Sabah’s multimillion-ringgit water scandal case reaches climax as court set to deliver verdict today

Sabah’s multimillion-ringgit water scandal case reaches climax as court set to deliver verdict today



File picture of former Sabah Water Department (SWD) director Ag Mohd Tahir Ag Talib and his wife Fauziah Piut. Mohd Tahir, Fauziah, and former deputy director Lim Lam Beng, 72, were charged on December 28, 2016. All three pleaded not guilty. — Picture by Julia Chan

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 8:51 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Nearly a decade after it first made headlines with images of large cash seizures during anti-graft raids, the court is expected to deliver its decision today in a high-profile money laundering case linked to the Sabah Water Department.

The case drew nationwide attention in 2016 after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission carried out one of the biggest seizures recorded in Sabah involving cash and valuables worth tens of millions of ringgit, according to Berita Harian.

Images showing stacks of cash discovered during the raids circulated widely in local media, placing the investigation among the country’s most closely watched corruption-related cases.

Former Sabah Water Department director Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 63, his wife Fauziah Piut, 61, and former deputy director Lim Lam Beng, 72, were charged on December 28, 2016. All three pleaded not guilty.

Ag Mohd Tahir faces 11 charges, while Fauziah faces 19 charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.

Fauziah also faces two joint charges with Ag Mohd Tahir under the same law, while Ag Mohd Tahir faces an additional charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the Act.

According to the charges, the alleged offences involving Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah were said to have taken place between October 4 and November 4, 2016, at his office in Kota Kinabalu, a condominium in Sembulan, bank branches, another condominium in Sulaman and a tower in Kuala Lumpur.


Lim faces four charges involving alleged possession of a Toyota Land Cruiser and cash amounts of RM200,000, RM1.9 million and RM280,000 said to be linked to unlawful activities. The alleged offences were said to have taken place between October 13 and November 8, 2016, at the MACC office on Jalan UMS and a house here.

After several postponements, the trial began on May 7, 2018 before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat, with the prosecution calling 46 witnesses.

The defence later called 15 witnesses, including several individuals initially listed by the prosecution, among them former Sabah chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan and former minister Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

The prosecution is led by deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Jumaat, Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim.

Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah are represented by lawyers Ansari Abdullah, Sharatha Masyaroh John Ridwan Lincon, Fadzidahtul Ardianah, Rasrina Patrick T Rining and Noorsyazwani Sapri, while Lim is represented by Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh and Kelvin Wong.

Former Sabah Water Department deputy director Teo Chee Kong had earlier claimed trial to 146 money laundering charges involving RM32.923 million on December 13, 2016.

He was initially scheduled to be tried together with the other three accused.

However, Teo was discharged and acquitted by the same court on March 17, 2022 before later becoming a prosecution witness in the case against the trio.

Earlier, on February 18, 2022, he was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on all 146 charges before the MACC later imposed a RM30 million compound on him.

Trump cancels ‘planned’ massive strike on Iran inside Hormuz truce he declared

Trump cancels ‘planned’ massive strike on Iran inside Hormuz truce he declared



US President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the South Court Auditorium of The White House in Washington, DC on May 18, 2026. — AFP pic

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 9:01 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, May 19 — US President Donald Trump said he was planning a major new assault on Iran on Tuesday, but held off as he saw hope for securing a so far elusive agreement to end the war.

Trump said that he stopped his purported attack plan at the urging of Gulf Arab allies, which Iran has threatened with reciprocal attacks if the United States and Israel end a nearly six-week ceasefire.

Trump, who had indefinitely extended the truce and made clear he wants to exit a war that has proven to be a political liability, said he had prepared a new attack for Tuesday after Iran refused his outlines of a deal.

The leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates asked him “to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

But Trump added he had instructed the US military to be “prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”


Speaking later at a White House event, Trump said there had been a “very positive development” and that Arab allies said a deal was near that would leave Iran without nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies pursuing.

“There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I’d be very happy,” Trump said.


Iran has repeatedly rebuffed Trump’s offers and has exerted control over the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway into the Gulf, sending global oil prices spiralling.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed exchanges with the United States through mediator Pakistan and said Tehran made clear its “concerns.”

The cleric-run state, whose supreme leader was killed in the initial strikes on February 28 but has proven resilient, is demanding the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, the lifting of long-standing sanctions and reparations for the war.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a moderate in a system increasingly dominated since the war by the hardline Revolutionary Guards, said that speaking with Washington “does not mean surrender” and that Iran would defend its “dignity” and rights.

Iran’s Fars news agency said Sunday that Washington had presented a five-point list, which included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.

US authorities had refused to release “even 25 per cent” of Iran’s frozen assets or pay any reparations, Fars said.

But Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing an unnamed source close to the Iranian negotiating team, said the United States made one new step forward in the latest text by agreeing to waive oil sanctions while negotiations were underway.

New Hormuz body

In an earlier proposal, which was sent last week, Iran had called for an end to the war on all fronts, including Israel’s campaign in Lebanon, as well as a halt to a US naval blockade on Iranian ports in place since April 13.

Fars said the Iranian proposal had emphasised that Tehran would continue to manage the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy conduit which Iran has largely kept closed since the start of the war.

On Monday, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a new body Iran has set up to manage the strait, said it would provide “real-time updates” on the waterway via X.

The Revolutionary Guards also said Monday that internet fibre optic cables passing through the strait could be brought under an Iranian system of permits.

Hoping to control oil prices, the US Treasury extended by 30 days a sanctions waiver for Russian oil cargoes already at sea, continuing to ease the pressure on Moscow since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Strike in Kurdistan

Iran has also been ramping up military pressure.

The Revolutionary Guards on Monday said they struck groups linked to the United States and Israel within the Iranian province of Kurdistan, near the border with Iraq.

In a statement carried by the ISNA news agency, the Guards said groups from “northern Iraq and acting on behalf of the US and the Zionist regime were attempting to smuggle a large shipment of American weapons and ammunition” into Iran.

Raising fears even higher in the region, a drone strike on Sunday – unclaimed but which a UAE official appeared to blame on Iran – triggered a fire near a nuclear power station in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Trita Parsi, a critic of the war who is executive vice president of the Washington-based Quincy Institute think tank, said that Trump’s latest message aimed to reframe the narrative to show himself in control of developments.

The Gulf Arabs’ warning against an attack “could be true, but either way, they provide him with a face-saving exit from his previous threats,” he said. — AFP

Four teens arrested for allegedly strangling, assaulting e-hailing driver over unpaid fare in Alor Gajah

Four teens arrested for allegedly strangling, assaulting e-hailing driver over unpaid fare in Alor Gajah



Alor Gajah district police chief Superintendent Ahmad Abu Bakar said, based on the report lodged, the victim had picked up all the suspects via a Grab booking in Bukit Rambai to be sent to Kuala Sungai Baru town. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 9:37 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — An e-hailing driver was injured after being strangled and beaten by four teenagers, including two girls, who allegedly could not afford to pay the fare in an incident in Kuala Sungai Baru in Alor Gajah, Melaka, last Thursday.

In the incident at about 12.30am, the 41-year-old victim suffered bruises and swelling on several parts of her body, as well as strangulation marks on her neck after being attacked by the suspects, Kosmo! Online reported today.

Alor Gajah district police chief Superintendent Ahmad Abu Bakar said, based on the report lodged, the victim had picked up all the suspects via a Grab booking in Bukit Rambai to be sent to Kuala Sungai Baru town.

He said the suspects comprised two teenage boys aged 15 and 17, and two teenage girls aged 14.


“Upon arriving near a forested area in Kuala Sungai Baru, one of the suspects asked the victim to stop the vehicle, claiming they wanted to look for someone and also said they had no money to make payment online.

“A few minutes later, three of the suspects — the 17-year-old boy and the two girls — suddenly turned aggressive and attacked the victim,” he said today.

According to him, based on the victim’s statement, the male suspect strangled her from behind, while the two teenage girls hit her with an iron rod and pulled her hair.


“The suspects also threatened the victim not to seek help. Another teenage boy, however, did not enter the car as he had fled the scene.

“The victim later managed to escape by driving away from the location before lodging a police report and seeking treatment at hospital,” he said.

He added that the victim suffered injuries to her nose, neck and both hands due to the struggle.

Ahmad said investigations also found that during the journey, the vehicle stopped twice and the suspects instructed the same route to be taken repeatedly.

He said all the suspects have been arrested and remanded to assist investigations under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt using a weapon or dangerous means.

***

Have we become America?

Deadly mosque shooting in California, US: Five dead, hate crime suspected

Deadly mosque shooting in California, US: Five dead, hate crime suspected



Law enforcement and emergency services respond to a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD) in San Diego, California on May 18, 2026. — Getty Images/AFP pic

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 8:39 AM MYT


SAN DIEGO, May 19 — A shooting at a mosque complex in California killed three people, with two suspected teenage gunmen later found dead in a car from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said.


Police said emergency response teams found the victims outside the sprawling Islamic Center of San Diego, before later finding the shooters, aged 19 and 17, also dead.


TV footage from a helicopter showed armed response teams gathered outside a building, with one unidentified person lying in a pool of blood.

“We are actively investigating this as a hate crime,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters. “There was definitely hate rhetoric that was involved.”


The Islamic Center is described on its website as the largest mosque in San Diego county, which lies in southern California.


After a short period of lockdown when authorities advised residents to stay inside, San Diego police announced that the threat at the centre had been “neutralised.”

“We received a call of an active shooter at the Islamic Center. Within four minutes, officers arrived on scene and observed immediately three deceased victims out in front,” Wahl said.


“We immediately began to deploy with an active shooter response into the mosque and adjacent school,” he said, adding that police had received calls about more gunfire nearby, where a landscaper had been shot at but not hit.



Police respond to a reported active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego in San Diego, California on May 18, 2026. — AFP pic



Place of worship targeted

A few blocks from the Islamic centre, police found a vehicle in the middle of the street with the shooters dead inside.

“The suspects at this point appear to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. There were no officers involved in firing their weapons,” Wahl said.

He said that a security guard at the Islamic centre was among the three victims killed and his actions had helped prevent a deadlier attack.

“His actions were heroic and he undoubtedly saved lives today,” Wahl said.

The identities of the other two fatalities were not immediately clear.

Wahl said that the mother of one of the suspects had contacted police two hours before the attack and reported that her son was “suicidal” and that several weapons and her vehicle were missing.

Initially, police deployed to an area around a high school which the suspect was associated with, until they received a call of an active shooter at the Islamic Center.

The imam at the mosque, Taha Hassane, said that all the staff, teachers and children at the mosque were safe.

“We have never experienced tragedy like this before. And at this moment all that I can say is, sending our prayers and standing in solidarity with all the families in our community here,” he said.

“It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” the imam added.

President Donald Trump described the shooting as a “terrible situation.”

“I’ve been given some early updates, but we’re going to be going back and looking at it very strongly,” he told reporters.

Wahl, the police chief, said that given the location of the attack, investigators were “considering this a hate crime until it’s not.”

State Governor Gavin Newsom expressed horror at the attack, saying: “Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives.”

“Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith,” he said on X, adding, “To the San Diego Muslim community: California stands with you.” — AFP

***

America - my only surprise is that this did NOT happen earlier a la the New Zealand mosque attack

Anwar demands release of 16 Malaysians detained after Israeli interception of aid flotilla

Anwar demands release of 16 Malaysians detained after Israeli interception of aid flotilla



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a Facebook post yesterday, said Malaysia demands guarantees for the safety of all activists involved and their immediate release. — Bernama pic

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 8:57 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Malaysia strongly condemns the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 (GSF2.0) bound for Gaza by the Israeli Zionist regime, as well as the detention of more than 100 activists, including 16 Malaysians, involved in the peaceful humanitarian mission.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a Facebook post yesterday, said Malaysia demands guarantees for the safety of all activists involved and their immediate release.


“This outrageous act by the evil regime against a humanitarian aid mission not only violates human rights and international law, but also reflects the Zionist regime’s ruthlessness in blocking humanitarian assistance, silencing humanitarian voices and oppressing anyone who rises to defend and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” he said.

Anwar stressed that the world could not continue to bow to the cruelty and atrocities committed by the Zionist regime.

“The oppression against the Palestinian people and those delivering humanitarian aid must stop immediately, and Israel must face justice and accountability,” he said. — Bernama

Wangsa Maju MP says attendance at Rafizi, Nik Nazmi event was to honour invitation; respects their PKR exit decision

Wangsa Maju MP says attendance at Rafizi, Nik Nazmi event was to honour invitation; respects their PKR exit decision



In a Facebook post, Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament Zahir Hassan said he attended the programme on invitation, describing it as a chance to hear Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad outline their views on future political direction. — Picture from Facebook/Zahir Hassan

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 9:21 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament Zahir Hassan has clarified that his attendance at a political direction programme involving former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was to fulfil an invitation from fellow comrades.

In a Facebook post, Zahir said he was invited to attend the programme, which he described as an opportunity to witness their sharing on future political direction.

He also said he respects their decision to vacate their parliamentary seats effective May 18, 2026, and to leave Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) effective May 19, 2026.

Zahir said he believes the decision was made after careful consideration and was not driven by personal interests alone.

He added that, in his view, the actions taken do not violate any laws, including provisions under Article 49A of the Federal Constitution relating to anti-hopping laws, or any party agreements.

He also encouraged the public to refer to the “bersama.org.my” website to better understand the agenda and direction of the initiative.

Zahir stressed that he remains fully committed to his responsibilities to the constituents of Wangsa Maju.

The Islamic business revolution in Southern Thailand

Murray Hunter
May 18, 2026


The Islamic business revolution in Southern Thailand

This rapid transformation has been spurred on by the migration of Muslims from the three troubled provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat to Songkhla Province, to get away from the trouble




This is my latest column in The Vibes



THERE is a revolution going on in Southern Thailand, and I’m not talking about the insurgency.

Cities like the notorious Hat Yai, a ‘playground’ for Malaysian tourists, are being transformed into vibrant Islamic business centres.

A large number of Malaysians have already discovered a culturally and religiously friendly landscape that facilitates travel and exploring around Southern Thailand.

This rapid transformation has been spurred on by the migration of Muslims from the three troubled provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat to Songkhla Province, to get away from the trouble.

One of the results of this is a growing cluster of young Thai Malay entrepreneurs who are finding innovative ways to develop new business models based upon Islamic principles.

This avant-garde young business group has seen the potential of integrating their beliefs into what they do business-wise.

And this is paying off as the Thailand Muslim population is in excess of 6 million people, many cashed up from bumper rubber prices over the last few years.

In addition, the appeal of these products and services produced by these businesses is not just restricted to the Muslim population.

If one travels around the South of Thailand today, there are Halal hotels, restaurants, boutiques, massage centres, travel agents, tour companies, insurance, and consumer products all produced and operated by companies that aspire to comply with Islamic principles.

Image for illustration only


Some larger projects like Halal hotels and condominiums for Muslim retirees from Malaysia and Singapore are currently being constructed.

What one can feel talking to these entrepreneurs and seeing the results of their work is an ‘air’ of excitement, innovation and expectation that this strategy will lead to growth and success.

This is in stark contrast to south of the border in Malaysia, where over the last 50 years, an institutionalised mindset of dependence upon government contracts, favours, and grants has severely inhibited innovation.

Symbolically, this can be seen through the individualised Islamic fashion worn by Southern Thai Muslim women versus the stereotyped fashion worn by Malaysian Malay women.

Even the night markets in Southern Thailand are full of innovative Halal foods like dim sum and sushi, with stalls decorated in colourful banners in contrast to the drab night markets across the border.

This “tale of two cities” along the border of Malaysia and Thailand probably reflects the vastly different approaches to development by the two countries.

Thai development has been much more ad hoc than Malaysia, where ideas tend to be generated by individuals who do something about them using their own resources.

If and when they are successful, others follow and build upon this base with complementary rather than competitive businesses.

Soon after, government agencies provide channels and assistance through their community industry and marketing programs.

Later universities like Chulalongkorn set up fully accredited Halal testing labs to support the growing business cluster. These clusters start and grow almost naturally, and this is occurring along the Islamic business front now.

In contrast, Malaysian development comes from top-down planning. Much fanfare is given to new infrastructure projects with grand objectives.

The participants attending launches and involved in implementation are bureaucrats and agency officials, with very little participation by the private sector.

Where opportunities are identified, an agency may set up a government-linked company as a vehicle to exploit it, actually stifling out private enterprise growth rather than promoting it.

The result is an attempt to build a cluster with little private enterprise support, that doesn’t have any natural growth or momentum, continually requiring funds to prop it up.

This story tends to support what the creativity pundits say. Creativity and innovation come from adversity and hardship rather than a comfortable and complacent environment.

The Muslim entrepreneurs in Southern Thailand have had to make it on their own and not rely upon favours from a structure of cronies who can dish out contracts and funds.

In addition, this trend toward Islamic principled business shows that future wealth will come from innovation rather than connections, which is very important if substantiated and real economic development is going to occur.

It’s not brick and mortar that will bring development, but new ideas and practices connecting hinterland, culture and entrepreneur to new market possibilities.

The Malay entrepreneurs of Southern Thailand are also aware that almost 25% of the world population is Muslim and that an Islamic approach to the market is sure to provide a regional source of competitive advantage in the international market arena within the not-too-distant future.

Culture and religion can be a strong economic resource.

Their gung-ho attitude is to develop the market in Southern Thailand today and extend out to the region tomorrow.

One can see through the Halal supply chain system developed by the Halal Research Centre at Chulalongkorn University that this is not just a dream. Some of the world’s major food manufacturers, like Nestlé, have already adopted it.

And finally, what could this mean for the restless south of Thailand?

Will growing economic prosperity and wealth be the best long-term weapon against any insurgency?

Can the people solve this themselves without any outside assistance?

If this hypothesis is true, then the growing Islamic business cluster in Southern Thailand may marginalise the insurgency movement.

However, this doesn’t mean that the violence would end. When a movement is being marginalized it may seek attention through further ‘high profile’ acts of violence. That’s the sad part of the story. – May 17, 2026

Missing children cases are rising and Malaysia cannot afford to look away

Malaysia's #1 Content Aggregator


Missing children cases are rising and Malaysia cannot afford to look away


18 May 2026 • 9:00 AM MYT

K.T. Maran
Social, Environmental & Animal Activist

Photo by Marcelo Marques on Unsplash


HEARING about another missing child in Malaysia is becoming disturbingly familiar, and that should concern all of us.


According to Bukit Aman, missing children cases nearly doubled from 594 in 2021 to 1,219 last year. While most children are eventually found, not every case ends safely. Even one unresolved disappearance is one too many.



https://share.google/50AnbGi5KeAoXejaw. NST


Behind every statistic is a frightened child, possibly alone and vulnerable. Behind that child is a family living through fear, uncertainty, and helplessness while waiting for answers.


Naturally, many people fear the worst when children go missing. Concerns over trafficking syndicates, online predators, forced labour, sexual exploitation, and cyber grooming are not unfounded.


Interpol and the United Nations (UN) have repeatedly warned that children remain highly vulnerable to such crimes.


However, an uncomfortable reality also needs to be acknowledged. Police say many missing children are not abducted by strangers but leave home voluntarily due to conflict, emotional distress, abuse, neglect, or personal struggles.


Many return after a few days, but even a short period away from safety can expose them to serious danger.


A runaway child who is angry, frightened, or emotionally vulnerable can easily become a target for exploitation. Predators understand this and actively seek out vulnerable young people, especially online.


This raises a difficult but necessary question: why are so many children choosing to run away?


Many children today may have access to material comforts such as smartphones, tuition, and modern conveniences, yet still feel emotionally disconnected.


Parents are often overwhelmed by work and daily pressures, while meaningful communication within families is increasingly replaced by screens and digital distractions.


When home feels emotionally unsafe, neglectful, or isolating, some children may see leaving as an escape, despite the risks.

This is not merely a policing issue. It is also a social and moral crisis.


Schools, too, must play a greater role. Too much emphasis is placed on examinations, grades, and co-curricular achievements, while emotional wellbeing, digital safety, and mental resilience are often overlooked.


Children should be taught how to recognise online predators, seek help when struggling emotionally, and protect themselves in digital spaces.



The digital world has become the new hunting ground for predators. They no longer lurk only in physical spaces but also operate through gaming platforms, anonymous apps, and social media, where vulnerable children can easily be manipulated. Malaysia must respond with urgency.



First, the country needs a faster and more effective missing-child alert system similar to the AMBER Alert system used elsewhere.


The moment a child disappears, information should be rapidly disseminated through mobile alerts, digital billboards, highway signboards, checkpoints, CCTV networks, and other available technologies.


Second, authorities must strengthen oversight of shelters, welfare homes, and care institutions. If children are repeatedly running away from places meant to protect them, serious underlying problems must be addressed.


Third, communities need to become more vigilant and engaged. Modern life has made many people emotionally detached from those around them. Too often, suspicious situations are ignored because people assume someone else will intervene.


Protecting children cannot rest solely on the shoulders of the police. Parents, teachers, religious leaders, transport workers, security personnel, social media platforms, and the wider public all have a role to play.


The government should also continue strengthening cooperation with regional and international agencies such as ASEANAPOL and Interpol, as trafficking and exploitation networks often operate across borders.


A society is ultimately judged by how well it protects its children. Malaysia cannot afford to become numb to stories of missing children.


The longer we treat these cases as routine headlines, the greater the risk that real lives will continue slipping through the cracks. ‒

The DAP Dilemma: Is a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ Tearing the National Fabric Apart?

Malaysia's #1 Content Aggregator


OPINION | The DAP Dilemma: Is a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ Tearing the National Fabric Apart?


18 May 2026 • 8:00 PM MYT

AM World
A writer capturing headlines & hidden places, turning moments into words

malaymail


The air in Malaysia has grown heavy with a familiar, yet increasingly sharp, scent of polarized dissent. In the quiet corridors of power and the bustling stalls of local kopitiams, the conversation has shifted from economic recovery to the very soul of the nation’s social contract. Recent months have seen a resurgence of heated rhetoric that pierces through the thin veneer of political stability. When Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor provocatively claimed that "Malaysia would be peaceful if the DAP did not exist," he didn’t just spark a news cycle; he lanced a boil that has been festering in the Malaysian psyche for decades. This isn’t merely a spat between political rivals; it is a manifestation of a deep-seated anxiety regarding the role of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in a nation traditionally anchored by Malay-Muslim hegemony. As the "Madani" government attempts to balance its multicultural aspirations with the reality of conservative pushback, the question remains: Is the DAP truly the "wedge" driving a crack through national unity, or is it simply the convenient scapegoat for a country struggling to redefine itself?



The Anatomy of a Political Villain: Why DAP is the Perpetual Target

To understand why the DAP is frequently framed as the architect of national disharmony, one must look at the structural barriers of the Malaysian electoral system. Historically, the DAP has occupied a de facto "non-Malay" niche, often seen as the primary voice for the Chinese community since the decline of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). This branding, while electorally successful in urban areas, has created a "structural constraint" that prevents the party from penetrating the Malay heartland. Research indicates that DAP’s marginal representation in Malay-majority constituencies is not necessarily a failure of policy, but a result of "ethnic party sorting" where voters interpret a vote for a Chinese-led party as an inherent opposition to Malay-led institutions. This perception is weaponized by the opposition, particularly Perikatan Nasional (PN), which frames the DAP’s "Malaysian Malaysia" ideology as a direct threat to the special position of Malays and the sanctity of Islam.



The ‘Crack’ in the Coalition: Internal Friction and External Pressure

The current political landscape is a fragile mosaic. The "Unity Government" led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is a marriage of convenience that has faced significant challenges in policy coordination. Within this alliance, the friction between DAP and UMNO two former arch-enemies is palpable. Observers have noted that the relationship between UMNO Youth Chief Dr. Akmal Saleh and DAP leaders like Nga Kor Ming is “ibarat retak menanti belah” (like a crack waiting to split), particularly over sensitive issues such as the "halal logo" controversy at educational institutions. When leaders within the same government exchange barbs, comparing one another to "lions and flies," the message sent to the public is one of instability. This internal discord feeds the narrative that the DAP’s presence in the federal government is a destabilizing force that compels UMNO to either compromise its core principles or engage in performative radicalism to retain its Malay base.



Cultural Hegemony vs. Social Democracy: The Battle for Identity

At the heart of the "DAP issue" is a profound cultural and institutional clash. The DAP’s social democratic roots often prioritize secularism and meritocracy, concepts that sit uneasily with the traditional Malaysian model of communal politics. For critics like Sanusi, the DAP’s push for a "Malaysian Malaysia" is viewed as an attempt to normalize religious pluralism and demand that Muslims recognize all religions as equal a stance that many conservative Malaysians find incompatible with their Islamic faith. This ideological divide is not just academic; it translates into real-world tensions over temple demolitions, language use, and the allocation of state funds. While DAP calls for unity to face global challenges like the Middle East conflicts, their domestic detractors argue that they are the very source of the fire they claim to be putting out.



Success Begets Problems: The Burden of Governance

Ironically, the DAP’s success as the second-largest party in Parliament has made it more vulnerable to criticism. Holding 40 seats makes its support critical for Anwar Ibrahim’s survival, yet this very influence is used by the opposition to claim that the Prime Minister is a "puppet" of a Chinese-dominated party. This "success" has necessitated compromises that have alienated the DAP's own base, leading to infighting and identity crises within the party. As the party navigates its 2025 and 2026 internal polls, it faces a existential question: can it truly become a multiracial party, or will it remain trapped in the "chauvinist" label that its rivals use so effectively to keep the nation on edge?



Beyond Politics: The Human Cost of Polarization

While politicians play their high-stakes games of chess, the average Malaysian is left to navigate an increasingly tribal social landscape. The rise of "xenophobic rhetoric" and "anti-migrant policies" in 2025 and 2026, as noted by Human Rights Watch, often coincides with periods of high political instability. When the national discourse is dominated by "us vs. them" narratives regarding political parties, that sentiment inevitably bleeds into how we treat our neighbors, our colleagues, and the most vulnerable in our society. The "crack" in national harmony isn't just about DAP or UMNO; it's about the erosion of empathy in a society where political affiliation has become a surrogate for moral standing.



What do you think? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments section.


As we look toward the horizon of Malaysia’s future, the rhetoric surrounding the DAP serves as a sobering reminder of how easily the threads of our multicultural tapestry can be pulled. It is easy to point fingers at a single political entity and declare them the "punca" or root cause of all our societal ills. It provides a simple answer to complex problems like income inequality, the middle-income trap, and the search for a cohesive national identity. However, scapegoating rarely leads to solutions. If we believe that the removal of one party would magically bring "peace," we are ignoring the structural issues that have defined our nation since its inception.



The "crack" in our harmony is not a single fracture caused by one group; it is a network of fissures resulting from decades of communal politics, educational segregation, and a refusal to have the difficult conversations required for true integration. We are at a crossroads where we must decide if we want to continue the cycle of blame or begin the arduous work of building a Malaysia where every citizen feels they have a stake in the nation’s success, regardless of their ethnicity or political leanings. The noise of the political arena will always be loud, but it is the quiet interactions between us the shared meals, the mutual respect, and the common dreams that will ultimately determine if our house stands or falls. We owe it to the next generation to leave behind a country that is more than just a collection of warring factions. We need a nation that is truly "sejahtera," not just in slogans, but in spirit.

UEC RECOGNITION - KASI BERAHI NAIK SAJA (CANTONESE: 搞到人好興奮)

 

OutSyed The Box

Monday, May 18, 2026

UEC RECOGNITION - KASI BERAHI NAIK SAJA (CANTONESE: 搞到人好興奮)

I have a suggestion at the end. Please read my suggestion. It is very simple, very workable and very fair.

Higher education DG Azlinda Azman said admission into critical programmes such as medicine and engineering would continue to be based on SPM results.

Azlinda said merit assessments for admission into critical programmes such as medicine and engineering would continue to be based on SPM results rather than UEC qualifications.

My Comments at the end are brief.

1.  Here is a news clip from The Star

UEC holders to apply specifically for Chinese language and literature programmes
UEC students must pass SPM Bahasa Melayu and History
requires credit in SPM Bahasa Melayu and pass in History

Dong Zong claimed failed to reflect educational justice on UEC graduates.

2. Here is a news clip from Free Malaysia Today

• PETALING JAYA: The higher education ministry has stressed that the new entry pathway for students from Chinese independent secondary schools to public higher learning institutions does not amount to recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate’s (UEC) syllabus.
• Public varsity pathway not recognition of UEC, says higher education DG

Higher education DG Azlinda Azman said admission into critical programmes such as medicine and engineering would continue to be based on SPM results.
Azlinda Azman says admission of UEC holders subject to conditions by universities
Azlinda said merit assessments for admission into critical programmes such as medicine and engineering would continue to be based on SPM results rather than UEC 

programmes identified so far: Chinese language and linguistics-related fields, including Chinese language studies, Chinese linguistics, and Chinese language education.
three public universities have been identified – University Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

My Comments:

Policy making by politics again. It would appear that the General Elections are around the corner.  

To digress, did you know that the entire New Economic Policy (Dasar Ekonomi Baru) in 1970 was nothing more than a political gimmick? The jokers panicked when they almost lost the elections in 1969. The Dasar Ekonomi Baru was just their silly knee jerk reaction (a political gimmick) which soon became a monster and has now set back the Malay community by another 50 years. 

Back to planet earth, this is obviously another political gimmick - to be or not to be. 
To recognise fully or to recognise partially. 
To open the door by just a small crack or to shut the door fully. 

Here is the final analysis - will they win the votes of the Malay community or will they lose the votes of the Chinese community?

Here is my simpler suggestion. If the concern is that the UEC qualified applicants must have SPM Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah (History) then work it into the graduation requirements BEFORE the students graduate from the university. 

I suggest that if they qualify allow the UEC candidates access to university education - any courses that they want. But before they graduate make sure they pass university level coursework in History (Sejarah) and Bahasa Melayu (since that is your main concern). 

I hope your real concern is with Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah. Or are you just throwing up unnecessary obstacles? Which is which?

To my good friend the Minister YB Dato Zambry Abdul Kadir, the DG Higher Education and the other motley crew who are about to be kicked out at the next General Elections, here is a Life Principle for you. Pegangan Hidup. 

Make life easy for the people. 
Do not make life difficult for the people.
Bagi orang senang nak hidup.
Jangan menyusahkan manusia.

Otherwise you will kena this: 

NOTE ON RAFIZI RAMLI

NOTE ON RAFIZI RAMLI

I have to register my deep disappointment with Rafizi Ramli's acrimonious behaviour towards PKR and Anwar Ibrahim AFTER the young bloke lost his position as PKR party deputy president to Nurul Izzah (coincidentally Anwar's daughter) in an intra party election.

He should have left PKR like a sporting gentleman after his election loss, and not snipe at Anwar and his own party ever since.

 

Israeli attacks kill at least 7 in Lebanon despite ‘ceasefire’ extension

The attacks came days after Lebanese and Israeli officials held talks that resulted in an agreement to extend the US-backed ceasefire for another 45 days.

Shailoks are treacherous and will renege on any treaties or agreement when that suits them

By Caolán Magee

Published On 18 May 202618 May 2026

Beirut, Lebanon – Israeli attacks across Lebanon have killed at least seven people despite a United States-backed ceasefire extension.

The attacks on Monday came three days after Lebanese and Israeli officials held talks in Washington DC, which resulted in an agreement to extend their ceasefire for another 45 days. Israel has repeatedly violated the truce, which was initially agreed in April.

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Those killed on Monday included Wael Abdel Halim, a leader in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, and his 17-year-old daughter, Rama, who died when an Israeli air strike targeted an apartment building in the town of Douris in eastern Lebanon’s Baalbek district, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

In the Jalil refugee camp for Palestinians on the outskirts of Baalbek, dozens of mourners marched through the camp after the attack.

Israeli strikes also continued across southern Lebanon with attacks reported in Hanaway, Dibal, Deir Ammar, Deir Amess and Meirka in the Tyre district, according to Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondents on the ground. Additional strikes were reported in Harouf and other areas across the south.

Continued hostilities

Last week’s negotiations to extend the ceasefire marked the third round of US-mediated talks, which kicked off with the first direct meeting between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in decades.

Under the agreement, a US-facilitated security track is expected to begin on May 29 with another round of talks scheduled for June 2 and 3 in Washington, DC.

However, the renewed diplomacy has done little to prevent Israeli hostilities that its military insisted are aimed at Hezbollah, which is publicly opposed to negotiations with Israel.

Israeli forces have persistently bombed southern Lebanon and continued to maintain positions in the area while the Lebanon-based armed group also remains actively engaged in the conflict.

Hezbollah said on Monday that it had targeted an Israeli bulldozer with a drone near Deir Siryan and struck an Israeli military communications drone in the same area. The armed group also said it fired missiles at a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in Rashaf in southern Lebanon.

The hostilities continue to afflict Lebanon’s civilian population. On Monday, the Israeli military ordered residents of the southern Lebanese villages of Harouf, Borj El Chmali and Debaal to leave their homes before planned attacks.

Army instructions to civilians to move into open areas before the strikes have become increasingly common, essentially taking the form of forced displacement.

Israel said it struck more than 30 targets across southern Lebanon, claiming the sites belonged to Hezbollah. It added that the targets included weapons warehouses, observation posts and buildings used to coordinate attacks.

In a statement posted on social media, the Israeli military also said it had killed several Hezbollah fighters preparing “terror plots” against Israeli forces.

Forced displacement

Reporting from Tyre in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto said the bombardment had intensified despite the ceasefire extension.

“It has been another violent day here in southern Lebanon,” Hitto said.

“Israel started out the day by issuing evacuation orders for four towns and villages in the south of the country. It subsequently conducted strikes on two of those locations.

“Strikes were also reported in Az-Zrariyah on a moving vehicle while another raid in Tayr Debba resulted in significant casualty numbers.”

Hitto said Israel had concentrated much of its firepower over the past two days on the western Bekaa Valley, the Marjayoun district and the Nabatieh district, targeting villages including Yohmor, Yohmor Shgeir, Zawtar el-Charqiyeh and Sohmor.

“There were also further strikes by Israeli jets and drones around the city of Bint Jbeil,” he said.

“All of this has resulted in a huge humanitarian crisis with more than a million people displaced. The situation is worsening as Israel has issued five more forced evacuation orders this evening, causing large numbers of people to flee areas that were previously not targeted or thought to be safe.

“And all of this as this ceasefire was extended. But we’ve seen the exact opposite. We are seeing more of an escalation by Israel in southern Lebanon.”

According to the Danish Refugee Council, more than 1.2 million people were forced from their homes between March and April because of the fighting.

Mahathir’s Malay Unity Rhetoric: The Man Who Split Malay Politics Now Warns of Malay Collapse?

Malaysia's #1 Content Aggregator


OPINION | Mahathir’s Malay Unity Rhetoric: The Man Who Split Malay Politics Now Warns of Malay Collapse?


18 May 2026 • 12:00 PM MYT

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

Image Credit: Concept by Chatgpt. Edited by GeminiAi

Former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad is once again sounding the alarm over the future of the Malays, warning that the community risks “losing grip” on the country if they remain divided.


The warning carries a deep irony: the very man now preaching Malay unity is widely seen as one of the architects of modern Malay political fragmentation.



Mahathir recently admitted that his years-long effort to unite the Malays had failed. In a social media post, he lamented that Malays were prioritising political leaders over “race, country and religion,” claiming such disunity could eventually erase Malay dominance and even Malay history itself.


But from a historical perspective, Mahathir’s political legacy tells a very different story.



For decades, Mahathir was not merely a participant in Malay political rivalries - he was often at the centre of them. From his dramatic split with former deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998 that gave birth to the Reformasi movement, to his later fallout with successive Umno leaders, Mahathir repeatedly reshaped the Malay political landscape through conflict and factionalism.


Ironically, many of today’s fractured Malay political blocs were either directly or indirectly born from Mahathir’s own political manoeuvres.



He once led United Malays National Organisation (Umno) before turning against it. He later founded Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to topple the very coalition he once dominated. After falling out with Bersatu, he formed yet another Malay-based vehicle, Pejuang, followed by the Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition.


Instead of consolidating Malay political strength, these repeated splinters arguably accelerated the fragmentation Mahathir now condemns.


The results have been politically brutal. In the 2022 general election, every GTA candidate lost their deposit - including Mahathir himself, marking the first electoral defeat of his long political career. It was a humiliating rejection not only of GTA but perhaps also of Mahathir’s continued attempt to position himself as the ultimate guardian of Malay unity.



Many would agree that Mahathir’s warnings often rely heavily on fear-based narratives - the idea that Malays are under existential threat unless they unite politically under a Malay-centric agenda. Yet Malaysia’s demographic, constitutional, and institutional realities remain firmly anchored in Malay political dominance. Malays continue to hold the premiership, dominate the civil service and the higher-education quota system, receive property purchase discounts, and enjoy constitutional protections under the monarchy and Bumiputera policies.



This raises another uncomfortable question: Is the issue truly Malay disunity, or simply the inability of aging political elites to maintain influence over a changing electorate?


Younger Malays today appear increasingly divided not by race alone, but by ideology, governance standards, economic concerns, corruption issues, and cost-of-living pressures. The era where ethnic rhetoric alone could automatically unite Malay voters may be fading.


Mahathir himself acknowledged recently that the proliferation of Malay parties had weakened the community. Yet many would argue that no individual contributed more to that proliferation than Mahathir himself through decades of political feuds, party breakaways, and leadership rivalries.



The irony is difficult to ignore. A leader once celebrated as the towering figure of Malay political power now finds himself warning about the collapse of the very unity that his own political battles helped fracture.


Whether Malaysians view Mahathir’s latest remarks as sincere concern or political revisionism, one reality is undeniable: the man now calling for Malay unity is also inseparable from the story of how Malay politics became so divided in the first place.


By: Kpost

***

I want to show my respect to/for him, he being a very senior citizen and former PM, but he has made my intention more and more difficult each and every time he sounds the siren call for Malay unity, because in those rallying calls to the Malays, he invariably divides Malaysian society again and again, pitting Malays against the so-called avaricious predatory 'pendatang', mainly the Chinese.

In the end, when we analyse his intentions for those rallying calls for Malay Unity, they have been desperate attempts to marshal the Malays under his personal banner, to give him the power he wants (for whatever purpose he has in mind)