The men who rule from the shadows

 

Dennis Ignatius

 

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The men who rule from the shadows

20ThursdayNov 2025

Posted by Dennis Ignatius in Human rights, justice

[1] Two recent issues in the news are a stark reminder of the power of the men who rule from the shadows. The first has to do with the long-running saga of a Hindu mother whose child was stolen from her and illegally converted; the second relates to the disturbing cases of enforced disappearances of citizens who must now sadly be presumed dead. 

[2] Both cases demonstrate very clearly that when it comes to certain issues, the constitution is irrelevant, the laws don’t apply, the verdicts of the court are ignored.  The men who rule from the shadows control the vast machinery of government; they call the shots and determine the outcome. Their word is law. The politicians, willingly or otherwise, dance to their tune.

[3] In the case of M Indira Gandhi, the highest court in the land had ruled that the unilateral conversion of her daughter was unconstitutional. The courts have also repeatedly ordered the police to locate and return the child to the mother. 

[4] And for 16 years, the government has basically declined to act. They have procrastinated, made excuses and evaded their reasonability. Successive IGPs have, at one time or another, denied knowledge of the father’s whereabouts, suggested that they were negotiating his return from abroad or simply refused to abide by the court order. Successive prime ministers too have deliberately ignored the whole issue.

[5] Few believe that the authorities are unaware of the father’s whereabouts or that he has fled abroad. The only conclusion that can be reached is that the men who rule from the shadows have decided to shield the father and stymie the return of the child because they do not agree that the child’s conversion should be reversed, as per the court’s decision.

[6] Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh – who both appeared to have run afoul of the men who rule from the shadows – have been missing for almost a decade. A number of official enquiries including a seminal one by Suhakam implicated the police. Instead of acting to uncover the truth including who ordered their abduction, the government closed ranks around the abductors. They appear to be doing everything in their power to cover up the truth. 

[7] Now a high court judge has concluded yet again that the Government and police must be held accountable. It’s a “significant milestone in recognizing state responsibility for such serious human rights violations…” said Suhakam. The families of both men were also awarded significant monetary damages.

[8] Instead of taking this latest ruling it as a wakeup call, the AG’s office immediately filed an appeal. The minister of home affairs – who has done nothing about all the earlier reports – now glibly says he is waiting for yet more reports from the police.  And he had the audacity to add: “We are committed to upholding the rule of law, seeking justice, and restoring confidence in the integrity of our institutions.” 

[9] The government is, of course, being utterly dishonest. They know the truth. The facts are clear enough. They understand full well that a dastardly crime – the abduction and extrajudicial killing of both men – have been committed by agents of the state. But their fealty to or fear of the men who rule from the shadows have kept them from doing the right thing. 

[10] The stark reality is that when it comes to certain issues, we can expect no support from the government or the law, for that matter. Extremist forces can act with wanton disregard for the law because they know that when push comes to shove, the men who rule from the shadows will always be there to protect them.

[11] This Is the ugly truth about justice in Malaysia. And it is made all the uglier by the fact that PKR, UMNO and DAP are all complicit in one way or another. They have the power to uncover the truth and seek justice for the victims, but they continue to either participate in the cover up or look the other way. It ought to deeply concern us all.

[Dennis Ignatius | Kuala Lumpur | 20 November 2025]

Ukrainian Officials Embezzled Millions Off Russian Nuclear Power Plant – MP

 

Ukrainian Officials Embezzled Millions Off Russian Nuclear Power Plant – MP

 

Officials in Kiev embezzled millions from contracts filed for the Russia-controlled Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, Ukrainian lawmaker Vladimir Ariev has claimed.

The ZNPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, has been under Russian control since March 2022. Kiev has rejected Russia’s authority over the site as an “occupation.” Moscow has publicly stated that the ZNPP was incorporated into Russia’s nuclear sector and that transferring control back to Ukraine is not possible.

Ariev said more than 200 million hryvnia ($4.7 million) in goods and services were formally registered in the plant’s name months after it came under Russian control, even though Kiev had no way to deliver anything to the site. Speaking at a parliamentary commission on economic security on Monday, he claimed Ukraine’s Energoatom continued filing procurement paperwork for the plant through most of 2022 despite having no physical authority over it.

“From March 15 to August 25, 2022, Energoatom made purchases for the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Specifically, this included 210 million hryvnia for food and canteen supplies,” he said, as cited by Zenzor.net. – RT

Our Take: This news comes as other instances of corruption are being reported, regarding the Ukrainian government. Justice Minister German Galushchenko was just dismissed last week after being implicated in a major graft probe that is described as a “$100 Million kickback scheme.”

Galushchenko was Vice President of Energoatom prior to joining the government in 2021.

There are also calls now for President Zelensky to fire his chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, who has also been alleged tied to this scandal.

It would appear that the entire Ukrainian government is one giant organized crime syndicate. So what does that say about the US Congress— both Republican and Democrat— who have ardently supported Ukraine for the past 3+ years?

– GhostofBasedPatrickHenry

Zaid Wants a 100-Year-Old Mahathir for PM — Proof Our Older Generation Is Irredeemably Ignorant and Lost

OPINION | Zaid Wants a 100-Year-Old Mahathir for PM — Proof Our Older Generation Is Irredeemably Ignorant and Lost


20 Nov 2025 • 8:00 AM MYT


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

Image credit: Malay Mail / Sinar Daily


Mahathir can’t even bend down to put on his shoes. At his age, simply staying awake for more than half a day is probably a stressful affair.


And yet, Zaid Ibrahim now believes that a 100-year-old Mahathir is the best person to become prime minister if the opposition wins the next election, a proposal he made while also urging Mahathir to pardon Najib Razak should he return to power—something he spelled out openly in this statement.


Zaid’s suggestion only confirms for me that much of the older generation is now bereft of any real value. Anyone who looks at a nation of 33 million people and concludes that the only man capable of running it is a centenarian who can scarcely stay awake is not a generation equipped for success, dignity, or meaningful happiness.


This older generation cannot teach you how to win through merit, how to build value, how to compete honestly, or how to rise through worth.


They only know how to succeed through corruption, cheating, manipulation, debt accumulation, and exploitation.


And as for happiness—can anyone point to a single Malaysian above the age of 70 who looks like they’ve made peace with themselves or with the world? I struggle to find such a person even globally.


To be like Mahathir—approaching a hundred, possessing every imaginable form of wealth, status, fame, and legacy—and still craving more, still unable to let go, is proof of a life lived without understanding meaning or purpose. It is to reach the end of life as ignorant of its essence as one was at the beginning.


Yet Zaid and many from his generation look at this and call it leadership.


Worse, they insist that Mahathir should return under the “Payung Melayu” coalition, which they argue could restore Malay political dominance and even forgive Najib Razak as a political bargaining chip. They even appeal to PAS and Bersatu leaders to give way and reinstall Mahathir as prime minister once more.


This should tell the younger generation everything we need to know:


We cannot look to them for guidance anymore.
When a Generation Degenerates, Its Values Become Poison

There is an old Chinese saying: “Wealth does not pass three generations.”


It is not merely about wealth.


It is about virtue.


It is about ethos.


It is about the internal compass that enables a person or a society to thrive over time.


Every three generations, the values that sustain meaning and success are often degraded by a generation that can no longer uphold them.


If, at that point, the next generation blindly inherits their worldview, they too will decline. You cannot drink from a poisoned well and expect to grow stronger.


Mahathir and Zaid’s generation inherited a Malaysia rich in trust, unity, optimism, and societal potential.


What have they passed on?


A nation divided.


A system corrupted.


A culture hollowed out.


A future weighed down with debt.


If we emulate them, we will become them—lost, confused, addicted to status, and unable to let go even at the doorstep of death.

And the World Confirms It: Young People Everywhere Are Rising Up

Look around the world today. We are on the brink of conflict, buried under unhappiness and debt. This is the handiwork of the older generation.


And young people have had enough.


Across the world—from Madagascar to Indonesia, Nepal to Bangladesh—the younger generation is rising up to overthrow the rule of the old.


This global Gen Z uprising, unprecedented in scale and coordination, is well-documented here.


Young people today understand democratic rights better than their predecessors. They are more connected, more informed, and more willing to demand accountability. They are also the ones who suffer the most from economic decline, corruption, and mismanagement—the legacies left behind by ageing leaders clinging to power long past their expiry.


In Nepal and Madagascar, youth-driven movements have toppled entire governments.


In Kenya, young people forced the president to withdraw a tax bill.


In Indonesia, the Philippines, Morocco, Peru, and beyond, youth movements continue to reshape national politics.


Even if the outcomes are uneven, one fact is clear:


The younger generation no longer believes the older generation is capable of leading them into the future.



And when I look at Zaid pleading for Mahathir’s return, I begin to see the same validity in their mutiny.

Age Does Not Create Wisdom—Practise Does

We often assume that older leaders should be wiser because they have more years of experience.


But time alone does not create wisdom.


A person who spends decades practising corruption, dishonesty, shortcuts, vanity, and self-importance becomes more skilful at corruption, dishonesty, shortcuts, vanity, and self-importance. They do not become wiser—only more entrenched in their delusions.


If one spends a lifetime believing the wrong things—


that value doesn’t matter,


that corruption is normal,


that titles can be bought,


that wealth is justification,


that status can substitute for competence—


then age gives them nothing but grey hair, disease, and proximity to death.


And if we follow their ideals, we will grow old like them: spiritually hollow, materially anxious, desperate for relevance, afraid of mortality, and ultimately ignorant even at the door of death.

A New Generation Must Now Choose Its Teachers Wisely

We must accept the uncomfortable truth:


The generation before us is not worth imitating.


Most of what they consider right, proper, and dignified is neither right, proper, nor dignified. The proof lies in their own lives. Look at them and ask yourself:


Do you want to age into what they have become?


If your answer is no, then we must discard most of what they taught us.


We need to rebuild our moral compass independently.


We need to relearn what value means.


We need to rediscover what purpose feels like.


We need to reconstruct what success requires.


We need to redefine what happiness truly is.


If we fail to do this, we too will arrive at a hundred years old—


still desperate,


still hollow,


still clinging to power,


still unable to let go,


still ignorant of life’s meaning even as it slips away.


Malaysia deserves better.


The young deserve better.


And the future demands better.

Sack aide, not just reprimand - Rafizi urges PM

Sack aide, not just reprimand - Rafizi urges PM


Published: Nov 20, 2025 4:11 PM
Updated: 7:30 PM



Former minister Rafizi Ramli has criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for merely reprimanding his senior political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin, for issuing a support letter, saying it undermines the government’s anti-graft stance.

Responding to Anwar’s recent explanation in Parliament, Rafizi said Shamsul should have been sacked instead of being let off with a warning.

“If you just issue a stern warning while the person stays in the position, people won’t take it seriously.

“So, don’t blame the rakyat if they become cynical about your anti-corruption slogans,” he said in a TikTok video today.

Yesterday, Anwar told Dewan Rakyat that he had reprimanded one of his political secretaries for issuing a support letter to six contractors for a hospital project in Muar last year.

The letter, dated May 6, 2024, was addressed to an aide to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The letter was first leaked on social media last year and was later confirmed by Dzulkefly in Parliament.

‘People want results’

Meanwhile, Rafizi said the administration should have used the incident to reaffirm its stance against corruption, especially when it involves the premier’s office.

The Pandan MP claimed this was not the first time concerns had been raised about Shamsul, adding that he had personally discussed similar complaints with Anwar in the past and the prime minister had agreed the issues were valid.

As the coalition government approaches its third year in power, Rafizi stressed that the public now expects concrete outcomes from its anti-graft agenda, not just speeches.

“When we were in the opposition, people understood that we had no authority.

“Now we are the government, we cannot fault the public if they have high expectations (to eradicate corruption),” the former PKR deputy president added.

Rafizi also highlighted a disconnect between high-profile anti-corruption arrests and the number of cases that result in charges or convictions.

Based on government data, he said that while investigations and arrests have increased since 2020, prosecution rates have declined.

In 2020, 480 individuals were charged with corruption offences. By 2024, that number had fallen to 454, with the charge rate dropping from 56 percent to 39 percent.

Convictions have also decreased, from 300 cases in 2021 to 256 cases in 2024.

‘Refer aide to MACC’

According to Rafizi, these figures highlight a widening gap between the government’s anti-graft rhetoric and the outcomes that the public actually observes.

Rafizi then urged Anwar to refer Shamsul to the MACC to determine whether any benefit or inducement was involved in the issuance of the support letter, rather than closing the matter with an internal warning.

“Otherwise, no matter how you talk, people won’t take it seriously.

“In the end, people will say you are all talk in public, but do not take action behind the scenes,” he said.

Deputy minister says M'sian flag blunders mostly mistakes, not malice

Deputy minister says M'sian flag blunders mostly mistakes, not malice

Malaysiakini Team
Published: Nov 20, 2025 2:10 PM
Updated: 5:43 PM



PARLIAMENT | Putrajaya affirmed that a majority of cases involving wrongly displayed national flags were not acts of intentional disrespect, but instances of human error and oversight.

Responding to queries by lawmakers, Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) noted that most cases were handled with issuing warnings rather than penalties.

“The ministry is aware that most cases (of) upside-down flags occurred due to carelessness, not intent to insult - this is the fact we have.

“Therefore, in such situations, the police apply a principle of prioritising advice, reprimands, and on-the-spot corrective actions,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Shamsul added that based on internal assessments, the police’s approach in tackling such cases is “more accepted” by the public.

The deputy minister also disclosed that police records show 22 cases involving improper or upside-down flag displays were investigated between 2022 to 2025.

While there were no investigation papers opened on such cases in 2022, the figure rose to two investigation papers the following year, and three in 2024.

This year, however, the number spiked to 17 investigation papers thus far.

Shamsul also said the ministry views punishments under related provisions as “sufficient” in creating awareness and serving as a lesson to offenders.

“Nevertheless, the ministry will continue to monitor developments and does not rule out the possibility of reviewing the need to improve or tighten existing laws, if there is a pressing need to safeguard the sovereignty and dignity of national symbols,” he added.

When questioned by PAS MP Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan) on why the punishments for such offences appear varied, Shamsul responded that authorities take action based on the nature of the offence and available legal provisions.

Replying to a similar query from backbencher Isam Isa (BN-Tampin), the deputy minister emphasised that police always conduct their investigations professionally, transparently, and fairly, regardless of a person’s race, position, background, or political affiliation.

“Every report we receive is investigated based on facts, witness statements, and available evidence - not political considerations or pressure from any party.

“All investigation papers are also referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further consideration, (with) the attorney-general’s discretion in prosecution serving as a check and balance to ensure no room for selective prosecution,” he added.

***

It sickens me that some politicians would without conscience exploit an innocent mistake just to raise the temperature on racial issues for their own agenda and dubious popularity

Disastrous US-M'sia agreement must be abandoned

Disastrous US-M'sia agreement must be abandoned

Tommy Thomas
Published: Nov 20, 2025 9:30 AM
Updated: 12:30 PM



COMMENT | The agreement between the United States and Malaysia on “reciprocal trade” signed by the two heads of government in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26 is undoubtedly the worst agreement that independent Malaya/Malaysia has entered into since Merdeka.

This is whether one considers from the legal perspective or the political, economic, or geo-strategic viewpoint.

Before its heavy lopsidedness in favour of the US is discussed, a brief historical survey of US/Malaysia relations is warranted.

There have been 14 US administrations headed by 13 presidents between 1957 and 2025. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John Kennedy pressed our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, to join the US-led alliance, Seato, to assist the US in its Cold War activities in South East Asia.

Tunku declined. Despite president Lyndon Johnson visiting Kuala Lumpur in 1965, Tunku refused to support the US in the Vietnam War.

Until the Anwar Ibrahim administration took office in 2022, every prime minister kept the US at arm’s length. Malaysia has always been friendly with the three superpowers: the US, Russia, and China, without showing partiality to any.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomes Trump


So why did Anwar make a fundamental shift in our foreign policy, which has worked well for us for 68 years? Why the tilt to the US? The superficial explanation is that, unlike any of his post-World War II predecessors, Donald Trump is a bully and the global “wrecking ball”.

Anwar was in awe of Trump. Anwar did not deal with Trump as an equal head of government during their negotiations. Malaysia’s bargaining power was further diminished because Anwar desperately wanted to host Trump in Kuala Lumpur on the pretext of an Asean Summit.

Trump deigned a flying stop, but completely on his terms. Principally, a trade agreement with Malaysia, and for Trump to claim credit for brokering a truce between Thailand and Cambodia arising from their recent border skirmish.

Perhaps there may be a profound explanation for Anwar’s conduct: time will tell.

Even the title given to the agreement is Orwellian. There is nothing “Reciprocal” about it: simply stated, the US demands, Malaysia caves in. Nearly all the obligations are imposed on Malaysia: all the rights devolve to the US.

It appears as if the Malaysian negotiating team - presumably from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Wisma Putra, the Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry (Miti), and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) - did not negotiate at all.

The spirited Rafidah Aziz, perhaps our most effective Miti minister, would never have agreed to this agreement. The US handed them their draft. And it was signed lamely by Anwar, who had Trump’s pen to show for, and a ride in Trump’s car.

The agreement

Even the online edition of the agreement manifests US domination. It is on the White House masthead. Doesn’t Wisma Putra publish it? A review of the entire agreement discloses the frequent use of the following 19 expressions:

“Malaysia shall apply…”;

“Malaysia shall not…”;

“Malaysia shall not apply…”;

“Malaysia shall allow…”;

“Malaysia shall accord…”;

“Malaysia shall facilitate…”;

“Malaysia shall ensure…”;

“Malaysia shall provide…”;

“Malaysia shall only protect or recognize…”;

“Malaysia shall not restrict…”;

“Malaysia shall prioritize…”;

“Malaysia shall adopt and implement…”;

“Malaysia shall coordinate…”;

“Malaysia shall not impose…”;

“Malaysia shall cooperate…”;

“Malaysia shall explore…”;

“Malaysia shall enter into…”;

“Malaysia shall refrain from providing…”; and

“Malaysia intends to purchase…”.

There are hardly any similar obligations on the US; hence, the terms “reciprocal” and “complementary” are wholly inappropriate. It is doublespeak.

Any impartial reviewer of this agreement, when reminded of these obligations imposed upon Malaysia without any mutual obligations on the US, will conclude that it is a gross example of a one-sided bargain.

When one is then referred to five specific articles, any doubt is removed that the agreement as a whole is against our interests, and is wholly detrimental to our status as an independent, sovereign nation.

What does “sovereignty” mean? Like many words describing concepts, it is multifaceted. I suggest that part of a nation’s sovereignty is its ability and freedom to decide and determine its own policies, whether foreign, military, economic, political, or otherwise, and to pass laws.

When that freedom is impinged upon by its agreeing to act or not to act in a particular way in the future, its sovereignty is compromised.

Applying that yardstick, this agreement undoubtedly diminishes our freedom to operate, and thus it compromises our sovereignty. Simply stated, our hands have become unnecessarily tied. And now to the five articles.

Signing of the US-M’sia trade deal


Five obnoxious articles

1. Article 2.3 Agriculture

“Malaysia shall provide non-discriminating or preferential market access for US agricultural goods as set forth in this Agreement. In doing so –

(b) Malaysia shall not enter into agreements or understanding with third countries that… or otherwise disadvantage US exports.”

(My emphasis)

First, the US does not have to provide “non-discriminatory or preferential market access” for Malaysian agricultural goods. Secondly, Malaysia is prohibited from entering into similar agreements or understanding with the 200-odd countries in the world, excluding the US.

Of course, the US is not prohibited in like manner. The critical test is that Malaysia must refrain from taking such action if it “disadvantages US exports”. And of course, the US determines that. How is this article in Malaysia’s interests?

2. Article 2.12 Border Measures and Taxes

“2. No party shall contest at the WTO a measure adopted by the other party to rebate or to refrain from imposing direct taxes in relation to exports from that party”.

(My emphasis)

The US, Malaysia, and more than 190 countries subscribe to the WTO international regime, which includes an agreed dispute resolution mechanism to resolve disputes between member states.

Why has Malaysia given up this right if the US adopts measures “to rebate or to refrain from imposing direct taxes in relation to exports” from Malaysia?

3. Article 3.3 Digital Trade Agreements

“Malaysia shall consult with the US before entering into a new digital trade agreement with another country that jeopardises essential US interest”.

(my emphasis)

“Digital trade” is not defined in the agreement, and will be given a wide and general meaning in the rapidly evolving scientific and technological world. Why should Malaysia consult the US before it can enter into digital trade agreements with the 200 countries across the globe?

The key words are “jeopardises essential US interest”. Obviously, the US will determine the scope and extent of its interests: the US will dictate what they are, and Malaysia will have to comply. Does this not result in a serious inroad into our freedom to operate independently?

4. Article 5.3 Other Measures

“3. If Malaysia enters into a new bilateral free trade agreement or preferential economic agreement with a country that jeopardises essential US interests, the US may, if consultations with Malaysia fail to resolve its concerns, terminate this Agreement and reimpose the applicable tariff rate set forth in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025.”

(my emphasis)

This targets Malaysia’s liberty to enter into “bilateral free trade agreements” and “preferential economic agreements” with the rest of the world. Does this not severely prejudice our freedom to negotiate with, and enter into trade and economic agreements with any country we wish?

If we do so, the US can take retaliatory measures - terminating this agreement and restoring the original Trump tariff specified in his executive order of April 2. We become subject to blackmail and threats by the US.

(v) “4. Malaysia shall not purchase any nuclear reactors, fuel rods or enriched uranium from certain countries, except where there are no alternative suppliers on comparable terms and conditions.”

(my emphasis)

In recent years, there has been public discussion about whether Malaysia should build nuclear plants to provide another alternative energy source; that is, to diversify our sources of energy and to comply with climate change obligations.

If, as a nation, we decide to go on that route, our freedom is again impinged because we cannot purchase any “nuclear reactors, fuel rods or enriched uranium” from any country except the US unless “there are no alternative suppliers” to or “comparable terms and conditions” with US manufacturers.

And of course, the US will decide how suppliers “alternate” to the US will offer terms and conditions “comparable” to those offered by the US. Again, there is no parity between the two countries: Malaysia will succumb to US wishes.

The annexes

Malaysia’s obligations multiply in the four annexes to the agreement. Annex I deals with tariff and customs matters. Annex II is the “market access list” relating to the import into Malaysia of American cheese and meat.

Annex III refers to specific commitments; it is lengthy, running to 42 separate matters on diverse subjects. Let me cite a few examples.

By Article 1.2 in Annex III, Malaysia agrees to exclude US imports of agricultural and seafood products from our sales and service tax (SST). This is highly discriminatory in favour of the US. Under Article 2.9, Malaysia shall allow any US halal certifier designated by Jakim as meeting our halal requirement, without additional requirements.

By Article 2.17, Malaysia shall fully implement eight international agreements and ratify or accede to five other international conventions.

Finally, by Article 6.2, Malaysia commits to the expedient development of its rare earth and critical minerals sector in partnership with US companies, and we agree to supply rare earth magnets to the US. In sum, all these specific commitments are made by Malaysia; hardly any by the US.

Annex IV deals with purchases and investments. Again, hopelessly lop-sided. The small developing nation that is Malaysia is obliged to purchase from and invest in the richest nation in world history, with the largest economy ever. And the US has no reciprocal duties.

Thus, we have to purchase 60 aircraft and LNG valued at approximately US$2 billion (RM8.3 billion) per annum for five years from 2025 to 2029. Our multi-national companies must purchase US$150 billion (RM623 billion) worth of semiconductors, aerospace components, and data centre equipment from US companies.

TNB has to purchase coal valued at US$42 million (RM174 million) per year, and Telekom Malaysia has to purchase US products and services worth US$119 million (RM494 million). Finally, we must make a capital investment of US$70 billion (RM291 billion) over the next 10 years (US$7 billion annually). Taken together, if this is not a “sell-out”, one does not know what is?

Although the British made their appearance in Penang in 1776 and Singapore in 1819, their intervention into the Malay States only occurred in 1874 with the Treaty of Pangkor. Malaya was thus under direct British rule for some 80 years.

Never under the British Empire did the colonial and imperialist power exercise such a degree of direct control and influence over Malaya’s economy. Hence, we will be much worse off after 68 years of Merdeka.

The US trade treaty is far more sinister and insidious: it is neo-imperialism at its worst. And to think that Malaysians freely and voluntarily agreed to this.

From a geo-strategic perspective, Malaysia has moved very much into the US sphere of influence, a development that would be detrimental to our independence.

The US immediately flexed its muscles when its ambassador, Edgard Kagan, warned early this month that Trump “has been very clear about what some red lines are and the political consequences that would come from crossing those”. What audacity; a temerity never manifested by the US previously.

Edgard Kagan


Moving forward

Against this background, it is impossible to contend that this agreement is in our interests. The government must immediately take action to ensure that we are not bound by it. We must abandon this agreement as soon as possible.

Fortunately, there are two escape clauses within its terms which assist Malaysia, viz, Articles 7.2 and 7.5.

Articles 7.2 : Entry into Force

“This Agreement shall enter into force 60 days after the date on which Parties have exchanged written notifications certifying completion of their applicable legal procedures or on such other date as the Parties may agree”.

This is usual in agreements between nations, which are invariably signed by the executive branch, but require approval by their legislative branch, or their domestic laws have to be amended to harmonise with the requirements of any agreement.

Hence, there is a time-lag between the signature (which was Oct 26) and its coming into force.

Fortunately, both Malaysia and the US must agree under this article - it is mutual, and not one-sided, before it comes into force.

Under the express terms of Article 7.2, Malaysia must “exchange written notifications” or agree on when the agreement comes into force. By declining to take either positive measure on the part of Malaysia, this agreement cannot come into force, in which event it lapses and will never be binding.

If this agreement has already come into force (which would be very surprising since it was only executed three weeks ago), then we can resort to Article 7.5, which reads:

Article 7.5 : Termination

“Either Party may terminate this Agreement by written notification to the other Party. Termination shall take effect 180 days after the date of the notification.”

Obviously, this article only becomes applicable if the agreement comes into force. In that contingency, Malaysia can terminate by simply issuing a termination notice in writing. No reason or explanation for termination is required to be included in the notice.

If Anwar wants to save face with his hero, Trump, the prime minister can allow a free vote, that is, without the whip being enforced, of the 222 members of the Dewan Rakyat who will have to decide based on their conscience and feedback from their constituents. Of course, indirectly, the voters at the next general election are thus brought into the discussion.

A defeat in Parliament would give sufficient political reason for Anwar to maintain his deep friendship with Trump, despite the agreement not coming into force. After all, the US Congress often vetoes treaties entered into by the US government: the League of Nations in the 1920s is a famous example.

Whatever it is, Malaysia should renounce this agreement as soon as possible. It is disastrous and an insult to our dignity as a sovereign, independent nation.



TOMMY THOMAS is a former attorney-general.

Kedah exco defends use of Chinese script on factory foundation stone

Kedah exco defends use of Chinese script on factory foundation stone


Published: Nov 20, 2025 3:13 PM
Updated: 6:46 PM



Kedah state industry and investment executive councillor Haim Hilman Abdullah has denied allegations that the use of Chinese writing on the foundation stone at Kedah Rubber City recently reflects the state government’s disrespect for the national language.

In a statement on Facebook, he said Bahasa Malaysia was still used in the speeches at the groundbreaking event and that the Kedah and Malaysian flags were displayed as usual.

Haim said the presence of Chinese script on the foundation stone was part of a gesture of respect towards the identity of the foreign investors involved in the project.

“Investors from abroad bring technology, job opportunities, and livelihood for the people. As hosts, we respect their identity, just as they respect our multiracial language and culture.

“PAS and Perikatan Nasional are not narrow-minded. We have never blocked progress, nor restricted anyone’s rights regarding religion or ethnicity.

“We defend the identity of the nation, but at the same time we open the door to billions of ringgit in investments for the future of our people,” he said, adding that Kedah’s strong record of foreign investment reflects the state government’s openness.

Haim’s statement came following a viral video on social media showing Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor claiming that land in the state is being seized by foreigners.

“Those who fight us, they come back from Taiwan, China, Singapore. They (these people) vote for Pakatan Harapan. They destroy us… colonise our land because they know how important this land is to control.

“Because we’re stupid, you’re stupid. This state has already been taken,” Sanusi said in the video.

Investment injection

Commenting further, Haim said that if it were true that the state government was shutting its doors to other communities, investments from countries such as Japan, the United States, Europe, and China would not be entering Kedah.

Regarding the reaction to the use of Chinese writing on the foundation stone, Haim described such criticism as baseless.

Kedah state industry and investment executive councillor Haim Hilman Abdullah


“Apparently, they are afraid of a foundation stone with Chinese characters meaning ‘laying the foundation’.

“They look at the Kedah flag and think it’s the flag of China. What makes them so phobic?” he asked.

On Tuesday, Kedah Rubber City received an investment injection of RM2.6 billion from Chinese tyre manufacturer Prinx Chengshan Holdings Ltd.

The investment for the construction of the tyre manufacturing plant makes it the first investor in the industrial park.

The smart and eco-friendly factory project, supported by the Northern Corridor Economic Region, involves an allocation of RM1.2 billion for the first phase and RM1.4 billion for the second phase over 15 years.

Govt asked to explain transfer of New Village affairs to housing ministry

FMT:

Govt asked to explain transfer of New Village affairs to housing ministry

4 hours ago
Dineskumar Ragu

Former deputy minister Ismail Abdul Muttalib says the villages were originally placed under the national unity ministry

New Villages were established as relocation settlements to curb the communist insurgency in 1948. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP today urged the government to clarify its decision to transfer the administration of New Villages from the national unity ministry to the housing and local government ministry.

Ismail Abdul Muttalib (PN-Maran) said New Villages were established with the objective of fostering unity, social integration, and community development.

“However, following changes in ministerial portfolios, these affairs were transferred to the housing and local government ministry, and the primary focus now appears to be on physical development rather than unity, community building, and social reform.

“It is not wrong to allocate funds for physical development as long as they are properly audited, but the question here concerns the ministry’s policy direction,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

Ismail, a former deputy housing and local government minister, also said the government had pledged to create a national development plan for New Villages under the 13th Malaysia Plan.

“Therefore, the Dewan Rakyat has the right to know the specific reforms that the ministry plans to implement,” he said.

Ismail also suggested that the ministry consider redefining the status of New Villages to include those in rural areas, as well as Orang Asli villages.

Historically, New Villages were established as relocation settlements for rural Chinese communities along roadsides during the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960). Since then, many have evolved into fully developed residential towns and villages.

Over 40,000 teen pregnancies between 2020 and 2024

FMT:

Over 40,000 teen pregnancies between 2020 and 2024

5 HOURS AGO
Anne Muhammad

Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri says about 16,951 of these pregnant teenagers were unmarried and placed in government facilities

Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri said her ministry is rolling out an intervention initiative comprising reproductive health education, counselling and community support to curb pregnancies out of wedlock.

KUALA LUMPUR: Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri today revealed that over 40,000 teen pregnancies were recorded between 2020 and 2024.

Nancy said that of the 41,842 teenagers aged 19 and below, 50% were Malays and about 11% were Ibans.

Orang Asli made up about 9%, while Chinese and Indians made up 5% and 3% respectively.

kt remarks: Shame on the Chinese and Indians - poor performance lah

“About 16,951 of these pregnant teenagers were unmarried and were placed in government facilities,” she told the Dewan Rakyat.

Nancy was responding to Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-Parit Buntar) who asked for a breakdown of unwed pregnant teenagers and steps to overcome the issue.

She said her ministry, along with others, is rolling out an intervention initiative comprising reproductive health education, counselling and community support to curb pregnancies out of wedlock.

***

Once there was a PM who wanted Malaysia's population to be 70 million. Wonder whether he then had the Proton in mind, wakakaka.

US peace proposal requires Ukraine to cede land, cut army size

FMT:

US peace proposal requires Ukraine to cede land, cut army size

The plan appears to repeat Russia’s maximalist terms, demands Ukraine has consistently rejected as tantamount to capitulation

US media outlet Axios reported that Moscow and Washington had been working on a secret plan to end the nearly four-year war. (File pic)

KYIV: Ukraine has received a new peace proposal from the United States, which requires Kyiv to cede land controlled by Russia and more than halve its army’s size, a senior official briefed on the proposal told AFP on Wednesday.

The plan appears to repeat Russia’s maximalist terms – demands consistently rejected by Ukraine as tantamount to capitulation.

The draft provides for “recognition of Crimea and other regions that the Russians have taken” and “reduction of the army to 400,000 personnel”, the source, who does not wish to be identified, told AFP.


The plan would also see Ukraine giving up all long-range weapons.

“An important nuance is that we don’t understand whether this is really Trump’s story” or “his entourage’s”, the official added.

It was “unclear” what Russia was supposed to do in return, according to the source.

US media outlet Axios earlier reported Moscow and Washington had been working on a secret plan to end the almost four-year war. The Kremlin had declined to comment on the report, later saying there was nothing new in the peace settlement progress.

AFP has reached out to the White House for comment.

Russia now occupies around a fifth of Ukrainian territory – much of it ravaged by fighting.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded it retains territory in southern and eastern Ukraine that it occupies and for Kyiv to cede even more land.

Moscow in 2022 annexed four Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – despite not having full control over them.

Russia also annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and has fully controlled it since then.

US President Donald Trump has sought to leverage his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to end the war, but has so far failed to make progress.

Since the start of his second term, Trump’s position on the Ukraine war has shifted dramatically back and forth.

Stop it, FAM. You’re insulting our intelligence

FMT:

Stop it, FAM. You’re insulting our intelligence

We preach integrity to the world, yet when FAM forges its way to disgrace, Malaysia’s leaders look away

Malaysia loves lecturing the world on integrity. We scold foreign athletes for cheating, demand transparency from global bodies, and position ourselves as champions of moral order.

But when the world turns the mirror on us — when Fifa exposes a fraud engineered on Malaysian soil — it is our leaders’ outrage that evaporates.

The same country that prides itself on moral clarity suddenly can’t find the courage to confront its own scandal.

And nowhere is this hypocrisy more visible than in the disaster now engulfing the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

FAM is talking like a nation preparing for war — refusing to retreat, promising to fight to the end, and marching toward the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as if this is an epic injustice rather than a self-inflicted wound.

Fight what — the documents? The signatures? The lies?

This is theatre masquerading as defiance.

CAS: the showdown Malaysia can’t dodge

FAM’s vow to take the case to CAS may be the only blessing in this bleak saga.

At CAS, euphemism dies.

No PR smokescreens. No vague suspensions. No internal “investigations” staged for optics.

Malaysia may finally be forced to reveal the names behind the fraud: the architects, the enablers, the officials who approved documents they knew were false.

If FAM thinks CAS will vindicate them, they are deluding themselves.

But CAS might do something more important: drag the truth into the open.

And that truth may become Malaysia’s next global humiliation, the sequel to a scandal we keep pretending isn’t ours.

A Parliament missing in action

Where are Malaysia’s MPs, government and opposition, as the nation is humiliated on the global stage?

Where are the emergency motions, special sittings, and bipartisan action?

This scandal involves forged documents, false declarations, compromised Asian Cup qualifiers, potential offences in five jurisdictions, and the integrity of Malaysia’s identity documents.

Yet Parliament behaves as if this is a minor sporting disagreement.

Malaysia is never shy about condemning others. But when our own governance is exposed as paper-thin, the political class retreats into silence.

The scandal we pretend isn’t ours

Fifa’s 64-page appeals verdict did more than sanction FAM and seven players.

It placed Malaysia itself in the dock, the agents, the administrators, the national registration department (NRD), and the home ministry.

What FAM called “administrative errors” was revealed as a deliberate, constructed fraud: altered documents, fantastical ancestry claims, and a citizenship process so accelerated it borders on parody.

From February 7, when the home ministry issued its first invitations, to March 17, when the players “passed” Malay tests, swore allegiance and obtained citizenship — the entire process unfolded at a speed ordinary Malaysians can only dream of.

By the next day, they had MyKads and passports.

These are not shortcuts. These are institutional fingerprints.

The officials who made the lie official

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and NRD director-general Badrul Hisham Alias repeatedly insisted the players met all prerequisites.

But the players confessed they do not speak Malay, have never lived in Malaysia for 10 years, signed documents they did not read, and relied on “family hearsay” for ancestry claims.

So who certified their fluency? Who validated residency that never happened? Who authorised documents the players now disown?

These are not clerical missteps. These are state-level failures with political accountability nowhere in sight.

Shortcut to glory, straight into shame

This is no longer about seven ineligible players. The falsifications created an “undue sporting gain”, and Malaysia now faces potential sanctions from the Asian Football Confederation.

Points may be docked. The Asian Cup 2027 campaign may collapse.

Malaysia wanted a shortcut to glory. What it plotted instead was a shortcut to shame.

The criminal chapter begins

Fifa has formally notified authorities in Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, Spain and the Netherlands.

Forgery and false declarations are not sporting mishaps. They are crimes.

The global investigative clock has started. If Malaysia drags its feet, other countries will not.

This is now a criminal matter with international implications. The world expects action — not silence, not excuses, not hiding behind Fifa’s non-interference rules.

We condemn others. Now fix ourselves

Malaysia cannot continue preaching integrity while excusing deceit at home.

Integrity is not a brand; it is a behaviour.

Right now, every institution touched by this scandal is behaving as though image matters more than accountability.

Fifa has already told the world what happened. Malaysia must now tell the world what it intends to do.

The questions left are the ones we have avoided for months:

Who will be held accountable? How deeply will the rot be cut out?

Does Malaysia finally have the courage to face the truth it keeps sidestepping?

Until it answers those questions, FAM’s defiance is not bravery. It is an insult to the nation’s intelligence.

Hidden hands scuttling peace process in Thai-Cambodian conflict

FMT:

Hidden hands scuttling peace process in Thai-Cambodian conflict

From scammers to illegal loggers, criminals are benefiting from a continuous disruption of efforts to ease tension between the two countries

As Asean prepares to investigate the landmine explosion that shattered the fragile Thai–Cambodian truce, the region confronts a sobering truth: peace is no longer threatened only by state decisions, military miscalculations, or competing national narratives.

Increasingly, the real spoilers are the non-traditional actors who thrive in the shadows of conflict — groups for whom instability is not a tragedy, but an opportunity.


This is the uncomfortable reality Southeast Asia must confront. Even as US President Donald Trump exerts immense pressure on both sides to preserve the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, the border remains a magnet for criminal networks, rogue groups, and illicit economies that can undermine any diplomatic progress.

These actors do not attend peace talks. They do not sign agreements. Yet they have the power to unravel them.


The renewed tension after the landmine blast must therefore be understood not only as a bilateral dispute, but as a corridor where insurgent incentives, criminal profits, and underground economies intersect.

If Asean focuses solely on government-to-government channels, it may secure temporary truces but fail to address the forces that keep dragging peace backward.

One of the most disruptive forces is the nexus of cross-border criminal syndicates operating in the borderlands. These groups depend on ungoverned spaces to conduct smuggling, illegal logging, weapons trafficking, and human movement.

Every moment of tension — every troop mobilisation, every closed checkpoint — creates perfect cover for their activities. For them, peace is bad for business. Stability brings law enforcement, surveillance, and political oversight. Instability lets the underground economy flourish. Their incentive to sabotage the peace is therefore extremely high.


In recent years, another dark industry has expanded dramatically: cyber-fraud and scam networks operating from parts of Cambodia and the Golden Triangle.

These syndicates rely on porous borders to move trafficked workers, illegal equipment, and laundered funds. Any meaningful peace process that includes greater border monitoring will disrupt their lifelines. These groups have both the money and the motivation to provoke tensions through misinformation, intimidation, or even covert violence.

They represent one of the most likely non-traditional spoilers of peace. It is estimated by the United Nations Unit on Transnational Organised Crimes that the cyber frauds from a farm that houses 100,000 illegal workers alone, can make anything between US$300 million to US$450 million (RM1.24 billion to RM1.87 billion) a month.

Equally concerning are rogue militias and unregulated border patrol groups, often aligned with local commanders rather than central authorities. They operate with weapons, territorial claims, and nationalist fervour.


Their actions can be easily mistaken for official military engagements, creating confusion that spirals into national-level crisis.

They possess the capacity to plant mines, stage ambushes, or trigger clashes that derail months of diplomatic work.

In fragile border zones, even one uncontrolled unit can ignite a conflict neither government intended.

Corruption adds another layer of danger. Some local officials and enforcement officers profit directly from illicit border markets, smuggling fees, or informal taxation.

For them, peace means tighter control and reduced income. Conflict offers cover for illegal revenue streams. These actors will quietly but consistently resist any peace-building efforts that threaten their interests.

They may not plant mines, but they can obstruct implementation, distort reporting, or quietly encourage disruptions.

Illegal loggers and timber cartels also thrive in the dense forests along the border. These networks have operated for decades, often with sophisticated protection from criminal groups.

Forest conflict benefits them because it pushes civilians away and weakens state monitoring. For Asean’s de-mining teams and investigators, these groups represent both an environmental and security risk.

Disinformation networks are another potent threat, especially in the age of social media. Troll farms, political operatives, and nationalist agitators — both domestic and foreign — can inflame passions within hours.

A single doctored video or audio leak can push public opinion toward confrontation and pressure governments into hardline responses.

These non-traditional actors are invisible but powerful, and they complicate Asean’s efforts to build trust between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

Neither should we overlook ex-combatants, unemployed former fighters, or long-marginalised veterans of earlier border clashes.

Some possess deep grievances, while others simply understand conflict better than civilian life.

Their familiarity with the terrain, weaponry, and local networks makes them capable of triggering incidents that governments struggle to control.

Borderlands are also fertile ground for human trafficking networks, poaching gangs, fuel smugglers, and informal cartels that depend on porous boundaries.

Each of these groups benefits from weak enforcement, fragmented authority, and confusion along the frontier. Peace threatens to close the loopholes they exploit.

All these actors — from traffickers to troll farms — operate independently of the diplomatic architecture that Asean painstakingly builds.

They are the spoilers of quiet moments, the beneficiaries of chaos, and the invisible competitors of peace.

This is why Asean must recognise that the Thai–Cambodian conflict cannot be treated purely as a state-centric problem.

Even if Thailand and Cambodia reaffirm their commitments under the KL Peace Accord, the peace will remain fragile unless Asean factors in non-traditional threats with the same seriousness as conventional military risks.

The first step is to strengthen Asean’s border monitoring mechanism so it can track not only troop movements but abnormal patterns of smuggling, illegal logging, cyber-fraud migration, and disinformation spikes.

The second is to incorporate non-traditional security actors into the peace architecture — through intelligence sharing, anti-trafficking cooperation, environmental policing, and coordinated crackdowns on criminal networks.

Peace in the region will no longer be secured merely through diplomacy and summits. It will be maintained through constant vigilance, cross-border coordination, and a deep understanding of the shadow economies that thrive when governments are distracted.

The landmine incident is a warning. Asean must not focus only on the mines that explode beneath soldiers’ feet, but on the hidden forces beneath the surface — the non-traditional actors who benefit from every setback and seize every opportunity to keep conflict alive.

True peace will come only when Asean shines a light into every corner of the borderlands.

The region must be ready not only for state-level dialogue but also for the unrelenting shadow war waged by actors who fear peace more than conflict.

Singapore minister apologises after calling Hong Kong football players, fans ‘idiots’

 

Singapore minister apologises after calling Hong Kong football players, fans ‘idiots’



Singapore’s acting culture, community and youth minister David Neo has apologised for calling Hong Kong players and fans ‘idiots’ after a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier. — Picture via Facebook/David Neo

Thursday, 20 Nov 2025 2:16 PM MYT


SINGAPORE, Nov 20 — A Singapore minister says he “should have been more respectful” after calling Hong Kong football players and fans “idiots” following a decisive 2027 Asian Cup qualifier.

David Neo’s remarks sparked criticism and overshadowed Singapore’s 2-1 win in Hong Kong, which took them to the continent’s top competition for the first time since 1984.

Neo congratulated the Singapore team in the changing room after today’s game, calling the result “fantastic”, according to a video clip posted on Instagram by one of the players.

“You (were) pressured by them, all the fans were bloody idiots, end up players... they also played like idiots, but you all played like lions,” Neo said.


Neo, the acting minister for culture, community and youth, later said he regretted the remarks.

“Indeed, I probably should have been more respectful,” he wrote on Instagram in response to a comment on there condemning his remarks.

“I take back what I said. The Hong Kong team was really tough and their fans were fully behind them. That’s something we should respect, and let’s also get behind our Lions.”


Singapore’s nickname is the Lions.

Neo’s ministry today did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

Hong Kong’s football association also did not respond to a similar request. — AFP