Akmal to sell motorbike, farmed fish to help settle Teresa Kok lawsuit

Akmal to sell motorbike, farmed fish to help settle Teresa Kok lawsuit

By GERARD GIMINO

Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 | 6:01 PM MYT

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh will be selling his motorcycle and farmed tilapia fish to raise the RM300,000 in damages awarded to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in her defamation suit against him.

Dr Akmal said he respects the court order and is ready to comply.


"RM300,000 is a big amount for me and even after taking into account my savings, it is still not enough," he said on Facebook on Wednesday (Oct 21).

"With a heavy heart, I am offering to sell off my two beloved assets – my motorcycle and bred tilapias.


"Both hold their own stories of struggle and happiness for me.

"Even writing that I intend to sell them feels difficult as it is hard to part with something we love."

He also urged interested buyers to message him privately with their offers.

"If both parties can agree on a price, we will proceed," he said.

Dr Akmal also expressed gratitude for those who expressed concern and encouragement.

ALSO READ: Teresa Kok wins RM250,000 defamation suit against Akmal Saleh

"Some suggested setting up a donation fund to help me settle the (suit).

"However, please allow me to try to raise the money on my own first.

"I know that each of you also have families, financial commitments and difficulties of your own," he said.

Dr Akmal said it would weigh even more heavily on him to burden others when he still has possessions to liquidate.

On Monday (Oct 19), Kok won her defamation suit against Dr Akmal at the Melaka High Court.

Justice Datuk Isa Aziz Ibrahim ordered him to pay RM250,000 in damages and RM50,000 in costs over remarks concerning halal certification.

The court also ordered him to remove the offending posts within seven days and barred him from repeating the defamatory statements, according to Kok’s lawyer Datuk Sankara Nair.

Kok filed the suit in October 2024 over statements Dr Akmal made in a TikTok video posted on Sept 7 that year.

In her statement of claim, she alleged that the remarks insulted and belittled her, portraying her as lacking knowledge of halal certification and opposing government policies on Islamic practices.

She named Dr Akmal, the incumbent Merlimau assemblyman, as the sole defendant and sought damages and an injunction to prevent him from repeating the statements.

Ketuanan & Keadilan Judaism

 

'Visible hand' interfering in Negri's affairs, Hadi alleges in Dewan Rakyat

'Visible hand' interfering in Negri's affairs, Hadi alleges in Dewan Rakyat

By QISTINA SALLEHUDDIN and KHOO GEK SAN

Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 | 6:37 PM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has raised questions over the forces behind the crisis in Negri Sembilan, saying democratic principles were not being respected.

The Marang MP also alleged interference in the state’s customary affairs and that an apparent “visible hand” was interfering in the state’s affairs.


“What is happening in Negri Sembilan is very worrying. We have seen how the state government was formed by parties elected in the election.

“The parties agreed to form a coalition government between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN), but I understand that Umno, which is part of BN, no longer wishes to work with PN.

“This has created problems for a democratically elected government, to the extent that even exco members are facing dismissal.

“They are not allowed to enter their offices. The offices are being guarded and controlled, so here is democracy? Democracy is not being respected.

“I do not think it is an invisible hand, but one that is clearly visible,” he said when debating the Supply (Budget) Bill 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 21).

Earlier, Datuk Rosol Wahid (PAS-Hulu Terengganu) had asked Abdul Hadi about the turmoil in Negri Sembilan, alleging that an invisible hand was involved and that the people’s democratic voice was being denied.

Abdul Hadi, who is also PAS president, said all parties must respect the constitutional monarchy and ensure that it operates within the constitutional framework.

 

Prabowo berates countries that ‘insult’ Indonesia over wildfires

Prabowo berates countries that ‘insult’ Indonesia over wildfires

3 hours ago

AFP

The Indonesian president blamed unnamed corporations for the wildfires that have devastated large areas and sent toxic haze into neighbouring countries.

President Prabowo said he had asked for investigations into the cause of the fires, which he insisted were ‘not purely natural’. (EPA Images pic)

JAKARTA:

Indonesia’s president railed Wednesday against “countries that like to insult” his nation over wildfires that have razed vast areas, spewing toxic haze into neighbouring countries.

The Southeast Asian giant has for months struggled to contain fires that Nusantara Atlas, an independent monitor analysing satellite data, said have consumed more than 1.9 million hectares in the nine months to September.

The haze has sent air pollution levels surging to dangerous levels not only at home but also in Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor, prompting the Asean regional bloc to call a meeting over the crisis.

“As for certain countries that like to insult the Indonesian nation, when the time comes, we will reveal the companies involved,” Prabowo told a cabinet meeting Wednesday, claiming that “many corporations bear responsibility” for the crisis.

He did not name names or nationalities.

The leaders of Indonesia’s neighbours have offered help while steering clear of overt criticism at the highest diplomatic level.

With public anger growing, however, a Malaysian MP last week called for Indonesia to be treated as an “outcast” in the region.

“Indonesia is a polite and patient nation. Our country is often insulted, but believe me, our nation does not want to be insulted all the time,” Prabowo said.

The president said he had asked for investigations into the cause of the fires, which he insisted were “not purely natural”.

Experts say Indonesia’s wildfires can be blamed in large part on slash-and-burn land-clearing practices that result in the destruction of fire-resistant forest cover and drained peatlands.

This year, the blazes were intensified by a severe drought fuelled by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

“I am asking the police, the attorney general’s office, the ministry of forestry, with the support of the Armed Forces and intelligence services, to investigate,” said Prabowo.

“The people have also caught various individuals who deliberately set fires – this is something we can regard as environmental terrorism.”

The president, who marked two years in office Tuesday with record-low approval levels, said deliberate fire-setting amounted to “a crime against humanity, because what they have done endangers the health of millions of our citizens”.

Once the evidence is in, he added, “We will revoke all licences of companies that violate the law.”

Civil servants effectively banned from using Waze app due to Israel ties

Traffic is seen at the Juru Toll Plaza in Penang on May 9, 2022. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin


Summary

• The Malaysian federal government has banned civil servants from using the Waze navigation app, citing concerns over the potential exploitation of sensitive government and personal data by Israel.
• The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the directive, emphasizing the need to protect national security and sovereign interests.
• Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also urged the public to switch to local navigation solutions like the TuJu app, which offers better data governance and privacy.
• This decision was formalized by the National Cyber Security Committee and communicated through a circular to ensure immediate enforcement across public sectors.

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 5:25 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The federal government barred all civil servants from using the Waze navigation application over concerns that sensitive official data and users’ personal information could be harvested and exploited by Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed today.

In a statement, the PMO confirmed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ordered an immediate ban across the public sector to safeguard government data and citizens’ movement information.

“This decision takes into account the status of Waze Mobile Ltd. As the data controller of users, incorporated and operating under Israeli law.

“Sensitive government information and the personal data of the people must be protected from being exploited by the Israeli regime in ways that could compromise national security and sovereignty,” the statement read.


PMO explained that Waze Mobile Ltd, which acts as the legal data controller for all user information collected via the platform, remains incorporated and subject to Israeli jurisdiction.

Official communications stressed that sensitive government logistics and personal travel records must be shielded from state-level exploitation that could compromise national security and sovereign interests.

Anwar also called on the wider Malaysian public to delete the app and migrate to homegrown navigational platforms like TuJu, pointing to the stronger data governance and privacy guarantees provided by domestic solutions.


“The MADANI government’s stance is firm, and we will close any space that can be exploited by the Israeli regime to threaten the security of the nation and its people,” the statement said.


The prohibition formalises a decision reached by the National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN) during its third meeting of 2026 on Oct 20, which was chaired directly by Anwar.

Following the committee’s decision, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar issued a formal circular directing all ministry secretaries-general, federal department heads, state secretaries, statutory body chiefs, and local council leaders to enforce the ban immediately across all departments and subordinate agencies.

Anwar had earlier raised security concerns on Oct 20 regarding the exposure of citizens’ geolocation profiles, pointing out that Waze operates within the Israeli statutory and regulatory framework.

To replace foreign navigation tools, the government is throwing its weight behind TuJu, a local mobility platform jointly developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd.

Officially unveiled by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi on Nov 26, 2025, the application is available across major mobile app stores. Alongside turn-by-turn navigation and estimated arrival times, the app integrates real-time highway toll data, live traffic camera feeds, rest-and-service area locator tools, and on-demand highway emergency assistance.

No order to step down: Shuhaily to remain on duty after claiming trial to assaulting Special Branch cops

No order to step down: Shuhaily to remain on duty after claiming trial to assaulting Special Branch cops



Lawyer Datuk Rosol Azimin Ahmad speaks to the media at the Sepang Court Complex in Sepang on October 21, 2026. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, director-general of the Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency, will continue his duties unless instructed otherwise by the government, as no formal interdictions have been issued against him.
• His lawyer, Datuk Rosal Azimin Ahmad, highlighted that any decision about Shuhaily's service is pending further instructions from the Public Service Department.
• Shuhaily faces two charges under Section 323 of the Penal Code for allegedly assaulting two police officers, with a bail set at RM3,000.
• The case, stemming from an incident at KLIA Terminal 1, has gained significant public attention.

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 11:39 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency (MCBA) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain will remain at his post and carry out his duties as normal unless directed otherwise by the government, his legal team confirmed today.

Speaking to reporters outside the Sepang Sessions and Magistrates’ Court Complex, lawyer Datuk Rosal Azimin Ahmad said no official instructions or interdictions have been issued by administrative authorities barring his client from continuing as a senior civil servant.


Rosal clarified that any formal determination regarding Shuhaily’s service status rests entirely in the hands of the Public Service Department and central government leadership, Berita Harian reported.

“So far, in the absence of any directive, he will continue performing his duties as usual,” he said during a press conference following the morning court proceedings.


Touching on the bail hearing, Rosal revealed that the magistrate set bail at RM1,500 for each charge with one surety, amounting to a combined RM3,000.

The court fixed Nov 25 for next case mention. Rosal noted that the defence is awaiting the complete bundle of prosecution documents under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code before deciding whether to submit formal representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Commenting on Shuhaily’s disposition, the lawyer said the 54-year-old enforcement chief remains calm and prepared to see the legal process through to its conclusion.


“He accepts what has happened and does not blame anyone,” he said.


Earlier in the morning, Shuhaily claimed trial to two counts under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to Lance Corporal Mohammad Faiz Muhamad Saman, 40, and Lance Corporal Muhammad Ekmal Sofwan Driman. If convicted, the minor assault charge carries a penalty of up to one year in prison, a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both.

The prosecution stems from a confrontation on Sept 28 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1, which drew intense public scrutiny after video footage went viral showing a senior official matching Shuhaily’s likeness rebuking two Special Branch travel control officers, with one of them appearing to be pulled by the ear.

Can the Yamtuan remove excos without MB’s advice? Sacked Negeri Sembilan councillors turn to apex court

Can the Yamtuan remove excos without MB’s advice? Sacked Negeri Sembilan councillors turn to apex court



Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim (right) attends a press conference with state exco members in Seremban on September 24, 2026. — Bernama pic


Summary

• A constitutional dispute has been initiated at the Federal Court by ten former executive council members from Negeri Sembilan, challenging the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz's decision to revoke their appointments without the menteri besar's advice.
• The group seeks a ruling on the constitutionality of their dismissal, arguing that it may contravene the state constitution if it allows the ruler discretionary power to dismiss councillors without adhering to governmental advice.
• This legal action follows their dismissal due to allegations of disloyalty after they supported a rival claimant to the throne.

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 12:51 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Ten dismissed Negeri Sembilan executive council members have mounted an unprecedented constitutional dispute at the Federal Court, asking it to determine if the Yang di-Pertuan Besar has the prerogative to revoke their appointments without the advice of the menteri besar.

The lawsuit challenges the decision by Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir to revoke their appointments, an order that took effect on Sept 20 and was formally gazetted on Sept 24.


The applicants comprise former councillors Faizal Ramli, Zaifulbahri Idris, Mustapha Nagoor, Siow Kong Choon, Siti Nur Umairah Hashim, Asna Amin, Razi Ali, Suhaimizan Bizar, Fairuz Isa, and Razali Abu Samah, FMT reported.

Through a notice of motion lodged on Oct 14, the group petitioned the apex court to rule on the constitutionality of their dismissal and declare the revocation null, void, and of no legal effect should it run counter to the state constitution.


The application names the Negeri Sembilan state secretary and the state government as the first and second respondents respectively.

Central to the dispute is the scope of royal discretionary powers. The applicants are seeking judicial determination on whether the phrase “at the ruler’s pleasure” in the state charter confers unbridled authority on the sovereign to dismiss executive councillors at will, irrespective of constitutional provisions requiring royal assent to align with the advice of the head of government.

Tuanku Muhriz previously stripped all ten executive council members of their posts for conduct the palace deemed treasonous to their oaths of office.


The palace acted after the councillors publicly endorsed a controversial declaration asserting that Tuanku Muhriz was legitimately dethroned in April and proclaiming Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the state's rightful ruler.


The royal household held that backing a rival claimant to the throne was wholly incompatible with their sworn constitutional duty of allegiance to the reigning sovereign.

Perlis MB Abu Bakar stripped of party posts after Bersatu issues two-term suspension

Perlis MB Abu Bakar stripped of party posts after Bersatu issues two-term suspension



Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Hamzah speaks to the press at at Kompleks Seri Putra in Kangar on June 5, 2026. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has suspended Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah for two election terms due to breaches of the party's constitution and code of ethics.
• The suspension, effective from October 13, was confirmed by Perlis Bersatu state chairman Izizam Ibrahim following an internal disciplinary inquiry.
• Abu Bakar is stripped of all party positions and barred from making public statements on Bersatu's behalf.
• He has 14 days to contest the sanction with the Bersatu appeals board.

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 10:58 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has suspended Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah for two terms, effective Oct 13.

Perlis Bersatu state chairman Izizam Ibrahim confirmed the punitive action today, acknowledging that the formal notification letter was served on Abu Bakar last week after an internal disciplinary inquiry, Berita Harian reported.


The confirmation comes after a copy of the confidential dismissal notice surfaced online and circulated aggressively across social media channels over the past 48 hours. Izizam moved quickly to dismiss rumours that he leaked the document to the public.

“Yes, it is true that the letter was issued last week, but I was not the one who circulated it. The menteri besar is also already aware of the suspension letter.


“For now, we are waiting for an official decision from the Bersatu central leadership as well as the PAS state assemblymen,” he said.

The letter, dated Oct 14, 2026, was signed by Bersatu disciplinary board chairman Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan. The notice formally conveyed the board’s decision to penalise Abu Bakar, who also serves as the party’s Kangar division chief.

According to the document, the board convened on Oct 13 and invoked Clause 22.5 of the Bersatu Constitution to freeze Abu Bakar’s membership rights across two successive party election terms. The sanction followed findings that he had breached Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution alongside the party’s statutory Code of Ethics and Conduct for Members.


With the disciplinary action in place, Abu Bakar has been immediately stripped of all internal party positions and barred from issuing public statements on behalf of Bersatu throughout his suspension.


The notice give the embattled menteri besar 14 days to contest the sanction and file a formal petition with the Bersatu appeals board.

Guan Eng warns of SME liquidity crisis over RM30b delayed tax refunds

Guan Eng warns of SME liquidity crisis over RM30b delayed tax refunds



People queue at the Inland Revenue Board payment counter at the Jalan Duta Government Complex in Kuala Lumpur on June 12, 2018. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng has called on the Malaysian federal government to hasten the repayment of RM29.919 billion in outstanding tax refund arrears, emphasizing the significant strain on corporate liquidity this delay poses, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• While acknowledging the reduction in tax refund liabilities, Lim criticized the remaining substantial amount owed to the private sector and proposed a RM10 billion cap to curb systemic delays.
• He highlighted the growing financial penalties due to refund delays and expressed concern over insufficient advocacy by public officials for quicker disbursement.

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 9:52 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng has urged the federal government to expedite the repayment of RM29.919 billion in tax refund arrears, warning that holding back businesses’ own money severely strains corporate liquidity, particularly among struggling small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Lim, who is the member of parliament for Bagan, pointed to the 2025 Federal Government Financial Statements, which show that outstanding tax refund liabilities decreased by RM3.425 billion, dropping from RM33.342 billion in 2024 to RM29.919 billion in 2025.

While acknowledging the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) for whittling down the balance owed to firms that overpaid their taxes, Lim stressed that the outstanding sum remains colossal by any benchmark, especially since it belongs to the private sector.

“In 2026, RM9 billion was paid to 130,000 companies by Sept 30,” he noted, adding that the government must repay companies, especially the 1.2 million SMEs, more quickly.


To curb systemic delays, Lim proposed placing a strict RM10 billion cap on federal tax refund arrears. He argued that allowing the backlog to hover near RM30 billion inflicts undue financial hardship on cash-strapped businesses wrestling with deteriorating operating environments and a volatile global economic climate.

Historical data demonstrates a steady accumulation over recent years, Lim said. Outstanding tax refund commitments stood at RM21.836 billion in 2021, before climbing to RM25.721 billion in 2022 and RM25.511 billion in 2023.

The DAP lawmaker also took direct aim at public officials tasked with safeguarding small businesses, questioning why statutory agency leaders have failed to advocate forcefully for the immediate release of these funds.


“Failing to consistently and persistently press the government to return back to SMEs their own money, may give the unfortunate impression that those responsible and holding statutory positions are ‘sleeping on the job’.”


Lim also pointed out that statutory late-payment penalties have surged sharply as a consequence of refund delays. Under Section 111D of the Income Tax Act, the government is mandated to pay an annual 2 per cent compensation to taxpayers when IRB fails to disburse excess tax refunds within stipulated timeframes.

While IRB disbursed RM23.64 million under this mechanism in 2025, that penalty figure escalated by nearly fivefold in the first nine months of 2026 alone, hitting RM109 million as of Sept 30.

‘If not us, who?’ — Nga Kor Ming hits back at critics of PM’s support for local artists

‘If not us, who?’ — Nga Kor Ming hits back at critics of PM’s support for local artists



Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin performs at the Gema Bumantara Traditional Concert at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on October 19, 2026. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming defended Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's attendance at Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza's concert, emphasizing the importance of government support for local arts to foster Malaysia's creative industry.
• Nga argued against criticisms, highlighting the need for national leadership to champion homegrown talent and ensure the development of the orange economy.
• He announced the Cabinet's approval of an orange economy fund to support artists and cultural productions, thus boosting Malaysia's international cultural profile.
• Anwar clarified that his presence at the concert celebrated Malaysia's diverse heritage and traditional arts.

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 11:24 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has defended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over his attendance at pop idol Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza's traditional concert last weekend, saying such patronage was vital to Malaysia’s creative industry.

Nga rejected criticisms over Anwar's presence at the weekend performance, stressing that government leadership must champion homegrown talent if the nation hopes to build a thriving arts ecosystem.

“When the government aims to develop the orange economy so local artists, painters, and musicians can earn a living, yet there are some who still object.

“So I want to ask: if the prime minister doesn't support local artists, then who will? If not us, who? And if not now, then when?” Nga told reporters after officiating the Toilet of the Year Award 2026 in Kuala Lumpur last night.


Drawing a sharp cultural comparison, the minister questioned the double standards often applied to local stars.

“If the United States can be proud of Taylor Swift, why can't we be proud of Siti Nurhaliza?” he said.

Nga disclosed that the Cabinet has agreed to establish a dedicated orange economy fund designed to empower the domestic music fraternity and nurture national creative talent.


He said state support must reach beyond individual headliners to encompass grassroots creative practitioners who elevate Malaysia's international profile, especially through cultural productions that showcase the country's diverse heritage on the world stage.


Yesterday, during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar addressed the issue directly, clarifying that he attended the massive concert at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Saturday upon a special invitation to celebrate traditional arts, heritage, and culture.

The prime minister noted that the showcase celebrated Malaysia's pluralistic cultural roots by incorporating traditional wayang kulit shadow puppetry, classical dance ensembles, and indigenous performances from Sabah and Sarawak, presenting the country's artistic heritage to an arena-sized modern audience.

Gerakan, MIPP and MCA: The politics of denial and Perikatan’s colossal failure — Phar Kim Beng

Gerakan, MIPP and MCA: The politics of denial and Perikatan’s colossal failure — Phar Kim Beng



Summary

• The crisis faced by Perikatan Nasional questions its credibility due to structural weaknesses and a potential delisting undermining its claim as a viable government alternative.
• Controversies such as disrespect towards Negeri Sembilan's constitutional monarchy and Najib Razak's conditional pardon highlight internal contradictions within supporting political parties.
• Perikatan Nasional struggles with a trust deficit, especially in Sabah, Sarawak, and multiracial constituencies, revealing significant challenges in national acceptance and political coherence.

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 1:00 PM MYT


OCTOBER 21 — The crisis confronting Perikatan Nasional (PN) is no longer merely about the survival of an opposition coalition.

It concerns the credibility of political parties that continue to defend an increasingly untenable political arrangement.


Gerakan, the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) and the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), although occupying different positions in Malaysia's political landscape, face a common predicament. Why?

The temptation to deny the structural weaknesses of the political alliances they have supported or contemplated.




Seen is a Bersatu party flag, one of the political parties in the now deregistered Perikatan Nasional coalition. — Picture By Firdaus Latif



Five developments expose the magnitude of this predicament.


First, the reported delisting of PN represents a potentially devastating institutional failure.


A coalition aspiring to govern Malaysia must demonstrate organisational discipline, constitutional compliance and administrative competence.


If PN cannot maintain its own legal standing, its claim to offer a credible alternative federal government becomes considerably weaker.

The implications extend beyond registration. Political leaders, supporters and sympathisers begin questioning whether the much-advertised Gelombang Biru, or Blue Wave, can ever become an electoral reality.

Gerakan and MIPP cannot simply dismiss such uncertainty as an administrative inconvenience. Their political relevance depends substantially on the credibility of the larger coalition.

MCA, although belonging to Barisan Nasional rather than PN, must likewise recognise that political survival cannot rest on nostalgia or speculative realignments.

Second, the controversy surrounding Tuanku Muhriz of Negeri Sembilan raises questions about constitutional propriety.

Any conduct perceived as derhaka, or disrespect towards the constitutional monarch, carries profound political consequences.

However, allegations of disloyalty must be distinguished from established constitutional wrongdoing.

Malaysia's constitutional monarchy requires political leaders to respect royal institutions while recognising the lawful boundaries separating royal authority, elected government and partisan competition.

Negeri Sembilan possesses a particularly distinctive constitutional and customary heritage. Its royal institution cannot be casually drawn into political manoeuvring.

Parties claiming to defend Malay institutions must demonstrate consistency rather than selective indignation.

Third, the continuing defence of Najib Razak's conditional pardon exposes another contradiction.

Najib's legal circumstances and the controversies surrounding royal clemency cannot be reduced to partisan slogans.

A constitutional pardon is a recognised legal mechanism.

Nevertheless, the exercise of clemency does not automatically erase public concerns about accountability, corruption and institutional integrity.

Political parties must distinguish respect for the royal prerogative from unquestioning political endorsement of a former prime minister.

Gerakan, MIPP and MCA cannot claim to champion institutional reform while avoiding difficult questions about the rule of law.

The same principle must apply to every coalition, including the Unity Government.

Fourth, PN confronts a serious deficit of trust across Malaysia's diverse political geography.

Sabah and Sarawak remain especially sensitive to political arrangements perceived as excessively dominated by Peninsular Malay-Muslim calculations.

Their political priorities include federalism, development, autonomy, religious accommodation and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

A coalition unable to reassure East Malaysian communities about these fundamentals faces formidable obstacles to national acceptance.

Similar challenges arise in Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang, where multiracial constituencies cannot be treated as incidental to electoral strategy.

Gerakan's multiracial heritage, MIPP's Indian representation and MCA's historical Chinese constituency should theoretically help bridge these divisions. Yet they are not.

Nor can they do anything since delisted PN was formed, ostensibly, as a Malay Unity front albeit a pseudo one. The moment PN is delisted none of these ramparts can do a thing.

Pakatan Harapan is not the best Coalition. Neither is it the worst in the Malaysian political history.

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

“It Wasn’t China That Invaded Japan. It Was Japan That Started the War — and Tens of Millions Died.”

From the FB page of:

Khai Beng Tan

 ·

“It Wasn’t China That Invaded Japan. It Was Japan That Started the War — and Tens of Millions Died.”

That’s not a quote from Beijing. It’s from Shigeru Ishiba, a former prime minister of Japan, speaking on Japanese television on October 19 — exactly one year after Sanae Takaichi took office.

And it’s the kind of statement that Japanese right-wing politics has spent years trying to avoid.

Ishiba’s broader argument was about something deeper than one historical fact. He was asking whether a country can conduct serious diplomacy while being dishonest about its own past. Every nation, he said, has both a glorious history and a history it must reflect on with regret. Japan is no exception. The Empire of Japan existed. Today’s Japan emerged through constitutional revision and other processes. But the state is continuous. So when asked “where exactly did we go wrong?” and “what should we change?”, it is unacceptable to brush the question aside with “I wasn’t a party to that” or “I don’t know.”

Then he went straight at the evasion that dominates so much Japanese discourse: there was no such thing as “China invading Japan.” It was Japan that started the war, and it caused tens of millions of deaths. Indonesia and the Philippines suffered in the same way. If Japanese leaders don’t even understand these basic facts, can they really build a genuine relationship with China?

This is where his criticism of Takaichi became especially pointed. He asked how a prime minister who is “ignorant” of history can go to Beijing and talk about “friendship,” “equality,” or “working side by side” — and expect to be taken seriously. A country that is dishonest about history, he said, cannot build stable foreign relations. The words may be friendly; the foundation is rotten.

He also pointed to the power reality that Tokyo’s hawkish rhetoric tends to avoid. China’s GDP is now five times Japan’s. Its military strength is likewise far larger. In that context, does simply issuing tough statements improve Japan’s security? Ishiba said he does not believe so. But the moment anyone raises an objection, they get labeled “pro-China,” and the discussion stops. That, he said, is not in the national interest.

And he did not spare the economic mythology either. Takaichi’s slogan of making Japan “strong and prosperous” is, in essence, “rich country, strong military” — almost identical to Shinzo Abe’s formula. But next year, Japan’s GDP is likely to be overtaken by India and the UK, dropping out of the world’s top five for the first time in more than 60 years. Did the policies pursued for so long actually make Japan’s economy stronger? Ishiba suggested that neither Abenomics nor Takaichi’s version has truly made Japan wealthy.

What makes this significant is not that Ishiba is some anti-Japanese figure. He is a former prime minister, a mainstream conservative, and hardly a “pro-China” ideologue. His critique comes from inside the system. And that is why it lands. He is saying that evading history, suppressing debate with loyalty labels, and substituting tough talk for strategy are not signs of strength. They are signs of a country that has stopped asking itself the hard questions.

The line that matters most is the one in the title. It is not a Chinese accusation. It is a Japanese former prime minister stating a fact that Japanese politics has spent decades trying to blur. And until that fact is confronted honestly, Japan’s diplomacy will keep sounding confident on the surface while resting on a foundation that cannot bear weight.

What do you think? Is Ishiba right that Japan’s historical dishonesty undermines its diplomacy — or is this just internal political positioning ahead of future leadership battles?