Immigration DG: Repatriation programme records strong response, over 100,000 migrants sent home, RM88m collected

Immigration DG: Repatriation programme records strong response, over 100,000 migrants sent home, RM88m collected



A total of 92 illegal immigrants (PATI) in Kampung Masjid Segambut were checked in the raid and of that number, a total of 76 illegal immigrants (PATI) from Indonesia and Bangladesh were detained involving 46 men, 23 women, six boys and a girl. The raid was part of a large-scale operation announced by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin following the Return Calibration Program which ended on June 30, July 1, 2022. - Picture by Hari Anggara

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 4:24 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Feb 26 — The Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 (PRM 2.0), a voluntary amnesty initiative that allows undocumented migrants to return to their home countries without facing prosecution, has generated over RM88 million in revenue as of February 23, according to Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban.

Launched on May 19, 2025, and running until April 30, PRM 2.0 has recorded 177,000 registrations, with more than 100,000 illegal immigrants repatriated to their countries of origin.

“This programme is still ongoing and has contributed significantly to government revenue. To date, we have collected more than RM88 million. Discussions are still underway at the ministry level on whether to continue or conclude the programme in April. No decision has been made so far,” he told reporters at the Immigration Department’s Semarak Ramadan programmetoday.

Zakaria noted that the response to the programme has increased, especially during Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.


“We no longer require appointments for registration...walk-ins are now accepted. The programme is not limited to the Klang Valley,” he added.


Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail previously announced that the government had approved the extension of PRM 2.0 from May 19, 2025, to April 30, 2026, covering Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Under the programme, an RM500 compound is imposed for offences of entering and staying in Malaysia without a valid pass or overstaying beyond the pass expiry, while a RM300 compound is imposed for violating pass conditions.


PRM 2.0 is a voluntary amnesty scheme offering illegal immigrants exemption from prosecution while allowing them to regularise their status through the payment of compounds for certain offences. — Bernama

Litter today, pay tomorrow: SWCorp slaps 941 fines and community service duties on Malaysians, foreigners

Litter today, pay tomorrow: SWCorp slaps 941 fines and community service duties on Malaysians, foreigners



An offender serving community service orders gets hands-on experience cleaning public spaces. — Picture by Yusof Isa

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 6:09 PM MYT


KANGAR, Feb 26 — The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) has issued 941 violation notices for littering across seven states under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) as of yesterday, said its chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed.

He said 741 of the notices were issued to locals, while the remaining were served to foreign nationals.

Khalid said the statistics reflected the implementation of consistent monitoring and enforcement to ensure public cleanliness remained under control, particularly in high-intensity areas.

“SWCorp will not compromise on any violations of laws relating to public cleanliness and enforcement actions will continue to be carried out effectively,” he said in a statement today.


On the community service order enforced from January 1 under the act, he said it reflected a behavioural correction approach that allowed offenders to experience the challenges of public cleaning work, making them aware of the impact of their actions on the environment and the community’s well-being.


Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after three men were charged at the Sessions Court here today for throwing cigarette butts in public places last January, Khalid expressed hope that the public would take littering offences seriously.

He said that during the initial stages of the Community Service Order implementation last January, the most common form of litter found in public places was cigarette butts.


Earlier, Bernama reported that three men were each fined RM1,000 and ordered to perform eight hours of community service by the Sessions Court here today for littering by discarding cigarette butts in public places.

Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid imposed the fine on Idzham Husin, 43, Ahmad Nasri Mohammad Yusof, 47, both civil servants, and backhoe driver Putra Che Ani, 59, pleaded guilty to the charge.

She sentenced them to a RM1,000 fine each, in default 30 days in jail, and an order for them to complete the community service within six months. — Bernama

Immigration serves up enforcement at Ramadan bazaars: 23 foreigners detained in crackdown on illegal trading

Immigration serves up enforcement at Ramadan bazaars: 23 foreigners detained in crackdown on illegal trading



The Immigration Department (JIM) has intensified enforcement at Ramadan bazaars nationwide to curb the involvement of foreign nationals in illegal trading or working without valid permits. — Bernama pic

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 5:54 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Feb 26 — The Immigration Department (JIM) has intensified enforcement at Ramadan bazaars nationwide to curb the involvement of foreign nationals in illegal trading or working without valid permits.

Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said so far, 61 foreign nationals were inspected at several bazaars in the Klang Valley, with 23 detained for suspected breaches of immigration laws.

“JIM will step up inspections at Ramadan bazaars, as these locations usually attract foreign nationals to conduct business. Some of the stalls are operated by locals, but they employ foreign workers illegally,” he told a press conference after the Semarak Ramadan programme here today.

He said inspections and enforcement operations are also carried out at locations frequented by foreign nationals.


“There are also small colonies where they trade among themselves (and locals), and these too will not escape inspection,” he added.


On cases of foreign nationals driving without licences, Zakaria said the department would work closely with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to address the issue.

“Cases reported by the media and the public indicate that foreign nationals do not possess valid licences to drive lorries transporting stones, sand and similar materials.


“This is indeed a matter of concern, and we will identify those involved and take appropriate action,” he said.

At the event, Zakaria and JIM’s senior management distributed bubur lambuk to members of the public seeking immigration services at the department’s Passport Division and Immigration officers on duty.

Is the push to remove Azam Baki about accountability or something deeper? – T. Vignesh

Accountability or political crossfire? The sudden chorus against MACC chief Azam Baki raises deeper questions. - Bernama file pic, February 25, 2026


Is the push to remove Azam Baki about accountability or something deeper? – T. Vignesh


The sudden outcry for the removal of MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki following a Bloomberg report raises questions about whether the controversy is truly about transparency or whether powerful interests are seeking to derail ongoing high-profile corruption investigations



T. Vignesh
Updated 18 hours ago
25 February, 2026
11:18 AM MYT



THE sudden chorus calling for the head of Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency (MACC) Tan Sri Azam Baki raises a legitimate question: are these demands truly about accountability, or is there more beneath the surface?



Azam recently found himself back in the spotlight following a Bloomberg report published on February 10 titled “Malaysian Anti-Graft Chief Returns to Stocks After Outcry.” The article alleged that he held 17.7 million shares in a financial firm and had failed to publicly declare his assets, revisiting controversies first raised in 2021.

These claims triggered an immediate political reaction, with critics demanding explanations and some even calling for his removal.

Azam, however, did not remain silent. He responded by filing a RM100 million defamation suit against Bloomberg, accusing the news agency of publishing a misleading report that damaged his reputation. That move alone suggests he is prepared to defend himself in court rather than retreat quietly under pressure.

What is troubling is what followed. Several politicians began calling for Azam’s immediate removal even before he could present his explanation to the special committee tasked with reviewing the matter.

The rush to judgment is striking, especially when due process has yet to run its course.

This leads to an uncomfortable but necessary question: is Azam Baki truly the main target here, or is he simply standing in the way of something much bigger?

For a foreign media to suddenly revive a story surrounding Azam is not altogether surprising when viewed in context. Over the past two to three years, Azam and his officers at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission have been knocking on the doors of the country’s most powerful figures, from former prime ministers to prolific businessmen.

These are not symbolic investigations. They involve massive sums of money, political influence, and networks that have long operated with a sense of impunity.

Just yesterday, Scoop published an article titled “From ‘Ikan Bilis’ to Big Fish: MACC’s high-profile corruption cases from 2023 to 2026.”

The report highlighted how the commission has shifted from targeting low-level offenders to pursuing senior politicians, corporate figures, and former holders of high office. It reinforced a perception that the MACC has, at least recently, been more willing to go after the “big fish”.

It is therefore possible that the MACC has hit a nerve. Someone under investigation, or fearing exposure, may feel threatened enough to strike back, not in court, but in the court of public opinion.

If that is the case, it would not be far-fetched to believe that such individuals or networks could have the influence to shape narratives through foreign media outlets.

We cannot, of course, point fingers at any specific individual or group at this stage. The MACC has accumulated many enemies over the years, and not without reason.

Anti-corruption agencies rarely make friends when they are doing their job properly. Every raid, every arrest, and every charge in court creates resentment among those who once believed themselves untouchable.

Another factor that cannot be ignored is timing, as Azam Baki is approaching the end of his tenure as MACC chief.

Under ordinary circumstances, this would be a period of transition. But the sudden intensity of calls for his removal raises another question: are some parties fearful that his contract could be renewed?

If Azam is allowed to complete his tenure or worse, secure an extension as it would give him and his team more time to pursue ongoing investigations and possibly open new ones.

For those who believe they may be next in line, the prospect of a renewal may be far more worrying than the Bloomberg report itself.

This could explain the urgency to remove him now rather than allow him to finish his term and potentially continue his campaign against corruption.

The political context also matters. Since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took office, the MACC has been working around the clock to pursue corruption cases that had long been dormant.

This renewed energy has unsettled the old order. For those accustomed to protection and privilege, an aggressive MACC is not a symbol of reform so much as it is a threat.

However, none of this is to suggest that Azam Baki should be beyond scrutiny. Transparency and accountability must apply to everyone, especially the country’s top anti-graft official.

There is, however, a crucial difference between scrutiny and a public lynching before due process is allowed to take its course.

Forcing him out before he has even explained himself to the special committee risks undermining the very principles of justice many claim to defend.

Perhaps the real question is not whether Azam Baki owns shares, but who benefits most if he is removed before his time is up. — February 25, 2026


T. Vignesh is the Executive Editor of Scoop.my

Time for Corporate Leadership to take the helm at FAM – T. Vignesh

Football today is no longer just a game but an industry where broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandising, and youth development pathways all demand professional management with measurable outcomes. - Bernama file pic, February 22, 2026


Time for Corporate Leadership to take the helm at FAM – T. Vignesh


For Malaysian football to break free from years of stagnation, the Football Association of Malaysia must embrace corporate-style leadership — one that prioritises return on investment, strong governance, and long-term institutional stability



T. Vignesh
Updated 4 days ago
22 February, 2026
3:23 PM MYT



Malaysian football governance future of Malaysian football depends not only on what happens on the pitch but also on how the sport is managed off it. FAM has reached a crossroads where sentiment and tradition must give way to structure, accountability, and business sense.

Football today is no longer just a game. It is an industry. Broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandising, and youth development pathways all demand professional management with measurable outcomes.

This is why FAM should now be led by corporate figures who understand return on investment (ROI). A corporate mindset does not mean stripping football of its soul; it means ensuring every sen spent translates into development, exposure, and sustainability.

The two most important posts — President and Deputy President — should be filled by corporate leaders. These roles are not ceremonial.

They are strategic positions that determine how money is raised, spent, and accounted for. While no administration will ever be perfect, leadership rooted in corporate governance will almost certainly be more disciplined than what Malaysian football has experienced in the past.

Transparency, performance indicators, and institutional continuity are qualities football administration desperately needs.

This call for change is made even more urgent by recent events. The naturalisation controversy involving FIFA now before the Court of Arbitration for Sport has exposed deep weaknesses in governance and decision-making.

While the football community waits for CAS to deliver its verdict, the entire FAM leadership has resigned. That alone is proof that the old system has reached the end of its credibility.

What Malaysian football needs now is not a cosmetic reshuffle but a full reset. This transition period should be used to rebuild with new people, new structures, and a new mindset.

Those who have stepped aside should not be recycled back into power; the vacuum should be filled by professional managers who can restore confidence, both locally and internationally.

There will be voices calling for royalty to return and rescue the game. While such calls come from respect and nostalgia, they are neither realistic nor fair.

Royal figures have already done their part. From the Pahang and Johor royalty, Malaysian football has enjoyed the patronage of royalty at different eras.

Their involvement helped stabilise and elevate the game when it needed moral authority and influence. But expecting them to permanently shoulder administrative burdens ignores their wider responsibilities to state and nation. Leadership should now evolve with the times.

Another familiar argument is that football must be run by people who “know football.” But in this era, who truly does not? The sport is everywhere — from social media to tactical analysis shows and youth academies.

Knowledge can be hired, consulted, and structured into committees. What is harder to find is a leader who can balance budgets, attract sponsors, and enforce governance.

This is where the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) provides a useful case study. Its current president, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, comes from a corporate and financial background.

He is supported by administrators and technical experts who understand badminton inside out. In this model, the president is the money man ensuring resources are secured and systems are in place, while sport specialists run the technical side.

The result is an institution that functions like an organisation rather than a personality-driven association. Much of this foundation was laid by former BAM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, who planted the seeds of reform and professionalisation.

Today, regardless of wins or losses on court, which ultimately depend on athletes — BAM operates with stability. It is almost on autopilot.

If such a model works for badminton, why not football?

For FAM, the formula should be clear: the President and Deputy President must come from corporate backgrounds, while the rest of the administration should consist of people with football knowledge.

This hybrid structure allows the association to be run like a business but guided by sporting expertise. Football development then becomes a strategic investment, not a political favour or emotional gamble.

Malaysian football does not lack passion. It lacks structure. It does not lack fans. It lacks consistent direction. The game’s revival will not come from changing coaches every season or launching yet another blueprint. It will come from changing the way it is governed.

With the CAS case hanging over the association and the old leadership having resigned, FAM has been given a rare opportunity to reset itself from the ground up.

This is precisely the moment to break from past habits and bring in corporate leadership that understands governance, accountability, and long-term planning.

If FAM truly wants progress, it must stop looking backwards for saviours and start looking forward to managers. – February 22, 2026

PKR issues show-cause letter to Rafizi over GE16 comments

PKR has issued a show-cause letter to its former deputy president, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli. - Bernama file pic, February 26, 2026


PKR issues show-cause letter to Rafizi over GE16 comments


The former deputy president of PKR, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, clarifies his position on defending his parliamentary seat in GE16, but not under the party's banner



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 48 seconds ago
26 February, 2026
8:51 PM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR – PKR has issued a show-cause letter to its former deputy president, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, following his remarks suggesting that he intends to defend his parliamentary seat in the upcoming general election (GE16) — but not as a PKR candidate.

Rafizi, the Pandan MP, confirmed the receipt of the letter, which was sent by the party’s secretary-general, Datuk Fuziah Salleh. He explained in a Facebook post that his comments pertained to his plans once Parliament is dissolved and GE16 is called, and stressed that he has not left PKR.

“Once the Dewan Rakyat is dissolved, I would no longer be bound by the anti-party-hopping law. Since I would cease to be an MP at that point, it would be up to me to decide my next steps,” Rafizi stated.

He further clarified that, as long as he remains an MP and has not formally resigned from the party or joined another, he is still a PKR member. “The Dewan Rakyat speaker cannot vacate my seat,” he added.

Rafizi revealed his intention to respond to Fuziah in order to explain his stance. “After that, it is up to them to decide what action to take,” he said.

The former minister also suggested that PKR may want him to voluntarily leave the party so that his seat could be declared vacant, hinting that sacking him would allow him to retain it.

In a separate interview with Sin Chew on Sunday, Rafizi confirmed his intention to contest the Pandan parliamentary seat in GE16, though he indicated that he is unlikely to run as a PKR candidate. While he refrained from commenting on his future political direction, he ruled out joining a “third force,” forming a new party, or collaborating with former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Rafizi, a two-term MP, has been an outspoken critic of PKR and its president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who also serves as the prime minister. His criticism intensified after he lost last year’s PKR deputy presidency race to Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah. – February 26, 2026

***

No matter how smart or intellectual he is, he has shown us he has been a grossly immature sore loser, blatantly disloyal and not a team player. PKR should be glad to remove him from its ranks. I have to say I am getting sick of him and his childish antics.

Bukit Kayu Hitam shooting: Suspects arrested within 24 hours, says Home Minister

Bukit Kayu Hitam shooting: Suspects arrested within 24 hours, says Home Minister



Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said police are currently interrogating the suspects. — Bernama pic

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 12:31 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Suspects linked to the shooting at the Bukit Kayu Hitam border entry have been arrested, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

He added that police are currently interrogating the suspects.


“The incident that occurred yesterday at Bukit Kayu Hitam is very unfortunate, but we are grateful that the officer involved is safe. He was on his way to Subuh prayers; only his car was shot,” Saifuddin told Parliament during Minister’s Question Time.

“Arrests were made within 24 hours, and the suspects are currently being questioned by the police,” he said.


Saifuddin was responding to a supplementary question by PAS’s Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, who asked the minister to elaborate on security operations following the shooting.


He assured that Malaysia’s border security operations remain under control and uncompromised, noting that safeguarding national gateways is a government priority.

“As the area is designated for border control, the nature of the work exposes personnel to various threats,” he said.


“The government continues to prioritise both security and efficiency at national checkpoints. After the law was passed in Parliament, Rantau Panjang became our first point of focus. The function of border control is to ensure the seamless movement of people and goods while maintaining uncompromised safety,” he added.

The Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing in Kedah is one of Malaysia’s busiest land checkpoints, linking the country with Thailand and handling significant daily traffic involving travellers and trade.

Bernama reported yesterday that the vehicle carrying SAC Mohd Nasaruddin Mohd Nasir, commander of the Malaysian Control and Border Protection Agency (MCBA) in Bukit Kayu Hitam, was shot at dawn near the Malaysian-Thai border.

Kedah Police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the commander escaped unharmed.

The commander reportedly attempted to pursue the suspects for about one kilometre before they fled into a nearby industrial area.

Police are investigating all angles, including the possibility that criminal syndicates operating along the border may have acted in retaliation after the Bukit Kayu Hitam MCBA recorded numerous successful seizures this year, including 100 tonnes of rice and pork.

The case is being investigated under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for discharging a firearm with intent to cause death or injury, despite no injuries being reported.

Democrats accuse US govt of ‘largest cover‑up in modern history’ over Trump sex abuse claims

Democrats accuse US govt of ‘largest cover‑up in modern history’ over Trump sex abuse claims



US Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA) speaks next to US Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and US Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) at a press conference calling for the release of the Epstein files, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. November 18, 2025. — Reuters pic

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 10:09 AM MYT


WASHINGTON, Feb 26 — Democrats yesterday accused US President Donald Trump’s administration of the “largest government cover-up in modern history” over reports that it withheld documents relating to allegations that the Republican leader sexually abused a minor.

The Justice Department has released millions of pages from files connected to notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein under a transparency law enacted last year. But public broadcaster NPR found gaps in the files tied to one woman’s 2019 assault complaint against Trump.


Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the DOJ’s so-called “Epstein Files” release exonerated him.

Indexes and serial numbers attached to the investigative materials into Epstein’s trafficking ring indicate that FBI agents conducted four interviews with the accuser and generated summaries and accompanying notes, NPR reported.


Only one summary — focused largely on her allegations against Epstein — appears in the public database.


The remaining three summaries and related notes, totaling more than 50 pages, are not available on the Justice Department’s website, according to NPR’s review of the document numbering. The New York Times and cable network MS NOW reported similar findings.

“This is largest government cover-up in modern history. We are demanding answers,” the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said in statement posted to social media.


The woman first contacted authorities in July 2019, shortly after Epstein’s arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.

Later internal references in the released files describe her as alleging that the disgraced financier introduced her to Trump and that Trump assaulted her in the mid-1980s, when she was 13 to 15 years old.

A 2025 FBI document in the public database recounts that claim but does not include an assessment of its credibility. The detailed memos from the follow-up interviews — conducted in August and October 2019, according to the indexes — are not included.

Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said he reviewed unredacted evidence logs at the Justice Department and reached the same conclusion.

“Oversight Democrats can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with this survivor,” Garcia said, adding that Democrats would open a parallel investigation and demand the missing records be provided to Congress.

The Justice Department argues that any material not posted falls within categories allowed under the law, including duplicates, privileged records or documents tied to an ongoing federal investigation.

Asked for comment, the Justice Department referred AFP to a social media response in which it denied deleting files and said documents temporarily removed for victim-related redactions or to remove personally identifiable information will be restored.

Democrats argued that the missing interview records do not fit the categories cited by the department. — AFP

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai wins appeal over fraud conviction days after security conviction

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai wins appeal over fraud conviction days after security conviction



Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai won an appeal over his 2022 fraud conviction, in a surprise ruling that quashed the sentence unrelated to his separate national security case. — AFP pic

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 1:14 PM MYT


HONG KONG, Feb 26 — Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai won an appeal today over a 2022 fraud conviction, days after a court jailed him on separate national security charges.

The ruling was a surprise win for Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, who was sentenced to 20 years behind bars this month on collusion charges under a Beijing-imposed national security law.

The fraud case grew out of a contractual dispute and was unrelated to the charges he faced under the security law.

Lai did not appear in court and remains behind bars.


“(We) allow the appeals, quash the convictions and set aside the sentences,” High Court Chief Judge Jeremy Poon said, adding that he granted Lai’s application not to show up in court.


Prosecutors did not answer reporters’ questions on whether the authorities will appeal.

AFP has contacted the Hong Kong government for comment.


In 2022, Lai received a jail sentence of five years and nine months over what the trial judge called a “planned, organised and years-long” scheme.

It remains unclear how today’s outcome affects Lai’s overall prison stint.

The tycoon received 20 years in his national security case, with two of those years designed to overlap with his fraud case sentence — which has now been quashed.

In the fraud case, prosecutors said at trial that a consultancy firm Lai operated for his personal use had taken up office space that Apple Daily had rented for the purposes of publication and printing.

This was in breach of the terms of the lease Apple Daily signed with a government company and amounted to fraud, prosecutors said.

But Poon ruled today that “the prosecution has failed to prove that the applicants had made the false representation as alleged”.

Former Apple Daily executive Wong Wai-keung was also charged in the same case and jailed for 21 months in 2022.

Wong’s conviction and sentence were also quashed today. — AFP

Rubio says Iran’s refusal to discuss missiles is a ‘big problem’

Rubio says Iran’s refusal to discuss missiles is a ‘big problem’



US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters in a departure lounge before returning to Washington following meetings with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders, at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis on February 25, 2026. — Jonathan Ernst/Pool/AFP pic

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 9:11 AM MYT


BASSETERRE (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Feb 26 — Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned yesterday that Iran must negotiate on its missile programme, a day after President Donald Trump alleged Tehran was working on rockets that could hit the United States.

“I would say that the Iranian insistence on not discussing ballistic missiles is a big, big problem,” Rubio told reporters on the eve of new talks between the United States and Iran.


Rubio, however, steered clear of describing if the talks in Geneva would be a make-or-break moment in deciding if the United States attacks Iran.

“The president wants diplomatic solutions. He prefers them greatly,” Rubio said on a visit to the small Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.


As for the talks, “hopefully they’re productive, but eventually we’ll have to have conversations about more than just a nuclear programme.”


On a potential strike on Iran, Rubio said: “The president’s made no decision on that, so I don’t know if Thursday’s the key date for that. I think progress needs to be made.” — AFP

***

Stop your shailok-demanded issue, that of Iran's missiles. Wankees are NOT worried about Iran's missiles BUT shailoks are, very much afraid - that's why you have to OBEY thy lord and master, you moron, contemplating war against Iran for thy master

Deputy minister says LGBT should be called ‘deviant culture’ to avoid normalisation

Deputy minister says LGBT should be called ‘deviant culture’ to avoid normalisation



Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said the move was also intended to ensure consistent terminology in speech and writing, while avoiding indirect promotion. — Bernama pic

Thursday, 26 Feb 2026 4:44 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — The public has been urged to use the term “deviant culture” to replace references to the LGBT community to avoid normalisation and curb the expansion of the related content algorithms on social media platforms.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said the move was also intended to ensure consistent terminology in speech and writing, while avoiding indirect promotion.


“The more we utter, write and mention the term ‘LGBT’, the more related content will pop up. Unknowingly, we may appear to be promoting the deviant culture,” she said in reply to Senator Hussin Ismail during Question Time in the Dewan Negara today.

Husin wanted to know the latest monitoring efforts concerning closed-door programmes with the so-called deviant elements, such as ‘Glamping with Pride’, and on outreach and guidance approaches undertaken by the authorities.


Marhamah said the ‘Glamping with Pride’ event, which went viral on social media earlier this year, had been cancelled, and Selangor state authorities confirmed that no permit had been issued to the organisers.


On content regulation, she said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), through its research unit, continuously monitors social media content related to what she described as deviant culture and deviant teachings.

The unit works closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to report and request the removal of links or content found to be in breach of legal provisions and religious values, she added. — Bernama

Adopt Thai initiative to win sugar war, govt urged

FMT:

Adopt Thai initiative to win sugar war, govt urged

9 hours ago
Amardeep Gill

Think tank head and health activist say that halving the amount of sugar in servings at cafes and restaurants can help to reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases and obesity

Nine major industry players have joined an initiative of the Department of Health in Thailand to reduce sugar consumption among their patrons. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA: A health think tank and an activist have called on the government to adopt a Thai initiative that, they say, can lead to a change in habits to help Malaysia win its war on sugar.

Earlier this month, the Nation reported that nine major industry players, in collaboration with the Department of Health in Thailand, have agreed to introduce a new standard for sweetness in the drinks they serve.

Under the initiative, drinks served to customers at restaurants or cafés will now contain only 50% of sugar compared with the original recipe.


The obective is to reduce the consumption of sugar to lower the risks of non-communicable diseases and obesity.

Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib said the government currently has a “number of tools” to help it reduce sugar consumption, including taxes, subsidies, incentives, penalties and bans.



“(However, the impact of) bans and penalties by themselves are limited and it is almost impossible to tell people to stop taking sugar. Getting industries to reduce the sugar content used in their products would have a stronger and more sustainable impact,” he told FMT.

In 2019 Malaysia introduced an excise duty of 40 sen per litre on all ready-to-drink packaged beverages containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml. The tax was raised to 50 sen per litre on Jan 1, 2024, and then to 90 sen per litre on Jan 1, 2025.

However, Azrul said, the sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) tax does not have an impact on made-to-order servings at cafes, restaurants, or food stalls that serve “teh tarik”, “ais kacang”, and “sirap bandung”.

And while the tax has an impact on the consumption habits of younger people who have lower purchasing power, it does not have such an effect on older consumers.


“The SSB tax has limited impact or ability to change consumption habits. The key is to levy a tax on sugar itself or to remove its subsidy,” he added.

Health activist Chan Li Jin described Thailand’s initiative as a “bold and necessary step” to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

She noted that Malaysians have been “taste-trained” to favour high-sugar, high-calorie food and beverage options.

Such drinks, she said, are especially popular among young consumers.


“Sweetness is an acquired taste. By cutting sugar levels by 50%, particularly in drinks favoured by youngsters, Thailand is attempting to retrain the palate of the population to prefer options that are not as sweet,” she told FMT.

Chan said with one in five Malaysians living with diabetes and nearly half undiagnosed, the government must act decisively.

“When people cannot make the right choices for their health, the government must step in,” she said, adding that while it might take a generation to see full results, it was a positive start.

***

Thank goodness I only drink no-sugar no-milk coffee

Malaysia’s Gangster Government And The War On Whistleblowers

Murray Hunter


Malaysia’s Gangster Government And The War On Whistleblowers


Feb 26, 2026






The daylight abduction of Pamela Lim while on her way to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and her disappearance since April 9 highlights the nature of a gangster state, Malaysia has become. This story was covered up so well, the media didn’t run the story for three weeks after the abduction. The poor response of police and senior members of government hints at complicity, just as was seen in the Amri Che Mat and the Pastor Koh abduction cases some years earlier.

When Anwar Ibrahim came to power after the November 2022 general election, he declared that his government would prioritise the fight against corruption. This was a complete façade, where today, the government and their selective cronies are undertaking government-private business deals beyond any reasonable transparency. The government and cronies are walking hand in hand with corruption and abuse of power. War has been declared on any whistleblower who dares to expose their sinister activities.

The first sign of insincerity came when Anwar appointed Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was then facing 47 charges of corruption and money laundering as deputy prime minister. Zahid eventually obtained a discharge without acquittal (DNAA), bringing up questions about the impartiality of the Attorney General Chambers, which is also the chief public prosecutor in Malaysia.

The war on whistleblowers

One only needs to have a look at the government’s track record to see that it is pro-actively persecuting and prosecuting whistleblowers.

In 2023, a number of students took legal action against a teacher who was absent from class for over seven months. The ministry of education rather than be aghast at the absenteeism, took sides with the teachers to try and cover up the allegations of nepotism within the school system. The case even led to death threats.

In another case, Dr Roland Victor was charged by the ministry of Health for warning of the dangers of the Covid-19 vaccine back in 2021. It was only in 2025 that Dr Roland was freed of all charges against him, after going through a long court case. The government used the now notorious Communications and Multimedia Act against him. Emerging scientific information has proved Dr Roland to be correct.

The case of Malaysiakini journalist B Nantha Kumar is a very recent example of how whistleblowers, in this case an investigative journalist is persecuted. Nantha was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and remanded in custody for a week, for allegedly taking a bribe from the Pakistani labour agent he was investigating for corruption. The Pakistani agent was alleged to have given Nantha a bribe, however only Nantha was arrested, letting the alleged human trafficking agent go free. This is a case of institutional persecution of the whistleblower by the very agency that is meant to be fighting corruption.

A former member of parliament, lawyer and blogger Wee Choo Keong had a website exposing corruption in Malaysia. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have blocked his website more than two years ago. Wee filed for a judicial review of the blocking of his website, and the MCMC was ordered to disclose the documentation as to why his website was blocked. Wee Choo Keong’s website is one of many that have been illegally blocked by the MCMC to protect corporations exposed for their actions that might flaunt the law.

What exists in Malaysia today is a situation where the government protects its own from those who might expose corruption.

Amendments have been proposed for the Whistleblower Protection Act (2010) to strengthen whistleblower protection. The current act doesn’t protect disclosures to journalists, offering no protection. It looks like the current amendment proposals will do little to strengthen whistleblower protection.

Gangster Government

Over the last couple of years there have been a number of examples where government laws and regulations have been used to benefit crony corporations and GLCs.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has evicted owners and residents of an area called Kampong Sungai Baru in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. The DBKL used compulsory acquisition laws under the Land Acquisition Act (1960) which is specifically intended for compulsory land purchases to make way for public projects. The land has been purchased at around a quarter of true market value, where utilities such as electricity and water were cut off to forcibly evict residents who didn’t accept the offer.

The government has assisted a private developer purchase land in the Kuala Lumpur CBD at 25 percent its true value. This will assure the developer makes bumper profits on this project, while property owners cannot afford to resettle in any area around the CBD.

Such land grabs are not restricted to urban areas. Fifteen long established farming families were evicted from lands around the Cameron Highlands. The government claimed the farmers had broken their leases by using toxic chemicals, and used the police to forcibly remove the farmers from their lands before any due legal process could be pursued. This is not an isolated incident. Recently, Pahang government authorities moved in and cut down 1,000 durian trees to force farmers off their land. The government contravened a court injunction to prevent the trees being cut down.

There are a number of land deals being done all over the country between state governments and crony corporations to acquire land without tender through ‘land swaps’. Such land grabs have little or no transparency, and are not undertaken under any general tenders, where other parties can make submissions. Through this method, much state or public land is finding its way into private corporate ownership.

Whistleblowers exposing such deals like those described above are hit with a SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) legal suit to silence them. Most of these legal suits taken out against whistleblowers and activists are just intended ton drain financial resources to render them silent on the issue. SLAPP suits are intimidatory tactics. Very few of these law suits actually are heard in court because the claims are not strong enough to win any court case.

This is the state of Malaysia today, where government collusion with crony corporations is now at an all time high. Institutions like the MACC instead of investigating such issues, are now part of the problem, as there is a hesitancy to pursue any cases against a ‘select elite’ in the country. Many potential whistleblowers now fear the consequences. Private-government projects are totally free of any public scrutiny today.

Public apathy towards corruption in Malaysia together with lack of any public scrutiny has turned the country into a ‘gangster’s paradise’.

USS GERALD R. FORD: CLASSIFIED SHITTER REPORT

 

"Borrowed" from the FB page of:

I Fucking Love Australia 

dortnSopes1ag443i ytff421t5 11h:1ug7194g b09Pg30704 raeM7a1ru0F ·

USS GERALD R. FORD: CLASSIFIED SHITTER REPORT

The World's Most Expensive Warship vs. The Humble Turd

Let's talk about the USS Gerald R. Ford. $13 billion dollars. The most expensive warship ever built in the entire history of human civilisation. Nuclear powered. Bristling with enough firepower to end countries. So technologically advanced it makes Star Trek look like a Bunnings (Home Depot) shed.

But it cannot handle human turd.

Not metaphorically. Literally. Right now, as the United States rattles its sabre at Iran and deploys its crown jewel of naval supremacy to the Middle East, 4,600 sailors are queuing for 45 minutes — FORTY FIVE ASS CLINCHING MINUTES — just to use the toilet. When the toilets are working. Which they increasingly are not.

HERE ARE THE NUMBERS AND THEY ARE REAL

650 toilets. 4,600 sailors. Zero urinals — on a ship that's 80% male — because someone decided urinals "take up too much space" on a vessel longer than the Eiffel Tower is fucking tall.

The sewage system? Borrowed from cruise ships. Carnival fucking Cruise Lines technology. On a nuclear warship. And here's the beautiful part: one broken valve takes out ALL the toilets in an entire department. One sailor flushes a mega turd — and suddenly 400 people have nowhere to go.

205 breakdowns in four days during the Venezuela deployment. That's one per hour. Engineers working 19-hour shifts. Just to manage the poo.

And the fix? A specialised acid flush. $400,000 a pop. That can only be performed at a US shipyard. They cannot fix it at sea. The most powerful warship on Earth has to sail home to unclog a grogan monster in its own toilet like a helpless homeowner calling a plumber at midnight.

The GAO told them the pipes were too narrow in 2020. The Navy said she'd be right. She was not right.

THE CATCH-22 THAT IRAN SHOULD PRINT ON A POSTER

To fix the toilets, they need to dock. But docking at a friendly Middle Eastern port could undermine the legal posture of the ship as an active threat to Iran. So to maintain the vibe of "we could bomb you at any moment," the crew has to keep swimming in their own problems.

The diplomacy of deterrence now depends on 4,600 people not being able to have a comfortable shit.

The Pentagon's official response? The "brown fountains" — their words — do not threaten combat capability.

Iran is sleeping fine.

FOR COMPARISON

The International Space Station: 1 toilet per 3 astronauts.

McDonald's: legally required to have more toilets per customer than this warship has per sailor.

The MCG on Grand Final day: comparable ratio. And that's considered a national embarrassment.

USS Gerald R. Ford, $13 billion, pride of the American Navy: dead last.

AND FINALLY, BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE SAID

"The United States has the most powerful military in the history of human civilisation. Aircraft carriers longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. Nuclear weapons capable of ending cities. The most advanced fighter jets ever built.

And 4,600 sailors sharing 650 toilets — borrowed from a fucking cruise ship — standing in 45-minute queues to have a shit, while threatening to start a war with Iran.

"You genuinely cannot make this up."

EVERY SANE PERSON ON EARTH, FEBRUARY 2026