Saifuddin questions Hamzah’s sacking, says Muhyiddin acted out of fear

Former Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah has questioned the real motive behind the political party’s decision to sack its deputy president, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin. — Scoop file pic, February 13, 2026


Saifuddin questions Hamzah’s sacking, says Muhyiddin acted out of fear


Such a drastic measure is unnecessary is Muhyiddin really commanded support, says former Supreme Council member



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 8 seconds ago
13 February, 2026
9:23 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah has questioned the real motive behind the political party’s decision to sack its deputy president, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

Saifuddin said the dismissal came just hours after 16 Members of Parliament openly urged party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to step down and hand over the leadership to Hamzah, raising serious questions about the timing and intent of the move.

“The action gives the impression that Muhyiddin is fearful of Hamzah’s growing influence within the party,” he said in a statement.

The Indera Mahkota MP added that if Muhyiddin genuinely still commanded strong support among party leaders and grassroots members, such a drastic measure would not have been necessary.

“If it is true that Muhyiddin retains the backing of the party, there would be no need to act in this manner. A mature political party should not be led by fear or an obsession with holding on to power,” he said.

Saifuddin further described the sacking as a reflection of weakness at the highest level of the party’s leadership.

“This decision portrays Muhyiddin as a weak and fearful leader,” he added.

For the record, Saifuddin himself previously served on Bersatu’s supreme council before being expelled from the party on January 6.

Hamzah’s removal has since triggered strong political reactions, with several MPs and opposition leaders describing it as a critical moment in Bersatu’s internal crisis. – February 13, 2026

7 indicators that China has become cool

 

Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate

Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate


Al Jazeera investigation reveals how US-supplied thermal and thermobaric munitions burning at 3,500C have left no trace of nearly 3,000 Palestinians.

People try to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on October 14, 2024 [Ramadan Abed/Reuters]

By Mohammad Mansour
Published On 10 Feb 2026

At dawn on August 10, 2024, Yasmin Mahani walked through the smoking ruins of al-Tabin school in Gaza City, searching for her son, Saad. She found her husband screaming, but of Saad, there was no trace.

“I went into the mosque and found myself stepping on flesh and blood,” Mahani told Al Jazeera Arabic for an investigation that aired on Monday. She searched hospitals and morgues for days. “We found nothing of Saad. Not even a body to bury. That was the hardest part.”

Mahani is one of thousands of Palestinians whose loved ones have simply vanished during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 72,000 people.

According to the Al Jazeera Arabic investigation, The Rest of the Story, Civil Defence teams in Gaza have documented 2,842 Palestinians who have “evaporated” since the war began in October 2023, leaving behind no remains other than blood spray or small fragments of flesh.

Experts and witnesses attributed this phenomenon to Israel’s systematic use of internationally prohibited thermal and thermobaric weapons, often referred to as vacuum or aerosol bombs, capable of generating temperatures exceeding 3,500 degrees Celsius [6,332 degrees Fahrenheit].

Grim forensic accounting

The figure of 2,842 is not an estimate, but the result of grim forensic accounting by Gaza’s Civil Defence.

Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal explained to Al Jazeera that teams use a “method of elimination” at strike sites. “We enter a targeted home and cross-reference the known number of occupants with the bodies recovered,” Basal said.

“If a family tells us there were five people inside, and we only recover three intact bodies, we treat the remaining two as ‘evaporated’ only after an exhaustive search yields nothing but biological traces—blood spray on walls or small fragments like scalps,” he added.

The chemistry of erasure

The investigation detailed how specific chemical compositions in Israeli munitions turn human bodies into ash in seconds.

Vasily Fatigarov, a Russian military expert, explained that thermobaric weapons do not just kill; they obliterate matter. Unlike conventional explosives, these weapons disperse a cloud of fuel that ignites to create an enormous fireball and a vacuum effect.

“To prolong the burning time, powders of aluminium, magnesium and titanium are added to the chemical mixture,” Fatigarov said. “This raises the temperature of the explosion to between 2,500 and 3,000 degrees Celsius [4,532F to 5,432F].”

According to the investigation, the intense heat is often generated by tritonal, a mixture of TNT and aluminium powder used in United States-made bombs like the MK-84.

(Al Jazeera)

Dr Munir al-Bursh, director general of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, explained the biological impact of such extreme heat on the human body, which is composed of roughly 80 percent water.

“The boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius [212F],” al-Bursh said. “When a body is exposed to energy exceeding 3,000 degrees combined with massive pressure and oxidation, the fluids boil instantly. The tissues vaporise and turn to ash. It is chemically inevitable.”

Anatomy of the bombs

The investigation identified specific US-manufactured munitions used in Gaza that are linked to these disappearances:MK-84 ‘Hammer’: 

This 900kg [2,000lb] unguided bomb packed with tritonal generates heat up to 3,500C [6,332F].

BLU-109 bunker buster: 

Used in an attack on al-Mawasi, an area Israel had declared a “safe zone” for forcibly displaced Palestinians in September 2024, this bomb evaporated 22 people. It has a steel casing and a delayed fuse, burying itself before detonating a PBXN-109 explosive mix. This creates a large fireball inside enclosed spaces, incinerating everything within reach.

GBU-39: 

This precision glide bomb was used in the al-Tabin school attack. It uses the AFX-757 explosive. “The GBU-39 is designed to keep the building structure relatively intact while destroying everything inside,” Fatigarov noted. “It kills via a pressure wave that ruptures lungs and a thermal wave that incinerates soft tissue.”

Basal of the Civil Defence confirmed finding fragments of GBU-39 wings at sites where bodies had vanished.


A ‘global genocide, not just an Israeli one’


Legal experts said the use of these indiscriminate weapons implicates not just Israel but also its Western suppliers.

“This is a global genocide, not just an Israeli one,” said lawyer Diana Buttu, a lecturer at Georgetown University in Qatar.

Speaking at the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha, Buttu argued that the supply chain is evidence of complicity. “We see a continuous flow of these weapons from the United States and Europe. They know these weapons do not distinguish between a fighter and a child, yet they continue to send them.”

Buttu emphasised that under international law, the use of weapons that cannot distinguish between combatants and noncombatants constitutes a war crime.

“The world knows Israel possesses and uses these prohibited weapons,” Buttu said. “The question is why are they allowed to remain outside the system of accountability.”

Collapse of international justice

Despite the International Court of Justice issuing provisional measures against Israel in January 2024, ordering it to prevent acts of genocide, and an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2024, the killing intensified.

Tariq Shandab, a professor of international law, argued that the international justice system has “failed the test of Gaza”.

“Since the ceasefire agreement [in October], more than 600 Palestinians have been killed,” Shandab said. He highlighted that the war has continued through siege, starvation and strikes. “The blockade on medicine and food is itself a crime against humanity.”

Shandab pointed to the “impunity” granted to Israel by the US veto power at the UN Security Council. However, he noted that universal jurisdiction courts in countries like Germany and France could offer an alternative path to justice, provided there is political will.

For Rafiq Badran, who lost four children in the Bureij refugee camp during the war, these technical definitions mean little. He was only able to recover small parts of his children’s bodies to bury.

“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”

Billionaire investor Leon Black is accused of raping teen in Jeffrey Epstein’s NY townhouse

Thanks MF"





Billionaire investor Leon Black is accused of raping teen in Jeffrey Epstein’s NY townhouse

By Allison Morrow, CNN

Updated 6:34 PM EDT, Thu July 27, 2023




Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, has denied multiple allegations of rape in connection with Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sex-trafficking ring. Pictured here in 2015. Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images/FILE
New YorkCNN —



A woman is suing the billionaire investor Leon Black, accusing him of raping her at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse when she was 16 years old.

The lawsuit describes in gruesome detail the woman’s account of a sexual assault that left her bleeding and sobbing. Her lawyers say that the woman, identified as Jane Doe, has autism and a rare form of Down syndrome that has left her “developmentally… about 12 years old.”

A lawyer for Black, Susan Estrich, said Black has never met the woman and called the lawsuit “frivolous” and full of “vicious and defamatory lies.” Estrich also says the suit was “manufactured by the Wigdor law firm,” which had filed a previous sexual assault complaint against Black that was eventually thrown out.


A spokesman for Black, Whit Clay, echoed Estrich’s denial, saying the law firm “has an agenda” and that its credibility has been impugned by the dismissal of the previous suit.

In response to the vendetta claim, Jeanne M. Christensen, a partner at Wigdor, said that Black’s “conspiracy theories and finger-pointing are an obvious attempt to shift the focus away from his heinous acts.”

Black, who is 71, is the co-founder and former CEO of Apollo Global Management. He left the private equity firm in 2021, shortly after a New York Times report revealed that he allegedly regularly dined with Epstein and paid him for consulting and other services. An internal Apollo investigation that documented his $158 million payment to Epstein found no wrongdoing.


The latest suit is the third to publicly accuse Black of rape. He has denied all the allegations. In addition to the case that was thrown out, another complaint, brought by Cheri Pierson in November, accuses Black of a violent sexual assault that left her “swollen, torn, and bleeding.”

Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. In the years since, several Wall Street financiers and other high-profile figures have come under scrutiny from investigators over their social or professional ties to Epstein.

NYT: 2 guards slept through Jeffrey Epstein cell checks
02:47 • Source: CNN


Last year, in a pivotal moment in the ongoing investigation into Epstein’s crimes, his longtime confidante Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in what prosecutors called a yearslong scheme to groom and sexually abuse underage girls.

The latest lawsuit was filed in New York federal court on Tuesday, the same day the Senate Finance Committee said it was investigating whether Black’s $158 million payment to Epstein was part of a scheme to avoid paying over $1 billion in federal gift and estate taxes.

Black’s legal team responded to Sen. Ron Wyden, who is leading the investigation, in a letter shared with CNN saying that Black “declines” to share additional information with the committee “at this time.” Black’s spokesperson, Whit Clay, said in a statement to CNN that all the transactions were lawful and that Black has fully paid all taxes owed to the government.

Black previously said that he “deeply” regrets his involvement with Epstein, which he characterized as a professional relationship that included “estate planning, tax and philanthropic endeavors.”

Epstein pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges in 2008 and served 13 months in prison. He was arrested again in 2019 on charges of sex trafficking minors.

In the lawsuit filed by Jane Doe, lawyers say that she was “shipped off” in 2002 to New York City to meet Black, whom Doe recalls being introduced as Epstein’s “special friend.”

According to her lawyers, Epstein introduced her to Black and instructed her to give him “the same kind of massage that she had to give to Jeffrey Epstein when he ordered her to.” The lawsuit says that meant the massage “would involve sexual intercourse and she was expected to strip naked.”

Black, who is about 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, according to the lawsuit, “grabbed her hand so hard that she thought he broke bones,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit describes the woman’s account of being pinned down and assaulted. It says Black called her “demeaning, shameful, disgusting names” while forcing himself on her and causing her “unimaginable pain.”

The lawyers are seeking unspecified damages to be determined in trial for the plaintiff, who is now in her 30s.

-—CNN’s Elisabeth Buchwald and Ramishah Maruf contributed to this article.

***

Leon Black the shailok pedophile

MACC chief: Rafizi not under investigation, no probe opened

MACC chief: Rafizi not under investigation, no probe opened



The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has refuted allegations that former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli is being investigated. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the agency has not opened any investigation paper into allegations of RM1.1 billion in misappropriation said to involve a senior minister. — Pictures by Bernama/Firdaus Latif

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 6:38 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has denied claims that former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli is under investigation.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the agency has not opened any investigation paper into allegations of RM1.1 billion in misappropriation said to involve a senior minister, according to a report published in Berita Harian today.

He said the MACC is still examining documents submitted by three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that lodged complaints over the matter and handed over several documents.

“I stand by my deputy’s statement (Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya) that investigating officers are scrutinising the documents. So why are there claims that a raid will be carried out against a certain individual (Rafizi)?” he said today.

Earlier today, Ahmad Khusairi was reported as saying that the MACC is still reviewing the documents submitted by the NGOs before deciding whether to open an investigation paper.

Elaborating, Azam said every investigation conducted by the MACC adheres to principles of transparency and the rule of law.

Yesterday, the MACC confirmed it was examining documents related to allegations of RM1.1 billion in misappropriation linked to a senior minister.


This followed several NGOs lodging reports with the MACC.

Earlier today, Rafizi, at a press conference with several PKR Members of Parliament, claimed that based on internal MACC sources, the agency would be conducting a raid against him.

McDonald’s Malaysia to invest RM1b, open 100 new outlets, offer over 10,000 jobs

McDonald’s Malaysia to invest RM1b, open 100 new outlets, offer over 10,000 jobs



McDonald’s Malaysia has announced a RM1 billion investment plan to expand its operations over the next five years. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 4:19 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — McDonald’s Malaysia has unveiled a RM1 billion plan to expand its operations over the next five years.

The commitment is part of the company’s efforts to enhance restaurant accessibility, generate economic opportunities, create jobs, and boost youth employability nationwide, said managing director and local operating partner Datuk Azmir Jaafar.

As part of the expansion plans, McDonald’s plans to open 100 new restaurants, a move expected to create more than 10,000 job opportunities across the country.

McDonald’s Malaysia also supports a predominantly local supply chain, with 75 per cent of its products sourced and produced within the country, contributing significantly to the growth of local suppliers and the domestic food industry.


“This strategic move aligns with the company’s long-term vision of developing a robust, future-ready Malaysian workforce,” Azmir said.


Despite a challenging business environment over the past two years, Azmir said McDonald’s Malaysia recorded 26 per cent year-on-year growth in 2025, reinforcing Malaysians’ strong trust and loyalty toward the brand.

“This success can be attributed to the company’s unwavering focus on customer demand, value offerings, innovative menu adaptations, and commitment to operational excellence throughout the restaurant operations,” Azmir added.


The announcement coincided with the reopening of the McDonald’s Titiwangsa Drive-Thru along Jalan Pahang after a three-month closure for renovations.



McDonald’s Malaysia has announced a RM1 billion investment plan to expand its operations over the next five years. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

McDonald’s currently operates more than 370 outlets nationwide.

“Despite the challenges, we managed to open seven new restaurants in 2025 and 11 stores in 2024,” he said.

Azmir said there is growing demand in Sabah and Sarawak that existing stores are unable to meet, indicating that a number of new restaurant openings will be located in the two states.

“Our growth has been built through discipline, dedication, and a clear focus on investing in the areas that matter most, which are our restaurants, our people, and our communities,” Azmir added.

Azmir also emphasised that community support remains central to the brand’s identity. “We are a Malaysian company, and it is important to us that our success creates a meaningful impact in the communities we serve,” he said.

With more than 16,000 Malaysians currently employed, he said the company will continue its 100 per cent local hiring policy.

“We understand that for many young Malaysians, McDonald’s is their first working experience,” Azmir said.

“We take this responsibility seriously, as a first job can be transformational when supported with training, coaching, and opportunities to grow,” he added.

Integral to the RM1 billion investment is the continued expansion of the McDonald’s Vocational Academy.

Developed in collaboration with the Human Resources Ministry through the National Dual Training System, the Academy has been instrumental in uplifting underprivileged groups, including B40 youths, persons with disabilities, and members of the Orang Asli community.

With the planned investments announced for restaurant expansion, technology, workforce development and community welfare, McDonald’s Malaysia also reiterated its commitment to long-term growth and nationwide contribution in the recent announcement.

Five more Bersatu leaders expelled following Hamzah Zainudin’s sacking, including previously suspended Wan Ahmad Fayhsal

Five more Bersatu leaders expelled following Hamzah Zainudin’s sacking, including previously suspended Wan Ahmad Fayhsal



A file photograph shows the logo of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Five party leaders have been expelled, including Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, Gerik MP Fathul Huzir Ayob, Padang Rengas MP Azahari Hasan, Sabah Bersatu secretary Yunus Nurdin, and Mohd Hassundi Hamzah of the Larut division in Perak. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 6:43 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — Five more Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leaders have been expelled from the party following the sacking of its former deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin earlier today, including Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who had previously been suspended.

In notices issued to the individuals, the party’s Disciplinary Board said it convened yesterday and resolved to terminate their membership rights under Clause 22.5 of the Bersatu constitution for breaching Clause 9.1.4.

Clause 9.1.4 requires members to comply with the party’s constitution as well as its Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Those expelled are Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, Gerik MP Fathul Huzir Ayob, Padang Rengas MP Azahari Hasan, Sabah Bersatu secretary Yunus Nurdin, and Mohd Hassundi Hamzah of the Larut division in Perak.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal was previously suspended from Bersatu for one term beginning in October last year before the latest disciplinary action.

Yunus had also previously called on party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to step down.

The Disciplinary Board, chaired by Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan, said the expulsions take effect immediately, although the affected members may appeal to the party’s Appeals Board within 14 days from the date of the notice.

Hamzah was earlier sacked for breaching the party constitution, the same grounds cited in the expulsions of the five others.

Celebrity preacher Da’i Syed granted interim release pending rape appeal

Celebrity preacher Da’i Syed granted interim release pending rape appeal



On August 30, 2024, the Shah Alam Sessions Court sentenced Da’i Syed, whose real name is Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, to 10 years’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane after finding him guilty of raping a 23-year-old woman. — Bernama pic

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 4:38 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13 — The Court of Appeal today granted interim release to celebrity preacher Da’i Syed, whose real name is Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, pending the disposal of his appeal against his conviction and 10-year prison sentence and three strokes of the cane for rape.

A three-judge panel comprising Justices Datuk Azmi Ariffin, Datuk Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz and Datuk Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid unanimously allowed the 31-year-old’s application to stay the execution of the sentence imposed by the Shah Alam High Court on January 23 this year.

Delivering the decision, Justice Azmi said the court was satisfied that special circumstances existed to justify granting bail.

“We find that there are special circumstances warranting the applicant’s release on bail pending the disposal of his appeal. Among the reasons is that the applicant has never failed to attend proceedings at the Sessions Court and the High Court.


“We do not see any risk of non-appearance at the appeal stage. There is no evidence in the affidavit to suggest that the applicant had absconded or failed to attend proceedings previously. We also take into account that this is his first offence,” he said.

The court ordered Syed Shah Iqmal’s release on bail of RM40,000 with two sureties, and he is also required to surrender his passport and report monthly, beginning March 2026, to the Section 6 police station in Shah Alam, Selangor, until the appeal is concluded.

“If there is any breach of the conditions imposed, the bail granted today will be revoked,” Justice Azmi added.


The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Atiqah Abdul Karim, while lawyers M. Athimulan, Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat and Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff appeared for Syed Shah Iqmal.

Syed Shah Iqmal filed the application after High Court Judge Adlin Abdul Majid on January 23, 2026, dismissed his application for a stay of execution of the sentence.

Earlier, Atiqah submitted that the prosecution objected to the application but urged the court to impose additional conditions should it allow bail.

Athimulan, meanwhile, argued that although his client is a public figure, he is entitled to equal treatment under the law.

Syed Shah Iqmal, who is currently serving his sentence at Kajang Prison, was present in court dressed in orange lockup attire. His wife, Nurul Hana Ismail, was seen in the public gallery.

On August 30, 2024, the Shah Alam Sessions Court sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane after finding him guilty of raping a 23-year-old woman. Sessions Court Judge Norazlin Othman ordered that the sentence take immediate effect.

However, on September 20, 2024, the Shah Alam High Court allowed a stay of execution of the sentence, which had been running for 21 days, pending the disposal of his appeal at that stage.

Syed Shah Iqmal had pleaded not guilty on December 10, 2020, to raping the woman at a condominium unit in I-City, Section 7, Shah Alam, at about 1.35am on September 11, 2019.

He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum prison term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction. — Bernama

Bersatu expels Hamzah Zainudin with immediate effect, cites constitutional breach

Bersatu expels Hamzah Zainudin with immediate effect, cites constitutional breach



Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin with party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at Bersatu’s annual general meeting at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) Shah Alam on September 6, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 4:38 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has been expelled from the party, effective immediately, following a decision by the party’s disciplinary board.

In a notice issued to Hamzah, the disciplinary board, chaired by Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan, stated that it had convened yesterday and resolved that Hamzah’s party membership rights be terminated under Clause 22.5 of the Bersatu constitution due to a breach of Clause 9.1.4.

The notice emphasised that the expulsion takes effect immediately.

However, Hamzah has the right to submit an appeal to the party’s appeals board within 14 days of the notice for reconsideration.


Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, in a statement, has confirmed the disciplinary board’s decision, stating that the Supreme Leadership Council had been informed of the outcome.

Clause 9.1.4 requires Bersatu members to comply with the party’s constitution as well as its Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Hamzah was reportedly summoned by the Disciplinary Board over allegations that he and several division chiefs were linked to attempts to sabotage the party and undermine the image of Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.


Hamzah was also previously reported to have not attended the disciplinary board meeting as he was in Sydney, Australia, to enrol his daughter at a university.

Rafizi urges Bersih to lead anti-MACC rally over Bloomberg allegations

Rafizi urges Bersih to lead anti-MACC rally over Bloomberg allegations



Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said he plans to urge Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle to engage with constituents on the controversy surrounding MACC, adding that he would write to MPs from DAP and Amanah to press Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to suspend Tan Sri Azam Baki. — Bernama pic

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 1:20 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — PKR’s Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said he will formally approach electoral reform group Bersih to organise a rally expressing dissatisfaction with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following allegations raised in a Bloomberg report.

According to Free Malaysia Today, Rafizi said he had received messages from several individuals urging him to spearhead a protest, but maintained that Bersih would be better placed to take the lead and determine a suitable date.

He added that the gathering could potentially be the first to be held during the fasting month.

The move comes after Bloomberg reported that MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki held 17.7 million shares, or a 1.7 per cent stake, in Velocity Capital Bhd based on the company’s annual return filed on February 3 last year.

The report also stated that his name appeared in the shareholder register maintained by the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

Azam has been accused of breaching a 2024 government circular that caps civil servants’ shareholdings in Malaysian-incorporated companies at five per cent of paid-up capital or RM100,000 in value, whichever is lower.

He has said the transaction was declared and that the shares were disposed of last year. Azam has also filed a RM100 million suit against Bloomberg over the report.

Rafizi claims possible MACC raid over RM1.11b probe, tells Anwar and Azam Baki he’s ‘ready’

Rafizi claims possible MACC raid over RM1.11b probe, tells Anwar and Azam Baki he’s ‘ready’



Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said he was informed he may face a MACC raid over alleged misappropriation tied to an RM1.11 billion investment. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 1:51 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli today said he had received information that he may be raided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over allegations of misappropriation linked to an RM1.11 billion investment.

According to Malaysiakini, Rafizi said MACC had not contacted him directly, but he had been advised by acquaintances to prepare for possible action.

“I want to tell Anwar and Azam — I am a veteran when it comes to being arrested, raided, or put in lockup, I’m ready to go through it all again if he dares to try,” he was quoted as saying, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Earlier this week, a coalition of non-governmental organisations lodged a report with MACC alleging possible misappropriation linked to Malaysia’s agreement with UK-based semiconductor design firm Arm Holdings.

In a light-hearted remark, Rafizi said he had asked his wife to tidy up their home in anticipation of a possible search.

“I have also made sure that all my underwear is in order. You haven’t been locked up, so you wouldn’t understand,” he reportedly said.

He reportedly said the Arm Holdings agreement had been approved by the Cabinet and that the funds were under the Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry rather than the Economy Ministry, which he headed, describing any attempt to implicate him as a “thoughtless move”.


“Maybe it is just to intimidate me, or perhaps it’s a perception war to give ammunition to critics to say, ‘look, Rafizi is corrupt’,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said the commission would review the complaint to determine whether there were elements of corruption, misappropriation or abuse of power under the MACC Act 2009 before deciding on further action.

Azmin: Perikatan leadership disappointed after Muhyiddin announced resignation in London without consultation

Azmin: Perikatan leadership disappointed after Muhyiddin announced resignation in London without consultation



Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to announce his resignation as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman while in London was made without prior consultation with coalition leaders. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 2:29 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to announce his resignation as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman while in London was made without prior consultation with coalition leaders.

According to Oriental Daily, Azmin said that even he, as secretary-general, had not been informed in advance and was disappointed, as the leadership then had to field questions from both the media and the public.

“We are managing a coalition, not just a single party. Even running a small branch can be challenging, let alone managing four parties with different ideologies and backgrounds.

“But Muhyiddin did succeed. For the past five years, he has led PN. Since its formation, he has been chairman and managed to unite various forces under the PN banner,” Azmin told the Chinese daily.


Azmin reportedly described the development as part of a growth and maturity process.

“We also want to give other partners the opportunity. However, when he announced his decision in London without consulting us, I, as secretary-general, received no communication. We were disappointed because we had to answer questions from the media and the people — ‘what exactly happened?’” he was quoted as saying.

Azmin said that once Muhyiddin returned to Malaysia, they finally sat down to discuss the matter.


He said party leaders accepted Muhyiddin had valid reasons for allowing other partners to take the lead and respected his decision.

He also explained that Muhyiddin remains PN chairman for now as the resignation process has not been completed.

Sibu shophouse block collapse shocks residents, eight units damaged but no casualties reported

Sibu shophouse block collapse shocks residents, eight units damaged but no casualties reported



The corner unit of a shophouse block in Sungai Merah here collapsed onto the road below early Friday morning. — The Borneo Post

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 12:15 PM MYT


SIBU, Feb 13 — The corner unit of a shophouse block in Sungai Merah here collapsed onto the road below early Friday morning.

Eight units were affected by the collapse but miraculously no injuries have been reported.

Sibu Zone 4 Fire and Rescue chief Andy Alie said the department received an emergency call at 2.46am and a team from the Sungai Merah fire station was dispatched to the scene.

“Upon arrival at 2.52am, the operation commander reported that the collapse involved eight shop units which appeared to have given way suddenly.


“A size-up was carried out to determine whether there were any victims trapped in the debris,” he said when contacted.

As of the time of writing, no casualties have been reported.

A total of six personnel, assisted by one Compact Fire Rescue Tender (CFRT) and one Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vehicle, were deployed to the location about 5km from the station.


The operation was led by senior fire officer I Salaini Oda.

“Firefighters conducted monitoring and safety assessments at the site to ensure there were no further risks,” Andy added.

The cause of the collapse has yet to be established.

Police personnel were also present at the scene to assist with security and crowd control. — The Borneo Post

Fahmi: Cabinet orders probe into MACC chief Azam Baki, special committee led by Chief Secretary to Government

Fahmi: Cabinet orders probe into MACC chief Azam Baki, special committee led by Chief Secretary to Government



The Cabinet today agreed to form a special committee to investigate allegations involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said. — Bernama pic

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 1:47 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13 — The Cabinet today agreed to form a special committee to investigate allegations involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said.

Fahmi, who is also the government spokesman, said the committee will be chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and tasked with examining matters raised concerning Azam.

“The Cabinet today discussed issues involving the Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Tan Sri Azam Baki, and has decided that a special committee to be chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government will investigate the allegations that have been raised in relation to the MACC Chief Commissioner,” he said in his weekly post-Cabinet meeting here.

Fahmi said the findings of the probe will be presented to the Cabinet once the investigation is completed, after which follow-up action will be determined.


“This is part of our effort to ensure transparency and integrity in the investigative process,” he added.

When asked whether Shamsul Azri had been given a timeline to complete the investigation, Fahmi said the matter should be referred to the Chief Secretary himself.

Azam has come under scrutiny following allegations linked to shareholdings.


Bloomberg published a report on Tuesday alleging that Azam held stakes worth RM800,000 in Velocity Capital Partner Bhd — which the news portal claimed breached shareholding regulations for public servants in Malaysia.

Azam, however, maintained that the shares in question were properly declared to the Public Service Department in 2025 and fully disposed of within the same year.

The newswire later published another investigative report alleging that the agency was being used by a group of businessmen to force the sale of shares in targeted firms.

One of the businessmen was said to be close to Azam, Bloomberg reported citing internal MACC documents and whistleblowers still working with the agency.

The anti-graft agency chief has said that he has nothing to hide regarding his shareholdings and is open to scrutiny.

He stressed that all financial and asset declarations had been made in line with public service regulations and through the prescribed official channels.

Azam reiterated his commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, adding that he would continue to cooperate fully with any legitimate mechanism properly established to examine the matter.

Japan seizes Chinese fishing boat, arrests captain in move likely to raise tensions

Japan seizes Chinese fishing boat, arrests captain in move likely to raise tensions



In November, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi enraged China by suggesting that Japan would intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force. — Reuters pic

Friday, 13 Feb 2026 9:34 AM MYT


TOKYO, Feb 13 — Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its skipper, authorities said today, in a move likely to further heighten tensions with Beijing.

In November, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi enraged China by suggesting that Japan would intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force.


“The vessel’s captain was ordered to stop for an inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel failed to comply and fled,” Japan’s fisheries agency said.

“Consequently, the vessel’s captain was arrested on the same day,” according to a statement.


The incident happened yesterday inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture, 89.4 nautical miles (165 kilometres) south-southwest of the island of Meshima, it added.


It was the first time since 2022 that the agency has seized a Chinese fishing boat.

The skipper in the latest incident is a 47-year-old Chinese national. There were 11 people on board including the captain.


China has a number of territorial disputes with Japan, and there have been repeated incidents around the Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu in China.

The arrest of another Chinese fishing boat captain in 2010 off those islands in the East China Sea became a major diplomatic incident between the two countries.

Taiwan spat

Japan and China have close economic ties but Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan have sent relations spiralling downwards again.

China has long insisted that Taiwan, occupied for decades by Japan until 1945, is its territory and has not ruled out force to achieve “reunification”.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te told AFP in an interview this week that countries in the region would be China’s next targets should Beijing seize the democratic island.

Lai said if China were to take Taiwan, Beijing would become “more aggressive, undermining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based international order”.

“The next countries under threat would be Japan, the Philippines, and others in the Indo-Pacific region, with repercussions eventually reaching the Americas and Europe,” he said.

After Takaichi’s comments, Beijing summoned Tokyo’s ambassador, warned Chinese citizens against visiting Japan and conducted joint air drills with Russia.

In December, J-15 jets from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier twice locked radar on Japanese aircraft in international waters near Okinawa, according to Japan.

China also tightened controls on exports to Japan for items with potential military uses, fuelling worries that Beijing may choke supplies of vital rare-earth minerals.

In addition, Beijing reportedly suspended imports of Japanese seafood.

Japan’s last two pandas were even returned to China last month.

Hawkish leader

Takaichi, 64, was seen as a China hawk before becoming Japan’s first woman prime minister in October.

She won a landslide victory in snap elections on Sunday, putting her in a strong position for the next four years to stamp her mark on Japanese domestic and foreign policy.

She said Monday she was “open to various dialogues with China”.

But China’s foreign ministry said “genuine dialogue should be built on respect for one another”.

“Proclaiming dialogue with one’s mouth while engaging in confrontation—no one will accept this kind of dialogue,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular news briefing on Tuesday.

“If Japan truly wants to develop a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship with China, it’s very easy and clear: withdraw Takaichi’s erroneous remarks about Taiwan,” he said. — AFP

Zamri continues Anwar's victory over 'illegal' worship houses

Zamri continues Anwar's victory over 'illegal' worship houses

S Thayaparan
Published: Feb 9, 2026 7:00 AM
⋅
Updated: 3:18 PM



“If you find it upsetting, then stop doing it so that others won’t follow. If you choose to continue, then don’t be offended (when others mock it). So, pick one.”

- Zamri Vinoth, mocking Hindus 

celebrating Thaipusam

COMMENT | When extremists talk of the destruction or relocation of “illegal temples”, what they are really doing is sanctioning the destruction of historical sites.

The older the temple, the greater the victory, because of the religious, historical, and cultural significance of these temples, which existed before contemporary municipal law and, in some cases, colonial law.

This demonstrates the superiority of the state religion. Terming these temples as “illegal” gives extremists and the state the fig leaf of legal cover and enables the victimhood mentality, which is the foundation of identity politics.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s declaration of the great victory of the construction of the Madani mosque on the site of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple is exactly the kind of hot-button issue that religious cretins use to inflame communal sentiment in this country.

Madani continues to coddle hate-mongers

The fact that controversial Muslim preacher Zamri Vinoth is Teflon when it comes to his hate speech against Hindus in this country demonstrates two things.

The first is that Madani continues to coddle hate-mongers who use the religion of the state to shield them from the various laws that non-Muslims are not exempt from, and the second is that DAP is impotent when it comes to defending the rights of the non-Muslim community, even though they are part of Madani.

I have no idea why some folks question why there has been no action taken against this hate-monger.

His latest arrest for organising a rally against “illegal” houses of worship and the prime minister’s eleventh-hour warning were merely a sandiwara (theatre) to appease not only Zamri’s detractors but to make Madani look good in the eyes of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the international press.

I have no doubt that nothing will come of this arrest, just as nothing came of the charges against him before.

You have to understand Zamri’s close connection with the religious bureaucracy. The Selangor Islamic Religious Department had hooked up with him in 2017 to give Islamic courses in Tamil to increase productivity in proselytising in a multilingual milieu.

What this course was supposed to do was make it easier for (state-sanctioned) Muslim preachers attempting to convert Indians, using Tamil as an entry point into their lives.

Modi is the real target

While Zamri may claim that his supposed rally against illegal houses of worship and the arrival of Modi are merely coincidental, this, of course, is farcical. The fact is that Modi is a hate figure for some Muslims abroad and in India for various reasons.

Keep in mind that Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin’s “cow worshippers” poem was aimed at Modi and the extradition of another controversial Muslim preacher, Zakir Naik.

Zakir Naik


Meanwhile, Zamri, a Zakir acolyte, once said he was willing to give up his citizenship if Zakir were extradited to India. As reported in the Malay Mail, “If the government wants to send back Zakir or extradite him, I will not hesitate to hand over my IC.”

Indeed, when Zamri was detained and released by the state for insulting Hindus, Asri put forward that the former was only testifying when it came to his personal experience with the Hindu faith.

What Zamri was doing as a professional proselytiser was creating a narrative for Muslims to use to convert Hindus in the course of his professional duties. This idea of Muslim converts as the perfect vehicles to proselytise is nothing new.

Muslim convert Ridhuan Tee Abdulah, for instance, always pleaded “special knowledge” when it came to the Chinese community. Hence, his “attacks” against the community had the appearance of legitimacy to a certain section of the Muslim community.

Using converts to preach is propagated by proselytising faiths all over the world.

Ridhuan Tee Abdullah


And while I think that Zakir is influential in the anti-Modi sentiment, what really twisted the knickers of religious extremists was the sight of Modi inaugurating the BAPS Hindu Mandir, the largest Hindu temple in the UAE.

Modi hugging Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE, with honour guards in tow, inflamed the sensitivities and no doubt caused much annoyance to the bigots and extremists worldwide.

Here is a big, beautiful, sprawling Hindu temple and a prime minister who was nurturing a reputation for defending the historical and cultural contributions of Indians in the colonial and post-colonial world.

Celebrating that fact in the Middle East did not go down well with certain elements of the Muslim diaspora.

No such thing as ‘phobia’ here

So it is not a coincidence that a local preacher who has a history of using hate speech against the Hindu community and who remains immune to the laws that govern such speech decided to hold a rally which celebrates the destruction of “illegal houses of worship”.

The point is to demonstrate that in this country, temples, especially older pre-colonial temples, far from being celebrated as historical sites, are destroyed to demonstrate the victory of the religion of the state.

Unfortunately, for a simpleton like Zamri, what this does for Modi back in India is demonstrate that Hindus need a strong man to battle the extremist religious forces against the Hindu community in Asia.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Last year, Anwar raged against Islamophobia - “We must work together to counter hate and intolerance, fostering a world where humanity thrives through mutual understanding and respect.”

Here is the thing. A phobia is often described as an extreme, irrational fear or aversion of something. This does not describe the sentiment that cretins like Zamri and states that enable them in their agenda for religious superiority all over the civilised world.

An accurate description would be an extremely rational loathing.

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

When Fanatics Advance and Moderates Retreat: The Slow Collapse of Multiracial Malaysia

OPINION | When Fanatics Advance and Moderates Retreat: The Slow Collapse of Multiracial Malaysia


12 Feb 2026 • 4:00 PM MYT



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

Image credit: Britannica / Malaysian Gazette / Tokoh Malaysia / Scoop


If we imagine social psychology as a spectrum, the middle is occupied by moderates, while the extremes are occupied by fanatics. The difference between the two is not merely ideological intensity — it is existential orientation.


As a rule, a moderate is oriented toward happiness and success.


A fanatic, on the other hand, is oriented toward being themselves.


This distinction explains far more about social conflict than ideology ever could.


A moderate possesses a flexible sense of self. Their identity is adaptable, negotiable, and fluid. They are willing to modify habits, language, dress, diet, rituals, or even cultural attachments if doing so improves their chances of happiness and success. For the moderate, identity is usually just something that you are born with — it is not something that you are stuck with - if the pursuit or happiness or success requires one to modify or change their identity, a moderate is usually a person who is amenable towards changing their identity.


For example, I consider myself as a moderate, in the sense that none of my identities - that of being an Indian, or a Malaysian, or a writer or a teacher -is etched in stone. I am not very proud of being a Malaysian or an Indian, I am just not ashamed of it. Everybody has a race and and a nationality, and mine happens to be such and such. When I see somebody with a different identity or nationality, I tend to not attach a lot of meaning to it. Rather than their identities, it is usually their capacity to pursue success or happiness that I am interested in. If I see someone from a different nationality or race being more capable than me in pursuing success or happiness, I might even adopt some of their characteristics, even if it is an identity characteristic, in order to improve my own chances of pursuing success or happiness.



A fanatic, by contrast, holds an intensely rigid sense of self. Their identity, to them, is sacred, fixed, and non-negotiable. As a result, they will insist on remaining exactly as they are, even when doing so makes them miserable or unsuccessful.


In another word, a fanatic is someone that will speak only the language they identify with, even when it disadvantages them.


They will follow rituals that they identify it even if they see not benefit in it.


They will preserve habits that no longer serve them.


They will defend symbols that they don't even understand.


They will do it, even when these attachments produce humiliation, stagnation, and failure, pain or even death. They will refuse to change — because if you are fanatic, happiness and success has no meaning to you, unless you are able to be exactly who you think you are. If you had to choose between being successful or happy not being yourself, or miserable and failing while being yourself, a fanatic will gladly choose the later.


In short, moderates want to live well; fanatics want to die as themselves.


Every identity group contains both moderates and fanatics. But when fanatics from different groups come into sustained contact, conflict becomes inevitable.


As Winston Churchill once famously said, “A fanatic is someone who can’t change their mind and won’t change the subject.”


Fanatics have no middle ground. They cannot compromise because to a fanatic, compromise feels like betrayal. They cannot negotiate because negotiation feels like submission. They cannot adapt because adaptation feels like humiliation. When two fanatics from two different identity group make contact, one will attempt to impose while the other will resist to the bitter end. The result is always friction, escalation, and eventually, explosion.


Moderates, on the other hand, possess middle ground. They can negotiate, adapt, exchange, learn, and transform. When moderates from different identity groups interact, what emerges is not conflict but social entropy — or a gradual mixing, learning, and convergence, in the pursuit of success or happiness, that slowly produces a new overarching identity, that is sufficiently distinct from any of the component identities that make it, although much of its features is derived from the original component identities.


In a monocultural society, it is possible to build to society where the fanatics are influential, but in a multicultural society, if it one or more of the fanatical faction of the of the various identity group that is calling the shots, it will bring about collapse of a the multicultural society, either by transforming the multicultural society into a monocultural one, or splinter the multicultural society through cultural wars.
The Structural Role of Moderates and Fanatics

Fanatics, despite their unsavory reputation, are by themselves, not evil or perfidious. They actually serve a crucial function: they are the guardians of identity. They preserve language, rituals, traditions, symbols, and collective memory. They are also the group most willing to make sacrifices to defend these markers.


Without fanatics, identity dissolves.


But without moderates, identity stagnates — societies are unable to evolve and become stuck in a world that no longer exists.


Moderates, therefore, are the agents of evolution. They allow communities to adapt to changing economic, social, and political realities. They ensure that identity remains relevant, functional, and forward-looking.


Fanatics on the other hand, are agents of preservation. Without fanatics, communities might change so rapidly that they will too rapidly lose as sense of who they are. .


A healthy society requires both. But it requires them in the correct proportion and structure.


In a multicultural country like Malaysia, moderates must always outnumber fanatics sufficiently so that fanatics remain structurally embedded within their own communities, while intergroup engagement is conducted primarily by moderates.


This creates a vital buffer zone.


Fanatics preserve identity internally.


Moderates manage coexistence externally.


When this structure holds, diversity becomes strength.


When it breaks, however, diversity becomes a fault line.

Why Malaysia Is Becoming More Tense

Malaysia’s growing racial, religious, and regional turbulence is not accidental. It reflects the weakening of moderates across one or more identity groups, allowing fanatics to move to the forefront and engage directly with other identity groups, or worse, with the fanatics of other identity groups.


Social media has accelerated this process dramatically. It bypasses traditional social buffers and enables direct, constant, and emotionally charged contact between fanatics of different groups. In doing so, it amplifies outrage, identity insecurity, and radicalization.


Once fanatics from one group become aggressive, moderates in other groups gradually weaken and retreat, allowing their own fanatics to emerge in defense. This creates a vicious escalation loop:

Fanatic contact → Identity defensiveness → Moderate collapse → Mutual radicalization


At this stage, intergroup interaction ceases to be adaptive and becomes purely confrontational. Society moves from negotiation to mobilization, from cooperation to antagonism.

The Political Consequence Malaysia Cannot Ignore

If Malaysia seeks lasting social stability, the answer does not lie in censorship, repression, or authoritarian control. Nor does it lie in moral lectures about tolerance. The real challenge is far more structural: how the state manages the positioning, contact, and interaction between moderates and fanatics across identity groups.


At present, the balance is tilting dangerously.


The spatial, social, and psychological distance between moderates and fanatics is collapsing, while direct contact between fanatical elements of different communities is rapidly increasing. This is pushing Malaysia away from the delicate equilibrium required for multicultural coexistence and steering it toward two equally destabilising outcomes: the forced emergence of monocultural dominance, or the fragmentation of the multicultural state itself.


Either path will not unfold peacefully.


Both will be paved with prolonged tension, social bitterness, identity hardening, and periodic explosions of conflict. There is no smooth transition from multiculturalism to monoculturalism, just as there is no gentle disintegration of a plural society. What lies in between is always turbulence.


To prevent such an outcome, the state must urgently rethink how it structures identity relations in the country.

Hamzah vs Azmin: Bersatu division leader exposes cracks in party

Hamzah vs Azmin: Bersatu division leader exposes cracks in party

Alyaa Alhadjri

Published: Feb 12, 2026 2:46 PM
Updated: 6:28 PM


A Bersatu division leader under disciplinary probe today openly admitted to the existence of “opposing camps” within the party - one of which is in support of deputy president Hamzah Zainudin to take over the president’s post from Muhyiddin Yassin.

Met after an hour-long proceeding at the party’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Bersatu Hulu Langat information chief Shafiq Abdul Halim said the “other camp” is aligned with party secretary-general Azmin Ali.

“Everyone knows - there’s no need for me to keep it a secret - that two camps exist: the Azmin camp and the Hamzah (above, left) camp.

“Few people state this openly, but I will say that the real issue is the clash between the group that came from Umno and the group that came from PKR.

“The Umno group wants its own leader, while the group from PKR wants Azmin. That is where the split within the party began,” he said.

Bersatu Hulu Langat information chief Shafiq Abdul Halim


Before joining Bersatu, Hamzah was among Umno lawmakers who declared a loss of confidence in Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s leadership and exited the party on Dec 14, 2018.

Azmin, then-PKR deputy president, joined Bersatu two years later, along with 10 other PKR MPs, in the Sheraton Move that triggered the downfall of Pakatan Harapan’s first stint in federal power.

Previously, it was reported that the Bersatu disciplinary board chaired by Radzi Manan is expected to summon over a dozen members today, including Hamzah and his former press secretary, Johor Bahru Bersatu chief Zulkifli Bujang.

Both Hamzah and Zulkifli have requested a deferment as they are abroad, and as of 2pm today, only Shafiq was seen at the party headquarters.

In a text message later, Shafiq confirmed that he was the only one attending today’s hearing. Reasons for the others’ absence are unclear.

‘Split will happen’

Asked on impact of any actions taken against Hamzah, Shafiq said, “If you ask me, the impact would be a split. Whether it would be big or small, I can’t say.

“But I believe a split will happen. In fact, if we look at the current situation, those crises have already begun to unfold.”

As for the proceedings against him, Shafiq said he was summoned based on four complaints, including one by Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

“Among the complaints were those related to my media statements and posts on social media.

“First, they concern my criticism of Tun Faisal in his capacity as information chief, my criticism of Azmin as the party’s secretary-general, and also my criticism regarding Muhyiddin’s position as Perikatan Nasional chairperson.

“I was also reported for making an open statement expressing support for PAS,” Shafiq said.

Recently, Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee’s open call for Muhyiddin’s resignation exposed a widening rift with a faction said to support Hamzah.

Various party leaders at the central and division levels promptly issued statements as a response, with critics pointing to the Sabah Bersatu chief’s “failure” in leading PN at the last Sabah state polls.

***

AA??? Wakakaka, many in PKR left because of him. Most Machiavellian Mafulat.