Astonishing cost of Iran war revealed

News.com.au:

 2:29 AM

Mar 12, 2026

HIGHLIGHT

Astonishing cost of Iran war revealed

Benedict Brook

The astonishing cost the US is paying to attack Iran has been revealed.

The Trump administration has said it spent $US5.6 billion ($7.8bn) in munitions alone just the first two days of the war, reported Reuters.

There are some reports the conflict is costing $US2bn ($2.8bn) per day meaning the cost could be around $35 billion so far.

USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) firing a Tomahawk land attack missile, while underway, on March 5, 2026. (Photo by US NAVY / AFP)

The White House has not publically released the figures. But it is soon expected to request a further $US50 billion ($70bn) from Congress to fund the war, although Reuters said some Washington staffers believe that figure is low.

While drones are relatively cheap, costing tens of thousands of dollars each, Tomahawk missiles can cost millions.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who was part of a two-hour classified briefing on Tuesday night, US time, has said the Trump administration’s plans for the conflict were “incoherent and incomplete” and threatened an “endless war” as the US went continually back to knock out Iran’s military after it was rebuilt.

Middle East crisis: three ships hit in strait of Hormuz as ‘largest ever’ oil reserve release agreed by 32 countries

Middle East crisis: three ships hit in strait of Hormuz as ‘largest ever’ oil reserve release agreed by 32 countries

A Thai bulk carrier on fire after being hit near the strait of Hormuz Photograph: ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP/Getty Images

Lucy Campbell (now); Tom Ambrose, Vivian Ho and Eva Corlett (earlier)Thu 12 Mar 2026 05.13 AEDT

From 2h ago
03.32 AEDT

Summary of today so far

Three ships were hit by unknown projectiles in the strategic strait of Hormuz abutting Iran. Two of the ships sustained damage, while another, which the Thai navy identified as a Thai bulk carrier, caught fire, forcing the crew to evacuate.


International Energy Agency has ordered the largest release of government oil reserves in its history in an effort to calm the oil price shock triggered by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. All 32 members of the world’s energy watchdog agreed unanimously to release about 400m barrels of emergency crude, a third of the group’s total government stockpiles and more than double the IEA’s previous biggest release, the IEA said.


Iran’s military on Wednesday said any ships belonging to the United States, Israel or their allies passing through the strategic strait of Hormuz could be targeted. “Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets,” said the military’s central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.


Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured in the 28 February attack that killed six of his family members, including his father, Tehran’s ambassador to Cyprus has confirmed. In an interview conducted at his embassy compound in Nicosia, Alireza Salarian elaborated on the circumstances in which Khamenei, 56, was injured, saying he was lucky to survive the strike, which levelled the late ayatollah’s residence.


The deadly strike on a primary school in Minab, Iran, that left at least 175 people, mostly children, dead was the result of an American missile attack, the New York Times reports. Outdated targeting data was the cause of the tragedy, with US bombs hitting the school complex which was previously part of a nearby Iranian military base, sources told the New York Times.


Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a move likely to complicate the reopening of the narrow waterway, an important route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas. One source told Reuters that the locations of most of the mines are known but declined to say how the US planned to deal with them.


Israel pounded Lebanon with a new wave of attacks, setting an apartment block in central Beirut alight. Earlier strikes in southern Lebanon killed five people in the Nabatieh district and two in the Tyre district.


US forces have conducted airstrikes on more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said in a post on X. Cooper provided an update on Wednesday on US operations in the Middle East, in which he said US forces “continue delivering devastating combat power against the Iranian regime”.


Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the joint bombing campaign with the US against Iran would go on “as long as necessary”, insisting the strikes had inflicted heavy casualties on Tehran’s forces. “This operation will continue without any time limit, as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decide the outcome of the campaign,” he said, adding that the Iranian leadership was fleeing “like mice into tunnels”.

EU and UK demand Israel stop surge in West Bank settler violence since Iran war

EU and UK demand Israel stop surge in West Bank settler violence since Iran war

3 hours ago
David Gritten

Reuters
The Palestinian vice-president said the deadly attacks constitute "a major escalation of settler terrorism"


The European Union and United Kingdom have demanded that Israel halt a surge in violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that has taken place since the start of the country's war with Iran.


Six Palestinians have been killed during attacks by settlers across the West Bank over the past 11 days, according to the United Nations.


The UK said it was appalled by the killings, while the EU said the level of settler violence was unacceptable. Both urged Israeli authorities take action to ensure accountability and prevent further attacks.


The Israeli military condemned the violence and said it was working to bring those responsible to justice.


Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land Palestinians want, along with Gaza, for a hoped-for future state - during the 1967 Middle East war. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them.


The settlements are illegal under international law.

Israeli soldiers shot a Palestinian boy and stood around as he bled to death, video shows

Family of Palestinian-American man killed in West Bank demand accountability

Palestinian Authority in dire straits as Israel's hold on West Bank deepens


On Sunday, three Palestinians were killed during a settler attack on the Palestinian village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north-east of Ramallah.


Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that dozens of settlers raided the village before dawn that day. When residents confronted them, including by throwing stones, armed settlers arrived and opened fire, they said.


The Palestinian health ministry said two residents - Thaer Hamayel, 24, and his cousin, Farea Hamayel, 57 - were both shot in the head and killed.


A third resident, Mohammed Murra, 55, suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital after inhaling tear gas that was fired by Israeli security forces, according to medics.


The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said security forces were dispatched to the area following a report of Palestinians being attacked by Israeli civilians near their homes, and that they acted to disperse those involved. It added that a criminal investigation had been opened.


On Saturday, Amir Shanaran, a 28-year-old man, was shot dead by settlers and his brother, Khaled, 34, was seriously wounded on their land in Wadi al-Rakhim, near Susya in the South Hebron Hills, according to the Palestinian health ministry.


The head of the nearby Tuwani village council told AFP news agency that settlers entered Palestinian homes in the area and attacked the Shanaran family.


The IDF said soldiers and police were dispatched to the scene after reports of a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians. Initial information indicated that a reserve soldier opened fire, it added, without identifying him as a settler.


The previous Monday, settlers shot and killed two brothers - Mohammed Azem, 51, and Fahim Azem, 47 - during an attack on the village of Qaryut, which is located between Ramallah and Nablus, according to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.

Reuters
A Palestinian flag was planted at the site in an olive grove where Thaer Hamayel was killed


Another Israeli rights group, Yesh Din, said 109 separate incidents of settler violence, included shootings, physical assaults, property damage, and threats, had been reported in 62 Palestinian communities during the first 10 days of the war with Iran.


"These criminal and deadly attacks are carried out with the backing of the state and almost complete impunity, advancing Israel's objective of forcibly displacing Palestinians and annexing the West Bank," Yesh Din warned.


The Palestinian Authority's Vice-President, Hussein al-Sheikh, said on Sunday that the attacks constituted "a major escalation of settler terrorism" and called on the international community to take "serious punitive measures" against the perpetrators.


The commander of the IDF's Central Command, which is responsible for the West Bank, insisted it saw the incidents "with the utmost severity".


"There will be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hands," Maj Gen Avi Bluth said. "We are working together with all security agencies to quickly reach those responsible and bring them to justice."


He added: "Especially at a time when the IDF is striking our bitter enemies, Iran and Hezbollah, with a firm hand - we cannot allow reckless internal violence to undermine the rule of law and the security of the region."

The British consulate-general in Jerusalem said in a statement that the UK urged the IDF to match its statements with "swift, thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible". "Settler violence which terrorises communities must be stopped," it added.


The EU's spokesperson, meanwhile, warned that "impunity for such acts risks provoking further violence", and urged the Israeli government to "abide by its obligations under international law to protect the Palestinian population in the occupied territory".

How did Obama win the Nobel Prize?

Murray Hunter


How did Obama win the Nobel Prize?


Mar 11, 2026






This is a question I had been thinking about for almost 25 years. I also witnessed a few other peace prizes awarded to parties I questioned. This includes The European Union in 2012, Muhammad Yunus in 2006, and The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Al Gore in 2007.

Frankly my respect for the award has waned over the years.

Back to Barak Obama.

Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” according to the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee. The Norwegian Nobel Committee specifically highlighted his focus on nuclear nonproliferation, fostering a new climate in international relations, and promoting multilateral diplomacy.

Obama was credited with shifting US foreign policy toward dialogue and cooperation, aiming to move away from unilateralism. He championed the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons, stimulating new negotiation. The committee recognized his administration’s active engagement in addressing global climate challenges. He was recognized for improving the United States’ image and relations globally, particularly within the Muslim world.

Technically Barak Obama did all of this within the first 9 days of his presidency, as nominations for each year’s Nobel Prize award close on January 31.

Barak Obama’s Nobel Prize was a recognition of his stated goals and the shift in tone rather than anything he accomplished. On the Nobel Prize’s own website entry for “Barak Obama”, it says “inspires hope for a better future”. The prize was obviously awarded on expectation rather than action.

This is what tarnished the prize for at least me. It was a prize awarded on hope rather than achievement.

Ironically, during Obama’s 2 terms in office as US President he stepped up drone attacks killing innocent people including US citizens. There are also many human rights questions about the US intervention of Libya in 2011. Obama also kept Guantanamo Bay prison open.

Obama used drones extrajudicially to kill

In 2009 there was 209 other nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize that Obama won. Some others that were nominated included Piedad Córdoba, a Colombian senator Known for hostage negotiations and peace efforts in Colombia’s civil conflict; often seen as a favorite, Sima Samar, Afghan human rights activist, who was head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and UN envoy on human rights in Darfur, who was praised for women’s rights advocacy in a war-torn region. Others included Hu Jia, a Chinese dissident was is an imprisoned activist focused on human rights and environmental issues in China and Morgan Tsvangirai, a Zimbabwean opposition leader/Prime Minister and longtime challenger to Robert Mugabe’s regime, enduring persecution for promoting democracy.

Was there an Epstein connection?

Over the last month, there has been speculation that contacts between the late convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Thorbjørn Jagland, which included Epstein hosting Jagland at his New York, Paris, and Palm Beach properties, that Epstein played a major role in pushing for Obama’s nomination for the Nobel Prize. Jagland was the chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee at the time it was awarded to Obama.

Epstein provided Jagland with luxury stays and trips, there are claims that Jagland was an “Epstein Island regular”, implying this relationship cast doubt on the integrity of Obama’s award.

Obama’s prize was awarded in October 2009, early in Jagland’s chairmanship and suggest Epstein’s influence may have played a role. Jagland was the “driving force” behind Obama’s controversial 2009 award, which was criticized as premature since Obama had been in office less than 2 weeks. The New York Times has just written a deep dive into the Epstein and Jagland relationship.

However, the evidence is only suggestive. The Epstein files indicate that Epstein and Jagland had a “close association,” with Jagland appearing hundreds of times in the Epstein files. Epstein referred to him as “the Nobel big shot” and leveraged the connection to entice figures like Bill Gates (who met with Jagland alongside Epstein in 2013), Larry Summers, Steve Bannon, and Richard Branson.

Bill Gates, Terje Rød-Larsen, Jeffrey Epstein, former Gates scientific advisor Boris Nikolic and Thorbjørn Jagland [Epstein files]


In February 2026, Norwegian authorities have opened a probe into Jagland on suspicion of “aggravated corruption” related to his Epstein connections. His diplomatic immunity was waived, and police searched his homes in Oslo, Risør, and Rauland. Jagland has cooperated, stating he wants the case “thoroughly clarified.” This has fueled the rumors, with some claiming it exposes the Nobel process’s vulnerabilities.

Jagland was reportedly hospitalized in late February following a suicide attempt a few days after he was charged with gross corruption linked to his relationship with the late Epstein.

Jagland has been under great criticism for the role he played in the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barak Obama in 2009 and the European Union in 2012. Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote in an open letter with two other former laureates complaining about the award of the Peace Prize to the EU. He was demoted in an unprecedented move from the chairman’s position in 2015.

To date, these are only conspiracy claims without any solid substantiation. Obama’s award remains officially attributed to his early diplomatic efforts, and the Nobel Committee has not revisited it.

I am still wondering.

Obama’s Nobel Prize speech could have been written by a George Bush speech writer.

Spain removes ambassador from Israel in protest to Iran war, Gaza genocide

Madrid recalls ambassador amid rising diplomatic tensions and criticism of US-Israeli actions in Iran.

Published On 11 Mar 202611 Mar 2026

Share

Save

The Spanish government has decided ⁠to withdraw its ⁠ambassador to Israel, according to ‌the official state gazette.

The move on Wednesday comes as Spain has been one of the European Union’s foremost critics of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and the new war on Iran launched by the United States and Israel.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 items

• list 1 of 4Israel denies women in Gaza ‘conditions to live’: Amnesty
• list 2 of 412 days: How 2025 Iran blueprint trapped US, Israel in longer war
• list 3 of 4Campaign to boycott Israel looks to future after Gaza ‘ceasefire’
• list 4 of 4Spain refuses to let US use bases for Iran attacks

end of list

“At the proposal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, and following deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 10 March 2026, I hereby order the termination of Ms Ana María Sálomon Pérez’s appointment as Ambassador of Spain to the State of Israel,” the gazette said.

Spain’s embassy in Tel ⁠Aviv will ⁠be led by a ⁠charge d’affaires, a ⁠source ⁠at the Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters news agency.

The country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is one of the few left-wing leaders in Europe to condemn the US-Israel attack on Iran as “unjustifiable” and said that Madrid’s position was “no to the war”.

Sanchez’s government has also been one of the few European nations to consistently condemn Israel’s action in Gaza. In October, Spain’s parliament approved the enshrinement in law of a total arms embargo on Israel, permanently banning the sale of weapons, dual-use technology and military equipment in response to the genocide .

Iran women’s football team may stay longer in Malaysia as AFC seeks safe options

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has indicated that the Iran women’s national football team may remain in Malaysia for a longer period as the confederation explores safe options for the squad following the conclusion of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. - AFC pic, March 11, 2026


Iran women’s football team may stay longer in Malaysia as AFC seeks safe options


The Asian Football Confederation says the Iran women’s national team could remain in Malaysia temporarily while authorities explore safe arrangements, after concerns over the players’ safety following the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 6 seconds ago
11 March, 2026
4:40 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has indicated that the Iran women’s national football team may remain in Malaysia for a longer period as the confederation explores safe options for the squad following the conclusion of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

Speaking to Scoop, AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor John said the governing body is currently ensuring that the players and officials are properly taken care of while discussions continue regarding their next steps.

He said the team’s arrival in Malaysia was arranged at short notice after it became clear that the squad could not immediately return to Iran.

“We managed to organise the arrangements at the last minute to ensure the team had a safe place to stay. For now, their welfare and safety are our priority,” he said.

Windsor added that the AFC will bear the team’s accommodation and related costs while it explores further arrangements within the region.

“There is a possibility that they may remain in Malaysia longer if necessary. At the same time, we are also in discussions with several countries in Asia to see if any are able to host the team temporarily until it is safe for them to travel home,” he said.

He stressed that the AFC will continue to provide support to the players and officials while their onward travel plans are being finalised.

“AFC will continue to prioritise the welfare and safety of the players and officials, and we urge the media to respect the privacy of the team members,” he added.

However, Windsor declined to disclose the name or location of the hotel where the team is staying, citing security concerns.

“Sorry, for security reasons, I cannot reveal the hotel location,” he said.

Videos showing the team’s arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) circulated widely on social media earlier today.

According to the Embassy of Iran in Malaysia, the players are expected to return to Iran once flights become available and the country’s airspace reopens.

“They intend to return to their homeland,” the embassy said when contacted.

The situation follows reports that seven members of the squad have sought asylum in Australia, citing fears of persecution if they return to Iran after refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening match on March 3.

According to reports quoting Australia’s Immigration Minister Tony Burke, the players have been relocated to a safe location by Australian police.

Burke was also reported as saying that the remaining members of the team would be welcome to stay in Australia should they choose to do so.

The Iranian team had originally planned to return home after the tournament, but concerns about their safety surfaced after the squad did not sing the national anthem prior to their match against South Korea.

The move drew criticism from several commentators in Iran, with one conservative analyst reportedly labelling the players “traitors in wartime” and calling for severe punishment.

According to the Embassy of Malaysia in Tehran, Iranian passport holders travelling to Malaysia using their national passports do not require a visa for visits of up to 14 days. – March 11, 2026

Despite Trump's promise, USN rejected all requests for armed escorts through the Strait of Hormuz

From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi


ndorepsSto962afhctl727u5h44g1cil2faah49g0185g30a17fi542ltlm5 ·


BREAKING NEWS: A cargo ship is burning after it was hit by a missile in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (MTOC) said in the past few minutes.

The crew called for help and are evacuating the ship, which is about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, the center said.

The ship is marked with an X on the attached graphic.
Iran has closed the narrow sea passage after the US and Israel launched an unprovoked attack on the country, killing 1,270 people, including about 160 primary school children.

US President Donald Trump said the US Navy would break the closure order by providing UN Navy armed escorts for ships in the area.

But the US has failed to go ahead with the scheme – ship captains report that all requests for armed escorts have been rejected.

LATEST IN SEVERAL POSSIBLE ATTACKS

This is the latest in several problems reported on ships trying to break the closure order since the US and Israel started the war on February 28.

Sailors on a bulk carrier yesterday reported “witnessing a splash and heard a loud bang in close proximity” to their ship, which was 36 nautical miles north of Abud Dhabi in the UAE, the MTOC said.

On Saturday, a ship was believed to have been damaged in an attack by an unmanned drone. The majority of crew were evacuated, with a skeleton crew left on board.

The previous day, March 6, a tug was hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait, and there were several similar cases the previous week.

The noise that drowns out Malaysia’s real story

FMT:


The noise that drowns out Malaysia’s real story


Yesterday
Letter to the Editor


Whether we like Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim or not, we cannot deny that he has brought a measure of steadiness to the political landscape

From Wong Chun Wai


Democracy is noisy, but social media is noisier.

By almost any measure, one would think Malaysia is in perpetual crisis and even perceived to be a failed state if social media were the only lens through which we see the country.

Scroll through the endless posts, comments and viral videos, and the picture painted is bleak: political, racial, and religious chaos, and a nation supposedly on the brink of decline.

It is a narrative repeated so often that many begin to accept it as truth. The campaign has become more aggressive because the political actors believe a general election is looming.

But away from the noise of the digital echo chamber, Malaysia today enjoys a high degree of political stability that has been missing in recent years.

Malaysians have always taken political stability for granted. We have forgotten that we lost precious time when we had three prime ministers between 2018 and 2022.

Whether we like Anwar Ibrahim or not, we cannot deny that he has brought a measure of steadiness to the political landscape.


Investors, both domestic and foreign, tend to value predictability, and stability has helped restore confidence in Malaysia’s direction.

The foreign community looks at Malaysia with greater respect now, with Anwar playing a big role on the global stage.

Put aside the politics. Let’s look at the data. Malaysia has recorded a historic high of RM426.7 billion in approved investments in 2025, an 11% increase from 2024 which is expected to create over 244,000 new jobs.

Johor recorded RM110 billion in approved investments for 2025, the highest ever for a single state in Malaysian history, accounting for 25.77% of Malaysia’s total approved investments for the year.


Major multinational companies continue to choose Malaysia as a base for advanced manufacturing, data centres and technology supply chains. From electronics to green technology, the country is positioning itself within industries that will define the next phase of global growth.

No serious investors will put billions into Malaysia if it continues to be rocked by political turbulence, changing prime ministers and policies.

Bank Negara Malaysia’s international reserves reached US$128.3 billion as of Feb 27, the highest ever since August 2014. Supported by stronger exchange and gold accumulation, the reserves rose for an 11th consecutive month.

These reserves are more than just numbers; they represent economic resilience, providing the country with the capacity to weather global uncertainties and financial shocks.

The ringgit, once the subject of constant alarmist commentary online, has strengthened against major currencies.

It emerged as Asia’s best-performing currency in early 2026, driven by strong economic fundamentals, increased foreign investment, and a narrowing interest rate differential with the US.

Even Anwar’s critics will agree that the stronger ringgit reflects improving confidence in the country’s economic fundamentals and policy direction.

Our unemployment rate has reached a near-decade low of 3.1% as of December 2024, reflecting a stable and strengthening labour market. The rate has remained consistently low between 3.1% and 3.3% throughout late 2024 to early 2026.

Malaysia’s inflation rate in 2026 is expected to remain broadly stable at around 2%, but with the war in West Asia and oil price hikes, there would probably be an impact on our inflation and petrol costs, as with the rest of the world.

These figures do not support the narrative that Anwar is doing a bad job. It takes a lot of hard work to make this happen.

“The problem with the digital space is not merely that criticism exists – criticism is essential in any healthy democracy. The problem arises when outrage becomes the dominant currency of engagement.

“Algorithms reward anger, exaggeration and sensationalism. Nuance rarely goes viral,” as one report put it.

Unfortunately, data-driven analysis is not social media viral material. Malaysians do not have the patience to read a thoughtful analysis.

Economic data seldom attracts the same attention as a dramatic claim that the country is collapsing. Over time, this creates a distorted perception. The loudest voices online can make it appear as though the nation is perpetually failing, even when evidence suggests otherwise.

Many of us seem to be affected by a few religious extremists who are bent on creating hatred over the Hindu temple issue with their incessant, provocative actions and postings.

They would have been detained under the Internal Security Act in the era of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but these draconian laws have been repealed.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner, Azam Baki, is in the spotlight as we await the report of internal investigations against him.

He is under probe for dabbling in shares and to determine whether he has crossed the permissible level as a civil servant, and whether he did obtain approval to do so, not for corruption.

Azam may not be a popular figure with many questioning his methods, but never in the country’s history have so many big personalities been arrested and investigated. His job is to hand over his recommendations to the attorney-general once MACC completes their investigations.

Certainly, not everything is well and fine in Malaysia. Issues such as income disparity, governance challenges, delayed reforms and the rising cost of living remain real concerns.

They deserve honest discussion and policy attention, but a nation’s challenges should be debated in proportion to its achievements and strengths.

Constantly projecting an image of failure does little to help Malaysia. Instead, it risks eroding confidence among citizens and investors alike, creating a self-fulfilling cycle of pessimism.

“Malaysia’s story today is not one of perfection, but neither is it one of collapse. It is the story of a country gradually regaining stability, attracting investments and strengthening its economic foundations,” said one analyst.

It’s just been three years since Anwar held the top job. We are still grappling with the 1MDB case. As of late 2025, Malaysia has had to pay RM42.17 billion to service 1MDB’s debt and interest obligations.

The debt burden is gigantic as the remaining balance is about RM9.02 billion, with the final maturity date for the principal payment in 2039, according to reports, and all this is funded from the federal budget.

In the end, we must ask a simple question: should we allow the loudest voices with political interest to define our national narrative on social media, or should we judge our country by facts and evidence, and not merely emotions and prejudices?



Wong Chun Wai is a national journalism laureate and the chairman of Bernama.