Do Muslim patrons at no pork, no alcohol Chinese eateries deserve shaming by their brethren?

Do Muslim patrons at no pork, no alcohol Chinese eateries deserve shaming by their brethren?


ONE wonders if the onus is on the proprietor of a “no lard, no pork, no alcohol” eatery (he never claims to be so) to turn away Muslim patrons just because the joint does not possess a JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) halal certification.
Malaysia Security Report




Such clarity is warranted in light of the recent exposé of Muslims dining in Hainanese-styled Sin Bee Chew Restoran in Bagan Luar, mainland Penang by Halal inquiry Company direktori [sic], a Facebook-based watchdog group that probes and shares information regarding the halal status of food premises and products.



“Sin Bee Chew, another harmonious dining spot in Penang,” it jibed while showcasing a few images of Muslim diners savouring their food at the kopitiam ambience restaurant.



What is understood in the food & beverage (F&B) industry is that the onus is not on the proprietor to turn away Muslim patrons but they are strictly prohibited from using “no pork, no lard, no alcohol” or “Muslim-friendly” signs without JAKIM certification to mislead consumers of their halal stratus.



This is deemed fair enough given the Cabinet has rejected mandatory halal certification, keeping it voluntary.

Henceforth, in the case of Sin Bee Chew which never professes to be “no lard, no pork, no alcohol” nor “Muslim-friendly” eatery, the onus is shifted to Muslim diners who must first asked themselves if they are confident enough to dine in a joint with no absolute halal guarantee.


A common-sense assumption is that the patrons are either open minded enough or have full faith in Sin Bee Chew to be dishing out ‘halal’ food and beverages.

The halal watchdog site is surely aware of this (it has no case against Sin Bee Chew), hence its last resort to discourage Muslims from frequenting the eatery is by belittling or shaming ‘delinquent’ Muslims who continue to patronise the restaurant.

In so doing, its one-liner post with a tinge of sarcasm is sure to rally fellow Muslims to turn against their brethren who require regular Chinese food fixes.

“Attire alone doesn’t reflect a person’s faith but a religion faithful will take care of both his/her attire and actions,” insinuated a commenter with reference to tudung/purdah-clad diners at Sin Bee Chew.


Another deemed the action of the Muslim diners “openly eating at non-Muslim joints” as irresponsible given they sent the wrong message to non-Muslims that “halal is equivalent to only no pork” when the concept itself is far-reaching (encompasses the entire supply chain and food preparation, among others).


Well, perhaps Halal inquiry Company direktori [sic] deserves credit for taking its effort to a creative level with a two-minute song – “Sin Bee Chew, Addictive and delicious, Once you taste it, you will definitely come back” to dissuade Muslims from patronising the restaurant.



Whatever the case is, the sure thing is Sin Bee Chew has not committed any halal breaches that warrant the authorities to act against the joint.

As such, perhaps the halal watchdog should probe further as to why Muslims are both comfortable and convinced that Sin Bee Chew ‘s food and beverages have met a certain halal level albeit unofficial. – April 22, 2026

Saifuddin questions Muhyiddin’s opposition leader push amid global crisis

Saifuddin questions Muhyiddin’s opposition leader push amid global crisis


Indera Mahkota MP raps the Bersatu president for repeatedly calling for the opposition leader’s post to be filled following Hamzah Zainudin’s resignation

Saifuddin Abdullah claimed Muhyiddin Yassin seems more interested in pushing for another opposition leader than addressing the global crisis.

PETALING JAYA: Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah has questioned Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s priorities in focusing on a replacement for the opposition leader even as the bloc raises concerns over the impact of the Middle East crisis.

Saifuddin said Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin, during his time as opposition leader, had urged the government to convene a special Dewan Rakyat sitting to discuss the fallout from the global crisis.

He said such a session would allow the government and lawmakers to deliberate and find ways to address the prolonged Gulf conflict, including its impact on oil prices and inflation.


“It would also cover issues such as food security and safety concerns, for instance in the Straits of Malacca.

“Yet Muhyiddin seems more interested in pushing for the opposition leader to be replaced as soon as possible. What is the purpose?” Saifuddin asked in a video posted on X.

Muhyiddin, the Pagoh MP, has repeatedly called for Hamzah’s immediate replacement ahead of the next Dewan Rakyat sitting in June.

The former prime minister was reported as saying on April 15 that he was awaiting a decision on a candidate by PAS’ top leadership as soon as possible, in order to prevent prolonged speculation that could affect Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) image.

However, a day later, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said there was no need to rush Hamzah’s replacement, and that it was better to be slow and safe than sorry.

Hadi said there was still ample time before Parliament reconvenes in June, and that the process should take into account the views of all MPs in the opposition bloc.

On April 12, PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar confirmed Hamzah’s resignation as opposition leader, which came about two months after his sacking from Bersatu.

Jorjet Myla and the fear box

Jorjet Myla and the fear box

S Thayaparan

Published: Apr 20, 2026 7:00 AM
Updated: 1:58 PM


“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

- George Washington

COMMENT | Rational people have to understand that there is a reason why Madani is playing cat and mouse with the detention of the TikTok user known as “Jorjet Myla” using the Sedition Act.

Nobody with certainty knows what she said that hurt the feelings of the ruling regime.

While social media is filled with first, second, and third-hand knowledge of what and how she said it, and screenshots are being passed around, there is no official verification of her speech, which warranted a three-day remand and sanction from the state.

And this is what the state wants. People have to understand that laws like the Sedition Act are capricious by design.

American journalist and author Christopher Hitchens said it best - “The essence of tyranny is not iron law. It is capricious law.”

Who’s next?

The state wants to shroud this incident in secrecy because when people speculate, they do it out of fear, with the central preoccupation being who is next.

These laws are enacted to muzzle the public, but more importantly, are vital tools in the “fear box” to remind the public that whatever they say or do against the state is always under scrutiny, and nobody really knows what is verboten.

You can never tell what you say or do is seditious or illegal because these laws are there for the convenience of the ruling elite, rather than any kind of traditional normative values or reasoning of a functional democracy.

People have said far worse and got away with it. Indeed, even when the state cracked down on them, it was met with bravado and the knowledge that their speech was enabled and thus, their sanctioning inconsequential.

From reportage, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M Kumar said that social media has become a hotspot “to spread seditious posts or comments, as well as provocative debates regarding government policies and current issues.”

Which is a bizarre statement to make, considering that every day, people post all sorts of comments and provocations about the government, each other, and the state of the world.

Singled out

No, what we are dealing with is that the Madani state has chosen to take action against this particular social media user.

The fact is that the Madani state has not given the rakyat a reason why her comments were sanction-worthy, but more importantly, the state is fuelling an atmosphere where people are speculating about what exactly was wrong about this housewife’s speech, with many never having seen her TikTok videos.

Referencing Section 3(1)(a) of the Sedition Act, Kumar said, as reported in the press, “a ‘seditious tendency’ as a tendency to bring into hatred or contempt, or to excite disaffection against any ruler or government.”

Bukit Aman CID director M Kumar


Keep in mind how successive regimes have defined the tendency and harm to the community.

In 2014, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali’s threats to burn Bibles were not sanctioned by the state because, in the words of the attorney-general, “This is not a sentiment or intention to cause religious disharmony, but this is defending the sanctity of Islam that is clearly defined in laws.”

Indeed, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, when touching on the Bible-burning issue, said, as reported by The Edge - “As decided by the court, before a statement is said to have seditious tendencies, the statement must be viewed in the context it was made...

“When studied in its entire context, Ibrahim’s statement is not categorised as having seditious tendencies.

“It was clear Ibrahim had no intention to create religious tensions but was only defending the purity of Islam.”

So rational Malaysians have to ask, what exactly was seditious about the speech of this housewife? How exactly is criticising the prime minister by a housewife rising to the level of sedition?

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim


Just a few years ago, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, “Criticism against the prime minister or leaders is necessary, and leaders should not be alarmed or have fear (of media criticising them).

“I am saying this now because I am confident with what we are doing, and I am ready to fight with facts. And if indeed there are shortcomings on our side, then we are ready to apologise and make the necessary changes.”

So what happened to being ready to fight with facts and confidence about what Madani is doing?


Harapan’s lie

Going after minorities for causing disruptions within mainstream politics is normal, but what the state fears is when folks from the majority community cause disruptions.

Under Pakatan Harapan, a women’s march was investigated under sedition laws, then there was the independent preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin, and of course, who could forget the persecution of activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri.

The Harapan state was also considering laws that would make news portals responsible for readers’ comments, which would take stifling freedom of speech to a whole new level.

Syahredzan Johan, who is now a political operative in Madani, said in 2015: “We are saying that we have certain principles that we adhere to as a democracy. Freedom of speech and expression is part of our DNA, so we hold on to these values.

“If we don’t say something because we are afraid they will come after us, then we are saying that these values are not that important to us.

“Do we want to be the kind of society that allows the authorities to do as they please because we fear getting into trouble?”

Myla learned the hard way that this is not true.

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

'It's already 6pm for me', Rais says over his decision to quit politics

'It's already 6pm for me', Rais says over his decision to quit politics

N Faizal Ghazali
Published: Apr 22, 2026 4:01 PM
Updated: 6:01 PM



INTERVIEW | After resigning from all party posts in February this year, veteran politician Rais Yatim officially quit Bersatu effective April 15.

This was confirmed by the former Jelebu MP to Malaysiakini, who said he made the decision to focus more on NGO activities with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Rais said he has also declined an invitation to return to Umno.

"As I have quit as a Bersatu member, there were some friends who invited me to rejoin Umno.

"But I told them that I have the Umno spirit of 1946. So, to return to the party now, I don't think so," he said when met by Malaysiakini in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Rais, who is also a former minister, said it was time to make way for the younger generation.

"I’m working together with Mahathir, and we are now active in NGO work. As for political parties, the others can handle it. That’s my answer.

“After all, for us it’s already ‘6pm’. For all of you, it’s only 12 noon. Go ahead, there’s nothing to worry about,” Rais said.

More MPs back Hamzah

Touching on Bersatu, Rais said he expects Bersatu to face a difficult path ahead as a large number of its MPs have sided with former Bersatu deputy president, Hamzah Zainudin.

"I think Bersatu will struggle to survive compared to Hamzah’s camp, which is backed by the majority of MPs,” said the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.

Hamzah Zainudin


Last month, the former Dewan Negara president reportedly expressed his disappointment with Bersatu, saying the party no longer deserves to be called a "unity" party as it does not reflect reality.

“Everything in Bersatu has fallen apart, except its name,” he was quoted as saying.

ALSO READ: Ex-MB: N Sembilan chieftains sacking of ruler valid, but amicable solution needed

Bersatu recently saw a power struggle between its president Muhyiddin Yassin and Hamzah, which caused an internal crisis that ended with a series of expulsions of party leaders - including Hamzah.

***

Never did like him

Ceasefire extended, diplomacy deferred: Trump’s episodic pause with Iran remains dangerous — Phar Kim Beng

Ceasefire extended, diplomacy deferred: Trump’s episodic pause with Iran remains dangerous — Phar Kim Beng


Wednesday, 22 Apr 2026 9:37 AM MYT


APRIL 22 — The extension of the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is less a sign of peace than it is a strategic pause — one engineered episodically by President Donald Trump to recalibrate leverage rather than relinquish it.


While the rhetoric from Washington continues to oscillate between coercion and conciliation, the underlying logic remains unmistakably realist: compel Tehran into submission without conceding strategic advantage.


Trump’s declaration that the blockade of Iranian ports will persist until Tehran produces a “unified proposal” is revealing. It underscores a negotiation style that thrives on threats and fluid time lines.

By maintaining economic strangulation while dangling the prospect of talks, the United States is attempting to dictate not only the terms of negotiation, but also the internal coherence of Iran’s political position.


In effect, Washington is asking Tehran to resolve its factional divisions before even approaching the table.


This is no small demand. Iran’s political system is not monolithic.

It is a complex interplay between elected officials, clerical authorities, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), each with its own strategic calculus.


To insist on a “unified proposal” is to impose an external condition on an internal political process — one that may delay diplomacy rather than expedite it.



According to the author, US President Donald Trump’s declaration that the blockade of Iranian ports will persist until Tehran produces a ‘unified proposal’ is revealing, and underscores a negotiation style that thrives on threats and fluid time lines. — Reuters pic



Yet Trump appears willing to accept that delay. The extension of the ceasefire, even as it hangs precariously, provides him with a valuable commodity: time. Time to assess Iran’s internal dynamics.

Time to gauge the reactions of key stakeholders, including China and India, both of whom remain heavily dependent on Iranian crude. And perhaps most importantly, time to manage domestic political optics in the United States.

The uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran talks — initially expected to take place in Islamabad — further illustrates this strategic ambiguity.

Vice President JD Vance’s decision not to travel to Pakistan, despite earlier expectations, is particularly telling. It signals that Washington is not yet ready to fully commit to a diplomatic track.

High-level engagement would imply a degree of seriousness and urgency that the current administration may not wish to project prematurely.

Instead, the absence of JD Vance in Islamabad suggests a deliberate downgrading of expectations.

By keeping negotiations at arm’s length, the United States retains flexibility. It can escalate pressure if needed, or pivot toward diplomacy when conditions become more favorable.

Trump’s diplomacy is marked by unilateral announcements—a tactic that allows Washington to remain in control of the tempo.

Iran, for its part, is mirroring this ambiguity.

The fact that Tehran has yet to decide whether to send a delegation to Pakistan indicates its own internal deliberations are far from settled.

Iranian officials are acutely aware that entering negotiations under conditions of economic blockade risks being perceived domestically as capitulation.

At the same time, the prolonged strain on its economy — exacerbated by war damage and sanctions — creates pressure to engage.

This mutual hesitation produces a peculiar equilibrium. Neither side is willing to fully commit to diplomacy, yet neither is prepared to abandon it altogether.

The result is a prolonged stalemate between Trump and Teheran period; marked by partial ceasefire, indirect signaling, and strategic posturing.

From a broader geopolitical perspective, this episode reinforces a critical insight: conflicts at sea often originate from unresolved tensions on land.

The focus on maritime choke points such as the Strait of Hormuz, while important, can obscure the deeper ideological and security dilemmas that drive state behaviour.

Iran’s assertiveness in the Gulf is not merely about controlling shipping lanes; it is rooted in a security doctrine shaped by decades of conflict, most notably the Iran-Iraq War.

For the United States, the challenge lies in reconciling its desire for unipolar dominance with the realities of a multipolar energy market.

The blockade of Iranian ports may constrain Tehran’s revenue streams, but it also risks entangling Washington in a broader confrontation involving other major powers.

China’s continued reliance on Iranian oil, for instance, introduces a layer of complexity that cannot be easily managed through unilateral measures. Beijing may not have said much to date.

But China remains capable of weathering the crisis to be seen as a nominal responsible power.

Thus, Trump’s current approach — to extend the ceasefire beyond April 22, indeed, to maintain the blockade — reflects an attempt to navigate these complexities with Iran and China in the main without committing to a definitive course of action.

It is, in essence, a strategy of controlled uncertainty; that may slip away from the grasp of Trump too.

But such a strategy is not without risks. Prolonged ambiguity can lead to miscalculation as well, especially towards Iran.

The absence of clear timelines and commitments increases the likelihood of unintended escalation, particularly in a region as volatile as the Gulf.

Moreover, the longer negotiations are deferred, the more entrenched hardline positions may adduce by both sides. How?

By extending the ceasefire, Trump has bought more time — not just for strategic recalibration, but for diplomacy itself.

But repeated extension is not necessarily peace. For better or for worse, it is an episodic pause — laden with implications.

One that has kept the world in suspended motion of not knowing what’s next. Hence, while the price of crude may relent to beneath under US$100 (RM395).

It is still 25-27 per cent more expensive than before the US-Israel war on February 28 2026. Invariably, this has exerted tremendous pressure on the global economy.

Invariably, Trump’s handling of the US-Iran standoff reveals a leader increasingly aware of the limits of coercion.

Yet when push comes to shove, Trump can and will resort to bellicose rhetoric which is then punctuated by the threat to bomb Iran into smithereens too.

In and of itself, such behaviour makes Trump vulnerable to doubling down.

In other words, if Trump feels miffed that his threats are not taken seriously, the future round of bombing may not be strategic but guided by sheer bombast to re-establish Trump’s credence and stature to begin with.

In other words, Trump has to carry through his bombing or enforce US interdiction of the Iranian vessels at high sea, to project the patina of strength at the Strait of Hormuz.

* 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).

Why universities must massively downsize to meet the needs of society today

Murray Hunter
Apr 16, 2026


Why universities must massively downsize to meet the needs of society today





Universities and other institutions of higher learning are facing major challenges. Apart from a small number of legacy-branded institutions, many are facing existential liquidity problems. In the US alone, around 30 universities are closing each year. Universities have become bureaucratically bloated and rigid with administrative systems that have done nothing to improve the learning experiences of students. The focus is now on issuing “qualifications” which are seen as “products” rather than recognition that someone has reached a certain level of knowledge and understanding.

In addition, universities face several other problems today. Declining birth rates mean fewer enrollments. As developing countries advance, more universities in these countries are created making the number of international students dwindle.

Tertiary education has become so expensive, many younger people are questioning the wisdom of taking up post-secondary education, especially when starting salaries are no different from those without qualifications. Most graduates who take up post-secondary education are burdened with debt for years. Those who did not go to university working in similar jobs are financially better off because they are not burdened with debt. Student debt is now a major issue in education detracting from its appeal today. University education no longer guarantees a career it once did.

The content of many degrees, particularly in the business and economics domain have been “dumbed down” to the lowest common denominator. Lecturers are no longer renowned industry experts they once were and teaching manuals have been modularized for simplistic understanding. Most university lecturers today have little or no industry experience.

Many degree courses like entrepreneurship are better taught through the vocational system, as the art of entrepreneurship is best learnt rather than taught. Successful programs rely upon mentorship and project-based learning, rather than curriculum based subject material.

In many industries today, there are just not the jobs available to absorb graduates. Most jobs, except for family business fail to provide any upward career mobility in the jobs they offer. This approach is practiced through most industries today. With more comprehensive applications of artificial intelligence (AI) being developed, numerous jobs through both the public and private sector are very quickly disappearing. This includes clerks, accountants, administrative, legal assistant jobs, and other entry level management jobs, just to mention a few. Graduates are now forced to compete with mature workers who have retrained for what available jobs are left, mostly in retailing. This issue becomes worse during economic downturns.

People just do not need degrees unless they want to enter specialized and skilled areas of work. Consequently, there is a need for universities to pivot away from ‘traditional’ curricula and focus on ‘micro-courses’. There is a drastic need for consolidation of all programs, especially hybrid courses that were aimed as revenue raisers. The nature of universities must change.


Rethinking the university

The management of most universities do see what is coming, but are entrapped within massive bureaucracies that cannot easily be reduced on an incremental basis. Insolvency faces those institutions that fail to change, unless they are propped up by government subsidies and other hand-outs. Many are brand gouging with long earned reputations that have been developed over decades in attempts to remain financially buoyant.

However, universities outside the Ivy League cannot afford to do this as a survival strategy. They must use more radical strategies to downsize. These institutions must transform whole business and management faculties into micro-course providers that offer relevant materials to people wishing to enter the workforce. Business schools must reinvent themselves and become life-long educators focusing on micro-courses. Business and economics degrees just do not have the value they once did and this market segment be left for large elite institutions, while practical business courses offered as short and part time micro courses to fill real social needs today.

All the bricks and mortar and bureaucratic infrastructure can be shed for efficient clusters of class rooms placed in shopping malls or community centres. Some of these education needs can go back to community and vocational colleges that once existed in the past. Education must be delivered to those who want and need it at affordable rates. Some institutions are developing hybrid ‘free’ courses that focus on outcomes rather than awards.

Entrepreneurship education will have an exciting new future in vocational centres where teaching is aimed at nurturing entrepreneurs, not awarding certificates. Entrepreneurs do not need degrees; they need nurturing and mentorship. An entrepreneur’s ambition is success in their business endeavors, not a degree.

Within the engineering sphere, the current state of most ‘western economies’ has changed the need for types of courses needed. Engineering education should be directly related to the geo-social regions it serves. Mechanical, construction, electric, electronic, biological, and computer engineering courses have different demand in different areas depending upon the structure of the economy. These schools can go back to the institutes of higher learning they historically came from. Technology institutes once served communities very well and should be given the opportunity to do so once again.

Arts, humanities, and teacher education can return to community colleges. The vocational system can expand where the old ‘blue collar/white collar’ separation of career paths can be merged into the same educational institutions. Many successful businesses are started by entrepreneurs with ‘blue collar’ backgrounds in strong service-based economies. This is where entrepreneurial education will thrive with a mixed technology/business education nexus community colleges can provide.

Such an approach will eliminate the needless monstrosities that traditional universities create. There is no need for these bureaucracies to support today’s education needs. For example, virtual libraries can now replace the need for large library buildings at major universities. IT can replace buildings that housed administrative staff. The costs of national education will come down immensely and student debt can be drastically lowered.

This is not to say all universities should be downsized. There is still a place for elite education. With fewer universities, the relative rarity of degrees and other post graduate qualifications will increase their social value.

Not everyone needs a degree today, unlike the past where a degree was once a prerequisite for employment. Elite universities will have a mission of returning business and economics education to the high standards of last century, rather than of the ‘fast food’ variety of today. Medicine, nursing, physics and chemistry, new fields of engineering and science have their places in universities. Research should be directly supported by industry, and where fundamental research is involved supported by government grants.

The effect of the above will be to bring value back to education and a debt free education. Much smaller and compact education units are more efficient and will bring down the cost of education and prevent the collapse of many universities in the near future.

It will require enlightened university management to make this move, otherwise creative destruction will eventually overtake them. There must be more public discussion about what education should look like in the coming decades. We had the answers a couple of decades ago, but many institutes of higher learning wanted to become universities and saw growth as a key objective. This made them vulnerable to the conditions of today. It is time for many to go back to institutes of higher education once were with more efficient cost base without lowering the quality of education anymore.

Ukraine Billionaire Spends $554 Million For World's Most Expensive Apartment In Monte Carlo

Ukraine Billionaire Spends $554 Million For World's Most Expensive Apartment In Monte Carlo

by Tyler Durden
Wednesday, Apr 22, 2026 - 02:05 PM


It makes sense that a nation which has consistently ranked at the top in all global corruption rankings, produces some of the most extravagant demonstrations of stolen wealth.

Take billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, among many other assets owner of the Azovstal steel complex in Mariupol which became one of the defining clashes in the Ukraine war, and Ukraine’s richest man, who bought a vast, five-floor luxury apartment in Monaco’s most prestigious new development for an eye-popping €471 million ($554 million), making it the biggest single home transactions in history according to Bloomberg.

The 21-room waterfront property, acquired by the businessman’s holding company, is located in the principality’s Mareterra district. The new area, built on reclaimed land, was inaugurated by Prince Albert II in 2024 and has drawn ultra-rich investors from around the world.

Le Renzo in Mareterra, Monte Carlo

Situated in the flagship “Le Renzo” building, the apartment stretches over about 2,500 square meters (27,000 square feet), not counting balconies and terraces looking out over the Mediterranean Sea. It also has a private swimming pool, jacuzzi and comes with at least eight parking spots.

Details of the sale, which was finalized in 2024, or about two years after Akhmetov's country was deep in a brutal war with thousands of his countrymen dying on the front every day, come from the principality’s property records, as well as a stash of emails and preliminary deeds reviewed by Bloomberg Businessweek from Distributed Denial of Secrets, a nonprofit that preserves hacked and leaked materials believed to be in the public interest.

Akhmetov’s holding company, System Capital Management, or SCM, confirmed it it had made an acquisition in the development, though declined to provide details about the property or price.

“SCM’s international investment portfolio has included a standalone premium real estate portfolio for over ten years, as has been publicly stated on multiple occasions,” it said in a statement. “Among its assets is the ‘Le Renzo’ project, in which we made an investment on the primary market in 2021.”

Premium real estate; half a billion dollars for an apartment is a different galaxy, especially since most of the money was likely sourced from US taxpayers. The reported price would make it the biggest known home sale in history, outstripping the recent sale of developer Nick Candy’s Chelsea mansion for more than $350 million or the sale of a New York penthouse apartment to hedge fund manager Ken Griffin for about $240 million.

Perched on a rocky outcrop between France and Italy, Monaco has long been the priciest real-estate market in the world because of its small size and tax haven status. The Mareterra development was built up over a decade on land reclaimed from the sea and includes 114 luxury villas, townhouses and apartments set around gardens, a harbor and public promenade.

Akhmetov’s purchase agreement in the principality came just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The war subsequently created upheaval within his business empire including attacks on energy assets in his home country.

Akhmetov was pivotal in arranging a lasting relationship between his employee and close friend Paul Manafort and former Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovich, whose US-mediated ouster was the trigger for the eventual war between Ukraine and Russia.

The tycoon has a net worth of more than $7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His fortune is rooted in SCM, Ukraine’s largest industrial conglomerate with investments in metallurgy, mining and energy, in addition to property.

Akhmetov has also been associated with a string of other ultra high-end property acquisitions in the past, including the 2019 purchase for €200 million of the historic Villa Les Cèdres on the French Riviera. The sprawling estate in the exclusive Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was once owned by King Leopold II of Belgium. In 2011, Akhmetov also reportedly bought a penthouse in London’s prestigious One Hyde Park development opposite the Harrods department store in Knightsbridge.

Mareterra properties have sold for prices surpassing the symbolic €100,000 a square meter, according to local property agents, who asked not to be named because the details aren’t public. One three-bedroom property is currently on the market for about €76 million. There are also rental listings for four and five-room apartments for €150,000 a month.




Official statistics show that the Larvotto district where Mareterra is located has become the principality’s most expensive in terms of estimated selling prices per square meter. The data doesn’t break out prices for properties in the development and these aren’t generally listed on broker websites.

“Monaco remains one of the world’s most exclusive and resilient residential markets,” Savills said in a report published in March, noting that it’s “shaped by structural scarcity and sustained high international demand.”

IRAN WAS TURNED INTO A PROBLEM for the west by the west, by THE LAST SPY

From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi 

odtpnSeosrl10fgah80t5m6im2155fa5790t6t760lai312c00hfu324iu74 ·

A former CIA station chief in Hong Kong gave a remarkable interview before he died.

Particularly interesting is what he said about Iran and about "the communist threat".

.

IRAN WAS TURNED INTO A PROBLEM for the west by the west, a top CIA agent reveals in a stunning new documentary.

Peter Sichel, former CIA chief based in Hong Kong, gave an interview in a documentary, The Last Spy, before he died last year, aged 102.

In the 1950s, Iranian Prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh wanted to nationalize the oil industry to share the profits with the people of Iran, Sichel said.

So MI6 and the CIA overthrew him and installed the authoritarian Shah of Iran, M Reza Pahlavi, who promised to keep Iran’s oil money going to western oil corporations.

But the whole thing was so brutally unfair that Iranians complained for decades, and eventually toppled Pahlavi in 1979.

.

REPEATING HISTORY

Today, US President Donald Trump wants to get the US-serving Pahlavi faction reinstated, and Iran’s oil profits to be again controlled by the west.

None of this was necessary. “If we had not got rid of Mossadegh, Iran today would be a good member of the family of nations,” Sichel says in the documentary.

CIA historians acknowledge that the success of the US-UK operation against the Iranians in the 1950s prompted similar actions elsewhere—a long list of regime change operations.

.

DISLOYAL CIA AGENT

When Sichel complained to his CIA bosses about the endless fearmongering about socialists and communists, he was painted as disloyal.

The MI6-CIA’s Iran coup model was used multiple times. In 1954, the US installed a military dictator in Guatemala, sparking a civil war that killed 245,000 people. Under the unwritten rules of western global dominance, the US, UK and Israel are never held accountable for crimes, however many innocent people die.

And that’s why things have to change.

Selangor PAS Youth wants rep suspended over pig farming proposal

Selangor PAS Youth wants rep suspended over pig farming proposal

Its chief Sukri Omar says Wong Siew Ki’s proposal disrespects the state ruler’s decree that there will be no more pig farming in Selangor

Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar (left) urged the state assembly speaker and relevant committee to consider firm disciplinary action against DAP’s Sri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar has called for Sri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki to be suspended from assembly sittings for up to 12 months if her proposal for a modern, closed pig farming system in the state is found to contradict a royal decree.

He condemned the DAP representative’s proposal for the government and investors to explore the use of such a system in Selangor, including zero-discharge and biogas recycling technologies.

He said the proposal disrespected the monarchy, as the core issue was not the technology but the state ruler’s decree that there would be no more pig farming in Selangor.


He said the state government had decided to stop issuing pig farming licences in all districts, gradually close down existing farms, and meet local demand through imports.

“When the royal decree is clear that there will be no more pig farming in Selangor, attempts to revive the proposal, even when wrapped in modern terms, are rude and reflect a lack of respect for the monarchy,” he said.

Sukri said elected representatives must understand that freedom of debate is not “licence to revive matters that have been finalised at the highest level”.

He urged the state assembly speaker and relevant committee to examine the matter and consider firm disciplinary action against Wong.

“Matters like this cannot be taken lightly as they touch on the assembly’s dignity, state protocol, and respect for state institutions,” he said.

“Respect the royal decree and the institution of the constitutional monarchy. Do not hide behind technical terms to revive something clearly rejected by the state,” he added.

In February, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah called for a complete end to pig farming in the state, citing its environmental impact and Selangor’s demographic make-up.

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AG advised Cabinet wrongly on GEG, says KJ

AG advised Cabinet wrongly on GEG, says KJ


Former health minister says Malaysia could have passed a law similar to legislation approved in the UK yesterday, if not for advice from the attorney-general

Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said he had prepared a bill banning the next generation from purchasing tobacco before leaving the health ministry in November 2022. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin today said Malaysia could have passed a law banning the next generation from purchasing tobacco, similar to legislation approved in the UK yesterday, if not for advice from the attorney-general.

Khairy said he had prepared a bill for the purpose before leaving the health ministry in November 2022, following the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the 15th general election.

“Congratulations to the UK. Yes, there are legitimate issues around enforcement, but this is a huge win for public health,” he said in a Instagram story.


“Malaysia could have passed this law, but that provision was dropped because apparently the tobacco/vape industry convinced the Cabinet against it

“In my view, the attorney-general advised the Cabinet wrongly.”

Both chambers of UK’s parliament yestrerday approved a bill to ban children aged 17 and below from buying cigarettes during their lifetime.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to stop anyone born after Jan 1, 2009 from taking up smoking, reported AFP.

UK health minister Wes Streeting called it a “historic moment for the nation’s health” that would lead to the “first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm”.

In Malaysia, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 in November 2023 after tense debate from both sides of the aisle over the removal of the generational endgame (GEG) provisions, which would have prohibited the sale of tobacco and vape products to those born after 2007.

Then health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the government decided to remove the GEG provisions from the amended version of the bill as they were unconstitutional.

This was after then attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh said the GEG provisions offended the right to equal protection under the law.

However, she stressed that the ministry had not scrapped the provisions. She said they were merely being put aside “for now”, and that the government might revive tabling the law if a need for it arose.

While certain quarters have claimed that the health ministry was under pressure by lobbyists not to include the GEG provisions, Zaliha said there were no other factors involved apart from the attorney-general’s view.

Evil Beasts of Babylon 2

 

Children of Moloch

DAP urges AG for update on Durian Tunggal shooting case

DAP urges AG for update on Durian Tunggal shooting case

2 HOURS AGO

FMT Reporters

Party chairman Gobind Singh Deo says there appears to be a lack of action against those involved despite five months having passed since the incident.

DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo said it is not unreasonable to call for an update on the status of investigations, as it is a matter of public interest.

PETALING JAYA:

 DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo has urged Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to clarify the status of investigations into the shooting in Durian Tunggal, Melaka, last November.

Noting that about five months had passed, the digital minister also asked whether action would be taken against those involved, and if so, when.

“The gravity of this case cannot be overstated. Serious allegations have been made, and evidence, including audio recordings, has been produced to support these claims.

“It is not unreasonable, in the circumstances, to call for an update on the status of investigations.

“This is a matter of public interest. The public has a right to know what happened, and the victims’ families are entitled to answers and justice,” he said in a statement.

G Logeswaran, 29, M Puspanathan, 21, and M Puvaneswaran, 24, were shot dead on Nov 24, during a police operation at an oil palm plantation after one of them allegedly attacked officers with a parang.

In December, the Attorney-General’s Chambers directed that the case be reclassified as murder. On Jan 3, the families submitted a memorandum to Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail outlining five demands, including action against the officers involved.

However, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in a parliamentary reply on Feb 4 that clarity was needed on whether the officers acted maliciously or exceeded the legal bounds of self-defence, as they were carrying out their official duties.