China, Brazil, Germany, become Guardians of the High Seas

China, Brazil, Germany, become Guardians of the High Seas

By Nury Vittachi

2 days ago

CHINA, BRAZIL, AND several other countries this week became legal guardians of the creatures of the High Seas. Leave that giant squid alone!

But the United States and Russia declined to sign to join them.

After 20 years of legal tinkering, the United Nations this weekend launched can international agreement to protect marine life—and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction pact became law on Saturday this week (17 January 2026).

China has offered the historical port city of Xiamen to host the Secretariat. Belgium and Chile have also offered premises.

Many major economies, including China, Brazil, Japan, Germany and France ratified and signed the agreement, which ensures that marine life is protected–both for conservation purposes, and also so that the fishing industry only takes sustainable catches.

Sixty countries have signed the agreement, which is legally binding.

BIG PLAYERS DIVIDED

Organizers were delighted with China’s enthusiasm for the project. The giant Asian nation has many industries relation to the oceans, including shipbuilding, aquaculture, fisheries, offshore oil, gas and wind farms. China exported about US$155 billion in sea-related goods in 2023, according to UN trade agency figures.

But there was disappointment that the US, which is also one of the top five exporters in ocean-related goods, has not ratified it. The country, which does US$61 billion of business in the sector, signed the treaty in 2023, but did not go on to ratify it. Russia has neither signed nor ratified it.

The United States has withdrawn from 66 organizations, including 31 from the United Nations.

The media often portrays the Chinese as perpetrators of illegal over-fishing operations—but this appears to be hostile propaganda: the majority (at least 82 per cent) of Chinese seafood is generated through aquaculture farms.

RM55.5bil needed to replace water pipes nationwide by 2050

Malaysia requires an estimated RM55.5 billion to replace 39,000 kilometres of water pipes by 2050 in order to resolve persistent water disruption issues affecting numerous regions. - Scoop file pic, January 21, 2026


RM55.5bil needed to replace water pipes nationwide by 2050


PAAB to expedite pipe replacement initiative with federal backing to address ongoing water disruptions

Keran Raj
Updated 16 seconds ago
21 January, 2026
8:30 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia requires an estimated RM55.5 billion to replace 39,000 kilometres of water pipes by 2050 in order to resolve persistent water disruption issues affecting numerous regions, according to Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) Chairman, Datuk Seri Jaseni Maidinsa.

This large-scale initiative is currently underway, supported by the Federal Government, with Cabinet approval to fast-track its progress.

“PAAB is making efforts to address the situation, with the Federal Government providing grants to back these initiatives. PAAB is the primary implementer,” said Jaseni.

He noted that water operators had previously been unable to replace the pipes due to financial difficulties faced by water companies.

The replacement will be conducted according to a priority system, with careful planning for each state’s needs.

“For some states, the programme may span ten years, others may require 15 years, while some could extend until 2050,” he explained during a media forum earlier today.

Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) chairman, Datuk Seri Ir. Jaseni Maidinsa, delivers a speech during a media forum, outlining the RM55.5 billion initiative to replace Malaysia’s aging water pipes by 2050. – Scoop pic, January 21, 2026


Replacing the aging infrastructure will significantly reduce water wastage, known as Non-Revenue Water (NRW), by up to 75%, as it will help curb physical losses in the public water supply system.

The initiative is currently being implemented by PAAB with the support of the Federal Government and with Cabinet approval to fast-track the process as the pipes have not been changed for the past 50 to 70 years.

Prioritisation of pipe replacements will depend on consumer density and water demand.

“If a pipe serves an industrial area with a high consumer base, it will be given higher priority, followed by areas with frequent breakages,” he said.

Currently, many of the pipes in use are Asbestos-Cement (AC) pipes, which have surpassed their 30-year lifespan. These will be replaced with steel pipes, such as mild steel, which have a longevity of 50 to 70 years.

“There are four states with high NRW due to old pipes: Kelantan, Perlis, Kedah, and Pahang,” added PAAB’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Zulkiflee Omar.

PAAB, established on May 5, 2006, is a government-owned entity under the Finance Ministry (MOF).

Its primary role is to oversee the development, upgrade, and financing of water infrastructure in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, leasing these assets to licensed water operators for maintenance and operation. – January 21, 2026

***

RM55.5bil  - wah, banyak skop untuk ras ___ - MACC berwaspada.

Cops identify two suspects identified in Harimau Malaya heritage player document forgery

The police have identified two individuals believed to be involved in the forgery of documents related to seven heritage players of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). - Scoop file pic, January 21, 2026


Cops identify two suspects identified in Harimau Malaya heritage player document forgery


Police launch extensive investigation into alleged fraud involving seven heritage players' FIFA registration documents



A. Azim Idris
Updated 17 seconds ago
21 January, 2026
8:32 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – The police have identified two individuals believed to be involved in the forgery of documents related to seven heritage players of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) Director, Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, confirmed that the investigation was initiated following a police report regarding the falsification of documents related to the registration of the players.

“The effort to confirm the true identities of the two individuals involved in the submission of forged documents to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is currently underway,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

To date, the police have received 45 reports, including one filed by FAM, and have recorded statements from 43 witnesses, including individuals from FAM, the National Registration Department (JPN), and other relevant public witnesses, to complete the investigation.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the citizenship status of the seven Harimau Malaya heritage players was processed through a legitimate and orderly procedure, fully adhering to the laws in place.

However, further investigation is now focusing on elements of fraud and document falsification under Section 420 of the Penal Code, specifically during the registration process and submission of documents to FIFA.

Rusdi also pointed out that those found guilty under this offence could face imprisonment of between one to ten years, along with whipping and a fine.

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has urged the public to refrain from making speculations, assuring that the investigation will maintain transparency and integrity to ensure justice is served without shielding any party.

Earlier, local media reported that FAM had filed a police report at the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters regarding the issue of document forgery involving the seven heritage players.

FAM’s Acting President, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, explained that the report was made in accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Investigation Committee (IIC), chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, after the committee completed its investigation in December last year.

He was quoted as saying that FAM is committed to fully cooperating with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and respecting the ongoing legal process. – January 21, 2026

***

Kerbau kerbau kerbau all the way

Warning Issued That Alien Revelations Could Spark Financial Crisis

Thanks MF:

Newsweek:

Warning Issued That Alien Revelations Could Spark Financial Crisis


PUBLISHED
JAN 19, 2026 AT 06:44 AM EST


By Marni Rose McFall
News Reporter


A financial crisis could be triggered by an announcement that aliens exist, according to Helen McCaw, a former policy expert of the Bank of England.

McCaw told The Times of London that politicians and bankers can’t afford to dismiss alien life, and wrote to the governor of the Bank of England, urging him to organize a contingency plan in case the White House confirms alien existence.


Why It Matters

A 2021 study from the Pew Research Center found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that intelligent life exists beyond Earth. Some Americans, meanwhile, believe that there is proof of UFOs and alien life being concealed from the public by global governments. However, this belief is held by a significant minority.

Planet Earth visitor looks at an immersive presentation of Antarctica at the "Polar Experience" exhibition at the Arena venue on December 16, 2025 in ...Read More | Sean Gallup/Getty Images

President Donald Trump has previously indicated that his administration may declassify some information on the nature of extraterrestrial life. In 2025, the UFO documentary The Age of Disclosure made headlines, and its director Dan Farah said that Trump could reveal the existence of aliens.

What To Know

McCaw was a senior analyst in financial security at the Bank of England for ten years, until 2012.

She told The Times, "The United States government appears to be partway through a multiyear process to declassify and disclose information on the existence of a technologically advanced non-human intelligence responsible for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs)."

"If the UAP proves to be of non-human origin, we may have to acknowledge the existence of a power or intelligence greater than any government and with potentially unknown intentions. It is entirely possible that government leadership and their central banks have not been properly briefed on the topic. UAP disclosure is likely to induce ontological shock and provoke psychological responses with material consequences," she said.

McCaw said there could be price volatility in the financial markets, and a collapse in confidence, in addition to a potential rush to safe assets such as gold.

She also told the outlet that the authorities should be prepared for unrest.

The report has quickly made an impact online.

Mario Nawfal, a podcast host, said in a post on X viewed over 100,000 times, "WAIT…WHAT?! A former Bank of England policy analyst is warning the UK’s central bank to prepare for a financial crisis…caused by aliens."

What People Are Saying

Holly Wood, a researcher and public speaker sharing The Times piece, in a post on X viewed over 100,000 times: "And at the centre of it is my friend, Helen McCaw. A former Bank of England senior analyst in financial security. A Cambridge graduate. Someone whose actual job was to think about state-level risk, stability, and what breaks systems. I’m incredibly proud of her. She inspires me regularly. The question is no longer "is it real?" It’s "what happens when it’s confirmed?"

The YouTuber Hustle B****, in a post on X sharing The Times report, viewed over 100,000 times, which read in part: "READ THIS TWICE - THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS PREPARING FOR ALIENS. This is not a meme. This is not a fringe blog. This is an actual newspaper article reporting that the Bank of England has been urged to prepare for financial collapse if aliens are officially confirmed."


What Happens Next?

There is a continued interest in the idea of intelligent life beyond Earth. The documentary The Age of Disclosure made a significant impact online, with the trailer amassing millions of views and the documentary prompting a discourse about aliens.

The upcoming fictional film Disclosure Day, directed by Steven Spielberg, has also prompted significant interest, with the trailer fast amassing more than a million views on X. Disclosure Day is set for release in the U.S. on June 12, 2026.

When Haters Hate, Do the Work Anyway

OPINION | When Haters Hate, Do the Work Anyway


21 Jan 2026 • 8:30 AM MYT



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

Photo credit: Nga Kor Ming FB


Recently, a Newswav opinion piece by TheRealNehruism reflected on why, despite repeated efforts, Nga Kor Ming continues to face resistance from segments of the Malay community. Reading it reminded me of a simple but often uncomfortable truth: not every effort is meant to win approval.


There comes a point in life - and especially in public service - when you realise that not everyone is meant to be won over.


No matter how carefully you choose your words, how sincere your intentions are, or how much effort you put into doing the right thing, there will always be people who see fault before they see effort. For them, every action is suspect, every gesture performative, every success undeserved.


That is simply the nature of public life.


At some point, trying too hard to win people over becomes a distraction. Worse, it becomes a trap. Because when approval becomes the goal, integrity quietly takes a back seat.


Interestingly, in a separate, more intimate profile published in 2024, Nga Kor Ming spoke less about politics and more about routine - waking early, running daily, managing stress, and ensuring that he goes to bed each night with a clear conscience. Whether one agrees with his politics or not, it was a reminder that some people approach public office not as a performance, but as a discipline.


That distinction matters.


Because the truth is this: haters will always hate. Not necessarily because you failed, but because your presence - your position, your progress, your visibility - unsettles something in them. And no amount of explanation, accommodation, or overcompensation will change that.


So what, then, is the alternative?


It is to return to something far less glamorous, but far more enduring: doing the work well and with integrity. Showing up with consistency. Making decisions rooted in responsibility rather than applause.


There is a certain dignity in refusing to be dragged into endless cycles of validation-seeking. When your focus is on the quality of your work, not the noise around it, criticism loses some of its power. It may still sting, but it no longer defines you.


This does not mean being arrogant or dismissive of feedback. Constructive criticism matters. Accountability matters. Listening matters.


But there is a difference between feedback meant to improve, and criticism meant to diminish.


The latter is rarely about policy, principles, or performance. More often, it is about ego, insecurity, or the discomfort of seeing someone stand firm without constantly seeking permission to be accepted.


In such moments, restraint becomes a form of strength.


You do not need to explain yourself endlessly. You do not need to perform humility for those who have already decided to misunderstand you. You do not need to bend yourself into shapes that make others comfortable at the cost of your own values.


Instead, you let your work speak - not loudly, but consistently.


There is also wisdom in remembering this: you do not owe everyone access to your sincerity. Some people are not looking to understand; they are looking for leverage. Feeding every provocation only prolongs the cycle.


At the end of the day, respect that is forced is fragile. Approval that is begged for is fleeting. But integrity - quiet, unyielding, and often uncelebrated - endures.


You may not win everyone. You may not even be liked. But if you can look back and say you did your work honestly, with dedication and care, then you have already won something far more lasting than applause.



And for those who still choose to hate? Let them. You have work to do.

***

Well stated my dearest Fatimah 💖💖💖

Why Malay Parties Have a Complicated Relationship with DAP

OPINION | Why Malay Parties Have a Complicated Relationship with DAP


21 Jan 2026 • 7:00 AM MYT



TheRealNehruism
An award-winning Newswav creator, Bebas News columnist & ex-FMT columnist

Image credit: M SE ASIA


PAS assistant secretary-general Syahir Che Sulaiman recently argued that Umno’s efforts to unite the Malay community can only succeed if it severs ties with DAP. In essence, PAS is telling Umno this: if Umno truly wishes to unite the Malays, it must prove its loyalty to them, and the proof of that loyalty lies in abandoning DAP.


“PAS has always been open to the agenda of Muslim unity based on political cooperation, which prioritises Islamic principles above party or personal interests.


“Umno needs to demonstrate sincerity (in its efforts to unite the Malays) with courage and dignity. The first step: leave the DAP,” he told FMT.


Syahir, who is Bachok MP, claimed that no Malay would accept the agenda championed by DAP, which is working with Umno in the unity government.


In other words, PAS is telling Umno that if Umno wants to unite with the rest of the Malays, it must show that its loyalty is to the Malays. And the way to show that loyalty, according to PAS, is by leaving DAP.


The problem with PAS’s argument is that unity is not the end goal of the Malays. Unity is merely the means. The end goal of the Malays is to succeed, and Malay unity is only of value to the Malays if it leads to Malay success.


But Malay unity is not going to lead to Malay success, at least not the success of all Malays.


The problem with the Malays today is that, unlike the Malays of past generations, Malays today have significantly higher self-esteem. What this means is that while in the past there were only a small number of Malays who aspired to leadership positions, today that number is exponentially larger.


50 years ago if you went to a Malay and asked them to take up a leadership position, most will likely decline the offer, because they don't think they are up to the task. Today, if you ask the same question to the Malays, many will say yes, even if they have no idea what they are going to do once they are in position of leadership or authority.


The problem of having too many high self-esteem Malays with leadership aspirations is further compounded by the fact that the Malay population is very large. It is so large that most Malays cannot expect to gain or be rewarded even if the Malays unite and succeed.


This large number of Malays who think they are capable of leading the Malays, added together with a large number of Malays who have to be rewarded if the Malays unite and achieve victory or success, despite the fact that only a fraction of them that can meaningfully expect rewards, is putting the Malays in a position where where Malay leaders are fighting each other others fiercely to claw their way to the top, but once they are at the top, they will only be able to reward a fraction of the Malays, even though they required the unity of all Malays to put them there.


The fact that any ruling Malay leadership can only reward a fraction of the Malays for their support and loyalty, combined with the fact that there is a large pool of Malay leaders who cannot be accommodated within the hierarchy of the ruling Malay leadership, then creates a condition where there will always be a large number of Malays ready to desert the ruling Malay leadership and unite under a competing Malay leadership.


When deserted by a large number of followers who shift their support to rivals, the ruling Malay leadership will then have to rely on non-Malay support to remain at the top.


However, when a ruling Malay leadership is seen to be relying on non-Malay support to retain its position, it will be then be deemed as subordinate or dependent on non-Malays.


Once seen as subordinate or dependent on non-Malays, the ruling leadership will also be viewed as “not Malay enough” or as lacking dignity by a large number of Malays, who did not gain any benefit from them being in power.


When the perception that they are not Malay enough or lacking in dignity becomes strong enough, their rivals will demand that they reject non-Malay support in order to prove their “Malayness” or demonstrate that they have dignity and self-respect.


But herein lies the onion.


If the ruling Malay leadership rejects non-Malay support and unites with other Malay parties, it will be confronted once again with the original problem of having too many Malay leaders and an inability to reward all supporters. This will, in turn, trigger another split among the Malays, causing a faction to splinter from the united Malay grouping. That faction will then come to an agreement with a non-Malay party such as DAP to help them rise to the top or to sustain their authority once they are there.


All Malay parties have, at some point, relied on non-Malay support to rise to the top.


First, PAS relied on DAP to rise.


Then, Bersatu relied on DAP to rise.


Now, Umno and PKR are relying on DAP to rise and to remain at the top.


If Umno leaves DAP to join PAS and Bersatu because it is shamed into believing it is not Malay enough or does not have enough dignity, then as sure as night follows day, either Bersatu or PAS—most likely Bersatu—will exploit the power vacuum created by Umno’s move and rise to the top by harnessing DAP’s support.


At the end of the day, DAP’s support for Malay parties is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it cuts the Malay party that wields it by exposing it to accusations of not being Malay enough and lacking dignity. On the other hand, it is also what enables a Malay party to cut a path to the top.


The dilemma Malay parties face with DAP is this: while association with DAP infringes on their “Malayness” and sense of self-respect, it is also necessary to support their ambitions.


If they reject DAP, they cannot win and rise to the top.


If they accept DAP, they risk being seen as having lost their identity and self-respect.


It is a damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don’t position.

"I want to marry him, I have converted to Islam" - Inspector Sheila

theVibes.com:

"I want to marry him, I have converted to Islam" - Inspector Sheila

The presence of the woman, better known as Inspector Sheila, attracted the attention of media personnel when she appeared with a Pakistani man in his early 30s.

Updated 8 hours ago · Published on 21 Jan 2026 8:58AM

"He's skinny. If I were fat, like an elephant, he'd run, right, baby boy," she said in a humorous tone. – January 21, 2026



SUSPENDED police officer Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar, 38, appeared at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court yesterday for a re-mention of the case involving the obstruction of police officers in November.


However, the presence of the woman, better known as Inspector Sheila, attracted the attention of media personnel when she appeared with a Pakistani man in his early 30s.

While greeting several media personnel in the courtyard, Sheila admitted that she was currently in a relationship with the man.

In a 16-second recording, Sheila was seen with the man and expressed her desire to marry him, besides claiming that she had converted to Islam.

"I want to marry him, I have converted to Islam," she said in the video recording.

On November 12, Sheila pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court to a charge of obstructing a police officer on duty at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah in the capital on November 4, 2025.

She was charged with intentionally obstructing a civil servant, namely a police officer at the Chow Kit Police Station, Lance Corporal Malvinderjit Singh Teerath Singh, 38, from performing his crime prevention patrol duties in front of a restaurant between 8.15 pm and 8.30 pm.

Magistrate Aina Azahra set bail at RM6,600 for the accused with a local surety. She also set the date for the case re-mention.

Meanwhile, when asked by the media about the change in her appearance, which is now seen to be getting slimmer, the controversial police officer said;

"He's skinny. If I were fat, like an elephant, he'd run, right, baby boy," she said in a humorous tone. – January 21, 2026

***

Brave bloke 😂😂😂

Photo of meeting between Anwar, Hishammuddin steals the spotlight

theVibes.com:

Photo of meeting between Anwar, Hishammuddin steals the spotlight

It shows him and Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sitting together to discuss several matters, believed to be on politics and current issues in the country.

Updated 1 hour ago · Published on 21 Jan 2026 4:09PM

Hishammuddin had in the past publicly stated that he refuses to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH). – January 21, 2026


THE latest post by former UMNO Vice President, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, on Wednesday has drawn various reactions from netizens.

It shows him and Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sitting together to discuss several matters, believed to be on politics and current issues in the country.

"Free time to discuss a couple of things with PMX, Anwar Ibrahim, during the Parliament session," the Sembrong MP said briefly on Facebook.

Netizens praised the togetherness of the two figures for being willing to sit at the table, discuss and joke, though each has different political views and beliefs.

They also praised Anwar's attitude of being big-hearted and open-minded in accepting views, though he has previously faced several issues.

Among them, Hishammuddin had publicly stated that he refuses to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH). – January 21, 2026

Pastor Koh's wife appeals to AG to charge senior cops over abduction

Pastor Koh's wife appeals to AG to charge senior cops over abduction

Published: Jan 21, 2026 3:57 PM
Updated: 7:22 PM


The wife of Pastor Raymond Koh, who disappeared in a dramatic daylight abduction in 2017, has written to the attorney-general (AG) calling for criminal charges to be filed against several senior police officers, including a former special branch deputy director.

In a detailed 35-page letter dated today, Susanna Liew presented what she described as substantial circumstantial evidence linking the ex-special branch deputy director, Awaludin Jadid, and other officers to the enforced disappearances of her husband and social activist Amri Che Mat, who vanished in November 2016.

“There is substantial circumstantial evidence to charge Awaludin Jadid, Razman Ramli, Azam Azahari Othman, Saiful Bahari Abdul Aziz, Muhammad Ali, (and) others,” Liew said.

The letter suggests possible charges under Section 34 of the Penal Code (common intention) for offences including murder, kidnapping, wrongful confinement in secret, criminal conspiracy, furnishing false information, causing disappearance of evidence, and public servants disobeying directions of law.

In her letter to AG Dusuki Mokhtar, Liew acknowledged that he may prefer more certainty before charging police officers, and appealed for a Special Task Force headed by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar


Liew said the task force can locate and investigate Saiful, secure testimony from special branch officer Shamzaini Daud as a key witness, and investigate all individuals named in the Suhakam reports, a cabinet-appointed special task force (STF) report, and a High Court judgment.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Revisiting Koh and Amri's enforced disappearances


Shamzaini had provided crucial testimony linking police involvement to the enforced disappearances of Koh and Amri.

Susanna states in the letter that she has located information about Saiful on various occasions, including his Facebook pages, marriages, children, Covid-19 vaccination records at a clinic in Wangsa Ukay on Dec 16, 2021 and Jan 6, 2022, renewal of road tax for a Toyota Vios, and income tax number.

She believes “there is a deliberate attempt by those in power in the police to suppress this information/evidence.”

The letter also referred to findings from three separate investigations - Suhakam, the STF, and a High Court judgment - all of which concluded that state agents were responsible for the abductions.

Liew noted in her letter that Suhakam found that “the direct and circumstantial evidence… proves, on a balance of probabilities, that he was abducted by state agents, namely, the special branch, Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.”

She also highlighted STF’s conclusion that the disappearances of the two men were “most likely caused by the direct or indirect actions of rogue police officers acting alone or in groups together with unidentified individuals from religious bodies or organisations.”

Susanna’s letter also cited extensive Malaysian case law establishing that convictions can be secured based solely on circumstantial evidence, noting that the Federal Court has held that “circumstantial evidence can sometimes be stronger than direct evidence as there is no possibility of it being like a witness’s testimony, which may be lacking in truth or accuracy.”

She also argued that in cases of enforced disappearance, circumstantial evidence is typically the only available evidence due to systematic suppression of information by state agents.

Liew said that following Suhakam’s findings, she had met with then-home minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who assured her he would “get to the bottom of this and ensure those responsible would be held accountable.”

She also met with then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad


“I never heard anything after that, except that the cabinet had agreed to set up an STF to investigate the Suhakam findings.

“I hope the AG, as the guardian of public interest and justice, will favour me with an early response,” she said in her letter.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Digital Minister Gobind Singh, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said.


Disappearances, legal battle

Amri, an alleged Shia follower and proselytiser, vanished on Nov 24, 2016, in Kangar, Perlis. His wife had testified that on May 12, 2018, a Special Branch officer from Perlis, Shamzaini Daud, told her the division was responsible for the abduction.

In 2017, Koh was abducted in broad daylight along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya while driving to a friend’s house. CCTV footage believed to have captured the incident showed at least 15 men and three black SUVs involved in the operation.

Raymond Koh (left) and Amri Che Mat


In 2019, Suhakam concluded that both Koh and Amri were victims of enforced disappearance carried out by special branch members from Bukit Aman.

On Nov 5 last year, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Su Tiang Joo found the government and police liable for Koh and Amri’s disappearances.

The following day, Dusuki confirmed that the AGC would be filing an appeal against the rulings, asserting that the decision was not based on established judicial principles since the judge “erred in his findings” regarding the facts and the law applicable.

Umno’s glory days to grey days – Ravindran Raman Kutty

Delegates at the Opening Ceremony of the Umno General Assembly 2025, held at Dewan Merdeka, WTC Kuala Lumpur. - Bernama pic, January 21, 2026


Umno’s glory days to grey days – Ravindran Raman Kutty


From the red-washed streets of PWTC to today’s muted gatherings at WTCKL, UMNO’s annual assembly mirrors the party’s long slide from unquestioned dominance to uncertain relevance, as corruption scandals, electoral shocks and generational change drain the colour, confidence and euphoria that once defined its grip on Kuala Lumpur and on Malaysian politics


KUALA LUMPUR no longer turns red for Umno. What was once a carnival of power centred on PWTC has faded into a careful, crowded, but curiously colourless ritual at the rebranded World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.


When KL throbbed Umno red

A decade ago, Umno General Assembly week was when the city stopped to salute a single party. By mid‑week, the approach roads – Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Kuching – thickened into a slow‑moving red tide of buses and MPVs bearing division banners from every corner of the peninsula. Buntings and Street lights.

Along the main arteries leading into the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, the city seems to dress itself in Umno’s colours. From Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Kuching right up to Jalan Putra and the approaches around Sunway Putra Mall, every lamppost and divider is draped with red-dominated party banners, buntings and vertical standees welcoming delegates to the Perhimpunan Agung Umno.​

The designs are typically striking: bold red backgrounds, the white keris logo, portraits of national leaders, and taglines about party unity and Malay solidarity, all repeated in tight intervals so that convoys of cars and buses move through what feels like a continuous corridor of partisan imagery.

Hanging buntings flutter from median railings and overhead bridges, while tall standees on street-light poles line both sides of the roads, turning this stretch of Kuala Lumpur into a festive, almost carnival-like “Umno zone” for the duration of the assembly.

PWTC stood like a fortress of power, draped in party flags and giant faces of presidents and prime ministers gazing down from billboards. The old Pan Pacific Hotel, stitched into the complex, became Umno’s unofficial inner sanctum, its lobby a permanent traffic jam of ministers, warlords and journalists jostling for eye contact and leaked lines.

Hotel clerks from Chow Kit to Bukit Bintang murmured the same phrase: “Penuh, bang, sampai Ahad.” Delegates spilled into every available room in Seri Pacific, Sunway Putra, and as far as Jalan Ampang, while coffee houses ran 24‑hour shifts, their tables colonised by branch chiefs plotting motions over endless teh tarik.

Outside, the city dressed itself accordingly. Street vendors sold Umno scarves and songkok near the LRT, taxis lined up three‑deep by the river, and every other person seemed to be in baju Melayu merah, turning downtown into a walking, talking, laughing party congress.


From dominance to doubt

But even in those crowded years, hairline cracks were forming in the party’s armour. By the mid‑2010s, Umno’s assemblies were already shadowed by 1MDB, donation controversies and open dissent from figures like Muhyiddin Yassin and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, even as Najib Razak projected unshakeable control from the main stage.

Delegates still came in their thousands, yet the conversations in those packed hotel lobbies began to turn from development and mega‑projects to court cases, rising living costs and whether the leadership had lost the moral right to rule. The spectacle looked strong, but the social contract that once gave Umno its swagger was quietly unravelling.

GE14 and GE15 shattered the illusion. From the unchallenged anchor of Barisan Nasional, Umno became a diminished pillar in a hung‑parliament era, losing Malay votes to PAS and Bersatu while carrying the weight of “court cluster” headlines and internal factional feuds.


The pale assembly of a wounded party

Fast forward to the 2025 General Assembly, held in January 2026: the same river, the same halls, but a different Malaysia – and a different Umno. WTCKL was busy, the president’s briefing was reportedly well attended, yet the mood felt less like a coronation and more like a group therapy session for a party searching for a story.

This time, the headlines were about reconciliation and reinvention, not supremacy. Khairy Jamaluddin’s invited presence – after his sacking in 2023 – became emblematic of a party trying to signal openness while still led by a president whose ongoing court cases and unpopular image remain a political millstone.

Kuala Lumpur did not stop for Umno. The hotels filled, but not overflowed; the coffee houses were busy, not besieged. The city no longer orbits around a single party’s calendar, because the party no longer orbits at the centre of national politics.


Why the euphoria died

Several currents explain why Umno’s once‑raucous assembly now feels restrained, even when the halls are numerically full.

The party’s moral aura has been eroded by years of corruption scandals, from 1MDB to ongoing “court cluster” trials, hollowing out the pride that once powered its red wave.

Its monopoly over Malay representation has been broken by PAS and Bersatu, whose rise reflects a shift in the Malay electorate towards more overtly Islamist and alternative Malay‑based platforms.

Internally, factionalism and leadership fatigue have left many grassroots members caught between loyalty to “the party” and frustration with the personalities who dominate it.

Externally, a more fragmented, coalition‑driven landscape – and Umno’s role as a junior partner in the Unity Government – means the assembly no longer decides the fate of the country in quite the same way.

In a Malaysia where no single bloc commands a grand majority, the old UMNO assembly euphoria feels almost indecent: a relic of a time when power was unambiguous, and its rituals could be celebrated without irony. Today’s politics is pale, unclear, murky and divided and Umno is both a victim and an author of that story.


What Umno must do to matter again

To stay relevant, Umno must decide whether it wants to be a nostalgic museum of its own glory days, or a serious vehicle for a new generation of Malaysians. Several hard choices stand between it and any future euphoria.

Clean leadership, not court baggage: As long as its top tier is associated with trials and past scandals, UMNO will struggle to win back trust from an electorate exhausted by elite impunity.

A credible Malay centre, not ethno‑fearmongering: Having helped normalise more hardline rhetoric, UMNO now finds itself outflanked by PAS and PN; reclaiming the middle ground means speaking to Malay dignity without demonising others.

Real answers on jobs, wages and housing: Younger voters – half the electorate – care less about party nostalgia and more about income, mobility and fairness, something even UMNO leaders now openly acknowledge.

Internal democracy and genuine renewal: The party cannot keep sacking, silencing or sidelining its own talent and then complain that the youth have abandoned it.

If Umno can truly pivot, then perhaps one day Kuala Lumpur will once again crackle with energy when the red tide rolls in, not with the old, deafening roar of uncontested power, but with the more honest, hard-earned excitement of a party that has found its soul in a far more complex Malaysia.

The baby boomers grew up immersed in that euphoria, when UMNO’s presence coloured the city and defined the era, but Generations X, Y (millennials), Z and now even Alpha do not instinctively feel the same pull. To them, UMNO too often resembles a grey, fading dowager, dignified but distant and only a genuine renewal of ideas, leadership and culture will convince these newer generations that the party is more than a memory dressed in red. – January 21, 2026

Ravindran Raman Kutty is not a political writer or a commentator, but truly misses the fun, colour and pageantry that Umno provided to many including him

PAS: UMNO could secure over 40 seats with PN alliance in GE16

PAS: UMNO could secure over 40 seats with PN alliance in GE16






PAS claims that UMNO could potentially win more than 40 parliamentary seats at the upcoming GE16 if the party chooses to cooperate with PN, rather than continuing its alliance with PH.


To recap, at the UMNO General Assembly last week, UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed the formation of a ‘Rumah Bangsa’ unification committee to welcome back former party members, as well as a ‘Grand Collaboration’ involving cooperation among Malay-Muslim political parties in Malaysia.


PAS Information Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said that, based on a simple calculation of the results of the GE15, a combination of UMNO and PN votes could give BN a significant advantage, particularly in marginal seats currently held by PH.

In addition to UMNO-held seats, PAS also claimed that several traditional BN constituencies contested by MCA and MIC, such as Bentong, Labis and Sungai Siput, could be recaptured if a BN–PN collaboration were to materialise.

According to Fadhli, the PH–BN partnership faces problems of acceptance at the grassroots level, which he said had been proven during the 2023 state elections in six states, when a segment of BN voters rejected the cooperation.

“In reality, BN voters find it easier to support a BN–PN coalition than a PH–BN alliance, as the sentiments and spirit are more aligned.

“Therefore, the concepts of a ‘Grand Collaboration’ and ‘Rumah Bangsa’ should be shaped towards political cooperation that opens up wider opportunities to win GE16, rather than turning UMNO and BN into mere instruments of PH,” he said.

Yesterday, Ahmad Fadhli claimed that UMNO’s proposals for a ‘Grand Collaboration’ and ‘Rumah Bangsa’ were unconvincing, despite sounding impressive in name. —Jan 20, 2025

Sedition overkill on ex-FMT journo?

Sedition overkill on ex-FMT journo?

Andrew Sia
Published: Jan 20, 2026 10:17 AM
Updated: 5:40 PM



COMMENT | Is asking hard questions now a crime? Yet isn’t this the basic duty of citizens?

When journalist Rex Tan - formerly from Free Malaysia Today - was arrested for sedition, it was a blow to Madani’s promise of media freedom.

Yes, his question during a forum on the possible parallels between the Palestinian plight and discrimination against Chinese Malaysians was poorly formed and outdated.

He was referring to a 1956 novel, “And the Rain My Drink”, by Eurasian writer Han Suyin, which was set during the brutal Malayan Emergency.

This was a time when half a million Chinese were forcibly relocated to New Villages surrounded by barbed wire and put under curfew. Tens of thousands were also detained without trial.

Distortion of events

Some Malay nationalists are now screaming: “How dare Tan equate the suffering of Chinese Malaysians to the Palestinians?”

Rex Tan (right) and his lawyer, Rajsurian Pillai


But that is a distortion and exaggeration. If you listen carefully to what Tan actually said, he did acknowledge (in his convoluted English) that racial discrimination was “way more of a serious magnitude in Palestine”.

I am guessing that many racial warriors are less conversant in English or have not even heard his actual words. They are probably just blindly amplifying what others are shouting about.

Even I find Tan’s English a chore to follow. It didn’t help that his question was meandering, thus enabling people to put words into his mouth.

But the core of what he asked was valid, ie, is there a parallel between right-wing nationalism and racial prejudice in Israel and Malaysia? Yes, of course, it’s far worse in the Gaza genocide, but his question was about the underlying mindset.

But Palestine is a highly emotional question in Malaysia. Many, including myself, are distraught, indeed enraged, by the genocide there, and rightly so.

A more appropriate comparison would have been with the hate speech against Muslims in Europe and America. If Malays don’t like such prejudice, then they should not support it when it happens in Malaysia against non-Muslims.

Gaza, circa October 2025


Even then, Muslims are mayors of both London and New York. But in Malaysia, even the idea of local council elections is opposed on racial grounds by Umno, PAS, and Bersatu.

Not rabble-rousing

Despite his linguistic shortcomings, Tan was not behaving like a racial rabble-rouser, such as a certain good doctor from Malacca, and others who have mushroomed in Malaysia.

He didn’t spew out downright racist and hateful comments like “Balik Tong San” (go back to Tong San) or “halau Cina” (chase the Chinese out) or “DAPig”, as we often see on social media - usually without any action from authorities.

Tan asked a peaceful and respectful, albeit provocative, question at an intellectual forum, which was rebutted by the speaker George Galloway. However, the British MP may not have been fully aware of the harsh history of the Malayan Emergency.

In a mature country that can discuss important issues frankly, that should be the end of it. A calm but confusing question was answered in a serene setting. There was no fiery rhetoric, so why inflame things further?


Selective sedition?

Instead, Tan was arrested under the Sedition Act, an action that was “disproportionate to the wrong that he was alleged to have committed”, especially as he had apologised and resigned from FMT, said DAP’s Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh.

Former Umno law minister Zaid Ibrahim (who now supports PAS) commented: “The police have gone overboard in charging journalist Rex Tan. He has been charged with sedition for posing a silly, insensitive question about race relations in the country.

“But he is not a known racial agitator or one who made lengthy speeches to incite. He has profusely apologised, and so has FMT. That’s enough.”

I remember a ceramah by former PAS president Fadzil Noor during the foment of reformasi in the late 1990s.

He raised some controversial questions about the rule of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and then added, “Nak tanya jer, kalau tanya pun tak boleh, ini dah berat.” (Just asking, if even that is not allowed, then it’s terrible)

PAS was then more inclusive and moderate when the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was their spiritual leader. Their election slogan was “PAS for all”.

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat


But the party changed direction to harp on racial fear, losing its reformist mission, lamented political analyst Tajuddin Rasdi.

And so we get inflammatory statements from PAS nowadays. For example, in October 2025, the party’s Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary alluded to Malays as being under “siege” and “exiled from their own homeland” by non-Malay “pendatang” (immigrant) - just like Palestinians under Israeli occupation.

Wow, wasn’t that a far more provocative comparison with Palestine than Tan’s civil question?

In fact, it should fall under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act - saying something to promote discontent or hostility between races or classes.

While Tan was arrested under this law, why did Marzuk escape punishment? Is the definition of sedition selective?

Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary


The Sedition Act itself was drawn up by the British in 1948, the same year that the Emergency started, to suppress any challenge in their most lucrative colony (after India became independent in 1947).

Technically, any racial criticism can be deemed seditious.

It’s a draconian law that can cover any dissent, even if there is no intent to provoke, and that’s why Pakatan Harapan had campaigned to abolish it.

The threat of the Sedition Act hanging over people’s and journalists’ heads will mean they will only ask “safe questions”, which will produce the usual politicians’ cakap pusing-pusing (hemming and hawing).

This is yet another blow to the Madani ethos, which was supposed to usher in a “civilised society” that can discuss difficult things openly and maturely.

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

***

PAS even got away from prosecution in its incorrect Jalur Gemilang whilst Ah Pek China kena

Can M'sia-Japan partnership deliver regional stability?

Can M'sia-Japan partnership deliver regional stability?

R Paneir Selvam
Published: Jan 21, 2026 2:00 PM
Updated: 5:43 PM



COMMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim skilfully presided over the Asean summit last year despite a tense geopolitical backdrop.

Despite trade tensions and the conflict in Gaza, Anwar rightly used Malaysia, as Asean chair then, to showcase our country’s capability to lead the bloc.

Anwar even convinced US President Donald Trump to attend the summit in Kuala Lumpur, where he was deftly handled by Putrajaya. While Asean welcomes the US’ re-engagement, the bloc is keen to maintain its centrality to regional policymaking.

Putrajaya, in line with Asean doctrine, continues to pursue a non-aligned foreign policy in the midst of great power competition, tightening economic ties with China in the past decade while relying on Western nations, primarily the US, for security.

A free-trading nation like Malaysia is ultimately dependent on a stable Indo-Pacific where the rule of international law is respected, thereby safeguarding investment flows, export demand, and technology transfers.

This status quo, however, is not guaranteed to hold. The force of US-China competition may yet break the hedging strategy upon which nations like Malaysia have historically depended.

In this sense, it was Anwar’s meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at October’s Japan-Malaysia summit meeting, rather than his seeming rapport with Trump, that says most about Malaysia’s future course through choppy geopolitical waters.

Anwar with his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi


There is much that unites Malaysia and Japan’s visions of regional security. The Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (Aoip), which Malaysia upholds and advances, subscribes to the emphasis of Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (Foip) policy on rules, non-coercion, and freedom of navigation.

In their meeting, Takaichi emphasised to her counterpart that Japan sees Malaysia as an important, comprehensive, and strategic partner for the realisation of Foip.


Security talks

While economic cooperation has dominated bilateral ties since independence, with Japan being the third largest foreign investor in Malaysia, the security side of the relationship is developing quickly.

This reflects the regional environment, which is certainly deteriorating. Japan’s widely respected Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has emphasised that Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment since the post-war era.

On Dec 6, this was confirmed in the minds of regional policymakers. A Japanese F-15 fighter was threatened by a Chinese J-15 jet fighter, which locked its fire control radar onto the F-15 for 30 minutes.

The international community was quick to condemn this act of aggression, siding with Japan as a defender of the rules-based order.

This incident will only strengthen Koizumi’s intent to deepen ties with like-minded countries, those that share fundamental democratic values and Japan’s commitment to the rules-based international order, as well as reinforcing the archipelago nation’s own defence capabilities.


Defence procurement

Japan’s provision to Malaysia of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and rescue boats through its Official Security Assistance (OSA) initiative is evidence of this strategy in action.

An agreement has also been reached for Japan to provide a diving support vessel and related equipment, for which Anwar has expressed his appreciation.

While Putrajaya is concerned over, for example, China’s incursions into the exclusive economic zones of Asean nations, it clearly lags Japan in terms of equipping itself for potential instability in the Indo-Pacific.

This reflects Malaysia’s geographic distance from China, as well as Putrajaya’s concerns over potential retribution.

To support this expansion, Malaysia’s defence spending will rise to two percent of gross domestic product by the end of this fiscal year, two years ahead of schedule, and next year’s budget is expected to be the largest on record.

Japan will also, as Koizumi has expressed, use the transfer of defence equipment overseas to like-minded nations, of which Malaysia is one, to shape the security environment in line with Foip’s goals. He is also keen to remove existing constraints on equipment transfer rules.

Putrajaya understands the logic of these steps, although its economic closeness with China makes expanding its own defence capabilities difficult.

However, there are frameworks in place. For example, the Japan-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in December 2023 would help advance a shared regional agenda.

Events, as ever in geopolitics, may accelerate reforms. Potential US retrenchment and further incursions by China in Southeast and East Asia represent a direct threat to Malaysia’s national interest, not least the development of its promising semiconductor sector.

In this context, the shared values that underpin Japan-Malaysia ties will increasingly be put to the test.

These are two nations, though differing in size and influence, that can lead the Indo-Pacific away from conflict, preserving the rules-based international order that has yielded prosperity and security in equal measure.



R PANEIR SELVAM is the principal consultant of Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd (Arrescon), a think tank specialising in strategic national and geopolitical matters.

How do we fight corruption if some 'elitists' get 'discounts'?: PKR MP

How do we fight corruption if some 'elitists' get 'discounts'?: PKR MP

Hariz Mohd
Published: Jan 21, 2026 2:13 PM
Updated: 5:26 PM



PARLIAMENT | A veteran PKR MP today asked how the country can hope to fight corruption when certain "elitists" can get "discounts" on their punishment despite being convicted in court.

Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) raised the question when debating a motion of thanks on Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s royal decree, where the monarch expressed his wish to see an all-out war against corruption in the country.

"This call has rightly come from our king. If His Majesty does not say this, then who else?

"But Tuanku, please forgive me for saying this here. How are we going to go all out in fighting corruption if certain elitists, some top leaders in our country, who, after being found guilty in court, were later given some discounts?

"This is wrong. From one angle, we want to go to war against corruption, but from another angle, we let go (of people convicted of corruption) by giving them discounts," he said in his speech.

While Hassan did not go into details, it is believed that he was referring to a decision by the Pardons Board to slash former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s prison sentence in the SRC international case from 12 years to six years and reduce his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.

The High Court meted out the sentence after Najib was convicted in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case. The Court of Appeal and Federal Court subsequently upheld the decision.


Double standards

Hassan criticised the authorities' alleged double standards when investigating and prosecuting corruption suspects, especially in cases that involve pro-government politicians.

He also made a veiled swipe at the Attorney-General's Chambers, which withdrew its 47 charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in 2023, before deciding to drop them altogether earlier this month.

"Secondly, there were also those among elitists and many country leaders, in the past and present, who got a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) for their (criminal) cases.

"But not enough with that, some are even given NFA, or no further action.

"I sympathise with MACC officers who have been working hard to investigate the cases," he added.