Deja vu as ringgit touches 3.80 – Rocky Bru

The ringgit has seen a strong resurgence, indeed, emerging as one of Asia's best-performing currencies this year, driven by robust economic fundamentals, rising tech exports, and investor confidence. - Bernama file pic, February 22, 2026


Deja vu as ringgit touches 3.80 – Rocky Bru


As the ringgit edges back toward the symbolic 3.80 mark, memories of the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis and the dramatic clash between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad resurface



Rocky Bru
Updated 24 seconds ago
22 February, 2026
11:44 AM MYT



I had a moment of deja vu when my young friend Muda, a Malaysian in the US, tagged me to his post about the ringgit doing 3.8997 against the greenback on Wednesday. “Let’s go @anwaribrahim_my. Next stop 3.75.”


The ringgit has seen a strong resurgence, indeed, emerging as one of Asia’s best-performing currencies this year, driven by robust economic fundamentals, rising tech exports, and investor confidence.

It had not smelled 3.80 in a decade. Some predicted it never would.

“3.80 is a magical number. Tun Mahathir pegged the ringgit at 3.80 against the greenback the same day he sacked Anwar Ibrahim in 98,” I replied to Muda.

He was probably too young to have any memory of that tumultuous time.

It was September 2 1998, the height of the Asian Financial Crisis. Mahathir Mohamad, the PM then, was facing mounting pressure to step down. His counterparts in Thailand and Indonesia had already subscribed to the IMF’s rescue plan.

But instead of “succumbing”, Mahathir decided to go rogue by pegging the ringgit and enforcing other capital controls. He also sacked his deputy, who was proving to be a major threat. Anwar, also Finance Minister, was a strong advocate of IMF’s remedy for Malaysia and the region. His sin, however, was for implying that Mahathir was the reason behind the deep-rooted corruption, cronyism and nepotism responsible for the country’s vulnerability during the crisis.

I was the Editor of Business Times, Malaysia’s only financial daily at the time. I remember wanting to lead the next day’s edition with the sacking but Kadir Jasin, the Group Editor In Chief, said BT should go with pegging and capital controls. Both were sensational.

The sacking was just a start. Anwar was later tried for sodomy and corruption. He was detained without trial under the Internal Securities Act and then a total of 11 years behind bars.

The peg was lifted in 2005. Anwar was kept in jail, on and off, until his royal pardon in 2018.

Today, 28 years on, Anwar is the Prime Minister after winning the 2022 General Election, the same one that saw Mahathir, now 100, lose badly (his first election defeat in 53 years!).

The ringgit was never the same after the Asian Financial Crisis. After the peg was removed in 2005, the best it did was 3.16. In 2015 when the 1MDB shit hit the fan, it fell to historical lows. The last time it tested 3.80 was in 2015.. By the time Mahathir ended his ill-fated second tour as PM in 2020, the ringgit stayed down around 4.80.

When Anwar became PM on 24 Nov 2022, the ringgit surged by 1.8 percent, its largest single-day gain since March 2016. The next day it improved further to 4.45 vs dollar. But analysts were not impressed. A flash in the pan. Many predicted the currency would remain weak.

Dr Sailesh K. Jha, RHB Bank’s group chief economist and head of financial market research, was just one of them: “Our year-end target is 4.6, and the first half of next year (2023), we’re at 4.7 to 4.8. So there’s been no major changes in our currency view.”

Fast forward to the start of 2026, analysts remained diffident. The Edge spoke to two of them on Jan 8. While Mizuho Research said the Malaysian currency could breach the 4.00 threshold in the second quarter, it’s average forecast for the year was about 4.015, “with the ringgit spending most of 2026 knocking on the door of 4.00.”

UOB Global Economics and Markets was even more cautious. Despite Malaysia’s “remarkable fundamentals”, its FX Strategist Peter Chia saw the ringgit as somewhat overbought. “We are a little more cautious about projecting strength beyond the 4.00 level at this point in time. Our forecast is for the ringgit to stay around four.”

The ringgit had other ideas. Last Friday it closed 3.9030 against the USD. Over the past month, MYR has strengthened 3.55 per cent and over the last one year, it is up by nearly 12 per cent.

Robust economic performance, rising exports, investor confidence.

Still, there’s a lesson we should learn from those faithless analysts (and from the Asian Financial Crisis, too, for that matter): We must remain cautious and translate that caution into vigilance. The good work of the last year, especially, must continue. The fight against the corrupt cannot falter.

We have seen how fragile currencies and economies, including our own, can be. Get the people to take to the streets, disseminate fake information and alarming news, undermine institutions like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and create political instability.

Already we are seeing this happening: frustrated politicians promoting havoc, mad mob cheering on people who openly admit to giving bribes, the rich corrupt (under MACC investigation) engaging foreign agents to carry out economic sabotage.

It does not take much to spook investors. – February 22, 2026

Datuk Ahirudin Attan is the Executive Director of Big Boom Media that publishes Scoop.my. This article was first published in Rocky Bru’s blog

MACC detains Terengganu exco over alleged GLC jobs for children

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a Terengganu state executive councillor over allegations that he abused his position to secure jobs for his two children at a state government-linked company. — Scoop file pic, February 22, 2026


[UPDATED] MACC detains Terengganu exco over alleged GLC jobs for children


The suspect, who is also a state assemblyman, is bring probed for abuse of power linked to appointments in 2018 and 2020


Scoop Reporters
Updated 8 seconds ago
22 February, 2026
12:50 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR — A Terengganu state executive councillor has been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over allegations that he abused his position to secure jobs for his two children in state government-linked companies.

The suspect, who is also a state assemblyman in his 60s, was arrested at about 11.15am today when he appeared at the MACC office in Kemaman to give his statement.

Sources said investigations indicate the alleged offences took place in 2018 and 2020, when he is believed to have used his roles as an exco member and chairman of a company board to influence the hiring of his children into two state-linked subsidiaries.

Hazrul Shazreen Abd Yazid, director of the MACC in Terengganu, confirmed the arrest and said the suspect will be charged in court soon.

The case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, which criminalises the abuse of office by a public body officer for gratification involving themselves, relatives or associates.

Conviction carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher. — February 22, 2026

***

Aiseh, how can men! al Quran teaches us to be honest lah

Will DAP also give up Penang CM post if grassroots call for it?

theVibes.com

Will DAP also give up Penang CM post if grassroots call for it?

Although DAP will continue to support the Madani government of the day, the move is seen as unsettling, said a political commentator

Updated 40 minutes ago

Published on 22 Feb 2026 2:36PM

Ramasamy does not think the grassroots want the party out of government - February 22, 2026



by Ian McIntyre



Will DAP also give up Penang CM post if grassroots call for it?

Although DAP will continue to support the Madani government of the day, the move is seen as unsettling, said a political commentator

POLITICAL commentator Rahmad Isahak has posed a question to DAP: Will there be a new chief minister in Penang should the party vacate all positions in government if the grassroots call for it?

Rahmad, who used to head the now-defunct Penang Malay Congress, also asked whether PKR would take over the chief ministership should DAP exit the national unity government.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook had said that the party will hold a special referendum in July to determine if it keeps all government posts, including as state executive councillors and on the boards of government - linked companies.

Although DAP will continue to support the Madani government of the day, the move is seen as unsettling, said Rahmad.

"DAP must state clearly. Even the present Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow gave a vague reply, stating that every member must abide by the decision made by the party in July."

What about his position as the chief minister, said Rahmad.

Rahmad is of the view that DAP is behaving selfishly because it wants to play politics instead of serving the people.

"The people need a responsible and responsive government. We have real and globalised issues confronting us as a nation."

It is not just about race or religious issues, but living costs and the level of corruption uncovered, said Rahmad.

Meanwhile, former deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, who has quit DAP and formed the Urimai party, described the party's decision as a mere public relations exercise.

He does not think the grassroots want the party out of government, although there is concern about the pace of reforms in the country.

Ramasamy reportedly questioned the purpose of holding the congress, saying its outcome would not affect DAP’s position in the federal and state governments.

“I suppose the referendum is meant to reassure the grassroots that the leadership is taking tangible steps to address outstanding issues," said Ramasamy. - February 22, 2026.

Samsuri is new PN chairman

FMT:

Samsuri is new PN chairman

4 hours ago
Elill Easwaran

The PAS veep replaces Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin who relinquished the post on Jan 1

PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is also Terengganu menteri besar. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is the new chairman of Perikatan Nasional.

Samsuri’s appointment was unanimously agreed to by the PN presidential council, comprising Bersatu’s Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS’s Abdul Hadi Awang, Gerakan’s Dominic Lau and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party’s (MIPP) P Punithan.

Lau said Hadi had proposed Samsuri to take over the position during an extraordinary PN Supreme Council meeting this afternoon, chaired by Muhyiddin.


The PN chairman’s post had been vacant since Jan 1 after Muhyiddin stepped down.

Lau also said Samsuri’s appointment was in line with PN’s principle of inclusivity, and the core struggle of each component party.


“We congratulate him on his appointment. We hope he can execute his duties well, particularly to ensure PN’s victory in the 16th general election,” he told reporters after the meeting.

At a separate press conference, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said Muhyiddin has been appointed a PN deputy chairman.

He said Hadi has decided to no longer be a part of the PN Supreme Council but will remain in the coalition’s presidential council.

PAS has yet to decide on its candidate to take over Hadi’s position as PN deputy chairman.


Takiyuddin also said Samsuri did not attend today’s Supreme Council meeting since he is not a member, having resigned as the coalition’s treasurer in December 2024.

The PN Supreme Council met for less than an hour at PAS’s headquarters here to confirm Muhyiddin’s resignation as chairman and appoint Samsuri as his successor.

There was previously a deadlock over the position as Muhyiddin insisted the PN chairmanship should be held by a party president, but PAS was adamant this need not be the case.

A former senior aide of Muhyiddin had also claimed that Gerakan and MIPP were opposed to PAS taking over the chairman’s post, although Gerakan had denied this.

The tiff over the PN chairmanship had soured ties between PAS and Bersatu, with leaders from both parties taking swipes at each other publicly.

Housing minister: Madani govt approves RM123.7m for 1,048 non-Muslim houses of worship nationwide

Housing minister: Madani govt approves RM123.7m for 1,048 non-Muslim houses of worship nationwide



Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the initiative reflects the Madani government’s commitment to preserving non-Islamic houses of worship as vital community institutions. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Sunday, 22 Feb 2026 2:13 PM MYT


IPOH, Feb 22 — The Madani government, through the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), has approved an allocation totalling RM123,716,331.27 for 1,048 Non-Islamic Houses of Worship (RIBI) nationwide as of last December.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the initiative reflects the Madani government’s commitment to preserving non-Islamic houses of worship as vital community institutions, in line with the principles of inclusivity, unity in diversity and social harmony.

“Houses of worship are not merely physical structures but centres for nurturing noble values, national unity and community well-being. No house of worship should be left in disrepair or neglected, as every community deserves access to safe, decent and comfortable facilities,” he said in a statement today.

A Chinese Methodist Church in Taiping received an allocation of RM250,000 yesterday to restore the country’s first Methodist prayer nest, a 121-year-old historical heritage site at Bukit Larut, originally built in 1905.

Nga said the allocation was utilised by the church for the replacement of damaged wooden flooring, construction of a new ceiling, repainting works and repairs to the electrical wiring system.

As part of his official working visit to Taiping, Nga concluded his trip with a visit to Medan Siang Malam to view its recent upgrades, now making it one of the top tourist spots for sampling local delicacies. — Bernama

Jais: Man claiming to be a Prophet arrested in Rawang

Jais: Man claiming to be a Prophet arrested in Rawang



Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said the suspect was detained together with three others. — Picture by Farhan Najib

Sunday, 22 Feb 2026 2:07 PM MYT


SHAH ALAM, Feb 22 — The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has arrested a 65-year-old man in Rawang yesterday for allegedly claiming to be a Prophet.

Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said the suspect was detained together with three others, comprising two men and a woman, at the same premises.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man allegedly told his followers he had met Prophet Adam AS in person during the day and Prophet Muhammad SAW in the form of light at night.

He also claimed to have met the prophets two to three times a week, with the alleged encounters said to have taken place two to three years ago at a national park in the country.

“His followers claimed that he is a messenger of Allah and regarded his instructions as divine commands, including being told that they need not perform prayers or fast if they felt tired or unwell,” Mohd Shahzihan said in a statement today.

He said Jais conducted the arrest under Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995 for allegedly performing acts related to Islam that are contrary to Islamic law.

The department also initiated action under Section 8 of the same enactment for allegedly declaring himself a Prophet and claiming knowledge beyond human comprehension.

Mohd Shahzihan added that the arrest is expected to help resolve a complaint that went viral on February 9, alleging that the individual had claimed to be a Prophet and influenced his family. — Bernama

***

I would have asked him for 'chun chun' 4-Ekor

😂😂😂

PN components agree to PAS taking over opposition leader’s post

FMT:

PN components agree to PAS taking over opposition leader’s post

4 hours ago
Elill Easwaran

The Islamic party will however need some time to look into the matter

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan pointed out that the Islamic party is the PN component with the most parliamentary seats.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional’s component parties have agreed to PAS taking over the opposition leader’s role currently held by former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.

However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said no decision has been made yet by the coalition. He also said PAS will need some time to look into the matter.

“Yes, (the opposition leader’s post) was among the matters raised at the PN Supreme Council meeting.


“Officially, the party components agree that the opposition leader’s post should be held by PAS as the largest party in Parliament. But no decision has been made yet and PAS needs some time to study this matter,” he said at a press conference after the meeting.

Hamzah’s position as the opposition leader had been in limbo since his expulsion from Bersatu on Feb 13, at the height of an internal leadership tussle with party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Bersatu associate wing vice-chief R Sri Sanjeevan previously said Muhyiddin should be given the mandate to determine the appointment of the new opposition leader.

However, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party would discuss whether it should take over the position.

Hamzah was appointed as opposition leader after the unity government was formed, following a proposal by PAS. This came as a surprise to many as Muhyiddin was still PN chairman at the time.

***

Dominic Lau, either you are damn farsighted or you are one mighty phor-lam-phar

MACC to target syndicate ‘black treasurers’ running illicit funds for civil servants

MACC to target syndicate ‘black treasurers’ running illicit funds for civil servants



MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said that criminal agents have evolved into financial managers of illicit funds within government agencies. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 22 Feb 2026 11:05 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is moving to dismantle a growing ecosystem of criminal intermediaries who act as “black treasurers” for corrupt civil servants, managing illicit funds and engineering pay-offs within government agencies, New Straits Times reported.

These agents — once viewed as mere fixers — now function as financial managers, strategists and negotiators for crime syndicates seeking to penetrate enforcement bodies.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said the rise of these agents had entrenched systemic corruption within public agencies.

Their influence, he warned, was “increasingly concerning”.


MACC said the role has expanded over several years despite high-profile raids and arrests, with some enforcement departments effectively treated as a “gold mine” for corrupt networks.

According to the commission, intermediaries channel illegal proceeds through mule accounts they borrow or purchase, enabling compromised officials to access the money to buy luxury items without attracting scrutiny from superiors or financial monitors.

Khusairi said the constant flow of illicit rewards had contributed to a degradation of integrity within enforcement bodies, and that rebuilding a culture of honesty remained difficult even after repeated interventions.


“This time, MACC will focus primarily on agents and intermediaries to ensure corruption within government agencies is eradicated.

“We will target not only corrupt employees but also the bribe-givers who cooperate with them,” he said, as reported by the national daily.

The focus on intermediaries, Khusairi added, was aimed at safeguarding the efficiency and quality of public services.

He said MACC would deepen cooperation with other agencies to tackle the problem “effectively and continuously”.

He also issued a warning that any group or individual operating as an agent, middleman or lobbyist would face strict enforcement.

“Our message is clear: any form of involvement through intermediaries will not be tolerated,” he said.

The shift aligns with the call by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, who urged that officers lacking integrity be transferred immediately and that middlemen be placed under scrutiny.

Sultan Ibrahim said those unable to perform their duties honestly should make way for “more qualified and clean officers”.

Sabah flood evacuees rise to 4,761 as 79 villages hit in Pitas, Kota Marudu and Paitan

Sabah flood evacuees rise to 4,761 as 79 villages hit in Pitas, Kota Marudu and Paitan



The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat, in a statement, said that all evacuees from the three affected districts, namely Pitas, Kota Marudu and Paitan, have been accommodated in 25 relief centres. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 22 Feb 2026 8:59 AM MYT


KOTA KINABALU, Feb 22 — The number of flood evacuees accommodated at temporary relief centres in the state has increased to 4,761 people, from 1,828 families, as of 8pm yesterday, compared with 4,652 people, from 1,799 families, recorded in the afternoon.

The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat, in a statement, said that all evacuees from the three affected districts, namely Pitas, Kota Marudu and Paitan, have been accommodated in 25 relief centres.

Pitas recorded the highest number of evacuees, at 2,013 people, followed by Kota Marudu with 1,923 people while 825 people were sheltered in Paitan.

The floods in the three districts have affected 79 villages, but no deaths have been reported so far. — Bernama

Rabies cases climb in Kuching and Serian, mayor urges tighter control of pet dogs

Rabies cases climb in Kuching and Serian, mayor urges tighter control of pet dogs



A pet owner brings his dog for vaccination at a Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak’s rabies awareness and immunisation programme. — The Borneo Post pic

Sunday, 22 Feb 2026 9:28 AM MYT


KUCHING, Feb 22 — Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng has expressed concern over the rising number of rabies cases in Kuching and Serian divisions recently.

He noted that the upward trend persists despite close monitoring and preventive measures by local authorities.

Last week, he said a new case was reported in Kampung Mundai, Siburan near here.

“This was a bite case involving a pet dog which had been allowed to roam around freely,” he said during his Facebook live session ‘Shall WEE Talk’ on Saturday.

According to Wee, the dog was not properly managed and bit a person while roaming. He said the dog later tested positive for rabies.

“Even though the dog was a pet, it was not properly monitored, which posed a threat to the community,” he explained.

He urged all pet owners to take responsibility by ensuring their dogs are vaccinated against rabies regularly, and more importantly, not allowed to roam freely.

The mayor also reminded the public to remain vigilant and report any animals suspected of rabies infection to the authorities.

“Alert the authorities so that action can be taken to curb the spread of rabies,” he said. — The Borneo Post

***

Dog lovers like my nieces are going to HATE me for suggesting that:

• All strays must be immediately culled - no ifs no buts no when - NOW

• Pet dogs if found to be infected must similarly be put to sleep

Or, Sarawak will NEVER ever be free of rabies.

‘Still no trace’: Sabah police suspect wild animals may have carried off missing limbs in Sepanggar murder probe

‘Still no trace’: Sabah police suspect wild animals may have carried off missing limbs in Sepanggar murder probe



Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun speaks to reporters during a breaking-of-fast event at the Ranau District Police Headquarters. — Picture via Facebook/Polis Ranau

Sunday, 22 Feb 2026 10:04 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — Police believe two missing body parts belonging to a murder victim in Sepanggar may have been carried off by dogs or mixed in with rubbish, complicating ongoing search efforts.

According to Sinar Harian, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said investigators have yet to obtain any fresh leads.

“Efforts to trace the remaining two parts of the body are continuing, but so far, we have not found any indicators.

“We believe there is a strong possibility the missing parts were taken by dogs or wild animals, or perhaps became mixed with rubbish. Nonetheless, the search is ongoing,” he said.


He was speaking to reporters during a breaking-of-fast event with Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun at the Ranau District Police Headquarters last night.

Jauteh said the probe is now nearing completion before the investigation papers are submitted to the public prosecutor.

“Several arrests have been made, mostly involving family members of the main suspect, to assist investigations. The suspect’s remand is also ongoing.


“We are now in the final stage of investigations before referring the file to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further direction,” he said, as reported by the national daily.

The case stems from a February 12 incident in Taman Indah Permai, Sepanggar, where a 44-year-old woman was found dead, her body dismembered and parts discarded at a rubbish disposal site.

A 71-year-old man, believed to be the victim’s fiancé, has been detained as the main suspect.

Three of his children — one man and two women — were also taken into custody to assist the investigation.

Two body parts, the victim’s left leg and right arm, remain missing.

50-100 UFO Sightings in U.S. Every Month — Are Aliens For Real? What Will Trump’s Pandora’s Box Reveal?

50-100 UFO Sightings in U.S. Every Month — Are Aliens For Real? What Will Trump’s Pandora’s Box Reveal?

By Sakshi Tiwari
- February 21, 2026


Since the Cold War era, the numerous UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) sightings have repeatedly begged the same question: do aliens exist? However, decades after the end of the US-USSR rivalry, the American public wants answers.

Hollywood has long capitalized on public fascination with extraterrestrials, producing a steady stream of films about aliens. This cinematic trope surged in the mid-20th century, fueled by widespread UFO sightings, Cold War-era paranoia, and contemporary scientific speculation about life beyond Earth.

Steven Spielberg directed a 1977 film called “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” which depicted ordinary people drawn to UFOs through visions and music. The classic inspired the imagination of many around the world, who became more curious about the idea of aliens.


Another film exploring the subject, called “Contact,” was released in 1997, years after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

Based on a novel by Carl Sagan, it featured a scientist, Jodie Foster, who detected an alien signal and built a machine for interstellar travel. The film delved into science, faith, and the philosophical implications of first contact with aliens.

Several Hollywood films have portrayed extraterrestrial beings as terrifying through chilling depictions of alien abductions and invasions. A notable example is the 1993 film Fire in the Sky.

The movie dramatizes the real-life claims of Travis Walton, an Arizona logger who said he was abducted in November 1975 after being struck by a beam from a UFO in full view of his co-workers, vanishing for five days before reappearing.


The 2016 film Arrival stands out as one of the most modern cinematic explorations of extraterrestrial contact in the 21st century. The movie delves deeply into themes of time, perception, language, and the profound ways communication can reshape our understanding of reality—marking a thoughtful departure from earlier, fear-driven portrayals of aliens.

In succinct terms, UFOs (now officially called UAP – Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) and the possibility of aliens remain among the most debated and intriguing topics. Conspiracy theories, sensational stories, and media portrayals abound, yet their existence remains unproven and highly contested.

The discussion about aliens was recently renewed when former US President Barack Obama appeared on the “No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen” podcast, released on February 14, 2026. When asked in a rapid-fire segment whether aliens were real, “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in… what is it? Area 51.”

This brief clip went viral, sparking widespread speculation and theories about extraterrestrial life, UFOs, and potential cover-ups by the government.

Soon after, Obama clarified what he meant by his statement on Instagram and other channels, saying: “Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there. But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens are low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us.”


Interestingly, the US President Donald Trump responded by accusing Obama of leaking “classified information” and announced on February 19, 2026, that he was directing the Pentagon and other agencies to declassify and release government files on UFOs, UAPs, and extraterrestrial life.

“Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social.

This has fuelled even more theories, with some netizens saying that former President Obama’s slip-up and the subsequent announcement by Trump signal “disclosure” of full government revelation of alien contact is finally happening.


An X user wrote that Obama’s comments are a “soft launch” for declassifying information, especially with Trump’s file release order. Some others claim the timing is suspect because it follows other scandals, such as the release of the “Epstein files”, which have triggered global outrage.

Image for Representation

Aliens & UAPs Dominate Discourses

The question of whether we are alone in the universe or if there is or has ever been life beyond Earth is undoubtedly one of the greatest puzzles in science.

More than 6,000 exoplanets, or planets circling stars outside of our Solar System, have been confirmed by astronomers since the field of exoplanet research took off in the 1990s. Experts believe there may be at least one planet around each star visible in the night sky. Moreover, the galaxy is believed to contain as many as 400 billion stars.

Some scientists believe this increases the likelihood that life exists beyond Earth, even if it is merely primitive microbial life. Meanwhile, others argue that without firsthand evidence, judgments cannot be drawn.

“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans,” Hawking said in 2010 during an episode of the Discovery Channel’s “Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking,” a show hosted by the Discovery Channel.

Hawking later again voiced his fears, “We don’t know much about aliens, but we know about humans. If you look at history, contact between humans and less intelligent organisms have often been disastrous from their point of view… A civilization reading one of our messages could be billions of years ahead of us. If so, they will be vastly more powerful, and may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria.”

Ex-ISRO Chief (Indian Space Research Organization), Dr. S. Somanath, has publicly spoken about extraterrestrial life: “No doubt about it… My conscience tells me yes, although I have no proof.”

As the chairman of ISRO, I am telling you this: “If there exists an alien civilization that is ahead of us by just a thousand years, or 10,000 years, it is highly likely that they are extremely advanced and capable of visiting other planets where life exists… It is highly probable that aliens are already interacting with us in ways that are beyond human understanding as of now. I always believe there are aliens around us, much more evolved. We were the very recent origin of life… Aliens are definitely there and present around us.”

Massive Surge in UAPs

A year-on-year surge has been recorded in UFO/UAP incidents, including visual sightings.

According to an air traffic control (ATC) audio clip that leaked earlier this year, a pilot flying a Piper PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II over Rhode Island reported spotting a suspicious “small silver canister” hanging just feet from his wingtip at 3,500 feet. The pilot called the object “astonishing” during real-time contact and ruled out common explanations, such as balloons or drones, because it appeared still.

Earlier, Ryan Graves, a former US naval lieutenant who formerly piloted an F/A-18, testified to having seen UFOs.

That incident occurred when two aircraft from his squadron flew side by side, and one of these unidentified objects flew directly between them. Grave noted that a team member characterized the object as a “dark gray or black cube inside of a clear sphere,” adding that although these objects occasionally remained stationary in an odd manner, they did not act like “tethered balloons.”


The Tic-Tac UFO incident, the most well-researched and plausible unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) case in contemporary history, is another significant event in recent memory. It happened in November 2004 while the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group was practicing off the coast of Southern California. Radar operators on board the USS Princeton at the time swiftly descended from roughly 80,000 feet to sea level in a matter of seconds, detecting odd objects over a period of days.

The Pentagon established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) across air, sea, and space in 2022.

As part of their study, the investigators, led by Sean Kirkpatrick, the first director of the AARO, reviewed government documents dating back to 1945 and interrogated current and former military officers.

While many UAP encounters were previously attributed to extraterrestrial beings, there is now a significant contradiction.

UFO sightings were merely conspiracy theories that the Pentagon fabricated and exaggerated as a cover-up for classified military activities, according to a shocking Pentagon report from 2024 that was published in mid-2025.

The agency discovered that the US military intentionally planted UFO conspiracy theories, including those linked to Area 51, to hide classified weapons programs during the Cold War.

According to the study, the purpose of these disinformation campaigns was to hide military equipment testing from anyone who had accidentally observed classified military experiments. It was discovered that the Pentagon spread false information, including Photoshopped images of flying saucers.

The US Air Force’s first premier stealth fighter, the F-117 Night Hawk, was being tested, and at least one theory was made up to hide it.

Before that, the CIA declassified records in 2013 that verified Area 51’s use for testing advanced aircraft, including SR-71 Blackbirds and U-2 spy planes, and explained certain UFO encounters as misclassified military programs.

Separately, AARO released an extensive report (hailed as historic) in March 2024, stating that there was no evidence that the US officials had encountered aliens.

It asserted that most sightings were just misidentified ordinary objects, adding that some cases required further study. Presenting the report, AARO stated that there are now 50 to 100 UAP sightings every month, up from earlier figures.

However, more clarity will emerge once the US government declassifies the much sought-after information.

Press abandons Tiananmen hoax: BBC newsmen's self-humiliation

 

The movement away from the Tiananmen Square hoax has become a stampede. 

• Wikipedia now admits that the so-called massacre never happened

• Mainstream media this year almost entirely ignored the anniversary

• A new study suggests some of the public knows it was a hoax

• And claims that diplomats still believe in it are quickly falling apart.

And we'll also be sharing two hilarious examples of BBC reporters being defensive about things they wrote – that now everyone now knows they were not telling the truth.

Rafizi claims 'cybertrooper-like' PM signals outcome of Azam probe

Rafizi claims 'cybertrooper-like' PM signals outcome of Azam probe

Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
Published: Feb 21, 2026 11:57 AM
Updated: 3:58 PM



Rafizi Ramli has cast doubt on the outcome of a special committee probing MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, claiming that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s “cybertrooper-like” behaviour does not bode well for the investigation.

Speaking on his podcast show “Yang Berhenti Menteri” last night, the former PKR deputy president asserted that Anwar’s social media activities, which include platforming content aligned with Azam, indicate that the prime minister is “not interested” in investigating the officer’s alleged misdeeds.

“...when (Anwar) himself comes out acting as a cybertrooper (by) forwarding things that affirm the current narrative that Azam is being attacked by corrupt groups…that shows his (Anwar’s) stance.

“It means the prime minister believes Azam is clean, (despite) all that has been published by Bloomberg - he has no interest at all in knowing those revelations, no interest in investigating, because he himself is busy acting as a peddler (and) amplifying the narrative (that) Azam is being attacked for doing his job,” he said.

Pointing out that those appointed to the three-member special committee tasked with probing Azam all report to the prime minister, Rafizi backed concerns on the committee’s lack of independence, likening the situation to “friends investigating friends”.

He also bleakly suggested that the committee is unlikely to come up with a conclusion that goes against Anwar’s apparent stance.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim


“When the prime minister, before the (special committee’s) investigation has even begun, is already acting like a cybertrooper and already made a conclusion, we know where this will end up.

“When the prime minister himself spreads the narrative that Azam is being attacked for doing his job - that is clearly (meant to) shut down entirely the questions that have arisen about Azam’s integrity,” the Pandan MP added.

Three-member committee

Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar is heading the committee while the two other members are Public Service Department director-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican.

Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar’s previous statement indicated that the committee’s scope of investigation is only on the issue of Azam’s shareholding.

This was later backed by Dusuki, who said the committee’s probe does not involve any criminal elements.

Earlier, allegations surfaced that MACC officers had colluded with private individuals to strong-arm business rivals and stage corporate takeovers.

PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar


Yesterday, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar welcomed the government’s decision to form the committee chaired by Dusuki, but cautioned that the move would fall short if its scope was too limited.

She also proposed the establishment of a committee vested with real directive and oversight powers which will report to Parliament. Other quarters had earlier nominated former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat to lead an independent panel to investigate claims against Azam.


Discrediting critical views

Earlier in his podcast, Rafizi furnished a screenshot of a message allegedly sent by Anwar in a pro-PKR WhatsApp group, with the message featuring a TikTok video which Rafizi said had gained little traction prior to Anwar’s move to blast it out.

The video is said to have discredited Muda’s criticism of Azam by accusing the party of being “funded by” and acting as “tools” of those previously targeted by the anti-graft agency, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Daim Zainuddin.

“People outside may not know that apart from being prime minister, (Anwar) also occasionally moonlights as a cybertrooper in WhatsApp,” Rafizi quipped.

“Some people may be surprised. I’ve been with him for a long time - I’m not surprised. He’s like this.”

The former economy minister also highlighted instances of Anwar’s official X account reposting content from “anonymous accounts or cybertroopers”, noting that while it cannot be confirmed whether Anwar himself had authorised such actions, the PKR president bears responsibility.

“If my team retweeted something and I disagreed, ‘memang mati kena hempuk dengan aku’ (they would be severely reprimanded by me).

“Either Anwar himself retweeted (such content) or someone else did, but it means he does not mind his official account spreading things that some of our people are uncomfortable with,” Rafizi said.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki


Previously, Malaysiakini reported that Anwar’s X page had retweeted a post highlighting MACC’s comments on the report against Rafizi, drawing a comparison to Azam’s shares scandal.

The post read: “If Bloomberg can make a fuss over Azam Baki ‘playing’ shares worth RM1 million, surely it won’t turn a blind eye to one thousand million.”

The issue came amid MACC’s ongoing probe involving a government deal with British semiconductor giant Arm Holdings, where Rafizi is accused of rushing through an agreement that allegedly cost RM1.1 billion.

READ MORE: Rafizi slams MACC probe, accuses PM of letting his allies weaponise slander

Rafizi is also being probed for a second allegation involving a large solar energy project by UEM Lestra, where he allegedly steered a contract worth RM2.5 billion toward a company with ties to him.

Sticking to PN safest route for Hamzah, says analyst

FMT:

Sticking to PN safest route for Hamzah, says analyst

4 hours ago
Nora Mahpar

Analyst says opposition leader's grassroots support isn't strong enough for him to form a new bloc on his own

It was reported yesterday that former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and 16 MPs aligned with him will join another political party next week.

PETALING JAYA: As speculation grows on Hamzah Zainudin taking over a party, an analyst says the opposition leader’s safest option would be to remain PAS-friendly and even stick with Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting said such a party would allow Hamzah to act as an independent political agent and be free to hold talks with any other party or coalition.

However, he told FMT that the former Bersatu deputy president’s grassroots support was not strong enough for him to form and lead a new bloc on his own.

“Realistically, the safest option for him is to remain with PN, being PAS-friendly in particular, while he builds his image as an independent opposition figure.

“Without an official platform (like PN), his influence would erode in the long term,” he said, acknowledging too that Hazmah would find some hurdles in operating within PN given his enmity with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Hamzah and several others were sacked from Bersatu last week amid his leadership tussle with Muhyiddin. He later declared war on Muhyiddin, describing himself as the former prime minister’s “number one enemy”.

It was reported yesterday that Hamzah and 16 MPs aligned with him will join another political party next week.

Former Bersatu Supreme Council member Yunus Nurdin reportedly said Hamzah would take over a small party to expand his influence ahead of the 16th general election (GE16).

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Hamzah’s ability to draw more MPs to his corner could see a party led by the opposition leader replace Bersatu within PN.

“We are seeing continuous pressure on Muhyiddin with multiple leaders resigning and declaring that divisions have supposedly been dissolved.

“All this is to pressure and shrink Muhyiddin’s influence,” he said.

Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Hamzah would maintain close ties with PAS to secure the party’s support in GE16, even as he operates outside Bersatu.

Waters as high as the windows: Pitas villagers recall frantic evacuations in the dead of night

 

Waters as high as the windows: Pitas villagers recall frantic evacuations in the dead of night



Floodwaters in Kampung Sibaung rose from floor level to window height within four hours, forcing pre-dawn evacuations. — Bernama pic

Saturday, 21 Feb 2026 5:25 PM MYT


PITAS, Feb 21 — Floodwaters in Kampung Sibaung here rose rapidly within four hours, forcing residents to evacuate to temporary relief centres in the early hours of this morning.

The water level increased from floor height to window level at several houses following continuous heavy rain.

Resident Jamilah Sapia, 50, said water began entering her home at about 10 pm and rose sharply around 2 am.

She said floodwaters blocked the main access road, preventing residents from leaving the area.


Rescue teams later arrived to evacuate residents to safety.

Jamilah said her house, which is on slightly higher ground, was flooded up to thigh level.

Several houses in lower-lying areas were submerged up to window height and deemed unsafe.


Another resident, Rosni Mohamad Rasyid, 50, said flooding occurs almost every year during the monsoon season.

She said residents usually prepare by moving belongings to higher ground when heavy rain continues.

Rosni said floods disrupt daily life, including schooling and household income.

As of noon today, 1,653 victims from 621 families have been evacuated to several relief centres in the district.

Sabah Assistant Minister of Works and Utilities and Pitas assemblyman Ruddy Awah said the evacuation process went smoothly due to early action by residents, adding that the state government will ensure assistance reaches all affected victims. — Bernama

UK university owed millions by Malaysian campus, says report

FMT:

UK university owed millions by Malaysian campus, says report

5 hours ago
FMT Reporters

University of Nottingham spokesman says this year's financial statements are 'not reliable' to determine the performance of the campus

University of Nottingham’s Malaysian campus is seeing declining income and student numbers, according to the report by Nottinghamshire Live. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: University of Nottingham is owed millions of pounds by its campus in Malaysia, according to a report citing the UK university’s latest financial statements.

Nottinghamshire Live reported that the university, a part of the Russell Group, had made hundreds of job cuts while two of its campuses in the UK were put up for sale amid financial pressures.

The university’s financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2025, stated that it had £5.1 million (about RM26.9 million) in “doubtful debts” involving historic management fees that were “overdue” from its campus in Semenyih, Selangor.

The accounts noted that the university manages teaching at the Malaysian campus and receives a management fee, in addition to a share of the surplus or deficit of the campus’s financial performance based on its 29.9% shareholding.

The university said it recorded the £5.1 million as doubtful debt “in recognition of University of Nottingham Malaysia’s more challenging financial position”.

The statements also showed that University of Nottingham spent £595,000 (about RM3.13 million) on its Malaysian entity in the last financial year while receiving only £380,000 (about RM2 million) in income.

This decline in income was a sharp decrease from the over £1.8 million (over RM9.49 million) recorded in both 2024 and 2023, and just over £2.8 million (about RM14.76 million) in 2022.

The accounts stated that the amount due from the Malaysian campus stood at £7.599 million (about RM40.05 million) as of July 2025, up from £5.558 million (about RM29.29 million) the year before.

A spokesman for University of Nottingham said it was “not reliable” to rely on the latest financial statements alone to assess the overall performance of the Semenyih campus.


“It is important to look at the wider benefits that our overseas campuses bring to the university and our global community.

“The University of Nottingham was a pioneer in transnational education when we opened our campus in Malaysia,” the spokesman said, adding that the university’s “global outlook” was what differentiated it within the UK higher education sector.

While the university did not disclose current student numbers at the Malaysian campus in its financial statements, an impact report for its 25th anniversary said there were 4,056 students there in 2024.

This was a decrease compared with the 4,866 students reported in 2016 and 4,881 in 2017. In 2021, the university said the campus had 5,200 students.


In 2021, the university announced plans to buy out its Malaysian joint venture partner, Boustead Holdings Bhd, for £23.5 million (about RM123.85 million).

However, the deal was never concluded and the university’s spokesman declined to comment on the reason.

FMT has reached out to University of Nottingham Malaysia for comment.

Peja denies taking dig at PAS, suggesting Bersatu quit PN

FMT:

Peja denies taking dig at PAS, suggesting Bersatu quit PN

4 hours ago
Nora Mahpar and Elill Easwaran

Bersatu veep says screenshot of alleged WhatsApp messages are fake, and the work of those who recently left or were sacked from the party

Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu allegedly accused PAS of being disrespectful to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu has denied taking a dig at PAS and suggesting that his party leave Perikatan Nasional in a WhatsApp group comprising Bersatu leaders.

Faizal, also known as Peja, said a screenshot of the alleged WhatsApp messages was fake and fabricated by those who recently left or were sacked from Bersatu.

“This was done by former Bersatu members who are trying to create more disorder in Bersatu, and who want Bersatu and PAS’s relationship to sour so that PN would be crippled,” he told FMT.


He added that the profile picture shown in the alleged WhatsApp screenshots was not his.

The viral screenshot showed Faizal allegedly accusing a PN component, believed to be PAS, of being disrespectful to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and then suggesting that Bersatu leave PN.


Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz then allegedly said it would be better for PAS to leave PN since the Islamic party already appeared keen on reviving its Muafakat Nasional pact with Umno.

Bersatu Supreme Council member Jasri Jamaludin, meanwhile, purportedly agreed with Faizal and urged Muhyiddin to reconsider his decision to resign as PN chairman.

When contacted, Jasri also said the screenshot was false and need not be entertained. FMT has also reached out to Tun Faisal for comment.

PAS to determine authenticity of messages


Separately, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the party will determine the authenticity of the alleged WhatsApp messages before taking further action.

“All organisations have private WhatsApp groups where they hold their internal discussions. Revealing such closed discussions is inappropriate.

“However, concerning the WhatsApp conversation involving certain parties apparently insulting PAS, we will first evaluate its authenticity before taking any further action,” he told FMT.

The PN Supreme Council will hold an extraordinary meeting tomorrow to confirm Muhyiddin’s resignation as coalition chairman and appoint his successor.

It also comes amid the internal turmoil in Bersatu that has culminated in the sacking of its deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and several other leaders, including MPs and state assemblymen, aligned with him.

US envoy suggests it would be ‘fine’ if Israel expands across Middle East

US envoy suggests it would be ‘fine’ if Israel expands across Middle East

‘It would be fine if they took it all,’ Mike Huckabee says when asked about expanding Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates.

Mike Huckabee says he does not regret meeting with convicted spy Jonathan Pollard [File: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters]

By Al Jazeera Staff
Published On 20 Feb 2026

Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, has suggested that he would not object if Israel were to take most of the Middle East, stressing what he described as the Jewish people’s right to the land.

In an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired on Friday, Huckabee was pressed about the geographical borders of Israel, which he argues are rooted in the Bible.

Carlson told Huckabee that the biblical verse had promised the land to the descendants of Abraham, including the area between the Euphrates River in Iraq and the Nile River in Egypt.

Such a swath would encompass modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia.

“It would be fine if they took it all,” said Huckabee, who was appointed by President Donald Trump last year.

Carlson, who appeared taken aback by the statement, asked Huckabee if indeed he would approve of Israel expanding over the entire region.

“They don’t want to take it over. They’re not asking to take it over,” the ambassador replied.



US could win a short war, but fighting a long war is exceedingly difficult: Analysis


The US envoy, an avowed Christian Zionist and staunch defender of Israel, later appeared to walk back his assertion, saying that it “was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement”.

Still, he left the door open for Israeli expansionism based on his religious interpretation.

“If they end up getting attacked by all these places, and they win that war, and they take that land, OK, that’s a whole other discussion,” Huckabee said.

The Department of State did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio shares Huckabee’s views on Israel’s right to expand.

The principle of territorial integrity and the prohibition against the acquisition of land by force have been a bedrock of international law since World War II.

In 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and must cease immediately.

But Israeli law does not clearly demarcate the country’s borders. Israel also occupies the Golan Heights in Syria, which it illegally annexed in 1981.

The US is the only country that recognises Israel’s claimed sovereignty over the Syrian territory.

After the 2024 war with Hezbollah, Israel also set up military outposts in five points inside Lebanon.

Some Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have openly promoted the idea of a “Greater Israel” with expanded borders.

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stirred international outrage in 2023 when he spoke at an event featuring a map that included the Palestinian territories and portions of Lebanon, Syria and Jordan as part of Israel, set against the colours of the Israeli flag.

In his interview with Carlson, Huckabee tried to argue that Israel’s right to exist is rooted in international law, but he also attacked the legal institutions that oversee international law for their opposition to Israeli abuses.

“One of the reasons I’m so grateful President Trump and Secretary Rubio are pushing hard, trying to get rid of the ICC [International Criminal Court] and the ICJ is because they have become rogue organisations that are no longer really about an equal application of law,” he said.

Beyond his professed religious devotion to Israel, Huckabee has faced criticism for failing to speak up for the rights of US citizens who have been killed and imprisoned by Israeli forces during his ambassadorship.

Last year, Huckabee even sparked anger from some conservatives in the US when he met with convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, who sold US intelligence secrets to the Israeli government, details of which later made it to the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.

Pollard, a former civilian analyst in the US Navy, served 30 years in jail and moved to Israel in 2020 after his release. He never expressed regret for his crimes, and in 2021, he called on Jewish employees in US security agencies to spy for Israel.

Huckabee said he does not agree with Pollard’s views, but he denied hosting him, arguing that he simply held a meeting with him at the US embassy in Jerusalem.

Asked if anyone can walk into the embassy to meet the envoy, Huckabee acknowledged that such a meeting requires a pre-approved appointment.
Advertisement


“He was able to come to the US embassy to have a meeting at his request. I did, and frankly, I don’t regret it,” Huckabee said.

“I met with a lot of people over the course of the time I’ve been here and will meet with a lot more.”

***

HE'S NO MORE A WANK BUT A WANNABE SHAILOK (JUST LIKE MY VISITOR 'TS', WAKAKAKA 😂😂😂)

Wall Street climbs after high court limits Trump tariff authority, markets weigh new levies

Wall Street climbs after high court limits Trump tariff authority, markets weigh new levies



Wall Street stocks, which had opened lower following disappointing US economic data, pushed into positive territory and also ended higher following a choppy session. The S&P 500 ended up 0.7 per cent. — Reuters file pic

Saturday, 21 Feb 2026 11:15 AM MYT


NEW YORK, Feb 21 — Wall Street stocks advanced yesterday as markets digested a US Supreme Court decision striking down some of the White House's sweeping tariffs and President Donald Trump's response vowing new levies.

The conservative-majority top court ruled six-three that a 1977 law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act Trump has relied on "does not authorize the president to impose tariffs."

A furious Trump, who nominated two of the justices who repudiated him, said he was "absolutely ashamed" of some justices "for not having the courage to do what's right for our country" and vowed to impose a uniform tariff of 10 per cent under a separate authority.

Wall Street stocks, which had opened lower following disappointing US economic data, pushed into positive territory and also ended higher following a choppy session. The S&P 500 ended up 0.7 per cent.


Some analysts said they expect the ruling to lead to lower inflation, but others described the situation as fundamentally uncertain.


The market is not "surprised by what it heard from the Supreme Court and at the same time, it's not surprised that the Trump administration is already touting its ability to make up for the lost revenue that would come from revoking the tariffs," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare.

Mark Malek, chief investment officer at Siebert Financial, described the ruling as throwing a "pretty large wrench into the policy machine," predicting that policy uncertainty would remain "elevated."


Jeff Buchbinder, chief equity strategist for LPL Financial, predicted Trump would likely pivot to a different legal strategy.

"However, if lower tariffs help cool inflation, it could firm up expectations for Fed rate cuts later this year," Buchbinder said in a note.

In Europe, a closely watched survey on Friday showed that business activity in the eurozone accelerated in February, indicating that the region's economy is on a more stable footing.

British firms also boosted output in February, according to the purchasing managers' index published by S&P Global.

London's FTSE 100 stock index hit a fresh record high, as did the CAC 40 in Paris.

In Asia, Hong Kong fell as it reopened from a three-day break for the Lunar New Year, and Tokyo was also down.

Oil prices, which surged to multi-month highs this week on US suggestions of military action against Iran, moved sideways as markets kept an eye on geopolitics.

Trump had suggested on Thursday that "bad things" would happen if Tehran did not strike a deal within 10 days, which he subsequently extended to 15.

Asked by a reporter on Friday whether he was contemplating a limited military strike, Trump answered: "The most I can say — I am considering it."

Also Friday, data showed the US economy expanded at a 1.4 per cent annual rate in the October to December period, significantly below the 2.5 percent pace that analysts had forecasted for the quarter.

The period included a lengthy US government shutdown amid a budget fight between Trump and Congress.

"At first glance the first reading of fourth quarter GDP was very disappointing," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management.

"However, the government was shut down for almost half the quarter," he added. — AFP

US Supreme Court strikes down swath of Trump’s global tariffs

FMT:

US Supreme Court strikes down swath of Trump’s global tariffs

The Supreme Court's decision affirms earlier findings by lower courts that tariffs US President Donald Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were illegal

US President Donald Trump has made unprecedented use of emergency economic powers to slap duties on virtually all US trading partners. (Presidential Press Service/EPA Images pic)

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court ruled Friday that Donald Trump exceeded his authority in imposing a swath of tariffs that upended global trade, blocking a key tool the president has wielded to impose his economic agenda.

The conservative-majority high court ruled six-three in the judgment, saying the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) “does not authorise the President to impose tariffs”.

While Trump has long used tariffs as a lever for pressure and negotiations, he made unprecedented use of emergency economic powers upon returning to the presidency last year to slap new duties on virtually all US trading partners.


These included “reciprocal” tariffs over trade practices that Washington deemed unfair, alongside separate sets of duties targeting major partners Mexico, Canada and China over illicit drug flows and immigration.

The court on Friday noted that “had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs” with IEEPA, “it would have done so expressly, as it consistently has in other tariff statutes.”

The ruling does not impact sector-specific duties that Trump has separately imposed on imports of steel, aluminum and various other goods. Formal probes which could ultimately lead to more such sectoral tariffs remain in the works.

The Supreme Court’s decision affirms earlier findings by lower courts that tariffs Trump imposed under IEEPA were illegal.

A lower trade court had ruled in May that Trump overstepped his authority with across-the-board levies and blocked most of them from taking effect, but that outcome had been put on hold as the government sought an appeal.

Must Read for Indians: Understanding the Root Cause of Our Decline in Malaysia

OPINION | Must Read for Indians: Understanding the Root Cause of Our Decline in Malaysia


20 Feb 2026 • 5:00 PM MYT



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

Image credit: Mystical Temples of Malaysia


In a previous article of mine, where I talked about how the troubles afflicting our temples are a sign that the Indian race in Malaysia is heading towards extinction, some Indians commented that, other than losing temples, the problems that require immediate attention are low enrolment in Tamil schools, casteism, the fragmentation of the Indian identity into subgroups (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalee, Kannadiga, etc.), high numbers of our youths involved in gangsterism, and the lack of political leadership.


These problems, however, in my humble opinion, are merely symptoms of what truly ails the Indian community. While we must address the symptoms of a disease to a certain extent, the more important task is to address the root cause. Until the root cause is addressed, the symptoms will keep appearing, no matter how many times we attempt to deal with them.


And what is the root cause of all the problems facing the Indian community?


Our core problem is weakness.


Weakness in what sense?


Weakness in the sense that the Indian community is currently so weak that we are unable to provide a pathway for a large number of our people to pursue success or happiness in life.


Let me explain further.


Imagine that Peninsular Malaysia is composed of 60 percent Muslims, 30 percent Chinese, and 10 percent Indians.


Ideally, in this scenario, Indians should receive around 10 percent of the resources, opportunities, access and platforms that the Peninsular has, in order to provide members of our community with a feasible pathway to pursue success in their life. If our members could pursue success, then the likelihood that they be able to pursue happiness and inner peace will also increase.



If we received 10 percent and still had problems such as gangsterism, loss of temples, fragmentation, and so on, then we would be entirely to blame for these problems.


But the problem is that we are not getting that 10 percent.


Why?


Because we are weak.


No group will ever be satisfied with what it has. Everybody will always try to obtain more than they already possess.


For that reason, we cannot blame the Chinese or the Muslims, who make up 90 percent of the non-Indian population in the Peninsular, for trying to increase their share of resources, wealth, and access in a manner that exceeds their population share.


We cannot blame them, because if we were in their shoes, that is exactly what we would do too.


The problem is that in the competition to secure a greater share for one’s group, it is usually the bigger groups that have the advantage. Size itself is a factor of strength. The smallest group tends to be the weakest, and when you are the weakest, you are often the one that must suffer losses in order to satisfy the desires and ambitions of the bigger groups.



Being the bigger identity groups, suppose the Muslims and the Chinese are able to leverage their advantage to add two percent more resources, positions, opportunities, and access to their communities. This would mean that the Chinese and Muslims would now have 32 percent and 62 percent respectively.


This is good for them, but it is bad for us, because in all likelihood their gain would come at our expense.


For them to each gain an additional two percent, the Indians would lose four percent. That would mean that 10 percent of us will now only have access to 6 percent of the nation’s resources, opportunities, and platforms.


When we only have 6 percent but our population is 10 percent, the first thing that happens is that we will lose confidence to compete externally. Losing our confidence, we will then begin to focus on competing internally in order to find success in life.


As a rule, when the amount of resources and opportunities you have is commensurate with or larger than your population, you will cooperate with your own people in order to compete with external identity groups, in order pursue and find success in life.


But when what you have is noticeably smaller than your population, you begin competing with your own people in order to survive or pursue success in life.


And when you compete rather than cooperate with your own people, the competition often turns nasty and vicious, because there is a sense of betrayal and ingratitude underlying it.


This explains why there is a widespread belief that Indians are the most violent or aggressive identity group in the Peninsular. Indians are not intrinsically criminal, aggressive or subject to such negative habits as alcoholism or violence. We likely only became so because 10 percent of us are competing among ourselves for 6 percent. If 60 percent of Muslims had to compete for only 40 percent of the Peninsular’s resources and opportunities, or if 30 percent of Chinese had to compete for only 20 percent of its platforms and access, they too might become as more criminal, aggressive, addicted and violent.



Other than increased aggression, often directed at our own people, another consequence of having fewer resources than our population share is that cooperation becomes difficult.


When we find it difficult to cooperate with each other while finding ourselves pushed to compete in a more and more desperate and vicious fashion amongst ourselves, we will drive ourselves to become even weaker, and thus make it even easier for other groups to take even the little that we have left.


The most damning sign that our weakness has reached a crisis point is that our sacred identity markers have now become vulnerable.


Indians have already largely lost our political parties and meaningful representation. Today, we do not have strong Indian leaders, parties, or ministers representing us.


We have mostly lost the estates and plantations, which once formed both our economic base and our communal home.



We used to be highly represented in respected professions such as medicine and law, but that too is no longer the case.


If you call a call center today, you will likely only have options to choose English, Malay or Mandarin as your language of preference. Tamil used to be one of the options, but today, it no longer is.


Now to to top it all, we might even be in a state where we are in danger of losing our sacred identity markers, or temples. At this juncture, if we still don't wake up, we are going to find ourselves crossing the point of no return within one or two more generation.


Remember, once we have lost our ability to pursue success, the more it will affect our ability to pursue happiness.


Indians were not always an angry, bitter, violent, or suspicious people. The so-called “Indian crab mentality” is not an intrinsic feature of our identity. These qualities are emerging because prolonged failure in achieving success has deeply affected our collective pursuit of happiness.



Identity groups do not exist in and of themselves. They exist because conditions allow them to exist.


An identity group will only survive and thrive to the extent that it is able to provide a meaningful pathway towards success and happiness for its members.


When it weakens to the point where most of its members are structurally unable to find success, and its population have become so unhappy, that anger, violence, self-loathnig or addiction becomes their defining features, then that identity group is in an existential crisis.


If its weakness extends to the point where even its sacred markers — such as temples — become vulnerable, then it is certainly on the path to extinction.


It is on this basis that I am saying that the fact that the continuous existence of many of of our temples is now being called to question, is a clear sign that our identity is on a path toward extinction.



I am not merely going to diagnose the problem, by the way. I also have suggestions on how we can move forward — either to prevent our extinction, or at least, ensure that we head to extinction in a dignified fashion.


I will put forward these ideas in future articles.


After I put it forward, eI hope you will pay some mind to it.


On of the problem that exacerbates our decline and deterioration is that we do not build a comprehensive understanding of our condition. We only react to it emotionally, when such events like the demolition or relocation of a temple occur.


These firefighting responses may provide emotional relief. They allow us to lash out and temporarily release existential frustration. But sustainable, long-term solutions can only come through rational responses, not emotional ones.


To do that, we must first take time to rationally and objectively increase our awareness of what is truly happening — what are the causes and origins, which are the symptoms and which are root causes, what our limitations are, what we must be willing to sacrifice, what we must change, what we must preserve and what we must act upon and what we must accept as inevitable.


Remember, it is the mind that moves first before the world can be moved.


So first, let us prepare our minds.


Let us increase our awareness, come to a common understanding, and be on the same page.


I will do my part to raise awareness by pointing to what I believe ails us. I hope you will also do your part to examine it and discuss it in a rational and objective manner, so that more light can be shed upon it and we can eventually agree on how to move forward.

***

Nehru matey, allow me to voice my humble opinion:

Malay poor will be taken care of by the Government;

Chinese poor will in general be taken care of by some Chinese philanthropists (admittedly not a perfect system but philanthropy in Chinese society has long (centuries old) been a tradition) or even the Chinese society herself;

Indian poor ...???

From my observation Indian philanthropy is minimal matey, minimal - your society needs to develop this.