Friday, November 14, 2025

Punjab grenade attack module, Malaysia-based masterminds !! What The Hell Is Going On?

Friday, November 14, 2025

Punjab grenade attack module, Malaysia-based masterminds !! What The Hell Is Going On?

grenade attack module backed by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI
Malaysia-based masterminds
currently residing in Malaysia
communicating with Pak handlers through 3 intermediaries in M'sia
Red Corner Notices (RCNs) issued against Ajay, alias Ajay Malaysia

Here is some shocking news from India (Hindustan Times) dated 14 Nov 2025.

Click here

Published on: Nov 14, 2025

Punjab Police on Thursday unearthed a grenade attack module backed by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI and arrested 10 people. Officials said the accused were in touch with Pakistan-based handlers to carry out a grenade attack aimed at creating unrest in Punjab

Ludhiana: Punjab Police on Thursday unearthed a grenade attack module backed by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI and arrested 10 people. Officials said the accused were in touch with Pakistan-based handlers to carry out a grenade attack aimed at creating unrest in Punjab.

Director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had been communicating with their handlers in Pakistan through three intermediaries based in Malaysia.

These handlers allegedly coordinated the pickup and delivery of a hand grenade and tasked the group with executing an attack in a crowded area.

Addressing a press conference, Ludhiana commissioner of police Swapan Sharma said Red Corner Notices (RCNs) were being issued against Ajay, alias Ajay Malaysia, Jass Behbal and Pawandeep, all natives of Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and currently residing in Malaysia. They are suspected to have direct links with Pakistan’s ISI, he said.

The operation began on October 27, when police arrested Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Muktsar, and recovered a live Chinese hand grenade, a black kit, and a pair of gloves.

An FIR was registered at the Basti Jodhewal police station under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Explosives Act and Section 113 (terrorist act) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Later, sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were added.

Subsequently, Shekhar and Ajay, both from Muktsar, were arrested. As the probe expanded, Amrik Singh, Parminder, alias Chiri, and Vijay were brought on production warrants from different jails and nominated as accused. Four others — Sukhjit Singh, alias Sukh Brar, and Sukhwinder Singh of Faridkot, Karanveer Singh alias Vicky of Sri Ganganagar, and Sajan Kumar alias Sanju of Muktsar Sahib — were also arrested for allegedly acting as couriers and facilitators.

According to the commissioner of police, the probe found that Malaysia-based masterminds Ajay, Jass and Pawandeep had earlier used Amrik Singh and Parminder alias Chiri in drug trafficking operations and later engaged them for the grenade plot.

Vijay, brother of Ajay Malaysia and currently lodged in Sri Ganganagar jail in an NDPS case, was also found to have facilitated the operation.

“The investigation has exposed a well-organised cross-border network operating through foreign handlers and local couriers to smuggle explosives into Punjab,” Sharma said.

My Comments: So once again foreign terrorists are using Malaysia to plan their terrorist activities. After the infamous 9-11 attacks against the Twin Towers in New York on September 11th 2001, the 9/11 Commission Report said that the al Qaeda terrorists had held meetings in Kuala Lumpur in January 2000:

The 9/11 Commission report extensively discusses the January 2000 al-Qaeda meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where key 9/11 hijackers and other operatives planned aspects of the attacks. The meeting was attended by Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, two of the 9/11 hijackers, along with other prominent al-Qaeda members like Hambali and Ramzi bin al-Shibh.

That was 25 years ago. Now 25 years later other foreign terrorists are also having their meetings here in Malaysia.

Woi bodoh, havent you all learned anything?

Selangor MB in firing line by rightists for wanting to turn Chinese new villages into a tourist attraction

Selangor MB in firing line by rightists for wanting to turn Chinese new villages into a tourist attraction

SELANGOR Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has apparently been taunted by nationalist-slant groups for “overzealously wanting to lift the status of Chinese new villages” in the state.

In so doing, he has earned the wrath of one rightist for turning a deaf ear to the so-called previous reprimand by Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

“Selangor is a Malay state. Its ruler is Malay. Its B must be Malay. Its (official) language is Malay. It is located in Tanah Melayu,” berated Randuk on his Facebook page.

“The state’s coat of arms is Jawi-based. There’s not a single word of Chinese mentioned in the Federal Constitution nor the Selangor State Constitution.”

In his rant, Randuk went on to give Amirudin who is also the Selangor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman tongue lashing for what he deemed as “mushrooming of archways to Chinese new villages in Mandarin side-by-side the Selangor state coat of arms without permits” during his reign.

“In fact, there’re lots of Chinese business signs that prosti*ute the Malay language. For your information, all business signs must prioritise our national language in terms of size, position and colour,” fumed the poster.

Kita kena lebih vokal bersuara terhadap MB Selangor YB Amirudin Shari ni. Dah kena marah dengan Sultan Selangor pun tak jalan.

Selangor adalah negeri Melayu. Rajanya Melayu. Menteri Besar nya wajib Melayu. Bahasanya Melayu. Duduknya di Tanah Melayu.

Jata negerinya berteraskan jawi.

998

2.5K

“NGO Pertubuhan Pemerkasaan Identiti Malaysia (IDENTITI) has made many complaints about the prosti*ution of our national language in Selangor but there has been no action especially in places controlled by DAP.

“Didn’t the Selangor ruler order the removal of Chinese signs in 2018? I was personally involved in this protest.”

Support pouring in

Delving further, Randuk pointed to Sekinchan whereby for a year now, complaints have been made about signboards in the state being written in Chinese “even though the law requires them to be ONLY in Bahasa Melayu”.

“It’s like Tongsan (slang for China) now. Is Amiruddin the Selangor MB or a DAP puppet? It seems like they’re riding on the tourism industry to prosti*ute the Bahasa Melayu and try to change our country’s identity.”

Like it or not, Randuk was successful in hitting a raw nerve with many like-minded rightists in concordance that the PKR vice-president “truly deserved” the derogatory title of “a DAP lapdog” for undermining the national language/identity.

Others accused the PH-led Selangor state government of having a “hidden agenda to specifically luring Chinese tourists” rather than to make Selangor a global tourism hub.

One netizen claimed that Amirudin “has no love for Selangor as he wasn’t a genuine Selangorian (he grew up in Pontian, Johor) but just a salaried worker”.

“Can the Selangor ruler kindly appoint a Malay child from Selangor?” he pleaded.

Others labelled the state leader as a “traitor to his own race” while a few commenters suggested that it would be more worthwhile to visit China if one wants to view Chinese villages.

Well, narrow-minded or otherwise, this is a major challenge that PH has to anticipate in the 16th General Election (GE16) lest the Opposition will make bigger breakthrough into Selangor. – Nov 14, 2025

Israeli troops forced Palestinians into explosive-laden tunnels

Israeli troops forced Palestinians into explosive-laden tunnels – Reuters

Israeli troops employed the tactic of sending Palestinian civilians into Hamas tunnels that they knew might be rigged with explosives, a practice the country’s leadership was aware of, Reuters has reported, citing former US officials with knowledge of intelligence.
Information about Israel officials discussing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) engaging in such practices was shared with the administration of President Joe Biden by US intelligence agencies in the final months of 2024, the agency said on Thursday.
This prompted questions within the White House and US intelligence community over how extensively Israel had used civilians as human shields during the Gaza operation, according to two sources. Such tactics violate international law and are considered a war crime.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it “prohibits the use of civilians as human shields or coercing them in any way to participate in military operations.” The Israeli military police told Reuters it was investigating “suspicions involving Palestinians in military missions.” — RT

Our Take: The more we learn about the culture of the IDF, the more apparent it becomes that Israel is incompatible with western values— which are Christian values. — GhostofBasedPatrickHenry

Let's Put to Bed the Issue Of Malays and the Myth of Roman Shipwrights

Let's Put to Bed the Issue Of Malays and the Myth of Roman Shipwrights

14 Nov 2025 • 11:30 AM MYT

Mihar Dias
A behaviourist by training, a consultant and executive coach by profession

Image credit: Britannica

By Mihar Dias November 2025

Every now and then, someone decides to rewrite history with the imagination of a Netflix scriptwriter — claiming, with chest-thumping pride, that ancient Malays once taught the Romans how to build ships.

Yes, those same Romans whose empire stretched from Britain to North Africa, whose galleys ruled the Mediterranean for centuries — apparently got their maritime wisdom from people who hadn’t even heard of them.

Let’s put that myth to bed once and for all.

According to Victor Labate’s well-researched study, Roman Shipbuilding & Navigation (World History Encyclopedia, 2017), the Romans were not born sailors at all. They were land-loving soldiers and farmers who learned shipbuilding from the people they conquered — namely the Carthaginians, Greeks, Egyptians, and their Phoenician forebears (Labate, 2017).

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1028/roman-shipbuilding--navigation/

None of these, the last time we checked, were found anywhere near the Straits of Malacca.

By the 6th century BCE — that’s roughly two thousand years before Hang Tuah — Mediterranean shipwrights were already joining planks with the locked mortise-and-tenon technique, a hallmark of classical naval craftsmanship.

The Romans later evolved this into the more efficient “frame-first” method, which became the foundation for modern shipbuilding (Labate, 2017).

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1028/roman-shipbuilding--navigation/

In short, their technology was the product of millennia of Mediterranean innovation, not imported from some distant tropical archipelago.

Roman warships like the trireme and quinquereme weren’t humble fishing boats either. They were lightweight, fast, and armed with bronze rams designed to smash enemy hulls. These were machines of war — not the handiwork of island craftsmen experimenting with outrigger canoes.

Their merchant ships, some capable of carrying up to 600 tons of cargo, traversed the Mediterranean centuries before the first Malay seafarers ventured beyond the South China Sea (Labate, 2017).

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1028/roman-shipbuilding--navigation/

And let’s not forget navigation. Roman sailors used the stars, winds, and coastlines to find their way — techniques inherited from the Phoenicians who charted by the constellations long before any compass made it to Europe (Labate, 2017).

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1028/roman-shipbuilding--navigation/

They recorded detailed periploi — written sailing directions — by the 4th century BCE, effectively creating the ancient world’s first maritime manuals.

By the height of the Empire, Rome’s fleets dominated what they proudly called Mare Nostrum — “our sea.”

Thousands of ships sailed regular trade routes between Egypt, Greece, and Italy, feeding a city of over a million people through ports like Ostia and Pozzuoli. That was the logistics backbone of an empire — not the handiwork of some forgotten Malay maritime apprenticeship programmes.

So, let’s give credit where it’s due. Roman naval power came from centuries of Mediterranean innovation and conquest, not from a transoceanic collaboration that never happened.

The Romans built their empire on land and sea, while our ancestors — brilliant navigators in their own right — mastered the island trade routes of the Malay Archipelago. Both are achievements worth celebrating, but let’s not mix the curry with the carbonara.

Because, frankly, the idea that Romans learned shipbuilding from Malays isn’t history — it’s historical fan fiction.

References:

Victor Labate, Roman Shipbuilding & Navigation, World History Encyclopedia, published 6 March 2017. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1028/roman-shipbuilding--navigation/

Kedah UMNO wants Teresa Kok to apologise over her 'Langkawi statement'

theVibes.com:

Kedah UMNO wants Teresa Kok to apologise over her 'Langkawi statement'

Kedah UMNO Chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said Teresa's statement was considered disrespectful of Langkawi's position as a colony under the patronage of the Sultan of Kedah

Updated 2 hours ago · Published on 14 Nov 2025 4:59PM

Teresa suggested that Langkawi be administered as a Federal Territory to boost tourism development more systematically. – November 14, 2025

KEDAH UMNO has urged Seputeh MP Teresa Kok to make a public apology after she allegedly offended the people of Kedah and affected the sovereignty of the Sultan of Kedah through her proposal to have Langkawi placed under the administration of the Federal government.

Kedah UMNO Chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said Teresa's statement was considered disrespectful of Langkawi's position as a colony under the patronage of the Sultan of Kedah.

"She should be more aware and sensitive to any matter that she wants to raise on any platform, including in the Dewan Rakyat despite having immunity," he said in a statement on Friday.

Mahdzir stressed that the DAP MP should not interfere in matters involving the institution of the Rulers, let alone touch the ownership rights of the Sultan of Kedah's colonies.

"A matter like this is not something that can be raised at will because it involves the Sultan.

"The matter of the colonies under His Majesty's control is not like picking up fallen coconuts on the side of the road that have no owner. This is a matter of sovereignty that cannot be compromised," he said.

According to the former menteri besar, any development issues in Langkawi can be resolved through other approaches without having to hand over the island to the Federal government.

"In Langkawi, there is already the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) as a Federal agency which role is to develop tourism potential. What is needed is to strengthen the existing role," he said.

Teresa allegedly criticised the Kedah state government under the leadership of PAS for allegedly failing to develop Langkawi.

She believed that Langkawi has its own strengths in the tourism sector and is more suitable to be developed under the administration of the Federal government.

Teresa suggested that Langkawi be administered as a Federal Territory or International Zone to boost tourism development more systematically. – November 14, 2025

***

(MIS)Using HRH's name to defend incompetence

Who directed NRD to issue false documents?

Who directed NRD to issue false documents?

R Nadeswaran
Published: Nov 14, 2025 11:00 AM
Updated: 2:04 PM

COMMENT | Dear Mr Prime Minister,

While you were preparing to bask in the company of Donald Trump and rub shoulders with world leaders, your aides may have missed - or deliberately overlooked - a scandal that eclipsed even the impromptu dancing on the tarmac of Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

From The Guardian in the UK to The Globe and Mail in Canada, from Taipei Times to Deccan Herald in India, one word described our beloved nation: “Cheats.”

The Independent reported: “Fifa accused Malaysia of submitting ‘fraudulent documentation’ to suggest that several of its foreign-born players were eligible to compete for the country, which amounted to ‘pure and simple, a form of cheating.’”

The BBC echoed: “Fifa accuses Malaysia of faking foreign-born players' eligibility.” Even CBS, a network that rarely covers football (or soccer as the Americans call it), headlined: “Fifa accuses Malaysia FA of using 'doctored documentation' to field ineligible players.”

This, Mr Prime Minister, is the legacy forged under your watch. While you projected a modern, global Malaysia on the world stage, your administration presided over a scheme that has made us a pariah in international sport.

The integrity of our nation has been hollowed out - not by foreign critics, but by the hands of sports officials aided by our own government. The good name of the country has been dragged through the mud, and the moniker “cheats” appears to be stuck.

Not a mere failure

Let me be blunt: This is not merely a failure of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). It could not have forged official documents.

But it was provided with false documentation - birth certificates, passports, identity cards, and citizenship papers - issued by government agencies under your purview.

What went wrong is now public knowledge. And to save itself, FAM has served you, your ministers, and the government as sacrificial lambs to the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa).

On Oct 18, during a press conference on its appeal against Fifa’s disciplinary action, FAM’s Geneva-based legal counsel Serge Vittoz declared: “FAM was not a party.” If not FAM, then who? The National Registration Department (NRD)? The government?

There was a deafening silence from Vittoz and other FAM officials seated at the main table.

Where it all began

How did all this start?

Mr Prime Minister, you may recall congratulating the national team after its victory over Vietnam in the Asian Cup Group F qualifier on June 10. In a Facebook post the following day, you wrote: “Congratulations, Harimau Malaya. Let yesterday's victory be the start of a more glorious comeback.”

In response, FAM issued a statement crediting not just financial support from you and the government, but also its role in “facilitating documentation” for new heritage players.

“It is hoped that the full support from the country's top leadership and fans will continue to inspire Harimau Malaya's performance,” the statement read.

The perception created by that note of gratitude implied that you had helped with the citizenship papers for the seven players. FAM insinuated that the government created the false documents.

It can be said that FAM now bit the hand that fed it, but put in a corner, it shifted the blame to protect itself and the officials behind this shameful affair.

It fell on Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution to explain, but he stumbled when asked how seven players were granted “instant citizenship.” His defence: they were naturalised under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution, with residency requirements waived under Article 20(1)(e).

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

He added that since 2018, 23 foreign footballers had received citizenship through naturalisation, and that he exercised discretion under the law.

But legal experts, including Eric Paulsen of Lawyers for Liberty, swiftly dismantled that defence. The discretionary clause applies only to individuals who have already lived in Malaysia - not to those who have never set foot here.

Lack of faith in local talent

This scandal has turned Malaysian identity into a transactional commodity - made-up for short-term sporting glory. It is a betrayal of every citizen who holds his or her MyKad with pride, and a cruel dismissal of every local athlete who has earned the right to wear the national jersey and the many who represented “The king and country.”

What message does this send? That our system does not believe in homegrown talent. To our youth, the message is clear: “Hang up your boots. Focus on your books.”

A government that resorts to shortcuts and deception, importing mercenaries through fraudulent documents, has already decided its true sons are not good enough.

The wins may glitter, but the truth has tarnished them beyond repair. What was once celebrated as a national triumph now stands exposed as a fraud.

We are not champions - we are cheats. The fleeting euphoria of victory has collapsed into the permanent stain of global disgrace.

Ordinarily, NRD director Badrul Hisham Alias would not issue birth certificates on his own volition. Nor would he have bothered to gather “secondary evidence” - whatever that means - without direction. Unseen hands orchestrated this scam.

Please come clean

Therefore, Mr Prime Minister, for the sake of clarity, accountability, and transparency, you must come clean. You must tell us, Malaysians, your role in this sordid exercise for which FAM thanked you profusely.

But since the Fifa Disciplinary Committee’s announcement on Sept 27, you have maintained stoic and indifferent silence, ignoring the loud noise from citizens.

This is a defining moment for your leadership. You cannot dismiss it as a “sports issue” or “don’t involve me.”

But there could have been a request from FAM, which you could have passed to your aides - with a “sila uruskan” (please handle) minute - who took it upon themselves to undertake the “manufacture” of the documents.

I repeat: No public servant would dare to break the law intentionally unless he can rely on the “saya yang menurut perintah” (I who follows orders) – an ethos of the Malaysian civil service.

Enough lies have been concocted to cover up the false narrative. Innocent parties have been drawn into this quagmire of deceit. Several hundred man-hours in terms of productivity have been lost. Large sums of public money have been expanded to cover these lies.

Enough is enough, Mr Prime Minister, you must act. Please clear your name and the country’s - cleanse this rot. Hold those officials sitting on a pedestal to account. Restore the meaning of our anthem, our flag, and the honour of representing Malaysia.

You owe Malaysians the truth. The world is watching - again. Let them see a leader and a nation that holds itself accountable.

R NADESWARAN says enough of talk and passing the buck, and it is no longer a whodunit mystery. The truth must emerge to resurrect the country’s battered image. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com

***

Saifuddin's head must roll as a sacrificial appeasement to nationwide and worldwide anger at Malaysia's duplicity

DAP needs to set itself apart to combat PAS's influence

OPINION | DAP needs to set itself apart to combat PAS's influence

14 Nov 2025 • 8:30 AM MYT

Timothy
A Student who dabbles in the left side of politics

DAP logo. Credit: DAP

More than a year and a half ago, I wrote an article entitled: "Opinion: There is something wrong with DAP, and it is party disillusionment", which introduced the idea of what DAP's foundational values are, how they've deviated from them and how they could get back to upholding their foundational documents. Since then, there have been some political developments, which have been very noteworthy.

Consolidation of Social Democrats

Firstly, they have concluded their 18th Party Congress earlier this year and right from the get-go, there was already noise surrounding the Party - particularly in regards to Party Chairman, Lim Guan Eng. Party insiders told Free Malaysia Today that there was a faction inside DAP that wanted to oust Mr Lim, with him being viewed as a "growing liability" which could harm the Party's image and public perception. Back then, I questioned the integrity of DAP's party positioning and the internal struggles for power between the neoliberal, market-oriented Red Faction and the social democratic Blue Faction, and it seems the Party gave an answer.

At the Congress, for ideological reasons or not, Mr Lim, a prominent member of the neoliberal (The Red Faction) wing of DAP, was ousted by Mr Gobind Singh, who is perceived to align himself with the Social Democratic (Blue Faction) wing of DAP, which signals that the Party might be coming back to its social democratic roots. This shift could potentially change the political landscape in Malaysia, as the Party's more communitarian and inclusive message could resonate with a broader audience. In addition, Blue Faction members such as Liew Chin Tong, who was elected to be the National Strategist, and Hannah Yeoh, who was elected to be the Deputy Secretary General, consolidated power and adopted a more communitarian and inclusive message, while Red Faction Members like Lim Hui Ying, Mr Lim's Sister, and Teresa Kok lost power in the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the governing committee for the day to day running of DAP.

DAP's ties to the Federal Government

At a glance, DAP should be one of the primary beneficiaries of being in federal office. They are the largest caucus in Pakatan Harapan [PH], the primary coalition that governs Malaysia, with almost half of PH MPs being DAP party members. They have been working with Parti Keadilan Rakyat [PKR] for a while now, even when Barisan Alternatif was still alive and kicking during the last few years of the 20th century. The economy, numbers-wise, at the time of writing, is doing relatively well, with strong economic growth (4.4% in the 2nd Quarter) and low inflation (1.5% in September). However, systemic socio-economic issues still exist.

Underemployment still exists for 1.96 million Malaysian workers, which translates to approximately 35% of Malaysian degree and diploma holders - that's greater than one in three. Income Inequality still overshadows our economic growth, with the Gini index hitting a 50-year low of 39, which is good and a step in the right direction. However, we are still marketably "above the global average" of 35.28, according to the World Bank, with the latest numbers published in 2022 saying that the top 10% in Malaysian society earn more than 30% of the national income, while the bottom 40% of Malaysian society earning about 16%, according to the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). Even though the numbers are from 2022, it is unlikely that a sizable shift has happened since then, especially not with the current MADANI Government. Either way, this signals a clear class division that transcends ethnic lines, lines that the political establishment has exploited to garner more votes during a general election. Educational issues remain a central focus in Malaysian society, with our public schools underperforming in comparison to other ASEAN nations and being underfunded, leading us to lag technologically and educationally.

In the face of all these issues and challenges, DAP has remained largely silent. Anthony Loke, the DAP party leader, who seems like a genuine guy, keeps his head down and does the work as it relates to his Transportation Portfolio, with him doing his job effectively. However, he does not strike across as an effective party leader. An effective party leader would look at the recent party congress election results to embolden him to create an opportunity for DAP to prove to voters and the Malaysian public that this is a new DAP, a DAP which can distinguish itself from the political establishment and shake off the shackles of neoliberalism, which is the only way to hurt the conservative, reactionary and religious-backed wave of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, known to most as PAS. However, his perceived silence may give rise to PAS and BERSATU in Perikatan Nasional to seize the narrative talking points and use that as leverage in the polls.

PAS's appeal and lessons from abroad

It is becoming increasingly evident by the day that PAS is like most far-right parties in Europe, utilising Trumpian tactics: stoke up anger in the voter base by running on those cultural hot button issues, vaguely promise a better economic life for all and somehow, profit from it. Throughout recent history, dating back to the 20th century, during times of uncertainty and stability, voters have turned to more ideologically populist messaging to quench their thirst for some change, and PAS right now dominates that narrative. PAS, for better or worse, is consistent in calling for there to be a new Malaysia - one that is more steadfast in the beliefs of Islam, sure, but a new Malaysia nonetheless.

In my article about rejecting Kulturkampf, embracing Klassenkampf, I touched on the points about the appeal of Culture Warfare that parties like PAS bring: a sense of control in a world where there is increasingly less control, and there is some element of truth to the rhetoric they bring to the Malaysian public. The wealthiest in our society do not pay enough in taxes, and many of our fresh graduates and young workers are getting screwed over by the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence by corporate interests, which seek to suppress wages to pad out their bottom line. To change the narrative in the Malaysian political scene, DAP - the party that is supposed to be social democratic, or even democratic socialist in its foundational documents - can take lessons from New York City's recent mayoral race.

Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, won the closely watched New York City mayoral race, beating out Andrew Cuomo by 9 points - and Mamdani himself won 50.4% of the vote, giving him a majority and a clear mandate to govern New York City. He was very focused in his campaign speeches and his rhetoric, with there being one central message: affordability. He proposed raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations to pay for free buses and running a chain of city-owned grocery stores. Additionally, he promised to build 200,000 more housing units over the next 10 years, implement a rent freeze, and implement universal childcare for every New Yorker - all reported by the Guardian. He even promised to make the minimum wage in New York City $30.00/hour by 2030, which will close the gap between what is considered a livable wage and the current minimum wage, which, at the moment, is nowhere close, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Writer's Recommendations and Final Thoughts

While I am not saying that the lesson from the New York City election will necessarily be just a plug-and-play in the Malaysian context, there are still some parallels that can be drawn from there to here: the richest in society aren't being adequately taxed, affordability is a significant issue in modern Malaysian society, and feelings on cultural issues run high. However, it was economic, bread-and-butter issues that won the day for Zohran Mamdani in New York City and other Democrats across the United States in the off-year elections.

For the DAP to reclaim the narrative between now and the next election, they need to focus on the bread-and-butter issues, and not worry too highly about the cultural issues that the neoliberal right flank (Red Faction) likes to emphasise, like on the question of vernacular schools. A strictly focused strategy on social democratic or democratic socialist values would be a breath of fresh air for the Malaysian political scene and a signal to voters that they do not need to choose between religious extremists and the narrative of "we are better than him", while pointing to a nearly 80 year old man in a songkok, angrily yelling about radical Islam and how it can be implemented in the lands we call home.

My humble advice to Anthony Loke and his closest advisors would be not to be afraid to speak up and propose social democratic proposals that will help the ordinary Malaysian. Stop being just another cabinet member, and start being an effective party leader - for where there is an effective party leader, there comes principles and a clear direction; something that the Malaysian political scene sorely needs.

Timothy (timothytanyeantim@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!

Fake history degrades genuine Malay feats

Fake history degrades genuine Malay feats

Andrew Sia
Published: Nov 14, 2025 3:30 PM
Updated: 6:30 PM

COMMENT | After we’re done laughing, comes the grim reality. By now, everyone has heard of the fantastical claim that the Romans learned shipbuilding from the Malays.

But this is merely the tip of the iceberg of a far bigger malaise – the rewriting of history for “nationalistic” narratives with barely disguised racial slants.

After associate professor Solehah Yaacob, an Arabic-language lecturer from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), made her outrageous assertion, a small cottage industry emerged to poke fun at this.

TikToker Ammirul Azahar declared, “Yes, it’s true. Because the Romans were actually Malays who lived in Rompin, Pahang!”

When I shared Ammirul’s video on social media, his deadpan demeanour made some people actually believe he was serious – sigh, the art of satire is lost on many Malaysians. So, just in case people missed his joke, Ammirul added, “The Greeks were also Malays. They came from Gerik, Perak.”

I myself can add further “proof” that the Romans were from Malaysia – why, we have two Coliseums right here in the Klang Valley! But I jest, because we don’t have arenas with gladiators, just cafes with sizzling steaks and Mee Hailam.

Associate professor Solehah Yaacob

Another person who lacks the capacity to understand ironic humour is Solehah herself. In 2018, she wrote an academic article in the “Jurnal Al-Tamaddun” slamming the ancient Greek civilisation as “entirely fabricated” by historians. Her source? An article in a US parody website, The Onion!

Rebutted and refuted

After Solehah’s latest salah (wrong) view of history, academics came forward to refute her. Professor Emeritus Wan Ramli Wan Daud from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said there is no historical evidence to support her claim.

Azizi Othman from Asia e-University produced a 15-page paper with numerous academic citations to show that Roman and Malay ships were very different.

The Romans built a frame first and then fastened planks onto it using wooden mortise-and-tenon joints and iron fastening systems. Meanwhile, Malay boats used wooden pegs and coconut-fibre rope to secure planks together, he wrote.

The purposes of their ships were also different, added Azizi. The Malays created flexible hulls that could withstand the tumult of tropical seas, whereas the Romans preferred rigid hulls that could have rows of slaves pulling at oars during galley battles in the Mediterranean.

What’s noteworthy is that some smarter Malay academics themselves object to pseudo-history. But does “the system” encourage it?.

Not the first ship scandal

Solehah has made other ridiculous claims. Last year, she made headlines when suggesting that Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Siti Khadijah Khuwailid, might have been Malay.

She also reportedly claimed, in a podcast on Sept 24, that ancient Malays could fly, and had passed this skill to Chinese kungfu artists! So must Wong Fei Hoong and Ip Man bow to “sifoo” Hang Tuah?

Surely, all that nonsense should have given the game away before the latest Roman farce?

Or does Solehah have powerful people protecting her? Was she promoted because she was trumpeting a “glorious” Malay history, never mind that it was based on falsehoods?

The latest episode finally stirred IIUM’s Academic Staff Association (ASA) to urge the management to take firm action against academics who risk damaging the university’s reputation. This was crucial to “preserve public trust and confidence”.

This Roman buffoonery is not the first historical ship scandal. Last year, two academics from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) falsely averred that a Foochow jong (cargo vessel) from China was a Malay ship. This was exposed by the sharp eyes of French historian Serge Jardin, who is based in Malacca.

But were the two UPM academics punished? No, instead the university defended them!

Similarly, one suspects that nothing will happen to Solehah because she is merely one person in the larger machine rewriting and indeed “creating” history.

Racial history revision

This is not new in Malaysia. In 1978, locals discovered some coins at an old grave at Tanjung Kling, Malacca. By Jan 1985, the state government proclaimed it was “Hang Tuah’s Tomb”.

Even then, in April 1985, the National Museum senior curator Redzuan Tumin said evidence was lacking. But that did not stop the state from building a grand tomb here, as a monument to a legendary Malay fighter whom some doubt even existed.

Jardin pointed out that the state government’s own Hang Tuah Exhibition in 2024 stated that he was buried at Pulau Bintan in the Riau Islands of Indonesia, not Tanjung Kling. But why let inconvenient facts stand in the way of nationalistic flag-waving?

The movie “Mat Kilau” repeated this pattern. It was widely promoted as a Malay rebellion in Pahang “demi memperjuangkan ketuanan Melayu dan agama Islam” (to defend Malay supremacy and Islam).

But historian Ranjit Singh Malhi has debunked this - the noblemen involved had more ignoble motives of defending their own feudal privileges, as the British wanted to restrict slavery and take over tax collection.

History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes. So today we also see politicians claiming to “defend race and religion” when their real purpose is self-enrichment, while ordinary Malays continue to struggle to make ends meet.

Could this be the prime motive for rewriting history? Ranjit laments that more recent history textbooks have reduced the vital roles of the Chinese in tin mining and Indians in the rubber industry to merely five or six sentences.

The Indians’ sweat and sacrifice – including deaths from malaria, snake bites, and malnutrition, in constructing roads, railways, bridges, and ports – have been silenced. The crucial influence of ancient Hindu-Buddhist civilisation on Malay culture has also been ignored, lamented Ranjit.

In contrast, the 1996 Form 2 history textbook provided a fairly detailed account of Chinese and Indians in the economic development of Malaya, he noted.

History as propaganda

The motives seem clear – to portray that the non-Malays did not build this country, so they have “no right” to question the ketuanan (supremacist) narrative. One would imagine that the forces driving this historical revisionism are the same ones that propelled Solehah into an associate professor’s post.

Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid warned that “penyelewengan sejarah”(distortion of history) was being “weaponised” for narrow purposes of identity politics.

She told Parliament that when even universities fail to distinguish facts from fantasy, history becomes “propaganda” to sow “kebencian dan kejahilan” (hatred and ignorance).

Yet, the greatest disservice of false narratives is to make people question if professors are crying wolf again when they discuss the real achievements of the Malay-Polynesian in conquering the world’s oceans.

The Malays accomplished amazing feats, migrating from Taiwan to Southeast Asia and on to the entire Pacific, as well as to Madagascar, without even a compass. Instead, as I wrote last year, they navigated by studying the stars, ocean currents, cloud formations and bird flight patterns.

Fake historians devalue this rich heritage. Why are “nationalist” academics so insecure that they need to piggyback on Chinese kungfu, Foochow jongs, and Roman ships?

ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com

***

And don't forget some generally sex-experts-engrossed Malays taught Indians about sex & its techniques, hence virtually mentored Vātsyāyana in the latter's writing of the Kamasutra. 😂😂😂

Please peruse Who wrote the Kamasutra?

Sabah First – The Message & Strategy Behind UPKO Quitting PH

Sabah First – The Message & Strategy Behind UPKO Quitting PH

November 12th, 2025 by financetwitter

Just five days ahead of the Sabah state election nomination day, the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) suddenly dropped a bombshell – withdraws entirely from the ruling government led by Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. The stunning decision also came about one day after UPKO party president Ewon Benedick resigned as Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister.

In Malaysia, where ministers rarely resign voluntarily, Ewon’s resignation has raised eyebrows, speculations, and praises. The only two other MPs who had resigned were Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Even then, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi quit only after they had lost their internal party PKR election.

Amusingly, when Ewon resigned on Saturday (Nov 8) over what he said was “disregard” by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) for Sabah’s constitutional right to 40% of federal revenue derived from the state, many laughed at it as nothing but a political stunt to project himself as a hero of the people of Sabah ahead of the state election, while betting his party UPKO would not dare quit.

Now that UPKO has quit, the same genius analysts are mocking the party’s exit from PH as merely tactical, insignificant, politically driven steps designed to attract attention ahead of the polls. UPKO was even ridiculed as a mosquito party with two parliamentary seats and one state seat, too small to have a major impact on PH’s momentum. In short, UPKO can go fly kite for all PM Anwar hardcore supporters care.

Did they even realize that without UPKO, PKR president Anwar would have failed to become the 10th Prime Minister because without UPKO’s 2 parliamentary seats, the combined Pakatan Harapan’s 80 MPs and Barisan Nasional’s 30 MPs were insufficient to form a simple-majority government in the 222-seat Parliament after the Nov 2022 General Election that produced a hung parliament?

If indeed Mr Ewon’s resignation and UPKO’s withdrawal were merely desperate moves or “propaganda politics” that have little impact, exactly why Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was so concerned that he described Ewon’s resignation as “premature”, and said that the federal government was still reviewing Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement before deciding on its next steps?

If Ewon’s resignation was a cheap political drama, his party UPKO did not have to pull out of the mighty Pakatan Harapan coalition. The fact that UPKO is a small party also offers more reasons why it should not withdraw in the first place. It has more to lose than gain by leaving the comfort zone, erasing it from the luxury government allocation, machinery and resources. Yet, the party bravely quit.

On October 17, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled the federal government had acted unlawfully and exceeded its constitutional powers by failing to fulfil Sabah’s entitlement to 40% of federal revenue over nearly five decades. Judge Celestina Stuel Galid described the special grant arrangement between the federal and Sabah governments as “invalid, ultra vires, and irrational,” and in breach of the Federal Constitution.

In addition, the court in Borneo Sabah issued a mandamus order, which compels Putrajaya to review the revenue allocation with the Sabah government. It also ordered that an agreement be reached on Sabah’s 40% share of federal revenue for each financial year from 1974 to 2021, with this process to be completed within 180 days – a slap in the face of the “Malaya” federal government.

Unhappy with the court’s decision that appears to challenge his leadership, narcissist Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim fought back, arguing that RM10 billion was collected and RM17 billion was “given back,” conveniently (either deliberately or ignorantly) mixing two separate accounts – federal expenditure and constitutional repayment. As the second-poorest state in Malaysia, it’s hard to believe Sabah had received more income than being plundered.

The main reason leading to Ewon’s resignation was signs by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), who reports to the Prime Minister Office, to appeal the court’s decision. “The department will conduct a thorough review of the judgment and consider all relevant legal aspects before taking any further action,” – the AGC said after it had received the court’s written judgment.

“The AGC’s approach towards the 40% entitlement during my three years in the federal Cabinet has contradicted my stance as UPKO president. The position and views expressed by the AGC disregarded the historical foundation of Malaysia’s formation – including the terms and conditions under which Sabah agreed to form the Federation of Malaysia,” – explained UPKO president Ewon.

“I cannot agree with the position and interpretation taken by the AGC, who serves as the legal adviser to the prime minister and the federal government. It would therefore be highly improper for me to continue serving in the federal Cabinet given the AGC’s position, which I believe will remain unchanged,” – said Ewon, who had earlier warned that he will step down from the Anwar Cabinet if the AGC proceeded with an appeal.

Citing UPKO’s constitution, Ewon said one of the party’s principles was to uphold the 1963 Malaysia Treaty and Sabah’s constitutional rights. He added that UPKO’s fight was rooted in the Cobbold Commission Report, the Inter-Governmental Committee Report, the Malaysia Agreement of 1963, and the Malaysia Act, all of which set the terms for Sabah’s participation in the formation of Malaysia.

The Cobbold Commission was set up to determine whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak backed the proposal to create the federation of Malaysia, which also initially included Singapore. The commission had emphasised that Sabah and Sarawak should be equal partners to Malaya. “As the President of UPKO, I would like to see Sabah’s rights exercised. That’s the principle and the reason I joined politics,” – Ewon wrote on Facebook.

Playing a game of cat and mouse, the AGC hinted of an appeal whilst PM Anwar kept everyone guessing, his infamous trademark. Instead of a decisive “yes” or “no”, both the AGC and Anwar were beating around the bush about their plan to appeal the court’s decision. Ewon might not be clever, but he was smart enough to smell a rat after four years working with the premier.

The UPKO president deliberately and specifically mentioned AGC as the legal adviser to the prime minister to deliver a point. And the point is Anwar can “stop pretending” that he was not aware of any plan by the Attorney General to appeal. Ewon also wanted to tell the prime minister that unlike other power-crazy ministers, he was more than happy to surrender the cushy job due to “Sabah First”.

Crucially, UPKO top leadership was calling PM Anwar and AGC’s bluff. If the AGC appeals, then it will prove that the Sabah political party was correct to quit the federal government out of dignity, principles and the people of Sabah. If the AGC does not appeal, then UPKO can claim victory as its decision to quit successfully pressured the Anwar government. Either way, UPKO wins.

On Tuesday (Nov 11), the AGC – obviously trapped – decided not to appeal. However, to both save face and to attack the Sabah High Court, the AGC claims there were several defects in the Sabah High Court’s judgement. In short, the Anwar-appointed Attorney General wanted a “review” of the court’s ruling, despite its insincere decision not to appeal.

Call it appeal, review, or whatever you want. The fact that the AGC has refused to fully comply with the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling, even to the extent of challenging and lecturing Judge Celestina Stuel Galid’s decision speaks volume about the arrogance of the federal government. This indirectly proves that Sabah has been bullied and plundered from 1974 till today.

Anwar’s own party PKR (People’s Justice Party) should learn how to be humble rather than arrogantly mocking UPKO. In the 2020 Sabah state election, PKR won only 2 seats, despite Anwar’s personal campaign. In Borneo, PKR too is a mosquito party that depends on local party to rally for support and votes. It would be a huge humiliation if PM Anwar fails to win more than 2 seats this round.

Heck, PKR is so desperate – and shameless – that it is roping the son of Sabah Governor Musa Aman, who was once the most corrupted Chief Minister of Sabah. Now, we fully understood why Prime Minister Anwar gladly welcomed the appointment of the former Sabah Chief Minister as the state’s 11th Governor in December 2024 – birds of a feather flock together.

Some gullible Anwar fans might think the premier is popular. But many Sabahans still view Anwar with distrust because when he served as former PM Mahathir Mohamad’s deputy in government from 1993 to 1998, Anwar was also involved in covert operations to alter the demographics of the state by issuing citizenships to illegal Muslim refugees from the neighbouring islands of southern Philippines and Indonesia.

This is another reason why Ewon decided to resign and UPKO decided to quit to distance itself from Pakatan Harapan after the Sabah High Court’s verdict. As far as Sabah people are concerned, to challenge Sabah’s constitutional right to 40% of federal revenue derived from the state is like to challenge Malaya’s NEP (New Economic Policy) or “Ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy).

Like it or not, Anwar Ibrahim is toxic rather than popular in Sabah, otherwise UPKO Special Supreme Council meeting would not have expressed full support for party president Ewon Benedick’s resignation and the party’s withdrawal from both Pakatan Harapan coalition and the federal government. If Anwar is so popular as he would like everyone to believe, UPKO could just ride on his popularity to win seats.

UPKO is a Sabah party, the same way PKR is a Malayan party. Across the South China Sea, UPKO is irrelevant in Peninsular Malaysia whilst PKR is irrelevant in Sabah. UPKO’s four-year involvement in Pakatan Harapan was guided by the Sabah First agenda, which the party consistently championed during negotiations over the PH election manifesto.

Over time, however, differences – even conflicts – in interpretation and position had increasingly emerged between UPKO and the national PH component parties, particularly concerning the implementation of Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement, the demand for one-third of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, and the failure to implement administrative autonomy for PH Sabah.

To make matters worse, despite UPKO being chosen to chair PH Sabah through a legitimate state-level meeting, the decision was never formalised by the PH Presidential Council due to objections from PKR Sabah. Yes, even though Ewon Benedick was the Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman, the arrogant PKR Sabah has never respected him, leading to the UPKO president being merely a “coordinator”.

More importantly, UPKO’s bold and stunning decision to leave Anwar Madani was not merely about the Sabah state election alone. Ewon is preparing for the next 16th General Election, which could be called as early as next year (2026). The party’s survival is in Sabah, not in Malaya. Even PKR may lose some parliamentary seats in the next national polls due to disillusioned and disgruntled Chinese voters.

To emerge stronger, Ewon and UPKO realized that they need to win not only more state seats, but also parliamentary seats, which could only be achieved by defending, protecting and fighting for Sabah’s rights. Besides, there’s no guarantee that Anwar Ibrahim will still remain as the prime minister after the 16th General Election. For better or worse, UPKO has to leave.