THE FAILURE OF MUSLIMS BY MOHAMED WANI

 

OutSyed The Box

Saturday, January 10, 2026

THE FAILURE OF MUSLIMS BY MOHAMED WANI

 

 MY COMMENTS (IN BLUE) AT THE END

 

 

A file picture shows demonstrators holding placards reading "Islam = peace" and "Muslims against terrorism" as they gather in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AFP)

• Islam is a religion and a system of government. 
• Yes, this is true, but which religion and which government? 
• Is it enough to always say that Islam is the solution? 
• Without knowing how and by what mechanism? 
• The greatest misfortune that has befallen contemporary Muslims is that their preachers have turned to “sloganeering,” as if chanting slogans has become part of their way of life. 
• Islam is justice, equality, freedom and independence, which are values that these advocates were totally unable to translate into reality, even when they were at the height of their political power in Tunisia, Sudan, Algeria and Egypt.

The problem with those who live by slogans is that they say one thing and do another that is completely different from reality.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey, for example, claims to adhere to the teachings of the Islam of Prophet Mohammed, which call for justice, equality, freedom and Islamic brotherhood. Nevertheless, Turkey is in fact closer to secular nationalist Kemalism than to pure Islamic morals. It does not adhere to the simplest rules of Islam which encourage love according to the honourable Prophetic hadith, which says "None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself", and therefore hates for his brother what he hates for himself.

Does Erdogan love the Kurds the way he loves his own kind? Of course not. When the Kurds are not allowed to contemplate the formation of their nation-state, one similar to Turkey or any other country in the world and are prevented from exercising the natural human rights with which God has endowed them, then this deviates from the teachings of Islam and the hadiths of the Prophet.

The same is true for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This deceptive duplicity in dealing with Islam and trying to embody it on the ground in this distorted fashion is what has brought the reputation and prestige of Muslims and their countries to the bottom and kept them away from participating in determining and deciding the fate of the world, even when it is on the brink of disaster.

Thus, Islam has lost the most important and greatest of its goals for which the Prophet himself vowed to strive, which is to “save humanity” from destruction. Instead, it turned into a heavy burden.

The desired Islamic system which we always advocate and try to establish is a mirror of the religion we embrace, or it is supposed to be. If our perception of religion is distorted and impractical, it is impossible to establish it as a system of government of any kind on the ground or if it is established, it is bound to fall.

And if we see power before anything else, whether through military coups, terrorist operations or even through democratic mechanisms, with the intent of then applying Islamic teachings and imposing them on others as a fait accompli, according to the Machiavellian saying “the end justifies the means,” as most Islamist movements, especially in the Arab world, do, then this would be nothing but a deceptive and risky approach that insults the intelligence of others. It is very similar to putting the cart before the horse.

If, after the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate, the Islamists had relied on the Islam of Prophet Mohamed and preserved its purity and its faith and human dimensions and did not defile it with politics, the conditions of Muslims would not have turned to what they are today.

Where is Islam and where are Muslims in what is happening in the world today? There is a state of complete absence from the global political and humanitarian scene. A nation in its last gasp.

My Comments:

First of all there are numerous understandings and interpretations of Islam. The Shias say they are Islam. But in our country one Deputy Prime Minister once said in public that the Shias are kafirs.

In Malaysia the Ahmadiyas are deemed as not Muslims (by the religious authorities). So the religious authorities did not allow them to conduct Friday prayers in their own mosques. So the Ahmadiyas took the matter to the Court. The Court ruled that since the religious authorities say the Ahmadiyas are not Muslims, then they have no jurisdiction over the Ahmadiyas. Meaning the Ahmadiyas are free to have Friday prayers in their mosques. 

Then you have the Salafis who have their own understanding of religion that can be at serious loggerheads with the Sunnis.  The Salafis are against any type of what they say are icons and innovations. Celebrating the prophet's birthday, venerating the tomb of the prophet or tombs of holy people, 'beseeching' dead people as 'intermediaries' (already controversial words - jangan marah ok). It goes on and on.

There are others who question all the above. Question meaning 'reject' or seriously disagree with. So this is all part and parcel of Islam. This has been Islam for the past 1,400 years.

1,400 years ago there was another group of Muslims known as the Khawarij - a really rock and roll type of people who shook everything on its head. They even refused to accept the First Four Caliphs (Khulafa Rashidun) as Muslims. The fourth Caliph Saidina Ali was attacked and killed by a Kharijite by the name of Abdel Rahman ibn Muljam. 

Among other things the Khawarij held that persistent wrong doing can make you a kafir. This is against the orthodox belief which says that regardless whether you commit wrongs or not (thievery, murder, rape, crimes etc)   so long as you believe in god and utter the shahada then you are still a Muslim.  Say what you want but these types of differences were sufficient to kill each other. 

Bottom line is these differences have never been resolved over the past 1,400 years. And they never will be.

What does this mean in practical terms in this 21st century? 
It means that Islam will never be able to solve real world 21st century problems.  

Islam can claim to be better suited to solve 'hereafter' issues (like heaven and hell) - but only after being filtered through the lens of Salafism, Shiaism, Sunnism, Ahmadiyaism, and whatever other isms that can be found.

And for the past 1,400 years these differences in Islam have been sustained through anger, hatred and violence. Putting it another way, anger, hatred and violence are prerequisites for sustaining the differences in Islam. This includes State sanctioned hatred and use of force or violence.

Let me give you real evidence for this in our country. If you are  Shia then you can be fined, jailed and/or whipped by the religious authorities. 

Before that Court Ruling the Ahmadiyas could be fined, jailed and whipped if they prayed Friday prayer in their own mosque.

If a Muslim wrote a book (or if you are a Muslim worker in a book shop which sold a book) that was disliked by the religious authorities then you can be fined, jailed and/or whipped by the religious authorities.

So all this must be preceded by anger and hatred which ultimately becomes violence (including arrest, throw in jail, whipping etc). 

The differences can only be sustained by anger, hatred and violence.  But what if you are not a State authority or a State religious department? The anger, hatred and violence are not diminished. So how? Enter the suicide bombers. Or the Al Qaeda or the ISIS or the jihadis etc. The anger, hatred and the violence are the same.  Saudi Arabia officially chops the head of "wrong doers". The Taliban beat women in public. 

So the solution to ALL the Muslim problems is simple. I really mean ALL the Muslim problems. Just stop hating and getting angry. Stop all the hatred and the anger and you will all be fine. 

The other fellow prays like this, does not pray, covers her head, does not cover her head,  celebrates the prophet's birthday, does not celebrate the prophet's birthday, does not accept this interpretation, only accepts that interpretation bla bla. Leave them alone. Just let them be. You just mind your own business.

You are just as equally stupid or not stupid as the other fellow. 
Your stupidity is not more or less than the other fellow. 

The failure of the Muslims is because they can get insanely angry, they can be insanely hateful and they can become insanely violent.

Just cut out the anger, hatred and the violence and you will be fine. 

al Jazeera:

Iran’s Pezeshkian pledges economic overhaul amid spiralling protests

President Masoud Pezeshkian strikes conciliatory tone in interview broadcast on state TV but accuses US and Israel of fuelling unrest that has killed dozens.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has promised economic changes and said his government is 'ready to listen to its people"[File: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters]

ByAl Jazeera Staffand News Agencies

Published On 11 Jan 202611 Jan 2026

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President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to overhaul Iran’s struggling economy, saying his government is “ready to listen to its people” after two weeks of increasingly violent nationwide demonstrations.

Pezeshkian adopted a conciliatory approach during a televised interview on state television on Sunday, saying his embattled administration was determined to resolve the country’s economic problems while accusing the United States and Israel of fomenting deadly unrest.

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The crisis erupted after the Iranian currency plummeted in late December after years of economic duress, triggering mass protests over soaring living costs and inflation. Those protests have since taken on a more political and antigovernment nature.

The president accused the US and Israel of trying to “sow chaos and disorder” by directing elements of the unrest and called on Iranians to distance themselves from what he described as “rioters and terrorists”.

The demonstrations are the largest in Iran since a 2022-2023 protest movement spurred by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women.

“People have concerns. We should sit with them, and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns,” Pezeshkian said. “But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society.”

4:36

Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran, said Iranian officials had spent the past week trying to draw a distinction between protesters and what they described as foreign-trained rioters.

Asadi added that senior officials had acknowledged public anger as justified, citing “soaring prices, high inflation and the drastic devaluation of the local currency that right now puts a huge amount of pressure on the pockets of local people”.

State media reported that 109 security personnel have been killed during the protests.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reinforced a distinction between peaceful and armed demonstrators during remarks to lawmakers on Sunday, saying Iran recognised “people’s peaceful protests over economic concerns” but would stand against “terrorists”.

A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Qalibaf also issued a stark warning to Washington after US President Donald Trump threatened military action if Iranian authorities kill demonstrators.

“In the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” he said as some lawmakers reportedly chanted anti-American slogans.

2:50

Iran’s army pledges to defend ‘national interests’ as protests continue

Trump had declared on social media that the US stood “ready to help” Iran, suggesting possible strikes but ruling out ground troops. His comments represented a significant escalation as Tehran faces its most serious domestic challenge in years.

The Ministry of Interior claimed the unrest is subsiding as Iran’s attorney general warned participants they could face capital punishment. A nationwide internet blackout has persisted for more than 60 hours, according to monitoring groups.

Human rights organisations reported at least 51 protesters have been killed by security forces, including nine children, with hundreds more injured and mass arrests conducted across the country.

Protester climbs on to balcony of Iranian embassy in London

BBC:

Protester climbs on to balcony of Iranian embassy in London

18 hours ago
Fiona Nimoni

BBC


A protester has climbed on to the balcony of the Iranian embassy in west London as hundreds gathered outside the building, waving flags and shouting anti-government slogans.

The Metropolitan Police said two arrests had been made at the protest and that officers were also seeking another individual for trespass.

Anti-government protests erupted in Iran on 28 December, with two human rights groups reporting that at least 50 protesters have been killed.

Protesters demonstrating against the Iranian regime have been gathering outside embassies across the world.

Earlier on Saturday, the Met said additional officers had been deployed to the protest "to prevent any disorder".

Confirming the arrest of two individuals on Saturday evening - one for aggravated trespass and assault on an emergency worker and one for aggravated trespass - police said the protest was continuing but being "safely policed".

"We saw no serious disorder and officers will remain in the area to ensure the continued security of the Embassy," a statement said.

Footage on Saturday showed a man standing on the London embassy's balcony and tearing down the Iranian flag. The embassy later posted a picture on its X account of the flag back in place.

Others at the protest in Kensington held up pictures of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah (king) Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who was ousted in 1979 when the revolution swept away Iran's monarchy.

Many demonstrators in Iran have been calling for Reza Pahlavi's return.

In a joint statement released last week, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, along with the leaders of Germany and France, said they were "deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces, and strongly condemn the killing of protesters".

"The Iranian authorities have the responsibility to protect their own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal," French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Starmer said.

The protests, which have now entered their 13th day, erupted over the economy and have grown into the largest in years - leading to calls for an end to the Islamic Republic and some urging the restoration of the monarchy.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called anti-government protesters "troublemakers" and accused them of trying "to please the president of the US".

An internet blackout is currently in place across the Middle Eastern country.

The BBC is unable to report from inside Iran, so social media is often relied upon to verify what is happening on the ground, in addition to speaking to people in Iran.

From Khairy to Akmal: When Malay Champions Go Quiet

OPINION | From Khairy to Akmal: When Malay Champions Go Quiet


11 Jan 2026 • 1:00 PM MYT



Annan Vaithegi
From sharing insights to creating content that connects and inspires

Image Source: HotFM


There is a pattern in Malaysian politics that has repeated itself so often it now feels almost scripted. A young champion rises, speaking in the name of Malays. He is articulate, energetic, combative. He frames politics as a battle Malays versus everyone else and positions himself as the one brave enough to fight. For a while, the noise works. Then reality intervenes. And suddenly, the champion goes quiet.


If one traces this arc from around 2008 onwards, the comparison becomes unavoidable. Khairy Jamaluddin once styled himself as a modern Malay champion fluent in global language yet anchored in Malay political anxieties. In his early years, Khairy fought loudly for Malay rights, often framing debates as cultural defence rather than structural reform. Over time, however, the limits of that framing became obvious. Malaysia’s problems were not about who threatened Malays culturally; they were about corruption, governance failure, and elite excess. Khairy adjusted. His tone softened. Eventually, he abandoned much of the racial rhetoric that once powered his rise.


Today, Dr Akmal Saleh appears to be walking a strikingly similar path but faster, louder, and with less self‑reflection.


Akmal’s rise has been driven by a brand of politics that is intensely emotional and aggressively racialised. He presents himself as a defender of Malay dignity, warning constantly of erosion, disrespect, and threat. His language is sharp. His posture is confrontational. Like Khairy in his earlier phase, Akmal treats volume as proof of sincerity and outrage as evidence of courage.


But the trouble with this kind of politics is that it demands an enemy. And too often, that enemy is not corruption, not elite capture, not economic inequality but other Malaysians. Indians. Chinese. Minorities become shorthand for threat. Statements slide from grievance into insult, from critique into accusation, until what remains is not principled politics but racial resentment.


This is where idealism collides with reality. Akmal appears to believe that UMNO’s presence in government is a moral question that the party should leave if its demands are not met. That may sound principled, even heroic. But UMNO does not operate on idealism. It operates on power.


What Akmal appears to have underestimated is not public reaction, but the nature of the party he serves. UMNO’s centre of gravity has never rested with its youth wing, nor with moral appeals shouted from below. It rests with its warlords figures whose political survival depends on remaining close to power, close to Cabinet, and close to the machinery that sustains influence and lifestyle.


For Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the entrenched UMNO elite, staying in government is not an ideological choice. It is an existential one. Ministerial positions are not symbols of reform; they are shields. They provide access, relevance, and insulation in a political environment shaped by past scandals and unresolved accountability. This is not conjecture. It is how UMNO has functioned for decades.


Against this reality, Akmal’s posture was almost painfully idealistic. He spoke as if UMNO were a movement guided by principle, when in truth it operates as a structure governed by leverage. Moral pressure does not move such a party. Numbers do. Control does. Patronage does.


To challenge UMNO’s leadership without commanding any of these is not bravery it is miscalculation.


When Zahid rejected the call to exit the unity government, the moment of reckoning arrived quickly. Akmal’s subsequent suggestion that it might be time to step down landed not as martyrdom, but as retreat. The silence that followed felt familiar. Malaysians have seen this ending before.


The tragedy here is not personal. It is political. Leaders who claim to fight for Malays often end up narrowing the very future they say they want to protect. By sidelining non‑Malays and framing politics as a racial contest, they reduce national discourse to emotion while the real theft continues elsewhere.


Because the greatest theft from Malaysians has never come from outside. It has come from corruption, abuse of power, and elite self‑enrichment. While ordinary citizens argue about identity, leaders who speak loudly in the name of race quietly capture contracts, positions, and privileges.


Other countries argue about economic growth, industrial strategy, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and global competitiveness. Malaysia, meanwhile, still finds itself trapped in arguments about who truly belongs and who supposedly takes too much. While the rakyat debate race, opportunities disappear not because of minorities, but because leadership is distracted and compromised.


If Akmal were truly sincere, maturity would have demanded a different path. He could have confronted corruption within his own party before attacking others. He could have articulated a Malay future rooted in education, productivity, and inclusion rather than perpetual grievance. He could have chosen reform over rhetoric.


Instead, the politics of outrage ran its course. And like many before him, the champion who shouted the loudest now faces the quietest moment of all.


Malaysia does not need more leaders who weaponise race to prove courage. It needs leaders Indian, Malay, Chinese, who are prepared to speak honestly about development, technology, governance, and the future. The next generation will not be impressed by who shouts the loudest. They will judge who actually delivers.


The question is no longer whether Akmal will step down. It is whether Malaysia will finally step away from a politics that mistakes noise for leadership and division for strength.


Annan Vaithegi, writes that Malaysia does not suffer from a shortage of loud voices. It suffers from a shortage of leaders willing to lower the volume and raise the responsibility.

NGO’s using religious or humanitarian causes siphoned millions in donations: MACC

NGO’s using religious or humanitarian causes siphoned millions in donations: MACC






THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating at least three prominent non-governmental organisations (NGO) over the alleged misuse of public donations amounting to millions of ringgit, with prosecutions expected soon.


Its chief commissioner Azam Baki said investigations have uncovered possible misappropriation of funds, including donations allegedly diverted into personal accounts by NGO leaders.


He warned that some organisations may have exploited public generosity, including fundraising carried out under religious or humanitarian causes.

“In the near future, more NGOs will be taken action against by the MACC.

“They are still riding on religion, collecting millions, but the money ends up in personal accounts. These individuals, including the NGO chairmen, will be charged in court soon,” he said in a media podcast yesterday.

Azam raised concerns over weak oversight of NGOs and foundations, noting that while many are registered with the Registrar of Societies, some have allegedly deceived donors about how contributions were used.

He added that MACC is monitoring NGOs that display serious warning signs, despite the large number of registered organisations nationwide. —Jan 11, 2025

Dengkil Hindu temple crisis: A test for Ramanan and Papparaidu

Dengkil Hindu temple crisis: A test for Ramanan and Papparaidu

By Rajalingam Muthusamy
07/01/2026






Editor’s note: A news portal recently shared that a pensioner had expressed his shock and disappointment when he discovered that his his private land had been encroached upon with a Hindu temple built without his permission or knowledge.

Strict action was taken by issuing a seven-day notice to the temple management to demolish the building structure themselves and return the land to its original condition.

If the temple fails to comply with the one-week notice, forced demolition action will be carried out according to existing legal procedures.

A HINDU temple in Dengkil is facing demolition this Friday, January 9. The reason? It’s being called an illegal structure on a private land. But here’s the real question: Will Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan step in, or will he stay silent?

He’s the only Hindu voice in the federal Cabinet. This is his moment to prove he’s not just a token appointment. The community is watching and waiting.

Tensions are rising. A Facebook post has already warned the temple caretakers to remove the idols by Friday.

And what about Selangor exco V. Papparaidu? This is happening in his own backyard. Where is the urgency? Where is the leadership?

(Images: X/@dahfollowbelum)


We’ve seen how this can be handled with dignity. In Kuala Lumpur, the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple faced a similar issue. But instead of bulldozers, there was dialogue.

Former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and deputy MIC president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan stepped in. The temple was relocated just 50 meters away to a site of the same size-4,000 square feet.

No drama. No destruction. Just respect. That’s leadership, that’s how you solve problems.

The Indian community is tired of empty promises and press statements. We want real solutions, and these must come in the form of clear policies for temple land, protection for places of worship and most importantly, a national framework to prevent these crises from happening again.

The Madani government promised justice, compassion, and inclusion. There should be no more finger-pointing. No more excuses. The community wants answers. Have all temple land issues in Selangor been resolved?

The Indian community that DAP and PKR once stood for is watching closely. This isn’t just about one temple. It’s about respect, rights, and responsibility. Act now—or be remembered for doing nothing. ‒ Jan 7, 2026


Rajalingam Muthusamy
Segamat, Johor

Penang not affected by cloned durian issue, Musang King farms well‑regulated, says state exco

Penang not affected by cloned durian issue, Musang King farms well‑regulated, says state exco



Penang remains unaffected by the issue of cloned durians failing to meet export standards due to its mature and well-regulated Musang King cultivation, said state Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Sunday, 11 Jan 2026 4:33 PM MYT


GEORGE TOWN, Jan 11 — Penang remains unaffected by the issue of cloned durians failing to meet export standards due to its mature and well-regulated Musang King cultivation.

State Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol said most Musang King durian trees in Penang are over 10 years old, contributing to more stable produce quality and meeting export market requirements.

“The cultivation of Musang King durians in Penang is not done hastily or excessively, but follows a mature phase that allows quality management to be implemented more effectively.

“Based on monitoring and feedback from the Penang Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), the quality of cloned durians grown in the state is good and meets the set export standards,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.


He said this factor also prevented durian dumping in the local market, as production for the current season had not yet begun.

Fahmi said the Musang King durian trees in Penang were now at the flowering stage, with the first harvest anticipated by the end of April 2026.

He assured that the state government would continue monitoring the market and work closely with FAMA and relevant agencies to ensure that durian production, quality and marketing remain under control, protecting the interests of local farmers and traders.


Last Friday, FAMA deputy director-general (Food Security and Operations) Faisal Iswardi Ismail said that cloned varieties such as Musang King not meeting export standards were causing an oversupply of durians in the local market.

He said the glut was also caused by durians from orchards under 10 years old, which produced lower-quality fruit that did not meet export requirements for markets such as China and Singapore. — Bernama

PN as coalition of equals is unrealistic, say analysts

FMT:

PN as coalition of equals is unrealistic, say analysts

5 hours ago
Elill Easwaran

The analysts say political survival in Malaysia requires that one strong party lead the coalition

A UTM academic says the ideological rigidity of PAS makes it implausible to expect equality among coalition partners.

PETALING JAYA: The idea of Perikatan Nasional (PN) functioning as a coalition of equals without a single dominant party is “very idealistic” and largely unworkable in Malaysia’s political environment, say analysts.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said coalitions in Malaysia typically require one dominant party to survive, while PN’s core problem lies in that it has two competing power centres – PAS and Bersatu.

“The best coalition is one with a single dominant party. But the problem with PN is that they have two dominant parties.


“Giving equal footing to parties is very idealistic. If you want to survive in Malaysia’s political scenario, you need a strong single party that can bring the coalition forward,” he told FMT.

Azmi said PAS should be the dominant party in PN, with the appointment of a strong chairman from the party being crucial to ensure stability.



He said PN’s problem had been that its previous chairman, Muhyiddin Yassin, was not from the dominant party but from Bersatu. “The number one and two posts were both controlled by Bersatu, which is not workable in the long term,” he said.

After Muhyiddin stepped down as chairman on Jan 1, PAS central committee member Annuar Musa was recently reported as calling for a transformation of PN’s leadership structure to make it more inclusive, flexible and progressive.

He said PN can introduce a “more inclusive organisational model where all component party leaders are on equal footing, and decisions are made collectively through consultation and consensus”.

However, Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said equality among PN’s component parties was also implausible given PAS’s ideological rigidity.


“The concept of equality between political parties within PN is unrealistic, especially when it comes to a conservative party like PAS which is very much committed to its ideology,” he said.

Mazlan said Annuar’s proposal would appeal only to limited segments of society, particularly the middle class and civil society groups.

He also questioned Annuar’s ideological fit within PAS. “I think he is not a real PAS member. His thinking is very progressive but does not fit with PAS’s political culture,” he said.

Nestlé Malaysia reassures parents after infant formula recall alert, says local products remain safe

Nestlé Malaysia reassures parents after infant formula recall alert, says local products remain safe



Nestlé Malaysia said its infant formula products sold locally remain safe following a voluntary recall involving other countries. — AFP pic

Sunday, 11 Jan 2026 1:08 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — Nestlé Malaysia has sought to reassure parents that its infant formula products sold locally are safe for consumption, following a voluntary recall involving products in several other countries over a quality issue linked to a supplier.

The clarification came after reports of a potential problem involving an ingredient sourced from the company’s primary supplier.

In a statement cited by the New Straits Times, Nestlé Malaysia said it carried out an immediate and comprehensive review of all stocks once it was alerted to the issue.

“The review confirmed that only two batches were identified, namely NAN HA 1 Infant Formula 800g (Batch No: 52670017C2) and NAN HA 1 Infant Formula 400g (Batch No: 52670017A1),” the company said.

Nestlé Malaysia said the affected batches were stored at its distribution centre and remained under the company’s control.

“The products concerned are under the company’s control, and no other products in the local market are affected,” it said.

However, the company acknowledged that one tin had been sold and that the matter had been reported to the Health Ministry.

It said it was working closely with the ministry “to maintain transparency and ensure the accurate dissemination of information” in the interest of infant well-being.

Consumers with concerns or enquiries were advised to contact the Nestlé Consumer Services Centre at 1800-88-3433.

Separately, the Health Ministry said its Food Safety and Quality Programme had received a notification from the International Food Safety Authorities Network on January 8.

According to the ministry, the alert identified possible cereulide toxin contamination originating from the bacterium Bacillus cereus, which can cause symptoms such as nausea and vomiting in infants.

“The Health Ministry will continue to monitor the issue with Nestlé Malaysia to ensure product safety is assured,” it said.

India pushes new trade deals to offset steep US tariffs as Washington talks stall

India pushes new trade deals to offset steep US tariffs as Washington talks stall



It was previously reported that India’s trade pact with the United States was delayed because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make a telephone call to President Donald Trump to close a deal they were negotiating. — AFP pic

Sunday, 11 Jan 2026 2:26 PM MYT


MUMBAI, Jan 11 — India is aggressively seeking trade deals to open markets for exporters and soften the blow of steep US tariffs, as efforts to secure an agreement with Washington remain elusive.

Relations between Washington and New Delhi plummeted in August after President Donald Trump raised tariffs to 50 per cent, a blow that threatens job losses and hurts India’s ambition of becoming a manufacturing and export powerhouse.

That pressure, experts say, has pushed New Delhi into a rapid diversification drive beyond its biggest market.

India signed or operationalised four trade agreements last year, including a major pact with Britain—the fastest pace of dealmaking it has seen in years—and is now eyeing fresh deals.


Negotiations are underway with the European Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, Mexico, Chile and the South American Mercosur trade bloc, either for new deals or to expand existing agreements.


If successful, India would have trade arrangements with “almost every major economy”, said Ajay Srivastava, from the New Delhi-based Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

Srivastava said 2025 was “one of the most active years” for trade agreements, which he said aimed to “spread risk” rather than to pivot from Washington.


Expand its destinations

Washington’s punishing tariffs aimed at stopping India’s purchases of Russian oil—which it says finances Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine—have driven New Delhi’s desire to grow other markets.

“The strategy was a reaction, as I read it, to what Trump did,” trade economist Biswajit Dhar told AFP. “This has now become an imperative for India to actually expand its destinations.”

Major deals will help labour-intensive sectors hurt by tariffs.

India’s apparel export promotion council projects that the UK trade deal could help double garment exports to Britain over the next three years.

The gains from a potential EU agreement could be even bigger.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, expected to visit New Delhi later in January, has said it would be the “largest deal of this kind anywhere in the world”.

Although the two sides missed a deadline to conclude talks by the end of 2025 -- reportedly over disputes related to steel and auto exports—Indian negotiators remain optimistic.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit India and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, holding talks on “intensifying cooperation in trade and investment”, Modi’s office said in a statement.

Smaller agreements also matter.

Trade between Oman and India totalled less than $11 billion last financial year, but a December deal with Muscat offers “a gateway to the broader Middle East and Africa markets”, and a template for a wider “Gulf engagement strategy”, analysts at Nomura suggested.

And while a free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand added little to Indian export growth, it secured $20 billion in foreign investment, increased visa access and showed Washington that New Delhi is willing to compromise.

“The New Zealand FTA makes concessions on agricultural produce like apples, even though farmers here may have concerns,” said an Indian commerce ministry official, who declined to be identified.

“Who says we can’t be flexible?”

Eggs in one basket

India’s goods exports rose a surprising 19 percent in November 2025, reversing an October decline.

While the surge was helped by electronics shipments—still exempt from US tariffs—marine product exports also posted gains.

“Diversification has certainly happened,” KN Raghavan, of the Seafood Exporter Association of India said.

“We have increased exports to the EU and China,” he said, adding they were the top markets after the United States.

But exporters caution that alternative markets cannot fully replace the United States, with Raghavan saying a US deal is “paramount”.

That remains in limbo.

India’s imports of Russian oil fell sharply in December to 1.2 million barrels per day from 1.8 million per day in November, according to Kpler trade data.

It is unclear if that will be enough for Trump.

Pankaj Chadha, chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council, said diversification had become a necessity to lessen dependence on the “biggest and the most lucrative” market.

“It’s better not to put all your eggs in one basket,” he said. — AFP

***

Yet India, kuai kuai like Oz (or rather, 'phor laam phar-ishly') is a member of the American organised and led QUAD

For frigg sake, stand up on your own two feet lah.