‘Cover for political agenda’: Hamas rejects Israel’s truce proposal as Gaza air strikes kill 40 in camps for displaced civilians

‘Cover for political agenda’: Hamas rejects Israel’s truce proposal as Gaza air strikes kill 40 in camps for displaced civilians



Palestinians look on during the handover by Hamas of deceased hostages, identified at the time by Palestinian militant groups as Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children Kfir and Ariel Bibas, seized during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, to the Red Cross. — Reuters pic

Friday, 18 Apr 2025 9:10 AM MYT



GAZA CITY, April 18 — Hamas yesterday signalled its rejection of Israel’s latest truce proposal and called for a “comprehensive” deal to end the 18-month-long war.

The Palestinian militants’ chief negotiator spoke out after civil defence rescuers in Gaza said new Israeli air strikes killed at least 40 people, most of them in camps for displaced civilians, as Israel pressed its offensive in the Palestinian territory.


The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the strikes.

A Hamas source told AFP that the group sent a written response Thursday to mediators on Israel’s latest proposal for a 45-day ceasefire. Israel had wanted the release of 10 living hostages held by the group, according to Hamas.


It also called for the freeing of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been under complete blockade since March 2.


The proposal called for Hamas to disarm to secure a complete end to the war, a demand the group rejects.

“Partial agreements are used by (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu as a cover for his political agenda... we will not be complicit in this policy,” Hamas’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said in a televised statement.


He said Hamas “seeks a comprehensive deal involving a single-package prisoner exchange in return for halting the war, a withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip, and the commencement of reconstruction” in the territory.

A previous ceasefire and hostage release deal began on January 19 but collapsed two months later.

Israel offered to extend the first phase, while Hamas insisted that negotiations be held for a second phase, as outlined by Joe Biden when he was US president.

Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on March 18.

Qatar blames Israel

The emir of Qatar, which with Egypt and the United States helped mediate the January ceasefire, blamed Israel on Thursday for its collapse.

“As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said during a visit to Moscow.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said two Israeli missiles hit tents in the Al-Mawasi area of the southern city of Khan Yunis, killing at least 16 people, “most of them women and children, and 23 others were wounded”.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians flocked to Al-Mawasi after Israel declared it a safe zone in December 2023. But the area has since been hit by repeated Israeli strikes.

Survivors described a large explosion at the densely packed camp that set tents ablaze.

“We were sitting peacefully in the tent, under God’s protection, when we suddenly saw something red glowing — and then the tent exploded, and the surrounding tents caught fire,” Israa Abu al-Rus told AFP.

Bassal said Israeli strikes on two other camps for displaced Gazans killed a nine people — seven in the northern town of Beit Lahia, and a father and son near Al-Mawasi.

Separately, the civil defence reported two attacks in Jabalia — one that killed at least seven members of the Asaliya family, and another that killed six people at a school being used as a shelter — as well as Israeli shelling in Gaza City that killed two.

The military announced it had carried out a strike in Jabalia on a Hamas “command and control” centre.

Israel said Wednesday that it had converted 30 percent of Gaza into a buffer zone in its widening offensive.

The United Nations said half a million Palestinians have been displaced since the offensive resumed, triggering what it has described as the most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Red Cross base

Hamas accused Israel of attempting to starve Gaza’s 2.4 million people after Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Israel would continue preventing aid from entering the territory.

“This is a public admission of committing a war crime,” the group said in a statement.

Medical supplies, fuel, water and other essentials are in short supply, the UN says.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, said it was “outraged” that an explosive hit one of its bases in Gaza on Wednesday, the second such strike in three weeks.

Israel’s renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reported, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.

Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. — AFP

Beware the rise of the unaccountable bench

FMT:

Beware the rise of the unaccountable bench


Letter to the Editor

We do not preserve the rule of law by sidelining democracy – we uphold it when each institution performs its role within the framework of the constitution

From Apandi Ali

The debate over judicial appointments in Malaysia has intensified recently with a few people, from legal scholars to legal practitioners, defending Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s call for greater insulation of the judiciary from executive oversight.


They suggest that the prime minister’s power to reject names recommended by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is antithetical to judicial independence, and that judges should be appointed based solely on merit, free from political preference.

While such views are often well-intentioned, they run the risk of enabling a new problem: the slow emergence of an unaccountable bench, a judiciary that answers to no one, yet wields the power to reshape public life through constitutional interpretation.


The call to entirely remove the prime minister’s role from judicial appointments would tilt the constitutional balance and, paradoxically, endanger the very accountability that protects democratic institutions from overreach.

Malaysia’s constitutional framework is clear. Under Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, judges of the superior courts are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister, after consultation with the chief justice and Conference of Rulers.

JAC, established by statute in 2009, plays a vital role in vetting and recommending candidates – but it is not, and never was, intended to displace the constitutional role of the executive.

To suggest that JAC’s recommendations must be binding – effectively removing the prime minister’s discretion – is to propose a judiciary accountable only to itself. This represents a shift from independence to isolationism.


As many constitutional scholars have warned, independence of the judiciary does not mean that judges are to be left in splendid isolation. This reflects a fundamental truth: no branch of government can be left completely unchecked.

The judiciary, by design, is unelected. It draws legitimacy not from the ballot box, but from its adherence to constitutional and legal norms.

The prime minister, on the other hand, is elected by the people and accountable to Parliament. His role in the judicial appointment process is the public’s only indirect influence over who interprets the laws they vote for.

To remove this role entirely is to cut off that connection, leaving judicial ideology to evolve within an echo chamber of legal insiders – potentially out of step with the cultural, social, and moral expectations of the nation.


Merit is essential, but merit must be evaluated in context, not in abstraction. Legal excellence alone is insufficient without the humility to serve in a system of shared powers and mutual accountability.

Supporters of judicial insulation often cite global examples, but executive involvement in judicial appointments is standard even in established democracies.

In Singapore, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. In the UK, the lord chancellor – a political office – still plays a formal role. In the US, federal judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

These models do not diminish judicial independence – they reinforce it through institutional checks, public trust, and shared responsibility.

Recent Malaysian court decisions have revived the controversial basic structure doctrine, allowing courts to invalidate laws that allegedly offend the “basic structure” of the constitution – a concept never explicitly codified.

This doctrine, borrowed from India, has led to increasing concerns about judicial supremacy in a system meant to be balanced by three co-equal branches.

India, where the phrase “tyranny of the unelected” was coined to describe judicial overreach, is already grappling with the consequences of an overly assertive bench.

Malaysia should take heed before walking the same path.

If judges can strike down laws based on unwritten principles – and also determine who joins their ranks – we risk creating an ideological monopoly within the judiciary, unmoored from public accountability.

These people’s support for judicial independence is understandable, but their proposal risks swinging the pendulum too far.

Instead of removing the prime minister’s role, we should focus on refining the appointment process: strengthen JAC, improve transparency, and require reasoned decisions where appropriate.

We cannot abandon the prime minister’s role entirely. The judiciary must be independent, yes – but it must also remain connected to the people’s mandate through a process of balanced, constitutional design.

We do not preserve the rule of law by sidelining democracy. We uphold it when each institution – judiciary, executive, and legislature – performs its role within the framework laid out by the constitution.

Independence without restraint is not strength. In time, it will be a threat to the very freedoms it seeks to protect.



Apandi Ali is a former attorney-general.

Sin Chew editors' detention: I'm ashamed to be Malaysian, says don

Sin Chew editors' detention: I'm ashamed to be Malaysian, says don

RK Anand
Published: Apr 18, 2025 8:30 AM
Updated: 10:30 AM



Summary

• Academic Tajuddin Rasdi does not mince words in wondering if Malaysia has become a failed nation.

• He condemns those who cling to a “sorry, no cure” attitude and demand their “pound of flesh”.

Academic Tajuddin Rasdi has voiced his profound concern and dismay over the detention of two senior editors from Sin Chew Daily, declaring bluntly that he feels a deep sense of shame in being Malaysian.

“This incident reinforces my long-held belief that our country is teetering on the edge of becoming a failed nation - or perhaps has already fallen into an abyss with no end,” he told Malaysiakini.

Tajuddin said he even disagreed with the daily’s decision to suspend the editors for inadvertently publishing an image of the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon symbol.

The professor of architecture agreed with the view that, since Sin Chew has apologised, corrected the mistake, and committed to reviewing its procedures for using artificial intelligence, this should be considered sufficient.

Academic Tajuddin Rasdi

“How can we aspire to be a family that allows no room for mistakes? How can we become a family or a nation that offers no space for learning, no grace for self-correction?

“What kind of family, company, or country abandons the understanding that to err is human, and to forgive, divine?” he asked.

Tajuddin said while there are numerous groups who cite the “divine”, there appeared to be a glaring dearth in dearth of “divine compassion”.

‘Sorry no cure’

Clinging to a “sorry, no cure” attitude and constantly demanding a “pound of flesh”, he argued that Malaysians have failed to learn from several incidents, including the KK Mart controversy, the Era FM issue, and the temple relocation case.

“I wonder what religion teaches its adherents the principle of ‘sorry no cure’?

“Even Prophet Muhammad forgave the people who caused him immense hardship in Taif. I take inspiration from my prophet, but I wonder, those who demand their pound of flesh - where did they learn their faith from?

“Truly, today I feel ashamed to be called a 'Malaysian’,” he emphasised.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain


Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Razaruddin Hussain said the chief editor and deputy chief sub-editor of Sin Chew Daily were detained to assist in investigations and would be released on police bail later.

Earlier, the duo had their statements recorded over a three-hour session at the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit office in Bukit Aman.

Police also revealed that 40 reports were lodged nationwide over the matter.

***

kt comments:

Some Malaysians want to punish, hurt, condemn etc etc whenever the opportunity arises - and it's getting worse each day

Soon it may even come to these (see below):

Zaid: Execute investigators, prosecutors enabling corruptio

Zaid: Execute investigators, prosecutors enabling corruption

RK Anand
Published: Apr 17, 2025 8:18 PM
Updated: 10:18 PM



Summary

• Zaid Ibrahim criticises a Sabah assemblyperson’s suggestion to execute graft offenders by firing squad.

• The former law minister says enforcement, not harsher laws, is the real issue.

In a twist that sounds like it belongs in a dystopian political thriller, a Sabah politician proposed that graft offenders be executed by firing squad, like in China.

However, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim responded with a sharp critique, warning that such a policy "might not just trim the fat - it could massacre the entire buffet”.

By his conservative estimate, Zaid claimed that implementing such a law would eliminate at least 80 percent of Malaysian politicians, leaving state assemblies - including the one in Kota Kinabalu - and Parliament in Kuala Lumpur resembling abandoned buildings.

"On the flipside. The ideological tortoises in this race of gold-chasing hares - the politicians who don’t treat politics as a get-rich-quick scheme - might finally have an edge,” he told Malaysiakini.

While making clear he does not support the death penalty, Zaid (above) argued that if executions were to be considered, then the "silver bullet" solution would be to first target those who refuse to investigate or prosecute corruption, particularly when it involves those in power.

"The existing laws are sufficient to address and discourage corruption," he said.

"But it’s the implementation that has always been lacking. For decades, we’ve seen how enforcement agencies are weaponised against political rivals while acting as shields for those in power.

“Execute a few of them and everyone will be on their best behaviour, including the politicians,” he added.

In a tongue-in-cheek take on the Warisan assemblyperson’s proposal, Zaid said such a law would never be passed as it would be asking politicians to sign their death warrants.

“If nothing else, it’s a great conversation starter over your next teh tarik,” he added.

Ongoing corruption scandal

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported Bugaya assemblyperson Jamil Hamzah as mooting the firing squad solution during the ongoing state assembly proceedings in Sabah.

His proposal came amid an ongoing corruption scandal involving the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state administration.

Bugaya assemblyperson Jamil Hamzah


Since November last year, a businessperson has released a series of videos and screenshots of WhatsApp conversations implicating eight GRS assemblypersons, as well as the state legislative assembly speaker, Kadzim Yahya.

The businessperson, who claims to possess additional videos, alleged that he bribed the politicians in exchange for mineral exploration licences.

Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has accused the individual of colluding with certain parties to discredit his administration ahead of the upcoming state election.

The businessperson is also accused of being part of a cartel attempting to monopolise mining activities in the state.

On April 10, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the commission was waiting for the forensic analysis report into the Sabah scandal videos, which were submitted on March 11.

Anwar holds ‘frank, constructive’ talk with Myanmar’s junta head

FMT:

Anwar holds ‘frank, constructive’ talk with Myanmar’s junta head


7 hours ago

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the discussion also touched on the importance of returning Myanmar to ‘normalcy’ after a 2021 coup.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok today.


PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had a “frank and constructive” discussion with Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing today.



In a Facebook post, Anwar said their discussion touched, among others, on the importance of “returning the country to normalcy”, adding that he would also meet with representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG).


The NUG and National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) form the Myanmar government-in-exile, which was established after a 2021 military coup that sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the country.

Civil rights groups say the junta has arrested thousands of protesters and activists since the coup, which saw its military overthrow the democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy.


The coup plunged the nation into a multi-sided civil war which has seen at least three million people displaced, according to the United Nations.

Myanmar’s military government yesterday said it would release nearly 5,000 prisoners in an amnesty to mark the country’s new year festivities, reported AFP.

“I welcome recent steps to ease tensions, including the release last night of 4,800 detainees. Such gestures are a meaningful signal,” said Anwar.

Anwar also encouraged all parties to “engage seriously” in the interest of Myanmar’s stability and the wellbeing of its people.


Asean – which Malaysia is chairing this year – wants Myanmar to implement a five-point peace plan to halt the fighting, with the ruling generals barred from attending its meetings over their failure to comply.

He said he and Min discussed the immediate deployment of a field hospital in the country after the recent earthquake.

The devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has claimed more than 5,300 lives and compounded the already critical humanitarian crisis in the country amid the civil war.

Yesterday, foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said the mission to deploy medical officers to Myanmar to set up a field hospital was postponed at the request of Myanmar’s authorities.

Newsman’s view: An honest mistake probably yet heads must roll in Sin Chew’s Malaysian flag blunder

Newsman’s view: An honest mistake probably yet heads must roll in Sin Chew’s Malaysian flag blunder






GHOSTS of publishing are very difficult to exorcise. You could have taken utmost precaution with your content or have 10 eagle-eyed editors with 30 years of industry experience vetted it yet one silliest of mistake sneaked through.


Such scenario – coupled with tight deadline and manpower constraint, a phenomenon which is evident across newsrooms the world over today – could have led to a costly or earth-shattering oversight.


Sadly, the rather outstanding artistic conceptualisation of the Chinese jong as a symbolic gesture to welcome the landmark state visit of China’s president Xi Jinping has literally gone down the dustbin with the Sin Chew Daily’s omission of the crescent moon in Jalur Gemilang.




All of a sudden, all the good intention and hard work poured into laying out the April 15, 2025 edition of one of Malaysia’s top two Chinese newspapers is forgotten with jury aplenty out there to demonise the publication.


Such is perhaps the cruelty of journalism where editors constantly live with a sword of Damocles hanging over their head.


Irony or otherwise, this certainly sends a chilling message to all counterparts as to how the crescent moon (a symbol representing Islam as the religion of the Federation) is capable of bringing down Sin Chew Daily’s reputation that has been built over a span of 96 years to its knees.


His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia rightly pointed out that a flag is not just a “colourful piece of patterned cloth” but represents the struggle, history, the meaning of independence and the spirit of the common people.



“The mistake of displaying a picture of the Jalur Gemilang without a crescent moon as published on the front page of a local Chinese-language newspaper could trigger the people’s sensitivities and is unacceptable,” he penned on his Facebook page.


In all probability, Sin Chew Daily deserves to be reprimanded – heads must roll even if it must earmark a fall guy to take the wrap – but certainly not to the extent of revoking its publishing licence as taunted by some detractors.

Despite having 13 police reports already lodged against it with investigation underway under Section 4(1)(b) of the Printing Presses and Publishing Act 1984, a pertinent point is that Sin Chew Daily has issued a tri-lingual apology in English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Chinese.

“This was an unintentional error made during the design process,” the paper clarified. “We’ve amended the digital version and the same notice will be published in the print version.

“We apologise unreservedly to our readers, members of the Malaysian community and the general public. We regret the error.”

As the Home Ministry has issued a show-cause letter and initiated an investigation into the matter, it is of paramount importance for the relevant authorities to filter out political noises that can be toxic in their decision-making process.

As rightly argued by Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM), while Sin Chew Daily must be accountable for the blunder, reactions must be measured while refraining the use of outdated laws.

“We strongly condemn any calls for extreme action, including public boycotts, harassment of media workers or punitive measures under outdated laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA),” stressed the journalist group that advocates for a free and independent media in a statement.

“These reactions don’t contribute to constructive discourse and only serve to endanger media freedom in Malaysia.”

As it is, Sin Chew Daily has conducted a thorough internal review on the matter with the personnel responsible for the error subjected to disciplinary action.

Interestingly, its editorial department has also reviewed procedures, particularly with regard to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) which could have contributed to the oversight.

“We pledge to be extra cautious and sensitive in handling matters that may harm national dignity and interracial relations,” added the daily. – April 17, 2025

Sin Chew Daily takes action over ‘serious lapse’ involving Malaysian flag, suspends senior staff

Sin Chew Daily takes action over ‘serious lapse’ involving Malaysian flag, suspends senior staff




Screencap of vernacular Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily announcing the suspension of two senior staff on its Mandarin website, after the publication of a front page gaffe of the Malaysian flag.

Thursday, 17 Apr 2025 7:14 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Malaysia’s largest Chinese-language newspaper Sin Chew Daily today announced the suspension of both its chief editor and deputy chief sub-editor over an error involving the Malaysian flag published on its front page.

In a brief two paragraph statement in Mandarin published on its news portal, Sin Chew Daily said the suspensions are effective immediately and will remain until investigations into the issue are completed.


The Chinese-language newspaper had published an incomplete illustration of the Jalur Gemilang, without the crescent moon, on its front page last Tuesday in conjunction with the coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia.

Earlier today, federal police summoned Sin Chew Daily chief editor and deputy chief sub-editor to record their statements at the Classified Crime Investigation Unit Office in Bukit Aman.


The case is being investigated under Section 3(1)(c) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.


Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain was reported as saying the chief editor was the person responsible for approving the publication of the illustration, while the deputy chief sub editor was the graphic designer of the flag illustration.

The vernacular newspaper issued an unreserved apology yesterday to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, while acknowledging the King’s advice and described the mistake involving the Jalur Gemilang as a serious lapse.


The Home Ministry has also issued a show-cause letter to the newspaper over the incident, stressing that the Jalur Gemilang must be treated with respect as it symbolises national sovereignty, unity, and identity.

***

kt comments:

Media people in Malaysia have to walk on egg shells at all times

Zelensky accuses China of supplying Russia with weapons

FMT:

Zelensky accuses China of supplying Russia with weapons

Zelensky accuses China of supplying Russia with weapons

2 hours ago

The allegation comes after 155 Chinese citizens were reportedly found fighting for the Russian military last week.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Chinese representatives were involved in weapon production on Russian territory, without giving further details. (AP pic)

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, the first time he has openly accused Beijing of direct military assistance for Moscow.



The Ukrainian leader said at a press conference that his government also had intelligence that China was producing weapons on Russian territory and that he would be able to provide more details next week.


China, which has the world’s second-largest economy, has had close economic relations with Russia during Moscow’s three-year war in Ukraine. But it has sought to project an image of neutrality and denies any involvement in the war.

For Kyiv, direct Chinese supplies of weaponry for Russia would mark a major departure from that position.



“We finally have information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said in Kyiv, referring specifically to “artillery,” without specifying if he meant shells, artillery systems or both.

“We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia,” Zelensky said, without elaborating.

There was no immediate public comment from China and Reuters was not immediately able to seek comment from officials in China, as Zelensky’s remarks were made during the late evening in Beijing.

In comments last week about the war, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “I would like to reiterate that China is not the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis, nor is China a participating party. We are a firm supporter and active promoter of a peaceful settlement of the crisis.”


Zelensky’s allegation comes as President Donald Trump is pressing for peace, having upended previous US policy by directly engaging with Russia and at one point cutting military aid to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader said he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping during the war and asked him directly about the possibility of Beijing supplying arms to Russia.

“He gave me his word that weapons would not be sold and sent to Russia,” he said.

Strained ties


Russia has benefited from military aid from Iran and North Korea. Tehran has supplied long-range drones used to attack far from the front, while Pyongyang has supplied vast amounts of artillery shells, missiles and troops, Ukrainian officials say.

The fighting in Ukraine has long developed into a war of attrition in which both sides try to out-gun and out-kill each other by bringing greater numbers of troops and weapons to bear, making foreign military supplies vital.

Ties between China and Ukraine are already strained after Zelensky made public this month its capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia.

He said last week that Ukraine had information about 155 Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian military against Kyiv’s forces.

Zelensky said at that time that Russia was recruiting Chinese nationals via social media and that Beijing officials were aware of that. He added that Ukraine was trying to assess whether the recruits were receiving instructions from Beijing.

A week ago, China reaffirmed its support for peace efforts in Ukraine and said relevant parties should avoid “irresponsible remarks,” in an apparent jab at Zelensky’s comment about Chinese citizens fighting there for Russia.

Two U.S. officials familiar with American intelligence and a former Western intelligence official told Reuters last week they believed the Chinese citizens were mercenaries who did not appear to have a direct link to China’s government.

China and Russia declared a “no limits” strategic partnership days before Russian President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Police wrap up investigation into Sin Chew’s Jalur Gemilang front page gaffe

Police wrap up investigation into Sin Chew’s Jalur Gemilang front page gaffe



Police have completed recording statements from the Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Sub-editor of the Sin Chew Daily newspaper today to assist in investigations into the publication of an incomplete illustration of the Jalur Gemilang on the newspaper’s front page. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Thursday, 17 Apr 2025 7:34 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Police have completed recording statements from the Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Sub-editor of the Sin Chew Daily newspaper today to assist in investigations into the publication of an incomplete illustration of the Jalur Gemilang on the newspaper’s front page.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the process took about three hours at the Classified Crime Investigation Unit office at the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) headquarters in Bukit Aman.

“The entire process was completed at 3.45 pm,” he said when contacted today.

The Chief Editor was said to have approved the publication of the illustration, while the Deputy Chief Sub-editor was responsible for designing the graphic.

Razarudin said so far police have received 40 reports nationwide regarding the issue. The case is being investigated under Section 3(1)© of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

On Tuesday, the Chinese-language daily published an illustration of the Jalur Gemilang on its front page in conjunction with coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia, but the flag appeared incomplete.

The incident drew criticism from various parties, including His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, who said the newspaper’s management and editorial department must be more careful and thoroughly vet materials before publication.

Following the backlash, the newspaper issued an apology, stating that the mistake was a technical error and unintentional. — Bernama

Israel is about to empty Gaza

Pearls and Irritations
John Menadue's Public Policy Journal

Chris Hedges

Israel is about to empty Gaza

April 17, 2025


As Israel prepares to ethnically cleanse the whole of Gaza, it is also setting the stage for a regional crisis.

Israel is poised to carry out the largest campaign of ethnic cleansing since the end of World War II. Since 2 March, it has blocked all food and humanitarian aid into Gaza and cut off electricity, so that the last water desalination plant no longer functions.

The Israeli military has seized half of the territory — Gaza is 25 miles long and four to five miles wide — and placed two-thirds of Gaza under displacement orders, rendered “no-go zones”, including the border town of Rafah, which is encircled by Israeli troops.

On 11 April, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel would “intensify” the war against Hamas and use “all military and civilian pressure, including evacuation of the Gaza population south and implementing US President [Donald] Trump’s voluntary migration plan for Gaza residents".

Since Israel’s unilateral ending of the ceasefire on 18 March — which was never honoured by Israel — Israel has been carrying out relentless bombing and shelling against civilians, killing more than 1400 Palestinians and wounding more than 3600, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

An average of 100 children are being killed daily, according to the United Nations. Israel is, at the same time, inciting tensions with Egypt to lay what I suspect will be the groundwork for a mass expulsion of Palestinians into the Egyptian Sinai.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, echoing Katz, said Israel would not lift the total blockade until Hamas was “defeated” and the remaining 59 Israeli hostages released.

“Not even a grain of wheat will enter Gaza,” he vowed.

But no-one in Israel or Gaza expects Hamas, which has weathered the decimation of Gaza and sustained mass slaughter, to surrender or disappear.

The question no longer is will the Palestinians be deported from Gaza but when they will be pushed out and where they will go. The Israeli leadership is apparently torn between driving Palestinians over the border into Egypt or shipping them to countries in Africa. The US and Israel have contacted three East African governments — Sudan, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland — to discuss the resettlement of ethnically cleansed Palestinians.

The consequences of wholesale ethnic cleansing will be catastrophic, jeopardising the stability of the Arab regimes allied with Washington and setting off firestorms of protests within Arab countries. It will likely mean the severing of diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighbours, Jordan and Egypt, already close to the breaking point, and push the region closer to war.

Diplomatic relations have fallen to their lowest point since the signing of the Camp David Accords in 1979. The Israeli embassies in Cairo and Amman are largely empty, with Israeli staff withdrawn over security concerns following the 7 October 2023 incursion into Israel by Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions.

Egypt has refused to accept the credentials of Uri Rothman, who was appointed to be the Israeli ambassador last September. Egypt did not name a new ambassador to Israel when former ambassador, Khaled Azmi, was recalled last year.

Israeli officials are accusing Egypt of violating the Camp David Accords by increasing its military presence and building new military installations in the Northern Sinai, charges Egypt says are fabricated. The peace treaty’s annex permits additional Egyptian military hardware in the Sinai.

Former Israeli chief of the general staff, Herzi Halevi, warned of what he calls Egypt’s “security threat”. Katz said Israel would not allow Egypt to “violate the peace treaty” between the two countries which was signed in 1979.

Egyptian officials note that it is Israel that has violated the treaty by occupying the Philadelphi Corridor, also known as the Salahuddin Axis, which runs along the nine-mile border between Gaza and Egypt and is supposed to be demilitarised.

“Every Israeli action along Gaza’s border with Egypt constitutes hostile behaviour against Egypt’s national security,” Egyptian General Mohammed Rashad, a former military intelligence chief, told the Arabic language newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Egypt cannot sit idly by in the face of such threats and must prepare for all possible scenarios.”

Israeli officials are openly calling for the “voluntary transfer” of Palestinians to Egypt. Knesset member Avigdor Lieberman stated that “displacing most Palestinians from Gaza to the Egyptian Sinai is a practical and effective solution".

He contrasted the high population density — Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on the planet — with the vast “untapped lands” in the Egyptian Northern Sinai and noted that Palestinians share a common culture and language with Egypt, making any deportation “natural".

He also criticised Egypt because it allegedly “benefits economically from the current political situation” as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and “reaps profits from smuggling operations through the tunnels and the Rafah crossing".

The Israeli think-tank Misgav Institute for National Security, staffed by former Israeli military and security officials, published a paper on 17 October 2023, calling on the government to take advantage of the “unique and rare opportunity to evacuate the entire Gaza Strip”, and resettle Palestinians in Cairo with the assistance of the Egyptian Government.

A leaked document from the Israeli Intelligence Ministry proposed resettling Palestinians from Gaza in the Northern Sinai and constructing barriers and buffer zones to prevent their return.

Any expulsion is likely to happen swiftly, with Israeli forces, which are already mercilessly herding Palestinians into containment areas in Gaza, carrying out a sustained bombing campaign against the trapped Palestinians while creating porous evacuation portals along the border with Egypt.

It would entail a potentially lethal standoff with the Egyptian military, instantly throwing the Egyptian regime of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has described any ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians in Gaza as a “red line”, into crisis.

It would be a short step from there to a regional conflict.

Israel has seized territory in Syria and southern Lebanon, part of its vision of “Greater Israel”, which includes occupying land in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. It covets the maritime gas fields off Gaza’s coast and has floated plans for a new canal to bypass the Suez Canal, to connect Israel’s bankrupt Eilat Port on the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. These projects require emptying Gaza of Palestinians and populating it with Jewish colonists.

The anger on the Arab street — an anger I witnessed over the past few months during visits to Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Qatar — will explode in a justifiable fury if mass deportation takes place. These regimes, simply to hold on to power, will be forced to act. Terrorist attacks, whether by organised groups or lone wolves, will proliferate against Israeli and Western targets, especially the United States.

The genocide is a recruitment dream for Islamic militants. Washington and Israel must, on some level, understand the cost of this savagery. But it appears as though they accept it, foolishly trying to obliterate those they have cast out of the community of nations, those they refer to as “human animals".

What do Israel and Washington believe will happen when the Palestinians are expelled from a land they have lived in for centuries? How do they think a people who are desperate, deprived of hope, dignity and a way to make a living, who are being butchered by one of the most technologically advanced armies on the planet, will respond?

Do they think creating a Dantesque hell for the Palestinians will blunt terrorism, curb suicide attacks and foster peace? Can they not grasp the rage rippling through the Middle East and how it will implant a hatred towards us that will endure for decades?

The genocide in Gaza is the greatest crime of this century. It will come back to haunt Israel. It will come back to haunt us. It will usher to our doorsteps the evil we have perpetrated on the Palestinians.

You reap what you sow. We have sown a minefield of hatred and violence.



Republished from Consortium News, 14 April

Federal Court’s ruling in Loh Siew Hong case strengthens landmark precedent on unilateral conversion of minors

Murray Hunter


Federal Court’s ruling in Loh Siew Hong case strengthens landmark precedent on unilateral conversion of minors

P Ramasamy
Apr 16, 2025





The Federal Court of Malaysia has reaffirmed the earlier decision by the Court of Appeal in maintaining the religious status of Loh Siew Hong’s three underaged children as Hindus, reinforcing the 2018 landmark decision in the Indira Gandhi case which declared unilateral conversions of minors unconstitutional.

In rejecting the appeal by the Perlis state government, the Perlis Mufti, and other related religious authorities, the Federal Court clarified that its decision is binding in all future cases involving the unilateral religious conversion of minors.

The ruling serves as a clear message that the constitutional rights of both parents must be upheld in matters concerning the religious identity of their children.

One of the pivotal issues addressed was the interpretation of the word “parent” in Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution. While the Bahasa Malaysia version uses the singular form “ibu atau bapa”, the Federal Court emphasized that the authoritative text is the English version of the Constitution, where “parent” should be interpreted in the plural as “parents”.

This means the consent of both parents is required for a valid conversion of a minor, nullifying attempts at unilateral conversion permitted under some state laws, such as in Perlis.

The court also reaffirmed that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land and thus overrides any state enactment or constitution that allows for unilateral conversions.

This principle reinforces the doctrine of constitutional supremacy and the importance of harmonizing state laws with fundamental rights guaranteed at the federal level.

In its judgment, the court noted the profound impact unilateral conversions have on children, especially when executed without the knowledge or consent of one parent.

Such actions often result in long-term psychological and emotional harm, as well as legal complications concerning guardianship, custody, and religious upbringing.

The case of Indira Gandhi continues to stand as a significant legal precedent. Despite her personal heartbreak—her daughter remains missing, presumably hidden by her former husband who abducted her years ago—Indira’s relentless legal battle succeeded in establishing a constitutional safeguard for countless parents and children facing similar predicaments.

Sadly, efforts by authorities to locate and arrest her ex-husband have been minimal, raising questions about enforcement and justice.

Nonetheless, Indira’s courage and persistence have paved the way for others like Loh Siew Hong to challenge unlawful conversions. Loh, who regained custody of her children after they were taken and unilaterally converted by her former husband, benefited directly from the legal principles enshrined in the Indira Gandhi ruling.

This latest Federal Court decision marks another step forward in upholding constitutional rights, protecting the welfare of minors, and affirming the need for mutual parental consent in decisions of such profound personal and religious significance.



P. Ramasamy

Chairman Urimai

April 16, 2025

We are NOT alone in the universe

Alien whispers? Webb telescope picks up strongest ‘hints’ yet of life on distant planet



A graph shows the observed transmission spectrum of the habitable zone exoplanet K2-18 b using the James Webb Space Telescope MIRI spectrograph instrument. — Handout via Reuters

Thursday, 17 Apr 2025 8:58 AM MYT


PARIS, April. 17 — Astronomers announced today that they had detected the most promising “hints” of potential life on a planet beyond our solar system, though other scientists expressed scepticism.

There has been vigorous debate in scientific circles about whether the planet K2-18b, which is 124 light years away in the Leo constellation, could be an ocean world capable of hosting microbial life.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a British-US team of researchers detected signs of two chemicals in the planet’s atmosphere long considered to be “biosignatures” indicating extraterrestrial life.

On Earth, the chemicals dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide are produced only by life, mostly microscopic marine algae called phytoplankton.


The researchers emphasised caution, saying that more observations were needed to confirm these findings, and that they were not announcing a definitive discovery.

But the implications could be huge, according to Nikku Madhusudhan, a Cambridge University astrophysicist and lead author of the study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

“What we are finding at this point are hints of possible biological activity outside the solar system,” he told a press conference.

“Frankly, I think this is the closest we have come to seeing a feature that we can attribute to life.”

But outside experts pointed to disputes over previous discoveries about the exoplanet, adding that these chemicals could have been created by unknown means having nothing to do with life.

Chemical clues

More than eight times the mass of Earth and 2.5 times as big, K2-18b is a rare exoplanet that orbits its star in a habitable or “goldilocks” zone.

This means it is neither too hot nor too cold to have liquid water, considered the most important ingredient for life.

Telescopes observe such far-off exoplanets when they cross in front of their star, allowing astronomers to analyse how molecules block the light streaming through their atmosphere.

In 2023, the Webb telescope detected methane and carbon dioxide in K2-18b’s atmosphere, the first time such carbon-based molecules were detected on an exoplanet in a habitable zone.

It also detected weak signals of the chemical DMS, leading astronomers to turn Webb towards the planet again a year ago, this time using its mid-infrared instrument to detect different wavelengths of light.

They found much stronger signs of the chemicals, though still well below the “five sigma” threshold of statistical significance scientists seek for such discoveries.

Even if the results are confirmed, it would not necessarily mean that the planet is home to life.

Last year, scientists found traces of DMS on a comet, which suggested it can be produced in non-organic ways.

However the concentration of the chemical observed on K2-18b appears to be thousands of times stronger than levels on Earth, strongly suggesting a biological origin, Madhusudhan said.

Are we alone in the universe?

K2-18b has long been considered the premier candidate for a “hycean planet” — an ocean world bigger than Earth with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

These planets would not be expected to be home to intelligent alien life, but rather tiny microbes similar to those in Earth’s oceans billions of years ago.

Some research has questioned whether the currently proposed hycean planets are too close to their stars to support liquid water, including K2-18b, which orbits its star every 33 days.

Raymond Pierrehumbert, a planetary physics professor at Oxford University, has conducted separate research indicating K2-18b is too hot for life.

If the planet did have water, it would be “hellishly hot” and uninhabitable, he told AFP, adding that oceans of lava were more plausible.

Sara Seager, a professor of planetary science at MIT, called for patience, pointing to previous claims of water vapour in K2-18b’s atmosphere that turned out to be a different gas.

And within our solar system, Mars, Venus and moons such as Saturn’s Enceladus all have “more chance to be realised as life-hosting,” she told AFP.

Madhusudhan estimated that it would take just 16 to 24 more hours of Webb’s time to confirm their findings, which could happen in the next few years.

Even beyond K2-18b, Madhusudhan said Webb and future telescopes could allow humanity to discover life outside our home planet sooner than one might think.

“This could be the tipping point, where suddenly the fundamental question of whether we’re alone in the universe is one we’re capable of answering,” he said. — AFP

Could a credible third force emerge after Ayer Kuning?

Murray Hunter


Could a credible third force emerge after Ayer Kuning?

PSM could play a major role by taking enough votes to foster momentum for a third force

Apr 16, 2025





For years, there has been talk of a ‘third force’ in Malaysian politics. People have become very ‘bored’ of the arrogance of UMNO and the loss of hope the Pakatan Harapan government gave during its stint in government between 2018-2020.

Today, people are subjected two a double whammy. A ‘unity government’ composed of both UMNO and Pakatan Harapan. Instead of bringing out the best in each other, as hoped, these groups brought out the worst one could possibly imagine as a government for Malaysia. That’s an opinion held by many on both sides of politics.

The mixture of UMNO and PH is something very toxic in the peninsula.

With the unfortunate death of the sitting member Ishsam Shahruddin of the Perak state assembly seat of Ayer Kuning, the seat is now up for grabs.

Ayer Kuning, with some differences is not much different than the demographics of the peninsula. With approximately 31,600 voters of which 55.64 percent are Malay, 21.99 percent are Chinese, 14.3 percent are Indian, and around 8 percent are Orang Asli, the seat is a fair litmus test of support mid-term of the ‘unity government’. One must make a small qualification here, the Orang Asli are over represented in terms of the peninsula and local issues may arise over the next 10 days that skew the litmus test.

Since the seat was created in 1986, it has always been staunchly pro-UMNO. Even during the Perak State Election in November 2022, where Perikatan Nasional (PN) gained a 29 percent swing in the seat, Ishsam still managed to hold a 2,213 vote majority.

The pundits predict that UMNO should win enough votes to hold the seat, and a win or loss will not affect the standing of the current state government. Mohamad Yusri Bakir is the UMNO candidate and Abdul Muhairmin Malek is the PN candidate. There is an assumption there will be a drift across from previous PH supporters in the seat behind Mohamad Yursi to get him up for UMNO.

However, there are a number of factors that have occurred since the November 2022 Perak state election that may influence the result.

The first is the PH-UMNO coalition in the federal government. The assumption that PH supporters will switch their votes to UMNO is questionable. The second issue is how the ‘unity government’ has treated non-Malays. The third is how disappointed are Chinese in the DAP? And the fourth is how the Hindu temple issue has affected the Indian vote.

A third force

Enter a third force. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) are fielding Bawani Kaniapan (of listen, listen, listen fame) in the Ayer Kuning byelection. In the 2022 Perak State Election Bawani received 586 votes or 2.5 percent of the aggregate vote.

In the coming byelection there is some instinctive feelings of a change in voter sentiments – be a small change at that.

PSM is now accompanied by MUDA, P Ramasamy’s Urimai, and even Siti Kasim, who ran under the banner of Gerak Independent during the last general election (she is talking to the Orang Asli according to reports).

This might be wishful thinking, rather than hardnose analysis, but the group led by Bawani standing in Ayer Kuning can drastically improve upon her 2.5 percent of the aggregate vote this time around.

Disaffected PH voters may cast a vote for Bawani rather than stay home.

This could dash the hopes of UMNO reclaiming the seat if the protest vote was enough.

This would send a big message to Putra Jaya, if such a scenario occurred.

Many have been disappointed in making such predictions, which might be more hope than rational analysis. However, Ayer Kuning is an opportunity for voters to express their feelings without fear in the byelection. Unfortunately, Malaysia is quickly becoming a nation where people are in fear of publicly expressing their feelings.

A good result for Bawani could go a long way politically. A good result could raise some momentum for a third force that could have future electoral possibilities around northern Perak and Penang. It would be a massive warning for the DAP.

Now its time to wait for the voters’ verdict in Ayer Kuning.

The gentle statesman: Remembering Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Murray Hunter


The gentle statesman: Remembering Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

P Ramasamy
Apr 17, 2025





It is human and natural that we remember the good deeds of Malaysia’s fifth Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi—fondly known as Pak Lah.

His ascension to the premiership in 2003, following the resignation of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, was seen by many as a breath of fresh air.

After more than two decades of Mahathir’s assertive leadership, Malaysians appeared ready for a softer, more inclusive approach.

Pak Lah, with his calm demeanour and unassuming nature, seemed to be the right man at the right time. He was neither flamboyant nor confrontational, but rather moderate and measured—a stark contrast to his predecessor.

Mahathir, perhaps cautious after his fallout with former deputy Anwar Ibrahim, chose Badawi as a successor he believed would continue his legacy. However, that expectation proved misplaced. While Badawi respected the structures he inherited, he had his own style—gentle yet firm, calm but not passive.

He was no pushover. Yet, he also never engaged in open conflict with his ever-watchful predecessor. Instead, Pak Lah quietly introduced reforms in his own understated way.

One of his key initiatives was Islam Hadhari, a progressive and pragmatic approach to Islam that emphasized development, knowledge, and ethics—well-suited for Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. It was an attempt to present Islam not as a divisive force but as a framework for good governance and inclusivity.

While his tenure was not without criticism—particularly over allegations of nepotism and the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against leaders of the Hindraf movement in 2007—these issues were modest compared to the widespread corruption and abuse that plagued other administrations.

The detention of Hindraf leaders, although regrettable, occurred amid intense pressure from the police following mass demonstrations. Nonetheless, it marked a turning point. In the 2008 general elections, the Indian community abandoned the Barisan Nasional (BN) in large numbers, followed closely by the Chinese community. The opposition’s unprecedented success led to the fall of five states and signalled a seismic shift in Malaysian politics.

Pak Lah was not a maverick or radical reformist. He did not seek to uproot the political system or redefine Malaysia’s direction. But he also did not pander to racial or religious extremism. In an era when some politicians capitalized on identity politics to gain support, Badawi chose a different path. He valued national unity based on tolerance and mutual respect.

Despite his moderate approach, his impact was real. He implemented administrative reforms, including measures to improve public service delivery and combat corruption. Under his leadership, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was established, and efforts to modernize the civil service were introduced.

Perhaps the most humbling and admirable aspect of Pak Lah’s career was his humility. He never sought to glorify himself or wield power for its own sake. He accepted the limitations of his role, working within the system he inherited, and chose not to weaponize race or religion for political gain.

While he didn’t promise the heavens, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi left behind a legacy of moderation, simplicity, and quiet dignity. His leadership style may not have been loud or revolutionary, but it helped shape a more tolerant and humane political environment—something Malaysians can still look back on with a sense of gratitude.

P. Ramasamy

Chairman, Urimai

April 17, 2025

***

kt recalls:

Pak Lah did all above mentioned despite being harassed, insulted, demonised, scorned, badmouthed etc etc etc day and night 24/7 by a certain "someone" who was angry that AAB didn't follow his dictates.

So many positives from Xi Jinping’s state visit yet opposition chooses to demonise flying of China flags

So many positives from Xi Jinping’s state visit yet opposition chooses to demonise flying of China flags

By Cheah Chor Sooi






IDEOLOGICALLY bankrupt.

That is the accusation being hurled at the opposition coalition.

Why?

When Malaysia is in the global spotlight following President Xi Jinping’s first official visit in 12 years, all the opposition can harp about are China flags lining the streets of Putrajaya.



Instead of focussing on the many pertinent economic issues, the opposition decided to dole out the tired narrative of Malay sovereignty being sold out to Chinese communists.





This was the point being made by pro-Madani digital creator Ikhwan (@JatIkhwan) who observed that all eyes were on China’s next move amid a fractious tariff war with the US yet all the opposition could do was to bark about a non-issue.

Ikhwan

@JatIkhwan

·

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Satu dunia ikuti lawatan Xi Jinping ke Malaysia. Sekarang semua orang tengah perhati apa next move China. Sampai ke pembangkang - “kenapa kena kibarkan bendera China?!!!!”

12:32 AM · Apr 16, 2025

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It was highlighted that Malaysia as the current chair of ASEAN had to plot its next move carefully to ensure maximum economic benefits to the rakyat.

To which the poster agreed, arguing that the opposition had plenty of issues to talk about yet chose to grumble about the traffic jams caused by the landmark visit of a leader of a bona fide super power.



The lack of understanding on geo-political and economic affairs among the opposition and its supporters was stunning, summed up another netizen.



One netizen shared comments by opposition supporters who seemed overly enamoured by the presence of China flags. The provocative nature of the comments was obvious, he observed.



More than a few simply pointed out that this was the norm for diplomatic visits. One Putrajaya resident of 25 years highlighted the number of foreign flags that are flying in the area. every time a head of nation visits Malaysia.



Some commenters though argued that it was Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who had used this issue of Chinese control of the economy as a stick to beat the Najib administration when Pakatan Harapan (PH) was in the opposition.



But as pointed out by the poster, these were pertinent issues as opposed to the normal diplomatic practice of flying foreign flags to welcome visiting dignitaries. Do your job by being an effective opposition, he demanded.



Many spelled out the type of fear-mongering that has become synonymous with the current opposition. One further argued that this was only way it could squeeze political mileage from its captive audience, many of whom are said to be of low intellectual capacity.



The message being peddled by the opposition was simple and clear – PMX was selling out Malay birth rights.



This seems to be the level of the opposition that is unable to break free from the shackles of 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues even in in the international context.

The arising question is what would Perikatan Nasional (PN) have done differently if it was in power and had to greet President Xi?

The sarcastic answers below paint the picture of the sorry state of the opposition in the country. – April 17, 2025