Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and European diplomats in West Bank, Belgium says

• Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War

Posted about 5h agoabout 5 hours ago, updated about 2h agoabout 2 hours ago

Video shows masked men with clubs surrounding the vehicles of a diplomatic convoy.

In short:

Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot says Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian civilians, European diplomats and a French mayor in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the perpetrators as Israeli rioters.

Palestinian Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh called the attack a small example of the "daily terrorism" to which Palestinians are subjected.

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Masked settlers have attacked a group of European diplomats during a visit to the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Belgium's foreign minister says.

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians, French and Polish diplomats, Belgium's consul general to the Palestinians and a French mayor, Maxime Prevot said.

The attacks came a day after settlers beat an American photojournalist.

A video still of the site where Belgium's foreign minister says masked settlers attacked Palestinians, Catholic representatives and Western diplomats and officials. (Reuters: Emad Diab)

"As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end," Mr Prevot said in a statement posted on X.

A Belgian vehicle was also damaged, he said.

'Thrown to the ground'

Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, told Reuters he had been harvesting olives near the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in solidarity with the local community when he was "violently attacked" by masked settlers.

"I was thrown to the ground," he said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as Israeli rioters.

He also suggested the diplomats should have coordinated their visit with the Israeli military.

'Israeli terrorists' target villagers' homes in days-long siege

Palestinians in a small West Bank village have spent almost a week under siege from Israeli settlers, with members of the community accusing the Israeli military of complicity in the saga.

"Such coordination could have helped safeguard the visitors' security," he said in a statement on X.

Palestinian Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the attack, calling it a small example of the "daily terrorism" to which Palestinians are subjected.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office later issued a statement warning against "premature conclusions" in the incident and noted concerns about "a coordinated campaign to smear Israel".

Israeli officials, including Mr Netanyahu, have periodically condemned settler violence, while saying it is carried out by a small minority. 

Palestinians and human rights groups dispute that characterisation.

Israeli police open investigation

Settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have surged over the past three years.

Journalists, activists and foreign observers have also been targeted.

Firefighters douse a burnt car with water after Israeli settlers attacked a group of Palestinians harvesting olives in the West Bank. (Reuters: Ammar Awad)

On Friday, dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the West Bank.

Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, a US citizen covering the harvest, was hospitalised after being assaulted by masked settlers.

"Palestinians face this violence every day. Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats. Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack,"

Mr Prevot said.

Belgium, which has announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights, will press for European Union sanctions "against those responsible for this violence and those who support them", he said.

A US journalist was attacked by settlers while covering an olive harvest in the West Bank.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewior said on X that a convoy carrying diplomats, including Polish officials, had been attacked.

The Polish diplomats were unharmed.

"Attacks on members of the diplomatic corps are absolutely unacceptable," he said.

Israeli police said they had opened an investigation into the incident.

There was no immediate announcement of any arrests.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States wanted Israel to do more to ​deter attacks committed by settlers.

"We're very disturbed ​by those ‌images and what we're seeing," Mr Rubio said.

"We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them to crackdown on that ‌stuff."

Prosecutions of settlers accused of violent crimes against Palestinians in the West Bank are rare.

The UN and much of the international community consider the settlements, many of them resembling developed suburbs, in the West Bank to be illegally occupied.

Settlers have established hundreds of additional outposts without government authorisation, while still enjoying protection from the Israeli military.

Reuters/AP

Bersatu pact allows PH to delay S’gor polls beyond GE16, says analyst

Bersatu pact allows PH to delay S’gor polls beyond GE16, says analyst


5 hours ago
Nicholas Chung


However, another pundit says this would come with political risks, and Pakatan Harapan would be better off holding the state election concurrently with GE16

Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari announced last week that Bersatu’s assemblymen were close to inking a pact with the Selangor government ahead of the state budget’s tabling.

PETALING JAYA: A pact between the Selangor government and Bersatu could allow the Pakatan Harapan-led administration to serve out its full term and hold the next state election after the 16th general election (GE16), according to an analyst.
Awang Azman Pawi.

With ties between PH and Barisan Nasional increasingly strained, Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi said a confidence and supply agreement (CSA) with Bersatu would allow the Selangor administration to remain in office even after Parliament is dissolved.

“The CSA could give the Selangor government room to maintain political stability until the state assembly’s term automatically expires in September 2028,” he told FMT.


Awang Azman said delaying the Selangor polls could benefit PH by allowing voters to assess the state government’s performance independently of national political sentiments, particularly if Umno and PAS forge an electoral alliance.


“National issues could dominate the considerations of voters,” he said. “On the other hand, holding the state polls concurrently with GE16 would allow for election machinery to be consolidated.”

Nonetheless, he said the bigger question was whether PH could retain voters’ confidence in its ability to govern, particularly on bread-and-butter issues such as the cost of living.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said PH would be better off holding the Selangor state election concurrently with GE16, which must be held by early 2028 at the latest, given the political risks associated with delaying the polls.

Fauzi said a separate state election would entail additional costs, which would run counter to PH’s narrative of efficient governance.

He also believed PH would retain control of the Selangor government even if Umno and PAS managed to generate a strong wave of support under their Malay unity narrative in GE16.


“Based on its strength in urban areas and its impressive economic record since taking over the state government in 2008, the odds favour PH retaining power in the state.

“PH must avoid giving the impression that it plays too much politics (by delaying the state election), especially when the country is faced with uncertain economic fluctuations.

“Holding the state polls concurrently with GE16 would also demonstrate confidence on PH’s part, something that is especially important as the coalition continues to face challenges in Peninsular Malaysia’s Malay belt,” said Fauzi.

Last week, menteri besar Amirudin Shari said Bersatu’s assemblymen were close to inking a pact with the Selangor government ahead of the state budget’s tabling.


The proposed deal comes amid growing tensions between PH and BN in Selangor, as well as strains within Perikatan Nasional, where PAS has emerged as the dominant partner.

The 56-member Selangor assembly comprises 32 PH assemblymen, followed by Bersatu (11), PAS (10), BN (two) and one independent.

Fauzi said not all Bersatu state assemblymen were aligned with the party’s current leadership, with Nurul Syazwani Noh (Permatang), widely seen as an ally of Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin, opposed to the idea.

Melaka polls could determine if Umno needs PAS for GE16, says analyst

Melaka polls could determine if Umno needs PAS for GE16, says analyst


18-Oct-2026, 08:30
Minderjeet Kaur


Mazlan Ali says the party intends to test its strength by running on its own before deciding on future pacts for the next general election

Barisan Nasional secured victories at the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state polls partly due to support from PAS voters, says Ilham Centre’s Hisommudin Bakar.

PETALING JAYA: With less than two weeks to go before nomination day for the Melaka state election, Umno’s silence over a possible pact with PAS may signal a desire to test the party’s electoral strength by going solo, according to an analyst.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Umno’s performance in the Melaka polls would likely shape its decision on whether to forge a nationwide electoral pact ahead of the 16th general election (GE16).


“If it can win on its own, it will be in a better position to decide how much it needs PAS for GE16,” he told FMT.


Mazlan also said Umno was hesitant about forming an alliance with PAS for the Nov 14 polls because it was confident of retaining the 21 seats it won in the 2021 state election and saw little need to compromise.
Mazlan Ali.

Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously said that while Umno intends to defend its 21 seats, it was open to negotiating with potential partners over the remaining seven constituencies.


Zahid, who is also the Umno president, said the party was also open to potential seat swaps.

Mazlan said the main concern was whether these swaps would involve PAS strongholds, and questioned how many seats the Islamic party would be willing to hand over to BN.

Hisommudin Bakar, who heads the think tank Ilham Centre, attributed Umno’s silence to concerns over whether cooperation would benefit BN or strengthen PAS, which competes for the same pool of Malay voters.
Hisommudin Bakar.

“Umno needs to assess whether cooperation would help revive the party or give PAS a boost,” he said.


Hisommudin said BN’s recent victories in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state polls were partly due to PAS supporters who wanted to vote out Pakatan Harapan.

In Johor, BN won 48 of the 56 seats it contested, while in Negeri Sembilan, it secured 18 of the 25 seats contested.

“The question is whether BN can retain its seats without the support of PAS voters,” he said, adding that, by going solo, BN risked facing three-cornered contests that cost it seats in the 2018 and 2022 general elections.

Still, Hisommudin said, Umno’s silence allows it to keep its options open while weighing the pros and cons of an alliance with any party and negotiating seat allocations.


Jayum Jawan of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia said Umno had little reason to seek an alliance following BN’s successes in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, adding that the party appeared to be “on the rebound”.
Jayum Jawan.

He said an alliance with PAS could slow Umno’s revival by forcing it to give up seats it could win on its own.

Jayum also dismissed suggestions that Umno feared PAS as a national rival, although he acknowledged that the Islamic party had enough influence to demand concessions in future negotiations.

“Surely no political party would want to give up seats to a new partner, especially when it believes it can win those seats on its own merit,” he said.

Trump and Netanyahu are putting the world at risk to stay in power

Trump and Netanyahu are putting the world at risk to stay in power

By Laura Tingle
Topic:Foreign Affairs

Posted yesterday at 5:00am

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu risk making a mess around the world in their determination to stay in power. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)

More often than is healthy, international news is framed in terms of the transactions of political leaders — who has come out on top on any given day — and the impact on those leaders' political fortunes at home.

This week we have seen the US president doing something different.

Donald Trump has not just been jostling with Russian president Vladamir Putin and Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He has personally gone to war with the people of Ukraine. All, it seems, to improve the political prospects of his Republican Party in the looming US midterm elections.

Trump this week reportedly turned off intelligence to the Ukrainians and ordered the speed to be slowed of Starlink services that help warn Ukrainians of incoming missiles. That he did so is chilling.


More on Ukraine

Reuters reported on Friday that "the order to limit a satellite system used by Ukraine for battlefield communications and drone operations came from inside the White House, according to two US officials and a Western official briefed on the matter".

"The officials said ‌leaders at the Defence Department received a message that the SpaceX Starshield service for the Ukrainian military needed to be slowed.

"The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not specify who in the White House made the decision or who was responsible for implementing the order."

In the past six days Trump has announced a deal to buy Russian diesel (long sanctioned by the US and, indeed, the subject of threats of sanctions on others who might buy it). He has told Ukraine and European allies that the US might suspend European purchases of US weapons on behalf of Ukraine and also pressured European countries to unfreeze Russian assets.

The Trump administration is also reported to be considering easing restrictions on so-called shadow fleet vessels that have transported oil and petroleum products from countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela.

So shutting off US intelligence and ordering a go-slow on the Starshield service might be just two more points of pressure being applied to Kyiv. But they weren't moves to apply financial pressure or shift the oil market to get oil prices down.

They weren't even simple abuse of another country's leader. ("I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president," Trump told Washington reporters last Saturday).

These were explicit decisions to leave a civilian population exposed to ballistic missile attacks and to shift the balance of the war in Russia's favour

Beyond the scores killed and injured in Russian attacks on civilians in recent days, an unanswered Russian strike on energy infrastructure left at least 600,000 people in Ukraine without power on Wednesday.

It is not clear how Donald Trump would react to a loss in the mid-terms. (Reuters: Callaghan O'Hare)

Midterm predictions mount

An increasing number of analysts in the United States believe that Trump will not just lose the US House of Representatives but also the Senate. Instead of seeing that development as a harbinger of some curbs on his erratic administration, the concern is about how Trump will respond to the news.

In the American capital, there is no great confidence that Trump will respond rationally, or will feel somehow chastened and therefore constrained, to exercise power in a way which reflects the boundaries of actual laws.

That means malevolent interventions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict could continue and only spread further shock waves into a Western Europe that is desperately trying to prop Ukraine up.

There is also the question of what Trump does, or doesn't do, on Iran and whether he does, or doesn't, do something before the midterm elections in pursuit of a similar electoral boost.

The Middle East brings more tension

The conflict with Iran continues to dominate much of the coverage out of the Middle East.

But for those in the region, a much more pressing question revolves around the Israeli election, now just 10 days away.

Regional powers observe that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has done everything he could to provoke a regional confrontation — whether that be in Syria, Lebanon, within the West Bank or even with Jordan — in the run up to the election.

Like Trump, Netanyahu has played his international politics hard for domestic consumption.

Like the US president, he has often presented a spectacular failure as a sign of his strength: in Netanyahu's case, the intelligence failures of October 7, the lack of any clear victory in Gaza, or Lebanon, or Iran.

There was one contested report this week that he even pushed Washington to restart the Iran war before the Israeli vote.

The man who has emerged as Netanyahu's major opponent in the upcoming elections, Gadi Eisenkot, and two other party leaders — the right wing's Avigdor Liberman and the centre-left's Yair Golan — all warned this week that Netanyahu may start a war before the election in an attempt to stay in power.

Golan said Netanyahu will try to disrupt the democratic process before and on election day.

Recent polls have given Eisenkot a significantly larger number of seats than Netanyahu. Yet, like Trump, there is no confidence in the Middle East that he is about to lose power.

At best, the numbers are so close — when all the permutations of possible coalitions are done — that the current PM is likely to continue in the job for some time, at least as caretaker prime minister.

Benjamin Netanyahu, on a visit to Mount Hermon on the border between Syria and Lebanon, has kept up destabilising actions in Syria. (Israel GPO/Anadolu via Getty Images: Ma'yan Toaf)


The biggest concern is what he might do in Syria.

The wiring of the Middle East has been rapidly rerouting since the war in Iran began on February 28: the Gulf states, Türkiye, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq have all been having to find new voices for themselves and new ways of getting along.

Some in the region argue that the need to keep the only recently-stabilised Syria more or less in one piece is the one thing all the locals can agree upon.

There is also an unstable Syria representing the threat of an ISIS resurgence. Conflict between the Kurds and Türkiye with spill over into Iraq and the restoration of the land bridge that Syria once represented between Iran and Hezbollah. All of these would be bad for the border security of Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, and for a possible renewed surge of millions of refugees.


Jordan watching on

For Jordan there are particular risks, including that 40 per cent of its water supply comes from Syria.

Yet Israel has kept up destabilising actions in Syria: pushing into southern Syria and even attacking an air base close to the border with Türkiye last month.

Jordan's King Abdullah — who was visiting Australia this week in search of closer defence and intelligence ties — told the UN General Assembly last month that the Israeli government's "expansionist appetite" is now a regional threat, citing Gaza, the West Bank and southern Syria.

His tiny kingdom — which boasts one of the world's most unfortunate set of surrounding neighbours — has repeatedly expressed its alarm about Israel's actions: from the threat to its water to what King Abdullah has called an existential threat seen in Israeli talk of forcing three million Palestinians into Jordan as Israel extends its annexation of the West Bank.

Jordan has never had many cards to play in its brief history. A presumption that the US would side with Israel in any conflict would seem to make its position even weaker.

But the fact that the US has had to withdraw many of its personnel and assets from the Gulf into Jordan changes the equation of its interest in keeping Jordan stable too.

And an irony of Netanyahu's recent actions is that it is the security deals with Jordan and Egypt, and thus relative border stability, that have allowed Israel to pursue its incursions into Gaza, into Lebanon and into Syria.

That Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu is now playing with Jordan, at least rhetorically, is just one more illustration of the mess he and Donald Trump are creating around the world in their determination to stay in power.

From USJ to Shah Alam, flash floods disrupt Klang Valley roads after afternoon downpour

From USJ to Shah Alam, flash floods disrupt Klang Valley roads after afternoon downpour



Vehicles caught in a flash flood at an intersection in i-City, Section 7 Shah Alam following heavy rains on October 17, 2026. — Picture from Facebook/Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam


Summary

• On October 17, severe afternoon thunderstorms in the Klang Valley led to flash floods in various Selangor locations, causing traffic disruptions and inundating roads.
• Authorities advised motorists to avoid affected areas and monitor updates from local councils, while the Malaysian Highway Authority reported lane blockages due to flooding.
• The weather events followed warnings from the Malaysian Meteorological Department of impending thunderstorms and adverse conditions across several regions in Malaysia.
• Social media users highlighted the impact, including traffic issues and personal accounts of flooding incidents.

First Published: Saturday, 17 Oct 2026 6:22 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — Afternoon thunderstorms brought flash floods to several parts of the Klang Valley today, inundating roads and disrupting traffic in Selangor as authorities urged motorists to avoid affected areas.

Social media posts reported flooding in USJ 1, USJ 7, Sunway, Ara Damansara, Kota Damansara, Kampung Melayu Subang, Kampung Baru Hicom and Shah Alam, with motorists warned to plan their journeys carefully.


In Shah Alam, the city council warned of rising water levels near the traffic lights at i-City in Section 7 and Padang Jawa in Section 16, advising the public to drive cautiously and avoid affected roads if water levels continued to rise.

The Malaysian Highway Authority also reported flash floods at Ramp C of the Guthrie Corridor Expressway interchange from Shah Alam towards Bukit Jelutong at 5.40pm, with the left lane blocked and only the right lane passable, although traffic was reported to be under control.


The flooding followed an earlier warning from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) of thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds in several parts of the country, including Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Hulu Langat in Selangor.

The weather warning also covered areas in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Terengganu, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Sarawak, with the forecast conditions expected until 3pm.


On social media, a user warned motorists in USJ to plan their routes, saying: “For those in USJ, plan your route — flooding and traffic jams.”


Another Facebooker reported falling into a drain during flooding in Sunway, writing: “Sunway was flooded earlier, then I fell into a drain and got soaked.”


The Shah Alam City Council advised the public to monitor updates through its i-LenSA portal at ilensa.mbsa.gov.my or contact its 24-hour Pantas hotline at 03-5510 5811.

Motorists were urged to remain alert, avoid driving through floodwaters and check road conditions before setting out.

No persecution behind Nik Nazmi's khalwat case, says MAIS

No persecution behind Nik Nazmi's khalwat case, says MAIS

Saturday, 17 Oct 2026 | 6:57 PM MYT


SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) has denied allegations that the detention of former Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in connection with a khalwat (proximity) case was an act of persecution or a "frame-up”.

MAIS chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin said the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) had acted based on an official complaint and in accordance with established legal procedures, without manipulating the situation to target any individual.


"The suggestion that the religious department was involved in manipulation or anything of the sort is entirely untrue. We have a legal obligation...when a complaint is lodged, we are required to conduct a thorough investigation.

"Rest assured, JAIS will carry out the investigation as diligently as possible, and if there is clear evidence, we will proceed with charges in court,” he said on Saturday (Oct 17)


Salehuddin said the case was made public to clarify that Syariah laws were enforced fairly, regardless of the background or influence of the individual under investigation.

He also urged the public to allow JAIS sufficient time and space to complete its investigation and refrain from speculation that could compromise the fairness of the legal process.

"We cannot pass judgment while the investigation is still incomplete. We must act fairly and carry out our duties in accordance with the regulations. If we were to act outside these regulations, we ourselves would be subject to accusations,” he said.

Earlier, Nik Nazmi confirmed in a statement on Instagram that he was one of two individuals detained by JAIS in Petaling Jaya on Thursday (Oct 15) over allegations of khalwat.

He said he was prepared to cooperate with any legal proceedings.

On a separate case involving a local youth suspected of participating in the rituals of another religion, Salehuddin said preliminary findings suggested that the individual’s actions were, so far, a matter of personal belief.

However, he said JAIS was examining various forms of digital evidence, including social media posts concerning rituals at Batu Caves that had been linked to other belief systems. – Bernama

Defend royal institution or Ismail, Mujahid challenges Umno

Defend royal institution or Ismail, Mujahid challenges Umno


The Amanah deputy president says Umno must explain whether it knew of or endorsed a letter allegedly challenging Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s position as Negeri Sembilan ruler

Amanah deputy president Mujahid Yusof Rawa said Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim should resign if he fails to provide a convincing explanation for his actions and restore relations with the palace.

PETALING JAYA: Umno must choose between defending the Malay royal institution and protecting its own leader in the Negeri Sembilan royal crisis, says Amanah deputy president Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Mujahid raised the issue of a letter allegedly sent by Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim concerning the position of the Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

In several videos that went viral on social media yesterday, Tuanku Muhriz was seen telling a group of people that Ismail had sent a letter to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal informing him that he was no longer the Yang Dipertuan Besar.


Visibly angered, Tuanku Muhriz then turned to Ismail and questioned why he wanted to meet him.

In a statement today, Mujahid said the video was not a trivial matter that Umno could ignore.


He asked whether Umno leaders knew of or endorsed the letter, whether the party supported the state executive council’s earlier recognition of the proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz, and why Ismail had shifted from expressing support for the ruler to endorsing the exco’s decision questioning his position.

“Umno must now choose whether to defend the royal institution or its own leader,” Mujahid said.

He also said Ismail must seek the ruler’s forgiveness and apologise to the people of Negeri Sembilan and all Malaysians for disrespecting the royal institution.

Mujahid urged Umno to take firm disciplinary action against Ismail, saying the menteri besar should resign if he failed to provide a convincing explanation for his actions and restore relations with the palace.


“The menteri besar post does not belong to Umno. It is a constitutional trust exercised with the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar, and the officeholder must be accountable to the people and the state legislative assembly,” he said.

Mujahid also questioned why Umno leaders, who were outspoken in defending the royal institution when others were involved, had remained silent when the party’s own leader was implicated in such an issue.

He said Umno had long proclaimed itself the defender of the Malays, Islam, and the Malay rulers, and that the party was quick to accuse others of disrespecting or being disloyal to the rulers over issues he described as fabricated or blown out of proportion.

“Unfortunately, when the menteri besar from Umno itself is linked to actions that touch on the position of a Malay ruler, Umno leaders remain silent.


“Where is the voice of the Umno Youth chief, who is usually so outspoken?

“Is loyalty to the rulers merely a slogan used to attack political opponents, but one that does not apply when the actions are taken by Umno leaders themselves?” he said.

N Sembilan PKR presses MB over alleged letter on Tuanku Muhriz's position

N Sembilan PKR presses MB over alleged letter on Tuanku Muhriz's position

Published: Oct 17, 2026 1:36 PM


Negeri Sembilan PKR has demanded Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim explain whether he wrote to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, claiming that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir was no longer the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

State communications director Shariman Che Deris said the allegation, which resurfaced during Tuanku Muhriz’s public rebuke of Ismail yesterday, required a clear explanation from the menteri besar.

“The menteri besar must provide an appropriate explanation regarding the matters raised by Tuanku Muhriz,” Shariman said in a statement today.

Among the matters he listed was an allegation that Ismail (above) had sent a letter to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal asserting that Tuanku Muhriz was no longer the state ruler.


Shariman also sought explanations for Ismail’s role in signing a proclamation linked to the throne dispute, as well as the state government’s position on Tuanku Muhriz’s decision to revoke the appointments of 10 executive councillors.

“These actions displayed by the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar appear to show his failure in dealing with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

“This is extremely weak administrative communication,” he said.

The statement follows the circulation of videos showing Tuanku Muhriz confronting (above) Ismail after Friday prayers at Kampung Beting Mosque in Kuala Pilah yesterday.


READ MORE: 'I don't want to see you!': Tuanku Muhriz dresses down N Sembilan MB over throne dispute


During the exchange, the ruler was heard raising the issue of correspondence concerning his position and telling Ismail not to meet him until the matter was retracted.

The confrontation marked the latest escalation in the protracted dispute involving the Negeri Sembilan royal institution and the state administration.


Ismail previously confirmed signing a document linked to efforts to remove Tuanku Muhriz, though he later said he did so under duress.

He has also maintained that he does not have unilateral authority to determine who occupies the Negeri Sembilan throne.

The dispute intensified after proclamations concerning the installation of Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar were announced for gazettement.

Tuanku Muhriz later revoked the appointments of 10 executive councillors but retained Ismail as menteri besar.

The affected excos have since challenged the revocation in court.


State assembly sitting postponement

Shariman also criticised the state government for postponing the Negeri Sembilan legislative assembly sitting scheduled to begin yesterday.

He said the 11 Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons had not been properly informed in advance of the postponement.

The opposition lawmakers, led by state opposition leader J Arul Kumar, turned up at Wisma Negeri (below) yesterday and complained that they had received no formal written notification that the sitting had been deferred.

Shariman said the assemblypersons had prepared questions for debate and described the state government’s handling of the postponement as unprofessional.

“The state assembly does not belong to any individual or political party. It is a democratic institution that carries the mandate of the people,” he said.

He called for an official explanation for the postponement, the procedures followed and how assemblypersons were notified.

PKR also urged the state government to explain the circumstances surrounding the confrontation between Tuanku Muhriz and Ismail and to improve communication with both the legislature and the royal institution.

“Negeri Sembilan requires leadership capable of resolving problems, not allowing questions to drag on,” Shariman said.

“When trust is called into question, an explanation must be given,” he stressed.

Everything Is Russia's Fault (Even Global Warming!)

Everything Is Russia's Fault (Even Global Warming!)

by Tyler Durden
Saturday, Oct 17, 2026 - 02:25 PM


Authored by J.B. Shurk via American Thinker


In the old days (which, in the age of social media, were only ten years or so ago), every problem in the world was blamed on "global warming."

Hot summers? Global warming. Cold winters? That was global warming, too. Christian churches mysteriously burning to the ground? Ooh...obviously global warming. Endless hordes of foreigners breaking into the country? Global warming disproportionately affects third-world s-holes and causes military-aged men to run North, dontcha know. The spread of COVID? Oh, that definitely didn't come from a Chinese bio-lab receiving money from the esteemed pharmaceutical salesman Dr. Fauci; that virus was totally the fault of global warming!

According to the "experts," global warming caused every policy failure, government screwup, international brouhaha, and economic downturn of the last few decades (at least when card-carrying globalists, "progressives," new-world-order types, or other assorted leftists were in power). "Science" said so. And if you didn't believe the "experts," well, then, you were just an ignorant science-denier!

Since 2016, a new scapegoat - I mean, fact-based and expertly diagnosed cause - for all the world's problems has been hogging global warming's spotlight: Russia, Russia, Russia.

Read something that you don't like? That's gotta be Russian disinformation. The "wrong" candidate wins an election? Never would have happened without Russian social media bots! Energy prices are too low? That's because of cheap Russian oil and gas. Energy prices are too high? That's because Russia - and definitely not Ukraine! - blew up its own Nord Stream pipelines delivering inexpensive energy to Europe. Military-aged Muslims are raping and stabbing Europeans across the continent? Ooh, trick question - that's a global-warming-Russia tag-team! Everybody with a PhD in political science knows that Europe's inability to secure its own borders is totally Vladimir Putin's fault!

Didn't the Norwegian Nobel Committee award the Peace Prize to climate doomsayer Al Gore (who predicted that we'd all be under water by now) and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for figuring out that all of the problems in the world can be traced to hydrocarbons and free markets? Surely the prizes in chemistry, physics, medicine, and literature will eventually go to well-credentialed "experts" who determine that Russia is actually to blame for everything.

This Nobel Prize-worthy epiphany has been rattling in my head because I noticed that the United Kingdom's recently installed prime minister, Andy Burnham, is considering whether to reverse Brexit and rejoin the European Union since - you guessed it! - Russia somehow manipulated the 2016 referendum in favor of decoupling! Burnham - who won a small special election to gain his seat in Parliament only last summer and lacks anything remotely approaching a general mandate from the whole kingdom - says Russia's Brexit "interference" was "clear." His pronouncement seems to contradict multiple parliamentary investigations - including those from the anti-Brexit Electoral Commission - which have all concluded that there was "no evidence of successful interference in the EU Referendum."

Other prominent members of Burnham's Labour Party are giddy about the prospect of rejoining the E.U., but all insist that no new referendum should be held for voters to decide the matter. In other words, after nearly eighteen million Brits voted to leave the Brussels Empire ten years ago in the largest referendum in British history, an Establishment-installed prime minister who won a few thousand votes in an overwhelmingly pro-Labour Party constituency last summer wants to cancel the Brexit vote - despite repeated promises from both Burnham and his fellow Labour leaders that they would never do so.

How does the leftist-globalist prime minister of a kingdom that constantly lectures the world about "defending democracy" defend canceling another democratic vote in Europe? Burnham just blames Russia, as has become the custom of all globalist governments across Europe when Establishment politicians suffer defeat. Defending democracy by undermining the legitimacy of elections is the European way!

Burnham continues the charade by claiming that the Russians are responsible not only for Brexit but also for the rise of pro-national-sovereignty politicians such as France's Marine Le Pen and Germany's Alice Weidel: "These things are important now to put clearly on the record and, I believe, help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia."

Yes, all dissent is Russian disinformation! All politicians who want secure borders are Russian agents! All electoral defeats for the globalists are due to Russian interference! Forget next year's contest for the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Andy Burnham has that prestigious globalist award all sewn up!

Uff da. The Russia, Russia, Russia nonsense is so tiring. In the United States, we have been dealing with this same globalist-instigated circle jerk since President Trump embarrassed Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the 2016 election.



Hillary had gotten caught with Top Secret emails on an unsecured server stored in a home bathroom. Additionally, Clinton and Obama were using the FBI and NSA to spy on all of the Republican presidential candidates. In an effort to hide the fact that Russia, China, and other foreign adversaries had easily acquired the highly classified contents of her home-brew server, Hillary attempted to muddy the waters by calling Donald Trump "Putin's puppet" throughout the campaign. When President Trump nevertheless defeated Clinton, both she and Obama needed to fabricate a plausible criminal predicate justifying the FBI's spying operations on Trump (hello, Clinton-funded Steele Dossier!).

That's the rough genesis of the Russia Collusion Hoax, a political scandal of epic proportions that the propaganda press have largely covered up. Had Clinton and Obama successfully tarred Trump as a Russian agent, he would have been removed from office and would most likely be in prison today (a prime objective that Clinton and Obama's accomplices repeatedly tried to carry out after Trump's first term). Clinton and Obama attempted to overthrow President Trump in an Intelligence Community-organized (here's looking at you, John Brennan!) and media-enabled (CNN is fake news!) coup d'état. If there were anything other than two-tiered justice in the United States today, Barack and Hillary would be serving life in prison at the very least.

Because nobody was ever punished for the Russia Collusion Hoax, the perpetrators continue to tell the lie that every non-globalist point of view is "Russian disinformation."

Just the other day, Senator Adam Schiff argued that Democrats must regulate all online information (a goal that his fellow globalists in Europe, Canada, Australia, and the U.K. share). This is the same congenital liar whom the House of Representatives censured three years ago for recklessly dividing the country with the Russia Collusion Hoax. For a decade, Schiff has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin "stole" the 2016 election for President Trump. He pushed outright "disinformation" on the American people, while shamelessly demanding that social media companies censor Trump's defenders for the "crime" of spreading "Russian disinformation" (something most Big Tech companies were only too happy to do).

Schiff, Clinton, Obama, and all their free-speech-hating friends in the Democrat Party have spent the last ten years trying to gut the First Amendment in the name of "fighting Russian disinformation."

Nevertheless, blaming Russia for everything still hasn't gone out of style. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Schiff successfully impeached President Trump in 2019 for speaking to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the Biden Crime Family's quid-pro-quo corruption in Ukraine. Globalist judges in Romania canceled the country's 2024 presidential election by blaming "Russian interference" when the "wrong" candidate won. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his fellow German globalists have repeatedly accused the pro-sovereign-borders party "Alternative for Deutschland" of working for Russia. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez even blamed "Russian disinformation" for the violent migrant invasion of Ceuta under his watch.

Who needs "global warming" when everything is somehow Russia's fault?