Kids caught dumping waste in river swiftly turns into race issue with vernacular education blamed

Kids caught dumping waste in river swiftly turns into race issue with vernacular education blamed

“KERANA nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga” is an old Malay adage that translates to mean a single bad person or a small mistake can ruin the reputation or well-being of an entire group.


This seems to be the case with a dashcam clip catching a cluster of kids alighting from a car to hastily dump their rubbish into a river used as a stick to beat an entire community.


Instead of focusing on the uncivilised behaviour itself, a post on X by Fendi #RobohKuilHaram (@BendiTheBagak) decided to highlight the ethnicity of perpetrators instead.

The obviously rightist poster sarcastically claimed that he first thought the incident happened in India till he noticed the BN (Barisan Nasional) and PH (Pakatan Harapan) flags in the background. In essence, he thought that such behaviour was extremely irresponsible and uncivilised.

Fendi #RobohKuilHaram

@BendiTheBagak

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3 ANAK INDIA BUANG SAMPAH KE DALAM SUNGAI Aku ingat ni kat India, rupanya kat Johor sebab ada bendera BN ngan PH. Ni SJKT ajar jadi macam ni ke anney? Puak ni mmg tak bertamadun. Dia ingat ni dkt tanah besar dia. #PariahWatch

v.m

@vijaymunisamy

Replying to @BendiTheBagak

Ini mesti geng tahfiz yang tak pernah masuk sekolah kerajaan.

8:49 AM · Jul 4, 2026

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Uncle sipping Tiger in Melaka shopping mall sparks debate on acceptable behaviour in public

Uncle sipping Tiger in Melaka shopping mall sparks debate on acceptable behaviour in public


THE phrase “much ado about nothing” is used when someone is over-reacting and makes a big deal of fuss over something unimportant.


This certainly seems to be the case regarding an elderly gentlemen’s decision to enjoy a leisurely stroll through an unidentified shopping mall in Melaka while sipping a can of beer.


This uncle’s insouciance had been interpreted as a slap on the face to Muslim sensitivities as highlighted on several social media domains.

First up is Malay-language current affairs site Oh My Media Facebook page which signalled its displeasure by asking since when did public consumption of alcohol was permitted.


It was claimed that the uncle had been sounded out over his choice of beverage but chose to ignore it and continued his journey in a hurry.

“Didn’t the security personnel notice this?” the poster huffed while demanding that the mall management take appropriate action.

The post has generated plenty of feedback with 3.8K likes, 3.9K comments and 379 shares at time of writing, denoting that this seemingly harmless act of supping a can of amber nectar has raised the hackles of some overly-sensitive citizens.

Rightists cry foul

On the one hand, there were those who felt that the uncle had over-stepped boundaries by openly consuming alcohol in public. Be respectful to Muslim sensitivities was the message here.

There were those who sought to inflame the situation by using this as yet another example of the “kafir harbi” (belligerent infidel) being disrespectful towards the majority yet no action is taken against them.

It was also quite reasonably argued that just like smoking, alcohol consumption inside a mall should not be allowed.

Regardless of the amount consumed, it is the principle that matters as a mall is a public space frequented by people of differing ages and backgrounds.

However, such sentiments were on the receiving end of a backlash from netizens who were non-plussed by this holier-than-thou attitude. One commenter highlighted that one singular can of beer wasn’t going to get anyone intoxicated.

More than a few highlighted that the uncle was minding his own business and not causing any disturbances to anyone, not least to any Muslims. Was he inviting Muslims for a drink?
Business & Industrial

The split in opinion was exemplified by a couple of comments. One concerned citizen was dismayed that the rights of non-Muslims was being curtailed.

However, this view was countered by a commenter who pointed out the such imbibing of alcohol in public was NOT allowed even in the US which is NOT a Muslim country.

This polar opposites in perspectives were also evident in Melaka Explorer’s Facebook portal where this episode was highlighted.

On the one hand, it was pointed out that the beer lover was walking – not driving – hence, he should be allowed the pleasure of enjoying his booze peacefully.

On the other, it was argued that such behaviour was unacceptable in Malaysia (as opposed to mainland China) where majority of the populace was Muslim.

That divide in opinion was further underlined by a slew of comments that reflected the growing schism in society.

One commenter argued that alcohol consumption was to be limited to licensed premises and not public spaces. However, this view was seen by another netizen as non-Muslim rights being curtailed even though the uncle in question was not bothering anybody.

One can of beer but opposing perspectives. On the one hand, it is entirely reasonable that members of the public demand that, like smoking, consumption of the alcohol be confined to appropriate places.

On the other, it is very disconcerting that a middle-aged uncle quietly enjoying his singular can of beer in a mall is used as an example of non-Muslim arrogance and insensitivity towards their Muslim compatriots. – July 9, 2026

Amnesty calls for war crimes probe into Israeli strikes in Lebanon that allegedly killed entire families

Amnesty calls for war crimes probe into Israeli strikes in Lebanon that allegedly killed entire families


The human rights organisation says the attacks may constitute war crimes after dozens of civilians were killed during the conflict with Hezbollah

Updated 4 hours ago · Published on 09 Jul 2026 11:51AM

Amnesty International calls for an independent investigation into Israeli air strikes in Lebanon (Photo from Amnesty International) - July 9, 2026

AMNESTY International has urged authorities to investigate Israeli strikes in Lebanon that allegedly resulted in the deaths of entire families, describing the attacks as potential war crimes.


The London-based human rights organisation alleged that Israel carried out attacks on civilian homes during its conflict with the armed group Hezbollah, causing the deaths of dozens of civilians.

The latest escalation began on 2 March when Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in support of its ally, Iran.

Israel responded with large-scale air strikes and ground operations inside Lebanon, which Lebanese authorities said resulted in more than 4,300 deaths, including over 250 children.

Amnesty said it examined three air strikes on civilian homes between 6 and 13 March that killed 24 civilians, including 12 children.

AFP reported today that the organisation alleged that the attacks wiped out entire families and called for the incidents to be investigated as possible war crimes.

According to Amnesty, the group contacted Israeli authorities, who said some of the strikes targeted Hezbollah military objectives, while other incidents remained under review.

Israeli authorities also stated that they were committed to reducing risks to civilians during military operations.

However, Amnesty said the Israeli military had not provided detailed information regarding the three strikes under investigation, including the specific targets involved.

The report was based on interviews with 15 people, including survivors, relatives of victims, medical responders, journalists who visited the attack sites and local officials.

Amnesty said the evidence gathered provided reasonable grounds to conclude that Israeli forces may have violated international humanitarian law by failing to adequately distinguish between military targets and civilians, as well as failing to take sufficient precautions to minimise harm to non-combatants.

Amnesty's Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Kristine Beckerle, said the reported attacks demonstrated disregard for civilian lives.

"In just one week, Israeli forces destroyed entire families including 12 children, reflecting a callous disregard for civilian lives," she said.

"All states must impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and use universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute those responsible," she added.

The allegations come after Lebanon and Israel signed a US-backed framework agreement last month aimed at creating a pathway towards a permanent end to hostilities.

The agreement followed a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States to end a wider conflict in the Middle East, including a ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon.

However, Israel has continued carrying out periodic strikes in southern Lebanon, with some attacks resulting in fatalities. - July 9, 2026

PAS and the art of borrowed strength

PAS and the art of borrowed strength


Yesterday
A. Kathirasen


The history of PAS is really the story of how it has cleverly leveraged partnerships to grow beyond Kelantan: its seat tally climbed to 13 with Umno in 1974, 27 with DAP in 1999, and a record 43 with Bersatu in 2022. Now it has its sights on Johor

PAS is showing, yet again, how practical and goal-driven it is and how, with each election, it is becoming more than a regional player, nearing its desire to control Putrajaya itself.

Two leaders from PAS’s Batu Pahat division turned up at a Barisan Nasional (BN) event on June 30 in a show of support that left Johor BN chairman Onn Hafiz Ghazi “surprised and touched”, according to an FMT report.


Onn Hafiz embraced the two Batu Pahat PAS committee members, Misran Samian and Hazrin Abdul Hamid, as they were welcomed to the stage.

This obviously follows a directive from PAS headquarters to vote for Umno and BN candidates in the 23 seats where Perikatan Nasional (PN) is not contesting in the Johor state election on July 11.


PAS has not fielded any candidates in Batu Pahat. In fact, it has only fielded 11 candidates for the 56-seat state assembly.

Why is it backing Umno? It expects Umno to again form the next government. If Umno does not have a strong majority, being friendly now could result in Umno joining forces with PAS to form the new state government.

Or, perhaps, the new government may be persuaded, out of gratitude, to nominate someone from PAS to be one of the five unelected assemblymen if it does not win any seat. The Johor state assembly recently passed a state constitutional amendment bill allowing for this and increasing the total number of state representatives to 61.

Let’s remember that PAS got a foothold in Sabah when its state chief Aliakbar Gulasan made it into the state assembly as one of six nominated assemblymen in 2020. Then, in the 2025 election, he stood and won the Karambunai seat.

As part of its strategy, PAS last month formally terminated its federal-level cooperation with Bersatu and shifted its support to Parti Wawasan Negara, the new party launched by former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.

Why? Wawasan has more MPs than Bersatu and, PAS probably thinks, Wawasan leader Hamzah Zainudin would be more malleable than Bersatu’s Muhyiddin Yassin, a former prime minister.

In a hedging approach, PAS said it would continue working with Bersatu assemblymen at the state level in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu to avoid destabilising those governments.

These moves reflect PAS’s long-standing strategy of using alliances to expand beyond its traditional base in Kelantan and Terengganu. It already has Kedah and Perlis (where it has more assemblymen than Bersatu although Bersatu holds the menteri besar post) and is now spreading its net wider, including in Johor.


For decades, PAS has shown that in Malaysia’s fragmented political landscape, power is rarely won alone. Its history is really a masterclass in tactical alliances — including with rivals and ideological opposites— but always with the same goal of growing its influence.

In 1969, PAS contested independently and won 12 parliamentary seats, a respectable but limited result. Five years later, in 1974, it joined Barisan Nasional and partnered with Umno, its fiercest competitor.

This arrangement lifted PAS to 13 seats and gave it its first taste of federal power. The partnership lasted only until 1977, when PAS was expelled from BN following a crisis in Kelantan. It won just five seats in 1978 and 1982 and one in 1986.

Although short-lived, the experience reinforced a key lesson: coalitions could deliver more than going solo ever had.

That lesson came roaring back in 1990 with Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah, a loose pact with Semangat 46. PAS picked up seven seats and briefly shared government in Kelantan.

The real breakthrough came in 1999. PAS joined Barisan Alternatif alongside the secular DAP and the reformist PKR. For an Islamist party committed to an Islamic state, it was a breathtaking gamble. Yet the Reformasi tide carried it to 27 seats and the prize of Terengganu.

Pure pragmatism, wrapped in ideological packaging.

The pattern repeated in 2008 under Pakatan Rakyat. Again, PAS cooperated with DAP and PKR, winning 23 seats and sharing power in Selangor and Penang.

Even in 2013, PAS held 21 seats, proof that coalition politics gave it reach far beyond its rural base. When disputes over hudud law finally broke PR apart in 2015, PAS reverted to smaller experiments like Gagasan Sejahtera, winning 18 seats in 2018. Its performance was enough to hold Kelantan and Terengganu, but far from national prominence.

Then came Perikatan Nasional. Partnering with Bersatu in 2020, PAS rode the wave of political realignment to its greatest triumph. In the 2022 general election, it won 43 seats, becoming the largest single party in Parliament.

For the first time, PAS was not just a regional player but a national heavyweight – and it happened because PAS had mastered the art of borrowed strength.

Now it has dropped Bersatu and is again looking for partners who can help it rise higher; it is betting on Wawasan and Umno to do just this.

PAS has entered and exited several major alliances since the 1970s, including Barisan Nasional, Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah, Barisan Alternatif, Pakatan Rakyat, Gagasan Sejahtera, Muafakat Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.

It has worked with rival Umno to consolidate Malay-Muslim unity, with “enemy” DAP to harness urban opposition energy and with Bersatu to ride the anti-establishment wave. Each time it has entered an alliance, PAS has gained seats; when internal disagreements arose, it exited.

This pattern of shifting alliances may appear inconsistent to some observers, with Bersatu describing the split as a betrayal.

PAS, however, seems to see alliances as temporary tools to achieve the goal of Islamic governance rather than as permanent commitments. When circumstances change, PAS withdraws while preserving flexibility for future cooperation – as it is now doing with Umno in Johor.

The party’s strategy is not without setbacks. Early alliances sometimes delivered only modest gains, and periods of isolation, such as in 2018, resulted in seat losses.

Yet the overall trajectory shows that PAS has grown from a regional player to a major national party through strategic partnerships. Alone, it has often been limited to its core bases; with the right allies, it has expanded significantly.

However, it would be unjustified to say PAS is only riding on others’ backs because although coalitions amplify PAS’s seat tally, these coalitions also rely heavily on PAS’ grassroots strength.

In the current environment, with a growing Malay-Muslim population and the rise of political Islam, PAS’s unpredictability in coalition politics is perhaps one of its defining strengths. It can deliver tangible gains but does not promise long-term loyalty.

It speaks the language of religion while playing the game of power with the same ruthlessness as any secular player.

Whether this fluid style of politics will finally carry PAS into Johor — and beyond — remains to be seen.

But one thing is clear. In Malaysia’s shifting terrain, the party that has mastered the art of temporary alliances may well be the one that outlasts them all as it weaves in and out of coalition politics in chasing its dream of making Malaysia an Islamic state.

Don’t be arrogant, PAS leader tells Umno

Don’t be arrogant, PAS leader tells Umno


Johor PAS chief Mahfodz Mohamed says his party was merely seeking political stability by pledging to help BN form the next state government

Johor PAS chief Mahfodz Mohamed said the Islamic party was not looking to reap any rewards by backing BN after the polls. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: PAS’s Mahfodz Mohamed has ticked off Umno leaders over their perceived arrogance, following the Islamic party’s pledge to back Barisan Nasional if the coalition fails to secure a simple majority at the Johor state election on Saturday.

The Johor PAS chief said his party and Perikatan Nasional would adopt a measured approach in the event BN did not have the numbers to form the next state government, to ensure political stability and the wellbeing of the people.

He added that PAS was not looking to reap any rewards by backing BN after the polls.


“Hence, Johor Umno leaders should not respond in such an arrogant way to our sincere offer,” Mahfodz said in a statement.

While Mahfodz did not direct his statement to anyone in particular, it is believed to be in response to Johor Barisan Nasional chairman Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s assurance that PAS would not be part of the state government if the coalition is returned to power.


Onn Hafiz’s remarks follow PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s pledge that his party was ready to support BN to enable the formation of a government with a simple majority.

Hadi also said BN could retain the menteri besar post and that PAS would not demand any position in the state government.

Mahfodz went on to say that PAS’s offer to back BN should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness.

“Our stance is clear. Johor’s stability is our priority and it goes beyond ego and narrow party interests.”

Don’t gamble with Johor’s future, Onn Hafiz tells Chinese voters

Don’t gamble with Johor’s future, Onn Hafiz tells Chinese voters


The caretaker menteri besar urges the community not to be swayed by narratives pushed by PH leaders who don't hail from the state

Johor’s caretaker menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi (in light blue) said Chinese voters should base their vote on the state’s long-term development and future prospects. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Johor’s caretaker menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has appealed to Chinese voters to give Barisan Nasional another term governing Johor, urging them not to gamble with the future of the state.

Onn Hafiz urged Chinese voters to exercise wisdom as they cast their ballots and not be swayed by the narratives espoused by Pakatan Harapan leaders who do not hail from Johor, Oriental Daily reported.

He said the outcome of the July 11 polls will determine Johor’s development over the next five years, and that voters should therefore base their decision on the state’s long-term development and future prospects.


“The BN government and the people of Johor have achieved a great deal together. Johor now has the country’s strongest economy (among all states), with an 8% growth in GDP and RM110 billion in approved investments.

“These are both unprecedented achievements in the state’s history,” the Johor BN chairman said.


Onn Hafiz accused politicians from outside of Johor of pushing racial and divisive sentiments. He said such rhetoric would only hamper Johor’s economy and development.

Suspect in Banting school stabbing says she was bullied, including by victim

Suspect in Banting school stabbing says she was bullied, including by victim


Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar says the 15-year-old girl attributed the attack to pent-up feelings of dissatisfaction towards several schoolmates

Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar said investigations found that the suspect had not gone to school for eight months, but had been learning from home due to health problems.

PETALING JAYA: The 15-year-old suspect detained over the stabbing of a schoolmate at a secondary school in Banting on Monday has claimed to be a victim of bullying by her classmates, including the stab victim.

Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar said the girl, when questioned by investigators, attributed the attack to pent-up feelings of dissatisfaction towards several schoolmates.

However, he said statements recorded from the individuals named in the suspect’s notes so far did not indicate that bullying had taken place.


“That said, I request that investigators be given room to investigate this matter fully,” Utusan Malaysia reported him as saying at a press conference in Shah Alam today.

Shazeli said investigations found that the suspect had not gone to school for eight months, and had been learning from home due to health problems.


He also said the victim, who reportedly suffered a lung injury and 16 stab wounds, was in stable condition and continued to receive hospital treatment.

The suspect remains under remand until tomorrow to assist in investigations under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.