Voter ‘punishment’ of Pakatan Harapan in Johor will have dire consequences

Murray Hunter


Voter ‘punishment’ of Pakatan Harapan in Johor will have dire consequences

The result will be the loss of PH representation in the Johor state assembly, only to be likely replaced by conservative candidates who are a reflection of the past 60 years of governance.

Murray Hunter
Jul 10, 2026







AS we get closer to the Johor state election on July 11, it is becoming apparent that many voters have the intention to ‘punish’ Pakatan Harapan at the polls.

Such a protest by not voting is a right voters have. However, there is a ‘catch-22’ in undertaking such an action by staying home.

Yes, not turning out to vote for Pakatan Harapan will certainly ‘punish’ PH. Those who take out their anger will feel a temporary surge of satisfaction.

However, the result will be the loss of PH representation in the Johor state assembly, only to be likely replaced by conservative candidates who are a reflection of the past 60 years of governance.

Those that primarily looked after the interests of one section of the population and allowed the ‘elite’ to greatly benefit at the cost of the rakyat.

This means that ‘punishing’ PH will only return Malaysia to this dark period, where non-Malays were greatly disadvantaged in education, social services, and even in becoming part of the civil service.

Many may indeed want to ‘punish’ PH for allegedly not achieving many promised reforms.

However, by doing this, the groups that have played a major role in sabotaging PH will be in direct power once again. They are waiting in the corners to possibly free their past leader, and look to building up wealth again at a great cost to the Rakyat.

The Johor state election aims to build up the momentum of these conservative forces that harbour the ‘deep state’ that profits from the operations of government through opaque means.

Not voting on Saturday will be the beginning of bringing back the dark ages once again to Malaysia.

Sadly, once this happens, it will never be allowed to be reversed.

Malaysia will be flung back into the dark ages and sit idly by watching the rest of Asia march ahead.

Many voters may be very angry at PH, but the consequences of not voting will have deep repercussions.

How you vote on Saturday will go far in determining the future of Malaysia. Please think about your actions as voters on Saturday and the potential repercussions. – July 9, 2026

Ukrainian authority officers killed a woman who set off a bomb in Monaco

From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi 

Favorites ·eorsontdpS94m0iha53h44816a80m21li1fua2t0008lt7ag0gcf1af00331 ·

BREAKING NEWS: Ukrainian authority officers killed a woman who set off a bomb in Monaco, a court heard today.

A serving Ukraine army intelligence agent and a former Kyiv security bureau officer took her to the woods, killed her with a gun, and buried the corpse, a court was told.

She was “disposable” after doing her job, one source was quoted as saying by the UK Guardian.

Other law enforcement authorities caught the two men and made them reveal where the body was buried.

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THE JOB SHE DID

The bomb she planted in Monaco hit a Ukrainian family – a man, woman and child – who had been sanctioned by the Ukraine government.

The Zelensky administration is expected to deny any knowledge of the current crimes.

But it looks awkward. The country’s government was widely acknowledged to be the most corrupt in Europe before the 2022 conflict caused a dramatic change of tune about Ukraine in western mainstream media.

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LONG, WINDING TALE

This whole murder mystery is a bizarre, winding tale.

In 2023, the Ukraine government imposed sanctions on a Ukrainian citizen named Vadym Iermolaiev, a wealthy businessman who ran an alcohol business in Crimea.

Crimea was taken back by Russia, but the man continued his trade and paid tax to the new rulers of the area, as he was obliged to do. This angered Zelensky’s government—who hit him with sanctions.

Iermolaiev felt this was unfair, and made donations to Ukraine’s military to show his loyalty. But he did give up his citizenship, Ukrainian media said.

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RUCKSACK BOMB

On June 29, a woman named Anastasia Berezovska left a rucksack outside a Monaco residential block. It blew up in the face of Iermolaiev, his partner, and their child, aged 13. The two adults were gravely injured, the child less so.

But the bomber’s image was caught on a security camera, and she was identified.

Anastasia Berezovska, 39, who sometimes disguised herself as a man, investigators said, drove away from the scene in a car with German registration plates, crossing into France, then Italy, and then reaching Ukraine on Wednesday 1 July.

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BODY FOUND

On Tuesday this week, investigators said Berezovska’s body had been found in a shallow grave in the woods near Kiev, the capital city.

One of the men accused, Vladyslav Reut, has just appeared in court, accused of her murder. He worked for army intelligence.

He said that it was his companion who actually killed the woman, naming him as a former Kyiv security bureau officer named Vitaliy Zhykovych.

The court hearing will continue.

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ALL VERY AWKWARD

The Ukrainian government will argue that the attack was to do with criminal matters, and there is no political angle.

But of course, that’s the whole issue when it comes to governments with high levels of corruption. That gap, all too often, is rather small.

A Cheap Shot from Khairy

 

Dennis Ignatius

 

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A Cheap Shot from Khairy

10FridayJul 2026

Posted by Dennis Ignatius in Politics, Religion

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Tags

Islamophobia, Johor election, Khairy Jamaluddin, Pakatan Harapan, PAS, UMNO

[1] Campaigning in Johor, Khairy Jamaluddin cried “Islamophobia” over Pakatan Harapan’s warning that a vote for BN could usher in a “Green Wave” of PAS influence. He said, “They are claiming there is a ‘Green Wave’, and that voting for BN means getting PAS… I see this as a form of campaigning that is rather Islamophobic.” [1]

[2] It is nothing of the sort – and he knows it. There is nothing Islamophobic about calling attention to the very real threat posed by PAS. The concern has nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with PAS itself.

[3] For decades, PAS leaders have made no secret of their ambition to replace Malaysia’s constitutional order with their own version of an Islamic state – a vision fundamentally at odds with the nation’s founding charter and its multicultural character. They have pressed consistently for an expanded role for syariah including its possible application to non-Muslims, questioned whether non-Muslims are fit to hold the country’s highest offices, cast them as a source of national corruption, and opposed the very policies many regard as essential to equality in a plural society.

[4] At a time when minority rights are already under pressure from religious zealots who want to impose dress codes, restrict entertainment and place other conditions on non-Muslims, the political agenda of PAS is rightly seen as a clear and present danger. The sobering example of theocratic systems elsewhere – the bigotry and intolerance of diversity, the curtailment of fundamental rights, the harsh punishments – only increases these worries.

[5] And this is the party that Khairy would have Johor’s voters wave through without a second thought? To alert voters to the dangers PAS poses is not bigotry; it is a defence of the constitution and of the plural, democratic Malaysia the rest of us still believe in.

[6] And here is the inconvenient truth Khairy glides past: if PAS is so benign, why is UMNO itself so insistent that it will neither work with PAS nor form a government with it? Khairy cannot have it both ways – attack others for highlighting the dangers that PAS poses while his own party keeps its distance from PAS. It is clear that UMNO realises it is not in its interest to be seen to be too close to PAS for fear it would drive away non-Muslim voters. The whole Islamophobia accusation is simply meant to shut down further discussion on the matter. There can be little doubt, however, that if UMNO does not obtain an outright majority, it will quickly find common cause with PAS. In that sense, Pakatan Harapan is right: a vote for BN might well be a vote for PAS.  

[7] Whatever happens, it looks like the politician who was more moderate in the political wilderness is now reverting to his UMNO persona — playing the Islamophobia card and warning of threats to Malay rights. It smacks of political opportunism, entirely unworthy of a man of Khairy’s intellect.

[Dennis Ignatius |Kuala Lumpur |10 July 2026]

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[1] KJ labels Harapan’s ‘Green Wave’ campaign ‘Islamophobic’ |Malaysiakini |09 July 2026

Tony Pua counters KJ: “Nothing Islamophobic about stopping Green Wave as PAS ≠ Islam, vice-versa”

Tony Pua counters KJ: “Nothing Islamophobic about stopping Green Wave as PAS ≠ Islam, vice-versa”

DAP disciplinary committee chairman Tony Pua has defended his party’s so-called anti-“Green Wave” advocacy as one that is solely intended to stop PAS from spreading its political influence as opposed to demonstrating DAP’s anti-Islamic stance.

More so, the DAP loyalist pointed out that UMNO bore much of the brunt of the Green Wave phenomenon as per outcome of the 15th General Election (GE15).

“Stopping the Green Wave is about stopping PAS. PAS made great leaps in the last election, often at the expense of UMNO, if you don’t recall,” Pua penned on his Facebook page to rebut a recent claim of DAP being “Islamophobic” by former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ).

“And as you would agree, PAS ≠ Islam and vice-versa.”

Tony Pua

on Wednesday

Yang Sudah Balik,

Stopping the Green Wave is about stopping PAS. PAS made great leaps in the last election, often at the expense of UMNO, if you don't recall.

And as you would agree, PAS ≠ Islam, and vice-versa.

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For context, KJ who recently returned to UMNO’s fold after having been expelled by the party on Jan 27, 2023 has accused Pakatan Harapan (PH) of running an “Islamophobic” campaign by warning Johor voters that supporting Barisan Nasional (BN) would pave way to PAS gaining influence.

“They’re claiming there is a ‘Green Wave’ and that voting for BN means getting PAS,” contended the former health minister while campaigning for BN candidates in Bukit Batu, Bukit Permai and Senai yesterday (July 9).

“I see this as a form of campaigning that is rather Islamophobic, especially when such a narrative is coming from ministers. Let me make it clear that BN is not in a coalition with anyone. Instead, it will be a ‘blue wave’ that will be created this Saturday (July 11).”


‘Green Wave = DAP’s fear-mongering?’

In further dismissing KJ’s argument, Pua jibed that “it’s extremely disingenuous of you (KJ) to equate stopping PAS as Islamophobic”.

“Just because UMNO/BN is now colluding with PAS,” asserted the former three-term MP (two terms Petaling Jaya Utara and one-term Damansara).

“Let me repeat, in case there’s any ambiguity, we want to stop PAS, we fully respect Islam and recognise it as the official religion of Malaysia.”

In a related development, PAS has described PH and DAP’s attempt to instill fear among non-Malay voters in Johor by harping on the “Green Wave” element as a sign that the duo is unsettled.

According to PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, PH had resorted to similar strategies in the six state elections three years ago where it labelled the Islamic party and Perikatan Nasional (PN) a menace to a multi-cultural society, freedom of religion, and Malaysia’s future.

“When an election campaign relies on fear, it signifies one thing: that the party (pushing such narratives) is not confident in its manifesto, track record or ability to convince voters with rational arguments,” chided Kubang Kerian MP in a FB rant.

Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man

on Thursday

Isyarat Kegelisahan DAP-PH di Johor

Menjelang kemuncak kempen Pilihan Raya Negeri Johor, satu perkara semakin jelas kelihatan, DAP-PH kembali mengitar semula naratif “Gelombang Hijau” sebagai alat untuk menakutkan pengundi, khususnya pengundi bukan Melayu.

Strategi ini bukan baharu. Ia pernah digunakan secara agresif dalam PRN 2023 apabila PAS dan Perikatan Nasional dilabel sebagai ancaman kepada kehidupan pelbagai kaum, kebebasan beragama dan masa depan Malaysia.

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In the context of Johor, DAP’s anxiety is very funny. The claim that PAS could be a threat to the non-Malay community is also not based on numerical reality. PAS is only contesting 11 seats out of the total 56 state seats.

On the contrary, BN which is DAP-PH’s partner in the Federal government is contesting all 56 seats.

With the number of seats contested by PAS, it’s unreasonable to portray PAS as being on the verge of taking over the state government alone and changing the entire face of Johor.

Interestingly, PAS also took a swipe at DAP for “trying to revive old emotions among voters” with the presence of controversial figures such as Hew Kuan Yau a.k.a. “Superman Hew” who has been associated with harsh and provocative political speeches at its ceramah.

“Likewise, the re-emergence of Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang in Johor shows that DAP is still relying on old symbols to mobilise supporter sentiment,” mocked Tuan Ibrahim.

Johor Jaya witnessed a powerful comeback as Hew Kuan Yau returned to the stage with a speech that captured the crowd’s attention from start to finish. With not enough seats for everyone, many supporters stood until the end to hear every word.

Thank you, Johor Jaya, for the strong spirit and support.
Together, we build a better future.
11 July — Vote Harapan!

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DemiRakyat Channel

on Monday

Veteran DAP, Lim Kit Siang (林吉祥) menggesa pengundi Johor supaya tidak memecahkan undi kepada Pakatan Harapan (PH) pada Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) Johor, dengan alasan tindakan itu boleh menjejaskan usaha membina sebuah Malaysia yang bersatu.

Berucap pada ceramah kempen PH di Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perling, Lim berkata pilihan raya kali ini bukan sekadar memilih wakil rakyat, malah menjadi penentu kepada hala tuju negara pada masa hadapan.

https://demirakyatchannel.my/…/kit-siang-rayu-jangan-pecah…/

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This strategy may have worked before. In the 2023 state elections, the “Green Wave” narrative was used to stir up fear, especially among non-Malay voters.

It helped PH curb the rise of PN in certain states. But the same strategy may not necessarily work in Johor. – July 10, 2026