Bersatu takes the reins in Perlis, PAS info chief sees red

Bersatu takes the reins in Perlis, PAS info chief sees red

Published: Dec 28, 2025 4:32 PM
Updated: 10:13 PM


Bersatu Perlis chief Abu Bakar Hamzah has been appointed as the new menteri besar.

The Kuala Perlis assemblyperson was sworn in before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail at 4pm today.

He replaces PAS’ Shukri Ramli, who resigned as menteri besar last week, citing health reasons, amid an attempted coup.

Abu Bakar’s appointment signals that PAS - which had moved against three assemblypersons who backed efforts to oust Shukri - may have agreed to support the Bersatu state chief as menteri besar.

It also signals that the state monarch has chosen not to hold a state election, as some were anticipating.

Berita Harian reported that all sitting assemblypersons, including PKR’s Gan Ay Ling, were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

The three former PAS representatives, Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) dan Saad Seman (Chuping) - whose status as assemblypersons are in limbo - were not invited to the ceremony.

Their memberships had been forfeited by PAS, as a means to trigger the anti-hopping law at the state level, where representatives who quit a party are declared to have vacted their seats.

Perlis state speaker Rus’sele Eizan subsequently declared their seats vacant.

Precedent set by the six Bersatu defectors in Parliament and the Kelantan legislature regarding the forfeiture clause puts the final say on whether the anti-hopping law is enforced on the respective legislative speaker.

READ MORE: Speaker: By-election needed for three Perlis state seats

Bersatu only has five assemblypersons in Perlis, while PAS currently has six. Eight assemblypersons are needed for a simple majority.

Gan had previously said she was committed to supporting the new Perlis government for the sake of political stability and the people’s well-being.

She is the sole non-Perikatan Nasional assemblyperson in the state.

Rocky ties with ex-MB

Abu Bakar has had a tenuous relationship with Shukri in the past.

Shukri Ramli


In Nov 2023, he kicked up a fuss about not being in the exco line-up. The matter was only resolved a year later.

Bersatu’s central leadership has denied involvement in any efforts to change the Perlis state government.

However, it comes at a time when PAS has signalled that it is ready to take over the PN leadership from Bersatu.

Meanwhile, in a veiled Facebook post not long after Abu Bakar was sworn in, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari appeared to vent his frustration at the development.

“Friend eats friend. It means the friend has chosen to become a foe,” he said without elaborating.

Wee Ka Siong Challenges DAP’s Stand on Najib, Questions Party’s Place in Madani Government

Wee Ka Siong Challenges DAP’s Stand on Najib, Questions Party’s Place in Madani Government


28 Dec 2025 • 1:30 PM MYT


FlyingBird
Passionate about sharing authentic local news

Sinar Harian


MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has called out what he described as inconsistency within the Democratic Action Party (DAP) following remarks that criticised supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the wake of a High Court ruling.


Wee was responding to comments attributed to DAP Disciplinary Committee chairman Tony Pua, who had used disparaging language to describe individuals defending Najib after the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected the former leader’s application to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. The remarks came after a separate reaction by the Puchong Member of Parliament, who publicly welcomed the court’s decision.


According to Wee, strong rhetoric against alleged wrongdoing loses credibility when it is not matched by political action. He argued that if DAP leaders genuinely opposed corruption and those associated with it, the party should reconsider its continued cooperation within the Madani unity government. He questioned why DAP remained part of an administration that included figures and parties often criticised by its own leaders.


Wee suggested that moral outrage, if sincerely held, should translate into decisive steps rather than selective condemnation. In his view, continuing to work alongside political allies while condemning certain groups as morally unacceptable created a contradiction that voters would not ignore. He added that a principled stance would require DAP to withdraw from the unity government if it truly believed that cooperation amounted to tolerating misconduct.


The controversy followed the High Court’s decision which dismissed Najib’s judicial review application related to an alleged royal addendum that would have allowed him to complete his prison term at home. High Court judge Datuk Alice Loke Yee Ching ruled that the addendum was invalid, as it had not been deliberated or approved during the 61st Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting held on January 29, 2024. The court also found that the required constitutional procedures under Article 42 had not been followed.


The ruling prompted mixed political reactions, with some leaders framing the decision as a victory for the rule of law, while others viewed the public celebrations and harsh language as divisive. Wee cautioned against using the judiciary’s decision as a political weapon, saying it risked deepening tensions within the unity government and among the public.


He concluded that political parties must choose between consistent principles and political convenience, warning that voters were increasingly attentive to such contradictions.

Najib's Sisyphean Hell

OPINION | Najib's Sisyphean Hell


28 Dec 2025 • 4:00 PM MYT


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

Image credit : Nikkei


In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was mighty king condemned by the gods for believing he could outwit them.


And how did the gods punish him ?


Well, they cast him into a hell where, every morning, he would awaken with an irresistible urge to push a massive boulder up a steep hill. All day long, Sisyphus would moan and groan under the crushing weight of the stone, telling himself, “Any moment now, any moment now,” imagining the triumph he would feel when he finally pushed the boulder up the summit. But just as he was about to crest the hill, the boulder would roll back down from the hill.


At that moment, one imagines Sisyphus collapsing in absolute despair—only to wake again the next morning, imbued once more with the same desire, doomed to repeat the same futile struggle. Again and again and again. For eternity.


There are two ways to describe Najib Razak’s hell within Malaysia’s legal system. One could frame it as The Little Engine That Could—the story of perseverance against all odds. Or one could see it for what it really is: Sisyphus pushing a boulder uphill.


To me, the latter fits far better.


The little engine was innocent, almost naïve. Najib, on the other hand, is a politician. Asking my mind to imagine a politician as innocent or naïve is asking too much of it. Rather, if anything suits the image of a man who believes he can outsmart the gods, it is a politician who thinks too highly of himself.


Also , unlike the happy ending of The Little Engine That Could, I seriously doubt that Najib’s story is going to conclude with victory. Rather, I think it is far more likely to end the way Sisyphus’s days always do—with Najib left crushed, broken, and forced to begin again, again and again, time after time, for what might seem like eternity to Najib.


By most measures, 2024 was a good year for Najib. His original 12-year prison sentence was reduced to six. From that vantage point, he could almost see the summit of the mountain.


Then 2025 began with a bang. If any of us recall, the “man of moment” early this year was Najib. He dominated headlines with the “addendum conundrum”—or the case of a mysterious missing addendum to his royal pardon, which allegedly would allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.


Through a court ruling, the government was forced to acknowledge the existence of the addendum. For a brief moment, it appeared that Najib was just a hair’s breadth away from breathing the air of a free man. There was indeed an addendum, Najib and his team had forced the government to admit, and the addendum did carry out an order from the king for Najib to be released into house arrest to finish the rest of sentence from the comfort of his home.


If Najib were Sisyphus, this would have been the moment when the summit was only six feet away. His chest must have been pounding with dream and hope. Just a little more, he might have told himself, summoning fresh energy at the thought that triumph lay only a few steps ahead.


But perhaps giving Najib hope was itself part of the torture the “gods” had planned.


Although Najib kept a low profile throughout much of 2025—likely to avoid ruffling feathers that might derail his addendum bid—the “gods”, it seems, had not forgotten his hubris.


Yesterday, the High Court ruled that although the addendum exists, Najib must complete the remainder of his sentence in Kajang Prison—not at home.


The verdict must have been crushing – it was as if the “gods” had let him soar high in the beginning of the year, just so he will come crashing down from a height by the end of the year.


Even so, Najib might still console himself with the thought that this is not the end. After all, he has only a limited stretch left to serve. Although his sentence formally ends in August 2028, remission for good behaviour could see him released as early as August 2026, and 2026 is just a few days away.


Once again, the summit appears close.


Yet something tells me that when August 2026 arrives, Najib—like Sisyphus—will find his hopes to be dashed once more, just when he is steps away from freedom. The boulder will roll downhill again.


Najib, after all, still has other criminal cases hanging over his head.


If the “gods” have their way, just as Najib believes he is about to walk free, he may be convicted in another case. And once again, he will find himself crushed and broken, watching his liberty roll away from the summit of his dreams.


In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is said to be punished for eternity. But perhaps the gods never intended eternity—only a very long time.

How long?


For as long as Sisyphus continues to imagine himself a mighty king who needs no gods, believing he can push even a massive boulder up a mountain through sheer will alone.


The moment Sisyphus finally breaks—when he forgets he is a king, stops believing he can outwit the gods, and throws himself at their feet begging for mercy—only then might his punishment end.


In ancient Greece, as in Malaysia, the “gods” love humility. Until you humble yourself, they believe it is only right that you be “taught a lesson.”


It may take Sisyphus a very long time to be humbled. He is, after all, a king—confident in his intelligence and power.


In the same way, it may take Najib a long time to break. He comes from an illustrious family and has tasted the very apex of power. He is, in another sense, accustomed to being a “god” himself. And gods take a long time to accept that they are merely mortal.


Until then, let me leave Najib with a famous line from Albert Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus.


While reflecting on Sisyphus’s punishment, Camus famously reimagined this curse as something almost noble:


“The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”


Perhaps Najib should read Camus. It might help him convince himself that he is not feeling the heat—but seeing the light—through his plight.

***

A second royal FULL pardon should do the trick, that is, if the Agong is agreeable  - mustn't forget PMX has to be agreeable too unless the Defence can how the Royal Pardon per se supersedes all pardon protocols

Will all the Malay votes go to PN now that Najib goes to jail?

Will all the Malay votes go to PN now that Najib goes to jail?

By CS Ming
3 hours ago




NOW that Malaysians are certain that Bossku will remain behind bars, here comes the crystal ball gazers who claim to know the repercussions that will follow.


A netizen recently drew quite the amount of attention for pointing out on a post on X that Najib’s incarceration means the Malay votes will all go to PN.


How true is that? Looking through the comment section, we can tell that a good majority of Malays are offended by the post, and why not?

Netizen @usanedi who followed the post summed up the sentiment with a simple explanation.




“I don’t agree, the Malays I know today are knowledgeable, many educated in politics and smart, not so gullible, all we need is young leaders with calibre team up and show yourselves in GE16, the old guys are gone for good,” added @benedictrajan27.

But @DoeRaeMond believed that the absence of Najib would have the direct opposite effect. “Without Najib Razak, Malay will vote back BN-PH,” he said, offering no explanation.

Then there was @nonsnonsnons with his grim prediction, stating that UMNO will become extinct, among many other things.



Also, check out this picture comment from @Malaysian10:



However, netizen @kaijuday said PN was certain to win the next general election as people are convinced that the Chinese controlled the economy.

“Although the report has come out that Malay government linked companies are controlling the economy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin’s refusal to apologise for a post concerning former UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been criticised as rude towards her partners in the unity government.

Selangor UMNO Youth chief Datuk Mohd Imran Tamrin said the DAP national publicity secretary’s attitude will be raised at higher levels, including the upcoming Selangor Umno liaison meeting.

Already, Puchong UMNO announced that it had severed all ties with its PH counterpart following the issue.

At least we can tell with certainty that Najib’s prison sentence will not be hurting the Chinese votes for the unity government. —Dec 28, 2025

Chegubard defends his call for Muhyiddin to resign, rejects traitor label

Chegubard defends his call for Muhyiddin to resign, rejects traitor label






PORT Dickson Bersatu chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, has firmly rejected accusations of treason from within his party after openly calling for president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to resign over his son-in-law’s ongoing corruption probe.


At a press conference outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters, Chegubard said: “Apologies, Tan Sri. If you fail to call your son-in-law back, it would be better for you to step down respectfully, rather than become a burden to this struggle and slow its progress.


“You once advised us that Islam demands Muslims have a sense of shame, so we hope you too will uphold that value, as you yourself have advised. I am only a small individual with a modest contribution in the struggle to defend a very large cause.

“For me, black is black and white is white. There is no grey. Corruption is the country’s number one enemy.”

The controversy stems from MACC’s completed investigation into businessman Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan – Muhyiddin’s son-in-law – over alleged corruption and misappropriation linked to ministry projects.


Adlan, believed to be in the Middle East, has yet to return for questioning.

Bersatu recently faced internal turmoil with calls for Muhyiddin’s resignation, but a meeting at his home restored a fragile status quo.

Responding to Negri Sembilan Bersatu’s condemnation – labelling his remarks “treacherous, uncivilised and insubordinate” – Chegubard defended his stance to FMT.

“So, I decided to reveal all before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does,” he said, referring to the prime minister. “I basically sabotaged Anwar’s plans (to use these issues) against us.”

He argued his exposés prevent rivals from politicising the matter in future elections and questioned whether Bersatu is truly serious about fighting corruption or selectively silent.

Chegubard also criticised the opposition’s slow response to government issues, insisting his criticism strengthens rather than destabilises the party.

Yesterday (Dec 26), Negri Sembilan Bersatu urged top leadership to discipline him. — Dec 27, 2025

Guilty. Guilty on all counts. Enough said

theVibes.com:

Guilty. Guilty on all counts. Enough said

This is what accountability looks like. It is never easy. It is never painless. And it should never be celebrated.

Updated 1 day ago · Published on 26 Dec 2025 10:19PM

This is not a moment for gloating, nor for division. It is a moment for leadership. - December 27, 2025



by Vinod Sekhar


THE legal process will continue, appeals will run their course, and institutions must be allowed to do their work. But the reality is undeniable - a chapter has closed.

For my wife, my family, and me, this moment carries deep and complex emotions. They are not emotions to be rushed into words, and I will share them in time. For now, what matters most is that Malaysia must move forward.

This is what accountability looks like. It is never easy. It is never painless. And it should never be celebrated.

My condolences go to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s family - especially his children. No matter the circumstances, I can only imagine the weight they are carrying today. Compassion and decency must not disappear when judgment is passed.

But let us also be clear: this is not a moment for gloating, nor for division. It is a moment for leadership.

Those entrusted with power must now rise to the responsibility of healing, rebuilding, and guiding this nation forward - with humility, integrity, and courage. Malaysia’s future is not something we inherit passively; it is something we must actively shape and protect.

We owe it to our children. We owe it to our country. We owe it to ourselves.

God bless Malaysia. - December 27, 2025

Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar is the publisher of the Vibes and Chairman of the Petra Group

***

Some S-Wholes would be incapable of such thoughts - thanks Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar

Luxury car owners claim forgetfulness or money problems for expired road tax

FMT:

Luxury car owners claim forgetfulness or money problems for expired road tax

JPJ senior enforcement director Kifli Ma Hassan said although there has been an increase in road tax renewals among luxury car owners, many still fail to settle their dues

Among the luxury car brands seized by JPJ were Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, BMW and Rolls-Royce. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Some luxury car owners who fail to renew their road tax claim they just forgot to do so, while others cite financial difficulties.

These were among the reasons given following a nationwide operation which saw over 900 such vehicles seized since July 1, says the road transport department (JPJ).

JPJ senior enforcement director Kifli Ma Hassan said although there has been an increase in road tax renewals among luxury car owners, many still fail to settle their dues, Utusan Malaysia reported.


“As of yesterday, 915 luxury vehicles have been seized.

“Owners of luxury vehicles are urged to renew their road tax immediately. Any time these vehicles are found on public roads, they will be stopped and confiscated,” he said at a press conference on JPJ’s “Op Pelbagai” at Jalan Ampang today.


Kifli stressed that these vehicles are worth over RM300,000 each, raising questions about whether some owners are unable or just unwilling to pay the road tax.

Among the luxury cars seized were Aston Martin, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce.

Earlier, JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli revealed that the highest outstanding amount owed for road tax was for a Lamborghini Huracan, which was recently seized with arrears totaling RM35,760, and an Audi A8 with arrears of RM21,710.

JPJ also seized an Audi TT that had not renewed its road tax since 2021, and discovered a BMW i7 displaying a fake registration number.

Aedy said JPJ will strengthen enforcement operations and will no longer rely solely on issuing summonses as done previously.

***

Pareeerayah Bung-karnineh-sat's

Some DAP leaders should think before talking

LETTER | Some DAP leaders should think before talking

Yow Lop Siaw
Published: Dec 26, 2025 11:39 AM
Updated: 2:48 PM


LETTER | This old Chinese saying (old habits die hard) reflects the latest actions by some politicians. They seem to behave like when they were opposition party members, even though they are now part of a ruling coalition.

They are insensitive, arrogant and lack empathy, just like when they were opposition members. The learned always believe that the less we open our mouth, the better we are as others will not be able to know how much we know and not know.

Saying something immediately exposes our thoughts and character, and some politicians have this “oral diarrhoea disorder.”

Our credibility demands that whatever we pledge to do must be actionable and achievable. The disastrous defeat of DAP in the Sabah state election witnessed a DAP leader issuing another pledge of resolving the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) recognition issue within six months.

Is this achievable? Given the fact that UEC recognition issue had been outstanding and pursued decades ago and was also pledge prior to the last general elections, no perceivable outcome has been achieved.

There are two possible answers to this. Either it has been pursued without much progress or it was a mere election pledge in order to win votes.

However, DAP’s immediate response of pledging to resolve it within six months is a definite damage control effort. Against the delicate fabric of the current Malaysian political climate, a public response such as this draws immediate uproar from those who are deadly against UEC recognition or anything ethnically Chinese.

Being a partner of the current government, such action exposes the naiveness and arrogance of a political leader. There must be ways to circumvent the UEC recognition and there are people out there who might be able to offer ideas. Being a political leader does not mean you know everything and anything.

Rejoicing over court verdict

Another member of the same party rejoiced over the verdict on house arrest for our former prime minister. While we have expectations over the 1MDB case, calling the public openly to rejoice over the judge’s verdict is simply being insensitive to the fragile social fabric and volatile ethnic relationship.

A true leader needs to exhibit traits of empathy, sympathy and inclusiveness. We can rejoice and be proud of the judiciary verdict but at the same time, keep our big mouth shut. Another arrogant member openly supported her - a true show of arrogance and verbal diarrhoea.

This exhibition of arrogance is not confined to one member alone. Another recently told off a journalist arrogantly during a press conference, only to find himself seeking forgiveness, much like a defeated dog with its tail between its legs.

His arrogance is also glaringly visible in most of his press conferences - his words, mannerisms and gestures. He is also well known for using unsavoury words during election campaigns.

Bad hats and gangsters speak and act in the same nauseating manner. How he puts forth his proposal on anti-littering substantiate how arrogant he speaks.

Look at your own backyard

Come to Damansara Jaya and see for yourself. The Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) website says that garden refuse collection is carried thrice a week.

However, it has been about 10 days since they collected these and right now, there are more than 20 heaps of garden refuse left by the roadside. Is this considered littering by MBPJ? Look after your backyard before you open your mouth and tell people off.

As closing, I would suggest that the next prime minister appoints ministers whose character truly reflects “Madani” – cultured, has empathy, having traits like inclusiveness and are genuine in nation building.

Ministers do not need to hold press conferences on what is being planned or carried out. Whatever is being done can be seen and felt.

If need be, there should be only one spokesperson for the entire government.

Umno Youth to hold special convention on Jan 3 to weigh continued cooperation with Pakatan, says wing chief

Umno Youth to hold special convention on Jan 3 to weigh continued cooperation with Pakatan, says wing chief



Datuk Muhamed Akmal Saleh said the special convention would gauge grassroots views on continued cooperation with Pakatan Harapan. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Sunday, 28 Dec 2025 3:54 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Umno Youth will hold a special convention on January 3 to gather grassroots views on whether the party should continue its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Its chief, Datuk Dr Muhamed Akmal Saleh, said the convention — titled “Hala Tuju Umno, Sama Ada Kekal Atau Keluar Dari Kerajaan” (“Umno’s Direction: Stay or Leave the Government”) — will take place at 3pm at Dewan Tun Ismail, World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur.

He said members who wished to voice their views, particularly those who care about Umno, were encouraged to attend so that all opinions could be considered before being conveyed to the party’s top leadership.

“Malay voters who care about Umno’s struggle, come in large numbers (to the convention).


“Let us state what is in our hearts so that what we say at this convention can be brought to Umno’s supreme council.

“We will also submit it to the Umno president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“I invite all leaders to attend and listen to the sentiments of the grassroots — those who have no interest in power but still care about Umno’s struggle,” he said in a two-minute-16-second video posted on Facebook today.


Relations between Umno and PH coalition partner DAP have become strained recently after Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin publicly welcomed a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision related to the royal addendum issue involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The action by the DAP national publicity secretary triggered a backlash, leading Umno’s Puchong division to decide to sever cooperation.

Dr Akmal praised the decision by Puchong Umno and Selangor Umno Youth to cut ties with DAP and to demand an apology from Bee Yin.

“Unfortunately, that request appears to have been ignored and, to this day, there has been no apology at all.

“I would like to thank Selangor Umno Youth and Puchong Umno for issuing statements to sever ties with PH in Puchong,” he said.

Japan rethinks rice policy as production shifts put supply at risk

Japan rethinks rice policy as production shifts put supply at risk



Japanese officials have warned that if farmers increase production without creating overseas demand, rice prices will plummet due to oversupply. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 28 Dec 2025 12:09 PM MYT




TOKYO, Dec 28 — Japan’s rice policy is at a crossroads as prices of the country’s staple food stay around record highs, squeezing households, Jiji Press reported.

“We’ll change course and boost production,” then Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in August 2025, declaring a change in the government’s rice policy, under which production adjustment had been maintained.

But this was quickly reversed by his successor, Sanae Takaichi, who took office as prime minister in October. Her policy is to keep production in line with demand.


The agriculture minister in her cabinet, Norikazu Suzuki, firmly maintains the position of “not committing to prices.”


He stresses the need to secure demand first, including foreign demand, and then promote production.

If farmers increase production before creating overseas demand, “rice prices will plunge due to an oversupply,” he warns. — Bernama

Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah appointed as 12th menteri besar of Perlis

Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah appointed as 12th menteri besar of Perlis



Kuala Perlis state assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah has been appointed as the new Menteri Besar of Perlis. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 28 Dec 2025 4:21 PM MYT


ARAU, Dec 28 — Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah was sworn in as the new Menteri Besar of Perlis at Istana Arau here today.

Abu Bakar, 57, took his oath of office as the state’s 12th Menteri Besar before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, at 4.04pm.

Abu Bakar is Perlis Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman and state Bersatu chief.

He won the Kuala Perlis seat in the 15th General Election with a majority of 1,254 votes.


He succeeds Mohd Shukri Ramli, who stepped down from his post on Thursday due to health reasons.

Abu Bakar was appointed to the state executive council following a reshuffle in November last year, during which he was entrusted with the Tourism, Arts and Culture as well as Rural Development portfolios.

In the reshuffle, Abu Bakar was among three state assemblymen appointed as new executive councillors, replacing two incumbents who were dropped.


Although the swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for 1pm, it was delayed until the late afternoon.

Police personnel were also stationed at the main entrance of the palace as well as at several junctions along the main routes leading to Istana Arau.

On December 25, Perlis State Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan announced unexpected vacancies for the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji seats in accordance with Clause (1)(a)(ii) of Article 50A of the Perlis State Constitution.

The vacancies arose after PAS announced on Dec 24 that the party membership of three of its assemblymen — Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) — had been terminated following their alleged move to withdraw support for Mohd Shukri.

In the 15th General Election, Perikatan Nasional (PN) Perlis won 14 of the 15 state assembly seats, with PAS securing nine seats and Bersatu five, while Pakatan Harapan (PH), through PKR, won the remaining seat. — Bernama

Beseri rep reveals invitation to join plot against Perlis MB

FMT:

Beseri rep reveals invitation to join plot against Perlis MB

Haziq Asyraf Dun, from PAS, says he was among the assemblymen invited by a person acting as a ‘broker’ to sign a statutory declaration

Beseri assemblyman Haziq Asyraf Dun said he consulted PAS leaders at both central and state levels after being invited to sign the statutory declaration. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: PAS assemblyman Haziq Asyraf Dun revealed that he too was invited to sign a statutory declaration to withdraw support for Shukri Ramli as menteri besar of Perlis.

Haziq said he was among the assemblymen invited to sign the SD by a person acting as a “broker”.

“As an elected assemblyman, my principle is to first consult the central PAS leadership as well as the state chapter leadership.


“After seeking their advice, I did not participate (in the signing of the SD) as the invitation to do so was not made officially (through inter-party channels),” he said in a Facebook post.

Commenting further on the three PAS assemblymen who had ceased being members of the Islamic party as a result of pulling support for Shukri, Haziq said he felt emotional seeing what had happened to them.

However, he said the party’s central leadership made the right decision, with fairness and integrity, giving the three assemblymen the chance to directly explain themselves to the leaders.

“I attended the meeting as a witness,” Haziq said.

“Party discipline cannot be overshadowed by emotion. Betrayal is still betrayal. This action must serve as a major lesson for all PAS members, not only in Perlis but across the country.”

The three PAS assemblymen are Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji). Their seats in the state assembly have been declared vacant.


The five assemblymen from Bersatu who reportedly also submitted statutory declarations were Abu Bakar Hamzah (Kuala Perlis), Izizam Ibrahim (Titi Tinggi), Megat Hashirat Hassan (Pauh), Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak (Tambun Tulang) and Marzita Mansor (Sena).

Shukri, who is also from PAS, had resigned on Thursday, citing health reasons.

Perlis mufti says religion should not be drawn into unproven political allegations

Perlis mufti says religion should not be drawn into unproven political allegations



Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin urged restraint and evidence-based discussion, cautioning against unsubstantiated claims involving religion and state power. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

Sunday, 28 Dec 2025 1:54 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Religious and governance issues should not be exploited to create negative public perceptions, particularly involving the state administration and the royal institution, said Perlis mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

He said any claims, including allegations of pressure being exerted on the Menteri Besar, must be backed by clear evidence. Unsubstantiated accusations, he added, would only create fear and open the door to the misuse of religious sentiments.

“For example, claims that the Menteri Besar resigned due to pressure to approve matters outside proper procedures raise serious questions. Who could pressure the Menteri Besar? Such claims create negative perceptions.

“This is worrying, and we do not want issues to be exploited in the name of religion,” he said in a recent podcast on his YouTube channel, ‘Prof Dato Dr MAZA — Political Crisis: Between Religion and Power’.


On December 25, Mohd Shukri Ramli, who is also Sanglang assemblyman, announced his resignation as Perlis Menteri Besar due to health reasons.

He submitted his resignation letter to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, on the same day.

Earlier, Perlis speaker Rus’sele Eizan announced unexpected vacancies in the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji seats after the party membership of three PAS assemblymen was terminated with immediate effect.


It was also reported that Perikatan Nasional assemblymen in the state had allegedly sought an audience with the Raja of Perlis to express a loss of confidence and withdrawal of support for Mohd Shukri.

Following this, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, said in a statement on December 24, that the party membership of Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) had been terminated with immediate effect under Clause 76 and Clause 15A(1)(b) of the PAS Constitution (Amendment 2025).

In the 15th general election, Perikatan Nasional (PN) won 14 of the 15 seats in the Perlis State Legislative Assembly, with PAS securing nine seats and Bersatu five, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the remaining seat through PKR. — Bernama

Pua asks Apandi whose intelligence lapsed, Ong hopes Najib won't appeal

Pua asks Apandi whose intelligence lapsed, Ong hopes Najib won't appeal

Zarrah Morden
Published: Dec 28, 2025 12:11 PM
Updated: 4:43 PM


Summary

• DAP’s Tony Pua slams former AG Apandi Ali over his cryptic comment on Najib’s conviction, questioning who exactly had a “lapse of intelligence”.

• Ong Kian Ming hopes Najib will not appeal the High Court decision finding him guilty on 25 corruption-related charges.

DAP disciplinary Tony Pua has questioned who had lapsed in the 1MDB case, following former attorney-general Apandi Ali’s cryptic one-liner after the High Court found Najib Abdul Razak guilty of all 25 abuse of power and money laundering charges.

Pua asked if Apandi could experience a lapse in intelligence if the latter had any to begin with.

“ROTFLOL (rolling on the floor laughing out loud)!!!!! Who paid? Who lapsed?

“Are you insulting us that we paid for our stupidity (in) electing Najib, who appointed you as the AG? Or are you talking about (your) convicted former boss?

“Or are you saying that we Malaysians paid for your stupidity? In which case, IMHO (in my honest opinion), I beg to differ (that) there was any intelligence to begin with,” the former Damansara MP said in a Facebook post.

Former attorney-general Apandi Ali


Yesterday, Apandi said, “Sometimes one has to pay for a lapse of intelligence”, when contacted for comment following Najib’s conviction, given that the former AG had once cleared the former prime minister of any wrongdoing.

However, he declined to elaborate when asked what he meant.

The day before, presiding judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah found Najib guilty on all four counts of abuse of power and all 21 money laundering charges linked to the 1MDB scandal.

The former Umno president was handed 15 years’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a total fine of RM11.38 billion for the four abuse of power offences.

‘Don’t expect public forgiveness without remorse’

Commenting on the matter, former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming told Malaysiakini that he hopes Najib will decide against appealing the decision.

“It would be much better for him and his family if he could start the process of public and private repentance over his own role and responsibility in the 1MDB case, which has cost and is still costing the country billions of ringgit in debt and perhaps more in reputational damage.

“As long as he doesn’t admit that he played an active role in this scandal, he would find it almost impossible to find some semblance of forgiveness in the court of public opinion,” the DAP politician said.

Ong Kian Ming


He previously mulled the possibility of granting Najib a full pardon as part of a broader political “reset” aimed at discouraging court charges by the government of the day against its rivals.

Such a proposal, Ong said, would include not just a full pardon for Najib, “perhaps after the conclusion of the ongoing 1MDB case”, but also the discontinuation of cases involving DAP national adviser Lim Guan Eng and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Hoping for accelerated reforms

Meanwhile, Ong floated hopes that the verdict would drive the Madani government to strengthen the independence of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), so that the corrupt will not believe they are safe as long as they stay in power.

He also called for the empowerment of an independent judiciary through reforms to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).

The JAC comprises nine members, four of whom are automatically appointed based on their judicial positions. The rest of the members are appointed by the prime minister.

In July, nine PKR MPs raised a laundry list of outstanding issues for the consideration of Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, who also serves as the JAC chairperson.

Among the matters highlighted by the lawmakers are ensuring judicial appointments follow the proper processes under the Federal Constitution and the JAC Act 2009, so that appointments are made based on merit and seniority.

They also argued that the prime minister should be required to provide official reasons, either to the JAC or Parliament, for rejecting candidates vetted by the commission.

***

TP is the type of Chinese that Malays love to dislike if not hate - arrogant, rude and most biadap-ish, he might be correct but he behaves in a way that reminds me of what my matey Anas Zubedy once asked: Patut atau tidak.

As long as TP is in DAP, the party will find it difficult to win over Malays.

Najib has option to seek pardon or appeal 1MDB conviction, say lawyers

FMT:

Najib has option to seek pardon or appeal 1MDB conviction, say lawyers

6 hours ago
V Anbalagan

However, they say the former prime minister will need to waive his right to appeal in order to apply for a pardon

On Friday, the Putrajaya High Court sentenced Najib Razak to 15 years in prison and fined him RM11.4 billion in his 1MDB corruption case. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak, who has been found guilty for the second time for corruption, has the option to file for a pardon or appeal his conviction in the 1MDB case, lawyers said.

They said Najib, 72, could apply for full clemency, but an appeal to set aside the conviction and sentence in the 1MDB case would take another two to three years if the matter went up to the Federal Court.

However, to apply for a pardon, Najib would have to waive his right to appeal, the lawyers said.


Najib’s lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, had indicated to 1MDB trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that his client intends to appeal the conviction and sentence.


Najib has 14 days to file a notice of appeal.


Sequerah found Najib guilty of four charges of abuse of power and 21 charges for money laundering over funds totalling RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

He sentenced Najib to 15 years’ jail, and imposed a fine of about RM11.4 billion.

Sequerah ordered the 1MDB prison term to begin only after the end of Najib’s six-year jail term in the RM42 million SRC International case on Aug 23, 2028.

Lawyer Abdul Rashid Ismail said the Prisons Act and regulations did not impose a time limit to bar an applicant from filing for royal clemency.


“The law only states that a petition could be made ‘as soon as practicable’,” he said.

Lawyer Kitson Foong said Najib would not be able to make an application to the Federal Territories Pardons Board if he chooses to exhaust the appeal process.

“One cannot file an application for pardon and at the same time file an appeal. A convict’s petition for mercy only begins after his legal right ends,” he added.

On Dec 22, the Kuala Lumpur High Court refused to issue a mandamus order to compel the government to move Najib from Kajang prison and allow him to serve the remainder of his jail term for the SRC International case at home.


Lawyer A Srimurugan said Najib could also file a second pardon application for the SRC International case as the law did not prevent an applicant to do so.

“It also depends on the written opinion on a pardon given by the attorney-general, as provided for under Article 42(9) of the Federal Constitution, when the king presides over a pardon board’s meeting,” he said.

Srimurugan cited the case of former minister Mokhtar Hashim, who was convicted for the 1982 murder of then Gemencheh assemblyman Taha Talib. Mokhtar’s death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment by the Negeri Sembilan Pardons Board.

The lawyer added that Mokhtar subsequently applied for clemency, which resulted in his sentence being further reduced to a fixed prison term, ultimately leading to his release in 1991.

Security tight at Istana Arau as Perlis prepares to swear in new menteri besar amid political fallout

Security tight at Istana Arau as Perlis prepares to swear in new menteri besar amid political fallout



Istana Arau has drawn media attention, reportedly to cover the swearing-in ceremony of the new Perlis Menteri Besar. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 28 Dec 2025 1:01 PM MYT


ARAU, Dec 28 — Istana Arau has drawn media attention, reportedly to cover the swearing-in ceremony of the new Perlis Menteri Besar.

Media practitioners, arriving from 11.30am, were allowed into the palace’s secured parking area.

Police were stationed at the palace’s main entrance and several nearby junctions leading to Istana Arau.

The appointment of Perlis’ 12th Menteri Besar follows the voluntary resignation of Mohd Shukri Ramli, the Sanglang assemblyman, on December 25 due to health reasons.

On the same day, Perlis State Legislative Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan announced vacancies in the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji seats under Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis State Constitution.

The unexpected vacancies followed PAS’s announcement on Dec 24 that the party membership of three assemblymen, namely Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), had been terminated after they withdrew support for Mohd Shukri.

In the 15th General Election, Perikatan Nasional won 14 of Perlis’ 15 state seats, nine for PAS, five for Bersatu, while Pakatan Harapan, through PKR, secured one seat. — Bernama

What my visitor TS, a Satanyahu acolyte, has been doing, wakakaka

 

TS also includes anti China kerbau, wakakaka and pro MAGA and pro Nippon murderers propaganda

😂😂😂

Iran president says US, Israel and Europe waging total war against Tehran

Iran president says US, Israel and Europe waging total war against Tehran



Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that United States, Israel and Europe were waging “total war” against his country. — Reuters file pic

Sunday, 28 Dec 2025 9:22 AM MYT


TEHRAN, Dec 28 — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview published yesterday that the United States, Israel and Europe were waging “total war” against his country.

“In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe. They want to bring our country to its knees,” Pezeshkian told the official site of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, six months after Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran.


France, Britain and Germany were behind the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran in September connected to its nuclear programme.

“This war is worse than the one launched against us by Iraq. On closer inspection, it is far more complex and difficult,” he added, referring to the 1980-88 conflict between the neighbouring countries that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.


The United States and its allies accuse Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran has repeatedly denied.


Sworn enemies Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day war in June, triggered by an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iranian military and nuclear sites, as well as civilian areas.

The strikes resulted in more than 1,000 casualties, according to Iranian authorities.


The United States later joined the operation, bombing three nuclear sites.

Washington’s involvement brought a halt to negotiations that began in April with Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Since returning to the White House in January, US President Donald Trump has revived his so-called “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, initiated during his first term.

That has included additional sanctions designed to economically cripple the country and dry up its oil revenues from sales on the global market. — AFP pic

Malaysia Army chief on leave pending MACC probe, Navy chief named acting Armed Forces chief after Nizam retires

Malaysia Army chief on leave pending MACC probe, Navy chief named acting Armed Forces chief after Nizam retires



The Defence Ministry today instructed Army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan to go on leave with immediate effect to allow investigations into certain allegations. — Bernama pic

Saturday, 27 Dec 2025 1:57 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — The Defence Ministry today instructed Army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan to go on leave with immediate effect to allow investigations into allegations of money laundering.

The ministry said the administrative measure was taken to ensure the probe proceeds smoothly without any conflict of interest, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement.

He also announced the immediate appointment of Navy commander Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain as acting Malaysian Armed Forces chief following the retirement of General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, who reached the mandatory retirement age.

Khaled said Zulhelmy will assume the duties of Armed Forces chief with immediate effect.


The ministry expressed its highest appreciation for Mohd Nizam’s service, leadership and contributions during his tenure.

It also conveyed its wishes for the smoothness of his retirement affairs.

Bernama reported that activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, alleged a senior Armed Forces officer was involved in money laundering.


Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that a probe under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 is in progress.

MACC officers visited the Defence Ministry last Tuesday, focusing their checks on procurement projects carried out through open tenders under the Army’s Pusat Tanggungjawab (PTJ).

The investigation, which began on December 23, found 158 projects worth more than RM500,000 and 4,521 projects below that threshold between 2023 and 2025.

Preliminary findings showed several companies repeatedly secured high-value contracts, raising concerns.

As of December 24, MACC had recorded statements from three individuals to assist the investigation.

My struggle is not to evade responsibility, but uphold justice: Najib

My struggle is not to evade responsibility, but uphold justice: Najib

Published: Dec 26, 2025 11:14 PM
Updated: 2:27 AM


After more than seven long years charting the rise and collapse of Malaysia’s most infamous financial scandal, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was today convicted on all charges by the High Court in Putrajaya.

Najib was then sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for each of his four counts of abuse of power in the 1MDB case, and five years for each of the 21 money laundering charges.

In what is likely the longest sentencing hearing to date, presiding judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah delivered the sentences, not before issuing sharp rebukes against the former prime minister, in proceedings that began as whispers of irregular fund transfers and swelled into a global scandal that ultimately cost Najib both his office and his political dominance.

The former Pekan MP’s lead defence counsel, Shafee Abdullah, announced that he would be filing an appeal against the convictions on Monday.

He looks forward to presenting the case before the Court of Appeal, citing multiple “blunders” in the verdict delivered by Sequerah.

Collin Lawrence Sequerah


At the same press conference after the sentencing, Shafee also read out a letter written by the convicted Najib, which Malaysiakini has reproduced in full below after translating it from Bahasa Malaysia to English:

Brothers and sisters whom I respect,

I write this with a calm mind, even though my heart is heavy.

There are moments when I feel as though this struggle must be borne by me alone. Yet I remain resolute in continuing it - not out of vengeance, but out of principle. What I seek is merely the rights provided for by law and what has been duly granted.

My intention has never changed: to contribute to the development of the nation and the well-being of the people.

This struggle is not an attempt to evade responsibility. It is an endeavour to uphold justice, to defend the integrity of the Constitution, and to preserve the sovereignty of the rule of law, applied without fear or favour.

I will continue to assert my rights through lawful channels, with dignity and patience, even though the path is lonely and demands great sacrifice. Whatever today’s decision may be, I remain confident in the nation’s judicial process.

In this regard, I appeal to all Malaysians to remain calm, rational, and measured, and not to be influenced by or involved in any provocation that could undermine public harmony or demean the legal process. Differences of opinion should be expressed in a mature, orderly manner and grounded in the law.

I call upon all Malaysians to assess this matter calmly and rationally, not merely from the perspective of my fate as an individual, but for the sake of the future of our national institutions and the principles we collectively uphold.

Najib Abdul Razak

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