Ex-AG Thomas fails in bid to rope successor into MP’s lawsuit

Ex-AG Thomas fails in bid to rope successor into MP’s lawsuit


2 hours ago
V Anbalagan


Judge says the government will be vicariously liable if Tommy Thomas is found liable in Shahrir Samad's malicious prosecution claim

(From left) Former Umno MP Shahrir Samad is suing ex-attorney-general Tommy Thomas and three others for misfeasance in public office, for which Thomas sought unsuccessfully to include his successor, Idrus Harun, as a third party.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former attorney-general Tommy Thomas has failed in his attempt to bring his successor, Idrus Harun, into a malicious prosecution lawsuit filed against him by former MP Shahrir Samad.

The High Court struck out Thomas’s third-party indemnity claim against Idrus and two others today, ruling that there was no legal basis for such a move.

Justice Gan Techiong said Thomas need not seek indemnity from Idrus, as the government would be vicariously liable if the court ultimately finds Thomas and his co-defendants responsible for damages.


“The first defendant (Thomas) may rest assured that if this court finds him liable to pay compensation to the plaintiff, the fourth defendant (the government) shall be vicariously liable to pay the plaintiff,” Gan said in his broad grounds of judgment.

He said the government should not be burdened with additional costs arising from unnecessary third-party proceedings.


Thomas would also suffer no prejudice if the third-party proceedings were set aside.

“His constitutional rights are not affected by the absence of his successor as third party in this civil suit,” Gan said.

He allowed the application by former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Latheefa Koya, the MACC and the government to strike out the third-party proceedings initiated by Thomas.

However, he said, Thomas remained at liberty to subpoena Idrus, who served as the attorney-general from 2020 to 2023, as a witness during the trial.


Shahrir, the former Johor Bahru MP, filed the suit in December 2022 against Thomas, Latheefa, the MACC and the government, alleging misfeasance in public office arising from his prosecution.

The dispute stems from a RM1 million cheque Shahrir received from former prime minister Najib Razak for the rehabilitation of the Puri Langkasuka housing project in Larkin, Johor.

Thomas, who was the attorney-general from June 2018 to February 2020, denies abusing his powers and maintains that prosecutorial decisions were made only after reviewing investigation papers submitted by the relevant agencies.

He said he resigned as the attorney-general on Feb 28, 2020, while Shahrir’s criminal trial only commenced on July 26, 2022.


On Jan 5, 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court discharged and acquitted Shahrir after the prosecution withdrew a charge alleging that he had failed to declare the RM1 million he received from Najib to the Inland Revenue Board as taxable income.

The trial of Shahrir’s civil suit is scheduled to be heard on Aug 19 and Sept 4, 7, 9, 29 and 30.

Senior federal counsel Zureen Elina Dom and Siti Syakimah Ibrahim, together with federal counsel Zul Izzati Zulkifli, represented Latheefa, the MACC and the government.

Lawyers Mervyn Lai and Haikaldin Mahyidin appeared for Thomas, while Syahrul Syazwan Salehimn acted represented Shahrir.

Rohingya man charged with robbery at Razif Sidek’s house

Rohingya man charged with robbery at Razif Sidek’s house


2 hours ago
Faisal Asyraf


The 27-year-old contractor is alleged to have committed the offence at the former national shuttler's home in Taman Tun Dr Ismail last month

Former national shuttler Razif Sidek achieved major success in the men’s doubles alongside his younger brother, Jalani, forming one of the country’s most successful partnerships in the 1980s and early 1990s. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A Rohingya national faces up to 14 years in jail after he was charged with armed robbery at the home of former national badminton player Razif Sidek last month.

Fawyas Yasin, 27, claimed trial when the charge was read to him before sessions court judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin today.

Fawyas, a contractor, is alleged to have committed the offence while armed with a knife at the home of Razif, 64, at Jalan Damansara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, at about 12.20pm on May 19.


The charge was framed under Section 392 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 397, which provides for a maximum jail term of 14 years, as well as whipping and a fine, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor J Banusha objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and noting that Fawyas’s United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card had expired.


She also argued that there was a risk the accused could interfere with witnesses.

Counsel Mansheel Kaur applied for bail, saying that Fawyas is supporting his unemployed wife and a 10-month-old child on a daily wage of RM50.

She said her client, who has been living in Malaysia for 15 years, is in the process of renewing his UNHCR card.

The court denied bail and fixed July 14 for mention.


Razif achieved major success in the men’s doubles with his younger brother, Jalani, forming one of the country’s most successful partnerships in the 1980s and early 1990s.

His career highlights include winning the men’s doubles gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics – the first Olympic gold medal in Malaysia’s history.

Malaysia has NEVER won gold at the Olympics. The Sidek Brothers only won Bronze in Barcelona 1992

The pair also won multiple international titles, including the All England Championships, helping establish Malaysia as a dominant force in doubles badminton during their era.

After retiring from competitive badminton, Razif remained involved in the sport through coaching and development roles.

Pentagon well advanced into making flying AI KILLER robots for use in war against China

From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi 

Favorites ·spootrenSd4chhf28iauch2l70195gl4ih33aa602i3m5c3i40thim226u1l ·

AI machines acting autonomously killed humans for the first time, it was revealed today.

Ten AI-powered drones were given full authority to choose human targets and kill them, New Scientist reported in its latest edition.

The operation worked.

The killings took place in Ukraine two years ago, but the information was never before publicly admitted, the journal said.

.

CLEARLY VISIBLE CORPSES

“We just launch it and we know everything will be dead – everything that will be found there in this particular area will be dead,” drone-maker Alexander Kokhanovskyy told the publication.

“There is no connection to the drone at all, you cannot see the video, nothing… Everything it sees will be killed.”

Afterwards, the Ukrainians sent regular drones—fitted with cameras and piloted by humans—into the same area, to see if the AI had killed people. It had. There were clearly visible corpses and a disabled truck.

.

USED ON OTHER OCCASIONS

This has probably happened on other occasions, the journal said.

“Reports in 2023 suggested that Ukrainian attack drones equipped with artificial intelligence were finding and attacking targets without human assistance – but were being deployed against vehicles such as tanks, rather than infantry,” the journal said.

Human casualties may well have been in the destroyed vehicles, but they wouldn’t have been visible.

Why are the Ukrainians revealing this horrific fact so casually? With the massive demonization of Russia in the western mainstream media, they likely think that no one will care, since the victims were Russian.

It’s worth noting that Ukrainian drone makers are working closely with the US and UK armed forces and doing shared tests in the area. And that warfare in both Ukraine and Iran are being used as training material for a US attack on China—more on that below.

.

WHO’S IN FAVOR OF KILLER ROBOTS?

But seriously, we have to ask: are autonomous AI flying killer robots, with permission to kill humans of their choosing, a good idea?

Most people don’t think so.

In 2019, China and the majority of other countries of the world met at the UN to discuss a motion saying that killer robots are an obviously horrible idea and should be banned immediately.

Guess who disagreed with the motion?

You can guess the answer. Think of the four most ruthless nations.

Correct. The US, the UK, Russia, and Australia disagreed. (Ukraine hadn’t gotten into drones at that time.)

.

LONDON HAS A TASTE FOR THEM

The British leadership definitely likes the idea of robots killing people.

In April last year (2025), the idea was floated in the Times of London, under the genteel headline "Drones may strike targets with no human input, says minister."

The word "drones" sounds nicer than "killer robots" and "strike targets" sounds better than “humans”, right, British government?

.

BUT THE U.S. IS WAY AHEAD

No one doubts that the Pentagon is well advanced into making flying AI robots who can choose which humans to kill.

“The Pentagon has been trying to develop AI-powered autonomous drones for years,” said Katrina Manson, a US author who writes about AI weapons.

The US is developing flying killer robots called Goalkeeper and jet-ski style killer robots called Whiplash. Both are AI powered and have the power and ability to destroy humans of their own choosing, she says.

By putting AI into airborne or waterborne weapons and then giving them permission to kill humans, it means that the US can still keep killing people even when radio contact cannot be maintained.

“The military is also working to put AI directly into its ‘one-way attack drones,’ so they can navigate, locate targets and carry out lethal attacks even when wireless communications have been severed,” Manson said in a recent book.

.

CHINA IS ULTIMATE TARGET

They are being prepared for war on China, Manson says. “Starting in 2022 the Pentagon’s Maven team began collecting enormous amounts of imagery of Chinese vessels in the Pacific, which they used to enable the creation of algorithms that drones operating there could use for targeting.”

The tragedy of all this is that many futurists, including author Isaac Asimov, saw this coming and warned against it.

His “first rule of robotics” states that a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

He believed that failing to follow this fundamental rule would doom the human race. Many people still agree.

And there are some who will stand up and say so. In February this year, Anthropic, one of the world’s top AI companies, told the US government that it did not want its tech to be used for autonomous weapons that kill humans.

The US Department of War immediately blacklisted Anthropic—and found an alternative partner, OpenAI, the same day.

A walk for peace Malaysia needs

A walk for peace Malaysia needs

Susan Loone
Published: Jun 12, 2026 11:02 AM
Updated: 3:24 PM


COMMENT | While attending the Walk for Peace gathering at Wat Nak Prok in Bangkok recently, I was asked by two Vietnamese journalists from the BBC - why a non-Buddhist Malaysian had travelled all the way to Thailand to attend the event.

My answer was simple.

"Peace is a universal language. Malaysia, where I come from, is multiracial and multireligious. We were raised to respect other people's faith."

Later, I had the chance to ask Bhikkhu Paññākāra, chief monk and founder of the famed Walk for Peace USA, a question that has always been on my mind.

Why had he never come to Malaysia to promote peace? His answer surprised me.

"It is not up to me whether I can walk for peace in Malaysia or not," said the Vietnamese-born Theravāda Buddhist monk, who is also known as Sư Tuệ Nhân.

"It depends on the conditions in Malaysia, whether I am allowed to walk or not. It also depends on whether the government supports this mission. It is not that I can walk everywhere."

His response left me thinking about Malaysia, and how it is sometimes perceived by foreigners.

As a diverse nation, we often preach about unity, tolerance, and harmony. Yet recent years have shown how fragile these values can be.

The lack of leadership in government towards addressing these conflicts is also a sore point.

We have witnessed racial and religious issues exploited for political gain, growing polarisation in public discourse, and an increasing tendency to view fellow Malaysians, especially the minorities, through the lens of race and faith rather than shared humanity.

When asked whether he would come to Malaysia if invited, Paññākāra was careful not to make it sound like a personal decision.

"We have many things to consider, the other monks too. It is not just a decision by me," he said.

The answer reflected the collective nature of the movement, which has its base in a country known for gun crimes and war activities in several countries.


Meeting the ‘peace dog’

Walk for Peace, which spanned 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington DC last year, was not built around a single individual but around a shared commitment to non-violence, compassion, and understanding.

Meanwhile, one of the most memorable moments of my visit was meeting Aloka, the celebrated "Peace Dog" who accompanies Paññākāra on many of his journeys.

Aloka's story is remarkable. He was a stray dog in India who followed the monks on their mission in 2022. After an accident, he was rescued by Paññākāra, and now lives in the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Texas.

Aloka and the columnist


Devotees at the gathering were captivated by Aloka's gentle, affectionate, and remarkably calm demeanour amid the crowds.

Aloka seemed to possess an uncanny ability to bring people together. Strangers smiled at one another. Conversations began effortlessly. Barriers dissolved.

Watching him interact with people from different countries, cultures, and faiths, I began to understand why he has become such a beloved symbol of the Walk for Peace movement.

Aloka's significance goes beyond symbolism. Through the Aloka Foundation, set up in the US, the movement promotes kindness towards stray and abandoned animals, reminding us that compassion cannot be selective.

A society that values peace must also value mercy, empathy, and care for the vulnerable.


Compassion for all

Malaysian animal welfare advocate Karin Lee believes the movement could have a positive impact here, where reports of abuse and abandonment of stray animals often go viral on social media, creating a frenzy among lovers and haters of animals.

"We would very much like to invite Aloka and his companion monks to Malaysia.

"After visiting Thailand, India and Nepal, we would urge the government to work with the interfaith community to invite the delegation of peace headed by Paññākāra.

"There is much we can learn from Aloka and how this furry one has raised awareness of compassion and kindness towards stray dogs in our midst," she said, pointing to Malaysia's urgent need to enforce an effective policy on stray animals.

Karin Lee


In Thailand, Paññākāra and his team of monks received the Ashoka Pillar of Moral Leadership Award, which recognises individuals and organisations dedicated to compassion, selfless service, moral leadership, and peace.

Earlier this year, the monk was honoured with the Courage Project Award in the US, recognising his efforts to promote compassion, non-violence, and interfaith harmony through the Walk for Peace movement.

And yet, perhaps his most profound observation came when I asked whether he saw himself as a messenger of peace for countries like Malaysia, where tensions occasionally arise between different communities.

Bhikkhu Paññākāra (right)

"All the monks can deliver peace," he replied. "But whether there is peace or not, it depends on ourselves,” Paññākāra stated.

That simple statement may contain the most important lesson of all.

Peace must come from within

Peace cannot be imported. It cannot be imposed by governments, religious leaders, or activists. Others may inspire us, guide us and encourage us, but ultimately peace depends on how we choose to treat one another.

Perhaps, the challenge now lies with the national unity minister. If Malaysia truly believes in promoting harmony, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence, here is an opportunity to demonstrate it.

Extending an invitation to Paññākāra and the Walk for Peace movement would send a powerful message that our commitment to unity is more than a slogan.

It would show the world that Malaysia is prepared to embrace initiatives that bring people together across racial, religious, and cultural divides.

At a time when societies everywhere seem increasingly fractured, a walk dedicated to peace, understanding, and compassion may be exactly what Malaysia needs.

Is Malaysia prepared for this challenge?



SUSAN LOONE is a member of the Malaysiakini team

***

I am proud to be a friend of Susan Loone.

Tok Pa returns to Umno

Tok Pa returns to Umno


Former minister Mustapa Mohamed left Umno in September 2018 after more than 40 years in the party

Former Kelantan Umno chief Mustapa Mohamed is among those who have returned to Umno after it launched its online membership registration drive on April 20.

PETALING JAYA: Former minister Mustapa Mohamed has rejoined Umno, less than two years after announcing his retirement from politics and resigning from Bersatu in 2024.

The former Umno Supreme Council member and Kelantan Umno chief is among those who have returned to the party after it launched its online membership registration drive on April 20, said Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki in a Facebook post.

Mustapa, also known as Tok Pa, left Umno in September 2018 after more than 40 years in the party, citing differences over its direction following the 14th general election.


He then joined Bersatu and later served as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (economic affairs) under the Perikatan Nasional administration.

In 2024, he announced his retirement from politics and resigned from Bersatu, as well as from all party and government positions.


Asyraf said a total of 21,858 new and returning members have registered with Umno over the last two months.

He also cited several other prominent figures who have returned to Umno, including former ministers Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin, Noh Omar and Syed Hamid Albar.

He hoped the party would continue to strengthen its role in serving the nation.

PAS cut ties with Bersatu out of jealousy, says Ramasamy

PAS cut ties with Bersatu out of jealousy, says Ramasamy


Urimai chairman says PAS was concerned that Bersatu would continue growing in influence and eclipse it

Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said Bersatu has a national profile while PAS’s popularity is largely confined to certain states in Peninsular Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: Urimai chairman P Ramasamy today suggested that PAS cut ties with Bersatu out of “fear and perhaps jealousy” that the outfit led by Muhyiddin Yassin would overshadow the Islamic party.

In a Facebook post, Ramasamy claimed PAS was concerned that Bersatu would continue to grow in influence and eclipse it if it did not sever ties.

Ramasamy, whose Urimai party is part of Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat, a loose coalition led by Muhyiddin, said while PAS might command stronger electoral support than Bersatu, its popularity was largely confined to certain states in Peninsular Malaysia.


Bersatu, on the other hand, has a national profile, he said.

Ramasamy also said Muhyiddin enjoyed far greater public acceptance than PAS leaders, while Bersatu had managed to attract support from both Malays and non-Malays.


“I think the real reason PAS severed ties with Bersatu is because of jealousy.

“Essentially, PAS wanted to ensure that Bersatu’s growing popularity was nipped in the bud,” he said.

PAS decided to cut ties with Bersatu on Monday, saying it would explore forming a new political pact to face upcoming elections with the goal of “uniting the ummah”.

Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said his party was obligated to cut ties with Bersatu as the latter had become greedy for seats and power rather than acting in the interest of the ummah’s unity.

***

Alamak Prof, apalah lu cakap?

PAS could serve Umno a reality check on pact with PH, says analyst

PAS could serve Umno a reality check on pact with PH, says analyst


4 hours ago
Nicholas Chung


If PAS makes headway in Johor, Negeri Sembilan or Melaka, analyst Azmi Hassan says it will demonstrate how BN and PH need each other

In 2022, Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan joined forces with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Umno, to form the federal government together with Abang Johari Openg’s Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Hajiji Noor’s Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, with Abdul Hadi Awang’s PAS in the opposition.

PETALING JAYA: Umno and Barisan Nasional could be dealt a reality check on how much they need Pakatan Harapan’s support if PAS makes headway in the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, a political analyst said.

Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan said Umno already wields extensive dominance and far-reaching influence in Johor, the party’s birthplace, making it easy for BN to contest the state polls on its own.

Although BN is confident of bettering its two-thirds majority win in 2022, Azmi warned that Umno-BN is not as formidable in several other states, including two that it leads.


“BN may also be strong in Melaka, which is expected to hold its state election later this year.


“But when it comes to the next general election (GE16) and state elections in Pahang, Perak and elsewhere, where BN is not that strong, it will become apparent just how much both BN and PH need each other.


“And, you never know. If PAS performs beyond expectations in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, it would serve BN with a reality check that they do need to work with PH in GE16,” he told FMT.

Azmi believes this is why BN and PH’s unity pact might still have many more years to its lifespan, despite an increase in the bickering between the two coalitions.

Several PH and BN leaders traded barbs after Johor BN announced it would go solo in the 16th state election, expected in July.

Johor Umno chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi ruffled more feathers in PH after saying he would rather forgo the menteri besar’s post than be part of a state government that includes the DAP.


BN and PH will also go their separate ways in the Negeri Sembilan state election, with BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also saying the coalition was “almost certain” to contest GE16 on its own.


While this has given rise to speculation of Umno reviving its defunct alliance with PAS, which recently severed ties with Bersatu, Zahid said Umno had no intention of resurrecting the pact as the party had “closed the book on it”.

Two willing parties

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said the key factor that would determine the continuity of BN and PH’s alliance was their willingness to form a coalition government after the polls.

He believed this willingness was “very much intact” in both coalitions, adding that any decision either to collaborate or go their own way at the polls would merely be a tactical choice.


“They can try to convince their respective target voters that the other party is friend or foe, but ultimately, the idea for each of them is to win as many seats as possible, then negotiate for a coalition government after the election.

“A day is a very long time in politics in the current political environment. The idea is to maximise your winning chances in this general election. Everything else can wait, as circumstances would certainly change by then,” said Oh.

Despite being bitter rivals for years, BN and PH joined hands with Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and others to form the federal government after the general election in November 2022 resulted in a hung Parliament.

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung quits PKR leadership, says party ‘no longer’ what it was

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung quits PKR leadership, says party ‘no longer’ what it was



Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung (right) announced his resignation from PKR’s central leadership council after 18 years, on June 12, 2026. — Picture from Facebook/Lee Chean Chung

Friday, 12 Jun 2026 10:49 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has stepped down from PKR’s central leadership council after 18 years in the party, citing concerns over its direction and internal decision-making.

Lee, however, said he will remain a PKR member and continue serving as an MP until Parliament is dissolved.

“PKR today is no longer the PKR I once knew,” he said in a Facebook post today announcing his decision.

He said he could no longer continue in the party leadership, adding that he would instead focus on his duties as a backbench MP.

Lee also said he would continue to carry out his parliamentary role, including supporting institutional reform bills expected to be tabled in June.

In his post, he said he was seeking clarification from the party over recent administrative issues affecting constituency work and public programmes, but said no official explanation had been provided.

Lee said the developments had left him unable to continue working with the current leadership structure.

He stressed that he would remain committed to parliamentary oversight and reform efforts, including proposals on term limits for the prime minister, separation of powers for the Attorney General, and a Freedom of Information law.

***

BERSAMA kaki

Bersama urges Selangor to revoke non-Muslim worship guidelines, restart consultations

Bersama urges Selangor to revoke non-Muslim worship guidelines, restart consultations



The Selangor government’s new guidelines on non-Muslim houses of worship have raised concerns among Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and followers of other faiths in June 2026. — Picture by Yusof Isa

Friday, 12 Jun 2026 10:15 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) today urged the Selangor government to withdraw newly approved guidelines governing non-Muslim houses of worship and restart consultations with religious groups and other stakeholders.

The party, led by former ministers Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, also expressed solidarity with Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, who recently raised concerns over the guidelines.

“Several of the approved rules have raised concerns among Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and followers of other faiths,” Bersama said in a press statement.

The party said the guidelines, approved by the Selangor executive council last November, included restrictions on establishing non-Muslim houses of worship in commercial areas, limits on building heights, conditions restricting access to main roads, and a requirement of one house of worship for every 5,000 residents.

While the state government has said the guidelines have yet to be enforced, Bersama argued that they are already being used as a reference by local authorities responsible for approving and regulating applications.

“We believe such regulations should not be formulated solely through administrative processes based on recommendations from government departments that view the matter only from administrative and management perspectives,” it said.

Bersama said regulations involving houses of worship were highly sensitive and should be developed through broader public engagement rather than administrative decision-making alone.


The party also said local councillors should play a greater role in reflecting the needs of residents and allowing local considerations to shape decisions on places of worship.

“The Selangor government should return the matter to the Exco and first revoke the latest guidelines approved in November 2025, so that consultation and engagement with all relevant stakeholders can begin anew,” it said.

Bersama called for fresh consultations involving religious representatives, community leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders before any revised guidelines are tabled again for approval.

***

Anwar may lose Selangor over this issue

Iran pours cold water on Trump’s ‘great settlement’ claim

Iran pours cold water on Trump’s ‘great settlement’ claim



In a statement, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the claims as ‘baseless’, calling them ‘an attempt to divert public attention from the most pressing issue of the day, the genocide in occupied Palestine’. — Reuters pic

Friday, 12 Jun 2026 8:57 AM MYT


TEHRAN, June 12 — Iran today said it had not reached a final decision on a deal with Washington after US President Donald Trump announced a “great settlement” to end the war.

“So far, Iran has not reached a final conclusion on the agreement,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, after Trump said he expected a deal to be signed in Europe in the coming days.

The Tasnim news agency noted that Trump had announced a deal was imminent 38 times in the previous two months.

“Until Iran announces the matter of a potential understanding, any news from Trump on this subject should be regarded the same as his previous messaging,” it warned. — AFP

***

Frigging around with the shares-market

We cannot say the Rohingya are ‘not our problem’

We cannot say the Rohingya are ‘not our problem’


2 hours ago
Mikha Chan


Unless the government develops a proper, thorough plan for the community, we’ll be discussing this issue for decades to come

The Rohingya population in Malaysia — officially numbered by UNHCR at 126,144 as of February 2026 — have been here since the 1990s, having arrived in waves over the decades to flee racial discrimination and violence at the hands of Myanmar’s Buddhist majority.

Nearly 30 years on, the Rohingya’s plight doesn’t seem to have eased. Still marginalised and feared, the Muslim community has lately again become the target of vitriol from Malaysians online.


The latest controversy began on May 27, after Selayang residents raised concerns over a Hari Raya Aidiladha sacrifice ritual conducted by a group of Rohingya, complaining that blood and animal waste had been dumped into nearby drains.

Their “concerns” soon escalated to accusations, with people questioning how refugees were able to afford dozens of cattle, despite reports that the livestock had been locally sponsored. Others revived allegations that the community was a burden on public funds and stealing local jobs.


On June 1, an online petition was launched, calling for the Rohingya’s removal and arguing that their growing numbers were putting pressure on infrastructure and social services. It has already attracted half a million signatures.

The petition argues that the Rohingya have “heightened tensions within local communities, as resources that are already scarce become even more limited”. It also cites security concerns, saying crime rates have increased where refugee settlements are concentrated.

“While not all refugees are involved in such activities, the mere association has led to fear and mistrust within local communities. The petition calls upon the Malaysian government to develop a comprehensive plan to address this issue.

“We urge the authorities to collaborate with international organisations to seek alternative solutions, such as resettlement in third countries or enhanced support in their home regions in Myanmar,” it reads.

While the petition may have been worded with care, its measured tone doesn’t reflect that of Malaysians online, who’ve obliterated the fine line between airing concerns and hate speech. Calls for the Rohingya’s deaths, excused as black humour or gallows comedy, are making the rounds.

One comment on Threads reads, almost verbatim: “The best solution is to control their births, or sell them to organ-harvesting syndicates. Why should Malaysians pay monthly for them to breed like rats?”

We shouldn’t platform talk like this, but the fact remains that such dehumanising language is now common.

Some have even turned the word “Rohingya” into a slur. It’s become so bad that PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari recently said he was considering legal action against netizens calling him “Malaysia’s first Rohingya MP”.


Obstacles to relocation

The petition isn’t wrong, though. Previous administrations never really developed a proper plan to address the issue. In fact, they avoided confronting it head-on for over 30 years. So yes, the government needs an actual, thorough plan.

That said, the two alternative solutions suggested in the petition are unlikely to work. Firstly, both proposals would require the relocation of large numbers of Rohingya people — which is easier to propose than execute.

The problem with forcibly relocating people you don’t want is that you’re not the only one who doesn’t want them. These solutions are unlikely to succeed for the same reason they haven’t happened elsewhere: very few countries would willingly accept a community of 120,000-odd people dumped on their shores.

Likewise, any plan to repatriate the community in phases and across various countries is unlikely to work because of the diplomatic complications involved. Asean leaders have discussed this exact issue over several summits, with little success.

Critics of the community point out that Malaysia has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and lacks a legislative or administrative framework to address refugee matters. They argue that responsibility for the Rohingya falls on Myanmar, and not Malaysia. “We already gave them temporary assistance. They must go back,” they say.

This argument, whether intentionally or not, overlooks the fact that sending the Rohingya back would expose them to the same persecution and violence they were fleeing from, which clearly isn’t an option if Malaysia wants to maintain its humanitarian credentials.

Choosing to send them back would shift the core issue to international optics and public relations: how much criticism is Malaysia willing to endure? Can it get away with such a move? Yes, these questions are callous — but so is the choice.

Ultimately, the solution is likely to be found within Malaysia itself, and must come from Putrajaya. It certainly won’t come from Asean alone, and Myanmar is unlikely to reverse its present position anytime soon.

Neither is it likely to come from UNHCR, which while being mandated to “safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers worldwide”, has no real power to compel Malaysia to adopt policy.

Of course, what the solution actually is has been repeatedly debated, which is another challenge. We’ve avoided making hard policy choices for reasons that would require a separate discussion.

Outside of repatriation, the Rohingya in Malaysia need opportunities to challenge negative perceptions of their community. Yet the least popular option — granting them citizenship to allow them full access to public education and formal employment, thus opening pathways to upward mobility and crime reduction — appears politically unviable.

Perhaps we could offer them temporary identification, similar to what is done in East Malaysia. This would grant the Rohingya partial access to education and employment. That said, determining the exact limits of such documentation would be tricky in itself.

In any case, we can’t say this isn’t our problem.

Yes, we should strengthen our borders, but Myanmar has already made the refugees now in our country our conundrum to solve. They are here, and not there. And unless the government takes real action to resolve this issue, we’ll be talking about this for another few decades.

OPINION | FAM is rotten to the core

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OPINION | FAM is rotten to the core


11 Jun 2026 • 12:30 PM MYT

FLK
Used to do a bit of work in corporate restructuring, corporate `undertaker

Malay Mail


It is astonishing to read that the former President of FA of Malaysia (FAM) admitted and said that the failure of FAM in failing to table its annual budgets at its congress since 2016 was just an "oversight" or negligence.


Oversight or negligence not for one year but for more than 10 years?


He further justified that despite not tabling its annual budget, the budgets were still reviewed internally by the finance and executive committees.


It is neither oversight or negligence.


It is a BREACH of FIDUCIARY DUTY by the entire EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.


A breach that borders on criminality.


The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, who comprised of some high calibre and people of intellect should be questioned on whether they are aware of the breach and if yes, did they bring this up to the President of FAM?



Or all of them were aware of the breach but agreed collectively not to squeal on it?


A sports organization operating without tabling its budget fails basic fiduciary duty.


This means leaders spend public or stakeholder money without official permission.


In severe cases, this lack of transparency masks fraud, corruption, or gross mismanagement.


What a Budget means?


In simple terms, a budget is a financial map. It shows where money comes from and exactly where it goes.


A budget isn't just an extra piece of paper.



It is the most important tool to keep leaders honest.Trust: When an organization tables its budget, it gives its members a chance to vote on it. This vote is an authorization of trust.
Rule: Without a tabled budget, leaders essentially write blank checks with little to no outside control

This is a careless failure to do what a person or group is legally required to do. If an organization fails to present budgets for years, it shows that the system meant to check the leaders is completely broken.


When unapproved spending goes on for a long time, it can cross the line into illegal acts.



The path to criminality.

• Fraud: Using money for purposes other than what donors or the government intended.
• Embezzlement: Leaders taking or misusing organization funds for themselves.
• Corruption: Bypassing rules to hide financial health or to reward friends

In a media statement released on 5 June 2026, FAM said their statutes at the time did not require budgets to be tabled at Congress for the period 2020 to 2022.


Even if it is a requirement, FAM can still ignore it.


FAM itself admitted that aollowing FIFA and AFC’s recommendation that annual budgets be presented at Congress, FAM amended their statutes in 2023 and even with their statues amended, the association admitted that the budget presentation requirement was still not properly carried out for 2023, 2024, and 2025.



It is mind blowing that some state affiliates, citing his vast administrative experience and international ties, are now calling for the former President - the President that presided over the period where FAM committed a serious breach of fiduciary duty in the history of the association - to return and lead the national body.


With the players naturalisation fiasco still fresh in the public’s mind, this latest revelation on the absence of governance in the adminstration of the association really cemented the public’s belief that every thing in FAM is rotten.



More than 40 years ago, in 1985, Malaysia beat South Korea in a senior "A" international football match was on March 10, 1985, during a World Cup qualifying match at Merdeka Stadium.


Since then, South Korea moved up the world rankings while Malaysia decides to join the bottom ranks of world football.


The icing on Malaysia’s humiliation was when Laos, a country who was ranked 198 in world’s football ranking outplayed Malaysia who was ranked at 121 then, in a game in 2022, the same period where FAM said their statutes at the time did not require budgets to be tabled.



If the existing office bearers in FAM and their state affifliates do have an iota of pride or whatever is left in them, all of them should resign from their positions immediately with fresh and completely new faces brought in to reform the entire adminstration.


To the period where Malaysia ranks on par with South Korea in football.