Vote PH to protest PAS, Faezuddin tells Bersatu supporters

Vote PH to protest PAS, Faezuddin tells Bersatu supporters


4 hours ago
Minderjeet Kaur


PH’s Kempas candidate Faezuddin Puad says PAS’s backing for Barisan Nasional has exposed strains in its ties with Bersatu

Faezuddin Puad says voters should look beyond individual candidates and consider whether the party they support can truly deliver after the Johor polls.

JOHOR BAHRU: Pakatan Harapan’s Kempas candidate Faezuddin Puad has urged Bersatu supporters to register their protest against PAS by voting for PH in the Johor state election.

Faezuddin said PAS’s instruction to its members to back Barisan Nasional in seats where Perikatan Nasional is not contesting showed that ties within the opposition bloc were coming under increasing strain.

“I advise Bersatu voters to show their protest by voting for PH,” he told FMT.

“That is my personal view, because PAS has betrayed Bersatu in the context of the PN coalition.”

PAS has directed its election machinery in Johor constituencies contested by Bersatu to redeploy to seats contested by the Islamic party and other PN component parties.

PAS also urged its members and supporters not to support PH candidates in Johor constituencies where PN is not contesting, and back BN instead.

On Thursday, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin urged Bersatu supporters to follow PAS’s lead and vote for BN, adding another layer to the contest for opposition votes.

Faezuddin said voters should look beyond individual candidates and consider whether the party they support can actually deliver post-election.

He said both the party and the candidate mattered, but voters should give priority to parties with clear policies and a realistic path to forming the government.

“Look at the party’s performance. A serious party offers good policies for the people, and I think that should be given priority.”

Kempas will see a three-cornered fight involving Faezuddin, BN’s Ramlee Bohani and Bersama’s Salamahafifi Yusnaieny.

Ramlee won the seat for BN in the 2022 state election, securing 11,919 votes to win with a 3,514-vote majority.

The folly of youth, the arrogance of experience

The folly of youth, the arrogance of experience


A Bersama candidate's gaffe reveals much about the party, its personalities and what it lulls voters into thinking

On stage, Rafizi Ramli tends to cast himself as some sort of political messiah, promising to usher in change for Malaysia.

Judging by the way he attacks Pakatan Harapan—the coalition he once belonged to—and his criticism of the prime minister, Rafizi, once mocked as the “king of formulas,” now seems to have all the answers to the nation’s troubles.

His Parti Bersama Malaysia colleague, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, meanwhile, believes politics can still be driven by sheer willpower and a readiness to confront sensitive issues head-on.

Bersama’s ceramahs will have you think sweeping reforms could happen overnight — but that is never the case.

At one recent ceramah, a Bersama candidate touched on the taboo subject of Selangor’s pig farming ban. Any aspiring politician should know this is a sensitive matter—especially after the Selangor sultan weighed in. Just ask the DAP assemblyman who learned the hard way.

Yet Boo Wei Han did the unthinkable: he spoke out against the sultan’s decision. Was that the result of courage, naivety, or sheer recklessness?

Enter Rafizi, the white knight, praising Boo’s honesty and bravery. He even revealed that Bersama doesn’t script speeches for its candidates, preferring them to speak candidly. This, he said, was “new-style politics.”

But the very next day, Rafizi ordered candidates to exercise greater discipline, issuing guidelines on what they should and shouldn’t say. Whatever happened to speaking from the heart? So much for trusting the young.

Is this really new politics—or just the old style dressed up differently?

Malaysians are a forgiving lot. We forgave Dr Mahathir Mohamad his wrongs and accepted him as prime minister a second time. Boo’s misstep also deserves compassion. After all, it was the folly of youth.

What is harder to forgive is Rafizi’s arrogance in defending the gaffe, while insinuating that the prime minister, DAP, and MCA were cowards for not speaking up.

As a seasoned politician, Rafizi should know the delicate balance between the palace and politics. To think one can simply defy royalty speaks more of ego than wisdom.

My concern isn’t Rafizi or Bersama per se. Parties with ideals are welcome. What worries me is that we, the voters, are being seduced into believing change is just around the corner, sold on witty soundbites and promises without strategy or pragmatism.

Just as some voters buy into racial and religious narratives, others are lulled into thinking reforms can be delivered overnight. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. Change requires patience, diplomacy, and compromise.

Boo’s gaffe is a bitter pill for him, Rafizi and Bersama. But if voters back the wrong party, ordinary Malaysians may end up swallowing something far more bitter.

Russian defence ministry says its forces captured Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine

Russian defence ministry says its forces captured Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine


Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the city's capture as an important strategic achievement

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits one of the command posts of the Russian Joint Group Forces at an undisclosed location in Russia. (EPA Images pic)

MOSCOW: Russia’s military told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that its forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, a key locality whose capture Moscow has long sought in its advance through the Donetsk region.

Putin, shown in videos visiting a command post and receiving a report from top commanders, praised the city’s capture as an important strategic achievement.

He also said Russian forces had to increase the scale of security zones in response to intensified Ukrainian long-range strikes, mainly against Russia’s oil industry.


Ukraine made no comment on Russia’s claim to have seized Kostiantynivka.

General Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s General Staff, announced the city’s capture in a report on the conduct of the war, now in its fifth year.


Gerasimov said the southern group of forces was carrying out offensive operations to “liberate” all of the Donetsk region, part of the broader Donbas region over which Russia has vowed to secure control as a key aim of its war effort.

“The troops of the group have liberated the city of Kostiantynivka, one of the main defensive hubs of the enemy within the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk-Kostiantynivka fortified area,” Gerasimov said.

Russia’s military has for some time reported that its troops were in control of parts of Kostiantynivka, one of several cities seen as a network of key fortifications in Ukraine’s defence of the region.

Putin described the city as having an important strategic significance.


“We all know that this city is a key transport and large industrial centre of Donbas,” Putin said.


Russian pictures show soldiers in city

The defence ministry posted images on Telegram that it said were scenes from Kostiantynivka, including pictures of Russian soldiers holding national flags by shattered buildings.

Gerasimov also told Putin that Russian forces were closing in on Lyman, a town about 70km (45 miles) to the north which he said was “of key logistical and strategic importance for further advances in this direction”.


The head of Russia’s northern troops, Yevgeny Nikiforov, said his forces had “not yet fully managed to resolve the task” of preventing Ukrainian drone strikes that have hit oil installations and caused fuel shortages in Russia.

Putin responded by saying, “The more attacks the enemy tries to carry out on our civilian facilities … the larger a security zone we’ll have to establish in the neighbouring territory.”

Nikiforov told Putin that Russian troops were making progress in securing border areas in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, where Moscow has called for expanded buffer zones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials have said Russia’s advances in eastern Ukraine have slowed considerably since the beginning of the year and Kyiv’s forces have even recaptured some territory.

Putin, in his remarks, dismissed Kyiv’s statements as an “information campaign in which it puts on display supposed successes”. Zelensky sent an open letter to Putin last month seeking a direct meeting but the Kremlin leader rejected the proposal.

US-brokered attempts to move towards a peace deal have been put on hold during the conflict in Iran, but both Moscow and Kyiv say they are anticipating a visit soon by the two top negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

A name rejected: Tajik parents face state list dictating what they can call their children

A name rejected: Tajik parents face state list dictating what they can call their children



A man holding a cradle with a newborn baby is seen surrounded by relatives outside a maternity hospital in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on July 1, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 7:00 AM MYT


DUSHANBE, July 4 — After giving birth, Shakhnoza Nazarova thought registering her daughter’s name would be a mere formality. Instead, her chosen name was rejected—deemed not Tajik enough by authorities of the Central Asian country.

She is among many parents stuck in a bureaucratic loop—a government list of approved names designed to promote Tajik culture and curb both the influence of both Russia and radical Islamism.

The register, which excludes any names deemed foreign by officials, was rolled out 10 years ago and last updated in February.

“We had chosen Dunyo. This name was on the list,” Nazarova, 30, told AFP in the capital Dushanbe.


“However, when the baby was born and we went to get the birth certificate, the name Dunyo was no longer there” after the update, she said.

A month since her daughter’s birth, the mother of three still has no clear answers.


“There’s no guidance on what to do when a name isn’t on the list. No one accepts our application,” she said.

Gurdovarid Mamadjonova, pregnant with her second daughter, faces the same hurdle.

Her ideal name, Yasmina, is not on the list either.

“The Tajik version is Yosuman or Yosamin,” said the 27-year-old.

Mamadjonova already had to go with an official name for her first daughter—“Oisha” instead of her preferred “Aisha”—has yet to decide whether she “would choose a new name or just go along with whatever they give us again.”

Tajik identity

In Tajikistan, a secular Muslim country of around 10 million people, longtime President Emomali Rakhmon has sought to redefine the national identity by tightening his grip over Islam and steering the country away from its Soviet legacy.

Proclaimed the “Founder of Peace and National Unity,” he casts himself as the guardian of Tajik identity in a country shaped by a bitter 1990s civil war, in which ex-communists defeated an alliance of Islamists and democrats.

A handful of other states also have rules on baby names, but Tajikistan, where the population is surging, goes further than most.

It is “absolutely unacceptable” to “glorify the foreign in the choice of first names,” Rakhmon said in 2019.

It “distances future generations from their historical origins,” he added.

But what officials count as an acceptable Tajik name is vague.

Some Muslim names are excluded from the official list—like Yassine, Amira or Riyad—while others, like Muhammad or Kareem, are permitted.

The rules, which apply only to ethnic Tajiks, collide with deep-rooted Central Asian traditions, where children’s names carry great symbolic importance.

Families often coin unique, meaningful names—combining words that describe the circumstances of birth, a place, or a hoped-for quality in their child.

Badakhshon Tursunova—born when Tajikistan was still part of the Soviet Union, which suppressed religion—was named after a region her mother came from.

“One classmate of mine was called Vatan (homeland), another Tabarali (axe),” the 56-year-old woman said.

“After independence, once religion was no longer banned, people began giving their children Muslim names,” she said.


Patriotism

Worried by the recruitment of Tajiks into jihadist groups and by the Taliban’s return to power in neighbouring Afghanistan, Rakhmon has sought to stamp out radical Islam.

“I am proud to be Tajik first, and Muslim second,” he is fond of repeating.

Beyond excluding certain Muslim names, authorities have also banned the hijab headscarf for women and outlawed long beards for young men.

Rakhmon has also distanced himself from the country’s Soviet past—though without openly criticising key ally Russia.

In a rare move, he dropped the Russian “-ov” suffix from his own surname back in 2007.

In 2016, he banned it for newborns.

But with Tajikistan being economically dependent on Moscow and hundreds of thousands of Tajik migrant workers living in Russia, practical realities limit the drive to shed Russian influence.

“I had a surge of patriotism and wanted to change my documents and get a Tajik first and last name, without the ‘-ov’ ending,” Alisher Rustamov, a Tajik who works in Russia, told AFP.

But amid Russia’s strict migration laws, the 45-year-old also wanted to obtain Russian citizenship to ease his daily life there.

Eventually, he gave up the attempted name change due to bureaucratic hurdles.

“It was very complicated and expensive, so I left it as it was.” — AFP

***

Hari Bawang?

Pakatan chairman Anwar embarks on whirlwind Johor tour, 15 programmes in two days

Pakatan chairman Anwar embarks on whirlwind Johor tour, 15 programmes in two days



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the party candidates to engage with the people, not merely to seek votes, but to carry out the trust placed in them wholeheartedly. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 9:32 AM MYT
Last Modified: Saturday, 04 Jul 2026 9:44 AM MYT


JOHOR BAHRU, July 4 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will attend 15 programmes in Johor over the weekend to support 56 PH candidates for the 16th Johor state election.

Anwar also issued an invitation to all Johor voters to join the programmes during the weekend in a Facebook post yesterday.

“Insya-Allah, I’ll be in Johor tomorrow and Sunday to support the candidates and Harapan machinery. I invite everyone in Johor to join us,” he said.

Anwar is set to begin his weekend in Johor by attending the Kita Genk Madani x Anak Muda Bukit Batu programme in Kulai at 3.30pm tomorrow, followed by a Hi-Tea with Johor community leaders in Johor at 4.50pm, and then head to the Kembara Inspirasi Belia Akar Umbi programme in Tampoi at 6pm.

At night, he is scheduled to attend the Harapan Indian Cultural Night with PMX in Taman Tampoi Indah at 7.45pm, the Chinese Community Dinner with PMX at a restaurant at 8.35pm and then the Johor Youth Dialogue in Dewan Felda Ulu Tebrau at 9.30pm and finally the Anak Muda Kempas Night in Kempas at 10.45pm.

On Sunday, Anwar will start with a breakfast with the Layang-Layang constituents at Warung Pak Din, Kampung Sahri at 8.55am, followed by a Meet-and-Greet with PMX at Dewan Undangan Negeri Senggarang in Senggarang at 10am.

He will then attend the Kenduri Rakyat Bersama PMX in Semerah at 11am, and the launch of Bukit Naning Volunteers at 12.15pm.


For the later half of the day, he is scheduled to attend Jelajah Harapan Felda Bersama PMX in Dataran Putra Palong Timur 2, meeting sessions at Pemanis and Gambir constituencies, and end with the Jelajah Johor Ke Depan, Undi Harapan DUN Serom programme at Sungai Mati at 9pm.

Johor voters will cast their ballots on July 11, with early voting scheduled on July 7.

For the latest on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/. — Bernama

OPINION | The Pig, the Kancil and the Price of Authenticity

Malaysia's #1 Content Aggregator


OPINION | The Pig, the Kancil and the Price of Authenticity


3 Jul 2026 • 4:30 PM MYT

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

I

mage credit: Berseteru FB

Recently, election candidate Boo Wei Han, who is contesting the N46 Perling seat for Parti Bersama Malaysia, stirred a hornet's nest after raising the highly sensitive issue of pig farming during a campaign speech in Johor.


Speaking about the impact on pig farmers, Boo questioned the fairness of forcing families who had been in the business for generations to suddenly shut down their operations. He expressed hope that the government would reconsider its decision, arguing that the livelihoods of these farmers deserved to be taken into account.



Predictably, all hell broke loose.


Social media exploded with condemnation. Before long, Bersama's cute little kancil logo had been given an unexpected makeover. Apparently, somewhere on the internet, it is now a pig.


Political satire has always been part of democracy. If you're a politician, sooner or later someone will turn your logo into something your graphic designer never approved.



But what interested me wasn't the meme.


It was what happened next.

Image credit: Focus Malaysia


When Boo first made his remarks, Rafizi Ramli stood firmly behind him. He praised Boo for having the courage to raise a difficult issue and explained that Bersama deliberately chose ordinary Malaysians as candidates because they spoke honestly instead of relying on carefully prepared scripts.


I actually agreed with him.


For years we've complained that politicians all sound the same. Every speech feels like it has been vetted by three committees, five advisers and one public relations consultant. Every answer is so polished that, by the end of it, you're still not entirely sure what they actually said.



Then along comes someone who says exactly what he thinks.


You may completely disagree with Boo. That's perfectly fair.


But at least now you know exactly where he stands.


And isn't that what we keep asking for?


Then came the backlash.


Many Malaysians were offended and outraged. Even Rafizi admitted he had received warnings that Boo's remarks could trigger a negative reaction.


Then came the campaign guidelines.


Apparently, the candidates are now required to clear their statements with headquarters first.



So much for "speaking from the heart."


Personally, I'd rather have a politician who occasionally says the wrong thing than one who never says anything real.


Not because honest politicians are always right. They're not. They'll make mistakes. They'll offend people. They'll say things we'd rather they hadn't.


That's called revealing who they are.


What worries me more is the politician who has mastered the art of saying absolutely nothing while sounding incredibly convincing.


Those politicians tell every audience exactly what it wants to hear. Spend one night with a Malay audience and they sound like champions of Malay rights. Spend the next with a Chinese audience and suddenly they're speaking the language of inclusivity. Visit business owners and they're pro-business. Meet civil servants and they're pro-government. By polling day, everyone thinks they're on the same side.



After polling day, nobody really knows what they believe.


Democracy isn't about electing people who never offend anyone.


It's about electing people who let us know where they really stand before we vote.


Ironically, I thought Rafizi's original defence of Boo made far more sense than the campaign guidelines that followed.


Within a day, the promise of authenticity had quietly become damage control.


That makes Bersama look suspiciously like every other political party that promises to do politics differently - right up until doing politics differently becomes politically inconvenient.

Image credit: Malay Mail


If we really want ordinary Malaysians to enter politics, we have to accept that they won't always sound like seasoned politicians. They'll say the wrong thing. They'll phrase things badly. They'll occasionally offend people.



That's the price of authenticity.


The alternative is a political culture where every speech is scripted, every sentence is tested, and every opinion comes with a disclaimer approved by the communications team.


I'll take the occasional awkward truth over the perfectly rehearsed performance any day.


What disappointed me most wasn't Boo's remarks.


It was how quickly Rafizi abandoned the very principle he had defended just a day earlier.


Leadership isn't tested when everyone applauds. It's tested when the criticism starts.


If your commitment to authenticity lasts only until the first social media storm, perhaps it was never authenticity in the first place.

Respect the Constitution, Not Endless Historical Claims: Penang Exco Tells Sanusi to Focus on Progress Instead

Malaysia's #1 Content Aggregator


Respect the Constitution, Not Endless Historical Claims: Penang Exco Tells Sanusi to Focus on Progress Instead

3 Jul 2026 • 10:30 AM MYT

Kpost
Operation Consultant who is a keen observer of politics and current affairs

Image Credit: Kpost | Illustration generated by Chatgpt

Political disputes over history may generate headlines, but they do little to improve the lives of ordinary Malaysians.


This was the central message delivered by Penang state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai, who has urged Kedah Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor to stop reviving claims that Penang belongs to Kedah and instead focus on strengthening cooperation between the two neighbouring states.



Wong stressed that the issue of Kedah's alleged ownership of Penang remains a contentious and divisive topic that has no place in modern governance. He argued that the matter has long been settled by the Federal Constitution, which clearly recognises Penang and Kedah as two separate states within Malaysia.



According to Wong, the Federal Constitution, first enacted in 1957 and later updated in 1963 following the formation of Malaysia with the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak, provides the legal foundation that all Malaysians should respect. Rather than reopening historical debates, leaders should uphold the Constitution and concentrate on policies that benefit the people.


To reinforce his point, Wong noted that historical records themselves offer differing interpretations. He cited the existence of a Siamese border demarcation stone in Kepala Batas, bearing inscriptions in the Siamese language, which recognised the area as part of Penang rather than Kedah. He said this illustrates how northern Peninsular Malaysia was once influenced by the Siamese Kingdom.



Wong added that if historical influence were used as the basis for territorial claims, the debate would become endless. He pointed to archaeological evidence from the Bujang Valley and Kedah Tua, which suggests that parts of the region were once influenced by ancient Indian and Hindu empires. Likewise, large areas of present-day Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, were also historically shaped by Hindu civilisations.


"If we continue tracing history backwards, there will never be an end to claims and counterclaims," Wong said, arguing that such debates are unproductive in today's world.



Instead, he called on political leaders to prioritise economic growth, regional development and cooperation rather than promoting narratives that could create unnecessary tensions between neighbouring states.


Wong suggested that Sanusi's repeated remarks may be politically motivated to rally support among his constituents by portraying Penang as an adversary. However, he stressed that responsible leadership requires respecting constitutional principles rather than exploiting historical controversies for political gain.



"We are all Malaysians," Wong said, adding that the nation's strength lies in unity rather than division. He emphasised that when one state prospers, neighbouring states also benefit through increased investment, employment and economic opportunities.


The Penang exco member highlighted the close economic relationship between Penang and Kedah, noting that thousands of residents cross state borders daily for work and business. Many Penangites reside in Kedah while working in Penang's industrial sector, while others travel in the opposite direction, creating strong economic interdependence.



He also pointed to the shared use of water resources from Sungai Muda, explaining that both states possess riparian rights to extract water from the river. Rather than arguing over historical ownership, Wong said both governments should work together to ensure sustainable water management and support continued industrial development.


Wong concluded that while political disagreements are inevitable in a democracy, they should never come at the expense of ordinary citizens whose livelihoods depend on the continued prosperity of both Penang and Kedah.



His remarks highlight a broader message that constitutional respect, economic cooperation and shared prosperity offer far greater benefits to Malaysians than revisiting centuries-old territorial disputes.


By: Kpost

***

Fei-Lo has always been an S-Whole 😡😡😡

How to interpret the LRT3 fiscal controversy

How to interpret the LRT3 fiscal controversy

Mariam Mokhtar
Published: Jul 3, 2026 8:00 PM
Updated: 10:00 PM



COMMENT | In debates like LRT3, the word “numbers” appears neutral, but it often masks deeper political and fiscal conflicts.

Engineers see numbers as design constraints, economists see numbers as risk and efficiency, politicians see numbers as credit or blame, whilst the public often sees numbers more simply: either “too expensive” or “money saved”.

The same "numbers" (cost, scope, debt and projections) can be interpreted very differently depending on perspective.

Still, one pattern continues to repeat itself in large public infrastructure projects.

At the start, everything is about vision. During construction, everything is about cost. At the end, everything becomes about credit.

The LRT3 Shah Alam Line is in that final stage. It is finished, it's running, but it is being explained in different ways by different people.

Unsurprisingly, competing political narratives quickly surfaced around the LRT3 completion, with various camps seeking to emphasise the roles played by their preferred leaders, Najib Abdul Razak or Anwar Ibrahim.

Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah cautioned against any party attempting to claim sole credit and stated that the original proposal for the LRT3 project had stemmed from his own concerns about the daily commute faced by the rakyat.

At the same time, the royal statement also highlighted that during Lim Guan Eng’s tenure as finance minister, the project cost was reduced and parts of the plan were revised, with fewer stations and train cars, which critics characterised as reducing the overall “size” of the project.


Two narratives

So, we are left with two clear narratives.

One says that multiple administrations contributed to a successful public transport project. The other argues that key decisions during the rationalisation phase reduced the project’s original scope.

To some people, the word “cuts” sounds simple and negative, as if something was taken away; but in big infrastructure projects, things are not that simple.

A change in cost or design can mean many things: adjusting the plan to match real demand, fixing earlier cost estimates that were too high, or changing contracts to stop future cost increases.

So, what is termed a “cut” in politics may actually be something else in finance, like a correction. Big projects like LRT3 rarely move in a straight line. They evolve step by step.

First, a plan is approved based on forecasts. Then construction starts. Then real costs start to appear. Then problems and overruns become clear. Then decisions are made to fix the situation.

By the time correction happens, the project is already partly locked in, and that is the stage where difficult decisions must be made. Continue and let costs grow further. Or step in and control it.

Most people look at this as a political issue, whereas the real issue is how the contracts are designed.


More expensive, higher fees

In the original model, the project delivery partner was paid based on the total value of the project, and that creates a simple problem.

If the project becomes more expensive, fees can increase. This may not necessarily be corruption, but it is a system that can encourage higher costs over time.

So when the system was changed to fixed-price contracting, that mattered. It was not just paperwork, but a way to control future spending. That is what fiscal discipline actually looks like.

This problem is not unique to Malaysia. In the United Kingdom, the HS2 high-speed rail project has also faced ballooning costs, redesigns, delays, and scope changes.

Parts have been reduced or reconsidered as costs became too high. Not because anyone “failed”, but because large infrastructure projects often cost more than originally expected.

So, when that happens, governments must adjust.

With the LRT3, the disagreement is not really about whether it should exist. It does exist and the disagreement is about what certain decisions mean.

One view says that reducing scope means the project was weakened. Another view says that reducing scope means costs were brought under control.

Both views sound reasonable, but they lead to very different conclusions about responsibility.


Not a simple story

Big infrastructure projects are not one decision, but many decisions over many years, so we should not treat them as one simple story.

There are different stages: approval, construction, adjustment and completion. Each stage involves different people. Each has different pressures. Thus, each stage should be judged differently.

The most important question is not who approved the project, or who completed it, or who inherited it.

The most important question is this: When costs started rising, were decisions made early enough to prevent bigger financial damage later? Because in public finance, the biggest risk is not change, but waiting too long to change.

No one likes changes in big projects. They are hugely controversial and often criticised; but if no changes are made when costs rise, the problem can worsen.

Regrettably, the public pays for it later; through higher debt, higher taxes, or when other services are reduced.

That is the real trade-off.

The LRT3 line is now complete and that is good. However, completion should not stop questions.

We still need to ask how decisions were made along the way. Not to blame individuals for political reasons, but to understand whether public money is being managed properly.

In the end, fiscal discipline is not about political narratives or competing claims of credit.

It is about whether difficult decisions are made early enough to prevent problems from becoming crises, or whether political narratives later turn responsibility into blame.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Find her on her website and on X.

Prediction of BN landslide won’t affect outcome, says DAP’s Sim

Prediction of BN landslide won’t affect outcome, says DAP’s Sim


Yesterday
Faiz Zainudin


The DAP deputy secretary-general said his party would focus on working hard on the ground, “no matter what predictions people make”

DAP deputy secretary-general Steven Sim said DAP would focus on working hard on the ground ‘no matter what predictions people make’.

SEGAMAT: A prediction of a landslide victory for Barisan Nasional in Johor is merely an assumption and has no bearing on the outcome at the ballot box, says DAP deputy secretary-general Steven Sim.

Sim said election seasons frequently saw predictions from various parties, but the results lay in the hands of voters.

“Some predictions come from intellectuals, others come from experts, and some come from Pak Belalang,” he said, referring to the classic Malay folk character who pretended to be a fortuneteller.


DAP would focus on working hard on the ground, “no matter what predictions people make”, he said after attending a meet-and-greet with entrepreneurs in Jementah as deputy entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister. DAP’s Ng Kor Sim is the PH candidate for the Jementah state seat.

Sim’s comments were in response to a prediction by Ong Kian Ming, a former DAP central leadership member and former Bangi MP, who said that BN could end up sweeping 53 of the 56 available on July 11, or 13 more than the 40 it won in 2022. He said PH was likely to take the remaining three seats while Perikatan Nasional could be wiped out.

Sim said DAP’s confidence in victory was based not on predictions, but on the continuous efforts of its leaders and party machinery to win over voters. “We’ll only take such predictions as a point of reference, no matter where they come from. What is important is that we continue to strive,” he said.

Two deaths, rising sightings: Are Sabah’s crocodiles getting too close for comfort?

Two deaths, rising sightings: Are Sabah’s crocodiles getting too close for comfort?



Two crocodiles spotted along Sungai Padas in June 2026 have residents nearby fearful for their safety after two people died in separate incidents. — Daily Express pics

First Published: Friday, 03 Jul 2026 9:00 PM MYT


LAHAD DATU, July 3 — Fears over increase in crocodile attacks are leaving residents from Beaufort to Lahad Datu worried for their safety.

They want the authorities to implement better safety measures with two consecutive fatal incidents, here, this week alone involving a 12-year-old boy and 20-year-old man.

Tungku Community Development Leader Mohd Syahid Gulam said the incidents threatened those living near or who depend on the sea and rivers for their livelihood.

He proposed continuous monitoring and operations to capture or relocate the creatures.

The 2026 D-MAX also introduces an 8-speed automatic gearbox with sequential shift across the range, including the Single Cab variant, making it the first pick-up truck in Malaysia to offer an automatic transmission in that body style.

“Crocodile sightings and encounters continue to the reported in Tungku areas. The authorities must act promptly by enhancing patrols and identifying high-risk areas as well as installing additional warning signs where crocodiles are frequently seen,” he said.

Mohd Syahid advised the public to remain vigilant when carrying out activities near the waters and to avoid going alone.


On Tuesday, a 20-year-old man was found dead believed attacked by crocodile while collecting marine catches at Pantai Kampung Mundas.

The victim went to sea at 7am to check on the net that he had installed the previous day when he was attacked by the crocodile.

His body was found by family members and villagers at about 10am with wounds on his stomach and chest.

On Monday, a 12-year-old boy was found dead, believed attacked by crocodile at Sungai Tegupi. The incident was witnessed by his neighbour who saw him being pulled into the water by a crocodile.

The victim’s body was later found at 2pm with wounds on his back and leg.

In BEAUFORT, two crocodiles were sighted in Sungai Padas, one near Jalan Balibata opposite the Sabah Electricity office and another close to the new Bingkul bridge.

A local resident estimated them to be around 10 to 15 feet long and seen resting at the Sungai Padas riverbank at Balibata.

“Anglers are advised to be extra careful when at the riverbank as crocodiles can suddenly appear,” he said.

He also urged parents and those bringing children fishing to be cautious.

Another angler said he saw a crocodile near the Bingkul bridge area while fishing with his wife and child.

“We were fishing when we suddenly saw a crocodile on the opposite riverbank. We quickly packed our fishing gear and went home,” he said.

A resident identified as Sabrina Wisom, who also recorded the sighting, said she observed the crocodile from a distance.

Checks by Daily Express found that crocodiles in the area have previously been captured by the Wildlife Department in Weston, Kuala Penyu, Menumbok and Sipitang.

More recently, a crocodile in Kota Marudu was reportedly trapped in a fishing net.

The Wildlife Department has in the past carried out culling of crocodiles in Sungai Padas after they were deemed a threat to anglers and fishermen in the area. — Daily Express

‘This is a patient’: Thai nurse defies Buddhist taboo to treat monks after fatal crash

‘This is a patient’: Thai nurse defies Buddhist taboo to treat monks after fatal crash



A nurse, Wiwat Laonoi (right), assists injured Buddhist monks after a pickup truck driven by an 11-year-old crashed into their roadside procession in Mukdahan province, northeastern Thailand, on July 2, 2026. The crash killed 10 monks and left 10 others injured. — AFP pic

First Published: Friday, 03 Jul 2026 8:13 PM MYT


BANGKOK, July 3 — A nurse in Thailand challenged Buddhist customs when she stepped in to treat the victims of a car accident that killed 10 monks.

An 11-year-old boy, who took his parents’ pickup truck without permission, ploughed at speed into a procession of 35 monks and five lay followers in northeastern Thailand yesterday.

Minutes later Wiwat Laonoi stepped in to help, despite the Buddhist taboo in which women cannot touch monks and vice versa.

“People told me, ‘Wait, that’s a monk!’, but I said it doesn’t matter, right now, this is a patient,” she told AFP.

Wiwat, who has been a nurse for nearly four decades, said she was the first responder at the “massive” accident, adding that she had “never seen anything like it”.

“No other responders (had) arrived yet, it was just me,” the 61-year-old said adding that she “had to stay clear-headed”.

Wiwat immediately checked pulses, performed CPR, and coordinated with the local hospital, moving from one victim to the next at speed.

Five monks died at the scene on Thursday, and another five died later in hospital. As of Friday, 10 other people were still hospitalised—two in critical condition and eight others with non-life-threatening injuries.

Wiwat was travelling with hospital employee Parichat Kochakueng at the time, who filmed her as she worked.

“It looked really scary, a lot of monks laying on the road,” Parichat said.

Wiwat is from Mukdahan province, where the accident happened, and hopes to keep volunteering in communities with limited medical care after her retirement coming up in September.

“As a Thai, as a nurse, I’m very proud, I got to use what I know to help my fellow human beings,” she said. — AFP

***

Two monks and a Woman — Zen story

Farmer Sean

2 min read

·

Jul 1, 2018

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A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.

The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman.

Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them.

Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

—

This simple Zen story has a beautiful message about living in the present moment. How often do we carry around past hurts, holding onto resentments when the only person we are really hurting is ourselves.

We all go through times in life when other people say things or behave in a way that is hurtful towards us. We can chose to ruminate over past actions or events, but it will ultimately weigh us down and sap our energy.

Instead we can choose to let go of what doesn’t serve us anymore and concentrate on the present moment. Until we can find a level of peace and happiness in the present circumstances of our lives, we will never be content, because ‘now’ is all we will ever have.

Written by Farmer Sean