Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Israeli strikes on Tyre have killed eight people & wounded 32

Lebanese official says Israeli strikes on Tyre have killed eight people

Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli airstrike on the southern city of Tyre before an Israeli military warning on Tuesday killed at least eight people and wounded 32 others, noting the toll was provisional.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) had reported the strike not long before Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning for the entire city and surrounding areas ahead of strikes there.

Bersatu raises concerns over effectiveness of Perikatan chairman

Bersatu raises concerns over effectiveness of Perikatan chairman

By RAHIMY RAHIM

Tuesday, 09 Jun 2026 | 11:48 AM MYT

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu has raised concerns over the effectiveness of Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar amid the party's tensions with PAS.

Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said various disputes have emerged between the two parties but appropriate solutions have allegedly not followed.

ALSO READ: PAS calls it quits with Bersatu

"As PAS vice-president, Ahmad Samsuri is constrained in making final decisions because he must first refer to the PAS president and the party’s Syura Council.

“This has resulted in many key issues within Perikatan not being effectively resolved through coalition channels,” said Tun Faisal in a statement posted on Facebook today (June 9).

Late Monday (June 8) night, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced that the party had decided to terminate its political cooperation with Bersatu.

ALSO READ: PAS can no longer remain under PN with Bersatu, says info chief

His announcement followed a special meeting of the PAS central working committee at party headquarters.

Tun Faisal also said he understood that Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People Party (MIPP) had attempted to meet Ahmad Samsuri to seek clarification regarding Abdul Hadi Awang's recent public remarks.

However, he claimed that the effort had yet to receive a proper response.

He said this raised questions about Ahmad Samsuri’s effectiveness as Perikatan chairman in ensuring the coalition functions smoothly, makes decisions effectively and resolves internal conflicts among its component parties.

BN plays for power while DAP and Harapan absorb public blame

BN plays for power while DAP and Harapan absorb public blame

Mahathir Mohd Rais
Published: Jun 9, 2026 10:56 AM
Updated: 1:35 PM

COMMENT | When Johor caretaker menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi says he would rather step aside than govern with DAP, it should not come as a surprise.

Umno and DAP have never been natural partners. For decades, they defined themselves in opposition to each other. That did not suddenly disappear after the last general election.

The current cooperation exists because of necessity, not alignment.

After a hung Parliament, political stability became the priority. On the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, parties that once opposed each other formed a government. It was a practical decision to avoid prolonged uncertainty.

Practicality does not erase history.

BN did not enter this arrangement out of ideological agreement. It entered to remain relevant, to retain access to power, and to keep its political machinery alive. That is how seasoned political parties operate.

Wanita Umno exco Nurul Hidayah Ahmad Zahid takes a selfie with Selangor state exco from DAP, Jamaliah Jamaluddin, during the Unity Government National Convention circa 2023

The expectation that this relationship would evolve into something deeper was always misplaced.

Harapan ended decades of BN dominance in 2018, on a platform that framed BN as corrupt, unfit to govern, and associated with kleptocrats.

That narrative defined its rise. Harapan built its identity in direct opposition to BN. Long-term loyalty from a rival of that scale was never a given.

BN is not new to power politics. It has operated at the centre of government for generations. Even in defeat, it repositions. Within the current arrangement, it retains influence, rebuilds its networks, and stabilises its base.

Anger concentrates on those in charge

Public dissatisfaction with government policies rarely falls on BN. It falls on the leadership of the government, which is Harapan. That is the equation.

Small and medium enterprises are being squeezed from all sides. Costs keep rising, margins keep shrinking. E-hailing drivers are still asking for fairer fares, but nothing moves.

Diesel prices go up. Food prices go up. Daily expenses go up. Wages have increased, but not enough to keep pace with the cost of living. On the ground, it changes little for most.

Sabah students burn a drawing of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in June 2025

At the same time, businesses are dealing with higher wage bills and tighter cash flow. They are expected to absorb both sides, and many are already frustrated.

External factors like global conflict may explain part of the pressure, but that explanation does not always reach the ground.

What people experience is immediate, not theoretical. These decisions are made collectively within the government, but public anger is rarely distributed evenly. It concentrates on those in charge.

Even when policies are agreed across parties, the burden does not spread equally. The face of government carries it. The prime minister takes the hit, while others remain shielded.

The logic of realpolitik

When Onn and other BN state leaders speak with confidence, especially after moving to dissolve the state assembly, it reflects their position. They know exactly where they stand in the political structure.

Whether others recognise this reality is unlikely.

Statements that project desperation or surprise weaken a coalition. They suggest dependence.

Political partnerships require clarity, not illusion. Cooperation does not mean alignment. Support does not mean loyalty.

BN is acting in its own interest.

Screenshot during the Umno General Assembly in 2021

The real question is whether Harapan is playing the same game at all.

Long-term strength does not come from relying on a partner that has already defined its position. It comes from consolidating its own base, communicating its own direction, and standing on its own political footing.

The current situation is not new. It reflects how Malaysian politics has long operated.

This is not a breakdown of the system. It is the system working as intended. Power is shared. Blame is not.

Those who understand it adapt. Those who misread it react. In politics, reaction is not strategy.

MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is a former Federal Territories Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional secretary. He is now a PKR member.

Zahid believes Chinese voters returning to BN

Zahid believes Chinese voters returning to BN

Published: Jun 9, 2026 3:49 PM
Updated: 8:07 PM

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believed that Chinese voters are beginning to swing back to his coalition.

Likening Chinese votes to a pendulum on a clock, he acknowledged that for BN, the swing was coming back around.

“But there are no clocks where (the pendulum) only swings down, it also goes up.

“And I am confident, and I believe that Chinese voters, little by little, are returning to BN,” he said in an interview with Nanyang Siang Pau today.

The deputy prime minister also quipped how a once-strong party had won zero seats in a recent state election, likely referring to DAP being wiped out in the Sabah polls.

He said this also showed that Chinese voters were practical, and that they could also be practical in the next general election.

Zahid’s party, Umno, has had a poor rapport with non-Malays over the years, with party youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh infamous for making remarks that had racially charged undertones.

However, DAP and Pakatan Harapan have also been struggling with non-Malay support of late over various issues such as perceived pandering to conservative Malays in order to gain Malay support to the detriment of the coalition’s own base.

Long time to undo ‘DAP bogeyman’ view

Meanwhile, in an interview with China Press, Zahid said it would take more than three years to undo the Malay perception that DAP is a bogeyman.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad

He said this was because a former prime minister had spent 22 years demonising the party, referring to Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Zahid also said that competition in politics is normal and that there are no permanent friends or foes in this field.

Anwar symbolic, but PKR not short of capable leaders, Rafizi told

Anwar symbolic, but PKR not short of capable leaders, Rafizi told

Published: Jun 8, 2026 8:00 PM
Updated: 10:08 PM

Two PKR leaders have poured cold water on Rafizi Ramli's prediction that the party would not survive past the Anwar Ibrahim era.

According to PKR Women's vice-chief Loh Ker Chean and Puchong PKR division chief Zaihasri Jaafar, while the party has long been synonymous with Anwar and his political struggle, it has nurtured many capable leaders who can carry its agenda forward.

"Developing leaders does not only happen during elections, but rather, a continuous process. Even Rafizi himself is a product of PKR.

"The very fact that many political figures who were nurtured and developed by PKR continue to play important roles in the country's political landscape demonstrates that the party has consistently served as a platform for cultivating talent and leadership," she said in a statement.

Loh stressed that she is confident that PKR will continue to be relevant for the values that it fights for, instead of depending on any individual.

PKR Women's vice-chief Loh Ker Chean

Similarly, Zaihasri said it was inaccurate for Rafizi to describe the party as if it had failed to train the next generation of leaders.

He pointed out that PKR has gone through several generations of leadership since the party's inception in 1999, with many of its figures having become lawmakers and members of federal and state administrations.

"We must recognise that no leader lasts forever. Yet history has shown that movements built on enduring values will always find new leaders to continue the cause.

"PKR was not born from the comfort of holding power, but from the courage of ordinary Malaysians demanding change. As long as that spirit endures, the party will continue to nurture new generations of leaders prepared to carry the torch of the reformasi movement," Zaihasri said.

Bersama de facto leader Rafizi Ramli

Last night, Rafizi, who is Parti Bersama Malaysia de facto leader, said he had predicted that PKR risks dying out after the Anwar era.

According to him, this was due to the party’s bureaucracy and its failure to reinvent itself.

Gerakan stays committed to PN

Gerakan stays committed to PN

2 hours ago
Faiz Zainudin

Gerakan president Dominic Lau says the party will continue to play a constructive role in strengthening Perikatan Nasional

Gerakan president Dominic Lau (third from left) said the party respected the role and contributions of both PAS and Bersatu within PN.

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan says it remains committed to Perikatan Nasional despite PAS yesterday announcing that it was severing ties with Bersatu.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau said the party respected the role and contributions of both PAS and Bersatu within PN and is awaiting clarification from both parties before commenting on yesterday’s development.

“This is the time for all parties within PN to remain focussed on the bigger task before us,” he said, referring to the upcoming state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

“Gerakan will continue to play a constructive role in strengthening Perikatan Nasional as a coalition that can be accepted by Malaysians of all races and religions, while upholding political stability, principled leadership, and the people’s interests above all else,” said the deputy PN chairman.

PN, the coalition jointly formed by Bersatu and PAS in 2020, also includes Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party.

Concerns over PN’s future emerged after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang announced last night that the party was ending its political cooperation with Bersatu.

Hadi said PAS would form a new political pact to face the upcoming state elections and the next general election with the goal of “uniting the ummah”.

PAS central committee member Shahidan Kassim said the Islamic party would remain a PN component for now, while PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has signalled that his party and Bersatu can no longer share the same platform in PN.

This came nearly three weeks after Hadi said PAS was reassessing its ties with Bersatu and might contest GE16 without Muhyiddin Yassin’s party.

In a May 22 press conference, Hadi said several issues strained ties between the parties, including the move to unseat the Perlis menteri besar, alleged interference in appointments involving Kedah and Kelantan, and Bersatu’s opposition to admitting new Malay-Muslim parties into PN.

Lau called for unity soon after, warning that internal divisions would spell defeat for PN at the polls.

***

Oh how the mighty have fallen

- 2 Samuel (1:19)

😢😢😢

No need to act so high and mighty, Anwar’s aide tells Zahid

No need to act so high and mighty, Anwar’s aide tells Zahid

Kamil Munim responds to the Barisan Nasional chairman's reminder that the unity government could not have been formed without the coalition’s MPs

Kamil Munim, an aide to the prime minister, said everyone knows the unity government was formed with the collaboration of various parties and not ‘just one group’.

PETALING JAYA: An aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rebuked Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over the Barisan Nasional chairman’s reminder that the unity government could not have been formed without BN’s MPs.

Kamil Munim said there was no necessity for Zahid to make such claims and everyone knew that the unity government was formed with the collaboration of various parties and not “just one group”.

“So, there is no need to act so high and mighty. Looks like old habits die hard,” he said in a Facebook post.

Last night, Zahid, who is also the Umno president, said that without BN’s 30 parliamentary seats, Pakatan Harapan would not have had the parliamentary majority to lead the current government.

BN’s contribution to national stability could not be dismissed, the deputy prime minister said.

Kamil said that even the party with the most number of seats in PH did not act as if it was the nation’s saviour or pillar of stability.

While he did not name the party, it is believed that he was alluding to DAP, which won 40 seats.

Kamil said stability stemmed from respecting and understanding each other as well as prioritising the people and nation’s interest.

“Stability does not come from an arrogant and haughty attitude,” he said.

A thousand ways to be Malay

A thousand ways to be Malay

13 hours ago
'Ainin Wan Salleh

Recognising these differences acknowledges reality rather than forcing artificial uniformity

I recently stumbled upon a fascinating excerpt while browsing several pages from the book “Malayland” by Malaysian author Dina Zaman.

Recalling a conversation with her non-Malay friends, she wrote: “I am asked by non-Malay friends why the Malays are like this and like that. I had a call once at 1am, and I told the person to befriend a Malay and then figure us out. You’re Malaysian and don’t have a Malay friend? What an idiot.

“And if we do have friends from all races, they typically fit in the same boxes we have created for ourselves: similar social and economic class, and traits like language elitism.”

Naturally, some netizens commented that Dina herself is Malay, and thus she is that Malay friend of her non-Malay friends.

But that sounds like too heavy a burden for one person, to answer for the diversity in thought, experience, and interests of a group of people who make up 58.3% of the population, according to 2025 statistics.

In my case, too, having been the sole Malay in many instances within both social and professional settings, I sure hope my non-Malay friends and colleagues don’t look to me to be a “spokesperson” for an entire community. I had a conversation with Dina, and she could relate to this experience.

That brings us to “Malay unity” – the catch phrase that politicians throw about for bringing together people of the same ethnicity. The idea is simple. If the Malay and Muslim-based parties can get the Malays to stick together, they will be a force to be reckoned with at the ballot box – 58.3%, am I right? And together with other Bumiputeras, that’s a whopping 70.5%.

With such a large population, there is bound to be great variance in thought, experiences, needs, wants and, dare I say, even competing priorities. Malays cannot be viewed as a monolithic community.

The diversity within

My parents, both Malay, grew up on opposite coasts of the peninsula, one in Penang, the other in Kelantan, and their experiences could not have been more different. One started his education “under a tree” while my mother attended a convent school.

My maternal great-grandmother was a Wanita Umno member, while my paternal grandfather was a PAS man through and through. Even among my own family, my cousins who grew up in the northern states had childhoods that differed markedly from my upbringing in the capital. Their different experiences contributed to different worldviews.

This plurality is reflected across the community, from rural villages to bustling concrete jungles, wherever Malays call home. We have different relationships with our identity, religion, culture, politics, and even the world beyond us, including our interactions and ties with non-Malay communities.

Let’s call this “Malay diversity”.

Recognising these differences acknowledges reality rather than forcing artificial uniformity.

Political analyst Syaza Shukri, from International Islamic University Malaysia, pointed out that Malay political unity ceased even before Malayan independence, with the formation of PAS in the 1950s when several Umno leaders split from the party.

Many years later, Amanah was formed as a splinter group from PAS, hoping to bring voters a more “moderate” version of political Islam.

Is this great diversity the reason why “Malay unity” can never materialise? Or maybe just not in the way we’ve always envisioned?

Mahathir’s efforts

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has repeatedly warned that a divided Malay community would make them the “losers”, putting the nation at risk, with Tanah Melayu becoming a land that belongs to others.

He has repeatedly sought to unite the Malays throughout his political career as a leader of Umno, Bersatu and Pejuang.

One such effort was the formation of Gerakan Tanah Air in August 2022, a coalition comprising Malay political parties, NGOs, academics and professionals. The coalition contested the general election later that year but suffered a resounding defeat, with all candidates, including Mahathir, losing their deposits.

In June last year, he launched yet another Malay unity initiative, although its direction remains uncertain after the falling out of prominent figures such as Hamzah Zainudin and Muhyiddin Yassin.

And the Malays remain “divided”.

Looking ahead

As a Malay, I wonder: is “Malay unity” a winning formula? Who am I uniting with? Do we really share the same values and priorities? Who are we beyond the perennial debate over our rights and privileges?

I won’t pretend to have the answers and luckily, I’m not a politician or government leader charged with finding the answers. But I am a voter, and I would like to see a form of politics and governance that draws strength from our differences.

Perhaps we need to focus less on the so-called “external threats” to the Malays and more on how the diversity within can bring meaning not only to the community, but to society as a whole.

I haven’t had the chance to read Dina’s book in its entirety, but perhaps she was telling her non-Malay friends to get to know more Malays so they can see beyond stereotypes and appreciate the community in all its complexity. And so that they’d stop calling her at 1am.

But don’t just take my word for it. I’m just one Malay among over 20 million others.

Ainin Wan Salleh is a news editor with FMT’s English desk.

5 questions that will shape the Johor polls

5 questions that will shape the Johor polls

Yesterday
Tajuddin Rasdi

The Johor election is of significance in view of the country's current political landscape

The impending Johor election isn’t just an opportunity for Barisan Nasional, in particular Umno, to reaffirm its dominance in the state where it was born. It is also a litmus test for the country’s ever-changing political landscape.

In the Johor election of March 2022, BN secured 40 seats. But the national general election in November 2022, on the other hand, ushered in a couple of significant changes.

For one, BN joined forces with Pakatan Harapan to form the federal unity coalition government, an alliance in which Umno and DAP, once bitter rivals became allies.

Perikatan Nasional became the opposition, although the coalition is somewhat unstable now in view of the tension between PAS and Bersatu.

Which is why I feel that the Johor election is of significance. The answers to five questions I have may just be a harbinger of things to come.

How will Umno do?

Will Umno retain their 33 seats or gain more? There is a good chance they will retain their seats, but they are unlikely to win more.

At the March 2022 polls, Umno gambled on the fact that holding an election at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic would deter voters from returning to cast their ballots.

Like many, my wife, son, daughter and I did not return to Skudai to vote for fear of the virus. Non-Malay voters, particularly the Chinese, stayed away, as many did in the 15th general election.

This time, there is no pandemic to discourage voters. So that may not work in Umno’s favour. However, the feud between Muhyiddin Yassin and Hamzah Zainudin, which could potentially wreck PN, would benefit Umno greatly.

Likewise, PH stands to benefit from returning voters, although Rafizi Ramli’s Parti Bersama Malaysia may throw a spanner in the works, which could also work in Umno’s benefit.

With no real race or religious issues plaguing the state and Onn Hafiz Ghazi doing a decent job as menteri besar, the odds are in Umno’s favour.

Will PH field new faces?

I hope to see PH fielding new faces as it would complement renewed calls for reforms and prove that the coalition has groomed its next generation of leaders.

A fresh lineup will also impress on voters that PH is moving away from “old politics”. New faces, after all, come without the baggage that the first-generation Reformasi fighters now carry with them.

Failure to introduce a new lineup could spell an end for PH in Johor and perhaps even at the federal level.

The one thing that could work in PH’s favour, however, is the possibility of Umno joining forces with PAS, which would see Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s party revert to its old ways. That possibility alone may encourage voters to back PH.

How will Bersama fare?

Bersama will also be contesting in the polls and plans to do so on its own. Rafizi’s “kamikaze” policy, which he unveiled when he took over the party, could be to Bersama’s detriment, as well as that of PH.

The party will not win any seats, unless it fields candidates in two DAP strongholds. But should Bersama wrest these seats from DAP, they would no longer be regarded as “spoilers” but seen to be real contenders, albeit one without any coalition partners as yet.

Will Bersama tie up with PH?

Will Bersama and PH work together or finish off one another? Will PH give way to Bersama for a few seats and reach a gentlemen’s agreement? I think it will be a win-win for PH and Bersama, especially for Anwar Ibrahim and Rafizi, should they come together and push for reforms and progressive politics.

Rafizi is now, to a certain extent, on equal footing with Anwar and needs to be a little more mature. Magnanimity and strategy are the hallmarks of great leadership.

Look at Zahid and Khairy Jamaluddin. No one believes that they are BFFs (best friends forever) but politics demands executing a winning formula, instead of sulking.

Who will the kingmakers back?

The fifth and final question from me will be for the Johor voters. Will the kingmakers give a chance to PH? After all, abstaining from the polls will ensure Umno continues to rule.

And if by a miracle PAS wins many seats and takes over Johor, what then?

For my family and I, we are going down to ensure that the best outcome for Malaysia lies in those who do not make race and religion the pillar of their political cause.

There is only one choice in the battle between PH, PN and BN.

In my opinion, BN and by extension Umno, needs to eat humble pie and be schooled again in the politics that was championed by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first prime minister – politics that advocated inclusiveness and rejected nativist narratives.

If Johor can be a test site for a better Malaysia, we owe it to ourselves to play an important part in changing our nation in this manner.

PAS’s conduct casts doubt on ability to renew ties with Umno, says Khairuddin

PAS’s conduct casts doubt on ability to renew ties with Umno, says Khairuddin

Former PAS leader questions the party’s narrative of Malay unity after it ends ties with Bersatu

Umno ulama council deputy chairman Khairuddin Aman Razali said although he is no longer a PAS member, he feels it is his responsibility to speak up as long as the party carries the name of Islam.

PETALING JAYA: A former PAS leader has expressed doubt over the party’s ability to revive cooperation with Umno, pointing to PAS’s “current behaviour” and the collapse of its five-year alliance with Bersatu.

Khairuddin Aman Razali, who strongly supported unity between PAS and Umno but left the Islamic party in March 2022 after those efforts failed, also questioned PAS’s continued rhetoric on Malay unity in light of its recent political moves.

The former PAS syura council secretary said the public had witnessed how a relationship once filled with praise had turned into criticism following the end of PAS’s cooperation with Bersatu yesterday.

“How can PAS be trusted to cooperate again when Malaysians clearly see how fragile the relationship between PAS and Bersatu has been?

“Many praises were sung when relations were good, but when the split happened, there were many insults. This is not Islamic conduct,” the Umno ulama council deputy chairman said in a statement today.

Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang announced that the party, which is part of Perikatan Nasional (PN), had decided to end its political cooperation with Bersatu.

This was after PAS reviewed Bersatu’s actions, citing developments in Negeri Sembilan and Perlis as well as disagreements over efforts to bring certain parties into PN.

Khairuddin said Umno’s cooperation with PKR and Amanah was currently a better formula for the party’s revival, although he remained critical of DAP.

“The obstacles to cooperation with PKR and Amanah are the actions of DAP, which are very worrying and not friendly towards Malays and Islam,” he said.

Khairuddin added that although he was no longer a PAS member, he felt it was his responsibility to speak up as long as the party carries the name of Islam.

“To PAS members, I know you are sincere followers. To the leaders, love your sincere supporters and do not disappoint them.

“I am also a supporter of Malay-Muslim unity across parties for the sake of Islam. Ideally, Umno, PAS, PKR, and Amanah should sit at the same table,” he added.

We always knew PAS-Bersatu pact wouldn’t last, says Zahid

We always knew PAS-Bersatu pact wouldn’t last, says Zahid

Umno president says the partnership was not 'rooted in sincerity'

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said political collaborations must be based on mutual trust and commitment. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says his party had anticipated PAS’s move to end political cooperation with Bersatu as their partnership was not “rooted in sincerity”.

Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya today, Zahid said the development was a lesson that all political collaborations must be based on mutual trust and commitment.

“We already expected this to happen. All collaborations must be rooted in sincerity,” he was reported as saying by Berita Harian.

“Collaborations must not only be based on political considerations but should also be viewed in terms of nation-building and national unity,” he added after attending a community development department programme.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang announced last night that the party’s central committee had decided to end its political cooperation with Bersatu after reviewing their alliance.

Hadi said PAS would instead form a new political pact to face the upcoming state elections and the next general election, with the goal of “uniting the ummah”.

Last Friday, Hadi confirmed that PAS and Umno leaders had met in Kuala Lumpur, but described it as a routine meeting in which he was not personally involved.

The meeting came days after PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man called for PAS and Umno to work together in the Johor state election, saying it was the right time to revive their now-defunct Muafakat Nasional (MN) alliance.

The MN alliance between Umno and PAS was formalised in 2019 when Pakatan Harapan led the federal government. The pact collapsed after PAS formed Perikatan Nasional with Bersatu the following year.

PAS decides to sever ties with Bersatu

PAS decides to sever ties with Bersatu

The Islamic party decides to form a new electoral pact to 'unite the ummah' as it faces the upcoming state elections and GE16

On May 22, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (right) said his party was reassessing its ties with Bersatu and would possibly contest GE16 without Muhyiddin Yassin’s party.

PETALING JAYA: PAS has decided to sever ties with Bersatu, nearly three weeks after the party’s president, Abdul Hadi Awang, accused Bersatu of straining ties between both parties.

This was decided by the Islamic party’s central committee, which convened at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tonight to make a decision on its relationship with Bersatu.

In a statement, Hadi said the PAS leadership had thoroughly reviewed the position and direction of its alliance with Bersatu based on reports and evaluations.

“The PAS central committee meeting today has decided to halt its political cooperation with Bersatu,” he said.

Instead, PAS will explore forming a new political pact to face the upcoming state elections and the next general election (GE16), with the goal of “uniting the ummah”.

Hadi said PAS welcomes academics, professionals, political leaders and community activists to join its ranks.

On May 22, Hadi had said PAS was reassessing its ties with Bersatu and would possibly contest GE16 without Muhyiddin Yassin’s party.

He said several issues had strained ties between the two parties, including the move to unseat the Perlis menteri besar, alleged interference in appointments involving Kedah and Kelantan, and Bersatu’s opposition to admitting new Malay-Muslim parties into Perikatan Nasional.

On May 25, Muhyiddin sent a letter to PAS leaders rebuffing Hadi’s allegations and justifying his party’s actions on the issues raised by the PAS president.

The strained ties between PAS and Bersatu have also been followed by calls for the Islamic party to revive its Muafakat Nasional alliance with Umno, a key component of the unity government.

Last week, Hadi confirmed that PAS and Umno leaders had met at a “regular meeting”.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, however, the leaders involved did not discuss reviving their defunct pact with PAS.

***

PAS remains in PN for now, says Shahidan

6 hours ago
Faiz Zainudin

The PAS leader points out that Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement on ending the party’s alliance with Bersatu does not touch on PN

PAS central committee member Shahidan Kassim said the party’s existing position in PN remains. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS remains a component of Perikatan Nasional for now despite the Islamic party deciding to end its political alliance with Bersatu.

PAS central committee member Shahidan Kassim pointed out that party president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement on the decision did not touch on PN at all.

“So our existing position (in PN) remains,” Shahidan told reporters as he left the PAS headquarters at Jalan Raja Laut here tonight.

Separately, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari sidestepped questions on what the decision would mean for the opposition coalition.

“I don’t want to comment on that for now,” he said.

Fadhli also declined to disclose if the decision to cut ties with Bersatu was unanimous.

In a statement earlier, Hadi announced that the party’s central committee had decided to end its political cooperation with Bersatu after reviewing the direction of the alliance.

Hadi said PAS will instead form a new political pact to face the upcoming state elections and the next general election (GE16), with the goal of “uniting the ummah”.

FMT has reached out to Gerakan president Dominic Lau and Malaysian Indian People’s Party president P Punithan for comment.

PN, the coalition jointly formed by Bersatu and PAS in 2020, is currently led by the Islamic party’s vice-president, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

On May 22, the Marang MP said PAS was reassessing its ties with Bersatu and would possibly contest GE16 without Muhyiddin Yassin’s party.

The strained ties between PAS and Bersatu were also followed by calls for PAS to revive its Muafakat Nasional alliance with Umno, a key component of the unity government.

Last week, Hadi confirmed that PAS and Umno leaders had met at a “regular meeting” but Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the leaders involved did not discuss reviving their defunct pact with PAS.

***

... meaning PAS still wants Gerakan and MIPP, wakakaka

Dashcam footage of road accidents may be deemed ‘online harm’ content: Fahmi

The bodies of a family that died in a fatal road accident involving a Proton X50 SUV and a lorry, the video of which was shared widely on social media, are laid to rest in Merbok, Kedah, this morning. - Bernama pic, June 8, 2026

Dashcam footage of road accidents may be deemed ‘online harm’ content: Fahmi

Communications Minister urges Online Safety Committee to review the definition of online harm and expand it to include videos and photos of road accidents

Scoop Reporters
Updated 9 hours ago
8 June, 2026
6:47 PM MYT

PUTRAJAYA — The government may expand the definition of online harm to include content showing road accidents, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said.

He urged the government’s Online Safety Committee to be prepared to conduct a review of content that can be considered disturbing or graphic.

Including footage of road accidents in the definition of online harm can protect public sensitivities, victims and their families, as well as prevent interference with investigations, he added.

Fahmi cited the fatal crash involving six members of a family in their brand new Proton X50 in Kedah yesterday, noting that dashcam footage of the incident had been widely circulated online.

“Imagine if the family were to see the unfiltered footage? I hope the Online Safety Committee will consider this and invite stakeholders from social media platforms to take appropriate action. We want the platforms themselves to take action,” he said at a press conference today, Bernama reports.

The minister earlier attended the Media Roundtable on Safe and Responsible Suicide Reporting, where Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was also present.

The family of six involved in the road accident in Pinang Tunggal, Sungai Petani, Kedah at 3.50pm yesterday had been riding in a Proton X50 SUV that strayed into the opposite lane on a straight stretch of road, colliding with a lorry carrying soil.

Five of them, including a baby, died, while a three-year-old girl survived with serious injuries.

The child is reported to be in stable condition today at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) in Alor Setar.

The five family members who perished were buried at Kampung Simpang Tiga Pasir in Merbok, Kedah, this morning. They were Ahmad Shafiq Ahmad Shukri, 29, his wife Jamaliah Sannusi, 29, their two-month-old baby boy Ahmad Mikail, his mother Nora Mhd Husin, 55, and his younger brother Ahmad Fahim, 21.

Another victim, Iskandar Affan Ibrahim, seven, Ahmad Shafiq’s nephew, was laid to rest at the Permatang Kuang Mosque Muslim Cemetery in Penaga, Penang

Police applied for a remand order against the lorry driver but were rejected by the Sungai Petani Magistrate’s Court.

Magistrate Mohamad Azlan Basri allowed the 49-year-old man to be released today following his arrest immediately after the incident.

The lorry driver tested negative for drugs, had a valid driving license, and had been driving at 60 kilometres per hour at the time of the incident, according to Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah. – June 8, 2026

[WATCH] Ronnie Liu: Pahang durian case shows compromise can work for Selangor pig farms

PODABOOM

[WATCH] Ronnie Liu: Pahang durian case shows compromise can work for Selangor pig farms

Former exco member believes court proceedings can lead to beneficial out-of-court solutions.

Keran Raj
Updated 9 minutes ago
8 June, 2026
9:00 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – The ongoing dispute over pig farming in Selangor could have been resolved through negotiations similar to those that ended the long-running durian orchard conflict in Pahang, according to former Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu.

Speaking in a recent Scoop Insight podcast, Liu argued that legal action should not be viewed solely as a confrontation but as a mechanism that could eventually lead to negotiations and a mutually beneficial settlement between farmers and the state government.

He cited the Royal Pahang Durian dispute as an example of how court proceedings can create opportunities for compromise.

“Once you start legal matters and legal actions and all that, there is always an opportunity for out-of-court settlement. But if you don’t take legal action, then you don’t have a chance of out-of-court settlement,” Liu said to podcast hosts, Scoop Editor-in-Chief Terence Fernandez and News Editor Azim Idris.

Liu, a former DAP politician, noted that the eventual resolution of the Pahang durian orchard issue benefited multiple parties through a negotiated arrangement in which the farmers can secure long-term rights to farm the land by sub-leasing from the state government and selling their produce to a designated company.

“Royal Pahang (Durian Export Sdn Bhd) as a company, gets the fruits to sell, (and) make some profits. And the state government gets the rent, land tax and all that. And then the federal government gets the income tax, corporate tax, that kind of thing. So it’s a win-win situation,” Liu said.

He said a similar approach could still be adopted for pig farmers affected by the Selangor’s decision to phase out farming operations in Tanjong Sepat, adding that discussions on relocation, compensation and restructuring could have taken place if all parties were willing to engage.

His previous criticism of Selangor’s decision to end large-scale pig farming sparked strong reactions after some interpreted his remarks as disrespect for Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, and thus the monarchy.

The Sultan subsequently stressed that the ban on pig farming in the state was necessary to protect public health and the environment.

However, Liu maintained that any proposed legal action by pig farmers would be against the state government, rather than the palace.

The former exco member also noted that the roots of the pig farming controversy predated the current administration.

Plans to modernise pig farming in Selangor were first explored under the Barisan Nasional state government led by former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, prior to the “political tsunami” in 2008.

Fernandez, who reported on the matter that year, revealed that then-Tanjung Sepat assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Mansor had participated in an official study trip to Germany and the Netherlands to examine modern pig farming methods.

The Selangor delegation later proposed a modern pig farming project to the state government before the political transition.

Fernandez reported that photographs from the visit showed Abdul Karim visiting pig farming facilities and endorsing proposals for a centralised pig farming project in Kuala Langat.

The article also noted that documents related to the study trip had initially been classified as official secrets by the previous state administration before being declassified later.

Excerpts from an article in 2008 on a visit to a modern pig farm overseas by Selangor assemblymen.

In response, Liu said the Pakatan Rakyat administration had continued exploration of the modernisation proposal.

“I remember very well that when the late Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was alerted about this issue, he brought the matter up in the state exco.”

“We then gave Ean Yong Hian Wah, who was handling the Chinese new village portfolio, the task of exploring the possibility and viability of modern pig farming in Tanjung Sepat.”

However, he said the proposal eventually stalled due to financial constraints, as it required significant funding that pig farmers could not afford.

Liu stressed that even at the time the farms were operating without any major issue, which meant that the farms were clean and there were no complaints of bad smells and pollution.

“So this controversy that came about is a bit unusual,” he added.

Liu claimed the current dispute only escalated last year when farmers were informed that they would have to comply with additional requirements to continue operating.

“So they list out certain things for them that they must improve and all that. And then they did try to improve, but no follow-up. Then suddenly, they were verbally told that you guys cannot do (pig farming) any more,” he said.

According to Liu, farmers subsequently sought meetings with state leaders in an effort to find a solution before the matter became public.

“Then after that, the news broke, the farmers did a peaceful rally, and the state government said that they will look into it.”

However, Liu said the state government had yet to fully explore alternative solutions, including relocation options, insisting that farmers had never ruled out moving if a viable plan was offered.

The pig farming issue remains one of Selangor’s most contentious policy debates, with affected farmers continuing to weigh legal action, while the state government proceeds with plans to close farms in Tanjung Sepat.

Despite ongoing criticism from affected parties, the Selangor government indicated the process of clearing pig farms is now in its final stage, with about 11,000 pigs still remaining across roughly 30 operational farms.

Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Exco Datuk Izham Hashim said the farms are being closed in stages after an enforcement order issued in February, but the process is delayed because many of the animals have not yet reached suitable weight and maturity for slaughter.

He added that no new piglets are being introduced, and all remaining pigs will be sent to the Rawang slaughterhouse once ready.

The phased approach is meant to ensure an orderly shutdown while managing animal welfare and logistics, with authorities expecting the process to be completed soon.

The state government had earlier decided to stop issuing pig farming licences and phase out existing operations following policy changes linked to environmental concerns and the Sultan of Selangor’s stance on pig farming.

Meanwhile, farmers are being guided through a transition process, including relocation and possible shifts into other agricultural activities. – June 8, 2026

Monday, June 08, 2026

The Bibi Break-Up Begins, As Does The IC Purge...

Badlands Brief

The Bibi Break-Up Begins, As Does The IC Purge...

GhostofBasedPatrickHenry

Jun 8

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The Badlands Brief is your daily drop of Badlands’ takes on the narratives dominating the info war. Read on, and join the conversation in the comments section.

Netanyahu Defies Trump; Strikes Iran to Restart War

President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran following an Iranian missile attack, according to Axios, which cited a senior U.S. official and an Israeli source. Trump separately told the Financial Times that Netanyahu would have “no choice” but to accept any agreement the United States negotiates with Iran and said he “calls the shots” in the talks.
The diplomatic pressure came as regional tensions escalated. Iran launched 11 ballistic missiles toward Israel on June 8, according to Israeli officials cited by Axios, marking the first direct Iranian attack since an April 8 ceasefire.
In response, the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes against military targets in central and western Iran, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the operation focused on missile launch sites and related infrastructure and did not target energy facilities. Explosions were reported in multiple Iranian cities.
A U.S. defense official told Axios that American forces did not participate in the Israeli strikes. Iran has warned that further Israeli attacks could prompt additional responses, raising concerns about broader regional escalation.

GhostofBasedPatrickHenry: And here we have yet another phone call between President Trump and Israeli journalist Barak Ravid. These are now happening every few weeks.

There isn’t another journalist with that level of access to President Trump; nor is there another journalist to whom Trump has expressed anti-Netanyahu sentiments.

Pattern recognition.

Here’s what Ravid posted following his phone call with the President.

President Trump then did a phone interview with the Financial Times of London. When asked whether he thought Netanyahu would accept the deal Trump was negotiating with Iran, Trump replied: “He won’t have any choice. I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn’t call the shots.”