'Parti yeye': Mindef launches probe, vows action

'Parti yeye': Mindef launches probe, vows action

Bernama
Published: Jan 18, 2026 10:11 AM
Updated: 1:58 PM



Defence Ministry has launched a comprehensive investigation, according to strict internal procedures, into armed forces’ personnel associated with “parti yeye” or hedonistic culture.

Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari (above) said the inquiry is being conducted by committees across the army, navy, and air force, which each maintain their own rigorous regulations and discipline.

“The ministry does not tolerate any conduct that conflicts with military culture in any of our service branches, regardless of whether the case is isolated.

“Should there be a breach of discipline, we will take internal action. The case may be brought before a military court,” he added.

Adly was speaking after the launch of Chinese New Year decorations in Kampung Permai Machap Umboo Baru. Also present was Machap Jaya assemblyperson, Ngwe Hee Sem.

READ MORE: My first marriage ended due to 'parti yeye', says ex-wife of army captain


He added that personnel under investigation are guaranteed the right to defend themselves and establish their innocence before judgment.

Don’t undermine all service members

Adly also called on the public not to let this issue undermine the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces, whose role in safeguarding national security and peace remains unquestioned.

“The ministry has over 130,000 serving personnel and officers, along with approximately 300,000 veterans.

“These individuals have sacrificed their time, their family lives, and in some cases, their lives for the nation," he said.

Army chief Azhan Othman


Yesterday, army chief Azhan Othman said that 15 army officers have been identified as involved in immoral activities linked to “parti yeye”, which recently circulated on social media.

These cases come in the wake of a separate investigation into at least 20 air force officers linked to similar misconduct.

The air force’s inquiry has now concluded, with the case due to proceed to legal action soon.

Related:

'Yeye' culture and ghosts of British colonial era Naafi by Marian Mokhtar

***

Mariam Mokhtar has been spot-on when she wrote "Budaya yeye (yeye culture) is not a colonial legacy; more importantly, it is a leadership failure."

She also correctly said: Enforcement depends on the willingness of those at the top, not on rules, reports, or ethical guidance alone.

But HTF could there have been 'enforcement' when, as she pointed out, high-ranking officers have been implicated.

And she has been right again when she stated that the hedonistic culture was NOT inherited from our colonial predecessors. It has all along been teh weakness of our own (Malaysian) top officials.

I have Uncle stories to tell you that will make you gasp in shock and possibly pengsan from the "top people" involved (very very TOP), but I won't because of just what happened to journalist Rex Tan, formerly of FMT, wakakaka.

'Yeye' culture and ghosts of British colonial era Naafi

'Yeye' culture and ghosts of British colonial era Naafi

Mariam Mokhtar
Published: Jan 16, 2026 12:16 PM
Updated: 3:16 PM



COMMENT | Did the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute (Naafi) of the British colonial era influence the so-called yeye culture now under scrutiny in Malaysia’s armed forces?

The answer is "No", but the contrast matters.

Naafi is referenced here only as context, not a cause: it shows how military social spaces can operate under strict discipline and enforcement, in contrast to today’s problems, which stem from leadership tolerance and weak accountability.

“Budaya yeye” (yeye culture) is not a colonial legacy; more importantly, it is a leadership failure.


Naafi’s legacy

Wherever British forces were stationed around the world, including in former colonies and overseas territories, Naafi established a strong presence.

Military personnel and their families in foreign postings frequented Naafi shops, cafeterias, and clubs.

These places gave them a taste of home. They could purchase “English tea”, biscuits, beer, canned food, cigarettes and toiletries. They indulged in many familiar routines or enjoyed simple hot meals, like sausages, mash, stews and pies.

These spaces were highly regulated, with clear rank boundaries and firm expectations of conduct.

A British colonial soldier during the Malayan emergency


In Ipoh, the Naafi store was located on Jalan Ashby, overlooking the nearby Gurdwara Sahib Ashby.

When the British army left in the 1960s to 1970s, they took their soldiers, but left behind mess halls, officer canteens and structured templates for professional conduct across the ranks.

Under Naafi, socialising was regulated, breaches carried serious consequences, and alcohol misuse, coercion of juniors, or unauthorised outsiders were not tolerated.


Gaps in enforcement

The misconduct now described as yeye culture is not a continuation of that system; it emerged decades later due to gaps in enforcement and elite tolerance.

Early Malaysian officers inherited these facilities and largely maintained professional standards. Mess halls were used to build camaraderie, morale, and unit cohesion, not excess.

After the British left, tweaks were introduced to give the system a local flavour: alcohol was removed, and family participation in social gatherings was encouraged.

Officers cannot fairly be blamed for later misconduct, because what changed was enforcement, not the social template.

Over time, rules remained on paper, but leadership tolerance widened the gap between policy and practice.


Yeye culture emerged gradually, where certain conditions aligned: junior officers were dependent on seniors for career advancement, questionable behaviours were quietly tolerated, and power was concentrated at the top, enabling selective enforcement.


Formally banned, but…

By the time the practice was formally banned in 1998, it had already taken root in some units. It was not formally sanctioned, but allowed to persist.

Some explanations point to lapses in faith, moral decline, or lingering colonial influence, but these are misleading. Misconduct occurs when those with power feel immune to consequences.

The Armed Forces Islamic Services Corps (Kagat), established in 1985, can advise, counsel, and recommend action, but cannot punish.

Discipline starts at the top, and only commanding officers and generals have the authority to discipline personnel.

When senior officers are themselves involved or choose to protect colleagues, advisory or moral oversight by Kagat cannot compel action.

Enforcement depends on the willingness of those at the top, not on rules, reports, or ethical guidance alone.


Under fire

According to Malaysiakini reports, the “parti yeye” culture has continued to plague the armed forces, despite the ban and Kagat’s formation, highlighting the difficulty in cracking down when high-ranking officers are implicated.

A screenshot of ‘parti yeye’


Retired brigadier-general Arshad Raji emphasised that such events could only occur with the knowledge and consent of a camp’s commanding officer, describing it as “impossible” for them to claim ignorance.

He said, "What happened here (as alleged in viral claims) is not right. Do not turn officers’ mess halls into a whore house."

Even personal lives suffer: Zhane, the ex-wife of a captain, said her marriage ended within two years of her husband’s participation in wild parties.

She addressed the failure of leadership and said, "It is all up to the leadership of the battalion. If you get a boss who is good and cares about the welfare of his officers and their families, it is a blessing."

The camp’s top brass knew, but chose not to act, despite her attempts to report the matter through proper channels.

Such tolerance at the top filters down the ranks by normalising behaviours that would otherwise be unacceptable.

Are these incidents isolated? What do insiders reveal? What will trigger enforcement? Did gatherings go unnoticed and were quietly tolerated until social media exposure and incriminating photos forced action?


Military social spaces can exist

This culture of tolerance mirrors other challenges in the armed forces, including procurement scandals and misuse of welfare funds.

A former army chief and his two wives at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court recently


The pattern is consistent: concentrated power weakens oversight, enables selective enforcement, and erodes institutional credibility.

Order, by contrast, depends on effective oversight, accountability, and leadership.

Naafi is mentioned to provide context, not blame. It shows that similar social spaces can operate under strict discipline.

Today’s failures are post-colonial, structural, and leadership-driven; they are not historical, cultural, or religious.

Misconduct thrives when power shields it. Discipline, integrity, and reform do not rise from the bottom. They begin at the top, where authority holds sway. This is not an attack on the armed forces; it is a defence of professionalism.

The MACC has been investigating military procurements since 2023, but that does not address decades of tolerated misconduct and weak enforcement. Will the MACC investigate earlier purchases?

So, until those in power are held responsible for what occurs under their command, the cycle of tolerance and misconduct will continue.



MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, X.

All seats to be contested in Melaka if no alliance with Barisan, says Loke

The Star:

All seats to be contested in Melaka if no alliance with Barisan, says Loke

By TARRENCE TAN

Sunday, 18 Jan 20261:41 PM MYT





KLANG: A free-for-all situation could emerge in the upcoming Melaka state election if Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional within the unity government fail to agree on political cooperation, said Anthony Loke.

The DAP secretary-general said it is the party’s principle that it would not surrender any of its incumbent seats to its allies.


“We haven’t decided if there is an alliance (in Melaka polls). Barisan also said it hasn’t decided on cooperating with Pakatan.

“So, the principle of incumbency applies if there is political cooperation. If there is none, then it is free-for-all,” said Loke to reporters in a press conference after officiating the Selangor DAP Convention in Klang on Sunday (Jan 18).


Loke said the principle of incumbency applies in any political cooperation with any party.

“For example, in the last Selangor state election, we gave Dusun Tua to Umno. That shows our sincerity, and sometimes, it is not reciprocated,” said Loke.

During the Melaka state polls in 2021, Barisan won a two-thirds majority with Umno taking 17, MCA (two) and MIC (one).


On the other hand, Pakatan only won five seats, with DAP’s four and Amanah (one).

Dusun Tua was held by DAP’s Edry Faizal for one term from 2018 to 2023 until Umno’s Johan Abd Aziz was appointed as its assemblyman following the Selangor state polls in 2023.

Earlier, Selangor DAP chief Ng Sze Han said in his opening speech that the party would not surrender any seats to its allies in the next election.

“Stop dreaming. In the next election in Selangor, DAP will not give any seats, not a single seat will be surrendered,” said Ng.

Ng, without mentioning any parties, also criticised a certain ally for attacking the unity government more than the Opposition itself.

“They might be part of the unity government, but the things they said are even worse than the Opposition,” added Ng.

Ng also said DAP is consistent in its stance that it wants the state polls to be held concurrently with the 16th general election, which can be called by 2027.

In the Selangor state assembly, Pakatan has 35 seats, consisting of DAP’s 15, PKR’s 12 and Amanah’s 5. Barisan only has two seats via Umno.

The Melaka and Johor state election, held in 2021, is due this year and must be called by Feb 2027.

There have also been calls for the general elections to be held this year, together with the Melaka and Johor state elections that are also due next year.

Loke denies DAP factions after Zahid’s ‘Team B’ claim

FMT:

Loke denies DAP factions after Zahid’s ‘Team B’ claim

4 hours ago
Alysha Edward

Party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook says there is only one ‘Team DAP’

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said the party does not have a Team A, B or C.

KLANG: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has denied the existence of factions within the party, following allegations that one faction was behind statements targeting incarcerated former prime minister Najib Razak.

This follows Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remarks yesterday that he was informed of a “Team B” which went on the offensive against Najib and Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

“There is no Team A, Team B or Team C within DAP. There is only one – Team DAP,” Loke said at the Selangor DAP Convention at the Grand Centro Ballroom Klang at Centro Mall Klang today.


Loke, who is transport minister, also said even if there were factions within his party, he would not be so silly to admit it to an outsider.

Zahid had said he met with Loke and asked why certain DAP members were making statements against Najib and Akmal.


Zahid did not name anyone in his remarks. However, last month, DAP’s Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin drew brickbats from Zahid and other top Umno leaders after she took a dig at Najib following the former Umno president’s failed bid for house arrest.

Yeo had posted on Facebook that the High Court’s dismissal of Najib’s judicial review application was “another reason to celebrate this year end”. Others who made similar statements lauding the court’s decision included DAP’s Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee and former Damansara MP Tony Pua.

Loke quipped that while the Selangor DAP Convention lasts just a single day (today), the media over the past few days “had been all about DAP”, in reference to discussions at Umno’s general assembly from Jan 14-17.

“Even when other parties hold their general assemblies, it seems like all the discussions are all about DAP. DAP, DAP, DAP… everything is DAP’s fault.


“My speech feels like the closing address on the debates that have taken place at Umno’s general assembly,” he added.

Fierce anti-DAP rhetoric, a pledge by Akmal to “fight DAP to the end” and renewed calls to reunite Malay parties under Umno’s banner emerged as the defining moments of the Umno general assembly.

Delegates repeatedly brought up anti-DAP sentiments in their speeches, despite senior leaders’ efforts to calm concerns and refocus the party on Malay unity.

Galloway disagrees with journo's arrest, groups renew call to repeal Sedition Act

Galloway disagrees with journo's arrest, groups renew call to repeal Sedition Act


Published: Jan 18, 2026 12:26 PM
Updated: 3:29 PM


British politician George Galloway has expressed concern over the arrest of former Free Malaysia Today journalist Rex Tan, in a brief comment on veteran activist Tian Chua’s Facebook post.

Chua had condemned the arrest yesterday, describing police action as "disproportionate" and courting broader implications for the clampdown on free speech and open dialogue.

He also highlighted how Tan’s arrest could undermine democratic values and stifle legitimate discourse, further posing challenges to the Palestinian solidarity movement.

In response, Galloway briefly commented on the post, saying, “My thoughts entirely.”

Tan was arrested past midnight on Jan 17 under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, 1948 and Section 505 (c) of the Penal Code, which is related to making statements with the intent to cause alarm or fear.


He is also being investigated under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).

His arrest was linked to a sedition probe based on a question he posed during a public lecture in Kuala Lumpur featuring Galloway, titled “Gaza Exposes the Complicity of International Actors”, which was said to carry racial overtones.

Tan’s lawyer, Rajsurian Pillai, said he had been released from police custody yesterday afternoon and granted a one-day remand.

Rex Tan (right) and his lawyer Rajsurian Pillai


The move has drawn criticism from various parties, including the Malaysian Media Council, MPs, and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

Zaid had pointed out the authorities’ hypocrisy and “selective enforcement” of the law, citing Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary as an example.

In October, the PAS lawmaker published a Facebook entry also drawing parallels between Malaysia and Palestine, where he portrayed Malaysia’s non-Muslim and non-bumiputera citizens as threats to Malay-Muslim interests.

Marzuk claimed that the Palestinian people had accepted Jewish immigrants on humanitarian grounds, only to later become victims of oppression and be driven out of their homeland and cautioned the Malay community to “learn from these mistakes”.


‘Repeal Sedition Act’

Tan’s arrest had also prompted a renewed call for the repeal of the Sedition Act.

In a statement, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said the arrest has raised doubts about Pakatan Harapan government’s commitment towards abolishing “outdated and repressive laws”.

“The matter should be put to rest since Tan has offered an apology, and the government should, instead, look into abolishing the Sedition Act, or at the very least, amending it in line with its reform agenda as it is,” he said.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh

His statement was backed by DAP Youth, who described the act as “a colonial-era law”, widely criticised for its suppression and criminalisation of free speech, regardless of intent.

They further highlighted how selective enforcement of such laws would only further deepen public distrust, comparing it also to the case of Pengkalan Chepa MP, who faced no consequences or arrest over his remarks.

“In comparison, swift action was taken by the authorities to investigate and even arrest the journalist. Such disparity risks raising serious questions among the public about double standards and equality before the law,” they stressed.

Separately, advocacy group Aliran described the use of "undemocratic laws” as risking redundancy in the role of self-regulatory groups such as the Malaysian Media Council.

They urged the repeal of such laws as necessary, or otherwise risking “an additional layer of repressive control” over the media, in addition to the industry’s own attempts to self-regulate.

Literary advocacy group Pen Malaysia also acknowledged how the move would lead to further self-censorship amongst journalists, “thus jeopardising the search for truth and justice”.

“Indeed, many journalists are already exercising self-censorship, and this incident only heightens the climate of fear,” they said.

The group described how such arrests continued to divert attention from addressing critical issues such as racism, discrimination, and mass violence through informed and principled discourse.

“A state that arrests journalists is one that has lost confidence in its democratic values,” the group stressed.

***

Double standards as manifested in 'selective application' of law is in itself 'RACIST'

The noted RACISM is so painfully obvious it's disgusting and disgraceful for a so-called Madani government.

EU warns against Trump’s tariffs threat over Greenland

FMT:

EU warns against Trump’s tariffs threat over Greenland

From Feb 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland will be subject to a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the US

The EU said it stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. (EPA Images pic)

BRUSSELS: EU leaders warned against US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European countries until he has achieved his purchase of Greenland.

Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Council, announced an extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels for Sunday afternoon.

One senior German MEP said Trump’s latest threat raised a question mark over the EU-US trade deal agreed last year.


EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, issued the joint statement hours after Trump threatened multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25%.

“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” they wrote in a post on social media.

“Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty,” they added.

The statement came days after Danish and Greenlandic officials held talks in Washington over Trump’s bid to acquire the territory, without reaching agreement.

“The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland,” said the EU statement.

“Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US,” it said.


Trump said that from Feb 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the US.

German MEP Manfred Weber, head of the largest group in the European Parliament, the conservative EPP, said Trump’s latest remarks called into question the EU-US trade deal negotiated last year.

“The EPP is in favour of the EU-US trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage,” he posted on X.

“The 0% tariffs on US products must be put on hold,” he added.

Brussels and Washington clinched a deal in July for most EU exports to face a 15% US levy, but both sides are still pushing for additional trade concessions.

Actress Nadia Kesuma dies in Jeddah

FMT:

Actress Nadia Kesuma dies in Jeddah

Husband confirms death of actress, who had been reported missing from Jeddah airport on Thursday

Nadia Kesuma died in Jeddah at 8.07am on Thursday, her husband said. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Actress Nadia Kesuma, who was reported missing at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, has died, her husband said in a Facebook post early this morning.

Kamarul Kabilan Abdullah, 57, said Nadia died in Jeddah at 8.07am on Thursday. He did not state the cause of her death.

Bernama reported Nadia’s daughter as saying in a separate post that she died of a heart attack and was taken to hospital the same day she arrived in Jeddah.

Nadia, whose real name is Nadiah Kasumawati Abdul Karim, had been reported missing and could not be traced at the airport on Thursday.

Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Saudi Arabian immigration authorities confirmed she had left the airport area and had been classified as a missing person after she could not be traced for more than 20 hours.

Nadia had joined a travel agency’s umrah group, consisting of 21 participants, for two weeks from Jan 14.

Zahid praises DAP ministers for backing Malay interests, rejects ‘UmDap’ jibes

Zahid praises DAP ministers for backing Malay interests, rejects ‘UmDap’ jibes



Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today praised several DAP ministers for supporting policies that protect Malay and Bumiputera interests. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Saturday, 17 Jan 2026 9:03 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today praised several DAP ministers for supporting policies that protect Malay and Bumiputera interests, pushing back against criticism of Umno’s cooperation with the party under the unity government.

Winding up the Umno General Assembly 2025, Zahid said DAP ministers, including Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Transport Minister Anthony Loke, had consistently backed initiatives aimed at safeguarding the welfare of Malays, particularly those in vulnerable sectors.

Zahid cited the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Gobind to the Bumiputera Economic Congress committee, noting that the move was consistent with historical precedent, recalling that non-Malay leaders had also been appointed to similar committees during the first Bumiputera Economic Congress in 1965 under Tun Abdul Razak.

“There was not a single one of the 132 initiatives in the Bumiputera Economic Congress that Gobind did not agree with,” Zahid said, adding that there was no resistance to Bumiputera-focused policies despite DAP’s involvement.


He also highlighted cooperation within the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion, which he chaired, saying Loke had never opposed proposals he put forward.

Zahid pointed to alarming road fatality figures, noting that about 6,000 people die annually in road accidents, with 93 per cent involving motorcycle riders and pillion passengers, many of whom are food delivery riders.

“Eighty-seven per cent of them are Malays,” he said, arguing that these statistics justified stronger protections for Malay youths working in the gig economy.


He said this concern led to the proposal to establish a Gig Economy Commission to protect the welfare of Malay youths, which received support not only from Loke and Gobind but also from Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, all from DAP.

Zahid said none of the DAP ministers opposed measures intended to improve safety or economic protection for Malay workers, rejecting claims that cooperation with DAP undermined Umno’s core struggle.

“I am stating facts,” he said, questioning why Umno’s partnership with DAP continued to be portrayed negatively.

Taking aim at critics who label the cooperation as “UmDap”, Zahid said the accusations did not come from Umno members but from political rivals who were jealous of Umno’s role in the unity government.

“They accuse us of being UmDap, yet they themselves had already married DAP four times before,” he added.

Zahid stressed that Umno would continue to work with its partners in government as long as Malay and Bumiputera interests were upheld.

What ceasefire? Palestinians say bombs still fall, families still grieve and nothing has changed

What ceasefire? Palestinians say bombs still fall, families still grieve and nothing has changed



A Palestinian woman hangs laundry across the rubble of destroyed buildings where families have set up shelters. — AFP pic

Saturday, 17 Jan 2026 9:00 PM MYT


GAZA CITY (Palestinian Territories), Jan 17 — From his tent in Gaza City, Mahmoud Abdel Aal said residents were frustrated and worried because nothing had changed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the US-brokered ceasefire’s second phase.

In a post-apocalyptic landscape of bombed-out buildings and makeshift camps devastated by recent winter rains, Palestinians who spoke to AFP mostly expressed bitterness.


Though Israeli strikes have been less intense since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began in October 2025, bombs still fall every day.

After US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced the start of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza on Wednesday, more than 14 people were killed in the tiny coastal territory, according to the Gaza civil defence agency.


Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire’s terms.


“There is no difference between the war and the ceasefire, nor between the first and second phase of the deal: strikes continue every day,” Abdel Aal said.

“Everyone is worried and frustrated because nothing’s changed.”


On Friday, an AFP photographer saw members of the Houli family walk through rubble after five of their relatives were killed in an air strike on their house in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah.



Palestinians endure a post-apocalyptic landscape of destruction and makeshift camps. — AFP pic


‘All over the media’

Hamas announced the death of Mahmud al-Houli, described as a military officer of the movement, while Israel’s military said it carried out strikes on Thursday against members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s armed wings in response to what it considers violations of the ceasefire.

Houli family neighbour Ahmad Suleiman said the announcement of the ceasefire’s second phase was “all over the media, but the reality is different”.

“There is no ceasefire, otherwise look at what the ceasefire has brought,” he told AFP, pointing to the destroyed building.

Most residents interviewed by AFP said they were sceptical about recent announcements regarding the formation of the so-called “Board of Peace”, an entity chaired by Trump and supposed to oversee reconstruction, and a Palestinian technocratic committee with which it is to work.

“No one is concerned for us,” said Hossam Majed, who is living in the ruins of his home in Gaza City.

“The whole world meets in Cairo to talk about Gaza, but they can’t even enter it,” he told AFP.

“Israel will use the pretext of handing over the last body (of a hostage), then the weapons (of Hamas), and the second phase will stretch over additional years,” he said.

Hamas returned 47 of 48 hostages it was supposed to hand over under the terms of the first phase, and has yet to commit to disarming as is planned under the second phase.



A Palestinian child fills a water container from a hose. — AFP pic



‘Hope and patience’

Day-to-day living conditions for the vast majority of Gaza residents remain extremely precarious, with more than 80 percent of infrastructure destroyed, according to the United Nations.

Several humanitarian and UN workers told AFP that while the situation has improved in some areas since the ceasefire, the humanitarian response remains insufficient due to access restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities — who deny these claims.

Water and electricity networks, as well as waste management, no longer function.

Hospitals operate at minimal capacity when still open, and schools exist only as sporadic or marginal initiatives. All children in the Gaza Strip need psychological support after more than two years of war, according to Unicef.

Nivine Ahmad, a 47-year-old woman living in a camp for the displaced in south Gaza’s Al-Mawasi area, said: “We miss real life.”

She said the announcement of the formation of the technocratic committee led her to imagine returning to Gaza City.

“I pictured living with my family in a prefabricated unit, with electricity and water instead of our bombed home,” she said.

“Only then will I feel that the war is over,” she added.

In the meantime, she urged the world to put itself in Gazans’ shoes.

“We only have hope and patience,” she said. — AFP

End of an ice giant: A23a, once the world’s largest iceberg, nears its impending disintegration

End of an ice giant: A23a, once the world’s largest iceberg, nears its impending disintegration



A23a now nears total breakup after decades adrift. — Picture via X/Nasa Earth

Sunday, 18 Jan 2026 7:00 AM MYT


PARIS, Jan 18 — The impending disintegration of what was once the world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has been captured in a new satellite image, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The image shows the first signs that the iceberg will soon break up completely, the European Space Agency (ESA) reported on Friday, noting the exceptionally clear, cloud-free view of the giant as it floats off Antarctica.

“The bright blue areas visible on its surface and on the icebergs to its south are ponds of meltwater, which are clear signs of the iceberg’s rapid demise,” said the Paris-based agency.

The image was taken by the Sentinel-2 satellite of the European Earth observation programme Copernicus.

Iceberg A23a was once the largest iceberg in the world, covering around 4,000 square kilometres - more than three times the size of Rome. It has now diminished to about 1,000 square kilometres in area.

After breaking off from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf on the Antarctic mainland in 1986, A23a remained grounded on the seabed for decades.

The so-called megaberg broke free in 2000 but remained trapped in circulating ocean currents before drifting rapidly away from Antarctic waters in November 2023. It is now located in the South Atlantic.

On December 20, the satellite captured it about 150 kilometres north-west of South Georgia Island, surrounded by several small icebergs.

It is not unusual for icebergs that travel this far north to break up, due to warmer sea temperatures and weather conditions.

According to ESA, A23a is on course for even warmer climes and will soon share the fate of other icebergs that have broken up in these waters. — Bernama-dpa

***

On further melting away, A23a will surprisingly, nay, shockingly, nay, wondrously, reveal a Roman trireme in virtually pristine conditions, which even more amazingly, will show a caption stating "Di buat olih orang Melayu".

Further investigation, analysis and research will reveal that the Antarctic was once inhabited and civilised by Malays who, alas, had to evacuate to Christmas Island when the Aliens from the Zygorg Universe invaded Antarctic 5,000 years ago.

Umno vice-president says disunity among Malays a bigger threat than ties with DAP

 

Umno vice-president says disunity among Malays a bigger threat than ties with DAP



Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani today slammed comments that the party should be wary of working with DAP, given its long history of harmonious cooperation with non-Malay parties. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Saturday, 17 Jan 2026 5:58 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani today slammed comments that the party should be wary of working with DAP, given its long history of harmonious cooperation with non-Malay parties.

Instead, the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said party members should be more afraid of the fractured and fragmented Malay unity.

“Why should we fear DAP? If we never feared Gerakan, MCA or any other non-Malay-based parties, why should we fear DAP?

In fact, what we should be afraid is actually the disunity among Malays,” Johari said, during his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly at World Trade Centre KL (WTCKL), here, today.


Johari also backed the Rumah Bangsa approach, pitched by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during his policy speech yesterday, which aims to consolidate Malay support under a single umbrella.

As part of the approach, Zahid established the Jawatankuasa Penyatuan Rumah Bangsa committee to manage individual and en-bloc applications for entry or re-entry into Umno.

Stressing that politics requires pragmatism over rhetoric, Johari said Umno needs to develop tech-savvy and competent leaders who can strike a chord with the younger Malaysians.

At the same time, he said Umno requires wise leaders to prudently resolve differences with coalition partners when the party is no longer a dominant force in the government.

‘Greenland not for sale’: Trump’s 25pc tariff ultimatum sparks fury across Nato allies

‘Greenland not for sale’: Trump’s 25pc tariff ultimatum sparks fury across Nato allies



Protesters take part in a demonstration to show support for Greenland in Copenhagen. — Reuters pic

Sunday, 18 Jan 2026 9:34 AM MYT


PALM BEACH, Jan 18 — US President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his quest to acquire Greenland, threatening multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 per cent until he achieves his goal of controlling the Danish territory.

Thick skin and brazen arrogance

Trump’s threats came as thousands of people protested in the capital of Greenland against his wish to acquire the mineral-rich island at the gateway to the Arctic.

Thousands more protested in Copenhagen and other Danish cities.

The US president aimed his ire at Denmark, a fellow Nato member, as well as several other European countries that have deployed troops in recent days to the vast autonomous territory with a population of 57,000.


If realised, Trump’s threats against Washington’s Nato partners would create unprecedented tension within the alliance.

From February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10-per cent tariff on all goods sent to the United States, Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he wrote.


“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump said.

“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question.”

Trump added that he was “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries.”

Denmark called Trump’s announcement a “surprise”, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “completely wrong”, and French President Emmanuel Macron added: “Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context.”

“We won’t let ourselves be intimidated,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told AFP, adding that the governments involved were working on a joint response.

In a statement, European Union leaders said the bloc “stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

An extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors has been called in Brussels for Sunday afternoon.

Greenlandic minister Naaja Nathanielsen on Saturday praised the reaction of European countries, saying she was “thankful and hopeful for diplomacy and allieship (sic) to prevail.”

‘Make America Go Away’

In Nuuk, thousands of people, including the territory’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, waved Greenlandic flags, chanted slogans and sang traditional Inuit songs under light rain.

Many wore caps with the words “Make America Go Away” — a riff on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

“We don’t want Trump invading Greenland, that is the message,” 44-year-old nurse Paarniq Larsen Strum said at the Nuuk rally, calling the situation “nerve-wracking.”

“We demand respect for our country’s right to self-determination and for us as a people,” added protest organizer Avijaja Rosing-Olsen.

In Copenhagen, charity worker Kirsten Hjoernholm, 52, said it was important to show unity with Greenlanders.

“You cannot be bullied by an ally. It’s about international law,” she said.

Around her, demonstrators waved the flags of Denmark and Greenland while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat!” — the vast Arctic island’s name in Greenlandic.

Some also held placards saying “USA already has too much ICE,” referring to Trump’s deployment of federal immigration officers in US cities, while others chanted “Greenland is not for sale.”

US ‘security’ claims

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States needs Greenland for US “national security,” while alleging without evidence that China and Russia are trying to control it.

Those two countries have increased their security presence in the Arctic, but have not made any claims over its sovereignty.

France said the European military exercise in Greenland was designed to show the world that it will defend the territory.

Denmark said the US had been invited to join the drill.

It was not immediately clear what authority the US president would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs of up to 25 per cent.

Since returning to the presidency, Trump has unleashed sweeping tariffs on goods from virtually all trading partners, to address what Washington says are unfair trade practices and as a tool to press governments.

Washington and the European Union struck a deal last summer to lower US tariffs on key European goods, with the deal currently being implemented.

Also on Saturday, US lawmakers were wrapping up a visit to Copenhagen for talks with Greenlandic and Danish politicians.

The group, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, told reporters that Trump’s stance was not backed by the majority of Americans.

It is also roundly rejected by Greenlanders, 85 per cent of whom — according to the latest poll published in January 2025 — oppose the territory joining the United States. Only six per cent were in favour. — AFP

Three things we learnt from: Umno’s General Assembly 2025

Three things we learnt from: Umno’s General Assembly 2025



One of the most striking themes to emerge from PAU 2025 was reconciliation. — Picture by Yusof Isa

Sunday, 18 Jan 2026 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 — Umno’s four-day General Assembly 2025 wrapped up on a note markedly different from recent years, with reconciliation, coalition-building and reinvention dominating the conversation at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).

Although held in 2026 after being postponed due to last year’s Sabah state election, the assembly was officially designated as Umno’s 2025 gathering.

Party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has since said Umno is expected to hold another general assembly later this year.

Here are three key takeaways from Perhimpunan Agung Umno (PAU) 2025:


1. Reconciliation takes centre stage as Umno signals a softer mood

One of the most striking themes to emerge from PAU 2025 was reconciliation, with Umno’s leadership and grassroots openly embracing the idea of forgiveness and renewal/homecoming.

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin made a surprise but symbolic appearance on the second day of the assembly, attending the Youth wing’s annual meeting nearly three years after being expelled from the party.

Khairy, who was sacked in January 2023 after criticising the party’s leadership, attended the event at WTCKL upon an official invitation from current Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, and with the blessing of Zahid himself.

A former Umno Youth chief from 2009 to 2018 and a former Cabinet minister, including as health minister, Khairy described his return to the Umno headquarters as an emotional moment. However, he played down speculation of an imminent political comeback, urging a “one step at a time” approach.

The conciliatory tone was reinforced by Zahid’s announcement of a special “Rumah Bangsa” unity committee, tasked with facilitating the return of former members or groups who had left or become estranged from the party.

Declaring that Umno’s doors “will always remain wide open”, Zahid said the committee would receive applications for re-entry on an individual or collective basis, framing the move as a political homecoming.

“Umno is a home for all to reunite — at times when some have lost their way, at times when some have fallen.

“Come back, come back,” he said, invoking the proverb that those who stray should return to the beginning.



Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reacts after delivering his keynote address during the 2025 Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin


2. Barisan Nasional closes ranks ahead of Melaka state polls

Another clear message from PAU 2025 was Barisan Nasional’s push to project unity, amid recent tensions within the coalition and with a Melaka state election looming.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan were both present for Zahid’s policy speech, a notable show of solidarity following complaints by both parties that they had been marginalised despite BN’s role in the unity government.

Their attendance was acknowledged warmly by Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki in his opening address, alongside Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.

In his policy speech, Zahid urged MCA and MIC to set aside grievances and refocus on BN unity.

“It’s okay to sulk for a while. But now let’s all return. Let’s embrace one another again. So please stop sulking,” he said.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Wee reaffirmed that MCA remains committed to BN as one of its founding members, even as MIC had resolved during its annual assembly last year to review its continued membership in the coalition.

The show of unity comes as Melaka prepares for a state election later this year, with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh confirming that the polls will be held as the current term nears its end.

BN currently controls 20 of the 28 seats in the Melaka state legislative assembly, with Umno holding 17 seats, MCA two and MIC one — making coalition cohesion crucial to retaining power.



A general view of delegates at the 2025 Umno General Assembly, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, January 15, 2026. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin


3. A push for a ‘new Umno’ and a break from old formulas

Beyond unity and reconciliation, PAU 2025 was also marked by repeated calls for Umno to reinvent itself ahead of the 16th general election (GE16).

Deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, better known as Tok Mat, set the tone with a blunt message to delegates: “Stop selling history and start selling the future.”

He said the next 24 months would be critical for Umno to reconnect with voters, particularly those aged between 18 and 35, who now make up roughly half of the electorate.

According to Mohamad, this demographic is less swayed by party loyalty or nostalgia for BN’s past dominance, and more concerned with bread-and-butter issues such as income, housing affordability, career prospects and flexible work arrangements.

He also acknowledged that Malay nationalism alone was no longer sufficient to mobilise younger voters, who are increasingly focused on justice, quality of life and practical governance.

Zahid echoed this sentiment in his own address, warning delegates against clinging to old mindsets shaped by Umno’s five decades in power.

“If our thinking is still like the past, when Umno ruled for 50 years, then it is futile,” he said, noting that society and the world have fundamentally changed.

In interviews conducted by Malay Mail with Umno members across age groups and regions, many grassroots leaders expressed growing openness to moving away from race- and religion-centric rhetoric, in favour of economic stability, inclusivity and political pragmatism.

Zahid said Umno must present a “new value proposition” to voters, especially younger Malaysians, and that the party and BN require a “new breath” to remain relevant after more than half a century.

This rebranding effort, he stressed, must involve a deep internal transformation of values and political culture, rather than superficial or cosmetic changes.

Reporter Arrested Under Sedition Act For Asking A Question. I Say Relek La Brader. DAP Got Nothing To Say Ah?

 

OutSyed The Box

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Reporter Arrested Under Sedition Act For Asking A Question. I Say Relek La Brader. DAP Got Nothing To Say Ah?

• From South China Morning Post
• Malaysian reporter arrested for sedition after controversial question 
• Rex Tan resigned as a Free Malaysia Today reporter 
• apologised for his question, which raised an uproar 
• Rex Tan was arrested 12.45am Sat at Dang Wangi police HQ 
• arrest confirmed by his lawyer
• Tan detained under Section 4(1) of Sedition Act 1948, Section 505(c) of Penal Code
• followed sensitive question raised during a public lecture in Kuala Lumpur.
• Tan posed the question that later drew widespread criticism online.
• FMT subsequently issued an apology
• Malaysian Media Council condemned doxxing, harassment, intimidation of journalists
• Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said authorities “gone overboard” in charging Tan 
• Malaysian Media Council: detaining a journalist was excessive and punitive.
• This article was first published by The Star

My Comments:

Let me get straight to the point. Do you all recall in 2008 Theresa Kok was arrested under the ISA?  She was released a few days later. Like 'catch and release' fishing. The Minister in charge at that time was Chrome Dome. (Hello Bang, how is the wax and polish?) It was over another really brainless issue.

At that time the BN had just lost the 2/3 majority in Parliament in March 2008. Then 10 years later in 2018 the BN got kicked out. Then Najib got thrown in jail. Now its 2026 and Najib is still in jail.

Not only was Theresa Kok arrested under the ISA but there was a rash of cases where writers, alternative media people were arrested, charged in court etc for speaking, writing or uploading things online. It was a very bad time in the history of this country.  But all that eventually added up to get the BN kicked out of office in 2018. And as I said Najib is chilling his heels in jail now.

Now how many of you dunggus believe that history will not repeat itself? 

There are enough voters in the country - of all races - who do not like these silly laws that are still floating around. Some of you might think something great has been achieved by arresting this young boy under the Sedition Act. Well, everything has a cost. And the cost is you will get kicked out at the next elections. The Sedition Act has to be abolished. It just does not belong in our country anymore

Believe me the arrest of this young reporter is going to cost some people plenty of votes. The comment by Zaid Ibrahim is relevant. They went 'overboard'. Now they are going to walk off the plank - into the sea.

The DAP has 40 seats in Parliament but all they need are one pair of cojones. I see the DAP repeating their 8-0 Sabah election performance on a national level.

I used to live next to a pig farm

OPINION | I used to live next to a pig farm


17 Jan 2026 • 2:00 PM MYT



Fa Abdul
FA ABDUL is a former columnist of Malaysiakini & Free Malaysia Today (FMT)

Photo credit: The Sun

In the late 1980s, my family bought a property in Bukit Jambul, Penang. Back then, it was a good place to grow up - quiet, green, and far enough from the city to feel calm without feeling isolated. We didn’t think much about the empty land opposite our apartment. Empty land, after all, feels harmless. It carries possibility, not consequence.


Some time later, that land was turned into a pig farm.


The smell didn’t arrive all at once. It crept in slowly, the way you don’t notice a problem until it has already settled into your life. At first, you wrinkle your nose and move on. Then you start closing windows without thinking. Then you realise certain hours of the day are worse, and you adjust your routines around it - laundry earlier, meals later, conversations indoors. That’s when you know something has been taken from you.


On breezy days, it was unbearable. The wind carried the stench straight into our home, unapologetic and inescapable. Smell does not respect property lines or zoning laws. It doesn’t care about permits, approvals, or the reasons behind a decision. It arrives, and you live with it. Daily.


What stayed with me wasn’t just the smell, but the helplessness. You learn very quickly how little control you have over the air you breathe. Home is supposed to be the one place where you rest your body and lower your guard. But when the smell rolls in, even your living room feels like borrowed space.


What unsettles me most is this: nearly forty years have passed since then, and yet people living next to pig farms today are still complaining about the same things - the smell, the waste, the way it seeps into daily life. For all the talk of modernisation and technology, the lived experience sounds hauntingly familiar.


That experience is why I struggle when this issue is reduced to slogans and moral posturing. Living near a pig farm is not an abstract debate about tolerance, economic necessity, or political compromise. It is a deeply physical reality. It sits in your nose, your throat, your appetite, your sleep. And once you’ve lived with it, you never forget it.


So when residents raise concerns and are quickly dismissed as reactionary, narrow-minded, or overly sensitive, I find it deeply unfair. This is not about what animal is being farmed. A poorly managed chicken farm, cattle feedlot, landfill or waste facility would have produced the same misery. The problem is not culture. It is planning. It is enforcement. It is the convenient habit of placing unpleasant industries as close as possible to people with the least power to object.


What makes it worse is how often authorities act surprised. As if odour, waste and environmental impact are unforeseeable side effects rather than well-documented outcomes. We have decades of examples, locally and globally, of what happens when regulation is weak or selectively applied. To pretend otherwise is either incompetence or a refusal to listen.


That time in Bukit Jambul also taught me something uncomfortable: suffering becomes invisible once it is normalised. Once a community has endured something long enough, their complaints start sounding like background noise. And once complaints become noise, ignoring them becomes policy.


I learned, too, that this is never really about the animal. It is about whose comfort matters, and whose discomfort is considered acceptable collateral damage. It is about how easily people are told to “understand” and “be patient” - conditions that decision-makers themselves would never tolerate outside their own homes.


Perhaps that is why this issue still unsettles me decades later. Because it reminds me how fragile the idea of home can be, and how quickly quality of life is treated as negotiable. Development is always framed as progress, but progress that demands people quietly endure daily indignity is just neglect dressed up in better language.


I don’t pretend to have neat or easy solutions. I only know this: if those making these decisions had to live where the wind carries the smell, the conversation would sound very different. And maybe then, we would stop treating these experiences as abstract debates, and start acknowledging them for what they are - real lives disrupted, day after day.

***

I agree 101% with Fatimah - the odour from a nearby pig farm is horrendous, at times more than horrendous

Never allow pig farms to be near housing estates or even just houses (not related to the pig farms)