There’s a cost to losing a legislator like Puad

There’s a cost to losing a legislator like Puad


The news that former Rengit assemblyman Puad Zarkashi is retiring is bad for democratic politics

From Terence Netto


That Umno supreme council member and former Johor state legislator Puad Zarkashi is quitting the party is bad news for aficionados of the cut and thrust of democratic debate.


Puad, who was also speaker of the Johor state assembly that was dissolved on June 1, said that at 69 he ought to make way for younger Umno candidates to contest in the upcoming state polls.

It is doubtful that younger replacements can match Puad’s ability to give persuasive reasons for the criticisms he has levelled over the past several years at opponents and allies in Johor and national politics.


Democracy is also about the art of giving persuasive reasons for one’s policies and stances; Puad was adept at the game.

Which is why the news of his intention to not contest in the upcoming state election and leaving Umno is dismaying to appreciators of the craft of democratic debate.

Over the past several years enthusiasts of this art were entertained by the arguments, barbs and sallies that emanated from Puad — aimed at opponents and critics of Umno who took issue with the party and its advocates.

In the exchanges, Puad gave as good as he got.

In politics only bores are insufferable, and because the type is inevitable in the game, an exponent of Puad’s forensic skill and stiletto thrusts is valued.


There would be fewer yawns and other signs of boredom in the proceedings.

In remarks announcing his intention to retire, Puad has referred to alleged conduct by the palace that smacked of interference in state politics.

No doubt, this serious allegation will be the stuff of comment from quarters concerned in the next few days.


It is just like Puad to bring up the matter, assuming it is true: individuals of his sharpness of speech won’t lack the temerity to raise legitimate concerns.

More the reason to regret his decision to retire from electoral politics.



Terence Netto is a senior journalist and an FMT reader.

Never trust Netanyahu - he's very treacherous

 

PH slams PAS’s hypocrisy over BN voting directive

PH slams PAS’s hypocrisy over BN voting directive


2 hours ago
Faiz Zainudin


Johor PH chairman Aminolhuda Hassan points out that PAS previously criticised the cooperation between Umno and DAP in the federal government, calling it 'UmDAP'

Johor PH chief Aminolhuda Hassan said PAS ordering its supporters to vote for BN showed it was willing to abandon a stance it had previously used to attack its political rivals.

JOHOR BAHRU: Johor Pakatan Harapan has criticised PAS for lacking principles after the Islamic party instructed its members to vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in constituencies where Perikatan Nasional (PN) is not contesting in the state election.

Johor PH chairman Aminolhuda Hassan said the directive contradicted PAS’s earlier narrative, in which it criticised the federal unity government’s cooperation between Umno and DAP, and labelled it “UmDAP”.

He said it showed PAS was willing to abandon a stance it had previously used to attack its political rivals.


“When the unity government led by Anwar Ibrahim was first formed, PAS leaders branded Umno as ‘UmDAP’. But today, they are instructing PAS members to vote for Umno candidates,” he told FMT.

Earlier, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the directive was issued to ensure support for Umno-BN candidates in seats where PN is not fielding candidates.


Separately, Aminolhuda said Johoreans had not forgotten the 2020 “backdoor government” of PAS, Bersatu and Umno, which he claimed only served their political interests over that of the people.

He noted that the government lasted only 33 months despite being led by two prime ministers from the loose coalition.

“This clearly shows that the coalition was more interested in forming a government to serve its own political interests than in serving the people,” he said.

Aminolhuda also accused Johor BN of misleading voters over its approach to the state election.


“Umno-BN under Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s leadership in Johor was not honest with the people when it announced that BN would contest on its own.

“However, after witnessing the growing wave of public support for PH’s programmes, it allegedly entered into a covert pact with PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara, a splinter party formed by former Bersatu members,” he said.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi played down claims of cooperation with PAS and Wawasan in the Johor polls, saying any such discussions were likely held only at the grassroots level.

***

Don't trust PAS under Hadi - the party has become racist rather than religious, as it had been under Nik Aziz

PAS urges supporters to vote BN in non-PN seats

PAS urges supporters to vote BN in non-PN seats


PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says the instruction was given to all party members and supporters

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said he is confident that party members understand the importance of ummah unity.

PETALING JAYA: PAS has called on all its members and supporters to vote for Umno or Barisan Nasional candidates in state constituencies where Perikatan Nasional is not contesting in the Johor polls.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said he is confident that party members understood the importance of ummah unity and that PN is the platform towards achieving that goal.
Kerajaan

“PAS instructs its members and supporters to vote for Umno or BN candidates in state seats where PN is not contesting.

“That is what we have emphasised (with PAS members). Do not vote for Pakatan Harapan,” he was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying.
Play

There are 56 seats up for grabs in the Johor state election, with 29 needed for a simple majority.

Under PN, PAS is contesting 11 seats, Bersatu 16, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party five, and Pejuang one. Parti Wawasan Negara and Gerakan are skipping the state polls.

Kerajaan

Johor BN will contest all 56 seats, and has reaffirmed its decision to go solo without any electoral cooperation or plans to form a government with any other party.

PH has also fielded candidates in all 56 state seats.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday played down allegations of cooperation with PAS and Wawasan in the Johor election.

He said any talks among the parties for working together, if they had taken place, were likely held among their lower ranks.

Former Mengkibol assemblyman Chew Chong Sin, of DAP, yesterday claimed that there is a “tacit understanding” between BN and PN, based on the 33 candidates fielded by PN.

Chew urged voters to come out in full force to prevent BN and PN from forming the next state government.

Separately, Berita Harian reported that PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has hinted at several surprises in the coalition’s manifesto for the Johor election, to be unveiled in the coming days.

Pakatan files police report after party flag burned in Kota Tinggi

Pakatan files police report after party flag burned in Kota Tinggi



Pakatan Harapan has expressed its regret over the alleged act of sabotage by certain parties who burned the coalition’s flag at the entrance to Felda Gugusan Adela in Kota Tinggi. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 4:10 PM MYT


JOHOR BAHRU, June 28 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) has expressed its regret over the alleged act of sabotage by certain parties who burned the coalition’s flag at the entrance to Felda Gugusan Adela in Kota Tinggi.

PH’s candidate for the Tanjung Surat state seat, Faizul Abdul Ghani, said the incident was discovered by the head of its logistics unit at about 2am today.

He said that his representative, Mohamad Saat Sukami, then lodged a report with the police and the Election Commission (EC).

“Differences in political beliefs must never be translated through provocation, sabotage or actions that undermine the culture of a mature democracy,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Faizul said PH respects the rights of all parties to campaign and have differences of opinions, but stressed that political freedom must be exercised responsibly, prudently and in accordance with the law.

He also urged supporters, party workers and local residents to remain calm and not act in ways that could breach legal boundaries, instead leaving the investigation entirely to the police and the EC.

“Election campaigns should should serve as a platform to present ideas, track records and a better future for the people, not be marred by acts of sabotage or provocation,” he said.

Campaigning for the 16th Johor state election entered its second day today following the completion of the nomination process yesterday. Polling is on July 11, with early voting on July 7.

For the latest updates on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/.

N39: Tanjung Surat: 26,943

1. Faizul Abdul Ghani (PH-PKR)

2. Aznan Tamin (BN-Umno)

(2022: Aznan Tamin: BN-Umno: Maj: 5,903) — Bernama

The Disappearance of Amri Che Mat and the Ongoing Persecution of Shia Muslims in Malaysia

Murray Hunter
Jun 28, 2026


The Disappearance of Amri Che Mat and the Ongoing Persecution of Shia Muslims in Malaysia





In November 2016, Malaysian Shia activist Amri Che Mat vanished while driving to visit a friend in Perlis. Eyewitnesses described his car being surrounded by multiple vehicles and more than a dozen men, some armed. Amri, a Shia convert known for his humanitarian work and religious activities, has not been seen since. Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) later concluded that state agents carried out his enforced disappearance. Recent court rulings have held authorities accountable for failing to investigate thoroughly, noting that his Shia identity and activities likely played a role.

Amri’s case stands as a stark symbol of the dangers faced by Shia Muslims in Malaysia. It highlights how accusations of “deviant” beliefs can lead to severe consequences in a country where Sunni Islam, particularly the Shafi’i school, holds official dominance.

Current Persecution in Selangor

Years later, the situation remains tense. Prominent lawyer and former minister Zaid Ibrahim has publicly condemned recent actions by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and other enforcement agencies. Reports of raids on Shia gatherings in Selangor, including arrests involving women and children, have disturbed many observers. Zaid highlighted these incidents as deeply troubling, questioning the heavy-handed approach toward a minority community simply practicing their faith.

Such operations stem from the 1996 national fatwa that branded Shia teachings as deviant and banned their propagation. State religious authorities use this, along with Sharia enactments, to justify raids on private homes and functions, especially during commemorations like Ashura, seizures of religious materials, and charges against participants. Shia Malaysians often face surveillance, social stigma, media demonization, and barriers to open worship, with no recognized public Shia mosques or institutions.
Internal Power Struggles Fueling Intolerance?

This discrimination occurs against a backdrop of broader ideological contests within Malaysian Islam. A power struggle has been unfolding between Wahhabi-Salafist influences (often linked to Saudi funding and education) and Muslim Brotherhood-inspired groups.

Wahhabi-Salafist networks have gained ground through scholarships, social media outreach to youth, and placement of alumni in key institutions such as JAKIM, fatwa councils, and the civil service. This has contributed to a more rigid interpretation of Islam, sidelining traditional “Nusantara” practices and fostering suspicion toward any perceived deviations, including Shia beliefs. Salafi-oriented figures and groups have promoted narratives that frame Shia Islam as a threat to Sunni unity and national security.

Meanwhile, political actors sometimes exploit sectarian sentiments for gain, accusing rivals of Shia links or using anti-Shia rhetoric in sermons and media. The result is a divided ummah, where religious minorities within Islam bear the brunt, and traditional Malay cultural and religious freedoms erode under pressure for orthodoxy.

Is Malaysia Part of the International Split Between Sunni and Shia Playing Out?

Malaysia has historically positioned itself as a moderate Muslim-majority nation. Yet its treatment of Shia citizens raises a deeper question: Is Malaysia becoming an arena where the broader geopolitical and theological Sunni-Shia divide exacerbated by rivalries involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, and others, seen playing out domestically?

The 1996 fatwa and subsequent policies aligned Malaysia more closely with anti-Shia stances prevalent in some Sunni-majority countries. Saudi influences through education and funding have amplified conservative currents, while events like the Syrian conflict have imported sectarian framing into local discourse. At the same time, domestic political and institutional rivalries between different Islamist streams intensify scrutiny on any group seen as outside the Sunni mainstream.

Amri Che Mat’s unresolved disappearance and the repeated raids in states like Selangor suggest that sectarian dynamics are not abstract foreign issues but active forces shaping lives within Malaysia. Without greater protection for religious freedom and a pushback against intolerance, regardless of its theological or political sources, the country risks deepening internal divisions that undermine its social harmony and pluralistic identity.

The experiences of Shia Malaysians call for some reflection. Can Malaysia uphold its constitutional principles and multicultural ethos while allowing such targeted restrictions to persist? The answer will define not just the future of its Shia community, but the character of Malaysian Islam itself.

***

It frightens me that such religious discriminatory attitudes and practices exist in Malaysia.

The Shooting In The Strait Ain't Over, But...

The Shooting In The Strait Ain't Over, But...

by Tyler Durden
Sunday, Jun 28, 2026 - 01:20 PM


Authored by Larry Johnson via Sonar21.com


A little over a week since the US and Iran signed the MoU, some ships that had been trapped in the Persian rushed to travel through the corridor, with many trying to use an alternative route on the southern side of the Strait along the Omani coast. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) had coordinated this alternative routing with Oman - hugging the UAE and Musandam Peninsula coastline, avoiding the central passage that Iran had mined. This route was significant because it bypassed Iran’s designated corridor entirely, which ran closer to Iranian territorial waters.

However, Iran and Oman agreed on a new framework (joint working group) for the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, June 24, 2026. The two countries agreed to establish a joint working group between their foreign ministries to discuss:

• Future navigation rules and administration of the strait.
• Services provided (e.g., safety, pilotage).
• Associated costs (in accordance with international standards).

Both emphasized their sovereignty over their territorial waters in the strait.

The naval arm of the Revolutionary Guard issued a warning Thursday against using the new route. In a statement carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, naval officials said the route was established without notice or coordination with Iran, calling it “unacceptable and completely dangerous.” According to the IRGC:


The only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Vessel traffic outside these routes is extremely dangerous and prohibited. Violators will be dealt with.”

The day before, the Guard had threatened one tanker over the radio, with a soldier warning “You are in range of my missiles and maybe (I) fire on you,” according to the private security firm Ambrey.

Iranian military, file image

On Thursday the Ever Lovely, a Singapore-flagged ship operating in the fleet of Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine, attempted to transit the strait using a narrow channel near the coast of Oman in accordance with a route organized by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) security monitor. The Ever Lovely was struck by a drone belonging to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran allegedly shot at least four drones at ships traveling through the Strait on Thursday. One of those hit the upper deck of the Ever Lovely.

On Friday, the US attacked Iran in ‘response’ to strikes on the commercial vessel in Strait of Hormuz a day earlier:

Iran’s IRIB reported that an explosion was heard at 11:15 pm at the Taheroui pier in Sirik. A military source said the blasts were caused by a projectile hitting the pier area, adding that around five hours earlier, several warning shots had been fired from Sirik toward violating vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Reports also indicated that two warning missiles were fired earlier from around Karpan toward the strait.

US Central Command said its forces carried out strikes against Iran on 26 June in response to Iran’s attack the previous day on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely as it exited the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast. CENTCOM said US aircraft targeted Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar positions after the vessel was hit by a one-way attack drone.

Although CENTCOM presented this as a powerful strike on Iran, and the US media trumpeted it as an act of major retaliation, the US response inflicted little damage and could reasonably be interpreted as a symbolic gesture rather than a punishing attack.

The IRGC Public Relations department issued the following statement:

Following the Israeli regime’s violation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, the treaty-breaking US regime also violated its commitments once again. Under various pretexts, including the transit of a vessel accused of navigating through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, the US launched an airstrike against the coasts of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In response to this aggression, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy struck positions where the US terrorist military is stationed in the region. Under Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, responsibility for regulating navigation through the Strait of Hormuz rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

However, the United States sought to violate this commitment by encouraging various parties to defy it. It received the necessary response, and the same will apply in the future. If the aggression is repeated, Iran’s response will be broader than this.

Instead of marking a return to war, this exchange of fire can best be categorize as military political theater. I believe that Iran, thanks to intel from the Russians or the Chinese, has learned that the US has issued orders that will initiate the return to CONUS of the aircraft, vehicles and troops that had been deployed to the region in preparation for the February 28 attack. Because of the limited damage inflicted by the US attack, I believe that Iran chose to respond in a limited fashion rather than escalate and run the risk of the US cancelling the redeployment order.

For now, Iran remains in control of the Strait of Hormuz and ships wanting to transit the Strait are adhering to Iran's new policy.

Nomination day for an unpredictable Johor State Election completed

Murray Hunter
Jun 27, 2026


Nomination day for an unpredictable Johor State Election completed



Picture: Bernama


Nomination day for the 16th Johor State Election concluded on Saturday, June 27, 2026, with all 56 state assembly seats set to be contested with no walkovers recorded. Polling is scheduled for July 11, with early voting on July 7, kicking off a intense 14-day campaigning period for approximately 2.7 million eligible voters.

The contest shapes up as highly fragmented and unpredictable. Barisan Nasional (BN), led by caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (UMNO), is defending its supermajority of 40 seats from 2022. Pakatan Harapan (PH) is mounting a full challenge despite their federal alliance with BN. Perikatan Nasional (PN) is contesting selectively in 33 seats. Newer players like Parti Bersama (Bersama), smaller parties, and independents add further complexity.

Multi-cornered fights dominate

According to the Election Commission, 14 seats feature straight BN-PH fights, 27 are three-cornered, 12 are four-way, and three see five candidates. This fragmentation makes outcomes especially hard to forecast in marginal seats. Many key constituencies, including several that flipped in 2022, now host four- or five-way races that could split votes dramatically.

Internal divisions within opposition and reformist camps heighten uncertainty. Bersama, the new party led by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (a breakaway from PKR/PH), is making its electoral debut by contesting 15 seats, many in southern Johor with progressive or swing voters. Targets include UMNO-held seats like Bukit Naning, Mahkota, Tiram, Permas, and Kempas, plus several DAP and one PKR-held seat. Rafizi has framed Johor as a testing ground for the party’s support and new political culture.

Bersatu also faces its own challenges amid reported tensions with PAS at the national level, though local cooperation varies. These splits could dilute anti-incumbent votes in Malay-majority areas.
Media narratives vs. ground realities

Mainstream coverage often projects a resurgent UMNO/BN and strong PH performance, painting a picture of stability under the unity government. However, with minimal public polling available, such optimism feels driven more by narrative than data. Voter sentiment in a short campaign, economic concerns, and the impact of multi-cornered contests remain wild cards. Seats with narrow 2022 margins, such as Bukit Batu (five-way fight), Puteri Wangsa, and various rural and mixed areas could swing unpredictably.

Key watchpoints include Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s defence in Machap, with a straight fight against Amanah, and non-Malay sentiment in places like Yong Peng. Smaller players like MUDA, contesting several seats could act as spoilers.

How many Johor voters who come home to vote will have a major factor on the result.

Another issue with massive influence over the final result will be how many Johor workers living in Singapore return to vote. The lack of voters returning from Singapore to vote in the 2022 state election, was a major factor favouring UMNO. Getting party supporters out to vote will be a necessary key strategy on election day.

Johor’s election serves as an early barometer for national politics under the Anwar administration. With no clear frontrunner and vote-splitting likely in dozens of seats, the result on July 11 remains anyone’s guess. A simple majority of 29 seats is required to form government, but coalitions or post-poll realignments cannot be ruled out in this fluid landscape. The coming two weeks of campaigning will be decisive.

Tourism Ministry sharpens strategy, targets China, Indonesia, Japan, India and key long‑haul markets

Tourism Ministry sharpens strategy, targets China, Indonesia, Japan, India and key long‑haul markets



Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man said the ministry is strengthening its strategy by focusing on high-performing and stable markets including China, Indonesia, Japan and India. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 9:04 AM MYT


IPOH, June 28 — The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through Tourism Malaysia, is strengthening its strategy by focusing on high-performing and stable markets including China, Indonesia, Japan and India.

Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man said this included focusing on long-haul markets such as Russia, Germany and Australia to ensure market diversification.

He said the ministry would also continue to work closely with industry stakeholders to address operational challenges and cost pressures.

“The momentum of the country’s tourism sector is on a positive trajectory.

“As of May this year, the country has received 17.5 million visitors, an increase of 3.4 per cent compared to 16.9 million last year. This current performance proves that we are on a strong track to maintain the positive momentum in 2026,” he said.

He said this when opening of the Festival Budaya Malaysia (FBM) 2026 at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah here, tonight.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture secretary-general, Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot.


Meanwhile, Chiew said MOTAC is committed to placing arts and culture as the main attraction in promoting Malaysia on the world stage, especially in making the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign a success.

He said that through synergy with state governments such as Perak, culture would no longer be trapped as a treasure of the past, but would instead emerge as a dynamic economic driver capable of lifting the dignity of the people’s identity on the world stage.

“This cultural tourism synergy is very important because when we empower local cultures such as the dabus dance, labu sayong, gold thread embroidery art or the uniqueness of Ipoh gastronomy, we are actually building a sustainable tourism product with high value.

“This is a two-pronged strategy for us to preserve our national identity and at the same time, boost the grassroots economy through the creative industry,” he said.

Therefore, he said, to ensure that this desire and momentum of development does not stop, solid support in the form of infrastructure development is very critical.

He said that for the state of Perak under the 13 Malaysia Plan (13MP) the federal government through MOTAC has allocated RM 44,189,100 involving 13 projects, namely six large-scale projects and seven projects for the maintenance or improvement of tourism facilities totaling RM1,393,000.

Six large-scale development projects include the conservation of the Leaning Tower, Teluk Intan, upgrading of the building of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, Perak Branch.

In addition, it includes the upgrading of the Tourism Area at Kinta Riverwalk, upgrading and renovating the existing information building at the Lumut Mangrove Discovery Centre, Manjung and developing the Bernam Riverfront in Tanjong Malim Town, Perak and developing the Lata Puteh Eco-Tourism in Selama. — Bernama

Venezuela quakes kill almost 1,500, with millions more in need

Venezuela quakes kill almost 1,500, with millions more in need



Rescuers search for possible victims at a collapsed building following twin earthquakes, in Los Corales, La Guaira state, some 40 km northeast of Caracas, on June 27, 2026. — AFP pic

Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 9:25 AM MYT


LA GUAIRA (Venezuela), June 28 — The death toll in Venezuela’s twin earthquake disaster reached 1,430 yesterday, and millions more were feared to lack sanitation and other basic needs, as the first US aid flights landed in Caracas.

Facing public outrage at the response by local officials, Venezuela’s US-backed interim leader Delcy Rodriguez thanked other countries for the outpouring of aid.


The search for survivors saw desperate attempts by local residents to claw away rubble from apartment buildings that collapsed in Wednesday’s two quakes. Experts say the first 72 hours after natural disasters are the key, narrow window for finding the living.

“It’s just very chaotic, hot and unorganized,” said Australian firefighter Craig Demeillon, 43, who traveled alone to La Guaira from Miami to help. “Hopefully there’s more people to find.”


UN aid chief Tom Fletcher on Friday told AFP the death toll could continue to soar, adding that more than 50,000 people were missing.


The United States said one runway at Simon Bolivar International Airport was partially functioning to receive C-17 US military planes, while a naval ship had arrived off the coast.


Newborn rescued

There was joy in the hardest-hit coastal area of La Guaira, north of Caracas, when locals pulled an infant alive out of the wreckage on Friday, some 32 hours after the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors.

In one social media video, a man welled up in tears as he held the baby in his arms.

The UN migration agency said it had examined available population and damage data and had determined that “up to 6.76 million people could be affected,” and would “require emergency shelter, safe water, sanitation and hygiene services, healthcare, protection support and essential relief items.”

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reportedyesterday 1,430 dead and 3,238 people injured, while the UN estimated US$6.7 billion (RM27.4 billion) in physical damage—equivalent to six percent of Venezuela’s GDP.

‘Permit to save lives’

Venezuelans—already battered by years of a failing economy and the turbulence of the US intervention to topple leader Nicolas Maduro in January—were furious at the government.

Yessica Mendoza was forced to transport her own daughter to a morgue in Caracas after 25-year-old Yesimar Rodriguez and her husband Jhomel Anaya, 26, did not survive the tumbling debris of their home in La Guaira on Wednesday.

“We were the ones who pulled them out ourselves. No help ever came,” the bereaved mother, 43, told AFP, adding that the couple would be cremated without a wake due to the rapidly advancing decomposition of their bodies.

The government has restricted access to La Guaira state, deployed the military to the area and made it obligatory for volunteers to obtain a safe-entry pass.

Anger among those impatiently waiting to volunteer surged as they waited for passes outside a concert hall in the capital.

“You need a permit to save lives—just imagine,” complained Carlos Itriago, 27.

“I’ve been here since dawn standing in line so I can go rescue people,” said Ezequiel Rivero, 53.

“Look at what time it is... how many lives have we already lost by now?”


Venezuela already in trouble

Rodriguez said she had spoken with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who “reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the response efforts.”

The US said earlier it was sending a disaster response team of more than 250 personnel, including three special search-and-rescue units with dogs trained to locate people trapped beneath the rubble.

Twenty-one countries were sending search-and-rescue teams, parliament chief Rodriguez said.

Venezuela’s worst earthquake in more than a century has come after the oil-rich country endured more than a decade of economic collapse.

The crisis has hollowed out hospitals and public services, driving millions to leave the country.

And the country remains in a fragile political transition six months after the US ouster of Maduro.

Earthquakes of similar magnitude claimed more than 200,000 lives in Haiti in January 2010 and 73,000 lives in Kashmir in October 2005.

Those killed in Venezuela included 28 Portuguese nationals, five Spaniards, two Brazilians, seven Chinese nationals, one Chilean, one Italian-Venezuelan and one Uruguayan. — AFP

The Strait of Hormuz’s tit-for-tat at sea will remain endemic

The Strait of Hormuz’s tit-for-tat at sea will remain endemic


Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 9:24 AM MYT


JUNE 28 — A ceasefire on paper is not a ceasefire at sea.

Problems on land between the US and Iran invariably produce new problems at sea. Political understandings signed in capitals may reduce the probability of immediate escalation, but they rarely eliminate the operational realities faced by naval commanders, drone operators and commercial shipping companies navigating one of the world’s most contested waterways.


The Strait of Hormuz remains the clearest example of this enduring dilemma.

Through this narrow maritime corridor passes roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas exports. The real question is therefore not whether Washington and Tehran can reach a memorandum of understanding or announce another ceasefire arrangement.

The more difficult question is whether anyone can actually enforce it once ships are moving, commanders are improvising, and drones are already in the air.


The sea obeys a different logic from diplomacy.

Political leaders can announce understandings and memoranda. Foreign ministers can issue communiqués and celebrate diplomatic breakthroughs. Yet tankers, container vessels and LNG carriers must continue operating in waters where decisions are made not by negotiators in capitals but by naval officers, radar operators, drone pilots and commercial captains working under severe pressure and incomplete information.


This explains why warnings issued by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards continue to matter so profoundly.

When Tehran insists that vessels must utilise only approved routes, it is not merely discussing navigation procedures. It is asserting jurisdictional authority and operational control over one of the world’s most important maritime arteries.

When commercial vessels are subsequently struck or threatened while Washington and Tehran exchange accusations and promises of retaliation, the message becomes unmistakable.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a theatre of coercion rather than a settled corridor of peace.

The danger becomes even greater when retaliation expands beyond the immediate parties involved. Iran possesses the capability to respond asymmetrically through proxies, affiliated militias or indirect pressure on neighbouring states and shipping networks. Gulf Cooperation Council states may become targets not because they initiated hostilities but because of their strategic proximity to American military infrastructure and logistics arrangements.

As history repeatedly demonstrates, geography often determines vulnerability more than political intent.

This is precisely what makes tit-for-tat exchanges so difficult to contain.

First, there is no single maritime authority in the Strait of Hormuz.



This file photo shows the Callisto tanker sits anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, amid an US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman, March 10, 2026. — Reuters pic



Political leaders may sign understandings, but maritime rules are interpreted by multiple institutions with overlapping responsibilities and contradictory incentives. A commercial vessel may receive one instruction from diplomats, another from insurers, a third from port authorities and a fourth from naval patrols.

That is not maritime governance.

It is strategic ambiguity disguised as order.

Second, diplomatic agreements themselves often preserve uncertainty deliberately.

References to “future administration”, “mutual understandings” or “appropriate arrangements” may sound constructive, yet ambiguity invites contestation. Who determines lawful transit? Who authorises deviations? Who investigates incidents? Who possesses enforcement authority?

The less precise the answers become, the easier it is for all parties to claim compliance while simultaneously accusing others of violations.

Third, coercion in confined maritime spaces is remarkably inexpensive.

A drone overflight, a suspected mine warning, electronic jamming, GPS spoofing or aggressive manoeuvring by fast attack craft can generate significant strategic effects without crossing the threshold into conventional warfare.

Such actions create pressure without demanding escalation.

Yet once calibrated harassment becomes routine, restraint itself starts to appear politically costly.

Fourth, attribution is slow while retaliation is often immediate.

Maritime incidents unfold within minutes while investigations may require weeks. Was an attack conducted by Iranian drones, a proxy militia, an unauthorised actor or a third party seeking escalation? Was electronic interference deliberate or accidental?

In the interval between incident and attribution, political narratives frequently outrun evidence.

The first casualty at sea is often certainty.

Fifth, shipping remains fundamentally a commercial rather than military ecosystem.

Shipowners, charterers, underwriters, insurers, financiers and compliance officers all calculate risk differently. Governments may promise safe passage, but commercial operators remain concerned about sanctions exposure, legal liabilities, insurance premiums and crew safety.

Markets react faster than diplomacy.

Sixth, sanctions continue to complicate navigation.

Even if Tehran provides assurances regarding maritime safety, many shipping firms remain reluctant to engage closely with Iranian authorities for fear that such cooperation may later be interpreted as sanctionable conduct.

Commercial hesitation can become almost as disruptive as military confrontation itself.

Seventh, the region contains actors with profoundly different appetites for risk.

Some seek stability.

Others seek leverage.

Others seek revenge, deterrence or domestic political advantage.

Under such conditions, a single incident can trigger several different responses simultaneously, each moving faster than diplomacy and less predictably than deterrence.

Eighth, maritime decision-making occurs in minutes rather than days.

A slight course adjustment may appear provocative. A radio warning may sound threatening. Defensive manoeuvres can easily be interpreted as offensive intent.

In narrow waterways, geography magnifies misunderstanding.

Ninth, ambiguity itself possesses strategic value.

Iran benefits from maintaining a strait that remains neither fully open nor formally closed. External powers may similarly prefer ambiguity to arrangements that openly legitimise Iranian authority over international navigation.

When uncertainty serves all sides politically, clarity becomes difficult to achieve.

Tenth, and most importantly, a memorandum is not a mechanism.

Agreements cannot investigate incidents, escort tankers or reassure markets in real time. Stability requires institutions, procedures, communication channels and verification systems rather than declarations alone.

Yet there is an eleventh lesson that deserves equal attention.

Modern maritime security increasingly depends upon information superiority rather than firepower superiority.

Without comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness, governments are effectively navigating blind.

The ability to distinguish fishing vessels from surveillance platforms, commercial drones from military drones and routine movements from hostile intent increasingly determines whether crises escalate or dissipate.

Satellites, unmanned systems, integrated radar networks and real-time information sharing are becoming as important as frigates, submarines and destroyers.

This lesson extends far beyond the Gulf.

For countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, the implications are immediate.

If uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz can destabilise global energy markets within hours, similar vulnerabilities exist in the Strait of Malacca, the Singapore Strait and the approaches to the South China Sea.

A single drone attack, an unidentified vessel or electronic interference can disrupt arrangements painstakingly negotiated by diplomats and political leaders.

This is precisely what events in the Strait of Hormuz continue to demonstrate.

No country can guarantee that these waterways are absolutely safe.

What governments can do is make them more transparent, predictable and resilient.

This requires deeper cooperation in maritime surveillance, fusion centres, artificial intelligence-enabled tracking systems and information sharing among regional coast guards, navies and port authorities.

Maritime Domain Awareness should no longer be viewed as merely a technical issue.

It has become an economic necessity and a strategic imperative.

The insurance dimension is equally important.

Shipping insurers price uncertainty ruthlessly.

Every drone attack, mine warning, missile launch or intercepted communication raises premiums.

Higher insurance premiums eventually become higher transportation costs, higher energy prices and ultimately higher inflation throughout Asia.

The costs of maritime insecurity are therefore paid not merely by shipowners but by households purchasing electricity, fuel and food.

Even more fundamentally, the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates the limits of military superiority in narrow seas.

Aircraft carriers and advanced combat aircraft remain formidable instruments of power, yet geography imposes constraints that technology alone cannot overcome.

Small drones, mobile missile launchers, underwater mines and inexpensive fast attack craft can challenge vastly superior naval forces operating within confined waters.

This asymmetry explains why deterrence in maritime chokepoints remains difficult and escalation management even harder.

If the objective is to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, rhetoric alone will not suffice.

What is required is painstaking institutional work: unified transit protocols, direct naval hotlines, rapid attribution mechanisms, transparent reporting systems and practical safeguards that make lawful passage safer and more profitable than coercion.

Without such mechanisms, the strait will remain what it has too often been throughout history: a place where every warning is also a threat, every signal can be misread and every misunderstanding risks becoming the next strike.

The ceasefire may have halted the war.

It has not yet secured the sea.

For that reason, complete peace in the Strait of Hormuz, even under the framework of a memorandum of understanding, will remain elusive for the foreseeable future.

Tit-for-tat exchanges at sea are therefore unlikely to disappear.

They may simply become more calibrated, more technological and more difficult to attribute.

That may make them less visible than war.

It does not make them less dangerous.

* Phar Kim Beng is a professor of Asean Studies and director, Institute of Internationalisation and Asean Studies, International Islamic University of Malaysia.

PAS to decide support for Bersatu in Johor polls at special meeting tomorrow

PAS to decide support for Bersatu in Johor polls at special meeting tomorrow



PAS will decide tomorrow on its support for Bersatu in the Johor state election at a special central committee meeting, secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan reportedly said. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 9:50 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — PAS will decide tomorrow on its position regarding support for Bersatu a in the Johor state election, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan reportedly said.

According to Sinar Harian, Takiyuddin said the decision would be made at a special PAS central committee meeting scheduled for 5pm.

“So far, PAS has stuck to the statement made by the president previously.

“This Monday, Central PAS will meet and make decisions, including other matters. Right now, there is no decision yet,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference in Kota Bharu last night.

Takiyuddin said the meeting would also cover PAS’ political cooperation with parties in Perikatan Nasional.

On the use of the PN logo in the Johor election, he said the matter had been settled as the nomination process was completed yesterday.

He said 16 Bersatu candidates, 11 from PAS and five from Gerakan had filed their nomination papers using the PN logo.

“How can you change it? You're already in (as a candidate). That's the logo that PN allows component parties to use,” he said.

Takiyuddin also said all parties contesting in the Johor polls had an equal chance, given their experience in previous elections, including the 15th general election and the 2022 state election.

The decision comes after PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang reportedly said the party would not deploy its election machinery to help Bersatu candidates in Johor, despite both parties contesting under the PN banner.

World Cup fever may inject up to RM2.1b into Malaysia’s F&B sector, economist says

World Cup fever may inject up to RM2.1b into Malaysia’s F&B sector, economist says



Professor Emeritus Dr Barjoyai Bardai of the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) said the World Cup acts as a high-frequency economic stimulus that temporarily shifts consumer spending patterns and boosts business activity across several sectors. — Getty Images via AFP pic

Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 10:50 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Football fever during the FIFA World Cup 2026 could inject between RM1.2 billion and RM2.1 billion into Malaysia’s food and beverage (F&B) industry as fans flock to “mamak” outlets, cafes, and restaurants to catch live matches, according to an economist.


Professor Emeritus Dr Barjoyai Bardai of the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) said the World Cup acts as a high-frequency economic stimulus that temporarily shifts consumer spending patterns and boosts business activity across several sectors.


“The Fifa World Cup does generate meaningful, but temporary, economic activity in Malaysia. It stimulates consumption rather than investment, with benefits concentrated in specific sectors, especially the F&B, retail, and media sectors,” he told Bernama.

Describing the tournament as a series of “mini-consumption festivals” around match days, Barjoyai said businesses that can attract crowds and create a communal viewing experience stand to benefit the most.

Malaysia’s F&B industry, valued at about RM10 billion to RM12 billion monthly, could record an average revenue uplift of around 12 per cent under a base-case scenario, generating an additional RM1.2 billion to RM1.4 billion during the tournament period. Under a high-engagement scenario characterised by strong viewership and effective marketing initiatives, the average uplift could rise to 18 per cent, translating into an additional RM1.8 billion to RM2.1 billion in revenue.


The gains are expected to be concentrated in the late-night economy between 9 pm and 3 am, driven primarily by higher customer traffic rather than price increases.

“About 40 per cent of the additional spending stems from late-night dining, followed by group gatherings at 30 per cent, food delivery demand at 20 per cent and event-based promotions at 10 per cent,” the economist said.


Barjoyai said “mamak” eateries and casual dining operators could potentially record revenue growth of between 15 and 30 per cent during the tournament due to increased late-night patronage and group dining activities, while food delivery platforms could see growth of between 15 and 35 per cent, driven by stay-at-home viewing habits.

He added that quick-service restaurants (QSRs) and fast-food operators may record revenue gains of between 10 and 20 per cent on the back of stronger delivery demand, while cafes are expected to register more modest growth of between five and 15 per cent as they are generally less match-centric than other F&B segments.

Despite the tournament being hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, football’s popularity in Malaysia is expected to drive strong viewership and consumer spending throughout the month-long competition.

In Rawang, Selangor, BCH Cafe is among the casual dining outlets anticipating increased patronage during the tournament period. Owner Azlan Mat said previous World Cups had consistently translated into higher footfall and spending at his outlet, which screens matches on a big screen to attract football fans.

“Customers usually come in groups and stay for the entire match. They tend to order food and beverages several times throughout the game, so spending per table is generally higher than on a normal day,” he added.

Without disclosing actual revenue figures, Azlan estimated that the cafe’s revenue could rise by around 10 to 15 per cent during the World Cup period, driven by increased customer traffic and longer operating hours. “The World Cup is more than just football for us. It has become a business opportunity that allows cafes like ours to attract new customers and generate additional income over several weeks,” he said.

The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, being held from June 11 to July 19, 2026, features an expanded field of 48 teams, up from 32 in previous editions. — Bernama

1960 - US chose to escalate hostilities with USSR

From the FB page of:

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In 1956, the CIA came up with what they thought was a rather clever plan.

The agency wanted to conduct a major spying operation on the Soviet Union.

But sending a military plane into someone else’s country would be an act of war.

So the agency decided to send a spy plane high above the clouds—to a height of 21 kilometers above the ground.

Their special high-altitude plane, called a U-2, would simply be too far up to be spotted by Russian radar.

They decided to try it.

On the fourth of July that year, 1956, a CIA pilot took a plane illegally into Soviet airspace. It flew over Moscow and St. Petersburg, had a look round, and then went home, unmolested. Mission accomplished.

They repeated this many times over the following years.

.

AGENT POWERS’ PROBLEM

On May 1, 1960, a CIA pilot found himself with a long-haul job to do. Francis Gary Powers was an agent whose cover story, even to his own family, had been that he was a NASA meteorologist studying the weather.

The “weatherman” had to fly from a US military base in Pakistan to another one in Norway – even then, the world was covered with hubs for US armed forces.

He was flying a U-2, so believed he could fly over the Soviet Union. He’d be travelling across 4,667 kilometers (2,900 miles) of Soviet airspace.

This was both illegal and an act of war, but the US had long decided that international law did not apply to them.

The CIA plane was promptly shot down by a Soviet surface-to-air missile in the Ural Mountains of Russia.

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INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT

When the Russians complained that they had had to shoot down a US aircraft which was very clearly well inside their territory, the US government spun a tale that the U-2 had been conducting a routine weather flight outside Soviet airspace.

But there had been a malfunction of the oxygen delivery system in the cabin, they said. The weatherman blacked out and the plane had – entirely accidentally – drifted over into Soviet air space.

And that’s when the Russians had blown it up.

Whole thing was a mistake.

.

TRUTH COMES OUT

The Russians considered this—and then sent a reply which shocked the US leadership. The Soviets said they were in possession of both the pilot and the remains of the plane.

Gary Powers had clearly not blacked out—he had parachuted to land, and was alive and well.

And the damaged aircraft, which was fitted for spying, not monitoring the weather, had been recovered too.

The Russians had been watching the spy plane program all along, for years—and had missiles that could bring down the CIA aircraft.

This was deeply embarrassing to the US, since its CIA program was exposed, and it had been caught lying to the world.

.

OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE

But Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev wanted peace. He suggested that the United States could simply apologize and pledge to make no further illegal incursions.

Furthermore, he said that if U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower denied any knowledge of the spy planes program, he would accept that.

But Eisenhower did not like being caught in a lie—and turned even more hostile. He responded that he personally knew full well about the illegal spy plane incursions from day one.

Furthermore, he considered that flying into Soviet airspace was a necessary element in maintaining the US’s national defense—and CIA pilots would continue to violate Soviet airspace whenever they liked.

East-west relations crashed.

This was one of a number of incidents in which Russia clearly tried to turn a bad incident into an opportunity to make a positive agreement, but the US chose to escalate hostilities instead.

By 1960, the US military-media-industrial complex was already taking control of the nation.

.

Full details of the U-2 spy plane incident are in the archives of the US Office of the Historian. Link provided separately.

Francis Gary Powers