Singapore executes Malaysian K Datchinamurthy

FMT:

Singapore executes Malaysian K Datchinamurthy


The 39-year-old was arrested in 2011 and sentenced to death four years later for smuggling 44.96g of diamorphine into Singapore

K Datchinamurthy was arrested in 2011 and sentenced to death in 2015 for smuggling diamorphine into Singapore. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Singapore executed 39-year-old Malaysian K Datchinamurthy this afternoon for smuggling 44.96g of diamorphine into the island state.

Singapore’s central narcotics bureau confirmed the execution in a statement, maintaining that Datchinamurthy was “accorded full due process under the law and was represented by legal counsel during trial and appeal”.

It added that his clemency petitions to the Singapore president were unsuccessful.


“Capital punishment is imposed only for the most serious crimes, such as the trafficking of significant quantities of drugs which cause very serious harm, not just to individual drug abusers, but also to their families and the wider society,” said the bureau.

Datchinamurthy’s execution was initially scheduled for this morning but was halted, with the family notified after receiving a call from Changi prison after midnight. No reason was disclosed.


Singaporean activist Kokila Annamalai said the prison called the family around 1.40pm today to inform them that Datchinamurthy’s plea for clemency had been rejected by the Singaporean president and that his execution would go ahead.

In a Facebook post, she said the family was told to collect the body at 3pm but the prison refused to state what time the execution would take place.

“The family repeatedly pleaded for a last visit or phone call, and when that was refused, asked if they could pass Datchinamurthy a message through the prison officer on the line. The prison said ‘no’ to that, too.

“There are no words to describe how degrading, cruel and outrageous this treatment is, with the family’s dignity and sanity toyed with so sadistically,” said Kokila.


Datchinamurthy was arrested in 2011 and sentenced to death in 2015. He was scheduled to be executed in 2022 but obtained a stay of execution pending a legal suit against the Singapore government over his death sentence.

He was one of four Malaysians on death row in Singapore whose cases the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia had urged the government to intervene in.

The other three are P Pannir Selvam, S Saminathan and R Lingkesvaran.

***

A pointless cold blooded state sanctioned murder - there will always be silly 'mules' in spite of Datchinamurthy's execution thus capital punishment serves no greater purpose.

Teens as young as 16 being hired as lorry drivers, says JPJ

FMT:

Teens as young as 16 being hired as lorry drivers, says JPJ


The road transport department says operators hire these underage drivers to cut costs

A special operation yesterday led to the arrest of a lorry driver and his attendant, both of whom were underage. (Bernama pic)

KUALA TERENGGANU: The road transport department (JPJ) has detected a trend of some commercial vehicle operators hiring underage drivers in Terengganu.

State JPJ director Zamri Samion said a 16-year-old boy was arrested during a special operation last night for driving a commercial vehicle without a licence at Jalan Tok Adis-Cendering.

He said both the driver and the lorry attendant were underage.


“The lorry, which was carrying coconut shells, was en route from Kuala Terengganu to Marang. We believe the owner hired an underage driver to cut operational costs.

“This is highly risky and endangers both the driver and other motorists. We have issued a summons and impounded the vehicle,” he said at the Gemuruh toll here last night.


Zamri also said that action had been taken against 603 public service vehicles (PSVs) and goods vehicles during a special commercial vehicle operation between Sept 1 and Sept 24.

Some 5,315 vehicles, including express buses, tour buses, lorries, hire cars and e-hailing vehicles, were inspected during the operation.

Violations included driving with expired PSV and goods driving licences, the overloading of goods, expired insurance coverage, and failure to obey traffic lights.

“In addition, 11 vehicles were impounded, 144 were ordered to undergo weighing, and 12 others were issued with various other notices,” Zamri said.

Singapore halts execution of Malaysian on death row

FMT:

Singapore halts execution of Malaysian on death row


Lawyers for Liberty adviser N Surendran says K Datchinamurthy’s family received a call from the prison after midnight, informing them of the matter

K Datchinamurthy was scheduled to be executed today for smuggling 44.96g of diamorphine into Singapore. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: The execution of Malaysian K Datchinamurthy in Singapore, initially scheduled to take place at Changi prison this morning, has been halted.

Lawyer N Surendran, who represents the inmate’s family, said they received a call from the prison after midnight informing them of the matter.

“We have no further information at this point. We are praying for the best outcome,” he told FMT.


Datchinamurthy was scheduled to be executed today for smuggling 44.96g of diamorphine into the city-state.

He was arrested in 2011 and sentenced to death in 2015. He was scheduled to be executed in 2022 but obtained a stay of execution pending a legal suit against the Singapore government over his death sentence.


He is one of four Malaysians on death row in Singapore whom the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia mentioned earlier this month in urging the government to intervene in their executions.

The other three are P Pannir Selvam, S Saminathan and R Lingkesvaran.

In January 2024, the Singapore High Court dismissed applications by two King’s Counsel to represent Saminathan, Datchinamurthy and Lingkesvaran in their appeals against their convictions and sentences.

According to the Straits Times, the court dismissed the bids by Theodoros Kassimatis from Australia and Edward Fitzgerald from Britain, who sought to be admitted to the Singapore Bar on an ad hoc basis to act for the convicts.

***

I suspect merciless Sing has delayed the execution until AFTER the ASEAN Summit is over.

A major breakthrough of US and EU on Ukraine or mere rant? Asean taking notes — Phar Kim Beng

A major breakthrough of US and EU on Ukraine or mere rant? Asean taking notes — Phar Kim Beng


Thursday, 25 Sep 2025 10:42 AM MYT


SEPTEMBER 25 — When US President Donald Trump strode onto the podium at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he once again demonstrated his uncanny ability to confound friends and foes alike. In one sweeping speech, he derided global institutions, questioned the very existence of the UN, told assembled leaders “your countries are going to hell,” and berated Europe for “buying oil and gas from Russia while they’re fighting Russia.”

Hours later, however, he posted on Truth Social that Ukraine could “fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.”

The contradictions were whiplash-inducing. Trump has often expressed scepticism about US commitments abroad, especially the costly support for Ukraine. His sudden proclamation that Kyiv could prevail sounded almost like an endorsement of the very Western solidarity he has previously disparaged. Was this a sustainable breakthrough or just another moment of rhetorical theatre designed to seize headlines?



US President Donald Trump addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on Sept 23, 2025. — Reuters pic


Brussels reacts

Europe responded with cautious optimism. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign-policy chief, welcomed Trump’s remarks. “This is what we have been saying the whole time,” she said during a Foreign Policy event on the sidelines of the UN meetings.

She emphasised that the EU has stayed the course with sanctions against Russia, financial lifelines for Kyiv, and military aid, regardless of Washington’s internal debates. Ukrainian officials, fresh from meeting Trump, appeared buoyed. For them, even fleeting signs of American backing remain a lifeline.


Yet Brussels knows better than to rely solely on Trump’s words.

His history is one of volatility: praising Nato allies one day, questioning the alliance’s relevance the next; expressing admiration for strongmen before pivoting back to condemnation. Europe cannot afford to allow its long-term security to be tethered to such mercurial shifts. That is why Kallas underlined Europe’s determination to act independently: “We are staying on that course. Anybody else who wants to join is welcome.”

Asean watching closely

For Southeast Asia, this spectacle was not distant drama but a live tutorial in the perils of overdependence. Asean has long declared the “centrality of Asean” in regional diplomacy, but the reality is that the region is deeply vulnerable to external swings.

Trump’s rhetorical reversals in New York were a warning shot: reliance on unpredictable external guarantors can destabilise entire regions.

Asean’s policy of neutrality and non-alignment has often been hailed as a strength. Yet neutrality is not immunity. When Washington vacillates on Ukraine, Moscow recalibrates its strategy by courting partners elsewhere—including in Southeast Asia.

Russia has already deepened defence ties with Myanmar and continues to seek energy deals across Asia. China, watching American inconsistency, is emboldened to push its maritime claims in the South China Sea more assertively, calculating that US resolve may falter.

Thus, Ukraine’s war is not only Europe’s crisis. It is a mirror for Asean’s own vulnerabilities. Just as Ukraine’s fate hinges on the credibility of external commitments, Asean’s stability depends on whether great powers treat the region as a partner or merely an arena for rivalry.

Lessons for Asean

There are three lessons Asean must take from the US–EU dynamic over Ukraine.

First, policy independence is non-negotiable. Europe’s insistence on maintaining sanctions and aid to Ukraine regardless of American hesitation sets a precedent.

Asean, too, must design its own resilience strategies rather than letting external powers dictate terms. This means building stronger intra-Asean supply chains, diversifying energy sources, and reinforcing cybersecurity and undersea cable security—critical for the digital economy.

Second, unity outweighs rhetoric. Trump’s whiplash pronouncements highlight how easily external partners can shift course.

Asean’s unity, however fragile, is its only defence against manipulation. Without common positions on Myanmar’s crisis, Thai–Cambodian border clashes, or South China Sea tensions, Asean risks being fragmented by external pressures.

Third, dialogue must produce institutions with teeth. Europe has learned that rhetoric from across the Atlantic cannot substitute for consistent policies. Asean, likewise, must evolve from issuing communiqués to building institutions capable of crisis management.

The idea of a World Dialogue Academy, supported by Asean’s dialogue partners, as proposed by Professor Datuk Osman Bakar the Rector of International Islamic University of Malaysia, could institutionalize resilience by preparing Track 2 and Track 1.5 frameworks that help Asean absorb shocks from unpredictable great powers.

Malaysia’s role as Asean Chair 2025

The stakes are particularly high this year as Malaysia assumes the Asean chairmanship. Kuala Lumpur has already taken bold steps by mediating the Thai–Cambodian border ceasefires in July and August 2025—demonstrating that Asean can defuse crises within its own region when political will is mobilised.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised Malaysia’s role as a “facilitator,” able to bring contending powers to the same table while safeguarding Asean’s credibility.

The upcoming East Asia Summit (EAS) in October 2025, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, will test this convening power to the fullest. Trump and BRICS leaders such as Lula da Silva and Cyril Ramaphosa will gather alongside Asean leaders at East Asian Summit.

Their words will be watched closely, but Asean—under Malaysia’s stewardship—must ensure that dialogue is not reduced to spectacle. Trump’s UN performance is a reminder that leaders may speak in extremes, but Asean must anchor them in frameworks that promote restraint, compromise, and long-term stability.

Malaysia’s chairmanship also coincides with Asean’s efforts to push the Kuala Lumpur Vision 2045. This blueprint envisions Asean as a dialogical community capable of navigating post-normal global turbulence.

The Vision will carry little weight, however, if Asean fails to respond decisively to immediate crises like Myanmar’s civil war or maritime frictions in the South China Sea.

Trump’s rhetorical oscillations in New York underline the urgency: Asean cannot wait for external clarity. It must create its own.

Asean taking notes

If Trump’s apparent embrace of Ukraine’s potential victory signals a genuine breakthrough, it shows that persistence and unity can sway even the most unpredictable leaders.

Asean must internalise this lesson. Its collective resolve—whether on economic integration, humanitarian crises, or security challenges—can shape how external powers engage with the region. But if Trump’s words prove hollow, Asean must prepare for a future where volatility is the norm.

Trump’s rant may evolve into a breakthrough—or it may remain just another performance.

Either way, Asean must take notes, because in a world where even superpowers falter, only those who plan, unify, and prepare will endure.

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

US pushes 21-point Gaza peace plan, envoy sees breakthrough within days

US pushes 21-point Gaza peace plan, envoy sees breakthrough within days



Smoke rises from an Israeli strike, as displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip September 24, 2025. — Reuters pic

Thursday, 25 Sep 2025 9:34 AM MYT


CAIRO, Sept 25 — The United States shared a 21-point Middle East peace plan at this week’s UN meetings and is hopeful for a breakthrough on Gaza in the coming days, its envoy to the region said on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump presented proposals to leaders from several Muslim-majority countries — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt — during a meeting held on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly on Monday, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said.

“I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbours in the region,” he said on Wednesday.

“We’re hopeful, and I might say even confident that in the coming days we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough,” he added.


Israel has drawn global condemnation over its war in Gaza, which is nearing the two-year mark with no ceasefire in sight. The conflict has caused major destruction and killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities.


A global hunger monitor says part of the territory is suffering from famine.

The current war began when Hamas stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. About 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, are still being held.


The White House remains a staunch ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to address the General Assembly in New York on Friday during a US trip that also includes a meeting with Trump.

Both leaders have condemned the recognition of a Palestinian state by Western powers such as France and Britain over the last few days.

Israel has meanwhile pressed on with its military campaign on Gaza City, despite repeated calls for it to pull back.

Hamas’ armed wing told the Israeli military that an expansion of its operation in Gaza City would put Israeli hostages at risk, while Israel’s military called on Gazan residents to “rise up and break away from Hamas” to end the war.

In parallel to Trump’s plan, several European powers and Arab states have also been working on an initiative for what happens after the war in Gaza ends, including creating a stabilisation force made up of European and Muslim countries.

They met on Tuesday after Trump had held his meeting.

European diplomats hope that their work and a declaration endorsed by the General Assembly to support the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission can converge with US plans.

Many remain in Gaza City amid security concerns

But as diplomatic efforts continue to falter, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have left Gaza City in the northern part of the territory, while others have hesitated because of security risks and widespread hunger.

“We moved to the western area near the beach, but many families didn’t have the time. Tanks took them by surprise,” said Thaer, a 35-year-old father of one from Tel Al-Hawa, a suburb of Gaza City.

Israeli forces began closing in on the city of more than a million in August, with Israel saying it aimed to destroy the last stronghold of Hamas militants.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 50 people across Gaza on Wednesday, medics said, most of them in Gaza City when a strike hit a shelter for displaced families near a market. Two more died in a nearby house, they said.

The Israeli military said the strike had targeted two Hamas militants and that its forces tried to reduce harm to civilians.

Video obtained by Reuters showed people sifting through the rubble.

“We were sleeping in God’s care. There was nothing — they did not inform us, or not even give us a sign. It was a surprise,” said Sami Hajjaj. “There are children and women, around 200 people maybe, six to seven families — this square is full of families.”

In Tel Al-Hawa, tanks entered populated areas trapping people in their homes, while more tanks were stationed close to Al-Quds Hospital, witnesses said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said an oxygen station had been damaged.

Tanks have also advanced closer to Gaza’s largest hospital, Al Shifa, witnesses and Hamas media said. The Israeli military said the group’s fighters had opened fire from within the hospital compound, which Hamas denied.

“We fear these lies may be a prelude to another raid on the hospital,” said Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, in reference to several previous raids by Israeli forces.

Israel’s military released grainy aerial footage, which appeared to show gunfire coming from two windows. The military did not immediately respond to Reuters queries about how it established it was Hamas fighters who had opened fire and at whom.

A Hamas security official said “criminal gangs” had opened fire at the hospital from outside the complex.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the conflicting accounts.

Separately, Israeli troops killed one Palestinian in a raid in Anza village outside Jenin and an Israeli settler shot another in al-Mughayyir village north-east of Ramallah over the past 24 hours, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Violence in the West Bank has intensified during the Gaza war, as Israel has stepped up raids across the territory. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the incidents.

In southern Gaza, at least 13 people were killed in Nuseirat and near Rafah, medics said. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which says its attacks are aimed at ending Hamas rule of the enclave. — Reuters

***

Which neutral person would trust a wankee-brokered peace plan involving the shailok state?

Canada strikes Indonesia trade deal, eyes 95pc duty-free exports to cut US reliance

Canada strikes Indonesia trade deal, eyes 95pc duty-free exports to cut US reliance



Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (2nd right) shakes hands with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu (right) as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Indonesian Minister of Trade Budi Santoso look on during the signing of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) on Parliam— AFP pic

Thursday, 25 Sep 2025 9:29 AM MYT


OTTAWA, Sept 25 — Canada aims to establish duty-free access for up to 95 per cent of its exports to Indonesia over the next eight to 12 months, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said, after signing a trade agreement with one of South-east Asia’s biggest markets.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is Canada’s first in the economically crucial Indo-Pacific region since Prime Minister Mark Carney took charge earlier this year with a promise to diversify Canada’s exports away from the US

“I see a lot of opportunities in agriculture, in energy and telecom, in defense and aerospace,” Sidhu said in an interview.

Indonesia was “seriously looking” at Canadian small modular reactors, a new class of relatively compact nuclear reactors, he added.


The bilateral agreement is likely to be ratified by the respective governments within a year or earlier, Sidhu said, adding that Canadian bilateral trade with Indonesia could double within six years.



Indonesia is a small market for Canadian goods and does not feature among its top 10 trading partners. Total bilateral trade between the two countries was just over C$5 billion (RM15 billion) last year in sharp contrast to the US, Canada’s biggest trading partner, where bilateral trade was above C$1 trillion.

Indonesia is Canada’s biggest export market in South-east Asia, giving Canada a gateway to the fast-growing region, Sidhu said.


Canada would look to strike a deal with the Philippines as part of his South-east Asian outreach soon, he added.

“I will be going to the region quite frequently in the next few months to get that visibility, (and) to have conversations with my counterparts,” he said, noting that other countries on his radar in Asia are Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

Canada-China ties

Sidhu said he was likely to travel to China in November as part of an increasing dialogue between the two countries to deescalate a trade war that has hurt some critical sectors in both countries.

Carney has been trying to improve Canada’s relationship with China, its second-biggest trading partner, after US President Donald Trump buffeted Canada with a barrage of tariffs.

Carney said on Tuesday he had “constructive” trade talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expected the dialogue to deepen over time.

“We are having this dialogue, this conversation (and) in the past there hasn’t been that kind of engagement. And we want to make sure we are engaged at all levels,” Sidhu said.

He said Canada was also keen to engage with India on broader economic ties, but discussions were at an early stage. — Reuters

***

Well done! Just bypass the bully and frigg it

Anwar serves durian diplomacy at Asean gala, likens taste to blue cheese

 

Anwar serves durian diplomacy at Asean gala, likens taste to blue cheese



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim exchanges pleasantries with Brunei’s Minister Dato Dr Amin Liew Abdullah at the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur on September 24, 2025. — Bernama pic

Thursday, 25 Sep 2025 10:04 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — “Asean diplomacy” came alive last night as attendees of the 57th Asean Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and related meetings Gala Dinner were served durian, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim likening its taste to that of blue cheese.

Anwar, who is also the Chairman of Asean 2025, highlighted that serving durian, which is Malaysia’s king of fruits, alongside local delicacies was a test of Malaysia’s resolve to introduce Asean diplomacy to the global stage.

“Some of you are not yet familiar with durian, but I would strongly suggest that you try it. It is like blue cheese – you either like it or you hate it,” he said during his keynote address at the Gala Dinner for the 57th AEM Meeting here tonight.

Also present were Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; the Philippines’ Secretary of Trade and Industry, Ma Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, as the next AEM chairperson; Asean economic ministers and representatives; as well as Asean dialogue partner representatives.


According to Anwar, Asean is not merely an ordinary region but one with boundless promise, and he urged the grouping to unlock its full potential for the benefit of its people, partners and future generations.

“Malaysia remains committed to ensuring that growth is inclusive, that no member state is left behind, and that the dividends of integration are equitably shared,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul in his opening remarks said the buffet spread at the Gala Dinner reflected the unity and centrality of the Asean community.


“We have nasi lemak, gado-gado, chicken rice, pad thai, adobo and so forth. And while we may debate which is best, we all agree no one leaves an Asean dinner hungry,” he said.

The evening was further enlivened by performances from local singers including Amsyar Lee, Shiha Zikir, Wanie Kyrie and Marsha Milan Londoh, along with cultural performances from various groups. — Bernama

***

ASEAN??? Everyone will wallop the durians, wakakaka

MACC widens Dr Mahathir asset probe to Switzerland after UK investigations

MACC widens Dr Mahathir asset probe to Switzerland after UK investigations



The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki speaks to media after attending the Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) 8th Anniversary Celebration at Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya today.

Wednesday, 24 Sep 2025 2:02 PM MYT


CYBERJAYA, Sept 24 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today confirmed that its probe into the assets of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been extended to Switzerland, following earlier investigations in the United Kingdom (UK).

Its Chief Commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, said the commission was now working with both countries to gather further information.

“We are also looking at other countries such as Switzerland. (At present) we are still collaborating with UK authorities, among them the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), which is assisting us should there be any assets involving Dr Mahathir, but there are no further developments yet,” he said.

He told reporters this when asked about the case after attending the Integrity and Leadership Day 2025 at Multimedia University here today.


The IACCC, a specialised unit under the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) based in London, is assisting with the case.

In April 2024, Azam was reported as saying that the former prime minister was among individuals being investigated in connection with the asset declaration.

Following the probe, his two sons were issued notices under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009 to declare their assets within a stipulated period.


On January 21 this year, it was reported that according to their asset declarations submitted to MACC, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir owned assets valued at about RM1 billion, while Mirzan Mahathir declared RM246.2 million in assets.

In another development, Azam said investigations into arrests made in connection with the ‘counter setting’ scandal were being finalised, although no new arrests had been made so far.

“I have directed my officers to expedite the investigation within the next three weeks. Any updates, including whether there will be charges, will be announced later,” he said.

On September 10, MACC announced the arrest of 27 individuals, including 18 enforcement agency officers, suspected of involvement in a ‘counter setting’ syndicate that allegedly allowed foreigners to enter Malaysia without following proper procedures.

According to sources, the suspects, comprising 19 men and eight women aged between 20 and 50, were arrested in an operation across Selangor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan. — Bernama

Johor MACC busts ‘counter-setting’ ring, arrests 12 including seven enforcement officers

Johor MACC busts ‘counter-setting’ ring, arrests 12 including seven enforcement officers



Some of the 12 suspects, escorted by Johor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers at the entrance to the Johor Bahru courthouse, September 24, 2025. — Picture courtesy of Johor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)

Wednesday, 24 Sep 2025 7:04 PM MYT


JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 24 — The Johor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 12 individuals, including seven enforcement officers serving at various entry checkpoints in the state and Melaka, on suspicion of corruption involving a counter-setting syndicate.

The border control enforcement officers have been identified as being attached to the entry checkpoints at the Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal, Muar Ferry Terminal and Melaka Ferry Terminal.

The syndicate is believed to be responsible for facilitating the illegal entry of Indonesian nationals into the country.

Magistrate Suhaili Sapun granted a six-day remand order for two suspects until September 29, while another 10 suspects were remanded for five-days until September 28 after an application was made by the Johor MACC at the Sessions Court here this morning.


The suspects, involving 10 men and two women, aged between 20 and 50, were arrested in Johor and Penang yesterday.

Based on initial investigations, the arrested enforcement officers are believed to have received bribes of more than RM490,000 from agents and runners, who were also arrested in the anti-graft operation.

The suspects are believed to be involved in a syndicate bringing in foreigners through the “counter setting” method at maritime entrances from 2024 to early 2025.


The term “counter setting" refers to a form of corruption involving Malaysian border control officers facilitating illegal entry of foreign nationals through bribery, bypassing standard procedures and enabling human trafficking and illegal migration.

Following the arrests, MACC investigators also seized and confiscated various items such as cash of RM50,000, Indonesian currency of IDR71,000,000 (RM17,910), a Toyota Vellfire luxury multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) worth RM115,000 and an Italjet Dragster motorcycle worth approximately RM30,000.

The anti-graft commission also made an application to freeze 25 banking accounts belonging to 13 individuals involving a value of RM1.2 million.

Yesterday, Johor MACC in collaboration with the commission’s intelligence division carried out operations in Johor and Penang through the nationwide Op Setting operation.

Johor MACC director Hairuzam Mohmad Amin@Hamim, when contacted, confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) and Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.

He said that two other suspects have since been released on MACC bail.

MM Online:

Anwar awarded Timor-Leste’s highest honour, the Grand Collar of the Order

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim receives the highest award, the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, presented by the President of Timor-Leste, José Manuel Ramos-Horta, at the Asean Timor-Leste Hall in the Presidential Palace in Dili, September 24, 2025. — Bernama pic

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Wednesday, 24 Sep 2025 7:22 PM MYT

DILI, Sept 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today received the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the nation’s highest award, in recognition of his long-standing advocacy and Malaysia’s role in supporting the country’s Asean aspirations, especially as the Asean Chair for 2025.

The award was conferred by President Dr José Ramos-Horta after Anwar delivered his Presidential Lecture entitled “Asean & The Role of Timor-Leste” at the Presidential Palace here. 

“On behalf of fellow Malaysians, I humbly accept this (award) and express our gratitude to receive your nation’s highest and most prestigious honour,” said Anwar.

The Order of Timor-Leste is bestowed upon individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the nation, with the Grand Collar reserved for heads of state and government.

Past recipients include the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who played a pivotal role in strengthening Timor-Leste’s diplomatic standing and development. — Bernama 

***

Anwar in his element, lapping up what he loves most about his job, international scene, in limelight, being exalted😆😆😆 Congrats DSAI

After Jalur Gemilang, it’s kuih nyonya’s turn to be weaponised as object of immigrant hegemony

After Jalur Gemilang, it’s kuih nyonya’s turn to be weaponised as object of immigrant hegemony

FOLLOWING closely footstep of rightist UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who has staunchly lambasted those who flew the Jalur Gemilang upside down as “an unpatriotic bunch of traitors”, a self-proclaimed mildly-radical nationalist has turned to ‘gastronomical theft’ to uplift his ethnical supremacy.


This came about as Tun Ahmad Al-Bab (@TunSyed78817) picked a bone with “a Chinese company” that sells a wide variety of Malay kuih by simply re-branding them as “Kuih Nyonya”.


Editor’s Note: Based on exchanges by commenters, the poster probably refers to Nyonya Colors which specialises in premium home-made Nyonya Kueh as one of the businesses.

“They refuse to acknowledge its origin (Malay) given (the) nyonya (Straits Chinese women) adopted Malay culture, speak the language and call (themselves) Peranakan (Chinese),” Tun Ahmad Al-Bab lashed out on X.

Tun Ahmad Al-Bab

@TunSyed78817

·

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Chinese company be selling kuih melayu with different names now. "Kuih Nyonya" They refuse to acknowledge it's origin (Malay) as nyonya adopted Malay culture, speak the language, and called "peranakan" Stop hiding behind the "peranakan" name, you don't even speak Malay.

12:05 PM · Sep 21, 2025

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“Stop hiding behind the peranakan name, you (the company) don’t even speak Malay.”

To sidetrack a little, apart from kuih nynoya, the poster also claimed Mee Tarik (hand-pulled noodles) as a Malay heritage “originating from the Majapahit kingdom which Parameswara (Melaka’s first sultan) ate as breakfast before set sail on his trading mission to China”.

Back to the topic at hand, architect in his late 50s Anuar Aziz (@SaifulA77188378) defended Nyonya Colors for having “re-popularised traditional kuih at shopping malls till many Malaysians become aware of their names now”.

Others, too, do not perceive as offensive the act of commercialising traditional kuih with one commenter likening it to “Malay cooking char koay teow or even noodles without knowing their Chinese origin”.

Or the very fact that “many kuih owe their origin to Malay-Nyonya cultural fusion that even the word kuih originated from the Hokkien word 粿 (kway)”.

Even a Malay lady chided Tun Ahmad Al-Bab for behaving like Indonesians and Singaporeans who tend to claim Malaysian heritage cuisines as theirs.

After all, she accused the poster of slandering given Nyonya Color “has never re-name their kuih to a Chinese name”.

Australian-born entrepreneur, consultant, academic and researcher Murray Hunter who has been involved in Asia-Pacific business for the last 30 years tried to mediate by describing the ensuing phenomenon as “globalism just like taking cultural products of Indonesia and calling it Malay”.

Some commenters also pointed to Malay vendors “selling Indian delicacies such as roti canai, Indian curry, briyani, putu, kuih denderam and so much more while refusing to acknowledge its origin (India) and sometimes even changing their name”.

One commenter suggested that Tun Ahmad Al-Bab confront the Straits Chinese community with his grouses instead of “targettng the Chinese community as a whole”.

“Go argue with the Peranakan (folks) since they own the dish. If we ever re-name it Kuih Ah Beng or Kuih Ah Huat. then only come and fight with us.”

Another ticked off the poster for his tendency of “picking a fight every day” to which the the defiant Tun Ahmad Al-Bab stood his ground that “compromising style doesn’t work”.

Ay the end of the day, one commenter who seemingly knows the poster spilled the beans by depicting him as “an ex-ISA detainee who’s now operating his anti-Chinese ops from Australia”, thus advising fellow Malaysians against “getting sucked into this cesspool of hate”. – Sept 24, 2025

Main image credit: My Colonial Café/Facebook