Where was your report when it mattered, lawyer asks Rafizi

Where was your report when it mattered, lawyer asks Rafizi


Published: Dec 8, 2025 8:30 AM
Updated: 1:25 PM



Senior lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla has taken former minister Rafizi Ramli to task for not lodging a report with the MACC when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim allegedly used the anti-graft agency to influence the PKR polls in May.

He said whether the MACC would have acted on the complaint was “secondary”, stressing that Rafizi should have done the right thing at the time instead of raising the matter seven months later.

“If this allegation is true, and there were grounds to investigate the prime minister for abuse of power under the MACC Act, a report should have been filed,” Haniff said on a podcast.

Haniff was responding to Rafizi’s claim that PKR members who contested against candidates aligned with Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah, had found themselves in MACC’s crosshairs.

Rafizi, who lost his PKR deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah, cited an alleged incident during the party polls in which a candidate aligned with him was detained and investigated by MACC over the cash purchase of an auctioned house.

Former minister Rafizi Ramli


He claimed the individual - whom he did not name - had his home surrounded by MACC officers, leaving the man’s wife and children terrified.

Elaborating, Haniff said both the candidate and Rafizi should have lodged reports at the time, all the more so because Rafizi was still a minister then.

“If we want to oppose wrongdoing, it must be done at the moment it occurs, even if we are ministers. So why didn’t you report it then, or even a month later, after you stepped down?

“How can people respect your principles when you fail to act at the right time? The public cannot accept this kind of politics - staying silent about alleged wrongdoing while in power,” he said.


‘Need more MPs like Hassan’

Haniff also referenced Rafizi’s criticism over judicial appointments and the extension of MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s contract.

He asked if the Pandan lawmaker, who had vowed to arrest Azam if Pakatan Harapan came into power before the last general election, had raised his concerns during the weekly cabinet meetings when he was still a minister.

“If he didn’t do so, then Rafizi has no right to talk about these things now.

“This is why I often say politics in Malaysia is in the doldrums. Because when political leaders should raise issues, they keep quiet, except for one person - PKR lawmaker Hassan Karim.

“We need 10 or 15 MPs like Hassan,” he said, in reference to the Pasir Gudang MP, who is perceived as a rebel for not toeing the party or government line on numerous issues.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki


On the same note, Haniff said it is not too late for Rafizi or the PKR candidate to lodge reports with the police and MACC, and to press for a special investigation panel to be formed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers to look into the allegations against Anwar and Azam.

At the same time, the lawyer said the panel should also probe the videos related to a conversation between businessperson Albert Tei, who exposed the Sabah mining scandal, and a woman accused of being a proxy of Anwar’s former political aide, Shamsul Iskandar Akin, in which Anwar and Azam were implicated.

What's the point of DAP remaining in Madani?

What's the point of DAP remaining in Madani?

S Thayaparan
Published: Dec 8, 2025 9:00 AM
Updated: 12:00 PM



“We should not bow to fate, and have the right to equality. We should not kneel and beg. We should be brave enough to stand and ask for it.”

- Lim Guan Eng (2012)

COMMENT | Since the so-called Sabah slap, DAP operatives have been going on a performative spree. DAP MPs have been busy demonstrating that they are taking the government to task, especially when it comes to issues affecting non-bumiputera.

Not only is it performative, but it is also rather comical.

I think the apogee of the DAP kowtowing to Madani was the complete silence by the DAP youth and sports minister when the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)/International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) scandal was playing out, and then the fait accompli “clutch my pearls” statements from the minister when it was obvious that the dust was not settling.

At this point, there is a litany of dismal peaks that rational Malaysians can point to where the DAP has not served the rakyat when it comes to accountability, the promotion of democratic values, and, of course, lessening the impact of theocratic imperatives in mainstream Malaysian politics.

The suspended seven


DAP politicians, apparatchiks, and online trolls smugly ask if not the DAP, who can the “Nons” vote for? It is either the DAP or a theocratic state.

The online harassment of third-party candidates, as well as the demeaning of so-called mosquito parties and outliers speaking against the double talk of the DAP, is a testament that the Nons have shot themselves in the foot when it comes to viable alternatives to legacy parties.

None of these trolls will ever acknowledge that the DAP, by kowtowing to Madani, is speeding up the Islamic state project.

None of these cretins will ever acknowledge that while the average rakyat who supports the DAP does not have the option of leaving this country, many mandarins and power brokers in the DAP shape party politics and have the means to leave when the theocratic state comes.

The most damning thing about the video clip of Karpal Singh that was unearthed recently was that it demonstrated how the party leadership abandoned him when he was fighting the right fight.

READ MORE: Sangeet recalls Karpal’s fiery dressing-down of Anwar

Some folks think that was in response to the recent Sabah slap and how DAP is supposed to be standing up to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, but I think it is a reminder that the DAP’s political class and culture have a history of not supporting righteous causes and indulging in political expediency while abandoning right-minded comrades.

This is what destroys a party, because there are always voices in political parties who speak up on foundational principles, but they are sidelined by those who have tasted the perks and privileges that come with power.

DAP candidates in the recent Sabah election


DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng babbles on about how DAP was rejected in Sabah because of taxes, which displays how out of touch the leadership of the DAP is with the groundswell of anti-establishment sentiment there is in this country.

The problem is not that some feel that Anwar has not done enough, but rather that he has done too much to appease a right-wing, theocratic state-in-waiting.

And please do not think of this as solely a non-Malay issue. The fact is, democratic principles and secular values would benefit a majority of Malays if only the DAP had the cojones to stay the course.

People are tired of this Madani nonsense, and they will turn to parties they think will make their lives better. For the majority community, this comes with an Islamic imperative, an imperative which should have been controlled under Madani with the aid of the DAP, but which wasn’t.


Corporate interest over community voice

I guess the point of DAP remaining in Madani is that the party gets a property czar, for example. What the DAP should be advocating for and has done so in the past is local council elections.

Instead of a local council election, which acts as a check-and-balance to a whole range of issues, and where communities determine what the places they live in need, we get the Urban Renewal Act (URA), which concentrates power in the hands of government and where backchanneling, backroom deals, and corporate malfeasance get a fig leaf of legality.

Do you know why Malay uber alles politicians play the race card when it comes to local council elections?

They want to destroy democratic opportunities where the Malays, especially if they are a minority in certain areas, understand that their welfare is safeguarded by a non-Malay majority.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming with photos of property that the Urban Renewal Act aims to refurbish.

Because once this happens, all bets are off. This is why politics is always local.

So, instead of laying the foundation for more democratic engagement, which would benefit the political party but more importantly the rakyat, what we get is a property czar working in concert with corporate interests and the political class, which adversely affects the average Malay rakyat, who then succumbs to the race and religious dialectic of the opposition.


Religious overreach

I do not mean to pour cold water on Ramkarpal Singh dressing down the home minister for that health spa raid, but the reality is that Madani is playing the religious card by persecuting the LGBTQ+ community. Reportage of the raid indicates how Nons were caught up in this.

The home minister has the gumption to claim no religion supports this activity, which basically sets the precedent that Islamic laws and norms apply to the Nons. See how dangerous this has become?

This home minister should be under investigation for his role in the FAM/Fifa scandal; hence, DAP should be pushing for him to be replaced. Is this a shocking thing to say?

Politicians, especially those in the ruling party, replacing ministers who are not performing or engaging in malfeasance, is a shocking thing to advocate? This, of course, is a normal process in any functional democracy.

And of course, the behaviour of the Royal Malaysia Police, which is getting iron-clad support from the home minister, is the reason why this country needs an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).


Blind loyalty erodes integrity

Since the DAP is a stand-in for the Chinese community, they will be accused of controlling the government and any other racist propaganda the Malay establishment will throw at them. So what?

Look, the DAP is going to be demonised anyway. Political opportunists like Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh understand that it really does not matter what they do because the DAP support base will not punish the DAP, unlike the Malay majority polity, who have demonstrated their willingness to shift their support to whatever reactionary Malay/Muslim party they think best serves their interests.

DAP supporters are always asking for solutions. The problem is that they don’t really want solutions because DAP, as a party, had the solutions. They had politicians who were willing to carry them out if given a chance.

What changed? The DAP realised that they could do whatever they wanted, discard any principle, kowtow to anything the Malay establishment wanted, and their supporters would still vote them in.

If the DAP were really serious about reforming the party and the country, they would be asking themselves the same question, rational Malaysians are asking: What is the point of remaining in Madani?

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

‘Nothing to do with race’: Lawyers explain why court ordered RM3m in Amri’s case, RM36m in Raymond Koh’s case

‘Nothing to do with race’: Lawyers explain why court ordered RM3m in Amri’s case, RM36m in Raymond Koh’s case



Lawyer Surendra Ananth speaks during the “Justice for the Disappeared” forum organised by the National Human Rights Society (Hakam) and held at the Bar Council auditorium in Kuala Lumpur. December 06, 2025 — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Monday, 08 Dec 2025 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 — Did you wonder why the High Court had last month ordered the Malaysian government to pay two different compensation amounts over the abductions of activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh, namely RM3 million and over RM36 million?

Lawyers explained that this had nothing to do with the ethnicity of the two missing men, but was because the Malaysian government had been sued over different things in the two court cases.

Lawyer Surendra Ananth, who represented Amri’s wife in her civil lawsuit against the government, said he had come across someone making a racial statement which had questioned “why is a Chinese life worth more than a Malay life”.

But Surendra had pointed out that the two lawsuits were different, as Amri did not sue together with his wife, and as Amri’s wife sued over the police’s negligence in investigations and did not also sue over his abduction.


“So the difference in the award of sums has nothing to do with the race of the individual. Just thought I’d make that very clear, so no aspersions to be cast on the judge,” he said at a forum on Saturday titled “Justice for the Disappeared - Understanding the Human Rights Impact of the Raymond Koh & Amri Che Mat Decisions”.

Surendra said the High Court judge had said that his decisions on the compensation amounts were bound by how the two families’ lawyers had presented their cases differently.

A check by Malay Mail showed that High Court judge Datuk Su Tiang Joo had in an epilogue in his 126-page judgment on Amri’s wife’s lawsuit remarked that it was strikingly similar to Koh’s wife’s lawsuit, except for one key difference which caused the compensation amounts to be different — Koh had sued the government too, while Amri did not sue.


The High Court judge wrote: “In Pastor Koh’s case, the abducted person, Koh Keng Joo, was named as a plaintiff and had claimed for relief for himself through his wife who was made his litigation representative. However, in this case, the abducted person, Amri Che Mat, was not named as a plaintiff and, thus did not seek relief for himself.”


What did the High Court order?

On November 5, the High Court ordered the government to pay a total of RM3 million in compensation to Amri’s wife Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, including for the mental anguish she had suffered and the government’s oppressive, arbitrary and unconstitutional actions.

In Amri’s wife’s lawsuit, she had sued the police over the way it had conducted investigations on her husband’s November 24, 2016 disappearance by claiming they were negligent and had acted in bad faith (misfeasance in public office), but did not sue them over Amri’s abduction.

Surendra said not suing the government over Amri’s abduction was a “judgment call” by lawyers, due to factors such as the different evidence available in Amri’s case, including the lack of videos unlike the footage of Koh’s abduction.

Also on November 5, the High Court ordered the government to pay a total of RM3 million in compensation to Koh’s wife Susanna Liew, including for her mental anguish.

But as Koh also sued the government through his wife, the High Court also ordered the government to pay Koh more than RM33 million — namely RM1 million for suppressing evidence and prolonged delay in bringing closure on where he is now; RM1 million for oppressive, arbitrary and unconstitutional actions; and RM10,000 for every day that his location remains unknown.

Since the RM10,000 per day is counted from Koh’s abduction on February 13, 2017, the accumulated sum on November 5, 2025 came to more than RM31 million, as he had been missing for more than 3,100 days or eight years already.



Lawyer Datuk Jerald Gomez explains that both Koh’s wife and Amri’s wife received the same compensation sum of RM3 million each, and Koh’s case had a higher payout as the compensation is to Koh himself as the person suing the government and the police. — Picture by Raymond Manuel


Lawyer Datuk Jerald Gomez, who represented Koh and Koh’s wife Susanna Liew, explained why the government was ordered to pay a higher total sum of over RM36 million in his clients’ case.

As both Koh and his wife are treated as two separate legal entities, the High Court had ordered compensation to be given to them separately, based on what they had sued the government for, he said.

“Susanna is suing on a different cause of action, which is her distress and emotional trauma, and that is what the court is giving damages for.

”But Pastor Raymond Koh is suing for deprivation of liberty, of his life and breaches to his life. So the court is awarding Pastor Raymond Koh, that is the reason why a substantial amount of damages is given to Raymond Koh,” he said, explaining that this was why the High Court had ordered the compensation for Koh — now RM33 million and still going up everyday — to be deposited and held on trust until his location is determined or disclosed.

“Whereas what Puan Norhayati and what Susanna got is exactly the same, there is no difference,” he said, referring to how both women were awarded RM3 million each.

Jerald said the High Court judge was following the law and the precedent based on a 2025 High Court decision, which awarded compensation of RM15,000 per day for loss of liberty, and a 2015 Court of Appeal decision, which awarded RM10,000 per day, and stressed that the RM10,000 per day figure for Koh was “not something judge Su plucked out of the air”.



Lawyer Datuk Gurdial Singh Nijar said the High Court’s decision would pressure the government to reveal information on Pastor Raymond Koh’s fate, as the compensation would otherwise continue growing beyond RM31 million based on the RM10,000 per day order. — Picture by Raymond Manuel



Lawyer Datuk Gurdial Singh Nijar, who also represented Koh and Koh’s wife in the lawsuit, said the High Court’s decision compensates Koh for every day that he remains abducted and detained unlawfully and that this is a big difference with Amri’s case.

“The interesting thing about this is therefore it puts pressure on the police and on the government to give information as to what happened to Pastor Raymond Koh, so that there must be a closure date so that the RM10,000 per day will end. But if you do not give that info, the RM10,000 a day will continue.

“So this is a brilliant stroke by the judge, because now the government is under pressure to keep paying RM10,000 a day until you make the disclosure. Otherwise there’s no real sanction for refusing. Because the position the government has always taken is ‘we do not know, it’s not us, how can you say it’s us, where is the proof you saw a group of police officers abduct him?’” he said at the same forum.

The forum was organised by the National Human Rights Society (Hakam), and had also featured these speakers: Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus, former Suhakam commissioner and retired Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, Hakam chairman Datuk Seri M. Ramachelvam as well as the wives of Amri and Koh.

In April 2019, Suhakam’s inquiry concluded that both Amri and Koh were victims of enforced disappearance carried out by the police’s Special Branch.

The Attorney General’s Chambers on November 6 said it would appeal against the High Court’s two decisions in Amri’s and Koh’s cases.


Recommended reading:

Are Pastor Koh and Amri Che Mat still alive? Wives say they’re stuck waiting for answers as government stays ‘mute’

PM doubles tax refund budget, says no rush to fill cabinet vacancies

PM doubles tax refund budget, says no rush to fill cabinet vacancies

Published: Dec 7, 2025 7:47 PM
Updated: 10:47 PM



The government has increased the tax refund allocation from RM2 billion to RM4 billion to expedite outstanding payments to taxpayers, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said this was necessary as the government should not owe money to the public, and as such, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) will commence the phased processing of refunds to eligible taxpayers starting tomorrow.

He added that the Finance Ministry is reviewing whether the RM4 billion allocation is sufficient and, if necessary, will increase the amount.

“If the amount is insufficient, Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan and Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican are working with the IRB CEO to assess how the sum should be adjusted,” he said.

Anwar was speaking at the closing of the Rancakkan Madani Bersama Malaysiaku programme in Putrajaya today.

He emphasised that this is a matter of conscience, compassion, and respect, adding that those who owe the country should pay promptly and without delay.

Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican

Anwar also said the government’s debt to companies must be settled as quickly as possible, highlighting the need to change past practices where large companies could negotiate reductions, while smaller businesses were required to pay in full without negotiation.

He added that the increase in the allocation follows complaints from small business owners about delays in tax refunds.

Rolling out reform initiatives

Regarding the national debt, Anwar said that it is a legacy from the previous administration and cannot be resolved in the short term.

At the same time, he reaffirmed that institutional reforms remain a priority for the government, including the implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) to strengthen public financial management and boost investor confidence.

He also highlighted that parliamentary reforms are being expanded, including granting more space and authority to opposition MPs to chair committees - an initiative that was previously unconsidered or unimplemented.

Federal lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat


“Several reform initiatives will be rolled out next year, including the establishment of an ombudsman, which is currently being drafted by the relevant ministries, to enhance public sector accountability,” he said.

In addition, the Government Service Efficiency Commitment Act 2025 will apply pressure on civil servants to be more accountable and improve their performance.

The three-day Rancakkan Madani programme, which began on Friday, offered more than 300 touchpoint services, a career carnival, interactive exhibitions, family entertainment, and special promotions for visitors.

It is a continuation of the “One Year with the Madani Government” and the “Two Years of Madani Government” programmes, which serve as the administration’s annual platform for reporting its achievements directly to the people.

Yet to discuss cabinet vacancies

Meanwhile, Anwar said he will not rush to fill the four vacancies in the cabinet.

The prime minister said he needs to discuss the matter with party leaders in the government before making a decision, although he has already considered several suitable names.

He also confirmed that he has yet to discuss the matter with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and DAP leaders.

“I’m thinking about it. I don’t rush, and of course, I need to reflect after listening. I have not discussed with all party leaders yet. Of course, the final decision is my prerogative,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi


He told reporters this after the launch of his latest book, “Rethinking Ourselves: Justice, Reform and Ignorance in Postnormal Times”, at Tsutaya Books, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, today.

Asked whether it would be a cabinet reshuffle or merely filling the vacant posts, Anwar said: “Filling the gaps - when filling the gaps, it results in a minor reshuffle.”

On MCA’s call for Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to be dropped from the cabinet, the prime minister said it was merely the party’s suggestion.

“Thank you for MCA’s view, but it’s all right, as this is their opinion,” he said.

The cabinet vacancies are for the:

Economy Ministry

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry

Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry

- Bernama

Chemor residents living in fear after tiger attacks on cattle

The Star:

Chemor residents living in fear after tiger attacks on cattle

Sunday, 07 Dec 20258:34 PM MYT

Nation 1d ago
Suspected tiger attack behind dead, missing cattle near Chemor, say...
Nation 17h ago
Fear of tiger grips residents of Perak town



IPOH: Residents of Bukit Bangkong, Chemor are concerned for their safety after reports of tiger attacks on livestock, resulting in two dead animals with another five missing.

Bukit Bangkong environmental beautification association chairman Lee Jun Man, 33, said the entire community was in shock and fear after hearing of the attacks.


"We were very surprised when the police informed us about the attacks on livestock in nearby fields as there had never been such attacks previously.

"People flock to Bukit Bangkong for recreation and in the past 30 years, we've never seen any tigers," he said.


He added some residents claimed of hearing roars several days before the attacks but there was no evidence to support it.

Previous investigations only found that the roars could have been from other animals but the recent attacks have changed their perception, Lee said.

He said he hoped authorities, especially the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), would take necessary action.

He also advised residents to avoid going into the fields alone during evenings and nights and to immediately report any signs of wildlife presence to authorities.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman Sahul Hamid, 41, said he only realised that his livestock had been attacked when he went to his cattle pens for a routine check on Saturday evening.

He said noticed that his cattle were scared and tried to get away from him, which was odd as they would normally approach him.

He then noticed that seven cows were missing.

"After looking around, I found a dead cow with claw marks on its body and neck.

"I found another dead cow with signs of injuries about 200m from the pen and lodged a police report," he said, adding this was the first attack by a tiger since he started rearing cattle eight years ago.

"I hope the authorities will take action immediately. I'm afraid now and have taken over 30 heads of cattle away from here," Abdul Rahman said.

An inspection conducted by the police and Perhilitan on Sunday found new tiger tracks at several locations around the area.

Perhilitan also checked camera traps set up and inspected the site of the attacks. – Bernama

MACC denies Rafizi's allegations it was used to probe PKR polls candidates

The Star:

MACC denies Rafizi's allegations it was used to probe PKR polls candidates

Sunday, 07 Dec 202510:20 PM MYT



PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has denied allegations that it was used to investigate candidates contesting in the PKR polls.

It said that the allegation, made by Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli in a recent podcast, were without basis and untrue.


MACC said that investigations are only carried out based on complaints or information received.

"Every complaint with merit will undergo verification and the investigation is conducted according to the law and established procedures," it said in a statement on Sunday (Dec 7).


The MACC also said that claims that its officers "surrounded the house" of certain individuals were inaccurate.

"In the case, officers went to the house to conduct a search and obtain evidence.

"It is common to have an element of surprise to avoid the risk of evidence being disposed of," said the MACC, adding that after confirming that the individual concerned was not at home, the officers left.

It added that the individual in question came to the MACC office to record his statement the next day and he was not detained.

MACC said any party who is dissatisfied with its actions could submit a complaint through official channels such as the police or the MACC Complaints Committee.

"This is a legitimate and transparent mechanism to assess allegations of misconduct.

"The MACC also calls on all parties not to make unfounded accusations on social media as it can undermine public confidence in the country's enforcement institutions," it said.

Related stories:

Rafizi alleges MACC detained PKR members not aligned to top leadership in lead-up to party polls

Denmark Cuts Ukraine Aid Nearly In Half Amid Corruption Scandal

Denmark Cuts Ukraine Aid Nearly In Half Amid Corruption Scandal

by Tyler Durden
Monday, Dec 08, 2025 - 03:05 AM


Denmark plans to scale back its military assistance to Ukraine next year, and the amount cut is being widely reported as a huge amount - up to almost half of what's it's been since 2022.

According to Danish Broadcasting Corporation, the tiny northern European country has long stood out for its exceptionally high contributions that it made earlier in the conflict, but now the Danish government wants other countries should shoulder more of the burden.

Via Reuters


The country's Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has informed parliament that the government intends to allocate 9.4 billion kroner (around $1.5 billion) in aid to Ukraine in 2026.

This marks a decrease from the 16.5 billion kroner (about $2.6 billion) provided this year and the nearly 19 billion kroner (roughly $3 billion) distributed the prior year.

Danish media has described that this is partly the result dwindling resources in the Ukraine Fund, which is a dedicated pool established in 2023 with broad political support among European allies.

In total, since the start of the war in early 2022 Denmark has provided a whopping nearly $11 billion in military aid to Kiev. It has also provided F-16 jets and hosted fighter pilot training programs for Ukrainians.

Simon Kollerup, a member of the Denmark's Defense Committee, has stated that "it is natural that we are seeing a stabilization of the level of support being provided".

"We decided to be one of the countries that took the lead at the beginning of the war by providing large-scale support. I also think it is fair to say that this support somewhat exceeds what is actually dictated by the size of our country. Therefore, I find it quite natural that the support is decreasing," Kollerup added.

This comes at a time that Washington is also withdrawing much of its outsized support to Ukraine, with Trump's preferred scheme being to sell weapons to Europe, which will in turn sell or transfer them to Kiev.

The timing of Denmark's announced major reduction in aid also comes as the Zelensky government is mired in a corruption scandal which goes straight to the presidential office itself (with top aides having been dismissed and investigated), so perhaps some EU countries are finally wising up, and no longer wish to act in a blank check manner.

Even the NY Times has just acknowledged in a report that "President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration has stacked boards with loyalists, left seats empty, or stalled them from being set up at all. Leaders in Kiev even rewrote company charters to limit oversight, keeping the government in control and allowing hundreds of millions of dollars to be spent without outsiders poking around."

Military Watch:

Chinese J-15 Fighter Locks Onto Japanese F-15 During Carrier Operations: Which Would Have an Advantage in Combat?

Asia-Pacific , Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft

Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff

December-7th-2025

---

Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15J

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy J-15 carrier based fighter operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning formed a radar lock on a Japanese F-15 fighter over international waters southeast of Okinawa Island on December 6. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi quickly confirmed the incident, with the Japanese government issuing a protest through diplomatic and defence channels. This was the first time Japan publicly disclosed an incident in which a Chinese military aircraft directed its radar at a Japanese aircraft. The incident follows a significant rise in tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, after Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, threatened to intervene militarily in the ongoing conflict between the People’s Republic of China on the Chinese mainland, and the Republic of China based on Taiwan, which have for decades remained in a state of civil war. 

J-15B Fighters and J-15D Electronic Attack Jets on Chinese Carrier Liaoning

The Liaoning is one of three aircraft carries currently in service in the People’s Liberation Army Navy, and was confirmed to be sailing near Kubashima Island, west of Okinawa, on December 5. The following day the aircraft carrier passed between Okinawa and Miyakojima Island along with three destroyers, before proceeding into the Pacific Ocean. The Liaoning and its sister ship the Shandong were revealed in November 2024 to have significantly improved the capabilities of their air wings with the integration of new J-15B ‘4+ generation’ fighters and supporting J-15D electronic attack jets. The J-15B is far superior to the baseline J-15s that first joined the fleet in the early 2010s, with improvements including higher use of more advanced composite materials for a lighter and more durable airframe, use of a more advanced AESA radar, and integration of advanced stealth coatings, and use of some of the world's most sophisticated avionics and electronic warfare systems.

While the J-15B a close contender for the title of the world’s most capable pre-fifth generation fighter class, the F-15J by contrast is one of the oldest fourth generation fighter types still in service anywhere in the world. The fighters first entered service in 1981, and were based closely a design that first joined the U.S. Air Force six years prior in 1975. The Japanese fleet still largely relies on AIM-7 air-to-air missiles for beyond visual range combat, which are considered close to three decades beyond the Chinese PL-15 and PL-16 that equip the J-15B in their sophistication. The Japanese aircraft not only carry much smaller radars, but these rely on mechanically scanned arrays that have long since been considered obsolete, and are relatively straightforward to jam for modern electronic warfare suites.

J-15, J-15B and J-15D Fighters Operating From the Carriers Liaoning and Shandong

The outcome of a clash between Chinese J-15B and Japanese F-15J fighters over the Pacific would be highly one sided, although Japan could potentially seek to counterbalance Chinese advantages by deploying E-767 Airborne Warning and Control Systems to bridge the discrepancy in situations awareness. Although China’s new aircraft carrier the Fujian deploys KJ-600 Airborne Warning and Control Systems, the air wing of the Liaoning does not. Nevertheless, the age of the E-767, which uses a radar from the 1980s, seriously limits the degree of support it can provide, particularly compared to modern systems such as the E-7 and Chinese KJ-500. The system is expected to be relatively straightforward to evade should the Chinese fighters be deployed with support from J-15D electronic attack jets, which were developed specifically to conceal fighter units from radar detection in much the same way as the latest variants of the U.S. Navy E/A-18G. 

MCA president flags risk to thousands of students as TAR UMT tax-exempt status lapses

MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong is concerned about the future of TAR UMT, as its tax-exempt status is set to expire on December 31, and the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has not yet granted an extension. - Scoop file pic, December 7, 2025
NEWS

MCA president flags risk to thousands of students as TAR UMT tax-exempt status lapses


Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong raises concerns over the potential impact on students if the tax exemption for TAR UMT and UTAR is not extended



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 3 hours ago
7 December, 2025
9:00 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has expressed concern over the impending expiry of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology’s (TAR UMT) tax-exempt status on December 31, warning that the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has yet to approve an extension.

Wee Ka Siong said the delay could have serious consequences for thousands of students if the university is required to pay tax.

“Are we to suffer the same fate?” he asked, alluding to similar tax uncertainties faced by other institutions.

He noted that when the issue first arose last year, he immediately appealed to Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to intervene.

However, despite the Prime Minister’s announcement of a solution, the matter remains unresolved after 14 months.

Wee Ka Siong cautioned that if both TAR UMT and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) were to lose their tax-exempt status, they could face taxes of up to RM20 million annually.

“Based on a cost per student of RM8,000 per year, this would impact the education of up to 5,000 students. This would undoubtedly cause significant harm to our community’s education,” he said.

He stressed that such a situation never occurred during the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.

“Under BN, both universities were granted permanent tax-exempt status—a commitment that endured for decades. Our universities’ permanent tax-exempt status was a contract with the government over 50 years ago, and we have operated on the basis of that agreement ever since.

“BN’s six decades in government never breached this. Today’s government has overturned that decision. How can we accept this?” he added during his address at the MCA 30th Central Delegates’ 3rd General Assembly today.

Wee Ka Siong also highlighted that scholarships and bursaries at the two universities are awarded strictly on merit and financial need, benefiting students of all races.

He noted that the combined annual intake of Chinese students alone at these universities exceeds the total number admitted by more than 20 public universities.

“Over the decades, these two institutions have educated more than 400,000 graduates for the nation.

“We have never asked the government for any gesture of appreciation; we only seek tax-exempt status and policy support so that they can continue nurturing professionals who will give back to society, ultimately benefiting the government, the nation, and all citizens.

“Prime Minister, should these two universities be treated this way?” Wee Ka Siong asked. – December 7, 2025

Teacher Accused of Sending Intimate Messages to 15-Year-Old Student; Education Dept Removes Him Pending Probe

Teacher Accused of Sending Intimate Messages to 15-Year-Old Student; Education Dept Removes Him Pending Probe


7 Dec 2025 • 12:00 PM MYT


Kamran
A freelance content creator

WOB


A Kedah teacher has come under intense scrutiny after private conversations between him and a 15-year-old student surfaced online, raising allegations of grooming and inappropriate conduct. The leaked chats, which circulated widely, revealed late-night exchanges in which the teacher appeared to express romantic interest and behaved in a manner considered unbefitting of an educator entrusted with safeguarding minors.


The messages suggested the teacher had grown increasingly intimate in his tone toward the student, sending affectionate remarks and implying emotional closeness. He was seen expressing willingness to entertain her at any time and hinting at a deeper relationship. At one point, he encouraged her to seek him out in his room if she felt bored and even hinted at wanting physical affection, telling her he needed warmth and comfort.


The student, however, later admitted that she had only played along out of fear. She reportedly clarified that she had no genuine feelings for the teacher and had gone along with his words because she worried about potential consequences if she rejected him. She eventually gathered the courage to state that she wanted no relationship beyond that of student and teacher and feared he might harm her if she resisted.


The teacher responded by insisting he had no harmful intentions, yet the content of the conversation raised serious concerns within the community.


Following the public outcry, the Kedah Education Department announced that the teacher had been immediately removed from the school pending a full investigation. Another teacher in the same state was also removed in a separate case after allegations surfaced that he made inappropriate requests to a 17-year-old student, including asking her to assist with personal attire.


Authorities confirmed that police reports have been lodged against both educators. The Education Department stated that both teachers had been reassigned away from any educational institution under the ministry until investigations conclude, stressing that student safety and public trust remain top priorities.


The incidents have reignited discussions about misconduct within schools and the vulnerability of students when authority figures misuse their positions. Concerns have also been raised about the need for stronger reporting channels, digital safety awareness, and preventive measures to ensure minors feel safe in academic environments.


As investigations proceed, parents and community groups continue to call for firm action and systemic safeguards to prevent similar cases from emerging in the future.

Do Religious Institutions Attract Sexual Predators?

OPINION | Do Religious Institutions Attract Sexual Predators?


7 Dec 2025 • 4:00 PM MYT


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

Image credit: Malay Mail


I was reading earlier an article by Newswav’s own creator Fa Abdul about why there are so many religious men that are sexual predators, and it reminded me of something that I saw in a Joe Rogan video once.


In the Joe Rogan video, Joe observed that when he walked into Vatican City and looked at the entire art that was richly displayed there, he couldn’t help but conclude that everything that he was seeing was basically the treasure trove of a paedophile cult.


This sounded bizarre when I first heard it – but then when I reflected on the pictures and sculptures that you see in Vatican City – of naked depictions of childlike angels or sculptures of nude youths – and it occured to me that Joe might have a point.


After all, that pedophilia was rampant in the Church is also a matter of open secret.


A report published in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada found physical and sexual abuse was rampant at the schools run by the Catholic Church.


Child abuse scandals have been exposed in Catholic churches around the world in recent decades. The film Spotlight, which focused on a team of reporters and editors at the Boston Globe who relentlessly investigated a shocking child molestation cover-up by the Catholic Church, won the Best Picture Oscar in 2016.


Even former Philippine president Duterte claimed that he, as well as his classmates, were regularly sexually abused in school by a priest.


In other words, like Fa Abdul, Joe Rogan was also seeing the correlation between religious men in religious institutions and sexually predatorial behavior.


Fa Abdul might be observing the phenomenon in Islamic institutions and religious men – tahfiz schools, ustaz, preachers and penceramah bebas – while Joe Rogan might be observing it in clerics and priests in the Catholic institutions – but the similarity between their two observations is uncanny - that that there is an unmistakable correlation between men who dedicate themselves to religion and sexual abuse, especially involving children, or pedophilia.


Now why is this the case, I wonder?


Is it true that the more religious or philosophical you get, the more perverted you become in terms of your sexuality or sexual preference?


Somehow, I certainly doubt it – in my experience, an increase in religious or philosophical interest will actually attenuate your appetite for the world – which not only includes your sexual appetite, but appetite of all sorts, including that for food, drinks, company, merry making, pleasures, relationships, money, power, status, authority and everything else that generally occupies the interest of a non-philosophical or non-religious person.


I think this view of mine will even be self-evident in your own experience.


If you reflect on your own appetites before and after you became more religiously or philosophically inclined, I truly feel that to the extent that you have become more philosophical or religious, to that extent you might find a drop in your appetite for the world.


As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to argue that the first step into philosophy or religion is likely a sense of disenchantment towards what the world can offer – as long as you think that you can satisfy your heart and mind with what the world has to offer, you will likely not be much interested in philosophy or religion. It is when you find that the world – despite of all of its wine and pleasures and gold – is somehow unsatisfying, that you will likely start developing an interest in philosophy and religion.


That being the case, I am much more inclined to believe that it is not religion or philosophy that inclines a person towards sexually predatorial behaviour, but that it is a sexual predator that might be attracted to a religious institution.


Why?


Well, I think one reason is that a sexual predator might find satisfying their desires in the world at large to be a dangerous affair – if you are a paedophile for example, and you try to satisfy your desires in the world at large, you might find yourself condemned, punished or ostracized.


If you become a member of a religious institution, however, you might be more insulated from danger, because as a rule, people, especially in the conservative world, tend to see religious figures as authoritative figures – and accept whatever they do without question.


In other words, if you belong in the conservative world, you will likely entrust your child blindly to a school run by a religious institution, because you will completely trust that they will do right by your child. If you are a child in the conservative world, you will likely not deem that anything wrong has happened to you, even if you are sexually abused in your school by a religious figure, because you might be conditioned to believe that everything that you receive from a religious figure is a positive experience, or that if you find your experience with a religious figure to be negative, it is likely you that is at fault.


Even someone who came from such a prominent family as former Philippines President Duterte would say that he did not report the incident of his sexual abuse under the hands of a priest named Father Paul Falvey at some point during the 1950s, because he “ was young then and I was afraid of what will happen.”


As to why religious institutions like missionary or tahfiz schools accept sexual predators or pedophiles into their fold in the first place – I think it might simply have to do with the fact that religious institutions are facing decline today.


There are 1.4 billion Catholics and 2 billion Muslims in the world today. These religious groups run innumerable churches, chapels, madrasahs, mosques, religious schools, missionary organizations all across the globe. However, the number of people who are willing to serve these religious institution in a dedicated manner might be declining.


Given this scenario, there are only two things that these religious institutions can do. It can shut down many of the churches, schools, chapels, ,madrasahs or missionary units it runs in the world and slowly shrink in size, or it can reduce the standard of who it accepts into its fold, just so that it can keep its organisation running or growing.


The more it chooses the latter, the more it will close one eye to the fact that the people who are entering its fold might be sexual predators, or try to manage these issues internally, just for meet the logistical and manpower demand of the institution.


As Eric Hoffer observes: Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.


Even religious institutions will inevitably fit into this cycle.


It is perhaps only in the movement phase that a religious institution will attract people who truly believe in the tenets of the institution, to the point that they will serve society selfless as a way to live up the standards of their institution.



When the selfless service of the founders gain the appreciation and admiration of the society that they selflessly served, the institution will start attracting the more world sorts, that will join the institution, not chiefly because they truly believe in the mission of the institution, but because they will see a pathway to generate wealth, gain power or rise in status and position, through a stint in the institution.


To keep the institution growing or running, so that they can continue to gain in wealth, status, power or position, these world sorts will be tempted to reduce the standard of entry into the institution to enable the institution to grow in scale and size or to prevent it from declining in scale and size.


When the standards of the organisation are reduced, that is when sexual predators will be able to slip into the institution, and find a way feed their sexual desires, without fearing persecution and danger.


It is perhaps this point that we can say that the institution is starting to degenerate into a racket, that no longer represents the movement or the noble cause that started it.

Lawyer claims trio shot down 'execution-style'

Lawyer claims trio shot down 'execution-style'

Shakira Buang
Published: Dec 6, 2025 4:10 PM
Updated: 7:11 PM



Lawyers representing the families of three men shot dead by the police in Durian Tunggal, Malacca, claim that the deaths had elements of an “execution-style killing”, based on the evidence received by the families.

Counsel Rajesh Nagarajan said this information was obtained from a pathologist at the Malacca General Hospital, who reportedly informed him that one of the victims was shot from a top-to-bottom angle, with the bullet penetrating the nose and hitting the heart.

“The pathologist informed us that the angle of the shot was from top to bottom. If the shot was from the front, the bullet would enter and exit.

“Here, it entered the nose and went down to the heart, suggesting the victim was kneeling and was shot from above.

“This only happens if someone was kneeling and shot from above. This depicts ‘execution-style killing’,” he told reporters outside the Bukit Aman today.

Earlier, Rajesh, along with the families of the three victims, handed over an audio recording to the police, which was recorded by one of the victims’ wives when the incident allegedly occurred.

Rajesh added that the checks on the other two victims also showed a pattern of gunshot wounds fired from a top-to-bottom angle, although the entry points of the bullets were different.

‘No choice but to open fire’

Last week, Malacca police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar claimed that his team had no choice but to open fire at the men, aged between 24 and 29, after one of them swung a machete at a police officer at a palm oil plantation in Durian Tunggal.

Malacca police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar


The incident, which occurred at 4.30am, allegedly caused a corporal, in his early 30s, to suffer severe injuries to his left arm.

However, the family's lawyers completely rejected the police's version.

According to the lawyers, the audio recording indicates that the men were already in police custody for more than 10 minutes before they were shot and killed.

Latheefa berates cops

Another lawyer representing the victims' families, Latheefa Koya, questioned the police's justification for using lethal force against the victims on the argument that they were believed to be criminals.

“Since when did the police have the power to execute based on what they themselves claim someone to be?” she asked.

Former MACC chief Latheefa Koya


The former MACC chief commissioner also pointed out that the police often used reasons like “the victims are robbers” or “gang members” every time a fatal shooting occurs.

Citing an example, she referred to previous cases, including the killing of teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah in 2010, as an example of how such incidents create doubt among the public.

Why probe for attempted murder?

In addition, Latheefa also questioned why the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit was investigating the case under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which covers attempted murder, when the victims had been shot dead.

“What is 307? Attempted murder. So, who attempted to murder whom? Did the dead victims attempt to murder the police?

“Why is it not investigated under Section 302, a murder case?” she asked.

Latheefa emphasised that not only are the victims’ families grappling with grief, but they also have to deal with accusations that the deceased were criminals.

“How do you know they are criminals? Was there an investigation? Were there any charges? Were they brought to court?

"In a nation of law, a person is only punished after being tried and convicted. Where is your humanity?” she asked.

Latheefa then urged the authorities to investigate the matter under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, adding that the attorney-general and the government must dispense justice to all without compromise.

‘I don’t want to rush’: Anwar says Cabinet reshuffle list ready but hasn’t begun talks with party leaders

‘I don’t want to rush’: Anwar says Cabinet reshuffle list ready but hasn’t begun talks with party leaders



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the launch of his book ‘Rethinking Ourselves: Justice, Reform and Ignorance in Postnormal Times’ at Tsutaya Books, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, December 7, 2025. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 07 Dec 2025 4:54 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly said today that he has a list in hand for the planned Cabinet reshuffle, though talks with unity government party leaders have yet to begin.

According to New Straits Times, he described the exercise as a “minor” adjustment to fill vacant posts rather than a broad reorganisation of the administration.

"Yes, I have a list. I am considering it carefully. I do not want to rush, and I need time to reflect after hearing various views. I have not yet discussed it with all party leaders,” he was quoted as saying after the launch of his book, Rethinking Ourselves.

“The final decision remains my prerogative, and I appreciate that they understand and respect that," he reportedly added.


He added that he had not spoken to any other party leaders about the matter, including DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Yesterday, Loke had said yesterday that DAP had yet to be consulted, though he acknowledged that cabinet composition is the prime minister’s prerogative.

Four ministerial posts are currently vacant.


In May, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned as Economy Minister and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister respectively.

Ewon Benedick stepped down as Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister last month.

The Investment, Trade and Industry portfolio then became vacant last week following the end of Tengku Zafrul’s senatorship.