Ikram member hit with 158 corruption charges over RM98.27m in organisation funds

Ikram member hit with 158 corruption charges over RM98.27m in organisation funds

Farah Solhi
Published: Jun 16, 2026 2:36 PM
Updated: 5:30 PM



A member of Ikram Malaysia was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court today with 158 counts of abusing his position for gratification involving RM98.27 million of the organisation’s funds.

Fakhrudin Abd Karim, 56, faces 149 charges of abuse of power as an officer of a public body and authorised signatory to Hulu Selangor Ikram’s bank account.

He is accused of directing RM81.95 million to be transferred to a company, Ehsan Solution Care, which is allegedly linked to him.

He also faces nine additional charges of committing the same offence by directing RM16.32 million to be transferred into two of his personal bank accounts.

Ikram, an Islamic NGO established in 2009, is involved in education, welfare, humanitarian aid, and community development programmes across the country.

The offences allegedly took place through 158 transactions at Hulu Selangor Ikram’s office at Adenium Business Centre in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang, between Jan 6, 2021 and Aug 6, 2025.

The transactions involved amounts ranging from RM100,000 to RM10 million.

All charges were framed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Clad in a brown jacket, Fakhrudin stood steadily as the charges were read alternately by two court interpreters before judge Nasir Nordin. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.


Bail fixed at RM500k with conditions

MACC senior deputy director of the legal and prosecution division Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the court that the offences were non-bailable, but said the prosecution would not object should the court exercise its discretion to grant bail.

He proposed bail of RM1 million with two sureties, along with additional conditions that Fakhrudin surrender his passport and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses.

MACC


Defence counsel N Sivananthan appealed for bail to be reduced to RM300,000, saying his client had no objection to the other conditions.

Sivananthan also told the court that MACC had frozen Fakhrudin’s bank accounts, as well as those belonging to his family members, since April. He added that the accused is a father of 10.

The court granted bail at RM500,000 with two sureties, ordered Fakhrudin to surrender his passport, and barred him from interfering with witnesses.

The court fixed Aug 7 for case management.

Lawyer Ashwida Abd Samad, who held a watching brief for Ikram, told reporters that Fakhrudin has been suspended and barred from participating in the organisation’s decision-making processes.

Yesterday, Free Malaysia Today quoted MACC chief commissioner Abdul Halim Aman as saying an individual would face 158 charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, with additional money laundering charges to be brought at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court next week.

He said MACC’s Op Sutra investigation, which centred on allegations of misappropriation of public funds, found that the person leading the organisation was believed to have siphoned off hundreds of millions of ringgit through a network of companies.

***

I wonder if the accused Fakhrudin Abd Karim could be a 'Chinese' (in disguise?) - In a Straits Time report (29 August 2022), Abdul Hadi had claimed that the root of corruption in Malaysia was the influence non-Malays wielded over the economy and politics. "These groups who chase illicit gains... damage our politics as they are the roots for corruption and the majority of them are non-Muslims and non-Bumiputras."

Bersama Is Malaysia’s Best Hope Now

 

Dennis Ignatius

 

~ Provoking discussion, dissent & debate on politics, diplomacy, human rights & civil society.

Search: 

Bersama Is Malaysia’s Best Hope Now

16TuesdayJun 2026

Posted by Dennis Ignatius in GE16, Politics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Anwar Ibrahim, Nik Nazmi, Pakatan Harapan, Parti Bersama, Rafizi Ramli

[1] As we head into another election cycle, many voters feel weary, frustrated, and close to despair. Public faith in the political system has all but evaporated. Whichever party wins, the outcome feels depressingly familiar: grand promises, unmet expectations, and a country often worse off than before. Corruption remains rampant. Cronyism flourishes. Injustice persists. Meanwhile, life remains a struggle for all too many.

[2] Anwar Ibrahim is but the latest in a long line of leaders promising hope but leaving only disappointment. I decided some time ago that if the next election offered nothing but the same discredited faces, I would not vote. Participating in a futile exercise makes a mockery of democracy.

[3] For some time now, voters have felt politically trapped, having to always choose between the lesser of two or three evils – Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional or Perikatan Nasional. That is a terrible situation to be in because it means that no matter who wins, you still end up with evil.

[4] Which is why Parti Bersama is drawing attention. Rafizi and Nik Nazmi are building something genuinely different: a party that funds itself through ordinary citizens, recruits candidates openly, and treats Malaysians as citizens to be served rather than ethnic blocs to be exploited. It is a conscious repudiation of the backroom deals, patronage networks, and money politics that have corrupted Malaysian governance for decades. Unlike parties chasing shortcuts to power, they are building a real grassroots movement for change. 

[5] Their platform reflects this too — less preoccupied with race and religion than with building a prosperous, inclusive, and just society. Social security reform, migrant labour policy, institutional accountability, democratic reform — these have been promised before and quietly shelved. Bersama seems intent on making them the centre of its politics, not the footnote.

[6] Both men have deep roots in the Reformasi movement. It has defined their adult lives and their political careers. They know what the movement stood for — and what it has become. Walking away from PKR couldn’t have been easy. That they did it anyway speaks of an abiding commitment to what Reformasi was always meant to be. They also represent the generational change the country needs — younger, widely respected, and unburdened by the baggage that has made so many of their predecessors objects of disdain, if not contempt.

[7] Critics have noted that both men served as ministers in Anwar’s cabinet without particular distinction, and that Rafizi moved against Anwar only after losing a party election. These are fair points. But they miss something important. Rafizi and Nik Nazmi walked away from power, patronage, and the comfort of incumbency to build something from scratch — on principle, with a lot of their own money, without guaranteed reward. That is not the behaviour of opportunists but people who are passionate about their cause.

[8] I have been disappointed before. I backed Mahathir in GE14 and Anwar in GE15, and came to regret both. So I understand the scepticism. Yes, Bersama is untested. Yes, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi have little record to run on. Yes, I may end up adding their names to my long list of political regrets.

[9] But what exactly is the safe choice? BN? PN? PH? We have tested all of them and found them wanting. The risk isn’t in supporting Bersama. The risk is in telling ourselves that the same corrupt, incompetent, dishonest or bigoted politicians will somehow do better the next time around. That is not caution. That is delusion.

[10] There is something else. Twenty-five thousand Malaysians — among them, by most accounts, a majority of Malays — signed up within days of Bersama’s launch. Many had never joined a political party before. The numbers suggest something simple: a public tired of being managed, frightened, and taken for granted. That is not a data point. That is the sound of a country that has not given up on itself, of a country coming alive again because, finally, there’s an alternative.

[11] The case for Bersama is clear: they are the only party that is trying to do politics differently, and Malaysia desperately needs politics done differently. They have the vision, the integrity, and the courage to build something our country has never had — a politics of principle over patronage, of citizens over cronies, of the future over the past. Back them. Hold them to their promises. And give our country the chance it deserves. For the first time in a long time, something better is possible. Do not let this moment pass.

[Dennis Ignatius |Kuala Lumpur | Tuesday,  16 June 2017]

Is it Anwar's last hurrah?

Is it Anwar's last hurrah?

P Gunasegaram
Published: Jun 16, 2026 8:00 AM
Updated: 10:02 AM



COMMENT | With all the hullabaloo muddling and muddying the terrain, it now seems likely that parliamentary polls may go full term, raising questions, given his increasingly tenuous predicament, whether Anwar Ibrahim will even be a candidate in the next one.

We can unpack the recent events, but it's more difficult to understand the underlying reasons and determine which of the moves are significant and which parties will benefit the most.

One of the major winners from unfolding events may again be PAS, while Umno may do well in the Johor state election and perhaps Negeri Sembilan but not so great elsewhere.

Casualties will be Anwar’s fortunes, along with PKR and Bersatu, while the fate of dark horse newcomer Parti Bersama Malaysia may be mixed and even encouraging.

There’s a lot to absorb in mere weeks following the long seeming calm after Anwar renewed ties with Umno and Sarawak, making promises to both as he cobbled together a loose alliance, stable on the surface but with deep undercurrents beneath post-15th general election in November 2022.

Despite appearances of calm, there was dissension waiting to bubble up at the right time. Anwar’s excessive comfort cost him as Umno showed its hands despite many concessions given, dissolving the Johor state assembly and promising to contest all seats in the state.

It has been a rocking, roiling month for politics in May as Umno announced on May 16 it will contest all state seats in Johor, throwing the fragile Madani coalition headed by Anwar into chaos and for the PM to give a sharp rebuke to Umno at a Harapan summit the following day.

As if that was not enough, even as the Harapan summit was in progress and Anwar with his hands full with Umno’s intransigence, former PKR ministers and MPs Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad dropped a bombshell.

The duo exited PKR and Parliament, uniting under the dormant Bersama to push a fresh agenda for Malaysians, vowing to ally with no other party and fighting for a new agenda which was announced in some detail on their website.


Anwar’s woes continue

Anwar’s woes continued into June when PAS ended its dalliance with Bersatu, terminating political ties after six years. It was announced by its president Abdul Hadi Awang on June 9 on the back of continued wrangling between the two parties.

Not so bad for Harapan and PKR, but PAS seems amenable to making political pacts with other parties, including Umno, which should worry the Madani coalition a lot about what Umno is up to, even if now that is with regard to Johor only. Nothing says it can’t happen for parliamentary elections too.

And then former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, who has fallen out with the party president Muhyiddin Yassin, announced he has formed a new party called Parti Wawasan Negara.

It’s a mystery how it was formed so fast and whether they have the necessary approvals, but the party will be aligned to the Perikatan Nasional coalition.

What is significant is that the new party has the support of PAS, whose president Hadi was present to lend his support. In fact, Hamzah said the party’s name was approved by PAS’ leadership, including Hadi, who was at the so-called “Reset” gathering. Hadi even launched the meeting.

Also present were PN chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Gerakan president Dominic Lau, and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nassuruddin Daud. Significantly, Samsuri is a rising star within PAS and vice president.

It is often speculated that either he or Hamzah may be prime ministerial material if PAS should be asked to form the next government.

Hadi also announced in his officiating speech at the so-called “Reset” convention on Saturday that PAS and its allies within PN have decided to retain Hamzah as its parliamentary opposition leader.

Now, this coalition seems rather strange considering that PAS and Bersatu are the main parties in it and PAS has announced they are cutting political ties with Bersatu. But it looks like if the PN coalition remains, it will be controlled by PAS and Wawasan Negara, sidelining Muhyiddin.

Hamzah’s Wawasan Negara has the backing of 19 previous Bersatu MPs, leaving six with Muhyiddin. Together with PAS’ 43, they form the backbone, accounting for 62 of PN’s 68 seats. The other two parties, Gerakan and MIPP, don’t have any seats.


PAS in strong position

And then on Saturday night too, former Umno member and minister, lawyer Zaid Ibrahim, joined PAS. He said in a Facebook post on Sunday: “Last night I was welcomed as a PAS member by its top national leaders. They're warm, sincere, and friendly.

Lawyer Zaid Ibrahim (right) has joined PAS


“I will repay their faith. I will work hard to dispel the image of PAS as an extreme anti-democratic party, not suitable for a multicultural Malaysia.

“On the contrary, PAS is the only Malay-majority party with the strength and resolve to do away with inequality, hegemony and class preferences. The essence of Islam will be the governing principle.

“You will not have under the PAS rule where we are described as equal, but some are more equal than others. That's why PAS will govern Malaysia together with like-minded progressive MPs after the next GE.”

That’s a coup of sorts for PAS: a Malay liberal who has previously been a member of Umno, DAP and PKR - the three other major parties in Malaysia besides PAS - has unequivocally endorsed PAS. A feather in PAS’ cap even if one thought of Zaid as an itinerant party hopper.

The developments perhaps favour PAS most, which seems to have a more coherent strategy going forward than the other three major parties, PKR, DAP and Umno/BN. Bersatu had previously rode on PAS’ robes to gain 25 seats but is now left with six.

By aligning with Wawasan Negara, PAS hopes to have some semblance of multiracialism and moderation. That is helped by Zaid coming into PAS and extolling its virtues, including an endorsement as the only party which might work for all.

Together with the groundwork that it has been doing to strengthen its position and extend its support base, PAS is probably the strongest, best organised party going into the polls and stands the best chance of getting the greatest number of seats for the second time in a row.

Umno is all gung-ho about Johor, but as with previous polls, it has no standing in the Malay heartland where PAS and its allies reign supreme. Even if it retains Johor, it is not likely to do much better elsewhere.

PAS is too smart to ally with Umno in areas where it is dominant, although Umno may make overtures in that direction. Umno’s performance is likely to be middling or even worse at GE16 for Parliament. It has nothing new to offer.

With Chinese and non-Malay support, DAP will still likely pull through but probably could lose seats because of its voicelessness on important issues and the rising support for the Bersama duo, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi, where they are likely to take some urban votes from DAP.

Bersama leaders Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (left) and Rafizi Ramli


The party most likely to be wiped out in the next election is Bersatu, and with it the exit of Muhyiddin from politics. Its standing of 25 seats in the last election is most likely entirely due to aligning with PAS. They could lose all their seats.


Uncertain future

Anwar’s PKR faces a rather uncertain future from Bersama, which is mounting a credible, coordinated and early challenge to almost all of PKR’s seats, with 10 MPs already in the bag by some counts.

Peculiarly, any support that Anwar may have through Harapan post GE16 may continue to come from DAP, the largest party in the coalition with 40 seats compared to PKR’s 31 and Umno/BN’s 30.

It’s hard to see how Anwar can win enough to ensure the largest number of seats for Harapan to ensure he gets a chance to form the government again. That is likely to pass on to PAS.

It’s unlikely that even if there was some kind of electoral pact with PAS, the Islamic party will give up an opportunity to get its own prime minister. Anwar must be able to see this and therefore will likely go for a full term and announce his resignation before the polls.

As for dark horse Bersama, it is likely to make a significant impact by taking seats in urban areas previously the domain of PKR and even DAP. They may do very much better than expected, but even if they don’t, they will likely set a base for the future by retaining their deposits.

As the only party which has nothing to lose and everything to gain, the possibility for significant upside surprise for Bersama cannot be dismissed. They are, so far, acting true to their intentions, asking for a review of Selangor’s controversial guidelines for places of worship of non-Muslims, for instance.

One thing for sure, this is not an election that Malaysians are going to sit out. Expect participation to increase even if early polls are not called.



P GUNASEGARAM cannot ever understand the logic that you should protest by not voting. If necessary, just choose the best of the worst.

Higher Education Ministry weighs legal action after Haim Hilman alleges ‘backdoor’ entry into public universities

Higher Education Ministry weighs legal action after Haim Hilman alleges ‘backdoor’ entry into public universities



The Ministry of Higher Education is considering legal action over what it described as unfounded allegations by Jitra assemblyman Haim Hilman Abdullah concerning the public university admission system. — Picture via Facebook/Haim Hilman Abdullah

Monday, 15 Jun 2026 8:26 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, June 15 — The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is considering legal action over what it described as unfounded allegations by Jitra assemblyman Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah concerning the public university admission system.

In a statement today, the ministry said it was reviewing appropriate legal avenues to safeguard the integrity of MOHE, public universities and the country’s higher education system against slander and baseless accusations.

It said Haim Hilman had made allegations, including claims that public universities were ‘selling places meant for our children to those with money’ and that tens of thousands of students had entered public higher education institutions through a ‘back door’.

The latest instance involved a video of his speech posted on Facebook following a public ceramah held in conjunction with the Negeri Sembilan state election campaign on June 13.


“Such allegations are not only serious, but also have the potential to undermine the reputation and credibility of the country’s higher education system, including public universities, university management, government officials and thousands of students who entered through legitimate admission channels.

“It must be stressed that this is not the first time Haim Hilman made such allegations against MOHE,” the ministry said.

MOHE said it remained open to constructive, fact-based criticism, but any allegations that could erode public confidence in the country’s higher education institutions must be supported by strong evidence.


The ministry added that it would not allow any party to irresponsibly tarnish the reputation of the country’s education institutions through unsubstantiated allegations without being held accountable for their statements. — Bernama

‘Looks competitive, but only one bidder fits’: MoF finds signs of government tender system being gamed

‘Looks competitive, but only one bidder fits’: MoF finds signs of government tender system being gamed



Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican presents a souvenir to Universiti Teknologi MARA Vice-Chancellor and Malaysian Statutory Bodies Conference President Prof Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin during the opening ceremony of the conference in Putrajaya on June 15, 2026. — Bernama pic

Monday, 15 Jun 2026 8:26 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, June 15 — The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has detected irregularities in government tender procurement processes through the practice of tailoring tender specifications to favour specific vendors, said Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican.

He added that there have been incidents showing that while the tender process initially appeared competitive, evaluations of financial and technical aspects ultimately left only one qualified company because the set specifications were skewed toward a particular vendor.

He stated that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Minister of Finance, has halted the practice of direct negotiations for government tender procurements.

“Now, almost all procurements are executed via tender. However, as we all know, Malaysians can be quite creative when all tenders are implemented.


“We are seeing many incidents where the tender looks good on paper, but after financial and technical evaluations, only one bidder remains because all the specifications were tailored toward a single vendor,” he said during his opening speech at the 2026 Malaysian Statutory Bodies Conference here today.

Also present were Public Service Department (JPA) Deputy Director-General (Development) Datuk Dr. Mohd Bakhari Ismail and Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) Secretary-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

Others in attendance included Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Vice-Chancellor and President of the Association of Statutory Bodies of Malaysia (PBBM) Prof. Datuk Dr. Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin, and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Director-General Datuk Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir.


Elaborating further, Johan said this issue has been detected repeatedly across several agencies, and the Prime Minister is taking a firm stance against these occurrences.

“I wouldn’t mention this if it had only happened once. The MOF tracks these matters, and this is happening across various agencies, including the MOF itself. On this issue, the Prime Minister is taking a strict stand as part of the agenda to reform government procurement governance,” he said.

Johan said the government has passed the Government Procurement Bill 2025, which strengthens accountability and enforcement actions.

“Previously, government procurement issues were treated merely as administrative matters; if someone had retired, no action could be taken against them. But now, with the Government Procurement Bill, even I am not safe after retirement.

“I could also face punitive action if I commit any irregularities in government procurement. That is among the approaches to enhance procurement regulations and governance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johan noted that statutory bodies serve as key institutions within the country’s administrative and development landscape.

“The role they play involves not only delivering services to the people but also driving the nation’s economic development, innovation, education, investment, and social well-being,” he added.

Themed “Statutory Bodies & National Aspirations: Shaping the Future,” the conference – organised by PBBM in collaboration with MPOB and the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) – serves as a strategic platform to discuss the role of statutory bodies in supporting the national development agenda by strengthening governance, leadership, organisational transformation, public sector reform, and service digitalisation. — Bernama

BERATUS UNEMPLOYED BERATUR INTERVIEW JAWATAN KOSONG DI INDIA. BERIBU UNEMPLOYED BERATUR INTERVIEW JAWATAN KOSONG DI MELAKA

 

OutSyed The Box

Monday, June 15, 2026

BERATUS UNEMPLOYED BERATUR INTERVIEW JAWATAN KOSONG DI INDIA. BERIBU UNEMPLOYED BERATUR INTERVIEW JAWATAN KOSONG DI MELAKA.

 1. Berita dari India. Beratus orang penganggur beratur untuk interview jawatan kosong di Orissa di India. Tak tahu berita lama mana tapi bukan lama sangat. Ramai daripada mereka ini masih tiada peluang kerja.

 2. Berita dari Melaka (lihat di bawah).  Beribu orang penganggur beratur untuk interview jawatan kosong di Melaka.  

Thousands of job seekers turned up at a hotel in Melaka after a semiconductor manufacturer offered starting salaries of RM3,500, creating a queue that stretched nearly 1km at its peak

held at Holiday Inn Melaka from 8am to 4pm yesterday, 14 June, and aimed to fill around 400 vacancies for operator and technician positions.

massive turnout, with applicants arriving hours before registration opened and roads surrounding the venue becoming congested with vehicles believed to belong to job seekers.

According to reports, some job seekers began queuing as early as 5am. By morning, the line had extended along the main road leading to the hotel

My Comments:

Pagi ini saya dan isteri menyaksikan satu peristiwa yang benar-benar menyedihkan. Seorang lelaki Melayu muda sedang membuat penghantaran makanan dengan motosikalnya sambil membawa dua orang anaknya. Seorang kanak-kanak kecil duduk di depan manakala seorang bayi yang lebih kecil berada dalam baby carrier yang diikat pada dada si ayahnya. Jelas sekali si ibu sedang bekerja dan si ayah tidak mempunyai sesiapa lagi untuk menjaga anak-anak tersebut. Saya tidak tahu berapa lama anak-anak itu terpaksa berada di atas motosikal, dibawa ke sana sini bersama ayah mereka — di bawah panas matahari. Mereka tidak boleh berlari, bermain, malah susah pergi ke tandas sekalipun jika perlu. Satu pemandangan yang menyedihkan, tetapi beginilah keadaan di negara ini. Rakyat biasa, terutamanya orang Melayu, terlalu banyak menanggung penderitaan.

Padahal negara kita kaya raya. Setiap kali penjual ubat dan Abu Khaddab buka mulut mereka sebut berbeliyon-beliyon Ringgit untuk projek ini dan itu. 

Atau mereka ditangkap rasuah berpuluh juta Ringgit. Baru ini seekor Jembalang Betina pula disaman berpuluh juta sebab 'ghaibkan' jewellery mewah.

Berita panas sekarang Rohingya bermaharajalela mampu membuat rumah apartmen EMPAT tingkat. 

Illegally built? Hello brader tapi bangunan sudah built lah. Bangunan sudah siap sejak zaman Saloma kah? Nampak tak kabel letrik hitam itu (yellow circle)? Siapa lulus pasang kabel letrik? Sebelum boleh lulus mesti ada bayar fulus. Depa ada bayar api dan air tak? Ada resit tak? Mana resit dia? 

Sekarang sudah pecah tembelang depa nak roboh pula bangunan ini. Tapi ada orang kata perlu ada peruntukan RM600,000 untuk kerja-kerja robohkan bangunan haram ini.

Banyak cantik Tuan-Tuan. Sekarang kita pula kena bayar (DANA AWAM atau TAXPAYERS MONEY)  RM600,000 untuk robohkan bangunan haram. Siapa dapat kontrak RM600,000 roboh bangunan? Dulu masa bangunan haram naik, mesti ada geng tutup mata sebelah. Mesti ada geng yang dapat untung. 

Bila projek depa sudah bau t_ _k kita pula kena bayar RM600,000 untuk roboh kerja bodoh mereka. Bila untung depa yang sikit enjoy. Bila jadi masalah kita semua kena tanggung. Banyak cantik.

Ketirisan, rasuah, kebodohan, tak ada akal. penipu, pembohong, penyamun mereka-lah yang bermaharajalela. Mereka-lah telan duit kita dulu. 

Lihat gambar interview jawatan kosong di Melaka itu. Hampir semua yang beratur di tepi jalan itu anak Melayu. Yang menghancurkan masa depan mereka bangsa sendiri juga. Yang nak interview mereka beri peluang pekerjaan adalah syarikat German. 

The tragedy of Zaid Ibrahim

The tragedy of Zaid Ibrahim


There are politicians whose political journeys become so crowded with reinventions that one begins to wonder whether there was ever a fixed destination to begin with.


Updated 10 hours ago

Published on 15 Jun 2026 8:16AM

For years, Zaid positioned himself as the thinking man’s politician. - June 15, 2026



by Vinod Sekhar




There are politicians who evolve.

There are politicians who learn.

There are politicians who change their minds because the world changes around them.

And then there are politicians whose political journeys become so crowded with reinventions that one begins to wonder whether there was ever a fixed destination to begin with.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has now joined PAS.

Let that sink in for a moment.

This is the same Zaid who built a national reputation as a moderate. The same Zaid who cultivated the image of a liberal constitutionalist.

The same Zaid who spoke eloquently about pluralism, moderation, civil liberties and the need for Malaysia to reject extremism.

The same Zaid who was often presented to Malaysia’s urban intellectual class as proof that reason and moderation still had a place in our politics.

Today, he is in PAS.

Not merely cooperating with PAS.

Not merely finding common ground with PAS.

A member of PAS.

A party whose senior leaders have, over the years, made statements that many non-Muslims and many moderate Muslims have viewed as exclusionary.

A party that continues to advocate for Hudud. A party whose vision of Malaysia has frequently raised concerns among those who believe our constitutional settlement was intended to protect a multicultural and multi-religious nation.

The obvious question is not whether PAS has the right to recruit him.

The obvious question is: what happened to all those principles?

For years, Zaid positioned himself as the thinking man’s politician. He was with UMNO when UMNO offered relevance.

Then, PKR, when reformasi offered relevance. Then KITA, when leadership offered relevance.

Then DAP, when the opposition wave offered relevance. Then back to UMNO when UMNO once again appeared useful. And now PAS.

At some point, the public is entitled to ask a simple question.

What exactly is the ideology here?

Because if every political destination becomes acceptable, then perhaps the destination was never the point.

Perhaps the journey itself was.

More specifically, perhaps remaining politically significant was.

I am often told that we should not question people’s motives.

Normally, I agree.

But politics is ultimately about trust.

And trust is built on consistency.

If a football manager changed clubs every season, supporters would ask questions.

If a politician changes ideological homes repeatedly, voters have every right to ask questions.

The defenders will say that Zaid is independent-minded.

Perhaps.

The defenders will say he follows his conscience.

Perhaps.

The defenders will say he is searching for the best vehicle to serve Malaysia.

Perhaps.

But eventually “perhaps” stops being enough.

Because every move creates a new contradiction.

When he joined DAP, he praised DAP’s progressive credentials.

When he returned to UMNO, he spoke of reforming UMNO from within.

Now he joins PAS.

Was DAP wrong?

Was UMNO wrong?

Or is PAS suddenly right?

They cannot all be true at the same time.

The deeper concern is not about Zaid himself.

Malaysia has survived bigger political disappointments than one man’s latest membership card.

The concern is what this says about our political culture.

We increasingly reward personalities over principles.

We celebrate clever commentary more than consistent conviction.

We mistake eloquence for courage.

And we confuse visibility with leadership.

Real leadership is not about finding the next stage from which to speak.

It is about standing where you are when it becomes difficult.

The people I admire most in life are not those who were always popular.

They are those who remained faithful to their principles even when it cost them influence, access, money or status.


Consistency is expensive

That is why it is so rare. As for Zaid Ibrahim, perhaps he genuinely believes PAS is now the best platform for Malaysia.

If so, he owes Malaysians a full explanation.

Not a slogan.

Not a press statement.

Not political poetry.

A real explanation.

What changed?

What did PAS change?

What did he change?

And what exactly was he offered that convinced him this latest political migration was necessary?

Until those questions are answered, many Malaysians will inevitably reach their own conclusion.

That this was never really about ideology.

It was about relevance.

And relevance, unlike principles, is always searching for a new home. - June 15, 2026

Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar is the publisher of The Vibes and Chairman of the Petra Group

***

Zaid was a hero when he resigned on principles as Law Minister from the AAB cabinet because of ISA being applied on Teresa Kok, RPK and a Chinese media journalist. That's why I like him.

He joined PKR but was flabbergasted by the politics within - thanks to Ass-binte. He left out of disgust, as was I.

When he joined DAP, alas, the party bigwigs 'cold-shouldered' him, so what could he do but to leave once again - I understood his frustration at his 'no role' membership.

Thereafter he was a broken man, wandering into all sorts of yucky 'company'.

Poor Zaid - I still like him.

Prosecution seeks to restore death sentence for ex-student

Prosecution seeks to restore death sentence for ex-student


This follows the Court of Appeal’s decision to commute the death sentence to 40 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the rotan on May 14

Fakrul Aiman Sajali was charged with murdering his pregnant girlfriend, Nur Anisah Abdul Wahab, at an oil palm plantation near Sabak Bernam on May 22, 2023. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution has filed a notice of appeal at the Federal Court to reinstate the death sentence of a former college student who pleaded guilty to murdering and burning his pregnant girlfriend three years ago.

On May 14, the Court of Appeal commuted the death sentence to 40 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane against Fakrul Aiman Sajali, 23, after allowing his appeal.

Lawyer Nor Tamrin, who represents Fakrul, confirmed the matter and said the notice of appeal was filed on May 25.


“Our party has received the notice and my client will not file a cross-appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision.

“He accepts the decision and considers the judgment to be fair, equitable and free from any error that requires further challenge,” he said when contacted today.

He said Fakrul is currently serving his sentence at Kajang prison.

According to the notice of appeal, the prosecution is appealing against the entire decision of the three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, consisting of Azman Abdullah, Ahmad Kamal Shahid and Radzi Harun, which changed the death sentence to a 40-year prison sentence from the date of arrest (May 23, 2023) and 12 strokes of the cane for the offence.

On Oct 15, 2025, the Klang High Court sentenced Fakrul, to death after he pleaded guilty to murdering Nur Anisah Abdul Wahab, 21, at Jalan Sungai Limau, Sabak Bernam, between 8.30pm on May 22, 2023 and 8am the next day.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries a death sentence or a minimum of 30 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years. If an offender is not sentenced to death, he shall be subject to whipping of not less than 12 strokes.

***

I am against capital punishment - meant only for 'white settler' Wanks and Shailoks

Green Wave politics and limits of non-Malay influence in M'sia

Green Wave politics and limits of non-Malay influence in M'sia

S Thayaparan
Published: Jun 15, 2026 8:00 AM
Updated: 11:22 AM



“But there are no clocks where (the pendulum) only swings down, it also goes up. And I am confident, and I believe that Chinese voters, little by little, are returning to BN.”

- BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

COMMENT | Everyone from PKR’s William Leong to former MCA grand poobah, Chua Soi Lek are saying the non-Malays (specifically the Chinese community) can stop the Green Wave.

But beyond rambling about syariah law and a theocratic state, nobody wants to acknowledge that the Islamisation process that has radically altered this country post-1969 has happened during the watch of the so-called centrist coalitions of BN or Pakatan Harapan.

When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim decided that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) needed to play a bigger role in policy-making, for instance, non-Malay political operatives in the Madani government were silent as church mice.

Furthermore, it was Anwar, through his religious czar, who was pursuing the Federal Territories Mufti bill, which would have radically transformed the powers of the religious far right in this country.

Islamic Development Department


This is something that PAS dreamt of. This is something the deep Islamic state has been preparing for.

The bill was best defined by SIS Forum - “The Mufti bill, which grants unelected officials the power to legislate without transparency or due process, exemplifies the dangerous erosion of democratic principles and constitutional rights.

“Such laws risk undermining the fundamental freedoms of Malaysians, fostering a culture of control rather than empowerment, and silencing diverse perspectives crucial for a progressive society.”

This country has been run by Perikatan Nasional before, and it was a time when Malaysia went through so many prime ministers; it was difficult keeping track of who was in charge of the circus.

Also, as we can see, the only thing these Malay uber alles types love more than making alliances to defend race and religion is breaking up that alliance for perceived slights and infractions, which merely means that various potentates were not getting their due.

Non-Malays voting for Harapan, which Leong acknowledges is not the coalition that got the most Malay votes, means that everything Madani does in terms of policy and optics is to appeal to the Malay community, which is what PAS does already.

Selayang MP William Leong


Keep in mind that for decades, the non-Malays voted for BN and demonised the opposition using pragmatism as a rallying cry instead of institutional reform. And to be fair, for decades, the non-Malays prospered while their Malay/Muslim brethren were short-changed by the Malay uber alles party they voted for.

Umno collapse drives PN surge

Three years ago, former DAP MP Ong Kian Ming agreed with Umno man Khairy Jamaluddin that the Green Wave narrative was a “lazy shorthand”.

Ong wrote: “It diverts attention from the main reason for the increase in votes for PN: a disastrous collapse in support for Umno in all states in Peninsular Malaysia, except for Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

ADS


“It was this unhappiness with Umno and specifically, the leadership of Zahid, that enabled PN to benefit from the groundswell of dissatisfaction.”

What most politically correct observers do not want to publicly acknowledge is that if the dominant polity that voted for PN really wanted an alternative, they would have chosen PKR and Harapan.

After all, Harapan-controlled states were run more efficiently than BN states and were drawing local economic migrants from less developed states.

Now, of course, in Johor, Umno is in ascendancy, and with this comes all sorts of political opportunities which make anything the non-Malays do mean bupkis.

Umno members


There really is nothing stopping Umno, PAS, and Bersatu from joining forces or any kind of political alliances which shut out non-Malay power brokers. They have done this before and imploded spectacularly.

While Zahid may say that there will never be another pact with its sworn enemy, PAS, can any rational Malaysian take his word for it?

Folks got their knickers in a twist when PN candidate Goh Gaik Meng said the non-Malays cannot stop the Malay tsunami - “I actually want to tell the people of Selangor... the Chinese cannot stop this Malay tsunami. A so-called tsunami within the Malay community has been set off.

“As a minority ethnic group with only 20-30 percent (of the population) in this country, we cannot stop this so-called Malay tsunami.”


PAS strategy and Malay political unity

However, the reality is that the mainstream Malay political establishment, from the royal institution to a significant segment of the vox populi, wants some sort of Malay unity.

Do not for one second think that I am downplaying the threat of the Green Wave. PAS has very clear ideas about how to use democracy and legislation to suppress the non-Malay vote.

PAS will lead the effort to disenfranchise the non-Malay vote even more and perhaps make the non-Malay vote meaningless. This is the plan, and PAS has been very open about it.

In 2021, then-PAS central committee member Khairuddin Aman Razali said, “There are long-term (needs) that require us to win the next general election with a two-thirds majority.

“(Upon achieving this), the electoral boundaries need to be changed to benefit Muslims.

“We also need to increase the number of parliamentary seats in Malay-majority areas.”

Former minister Khairuddin Aman Razali


Keep in mind, two years ago, folks were going on about “coalition politics” as if it were the new normal. The reality is that there really wasn’t any real coalition give and take, but rather Madani rearing snakes in their tent while carrying out policy-making initiatives which put a smile on the visage of the Green Wave.

Have you noticed that, especially among PN supporters, there really is no central figure standing in opposition to Anwar? The theocratic state-in-waiting understands they have no need for prime ministers in the sense of someone leading the country. All they need is a figurehead.

The fact is that what Madani is doing is making it easier for PAS when it eventually takes over. We are not dealing with differing political ideologies here. What Muslim disunity has achieved is the suppression and dismantling of progressive ideas and personalities in the majority community.

The Green Wave is the existential threat facing rational Malaysians, but it is not simply about not voting for PAS, as the facts demonstrate. Non-Malays haven’t been able to stop the Green Wave, and PAS is merely a fait accompli.

What non-Malays need to do is to vote for Malaysians who are not too concerned about spooking the Malays.

S THAYAPARAN is commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS were on the streets in Indonesia this week AFTER Indonesia refused to give US jet bombers blanket permission to use Indonesian airspace in a future war on China

From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi 

Favorites ·rsSpntodeo8h079af73t751f9lighh8h98ff6l654h2g83au0ff09c9h391g ·

ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS were on the streets in Indonesia this week. The rise of civil unrest was predicted by several sources, including journalist/ analyst Brian Berletic.

Why was trouble inevitable? The leadership of the world’s fourth most populous country has shown signs of independent thinking, as it struggles with economic pressures.

Indonesia recently refused to sign a promise to give US jet bombers blanket permission to use Indonesian airspace in a future war on China.

The Pentagon was not happy.

.

THE NED IS ACTIVE

Furthermore, President Prabowo Subianto last year criticized foreign NGOs, claiming to “promote democracy”, for interfering in the politics of sovereign countries and weaponizing human rights.

This was seen as a reference to the infamous US National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a CIA spin-off which has been active in creating street protests in Indonesia.

The NED has been thrown out of Venezuela, Egypt, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Russia and other places for financing, fomenting and training anti-government movements. The resultant civil unrest has often led to loss of life and property, sometimes on a large scale.

The rise of independent thinking in Jakarta means (from the US point of view) that Indonesia may need a little “people power” push to usher in alternative leaders. The appearance of civil unrest is always the first step in the regime change system.

.

LIST OF GRIEVANCES

As usual, the protests are said to be based on genuine grievances. The illegal US-Israel attack on Iran caused oil import prices to soar. The Jakarta government maintained some subsidies on fuel to shield citizens and runs a school meal program to ensure children don’t go hungry, but both have been targeted by critics.

The local currency has fallen against the dollar, making it harder for Indonesians to travel abroad—but it has lifted the value of remittances family members overseas send home.

Still, all this is par for the course. US agitators work quietly to build civil unrest on top of local grievances. Civic society in the country is riddled with US infiltrators. Also, US agents are discreetly financing outlets in Indonesia’s media—using the same “democracy and freedom” mantras they used in Hong Kong and scores of other places.

.

WEAPONIZING HUMAN RIGHTS

Indonesian President Prabowo has been trying to keep the US appeased (he donated to Donald Trump’s absurd “Board of Peace” for Gaza) but has also tried to maintain the country’s independence from foreign troublemakers.

“We must not be manipulated by any country,” he said on Pancasila Day, last year.

In response, NED, the CIA and related outfits have apparently stepped-up operations. NED is advertising for staff for operations in East Asia.

.

HIT PIECE

Brian Berletic, Angelo Guiliano and the present writer were targeted in a hit piece three weeks ago. Jakarta-based Tempo accused us of being Russian or Chinese agents.

Their evidence was that we had falsely indicated that western political groups, like the NED and Internews, were active in the country.

But the Tempo report was funded by a western political group: Internews! The very existence of their report proved we were telling the truth.

Yet our warnings need to be louder. How to get the truth about US interference more widely known?

It’s difficult. Narrative creation is the US’s super-power. It’s clear that that a significant portion of Indonesian media, like Tempo, is serving the US, not Indonesia.

International journalists are no help. Mainstream media such as the BBC and Reuters routinely maintain secret news blackouts on references to western political interference operations, even if their presence is blatant.

.

ASIANS NEED TO WISE UP

So Asians have to wise up and fix their own problems.

“Nations need to secure their information space,” Berletic said on X yesterday. “Stop allowing US-based social media platforms and their algorithms to determine what YOUR people see, hear, and ultimately THINK.”

In the long run, the US wants Indonesia’s government to be allied to them or controlled by Washington—as are many places, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

The US is busy in Asia, “politically capturing Asian states along China's periphery - Indonesia being one of them,” Berletic said.