Putin slams West’s ‘war hysteria’ as EU mulls Russian assets for Ukraine

al Jazeera:

Putin slams West’s ‘war hysteria’ as EU mulls Russian assets for Ukraine

Not all EU members are in favour of freezing Russian assets due to concerns over legal basis and reprisal from Moscow

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov attend an expanded meeting of the Russian Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow on December 17, 2025 [AFP]

By Al Jazeera Staff and News Agencies
Published On 17 Dec 2025


Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will achieve its objectives and rejected war with the West as the European Union considers seizing Russian monies to fund Ukraine, as the war is now in its fourth punishing winter.

During a high-level meeting on Wednesday with Ministry of Defence officials, Putin was quoted by state media as describing calls in the West to prepare for war with Russia as “hysteria and a lie”.


However, he emphasised that the Kremlin’s war goals will “undoubtedly” be achieved, adding that 300 territories were “liberated” over the past year.

The Russian president repeated Moscow prefers to deal with what it calls the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy, but remains prepared to “achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means” if the West refuses substantial talks.

The comments come a day before European Union leaders are to gather for a summit to see if they can agree on using some of the 210 billion euros ($246bn) in assets of the Russian central bank in Europe to advance Ukraine’s economic and military needs.

“One thing is very, very clear,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told EU lawmakers on Wednesday. “We have to take the decision to fund Ukraine for the next two years in this European Council.”

European Council President António Costa, who will chair the summit, has pledged to keep the leaders negotiating until an agreement is reached, even if it takes days.



Ukraine peace talks intensify as EU debates use of frozen Russian assets


EU officials want to use the frozen assets to underwrite a 90 billion euros ($105bn) “reparations loan” to Ukraine.

But amid concerns that the idea is on legally shaky ground and could lead to investors losing their trust in European markets, Belgium, Italy and several other members of the 27-nation bloc have expressed rejection or serious reservations.

Speaking in the Italian parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said negotiations in Berlin were “constructive” and accused Russia of making “unreasonable” demands to keep hold of Ukrainian territory as part of a potential agreement.

But she admitted that finding a legal way to use frozen Russian assets to help finance Ukraine remained “far from easy”, and said Rome would require a strong legal basis for all proposed actions.

In the meantime, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the House of Commons on Wednesday that his government will formally issue instructions to transfer 2.5 billion pounds ($3.3bn) from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea FC to humanitarian causes in Ukraine.

The Russian billionaire, who sold the club in 2022 under pressure from the British government after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, must “pay up”, Starmer said.

Battlefield state of play

Ukraine claimed on Wednesday it had taken 90 percent of the town of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, which Moscow said it had captured in November.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov later told a televised meeting of top defence officials that Ukrainian forces were trying unsuccessfully to take control of Kupiansk.

Of the regions of Ukraine that Russia has claimed as its own territory, it currently controls all of Crimea, around 90 percent of the eastern Donbas region, which comprises Donetsk and Luhansk, and 75 percent of Kherson and Zaporizhia. Russia also holds some territory in the adjoining regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv.

Russia and Ukraine have escalated targeting of each other’s energy sites and oil refineries in recent weeks.

Cambodia, Thailand agree to attend Asean Foreign Ministers meet in KL, says PM

The Star:


Cambodia, Thailand agree to attend Asean Foreign Ministers meet in KL, says PM

By TARRENCE TAN

Wednesday, 17 Dec 2025, 10:00 PM MYT





PUTRAJAYA: Cambodia and Thailand have both agreed to attend the Asean Foreign Ministers special meeting on Dec 22 in Kuala Lumpur to kickstart talks to prevent further escalation along the disputed border, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said the special Asean Foreign Ministers meeting was initially scheduled on Dec 16 (Tuesday) but was later postponed, as his counterparts had expressed concerns that the meeting would have taken place too soon.


“Most prime ministers alerted me, saying that probably it is too soon to hold a meeting before tensions can ease.

“So, they proposed for it to be on Dec 22 in KL. My understanding is that the foreign ministers will come and deliberate on this,” said Anwar during a briefing with editors-in-chief at Seri Perdana on Wednesday (Dec 17).


Anwar said the aim of the meeting is to convince Thailand and Cambodia to stop escalating tensions along the disputed borders.

“We are appealing to them to immediately stop this frontline offensive and if possible, an immediate ceasefire.

“They don’t like the term ceasefire because it will connote their agreement. So, if you look at my statement, I urge the parties to observe this truce,” he said.

Anwar also said Malaysia is not in the position to give instructions to foreign ministers of Asean, but noted that Putrajaya is communicating with them on a daily basis.

Anwar also said the decision to convene the meeting came following talks with United States President Donald Trump.

“Trump called and updated me. I told President Trump that it is important to convince them to stop the offensive,” added Anwar.

Anwar said Thailand and Cambodia agreed to the Asean Observers Team (AOT), adding that Malaysia’s Chief of Defence Force would be leaving for the border in the coming days to continue engagement at the military level.

“I am cautiously optimistic because when I spoke to both Prime Ministers, both are keen to achieve an amicable resolution as soon as possible.

“So, hopefully, by Dec 22, we can seal this understanding,” said Anwar.

Both Cambodia and Thailand are currently engaged in renewed border skirmishes despite having signed the KL Peace Accord in October.

The Peace Accord was suspended by Thailand in November after its soldiers were wounded by landmines at the border.

VOLKSWAGEN CLOSES FACTORY: FIRST TIME IN 88 YEARS. RISE OF CHINA, SUCCESS OF BRITISH SCHEMING AND GERMAN BUNGLING

 

OutSyed The Box

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

VOLKSWAGEN CLOSES FACTORY: FIRST TIME IN 88 YEARS. RISE OF CHINA, SUCCESS OF BRITISH SCHEMING AND GERMAN BUNGLING

 

For the first time in 88 years Volkswagen of Germany has shut down a major manufacturing plant in Dresden, Germany. Here is the news:  

This article is another cover up. One of the main reasons industries are shutting down all over Germany is because the stupid German politicians have decided to take sides in the really stupid war in Ukraine which was cleverly planned and executed by the British. 

Readers of this blog will recall that when the war in Ukraine began FOUR YEARS ago I said in this blog, and I have said many times since then, that this was a British war against Germany and Russia. The primary target was Germany.

Under Angela Merkel, Germany had become the undeniable economic giant in Western Europe.  And Germany committed a cardinal sin - they moved closer to the Russian orbit. Through the Nordstream pipelines German industry was directly hooked into cheap Russian gas. The economic union between German industry and cheap Russian energy was making Germany and Russia incredibly wealthy. And wealth created economic muscle, might and political influence in Europe.

And with the creation of BRICS etc there was the threat that the Russia-German trade could be done outside the US Dollar or Euro and outside the Western banking systems. 

So just one war neutralised both Russia and Germany. The Ukraine War has almost completely cut off Russian gas from Germany. The British bombed that Nordstream pipeline. Seymour Hersh fingered the Americans, Danes, Dutch, Norwegians etc. Dont forget the Brits.  

Not only Volkswagen but without Russian gas entire German industries are shutting down. Germany is in trouble.  Germany could use an Albert Speer (click here). Failing that they should vote for the AfD (Alternatif fur Deutschland).

However there is another greater danger. All over the world, Chinese cars are now outselling German cars. Especially Chinese EVs which are shutting out German EVs even inside Germany. The Chinese are making a better quality car at a much lower price. The top quality label 'Made in Germany' cannot compete with 'Made in China' now.  You do not laugh at Made in China anymore. 

Let us compete in doing righteous works. May the best man win.

After Fujian’s EMALS Milestone, Satellite Images Show China’s 1st Nuclear Carrier Emerging at Dalian

Wednesday, December 17, 2025


After Fujian’s EMALS Milestone, Satellite Images Show China’s 1st Nuclear Carrier Emerging at Dalian

By Sakshi Tiwari
-December 17, 2025


After inducting the Type-003 Fujian aircraft carrier with the revolutionary EMALS (Electromagnetic Launch System), China appears to be steadily advancing work on its nuclear-powered Type 004 aircraft carrier.

The National Institute for Basic Policy Research (NIPPR), a Japanese think tank, recently analysed satellite imagery of the Dalian Shipyard in Liaoning Province, where the construction of the Type 004, believed to be China’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is purportedly taking place. The findings of the think tank analysis were published by the Japanese publication, Sankei Shimbun.

The analysis of satellite imagery revealed structural characteristics consistent with reactor containment vessels. A NIPPR report compared these features to those observed at US shipyards, such as Newport News Shipbuilding, which builds nuclear carriers, noting similarities that suggest nuclear propulsion.

The report emphasised that such structures were absent during the construction of the other three conventionally-powered Chinese carriers, including the Liaoning, the Shandong, and the newly-commissioned Fujian.

“The size and shape of the frames confirmed in the Dalian shipyard images closely resemble those seen on nuclear-powered aircraft carriers under construction in the United States and are believed to be frames for reactor containment vessels,” said Maki Nakagawa, a researcher at NIPPR, suggesting that the resemblance is striking. “The Chinese military could possess an aircraft carrier with capabilities comparable to U.S. carriers by the early 2030s.”

Separately, images posted by military watchers also purportedly highlighted the progress in the construction of a mammoth ship. A pixelated image of the Dalian Shipyard, where China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, was assembled, showed what appeared to be a very large naval hull linked to China’s fourth aircraft carrier.


In fact, satellite images and photos of the shipyard published in the past year have repeatedly pointed towards the development of a nuclear-powered carrier.

In March this year, satellite images appeared showing work on China’s fourth aircraft carrier at the Dalian shipyard. At the time, the images suggested that the aircraft carrier under construction at the Dalian shipyard would allow fighter jets to be launched from four parts of the flight deck.



The hull section was first spotted in satellite images from September 2025, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in October 2025.

More progress was recorded in November 2025, when satellite images showed a reactor containment structure, which was believed to indicate its propulsion system.

“Broadly similar appearance to USN CVN reactor shielding configurations within their hulls. Physics works the same and all that,” said Rick Joe, a popular PLA analyst, along with photos of the shipyard that first appeared on the Chinese Internet.


Earlier, the Japanese Defense Ministry claimed that “there are indications that a plan to construct a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier exists.” Meanwhile, the US Pentagon has hinted at Chinese plans to develop a next-generation carrier.

It must be noted that although evidence for nuclear propulsion is “strong” and “compelling,” it’s not officially confirmed by China, which typically maintains secrecy on military projects.

The Japanese think tank report further claims that the Chinese naval base in Qingdao, Shandong Province, which presently hosts the Liaoning aircraft carrier, is expanding its infrastructure.


The analysis states that the naval facility is undergoing construction, including the expansion of piers and the development of demagnetization facilities to reduce a ship’s magnetic signature. Additionally, a new naval airstrip has been built nearby, complete with hangars for fighter aircraft and carrier landing training facilities.


The report states that these developments are likely preparations for the deployment of a fourth aircraft carrier.

It is pertinent to note that Chinese carrier operations through the East China Sea could expand from the so-called first island chain (stretching from Japanese Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, the Philippines, and reaching Borneo) to the second island chain (stretches through the Mariana Islands, Palau, and Guam) in the western Pacific if Qingdao becomes its home port—posing a direct security threat to the United States.
China’s Navy Challenges The US?

Aircraft carriers are symbols of a country’s military might and its capability to project power far beyond its borders.

China acquired its first carrier from Ukraine, which was followed by the development of its second carrier, Shandong. Once it had achieved local development of the mammoth ship, it took a massive leap.

It constructed the Fujian, the world’s second aircraft carrier to feature the highly complex electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), second only to the US Gerald Ford-class ships. The revolutionary EMALS technology enables the PLAN to launch heavier, larger fixed-wing aircraft, with more fuel and weapons loads.

However, to challenge the US for global dominance, it is now developing the Type 004 nuclear-powered carrier.

Once inducted, the Type 004 will catapult China into the elite club of countries that operate nuclear-powered flattops, with France and the US the only other states to possess the capability.

But more importantly, it will help the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) significantly reduce the technological gap with its primary rival, the US Navy.

Notably, nuclear propulsion will provide Chinese carriers with an unlimited range while assisting in meeting the power generation needs of mission systems and ever-improving sensors.

The compact, energy-dense design of a nuclear propulsion plant eliminates the need for massive fuel tanks required in conventional systems, while also freeing up space otherwise dedicated to combustion air intakes and exhaust uptake trunks. This reallocated volume significantly expands storage for critical combat consumables—such as aviation fuel, munitions, and provisions—enhancing the carrier’s operational endurance and dramatically reducing reliance on frequent underway replenishment.

Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs) can transit to the scene at sustained high speed (without the logistics support that would be needed for a fossil-fueled aircraft carrier) and arrive fully ready to launch the formidable firepower of the air wing. This is a significant improvement over conventional carriers that typically refuel every few days at high speed or every 2–3 weeks at cruising speed, forcing frequent logistics stops or underway replenishment.

Interestingly, the structure seen in satellite images is broadly similar to that found on US nuclear-powered super carriers. The design, too, bears an uncanny resemblance to the USS Gerald R. Ford.

It has been touted as a next-generation vessel that will allow fighter jets to be launched from four points of the flight deck. The US Navy’s 11 supercarriers can launch aircraft from four places. So far, the three Chinese aircraft carriers can launch jets only from three parts – the front, center, and deck.

Like the Fujian, the Type 004 will potentially be equipped with an advanced EMALS.

The Type 004’s air wing would probably feature the J-35 stealth fighter in addition to the previously mentioned KJ-600. It will be bolstered by advances in the J-15 multirole fighter, such as an electronic warfare variant. Along with helicopters, the carrier is also expected to launch a variety of drones, including navalized GJ-11 uncrewed combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).

The PLA Navy is already the world’s largest navy, with more than 370 ships and submarines. The country also boasts powerful shipbuilding capabilities: China’s shipyards build hundreds of vessels each year, whereas the US builds five or fewer, according to a 2023 US congressional report.

The addition of a fourth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier would place China far ahead of all its regional rivals and better equip it to take on the United States.

Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari13 (at) outlook.com

What PM Anwar must do to prevent Sabah and Sarawak from leaving Malaysia? - Koon Yew Yin

Koon Yew Yin's Blog

What PM Anwar must do to prevent Sabah and Sarawak from leaving Malaysia? - Koon Yew Yin

Koon Yew Yin
Publish date: Mon, 15 Dec 2025, 05:28 PM



Malaysia is the world’s second largest palm oil producer after Indonesia, with output exceeding 19.5 million tonnes in 2025. East Malaysia’s role: With nearly half of production, Sabah and Sarawak are critical to Malaysia’s export earnings and sustainability commitments.

Malaysia is one of the largest petroleum oil producers in the world.

Sabah and Sarawak together now produce about 65–70% of Malaysia’s petroleum oil and gas output, as Peninsular Malaysia’s reserves have declined sharply over the past decade.

Breakdown of Malaysia’s Petroleum Production

Peninsular Malaysia:

Once produced ~700,000 barrels/day.

Output has fallen by 50% to ~350,000 barrels/day due to declining reserves.

Sabah & Sarawak:

Offshore fields in Sarawak (Bintulu, Miri) and Sabah (Kota Kinabalu basin) now dominate production.

Combined, they contribute two‑thirds of Malaysia’s total petroleum output.

Most new discoveries and exploration success are concentrated in East Malaysia.

Why East Malaysia Dominates

Resource-rich basins: The largest reserves are offshore in the South China Sea near Sabah and Sarawak.

Decline in Peninsular fields: Aging reservoirs and fewer new finds have shifted production eastward.

Strategic role: East Malaysia’s oil and gas underpin Malaysia’s export earnings and energy security.

Strategic Implications: Federal revenue dependence: Malaysia’s petroleum income (RM775 billion between 2018–2024) relies heavily on East Malaysia’s output.

Bottom Line: Sabah and Sarawak now supply nearly 70% of Malaysia’s petroleum oil, making them the backbone of the country’s energy sector and strengthening their bargaining power in federal–state negotiations.

Sabah and Sarawak grievances:

Despite producing most of the palm oil and petroleum oil, Sabah and Sarawak only receive 5% royalty, fuelling demands for higher revenue sharing under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

What is the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)?

The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is the treaty that created Malaysia. Signed on 9 July 1963 in London, it brought together the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore into a new nation called Malaysia, effective 16 September 1963.

Key Facts about MA63: Parties involved: United Kingdom, Federation of Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore.

Purpose: To legally establish Malaysia as a federation, replacing colonial rule in Borneo territories.

Legal status: Registered with the United Nations on 21 September 1970 as Treaty No. 10760.

Languages: English and Malay were the authentic texts.


Autonomy guarantees: Sabah and Sarawak were promised special rights, including control over immigration, religion, language, and local governance.

Revenue sharing: The agreement recognized East Malaysia’s entitlement to a share of federal revenue (later interpreted as the controversial “40% entitlement”).

Constitutional changes: Annexes amended the Malayan Constitution to form the new Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Singapore’s role: Singapore joined Malaysia under MA63 but left in 1965 after political and economic disputes.

Why MA63 Still Matters

Sabah & Sarawak grievances: Many promises of autonomy and revenue sharing were not fully implemented, fuelling calls for greater state rights.

National unity: MA63 is central to debates about whether Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners or subordinate states within Malaysia. Summary Table

Bottom Line: MA63 is the founding document of Malaysia, but its incomplete implementation—especially regarding Sabah and Sarawak’s autonomy and revenue rights—remains a source of political tension today.

My advice:

I am nearly 93 years old. From my long experience in doing business, everything can be settled by meeting face to face and negotiation until an amiable settlement is achieved.

PM Anwar must invite all the political leaders of Sabah and Sarawak to discuss their aggrievances and complaints and reach an amiable settlement. Basically, PM Anwar must honour MA 63 agreement.

If Sabah and Sarawak leave Malaysia, PM Anwar will be the worst Prime Minister in the history of Malaysia.

Anwar Ibrahim won the Tambun parliamentary seat with a majority of 5,328 votes.


Detailed Results – Tambun (GE15, 2022)

Majority: 5,328 votes (Anwar over Ahmad Faizal Azumu). Constituency demographics: ~71% Bumiputera, 18% Chinese, 10% Indian.

Context

This was Anwar’s first contest in Perak, after previously representing Port Dickson.

Tambun was considered a tough seat because Ahmad Faizal Azumu was a former Perak Menteri Besar and PN deputy chairman.

Anwar’s victory in Tambun was pivotal, as it strengthened his legitimacy to become Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister shortly after GE15. Bottom Line: Anwar Ibrahim secured Tambun with a 5,328-vote majority, a significant win against a strong PN challenger, cementing his path to the premiership.

During the last general election on 19th Nov 2022, I champagned for Anwar in Ipoh where I live. I like his anti-corruption policy.

‘Atrocious’: Anwar hits back at race-based attacks on Hannah Yeoh’s Cabinet appointment

‘Atrocious’: Anwar hits back at race-based attacks on Hannah Yeoh’s Cabinet appointment



File photo of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Hannah Yeoh. The prime minister rejected claims today that Yeoh’s appointment strengthens DAP dominance, saying she serves the government, not a political party. — Bernama pic

Wednesday, 17 Dec 2025 8:27 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has condemned criticism of Hannah Yeoh and Lo Su Fui’s appointments to the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), saying it was “atrocious” to reject leaders purely on the basis of race.

Speaking to editors and senior journalists during a briefing at Seri Perdana today, Anwar said it was unacceptable — and incomprehensible — that such views were still being expressed in contemporary Malaysian politics.

“To reject a person because of her colour and race, this is atrocious in this day and age.

“Sometimes, I just can’t understand the level of tolerance of some people.


“Some groups, considered most corrupt in decades, they got away because of sympathy,” he said, as reported by The Star.

Anwar was responding to remarks by PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who criticised the appointments of Yeoh as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) and Lo as her deputy, arguing that the move would strengthen DAP’s influence in Kuala Lumpur and other urban areas.

The prime minister rejected that framing, stressing that Cabinet members serve the government rather than individual parties.


“She (Yeoh) represents government policies, and not DAP. She represents the government.

“I don’t represent PKR, but the government and its policies,” Anwar said, according to The Star.

Anwar added that the racial background of a minister was irrelevant to their ability to serve, describing objections rooted in ethnicity as politically misplaced and damaging.

The latest Cabinet reshuffle yesterday saw Yeoh moved from her previous role as youth and sports minister, while Lo, 44, was appointed deputy minister. Lo was formerly a special officer to the Sabah chief minister and is the current Tawau MP.

The reshuffle came amid vacancies in several key portfolios, including the Economy Ministry, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives, and the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry.

MIC is embarrassing itself

OPINION | MIC is embarrassing itself


17 Dec 2025 • 1:30 PM MYT


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

Image credit: vettichennaiguys X / Sinar Daily


Of all the unforgettable characters created by legendary comedian Vadivelu, Style Pandi surely ranks among the most iconic.


In the 2010 film Nagaram Marupakkam, Vadivelu plays Style Pandi, a man who constantly threatens the film’s hero, played by Sundar C. Style Pandi projects himself as a powerful gangster—someone capable of inflicting great harm—unless the hero submits, humbles himself, and does as he is told.


But every time Sundar C refuses to be intimidated and challenges Style Pandi to live up to his threats, the same pattern emerges. Style Pandi offers excuses. One excuse follows another. He retreats, only to issue a fresh challenge, daring Sundar C to meet him somewhere else “if he dares”.


When Sundar C actually turns up, Style Pandi once again manufactures excuses and shifts the confrontation to yet another location. This farce repeats itself several times until, finally, Sundar C confronts him at his own house. Cornered and exposed, Style Pandi breaks down and confesses in a pitiful manner that he is not who he claimed to be at all. He is merely a “comedy piece”—all talk, no action—before begging for forgiveness and mercy.


When I read the news that MIC will now “remain a component of Barisan Nasional until a final decision is made by the party’s Supreme Council, I have to say that the first image that flashed through my mind is that of Style Pandi.


According to MIC deputy president M Saravanan, the party will stay put in BN for now, while its leadership convenes—perhaps next month—to discuss its political direction, including the much-talked-about possibility of joining Perikatan Nasional. Until then, MIC will wait. And wait. And wait some more.


This despite the fact that less than a month ago, its general assembly had passed a resolution to leave BN.


This declaration of sudden restraint came only hours after BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi issued a blunt and unmistakable warning:


“Once you leave BN, there will be no road back.”


Don’t push the BN leadership to make a decision… Only time will tell if you are heading down the right path.” “Many things can happen now and changes are expected,”.


“Don’t regret a decision that does not align with the evolving political landscape… You could be left hanging.”

What makes this episode especially embarrassing is not just the timing, but the setting. Zahid delivered this warning at the general assembly of the Indian Progressive Front (IPF)—a splinter party born out of MIC itself, and a traditional rival that has long positioned itself as an alternative to MIC.


And almost instantly, MIC—which for months had been baring its teeth, posturing boldly, and hinting dramatically about leaving BN—started to waver.


After months of daring talk, where MIC sounded like it will not accept an affront to its self esteem to be treated like an “unwanted guest” within BN, and is ready to leave it is is not wanted or treated with respect, MIC folded the moment it received a firm response.


I cannot help but see MIC exactly as I see Style Pandi: loud, threatening, theatrical—until someone calls the bluff.


Although in one way, I do find the the back and forth between MIC and BN to be a tad humorous, in another way, I have to confess, as an Indian, I cannot but feel a tad embarrassed on behalf of MIC.


Like it or not, MIC has a long and intimate relationship with the Indians in the country - for the longest time, it was both the de jure and de facto Indian party in the country - considering that, to watch the rather undignified and childish antic of a party that claims to represent Malaysian Indians, is something that is certainly painful to watch.


I am certain I am not alone. Many Indians, across political persuasions, will find MIC’s antics deeply embarrassing.


One of the basic signs of self-respect and dignity is knowing your own place and weight. When you know your place and weight, you do not issue issue challenges carelessly. You do not posture dramatically, only to retreat the moment someone responds seriously—as if you are just a comedian who doesn't expect anyone to take you seriously.


If Malaysian Indians of all persuasions had already given up on MIC—abandoning it lock, stock, and barrel, with no interest in returning regardless of what MIC does—then MIC’s performance today will certainly not help its case.


Previously, MIC was merely a party that could offer us nothing.


Now, it has become something worse.


Now it is becoming a party that is causing us embarrassment.


At this stage, after saying all that it said and posturing itself the way that it has postured for months, the only thing left for MIC to do now that BN is calling its bluff, is leave.


If it doesn't, it is just going to look like a comedian instead of the hero of the story.


We can perhaps tolerate a MIC that is incapable of delivering results, but A MIC that causes us to feel like we are the butt of everyone's joke is unlikely to be something that we can abide by.


Rather than turn itself and the community into a laughing stock, many will likely simply wish that the party would simply disappear—and save us from the embarrassment that it is causing itself and everyone else.

The Biggest Winners of Anwar’s Cabinet Reshuffle

OPINION | The Biggest Winners of Anwar’s Cabinet Reshuffle


17 Dec 2025 • 3:30 PM MYT


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

Image credit: Kosmo / Jo Ghani FB / Hannah Yeoh FB / Al Hijrah


Before we even begin to ask who the biggest winners of Anwar Ibrahim’s latest cabinet reshuffle are, we should first be clear about what this reshuffle tells us about how Anwar governs.


Taken as a whole, the reshuffle reveals a prime minister who rules primarily through political calculation and personal preference, rather than through any coherent desire to improve governance, strengthen institutions, or move the country decisively forward.


I say this because if you look at the at the cabinet reshuffle, from the point of view of how does this benefit the people and the country, you will only end up bewildered and confused.


However if you see from the angle of how will this cabinet reshuffle be able to satisfy the political demands of the various parties that make up the unity government as well fulfill Anwar’s own preference - as to who he likes, trust or desires to reward - then and only then will all the pieces will fall together.


With that in mind, let us turn to the biggest winners of Anwar’s cabinet reshuffle.

The Biggest Winner: R. Ramanan

Without question, the standout beneficiary of the reshuffle is R. Ramanan.


Ramanan has been elevated from deputy minister to Minister of Human Resources, replacing DAP’s Steven Sim, who has in turn been shifted—one might say demoted—to the less prestigious Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development.


The obvious question is: why?


Why was Ramanan promoted, and why was Steven Sim removed from Human Resources?


If performance were the yardstick, this decision would make little sense. Steven Sim cannot reasonably be accused of having failed as Human Resources Minister. In fact, in a portfolio notorious for swallowing ministers whole, Sim performed better than most. The Human Resources Ministry is a political minefield: trade unions are perpetually hostile, scandals are never far away, and ministers often fall in spectacularly undignified fashion.


Sim survived all of that. He endured years of hostility from unions such as NUBE, weathered the HRDF scandal without being dragged down, and exited the ministry without any catastrophic personal implosion. By Malaysian standards, that already places him above average.


So what, then, qualifies Ramanan to replace him?


What exceptional achievements did Ramanan demonstrate as Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development that would make him the obvious choice to helm such a sensitive and complex ministry?


Your guess is as good as mine.


The only explanation that truly makes sense is the simplest one: Anwar likes Ramanan.


Ramanan is, by PKR standards, a political latecomer. He only joined the party in 2020—long after PKR and Pakatan Harapan had endured years of struggle, sacrifice, and political exile, and two years after PH had already formed the government in 2018.


During the PKR party elections last May, Rafizi Ramli himself criticised Ramanan by saying that manner was still unfamiliar with PKR’s culture and history - an allusion that Ramanan's manner of campaigning for the post of PKR Vice President was unsuited for PKR.


Yet since joining PKR, Ramanan’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric.


In the 2022 general election, barely two years after joining the party, he was handed the Sungai Buloh seat—a high-profile and relatively safe constituency—which he won by the narrowest of margins against Umno heavyweight Khairy Jamaluddin.


By December 2023, he was appointed a deputy minister.


In May 2025, he secured a position as PKR vice-president.


And now, barely half a year later, he finds himself appointed Minister of Human Resources.


All this, despite the fact that most Malaysians would struggle to name a single major policy achievement or reform associated with him.


When Ramanan clashed with PKR veteran and former number two Rafizi Ramli during the party elections, it was Rafizi who fell—and Ramanan who soared. In a party that once claimed to stand for meritocracy and reform, that outcome tells its own story.


In Malaysia, advancement is still too often determined by selection and preference rather than competition and competence. For all their rhetoric about change, PKR and Anwar appear far less different from the old regime than their supporters would care to admit.
Winning by Not Losing: Fadhlina Sidek


Another major winner of the reshuffle is Fadhlina Sidek—though her victory lies not in promotion, but in survival.


Escaping a major loss, after all, can be its own form of triumph.


Before the reshuffle, Fadhlina’s position as Education Minister appeared precarious. A relentless stream of horrifying incidents emerging from Malaysian schools—extreme bullying, sexual violence, and even murder—had inflicted severe damage on her public standing.


Worse still, her responses often appeared overwhelmed and uncertain, reinforcing the perception of a minister out of her depth. Political pressure mounted, with MCA among the latest to publicly demand her removal.


Yet Fadhlina survived.


Perhaps it helped that she sang Anwar a birthday song earlier this year. Perhaps it helped that her father, Siddiq Fadzil, former ABIM president, was a close friend of Anwar’s. In Malaysian politics, such connections have a habit of outweighing performance metrics.


When faced with a choice—between the educational welfare of millions of Malaysian students and the political comfort of a trusted friend’s daughter—the outcome speaks volumes about Anwar’s priorities.
Other Winners: Jo Ghani and Hannah Yeoh

Beyond Ramanan and Fadhlina, there are other, quieter winners.


Jo Ghani emerges as one. His move from the relatively colourless Ministry of Plantation and Commodities to the far more prestigious Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry is undeniably an upgrade. It is almost certainly a position he has long coveted, and a winner, at the simplest level, is someone who gets what they desire.


Hannah Yeoh, too, can count herself among the beneficiaries. Her transfer from Youth and Sports to the Federal Territories Ministry is not an outright promotion, but neither is it a demotion—and, crucially, it places her in a portfolio that better suits her temperament and skillset.


Hannah was never a natural fit for Youth and Sports. In personality, presentation, and performance, she often appeared like a fish out of water. Her exit comes at a particularly convenient moment: amid the explosive FAM foreign player naturalisation scandal, a debacle that threatens Malaysia’s international sporting reputation and exposes deep institutional rot.


Being moved out just as that storm gathers is, by any reasonable definition, a relief—and therefore, a win.

Taken together, the reshuffle does not project confidence, reform, or renewal. Instead, it reinforces an uncomfortable truth: under Anwar Ibrahim, loyalty still trumps competence, preference still outweighs performance, and politics remains a game of personal calculus rather than public good.

The Consistency Problem in Anwar’s Cabinet Reshuffle

OPINION | The Consistency Problem in Anwar’s Cabinet Reshuffle


17 Dec 2025 • 12:00 PM MYT


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

Photo credit: CNA


I love reorganising my room. I move furniture based on function - what works, what doesn’t, what makes the space easier to live in and easier to clean. I reorganise to improve efficiency, not to fix what was never broken.


Like me, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently reorganised his Cabinet.


The difference is simple: I don’t replace furniture that’s working perfectly with pieces I haven’t tested yet.


Just days earlier, Anwar had publicly given his Cabinet an A+ grade, praising ministers for a job well done. No weak links. No underperformers. Excellence, by his own account.


And yet, the reshuffle came anyway.


Ministers deemed to be performing well were moved aside or repositioned, replaced by individuals who have yet to prove themselves in those roles. One would normally assume that an A+ team is left alone to continue delivering - that reorganisation follows underperformance, not public celebration.


Apparently, those assumptions do not apply here.


For the rakyat watching, the contradiction is not subtle. It is structural.


A reshuffle is never merely administrative. It is a signal. In politics, pieces move because something must change - priorities, pressure points, alliances, or confidence. When praise is delivered first and corrective action follows immediately, the public is forced to decide which message reflects reality.


Both cannot be equally true.


No minister was publicly faulted. No policy failure was cited. Instead, the reshuffle was framed as refinement - forward-looking, strategic, necessary for “cohesion”. But refinement presumes an identified weakness. Cohesion implies something was missing.



If that was already known, why declare excellence days earlier?


Yes, governance requires strategy. Coalitions must be balanced. Optics managed. The rakyat understands this - far more than politicians often credit. What is harder to accept is being applauded one day, then treated as though we will not notice the stage quietly being reset the next.


Strategy is not the issue. Transparency is.


If the Cabinet required change, say so. If the praise was aspirational, acknowledge it. If political realities demanded compromise, be honest about that too.


Because when a government tells us everything is excellent - then behaves as if it is not - it makes the rakyat question not competence, but honesty.


In the long run, honesty matters far more than an A+ grade.


Reorganisation should make things work better. Not make us wonder whether we were told the truth in the first place.

Fadhlina Sidek Thanks PMX for Continued Trust in Her, Pledges to Do Better as Education Minister

Fadhlina Sidek Thanks PMX for Continued Trust in Her, Pledges to Do Better as Education Minister

Published 7 hours ago
December 17, 2025
By Azri Azizan

Source: Fadhlina Sidek | Facebook


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a reshuffle of the MADANI Government Cabinet yesterday (16 December), with one of the notable changes seeing Hannah Yeoh leave her role as Minister of Youth and Sports to take on the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) portfolio instead.


Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, on the other hand, expressed her appreciation to Anwar for his continued trust after remaining in her Ministry, as she was neither reassigned to a different portfolio nor removed from the Cabinet.

Source: Fadhlina Sidek


Fadhlina pledged to double her efforts

Speaking to the media last night, Fadhlina admitted that while she is relieved about staying in the Ministry, her feelings are accompanied by a great sense of responsibility to continue upholding and strengthening the nation’s education system.

She pledged to double her efforts along with her team for the future of the nation’s children.


“Insya-Allah (God willing), we will certainly do better to give our best to the country’s education and the children,” Fadhlina said.


“Leaders must face criticisms with an open heart”

Over the past few months, Fadhlina has come under public scrutiny following a series of crimes occurring in schools across various locations, including cases of rape, murder, and bullying.


Despite the pressure, the Education Minister admitted to her shortcomings and said she viewed the criticism as motivation to improve herself.



Source: Fadhlina Sidek | Facebook


“Honest, fact-based criticism is the voice of the people. Leaders have to face these with an open heart, because that’s how improvements can be made.”

Fadhlina also emphasised maturity and a sense of responsibility as the proper approach to dealing with criticism.

***

kamsia lu ay papa lah

UMNO Youth Says Hannah Yeoh’s Appointment as FT Minister Raises Concerns Among Malay Community

UMNO Youth Says Hannah Yeoh’s Appointment as FT Minister Raises Concerns Among Malay Community

Published 5 hours ago
December 17, 2025
By Azri Azizan

Source: Aliff Firdaus | Facebook & hannahyeoh | Instagram


The Federal Territories UMNO Youth has acknowledged Hannah Yeoh as the new Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), but simultaneously expressed concern over the appointment.


Its Chief, Dato Aliff Firdaus, said Yeoh’s appointment marks the first time in the Federal Territories’ history that a non-Malay leader and an individual from DAP is holding the Federal Territories Minister position. He then highlighted the significant impact the appointment might bring.



Source: Aliff Firdaus | Facebook


The Federal Territories UMNO Youth Chief claimed the Malay community is concerned about Yeoh’s appointment as Federal Territories Minister

In a statement posted on his Facebook last night (16 December), Aliff wished Yeoh well in her new duties and responsibilities, but took the opportunity to send her a reminder to act professionally.


“We would like to remind her that this responsibility is entrusted by the people, not by the party. Act fairly and professionally, and never marginalise the interests of urban Malays,” stated Aliff.

He added that Yeoh’s appointment has sparked concern among the Malay community, particularly the perceived dominance of one race over such a strategic portfolio.



Aliff further elaborated on the community’s anxieties with Yeoh being the Federal Territories Minister. These include the potential implementation of DAP-driven agendas such as local government elections and the Urban Renewal Act (URA), as well as the portfolio’s role on the Pardons Board.


“All the best, Yeoh, but here’s a reminder”

The Federal Territories UMNO Youth Chief stressed that the branch will continue to monitor the situation and speak out to defend Malay rights in the city. He pointed out the significance of the portfolio, as it is the heart of the nation’s administration.



Source: Hannah Yeoh | Facebook


“Every policy formulated here has a significant impact on the country’s political and social landscape, particularly on urban Malays who are increasingly marginalised.”

“Once again, congratulations and all the best in carrying out your duties, so that the Federal Territories we love will be more prosperous in the future,” Aliff said.


Yeoh replaced Dr Zaliha Mustafa as the Federal Territories Minister

Yeoh was the Minister of Youth and Sports from December 2022 until December 2025 before being reassigned as the Federal Territories Minister yesterday.

In the Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Yeoh replaced Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa in the portfolio. In a statement last night, Dr Zaliha, who was dropped from the Cabinet altogether, thanked Anwar for entrusting her with the role.

At the time of writing (17 December), Yeoh has yet to make a statement regarding her new appointment.

Can we see closure on race-based economic policies?

Can we see closure on race-based economic policies?

Lim Teck Ghee
Published: Dec 17, 2025 10:06 AM
Updated: 1:11 PM


COMMENT | An earlier article proposing that the National Unity Ministry, through its latest advisory council, undertake a comprehensive review of the New Economic Policy (NEP), generated thought-provoking responses from more than a few readers.

Although much of the feedback has been personal, they provide insights into the engrossment and deep interest that the subject, with its myriad ramifications, has for Malaysians and observers from countries that have similar race-based affirmative action programmes.

To summarise the reaction, the majority were critical of the NEP and its failure to achieve what was set up as its “overarching goal of national unity”.

Various reasons were advanced to explain the opposition to the NEP, and details were provided on how and why the failure happened.

Some commentators referred to the research and published material on the NEP that is available on the internet. Others drew on personal experiences to explain their opinions and conclusions.

Underlining the negative responses and pessimism was the almost unanimous opinion that the government - present and future - is highly unlikely to abandon race-based policy initiatives, however much these may undermine national unity and social cohesion concerns.

Ultimately, the catalyst for policy change and reform lies in the hands of political parties and the political and supportive elite, where decision-making power resides.

However, understanding the defeatist and negative popular sentiments on the NEP may be able to provide a way towards improvement and closure of race-based affirmative policies and their divisive impacts.

A non-starter subject

Existential issues and questions often are avoided because raising or discussing them can be frightening, impractical, or lead to a sense of meaninglessness.

Some reasons why questions on the NEP are not brought out more prominently into the public limelight include

Fear and anxiety: The uncertainty of what happens after the NEP has been overwhelming among beneficiaries and has triggered fear and dread if the policy is aborted. Opposition is especially pronounced among favoured elite beneficiaries with political clout, although diversionary attention has been focused on the perceived losses to the larger community.

Perceived impracticality and unanswerability: Many people view NEP questions as unanswerable, given the ethnic distribution of power. The pursuit of a definitive answer may seem pointless, especially to the younger generation.

Social and cultural norms: Culture generally encourages focusing on getting ahead and going along with the systems of power and authority in Malaysia, whether racial, religious or other. Questioning is discouraged while contestation is seen as inviting retaliation.

Coping by acceptance: Many educated Malaysians reach a point where they choose to focus on living in the moment. Most accept the status quo in policies and are critical or even contemptuous of those who appear stuck in a cycle of what is regarded as futile questioning.

Perhaps the most important reason for the present deafening silence on the NEP is the self-censorship and institutional barriers, and capture of the policy space in the country.

Many think that it is an offence to question what has been touted as sacrosanct and immutable “social contract” issues relating to the Federal Constitution - since then seen as extended to NEP policies.

Apart from deciphering the factors of fear and opportunism inhibiting the free expression of opinion, a key dimension in the analysis of the NEP needs to focus on the implementers of the policy.

Civil service and NEP

At the time of its initiation, the government promised that part of the two prongs of the NEP policy aiming at the reduction in the identification of economic function with ethnicity was its application to both the private and public sectors.

Not only has this not taken place in the public sector, but its ethnic composition has become even more uneven and lopsided, as seen in the data below.

1970 civil service composition

Malays and other indigenous groups (bumiputera) already formed the majority of the civil service at the time of the NEP. Available data indicated that Malays accounted for approximately 60 percent of the total civil service.

In the top rungs of the civil service, Malays filled 39.3 percent of the positions. This highlights that while they were the majority overall, their representation was lower in the highest administrative and managerial roles.

Non-Malay representation consisted of the Chinese share of around 18.8 percent and the Indian share of around 15.7 percent.

Circa 2025 civil service composition

The total number of civil servants (excluding police and military) was reported to be around 1.3 million to 1.6 million as of late 2024 and early 2025.

The overall percentage of bumiputera (Malays and other indigenous groups) in the civil service is consistently reported to be around 90 percent in recent years, reflecting a long-standing trend influenced by the NEP.

Current estimates place the Malay share at 77.5 percent, Sabah and Sarawak bumiputera share at 22.1 percent, Chinese share at 5.7 percent, Indian share at 3.8 percent and Orang Asli share at 0.2 percent.

Malays now hold an overwhelming majority of top management positions. In 2022, Malays accounted for over 80 percent of top decision-making posts. This has probably increased.

Biggest elephant in the NEP room

From the data, it is evident that both policy and the body of implementers need scrutiny in the quest for social cohesion and national unity. Also that a representative and multiracial civil service should be a key national priority.

Concern over the under-representation of other communities and East Malaysia native communities at the higher levels of the civil service has lately been growing in part due to the regional disparities in development.

Finally, but not least, democratic norms call for a representative, impartial and neutral bureaucracy not only to ensure that public policies are responsive to the legitimate needs of all citizens in a fair and equitable fashion but also to ensure that there is an absence of racial bias in the individual or collective.

Addressing the unfinished agenda of the NEP should be a critical part of the nation’s concern.

This reminder is especially pertinent to the politicians in power and the senior civil servants in the central agencies such as the Prime Minister’s Office, Finance Ministry, Economic Planning Unit and other central agencies that dictate NEP policy.

LIM TECK GHEE is an economic historian, analyst, and former senior official with the United Nations and World Bank.

Student body rejects UEC, demands DAP stop recognition campaign

Student body rejects UEC, demands DAP stop recognition campaign

Ayesha Sheik Mazrul
Published: Dec 17, 2025 2:30 PM
Updated: 5:56 PM



Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (Gamis) has outright rejected DAP’s campaign to push for the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) recognition, describing the move as “a step backwards” in Malaysia’s education reform.

Speaking after submitting a memorandum at DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Gamis president Azamuddin Sahar said that the certification does not align with the nation’s educational foundations, including the Education Ministry’s syllabus and the National Education Policy.

Azamuddin (above, left) also claimed that UEC is unconstitutional, as it goes against Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that the Malay language should be emphasised as the national language.

“It is sufficient for this country to have a single, unified education system, namely by recognising SPM and STPM as pathways into various industries.

“I actually welcome the response from DAP, particularly when it is framed around facts and evidence, and we are open to engaging in dialogue with them,” he added.

Cease talks immediately

In its memorandum, Gamis demanded that all talks on UEC be ceased immediately, and for DAP to respect the national consensus and constitutional framework in education policy.

The group also demanded that the party provide a public explanation of the implications of their demands on national unity, arguing that this campaign is a deliberate tactic to divert attention from pressing issues plaguing the nation.

“We do not want this issue to be polemicised for too long, to the point that it overshadows other issues.

“We believe that this issue may have been raised to divert attention from cases that should instead involve the Prime Minister’s Office, particularly issues of corruption and others,” Azamuddin said.

He also explained that the memorandum was addressed to DAP instead of the Education Ministry because the party is the main driver behind the renewed push for UEC recognition.

He cautioned that this memorandum is an “early warning” and that they will take further action if UEC’s recognition continues to be pushed.

“If this warning is ignored and the issue continues, there will be larger waves coming.

“As I mentioned earlier, if they are dissatisfied or have concerns, we welcome dialogue,” he added.

DAP political education secretary Teh Jian Ping


The memorandum was received by DAP political education secretary Teh Jian Ping, who told reporters that the party would review and deliberate on the contents of the notice submitted by Gamis.

The memorandum handover and press conference were conducted under heavy police presence, with officers deployed around the venue as Gamis leaders addressed the media and fielded questions on their stance.


UEC push

After suffering a total wipeout in the Sabah polls, DAP revealed it is pushing to get the certificate finally recognised by the government, as part of its reform agenda.


READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | UEC: Are the criticisms justified?


DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has framed the UEC recognition as being part of a policy that would also strengthen the Malay language.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was also not opposed to UEC recognition as long as the priority is to master Bahasa Malaysia.

PM Anwar Ibrahim


“So, I want to remind that, if any race or party wants to put forward (proposals), there is no problem. But as citizens who follow the principles of the constitution, it should start with emphasising the primacy of mastering the Malay language,” he added.

The move has come under significant criticism, particularly from Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan and youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, who said that the recognition can only be granted when Bahasa Malaysia becomes the main medium of instruction.

UEC recognition has been a pivotal part of Pakatan Harapan’s pledge to the public, as it was part of their 2018 and 2022 general election campaign promises.