From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi 

drtepsnSoouuc0594ahuc65h6t3cu3il3la3fgc0i04c9m1l5t5ma31a4951 ·

US armed forces are running out of food as the planned four-day plan to “take out Iran” enters its seventh week.

Vegetables, fruit, and all fresh produce has gone – and tiny meals are being served on empty meal trays, USA Today reported. And there’s no coffee – something many Americans consider more important than food.

***

Military Watch:

U.S. Navy’s Sole Supercarrier Near Iran Endures Severe Food Shortages as Logistics Disrupted

North America, Western Europe and Oceania , Naval

Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff

April-17th-2026

---

Nimitz Class Supercarrier and Food Rations Onboard

The Nimitz class supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln is currently the only aircraft carrier deployed in the Arabian Sea, and is  facing serious challenges as sailors ensure shortages of high quality food and are served very limited portions. This is a result of the prolonged timeframe of operations and strained supply lines, with low rations widely assessed by U.S. analysts to be impacting morale. Families of the sailors onboard are reporting that they frequently go hungry, and the disruption of mail means they cannot send additional food or supplies. These shortages have also affected other warships in the region, including personnel on the amphibious assault USS Tripoli.

Wasp Class Carrier USS Tripoli

Commenting on the extent of shortages, the father of a Marine stationed on the USS Tripoli, Dan F, said he was alarmed after seeing a photo of her meal. “A lunch tray, two-thirds empty, carried one small scoop of shredded meat and a single folded tortilla,” he observed. An  image from the USS Abraham Lincoln showed “a small handful of boiled carrots, a dry meat patty and a grey slab of processed meat.” The conflict against Iran has highlighted the serous limitations of the U.S. Armed Forces’ ability to launch a sustained campaign against a capable adversary, despite Iran’s military capabilities being considerably more limited than those of other adversaries such as China and North Korea, and in spite of the respite which U.S. forces have been given by a ceasefire from April 8. 

The USS Abraham Lincoln and its Carrier Strike Group on January 20 completed a transit through the Malacca Strait, after prematurely concluding operations in the 7th Fleet area of operations in East Asia, to redirect towards the 5th Fleet area in the Middle East. The redirection of the carrier group represented part of a much broader U.S.-led military buildup against Iran. The ship is one of three supercarriers to have been involved in offensives against Iran, alongside the USS Gerald Ford and USS George H. W. Bush. The USS Gerald Ford has suffered particularly severe strain, and on April 19 will have been deployed for 300 days, setting a new record for the longest U.S. aircraft carrier deployment in over 50 years since the Vietnam War. This has placed particular strain on the ship and its crew, with footage in February showing a major flood of raw sewage flowing through the ship, following persistent issues of clogged toilets and backed-up sewage. A major fire onboard in March subsequently forced the carrier to be diverted away from the Middle East, fuelling speculation that it may have been hit by Iranian forces. 

MACC to record statement from Rafizi’s ex-aide on April 28

FMT:

MACC to record statement from Rafizi’s ex-aide on April 28

James Chai says he hopes the investigation will be conducted fairly and professionally

MACC had issued a public search notice for James Chai on March 4 and offered to cover his travel costs from the UK, where he now works. (MACC pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will record a statement from a former aide to ex-economy minister Rafizi Ramli on April 28 as part of an ongoing investigation.

James Chai confirmed the matter in an Instagram post, where he also expressed his gratitude to his lawyers for offering pro bono legal assistance.

“I carry great hope that the MACC investigation will be conducted fairly and professionally.


“My faith in our country’s civil servants has never wavered. I look forward to the opportunity to explain everything clearly and fully,” he said.

MACC had previously issued a public search notice for Chai and offered to cover his travel costs from the UK, where he now works.

The notice, issued on March 4, did not specify the reason he is being sought. However, it came after an investigation into alleged misconduct linked to a RM1.1 billion government deal with chipmaker Arm Holdings signed in March last year.

Chai said he only realised MACC wanted his cooperation after the public notice was circulated to trace his whereabouts.

He also criticised the search notice, which displayed the address of his childhood home, saying it was excessive and appeared to be intended to portray him as a fugitive with something to hide.

Govt studying proposal to restore Langkawi’s duty-free status, says Anwar

FMT:

Govt studying proposal to restore Langkawi’s duty-free status, says Anwar

2 HOURS AGO
Mohamad Fadli

The prime minister says high costs on the island are among the factors reducing the resort's domestic tourist appeal

Kedah’s Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah has urged the federal government to restore Langkawi’s duty-free status to revive the island’s tourism sector and economy.

SEPANG: The government will study a proposal to fully restore Langkawi’s duty-free status to revive the island’s tourism sector and economy, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said the matter had been raised previously, but must be examined comprehensively, given competing demands across various sectors.

“I have asked the finance minister II (Amir Hamzah Azizan) to look at it holistically (and) where support can be restored because costs in Langkawi have become quite high.

“This in itself is discouraging tourists, including domestic visitors,” he told reporters after Friday prayers at the Cyberjaya fire and rescue department’s surau here.

He was commenting on a call by Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah in his royal address at the opening of the Kedah legislative assembly on Monday.

Sultan Sallehuddin said several changes, including taxation on vehicles and tobacco-based products, have reduced Langkawi’s appeal as the country’s main tourism destination.

Under the 2026 budget, the federal government began imposing duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products brought into Langkawi, and restricted vehicle tax exemption on vehicles purchased on the island to those valued under RM300,000.

April 30 set for decision on preacher Ebit Lew’s 11 sexual harassment charges

April 30 set for decision on preacher Ebit Lew’s 11 sexual harassment charges



The Magistrates’ Court in Tenom, Sabah is expected to rule on Islamic preacher Ebit Lew’s case involving alleged obscene messages on April 30, 2026 after trial since 2022. —- Picture from Facebook/Ebit Lew

Friday, 17 Apr 2026 12:35 PM MYT


KOTA KINABALU, April 17 — The Magistrates’ Court in Tenom has fixed April 30 for its decision on the prosecution case against preacher Ebit Irawan Lew, who faces 11 charges of sexual harassment.

Defence counsel Ram Singh, in a brief text message to Bernama, confirmed the date, saying the decision will be delivered at 8.30 am.

The trial, before Magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani, began in September 2022 and has heard testimony from 18 prosecution witnesses.

Deputy public prosecutors Nor Azizah Mohamad, Analia Kamaruddin and Muhammad Hidayat Wahab acted for the prosecution, while Lew is represented by Ram Singh, alongside Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki and Prabjit Singh Gill.

Lew, 38, is accused of sending obscene images and messages via WhatsApp to a woman in her 40s between March and June 2021, in conduct said to have outraged her modesty.

He is charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction. — Bernama

Malaysia invited to international talks on Strait of Hormuz

FMT:

Malaysia invited to international talks on Strait of Hormuz

2 HOURS AGO
Mohamad Fadli

The invitation was conveyed by French president Emmanuel Macron, who is co-hosting the special session with British prime minister Keir Starmer tonight

Tonight’s meeting will consider sending a multinational force to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz once the Middle East conflict ends. (EPA Images pic)

SEPANG: Malaysia has been invited to take part in a high-level international discussion on the Strait of Hormuz tonight, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar said the invitation was conveyed by French president Emmanuel Macron, who is co-hosting the session at 8pm (Malaysian time) with British prime minister Keir Starmer.

Anwar, who said Malaysia would be represented by foreign minister Mohamad Hasan at the online discussion, stressed that the country’s position remains firm in ensuring freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, which is a critical route for global energy supplies.


“At the same time, we cannot deny Iran’s rights. We are also concerned about the actions taken by Israel and the US against Iran,” he told reporters after Friday prayers at the fire station surau here.

He said Malaysia would adopt a balanced and independent stance in addressing the issue, reflecting its commitment to maintaining regional stability while safeguarding international trade interests.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, making any tensions in the area a matter of international concern.

AFP reported today that Macron and Starmer will chair a meeting of allies to consider sending a multinational force to ensure security and free-flowing trade in the strait once the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel ends.

The leaders joining Starmer and Macron for the meeting, which will mostly be held via video, are due to call for a return to full freedom of navigation and also address the economic consequences of the blockade.

Tensions in the Gulf have intensified after the US announced a blockade of maritime traffic entering and exiting the strait.

Iran effectively shut ‌the ⁠strait, a route that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil consumption, as soon as the US and Israel launched the war against the Islamic republic on Feb 28, leading to a surge in global energy prices.

European leaders are worried that if the blockade continues, consumers will face higher inflation, food shortages, and flight cancellations as jet fuel runs out.

Police looking through CCTV to trace suspects in RM9.7m Brickfields jewellery heist

Police looking through CCTV to trace suspects in RM9.7m Brickfields jewellery heist



Screengrab from an in-store CCTV footage shows four helmeted and armed men robbing a jewellery store in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur on April 16, 2026.

Friday, 17 Apr 2026 3:00 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Police are analysing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from multiple locations to trace suspects who fled with RM9.7 million worth of jewellery in a Brickfields robbery yesterday.

Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Hoo Chang Hook said recordings from the shop and surrounding areas are being examined to map the suspects’ escape route, Malay daily Kosmo! Online reported today.

“Police are reviewing CCTV footage around the location to track the suspects’ movements after they fled,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that statements have been recorded from 12 people so far, including the premises owner and the jewellery shop staff.


Four men wearing helmets and armed with two pistols robbed a jewellery shop along Jalan Tun Sambanthan at about 11am yesterday.

The group arrived in a white Nissan Almera rushed into the shop, threatened the staff, including a security guard, and smashed several display counters before fleeing with the loot in the same vehicle.

Anwar: One tanker in Malaysian waters while Hormuz tension delays five others, Putrajaya monitoring

Anwar: One tanker in Malaysian waters while Hormuz tension delays five others, Putrajaya monitoring



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks to reporters after performing Friday prayers at Surau Bomba in Cyberjaya on April 17, 2026. — Picture by Yusof Isa

Friday, 17 Apr 2026 3:56 PM MYT


CYBERJAYA, April 17 — Five Malaysia-bound oil tankers remain in the Strait of Hormuz amid a new US-imposed blockade that is disrupting global oil flows, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said only two vessels have managed to pass through the area, with one already in Malaysian waters.


“Even though the remaining ships were permitted to leave, the new development [complicates] the situation a little but we are monitoring,” he told reporters after Friday prayers here.

“We do have Iran’s greenlight… but because of the new situation we are facing a little complication,” he added.


MORE TO COME

We’re no Trojan horses, say Muda, Urimai on IPR-PN claims

FMT:

We’re no Trojan horses, say Muda, Urimai on IPR-PN claims

2 hours ago
Elill Easwaran

Muda's Leben Siddharth says IPR is a cross-ideological reform platform, while Urimai's P Ramasamy insists 

that IPR parties are not seeking entry into PN

Leben Siddharth said Muda will work with any party that benefits the people, while P Ramasamy said Urimai will stay in IPR and back its reform goals.

PETALING JAYA: Muda and Urimai have brushed off claims that the loose Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) alliance is being used to divide and weaken Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Muda vice-president Leben Siddharth said parties in IPR were not Trojan horses, as IPR served as a platform for cross-ideological cooperation on public issues.

“If anything, that strengthens democratic participation, not weakens it,” he told FMT.


“It exists independently, with a specific purpose: to push for reforms and solutions on issues impacting Malaysians.

“This is not political manoeuvring. Muda will work with anyone – government or opposition – as long as it benefits the rakyat.”



Leben added that IPR was never intended to be absorbed into an existing coalition.

“It allows engagement beyond fixed alliances, enabling collaboration with groups, civil society, and parties that may not sit in PN but that share common goals on specific issues,” he said.

Lumut MP Nordin Ahmad Ismail previously claimed that the loose, opposition-aligned IPR framework could be used to split and weaken PN.

Nordin, aligned with former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, said he expected internal pressure in Bersatu to push PAS, which currently chairs PN, to accept IPR-linked parties whose ideologies differ from those of the Islamist party.


He cited parties such as Urimai and the Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP), led by P Ramasamy and P Waytha Moorthy, describing them as Trojan horses that would “continue to cause trouble in PN until the goal of weakening and dividing PN is achieved”.

Ramasamy said IPR parties like Urimai and MAP were not “dying” to join PN, pointing to ideological differences.

“As long as PAS continues its uncompromising stand on the rights of the non-Malays, it will be difficult for some IPR component parties to compromise with PAS,” he said in a statement.

However, he said Urimai intended to stay in IPR to support the political objectives of the leadership provided by Muhyiddin.


IPR, launched in October last year, brought together leaders from Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party, Pejuang, Putra, Berjasa, Muda, MAP, the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party, and Urimai.

Muhyiddin previously suggested that IPR be incorporated into PN or that both entities form an electoral pact for the next general election.

However, PAS representatives were absent from two recent IPR meetings, one chaired by Muhyiddin in January and another by Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali earlier this month.

Khairy not a good fit for Kedah, say analysts

FMT:

Khairy not a good fit for Kedah, say analysts

3 HOURS AGO
Chia Wan Rou

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri says that placing a high-profile figure in a constituency that does not align with his image and political approach is a weak strategy

Khairy Jamaluddin, a former health minister, served as MP for Rembau from 2008 to 2022.

PETALING JAYA: A proposal to field former minister Khairy Jamaluddin as a candidate in Kedah for the 16th general election could backfire, an analyst has warned, urging the party not to repeat the mistake made in the previous nationwide polls (GE15).

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said Khairy’s loss in Sungai Buloh in GE15 should serve as a lesson: placing a high-profile figure in a constituency that does not align with his image and political approach is a weak strategy.

The Global Asia Consulting analyst noted that Kedah is not an urban political arena that embraces reformist discourse or intellectual rhetoric. Instead, it is more attuned to approachable, “kopitiam-style” leadership.

“Khairy, with his populist-intellectual image and metropolitan style, is better suited to urban or semi-urban constituencies — not rural Malay-majority battlegrounds, where voters tend to be more sceptical of his progressive leanings.

“Bringing him to Kedah would only highlight a cultural mismatch in political expectations. It is not merely about personality, but about what the electorate values, which is familiarity over global vision,” he told FMT.

On Tuesday, Kedah Umno Youth information chief Safwan Jaafar was reported as saying that the state Barisan Nasional (BN) needs a figure like Khairy to ignite its political resurgence.

He said the former health minister’s ideology and thinking could help reshape the mindset of Kedah voters.

Khairy served as MP for Rembau from 2008 to 2022. In GE15, Umno fielded him in the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat, where he lost to Pakatan Harapan candidate R Ramanan.

Meanwhile, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said states in the “SG4” bloc, including Kedah, have a strong sense of state identity that influences voter acceptance of candidates.

He described Khairy as a “universal candidate” better positioned to attract younger voters in urban and suburban areas, without being weighed down by strong state-based sentiments.

“It wouldn’t be suitable to field Khairy in Kedah. In fact, even if he were fielded in Kepala Batas, Penang, it would still be a mismatch — despite his strong family ties there (as the son-in-law of the late former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi).

“A figure like him should be placed in more open constituencies, where voters are less bound by state-centric preferences,” he said.

Last week, Khairy dismissed rumours that he would be fielded in Kepala Batas, a constituency represented by Abdullah for seven consecutive terms from 1978 to 2013.

He said Abdullah had previously told him and Reezal Merican Naina Merican, to “let Reezal take care of Kepala Batas”. Reezal was Abdullah’s political protégé.

Abdullah was succeeded by Reezal, who held the seat for two terms before losing it to PAS’s Siti Mastura Muhammad in the 2022 general election.

US-Indonesia overflight talks risk undermining Asean neutrality and human rights principles – APHR

Proposed arrangements granting US military “blanket overflight access” in Indonesian airspace signal a material shift away from Asean’s long-standing commitment to neutrality.— Pexels pic, April 15, 2026


US-Indonesia overflight talks risk undermining Asean neutrality and human rights principles – APHR


Rights group cautions opaque deal could erode Indonesia’s control over its airspace and deepen regional divisions amid rising US–China rivalry


Updated 2 days ago
15 April, 2026
1:47 PM MYT

PROPOSED arrangements granting US military “blanket overflight access” in Indonesian airspace signal a material shift away from Asean’s long-standing commitment to neutrality.

Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) warns that, without clear limits and transparency, the deal risks drawing Southeast Asia deeper into major power competition and weakening an already fragile regional order.

“Expanding military access without transparency risks turning our region into a silent partner in conflicts we neither control nor consent to. Sovereignty must not be reduced to a procedural formality, but anchored in human rights and accountability to the people,” said APHR Co-Chairperson and Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Mercy Chriesty Barends.

At the centre of the proposal is an unresolved question: whether Indonesia will retain meaningful authority to approve, restrict, or veto specific US military missions using its airspace. While the arrangement is reportedly framed around contingency operations, crisis response, and mutually agreed exercises, these categories remain broad and open to interpretation.

This potential shift comes as Asean faces growing internal divergence over security alignments. Some member states are deepening cooperation with the United States, while others are strengthening ties with China.

This trend risks fragmenting Asean’s longstanding principle of non-alignment and weakening its collective ability to manage external pressures. Indonesia has historically played a key role in anchoring this principle, making any recalibration of its posture regionally significant.

“These concerns are compounded by Asean’s limited response to ongoing regional crises. In Myanmar, the military junta continues to commit widespread and systematic human rights violations with impunity, while Asean mechanisms have failed to deliver meaningful accountability or protection. Against this backdrop, expanding military arrangements without robust safeguards risks further exposing the gap between Asean’s stated commitments and its practice,” said APHR Co-Chairperson and former Malaysian MP Charles Santiago.

APHR reiterates that preserving ASEAN’s relevance requires more than rhetorical commitment to neutrality. It demands transparency in security agreements, effective democratic oversight, and firm adherence to human rights and international law.

Without these safeguards, Southeast Asia risks becoming not a zone of cooperation, but a contested space shaped by external military competition.— April 15, 2026

APHR is a coalition of current and former parliamentarians from Southeast Asia who use their unique position to advance human rights and democracy in the region

Cuba ‘ready’ for possible US attack, says president

FMT:

Cuba ‘ready’ for possible US attack, says president

Washington and Havana have held talks on de-escalating tensions but the discussions have failed to make significant headway

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said they do not seek confrontation but must be prepared to avoid or win it if necessary. (EPA Images pic)

HAVANA: Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Thursday his country was “ready” for a possible US attack on the communist island following months of mounting pressure from President Donald Trump.

“We don’t want that (confrontation) but it is our duty to be ready to avoid it and, if it were unavoidable, to win it,” Diaz-Canel told thousands of people attending a rally in Havana to mark the 65th anniversary of the failed US invasion of the island at the Bay of Pigs.

Cuba has been bracing for a possible attack following repeated warnings from Trump that Cuba is “next” after he toppled Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro and went to war against Iran.

Washington and Havana have held talks on de-escalating tensions but the discussions between the arch-foes have failed to make significant headway, according to US media reports.

Mariela Castro, daughter of late president Raul Castro, said Cubans “want dialogue” with Washington but “without putting our political system up for debate”.

She said her 94-year-old father – who oversaw a historic 2015 rapprochement with the US under Barack Obama that Trump later reversed – was indirectly involved in the talks.

Raul’s grandson Raul Rodriguez Castro, a colonel, is reportedly among the negotiators.

Diaz-Canel admitted that the current moment was “very grave” but stressed Cuba’s “socialist” nature, as proclaimed by Fidel Castro on April 16, 1961.

The 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion was launched two years after Castro’s revolutionaries took control of the island and began nationalising US-owned properties and businesses.

Between April 15 and 19, around 1,400 anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami, trained and financed by the CIA, landed at the Bay of Pigs, about 250km (155 miles) south of Havana.

Cuban forces repelled the invaders, inflicting a humiliating defeat on the Americans.

Six decades later, Washington now has Cuba again in its sights.

After Maduro’s capture in Caracas, Trump imposed an oil blockade of Cuba, aggravating the impoverished island’s worst economic and energy crisis in decades.

Diaz-Canel rejected what he referred to as a US portrayal of Cuba as a “failed state”.

Havana largely blames its woes on a US trade embargo imposed shortly after Castro’s arrival to power, still in place today, and the more recent oil blockade.

“Cuba is not a failed state, it’s a besieged state,” he said.

Maria Reguiero, an 82-year-old attending the rally, said that like in 1961, Cubans were “ready to defend their sovereignty, whatever the price”.

How some Malaysians are coping with price hikes as the West Asia conflict grips global energy supply

How some Malaysians are coping with price hikes as the West Asia conflict grips global energy supply



As the West Asia conflict continues to drive global oil prices, some Malaysians are already bracing themselves for the looming economic ripple effect. — Picture by Farhan Najib

Friday, 17 Apr 2026 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — The West Asia conflict has brought the world into an energy crisis with several sectors in Malaysia already feeling the impact, particularly the agricultural and logistics sectors.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously said that despite Malaysia remaining in a relatively stable economic position, the prolonged conflict is expected to require a lengthy recovery period.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail recently reminded Malaysians to prepare for possible economic and supply disruptions if the ongoing geopolitical conflict in West Asia continues.

As the conflict continues to drive global oil prices, with diesel prices now at RM5.97 per litre, some Malaysians are already bracing themselves for the looming economic ripple effect that could result in price hikes on household items and goods.



Fifty-four-year-old Rodzita Muyup and her daughter at their recently opened Ice Cream Goreng stall in Subang Bestari. — Picture by Arif Zikri


Fifty-four-year-old ice cream seller Rodzita Muyup has been providing homemade ice-cream catering services for 10 years and just opened her own Ice Cream Goreng (Fried Ice Cream) stall in Subang Bestari, Shah Alam earlier this year as a means to diversify her family’s income.

Although she hasn’t experienced any price hikes on any of her ice cream supplies and ingredients so far, her concern about impending price hikes remains.

“I usually buy my ingredients in bulk and I’m concerned because most of these ingredients are supplied using lorries which use diesel.

“And whenever there’s a rise in fuel prices, usually prices for other goods would get affected too and which is why we have to be on standby mode now,” Rodzita said.

Even if the cost of ingredients for her ice cream does go up in the future, and if it’s within the RM3 to RM5 margin, the mother of four said she would still maintain her current pricing as she is still able to cope despite getting less profit in return.

Besides that, looking at the current global situation, Rodzita and her family have begun taking proactive steps by cutting down on dining out at fancy restaurants for the time being.

Rodzita noted that the current climate mirrors the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the Movement Control Order halted her business.

However, the pandemic also instilled a disciplined savings habit that she now relies on to endure the current economic shifts.



Retired teacher from Klang, Nor'Ihsan Mohd Sharif has weathered several economic storms, including the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. — Picture by Arif Zikri


Meanwhile, Nor’Ihsan Mohd Sharif, a 64-year-old retired teacher from Klang, has weathered several economic storms, including the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

He noted that the current situation feels far more “drastic” than those of the past.

“In previous crises, fuel prices were high, but the spikes weren’t as sudden as what we see now, where prices can jump practically overnight,” Nor’Ihsan said.

The father of three would usually drive his 11-seater diesel multipurpose vehicle (MPV) every once in a while – mostly to bring his eldest son who is afflicted with Transverse Myelitis, an inflammatory neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord, to his medical appointments.

He noted that prior to the energy crisis, he normally spent around RM150 on diesel for his MPV every month and now, with prices more than doubling, he spends nearly RM450 for the same amount of diesel.

“Even when it comes to grocery shopping, we are strictly buying basic necessities, whereas we used to be able to afford a few extras.

“We can no longer spend like we used to. In the past, a trip to the market meant we could buy shrimp, fish, and chicken; now, we can only afford the chicken.

“We are spending only on what we need to endure this situation. Everything else has to be put on KIV for now,” he said.



Data management executive Ahmad Baihaqi and his wife. — Picture by Arif Zikri


Nor’Ihsan’s second son, 32-year-old Ahmad Baihaqi, has always been vigilant about his spending, especially after getting married two years ago.

“We would often opt for lower priced brands and usually spend only on what we need.

“In reality, I’m also quite frugal when it comes to picking brands — as long as it suits the purpose, I don’t mind what brand it is,” said the data management executive who is currently living in Setia Alam with his wife.

On a positive note, Baihaqi said that the recent Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) reduction to 2.75 per cent which was set by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in July last year is looking more and more like a win nowadays for homeowners like himself.

“When they (BNM) reduced the OPR rate from 3 per cent last year, it helped in taking some burdens off our shoulders.

“I don’t think they would raise it again in the future but who knows right?

“That’s the thing with this current situation, regardless of what’s happening, everything seems uncertain,” Baihaqi said.



Since the global energy crisis began, Linda D'cruz said her family has started spending more conservatively, emphasising the importance of an emergency fund. — Picture by Choo Choy May


Meanwhile, 42-year-old Linda D’cruz, who has lived in Canada with her husband and children for the past 15 years, noted that travelling is becoming increasingly difficult.

The mother of two, originally from Terengganu, recently returned to Malaysia to visit her mother, who had broken her ankle in a fall.

D’cruz found this trip significantly more challenging than previous ones.

“Luckily, I wasn’t among those stranded at the airport due to cancellations and delays. We managed to avoid the Middle East by flying with Philippine Airlines, which took a different route,” she said.

D’cruz noted that a one-way ticket from Canada to Malaysia costs around RM1,800 last December; however, a recent check on the Malaysia Airlines website showed that a one-way flight to Toronto has nearly doubled to RM3,617 now.

Addressing the current energy crisis, D’cruz said her family has started spending more conservatively, emphasising the importance of an emergency fund.

“It’s obvious we have to be more economical with all these economic uncertainties. Job security is also a concern; anything can happen.

“We don’t travel much unless it’s to visit family because we have to tighten our belts — especially for unexpected medical expenses.

“My mother is getting older, and we need to save for future emergencies,” she said, adding that her mother is recovering well.

Joanne Shum, a 56-year-old shopkeeper in SS2, Petaling Jaya, doesn’t usually follow geopolitics in West Asia.

However, she admits the current crisis has her deeply concerned about looming price hikes.

Surprisingly, Shum fears the rising cost of daily essentials more than she feared the Covid-19 pandemic. To her, the lockdown era was almost a period of self-improvement.

“Covid-19 was nothing (in terms of stress),” she recalled.

“I actually lost weight because I was at home with nothing to do but exercise.

“Now that I’m back at work, I’ve actually been gaining weight.”

She noted that the lockdown was quiet for her household.

“My husband and I aren’t very tech-savvy, so during the pandemic, we just spent our time at home together without much internet to distract us,” she said.

While she hasn’t experienced any direct price spikes yet, Shum is already bracing for the worst.

She is prepared to cut back on spending and, if the situation deteriorates further, she is even ready to begin rationing food in her household.



Cempedak goreng hawker, Calvin Soong, has stopped using the air-conditioner in his van as a means to save up on fuel usage. — Picture by Choo Choy May


Meanwhile, it is a very concerning time for 61-year-old cempedak goreng hawker, Calvin Soong, who not only has to face the high diesel price but also the increase in plastic packaging prices which has gone up by between 15 per cent and 40 per cent recently.

Despite having to face these hikes, Soong is still hesitant in raising the price of his cempedak goreng.

“I wish I could (raise the price).

“Cempedak goreng is just like a dessert or a snack, so for most people, it doesn’t matter to them whether they buy it or not — it’s not a must buy product such as rice or vegetables.

“So if I raise my price, I’m worried that people will just stop buying,” he said.

Soong who has been selling cempedak goreng at pasar malam around Klang Valley for 20 years now also shared that since the recent diesel price hike announcement, he has been driving his van without turning on its air-conditioning (AC) as a means to save up on fuel usage.

A full tank for his van which would cost him around RM500 to RM600 now, could last around two weeks maximum if he drives it without turning on the AC.

“I’m really feeling the pain now.

“Nowadays, every time my fuel meter dropped slightly, I would go to the petrol station and fill it up again, you know why? Because the price would appear cheaper (compared to filling up a full tank).

“So seeing a small figure at the petrol pump helps in distracting my mind from the reality a bit,” he said.

Despite his predicament, Soong remained resilient and would continue his day-to-day operations adding that “like it or not, this is something that we must now face”.

***

All the above thanks to Satanyahu and his moronic lapdog Clown.

Another 'Kerbau' from you-know-who???

Trump says Iran agrees to hand over enriched uranium as US nears peace deal



US President Donald Trump has insisted that any deal with Iran must permanently bar the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon. — AFP pic
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Friday, 17 Apr 2026 8:32 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, April 17 — US President Donald Trump said yesterday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were “close” to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East.

The United States had earlier threatened to resume airstrikes on the Islamic Republic and maintain a naval blockade of its ports if Tehran refused to accept a deal to solve the conflict that broke out on February 28.

At the same time, on another front in the conflict, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day truce starting on Thursday and said he expected the two countries’ leaders at the White House in “four or five days”.


Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi told AFP the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group—which has been fighting Israel since early March—would respect the ceasefire if Israeli attacks on the militants stopped.


The Lebanese and Israeli prime ministers welcomed the ceasefire, which came days after the US and Iran agreed a separate truce and as Pakistan pursued diplomatic efforts to arrange a new round of talks between foes Washington and Tehran.

Iranian state television on Thursday showed Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir meeting Iran’s speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation at the first round of talks last week, which ended without a deal.


The Iranian ambassador to the UN later said Tehran was “cautiously optimistic” about its negotiations on ending hostilities with the US and expressed hope for a “meaningful outcome”.

US Defense Secretary Hegseth had said Thursday: “If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy.”

Trump later told reporters that “there’s a very good chance we’re going to make a deal” with Tehran, adding that he would consider going to Pakistan to sign an agreement.

“They’ve agreed to give us back the nuclear dust,” he said, using his name for the enriched uranium stockpile that the United States says could be used to build nuclear weapons.


No nuclear weapons

Trump has insisted that any deal with Iran must permanently bar the Islamic republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

He launched the war claiming that Tehran was rushing to complete an atomic bomb, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog.

Washington has reportedly sought a 20-year suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme, while Tehran has proposed suspending nuclear activity for five years—an offer US officials rejected.

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.

Its foreign ministry said Wednesday that Iran’s right to enrich uranium was “indisputable”, although the level of enrichment was “negotiable”.

Also yesterday, the US House of Representatives rejected a Democratic effort to curb Trump’s authority to wage war in Iran.

The vote came as unease over the six-week conflict continued to spread on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers wary of rising costs, an unclear endgame and the risk of a wider war.


‘Historic crossroads’

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had told reporters on Wednesday that further talks between the US and Iran “would very likely” be in the Pakistani capital.

Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said no date had been set for the next round of talks.

US Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round, has said Iran is being offered a “grand bargain” to end the war and address the decades-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Israel’s defense minister Israel Katz said: “Iran is standing at a historic crossroads: one path is renouncing the ways of terror and nuclear armament... in line with the US proposal, the other leads to an abyss.

“If the Iranian regime chooses the second path, it will quickly discover there are even more painful targets than those we have already struck.”

Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s crude oil normally flows, has been disrupted by Iranian forces since the US-Israeli offensive began and is now the focus of the US blockade.

Washington has sought to turn the screws on Tehran with a blockade of its ports, with US Central Command claiming to have “completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea”.

Centcom said it had already turned back 13 vessels that tried to sail out of Iranian ports.

Keeping up the pressure, the United States slapped fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil industry on Wednesday, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said targeted “regime elites”.

Unless Washington relents, Iran’s armed forces “will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea,” said the head of the Iranian military’s central command center Ali Abdollahi.

The military advisor to Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei also warned that Iran would sink American ships in the strait if the United States decides to “police” the key shipping channel. — AFP

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Shailoks can only boast of "even more painful targets than those we have already struck" regarding Iran because of the finance, logistic, intel and munitions provided by the wanks. By itself it's just a nobody, but an insidious leech, a parasite feeding rapaciously on the idiotic wanks.