COMMENT | Home minister continues to gaslight Malaysians

COMMENT | Home minister continues to gaslight Malaysians

S Thayaparan

Published: Nov 2, 2026 9:32 AM


“It doesn’t matter whether the names mentioned are Azam, Farhash, or (businessperson) Victor Chin. “But let us obtain full disclosure through the special committee headed by the attorney-general (Dusuki Mokhtar).” 

– Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

COMMENT | Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is curious about a police probe against lawyers representing the family of Noorizwan Zulkefly, is certain no MACC officers were identified as witnesses to be called in the corporate mafia scandal, goes on a detour when asked questions about the murder of Teoh Beng Hock and claimed the seven footballers he granted citizenship to understood what he was saying in Bahasa Malaysia.

Rational Malaysians who understand anything about the nexus between the political class and the state security apparatus in this country will of course be sceptical of anything this home minister says or does.

While some folks may think that Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh is the worst of what Umno Youth has to offer, they forget that compared to old-timers like Saifuddin (above), the former is a petulant child undeserving of the infamy bestowed upon him.


Back when PKR was considered a force that could reform this country, Saifuddin, the former Umno Youth rabble-rouser, once famously apologised for the mob he led which disrupted the Apcet 11 forum in the 90s, where he admitted that he was under the orders of the then deputy home minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob.

Saifuddin said: "At 4pm, Oct 9, 1996, I was called by Megat Junid. I went to meet him, escorted by a few senior police officers." He added that the minister then told him, "By hook or by crook, you must stop the conference. Kalau tidak, saya anggap Pemuda Umno tiada telur (Otherwise, I would assume that Umno Youth has no balls)."

Why is this bit of trivia important? Because it demonstrates the kind of politics Malay power structures in this country practise. The kind of intentional thug politics that is often disguised as spontaneous expressions of dissatisfaction and which reflects a conspiratorial attitude, the mindset of the political elite in this country.

Furthermore, here was an Umno Youth leader escorted by “a few senior police officers” to meet the deputy home minister. Hence, senior police officers were escorting a political operative to incite havoc in a public forum with the blessings of a sitting deputy minister.


Add this to the scandals of supposed cartels operating within the police force and the influence peddling of politicians in the selection of the force's upper echelons, are rational Malaysians to believe that the home minister is either surprised, confused or ignorant of what is happening in the state security apparatus?

No accountability

This is a coalition that has made allegations against the government when they were not in power over supposed malfeasances by the state. An example of this would be the allegations that, back in the day, Anwar Ibrahim was poisoned with arsenic in the late 1990s while in detention and the subsequent acquittal of 27 protesters, including prominent Pakatan Rakyat MPs who made such claims.


Even then, the police force demonstrated a lack of interest that the political class would hold them accountable.

From reportage:

The decision today comes after almost 11 years of trial at the prosecution stage. It was thrown out after seven key witnesses failed to appear since last November. In freeing the accused, (Magistrate) Hafizza (Sauni) noted that seven witnesses have yet to testify.

“Ample time had been given to the prosecution to call their witnesses, including the respective police officers since November. Most of them are here in Kuala Lumpur including the then OCPD. Hence, there should have been no problem for them to testify.

“However, there was also no explanation why the subpoenas could not be served or why they failed to come,” she said, describing it as regrettable.

If the political class in power then had such a strong influence over the state security apparatus, what do you think the situation is like now? Notice how, when appearing confused about why the police were investigating the lawyers in the Noorizan case, the home minister said:

"While the lawyers were carrying out their duty with dedication, how did they carry themselves with the authorities who were carrying out the investigation? How did they communicate? Were there any situations that could have led to ethical violations? I am not privy to that information.”

Two points need to be made here. The first is that the home minister is attempting to muddy the waters by casting aspersions on the conduct of the lawyers, much as the way the police always attempt to tarnish the reputation of those who have died in their custody.

The second point is, does anyone really believe that the home minister is not privy to why these lawyers are being investigated, taking into the reality of the nexus between political power and the state security apparatus?

Consider the results of the probe into former MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, which apparently is under wraps. Apparently, the state can keep an issue like this under wraps, but the home minister cannot involve his ministry in the way the police operate even though it is within the scope of his ministry. Does this make sense to anyone?

Azam Baki

At least “our boy Hamzah” (Hamzah Zainudin), who was home minister at one time, believed that this was perfectly acceptable when the audio clip scandal of the appointments of high-ranking police staff was revealed:

“The only offence (with the audio clip) was the person who taped my conversation with someone. That is wrong. What I did was not wrong,”

Perhaps the most egregious when it comes to the nexus between criminality, the state security apparatus and the political class was when Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was home minister at one point, said that police officers arrested in the Wang Kelian were released because there was no evidence against them:

"The 12 police officers suspected of being involved in smuggling migrant workers were arrested under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) and the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca).

"However, they have been released because there was insufficient evidence to convict them of the offence," Zahid said.

The "hear no wrongdoing, see no wrongdoing but do some wrongdoing" stance of the Home Ministry is something that Saifuddin is just replicating, not creating.

What the home minister and Madani have done is weaponise the issue of political interference against the reform forces in this country while engaging in such behaviour to sustain the swamp.

S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

Trump achieved Regime Change ... in Texas, Kansas, Michigan etc

 

Nury Vittachi

 

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Good news for Trump today

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The collapse of MAGA: Cost of living and war weariness defeat Trump — Phar Kim Beng

The collapse of MAGA: Cost of living and war weariness defeat Trump — Phar Kim Beng



Summary

• In the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, the Trump administration faced a significant setback, revealing the limitations of the Make America Great Again movement amidst rising cost of living and ongoing conflict with Iran.
• The Democrats gained ground, reflecting voter dissatisfaction with economic hardship and war-related challenges, exposing the constraints on political loyalty and leadership based on identity and confrontation.
• This election underscores the necessity for leaders to align nationalist ambitions with everyday economic realities, while the Democratic victory does not equate to automatic public confidence in their policies, emphasizing affordability and security as critical voter concerns.
• Additionally, for Malaysia and ASEAN, the election results imply the need for robust diplomatic and economic engagement with the U.S. amidst uncertain American foreign policy dynamics.

First Published: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 3:57 PM MYT


NOV 4 — The sweeping setback suffered by President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections offers a sobering lesson in American democracy.

No amount of political theatrics, nationalist rhetoric or presidential bravado can indefinitely overcome two fundamental concerns of ordinary Americans: the cost of living and the exhaustion brought about by prolonged warfare.

The Democrats’ reported electoral gains represent a major setback for Trump’s Republican Party, demonstrating the breadth of the political backlash.

But this election should not be understood merely as a Democratic victory.


It represents a serious challenge to the political assumptions that have sustained MAGA since Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016.

For years, Trump successfully presented himself as the champion of forgotten Americans, especially working-class families struggling with economic insecurity, declining purchasing power and distrust of Washington.


Yet the 2026 midterms reveal the limitations of political loyalty when economic hardship becomes increasingly difficult to endure.

The first and most important factor is affordability.


Election-day polling indicates that the cost of living was among the most important considerations for American voters.

Many blamed Trump for persistently high prices and expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s direction.


These sentiments are politically significant.

Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 promising to restore American prosperity and address inflation.

Yet many American households continued to struggle with the prices of groceries, housing, electricity, transport and healthcare.

The distinction between macroeconomic performance and household economic security has become increasingly apparent.

A government may point to investment, industrial expansion or stock market performance.

But ordinary voters judge economic success through their monthly expenses.

When salaries cannot comfortably cover basic necessities, presidential claims of economic achievement become less persuasive.

The second factor is the war with Iran.

Trump’s political appeal had long rested partly on his criticism of America’s costly military interventions abroad.

He portrayed himself as a leader who would prevent endless wars and compel other countries to assume greater responsibility for their security.

Yet the American military campaign against Iran, beginning in February 2026, created a contradiction between that political image and the realities of his second administration.

The war’s disruption of energy supplies, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, exposed American households to higher fuel costs and broader economic uncertainty.

This was not merely a foreign policy issue.

It became a domestic economic burden.

The connection matters because energy prices affect transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, food distribution and household expenditure.

The war therefore brought together two sources of public dissatisfaction that might otherwise have remained separate.

Americans were not simply questioning why their country was fighting another Middle Eastern war.

Many were also questioning why the economic consequences of that war had reached their own homes.

Public opposition to the military campaign reinforced the impression that Trump’s administration had become entangled in precisely the kind of costly foreign intervention that MAGA once promised to avoid.

The third factor is the growing distance between MAGA’s ideological commitments and the practical priorities of American voters.

MAGA has always been more than an electoral slogan.

It is a political movement built around national identity, immigration, economic nationalism, resentment of established institutions and loyalty to Trump.

These themes remain influential among substantial sections of the Republican electorate.

Indeed, the midterm defeat does not establish that MAGA has disappeared or that its supporters have abandoned Trump.

But it does demonstrate that an intensely committed political base cannot necessarily compensate for dissatisfaction among independent voters, moderates and less ideologically motivated Republicans.

The fourth factor concerns Trump’s reliance on confrontation as an instrument of political leadership.

His administration has embraced tariffs, aggressive immigration enforcement and repeated disputes with domestic and international institutions.

Supporters defend these policies as necessary measures to restore American sovereignty, protect domestic industry and strengthen national security.

Critics argue that tariffs have contributed to higher consumer costs and that confrontation has generated unnecessary economic uncertainty.

The midterm results indicate that such competing arguments are no longer being assessed solely through ideological loyalty.

They are increasingly being judged through their material consequences.

The fifth factor is the demand for institutional checks and balances.

Many voters have expressed a desire for Congress to exercise greater restraint over presidential power.

This suggests that the election was also about the concentration of authority in Washington.

A stronger Democratic presence in Congress would subject Trump’s remaining two years in office to greater legislative scrutiny, possible investigations and potentially prolonged confrontations over federal spending and executive authority.

Trump retains his presidential veto and considerable executive powers.

Consequently, the electoral setback does not automatically end his political influence or policy agenda.

It does, however, substantially alter the institutional environment in which he must govern.

The sixth factor is the larger historical lesson.

American presidents frequently discover that foreign policy ambitions cannot be separated from domestic economic conditions.

Lyndon Johnson’s presidency was undermined by the Vietnam War.

George W. Bush faced mounting public dissatisfaction over Iraq and the financial crisis.

Joe Biden confronted persistent voter frustration over inflation despite his administration’s emphasis on employment and economic recovery.

Trump now confronts his own version of this enduring contradiction.

The language of national greatness becomes politically vulnerable when citizens believe their personal circumstances are deteriorating.

For Malaysia and Asean, the implications deserve serious attention.

A weakened Trump administration may face stronger domestic constraints, but this does not necessarily mean that American foreign policy will become more predictable.

Congressional confrontation could complicate trade negotiations, security commitments, tariffs and diplomatic initiatives.

The Iran war also demonstrates how conflicts thousands of kilometres away can undermine economic security across Southeast Asia.

Malaysia and Asean must therefore broaden and deepen their diplomatic and economic relationships while continuing to engage Washington constructively.

The region should avoid assuming that Democratic gains in Congress necessarily guarantee a softer American approach towards China, international trade or regional security.



A weakened Trump administration may face stronger domestic constraints, but this does not necessarily mean that American foreign policy will become more predictable. — AFP pic



American strategic competition with China enjoys support across party lines, even where Democrats and Republicans disagree over methods.

Ultimately, the 2026 midterms reveal something more enduring than the electoral difficulties of one president.

They demonstrate that political movements cannot indefinitely substitute identity, ideology and confrontation for tangible economic improvements.

MAGA’s future will depend partly on whether its leaders can reconcile their nationalist ambitions with the everyday expectations of American households.

The Democrats, too, must recognise that electoral dissatisfaction with Trump does not automatically constitute lasting confidence in their own economic programme.

They will eventually be judged by the same standards of affordability, security and effective governance.

For Trump, the message from the midterms is especially consequential.

His promise to make America great again was ultimately tested against the cost of making ends meet and the burden of another war.

The voters’ verdict suggests that political greatness cannot be sustained through slogans alone.

It must be experienced in the lives of ordinary citizens.

And when the price of living rises alongside the price of war, even the most powerful political movements can find their electoral foundations shaken.

* Phar Kim Beng, PhD is the Professor of Asean Studies at International Islamic University of Malaysia and Director of Institute of International and Asean Studies (IINTAS).

‘No need to go to such extremes’: Azalina tells Hadi to drop ‘Dajjal’ label in CSA criticism

‘No need to go to such extremes’: Azalina tells Hadi to drop ‘Dajjal’ label in CSA criticism



Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said there are many other words one can use to express disagreement. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said criticized PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for using the term "Dajjal" to describe the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) between Bersatu MPs and the government, suggesting that milder language could have been used.
• Hadi likened the agreement to a Dajjal, a deceiver in Islamic belief, for its potential coercive power, prompting concerns about national unity from Langkawi MP Suhaimi Abdullah.
• The CSA, signed by Bersatu MPs and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's government, grants access to development funds and commits to reforms limiting the prime minister's tenure and separating legal roles.

First Published: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 3:03 PM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang could have found better words than “Dajjal” to voice his opposition to the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) between Bersatu MPs and the government.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said this when asked about Hadi’s statement yesterday, in which he likened the CSA to the Dajjal, The Star reported.


“There are many other words one can use to express disagreement. There is no need to go to such extremes,” she was quoted as saying after officiating a forum on Asian insolvency reform here today.

“From what I understand of the definition of the Dajjal, it is a figure who will appear towards the end of times, before the Day of Judgment.

“Does he know when the Day of Judgment will come? God knows best. I certainly do not know,” she was quoted as saying.

In Islamic belief, the Dajjal is a great deceiver whose appearance is regarded as one of the major signs that the Day of Judgment is near.


Separately, Langkawi MP Suhaimi Abdullah told the Dewan Rakyat today that the comparison was grave and harmful to national unity. Suhaimi is one of six Bersatu MPs who signed the CSA.

“How can we (as a nation) foster unity if opposition MPs are labelled ‘Dajjal’? This is unfortunate,” he said while debating Budget 2027, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported.

Suhaimi added that his children had asked him about the Dajjal.

“I said I wasn’t sure and that I was looking into it,” he reportedly said.

In his statement yesterday, Hadi said Prophet Muhammad had warned that several lesser Dajjals would appear around the world before the great Dajjal emerged, FMT reported.

“A CSA is Dajjal-like as power is no longer regarded as a trust that must be upheld for the benefit of all, but instead becomes a means of coercing others to ensure the government remains in power,” the Marang MP was quoted as saying.

Bersatu MPs led by party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin signed the CSA with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government on October 29. Independent Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman also signed it.

Under the agreement, the signatories gain access to the constituency development funds that government MPs have received for the past four years, FMT reported.

In return for their support, the government commits to two reforms before the end of the parliamentary term: limiting the prime minister’s tenure and separating the roles of the attorney-general and public prosecutor.

Fadhlina Sidek: Nearly 1,800 teachers denied permanent posts after failing key exam

Fadhlina Sidek: Nearly 1,800 teachers denied permanent posts after failing key exam



Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said failure in the comprehension assessment under the Mind Transformation Programme (Program Transformasi Minda or PTM) was the primary factor preventing these teachers from securing permanent service confirmation. — Bernama pic


Summary

• In a recent parliamentary disclosure, the Ministry of Education reported that 1,799 probationary education service officers failed the Mind Transformation Programme (PTM) comprehension assessment, hindering their confirmation as permanent teachers.
• As of September 30, 2026, out of 7,723 officers undergoing the confirmation process, 1,832 had not met the required criteria.
• The Ministry, in collaboration with the Education Service Commission and other stakeholders, is committed to addressing these issues while prioritizing teacher welfare and national educational needs.

First Published: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 3:31 PM MYT
Last Modified: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 3:49 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4— A total of 1,799 education service officers (PPP) currently undergoing their probationary period have failed the prescribed examination for teachers, the Ministry of Education revealed in a written reply issued yesterday.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said failure in the comprehension assessment under the Mind Transformation Programme, known in Malay as Program Transformasi Minda (PTM) was the primary factor preventing these teachers from securing permanent service confirmation.

“As of September 30, 2026, a total of 7,723 education officers were in the process of obtaining confirmation in service, but 1,832 PPPs have yet to meet one or more established confirmation criteria,” the reply said.

The 1,799 candidates who failed the PTM assessment accounted for the overwhelming majority of those whose confirmation was delayed.


Three officers had their probationary period extended with a penalty, 29 had their probationary period extended without penalty, and one officer had their probationary status frozen.

Fadhlina said the ministry would continue to work closely with the Education Service Commission and key stakeholders to expedite unresolved confirmation cases, pledging that teacher welfare and national educational needs would remain a priority.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed claims victory in Michigan Senate battle

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed claims victory in Michigan Senate battle


Abdul El-Sayed won despite a last-minute setback when congresswoman Haley Stevens, whom he defeated in the Democratic primary, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers

Abdul El-Sayed embraces his wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku, onstage after declaring victory at a midterm election night party in Detroit, Michigan. (AFP pic)

DETROIT: Democrat Abdul El-Sayed said early Wednesday that he had won a US Senate seat in Michigan over former Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers, which would make him the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress.

“Michigan, we did it!” El-Sayed said in a speech at his election headquarters in Detroit.

“I am so proud and honored to stand here as your senator-elect from the great state of Michigan.”


El-Sayed won despite a last-minute hiccup in his campaign when congresswoman Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed, came out in support of Rogers at the 11th hour.

The Michigan doctor rallied voters on leftist campaign promises, including universal health care, to hold a key US Senate seat for Democrats, taking over from the retiring Gary Peters.

Republicans ran a scorched-earth campaign to paint Democrats as communists and branded El-Sayed a terrorist who would endanger Americans.

But the straight-talking 42-year-old El-Sayed pledged to help cash-strapped voters navigate America’s thorny health care system.

“You deserve to be able to see a doctor without getting a huge bill,” he told Michiganders on the eve of the vote, vowing to upend America’s divisive multi-billion-dollar for-profit medical system.

During the race, El-Sayed drew huge campaign crowds across the state, even in deeply conservative Republican areas.

El-Sayed also vowed to get “money out of politics” and address the harsh economic woes that have voters yearning for a political newcomer to shake up the status quo.

The election makes El-Sayed the first Democratic doctor in the Senate since 1969.

 

Hadi did not call MPs ‘Dajjal’, says PAS MP

Hadi did not call MPs ‘Dajjal’, says PAS MP

3 hours ago

Predeep Nambiar

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday described the agreement signed between 13 MPs and the government MPs as ‘Dajjal-like’.

Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari today said Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan had misinterpreted PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s criticism of the confidence and supply agreement signed between opposition MPs and the government.

KUALA LUMPUR:

A PAS MP has defended party president Abdul Hadi Awang after he likened the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) signed between the government and seven opposition MPs to Dajjal’s deception, saying his remarks had been misunderstood.

Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) said Hadi was criticising the conditions attached to constituency allocations, not describing MPs who signed the agreement as Dajjal.

In Islamic belief, the Dajjal is a great deceiver whose appearance is regarded as a major sign of the approaching Day of Judgment.

Fadhli said Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) had misinterpreted Hadi’s remarks during an earlier debate in the Dewan Rakyat.

“That was not what was said. That was not the real meaning,” he said.

“What he meant was the approach taken under the CSA … MPs have to support (the government) before getting allocations.”

Fadhli said constituency allocations involved public funds and should not be tied to political support, describing such conditions as unacceptable.

He also praised the economy ministry for approving seven development projects in Kelantan, including in his constituency, saying this was how allocations should be distributed fairly.

Yesterday, Hadi described the CSA as a “Dajjal-like” approach, accusing the government of using public funds to secure political support and remain in power.

The agreement was signed on Oct 29 by 13 MPs, comprising six from Bersatu led by its president Muhyiddin Yassin, six former Bersatu MPs, and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Under the deal, the MPs agreed to support the 2027 budget and proposed reforms in return for constituency development allocations on par with those given to government MPs.

Hadi’s remarks drew criticism, including from law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, who said today that he could have expressed his disagreement without resorting to such extreme language.

Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi), who was among the six MPs from Bersatu who signed the CSA, described the comparison as “grave” and detrimental to national unity.

PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim also questioned Hadi’s position, pointing out that PAS was part of the government when a similar agreement was signed with Pakatan Harapan in September 2021.

The agreement, signed under then prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was intended to ensure political stability and secure support for the government’s budget.

 

Muslim who took part in non-Islamic ritual ordered to undergo rehab

Muslim who took part in non-Islamic ritual ordered to undergo rehab

3 hours ago

FMT Reporters

Aliff Daniel Adli pleads guilty to a charge of deviant worship before shariah judge Faizal Habib.

The Gombak Barat shariah lower court ordered Aliff Daniel Adli to undergo a three-month rehabilitation programme at Pusat Pemurnian Akidah Baitul Iman in Ulu Yam, starting today. (Reuters pic)

PETALING JAYA:

A Muslim man, who courted controversy for taking part in a non-Islamic ritual, has been ordered by the Gombak Barat shariah lower court to undergo rehabilitation to strengthen his Islamic faith.

Aliff Daniel Adli, 21, pleaded guilty to a charge of deviant worship before shariah judge Faizal Habib, Harian Metro reported.

The judge ordered Aliff to undergo a three-month rehabilitation programme at Pusat Pemurnian Akidah Baitul Iman in Ulu Yam, starting today.

Aliff was accused of committing deviant worship by holding up religious artefacts associated with another faith, performing rituals involving body piercing, and kneeling with both hands clasped against his chest in front of a statue at a temple in Batu Caves. He committed the offence on Jan 24, 2024, between 9pm and 11pm.

The charge was framed under Section 4(1) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995, which provides for a fine of up to RM3,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, upon conviction.

In delivering his judgment, Faizal said the offence committed by the accused was not merely a breach of written law but a serious offence involving the sin of syirik (polytheism, idolatry or associating partners with Allah).

“The offence you committed is not merely one of the common criminal offences. More than that, it concerns your faith and tauhid (belief in the oneness of Allah) as a Muslim.

“At the age of 18, when you committed the offence, you may have been trying to explore different things as a young person, but you must realise that there are limits.

“Although you have stated that you have repented, it must be recorded here that the court advises you to repent sincerely and undertake taubat nasuha (sincere repentance),” he said.

The court also agreed with the prosecution’s proposal to replace the jail term and fine with an order for rehabilitation under Section 54(1) of the enactment.

The court also took into account the accused’s young age and his responsibility to care for his mother.

The prosecution was conducted by prosecutors Siti Nor Hashibah Jamhari, Zamniazura Sarin and Husaini Roslin, while the accused was unrepresented.

The court fixed Feb 25 next year for mention, when the prosecution is expected to update the court on the rehabilitation progress report.