Religious teacher jailed seven years for sexual assault on 13-year-old pupil

theVibes.com:

Religious teacher jailed seven years for sexual assault on 13-year-old pupil

A 47-year-old Islamic Education teacher sentenced to seven years in prison and two strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting 13-year-old female student the school's prayer room

Updated 4 hours ago · Published on 17 Nov 2025 3:01PM

The court granted a stay of execution pending an appeal to the High Court, provided the bail is increased to RM20,000, and the accused complies with strict conditions - November 17, 2025



ISLAMIC Education teacher Farid Azhar Nawi, 47, from a secondary school in Senawang, was today sentenced to a total of seven years' imprisonment and two strokes of the cane for physically sexually assaulting a female pupil, then aged 13, in the school's surau (prayer room) three years prior.


Seremabam Court Judge Datin Surita Budin delivered the sentence after concluding that the defence had failed to raise any reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case.

Delivering her decision at the close of the defence, the judge stated that the accused's testimony was "a mere denial that failed to raise doubt against the prosecution's case."

The court noted that the victim's testimony was "consistent and not purely fabricated, and was supported by two eyewitnesses who also saw the incident."

The judge dismissed the accused's claim of a conspiracy, stating, "The accused's claim that there was a pact or attempt by the school to frame him was an assumption that could not be proven."

Datin Surita Budin further found the child witness to be honest and lacking malicious intent. She sternly remarked that as an educator entrusted to guide children, the accused had "misused his position, causing the victim trauma and tarnishing the reputation of religious teachers, thereby damaging the school's image."

"The accused should have protected and provided good instruction to the pupil, not taken advantage of the victim who was only 13 years old at the time of the incident," she asserted, emphasising that the court "cannot be lenient in cases involving sexual assault against children, which is a serious offence."

In addition to the custodial sentence, the judge ordered the accused to undergo rehabilitation counselling throughout his imprisonment and be subjected to police supervision for one year following his release.

The charge specifies that the accused committed physical sexual assault by sexually touching the waist of a 13-year-old girl at the time of the incident, exploiting his position of trust as a teacher.

The offence occurred on 4 August 2022, around 5:30 PM, at the surau*of a secondary school in Senawang.

This contravenes Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(c) of the same Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment and caning, in addition to five years' imprisonment and two strokes of the cane.

Defence counsel Nor Azleen Khairina A Aziz informed the court of her client's intention to appeal against the conviction and the severity of the sentence, arguing that a heavy sentence risks injustice.

She pleaded for a lighter and more reasonable sentence, highlighting that the accused is a first-time offender with no prior record, has two wives and five children, three of whom are university students, and has shown deep remorse and acknowledged his weakness.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni requested a commensurate sentence, citing the seriousness of sexual crimes involving children, and urged the court to uphold the principle of public interest over personal interest.

The defence then sought a stay of execution pending the appeal to the High Court. While the prosecution objected, the court granted the stay, considering the accused is a civil servant.

However, the judge increased the bail to RM20,000 with additional conditions that the accused must report to the nearest police station once a month and surrender his passport. - November 17, 2025

PI Bala’s SD linking me to Altantuya untrue, says Najib

FMT:

PI Bala’s SD linking me to Altantuya untrue, says Najib

5 hours ago
Faisal Asyraf

Former prime minister Najib Razak says the contents of a statutory declaration made by private investigator P Balasubramaniam on July 1, 2008 are a ‘total fabrication’

Najib Razak is suing Tommy Thomas and publisher GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd over alleged defamatory content in Thomas’s memoir, ‘My Story: Justice in the Wilderness’.

SHAH ALAM: Former prime minister Najib Razak has maintained that a statutory declaration (SD) made by a private investigator 17 years ago linking him to Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder was a lie.

Testifying in his suit against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, Najib insisted that P Balasubramaniam’s first SD, made on July 1, 2008, was “untrue”.

He also acknowledged that he had not taken legal action against either Balasubramaniam or Malaysiakini over the contents of an interview series published in 2009.


Balasubramaniam, also known as “PI Bala”, issued a second SD just one day after his first – this time recanting his earlier claim and denying any link between Najib and the Mongolian national.

He later recanted the second SD, claiming it was made under duress.


Cross-examined by counsel Alan Adrian Gomez, representing Thomas, Najib said the first SD linking him to Altantuya was a “total fabrication”.

Gomez: Would you agree that the articles report how PI Bala recanted the second SD?

Najib: The first SD is totally untrue.

Gomez: Would you agree that the way it was reported, PI Bala stood by the first SD?


Najib: The way it’s written? It’s not true. You want me to confirm something that is not true.

Gomez: Yet you never sued PI Bala or Malaysiakini for the articles?

Najib: No, I didn’t.


Asked if he had personal knowledge of Balasubramaniam being placed under duress during the making of the first SD, Najib said: “There must have been some form of persuasion because it’s a total fabrication.”


He said the SD contained serious allegations which could be deemed defamatory.

Najib is suing Thomas and publisher GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd over alleged defamatory content in Thomas’s memoir, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”, published in early 2021.

Najib’s complaint centres around the contents of Chapter 42, titled “Altantuya”, which runs from pages 400 to 405.

He is seeking unspecified damages and wants words and statements deemed defamatory to be removed.

He also wants Thomas and Gerakbudaya to tender an apology, and is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent them from publishing defamatory statements about him.

The hearing before Justice Khadijah Idris continues on Jan 19.

PAS calls for ‘Santiago of the Seas’ to be pulled from air over alleged LGBT content

The PAS Ulama Council (DUPP) has urged the government to take firm action against the airing of the animated series Santiago of the Seas, which has been accused of featuring LGBTQ+ characters. - Social media pic, November 17, 2025

PAS calls for ‘Santiago of the Seas’ to be pulled from air over alleged LGBT content


Ulama Council demands action against the animated series, largely made by Malaysian studio Lemon Sky



A. Azim Idris
Updated 28 seconds ago
17 November, 2025
3:37 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR — The PAS Ulama Council (DUPP) has urged the government to take firm action against the airing of the animated series Santiago of the Seas, which has been accused of featuring LGBTQ+ characters and promoting a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) agenda indirectly.





Datuk Mohd Nor Hamzah, the information chief of DUPP, emphasised the need for the government to address any content linked to LGBT themes, warning that such portrayals could normalise what they consider deviant behaviours in Malaysia.

He pointed out that such issues have increasingly targeted children in recent years.

“DUPP suggests that the government conduct thorough screenings of foreign cartoons to avoid the potential spread of LGBT influences,” he said in a statement today.

“The subtle attacks from LGBT supporters are becoming harder to detect, slowly infiltrating the minds of children.”

The controversy erupted after social media users expressed concern over alleged LGBT+ elements in Santiago of the Seas, a series currently airing on a government-owned TV channel.

DUPP also expressed the view that including LGBT themes in children’s cartoons is part of a long-term strategy to erode young minds, ultimately shaping a society that accepts such ideologies in the future.

“This moral decay should be a major concern and must be confronted with clear policies that are uncompromising,” Hamzah said.

“DUPP calls for more focus on local animation production, as we already have the capability. It is safer for the country’s future to avoid normalising harmful influences, especially for children.”

Some parents and concerned citizens have voiced their worries on social media, with some questioning how the content was allowed to air on a local television station, considering Malaysia’s status as an Islamic nation.

The series Santiago of the Seas, which was partly produced in Malaysia, has gained attention for its connection to the local animation industry.

A significant portion of the animation and CGI work was completed by Lemon Sky Studios, a Malaysian company, during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020. – November 17, 2025

***

Haven't seen it yet, Have to confess I don't like nor want to watch movies and TV dramas with an LGBTQI theme, though demanding these be taken off spells dictatorial intolerance - typical of PAS ulamas.

al Jazeera:

Tension high as Bangladesh tribunal convicts ex-PM Hasina

Bangladesh has beefed up security as trial mulls charges of crimes against humanity for Hasina – currently in exile in India – due to 2024 crackdown on protests that killed hundreds.

Published On 17 Nov 202517 Nov 2025

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Tensions are high in Bangladesh as a tribunal has convicted fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity.

Security was beefed up in the capital Dhaka and across the country as rival factions anticipated the ruling of the special tribunal, which was announced on Monday.

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The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Hasina, 78, who has been in exile in India since an uprising last year that killed hundreds of people and ended her 15-year rule.

The United Nations says up to 1,400 people were killed and thousands injured in a crackdown as Hasina tried to cling to power.

Bangladesh has been led by an interim government since, and has been mired in political turmoil. Violence has marred campaigning for elections, expected in February 2026, that will choose a new government.

Authorities and the military are braced for potential violence.

Security forces have surrounded the court since the date of the verdict was set on Thursday, with armoured vehicles manning checkpoints.

Dhaka Municipal Police spokesman Talebur Rahman said the force would remain on high alert, and that almost half the city’s 34,000 police would be on duty on Monday.

‘Kangaroo court’

Hasina defied court orders that she return from India to attend the trial. The former-PM’s Awami League party has labelled the tribunal a “kangaroo court” and called for a nationwide shutdown.

In a message to supporters, Hasina insisted that the allegations against her are false.

A man holds a poster in front of the court demanding capital punishment for Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 17, 2025 (Reuters)

“Let them issue a verdict. I don’t care. God gave me life, God will take it, but I will keep working for the people of my country. I have lost my parents, my siblings, and they burned down my home,” the former leader said, according to India’s NDTV.

“I am telling my party workers: Don’t worry, it is a matter of time. I know you are suffering, we will not forget this, everything will be accounted for,” she added.

‘Use lethal weapons’

Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina, including failure to prevent murder, which amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law.

Secret phone call recordings, accessed by Al Jazeera, have revealed that Hasina “issued an open order” to “use lethal weapons” on protesters and shoot “wherever they find them”.

“Justice will be served according to the law,” Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters when the verdict date was set last week.

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The trial has heard months of testimony alleging that the former leader ordered mass killings. Hasina has called the trial a “jurisprudential joke”.

Her co-accused include former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal – also a fugitive – and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty.

Hasina was assigned a state-appointed lawyer for the trial, but she has refused to recognise the court’s authority.

Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, who was also an adviser to her government, earlier predicted to reporters that his mother would be found guilty and sentenced to death.

However, he added that Hasina is safe and will be protected by Indian security forces.

A More Competitive Vietnam – Making English Compulsory 2nd Language In Schools By 2035

A More Competitive Vietnam – Making English Compulsory 2nd Language In Schools By 2035


November 16th, 2025 by financetwitter



“The English language helps me talk to people from different countries,” – said 11-year-old Kim Long. “I also love it because I can read lots of books and comics, and watch football on YouTube, too,” – he rattled on in fluent English. He is not a Malaysian ethnic Chinese, but the next generation of Vietnamese eager to leapfrog Vietnam miles ahead of Malaysia and other nations in Asia.

In 1980, Malaysia’s GDP was US$24.5 billion, whereas Vietnam’s was merely US$2.4 billion (just 10% of Malaysia’s). Malaysia consistently achieved more than 7% GDP growth along with low inflation in the 1980s and the 1990s. In fact, Malaysia was considered a “tiger of Asia” in the 1990s due to its rapid economic growth, while Vietnam – still recovering from war – was laughed at due to its struggling economy.



In 1990 (10 years later), Malaysia’s GDP almost doubled to US$44 billion compared to Vietnam’s US$6.5 billion. But few noticed how Vietnam’s “Doi Moi” reforms, launched in 1986, would transform Vietnam from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one, leading to significant economic growth and poverty reduction. Today, nobody dares to laugh at Vietnam.


In 2024, Malaysia has a GDP of US$422 billion compared to US$476 billion for Vietnam, ranking 39/197 and 34/197 by economy size, respectively. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s economy still reported positive growth and exceeded Singapore’s US$337.5 billion and Malaysia’s US$336.3 billion. Vietnam’s GDP of US$413 billion already surpassed Malaysia’s US$407 billion in 2022.




One of the factors contributing to Malaysia’s attractiveness as a key foreign investment destination was its high English proficiency. But even this advantage is under threat as religious extremism and racial bigotry dominate Malaysian politics. Vietnam, on the other hand, is aggressively pushing English proficiency at the core of education reform as part of its 2035 roadmap, aiming to build a globally skilled workforce.



The boy – who is in Grade 5 (the equivalent of Primary 5 in Singapore or Standard 5 in Malaysia) – and his peers in Nguyen Binh Khiem Elementary School, in Cau Giay, Hanoi, have been learning English since first grade. At school, the pupils have daily English classes. They also take part in games, sing and watch videos in English, unlike Malaysia’s national schools.


Since 2023, math and science lessons in the school have been conducted in Vietnamese and English – a school initiative strongly supported by parents. This primary school is not the norm in Vietnam – at least, not now. But by 2030, the government hopes every child will have the opportunity to learn English from the age of six, as Kim did.





Currently, English is mandatory only from Grade 3. Some schools with enough qualified teachers and facilities can offer it from Grade 1, but only as an elective with two lessons a week. Nguyen Binh Khiem’s vice-principal Pham Thi Bich Ngoc told The Straits Times that the school has incorporated the English language into its first-grade curriculum for the past five years.



Recently, the Vietnamese government announced a nationwide plan to establish English as a compulsory second language in all schools by 2035, and a mandatory subject from Grade 1 by 2030. In addition, under the new initiative, all kindergartens and pre-schools must introduce children to English within the next five years.


“Currently, although English is still an elective subject in Grades 1 and 2, the school has built an integrated English programme to help students become familiar with the language naturally from the very beginning,” – said Ms Ngoc. “Our goal is to develop communication reflexes, confident listening and speaking skills, and a love of learning English in young children.”





In Vietnam, more than 90% of students attend government or public schools. Primary or elementary schools have pupils from Grades 1 to 5. Middle school is for Grades 6 to 9, and high school for Grades 10 to 12, and then students may head on to university. This is very different from Malaysia’s government schools, where religious studies dominate the timetable and any move to improve English is opposed.



There are a handful of private schools catering to Vietnamese students, and around 80 international schools – mostly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – with the medium of instruction in languages such as English, French and Russian, which serve mainly the foreign community.


The Vietnamese master plan is to improve English proficiency and help “shape a globally competent generation ready for international integration”, according to a government statement in late October. By 2045, English is expected to be widely used in 50,000 public schools with nearly 30 million students across the country. At present, there are more than 26,000 schools in Vietnam with some 23 million students.





Mrs Le Huong Lan, 28, an office manager in Hanoi, said that although her four-year-old daughter has yet to start formal schooling, she is keen for her to learn English as soon as possible. “English is as important as Vietnamese these days, because our children will be global citizens when they grow up.”



{ Ambitious Plan Stymied by Teacher Shortage }

In order to achieve this “extremely ambitious” plan, noted Mr Bui Manh Hung, 62, former chief coordinator of Vietnam’s general education reform, the education system needs to overcome various challenges. These include an acute shortage of English language teachers and the kind of teaching that focuses on passing exams instead of effective communication.




“A second language is a language that is not the mother tongue but is widely used in the society where the learners live, not only in schools but also in work and daily communication. That language must be used for real communication, and not just learnt in the classroom,” – said Mr Hung, who remains active in the education sector as a lecturer and adviser to schools, universities and government committees.



However, it would be “unrealistic” to expect the Vietnamese to adopt the English language as it has been done in Singapore, the Philippines or India, due to historical circumstances, he said. “It will always be regarded as a foreign language – not a national language, but a very special, top-priority foreign language,” he added.



Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training estimates that by 2030, the country will need an additional 22,000 English teachers in the pre-school and elementary system. The country currently has 1.05 million pre-school and general education teachers of all grades, of whom only around 30,000 specialise in English.




Each year, the country’s universities and teacher training institutes produce about 3,000 teachers who are proficient and able to teach English, estimates Mr Hung. “The quality of English teaching in Vietnam is very problematic,” – admitted Ms Tran Thi Thu Trang, 33, an English language schoolteacher in Thai Nguyen province, north-east of Hanoi. And there is a valid reason why.



During the 1970s and 1980s, Russian was Vietnam’s most popular foreign language, but as the country opened to the world, English took the lead, followed by French and Japanese, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. A large number of teachers are older and their own command of English is not great, therefore, teaching focuses on grammar and exams, rather than communication.



Many Russian language teachers retrained and switched to teaching English, even though they did not speak it. One of them, who declined to be named, said she did so to meet the huge demand for English language teachers. “Officials believed that all foreign languages shared certain similarities, so it was best to make use of our existing teaching skills,” – said the trilingual teacher, who is in her 50s.




Producing tens of thousands of English language teachers within five years is “almost impossible”, – explained Mr Hung, the education expert. “And we’re not even talking about other teaching posts for subjects like maths, information technology and natural sciences to be conducted in English.”



Yet other educators are hopeful and more positive. “The shift to a bilingual environment requires teachers to not only be good at English, but also be flexible, confident and have appropriate teaching methods,” – said Mrs Nguyen Huyen Trang, principal of ULIS Middle School, which is affiliated with the University of Languages and International Studies.



The ambitious plan extends beyond just teaching English as a subject to include teaching other academic subjects in English as well as Vietnamese. “However, I believe that if there is a continuous training policy and a synchronous support mechanism, this is a feasible transition,” – Mrs Tran said. “All the activities at our school, from teaching to extracurricular activities, are aimed at creating a natural English environment for students.”




{ How Foreign Teachers Help Fill The Gap }

Vietnamese parents recognize the importance of learning English for their children’s future and invest heavily in English courses at private language schools, which have sprung up in the past decade or two. English language teaching has become a profitable business, with a three-month learning course for children costing up to 20 million dong (S$985; RM3,135). This, in a country with annual gross domestic product per capita of US$4,700 (S$6,100; RM19,400).



There are about 70 language centres across the country, employing more than 700 qualified foreign teachers. Yet the real number of foreigners who work as English teachers in Vietnam could run well into the thousands. “The conditions for qualified expat teachers in Vietnam are much better than in neighbouring countries like Thailand or Cambodia,” – said Ms Dunuan Kim, 35, from the Philippines.





Ms Kim has been teaching English in a language school in Hanoi for more than three years, earning double what she was offered at a similar school in Bangkok. “But many unqualified expats work for much less, and the authorities need to act, as this affects education quality,” – she said, referring to foreigners living in Vietnam who conduct English lessons even though they are not qualified to do so.


In June 2024, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim proposed a program to import English language teachers from Singapore as volunteers to improve language proficiency in the country. However, the plan appears to have died a natural death after Anwar was criticised for disrespecting local teachers (who taught half-baked English) and was opposed by Malay extremists.



{ Uneven Resource Allocation }

The Vietnamese government in 2021 tightened requirements for foreign teachers and language schools, making hiring more difficult – and created challenges for schools with limited resources. “New regulations require at least three years of experience teaching English as a foreign language, but if you have that experience, you wouldn’t want to live and work in a small town like ours,” – said Mrs Thuy Quynh, who runs a language centre in Ninh Binh, 100km from Hanoi.





She said native speakers are crucial for a natural speaking environment, and without them, children in rural areas miss out on opportunities to practise English. “Most of my students have never had a chance to speak to a foreign teacher,” – said Ms Trang, the schoolteacher, who urged the government to invest more resources and more evenly.


Vice-Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong said in November that Hanoi’s key priorities include effective resource allocation, teacher training, international partnerships, infrastructure investment and active social engagement. He also underlined the role of digital transformation and technology applications, especially the use of artificial intelligence, in English language teaching.



But some industry experts expressed doubts over the ambitious timeline proposed by planners. “The goal of making English a second language at all schools across the country within the next 10 years, in my opinion, remains far-fetched without concrete measures,” – said Mr Hung.




“We need to view this as a long-term strategy rather than just a political decision, and adapt the plan to fit Vietnam’s realities,” – he added, implying that the process may need to slow down a little. However, slowing down is something many in Vietnam’s official circles are reluctant to accept.


Officials say making English a compulsory second language will enhance not only individual career prospects, but the country’s global competitiveness as well. With a workforce proficient in English, Vietnam could become a more attractive destination for international companies – particularly those in the technology and finance sectors, which are core components of the country’s national economic development strategy.



For youngsters like 11-year-old Kim, speaking English is the key to turning his childhood dream of becoming a successful footballer-cum-airline pilot into reality. “I watch YouTube videos (in English) to learn football skills from international players and I need to understand everything they say,” Kim said. “Oh, and it’s football, not soccer (in this part of the world),” – he added with a grin.

Muhyiddin’s party to decide on Hamzah’s role as opposition leader this week

Muhyiddin’s party to decide on Hamzah’s role as opposition leader this week






A DINNER meeting for Bersatu MPs has been scheduled at party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s official residence on Nov 18 at 8pm, a local news portal reported.


A formal invitation letter signed by Muhyiddin’s special officer, Naaim Mahmod, dated Nov 10, stated that Hamzah Zainuddin’s position must be reviewed.


The letter said immediate action was needed to expedite disciplinary proceedings against Hamzah. It also proposed that Bersatu recommend to PN that he be replaced as the opposition leader by Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin, the party vice-president, Federal Territory Bersatu chief and Putrajaya MP.

Hamzah had previously been summoned by the Disciplinary Board but did not attend due to overseas engagements.

The party’s internal crisis escalated last month after Bersatu expelled Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and suspended Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal. Four other members were also expelled for breaching the party constitution and ethics.

The Disciplinary Board said the decisions were made after investigations and without external interference. Wan Saiful will now serve as an independent MP while retaining his seat under the anti-hopping law.

His expulsion follows a statutory declaration movement allegedly pressuring Muhyiddin to hand leadership to Hamzah, an allegation Wan Saiful denies. Wan Fayhsal also denied involvement, saying the matter related to internal election issues.

On Oct 28, the crisis deepened when Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah publicly criticised members who labelled others as traitors while damaging the party themselves. He said his actions and those of others were aimed at saving Bersatu.

Saifuddin also questioned members who avoided confronting the leadership over the issue of Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan, a fugitive wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He repeated his call for Muhyiddin to resign as Bersatu president, claiming the former prime minister no longer demonstrated the leadership qualities he once had. —Nov 16, 2025

Minister has no business issuing threats against Dolla, says Latheefa

Minister has no business issuing threats against Dolla, says Latheefa


Published: Nov 17, 2025 9:00 AM
Updated: 2:03 PM



Lawyer Latheefa Koya has hurled brickbats at Na’im Mokhtar over his threats of syariah offence charges against Dolla member Wan Sabrina Wan Rusli, better known as Sabronzo, for her outfit in a music video.

Without mincing words, Latheefa (above) said the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for religious affairs has no business making such threats, adding that ministers cannot investigate or prosecute citizens.

“Prosecutions, whether civil or syariah, can only be decided by the prosecuting authority, after a fair and impartial investigation by the relevant investigative bodies.

“By launching this tirade against Wan Sabrina, the minister has publicly shamed her even though she’s not been found guilty of any offence.

“He has also prejudiced her fundamental right to a fair investigation and trial,” she said on X.

(From left) Angel, Tabby, and Sabronzo


Yesterday, Na’im described the girl group’s clothing as inappropriate and disrespectful to cultural and religious sensitivities and suggested that he would consider filing syariah offence charges against its Muslim member.

“From the perspective of taking legal action, we shall see if they are in breach of any regulations and syariah law enactments… so syariah legal action is within our consideration,” he said.

Na’im added that he would urge the Islamic Development Department and the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office to re-evaluate clothing guidelines for Muslim celebrities.

Dolla, which also consists of members Tabitha Ariel Lam (Tabby) and Angelina Chai (Angel), released a music video on Nov 6 that courted flak from conservatives on social media over the members’ revealing attire.

In the video, the group was primarily dressed in halter neck tops with corset bodices paired with miniskirts, while in one scene, they wore outfits with bare shoulders and exposed midriffs.

Subsequently, Universal Music Malaysia took down the music video and apologised for its oversight on cultural sensitivities.

Sexism

Latheefa further said that the backlash against the band reflects certain quarters’ distasteful obsession with female purity, while ignoring harmful misogynistic attitudes in society.

Instead of sensationalising the issue, Latheefa urged Na’im and his ministry to focus on real problems affecting society.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar


Citing an example, the former MACC chief commissioner pointed out that thousands of children are being denied citizenship just because their parents’ wedding documents were not in order.

“Isn’t defending innocent children our highest religious duty?

“Besides, how did the minister decide that this music video was too sexy?

“Did he watch it? What’s the criteria to decide this? Perhaps he should just ‘have lowered his gaze’.”

The term “lower one’s gaze” is part of Surah An-Nur of the Quran, which is often interpreted as a reminder to men not to look at indecent scenes or the opposite gender.

***

Ayatollah Na’im

MIC signals openness to Pakatan Harapan while maintaining support for Anwar

Tan Sri Vigneswaran confirmed that he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last Friday to inform him of the party’s intentions. - Bernama pic, November 17, 2025


MIC signals openness to Pakatan Harapan while maintaining support for Anwar


At its annual convention, MIC indicated it is ready to explore new political alignments, including joining Pakatan Harapan, while reaffirming its commitment to support Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim until the end of his term



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 3 hours ago
17 November, 2025
8:00 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has signaled its openness to joining the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, with party president Tan Sri Vigneswaran saying the party is prepared to work with any bloc that respects its principles and ideology.

“There is no such thing as us being fixed on Perikatan Nasional. If possible, we would also like to be part of Pakatan Harapan’s key component parties,” he told reporters after MIC’s annual convention at IDCC Shah Alam yesterday.

“To be honest, we haven’t decided whether we want to join PN or PH. We are ready to work with anyone as long as they accept our principles and ideologies.”

Vigneswaran said this openness reflects MIC’s broader reassessment of its political direction as it weighs a possible exit from Barisan Nasional (BN), the coalition it co-founded with Umno and MCA more than 50 years ago.

He also confirmed that he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last Friday to inform him of the party’s intentions.

“I spoke to him, not to negotiate seats, but to tell him we want to leave BN. He advised me to rethink because we have been with BN for a long time,” he said.

Despite exploring new political alignments, Vigneswaran reiterated that MIC remains committed to supporting Anwar until the end of his term, even if it parts ways with BN.

“Most importantly, we are in a dilemma because the prime minister himself has not committed any wrongdoing in this matter. So we are firm about supporting him for the next two years.

“We have guaranteed before that we will support Anwar through this term. That decision is still in effect.”

He stressed that MIC will not contest the next election on its own, noting that the party must join another coalition if it withdraws from BN.

However, no decision will be made until the party’s central working committee (CWC) concludes its deliberations.

Vigneswaran said delegates at yesterday’s convention unanimously passed one resolution — to defer the final decision on leaving BN to the CWC and the party president.

“We’re not playing politics. We’re just fed up with our position in BN. We made this decision to ensure any power-sharing formula is based on dignity.”

He added that BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had not been informed of the internal discussions.

Vigneswaran also said he believes MIC’s elected representatives would be able to retain their seats if the party leaves BN, pointing out that the anti-hopping law applies to individual defections, not political parties switching coalition support. – November 17, 2025

***

What did I tell you? wakakaka

Fantasy histories reflect political elites' insecurities

Fantasy histories reflect political elites' insecurities

S Thayaparan
Published: Nov 17, 2025 8:00 AM
Updated: 11:06 AM



“This victory is because we were able to demonstrate the wisdom, strength, and nobility of Islam - not arrogance.”

– Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

COMMENT | The history of this country is being assailed by two forces, which either seek to obliterate history - personalities, structures or legacies - in the name of religious and racial supremacy or reimagine history, elevating race and religion to the imagined historical significance of other cultures and nations.

The first is best signified by the recent demolition of a 100-year-old temple, to be rebuilt as a house of worship for the religion of the state.

Proponents of these kinds of victories, here and abroad, seek to establish a narrative of religious supremacy over historical fact, and structures are like red flags, a constant reminder of how things were and not what they hoped for them to be.

The destruction of legacies is also important. These days Utusan Malaysia has the reputation it has, but back in the day, as Johan Jaaffar reminded us in 2019, it was a completely different history.

Even after Merdeka, what was initially called Utusan Melayu was a thorn in the side of the Malay ruling elite, who believed that Utusan Melayu was influenced by the “leftists”.

That was a good enough excuse for Umno to wrestle editorial control of the newspaper in 1961.

The journalists were up in arms. Equipped with only determination and commitment, they fought back. They launched a strike that lasted 90 days. They lost.

Said Zahari, the editor at the time, was taken under the Internal Security Act and was incarcerated for 17 long years.

Utusan Melayu may have lost its freedom in 1961. But that did not stop generations of editors and journalists thereafter from carrying their brand of audacity.

The Utusan Melayu brand was a trademark. They could be fiercely loyal to the “Malay cause”, but they were never racists. They fought injustices, religious extremism and backwardness among the Malays.

Sailing far from facts

The second reimagining of history is comical if not for the desperation of those behind it.

Last year, two academics from UPM’s Malay Language Department wrote a misleading article about “Malay junks”, which was promptly debunked.

In a comment piece, historian Ranjit Sigh Malhi wrote - “Let us also not forget that the main issue at hand is factual accuracy and not interpretation, which are distinctly different. Factual accuracy is factually accurate information.

“Facts are indisputable; they can be objectively verified and proven through evidence. For example, the image used in the controversial article is that of a Foochow pole junk and not a Malay jong.”

Now, another language academic, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Arabic language lecturer Solehah Yaacob, claimed that ancient Romans learnt shipbuilding from the Malays, a claim that IIUM has said was misleading but not enough to get her fired or reprimanded.

Lecturer Solehah Yaacob


Solehah has made other frankly ridiculous claims, but what is fascinating about these claims by her and other academics is that they willfully ignore the polychromatic nature of Malay and Malaysian history.

They reimagine a historical past where the dominant community contributed to great historical narratives and was a fully formed community devoid of its multicultural baggage.

If you did some research, you would discover that Malaysians of every ethnicity in the fields of science and research are part of an international community looking forward instead of reimagining the past.

You have to ask yourself why these academics are desperate to demonstrate that the community was greater than the sum of its parts. These types of claims comfort those who believe that Malay history and culture are divorced from everything else in this country.

It enables certain people to take comfort in a fictional history of a land that never was, but which is claimed to be the sole province of the Malays.

Malays are constantly told that they owe everything to the non-Malays, but what narratives like these hope to achieve is a foundation of independence beyond the messy communal relationships, both economic and cultural, that the “pendatang” (migrants) bring to the table.

What “ketuananism” (supremacy) has done, especially when it comes to the arts and history, is to destroy anything that references a diverse Malay culture from the political landscape and replace art and history with mythological narratives of a people who never were.

A Perikatan Nasional politician said that some Malaysians have an inferiority complex and referenced Sungai Batu, which is making a false equivalency between the historical site and the fantastical meanderings of Solehah.

Rejected history

Furthermore, if this PN operative was really interested in “our” history, there would be more discussion, especially in our history textbooks, about the role of Hindu and Buddhist civilisations in early Malay culture.

Ranjit makes this point here - “Another major shortcoming of our history textbooks is the grossly inadequate coverage of the impact of the Hindu-Buddhist civilisation on the early Malay kingdoms and society.

“They fail to elaborate on how Hindu-Buddhist civilisation impacted Malay culture, language, literature and the form of government. It should be noted that the early Malay kings were considered as the incarnation of Hindu gods (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) based upon the concept of devaraja (god-king).”

But this is the kind of history which is rejected by official state narratives, politicians and race hustlers who make up mainstream politics in this country.

There is this almost obsessive desire by some academics and political operatives to rewrite history because of nationalistic and religious agendas.

Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid


Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid has the right of it when she said that history should be evidence-based.

“(When) history is used as a propaganda tool, it not only contributes to the dumbing down of society but also disunites it,” she added.

Lopsided and self-serving

The kind of history advocated by these academics and their political enablers never teaches anyone to question the feudalistic nature of politics, which continues unabated to this day.

Hence, people taught this type of history never understand the history of Islam and how other religions predate the arrival of Islam in this country, which is why there are frantic attempts to expel all forms of pendatang influences from the Malay cultural landscape, which often takes the form of demolishing a century-old temple and building a mosque on the ruins.

So what we are left with are charlatans and scoundrels cooking up historical narratives to compensate for incompetent leadership and decades-long political malfeasances, which Malaysians tolerated for their own selfish reasons.

“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history,” George Orwell wrote, but he did not mean this as a political blueprint, which is what Malaysia is doing.

What really frightens the political elites is that there is no Malay history. There is no Indian history, no Chinese history, no Orang Asli or Orang Asal history.

There is only Malaysian history.

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

MIC doesn’t know what it wants, says analyst

FMT:

MIC doesn’t know what it wants, says analyst

5 HOURS AGO
Predeep Nambiar

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara says the party is sending mixed signals about its possible exit from BN

MIC president SA Vigneswaran(right) said at the party’s annual meeting that MIC will back Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even if it leaves BN.

PETALING JAYA: MIC does not know what it wants and is sending mixed signals about its possible exit from Barisan Nasional, says an analyst, who believes the party will not be missed by BN and has little to offer Pakatan Harapan.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said MIC president SA Vigneswaran’s statement that the party will back Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even if it leaves BN shows that the party is caught between alliances, and has little leverage left.

“It is similar to Umno in Sabah. Out of the state bloc, but still with the federal bloc. MIC, like Umno, does not know what to do,” he told FMT.


MIC had no bargaining power with PH, as PKR and DAP were already strong among Indian voters. “PH can draw Indian votes far better than MIC. MIC has nothing to offer,” he said.

On the other hand, BN, particularly Umno, may even gain if MIC quits, as seat talks would become simpler.

“If MIC leaves, BN will not need to think about seat deals in the Melaka and Johor state elections or the next national general election. Umno can go directly for those seats,” he said.

No relevance without Umno votes

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said MIC’s already weak electoral outlook could be worsened by leaving BN as MIC’s relevance in national politics had long depended on Umno’s vote base.

“Without that, the party becomes even less relevant,” he said.


Awang said MIC should focus on regaining support from Indian voters instead of blaming Umno or others. “If MIC goes solo, its political life will end even faster. It will no longer matter in the mainstream.”

MIC-DAP-PKR tussle

Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said PH would resist MIC’s entry because DAP and PKR already compete for non-Malay seats. “They will not give up their seats for MIC,” he said.

Azmil said Indian voters were growing unhappy with the Madani government, and MIC may be trying to tap this mood by looking more independent.


However, he said this would not help in the elections. “Three-way fights will split votes and hurt MIC,” he said.

Earlier, Vigneswaran said MIC delegates unanimously agreed at the annual convention in Shah Alam yesterday to defer the final decision on leaving BN to the central working committee and party president.

He ruled out the possibility of going solo, and said MIC will only decide which coalition to join if it decides to withdraw from BN. He said Anwar had advised him to rethink the decision because MIC has been with BN for a long time.

MIC, MCA and Umno were the founding partners of the pre-independence Alliance party, which later became Barisan Nasional in 1973.

Royal link in Selangor car park concessions

Royal link in Selangor car park concessions

Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain & Hariz Mohd
Published: Nov 17, 2025 10:00 AM
Updated: 2:46 PM



A member of the Selangor royal family has been linked to a company awarded three concessions thus far under the Selangor state government’s initiative to privatise street parking.

Malaysiakini’s checks found that Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah has a beneficial 16.5 percent stake in the appointed firm, Selmax Sdn Bhd, through two other holding companies: Tanah Perwira Sdn Bhd and Greyscale Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Incorporated in March last year, Tanah Perwira is a minority shareholder of Selmax, a subsidiary of Itmax System Bhd, with the listed company controlling 70 percent of Selmax’s three million shares.

Itmax System itself is majority-owned by Sena Holdings Sdn Bhd, with the remaining shares held by several other entities, including government-linked companies and unnamed investors via nominee firms.

Tanah Perwira’s RM100 issued share capital, in turn, is wholly owned by Greyscale Holdings - a three-year-old company in which the heir apparent of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah holds a majority 55 percent slice.

While no financial information for Selmax was disclosed in the Companies Commission (SSM) documents sighted by Malaysiakini, both Tanah Perwira and Greyscale appear to be operating at a loss.

For the financial year ended Feb 28, Tanah Perwira slipped into the red with a seemingly modest loss of RM8,825, with its parent firm Greyscale netting a heftier loss of RM12.54 million.

Tengku Amir Shah’s fellow Greyscale shareholder, Ashwin Jonathan Sabapathy, is the son of real estate mogul Jaganath Derek Steven Sabapathy, who founded his own property development company, Tribeca Real Estate Asset Management Sdn Bhd.

Malaysiakini has reached out to the Selangor royal palace for their comments on the matter, but has yet to receive a response.

While the Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office has also not responded to Malaysiakini’s queries, the state government has consistently defended its decision to start privatising the management of its public parking bays.

State executive councillor Ng Suee Lim previously assured that under the scheme, local councils are expected to collect “more revenue than before”, due to system efficiency improvements, digitalisation, and centralised monitoring.

Ng, who holds the local government and tourism portfolio, also noted that local councils will not bear any operational costs under the Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP).

Ng has also not responded to Malaysiakini’s requests for comments on the royal link.

Deals with local councils

Established in March, Selmax’s nature of business, as detailed in its company profile, deals with the supply, installation, and provision of “public space networked systems”, as well as the operation of parking facilities for motor vehicles.

Within six months of its establishment, Selmax had secured three concessions to manage the SIP system for the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), and the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).

The awards are said to span 10 years with an optional five-year extension, subject to assessments by the respective local councils and Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned unit of Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) tasked with overseeing the SIP rollout.

As of press time, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is the only local council under the current phase of the SIP which remains outside the arrangement with Selmax.

On Sept 23, it was reported that MBPJ mayor Zahri Samingon refused to sign a deal to allow the SIP’s implementation, pending the resolution of “all uncertainties”.

The Star quoted Zahri as saying then that since MBPJ has an “exemplary” parking revenue of RM13.8 million annually, the council requires a guarantee that the adoption of the new system will see it gain the same or higher revenue.

Two days later, Zahri said that while an agreement has been reached with Selmax, matters regarding the percentage of profits to be allocated to the council remain unfinalised.

He also noted that while the three other local councils had accepted the deal with SIP, their agreements will only be inked “at the end of the year”.

According to a document on the Selangor state legislative assembly's website, MBSA recorded the highest parking charges collection in 2023 with RM21.93 million, followed by MBPJ (RM19.96 million), MBSJ (RM6.50 million), and MPS (RM4.71 million).

Under the concession agreement with Selmax, however, the local councils would each be compelled to share revenue from parking fees, monthly passes, two-hour zones, and compounds in a 50-40 percent split with Selmax, which is set to receive the bigger share.

The remaining 10 percent is intended to go to the state government’s Rantaian Mesra.

Move’s legality

In a bourse filing on Aug 1, Itmax System said Selmax will be responsible for the emoluments and bonuses of parking attendants posted at gazetted car park spaces under the local councils’ jurisdiction, as well as maintain the parking areas, and deploy monitoring cameras alongside enforcement vehicles.

The revenue breakdown previously courted controversy, with PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong questioning the legality of the move while stressing that revenue generated by local councils is meant for the well-being of residents - not to allow private entities to make profits.

Leong’s fellow PKR MP, Lee Chean Chung, had also warned the Selangor government against risking a repeat of failures by past administrations, emphasising that public policy should be shaped by expertise, not maximising profits with “narrowly defined” agreements.

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung

Expressing similar sentiments, veteran journalist R Nadeswaran had recommended that the privatisation scheme be deferred pending a formal inquiry by the Selangor Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability, and Transparency (Selcat).

Lee had also taken the state government to task later over its purported rejection of a resident’s request to access SIP-related documents, slamming the alleged restriction as a serious setback to transparency and accountability.

Asserting he had received a complaint from the resident, the Petaling Jaya MP said the request was denied on the grounds that the documents were classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972.