Trump’s call for allied deployment to strait of Hormuz meets muted response

Trump’s call for allied deployment to strait of Hormuz meets muted response


UK and Japan among countries that are considering options but yet to commit warships to blockaded shipping route


Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai

Mon 16 Mar 2026 03.24 AEDT


Countries including the UK, Japan, China and South Korea have said they are still considering their options but without making commitments after the US president, Donald Trump, urged them to send warships to the strait of Hormuz to secure the vital shipping route.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other countries to send ships to the waterway, the world’s busiest shipping route, which is being violently blockaded by Iran.


In his post, Trump alleged that “many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz strait, will be sending war ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the strait open and safe”.

Frigging LIAR


In a later post, Trump extended his call to all “the countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz strait” to send naval support.

The effective closure of the strait of Hormuz by Tehran, in retaliation for airstrikes by the US and Israel, has proved catastrophic for global energy and trade flows, causing the largest oil supply disruption in history and soaring global oil prices.


‘Worst nightmare’: anger and frustration as Gulf states bear brunt of war they did not start


However, the international response to Trump’s call for the dispatch of warships has so far proved vague and reluctant, with countries unwilling to commit to a military response that could prove treacherous for their navies.

Tehran has said any oil tanker heading for the US, Israel or its allies is a legitimate target in the war and will be “immediately destroyed”. Sixteen tankers have been attacked in the strait of Hormuz since the war started at the end of February and Iran has threatened to lay explosive mines in the waterway. So far, the US has not sent its own navy ships to escort tankers through the strait.

A statement by the UK Ministry of Defence said it was in discussions with allies over “a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region”.


Speaking on the BBC, the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, said the UK had been in discussion with the US and other allies on how to keep the strait open and were considering sending mine-hunting drones. “Any options that can help to get the strait reopened are being looked at,” said Miliband.

The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, told the BBC on Sunday that any options to help reopen the strait were being ‘looked at’. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA


A senior Japanese politician told the news channel NHK TV that Japan would not rule out sending warships to the region to secure the shipping lane but said the threshold for doing so was “very high”.

Takayuki Kobayashi, the chair of the ruling Liberal Democratic party’s policy research council, said: “From a legal standpoint, the possibility cannot be ruled out, but given that the dispute is continuing, this is something we should judge cautiously.”

South Korea, heavily dependent on energy flows through the strait, said it had taken note of Trump’s comments but would communicate closely with the US and review the situation before making any decisions on how to help secure the shipping route.

“Our government is closely monitoring developments related to the Middle East situation,” said South Korea’s foreign ministry in a statement, adding that they were “exploring various measures from multiple angles to protect our citizens and secure the safety of energy transport routes”.

France had already made its position clear before Trump’s comments. Speaking on Thursday, the French defence minister, Catherine Vautrin, said France would not be sending warships to the strait of Hormuz while the conflict continued to escalate.


“I’m very clear and firm on this topic; at this point, there is no question of sending any vessels to the strait of Hormuz,” said Vautrin. She said that France maintained a “purely defensive position” and there were no current plans to move the French navy’s flagship vessel, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, out of the eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking in Cyprus last week, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, had said that France and its allies were preparing a “purely defensive” mission to escort vessels through the strait of Hormuz, but only once the “most intense phase” of the US-Israeli war on Iran had ended. Macron described it as a “purely escort mission” with involvement by both European and non-European countries.

Emmanuel Macron talks last week with the president of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, at Paphos military base. Photograph: Alex Mita/PIO/Getty Images

According to the Financial Times, EU foreign affairs ministers are also considering widening the scope of the EU’s Aspides naval mission, which provides protection to ships in Yemen from attacks by Houthi rebels, to extend to the strait of Hormuz. At present, the Aspides naval mission consists of three ships, from France, Italy and Greece.

China’s response made no mention of military intervention. As an ally of Iran that is also highly dependent on crude oil imports from the strait, China is reportedly in talks with the Iranian regime about allowing oil tankers to pass through from the Gulf, but no definitive outcome has been agreed.

The Chinese embassy in Washington said at the weekend in a statement given to CNN that Beijing would work to strengthen “communication with relevant parties” in the Middle East and “play a constructive role for deescalation and restoration of peace”.

The US energy secretary, Chris Wright, told NBC on Sunday that he had been “in dialogue” with some of the countries, without naming them, and said he expected China would be “a constructive partner” in reopening the strait, through which one-fifth of global oil exports normally pass.

***

You frigging got yourself into the mess - now you can frigging get out of it yourself - hey, I have an idea - ask the frigging Shailoks to send their navy

Middle East crisis live: Iran denies asking for a ceasefire after Trump claim that Tehran wants to negotiate

Middle East crisis live: Iran denies asking for a ceasefire after Trump claim that Tehran wants to negotiate


Foreign minister says that Tehran ‘never asked even for negotiation’, after Trump’s earlier comments that the US was ‘not ready’ to make a deal

Iranians stand inside a damaged residential building in southern Tehran, Iran on Sunday 15 March. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA


Marina Dunbar (now); Yohannes Lowe, Fran Singh, Callum Jones and Jonathan Yerushalmy (earlier)

Mon 16 Mar 2026 03.20 AEDT


02.57 AEDT
Summary of the day so far...


Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, denied Tehran had asked for a ceasefire or even a negotiation to end the war, in comments undermining Donald Trump’s claim that Iran wanted to make a deal.

Just a shameless LIAR


Araghchi also said that Iran was open to countries who wanted to “talk” about safe passage through the strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping channels, which has effectively been closed due to the war.

Iran has attacked ships and reportedly started to lay mines in the strait, in effect closing it to marine traffic, leading to a surge in energy prices and inflation fears around the world.


Countries including the UK, Japan, China and South Korea have said they are still considering
their options after Trump urged them to send warships to the strait to secure the vital shipping route.


Trump told NBC News that the “terms aren’t good enough yet” for a deal with Iran. He said Tehran’s commitment to completely abandoning any nuclear weapons ambitions would be part of any agreement.


US energy secretary Chris Wright said he expects the US-Israel war with Iran to end within “the next few weeks” amid a spike in gas prices in the US.


The Lebanese health ministry said 850 people, including over 100 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks on the country since 2 March.

Moloch: I am pleased with the child sacrifices my Chosen Ones have offered to me


Israel said it launched extensive airstrikes across western Iran today. The IDF said earlier it had detected Iranian missiles being fired at Israel.


Israeli military warned several neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital of Beirut to evacuate “immediately” ahead of Israeli attacks.


Oil-loading operations at Fujairah, the UAE’s main oil port on its east coast, have reportedly restarted after it was targeted by a drone strike on Saturday.


The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “in good health” and “fully managing the situation” despite ongoing speculation regarding his whereabouts. In his interview with NBC News, Trump questioned whether the 56-year-old was “even alive”.

Is Hindutva Really a Threat to Malaysia — Or Is Perlis Mufti Asri Imagining One?

OPINION | Is Hindutva Really a Threat to Malaysia — Or Is Perlis Mufti Asri Imagining One?


15 Mar 2026 • 11:30 AM MYT



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

Image credit : Malay Mail

Recently, the Mufti of Perlis, Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, also known as Dr. Maza, expressed concern that the Hindutva movement may begin influencing Malaysia. He warned that the ideology could lead to anti-Islamic hostility and even social unrest, and called for authorities to investigate possible influences entering the country through religious institutions.


We are worried that the violent, cruel, and anti-Islam actions shown by those influenced by the Hindutva movement will spark large-scale riots in this country.


“This is a matter of national security,” he said in a post on Facebook.


In India, he claimed, the Hindutva movement kills, burns, and brutally tortures Muslims.


But what exactly is Hindutva?


Hindutva is an ideology that originated in India which promotes the idea that Hinduism is the natural and original soul of Indian civilisation. Its proponents believe that the strength and unity of India depend on the revival of Hindu cultural and civilisational identity. In that sense, Hindutva is not merely a religious movement but also a civilisational and political project.


Because of this outlook, the ideology often has a tense relationship with other civilisational identities within India, especially Islam. Many Hindutva supporters view the historical presence of Muslim power in India as something foreign or invasive.


Today, Hindutva has become one of the most powerful ideological forces in India. The ruling party of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is widely regarded as the political arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the organisation that originally developed and continues to promote the Hindutva ideology.


This raises the question: is Malaysia really under threat from Hindutva, as Dr. Asri fears?


The answer is probably both yes and no.


It is “no” in the sense that the Indian community in Malaysia is largely made up of South Indians, especially Tamils. Apart from Indian Muslims and secular Indians, many South Indians—particularly the Tamils—are among the strongest political opponents of the BJP and the Hindutva movement in India itself.


The Indian state of Tamil Nadu, for example, has long been one of the strongest fortresses against the BJP. The party has struggled for decades to gain a significant foothold there.


This resistance comes from the influence of Dravidian ideology, which argues that South Indians, particularly Tamils, possess a distinct cultural and civilisational identity separate from the rest of India. Because of this worldview, the Dravidian movement has long opposed many of the goals associated with Hindutva.


For decades, Tamil political movements have rejected attempts to impose Hindi in schools and have resisted efforts to define Tamil identity primarily through religion. Instead, they emphasise language, culture, and regional identity.


Just in September 2023, for example, Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of the Chief Minister M.K Stalin, would even compare Hinduism to diseases like dengue and malaria, stating it must be "eradicated" and not merely opposed. This is the level of opposition that Tamil politicians have against the hindutva ideology.


Considering how firmly Tamils in India have resisted Hindutva, it seems unlikely that Malaysian Tamils would suddenly choose to support an ideology that their counterparts in India have been opposing for generations.


However, Dr. Asri may still be right in a broader sense. The Islamic identity in Malaysia could indeed be facing civilisational pressure—but perhaps not necessarily from Hindutva alone.


Global events may be the bigger factor.


Recent developments in the Middle East illustrate this point. The conflict involving Iran, as well as the ongoing war in Gaza following the October 7 attacks, has intensified tensions between Western powers and parts of the Islamic world. The role of Israel and the United States in these conflicts is often interpreted by many observers as part of a larger civilisational struggle between Western and Islamic spheres of influence.


It is unlikely that Western powers intend to conquer or depopulate countries like Iran or Palestine. A more realistic objective may be to reshape the political and cultural orientation of these regions so that they align more closely with the Western world rather than the Islamic world.


Historically, the Middle East has been the heart of Islamic civilisation. When Islam was in its rising phase centuries ago, its influence spread from the Middle East into Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Eventually, the strength and prestige of Islamic power helped contribute to the Islamisation of maritime Southeast Asia.


At that time, Islamic powers were dominant across large parts of the Middle East and India, while Hindu polities in India were in decline, Western civilisation was steeped in backwardness and superstition while the Chinese dynasties were struggling with internal turmoil.


Today, however, the global balance appears to be shifting. Islamic powers in the Middle East are facing severe challenges, the Western civilisation is asserting itself to thwart its decline while countries like China and India are rising in economic and geopolitical strength.


If that trend continues, the Islamic identity in maritime Southeast Asia—including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei—may find itself under increasing external influence.


In that sense, Dr. Asri’s concern about Hindutva may reflect a deeper anxiety: the possibility that other civilisations might attempt to expand their influence into regions historically shaped by Islam.


But Hindutva would not be the only ideology capable of doing so. Chinese communist influence, Western liberal ideologies, and other global forces may also seek to expand their presence in Southeast Asia.


In truth, this behaviour is not unusual in history. One of the fundamental instincts of any living entity—whether an individual, a nation, a civilisation, or even a belief system—is to shape the world in its own image.


Power, wealth, influence, and strength are not merely tools of survival. They are instruments through which civilisations project themselves outward and reshape their surroundings.


Those who are strong and victorious possess the ability to mould the world according to their own identity and values. Those who are weak or defeated often experience the opposite—they gradually lose the ability to live according to their own identity.


In the coming decades, the world may increasingly resemble a clash of civilisations in which major civilisational blocs compete to expand their influence or defend themselves from decline.


At the moment, the Islamic world appears to be among the more vulnerable civilisations globally. Because of this, Islamic nations—including Malaysia—may feel a growing sense of insecurity about their cultural and civilisational future.


From that perspective, Dr. Asri may indeed be justified in worrying about the influence of Hindutva.


But Hindutva alone is not the only ideological force that Malaysia might have to worry about. In reality, the country may eventually have to navigate the pressures coming from many powerful civilisations at once.

***

I kid you not - the Perlis Mufti really does NOT like Hinduism - he has even penned a poem against it, criticising Hindus as 'cow worshipper', though he claimed in his defence that the poem criticised Indian PM Modi's action against an Islamic preacher.

But I recall he showed his dislike against the Thaipusam practice of breaking coconuts as the Lord's Chariot made its way to the Waterfall Temple, thus indicating his dislike for things Hindu. See my post of 22 April 2017, as follows:

Glass houses

Mind, he hadn't spared the Cinapeks also - see my post of 01 April 2020, as follows:

Perlis Mufti allegedly fanned racial tensions

Yes, there's no doubt Asri has been a Ketuanan Melayu advocate - to think I once really admired and respected him when he was Penang's Mufti (alamak kt, you memang bodoh).

‘We killed dogs’: Israeli troops kill two children, parents in West Bank

‘We killed dogs’: Israeli troops kill two children, parents in West Bank

Each person shot in the head in the village of Tammun, while two other children of the deceased couple sustain injuries

Mourners react as they carry the bodies of a Palestinian family, the parents and their two children, who were killed by Israeli forces, during their funeral in Tammun town near Tubas, occupied West Bank, March 15, 2026 [Mohammed Torokman/Reuters]

By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters
Published On 15 Mar 2026


Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian couple and two of their children as they drove in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health authorities, with the Israeli military saying the incident is under review.

Ali Khaled Bani Odeh, 37, his 35-year-old wife Waad, and two of their children – Mohammad and Othman, aged five and seven, respectively – were shot in the head in the village of Tammun on Sunday. Two of their other children were wounded by shrapnel, according to Palestinian health authorities.

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Speaking to the Reuters news agency at the hospital, Khaled, 12, one of the two surviving boys, said he heard his mother crying, his father praying, but no voice of any of his other brothers before silence prevailed after shots sprayed the car.

“We came under direct fire; we didn’t know the source. Everyone in the car was ⁠martyred, except my brother Mustafa and me,” the boy said.

He said soldiers, who ⁠pulled him out of the vehicle before beating him, shouted: “We killed dogs.”

A mourner carries the body of one of the children killed in the attack [Mohammed Torokman/Reuters]


The Israeli military said in a statement that its forces were part of an operation in Tammun to arrest Palestinians wanted for involvement in “terrorist” activity against them.

“During the operation, a vehicle accelerated toward the forces, who perceived an immediate threat to their safety and responded with gunfire. As a result, four Palestinians who were in the vehicle were killed,” the military said, adding that the circumstances of the incident are under review.

In a statement posted on X, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the killings, which it said were “not isolated” incidents, but “part of a comprehensive and systematic aggression” towards the Palestinians by Israel.

‘Injured children beaten’

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, reporting from Tammun, said the family was returning to their village from a day out when the incident took place.

“They were surprised to see undercover Israeli forces shoot towards their car nonstop,” she said.

Mourners pray in front of the bodies of the Palestinian family, parents and their two children, who were killed by Israeli forces in Tammun town near Tubas, occupied West Bank [Mohammed Torokman/Reuters]

Ibrahim added that the Israeli soldiers later took the injured children who survived the shooting out of the car and beat them up.

“The extended family says the father and the mother did not know that Israeli forces were there as they were in a Palestinian car,” she said, adding that this was just a family of six trying to have a normal day.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health, meanwhile, said another Palestinian was killed in an attack by Israeli settlers overnight.

Israeli settlers in the West Bank take advantage of curbs on movement imposed during the United States-Israel war on Iran to attack Palestinians, with military roadblocks preventing ambulances from reaching victims quickly, rights groups and medics say.

Settlers have killed at least five Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the Iran war began on February 28, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.



Marking al-Quds Day in occupied West Bank: Israel severely restricts access to Al-Aqsa Mosque



Iran claims US and Israel using copycat 'Lucas' drones to frame it for regional attacks


Also, Israeli attacks on Gaza, which had declined at the beginning of the war with Iran, have begun to rise again. While a “ceasefire” went into effect in Gaza in October, Israel has been frequently breaching it.

Gaza officials on Sunday said an Israeli air attack killed three people – a man, his pregnant wife, and their son – in the western area of Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, taking the death toll of Palestinians killed by Israel ‌in the enclave since the Iran war erupted to at least 26.

***

I await eagerly the Day of Reckoning

Strait of Hormuz open to everyone but US, Israel, said Iran Foreign Minister Araghchi

Strait of Hormuz open to everyone but US, Israel, said Iran Foreign Minister Araghchi

By CS Ming
3 hours ago






THE Strait of Hormuz remains open to most international shipping, but vessels linked to the United States and Israel are barred, said Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.


Speaking in an interview with MS NOW, Araghchi said ships from other countries are still able to pass through the key waterway.


However, he noted that some operators have chosen to avoid the route due to security worries, which he insisted were unrelated to Iran.

He added that numerous tankers and cargo vessels are currently continuing their journeys through the strait.

On another note, Araghchi also criticised Washington over its stance on Russian oil, accusing it of hypocrisy.

He argued that the US had spent months urging countries such as India to stop purchasing crude from Russia, but was now encouraging such purchases as the confrontation with Iran disrupts global energy markets.


Araghchi further took aim at several European governments, accusing them of supporting what he described as an “illegal war” against Iran in the hope of gaining American backing against Moscow.

“Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win US support against Russia. Pathetic,” he said.

The remarks came shortly after the administration of Donald Trump announced a 30-day waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil cargoes currently stranded at sea.

The measure, unveiled on Thursday, is intended to stabilise global markets after crude prices surged beyond US$100 per barrel amid tensions in the Middle East. —Mar 15, 2026

Penang quit rent increase: Chow vs Lim debate continues

Penang quit rent increase: Chow vs Lim debate continues


Chow has defended the move as the last revision was done some three decades ago, and it is a flexible payment scheme with grounds to appeal or settle via instalments

Updated 1 day ago

Published on 14 Mar 2026 9:00AM

Lim, the DAP adviser, has argued that it is excessive and comes during hard times. - March 14, 2026



by Ian McIntyre



THE DIFFERING opinions between Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng has continued to reverberate over the imposition of a revised quit rent structure in Penang.

Chow has defended the move as the last revision was done some three decades ago, and it is a flexible payment scheme with grounds to appeal or settle via instalments, while Lim, the DAP adviser, has argued that it is excessive and comes during hard times.

Chow said they have been sensitive to the plight of ratepayers, especially those who have appealed and that the decision to offer instalments was made after a meeting with the state land and mines department.

The staggered payment mechanism is part of adding value to the new quit rent structure, which the state has introduced this year - it is fair, transparent and accountable, stressed Chow.

The scope of the instalment plan would be determined by the district land administrator, based on the appeal lodged by the affected landowners.

The instalment plan can take effect if the applicants submit before May 31, this year, whereas for the following years, the appeal must go into effect by April.

"The state is empowered to revise the rates. We hope that all parties can respect it because it has not been revised for the past 30 years," said Chow.

In view of worries over rising living costs, Chow said that the state was prepared for such an impact by allowing rebates to be accorded for up to three years, starting with this year.

As of last Wednesday, Penang has only received 1,025 appeals from landowners, who deemed that the rate was too high for them.

Of that, only 515 appeals were classified as having exorbitant rates compared to the previous years, while others were on the land classification of First Grade, Condition A and B, as well as the changing of the land zone status from county to town.

Chow also clarified that the revision of the quit rent was not entirely driven by the need to increase the state revenue coffers but to correct the imbalances in the land taxation code.

Chow also clarified that the tenants and owners of the low-cost Bola-Bola Flats in Raja Uda in the Bagan parliamentary do not possess their strata titles yet.

Lim countered, stating that Chow is wrong to give the excuse that the 502 per cent increase in quit rent on Bola-Bola Flats is due to the failure to convert the master title to individual strata title for each of the 258 units.

"This is because the master title permits the construction of a low-cost flat, and even when the strata title is issued later, it is still for the use of a low-cost flat. The Certificate of Completion and Compliance signifying completion of the Bola-Bola low-cost flats was issued 15 years ago on January 3, 2011. S

“Subdividing the master title into strata title does not change the use of the land for low-cost flats. There should be no increase in quit rent as promised by the state government for low-cost flats, whether under master title or strata title."

Since the residents moved into Bola-Bola Flats 15 years ago, the flats have remained low-cost and have not been upgraded to a condominium.

There is no reason or basis for the Penang Land & Mines Office to calculate the increase in quit rent from RM3,676 to RM22,120 or by 502%, especially when it is still a low-cost flat for the last 15 years of its existence, said Lim.

The master title of Bola-Bola Flats is freehold, first grade, with nil for land use.

Even though no land use is mentioned, its First Grade status permits the owner to do either commercial, residential, industrial, agricultural or for public purposes.

There should be a new and fair formula that imposes a reasonable quantum of quit rent increase and meets social justice needs, which must include public consultations and feedback before it is implemented, added Lim. - March 14, 2026.

***

Increase in Bola-Bola Flats quit rent from RM3,676 to RM22,120 or by 502%, especially when it is still a low-cost flat for the last 15 years of its existence, is way too high - in this I have to agree with Guanee. But I have to say Guanee as the DAP advisor should have quietly 'advised' Chow instead of quarrelling in public. Why like that lah Guanee? 

😂😂😂

Defend Islam, but not by insulting others

Defend Islam, but not by insulting others

Mahathir Mohd Rais
Published: Mar 15, 2026 2:00 PM
Updated: 5:00 PM


COMMENT | Malaysia has long been admired as a country where people of different races, religions and cultures live side by side in relative peace.

This harmony did not happen by accident. It was built slowly through mutual restraint, quiet tolerance and a shared understanding that stability matters more than winning arguments.

Islam itself provides a clear foundation for such coexistence. The Quran reminds humanity that we were created as different nations and tribes so that we may know one another, not despise one another.

Respect for others is therefore not a political mantra. It is a religious obligation.

Respect does not require agreement. Muslims are not expected to participate in the rituals of other faiths, but neither are they permitted to mock or insult them.

In the same spirit, non-Muslims are expected to be sensitive to matters that may offend Muslim beliefs. This balance is what allows a plural society to function without constant tension.

Islam also draws a firm boundary. Muslims must preserve their faith and principles, but firmness in belief does not justify hostility in behaviour. The Prophet’s example was not one of provocation but of patience, dignity and wisdom, even when confronted with hostility.

Deeply troubling incidents

That is why recent incidents involving individuals who deliberately stir religious tensions are deeply troubling. Actions that mock, insult or symbolically attack the beliefs of others do not strengthen Islam. They undermine it.

A video screenshot of Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak stepping on a soolam


When religious symbols are ridiculed, emotions quickly escalate, and ordinary people who had nothing to do with the original dispute become drawn into anger.

Those who speak in the name of religion cannot claim innocence for the consequences of their words, because their influence reaches far beyond their own circles.

Individuals such as Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak, along with Firdaus Wong, Zamri Vinoth and a few others, have recently drawn attention through statements and actions linked to sensitive religious issues.

When remarks from such figures are perceived as sarcastic, provocative or dismissive of other faiths, the consequences extend beyond personal opinion and can ripple across society.

In Tamim’s case, the episode involving the Hindu trident symbol only deepened tensions at a time when calm judgment was most needed.

For those who publicly represent Islam, especially converts who actively engage in outreach, expectations are naturally higher. The essence of da’wah is to attract hearts through wisdom and good character, not to inflame emotions.

Words that ridicule or belittle other religions do not strengthen confidence in one’s own faith. Instead, they risk conveying the impression that embracing Islam leads to hostility rather than compassion, even though Islamic teachings emphasise dignity, restraint and mercy.

It raises a simple question that many ordinary Malaysians quietly ask. If this is the tone of the message, how can it invite understanding? How does one preach mercy while sounding angry? It defies common sense.

Preserving social harmony

Consider how any Muslim would feel if the Quran or the practice of polygamy were mocked publicly in subtle or sarcastic ways. Hurt would be inevitable. The same principle applies to followers of other faiths. Pain is not exclusive to any one religion.

The Quran itself warns against insulting the deities of others, because such actions may provoke retaliation against Allah. The message is straightforward. Islam does not teach believers to respond to provocation with further provocation. It teaches restraint, lawful action and preservation of social harmony.

Many scholars and responsible voices have already condemned actions that cross this line. Their intention is not to defend wrongdoing by others, but to prevent Muslims from committing a different kind of wrongdoing in response. Advising caution is not weakness. It is sanity.

Yet a worrying pattern often emerges. When corrected, some individuals do not respond with reason. They respond with anger. Debate turns into shouting. Advice is dismissed as betrayal. What should have been a discussion becomes a spectacle.

Real problems, such as illegal structures or land disputes, must be addressed through proper channels. If a temple or building has violated the law, the solution lies in enforcement, court processes and administrative action, not in public humiliation or religious taunting. Provocation solves nothing. It inflames everything.

Malaysia is a multi-religious society. When religious emotions are deliberately ignited, the consequences can spread far beyond the original issue. Entire communities feel targeted. Ordinary citizens who had no involvement began to feel resentment. Retaliation becomes more likely, not less.

This is why many Malaysians are increasingly uneasy. They wonder whether these incidents are truly about justice, or whether they are attempts to create division, weaken social trust and destabilise the country from within.

Islam never taught its followers to trample on the symbols of other religions. Nor did it teach them to live in a constant state of anger. Defending Islam should never mean embarrassing Islam.

A Hindu temple


Anger toward extremist groups abroad or unlawful acts at home must not be allowed to spill over into hatred toward entire communities.

Most Malaysian Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and others are peaceful citizens who do not support wrongdoing. Punishing everyone for the actions of a few only deepens division.


Inflammatory reactions

No religion teaches people to seize what does not belong to them. No religion teaches people to trespass. But just as importantly, no religion teaches people to humiliate others with cruelty.

What is most disturbing today is not only the original incidents but the reactions that follow. Online spaces are flooded with insults, slurs and dehumanising language. Some even celebrate the humiliation of others.

This is not a strength. It is moral decay.

If we begin to judge entire races or religions based on the actions of individuals, we are nurturing a culture of hatred that can destroy the very foundations of the nation.

Malaysia was not built through insults. It was built through cooperation among communities that chose coexistence over conflict.

The rule of law must prevail. Those who break the law must face consequences. Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, generally do not support wrongdoing. But justice must not come at the cost of humanity.

The government also bears responsibility. Maintaining unity in a diverse society requires firm yet fair action against provocateurs while safeguarding the rights of all citizens. Harmony is not self-sustaining. It requires constant protection.


Managing differences

Islam is the religion of the Federation, yet the Constitution guarantees freedom for others to practise their faiths. This arrangement reflects both Islamic principles and constitutional law. The Quran itself states that there is no compulsion in religion. Faith cannot be forced, only demonstrated through character.

Religion is deeply tied to identity. When it is insulted, emotions run high. History has shown how quickly such tensions can escalate into violence if left unchecked. The tragic events of the past serve as a warning of how fragile peace can be.

True unity does not mean suppressing differences. It means managing them wisely. Issues involving religion must be handled with sensitivity, dialogue and respect, not with mockery or emotional outbursts.

At the same time, Muslims are reminded to uphold their identity with dignity. Defending Islam must be done in accordance with Islamic ethics. Fighting wrongdoing with wrongdoing only damages the image of the religion itself.

Good character is not optional in Islam. It is part of the message. Many people are drawn to the faith not by arguments, but by the behaviour of its followers.

Therefore, any individual or group that deliberately threatens interreligious harmony must be investigated and, if necessary, held accountable. Malaysians cannot afford to tolerate those who seek to provoke conflict for attention, influence or hidden agendas.

In the end, the greatest defence of Islam is not loud anger but quiet integrity. A nation as diverse as Malaysia survives not through dominance of one group over another, but through the shared commitment of all to live with restraint, respect and humanity.

If we lose that, no argument won online will matter.



MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is a former Federal Territories Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional secretary. He is now a PKR member.

Beng Hock's case: Sister to address UNHCR on Tuesday

Beng Hock's case: Sister to address UNHCR on Tuesday


Published: Mar 15, 2026 11:31 AM
Updated: 3:35 PM


The younger sister of the late Teoh Beng Hock has travelled to Geneva to raise the family’s long-running fight for justice at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

In a statement today, Koong Hui Yein, chairperson of the Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement, said Teoh’s sister, Lee Lan, departed for Switzerland today to attend the council’s 61st session.

Koong said Lee Lan (above, left) is scheduled to address representatives from the council’s 47 member states and other participating nations on March 17.

According to Koong, Lee Lan will highlight the family’s 17-year struggle for justice over Beng Hock’s death and call on the UN to activate relevant human rights mechanisms related to the case.

The family, she said, remains dissatisfied with the investigation, which ended with a “no further action” outcome.

“This is a clear demonstration that the Malaysian government has denied the family their Right to Remedy,” Koong said.

Koong said Lee Lan’s mission to the UN aims to highlight that the case remains unresolved despite the passage of time.

She added that while the “Malaysia Madani” government presents itself as championing human rights and reform, it has fallen short in implementing the Right to Life and the Right to Equality as guaranteed under the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“This mission aims to use international mechanisms to pressure the Malaysian government to fulfil its human rights obligations and initiate rigorous, professional criminal investigations and prosecutions against the suspects involved,” she said.


Pushing for institutional reforms

In 2009, Beng Hock, who was then Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah’s aide, was found dead after overnight questioning at Selangor MACC, then headquartered at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.

A 2011 royal commission of inquiry ruled that he was driven to suicide due to aggressive interrogation. However, in 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled his death was caused or accelerated by unlawful acts, including those of MACC officers.

On Nov 21 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the police to complete the investigation into Beng Hock’s death within six months.

In May, the Attorney-General’s Chambers ultimately classified the case as no further action.

Teoh Beng Hock

Koong further said Lee Lan and the association’s team will hold a live broadcast from Geneva tomorrow (March 16) to update the public on the mission.

She added that the family’s effort to bring the case to the UN is not only about seeking justice for Beng Hock, but also about pushing for institutional reforms to prevent future custodial deaths and ensure such a tragedy does not happen again.

As of last December, the association had raised RM122,377 through nationwide roadshows and online crowdfunding for the UN mission.

***

And what has DAP's Ean Yong Hian Wah done for Teoh's family?

AFC clears JDT and Kuching City over heritage players, national team ban stands

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Kuching City have complied with regulations concerning heritage players. - Social media pic, March 14, 2026


AFC clears JDT and Kuching City over heritage players, national team ban stands


Club competitions remain unaffected as AFC confirms eligibility rules apply only to Malaysia’s national squad



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 14 hours ago
14 March, 2026
6:43 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Kuching City have complied with regulations concerning heritage players, emphasising that the national team eligibility sanctions do not extend to club football.

AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul told Scoop that the Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) handling of the players’ registration “follows the MFL competition regulations” and was properly communicated to all Malaysia League clubs.

“On behalf of AFC, we accept the decision made by the MFL as it aligns with their Competition Articles. There should be no issue with the MFL’s ruling,” Windsor said.

The MFL previously confirmed that four heritage players – JDT’s Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, and Kuching City’s Gabriel Palmero – were correctly registered as local players for the 2025-2026 season.

The process, which involves submitting a coloured copy of an identity card or passport, fully adheres to MFL regulations.

While club-level rules were observed, the players remain under a 12-month ban from official matches after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld sanctions related to falsified eligibility documents. CAS allows the players to train and participate in football activities with their clubs but bars them from competing in official games.

Of the seven players initially sanctioned by FIFA, three – Joao Figueiredo, Hector Hevel, and Jon Irazabal – are JDT members.

Windsor emphasised that AFC’s authority is limited to national team eligibility. Clubs involved in AFC competitions are unaffected.

“Eligibility rules apply only to national teams. Clubs in AFC competitions, including JDT, are completely unaffected,” he said.

“There is no violation of any regulations at club level. Players can continue to participate in AFC Champions League Elite and the ASEAN Club Championship without restriction.”

Following a review of the full case file from FIFA, the AFC confirmed that the disciplinary process concerns only the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and matches involving the national team.

The ruling reassures Malaysian clubs in continental competitions, enabling JDT and Kuching City to proceed with their campaigns uninterrupted while the heritage players serve their national team suspensions. – March 14, 2026

Americans urged to leave countries across Middle East

 

Americans urged to leave countries across Middle East

published at 13:54

13:54

As we reported earlier, the US embassy in Baghdad has issued a fresh warning for its citizens to leave Iraq after a missile hit the embassy building earlier on Saturday.

In its warning, the US embassy said citizens should "leave Iraq now".

"US citizens choosing to remain in Iraq are strongly encouraged to reconsider in light of the significant threat posed by Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups," the embassy wrote.

As Iran has launched strikes at US targets across the Middle East, the US has urged its citizens to leave more than a dozen countries.

Separately, the US said on Saturday it had ordered non-emergency government employees and the relatives of government employees to leave Oman, according to Reuters.

Lebanon says Israeli strike on health centre killed 12 medical workers

Lebanon says Israeli strike on health centre killed 12 medical workers

published at 08:41


An Israeli strike on a health centre in southern Lebanon on Friday killed 12 medical workers, including doctors and nurses, Lebanon's ministry of public health says.

The strike has been condemned by the chief of the World Health Organization. "These incidents highlight the ongoing assault on Lebanon’s healthcare system, which is crucial for the populations it serves," Tedros Ghebreyesus says.

"WHO condemns this tragic loss of life and emphasises that health workers must always be protected."

The Israeli military says it's aware of reports of a strike in the Borj Qalaouiye area in southern Lebanon, and the incident is under review.

***

Shailok air force specialises in bombing hospitals, clinics, old folks homes, schools, nurseries - less likelihood of defence fire.

Israeli settlers shoot Palestinians in West Bank villages, steal livestock

Israeli settlers shoot Palestinians in West Bank villages, steal livestock

One Palestinian reported killed in Qusra, as others injured in Rashayda, amid surge in Israeli settler violence.

Palestinians pick olives near Israeli outposts near Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank [File: Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Getty Images]

By Al Jazeera Staff and News Agencies
Published On 14 Mar 2026


Israeli settlers have attacked two villages in the occupied West Bank, causing casualties among the Palestinian residents, according to local officials.

Hani Odeh, the mayor of Qusra village in Nablus governorate, told the AFP news agency that Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian man, 28-year-old Amir Moatasem Odeh, on Saturday. Two other residents were injured.

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There was also an assault on the area of Rashayda, east of Bethlehem, on Saturday, with the local mayor describing settler violence as a near-daily reality for residents.

Palestinian news agency Wafa said a group of settlers attacked in the area of Rashayda, near the village of Kisan, “firing live ammunition”.

Musa Abayat, the mayor of Rashayda, told AFP that five Palestinians were injured in the assault, including two with gunshot wounds.

Beyond those shot, three other Palestinians were beaten with sharp objects or struck by stones, with the injured taken to hospital. More than 100 sheep were also seized.

“Daily attacks” by settlers, Abayat said, had become a feature of life in the area.

The Israeli military acknowledged a “violent confrontation” had taken place involving Israeli civilians who discharged their weapons toward Palestinians. One Israeli civilian was wounded, the military told AFP, adding that two Israeli civilians had been detained alongside three Palestinians.



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The attack was the latest in a run of violence that had already left its mark on the same village.

A day earlier, settlers burned down a poultry barn belonging to a local Palestinian farmer, completely destroying it, according Wafa.

Elsewhere in the West Bank on Saturday, Wafa reported that Israeli forces shot a 43-year-old Palestinian man, Ahmad Khalil Saleh, at the Beit Iksa checkpoint northwest of Jerusalem. Soldiers also severely beat his 20-year-old son at the same location, according to local sources cited by the agency.

At least five Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of March, according to Palestinian authorities and the United Nations, part of a broader surge in violence that has accompanied Israel’s war on Gaza.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed more than 1,045 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, according to an AFP tally of Palestinian health ministry figures.

That violence has unfolded largely without legal consequence.

Israeli rights group Yesh Din found that more than nine in 10 investigations into ideologically-motivated offences by Israelis against Palestinians in the West Bank ended without indictment, a pattern the group describes not as negligence, but deliberate policy.



Marking al-Quds Day in occupied West Bank: Israel severely restricts access to Al-Aqsa Mosque


A sweeping UN report found that of more than 1,500 Palestinians killed between 2017 and September 2025, Israeli authorities secured just one conviction.

The UN human rights chief Volker Turk has described conditions in the West Bank as resembling apartheid, condemning what he called the “systematic asphyxiation” of Palestinian rights under two distinct bodies of law, one for settlers, another for Palestinians, across territory home to more than three million people.

***

Shakespeare and Adolf were right - shailoks are nothing but robbers, thieves, looters, cheats, scumbags, murderers, thugs