CHINA BRAINWASHING WAS CIA FICTION

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Nury Vittachi 

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CHINA BRAINWASHING WAS CIA FICTION: CIA

It was not China or North Korea, but the US which worked on mind control processes in the 1950s to 1970s, newly declassified CIA documents show.

The US had long claimed that it used illegal brainwashing techniques on people (US and Canadian citizens, Korean prisoners of war) because they were copying what China and North Korea were doing.

The US even produced a string of movies, and a bestselling book, “The Manchurian Candidate”, telling stories of Americans brainwashed with drugs and mind-control methods by the Chinese and the Koreans.

But these tales, some starring Ronald Reagan, were designed to fool Americans and the wider public.

.

CIA, NOT CHINA

The new documents, declassified this month, show no evidence of Chinese or North Koreans taking any such action, and indicate that the illegal techniques used in these programs (Project Bluebird, Project Artichoke, and MK-Ultra) originated from the CIA, not the Chinese or Koreans.

CIA chemist Sidney Gottlieb already said in 1983 that the Chinese and the Koreans “DIDN'T depend upon sophisticated techniques used in drugs and other more technical means” (contrary to popular allegations in the media).

This system, now known as Projection, is widely used today. The US creates friction in Taiwan, or Hong Kong, or the South China Seas, or in waters around Korea, and then blames China and North Korea.

Today, as in the 1950s, the US intelligence agencies work closely with the western mainstream media to make sure that tension created by the west is blamed on the victims.

But many people today are harder to fool. Be one of the smart ones! Peace.

Maintain ban on river sand exports - Nik Nazmi

Maintain ban on river sand exports - Nik Nazmi

Malaysiakini Team
Published: May 12, 2026 9:30 AM
Updated: 4:18 PM


Environment

Former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has called for Malaysia’s ban on river sand exports to be maintained, warning that excessive extraction could cause long-term environmental damage.

Nik Nazmi said rivers should not be viewed merely as economic assets, describing them instead as vital ecosystems that regulate floods, protect water resources, support biodiversity, and sustain local communities.

He cautioned that sand extraction beyond sustainable limits could result in irreversible consequences, stressing the need for careful environmental management.

While acknowledging the need for inland works and river management projects in certain areas, Nik Nazmi noted that Pahang had received more than RM500 million for flood mitigation works since 2023.

He also stressed that environmental governance must prioritise sustainability, enforcement, and ecosystem protection over short-term economic gains, adding that Malaysia should learn from past experiences of uncontrolled resource exploitation rather than repeat them.

READ MORE: 

Pahang palace regrets Putrajaya's export ban on sand from the state

Of the Abrahamic religions, Islam is best equipped to accept extraterrestrial life

Existence of extraterrestrial life will break human arrogance, not religion

Mahathir Mohd Rais
Published: May 12, 2026 8:54 AM
Updated: 10:55 AM



COMMENT | The US administration’s release of the first batch of UFO files has brought back a question that never really went away. Is the truth really out there?

That question is no longer just about strange objects in the sky. It now touches something much deeper.

If intelligent extraterrestrial life is one day officially confirmed, what happens to religion, especially the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?

The easy answer is panic. The serious answer is no. Such a revelation would not destroy these faiths. However, it would force many believers to think again, especially about how they understand human beings, creation, and God.

Religion has always wrestled with the oldest question of all: where did we come from? Philosophers, sages, priests, and scholars have been grappling with it since the beginning of human civilisation.

Science searches for evidence. Religion approaches the same question through revelation and belief in God. Philosophy stands somewhere in between, asking what reality itself means.

They begin in different places, but keep circling the same mystery.

Science and religion

Science has its method. Religion has its own framework. Science studies what can be observed and tested.

Religion begins with the belief that God exists and that creation is not random. They are not identical, but neither are they always enemies. At their best, science, religion, and philosophy are all trying to approach truth.

That is why the idea of extraterrestrial life does not automatically threaten faith.

Science does not prove God. It also does not disprove the Creator. It says nothing final about whether God stands behind the universe, behind the Big Bang, behind the beginning itself. So, the space for God remains open.

If intelligent life exists elsewhere, that would challenge one old habit of thinking, the idea that human beings are the only special creation in a vast universe.

That is where the real tension lies. Not in whether God exists, but in whether human beings have been too quick to assume they are the only centre of divine attention.

What such a revelation would really wound is not scripture, but human self-importance. Much of the panic would come from a bruised hierarchy, not a broken theology.

People can accept that God is great. What they struggle to accept is that they may not be as central to creation as they once imagined.


What about Islam?

For Muslims, such a revelation would likely not create a crisis of faith. If anything, it would be seen as further proof of Allah’s limitless creative power.

Islam already leaves room for a creation far wider than human beings know. The Quran speaks of Allah as the Lord of all worlds, says that He creates what people do not know, and refers to living creatures dispersed through the heavens and the earth.

For many Muslims, that is enough to accept the possibility without panic. If extraterrestrial life exists, it would simply mean that they are also part of Allah’s creation. Their existence would not weaken divine power. It would magnify it.

For ordinary Muslims, this would not be difficult to absorb. If such beings are peaceful, they should be treated justly. If they are hostile, then the response is resistance, not theological collapse.

In other words, Islam is not threatened by the possibility that Allah created more than humanity.

Christianity and Judaism would face harder theological questions, especially where human-centred readings of creation are concerned.

If other intelligent beings exist, are they fallen in the same sense humans are believed to be fallen? Do they need redemption?

Was the arrival of Jesus Christ a uniquely human event, or does it carry a wider cosmic meaning? Judaism would face its own questions too, particularly around covenant, the idea being divinely chosen, and the place of human history in a universe that may be more populated than previously imagined.


A possible divide?

These would be major questions, but they would still be questions of reformulation, not ruin.

This is why a future UFO disclosure would probably divide religious responses into two broad camps.

One group would become more defensive, treating it as deception, confusion, or even an end-of-times test.

Another group would move toward a broader and more cosmic theology, one that keeps faith intact while accepting that divine creation may be far larger and more complex than previously imagined.

The real issue is not whether religion can survive extraterrestrial disclosure. It can. The real issue is whether believers are willing to accept that God was never limited by human imagination in the first place.

If alien life is one day confirmed, faith will not be the first thing to break. Human arrogance will.



MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is a former Federal Territories Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional secretary. He is now a PKR member.

Khairy, ambition alone won't make you PM

Khairy, ambition alone won't make you PM


Published: May 12, 2026 8:14 AM
Updated: 2:15 PM



YOURSAY | 'PM aspirant also needs mass charisma, connection to grassroots.'

KJ aspires to become PM but not obsessed with 'lifelong ambition'

PinkJaguar7289: Khairy Jamaluddin can aspire to be prime minister, but ambition alone does not build a road to Putrajaya.

His first test is not media interviews, podcast popularity, or elite approval - it is whether grassroots Umno members can accept him again sincerely.

If he wants to succeed, he must first rebuild trust from the branches upward, then help make BN strong again, like during the eras of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Abdul Razak, when the machinery, discipline, and Malay grassroots support were still solid.

Khairy is articulate and intelligent, but national leadership also requires mass charisma. Former US president Bill Clinton, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, and now Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had that emotional connection with ordinary voters.

Khairy has the brains, but does he have the warmth, grassroots appeal, and instinct to make people feel he belongs to them? That is the real test.

OrangeJaguar9341: Khairy may be articulate, more intelligent than the last few prime ministers, and more charismatic than most MPs. But what he lacks is a set of uncompromising principles and moral integrity. That disqualifies him from the prime minister’s office in my book.

Khairy said he considered setting up his own political party, but “chose not to do so for the sake of Malay unity” because he did not want to “further fragment the Malay voter base”. That says it all.

There is zero appreciation for the multiracial fabric of Malaysia. There is no real vision for the country.

Anyway, I suspect that anyone comfortable in Umno is also comfortable with corruption. Certainly not my idea of a prime minister.

Ranjit Singh Malhi: Khairy, with due respect, no politician or Malay political party alone can make Malaysia great again without first transforming the mindset of Malays at large.

True national progress requires not merely political rhetoric, but a genuine shift towards excellence, integrity, critical thinking, inclusiveness, and a stronger sense of shared national purpose.

It is my personal view that many Malay political leaders have, for far too long, enriched themselves and their cronies while misleading the rakyat through the oft-repeated slogan “demi bangsa, agama dan negara” (for race, religion, and country).

RainbowHuman1963: Umno's downfall partly stemmed from Mahathir's obsession with eliminating opposition, believing that emulating aspects of PAS would eventually result in Kelantan voting for BN.

Reducing the secular elements of the administration and civil service actually strengthened PAS and weakened Umno.

As much as the comment section here tends to be largely unimpressed with Khairy’s past, he could be the least bad option for changing Malaysia’s old guard, akin to what Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to achieve in his country.

Add to that his friendly relations with Singapore, and the synergy between the two nations could produce spectacular outcomes over the next one to two decades.

Coward: It is too early, and Khairy is not ready for the Umno presidency, let alone the premiership. His actions so far have undermined his own efforts to become prime minister.

For example, he threw the party under the bus when it became clear that his parliamentary campaign was not going well. He projected a different persona through his podcast, only to revert to his old self after being readmitted into Umno.

Even outside Umno, his podcast appearances were timid. Much of it had only novelty value, and once that faded, people stopped paying attention to it.

Overall, he is not an interesting prime ministerial candidate.

Do Malays really want to be united?

Do Malays really want to be united?

S Thayaparan
Published: May 11, 2026 2:35 PM
Updated: 5:54 PM



"This is our culture. We do not know what hardship is; we only want things to be easy."

– Dr Mahathir Mohamad on who 

he thinks the Malays are (2002)

COMMENT | Recently, twice former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad again blamed the Malays for losing this country to whoever because “… they prioritise the fate of their leaders rather than race, country and religion.”

At this point, without any awareness of the irony in muttering something like this, the old maverick demonstrates he is either deep in denial or he doesn’t recognise that his creation, a Frankenstein creature composed of various bits of fascist ideology, racism and self-serving imperatives, defines the mainstream Malay political landscape.

Of course, when you consider that DAP’s head honcho Anthony Loke said, “I told Anwar Ibrahim, as long as you can be prime minister, DAP is willing to sacrifice anything, that is my commitment to Anwar Ibrahim”, rational people realise that the main thing this country has going for it is that every community is complicit in the destruction of the country’s democratic future.

I noticed the former prime minister replaced “royalty” with “country”, and this fits his pattern because if there is one institution that Mahathir has shown more contempt for than any other, it is the royal institution, which over the decades he has battled not for any populist agendas but rather because he chafed at his power being shared.

While Mahathir attempted to curtail the royal institution for self-serving reasons, the resurgence of the institution under the current prime minister, which issues diktats that the federal government assimilates, demonstrates how weak the political apparatus is when dealing with incursions into its constitutional powers.

Threat to status quo

Keep in mind, back in the Najib Abdul Razak era, Mahathir acknowledged that the royal institution and he were in the same camp because both viewed Najib as a threat to the status quo.

“So what they are doing is not because of me or supporting me, it is because they know that the future is bad. I won’t be around for very long, but their future, their children’s future, new sultans will be under the thumb of Najib and also under the thumb of future prime ministers. So they worry about that.”

Najib Abdul Razak


Mahathir was adamant that he did not know of Najib’s malfeasances, dismissing allegations as rumours, which, strangely enough, is something that Madani does when confronted with evidence of corruption within the ranks of Madani.

This, of course, does not take into account the various discharges not amounting to acquittals which have been granted to fellow travellers on the Madani road.

Then again, corruption allegations always seem to be swirling around the prime minister’s men in this country. Mahathir claimed that he only ever heard rumours about Najib’s corruption.

Now, of course, with the corporate mafia, allegations against various aides and an assortment of holdovers from previous Umno regimes, the current prime minister hears no corruption but, more importantly, sees no corruption, while the state goes after individuals deemed a threat to the natural Madani order of things.

Selective prosecutions, even if those targeted are corrupt, do not detract from the very obvious failings of the graft-busting agency and the political apparatus.


Hand in gravy train

Anwar was recently crowing about Madani’s strong bumiputera agenda. As reported in the press, ”… Anwar added that the responsibility of advancing the bumiputera agenda has also been entrusted to the deputy prime minister…” which raises two points.

The first is that Umno still has its hand on the direction of the gravy train, which would make it easier to sustain the political party. The second is that all these state-sponsored programmes, which are supposed to benefit the bumiputera community, will not have the desired effect because of incompetence and leakages.

Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has admitted that the vast bureaucracy had carried out all those poverty alleviation programmes and nobody had any idea about their effectiveness – “… that hitherto many ministries had programmes on poverty alleviation but there was no specific monitoring on their effectiveness.”

Not because monitoring these programmes would mean transparency, but because many of these programmes were part of the gravy train driven by bureaucrats, political operatives and their various proxies.

Umno was never really for the Malays, but rather, they were for Umno. Memories of some are short, but I remember when former Kota Raja Umno chief Amzah Umar revealed: “We give a seven percent discount for bumiputera buyers and 12 percent for Umno members, if I am not mistaken.”


Enslaving, not emancipating

Every “Malay” politician is acutely aware that championing the “Malay” cause does not mean emancipating the Malay community but rather enslaving them.

Of course, nobody thinks they are enslaving their community but carrying out so-called favourable policies meant to protect their community from the “others”.

Why do you think that Madani wanted something like the failed Urban Renewal Act? Instead of local council elections, which act as a check and balance to a whole range of issues and where communities determine what is needed in the places they live, we get the URA, which concentrates power in the government and where back channelling, backroom deals and corporate malfeasance get a fig leaf of legality.

This is why PSM wants the focus back on holding local council polls.

Do you know why Malay uber alles politicians play the race card when it comes to local council polls? They want to destroy democratic opportunities where the Malays, especially if they are a minority in certain areas, understand that their welfare is safeguarded by a non-Malay majority.

And that right there is the problem. The establishment is defined by how it wants to destroy democratic opportunities for the Malay community, not to mention curtail independent thought, because such freedoms would jeopardise the political elites.

By mainstreaming a racial supremacist policy, the majority community has trapped itself in a Gordian knot.

It is not about uniting the Malays. It is about keeping them under your boot.

S THAYAPARAN is commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

***

I reckon Najib made one mighty mistake - he offended the Grand Olde Man who then "destroyed" Ah Jib Gor as he originally did Anwar

Ex-MAG MD tells why Malaysia Airlines still serves alcohol

Ex-MAG MD tells why Malaysia Airlines still serves alcohol


2 hours ago
Elill Easwaran


Izham Ismail says the airline must balance commercial realities, global partnerships, and the expectations of international passengers

Malaysia Airlines serves alcohol on international flights longer than three hours, upon request by passengers. (Malaysia Airlines Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines continues to serve alcoholic beverages because it must remain commercially sustainable while operating as a global airline, says former Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) group managing director Izham Ismail.

Izham said the airline must consider its global partnerships and the expectations of premium passengers.

Izham Ismail.


“It’s a very difficult decision because you have partners – Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, American Airlines – and they have their top-tier customers.

“So you cannot ignore that completely,” he said on the Strategy Xchange Podcast hosted by former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Izham also said the airline had made adjustments for Muslim crew members, including the option of wearing hijab.

He added that the Amal crew, previously focussed on flights to Medina and Jeddah, was now also deployed on routes to cities such as London and Tokyo.

Izham said he understood Islamic sensitivities concerning alcohol, but stressed that broader commercial and economic realities must also be considered.

“I am a Muslim and I know that I shouldn’t be advocating alcohol. But I (also) look at the wider economy, global business,” he said.

Malaysia Airlines serves alcohol on international flights longer than three hours, but only upon request by passengers.

PAS has consistently called for a total ban on alcohol by the national carrier, citing Islamic principles and the comfort of Muslim flight attendants. However, tourism bodies have warned that such a move could harm Malaysia’s reputation as a tourist destination.


Fuel costs rising, industry at ‘tipping point’

Izham also warned that geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the US were quietly squeezing the aviation industry through surging fuel prices.

“The airline industry is at a tipping point … The US-Iran conflict is hitting us very subtly without us realising (it),” he said.

He said jet fuel costs had more than doubled from what they were during his time running Malaysia Airlines.

He said the airline’s monthly bill had risen from around RM400 million to between RM1.2 billion and RM1.5 billion.

He suggested that governments consider adopting a “cost-plus” pricing model for fuel to reduce pressure on industries and consumers.

He said this was because geopolitical uncertainty distorted crude oil pricing far beyond actual production and transport costs, making operations difficult across aviation and other sectors.

‘Don’t turn middle class into govt’s ATM’, Kepong MP tells Putrajaya over RON95 subsidy reform

‘Don’t turn middle class into govt’s ATM’, Kepong MP tells Putrajaya over RON95 subsidy reform



Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said Putrajaya must clearly disclose who would be affected by the subsidy rationalisation plan, how income would be assessed, and whether factors such as living costs, dependants, loans, and commuting needs would be taken into account. — Picture by Azneal Ishak

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 8:54 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng today urged the government to fully explain its proposed RON95 fuel subsidy reform, warning that middle-class Malaysians should not be penalised under a poorly defined mechanism.

In a statement today, Lim said Putrajaya must clearly disclose who would be affected by the subsidy rationalisation plan, how income would be assessed, and whether factors such as living costs, dependants, loans and commuting needs would be taken into account.

“The government cannot throw around labels like T20, T15, T10 or T5 and expect people not to panic.

“High income does not mean rich. A household above the national T20 line may still struggle badly in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor or the Klang Valley after paying for housing, car loans, children’s education, insurance, elderly parents and daily living costs.

“These are not millionaires. These are ordinary middle-class families working hard just to keep their heads above water,” he said.


Lim said the government must avoid relying solely on income figures while ignoring actual household burdens faced by families.

He questioned whether the Central Database Hub (PADU), which reportedly cost RM85.27 million to develop and implement, would genuinely be used to ensure a fair and data-driven policy.

“If the final decision is still based on broad labels without proper assessment, then what is the point of PADU?” he asked.

Lim said Malaysians were not opposed to subsidy reform itself, but objected to reforms that were unclear or unfair.

He said the government must answer key questions, including whether eligibility would be determined based on individual or household income, and whether factors such as location, number of children, elderly dependants, housing loans, car loans and daily travel distance would be considered.

“If these questions cannot be answered clearly, then the government is not ready to implement the policy,” he said.

Lim warned that the biggest impact may fall on middle-income households who appear financially stable on paper but continue to face significant financial pressures.

“They earn slightly more on paper, but their burden is still heavy. The government sees figures, but not pressure,” he said.

He added that the middle class was already burdened by taxes, rising living costs, housing commitments and education expenses, and should not become “the easiest target whenever the government wants to save money”.

“Do not turn the middle class into the government’s ATM.

“People who work hard, earn more and move up in life should be encouraged, not punished. If Malaysians begin to believe that the harder they work, the more they lose, the country will pay a heavy price,” he said.

Lim also called on the government to immediately disclose the full mechanism for the subsidy reform, including the income threshold, assessment method, appeal process and transition plan.

“Stop creating fear with unclear standards,” he added.

Four Bukit Indah homes hit in suspected Molotov cocktail attacks linked to Singapore Ah Long syndicate

Four Bukit Indah homes hit in suspected Molotov cocktail attacks linked to Singapore Ah Long syndicate



Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters said investigations are being carried out under Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951 and Section 435 of the Penal Code. — Picture via Facebook

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 9:06 AM MYT


ISKANDAR PUTERI, May 12 — Police have confirmed receiving reports of four houses in Bukit Indah here that were set ablaze, believed to have been targeted in petrol bomb (Molotov cocktail) attacks on Friday and Saturday.

In a statement, Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters said investigations are being carried out under Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951 and Section 435 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Iskandar Puteri Member of Parliament Liew Chin Tong visited the scene of the incident, which is believed to have been carried out by an unlicensed moneylending syndicate (Ah Long) from Singapore.

In a Facebook post, Liew expressed his appreciation to Bukit Indah police station chief Inspector J.M. Alvin Sudesshen for his swift action upon receiving the report.

The Perling state assemblyman also expressed support for the residents’ initiative to enhance safety facilities.

He added that welfare assistance will be channelled to those affected and follow-up actions will be taken. — Bernama

As Trump warns truce on ‘life support’, Iran says ready for any aggression

As Trump warns truce on ‘life support’, Iran says ready for any aggression



The president’s angry reaction to Iran’s position—delivered in response to a US proposal—sent oil prices soaring and dashed hopes that a deal could be quickly negotiated to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. — AFP pic

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 9:21 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, May 12 — President Donald Trump warned the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on “life support” yesterday after rejecting the latest counteroffer from Iran, which said its military stood ready to respond to any act of aggression.


The president’s angry reaction to Iran’s position—delivered in response to a US proposal—sent oil prices soaring and dashed hopes that a deal could be quickly negotiated to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.


After slamming the reply as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” Trump insisted the United States would see a “complete victory” over Iran, adding that the truce which has largely halted fighting in the Gulf for over a month was on its last legs.

“The ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a one percent chance of living,’” he told reporters on Monday.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who served as chief negotiator in previous talks with Washington, said shortly afterwards that his country was prepared “for any eventuality.”


“Our armed forces are ready to respond and to teach a lesson for any aggression,” he wrote on X. “A bad strategy and bad decisions always lead to bad results—the world already understands this.”

The developments unnerved global energy markets already thrown into chaos by the war and the overlapping blockades imposed by Iran and the US in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital conduit for oil and gas shipments.


“The energy supply shock that began in the first quarter is the largest the world has ever experienced,” the CEO and president of Saudi oil giant Aramco, Amin Nasser, told investors.

“If the Strait of Hormuz opens today, it will still take months for the market to rebalance, and if its opening is delayed by a few more weeks, then normalisation will last into 2027.”

Hunger and starvation

Aside from energy, the world also faces a shortage of fertiliser—much of which comes from Gulf ports—and hence food for tens of millions of people.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), told AFP there were just a few weeks left to avert a potentially “massive humanitarian crisis.”

“We may witness a crisis that will force 45 million more people into hunger and starvation.”

Trump did not say what had offended him in Iran’s response, but Tehran’s foreign ministry said it had called for an end to the US naval blockade of its ports and to the war “across the region”—implying a halt to Israel’s strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Crucially, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters Iran demanded the “release of assets belonging to the Iranian people, which have for years been unjustly trapped in foreign banks.”

This would be not just a return to the status quo before the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, but a victory in the Islamic republic’s long-standing campaign against its economic isolation.

“We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights,” Baqaei said.

An end to international sanctions would diminish Washington’s leverage over Tehran as it tries to secure a lasting end to Iran’s nuclear enrichment.

The US, Israel and their allies have long accused Iran of seeking atomic weapons, an accusation Tehran has repeatedly denied.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the conflict would not end until Iran’s nuclear facilities were destroyed.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said Iran’s counterproposal had included the possibility of diluting some of its highly enriched uranium, with the rest transferred to a third country.

‘Restraint over’

The lack of a path to a resolution has focused concern on the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran is restricting maritime traffic and setting up a payment mechanism to charge tolls for crossing ships.

US officials have stressed it would be “unacceptable” for Tehran to control the international waterway.

Trump told Fox News that he was considering reviving a short-lived US operation to guide oil tankers and other commercial ships through the Hormuz, but that he had not yet taken a final decision.

Saudi sources previously told AFP that Saudi Arabia had prohibited the US from using its airspace and bases for the operation the first time around, fearing “it would just escalate the situation and would not work.”

Seeking to increase economic pressure on Iran, the United States issued sanctions against 12 individuals and entities that it said facilitated the sale and shipment of Iranian oil to China.

It listed three Iran-based individuals and nine companies—based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates—as being subject to the new sanctions.

As part of its blockade, the US Navy has at times fired on ships to disable them, or boarded and diverted them.

In a social media post on Sunday, the spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s national security commission warned Washington: “Our restraint is over as of today.”

“Any attack on our vessels will trigger a strong and decisive Iranian response against American ships and bases,” Ebrahim Rezaei said. — AFP

So much for a royal flush: Frustrated Trump learns he doesn’t have the cards on Iran

So much for a royal flush: Frustrated Trump learns he doesn’t have the cards on Iran



On Iran, the former casino owner is learning that he, in fact, doesn’t have such a strong hand after all. — AFP pic

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 8:56 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, May 12 — One of President Donald Trump’s favorite metaphors is that he’s got the cards—that through the might of the United States and his own acumen he can overpower any adversary.

On Iran, the former casino owner is learning that he, in fact, doesn’t have such a strong hand after all.


As he travels this week to China on a trip already delayed by his war, Trump will not project strength as a victor but instead will remain beleaguered both by Iran’s stubborn refusal to accept an agreement on his terms and dwindling approval from Americans who did not support the conflict and are now paying higher prices at the pump.

“I don’t see how the president has many, if any, good cards to play at this moment in time,” said Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.


Trump joined Israel in attacking Iran on February 28, with strikes quickly killing the longtime supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and much of the other top brass.


But Iran quickly hit back by exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passageway through which one-fifth of global oil once sailed, and it has rained missiles and drones on US-allied Gulf Arab monarchies, shattering the oil-rich countries’ hard-earned reputation for stability.

The United States would need massive force to dislodge Iran from the strait, which would cause major new havoc on global markets and new threats to Gulf Arabs, Yacoubian said.


Iran’s cleric-run state ruthlessly crushed protests in January and is now dominated by the elite Revolutionary Guards, who are even less interested in compromise with the United States.

“I think that the administration has fundamentally misjudged the character and the approach of the regime in Tehran,” Yacoubian said.

‘Very desperate’

Trump declared a ceasefire on April 8 and has indefinitely extended it, even as he was twice forced to abort trips by top US officials to negotiate in Pakistan after Iran balked at attending.

Trump last week announced “Project Freedom” in which US forces would help ships through the Strait of Hormuz, before suspending the operation two days later as Gulf Arabs worried about coming under fresh attack.

Trump then spent the weekend building anticipation for any Iranian response, only to declare Monday that Tehran’s counter-proposal was “garbage.”

“Trump’s actions over the last month show a leader who’s very desperate to end this conflict, but he continues to threaten more conflict if he doesn’t get what he wants,” said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

“That shows that he simply does not know how to get a better deal. He could have gotten a better deal before the war began,” he said.

Trump just last year had berated past US leaders for Middle East interventionism and has described China as the main challenger to the United States.

But he now arrives in China “with a much weaker hand,” Katulis said.

“The US military has expended a lot of its armament and weaponry in just a month and a half, and China knows it.”

Wanting to turn the page

Trump and his top aides last week said that the offensive part of the war, at least, was over, as the administration would otherwise need authorization from Congress.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview that aired Sunday with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” said the war was not over as there was a need to seize uranium from Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Garret Martin, a foreign policy expert at American University, said that the only way out for Trump could be a negotiated agreement—which may wind up being less rigorous than one reached without war in 2015 by former president Barack Obama, which Trump railed against as the “worst deal ever.”

The end effect on the US image would be the opposite of January, when Trump voiced triumph after ordering a raid into Venezuela that quickly deposed and snatched Venezuela’s leftist leader Nicolas Maduro and installed a compliant successor.

“Nobody is questioning that the American military is mightier and stronger than the Iranians’,” Martin said.

“But that’s not enough when the adversary is fighting what they see as an existential conflict.” — AFP

Philippine lawmakers impeach Sara Duterte, putting 2028 presidential bid at risk

Philippine lawmakers impeach Sara Duterte, putting 2028 presidential bid at risk



Protesters call for the impeachment of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte ahead of a vote in the House of Representatives on whether to transmit the impeachment complaint to the Senate, outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Philippines, May 11, 2026. — Reuters pic

Monday, 11 May 2026 5:32 PM MYT


MANILA, May 11 — Philippine lawmakers ‌today overwhelmingly backed the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, setting the stage for a trial in the Senate that could end her hopes for a ‌presidential run in 2028. A House justice committee had last month found probable cause for her impeachment in a petition from activists accusing her of misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth and threatening the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his wife and the former House speaker. The petition was backed by 255 of 318 lawmakers on Monday, surpassing the one-third threshold required.


With her ally-turned-enemy Marcos limited by the constitution to a single term in office, Duterte is the ‌clear favourite to succeed him in 2028, but the impeachment could derail ⁠her bid.


Duterte denies wrongdoing, and ⁠her legal team has described the impeachment effort ⁠as defective and a “fishing expedition”. The ⁠Senate must ⁠convene a trial with its members as jurors. Duterte faces removal from office and a ban from politics if convicted. The impeachment effort is ⁠the latest in a series of setbacks for the influential Duterte family, with the vice president feeling constant heat from her bitter feud with Marcos and her father Rodrigo Duterte awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court over a war on drugs that killed ⁠thousands of people during his 2016-2022 presidency.



Protesters from progressive groups hold placards during a protest in support of the impeachment of Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte in front of the Congress building in Quezon City, Metro Manila on May 11, 2026. — AFP pic




But in what could be a boost for Duterte, there was drama today in the ⁠upper house Senate, where a motion was passed to remove its president ⁠and ⁠replace him with Alan Peter Cayetano, a staunch loyalist of her family.


The change in Senate leadership means Cayetano, a former running mate of Duterte’s father, ‌would be the presiding judge if an impeachment trial is convened. — Reuters

Explainer: What Malaysia’s proposed filial law could mean for families

Explainer: What Malaysia’s proposed filial law could mean for families



While many have welcomed the proposal as a way to prevent elderly parents from becoming homeless or being abandoned at hospitals, experts have warned that such legislation could also place additional strain on family relationships, particularly amid current economic challenges. — Pexels pic

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — The government recently announced that it is considering introducing a new law that would legally obligate children to care for their ageing parents.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposed legislation aims to establish a legal framework that places greater emphasis on filial responsibility.

While such a filial law would be new to Malaysia, several countries have already implemented similar policies, offering Malaysians a glimpse of how the law could eventually take shape.

These laws, which can be civil or criminal in nature, vary from country to country. However, their core objective remains the same — to impose a legal obligation on adult children to provide financial support or care for parents who are unable to support themselves.

How filial responsibility laws work around the world:

• China - The Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly mandates both financial and emotional support, including requiring children to regularly visit or “greet” their parents
• India - The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 requires children to support elderly parents, with potential fines or jail terms for neglect
• Philippines - The Family Code outlines mutual support obligations among family members
• France and Germany - Civil laws in both countries require direct-line relatives — including parents, children, and grandparents — to support family members in need
• Canada - Most provinces, except Alberta and British Columbia, have filial responsibility laws, although they are rarely enforced
• United States - Around 30 states have filial support laws, with Pennsylvania notably using them in nursing home payment claims
• Singapore - The Maintenance of Parents Act allows parents aged 60 and above to seek monthly allowances or lump-sum payments from their children

What Malaysian can expect from the proposed law:

• The government has said that it will study legal models from countries that have already enacted similar filial responsibility laws, with Singapore likely to serve as the primary reference
• Malaysians could eventually be required to provide financial support to their parents either through monthly allowances or lump-sum payments, similar to Singapore’s model, although the age eligibility for parents has yet to be determined
• However, as the Malaysian government already provides various forms of assistance for senior citizens — including Bantuan Warga Emas of up to RM600 through the Welfare Department, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, i-Suri, and other aid programmes — the financial contribution required from children may be kept at a minimal level based on their income
• The government is also expected to assess whether children have the financial means to support their parents
• Those who are unemployed, married with dependents, or facing financial hardship could potentially be exempted or only required to provide minimal assistance

Singapore’s Maintenance of Parents Act, which was amended in July 2023, also includes protections for children who were abandoned, abused, or neglected by their parents.

According to the Singapore law, parents with a history of abandonment, abuse, or neglect must first obtain permission from the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents before proceeding with their claims. Malaysians could therefore expect similar safeguards if such a law is introduced locally.

The Malaysian government is also expected to dismiss repeated or vexatious claims by parents that lack sufficient grounds.

Ahmad Zahid recently said the framework developed for Malaysia would be carefully aligned with local cultural values, religious sensitivities, and social conditions.

In November last year, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the government was drafting a new Syariah Courts Bill aimed at strengthening protection for elderly parents who are frail, without income, or unable to support themselves.

This could also mean that only parents who are genuinely unable to support themselves would be eligible to make claims.

Those with sufficient financial resources, such as Employees Provident Fund savings, pensions, or Social Security Organisation support, may not qualify.

Concerns over financial pressure and family tensions

While many have welcomed the proposal as a way to prevent elderly parents from becoming homeless or being abandoned at hospitals, experts have warned that such legislation could also place additional strain on family relationships, particularly amid current economic challenges.

With the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty driven by global conflicts, individuals who are already supporting their own children and households may find it difficult to shoulder additional responsibilities for ageing parents, especially if they are the sole child in the family.

Those who experienced neglect or inadequate care during childhood may also be less willing to provide support willingly, potentially creating greater resentment and conflict instead of strengthening family bonds.

Experts have also stressed that any move to legislate filial responsibility should be accompanied by financial incentives and supportive measures, including affordable eldercare services, flexible leave arrangements, and stronger community-based support systems.

Some have also proposed that the law should prioritise mediation and reconciliation efforts rather than relying heavily on punitive action.

Ramasamy dreads slippery slope awaiting DAP in fortress Penang, sees no respite on the horizon

Ramasamy dreads slippery slope awaiting DAP in fortress Penang, sees no respite on the horizon

By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy
2 hours ago

THE outcome of elections is not always predictable. Look at what happened in Tamil Nadu, a state in South India.

Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekaran was a popular figure but nobody expected him to form the government. He defeated the traditional parties that headed the coalitions in the state.

In the recent regional elections in Sabah, DAP was completely wiped out in all the eight seats the party contested.

Some DAP leaders, preferring to be anonymous, are contending that DAP with PKR and Barisan Nasional (BN) might not retain the super majority of 29 seats of the total of 40 seats in the Penang state assembly.

In the four terms in the past, DAP maintained its 19-seat election victory. Can DAP translate its majority in the next term?

The Chinese and Indians voted for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in the last elections – both at the Federal and state level.

However, in the August 2023 state elections, Indian support declined considerably to 45%. DAP’s internal purge of some prominent Indian leaders was the cause.

In the coming elections, Indian support for the PH coalition and the DAP might be lower. DAP might have to depend on the Chinese voters.

Unfortunately, the Chinese in Penang and in the rest of the country have become disillusioned with PH in general and the DAP in particular.

No solid Madani reform

The much talked about reforms by the government headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are nowhere to be seen.

Anwar’s promise of reforms has dissipated in the interest of political expediency. The experience of DAP in Sabah might not be replicated in Penang but the level of support has deteriorated.

While Anwar is the main problem, DAP – by being a yes-man party – has refused to press for reforms.

The party’s rhetoric of deadlines and others simply revealed that it has lost its political dynamism when it was in the opposition.

There are even chances that DAP might leave the PH coalition just before the announcement of elections.

Such a move might not get the votes of the non-Malays but might expose the opportunism of the party.

At the national or state levels, DAP might be in serious trouble. In Penang, the on-going rift between party adviser Lim Guan Eng and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow over quit rent charges has reduced the confidence of the Chinese electorate.

Moreover, the sharp rise in land taxes has increased the financial burden on the people.

Indians are unhappy with the lack of employment opportunities in state agencies, the re-settlement of former estate workers, especially in the case of Ladang Transkrian, and not least the eviction of the Indian tenant operating the 100-year-old Waterfall Cafe in the Penang Botanic Gardens. – May 11, 2026

Prof. Dr. Ramasamy

about 2 weeks ago

A heritage lost: The demolition of the 103-year-old Waterfall Cafe

P. Ramasamy
Chairman Urimai
April 28, 2026

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