Israel Plotted to Kill Iranian Negotiators to Derail US Talks

Consortium News
Volume 31, Number 179 — Saturday, July 4, 2026


Israel Plotted to Kill Iranian Negotiators to Derail US Talks


Two top Iranian negotiators were reportedly removed from the U.S.-Israeli target list, but Israel remained bent on assassinating them, according to The New York Times and The Washington Post

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in 2024 during confirmations of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s cabinet. (Mehr News Agency/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0)

By Jake Johnson
Common Dreams

Trump administration officials reportedly believed that the Israeli government intended to assassinate Iran’s top negotiators — including the country’s foreign minister — during peace talks with the U.S., in an effort to sabotage diplomacy.

The New York Times reported Thursday that


“American concerns about the targeting of two particular Iranian officials — Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Parliament — spiked during delicate ceasefire negotiations that began in April.”

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s Parliament speaker, in December 2025. (Mehr News Agency/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY 4.0)


In response, the U.S. “went so far as to ask other countries in the region to warn Iran about the possibility Israel could target the two officials,” according to the Times, which cited unnamed current and former American officials.

The U.S. and Israel have killed dozens of top Iranian officials since launching their illegal joint war in late February.

But the allied countries reportedly removed Araghchi and Ghalibaf from their target list in late March, opening the possibility of high-level negotiations to end the war.

But Israel remained bent on targeting the negotiators, according to the Times, whose reporting was later corroborated by The Washington Post.

The Times detailed one dramatic incident in April, when Ghalibaf was planning to travel to Pakistan’s capital to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance:


“Pakistani fighter jets escorted the Iranian airplanes carrying a delegation of more than 70 Iranians from the border of Iran to Islamabad and back again when the session was over.

But on the way back to Tehran, an Israeli security threat emerged.

Iran’s security forces notified the plane carrying Mr. Ghalibaf back to Tehran that they had picked up intelligence that Israel planned to attack the plane and that two Israeli fighter jets had entered Iran’s airspace from its western border near Iraq, the two officials said.

Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser for Mr. Ghalibaf, who accompanied him to Islamabad, confirmed this account on his social media page. The plane made an emergency landing in the city of Mashhad, Iran’s closest airport to the Pakistani border, and the Iranian delegation traveled some eight hours by land back to Tehran, Mr. Mohammadi and the two officials said.”

The Post reported that “cracks emerged” between the U.S. and Israeli approaches to the war following Israel’s assassination of top Iranian national security official Ali Larijani in March.

“They’ve wiped out everybody,” Trump told reporters in late March, suggesting Israel’s assassination campaign was making it difficult to find potential negotiating partners.

Trump signing the memorandum of understanding with Iran at the Palace of Versailles on June 17 as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on. (White House /Daniel Torok)



Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, wrote in response to the new reporting that

“Israel is a state that, on paper, is a U.S. partner, but in reality is so extreme in its obsession to undermine U.S. diplomacy that it even tries to assassinate those the U.S. engages with in crucial negotiations.”

“I can’t recall a government as terrified of peace as the one running Israel,” Parsi added.

At present, the Israeli government — led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu— is endangering tenuous U.S.-Iran peace talks with its continued occupation of and assault on Lebanon, which Iran has highlighted as a key factor in the negotiations.

Visiting occupied southern Lebanon earlier this week, Netanyahu declared to Israeli troops that “our insistence is that we will not leave… until the threat is removed.”

Trump, or right, on Dec. 29, 2025, receives news at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, that Netanyahu, facing him across the table, will award him the Israel Prize, (White House /Daniel Torok)


Parsi wrote earlier this week that “beyond his long-standing desire to use American force to subjugate Iran to Israeli domination and achieve a regional balance favorable to Israel,” Netanyahu “now also has stark political and personal reasons to restart the war” with Iran.

“The [U.S. and Iran’s memorandum of understanding] has come at a steep political cost for Netanyahu,” wrote Parsi.


“His prospects for reelection in October are weaker than they have been in months. Once seen as the Israeli leader uniquely capable of delivering President Trump, he now confronts the prospect that both the war and the ensuing diplomacy will leave Israel in a strategically weaker position—undermining the very case he has made for his leadership.”

“And of course,” Parsi added, “if he loses the elections, he will likely spend the next few years in jail, as he will lose his immunity as prime minister and face trial over corruption charges.”



Jake Johnson is a staff writer for Common Dreams.

This article is from Common Dreams

***

Netanyahu is just a selfish self-centred self-interest S-Whole who wages wars, assassinates people and kills babies for his own personal salvation and tribute to his god the baby-eating Moloch.

NETANYAHU OFFERING KILLED PALESTINIAN BABIES TO HIS GOD LORD MOLOCH

Ong warns Pua's response to S'gor ruler may cost Harapan Malay votes in Johor

Ong warns Pua's response to S'gor ruler may cost Harapan Malay votes in Johor

Mohd Farhan Darwis
Published: Jul 4, 2026 2:03 PM
Updated: 5:03 PM


Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's rebuke of DAP's Lim Guan Eng and Tony Pua over the LRT3 cost review may dent Pakatan Harapan's Malay support in several Johor seats.

Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming said Pua's response to the Selangor sultan could be perceived as disrespectful.

"They will see Pua's (Facebook) post as disrespectful to the Selangor sultan, and these few Malay voters will be less inclined to vote for Harapan candidates," he told Malaysiakini.

However, Ong (above) opined that the issue is not the main factor that will determine voting patterns.

Instead, he said Harapan's biggest challenge is the failure to counter the narrative surrounding Onn Hafiz Ghazi as a popular menteri besar.

In this Johor state election, DAP is contesting in 17 seats, with seven of them seeing straight fights against MCA candidates representing BN in Bekok, Tangkak, Bentayan, Yong Peng, Mengkibol, Penggaram, and Pekan Nenas.

DAP veteran Boo Cheng Hau also shared the view that issues touching on the royal institution, religion, and race (3R) are influential on voter sentiment.

"However, it is hoped that we focus more on daily cost of living issues, such as the price of goods, inflation, water, environment, and the socio-economic development of Johor as a developed state," he said.

Boo Cheng Hau


The former Skudai assemblyperson said two-way communication between politicians, regardless of party, and the institution of Malay rulers needs to be proactively strengthened.

"I believe DAP leaders have become more mature and prudent when issuing statements involving public interest and the palace's concerns because the institution of Malay rulers commands the highest respect among all segments of society," Boo added.


‘Did not understand importance’

On July 1, the Selangor sultan decreed that Lim and Pua did not understand the importance of the LRT3 project when they downscaled its scope during the change of government in 2018, including by cancelling five stations and reducing train capacity.

His Highness also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for continuing the project.

In response, Lim and Pua issued a joint statement defending the decision to rationalise the project.

Tony Pua (left) and Lim Guan Eng


Afterwards, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the government will request an audience with the Selangor sultan to provide an explanation regarding the project's cost.

The transport minister said that the government accepted Sultan Sharafuddin's views and would explain the circumstances surrounding the project's implementation.


No effect on Chinese voters

Meanwhile, Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar said Chinese voters in Johor are not bothered by the issue given the "cool" atmosphere of the state election's climate, particularly for the community.

Hisomuddin Bakar


However, he reminded DAP to be cautious in handling issues involving the royal institution so that it does not backfire.

"Do not drag Chinese voters into a fight with the palace. This matter needs to be handled delicately by DAP.

"For Bangsa Johor, matters involving the palace are sensitive. For Malay voters, they will turn out in large numbers (in this state election)... DAP must be careful; otherwise, it will trigger the emotions of Malay voters.

“Like pulling hair out of flour so that the flour does not scatter - if it scatters, the implication in Johor is that Harapan as the federal government might face the same fate as in Sabah," he said, citing the Malay proverb to do things carefully so that it does not result in problems later.

He was referring to the Sabah election in November last year, in which Harapan suffered heavy losses by losing most of their contests.

Similarly, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) political analyst Mazlan Ali also held the view that the issue is not expected to have a major impact on voting patterns in Johor as it is more of a local issue in Selangor.

Mazlan Ali


"This is not the first time Pua has made such a statement... previously, there was also a statement from the Selangor sultan.

"But in Johor, things are still running smoothly. It hasn't caused any disruption, and we haven't heard BN using this Selangor issue. Selangor is quite far from Johor," he said.


Too sophisticated to predict

In the meantime, Bersama leader Rafizi Ramli said today's voters are too sophisticated to predict.

In his opinion, the perception that royal decrees can influence voting patterns is a mere assumption, with no basis in data.

"To be honest, unless you conduct a survey - and there is not enough time to do so right now - I feel my opinion does not matter.

"Secondly, I think no one can assess it. Even if you ask the prime minister or the caretaker Johor menteri besar, I think they are not in a position to assess it.

"This is because voters today are very smart and sophisticated. Anyone who claims they can read what is on the voters' minds, you know they are just politicians talking nonsense," he told Malaysiakini in Kluang yesterday.


Additional reporting by B Nantha Kumar

***

Impossibly arrogant, recalcitrantly stubborn, too frigging proud, he just can't let go when his conceit has been slighted, wakakaka. 

PM Anwar declares war on support letters, says crony loans destroy agencies and entrepreneurs

PM Anwar declares war on support letters, says crony loans destroy agencies and entrepreneurs



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that the practice of using letters of support, political connections and cronyism in approving financing for entrepreneurs must be stopped. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 4:27 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, July 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that the practice of using letters of support, political connections and cronyism in approving financing for entrepreneurs must be stopped.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the practice only harms government agencies and causes many businesses to fail.

“If you only use letters of support, that is a move to cover up agencies. We have inherited this for decades.

“Loans are given because of closeness to certain people or yellow, green, blue letters. This is what is destroying us,” he said when opening the SPaRK 2026 organised by Perbadanan Ushawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) here today.

The Prime Minister said the government could not prevent business failures that occurred due to market factors, but would not tolerate the misuse of public funds.

He said there were cases of aid recipients who only used the funds to improve their lifestyle, including moving to a more luxurious office and buying a vehicle, before the business eventually failed.

“It does not matter if some businesses fail due to market factors or economic conditions. “But what is important is their transparency and seriousness in running their business,” he said, stressing that government assistance should only be given to entrepreneurs who truly have the commitment and capability. — Bernama

Anwar says Bumiputera empowerment is national priority, not just agencies’ responsibility

 

Anwar says Bumiputera empowerment is national priority, not just agencies’ responsibility



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said government agencies must align their policies and programmes to ensure the Bumiputera development agenda is implemented comprehensively. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 2:52 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, July 4 — The Bumiputera empowerment agenda is no longer the sole responsibility of specific agencies but a national priority to be pursued by all ministries, government agencies and government-linked companies, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said government agencies must align their policies and programmes to ensure the Bumiputera development agenda is implemented comprehensively.

According to Anwar, the government has introduced the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35), with implementation regularly monitored and all ministries and agencies required to report their progress.

“All MADANI Government agencies are responsible for delivering the nation’s policies. Those policies are aimed at driving economic growth while ensuring fair and equitable distribution,” he said when officiating the SPaRK 2026: Business Transformation programme organised by Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) here today.

The Prime Minister said the government has no plans to establish a new Bumiputera agency, opting instead to strengthen existing institutions and ensure that all ministries and agencies play their respective roles.

Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, said the approach would accelerate policy implementation while preventing overlapping functions among agencies.


“I think continuing with the old way of doing things while expecting better results is not going to work.

“For that reason, I am not inclined to establish a new Bumiputera agency, but rather to ensure existing agencies are strengthened,” he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the government will continue to focus on driving national economic growth without neglecting fair wealth distribution to the people, emphasising that economic development must be implemented in an inclusive manner, so that all segments of society continue to benefit.

“We do not prevent anyone from working hard to drive economic growth, whether in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, the digital economy or the energy transition. However, at the same time, we must ensure that distribution is fair,” he said.

Anwar also said the government is adopting a “raising the ceiling” approach to boost the country’s economic competitiveness, while at the same time “raising the floor” to support those still in need. — Bernama

Justice à la Carte: The ICC’s Curious New Recipe for Removing Karim Khan — Abbi Kanthasamy

Justice à la Carte: The ICC’s Curious New Recipe for Removing Karim Khan — Abbi Kanthasamy


First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 5:22 PM MYT


JULY 4 — There is a smell when an institution starts cooking its procedures to order: scent of diplomats in a sealed room discovering that the rules they wrote have become inconveniently indigestible.

The International Criminal Court was meant to be where power met a law it could not bomb, bribe, sanction or bully into silence. No backdoor for presidents and generals.

Which makes the reported manoeuvring over Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan so spectacularly awkward.

According to Middle East Eye, the ICC’s political bureau has approved a process combining two previously separate decisions: whether Khan committed serious misconduct, and whether he should be removed. One vote. One motion. One clean swing of the diplomatic cleaver.

That may sound like administrative housekeeping to people who think due process is a decorative fern in the lobby. It is not. It is the whole building.

The bureau’s own March procedures paper reportedly envisaged a more sensible sequence. First, the Assembly of States Parties—125 countries in all—would determine whether serious misconduct had been established. That required a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. Only then would it hold a second vote on removal, requiring an absolute majority.


First establish the offence. Then decide the penalty.

Now, according to Khan’s lawyers, the proposed single-vote arrangement does not merely compress the process. It lowers the effective bar for reaching the grave finding that serious misconduct occurred. Before deciding whether to remove the man, make it easier to decide that he has done the thing that justifies removing him.

That is not a footnote. That is the menu.

The ICC prosecutor should not be beyond scrutiny. A man entrusted with investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity should be held to an exacting standard. Allegations must be investigated properly. If serious wrongdoing is proven, consequences should be real.

But “properly” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

Proven by whom? Under what rules? Why do the rules appear to become more elastic after the target has been chosen?

The reported facts become stranger. A judicial panel appointed by the bureau itself reportedly examined a United Nations investigation and concluded unanimously that the evidence did not establish misconduct or breach of duty. One judge reportedly expressed serious doubt that the evidence could meet the required standard at all.

Then the bureau appears to have taken that advice, thanked it politely, and placed it in the drawer marked “ornamental”.

That does not prove Khan is innocent or that the allegations should be ignored. It proves the court risks looking as though it commissioned legal advice as table decoration.

The allegations remain serious and disputed. Khan denies them. The complainant’s account reportedly concerned unwelcome, non-consensual conduct. Yet the bureau’s alleged finding appears to rest on a different proposition: a consensual relationship said to be improper because of a power imbalance.



The Assembly of States Parties meeting in New York on July 24 should not become a popularity contest about Karim Khan. — Reuters file pic



Khan’s lawyers say this alternative allegation was never put to him during the investigation. Their point is devastatingly simple: one cannot fail to prove one accusation, then quietly replace it with another and call the substitution justice.

That is not law. That is a magic act.

Now you see the allegation. Now you do not. Now here is a new one wearing the old one’s shoes.

Khan’s work has made him a geopolitical lightning rod. His office pursued cases involving Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas leaders, Myanmar’s junta and Taliban officials. The United States sanctioned ICC personnel. Russia retaliated. Israel challenged the court’s conduct.

None of that makes the allegations against Khan false. Politics does not manufacture innocence.

But it does create an overwhelming obligation on the ICC to be cleaner than a surgeon’s table. It cannot afford a process that even resembles improvisation when the entire world is looking for reasons to dismiss it as selective justice with better stationery.

The ICC has no army, oil wells or aircraft carriers. It has legitimacy.

That legitimacy is not a public-relations accessory. It is the engine. Once states can alter the route after the train has left the station, every strongman gets a free talking point: international justice is merely politics in a robe.

The Assembly of States Parties meeting in New York on July 24 should not become a popularity contest about Karim Khan. They should ask one brutal, uncomplicated question.

Are we being asked to decide this case under clear rules that existed before the evidence was weighed?

Or are we being asked to bless a procedural rearrangement because the original rules proved inconvenient?

Remove Khan if the evidence and lawful process justify it. Keep him if they do not.

But do not turn the ICC into a place where due process is celebrated in speeches, then quietly taken outside and shot behind the kitchen.

***

Make one guess as to who's behind the most kerbau-ish continuing prosecution, nay, persecution after a "judicial panel appointed by the bureau itself reportedly examined a United Nations investigation and concluded unanimously that the evidence did not establish misconduct or breach of duty. One judge reportedly expressed serious doubt that the evidence could meet the required standard at all".

No PH poster boy out of respect for Johor palace, says Maszlee

No PH poster boy out of respect for Johor palace, says Maszlee


Pakatan Harapan's Puteri Wangsa candidate, Maszlee Malik, says the menteri besar's appointment ultimately rests with the ruler

Maszlee Malik said PH acknowledges the role of the palace, and does not want to overstep its decisions.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan is not naming any candidate as its poster boy for the Johor election out of respect for the palace, says Maszlee Malik.

The PH candidate for Puteri Wangsa said the coalition felt it was unnecessary to announce a poster boy for the menteri besar’s position before the state election results as the appointment ultimately rests with the Johor ruler.

“We acknowledge the role of the palace, and we do not want to overstep its decisions.


“Instead, we are offering a group of capable candidates who are ready to serve the state and the people,” he was quoted by The Star as saying after a youth dialogue session at Iskandar Puteri yesterday.

The former education minister was asked about PH’s lack of a poster boy during the state election campaign.


At the dialogue session, Maszlee said past experience had shown that naming a menteri besar candidate before an election did not necessarily determine who would eventually lead the state.

He pointed to the previous Johor state election in 2022, when Barisan Nasional named Hasni Mohammad as its menteri besar candidate, but Onn Hafiz Ghazi was ultimately appointed to the position.

There has been speculation that Maszlee has been tipped as PH’s choice for the menteri besar’s role.

PAS has no need for manifesto in Johor polls, says Tuan Ibrahim

PAS has no need for manifesto in Johor polls, says Tuan Ibrahim


Its deputy president says the party has no intention of taking over the state government, and is happy to serve as a credible opposition in the state assembly

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party is focused on offering pledges tailored to the specific constituencies it is contesting. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: PAS will not present a manifesto for the Johor state election as it is focused on offering pledges tailored to the specific constituencies it is contesting.

Deputy PAS president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party’s aim is to serve as a credible opposition in the state legislative assembly, Berita Harian reported.

“I think the party does not need to present a manifesto. A manifesto is usually for when you intend to take over the state government,” he said after officiating the Pasir Mas PAS division annual general meeting.


“We are only contesting a small number of seats, just 11 out of 56.

“We are making specific offers in certain areas taking into account the needs of the voters in those constituencies,” he added.


Tuan Ibrahim added that PAS’s role in the state assembly would be to act as a check and balance on the state government.

The Johor state election will be held on July 11, with early voting set for July 7.

Pakatan Harapan launched its manifesto yesterday, which included pledges to bring 20,000 professionals currently in Singapore back to Johor by 2031, and provide 500,000 Johoreans health insurance coverage.

Barisan Nasional’s 63-point manifesto, launched a week ago, lists housing, jobs and support for businesses among its key priorities.

***

Reality is PAS would be incapable of making any decent manifesto

Anwar says Johor needs smarter, bolder representatives, pledges Harapan will defend people’s interests

Anwar says Johor needs smarter, bolder representatives, pledges Harapan will defend people’s interests



The people of Johor need leaders and elected representatives who are wise in assessing priorities, have the courage to make decisions and truly understand the pulse of the people, said Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 1:19 PM MYT


JOHOR BAHRU, July 4 — The people of Johor need leaders and elected representatives who are wise in assessing priorities, have the courage to make decisions and truly understand the pulse of the people, said Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the coalition would continue to carry the people’s voice, defend the state’s interests and drive Johor to become more developed and great for all.

“Johor Progresses. Vote Harapan,” he said through a video clip on his official Facebook in conjunction with the 16th Johor state election.

The Prime Minister also called on the PH machinery to work hard to ensure the victory of the party’s candidates in this poll.

“We want to elect elected representatives and leaders who represent the interests of the people in Johor, the people of Malaysia, Malays, Chinese, Indians work together, build this nation, raise this state to be great,” he said.

Anwar began PH’s first day of campaigning in Johor by attending seven programmes in several areas to reach out to the people and provide support to the coalition’s candidates.

The programmes included meetings with the people, talks, socialising and programmes with the local community, as an effort to strengthen voter support for PH ahead of polling day.


In this poll, PH has fielded candidates in all 56 state constituencies, including 20 PKR candidates, 19 Amanah candidates and 17 from DAP.

Overall, the Johor polls saw a total of 172 candidates contesting for the 56 state seats.

Polling day is set for July 11, while early voting is on July 7.

To get the latest news on the 16th Johor Polls, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor. — Bernama

Prospective UK PM Burnham rules out early general election

Prospective UK PM Burnham rules out early general election



Andy Burnham — currently the only candidate to replace Starmer, who resigned as Labour leader and prime minister last month — is poised to take charge of the centre-left party and country later this month.— AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 10:39 AM MYT


LONDON, July 4 — Andy Burnham, Britain’s likely next prime minister, yesterday ruled out calling a general election if he succeeds Keir Starmer, pledging to stick to the ruling party’s most recent manifesto.


Burnham — currently the only candidate to replace Starmer, who resigned as Labour leader and prime minister last month — is poised to take charge of the centre-left party and country later this month.


Participating in an “Ask Me Anything” session on the social media site Reddit, the ex-Greater Manchester mayor fielded questions ranging from electoral reform to foreign policy.

On the war in Ukraine, Burnham said he would “100 per cent” give the country the same level of support as Starmer, who like his Conservative predecessors has been a staunch ally of Kyiv.

Veteran Labour figure Burnham also suggested he wanted to continue efforts to broker closer EU ties.


Quizzed about holding an immediate general election — the next poll is not due until 2029 — Burnham replied “no” and insisted he will “work to the 2024 manifesto”.

He was referring to Labour’s 136-page agenda summary at the last general election in 2024, when the party won a parliamentary landslide.


Featuring Starmer on its cover, it detailed an array of policy proposals, some of which have already been enacted.

Several of the headline commitments were around fiscal rules, with Labour vowing not to increase workers’ income tax, national insurance or VAT rates.

That has been seen as limiting Burnham’s ability to make major tax-and-spend changes.

However, in his first media interview since Starmer’s June 22 resignation announcement, the veteran Labour figure told LBC radio Thursday the manifesto offered some flexibility to potentially increase taxes on warehouses.

That could help fund more support for high street businesses such as pubs, he said, without providing further details.

Meanwhile in Friday’s Reddit session, Burnham indicated he still backs reforming Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system, which has historically benefited the country’s traditional two main parties.

However, with voters’ support increasingly fragmenting and at least five parties typically polling in double figures nationally, calls have grown for a more proportional system.

“I am a strong supporter of electoral reform, partly because I believe it will enable the change to a more collaborative politics, and one that is less about point-scoring and more about problem-solving,” Burnham said.

“I will seek to persuade my own party of the need for a manifesto commitment to it in the next manifesto.” — AFP

Vote PH to protest PAS, Faezuddin tells Bersatu supporters

Vote PH to protest PAS, Faezuddin tells Bersatu supporters


4 hours ago
Minderjeet Kaur


PH’s Kempas candidate Faezuddin Puad says PAS’s backing for Barisan Nasional has exposed strains in its ties with Bersatu

Faezuddin Puad says voters should look beyond individual candidates and consider whether the party they support can truly deliver after the Johor polls.

JOHOR BAHRU: Pakatan Harapan’s Kempas candidate Faezuddin Puad has urged Bersatu supporters to register their protest against PAS by voting for PH in the Johor state election.

Faezuddin said PAS’s instruction to its members to back Barisan Nasional in seats where Perikatan Nasional is not contesting showed that ties within the opposition bloc were coming under increasing strain.

“I advise Bersatu voters to show their protest by voting for PH,” he told FMT.

“That is my personal view, because PAS has betrayed Bersatu in the context of the PN coalition.”

PAS has directed its election machinery in Johor constituencies contested by Bersatu to redeploy to seats contested by the Islamic party and other PN component parties.

PAS also urged its members and supporters not to support PH candidates in Johor constituencies where PN is not contesting, and back BN instead.

On Thursday, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin urged Bersatu supporters to follow PAS’s lead and vote for BN, adding another layer to the contest for opposition votes.

Faezuddin said voters should look beyond individual candidates and consider whether the party they support can actually deliver post-election.

He said both the party and the candidate mattered, but voters should give priority to parties with clear policies and a realistic path to forming the government.

“Look at the party’s performance. A serious party offers good policies for the people, and I think that should be given priority.”

Kempas will see a three-cornered fight involving Faezuddin, BN’s Ramlee Bohani and Bersama’s Salamahafifi Yusnaieny.

Ramlee won the seat for BN in the 2022 state election, securing 11,919 votes to win with a 3,514-vote majority.

The folly of youth, the arrogance of experience

The folly of youth, the arrogance of experience


A Bersama candidate's gaffe reveals much about the party, its personalities and what it lulls voters into thinking

On stage, Rafizi Ramli tends to cast himself as some sort of political messiah, promising to usher in change for Malaysia.

Judging by the way he attacks Pakatan Harapan—the coalition he once belonged to—and his criticism of the prime minister, Rafizi, once mocked as the “king of formulas,” now seems to have all the answers to the nation’s troubles.

His Parti Bersama Malaysia colleague, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, meanwhile, believes politics can still be driven by sheer willpower and a readiness to confront sensitive issues head-on.

Bersama’s ceramahs will have you think sweeping reforms could happen overnight — but that is never the case.

At one recent ceramah, a Bersama candidate touched on the taboo subject of Selangor’s pig farming ban. Any aspiring politician should know this is a sensitive matter—especially after the Selangor sultan weighed in. Just ask the DAP assemblyman who learned the hard way.

Yet Boo Wei Han did the unthinkable: he spoke out against the sultan’s decision. Was that the result of courage, naivety, or sheer recklessness?

Enter Rafizi, the white knight, praising Boo’s honesty and bravery. He even revealed that Bersama doesn’t script speeches for its candidates, preferring them to speak candidly. This, he said, was “new-style politics.”

But the very next day, Rafizi ordered candidates to exercise greater discipline, issuing guidelines on what they should and shouldn’t say. Whatever happened to speaking from the heart? So much for trusting the young.

Is this really new politics—or just the old style dressed up differently?

Malaysians are a forgiving lot. We forgave Dr Mahathir Mohamad his wrongs and accepted him as prime minister a second time. Boo’s misstep also deserves compassion. After all, it was the folly of youth.

What is harder to forgive is Rafizi’s arrogance in defending the gaffe, while insinuating that the prime minister, DAP, and MCA were cowards for not speaking up.

As a seasoned politician, Rafizi should know the delicate balance between the palace and politics. To think one can simply defy royalty speaks more of ego than wisdom.

My concern isn’t Rafizi or Bersama per se. Parties with ideals are welcome. What worries me is that we, the voters, are being seduced into believing change is just around the corner, sold on witty soundbites and promises without strategy or pragmatism.

Just as some voters buy into racial and religious narratives, others are lulled into thinking reforms can be delivered overnight. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. Change requires patience, diplomacy, and compromise.

Boo’s gaffe is a bitter pill for him, Rafizi and Bersama. But if voters back the wrong party, ordinary Malaysians may end up swallowing something far more bitter.

Russian defence ministry says its forces captured Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine

Russian defence ministry says its forces captured Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine


Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the city's capture as an important strategic achievement

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits one of the command posts of the Russian Joint Group Forces at an undisclosed location in Russia. (EPA Images pic)

MOSCOW: Russia’s military told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that its forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, a key locality whose capture Moscow has long sought in its advance through the Donetsk region.

Putin, shown in videos visiting a command post and receiving a report from top commanders, praised the city’s capture as an important strategic achievement.

He also said Russian forces had to increase the scale of security zones in response to intensified Ukrainian long-range strikes, mainly against Russia’s oil industry.


Ukraine made no comment on Russia’s claim to have seized Kostiantynivka.

General Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s General Staff, announced the city’s capture in a report on the conduct of the war, now in its fifth year.


Gerasimov said the southern group of forces was carrying out offensive operations to “liberate” all of the Donetsk region, part of the broader Donbas region over which Russia has vowed to secure control as a key aim of its war effort.

“The troops of the group have liberated the city of Kostiantynivka, one of the main defensive hubs of the enemy within the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk-Kostiantynivka fortified area,” Gerasimov said.

Russia’s military has for some time reported that its troops were in control of parts of Kostiantynivka, one of several cities seen as a network of key fortifications in Ukraine’s defence of the region.

Putin described the city as having an important strategic significance.


“We all know that this city is a key transport and large industrial centre of Donbas,” Putin said.


Russian pictures show soldiers in city

The defence ministry posted images on Telegram that it said were scenes from Kostiantynivka, including pictures of Russian soldiers holding national flags by shattered buildings.

Gerasimov also told Putin that Russian forces were closing in on Lyman, a town about 70km (45 miles) to the north which he said was “of key logistical and strategic importance for further advances in this direction”.


The head of Russia’s northern troops, Yevgeny Nikiforov, said his forces had “not yet fully managed to resolve the task” of preventing Ukrainian drone strikes that have hit oil installations and caused fuel shortages in Russia.

Putin responded by saying, “The more attacks the enemy tries to carry out on our civilian facilities … the larger a security zone we’ll have to establish in the neighbouring territory.”

Nikiforov told Putin that Russian troops were making progress in securing border areas in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, where Moscow has called for expanded buffer zones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials have said Russia’s advances in eastern Ukraine have slowed considerably since the beginning of the year and Kyiv’s forces have even recaptured some territory.

Putin, in his remarks, dismissed Kyiv’s statements as an “information campaign in which it puts on display supposed successes”. Zelensky sent an open letter to Putin last month seeking a direct meeting but the Kremlin leader rejected the proposal.

US-brokered attempts to move towards a peace deal have been put on hold during the conflict in Iran, but both Moscow and Kyiv say they are anticipating a visit soon by the two top negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

A name rejected: Tajik parents face state list dictating what they can call their children

A name rejected: Tajik parents face state list dictating what they can call their children



A man holding a cradle with a newborn baby is seen surrounded by relatives outside a maternity hospital in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on July 1, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 7:00 AM MYT


DUSHANBE, July 4 — After giving birth, Shakhnoza Nazarova thought registering her daughter’s name would be a mere formality. Instead, her chosen name was rejected—deemed not Tajik enough by authorities of the Central Asian country.

She is among many parents stuck in a bureaucratic loop—a government list of approved names designed to promote Tajik culture and curb both the influence of both Russia and radical Islamism.

The register, which excludes any names deemed foreign by officials, was rolled out 10 years ago and last updated in February.

“We had chosen Dunyo. This name was on the list,” Nazarova, 30, told AFP in the capital Dushanbe.


“However, when the baby was born and we went to get the birth certificate, the name Dunyo was no longer there” after the update, she said.

A month since her daughter’s birth, the mother of three still has no clear answers.


“There’s no guidance on what to do when a name isn’t on the list. No one accepts our application,” she said.

Gurdovarid Mamadjonova, pregnant with her second daughter, faces the same hurdle.

Her ideal name, Yasmina, is not on the list either.

“The Tajik version is Yosuman or Yosamin,” said the 27-year-old.

Mamadjonova already had to go with an official name for her first daughter—“Oisha” instead of her preferred “Aisha”—has yet to decide whether she “would choose a new name or just go along with whatever they give us again.”

Tajik identity

In Tajikistan, a secular Muslim country of around 10 million people, longtime President Emomali Rakhmon has sought to redefine the national identity by tightening his grip over Islam and steering the country away from its Soviet legacy.

Proclaimed the “Founder of Peace and National Unity,” he casts himself as the guardian of Tajik identity in a country shaped by a bitter 1990s civil war, in which ex-communists defeated an alliance of Islamists and democrats.

A handful of other states also have rules on baby names, but Tajikistan, where the population is surging, goes further than most.

It is “absolutely unacceptable” to “glorify the foreign in the choice of first names,” Rakhmon said in 2019.

It “distances future generations from their historical origins,” he added.

But what officials count as an acceptable Tajik name is vague.

Some Muslim names are excluded from the official list—like Yassine, Amira or Riyad—while others, like Muhammad or Kareem, are permitted.

The rules, which apply only to ethnic Tajiks, collide with deep-rooted Central Asian traditions, where children’s names carry great symbolic importance.

Families often coin unique, meaningful names—combining words that describe the circumstances of birth, a place, or a hoped-for quality in their child.

Badakhshon Tursunova—born when Tajikistan was still part of the Soviet Union, which suppressed religion—was named after a region her mother came from.

“One classmate of mine was called Vatan (homeland), another Tabarali (axe),” the 56-year-old woman said.

“After independence, once religion was no longer banned, people began giving their children Muslim names,” she said.


Patriotism

Worried by the recruitment of Tajiks into jihadist groups and by the Taliban’s return to power in neighbouring Afghanistan, Rakhmon has sought to stamp out radical Islam.

“I am proud to be Tajik first, and Muslim second,” he is fond of repeating.

Beyond excluding certain Muslim names, authorities have also banned the hijab headscarf for women and outlawed long beards for young men.

Rakhmon has also distanced himself from the country’s Soviet past—though without openly criticising key ally Russia.

In a rare move, he dropped the Russian “-ov” suffix from his own surname back in 2007.

In 2016, he banned it for newborns.

But with Tajikistan being economically dependent on Moscow and hundreds of thousands of Tajik migrant workers living in Russia, practical realities limit the drive to shed Russian influence.

“I had a surge of patriotism and wanted to change my documents and get a Tajik first and last name, without the ‘-ov’ ending,” Alisher Rustamov, a Tajik who works in Russia, told AFP.

But amid Russia’s strict migration laws, the 45-year-old also wanted to obtain Russian citizenship to ease his daily life there.

Eventually, he gave up the attempted name change due to bureaucratic hurdles.

“It was very complicated and expensive, so I left it as it was.” — AFP

***

Hari Bawang?

Pakatan chairman Anwar embarks on whirlwind Johor tour, 15 programmes in two days

Pakatan chairman Anwar embarks on whirlwind Johor tour, 15 programmes in two days



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the party candidates to engage with the people, not merely to seek votes, but to carry out the trust placed in them wholeheartedly. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 9:32 AM MYT
Last Modified: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 9:44 AM MYT


JOHOR BAHRU, July 4 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will attend 15 programmes in Johor over the weekend to support 56 PH candidates for the 16th Johor state election.

Anwar also issued an invitation to all Johor voters to join the programmes during the weekend in a Facebook post yesterday.

“Insya-Allah, I’ll be in Johor tomorrow and Sunday to support the candidates and Harapan machinery. I invite everyone in Johor to join us,” he said.

Anwar is set to begin his weekend in Johor by attending the Kita Genk Madani x Anak Muda Bukit Batu programme in Kulai at 3.30pm tomorrow, followed by a Hi-Tea with Johor community leaders in Johor at 4.50pm, and then head to the Kembara Inspirasi Belia Akar Umbi programme in Tampoi at 6pm.

At night, he is scheduled to attend the Harapan Indian Cultural Night with PMX in Taman Tampoi Indah at 7.45pm, the Chinese Community Dinner with PMX at a restaurant at 8.35pm and then the Johor Youth Dialogue in Dewan Felda Ulu Tebrau at 9.30pm and finally the Anak Muda Kempas Night in Kempas at 10.45pm.

On Sunday, Anwar will start with a breakfast with the Layang-Layang constituents at Warung Pak Din, Kampung Sahri at 8.55am, followed by a Meet-and-Greet with PMX at Dewan Undangan Negeri Senggarang in Senggarang at 10am.

He will then attend the Kenduri Rakyat Bersama PMX in Semerah at 11am, and the launch of Bukit Naning Volunteers at 12.15pm.


For the later half of the day, he is scheduled to attend Jelajah Harapan Felda Bersama PMX in Dataran Putra Palong Timur 2, meeting sessions at Pemanis and Gambir constituencies, and end with the Jelajah Johor Ke Depan, Undi Harapan DUN Serom programme at Sungai Mati at 9pm.

Johor voters will cast their ballots on July 11, with early voting scheduled on July 7.

For the latest on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/. — Bernama

OPINION | The Pig, the Kancil and the Price of Authenticity

Malaysia's #1 Content Aggregator


OPINION | The Pig, the Kancil and the Price of Authenticity


3 Jul 2026 • 4:30 PM MYT

Fa Abdul
FA ABDUL is a former columnist of Malaysiakini & Free Malaysia Today (FMT)

I

mage credit: Berseteru FB

Recently, election candidate Boo Wei Han, who is contesting the N46 Perling seat for Parti Bersama Malaysia, stirred a hornet's nest after raising the highly sensitive issue of pig farming during a campaign speech in Johor.


Speaking about the impact on pig farmers, Boo questioned the fairness of forcing families who had been in the business for generations to suddenly shut down their operations. He expressed hope that the government would reconsider its decision, arguing that the livelihoods of these farmers deserved to be taken into account.



Predictably, all hell broke loose.


Social media exploded with condemnation. Before long, Bersama's cute little kancil logo had been given an unexpected makeover. Apparently, somewhere on the internet, it is now a pig.


Political satire has always been part of democracy. If you're a politician, sooner or later someone will turn your logo into something your graphic designer never approved.



But what interested me wasn't the meme.


It was what happened next.

Image credit: Focus Malaysia


When Boo first made his remarks, Rafizi Ramli stood firmly behind him. He praised Boo for having the courage to raise a difficult issue and explained that Bersama deliberately chose ordinary Malaysians as candidates because they spoke honestly instead of relying on carefully prepared scripts.


I actually agreed with him.


For years we've complained that politicians all sound the same. Every speech feels like it has been vetted by three committees, five advisers and one public relations consultant. Every answer is so polished that, by the end of it, you're still not entirely sure what they actually said.



Then along comes someone who says exactly what he thinks.


You may completely disagree with Boo. That's perfectly fair.


But at least now you know exactly where he stands.


And isn't that what we keep asking for?


Then came the backlash.


Many Malaysians were offended and outraged. Even Rafizi admitted he had received warnings that Boo's remarks could trigger a negative reaction.


Then came the campaign guidelines.


Apparently, the candidates are now required to clear their statements with headquarters first.



So much for "speaking from the heart."


Personally, I'd rather have a politician who occasionally says the wrong thing than one who never says anything real.


Not because honest politicians are always right. They're not. They'll make mistakes. They'll offend people. They'll say things we'd rather they hadn't.


That's called revealing who they are.


What worries me more is the politician who has mastered the art of saying absolutely nothing while sounding incredibly convincing.


Those politicians tell every audience exactly what it wants to hear. Spend one night with a Malay audience and they sound like champions of Malay rights. Spend the next with a Chinese audience and suddenly they're speaking the language of inclusivity. Visit business owners and they're pro-business. Meet civil servants and they're pro-government. By polling day, everyone thinks they're on the same side.



After polling day, nobody really knows what they believe.


Democracy isn't about electing people who never offend anyone.


It's about electing people who let us know where they really stand before we vote.


Ironically, I thought Rafizi's original defence of Boo made far more sense than the campaign guidelines that followed.


Within a day, the promise of authenticity had quietly become damage control.


That makes Bersama look suspiciously like every other political party that promises to do politics differently - right up until doing politics differently becomes politically inconvenient.

Image credit: Malay Mail


If we really want ordinary Malaysians to enter politics, we have to accept that they won't always sound like seasoned politicians. They'll say the wrong thing. They'll phrase things badly. They'll occasionally offend people.



That's the price of authenticity.


The alternative is a political culture where every speech is scripted, every sentence is tested, and every opinion comes with a disclaimer approved by the communications team.


I'll take the occasional awkward truth over the perfectly rehearsed performance any day.


What disappointed me most wasn't Boo's remarks.


It was how quickly Rafizi abandoned the very principle he had defended just a day earlier.


Leadership isn't tested when everyone applauds. It's tested when the criticism starts.


If your commitment to authenticity lasts only until the first social media storm, perhaps it was never authenticity in the first place.

Respect the Constitution, Not Endless Historical Claims: Penang Exco Tells Sanusi to Focus on Progress Instead

Malaysia's #1 Content Aggregator


Respect the Constitution, Not Endless Historical Claims: Penang Exco Tells Sanusi to Focus on Progress Instead

3 Jul 2026 • 10:30 AM MYT

Kpost
Operation Consultant who is a keen observer of politics and current affairs

Image Credit: Kpost | Illustration generated by Chatgpt

Political disputes over history may generate headlines, but they do little to improve the lives of ordinary Malaysians.


This was the central message delivered by Penang state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai, who has urged Kedah Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor to stop reviving claims that Penang belongs to Kedah and instead focus on strengthening cooperation between the two neighbouring states.



Wong stressed that the issue of Kedah's alleged ownership of Penang remains a contentious and divisive topic that has no place in modern governance. He argued that the matter has long been settled by the Federal Constitution, which clearly recognises Penang and Kedah as two separate states within Malaysia.



According to Wong, the Federal Constitution, first enacted in 1957 and later updated in 1963 following the formation of Malaysia with the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak, provides the legal foundation that all Malaysians should respect. Rather than reopening historical debates, leaders should uphold the Constitution and concentrate on policies that benefit the people.


To reinforce his point, Wong noted that historical records themselves offer differing interpretations. He cited the existence of a Siamese border demarcation stone in Kepala Batas, bearing inscriptions in the Siamese language, which recognised the area as part of Penang rather than Kedah. He said this illustrates how northern Peninsular Malaysia was once influenced by the Siamese Kingdom.



Wong added that if historical influence were used as the basis for territorial claims, the debate would become endless. He pointed to archaeological evidence from the Bujang Valley and Kedah Tua, which suggests that parts of the region were once influenced by ancient Indian and Hindu empires. Likewise, large areas of present-day Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, were also historically shaped by Hindu civilisations.


"If we continue tracing history backwards, there will never be an end to claims and counterclaims," Wong said, arguing that such debates are unproductive in today's world.



Instead, he called on political leaders to prioritise economic growth, regional development and cooperation rather than promoting narratives that could create unnecessary tensions between neighbouring states.


Wong suggested that Sanusi's repeated remarks may be politically motivated to rally support among his constituents by portraying Penang as an adversary. However, he stressed that responsible leadership requires respecting constitutional principles rather than exploiting historical controversies for political gain.



"We are all Malaysians," Wong said, adding that the nation's strength lies in unity rather than division. He emphasised that when one state prospers, neighbouring states also benefit through increased investment, employment and economic opportunities.


The Penang exco member highlighted the close economic relationship between Penang and Kedah, noting that thousands of residents cross state borders daily for work and business. Many Penangites reside in Kedah while working in Penang's industrial sector, while others travel in the opposite direction, creating strong economic interdependence.



He also pointed to the shared use of water resources from Sungai Muda, explaining that both states possess riparian rights to extract water from the river. Rather than arguing over historical ownership, Wong said both governments should work together to ensure sustainable water management and support continued industrial development.


Wong concluded that while political disagreements are inevitable in a democracy, they should never come at the expense of ordinary citizens whose livelihoods depend on the continued prosperity of both Penang and Kedah.



His remarks highlight a broader message that constitutional respect, economic cooperation and shared prosperity offer far greater benefits to Malaysians than revisiting centuries-old territorial disputes.


By: Kpost

***

Fei-Lo has always been an S-Whole 😡😡😡

How to interpret the LRT3 fiscal controversy

How to interpret the LRT3 fiscal controversy

Mariam Mokhtar
Published: Jul 3, 2026 8:00 PM
Updated: 10:00 PM



COMMENT | In debates like LRT3, the word “numbers” appears neutral, but it often masks deeper political and fiscal conflicts.

Engineers see numbers as design constraints, economists see numbers as risk and efficiency, politicians see numbers as credit or blame, whilst the public often sees numbers more simply: either “too expensive” or “money saved”.

The same "numbers" (cost, scope, debt and projections) can be interpreted very differently depending on perspective.

Still, one pattern continues to repeat itself in large public infrastructure projects.

At the start, everything is about vision. During construction, everything is about cost. At the end, everything becomes about credit.

The LRT3 Shah Alam Line is in that final stage. It is finished, it's running, but it is being explained in different ways by different people.

Unsurprisingly, competing political narratives quickly surfaced around the LRT3 completion, with various camps seeking to emphasise the roles played by their preferred leaders, Najib Abdul Razak or Anwar Ibrahim.

Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah cautioned against any party attempting to claim sole credit and stated that the original proposal for the LRT3 project had stemmed from his own concerns about the daily commute faced by the rakyat.

At the same time, the royal statement also highlighted that during Lim Guan Eng’s tenure as finance minister, the project cost was reduced and parts of the plan were revised, with fewer stations and train cars, which critics characterised as reducing the overall “size” of the project.


Two narratives

So, we are left with two clear narratives.

One says that multiple administrations contributed to a successful public transport project. The other argues that key decisions during the rationalisation phase reduced the project’s original scope.

To some people, the word “cuts” sounds simple and negative, as if something was taken away; but in big infrastructure projects, things are not that simple.

A change in cost or design can mean many things: adjusting the plan to match real demand, fixing earlier cost estimates that were too high, or changing contracts to stop future cost increases.

So, what is termed a “cut” in politics may actually be something else in finance, like a correction. Big projects like LRT3 rarely move in a straight line. They evolve step by step.

First, a plan is approved based on forecasts. Then construction starts. Then real costs start to appear. Then problems and overruns become clear. Then decisions are made to fix the situation.

By the time correction happens, the project is already partly locked in, and that is the stage where difficult decisions must be made. Continue and let costs grow further. Or step in and control it.

Most people look at this as a political issue, whereas the real issue is how the contracts are designed.


More expensive, higher fees

In the original model, the project delivery partner was paid based on the total value of the project, and that creates a simple problem.

If the project becomes more expensive, fees can increase. This may not necessarily be corruption, but it is a system that can encourage higher costs over time.

So when the system was changed to fixed-price contracting, that mattered. It was not just paperwork, but a way to control future spending. That is what fiscal discipline actually looks like.

This problem is not unique to Malaysia. In the United Kingdom, the HS2 high-speed rail project has also faced ballooning costs, redesigns, delays, and scope changes.

Parts have been reduced or reconsidered as costs became too high. Not because anyone “failed”, but because large infrastructure projects often cost more than originally expected.

So, when that happens, governments must adjust.

With the LRT3, the disagreement is not really about whether it should exist. It does exist and the disagreement is about what certain decisions mean.

One view says that reducing scope means the project was weakened. Another view says that reducing scope means costs were brought under control.

Both views sound reasonable, but they lead to very different conclusions about responsibility.


Not a simple story

Big infrastructure projects are not one decision, but many decisions over many years, so we should not treat them as one simple story.

There are different stages: approval, construction, adjustment and completion. Each stage involves different people. Each has different pressures. Thus, each stage should be judged differently.

The most important question is not who approved the project, or who completed it, or who inherited it.

The most important question is this: When costs started rising, were decisions made early enough to prevent bigger financial damage later? Because in public finance, the biggest risk is not change, but waiting too long to change.

No one likes changes in big projects. They are hugely controversial and often criticised; but if no changes are made when costs rise, the problem can worsen.

Regrettably, the public pays for it later; through higher debt, higher taxes, or when other services are reduced.

That is the real trade-off.

The LRT3 line is now complete and that is good. However, completion should not stop questions.

We still need to ask how decisions were made along the way. Not to blame individuals for political reasons, but to understand whether public money is being managed properly.

In the end, fiscal discipline is not about political narratives or competing claims of credit.

It is about whether difficult decisions are made early enough to prevent problems from becoming crises, or whether political narratives later turn responsibility into blame.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Find her on her website and on X.