowances, how much do you take home?


Lim: Overtime and allowance, can take home slightly close to 5K.


Samy: I take home about 5.5K


Mahathir: How much is your yearly increment?


Samy: About 150-200


Lim: Mine is better. 300


Mahathir: Have you ever considered politics.


Samy: Politics! You must be out of your mind. No way.


Lim: Shit wasted my time coming here.


Mahathir: Ok, just answer this one question. Is a politician’s job difficult?


Samy: What’s so difficult. Attend events, free makan here. Free makan there. Always in the limelight, shake hands with strangers, selfie and then go home and sleep.


Lim: The next day, get up, attend meeting or parliament. Talk cock, show you are a champion. If tired take a nap in Parliament. What’s so difficult.


Mahathir: I agree with you. I totally agree. So, it’s easy, right? You know how much they earn. Here, look at this. Member of Parliament Salary, (Dewan Rakyat): RM16,000 per month. That is just the basic salary. How much do you take home now? About 5K? I only take how about 2K per month. Let’s look at the allowances they get.


Entertainment allowance: RM2,500 per month. That’s more than my salary. Entertainment. You know what it means, it means having a nice time, listening to music, dancing, thaniing etc.


Special payment for non-administrative work RM1,500 per month


Lim: What does it mean, non-Administrative work?


Mahathir: I don’t know but it sounds good. It’s motivating.


Samy: Yes, never mind, we can find that out later. You carry on.


Mahathir: Fixed travel allowance: RM1,500 per month. Even if you sleep at home, you will get this.


Fuel allowance: RM1,500 per month. Now, both of you tell me. Does your company pay you to get to the office?


Samy and Lim: No.


Mahathir: Look if you are elected, you get 1.5k fuel allowance. Let me carry on. Driver allowance, RM1,500 per month. So far good, right? Look here. Parliamentary sitting attendance: RM400 per day. Nia mah, go there, sleep, talk cock, shout, or just keep quiet, you get paid 400 per day.


Samy: They get so much!


Mahathir: I’m not done yet. Listen, government agency meetings/ workshops attendance: RM300 per day, don’t forget free 5-star food.


Toll allowance, RM300 per month. Handphone purchase, up to RM2,000 every two years


See your company pays you, around 5K and out of the 5K, you have to pay for your petrol, toll, buy a phone and what not. You have to subsidize the company you are working for. Here you are paid for everything. Listen to this, Phone bill allowance, RM900 per month. Look my phone bill is about RM50 per month. Purchase of computer, up to RM6,000. Black-tie attire subsidy, RM1,000 every three years. Ceremonial attire allowance, Up to RM1,500. Warm clothing allowance. You buy underwear also can claim. You need to keep your brother warm and cosy inside. Next, free vehicle license


Lim: Free vehicle license? Does it mean that we get free driving license?


Mahathir: I’m not sure. Never mind, itu belakang kira. So far so GOOD, right? Here some more. Listen. Official trips – Business class air travel, First-class rail travel, Domestic duties exceeding 32km from home, Hotel allowance up to RM400 a night. Now KL to Putrajaya is about 40 plus km. Can claim RM400. Just attend meeting and go home.


Daily stipend during business trips, Domestic – RM100 a night/ International – RM170 a night. Food allowance when overseas, RM340 a night. Imagine going to Thailand or Indonesia and you get 340 per night for food. Even Singapore RM150 is more than enough. First-class single-room ward in government hospitals: Free


Now tell me, isn’t this a good deal for someone who shakes hands with strangers, poses for selfies, attends meetings, talks cock and takes a nap in Parliament?


Lim: Shit, I didn’t know this.


Samy: But my friend, you have to be highly qualified for the job.


Mahathir: NO! No legal requirement for MPs to hold specific academic qualification. The former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Tun Datuk Seri Utama Abdul Ghafar Baba, had a Teaching Certificate. It was reported in Malaysia World News (Online), that the former Defence Minister, Mohamad Sabu admitted that he has no higher education certificate. According to Article 47 of the Malaysian Constitution, one must be a Malaysian and at least 18 years old, that’s all.


Lim: SPM good enough?


Mahathir: Yes, but the higher your qualification, the better. Nowadays, minimum a degree. It is not a must, though. But this fellow. What’s his name…(thinks…) Pra…Pra…Prabakaran Parameswaran was still a law student when he contested the Batu parliamentary seat.


Lim: You’ve got PhD also sometimes you become a laughing stock…Remember the young lady…She had to pay hundreds of thousands in damages….


Samy: Let me tell you in a better way. Some politicians have brains. In the Left side, nothing is Right. And in the Right side, nothing is Left.


Mahathir: I think we have a lot in both the right and left.


Samy: There is space for more. Look, all of us have finished our degrees. Now it’s time to make some money.


Mahathir: No, it’s time we serve the public.


(Samy and Lim look at Mahathir and each other – they all burst into laughter.)


Lim: It’s time to serve the public.


Mahathir: A Kerajaan of the rakyat, by the rakyat, for the rakyat shall not perish in Malaysia.


(They clap and cheer)


END OF EPISODE 1. What’s their next move? Wait for Episode 2

The Laughable Attempt to Turn Muhyiddin into a ‘Hidden Dragon’





OPINION | The Laughable Attempt to Turn Muhyiddin into a ‘Hidden Dragon’


5 Jan 2026 • 9:30 AM MYT



TheRealNehruism
An award-winning Newswav creator, Bebas News columnist & ex-FMT columnist



Image credit: Malaysian Gazette


Eric Hoffer once observed that “It is a talent of the weak to persuade themselves that they suffer for something when they suffer from something; that they are showing the way when they are running away; that they see the light when they feel the heat; that they are chosen when they are shunned.”


That observation immediately came to mind when Bersatu founding member Redzuan Yusof described Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to step down as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman as a “masterstroke”.


According to Redzuan, Muhyiddin’s retreat is not a defeat at all, but a breathtaking act of political genius—so subtle and so sophisticated that only future generations may fully appreciate it. In a statement to FMT, Redzuan argued that Muhyiddin’s resignation was a carefully calculated move: one that neutralised an internal mutiny within Bersatu, prevented the Perlis Menteri Besar crisis from escalating into a national issue, shifted the leadership burden of PN onto PAS, and ultimately positioned Muhyiddin to strengthen his grip on Bersatu—or even to return triumphantly to lead PN once PAS realises it cannot survive without him.


It is a remarkable narrative. It is also almost entirely fictional.


Redzuan would have us believe that Muhyiddin’s defeat is a rare species of victory, that his loss of control is actually a display of supreme control, and that his political retreat is merely a strategic feint—a crouching tiger, hidden dragon moment in Malaysian politics. For this interpretation to hold, however, the rest of us would have to suspend not only disbelief, but also reason.


Muhyiddin’s resignation is not a masterstroke. It is not genius. It is simply a garden-variety defeat.


For years, Muhyiddin clung to the top of PN despite his manifest inability to provide leadership. Under his watch, PN declined unnecessarily, fractured internally, and failed to capitalise on opportunities that should have been politically decisive. Pressure for him to step aside did not emerge overnight; it had been building steadily as dissatisfaction with his leadership grew within Bersatu and among PN’s allies.


Yet Muhyiddin refused to vacate his position—not because he had a plan, not because he inspired confidence, and not because he struck fear into his opponents—but simply because he wanted to remain at the top.


He could not rally his followers. He did not intimidate his rivals. Nobody believed he could win. The prevailing view within PN was brutally simple: with Muhyiddin at the helm, the coalition could only lose. Still, he persisted.


The Perlis Menteri Besar crisis was likely the final straw. It may have been the last nail in the coffin, but it was certainly not the only one. By the time it erupted, Muhyiddin’s authority had already been hollowed out. His resignation did not avert a crisis; it merely acknowledged one that had long been unfolding.


This is especially striking when one recalls how strong PN once was. In the aftermath of the 2022 general election, PN stood toe-to-toe with Pakatan Harapan. In fact, PN was the first coalition to assemble the numbers required to form government and failed to take Putrajaya only due to technical and procedural constraints.


That strength has since dissipated, and much of the blame must rest squarely on Muhyiddin’s shoulders.


Had PN possessed effective leadership, it would almost certainly be in a far stronger position today. Instead, it squandered momentum, alienated potential supporters, and allowed internal contradictions to fester.


The contrast with Anwar Ibrahim is instructive. Pakatan Harapan barely won in 2022 and spent its early years in government under constant speculation of collapse. Today, such talk of collapse has all but vanished. PH has gone from precarious to stable, not because circumstances magically improved, but because Anwar proved himself a far more capable leader than Muhyiddin ever was.


Leadership matters. And where Anwar consolidated power, Muhyiddin dissipated it.


Seen in this light, Muhyiddin’s resignation is not a clever act of feigned weakness designed to engineer a dramatic return. It is a necessary correction—one that PN had to make if it wishes to arrest its decline. Removing Muhyiddin from the chairmanship does not guarantee renewal, but it does close the chapter on stagnation. After his departure, the worst is likely over for the opposition. Even if things do not immediately improve, it is hard to imagine them getting worse.


For Muhyiddin himself, however, this looks very much like the end.


Contrary to Redzuan’s claims, it is difficult to see how Muhyiddin can now strengthen Bersatu after relinquishing the PN chairmanship. On the contrary, the logic of coalition politics suggests that pressure will soon mount for him to step down as Bersatu president as well, so that the party can put forward a new name to lead PN with credibility.


And once that happens, Muhyiddin’s political fate may resemble that of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rather than Najib Razak or Mahathir Mohamad. Like Pak Lah, Muhyiddin is unlikely to loom large in post-exit politics. When he is out of sight, I am quite sure he is going to be out of mind.


Muhyiddin's time is over.


There will be no dramatic comeback. No grateful coalition begging for his return. No rediscovery of misunderstood genius.


Sometimes, defeat is just defeat. And no amount of rhetorical alchemy can turn it into gold.

"King’s Slashed Powers!!" - But Do Ku Li, Akmal Dare Blame Dr M For 1994 Constitutional Tweak...?!!





OPINION | "King’s Slashed Powers!!" - But Do Ku Li, Akmal Dare Blame Dr M For 1994 Constitutional Tweak...?!!


5 Jan 2026 • 10:00 AM MYT



JK Joseph
Repentant ex-banker who believes in truth, compassion and some humour



Is Dr Mahathir quietly having the last laugh now? Credit Image: The Straits Times (Photo: AFP) / Aliran / The Malay Mail (Photo from Facebook/Pemuda UMNO).


If only UMNO/BN under Dr Mahathir hadn't amended the Federal Constitution In 1994, wouldn't Najib be spending his sentence in the comfort of his home today?


(Note: Last Friday, Najib was found guilty in the 1MDB case for which he was sentenced to 15 years' jail in addition to a fine of RM11.38bil; but assuming he had been successful in his “house arrest” bid, wouldn't he be “chilling” at home while his lawyers go through the motion of appealing this latest conviction?)


Recently, UMNO veteran, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, had caused a stir after calling for his party to review its position in the unity government; this was following the recent court ruling pertaining to its ex-president Najib Razak’s controversial “addendum” and house arrest case.


Not pulling any punches, the ex-Gua Musang lawmaker had warned that if the UMNO leadership believes that the issue is contrary to the party's principles, then its party leaders holding positions in the unity government must consider relinquishing their respective positions.


Tengku Razaleigh, who is fondly known as Ku Li, also expressed surprise as to why UMNO leaders have never held any high-level conference to discuss the addendum case involving Najib.


He further stressed that efforts must be carried out by UMNO leaders, including seeking a pardon for Najib from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the king) who he claimed has the power, “absolute right” and prerogative to implement it based on His Majesty's discretion and humanitarian considerations.


But didn't the recent court ruling make it abundantly clear that according to the (amended) Constitution, the king no longer enjoys “absolute” rights in matters pertaining to royal pardon?


In a bold move, Razeleigh also issued a rallying call to UMNO members at branch and division levels not to remain silent but instead express their disappointment and frustration due to the lack of efforts by its party leaders in seeking Najib's pardon.


Meanwhile, a distraught UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh had echoed Razeleigh’s call by “demanding” for Umno to exit from the current government without any further delay!




Excerpt from Facebook of Akmal Saleh.


Akmal: What's the point of being Malay-Muslim leaders if we keep quiet when the king's power is reduced?


In that context, it would have been quite intriguing to hear Dr Mahathir's take on the matter but the shrewd centenarian seemed to have chosen to remain non-committal; after all, wasn't his UMNO-led government responsible for amending the Constitution to limit the king's powers?


Weren't Dr Mahathir and UMNO the architects behind the landmark Constitutional amendment to remove the king's “absolute powers?”


Truth be told, it was during his tenure as prime minister in 1994, that the government had initiated parliamentary amendments to the Federal Constitution; as a consequence of that, lawyers had stressed that the king's power had been reduced and the latter no longer enjoyed “absolute discretion!”


According to them, Article 40(1A) now stipulates that the head of the federation shall accept and act on advice in the exercise of his functions under the constitution – including the granting of royal pardon!


Ironically, when that “fateful” amendment was made in 1994 weren't Najib and Razeleigh both serving as Members of Parliament in Dr Mahathir's UMNO?


Were there any objections to it back then?


In fact, what critics may ask is: why didn't any of the successive prime ministers from UMNO (including Najib) make any attempt to re-amend the Federal Constitution – if they were truly “sincere” in restoring the king's "absolute powers?"


Why all the hue and cry only now – when the horse had already bolted from the barn?


In conclusion, given the uproar among some UMNO leaders over the failed "house arrest" bid, perhaps, what the general public may want to know is: why aren't they openly admitting that it was their “own party” that was responsible for limiting the powers of the king? Or are they deliberately “pulling the wool over the eyes” of ignorant party members to conceal their own past “blunder”…?


Dozens killed in Maduro capture: Venezuela officials





Dozens killed in Maduro capture: Venezuela officials


Updated January 7 2026
6:52am, first published 6:46am



Dozens of Venezuelans were killed during the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro, officials say. Photo: AP PHOTO


At least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night US military operation to capture Nicolas Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face federal drug charges, officials say.


Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab on Tuesday said "dozens" of officials and civilians were killed and that prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a "war crime." He didn't specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.


The death toll for Venezuelan security officials comes after Cuba's government on Sunday announced that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela had died in the operation, prompting two days of mourning on the Caribbean island.



The seizure of President Nicolas Maduro was the biggest US intervention in Latin America in decades. (AP PHOTO)


A video tribute to the slain Venezuelan security officials posted to the military's Instagram features faces of many of those killed over black-and-white videos of soldiers, American aircraft flying over Caracas and armoured vehicles destroyed by the blasts.


"Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength," the military wrote in an Instagram post.


"It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil."


Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Tuesday pushed back against Democratic criticism of this weekend's military operation, noting that his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had also called for the arrest of the Venezuelan leader on drug trafficking charges.



Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. (AP PHOTO)


"You know, at some point, they should say, 'You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.' Wouldn't it be good?" Trump said.


"I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I'd be happy for the country. They've been after this guy for years and years and years."


Trump's latest comments came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top officials briefed leaders in Congress late Monday on the Venezuela operation amid mounting concerns that the Republican administration is embarking on a new era of US expansionism without consultation with Congress or a clear vision for running the South American country.


After the briefing, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he does not expect the United States to deploy troops to Venezuela, saying the US actions there are "not a regime change" operation. Democratic leaders said the session lacked clarity about the Trump administration's plans for Venezuela.


Americans are split about the capture of Maduro with many still forming opinions, according to a poll conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS.



Trump says he will press the country's leaders to open its vast oil reserves to the US. (EPA PHOTO)


Nearly half, 45 per cent, were opposed to the US taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country. About nine in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.


Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a US courtroom on Monday. US forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday in a raid on a compound where they were surrounded by Cuban guards. Maduro's No. 2, Delcy Rodriguez, has been sworn in as Venezuela's acting president.


In the days since Maduro's ouster, Trump and top administration officials have raised anxiety around the globe that the operation could mark the beginning of a more expansionist US foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere.


Trump has said that his administration will now "run" Venezuela policy and would press the country's leaders to open its vast oil reserves to American energy companies.

Tuesday, January 06, 2026

What’s next for Venezuela’s vast oil reserves after Maduro’s fall?






What’s next for Venezuela’s vast oil reserves after Maduro’s fall?



Crude oil drips from a valve at a PDVSA oil well in the Orinoco belt near Morichal, Monagas state, on April 16, 2015. — Reuters pic

Tuesday, 06 Jan 2026 9:00 PM MYT


WASHINGTON, Jan 6 — Following are key facts about the oil and mining sectors of Venezuela, whose President Nicolas Maduro was captured by US forces on Saturday.


Reserves

Venezuela has the world’s largest estimated oil reserves but its crude output remains at a fraction of ​capacity due to decades of mismanagement, lack of investment and sanctions, official data shows.

Venezuela holds about 17 per cent of global reserves or 303 billion barrels, ahead of Organization ‌of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) leader Saudi Arabia, according to the London-based Energy Institute.


Its reserves are made up mostly of heavy oil in the Orinoco region of central Venezuela, making its crude expensive to produce, but technically relatively simple, according to the US government’s energy department.


In 2019, Maduro and Delcy Rodriguez, who was then the country’s vice president and is now acting president, announced a five-year mining plan ‍aimed at boosting mineral extraction as an alternative to oil production.

The year prior, Venezuela’s government released data on mineral deposits that used key mining industry terms interchangeably, including reserve and resource, making it difficult to ‌ascertain whether Caracas knew its full mining potential.


A reserve is an estimate of the volume of a mineral that can be economically produced. A resource is the volume of a mineral estimated in an entire region, whether or not it can be economically produced.

The 2018 report, which was billed as a “minerals catalogue” for potential investors and published on Venezuela’s mining ministry website, estimated coal reserves of roughly 3 billion metric tons and 407,885 metric tons of nickel reserves.

That same report estimated a gold resource of 644 metric tons, an iron ore resource of 14.68 billion metric tons - ‍while acknowledging much of that was a speculative estimate – and a bauxite resource of 321.5 million metric tons.

In 2021, Venezuela’s government published a map of mineral reserves based on data compiled in 2009. That map showed reserves of antimony, copper, nickel, coltan, molybdenum, magnesium, silver, zinc, titanium, tungsten and uranium, but did not list volumes.

The country does not appear to have sizeable reserves of rare earths, a grouping of 17 minor metals used to make magnets that turn power into motion. Rare earths are a subset of critical minerals.



A man wears a mask of US President Donald Trump during a protest against US strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro in Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 5, 2026. — Reuters pic



Production

Venezuela was a founding member of Opec with Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Its struggles with electricity production have repeatedly hampered mining and oil operations.

The country was producing as much as 3.5 million barrels per day of crude in the 1970s, which at the time represented over 7 per cent of global oil output. Production fell below 2 million bpd during the 2010s and averaged some 1.1 million bpd last year or just 1 per cent of global production. That was roughly the same production as the US state of North Dakota.

“If developments ultimately lead to a genuine regime change, this could even result in more oil on the market over time. However, it will take time for production to recover fully,” said Arne Lohmann Rasmussen from Global Risk Management.

If regime change is successful, Venezuela’s exports could grow as sanctions are lifted and foreign investment returns, said MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic.

“History shows that forced regime change rarely stabilises oil supply quickly, with Libya and Iraq offering clear and sobering precedents,” said ‍Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy.

Trump told ‍Fox News on Saturday the United States would be very strongly involved in Venezuela’s oil sector.

The operational status of the mines tied to Maduro’s five-year plan is not clear. However, Maduro’s National Council for Productive Economy last month said national production of gold, coal and iron ore grew in the first three quarters of 2025, without providing figures.

Venezuela nationalised its gold sector in 2011. The government also controls iron and steel maker CVG.

Reuters reported last October that Venezuela had restarted coal production and aimed to export ​more than 10 million metric tons of the mineral in 2025. It is not clear whether the government hit that target. In 2019, the US Geological Survey estimated that Venezuela produced 100,000 metric tons of coal from 731 million metric tons of reserves.

Much of the country’s production of minerals, including nickel, bauxite, iron ore, and gold, has fallen alongside oil in the past decade.

The latest available data on Venezuelan bauxite from the USGS, for 2021, put production at 250,000 metric tons, down from 550,000 tons in 2017, while iron ore output was 1.41 million tons on an iron content basis, and gold production was 480 kg.

Output of alumina, the substance refined from bauxite that is used to make aluminium metal, was estimated by the USGS to be 80,000 tons in 2021, having dwindled from 240,000 tons four years earlier. Aluminium production was estimated at just 20,000 tons, down from 144,000 tons in 2017.



Venezuelan National Guards keep watch at the border between Venezuela and Brazil in Pacaraima, Roraima, Brazil on January 5, 2026. — Reuters pic



Joint ventures

Venezuela nationalised its oil industry in the 1970s, creating Petroleos de Venezuela ‌S.A. (PDVSA).

During the 1990s, Venezuela took steps to open the sector to foreign investment. Following the election of Hugo Chavez in 1999, Venezuela mandated majority PDVSA ownership of all oil projects. Exxon and Conoco departed Venezuela in the 2000s and their assets were expropriated.

PDVSA set up ventures in the hope of boosting production, including with Chevron, China National Petroleum Corporation, ENI, Total and Russia’s Rosneft.

Maduro threatened in 2023 to license ‍mines in a region subject to ownership dispute with neighboring Guyana.

Maduro’s government since at least 2016 had supported artisanal gold mining in the Venezuelan Amazon to bring in revenue.


Exports, refining

The United States used to be the main buyer of Venezuelan oil but since ‌the introduction of sanctions, China has ‍become the main destination in the last decade.

Venezuela owes about US$10 billion to China after China became the largest lender under late President Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela repays loans with crude transported in three very large crude carriers previously co-owned by Venezuela and China.

Two of those supertankers were approaching Venezuela ‍in December when Trump announced a blockade of all tankers going in and out of the country.

About a dozen oil tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude and fuel have left the country’s waters since the start of the year in apparent defiance of the US government’s ‍blockade on exports, according to documents seen by Reuters and industry sources including monitoring service TankerTrackers.com.

Trump told Fox News on Saturday that China would get the ⁠oil without elaborating. Russia has also loaned Venezuela billions of dollars but the exact ‍amount is not clear.

PDVSA also owns significant refining capacity outside the country, including CITGO in the United States, but creditors are battling to gain control of it through longstanding legal cases in US courts. — Reuters


Unsafe slope homes could trigger next landslide if DBKL fails to audit: Teresa Kok





Seputeh MP Teresa Kok ( third from left) said her recent visits to Taman United had highlighted potential risks associated with homes constructed on sloped terrain. - Facebook pic, January 6, 2026


Unsafe slope homes could trigger next landslide if DBKL fails to audit: Teresa Kok


The Seputeh MP has urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall to conduct a citywide audit of homes on or near slopes, warning that illegal extensions, poor drainage, and weak foundations could trigger another landslide like the 60‑metre collapse at Taman United last year



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 5 hours ago
6 January, 2026
4:00 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR – A citywide audit of houses built on or near slopes should be carried out by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) amid growing concerns over public safety.

Speaking to Scoop, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said her recent visits to Taman United had highlighted potential risks associated with homes constructed on sloped terrain.

“During my visit, I noticed a bungalow that had been extended illegally on a slope,” Teresa said.

“With the landslide that happened there, it became clear that the combination of poor drainage and underground water accumulation could endanger the property and even neighbouring areas.

“The foundation was quite slender. That is why this audit must be done now, before something else happens.”


Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok. – Bernama pic, January 6, 2026


She added that while not all structures directly contribute to landslides, these developments raise concerns that require careful attention.

“Even if the structure itself doesn’t cause a landslide, the situation should prompt caution. Homeowners should get a consultant to conduct a soil test to determine whether their property is safe enough to stay in,” she said.

Teresa also said the situation in areas like Bangsar underscores the need for preventive measures.

“It’s good to be careful, to check what we build and ensure safety. Homeowners also have a responsibility to make sure their homes are secure,” she added.

When asked whether newly appointed Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh should prioritise the issue, Teresa Kok said she was unsure if it should be a top-level focus, noting that the minister has many pressing responsibilities.

“I don’t know if it’s something she should emphasise. Her plate is full, and there are many other issues more important for her to look into. Let her take one step at a time. But raising this issue is important because of incidents like the one at Taman United,” she said.

Teresa also criticised authorities for failing to act on repeated public complaints, particularly in hilly areas.

“Residents of the Taman United flats had on multiple occasions raised concerns about dangerous trees, stagnant drains and slope conditions, but no action was taken. This is not a new issue,” she said, adding that complaints had been channelled through Adu@KL as well as to her office.

She added that residents in her own constituency have not raised complaints about homes on slopes.

“Actually, in my constituency, there aren’t many houses built on slopes, so this hasn’t been a significant problem,” she explained.

Teresa warned that without proper oversight, illegal extensions and poor drainage could lead to more serious incidents.

“What happened at Taman United shows that a house built on a slope, with insufficient drainage and a weak foundation, could pose risks not just to itself but also to nearby areas, hence a citywide audit has to be done as soon as possible,” she said.

The call for greater oversight follows a 60‑metre landslide at Taman United along Jalan Sepadu 7 on November 24 last year, which buried vehicles and prompted the evacuation of residents from 104 housing units in nearby apartment blocks.

The collapse occurred behind Block B of the low-cost Taman United flats, crushing one car and toppling another, though no casualties were reported.

Firefighters and DBKL officers secured the area and relocated evacuees to the Sri Petaling Community Centre amid heavy rainfall and unstable ground conditions.

Authorities have since been monitoring the site and conducting clean-up and slope repair work, with assessments pointing to accumulated rainwater, weakened retaining structures and poor drainage as contributing factors to the slope failure. – January 6, 2026


Bersatu sacks Saifuddin Abdullah over ‘breach of party constitution’





Bersatu has sacked its Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah from the party, effective today. – Scoop file pic, January 6, 2026


Bersatu sacks Saifuddin Abdullah over ‘breach of party constitution’


The former minister says he will appeal against his expulsion

Scoop Reporters
Updated 1 minute ago
6 January, 2026
8:53 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu has sacked its Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah from the party, effective today.

According to a letter from the party’s disciplinary board dated today, the decision was made during a Supreme Council meeting yesterday.

The letter reportedly stated that Saifuddin had breached Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution but did not specify the alleged offence committed by the Indera Mahkota MP.

The former minister was previously hauled up by the party’s disciplinary board following his calls for Bersatu president and then Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to resign.

In making the call, Saifuddin also urged the resignation of other senior party members, including Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

In addition, Saifuddin also called on Muhyiddin to clarify whether his son-in-law, fugitive businessman Muhammad Adlan Berhan, had indeed fled the country, following the circulation of pictures of him living abroad in luxury.

The stance caused the Bersatu Youth wing to call for immediate disciplinary action against Saifuddin. He was also then removed as Perikatan Nasional’s Pahang chief.

Saifuddin confirmed his sacking when contacted by Scoop and said he is appealing the decision. – January 6, 2026


***


In the old old days Saifuddin used to be my fave UMNO MP, wakakaka


Baltic Sea cable sabotage timeline: From Nord Stream to 2026 – who’s behind the attacks?




Baltic Sea cable sabotage timeline: From Nord Stream to 2026 – who’s behind the attacks?



A Border Guard helicopter and the Coast Guard patrol ship “Turva” seize the “Fitburg” vessel in the Gulf of Finland on December 31, 2025. — Finnish Police/AFP pic

Tuesday, 06 Jan 2026 9:00 PM MYT


STOCKHOLM, Jan 6 — The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecoms link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and NATO has boosted its military presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.

Police in the region have found that some incidents were caused by sabotage, while others were accidental or remain subject to ongoing proceedings.



January 2026: Lithuania-Latvia telecom cable


An undersea telecoms cable linking Sventoji in Lithuania to Liepaja in Latvia, two coastal towns some 65km apart, was damaged on January 2.


Latvian police later boarded a ship docked at Liepaja and initiated criminal proceedings.



The police said on January 5 they found no evidence linking the ship to the damage to the cable, which belongs to Sweden's Arelion, and that they were investigating the incident further.

December 2025: Finland-Estonia telecom cables, Sweden-Estonia cable


Finnish police on December 31 seized a cargo vessel en route from Russia to Israel on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable belonging to Elisa running from Helsinki across the Gulf of Finland to Estonia.

The vessel, Fitburg, was caught with its anchor in the water, and investigators found tracks suggesting it had been dragged along the seabed for “several tens of kilometres”, police said.

Investigators said the ship's 14 crew members were from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and that one of them was held in police custody while three others were banned from travel while an investigation was ongoing.

Sweden's Arelion said that one of its cables running from Finland to Estonia was also damaged on December 31, and that a cable from Estonia to Sweden stopped working on December 30.



National Bureau of Investigation director Robin Lardot attends a press conference in Helsinki, Finland on December 31, 2025. — Lehtikuva/Reuters pic



January-February 2025: Sweden-Latvia and Finland-Germany telecom cables

An undersea fibre-optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden's Gotland island malfunctioned on January 26, prompting a Nato and police investigation.

Sweden later seized and boarded the Maltese-flagged bulk vessel Vezhen on suspicion that it had caused the damage in an act of gross sabotage.

Bulgarian shipping company Navigation Maritime Bulgare said Vezhen's anchor had dropped in high winds and may have struck the cable, but denied sabotage.

A Swedish prosecutor later ruled the breach accidental and released the vessel.

December 2024: Power and internet cables

The Estlink 2 undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia was cut on December 25 along with four telecoms lines.

Finland seized the Cook Islands-registered Eagle S tanker on suspicion it caused the damage by dragging its anchor, adding that the ship was part of a “shadow fleet” circumventing Russian oil sanctions.

The Kremlin dismissed concerns about the seizure.

In October 2025, a Finnish court dismissed a case against the Eagle S captain and crew for lack of evidence.

November 2024: Baltic telecom cables

Two undersea fibre-optic communications cables located more than 100 nautical miles (about 200km) apart in the Baltic were severed on November 17 and 18, raising suspicions of sabotage.

Investigators zeroed in on Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, and a Reuters analysis of MarineTraffic data showed that the ship's coordinates corresponded to the time and place of the breaches.

China allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark on December 21 to board the Yi Peng 3 along with Chinese investigators.

A Swedish inquiry found no conclusive evidence to suggest wrongdoing.



The seized vessel Fitburg is moored at the harbour in Kirkkonummi, Finland, on January 1, 2026. — Lehtikuva/AFP pic



October 2023: Balticconnector gas pipe and cables

A subsea gas pipeline, the Balticconnector, which links Finland and Estonia, was severed by what Finnish investigators determined was the Chinese container vessel NewNew Polar Bear dragging its anchor on October 8, 2023.

Estonian police suspected the ship of also damaging telecoms cables connecting Estonia to Finland and Sweden on October 7-8, before hitting the gas pipeline on its way to a port near St Petersburg in Russia.

The ship's captain appeared in court in Hong Kong in 2025 accused of causing “criminal damage” to the pipeline and cables.

September 2022: Nord Stream blasts

Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, built across the Baltic Sea by Russia's state-controlled Gazprom to pump natural gas to Germany, were damaged in explosions in September 2022.

Some Western officials suggested Russia blew up its own pipelines, an interpretation dismissed by Moscow, which has blamed the United States, Britain and Ukraine for the blasts, which largely cut Russian gas off from the European market.

Those countries denied involvement. — Reuters


***


From Google:

In August 2024 media reported that in June German authorities issued a European arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national Volodymyr Z. living near Warsaw suspected of having used the yacht Andromeda together with two others to sabotage the Nord Stream pipeline.


Saifuddin Nasution hails Umno’s role in government stability and reform agenda





Saifuddin Nasution hails Umno’s role in government stability and reform agenda



Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh addresses party delegates at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on August 22, 2024. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Tuesday, 06 Jan 2026 7:07 PM MYT


RAWANG, Jan 6 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the role played by Umno in the Unity Government is very important, particularly in ensuring political stability and the smooth administration of the country.

Saifuddin Nasution, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general, said the political maturity demonstrated by Umno as the largest Malay-based political party in the government has also helped strengthen unity and ensure the government functions effectively.

“Umno is currently the largest Malay-based party in the government with 30 Members of Parliament and holding eight full ministerial posts. This reflects Umno’s significant role in the Unity Government,” he said when met by reporters here today.

Saifuddin Nasution said the political stability enjoyed at present is clearly different from the previous term, which saw three Prime Ministers in five years, while the current government has maintained a single Prime Minister for almost three years of administration.


He said the stability has enabled the government to focus on reform agendas, economic growth and more orderly governance, reflecting national prosperity through positive economic indicators.

Commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to 10 years, Saifuddin Nasution said the move sends a clear signal that national leadership is grounded in the principles of accountability and responsibility, while providing sufficient space to translate planned policies and reforms.

He also expressed full confidence in the wisdom of Umno’s leadership in positioning the party within the current political landscape, while stressing that the Unity Government remains united, stable and functioning well.

Last Saturday, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh, in his speech at the Umno Youth Special Convention at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTC KL), said Umno Youth rejects any attempt to seize power or engage in ‘backdoor manoeuvres’ that could cause the current government leading the country to fall. — Bernama

Photo of meeting with Muhyiddin reinforces speculation Samsuri is new PN chairman


theVibes.com:

Photo of meeting with Muhyiddin reinforces speculation Samsuri is new PN chairman


Previously, Abdul Hadi confirmed that the party would lead PN following Muhyiddin's resignation as chairman effective last Thursday.

Updated 2 hours ago · Published on 06 Jan 2026 3:42PM


The photo was uploaded by the Political Secretary to PAS President, Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman via Facebook, today. - January 6, 2026



A PHOTOGRAPH of a meeting between former Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS Vice President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, accompanied by the status 'Alhamdulillah, insya-Allah', has further strengthened speculation linking the Terengganu Menteri Besar to the shortlisted candidates for the PN Chairman position.

The photo was uploaded by the Political Secretary to PAS President, Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman via Facebook, today.

Mohd Syahir, who is also the Bachok Member of Parliament, when contacted by Berita Harian, confirmed that the meeting between Muhyiddin and Ahmad Samsuri was held on the mandate given by PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.

"Yes, Dr Sam met Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the mandate from the President.

"It was a 'casual meeting' (regular meeting) since Tan Sri Muhyiddin had just returned from abroad," he told BH.

Mohd Syahir, however, did not confirm or deny when asked whether the meeting was related to speculation that Ahmad Samsuri would be nominated to replace Muhyiddin for the position of PN Chairman.

He also announced that a PN Supreme Council meeting would be held in the near future but did not elaborate.

Previously, Abdul Hadi confirmed that the party would lead PN following Muhyiddin's resignation as chairman effective last Thursday.

The Marang MP said that a meeting on the new PN Chairman candidate was expected to be held soon and would also be attended by BERSATU leaders.

Two names have been proposed by PAS so far, namely its deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Ahmad Samsuri.

Apart from PAS, BERSATU Deputy President Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainnuddin has also been mentioned among the candidates to lead PN. – January 6, 2026

Danish Prime Minister warns U.S. takeover of Greenland would threaten NATO


theVibes.com:

Danish Prime Minister warns U.S. takeover of Greenland would threaten NATO


Remarks follow renewed calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for jurisdiction over the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic territory, which is a semiautonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark

Updated 38 minutes ago · Published on 06 Jan 2026 5:56PM


Frederiksen stresses that Trump “should be taken seriously” in his pursuit of Greenland and that Denmark will not tolerate threats to its territory - January 6, 2025


DANISH Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any attempt by the United States to take control of Greenland would mark the end of the NATO military alliance.

AP reported on Tuesday that her remarks follow renewed calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for jurisdiction over the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic territory, which is a semiautonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Speaking to Danish broadcaster TV2 on Monday, Frederiksen said, “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops.

“That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”

She stressed that Trump “should be taken seriously” in his pursuit of Greenland and that Denmark will not tolerate threats to its territory.

The warnings come in the aftermath of a U.S. military operation in Venezuela over the weekend aimed at capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, an action that has heightened concerns in Denmark and Greenland. Frederiksen’s Greenlandic counterpart, Jens Frederik Nielsen, echoed her stance, insisting, “We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation.” He added, “The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland.”

Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland, including his statement on Sunday that “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” has fueled speculation about potential U.S. intervention.

The President also criticised Denmark’s efforts to strengthen Greenland’s security, mocking the addition of “one more dog sled” to the Arctic territory’s arsenal and claiming, “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

Security experts, however, caution that claims of a Russian and Chinese presence near Greenland are exaggerated.

Ulrik Pram Gad of the Danish Institute for International Studies noted that “there are indeed Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic, but these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars.”

Denmark already hosts U.S. military operations in Greenland through the Pituffik Space Base, established under a 1951 defense agreement.

The facility supports missile warning, missile defence, and space surveillance for the United States and NATO.

On the mainland, Denmark maintains close military ties with Washington, including recent approval of legislation expanding U.S. troop access to Danish air bases, a move critics say diminishes Danish sovereignty.

The unfolding situation has drawn international attention, with European leaders voicing solidarity with Denmark and Greenland amid escalating tensions over the Arctic territory. - January 6, 2025


***


Carlsberg may be top-notched but frigg it, Clown just wants your rare mineral ores.


'As a good Muslim, I don't lie' - Zuraida insists meetings held with Guan Eng










'As a good Muslim, I don't lie' - Zuraida insists meetings held with Guan Eng


Farah Solhi
Published: Jan 6, 2026 4:44 PM
Updated: 8:58 PM




Former housing and local government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has maintained today that she had two separate meetings with former finance minister Lim Guan Eng in 2018 and 2019 over a housing project for former plantation workers in Bestari Jaya.

Testifying in defence against Lim’s defamation suit, Zuraida told the Shah Alam High Court that she did not lie about the meetings where Lim had rejected her requests.

“There was a meeting. I’m not lying. Bismillahirahmannirahim, it is not a lie,” she said when grilled by Lim’s lawyer Sankara Nair during cross-examination.

Zuraida said that although no documentary evidence of the meetings was tendered in court, there was a WhatsApp conversation involving her, Lim, and the then housing and local government director-general Jayaselan Navaratnam, who she said was present during both meetings.

She said Lim did not agree to her request during the first meeting in October 2018.

At the time, she said, there was no new application for the project as it had already been approved by the previous government under former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and included in Budget 2018.

Subsequent meetings with Lim were meant to follow up on the project, she added.

‘Honour manifesto’

However, Zuraida said she had bumped into Lim’s then political secretary Tony Pua before one of the meetings, during which Pua allegedly told her that the project would not be approved.

“(During the meeting with Lim) he told me that if we wanted to pursue the project, we had to change the mechanism from direct award to open tender, which was part of the manifesto of the government at the time,” she told the court.

She said the land belonged to Berjaya Group and that she later met the landowner to convey the change in mechanism.

“They wrote a letter agreeing to it, which led us to the second meeting,” she added.

Zuraida said she later followed up via WhatsApp, where she told Lim that the government needed to honour its manifesto, however, Lim’s response to the project remained negative during the second meeting.

Yesterday, Lim told the court that he had no recollection of the meetings and could not confirm any WhatsApp conversation with Zuraida, although he acknowledged that the phone number shown belonged to him.


Ex-finance minister Lim Guan Eng


Lim, 65, filed a defamation suit against Zuraida, the editor of online news portal MalaysiaNow and its owner, Mnow Media Sdn Bhd, in June 2024.

He claimed Zuraida had made defamatory statements about him over the housing project during his tenure as finance minister from 2018 to 2020.

The Bagan MP claimed that the statement was carried on MalaysiaNow, via the article “Zuraida dakwa Guan Eng tolak dua kali permohonan KPKT bina rumah pekerja ladang Bestari Jaya” published on the same date.

No black and white

In his testimony yesterday, Lim told judge Shoba Rajah that there were no documents to support Zuraida’s claims.

This was consistent with the testimony of Pua, who was called as Lim’s witness.

Pua said he distinctly recalled other proposals from the Housing and Local Government Ministry during the same period.

“These include a low-cost housing rental scheme that required the Finance Ministry’s guarantees, which progressed through ministerial discussions and officer-level presentations before being discontinued at the officers’ level as it was assessed to unduly guarantee profits to a private bank while exposing the government to losses.

“In these circumstances, I am confident that had a formal and legitimate application of the nature alleged existed and progressed beyond preliminary discussions, it would have come to my attention or that of my office,” he added.

Pua not called as Zuraida’s witness

Proceedings briefly turned heated during cross-examination when Sankara questioned Zuraida on why she did not call Pua as her witness, despite referring to him in her defence statement.

Her lawyer Nizamuddin Hamid objected, and the judge said the question was not significant and that Zuraida need not answer.

“Pua is a supporter of his statement, so how can I call him as a witness?” Zuraida said after brief arguments between parties.


Tony Pua


She also said she did not pursue legal action following Pua’s response to her statement published by MalaysiaNow in 2024.

“I did not make any statement (in response to Pua), but that does not mean I accept it,” she said.

Zuraida said she only spoke publicly about the project when the Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election drew near, after feeling compelled to respond to a statement by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming in April 2024.

At the time, Nga was reported as saying RM5.21 million would be allocated to upgrade public infrastructure under the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council and the Chinese New Village Project.

Zuraida told the court that she was offended by Sankara’s accusation that she had lied.

“As a good Muslim, I don’t lie,” she said.

“I was just stating the facts that I met him (Lim) twice and that he rejected my requests,” she added.

The court adjourned proceedings for the day and will resume tomorrow with Jayaselan taking the stand.


Daughter: Dr Mahathir’s condition after fall ‘serious, but not dangerous’





Daughter: Dr Mahathir’s condition after fall ‘serious, but not dangerous’



A general view of the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur on January 22, 2022. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Tuesday, 06 Jan 2026 6:30 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is in fine condition after being admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN), according to his daughter Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.

Speaking to Bernama, Marina said that while the matter is considered serious, it is not life-threatening, stressing that her father is doing well given his age.

“It is serious, but it’s not dangerous. For his age, everything is relative… he’s fine.

“We will get a fuller statement with more details out later. We have to get all the correct terms right,” she said at the IJN lobby here today.


Tun Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN at about 9.30 am today after reportedly falling at his residence earlier in the morning.

His press secretary Sufi Yusoff, in a message shared via the official Dr M Media Updates WhatsApp group today, said the 100-year-old statesman was taken to IJN by ambulance and was reported to be conscious.

The former fourth and seventh prime minister was previously treated at IJN on July 13, 2025, due to fatigue, but was discharged on the same day.


Meanwhile, his press secretary Sufi Yusoff, in a message shared via the official Dr M Media Updates WhatsApp group, said after medical assessment, it has been confirmed that Dr Mahathir suffered a fracture in the right hip.

“Tun is expected to be admitted for the next few weeks for treatment and observation,” he said. — Bernama

US foes and allies denounce Trump’s ‘crime of aggression’ in Venezuela at UN meeting


Guardian:

US foes and allies denounce Trump’s ‘crime of aggression’ in Venezuela at UN meeting


US ambassador defends attack as ‘law enforcement’ action against an ‘illegitimate’ leader, not an act of war

The ‘Putinization’ of US foreign policy has arrived in Venezuela


David Smith in Washington
Tue 6 Jan 2026 05.57 AEDT


The US has faced widespread condemnation for a “crime of aggression” in Venezuela at an emergency meeting of the United Nations security council.

Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Spain were among countries that on Monday denounced Donald Trump’s decision to launch deadly strikes on Venezuela and snatch its leader, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to stand trial in the US.


“The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line,” Sérgio França Danese, the Brazilian ambassador to the UN, told the meeting. “These acts constitute a very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and set an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”


Is there any legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela?

Read more


Trump’s UN ambassador, Mike Waltz, defended the attack as a legitimate “law enforcement” action to execute long-standing criminal indictments against an “illegitimate” leader, not an act of war.

The meeting in New York was convened just hours before Maduro was due to appear before a federal judge in Manhattan on charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy, cocaine importation and weapons trafficking – allegations he has long denied.


António Guterres, the UN secretary general, warned that the capture of Maduro risked intensifying instability in Venezuela and across the region. He questioned whether the operation respected the rules of international law.

“I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted,” Guterres said in a statement delivered to the council by UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo.

He urged Venezuelan actors to engage in “inclusive and democratic dialogue” and offered UN support for a peaceful way forward.

The meeting had been requested by Colombia, which delivered a carefully calibrated rebuke of Washington. The country’s ambassador, Leonor Zalabata Torres, condemned the US action as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity.

“Democracy cannot be defended or promoted through violence and coercion, and it cannot be superseded, either, by economic interests,” she said. “There is no justification whatsoever, under any circumstances, for the unilateral use of force to commit an act of aggression.” She added that the raid was reminiscent of “the worst interference in our area in the past”.

Russia and China, both permanent security council members, were less restrained and called on the US to immediately release Maduro and Flores. Vasily Nebenzya, Moscow’s ambassador, described the intervention as “a turn back to the era of lawlessness” and urged the 15-member council to reject the methods of US military foreign policy.

Nebenzya, whose country is currently under US sanctions following its illegal invasion of Ukraine, added: “We cannot allow the United States to proclaim itself as some kind of a supreme judge, which alone bears the right to invade any country, to label culprits, to hand down and to enforce punishments irrespective of notions of international law, sovereignty and nonintervention.”

China’s representative, Fu Cong, echoed the charge, saying the US had “wantonly trampled upon Venezuela’s sovereignty” and violated the principle of sovereign equality. “No country can act as the world’s police.”

China demanded that the US “change its course, cease its bullying and coercive practices”, and “return to the path of political solutions through dialogue and negotiations”.

The Cuban ambassador, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, told the meeting: “The US military attack against Venezuela has no justification whatsoever… This is an imperialist and fascist aggression with objectives of domination.”

European leaders appear torn in face of new world order after Venezuela attack

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The security council meeting also heard from Venezuela’s ambassador Samuel Moncada, who described the US action as an “illegitimate armed attack lacking any legal justification” that included “the kidnapping of the constitutional president of the republic, Nicolás Maduro Moros and the first lady Cilia Flores.”

Moncada added: “No state can set itself up as a judge, party and executor of the world order … Venezuela is the victim of this attack because of its natural resources.”

For its part, the US insisted that there was “no war against Venezuela or its people”. Waltz told the council the operation was a law-enforcement action carried out in pursuit of long-standing indictments. “We are not occupying a country; this was a law enforcement operation,” he said, invoking the 1989 capture of Panama’s former leader Manuel Noriega as precedent.

Waltz cited Article 51 of the UN charter, which enshrines the right to self-defence, and said the evidence against Maduro would be presented openly in US court. He described the Venezuelan leader as “an illegitimate so-called president” and claimed that millions of Venezuelans, including exiles in Florida, were celebrating his arrest.

“I want to reiterate President Trump gave diplomacy a chance. He offered Maduro multiple offerings he tried to de-escalate. Maduro refused to take them.”

Experts, however, have questioned the legality of the operation, noting that it lacked UN security council authorisation, Venezuelan consent and a clear self-defence rationale. The UN charter obliges states to refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of others – a principle repeatedly invoked during the meeting.

Yet the council, paralysed by divisions among its most powerful members, appeared no closer to a collective response. Any attempt to censure the US is certain to be blocked by its veto, one of five held by the council’s permanent members.