Johor BN chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi confirms a full sweep of 56 candidates for the upcoming state election. — Bernama pic
Saturday, 16 May 2026 4:52 PM MYT
JOHOR BAHRU, May 16 — Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) today confirmed it will contest all 56 seats in the next state election, effectively ruling out any electoral cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN) or Muda.
Johor BN chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the decision was made after discussions with the coalition’s component party leadership.
“With a sense of conviction and responsibility, Johor BN will contest in all 56 state constituencies in the upcoming state election.
“For Umno and Johor BN, the decision to contest in all 56 state seats is a clear offer to the people that we are prepared to continue to form a stable, strong government.
“The decision will fully serve the state’s development and the well-being of Johoreans,” he said in a statement today.
Onn Hafiz, who is also the Johor menteri besar and state Umno chief, said the coalition had taken into account the views and expectations of Johoreans as well as feedback from Umno and BN grassroots leaders.
The announcement appears to end speculation over possible seat-sharing arrangements or political cooperation between Johor BN and other coalitions ahead of the state polls.
In the 2022 Johor election, BN won 40 of the 56 state seats, dominated by Umno victories.
PH secured 12 seats, of which 10 were won by DAP and one each by PKR and Amanah.
PN won three seats through Bersatu and PAS, while Muda captured one seat.
The Taiwanese flag at Democracy Boulevard is lowered at the end of the day as the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is seen in the background in Taipei on May 13, 2026. — AFP pic
Saturday, 16 May 2026 2:48 PM MYT
TAIPEI, May 16 — Taiwan said today it is an “independent” nation, hours after US President Donald Trump warned the democratic island against declaring formal independence.
Trump wrapped up a state visit to Beijing yesterday where Chinese President Xi Jinping had pressed him not to support Taiwan, which China claims is part of its territory.
Taiwan depends heavily on US security backing to deter China from carrying out its threat to annex the island by force.
Taiwan “is a sovereign and independent democratic nation, and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China”, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also insisted that US arms sales were part of Washington’s security commitment to Taiwan, after Trump flagged that he was considering the issue.
Taiwan’s statements came after Trump issued a warning to the island against making a declaration of independence.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that,” he told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier”.
“I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” Trump said.
“We’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that.”
The US recognises only Beijing and does not support formal independence by Taiwan, but historically has stopped short of explicitly saying it opposes independence.
Under US law, the US is required to provide weapons to Taiwan for its defence, but it has been ambiguous on whether US forces would come to the island’s aid.
Xi had begun the summit with a warning on Taiwan, whose President Lai Ching-te considers the island already independent, making a declaration unnecessary.
The Chinese leader told Trump that missteps on the sensitive issue could cause “conflict”.
Taiwan’s Presidential Office noted today the “multiple reaffirmations from the US side, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that the consistent US policy and position toward Taiwan remain unchanged”.
“Taiwan-US cooperation has always been demonstrated through action,” spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement.
“Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work with the US under the firm commitments of the Taiwan Relations Act.”
US weapon sales
Ahead of the summit, Trump had said he would speak to Xi about US arms sales to Taiwan, a departure from Washington’s previous insistence that it would not consult Beijing on the matter.
Taiwan’s parliament recently approved a US$25 billion defence spending bill that will be used for US weapons.
Lawmakers have said the funds will cover nearly US$9 billion of the US$11.1 billion arms package announced by Washington in December and a second phase of arms sales — not yet approved by the US — worth more than US$15 billion.
Speaking to reporters yesterday en route to Washington, Trump said on arms sales: “I’ll make a determination over the next fairly short period of time.”
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said arms were “not only a US security commitment to Taiwan clearly stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a form of joint deterrence against regional threats”.
China has sworn to take the island and has not ruled out using force, ramping up military pressure in recent years. — AFP
Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is the new Opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat as of May 16, 2026. — Bernama pic
Saturday, 16 May 2026 4:25 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) has appointed coalition chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the new Opposition Leader in Parliament.
The Kemaman MP who is also Terengganu menteri besar replaces Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin who was sacked as Bersatu deputy president in February.
“The council agreed to appoint Kemaman MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar to shoulder the responsibility as Opposition Leader,” PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said in a Facebook statement this afternoon.
He said the decision was made during the coalition’s supreme council meeting at the Hotel Royale Chulan here earlier today.
“The council agreed in principle to accept electoral cooperation or an electoral pact with certain parties that share compatible struggles and common interests with Perikatan Nasional,” he added.
He also announced PN’s new line-up of state heads ahead of preparations for the next general election, as follows:
Perlis — Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim Kedah — Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor Penang — Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai Perak — Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu Selangor — Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali Federal Territories and Melaka — Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin Johor — Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal Pahang — Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man Terengganu — Datuk Alias Razak Kelantan — Datuk Ahmad Yakob Sabah — Datuk Aliakbar Gulasan Sarawak — Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian
The only state without a head for now is Negeri Sembilan, which Takiyudddin listed as being “deferred”.
The question over who would lead the Opposition had lingered since Hamzah’s removal from Bersatu earlier this year.
The Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to reconvene from June 22.
People take photographs of a betting company’s odds on contenders to be the next leader of Britain’s Labour party, with Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner’s names all listed, on Whitehall in central London May 12, 2026. — AFP pic
Friday, 15 May 2026 9:00 PM MYT
LONDON, May 15 — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to resign after more than 80 lawmakers in his Labour Party said he was not the right person to lead the country and win the next national election. He has vowed to stay on as no formal leadership challenge has yet been triggered.
If Labour were to choose a new leader, here is a list of those in the frame to replace Starmer:
Wes Streeting, 43
Streeting has served as health and social care minister since Labour came to power in July 2024 — a role that puts him in charge of the state-funded National Health Service with its budget of more than 200 billion pounds.
Streeting is seen as a centrist within the Labour Party, and has advocated fiscal restraint in line with the approach taken by Starmer. He has also supported the government’s policy to increase defence funding.
Streeting was seen as a protege of Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US who was appointed by Starmer and then fired over his links to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Streeting has said he’s embarrassed to have known Mandelson but denied that they were close friends.
British Health Secretary Wes Streeting walks on Downing Street, on the day of the State Opening of Parliament, in London May 13, 2026. — Reuters pic
In his first year as health minister, he approved a 22 per cent pay rise for resident doctors over two years in a bid to end a standoff over pay. Doctors have since resumed striking.
Streeting has represented a constituency in east London since 2015. The seat is tightly contested and in 2024 he won by just 528 votes, making it vulnerable for the next election.
He describes his upbringing as working class, and he would be Britain’s first openly gay prime minister. Born to teenage parents, he has described how his grandfather and grandmother both spent time in jail, with his mum born while his grandmother was in prison.
He attended Cambridge University — an education he says he funded himself with retail jobs — and is a former president of the National Union of Students.
Andy Burnham, 56
Burnham is the mayor of Manchester in northern England, and one of Labour’s most high-profile politicians.
He is currently unable to stand in any leadership challenge because he is not a member of parliament but he has made recent efforts to return. In January he was blocked from running for a seat in the House of Commons by Labour’s National Executive Committee. His supporters, who tend to come from the left of the party, accused Starmer and allies of keeping out a potential leadership rival.
Burnham was briefly Britain’s deputy finance minister in former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government in the 2000s, and has run twice to be the party’s leader, including losing heavily to left-wing veteran Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.
He became Manchester mayor in 2017 but has remained an influential figure for some centre-left groups within Labour, particularly those critical of Starmer’s more centrist stance. He has tried to reassure investors that they would be safe under his economic vision after he was quoted as saying Britain needed to stop being “in hock to the bond market”. He said his comments were misinterpreted.
British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner visits the community kitchen at the Newquay Orchard on February 10, 2025 in Newquay, Britain. — Leon Neal/Pool/Reuters pic
Angela Rayner, 46
One of the party’s most recognisable figures, Rayner stepped down from her role as deputy prime minister, deputy Labour Party leader and housing secretary in 2025 after admitting she had unintentionally underpaid taxes on a property purchase and was found to have breached the ministerial code of conduct.
The matter is yet to be fully resolved with authorities, hindering any potential leadership bid. Recently she has called for Burnham’s return to parliament, which may signal she will not run herself.
She is seen as closer to the party’s left-wing, trade union roots than the centrist Starmer. When in office she championed legislation that expanded workers’ rights, backed minimum wage increases and called for higher public investment.
While publicly falling in line with Labour’s calls for fiscal restraint, media reports in May 2025, when she was still a minister, said she had argued for higher taxes, and since leaving government has called for “bold action” to shield Britons from the effects of the Iran war.
Rayner grew up in relative poverty on a social housing estate in the town of Stockport, near Manchester. A teenage mother, she worked as a care worker and trade union official before entering parliament in 2015.
She credits this background for giving her authentic insight into the struggles faced by the poorest Britons, and is regarded by many in Labour as a strong communicator whose background means she can reach parts of the party that Starmer — a Londoner and former human rights lawyer — cannot.
Ed Miliband, 56
Energy Minister Miliband is one of Starmer’s most senior cabinet ministers who has been linked to a return to lead the party after an earlier 2010-2015 stint in opposition. He has said that experience “inoculated” him against wanting to do it again.
He has been the main proponent in government of pursuing net zero energy policies.
He previously served in government from 2006 to 2010 under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and defeated both his brother David and Burnham in the 2010 leadership election, offering a more centre-left vision for the party than his centrist brother.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood walks through the House of Commons to attend the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster, London May 13, 2026. — Reuters pic
Shabana Mahmood, 45
A lawmaker since 2010, Mahmood has risen rapidly through the ministerial ranks and was promoted to home secretary in September after serving as justice minister. She is the first Muslim woman to hold either role.
Seen as on the right of the party, she has driven a tougher stance on immigration which she says is key to facing down the right-wing Reform UK party and addressing voters’ concerns on immigration.
However, critics have said her tough stance means Labour is losing the support of progressives who traditionally backed it to left-wing alternatives such as the Greens. She is also unpopular with the left wing of the party.
Al Carns, 46
Newly elected in 2024, junior defence minister Al Carns has been rumoured as an outside candidate who could prove popular among other first-time lawmakers who want a fresh voice.
He served in the Royal Marines and is an Afghanistan veteran who advised several Conservative defence ministers on military matters before coming into politics.
Last year he was part of a team that climbed Mount Everest in less than seven days trialling the use of xenon gas to help speed up acclimatisation. — Reuters
PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh (left) says the party’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim’s (right) criticism over UEC admissions into local public universities does not reflect the government’s stance. — File pictures by Miera Zulyana
Saturday, 16 May 2026 2:21 PM MYT
JOHOR BAHRU, May 16 — PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh today distanced the government from Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim’s call for two ministers to resign over issues linked to the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
She said Hassan’s remarks were his personal views and did not represent the government’s position.
“The decision to allow Chinese Private Secondary Schools graduates or UEC holders to follow certain programmes at public higher education institutions was made with clear conditions, including having SPM qualifications and a pass in Bahasa Melayu and history subjects,” she told reporters after attending a PKR programme at a hotel here.
Fuziah said the issue was not new, noting that previous administrations had also imposed similar conditions to allow UEC holders to pursue studies at public higher education institutions.
“This matter should not be made into a tirade because it is clear and has also been implemented before,” she said.
Yesterday, Hassan called on Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir to resign, claiming they had failed to defend the national education policy involving public universities.
The Higher Education Ministry had earlier announced that graduates from tahfiz schools, Chinese independent secondary schools and other institutions outside the national education system would be allowed to pursue selected programmes at public higher education institutions, subject to conditions.
The move followed a Cabinet decision on admission pathways for students outside the national education system into public higher education institutions.
Datuk Seri Mohd Amar, who is also the acting chairman of PAS Central Education Committee, pointed out that even tahfiz students from traditional institutions such as pondok schools or independent madrasahs still have access to SPM through Fast Track programmes. - Bernama file pic, May 15, 2026
According to PAS, Tahfiz students already follow the national curriculum and sit for SPM examinations, making comparisons with the UEC recognition debate inaccurate and misleading
Keran Raj Updated 17 hours ago 15 May, 2026 6:20 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has reiterated that tahfiz graduates in Malaysia already follow the national education system and are fully qualified to enter public higher education institutions (IPTA) through the SPM pathway.
In a statement shared on the party’s Facebook page, PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Amar Abdullah stressed that linking tahfiz education with the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) was inaccurate and unfair.
“Tahfiz graduates have long followed the National Curriculum and sat for the SPM examination to qualify for admission into IPTA, just like students in mainstream schools,” he said.
PAS added that most tahfiz institutions today have integrated national subjects into their curriculum, including Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics, Science, History and Islamic Studies.
The party said this enables students to sit for national examinations such as SPM and STAM on par with students from mainstream schools.
Mohd Amar, who is also the acting chairman of PAS Central Education Committee, pointed out that even tahfiz students from traditional institutions such as pondok schools or independent madrasahs still have access to SPM through Fast Track programmes.
“This means that Tahfiz graduates have met the basic requirements for admission into IPTA, just like students from ordinary National Secondary Schools (SMK),” he added.
PAS further clarified that tahfiz institutions have never requested for their internal certificates to be recognised as equivalent to SPM for university entry. Instead, students voluntarily sit for national examinations set by the government.
The statement also rejected comparisons between tahfiz education and systems outside the national curriculum framework, arguing that such comparisons are misleading.
“It is not accurate to equate tahfiz schools with schools that use examination systems outside the national framework,” it said.
At the same time, Mohd Amar highlighted that tahfiz graduates are not only strong in Quran memorisation but also perform well academically and professionally, with many pursuing higher education in fields such as engineering, medicine and Islamic law.
PAS concluded that tahfiz education is aligned with national education policy and continues to strengthen both religious and academic development in Malaysia.
Earlier, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke criticised the opposition for objecting to the government’s efforts to broaden educational opportunities.
He said the government’s decision to open pathways for graduates from tahfiz schools and institutions, as well as students from Chinese Independent High Schools (SMPC) and holders of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), to enrol in IPTA reflected its commitment to expanding access to tertiary education for all Malaysians.
According to Loke, the initiative forms part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment, announced in January, to create additional opportunities for students from education systems outside the Ministry of Education framework to pursue studies at public universities and higher education institutions.
“It’s not only UEC holders; Tahfiz certificate holders are now eligible too. So this expands access for Malaysians to obtain higher education, and that is a good thing,” he said during a press conference after launching the Segambut Utara Railway Station today. – May 15, 2026
***
Proof of the pudding is overseas acceptance, not domestic 'kautim' okay.
The main road linking Lahad Datu and Tawau was cut off this evening after a 50-metre stretch of Jalan Silam here collapsed in both directions. — Picture via Facebook/Lahad Datu info
Friday, 15 May 2026 7:56 PM MYT
LAHAD DATU, May 15 — The main road linking Lahad Datu and Tawau was cut off this evening after a 50-metre stretch of Jalan Silam here collapsed in both directions.
Lahad Datu District Officer Firuz Idzualdeen @ Benetty Mohd Dzul said the road was temporarily impassable and there is currently no alternative route to either Tawau or Lahad Datu.
“However, I have contacted the district Public Works Department and understand that they will construct a temporary diversion, which is estimated to be completed within about an hour,” he told Bernama when contacted.
He also advised road users to exercise caution when passing through the affected area and to comply with instructions issued by security personnel and authorities at the scene.
“The public is advised to plan their journeys earlier following slow-moving traffic along the route,” he said.
Several photos of the collapsed road have also gone viral on social media, showing vehicles stranded in the area. — Bernama
US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2026. — AFP pic
Saturday, 16 May 2026 10:19 AM MYT
BEIJING, May 16 — US President Donald Trump yesterday warned Taiwan against declaring formal independence after concluding his visit to China, whose leader Xi Jinping had pressed him not to support the self-ruling island.
Trump ended the state visit claiming to have made “fantastic” trade deals, although the details were vague, and he did not appear to secure any breakthrough with China over his stalemated war on Iran.
Trump invited Xi for a reciprocal visit to Washington in September, signalling both sides will likely seek stability in the often turbulent relationship between the world’s two largest economies.
On a key issue for Xi, Trump made clear he opposed a declaration of independence by Taiwan and appeared to question why the US would defend the island in case of attack.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that,” he told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.”
“I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” Trump said.
“We’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that.”
The US recognizes only Beijing and does not support formal independence by Taiwan, but historically has stopped short of explicitly saying it opposes independence.
Under US law, the US is required to provide weapons to Taiwan for its defence, but it has been ambiguous on whether US forces would come to the island’s aid.
Xi had begun the summit with a warning on Taiwan, whose President Lai Ching-te considers the island already independent, making a declaration unnecessary.
Xi told Trump that missteps on the sensitive issue could cause “conflict”.
Referring to comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said US policy toward Taipei was unchanged, Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked the US for showing “it supports and values Taiwan Strait peace and stability”.
No details on ‘fantastic’ deals
Yesterday, Boeing confirmed that China had made an “initial commitment” to buy 200 aircraft, a deal previously announced by Trump. The company said more orders could follow.
Trump also said Beijing would buy American oil and soybeans.
“We’ve made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries,” he said after a walk with Xi in the gardens of Zhongnanhai, a central leadership compound next to Beijing’s Forbidden City.
“We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve,” Trump added, without providing specifics.
Xi promised to send Trump rose seeds for the White House Rose Garden and said it was a “milestone visit”.
But beyond Boeing, there were no other formal announcements from companies or from China on trade deals.
The reserve on the Chinese side echoes the tone of the summit as a whole, where Trump’s overtures to Xi — whom he described as a “great leader” and “friend” — were met with a more muted response.
“Trump got the optics he was looking for and the Chinese were happy to give them to him,” said Jacob Stokes, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
Little on Iran
Trump had delayed the trip once due to the war in Iran, which has rebuffed his appeals for a peace agreement and retaliated by exerting control over the key Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices soaring.
Trump said Xi had assured him that China was not preparing military aid to Iran. Israel has alleged that Beijing has provided key missile technology to Tehran.
The Chinese foreign ministry yesterday released a statement on Iran saying “shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible”.
Trump also acknowledged that he could not persuade Xi to free Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon whose cause is broadly backed in Washington.
“He told me, Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him to do,” Trump told reporters.
Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific program, noted that Trump had already sounded half-hearted in his public comments on Lai.
“My sense is that the Chinese see that this is not a top priority for the US,” she said.
“What Trump seems to want most is purchases of American products — that appears to be his highest priority.”
The two leaders had been expected to discuss extending the one-year tariff truce that paused their frenetic 2025 trade war, struck during their last meeting in October.
But Trump told reporters on the way home that it “wasn’t brought up”. — AFP
Boeing confirmed that China committed to buying 200 aircraft during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, with the deal potentially expanding to 750 more planes. — AFP file pic
Saturday, 16 May 2026 10:43 AM MYT
NEW YORK, May 16 — Aerospace giant Boeing yesterday confirmed that China had committed to purchasing 200 aircraft during a visit to Beijing by US President Donald Trump — a deal that could ultimately balloon with orders for 750 additional planes.
“We had a very successful trip to China and accomplished our major goal of reopening the China market to orders for Boeing aircraft,” the company, whose CEO Kelly Ortberg was part of the US delegation to China, said in a statement.
“This included an initial commitment for 200 aircraft and we expect further commitments will follow after this initial tranche,” Boeing said, without specifying which models were on the negotiating table.
When asked by AFP to specify which planes were part of the deal, Boeing declined to comment.
The group thanked the Trump administration “for making this milestone happen,” adding: “We now look forward to continually addressing China’s aircraft demand.”
In its latest 20-year outlook for global commercial aviation, published in June last year, Boeing estimated that 44,000 planes would be built worldwide by 2044, both to replace the existing roughly 21,000 aircraft in use and to respond to a growth in demand.
About half of that demand is expected to come from China, South Asia and Southeast Asia — music to the ears of Boeing executives, who really only have one major competitor, Europe’s Airbus.
‘Big’ planes
China’s last order from Boeing dates back to 2017, when Trump went to Beijing at the start of his first White House term. At that time, it ordered 300 single-aisle and wide-body planes — a mega-deal valued at US$37 billion (RM146.13 billion).
On Thursday, Trump had said China planned to order “200 big ones,” in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
“I think it was a commitment,” the president said. “That’s a lot of jobs.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew home from China, Trump said the deal included “a promise of 750 planes, which will be by far the largest order ever, if they do a good job with the 200.”
US media have reported for several months that Beijing was poised to make a major order from Boeing that would include 500 single-aisle 737 MAXs and about 100 larger 787 Dreamliners and 777s.
The overall record in terms of number of planes for an aircraft order came from IndiGo, which purchased 500 Airbus A320s.
China was the last country in the world to reauthorise flights by Boeing 737 MAXs, after two fatal accidents on Lion Air in 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in March 2019 that left a total of 346 people dead.
The 737 MAX family, Boeing’s top seller, was grounded worldwide for 20 months after the accidents. It returned to the skies in the US in November 2020 and in Europe in January 2021 — but only in 2023 in China.
In 2019, Beijing had suspended all deliveries of Boeing aircraft. Four years later, in December 2023, it gave the green light to a delivery of 787 Dreamliners, and for 737 MAXs one month later.
Chinese regulators again halted deliveries for a few weeks in mid-2024 over a lithium battery issue in several models.
Boeing, the biggest US exporter by dollar value, was caught up in the tariff war launched when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
Beijing retaliated by forbidding Chinese companies from ordering Boeing jets — or receiving those already ordered.
The world’s top two economies reached a trade war truce late last year, allowing Boeing to resume normal activity with Chinese customers.
As of late last month, Boeing had 6,814 planes on order, including 4,371 737 MAXs, for a total value of an estimated US$600 billion. — AFP
Azmil Tayeb says the Islamic party is now looking to its own non-Muslim wing, but Syaza Shukri questions the wing's relevance
The PAS non-Muslim wing held its first convention last weekend after its formal incorporation into the Islamic party as an associate wing in September last year. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: PAS appears to have given up hope on Gerakan wooing the non-Malays for Perikatan Nasional (PN), with the Islamic party shifting its focus to its own non-Muslim wing, says an analyst.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Azmil Tayeb said that Gerakan, a founding component of PN, had failed to garner non-Malay support for the coalition. This includes support from the Indians, who have been more open to switching allegiance than the Chinese.
Azmil Tayeb.
“PAS would have noticed the trend of Indian voters, in particular, switching support from Pakatan Harapan to PN in several by-elections.
“And Gerakan is growing irrelevant in PN because it is incapable of competing with DAP, MCA, and MIC in attracting non-Malay voters,” he told FMT.
However, Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said Gerakan was never relevant in the first place, and that the relevance of PAS’s non-Muslim wing was also unclear.
She viewed Gerakan and the PAS non-Muslim wing as holding different roles, with the latter serving more as an intermediary between the party’s clerical leadership and the non-Muslim community.
“Unlike the wing, Gerakan would not fully support PAS’s agenda as they’re totally different parties.
“But is this PAS non-Muslim wing even relevant in the first place? Perhaps it will hold more relevance than Gerakan just because it bears the PAS name, which is far more prominent in PN,” she said.
The PAS non-Muslim wing held its first convention last weekend following its formal incorporation into the Islamic party as an associate wing in September last year.
Its head, G Balachandran, said PAS must leverage the wing to dispel fears about the party among the non-Malay community.
He added that the wing must must be strengthened not merely as a political support platform, but also as a bridge for national unity and greater interracial understanding.
Syaza said PN could struggle with seat negotiations in future elections when allocating mixed or non-Malay-majority seats.
She pointed out that both PAS and Bersatu have non-Malay associate wings, while PN’s other two components – Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party – are non-Malay-based parties.
This means that all four parties may jostle to contest these seats, she said, adding however that the bigger question was whether they could win their contests.
PN has consistently struggled to win non-Malay support in elections, particularly that of Chinese voters whom pundits say are put off by PAS’s purportedly hardline stance.
A support vessel owned by Malaysian firm Vantris Energy, formerly known as Sapura Energy, passed through the Strait of Hormuz, LSEG shipping data showed today, becoming the fourth ship linked to the country to transit the waterway since the outbreak of the US-Iran war. — Reuters pic
Friday, 15 May 2026 6:57 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — A support vessel owned by Malaysian firm Vantris Energy, formerly known as Sapura Energy, passed through the Strait of Hormuz, LSEG shipping data showed today, becoming the fourth ship linked to the country to transit the waterway since the outbreak of the US-Iran war.
The Sapura 1200 was among seven ships that the Malaysian government had sought permission from Iran to clear the strait, which has been mostly closed off since the conflict broke out in late February disrupting global energy supplies, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The ship made its way through the strait, hewing close to the Iranian coastline, before heading for Oman, entering the Muscat port, LSEG data showed.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in March Iran would allow Malaysian vessels to pass through the strait after holding talks with Iranian officials.
Authorities have said the vessels Malaysia had asked for clearance include those owned by Vantris, shipping giant MISC Berhad and state energy firm Petronas.
Other Malaysian-linked ships that have been given clearance so far include Liberian-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Serifos, which exited the strait on April 10.
The tanker, carrying crude loaded from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in early March, discharged its cargo at Malaysia’s Malacca port on April 30.
Another VLCC, Ocean Thunder, loaded with Iraqi crude and chartered by a unit of Petronas, passed through the strait on April 5 and discharged its cargo of 1 million barrels of Basrah Heavy crude at Malaysia’s Pengerang on April 18.
A third vessel Mihzem, carrying Qatari liquefied natural gas and managed by an MISC unit, transited the waterway on Tuesday, becoming the second such cargo to cross under an arrangement involving Iran and Pakistan.
Two other MISC ships remain stuck in the Gulf, according to the sources and shipping data. — Reuters
US President Donald Trump opposed a declaration of independence by Taiwan and appeared to question why the US would defend the island in case of attack
US President Donald Trump said China’s President Xi Jinping (right) had assured him that China was not preparing military aid to Iran. (AFP pic)
BEIJING: US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Taiwan against declaring formal independence after a visit to China, whose leader Xi Jinping had pressed him not to support the self-ruling island.
Trump ended a state visit claiming to have made “fantastic” trade deals, although the details were vague and he did not appear to secure any breakthrough with China over his stalemated war on Iran.
Trump invited Xi to pay a reciprocal visit to Washington in September, signalling both sides will likely seek stability in the often turbulent relationship between the world’s two largest economies.
On a key issue for Xi, Trump made clear he opposed a declaration of independence by Taiwan and appeared to question why the US would defend the island in case of attack.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that,” he told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier”.
“I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” Trump said.
“We’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that,” he said.
The US recognises only Beijing and does not support formal independence by Taiwan, but historically has also stopped short of explicitly saying it opposes independence.
Under US law, the US is required to provide weapons to Taiwan for its defence, but it has been ambiguous on whether US forces would come to the island’s aid.
Xi had begun the summit with a warning on Taiwan, whose President Lai Ching-te considers the island already independent, making a declaration unnecessary.
Xi had told Trump that missteps on the sensitive issue could push their two countries into “conflict”.
In a statement focused on an interview a day earlier by state secretary Marco Rubio, who said US policy toward Taipei was unchanged, Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked the US for showing “it supports and values Taiwan Strait peace and stability”.
No details on ‘fantastic’ deals
Trump said China had agreed to buy 200 “big” Boeing jets as well as American oil and soybeans.
“We’ve made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries,” he said after a walk with Xi among the rose bushes in the gardens of Zhongnanhai, a central leadership compound next to Beijing’s Forbidden City.
“We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve,” Trump added, without providing specifics.
Xi promised to send Trump rose seeds for the White House Rose Garden and said it was a “milestone visit”.
However, there were no formal announcements from companies or from China on trade deals.
The reserve on the Chinese side echoes the tone of the summit as a whole, where Trump’s overtures to Xi – whom he described as a “great leader” and “friend” – were met with a more muted response from Beijing.
Jacob Stokes, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said the trip ultimately was more about setting a tone than about deliverables, which Trump usually seeks.
“Trump got the optics he was looking for and the Chinese were happy to give them to him,” Stokes said.
Little on Iran
Trump had delayed the trip once due to the war in Iran, which has rebuffed his appeals for an agreement and retaliated by exerting control over the key Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices soaring.
Trump said Xi had assured him that China was not preparing military aid to Iran.
Israel has alleged that Beijing has provided key missile technology to Tehran.
The Chinese foreign ministry on Friday released a statement on Iran saying “shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible”.
Trump also acknowledged that he could not persuade Xi to free Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon who was imprisoned in a clampdown and whose cause is broadly backed in Washington.
“He told me, Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him to do,” Trump told reporters.
Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific program, noted that Trump had already sounded half-hearted in his public comments on Lai.
“My sense is that the Chinese see that this is not a top priority for the US,” she said.
“What Trump seems to want most is purchases of American products — that appears to be his highest priority,” she added.
The two leaders had been expected to discuss extending the one-year tariff truce that paused their frenetic 2025 trade war, struck during their last meeting in October.
However, Trump told reporters on the way home that it “wasn’t brought up”.
On the streets of Beijing, reaction to the talks was tepid.
“This meeting could be considered a success – though, to be honest, none of us really had very high expectations to begin with,” Zhang Yong, a 46-year-old IT worker, told AFP.
[1] The political tide appears to be turning rapidly against Anwar Ibrahim and the coalition he leads. The clearest warning sign came from Negeri Sembilan, where UMNO moved to precipitate the collapse of the PH-led state government. This was not merely a state-level quarrel but an unmistakable signal that UMNO is preparing to move against Anwar himself.
[2] After spending the past three years as the junior partner in government — and benefiting enormously from the political lifeline Anwar extended when the party was on the brink of collapse — UMNO now appears convinced that it is strong enough to reclaim power on its own terms.
[3] Ironically, despite its deeply corrupt past and near-death experience only a few years ago, UMNO is beginning to look like the only relatively stable national political force left standing. By contrast, both PH and PN appear increasingly weighed down by internal tensions, policy drift and leadership uncertainty.
[4] PKR, in particular, appears to be facing an existential crisis. Support for the party has declined across virtually every major ethnic group. Leaked internal assessments paint a grim picture, with many PKR MPs at serious risk of losing their seats if elections were held today. The situation in PKR today is reminiscent of the disarray in UMNO in the runup to GE14; it does not bode well for the party.
[5] Even more telling is the reported scramble by senior PKR figures for safer seats ––usually in more ethnically mixed constituencies. Having failed to make meaningful inroads into the Malay heartland, the party now appears to be retreating once again to the non-Malay voter base that has long sustained it. This time, however, the ground beneath it looks far less secure.
[6] After years of unmet expectations, broken promises and what many see as an increasingly haughty leadership style, the non-Malay electorate appear to have had enough. The sense of betrayal is palpable, with growing talk of using the ballot box to punish Anwar. Increasingly, he looks less like a transformational leader and more like a one-term prime minister.
[7] At the same time, much of the reformist energy once associated with Anwar appears to be shifting towards Rafizi Ramli, who is increasingly seen as the more credible standard-bearer of reformist hopes. Should he eventually choose to break away or chart an independent political course, it could well deliver the final blow to the current leadership.
[8] DAP, too, may no longer be in a position to rescue Anwar politically. Its setback in Sabah served as a sobering reminder that its support base can no longer be taken for granted. Anthony Loke is increasingly viewed as overly accommodating and too willing to compromise core principles simply to preserve the coalition government. DAP will likely remain the dominant Chinese party for lack of a credible alternative, but growing frustration among voters could still translate into electoral losses.
[9] Nor is Perikatan Nasional especially well positioned to capitalise on the current political situation. Bersatu appears broken beyond repair, with many members quietly exploring political exits and new alignments. PAS, meanwhile, remains constrained by its inability to broaden its appeal beyond its conservative Malay-Muslim core base. PAS may retain its rural strongholds, but major gains in urban and semi-urban constituencies remain unlikely.
[10] All this leaves Zahid Hamidi and UMNO in an extraordinarily advantageous position. If the courts ultimately uphold Zahid’s DNAA — itself widely seen as another major political concession extracted from Anwar — UMNO’s path back to Putrajaya could become even clearer. The party now has every reason to believe that it could emerge from GE16 as the single largest force in Parliament, even if it falls short of an outright majority.
[11] What makes this moment especially remarkable is its profound irony. After decades of presenting himself as the antidote to UMNO’s corruption, arrogance and abuse of power, Anwar Ibrahim may ultimately be remembered as the man who enabled UMNO’s political resurrection. In rescuing UMNO after GE15, he restored its legitimacy, gave it time to rebuild, and in the process may have brought the reformasi era to its final, dismal end.
Dennis Ignatius | Kuala Lumpur | Thursday, 14 May 2026
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the issue surrounding seven heritage football players accused of being ineligible must first be reviewed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), before the matter reaches the Home Ministry (KDN). - Bernama pic, May 15, 2026
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the controversy surrounding seven ineligible heritage football players should first be addressed internally by FAM before being referred to the Home Ministry, as pressure mounts over citizenship revocation calls and governance concerns in Malaysian football
KUALA LUMPUR – The issue surrounding seven heritage football players accused of being ineligible must first be reviewed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), before the matter reaches the Home Ministry (KDN), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking to reporters after officiating the 2026 National Youth Day celebration at X Park Sendayan today, Anwar said the matter should be handled through the proper process before any decision is made.
“Let FAM discuss it first and then submit it to the Home Ministry according to the usual process,” he said briefly.
His remarks come amid continued scrutiny over the eligibility of the seven naturalised players who previously represented the national football team, following questions surrounding documentation and citizenship approval procedures.
The controversy reportedly involves seven players classified under heritage eligibility rules, with concerns raised over whether proper procedures were followed in verifying their citizenship status for international competition.
The issue has triggered widespread debate over governance, transparency, and regulatory oversight within FAM.
Malaysia was reportedly sanctioned by international football authorities following the case, including a ban from the next Asian Cup cycle and other disciplinary measures linked to player eligibility breaches.
The development has sparked concern within the local football fraternity and intensified calls for stricter governance standards in Malaysian football.
Previously, hardcore national team supporters’ group Ultras Malaya demanded that the citizenship of the seven players be revoked.
The supporters’ group issued two demands following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which dismissed the appeal filed by FAM and the seven heritage players.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, Ultras Malaya called on those responsible to admit that document falsification had taken place involving the seven players.
The group also demanded that the citizenship of all seven players be revoked immediately.
“Previously, you asked us to wait for FIFA’s decision? We did. Then you asked us to wait for FIFA’s appeal? We did. Then you asked us to wait for the CAS appeal? We did.
“Now it is our turn to ask. Admit that document falsification took place. Revoke the citizenship of the seven individuals involved. Let us resolve this fundamental issue first before discussing anything else,” the group said in the statement.
The CAS ruling in March saw the appeal by FAM and the seven heritage players rejected, effectively upholding the original punishment imposed by FIFA.
Reuters China's President Xi Jinping and Donald Trump discussed Taiwan during bilateral talks in Beijing
US President Donald Trump has said he has "made no commitment either way" on Taiwan during talks with China's President Xi Jinping.
On the flight back to Washington after the two-day summit in Beijing, Trump told reporters the pair had "talked a lot" about Taiwan - a self-governing island, which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
Trump said Xi had asked directly if the US would defend Taiwan, and he had responded: "I don't talk about that."
The US president also said he would "make a determination over a fairly short period" on whether to go ahead with previously US announced arms sales to Taiwan which China has condemned.
Taiwan is a long-standing US ally and Washington is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
Successive US administrations have walked a diplomatic tightrope by maintaining that relationship alongside building ties with Beijing.
But that balance has been increasingly tested in recent years as China has ramped up military drills around the island, raising tensions in the region, and rattling Washington.
However on Friday, Trump said he would be "making decisions" on the sale, adding that he would speak to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te first.
"We discussed the Taiwan, you know, the whole thing with the arm sales in great detail," he said, referring to talks with his Chinese host in Beijing.
Xi "feels very strongly" about the island and "doesn't want to see a movement for independence", Trump said.
"I made no commitment either way," Trump added, without elaborating.
"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations," Xi warned during the talks, according to Chinese state media.
"If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict," he said.
Asked if he foresaw a conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump said: "No, I don't think so. I think we'll be fine. [Xi] doesn't want to see a war."
He added: "On Taiwan, [Xi] does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation, and I heard him out.
"I didn't make a comment on it. I heard him out. I had a lot of respect for him."
Reporters also asked Trump if the US would defend Taiwan should it come under attack.
"I don't want to say that. I'm not going to say that," Trump said. "There's only one person that knows that. You know who it is? Me."
He continued: "That question was asked to me today by President Xi... He asked me if I'd defend them. I said, 'I don't talk about that'."
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said his team had been monitoring the US-China summit, and had maintained good communication with the US and other countries "to ensure the stable deepening of Taiwan-US relations and safeguard Taiwan's interests".
He said Taiwan had always been a "guardian of peace and stability" in the region and accused China of escalating risk with its "aggressive military actions and authoritarian oppression".
The government, through the Health Ministry, had acted illegally, irrationally, and without proper consultation with the Poisons Board when it delisted liquid and gel nicotine products from the Poisons List in 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled today.
As such, judge Aliza Sulaiman allowed a judicial review filed by three NGOs against the then health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa and the government, who were the first and second respondents.
The NGOs were Voice of Children (VoC), the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MTCT), and the Malaysian Green Lung Association, which filed the legal challenge in July 2023.
Aliza, who delivered her decision in online proceedings, said the matter remains a live issue and was not rendered academic as the delisting has not been repealed despite the enactment of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
She found that Zaliha’s decision to delist the products used in vape and e-cigarettes was primarily driven by economic considerations linked to the imposition of tax on vape products in Budget 2023.
Zaliha’s affidavit, she said, is evidence that the tax exemption was introduced to enable the government to tax vape products, which contain nicotine, with the resulting revenue to be channelled to health initiatives.
“Despite recognising that electronic cigarettes and vape liquids are dangerous to health and that Malaysia is obliged to regulate and restrict their supply, sale, and use, the first respondent (Zaliha) proceeded to make the impugned order to give effect to the decision regarding taxation,” said Aliza. Loophole
The court further found that the tax exemption had created a legal loophole before the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 came into effect in October 2024.
She also said that the Health Ministry’s consultation with the Poisons Board regarding the delisting decision did not meet the requirements under Section 6 of the Poisons Act.
This is because, she said, there was no physical meeting between Zaliha and the board, and there was no further discussion after the board unanimously rejected the delisting proposal.
The consultation, she added, was merely a formal legal compliance as the outcome was effectively predetermined.
“If I can put it rather crudely, it was almost like a done deal,” she said, making no order as to costs.
The NGOs contended in their legal challenge that Zaliha did not properly consider and engage with the Poisons Board over its unanimous vote against the nicotine exemption.
The groups claimed the minister’s actions are irrational, as the exemption would lead to electronic cigarettes and vapes with nicotine being freely sold to children.
Former health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa
The Health Ministry, on March 31, 2023, exempted nicotine from the list of controlled substances under the Poisons Act to introduce a new bill to regulate smoking products and devices, including nicotine in liquids and gels used in e-cigarettes and vapes.
The MACC found no corrupt elements in the Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) approval of development projects near six flood retention ponds in the city centre.
Its senior director of investigations Hafaz Nazar said they have opened an investigation after receiving complaints in 2022, which alleged potential abuse of power by DBKL officers and the city's Irrigation and Drainage Department in approving the projects between 2015 and 2021.
“Among the allegations that we investigated are the change of land status of several areas located near flood retention ponds in the capital city, including at Taman Wahyu.
"MACC has carried out a thorough investigation based on documents and statements that we recorded, before submitting our investigation paper to the deputy public prosecutor in 2023.
"Based on the investigations, we did not find any element of corruption and the case has been classified as no further action," Hafaz (above) said in a statement.
Hafaz added that MACC, however, has reminded DBKL to tighten its monitoring of development projects near the ponds to ensure contractors follow the set rules and specifications.
His statement came after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh told a press conference earlier today that she was still waiting for an update on the case from the MACC.
Hannah Yeoh
"At the time, we were the opposition, and I also lodged a report with the MACC.
"So, I need to get an update from the MACC before I comment," she said when asked about the status of the probe.
In 2021, the media reported Yeoh urging the MACC to take immediate action over the allegations, which she said compromised the actual purpose of the ponds.
She also reportedly said the 2019 Auditor-General’s Report revealed that between 2015 and 2020, the mayor approved 943 planning permissions that were not in line with the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.
In January 2022, then-MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said his team would investigate the matter from various angles, including possible elements of corruption and abuse of power.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said she had no information regarding any meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board.
“I was not aware that an FT Pardons Board meeting would be held today,” she told reporters briefly after attending the launch of the North Segambut KTMB Station in Kuala Lumpur. Also present was Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Earlier, rumours circulated that the meeting would convene today to discuss former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s latest pardon application.
This followed a report by a portal claiming that a retired judge and a former senior police officer had been appointed to the board, enabling the board to resume hearing the pardon petition.
Under Article 42(6) of the Federal Constitution, board members are appointed for a three-year term and can be reappointed.
Yeoh sits on the board in her capacity as the federal territories minister.
Launch of the North Segambut KTMB Station in Kuala Lumpur today
Previously, Free Malaysia Today reported that Najib had submitted a fresh pardon application to the board during the Ramadan month, around March 2026, with a copy also sent to Istana Negara.
The application reportedly sought a full discharge from all criminal convictions. However, it remains unclear whether the application concerns both the SRC International and 1MDB cases.
However, senior lawyer Shafee Abdullah denied that a new pardon application had been filed by Najib, who is currently serving his sentence at Kajang Prison.
Conviction, reduction, and royal addendum
Najib was convicted in 2020 on seven charges involving abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering linked to RM42 million in SRC funds.
He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and fined RM210 million. The son of Malaysia’s second prime minister began serving his prison sentence after all appeals were dismissed by the Federal Court.
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak
However, in 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board reduced Najib’s prison sentence to six years, while the fine was reduced to RM50 million following his earlier pardon application.
Najib filed a judicial review application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court the same year, claiming an addendum issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
On Dec 22 last year, judge Alice Loke dismissed the application, ruling that the addendum was invalid under the law. Najib has appealed the decision.
Flood retention pond case
In a separate development, Yeoh, who is also the Segambut MP, said she is still waiting for an MACC report regarding investigations into allegations that six flood retention ponds around the capital had their land status changed to allow for development projects.
“At the time, we were the opposition, and I also lodged a report with the MACC.
“So I need to get an update from the MACC before I comment,” she said when asked about the status of the probe.
In 2021, local media reported that Yeoh had urged the MACC to take immediate action over the allegations, which she said contradicted the actual purpose of the ponds.
She also reportedly said the 2019 Auditor-General’s Report revealed that between 2015 and 2020, the mayor approved 943 planning permissions that were not in line with the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.
Subsequently, in January 2022, then chief commissioner Azam Baki said the MACC would investigate the matter from various angles, including possible elements of corruption and abuse of power.
