How to wean off our car addiction

How to wean off our car addiction

Andrew Sia
Published: Apr 19, 2026 2:08 PM
Updated: 4:08 PM



COMMENT | 820,000 new cars were added to Malaysian roads last year - no wonder traffic congestion keeps getting worse. Will people have to wake up at 4am to beat the jams?

How many new tolled roads can we build? Will we have ever more highways flying past our homes, belching noise, dust, and noxious fumes?

Our fixation with cars doesn’t look sustainable. Yet sadly, only 25 percent of commuters in the Klang Valley use public transport, despite the many billions spent on three LRT and two MRT lines.

This is far below the 67 percent rate in Singapore and 72 percent in Tokyo.

It’s often repeated that the main problem is the “first- and last-mile” connection - getting from our homes to the stations, and then to our final destinations. Not everyone is willing to pay for ever more expensive e-hailing car rides with peak hour surcharges.

Eight hundred European studies reveal there is no single “silver bullet” solution to traffic congestion; instead, what’s needed is a mix of carrots and sticks, or incentives and penalties.

Here are some suggestions.

Work from home

When Putrajaya announced a limited work-from-home (WFH) policy for civil servants, many made snide remarks about their work ethic.

Sadly, on April 15, the first day of implementation, congestion persisted on practically all highways entering Kuala Lumpur. Clearly, this needs much wider adoption to succeed.

But our old management mindsets prefer face-to-face monitoring. In April, the Malaysian Employers Federation added that WFH is impractical for sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, retail, construction and hospitality. SMEs also lack the technical capacity to implement it.

Perhaps Putrajaya can reduce fuel subsidies and then offer tax incentives to encourage WFH?

Stadium, mall bus hubs

Many MRT and LRT stations lack parking. So, how about setting up Park N Ride bus hubs at stadiums? Car parks at stadiums are mostly empty anyway, except during events.

Several stadiums around Selangor can be deployed for this - Bukit Jalil, Shah Alam, UiTM, MBPJ, Ampang Jaya, Kajang, Selayang, and several smaller ones in Klang.

Apart from stadiums, shopping centres can also become bus hubs. Struggling malls can offer really cheap parking rates in exchange for shopping purchases.


Elevated walkways

We have spent billions building train lines, but neglected to spend mere millions to improve access to the stations. Is it because cronies don’t gain enough from smaller projects? Or are they not “glamorous” enough?

Developers often advertise how close their projects are to train stations. Sure, they may be physically near but “mentally far”, because people fearing snatch thieves don’t feel secure walking there.

One idea is to build elevated paths directly to train stations, preferably with CCTVs and security guards. This is best seen in Bandar Sunway PJ, where skywalks connect shopping malls, universities, and condos to BRT stations.

In contrast, pedestrians from the dense Damansara Uptown PJ area have to navigate a hodge-podge of different roads, including the LDP highway, to reach the new Kayu Ara LRT3 station 1km away. If only there were a safe skywalk to get there!


Smart access

Yet some are so attached to their cars that they have erected barriers to the MRT. For example, some residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, were vocal in opposing a proposed pedestrian bridge to the nearby Bandar Utama MRT station.

Yes, they rightly feared people would clog up parking in their housing area to ride the train. One solution is to limit access only to residents with smartcards, ie, those who have paid their security fees.

Bus Rapid Transit

BRT is a far cheaper alternative to MRT or LRT. It basically involves using buses on special lanes or overhead roads, rather than trains, which are expensive and complicated to run and maintain.

Curitiba in Brazil became famous worldwide for being the first city to implement BRT. This video explains how it works like an MRT system.

The BRT


Nearly 200 cities have followed Curitiba’s example, including Guangzhou (China), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Istanbul, Mexico City, Bogota (Colombia), Ahmedabad (India), Indonesia’s TransJakarta and yes, Bandar Sunway, PJ.


Bike lanes, e-tuk-tuks

If car parks at, or taxis to, train stations are too expensive, there are cheaper options. For example, electric trishaws or tuk-tuks.

I’ve written that safety will be enforced by e-hailing apps that will punish or ban dangerous drivers. We won’t need to depend on officers drinking kopi-O.

I’ve also suggested using just 10 percent of the massive RM6 billion monthly fuel subsidies to build bike lanes around MRT or LRT stations. People will feel safer using bicycles or e-scooters to reach the stations, and parking is a breeze, too.

The “little red dot” called Singapore has over 730km of cycling paths connecting homes to MRT and bus stations, shopping malls, schools, and food courts. This also boosts healthy exercise.


Crunchy carrots

The Dutch city of Utrecht and private companies provide free public transport passes to employees, plus shuttle buses to connect transit stops with workplaces. This successfully reduced cars entering the city centre by a whopping 37 percent.

The northern Italian city of Bologna is famous for spaghetti Bolognese. But it also has a phone app where people are rewarded for walking and cycling. Points collected can then be redeemed at shops.

In Malaysia, we have the AIA Vitality app that rewards policyholders with reductions in premiums if they exercise more. Something similar can be done to encourage public transport, walking and cycling.


Sticks needed too

But carrots are often not enough; we need sticks, or disincentives, too. Firstly, a further reduction in Budi Madani fuel subsidies, which threatens to bust the national budget, will discourage car commuting.

Secondly, we need to think of imposing surcharges on single-driver cars entering the city at peak hours, as proposed by Universiti Putra Malaysia road safety expert Law Teik Hwa.

We need look no further than Singapore, which is well known for its ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) system. Such congestion charges have also successfully reduced the number of cars entering London, Stockholm, Milan, and Rome, which were once notorious for bad traffic.


Pushing carpools

If surcharges don’t work, we need sterner sticks. Cut 20 percent of weekday city traffic by car number plates - those ending in 1 and 2 are barred on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, and so on.

I’m willing to bet that people will soon set up WhatsApp or Facebook groups like “Klang to KL Sentral Share Ride” or “Kongsi Kereta Kulai ke JB” to arrange car pooling. Traffic jams will be reduced by 20 percent for the remaining 80 percent of drivers.

They can meet up anywhere in Klang or Kulai town, though it’s best to screen and take photos of potential ride partners first. A carpooling app can make things easier.


Mental change

Finally, any measures will need a strong public relations (PR) campaign to convince Malaysians who love to criticise and complain first before thinking deeper.

Car ownership is a status symbol in our country, while public transport, cycling, or walking is viewed as something only “smelly” foreign workers do. This combines both race and class prejudice.

To overcome that, a PR campaign should showcase stories of Malaysians who have saved time, money, or mental stress to reach their destinations.

Instead of spending hours stuck in ulcer-inducing traffic jams, they can relax and play with their phones while taking trains and buses.

People who have improved their health or discovered new corners of their city after walking more deserve to be highlighted, too.

Cities can learn from the car advertising industry, which sells a fantasy of driving freely on open roads, while the real daily grind is turning into a glorified prison on four wheels.

In conclusion, our traffic jams are getting worse every year, and it’s time for urgent action, especially with the oil crisis. Rather than a single “magic bullet”, we need to combine several measures to solve this deep-seated physical and cultural problem.

Let’s instead look forward to thriving, liveable cities, as our transport systems move from third world to first world.

ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com

Zahid: New ‘green rubber fuel’ could ease rising energy costs

Zahid: New ‘green rubber fuel’ could ease rising energy costs



Putrajaya eyes rubber waste as new fuel source with 19 biofuel plants already running. — Unsplash pic

Sunday, 19 Apr 2026 4:23 PM MYT


SHAH ALAM, April 19 — Malaysia currently has 19 biofuel production plants based on rubber waste, with a monthly capacity of approximately 1.5 million litres, thus having the potential to become a new alternative energy source amid the global energy crisis.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the biofuel production initiative had been presented to the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) through collaboration between government agencies and private companies in the plantation sector.

“There are now 19 biofuel production plants ranging from B15 to B50. We will use sludge or by-products from CPO production, where about 35 per cent of the sludge will be fully utilised to produce biofuel as well as Jet A1 fuel.

“This has already been initiated, and MTEN has in principle accepted the proposal. We will coordinate with the relevant bodies and companies. We want to ensure that the production cost is low when synergy is achieved among the 19 plants,” he said.


He said this to the media after officiating Rissmart Grocer supermarket here today. Also present was the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) chairman Manndzri Nasib.


Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the government expects that large-scale production will be able to reduce operating costs, thereby lowering the overall price of the fuel.

He added that the biofuel has also undergone capability testing for use in vehicles and is believed to have the potential to stabilise and reduce diesel prices in the long term.


“We have conducted pilot tests, and Petronas has also tested this diesel. We are also collaborating with several vehicle manufacturers to test the suitability of this biodiesel for all vehicles produced in our country,” he said.

Previously, Risda was reported to be in the process of finalising a preliminary study on the development of a biofuel product derived from rubber scrap, known as ‘green rubber fuel,’ resulting from a pilot project by the Transformation for New Generation (TR4NG) innovation group under the Risda district office in Tanah Merah, Kelantan. — Bernama

***

During WWII the Japs tried this, to convert latex into petroleum products. Needless to say, with the technology of that era, it wasn't very successful but much as we detest their behaviour during the Occupation, credit should be given to their initiative.

Shamsiah Fakeh: Reclaiming a nationalist legacy

Shamsiah Fakeh: Reclaiming a nationalist legacy

Ranjit Singh Malhi
Published: Apr 19, 2026 12:15 PM
Updated: 2:15 PM



COMMENT | When a nation begins to fear its own history, it is not history that is in danger - it is truth.

The recent decision by the Home Ministry to ban two books published by Gerakbudaya - “Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh: Dari AWAS ke Rejimen Ke-10” and “Komrad Asi (Rejimen 10): Dalam Denyut Nihilisme Sejarah” - must be viewed with deep concern by all Malaysians who value historical truth, intellectual freedom, and national maturity.

Both books were reportedly prohibited on the grounds that they contain elements and ideologies of communism that could undermine public harmony and order.

Yet such reasoning, while superficially defensible, collapses under careful scrutiny when weighed against the imperatives of historical scholarship and the public’s right to understand its own past in all its complexity.

At the centre of this controversy stands Shamsiah Fakeh (1924-2008), a figure who occupies a contested yet undeniably significant place in Malayan history.

She was a prominent leader of Angkatan Wanita Sedar (Awas), established in 1946 as the women’s wing of Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya or the Malay Nationalist Party (MNP).

Awas is widely recognised in scholarly literature as the first organised nationalist women’s movement in Malaya, and Shamsiah’s leadership within it marks her as a pioneer of women’s political mobilisation.

At a time when Malay women were largely confined to traditional roles, she mobilised them to participate actively in the struggle for the nation’s independence.


Jungle or jail

The declaration of the Malayan Emergency nationwide on June 18, 1948, followed by the banning of MNP, Awas, and related organisations, dramatically altered the trajectory of nationalist politics in Malaya.

Faced with the prospect of detention without trial, many left-wing Malay nationalists were forced underground.

As Helen Ting, a respected academic and public intellectual, aptly observes, Shamsiah “was confronted with the dilemma faced by many other left-wing leaders: either retreat into the jungle or, like thousands of others, be detained without trial at the pleasure of the colonial power”.

It was within this context - not in a vacuum of ideological fanaticism - that Shamsiah chose to continue her struggle for Malaya’s independence by joining the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).

This decision must be situated within its historical context. As Cheah Boon Kheng notes in “Red Star Over Malaya: Resistance and Social Conflict During and After the Japanese Occupation of Malaya, 1941-46”, the MCP during this period attracted individuals motivated less by doctrinaire communism than by a shared commitment to ending colonial rule.

MCP guerilla fighters


Many left-wing Malay nationalists saw communism not as an end in itself but as a vehicle for independence and social transformation. To reduce their struggle to mere ideological subversion is to flatten the rich and complex motivations that drove anti-colonial resistance.

Within the MCP’s armed wing, the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), Shamsiah rose to prominence in the 10th Regiment, the Malay guerrilla unit formed on May 21, 1949.

The 10th Regiment was not a marginal formation. Scholarly estimates suggest that it comprised several hundred members, drawn largely from Malay communities in states such as Pahang, Perak, Kelantan, and Terengganu.

Many Malays from Pahang, including Siti Norkiah, the Awas leader from Benta, joined the MCP in 1948. Others, such as Pak Saud and his wife Mak Tijah from Arau, Perlis, also became part of this movement.

Their participation decisively challenges the simplistic narrative that communism in Malaya was an exclusively Chinese phenomenon.


Staunch feminist

Shamsiah’s own motivations were deeply personal as well as political. As Mahani Musa notes in her article “Women in the Malayan Communist Party, 1942-89” (2013), Shamsiah was driven to join the nationalist struggle “by her own marital breakup and wish to free women from the bondage of feudalism, capitalism, imperialism, and masculine oppression”.

Divorced when she was eight months pregnant, she transformed personal adversity into political commitment.

Her own words in her memoir capture this dual struggle with remarkable clarity: “Aku hanya seorang pejuang wanita yang berjuang melawan British untuk kemerdekaan tanah air dan untuk emansipasi (kebebasan) wanita.” (I am only a woman fighter who fought against the British for the independence of the homeland and for the emancipation [freedom] of women).

This statement is not the voice of an ideologue, but of a nationalist and a feminist - one who saw independence as inseparable from the emancipation of women.

In 1991, the Malay magazine Dewan Masyarakat published a seven-part series of articles on Shamsiah written by Fatini Yaacob, reflecting sustained scholarly and public interest in her life.

Such engagement underscores an important point: Shamsiah is not an obscure or marginal figure, but one whose life story opens a window into the broader currents of Malayan history - anti-colonial struggle, ideological contestation, and the role of women in nation-building.


Who are we to judge?

To label her simply as a “communist insurgent” is therefore historically reductive and morally questionable.

Who are we to judge and condemn her without understanding the circumstances that shaped her choices? Was she not, in many respects, a freedom fighter who was compelled by circumstance to adopt a radical path in pursuit of national independence?

She was, arguably, a “victim of circumstances”, joining the MCP to avoid detention and to continue her struggle when all legal avenues had been closed.

Indeed, according to Aisyah AB Rahim in her Master’s thesis (2012), entitled “Shamsiah Fakeh (1924-2008): Kajian Terhadap Perjuangan Wanita Islam di Tanah Melayu”, Shamsiah was “seorang nasionalis sejati dan anti-British yang tegar” (a true nationalist and a staunch anti-British figure).

More fundamentally, her life challenges the dominant narrative that independence was achieved solely through moderate, elite-led politics.

Tunku Abdul Rahmah declares Malaya’s independence from the British on Aug 31, 1957


While constitutional negotiations and diplomatic efforts were undoubtedly crucial, armed struggle, labour movements, and left-wing activism also played significant roles in weakening colonial rule and shaping the political consciousness of the masses.

To erase these contributions is to present a sanitised and incomplete version of history.


Propaganda is not knowledge

This brings us to the crux of the matter: the banning of these books is not merely an administrative act, but an assault on historical inquiry. There are several compelling reasons why such a ban is unjustified.

First, historical scholarship cannot be equated with ideological endorsement. The study of communism in Malaya does not promote communism any more than the study of colonialism endorses imperialism.

Academic and memoir works such as “Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh” are essential for understanding the past in its full complexity. To suppress them is to conflate knowledge with propaganda.

Second, the ban undermines intellectual freedom and the right of Malaysians to access diverse perspectives on their own history.

A mature nation does not fear its past; it confronts it, debates it, and learns from it. Shielding the public from “uncomfortable truths” only perpetuates ignorance and weakens critical thinking.

Third, the prohibition distorts the historical record. Hundreds of Malays did, in fact, join the communist insurgency.

This is not a matter of opinion but of documented history; to deny or obscure this reality is to falsify the past. A nation that selectively remembers its history risks building its identity on fragile foundations.

Fourth, the ban marginalises the contributions of left-wing nationalists who, despite their ideological affiliations, were part of the broader struggle for independence. Their sacrifices, motivations, and aspirations deserve to be studied and understood, not erased.

As Pierre Le Moyne, a 17th-century historical theorist, reminds us, “Truth is the very soul of history.” Hence, we must not marginalise the contributions of the left-wing nationalists and the communists in the struggle for national independence.


Where’s the line?

Finally, the banning of these works sets a troubling precedent. If historical narratives can be suppressed on the grounds of ideological sensitivity, where does one draw the line?

Today, it may be communism; tomorrow, it could be any interpretation that challenges the official narrative, such as that the Orang Asli are the truly indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia or that Parameswara died a Hindu-Buddhist.

An artist’s impression of Parameswara


Such a trajectory is incompatible with a democratic and intellectually vibrant society.

Shamsiah’s importance lies not only in what she did, but in what her story reveals.

It reveals a Malaya in flux, where competing visions of independence coexisted and clashed. It reveals the agency of women in a patriarchal society. It reveals the moral ambiguities and difficult choices faced by those who lived under colonial rule.

Above all, it reveals that Malaysian history is far richer, more contested, and more inclusive than conventional narratives often suggest.

To understand Shamsiah is to understand that history is not a monolithic tale of heroes and villains, but a tapestry of human experiences shaped by context, conviction, and circumstance.

She was a nationalist, a freedom fighter, and a champion of women’s emancipation - albeit one who chose a path that remains controversial. But controversy is not a reason for erasure; it is a reason for deeper engagement.

As a nation, we must have the courage to accept history as it happened. This includes acknowledging that segments of the Malay population participated in the communist insurgency, not out of blind ideological zeal, but out of a desire to end colonial domination and transform society.

A British colonial solder stands guard amid the Malayan Emergency


It also means recognising that the road to independence was neither linear nor uniform, but marked by multiple trajectories and competing visions.

In the final analysis, the banning of “Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh” and “Komrad Asi (Rejimen 10)” does a disservice not only to the individuals concerned but also to Malaysia itself.

It deprives Malaysians of the opportunity to engage critically with their past and to appreciate the diversity of experiences that have shaped the nation.

History must never be something we fear - it must be something we confront with honesty and courage.

It should be rigorously studied, openly debated, and deeply understood in all its complexity. For it is only when history is told truthfully and inclusively that it can fulfil its highest purpose: to unite a nation.



RANJIT SINGH MALHI is an independent historian who has written 19 books on Malaysian, Asian and world history. He is highly committed to writing an inclusive and truthful history of Malaysia based upon authoritative sources.

***

Authorities don't like the picture (or impression) of Malays being communists, not when they have been direct descendants of Abraham. Only the pendatang Chinese had been, whilst some Indians were probably (no doubt, wakakaka) members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers.

Ex-Perlis MB gives successor one week to explain postponed state assembly sitting

Ex-Perlis MB gives successor one week to explain postponed state assembly sitting


Published: Apr 18, 2026 5:27 PM
Updated: Apr 19, 2026 11:43 AM


Former Perlis menteri besar Shukri Ramli said he and five other PAS assemblypersons have given his successor, Abu Bakar Hamzah, a week to explain the reason behind the postponement of the recent state legislative assembly sitting.

Shukri (above, left), who resigned from his position last December, said PAS regretted the state government’s decision to defer the sitting at a time when “many pending issues” required clarification.

The Sanglang assemblyperson said that pending issues included investments, land grants, and local authorities.

Describing the postponement as “extraordinary”, Shukri said he received a notice on April 9 informing the start of a three-day sitting on April 21, 22 and 23, but yesterday (Friday) he was notified of its cancellation.

“I received an offer to perform the haj, with my flight to Mecca scheduled for April 18.

“But due to the state assembly sitting (as per the initial notice), I applied to Tabung Haji to postpone my flight to May 3.

“Suddenly the assembly is postponed, and this is deeply regrettable,” he was quoted as saying by BH Online in Mata Ayer, Padang Besar, today.

Previously, several parties had hinted on social media at a postponement of the sitting despite the political situation in Perlis appearing stable.

Perlis state assembly


‘No disaster, disease threat’

According to Shukri, the postponement was unusual as there was no emergency such as a natural disaster, death, or disease outbreak.

Speaking on behalf of the other five PAS assemblypersons, Shukri said he was disappointed with the state government’s decision, as it was made without discussion despite cooperation between the two sides in the state administration.

“Our unity as six PAS assemblypersons is the strength of the state government.

“We should have been consulted, as we are the ‘pillar’ strengthening the government today,” he said.

Politics in Perlis has been in turmoil following moves to remove Shukri through the actions of eight assembly members - three from PAS and five from Bersatu.

Three Perlis assemblypersons whose PAS memberships were terminated


They were also said to have submitted statutory declarations to the Perlis ruler, declaring a loss of confidence in Shukri.

Abu Bakar, who is also Perlis Bersatu chairperson, filled the menteri besar vacancy later.

“As the head of the government, he (Abu Bakar) should not maintain distrust towards us, but instead have confidence in our support for the state government,” said Shukri.

However, despite giving a one-week deadline, Shukri did not state what further action would be taken if Abu Bakar fails to meet their demand to explain the postponement.

Petronas to negotiate with Russia for oil supply, says PM

FMT:

Petronas to negotiate with Russia for oil supply, says PM

Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia’s firm ties with Moscow allow Petronas to negotiate for oil as global supply pressures mount

Anwar Ibrahim said many European and American countries that previously imposed sanctions on Russia are now scrambling to buy oil from the country.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today that Petronas will negotiate with Russia to secure sufficient oil supply for domestic use.

Anwar said many European and American countries that previously imposed sanctions on Russia are now scrambling to purchase oil from the country, Sinar Harian reported.

“Fortunately, our relations with Russia remain good. So the Petronas team can negotiate with Russia,” he said at the launch of the upgraded Sultan Ismail Petra Airport terminal in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.


Transport minister Loke Siew Fook and Kelantan menteri besar Nassuruddin Daud were present at the ceremony.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said early diplomatic efforts by the government ensured that Malaysian oil tankers were among the first to pass through the critical route in the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.

He said this helped avert major disruptions to the country’s energy supply chain.

“Thankfully, a Petronas oil tanker arrived safely at the Pengerang Integrated Complex yesterday. Deliveries to Pengerang are crucial because refining can only be done there.

“That success was the result of the government’s early engagement with Iran’s leadership, which allowed passage while international negotiations over the future of the Strait of Hormuz were still at a deadlock,” he said.

The Ocean Thunder, an oil tanker chartered by Petronas firm Petco, arrived safely in Malaysia carrying one million barrels of crude oil from Basra, Iraq.

Petronas confirmed on Wednesday that fuel supply at its stations nationwide will remain secure until the end of June, extending its earlier projection by a month.

Hannah Yeoh: Urgent interventions underway after TTDI retaining wall collapse

Hannah Yeoh: Urgent interventions underway after TTDI retaining wall collapse



Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh speaks to the media during a site visit in Taman Tun Dr Ismail following the retaining wall collapse incident. Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud is on her right. — Picture via Facebook/HannahYeoh

Sunday, 19 Apr 2026 2:40 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — City authorities have shifted into full crisis-response mode, mobilising additional manpower, machinery and round-the-clock monitoring to contain and repair damage at a project site, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said today.

She added an emergency meeting chaired by the Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud was convened this morning with all relevant agencies, as efforts intensified to stabilise conditions and prevent further risk to the public.

Yeoh also said she had requested immediate support from the Public Works Department (JKR) headquarters, with Selangor JKR also stepping in to deploy extra machinery to speed up repair works.

“Immediate mitigation and rectification measures are currently underway, with works already commenced on site,” she said in a statement on Facebook, outlining a series of urgent interventions now in progress.


These include the construction of a third sedimentation pond, expansion of an existing pond’s capacity, and desilting works to restore drainage flow, alongside maintenance of unlined drains and flushing of the drainage system.


Authorities have also moved to clear collapsed structures and install barriers, while traffic control is being coordinated jointly by the contractor, JKR and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

To ensure continuous oversight, Yeoh said DBKL has established a control centre that will operate 24 hours a day throughout the crisis period.


“A control centre by DBKL has been established and will operate 24/7 during this period,” she said.

The stepped-up response follows a mud flood incident yesterday at Jalan Abang Haji Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, which prompted DBKL to issue an immediate stop-work order on the project and impose a compound on the contractor.

Yeoh said she visited the site last night with the Kuala Lumpur mayor, adding that authorities acted swiftly given “the emergency situation and the potential risks posed to the safety of nearby residents”.

The project, under the National Landscape Department (JLN) of the Housing and Local Government Ministry and implemented by JKR, is now also subject to a broader review of slope development works in the area.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has instructed JKR to conduct a detailed technical investigation into the cause of the incident, which involved a retaining wall collapse near Phase 1B.

Preliminary findings indicated heavy rain triggered water overflow from the project site, while Yeoh said repair works at the affected retaining wall are expected to be completed within two days.

It is understood the development order for the project was issued on October 3, 2022.

Is Perlis govt on shaky ground? Analysts say delayed sitting raises red flags

Is Perlis govt on shaky ground? Analysts say delayed sitting raises red flags



Speculations abound about the state of the Perlis government under Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah after the State Legislative Assembly sitting, scheduled from April 21 to 23, 2006, was postponed abruptly to an undetermined date. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 19 Apr 2026 2:03 PM MYT


KANGAR, April 19 — The sudden postponement of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, offered without a solid reason, could quietly feed a dangerous perception: that the state government is either grappling with political instability or buckling under internal pressure, political analysts warn.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the delay of the sitting, originally set for April 21 to 23, could all too easily be read as an attempt to dodge a no-confidence motion or evade a test of majority support.

“In politics, when a DUN sitting is postponed without a clear explanation, the public reads between the lines. It begins to feel like a sign of instability or a government losing its nerve.

“If PAS or any party is seen as strong enough to bring a no-confidence motion, then the whisper that the Menteri Besar fears losing his grip will inevitably grow louder,” he told Bernama.

This sitting was supposed to be a milestone: the first DUN session under the leadership of Abu Bakar Hamzah, after the state Bersatu chief was sworn in as Perlis Menteri Besar on Dec 28 last year, a new chapter for a state watching anxiously.


Abu Bakar, who also serves as deputy chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN) Perlis, rose to power following the resignation of PAS’s Mohd Shukri Ramli, who stepped down as Menteri Besar citing health reasons. Now, the shadow of uncertainty hangs over his fledgling leadership.

Political uncertainty in Perlis reached its breaking point last December, as whispers swelled into open speculation: eight assemblymen had reportedly withdrawn their support for Mohd Shukri.


Among them was Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar, alongside three PAS representatives, Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji).

In the aftermath, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang moved swiftly. On Dec 24, he announced that the three PAS assemblymen had lost their party membership and with it, their positions as elected representatives. The message was clear: loyalty had its price.

Now, with the sudden postponement of the DUN sitting, the spectre of that crisis has returned. Sivamurugan said Abu Bakar must come forward quickly with an official and transparent explanation, not just to silence the speculation flooding social media since the April 17 notice, but to reclaim a narrative slipping from his grasp.

He said the Menteri Besar must also secure the state government’s majority, hold it close, and set a new date for the sitting as soon as possible. Only then, he said, can public confidence begin to heal.

Echoing that concern, a political analyst from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, offered a starker verdict. Postponing a scheduled DUN sitting without an urgent reason, he said, does not suggest strategy. It suggests something far more fragile: a shaky leadership.

“There should be no postponement of a scheduled DUN sitting unless there is an extraordinarily compelling reason. When it is delayed, the people grow anxious; how long will this drag on? And why, really, is it happening?

“I urge the state government to come clean about what is unfolding so this matter can be laid to rest. Otherwise, the public will see this for what it appears to be: the same unresolved conflict that has haunted Perlis since last December,” he said.

Mohd Azizuddin, who also serves as UUM’s deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International), offered a sharper reading. The postponement, he suggested, may be a bid for time, a chance for the Menteri Besar to continue negotiating with the PAS assemblymen, desperately trying to keep the state government from falling over the edge.

“If the state government collapses, the fracture between Bersatu and PAS will only deepen, out in the open for all to see. The crisis would drag on, and PN would emerge even weaker, perhaps irreparably so,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Perlis DUN speaker Rus’sele Eizan injected a quiet but firm reminder: the sitting must be convened no later than June 11. Otherwise, the assembly will dissolve itself, no drama, no negotiation, just the cold, mechanical consequence of a clock running out.

In the 15th General Election, PN captured 14 state seats: nine for PAS and five for Bersatu. Pakatan Harapan (PH), meanwhile, managed just one through PKR in the Indera Kayangan constituency.

But that was then. Today, the numbers tell a quieter, more fragile story. PAS now holds only six seats, with three of its assemblymen having been stripped of party membership after they withdrew support from Mohd Shukri last December.

So here is the current power equation in Perlis: PN sits on 11 seats, six from PAS, five from Bersatu, while PH holds one.

The majority is slim, the trust between allies thinner, and what comes next depends on a state government holding its breath. — Bernama

Turkey says Iran gas deal near expiry, no extension talks yet

FMT:

Turkey says Iran gas deal near expiry, no extension talks yet

The agreement, due to expire in July, provides for delivery of 9.6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short

File image of an Iranian gas pipeline under construction, with Turkey reliant on its flow to secure its energy supply. (EPA Images pic)

ANTALYA: Turkey’s long-term contract for importing natural gas from Iran is due to expire in the coming months, and the two countries could hold talks on a possible extension, though no negotiations are under way yet, Turkey’s energy minister said on Saturday.

The agreement, due to expire in July, provides for delivery of 9.6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short.

Turkey imported 7.6 bcm from Iran last year, accounting for 13% of total gas imports. Regulator data show the pipeline last hit the contracted volume in 2022.


“According to our forecast, we might need this gas pipeline or the gas flow from Iran for the security of supply of Turkey. There is no negotiation right now ongoing. I think they are busy with so many other things. But we might sit and discuss a potential extension,” Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in the southern Turkish province of Antalya.

“But we haven’t started a negotiation during the current circumstances in the region,” Bayraktar said, referring to the Iran war.

Bayraktar also said Turkey was seeking to diversify natural gas supplies, including through Russian liquefied natural gas.

Local media reported this month that Ankara had issued a long-term licence for LNG imports from Russia to pipeline operator BOTAS. Regulator records show BOTAS was issued a 10-year import licence, so far granted only for countries with which Turkey has long-term LNG supply contracts, including Algeria and Oman.

Asked about LNG imports, Bayraktar said Turkey had not started importing LNG from Russia.

Turkey imports Russian gas via BlueStream and TurkStream pipelines, which together account for about 35% of its overall gas mix.

Emergency meeting called after KLIA baggage system breaks down

FMT:

Emergency meeting called after KLIA baggage system breaks down

Transport minister orders review of SOPs after disruption at Terminal 1 caused delays of between two and four hours on Saturday evening

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said passengers arriving at KLIA deserve a standard of service reliability that Saturday’s incident ‘clearly failed to meet’. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The transport ministry has called for an emergency meeting after a breakdown in the baggage handling system at KLIA Terminal 1 yesterday evening resulted in delays of up to four hours for arriving passengers.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he has instructed the ministry’s secretary-general to convene the meeting on Monday with the relevant agencies.

“The meeting will undertake a thorough review of the existing SOPs governing breakdown management at our airports, with a specific focus on response time, passenger communication, and contingency protocols,” he said in a statement.


Loke said although the baggage handling system was restored the same evening, “a technical fix does not close the matter and the incident points to something that must be addressed at a deeper level”.

“Passengers who travel through our national gateway deserve a standard of service reliability that this incident has clearly failed to meet,” he said.

He also said the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has been directed to launch an investigation into the matter and examine whether punitive action is warranted against Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for this failure in service delivery.

“A national gateway cannot afford repeated lapses of this nature. MAHB, as the operator of KLIA, will be held accountable for this breakdown.

“We cannot realise our aspiration of being among the world’s best airports without first inculcating a genuine culture of accountability and responsibility across the organisation,” he said.

In a separate statement, CAAM said it exercised strict oversight of the baggage handling system recovery process, and would continue to engage with MAHB and the airlines to ensure full operational stabilisation and compliance with safety and service standards.

“MAHB is obligated to comply with the established Quality of Service standards, including timely and efficient baggage handling. In line with this, CAAM is enforcing compliance with these requirements and will take appropriate regulatory and enforcement actions in the event of any non-compliance,” it said.

It said MAHB is also required to implement corrective and preventive measures to avoid recurrence of the incident.

UNICEF ‘outraged’ after Israeli forces kill water truck drivers in Gaza

UNICEF ‘outraged’ after Israeli forces kill water truck drivers in Gaza


UN Children’s Fund calls on Israeli authorities to investigate and ‘ensure full accountability’

UNICEF has suspended its activities at the Mansoura water filling point after two of its drivers were killed by Israeli forces [File: Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]

By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters
Published On 18 Apr 2026


The United Nations Children’s Fund says it is “outraged” after Israel killed two drivers it had contracted to deliver clean water to families in Gaza.

UNICEF said in a ⁠statement the incident occurred during routine water trucking on Friday morning at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza, which supplies Gaza City. Two other people ‌were wounded in the attack.

The agency said it had suspended activities at the site and called on Israeli authorities to investigate and “ensure full accountability”.

“Humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure, including critical water facilities, must never be targeted,” it said.

It said that “the protection of civilians and those delivering life-saving assistance is an obligation under international humanitarian law”.

More than 750 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the US- and Qatar-brokered “ceasefire” in Gaza took effect last October, according to Palestinian health authorities.

More than 72,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.



West Bank settler violence and land seizures: Even driving becomes dangerous for Palestinians


Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian man was shot and killed by Israeli forces in Khirbet Salama, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Muhammad Ahmad Suwaiti, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene, WAFA said.

Israel’s military said a person carrying a knife in the illegal settlement of Negohot was killed. It did not say who was responsible.

Using the biblical term for the West Bank, the Israeli military said in a statement that “a terrorist who infiltrated the community of Negohot in Judea and Samaria was identified and eliminated in a rapid response”.

Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 1,060 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

***

Shailoks don't give a hoot to any UN outrage so long as tHE WANKEES BACK THEM

Prescribing growth: Private hospitals drive Malaysia’s RM7b medical tourism ambition

Prescribing growth: Private hospitals drive Malaysia’s RM7b medical tourism ambition



In 2022, it was reported that private healthcare generated RM6 billion in direct revenue and an additional RM12 billion in indirect contributions to Malaysia’s GDP. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

Sunday, 19 Apr 2026 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — Malaysia’s private healthcare sector has evolved into a global medical tourism powerhouse, attracting 1.84 million international patients and generating RM3.34 billion in revenue in 2025 alone.

Driven by a rare combination of world-class clinical standards and unmatched cost-competitiveness, the industry has shifted from a niche market into a critical pillar of the nation’s economic and reputational landscape.

According to Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, President of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM), approximately 80 of the nation’s 212 private hospitals are now actively engaged in medical tourism, offering services specifically tailored to an international clientele.

Many of these facilities have earned accreditations from the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI), ensuring that the quality of care meets rigorous global standards.


Affordability only half the story


While quality is a prerequisite, affordability remains Malaysia’s “X-factor.”

“Malaysia’s position as a leading medical tourism destination is driven by the strong cost-competitiveness of our private healthcare sector,” Dr Kuljit noted.


“Treatments here are significantly more affordable compared to the US, Europe, and even some regional competitors.”

Data from the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) underscores this value proposition.

In 2025, the average expenditure for a healthcare traveller was approximately RM1,800. A closer look at the costs reveals a tiered structure: inpatient care averages RM12,321, while daycare services and outpatient visits hover around RM3,475 and RM1,381, respectively.

It is also the humble health screening that acts as the primary “hook” for new patients. Priced at an average of RM1,075, these screenings serve as a seamless introduction to Malaysia’s medical infrastructure.

“Health screenings represent the primary driver of patient acquisition,” Aida Zurina, MHTC Vice President of Data Analytics and Strategy, told Malay Mail.

“They effectively convert first-time visitors into long-term patients by showcasing our high-quality medical infrastructure.”

Currently, 80 per cent of Malaysia’s medical tourists arrive from Indonesia, China, India, Singapore, and the UK.


Multi-billion ringgit economic engine

The financial footprint of the sector is immense. In 2022, the industry generated RM6 billion in direct revenue, contributing an additional RM12 billion indirectly to the national GDP. By 2025, private hospitals accounted for a staggering 95 per cent of all healthcare travel revenue.

The growth trajectory is even more impressive when viewed over the long term.

Revenue has surged from a modest RM530 million in 2011, when the country welcomed 643,000 visitors, to RM3.34 billion in 2025, supported by 1.84 million medical tourists.

The benefits extend far beyond the hospital walls. Medical tourists rarely travel alone, and their companions contribute significantly to the retail and hospitality sectors. In 2024, the average non-medical expenditure per visitor was RM2,680.

Dr Kuljit pointed out that this creates a powerful multiplier effect: “Every RM1 spent by a healthcare tourist can generate up to four times that amount in additional economic activity.”


Reducing ‘brain drain’

The market’s strength is reflected in the massive valuations of its key players.

IHH Healthcare leads with a projected market capitalisation of RM79.4 billion, followed by Sunway Healthcare at RM21 billion and KPJ Healthcare at RM15.6 billion.

With revenue projected to hit RM7 billion by 2030, the sector is also a vital tool for talent retention.

“It creates high-value jobs for specialists, nurses, and allied health professionals,” Dr Kuljit explained.

“This encourages innovation and helps reduce ‘brain drain’ by retaining our most skilled specialists within the country.”

The revenue from international patients also allows private hospitals to reinvest in cutting-edge technology.

This “trickle-down” effect benefits local Malaysians by reducing wait times and providing access to world-class specialised care at home.

As the country moves through the “Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026,” the government is doubling down on promotional frameworks to maintain an edge in a crowded regional market.

Demand remains high for cardiology, oncology, and orthopaedics: disciplines that are increasingly sought after due to the rise of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases.

Aida noted that the needs of travellers vary by origin: “Indonesian travellers seek almost every discipline we offer, while those from high-income countries often come for elective procedures with long waiting lists at home, or high-value out-of-pocket treatments.”

A fragile calm in Iran masks deeper fears about the future

A fragile calm in Iran masks deeper fears about the future



People walk near an anti-US billboard on a building in Tehran April 16, 2026, as daily life resumes after weeks of conflict, even as economic strain and uncertainty linger. — Reuters pic

Sunday, 19 Apr 2026 7:00 AM MYT


DUBAI, April 19 — Iranians striving to maintain a semblance of normal life after weeks of US and Israeli bombing and a deadly crackdown on protesters in January remain daunted by the future, as damage from airstrikes and internet cuts take a toll.


With talks expected on extending a truce and agreeing an end to the conflict, shops, restaurants and government offices have stayed open. On sunny spring mornings, city parks are busy with picnicking families and young people playing sports, while others gather at streetside cafes.


But behind such peaceful scenes, Iran’s economy is in tatters and people are fearful of a new government clampdown and angry about the destructive airstrikes.

The difficulties that spurred mass unrest in January look likely to worsen.


Iran’s foreign minister on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz was open following a ceasefire accord for Lebanon, while US President Donald Trump said he believed a deal to end the Iran war would come soon.


Fear of increased pressure as theocracy endures

“The war will end, but that’s when our real problems with the system begin. I’m very afraid that if the regime reaches an agreement with the United States, it will increase pressure on ordinary people,” a 37-year-old named Fariba who took part in the January unrest told Reuters by phone from Iran.


“People have not forgotten the regime’s crimes in January, and the system has not forgotten that people do not want it. They are holding back now because they don’t want to fight on a domestic front as well,” she said.

The bombing has killed thousands, according to official death tolls, including many at a school on the first day of the conflict.

It has also destroyed infrastructure across the country, raising the prospect of mass job layoffs.

Iran’s revolutionary theocracy looks as entrenched as ever after surviving weeks of intense bombardment and asserting control over global oil supplies.

“Iranians understood that this war is not going to topple the regime, but at the same time, it’s going to make their lives much worse economically,” said Omid Memarian, Iran analyst at independent US-based think tank Dawn.

“The military is not going to put down their guns. They are going to stay and it’s going to be bloody. It’s going to be costly with no prospect for a better future,” he added.

In well-heeled north Tehran this week, Reuters interviewed young Iranians on camera about the war and their concerns. Foreign media in Iran operate under guidelines set by the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry, which regulates press activity and permissions.

Mehtab, who works at a private company and asked not to use her family name, said things could be worse for Iranians given the impact of war and years of sanctions and isolation.

“I do not want to say that it is normal but as an Iranian with such a history, it is not very bad. We can live with it,” she said.

That view was not shared by Iranians Reuters reached by phone, who voiced far greater anxiety while speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals.

“Yes, people are enjoying the ceasefire for now — but what comes next? What are we supposed to do with a regime that has become even more powerful?” said Sara, 27, a private teacher, who declined to give her family name or location.


Iranians left with few options

Thousands were killed when the authorities crushed weeks of protests in January, prompting US President Donald Trump to say he would come to the aid of Iranians.

But while Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both said early in the war that they hoped it would topple the ruling clerics, that goal faded as the bombing went on.

Anger over the crackdown meant many Iranians wanted new rulers, but soon soured on the war, Memarian said.

“I think it became more clear for many Iranians that this war is not designed, or is not aimed, at helping the Iranian people,” he said.

Neither Mehtab nor other women sitting at a cafe in north Tehran were wearing the hijab, a head covering that was mandatory for decades in Iran. Looser, public dress codes are the result of mass protests in 2022, including over women’s rights, which the authorities violently suppressed while tacitly backing off from enforcement of some dress rules.

Independent UK-based Iranian political analyst Hossein Rassam said it became clear in January that authorities would not back down again easily, and later that they would not crumble under military attack.

The war had left Iranians even more polarised than before, but with few options. “This is a moment of reckoning for Iranians because at the end of the day Iranians, especially Iranians inside the country, realise that they need to live together. There is nowhere to go,” he said.


‘Fire under the ashes’

Many fear repression could now worsen. “On the streets, women are going around without the hijab, but it’s unclear whether these kind of freedoms will continue after a deal with the United States. Pressure will 100 per cent increase, because once there is peace with Washington, the regime will no longer face the same external pressure,” Arjang, a 43-year-old father of two, told Reuters by phone from north Tehran.

The January protests brought no tangible change to people’s lives, while leading the authorities to severely restrict internet use — a blow to both businesses and ordinary people desperate for information during war.

“Even the smallest things like connecting with our family members who live outside the country is impossible,” said Faezeh, 47, as she played volleyball with friends in a north Tehran park.

Popular frustration may start to mount after the war ends and people are less afraid of being labelled as traitors, said Memarian. “There is a lot of fire under the ashes,” he said. — Reuters

Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz, UK agency says

Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz, UK agency says



Authorities are investigating after Iranian gunboats reportedly opened fire on a tanker near Oman in the Strait of Hormuz. — AFP file pic

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 8:09 PM MYT


LONDON, April 18 — Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz today, a British maritime security agency reported, after Iran’s military reversed a pledge to open the route to shipping.


The tanker’s captain reported being approached 37 kilometres northeast of Oman by two gunboats of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC). Without any radio warning, the gunboats “then fired upon the tanker”, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said in an online statement.


“Tanker and crew are reported safe. Authorities are investigating.” — AFP

Trump claims on Iranian concessions trigger questions, rejections in Tehran

Trump claims on Iranian concessions trigger questions, rejections in Tehran

The political drama culminates with the IRGC announcing that the Strait of Hormuz is once again restricted

A gardener waters plants in front of portraits of children killed in a strike on a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, at Tajrish Square in Tehran, April 16, 2026 [AFP]

By Maziar Motamedi
Published On 18 Apr 2026


Tehran, Iran – United States President Donald Trump’s announcements about securing major concessions from Tehran have riled supporters of the Iranian establishment, prompting rejections and clarifications from the authorities.

Several current and former senior officials, state media and the Islamic Republic’s hardcore backers expressed anger, frustration, and confusion after the US leader made a series of claims, with days left on a two-week ceasefire reached on April 8.

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Trump on Friday said Iran and the US would jointly dig up the enriched uranium buried under the rubble of bombed Iranian nuclear sites, and transfer it to the US. He claimed Iran had agreed to stop enriching uranium on its soil.

He also said the Strait of Hormuz had been opened and would never be closed again, while the US naval blockade of Iran’s ports remained in place, and sea mines were removed or were in the process of being removed.

Trump also emphasised that Iran would not receive billions of dollars of its own frozen assets abroad due to US sanctions, and that the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was completely unrelated to Iran.

Amid Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to mediate another round of negotiations, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation to the Islamabad talks earlier this month, rejected all of Trump’s claims.

“With these lies, they did not win the war, and they certainly will not get anywhere in negotiations either,” he posted on X early on Saturday.

By Saturday noon, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement, saying the Strait of Hormuz is once again heavily restricted and under “strict management” of the armed forces. It cited continued “acts of piracy and maritime theft under the so-called label of a blockade” by Washington as the reason.



Gunfire reported by vessel in Strait of Hormuz



Iran's supreme leader warns of 'new bitter defeats' for US and Israel



Iran’s deputy FM says no date for more US talks until ‘framework’ agreed


‘Haze of confusion’

In the hours it took between Trump’s flurry of announcements on Friday and official responses from Iranian authorities, supporters of the establishment voiced serious concerns about any major concessions.

“Is there no Muslim out there to talk to the people a bit about what is happening?!” Ezzatollah Zarghami, a former state television chief and current member of the Supreme Cyberspace Council that controls the heavily restricted internet in Iran, wrote on X.

Alireza Zakani, the hardline mayor of Tehran, said if any of Trump’s claims are true, then the Iranian establishment must beware “not to gift the vile enemy in negotiations what it failed to achieve in the field”.

A fan account on X for Saeed Jalili, an ultrahardline member of the Supreme National Security Council who has opposed any deals with the US for decades, said “dissent” may be at play. It said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen or heard from outside of several written statements attributed to him, must release a voice or video message to confirm what is happening.

Jalili’s main account distanced itself from the comment, saying the fan account – which was subsequently deleted – was a sign of “infiltration” by enemies of Iran who were trying to sow discord.

Iranian state media released another written statement attributed to Khamenei on Saturday to mark Army Day, but made no mention of the political drama unfolding hours earlier, or the negotiations with the US.



Hormuz: Spin in the Strait


The dissonance was clearly on display on state television and other state-linked media on Friday, especially those affiliated with the IRGC.

Multiple state television hosts and analysts harshly attacked Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi because he tweeted on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was “declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation”.

One of the hosts demanded Araghchi must immediately clarify. Another said the top diplomat’s tweet was in English, and since the Iranian people do not have access to X due to the state-imposed near-total internet shutdown for seven weeks, the message was not directed at the people.

With a huge Hezbollah flag in the background, a furious presenter on state television’s Channel 3 claimed that Araghchi was somehow “the representative of the people of Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq” because they are a part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” of armed forces, so he should demand concessions on their behalf from Trump.

Morteza Mahmoudvand, a representative for Tehran in the Iranian parliament, went as far as saying Araghchi would have been impeached had it not been for “the excuse of war”.

The Fars and Tasnim news sites, which are affiliated with the IRGC, also heavily criticised Araghchi and called for further explanations on Friday evening, with Fars arguing that “Iranian society was plunged into a haze of confusion.”

Armed supporters in the streets

Critical comments from supporters of the Iranian government also flooded social media, including local messaging applications and the comments section of state-run sites.

“We took to the streets every night with clear demands, but you shook hands with the killer of our supreme leader and handed our strait to the Zionists,” one user wrote on Friday in the local app Baleh, in reference to Israel.

“After all these years of sanctions and war and costs imposed on the people, if you are to give up the uranium and the strait, then why did you play with the people’s livelihoods and the blood of the martyrs for so long?” another user wrote.

A large number of analysts and media personalities, including Hossein Shariatmadar, the head of the Kayhan newspaper, who was appointed by late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also voiced criticism and demanded answers on Fars and other outlets.

Regardless of whether there will be more mediated negotiations in Pakistan or whether the war will continue, Iran continues to encourage and arm backers to take to the streets to maintain control.

State media on Friday aired footage of more armed convoys moving through the streets of Tehran while waving the flags of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi and other groups. The video below shows women and children crewing heavy machineguns mounted on the back of pick-up trucks during a rally in downtown Tehran.

With no end in sight to the state-imposed internet shutdown that has wiped out millions of jobs in Iran, in addition to steel factories and other infrastructure that were destroyed, the Iranian economy continues to suffer.

The timing of the back-and-forth between Trump and the Iranian officials meant that oil prices dropped before Western markets closed on Friday, and the Iranian currency experienced more volatility.

The rial was priced at about 1.46 million against the US dollar on Saturday morning, the first day of the working week in Iran. But it shot back up to about 1.51 million after the IRGC announced the repeated closure of the Strait of Hormuz.