Vietnam slashes duties on range of imports to head off US tariffs

FMT:

Vietnam slashes duties on

range of imports to head

off US tariffs

AFP

-01 Apr 2025, 11:19 AM

The announcement comes after the prime minister said last month that Hanoi was reviewing levies to encourage imports from the US.

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Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) speaks at the government office in Hanoi on Friday. (AP pic)

HANOI: 

Vietnam said it cut import duties on a range of goods including cars, liquefied gas and some agricultural products, with concerns escalating ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned unveiling of sweeping tariffs on “all countries”.

The announcement came after prime minister Pham Minh Chinh said last month that Hanoi was reviewing levies to encourage increased imports from the US.

Washington’s trade deficit with Vietnam is the third highest of any country, after China and Mexico, and there are increasing fears it could be a key target of the White House’s tariff drive, which has sent shockwaves through global markets.

“From March 31, 2025, certain items such as cars, wood, ethanol, frozen chicken legs, pistachios, almonds, fresh apples, cherries, raisins, etc., will be subject to a new preferential import duty rate,” a statement said late on Monday on the government’s official news portal.

It added that import duties on some cars will be halved and the tax rate for liquefied natural gas will drop from 5% to 2%.

Tariffs on frozen chicken legs will be reduced from 20% to 15%, the rates on unshelled pistachios will be slashed from 15% to 5%, and for almonds it will drop from 10% to 5%.

The finance ministry said last week that the changes were to “cope with the complicated and unpredictable developments of the world’s geopolitical and economic situation, especially the changes in economic, trade and tariff policies”.

Trump said on Sunday that tariffs would apply to “all countries”, not just those with the largest trade imbalances with the US, but added on Monday that he would be “very kind” to trading partners.

Vietnam also said last week that it would allow Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch its Starlink satellite internet service as part of a pilot programme that will last until the end of 2030.

There is no limit on foreign ownership of the service, the government said.

Chinh also told US ambassador Marc Knapper last month that Vietnam was “actively addressing the current concerns of the US in economic-trade-investment relations”, including sending its top trade official to the US.

The US deficit with Vietnam hit US$123.5 billion in 2024, up more than 18% from 2023, according to the office of the US trade representative.

Vietnam is a manufacturing powerhouse that is heavily reliant on exports and the US was its biggest market last year.

Putra Heights gas fire: Twenty-five receive initial treatment at temple, five hospitalised

Putra Heights gas fire: Twenty-five receive initial treatment at temple, five hospitalised



As of 10.35am, 25 victims of a gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights were receiving initial treatment at a nearby temple, with five transferred to Serdang Hospital for further care. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Tuesday, 01 Apr 2025 11:34 AM MYT


SUBANG JAYA, April 1 — As of 10.35am, 25 victims of a fire caused by a burst gas pipeline at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor, were receiving initial treatment at a nearby temple.

A check by Bernama at the scene found that Ministry of Health personnel were attending to all the victims.

All the victims sustained wounds, burns, and breathing difficulties.

It is understood that five victims have been transferred to Serdang Hospital for further treatment.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director of operations, Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar, said his department received a distress call regarding the incident at 8.23am and that firefighting operations were underway.

He added that several houses were also damaged in the fire. — Bernama

What we know so far about: The Puchong gas pipeline inferno

What we know so far about: The Puchong gas pipeline inferno



Vehicles drive as a gas pipeline fire burns along Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on April 1, 2025. — Picture by Choo Choy May .

Tuesday, 01 Apr 2025 11:32 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — A massive gas pipeline fire broke out today in Putra Heights, Selangor, on the second day of Aidilfitri, causing widespread damage and prompting emergency evacuations.

The fire, which started in the morning, involved a leaking Petronas gas pipeline, with flames reportedly reaching up to 500 metres in length and visible from several kilometres away.

Authorities have confirmed that multiple houses have been affected, with firefighters working to rescue trapped residents and provide aid to victims at a temporary relief centre in Masjid Putra Heights.

This is what we know so far:

08:10 AM: The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) receives the initial call reporting a gas pipeline fire in Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Height, Subang Jaya.

08:22 AM: The first fire and rescue vehicles from the FRD in Subang Jaya arrive at the scene, approximately 12 km from their station.

08:23 AM: Selangor FRD officially announces they received a call regarding the incident.

Ongoing (as of the initial reports): The fire involves a leaking Petronas gas pipeline with an estimated 500-metre stretch ablaze, with flames rising high.

Ongoing (as of the initial reports): Firefighters and other agencies are conducting evacuations of residents in the surrounding Awan housing area.

Ongoing (as of the initial reports): Authorities at the location confirm that the Petronas petrol station nearby is not on fire; only the main gas pipeline is affected. The pipeline has been shut off, and the fire is expected to burn until the remaining gas is exhausted.

Ongoing (as of the initial reports): The fire has spread to several houses in the vicinity. The number of houses affected is yet to be determined.

Ongoing (as of the initial reports): There are victims involved, with the exact number yet to be confirmed.

10:00 AM: The fire is still burning. Petronas has closed a valve on the affected gas pipeline, but the distance to the closed valve is unknown.

10:00 AM: Firefighters have successfully rescued 7 victims, including 2 senior citizens. The total number of victims and the further spread of the fire around the houses are still being assessed.

Ongoing: Rescued victims have been taken to the Dewan Serbaguna Masjid Putra Height (a multi-purpose hall at the Putra Height Mosque) which has been designated as a temporary relief centre (PPS). Some victims have burns and are awaiting ambulances for treatment. The mosque authorities are currently assisting the victims.

MORE TO COME

Swatch raid 'helps' M'sian gay man get asylum in UK

Swatch raid 'helps' M'sian gay man get asylum in UK

R Nadeswaran
Published: Apr 1, 2025 9:20 AM
Updated: 12:20 PM



COMMENT | Thanks to the Home Ministry’s raid and seizure of 172 Swatch watches in 2023, a Malaysian man was granted asylum in the United Kingdom.

A tribunal ruled that the man, who was given anonymity, likely faced persecution for being gay, with judge Bijan Hoshi ruling that Malaysia’s ban on Swatch’s Pride wrist watches showed he was at risk of persecution if sent back.

The Home Ministry contended then that the sale of such timepieces “may harm the interests of the nation by promoting, supporting, and normalising the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) community.”

However, last year, the ministry had to retreat after a court ruled that the seizure was illegal.

If the ministry bigwigs, including the minister, had thought judge Amarjeet Singh’s decision at the Kuala Lumpur High Court would end their embarrassment (including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s rebuke that it was an overreaction), they were wrong.

In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in 2023, before the court decision, Anwar said the country bans content that openly supports the LGBTQ+ community because its people of diverse faiths have agreed to reject such public displays.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim


“I will not defend that action; it is excessive. But the law, people in this country are Muslim and non-Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist; they expressed their consensus, in this country, they do not accept open public displays,” he said.

The UK tribunal made its decision in February, but the Daily Mail published the findings only last week. It quoted Hoshi as saying that it was “entirely plausible” for the individual to fear persecution if he were to return to the country due to the “extreme hostility” shown towards the LGBTQ+ community.

In his ruling, the judge referred to the banning of the “Pride collection” of watches made by the Swiss company Swatch in 2023 as an example of how even small actions in support of the LGBTQ+ community can result in lengthy prison sentences.

“The (Malaysian) government is extremely hostile towards the LGBTQ+ community,” he remarked.

Making headlines for the wrong reasons

Hoshi also touched on Malaysia’s “active harassment” of the community, in which organisers and attendees of demonstrations in support of LGBTQ+ rights are often arrested.

He referred to evidence he was told in the hearing, in which the country’s prime minister (Anwar) rejected the idea that LGBTQ+ Malaysians would be “recognised and protected” under his government.

He added: “On the basis of our analysis above, we do not consider that it would be safe for the [asylum seeker] to return to any part of Malaysia and live there openly as a gay man.”

Yes, we are making the headlines in the UK for the wrong reasons again.

Of course, the religious zealots and detractors will say that it is a Jewish/Zionist conspiracy to harm Malaysia’s reputation for speaking out against the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza.

Next year is Visit Malaysia Year, and promotions are in full swing globally. Expectedly, the authorities will say that such negative news will not affect their campaign.

But there are large LGBTQ+ communities in many countries, including the UK, and they cannot be dismissed just like that, as these communities can marshal their members and supporters.

What is more important is that immediate action must be taken to present the correct picture rather than what was presented in court.

In 2009, after part-time Malaysian-Muslim model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was sentenced to six lashes and a fine of RM5,000 for consuming alcohol, it generated negative publicity.

Would-be visitors were wondering if they would be able to consume alcohol in Malaysia.

She finally had her sentence reduced by the then-Pahang sultan, to be substituted with three weeks of community service at a children’s home.

(The sultan is the head of Islam in the respective states and has the power to rule on matters of Islamic law. The offence was committed at a beach resort in Pahang.)

I worked in London from 2010 to 2012, and most of the time, when there was a story about Malaysia, the picture of Kartika would be used in most newspapers, accompanied by a caption related to the caning.

Malaysia again made the headlines when the Swatch watches were seized, and again when the court ordered their return.

Now, Swatch will feature in yet another round of infamy for Malaysia, and remedial steps must be taken to control the damage.

R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who tries to live up to the ethos of civil rights leader John Lewis: “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com

Massive gas pipeline fire in Puchong

Massive gas pipeline fire in Puchong


Published: Apr 1, 2025 9:22 AM
Updated: 12:26 PM



A gas pipeline in Taman Puchong Perdana, Selangor, caught fire this morning, causing a huge raging blaze visible from several kilometres away.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said they received a call on the incident at 8.23am.

The department has dispatched firefighters to the scene.

[More to follow]

‘We wait, we wait’: Families cling to hope as 76 remain missing in Bangkok skyscraper collapse

‘We wait, we wait’: Families cling to hope as 76 remain missing in Bangkok skyscraper collapse



Rescue workers are lifted on a crane during search-and-rescue operations at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok. — AFP pic

Monday, 31 Mar 2025 4:53 PM MYT


BANGKOK, March 31 — Three days after a Bangkok skyscraper collapsed in the wake of a devastating earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar, Naruemol Thonglek is still praying that her boyfriend will emerge from the immense pile of rubble where the building once stood.

The sudden crumbling of the 30-storey tower, which was under construction at the time of Friday’s 7.7-magnitude quake, has killed at least 11 people and rescue workers are racing to find 76 others still trapped among the debris.

Electrician Kyi Than, the boyfriend of Naruemol, is among those missing under the enormous mound of concrete and twisted metal being lifted by mechanical diggers as part of the desperate search.

“I’m devastated... I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire life,” 45-year-old Naruemol told AFP from a small shelter near the site, where a group of around 50 relatives await news.

“I still pray that he is alive but if he is no longer alive then I hope that we can retrieve his body,” she said.

Among the missing are Thais, Laotians, Cambodians and Myanmar nationals.

Many relatives are choosing to sleep in the shelter, on camp beds or directly on the stone floor, and are reluctant to leave in case news emerges.



Saifah, a Thai Ridgeback of a Thai K9 rescue unit, has its nose flushed by veterinary volunteers after taking part in search-and-rescue operations at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok today. — AFP pic



‘We wait, we wait’

Rain fell today at the site, where sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones have been deployed to seek signs of life in the collapsed building, which is close to the Chatuchak weekend market popular among tourists.

Around lunchtime, Tavida Kamolvej, the deputy governor of Bangkok, raised hopes over a noise or movement in the rubble that could be a survivor, but cautioned that the situation was still extremely unclear and they needed “a quiet moment” to work out its origin.

Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ushered away from the site, which she had been visiting, as experts rushed to help.

At least 18 people have been killed in Bangkok following the quake that struck near Mandalay early Friday afternoon, causing severe damage in central Myanmar in particular and killing more than 1,700 people across the country.

In the Thai capital, 33 people have been injured and 78 are still missing, most of them under the rubble of the building site.

Naruemol said Kyi Than, a Myanmar national, was among a group of electricians—including his son—working on the 26th floor.

She told AFP she had lit incense and candles, prayed and wished, begging her boyfriend to return alive.

“If you can hear my voice, if you’re still alive, please shout and let the officials know,” she said, calling out to Kyi Than.

Elsewhere in the shelter, Daodee Paruay said she had been at the site for two days, hoping for a miracle. Her brother, also an electrician, is under the rubble.

“We wait. We wait. We will wait until (they are) found,” she said. — AFP

Pentagon Names [China as] Biggest Threat in ‘Secret Memo’

 

Pentagon Names Biggest Threat in ‘Secret Memo’

A newly issued internal Pentagon document setting priorities for the US armed forces reportedly calls for focusing on preparing for a potential conflict with China and leaving all other potential “threats,” such as Russia and Iran to America’s allies, the Washington Post has claimed.

The nine-page paper, dubbed the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, effectively narrowed down the US defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific region to a single scenario that would require the American military to prevent Beijing from establishing full control over Taiwan through military means, according to WaPo.

“China is the Department’s sole pacing threat, and denial of a Chinese fait accompli seizure of Taiwan — while simultaneously defending the U.S. homeland is the Department’s sole pacing scenario,” the “secret” document obtained by the media outlet said. According to WaPo, Beijing was named as the only potential enemy in a “major power war” that Washington needs to plan contingencies for. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously described China as the main defense priority for the US. – RT

Our Take: This is where the NeoCons who have infiltrated the Trump administration will need to be addressed. First it was Ukraine. Then Israel. Now Taiwan.

These sociopaths will shamelessly look you in the eye and insist that your children dying for these places somehow serves the national interest of our country. As somebody who has spent a great deal of time studying at least some of these issues, I can assure you that is a despicable lie.

Your children do not need to be sacrificed on the altar of the MIC in order to preserve the American experiment. In fact, their blood is the grease that lubricates the wheels of their war machine.

There is nothing of significance on the island of Taiwan that is worth American lives and American treasure. The manufacturing base that was exported there decades ago needs to be returned home, anyway. Whatever political conflict the inhabitants of that island are involved in with Beijing cannot be resolved with overwhelming military force. And dedicating American lives to a futile military conflict is a senseless act of depravity. (Hence, why you don’t see US boots on the ground in the other two major conflicts.)

These facts do not change because a man we admire is in the Oval Office. And while I don’t think President Trump is planning to get involved, kinetically, it is never too early for our people to begin conditioning ourselves to take responsibility for our government and exercise our influence over it through the public mandate.

Because that’s what I think President Trump’s ultimate vision is: to return power to We The People. And while we may have a constitutional – as well as God-given – right to claim it, we must ensure that we are worthy.
– GhostofBasedPatrickHenry

Abang Jo should resign

Abang Jo should resign

There are some parties in Sarawak that wish to change the state constitution of Sarawak to ban Semenanjung parties from participating in Sarawak politics, but it is not Semenanjung parties that should worry the political parties of Sarawak.

I am quite sure that there is no strategist in Semenanjung that believes that Sarawak can be taken by a Semenanjung party. We all know that the anti-Semenanjung sentiment is just too thick in Sarawak. The anti-Semenanjung sentiment might arguably be the only sentiment that unites all the different ethnicities and identity groups in Sarawak. Except for DAP, which might make a little impact amongst Sarawak’s Chinese population, there is unlikely to be any other Semenanjung party that will make any headway in Sarawak because of the thick anti-Semenanjung sentiment that engulfs all of Sarawak.

So does this mean that Putrajaya has no designs on Sarawak?

Of course not. As I have mentioned earlier, to launch a DigVijaya upon Sarawak and bring Sarawak under the control of Putrajaya is probably going to be one of Anwar’s main duties for the federation before he hangs his boot.

There are three things that will define Anwar’s legacy. The first is his ability to change the culture of corruption, cronyism and nepotism in the nation, the second is regards to his measures to mitigate the nation's racial and religious tension and third has to do with how he quashes the regional separatist ambitions. It is only if Anwar succeeds in these three areas, that he will be celebrated as a “saviour of the federation” by future generations.

Other than for the sake of his legacy, Anwar also has to launch a digvijaya upon Sarawak for a more practical reason. If Anwar depends on Semenanjung politics alone, he might lose the next election. He barely won the last election by a hairbreadth. Unless he captures Sabah and Sarawak before the next general election, there will always be a possibility that he might lose the next general election to his political opponents in Semenanjung.

It is only if he captures Sabah and Sarawak, will his opponents in Semenanjung truly throw in the towel and accept PH’s position as the government of the nation is unassailable.

For these two reasons, Anwar will by hook or crook, do whatever is necessary to make Sabah and Sarawak loyal to PH, not only to strengthen its hold in Putrajaya, but to make sure that Sabah and Sarawak will always remain as a part of the federation.

But if Semenanjung parties are incapable of penetrating Sarawak's politics, how will PH make inroads in Sarawak ?

Well, from my point of view, there is only one way that it will be able to do so, and this is by using a Sarawakian party as their vehicle to spread their influence in Sarawak.

This being the case, the next question will then be, which Sarawakian party is it that will PH will use, to challenge GPS’s dominance in Sarawak?

I think there is only one party that will be able to challenge GPS’s dominance in Sarawak and that party is GPS itself.

In other words, for PH to make an inroad in Sarawak, it will have to split GPS into at least two factions.

It is only if one faction of GPS is fighting with another faction of GPS, will Putrajaya have the opportunity to to play the role of kingmaker and peacemaker in the internal politics of Sarawak. It is only if Putrajaya is able to play the role of Kingmaker or Peacemaker in Sarawak, that PH will be able to establish a state government of Sarawak that will be loyal to Putrajaya and serve as a vote bank for PH.

The next question then is how will Putrajaya split GPS?

I think the writing on the wall is that they will target the failures of Abang Jo’s administration to create an internal schism in GPS.

Abang Jo

As it is, opposition politicians in Sarawak like Chong Chieng Jen and Violet Yong are already hitting on the failures of Abang Jo’s administration.

Targeting Abang Jo’s failures has a high likelihood of inducing a schism in GPS’s politics, simply because it is true.

Abang Jo’s administration has indeed spectacularly failed Sarawak despite the abundance of good fortune and support that it has had in the last 5 years.

In the last state and general election, the Sarawakian people had given Abang Jo and GPS an overwhelming amount of support, that amounted to 76 out 82 state seats and 23 out of 31 parliament seats.

By luck, at a time when the whole of Sarawak was standing behind GPS, Putrajaya also had weakened to a point that it was extremely dependent on Sarawak to sustain its rule.

Considering the great amount of luck and support that Abang Jo has had, it is astonishing to see how little he has to show for it.

All that Abang Jo has seemed to have gotten for Sarawak, despite the extreme abundance of luck and support that he had, is an airline and a bank, that Putrajaya itself likely didn’t want.

The MASWing airline that Putrajaya sold to the Sarawak state government was likely a loss making business that depended on subsidies by Putrajaya to remain operational. Putrajaya was likely more than happy to relinquish it to Sarawak.

As for the Sarawak government’s purchase of Affin bank, one of the smallest banks in the country, the ones that likely benefited from the deal are the shareholders of the banks, not the state or people of Sarawak.

It is amazing how Putrajaya succeeded to dump two companies that it likely did not want, to Sarawak, probably at a profit, while convincing Sarawak that taking these companies is somewhat tantamount to Sarawak gaining victory against Putrajaya.

As for the meaningful gains – like its oil and gas rights and the 35 percent of parliament seats- Abang Jo has had numerous golden opportunities to secure it in the last 2 years, but it looks like he has made zero headway.

Although the 35 percent of parliament seats were promised to Sarawak and Sabah over two years ago by both former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri and current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak and Sabah today only have a vague promise that they will get it after the next general election is over.

As for their oil and gas rights, as Chong Chieng Jen said, Abang Jo can say all that he wants, but the fact is that ‘Sarawak’s O&G rights have been compromised for the second time.

Chong Chieng Jen

Today, more than two after the 2022 general election, Inch by inch, brick by brick, dollar by dollar, Anwar had consolidated hold of Putrajaya, to the point that he can probably rule Putrajaya even if he doesn't have the support of Abang Jo.

Now that Anwar no longer is dependent on the support of Sarawak to maintain his rule on Putrajaya, it is unlikely that Sarawak will be able to secure the oil and gas rights or 35 percent of parliament seats that it so earnestly desires before the next state and general election in Sarawak.

Considering that, all that the opponents of Abang Jo have to do until the next election, to cause schism to occur in GPS, is to plainly state that Abang Jo has failed, as this article itself is plainly stating it, and GPS will have no means to counter their claim, simply because it is true.

Once the opponents of Abang Jo establishes the view that Abang Jo has failed, the grounds to split in GPS will then be established.

If your leader has been proven to have failed, but he refuses to step down, then the lower-level leader in the organisation will have a legitimate ground to agitate against the said leader.

We must understand that Abang Jo’s hold on the other leaders in his party is likely not as strong as his predecessors. Most of the high-ranking leaders in Sarawak likely owe their power and position to the late Taib Mahmud, not Abang Jo. They have no personal fealty to Abang Jo, that will persuade them to remain loyal to Abang Jo despite his failures.

Taib Mahmud


The other leaders in his party are also quite likely to desire ruling a state which is claiming that an astronomical RM 100 billion will be pumped into its economy in the next 5 years. To fulfill their political ambitions of becoming the head a state government that has the capacity to spend tens if not hundreds of billions, removing Abang Jo from the top position is their only option.

Seeing so, they have every reason to move to get Abang Jo to step aside, once Abang Jo’s failures become well publicized.

To prevent a Team A and Team B situation in GPS occurring, which might in turn see the factions of GPS contesting against each other in the coming state election of Sarawak, it will probably be best that Abang Jo be prepared to resign, when murmurs of discontent against the failure of his leadership starts to get louder.

For now, it is only DAP that is speaking about Abang Jo's failure as the leader of Sarawak. Once the component parties and grassroot of GPS starts to repeat DAP’s talking points, then it might indeed be time for Abang Jo to step aside, in order to prevent a schism to appear in GPS.

If he refuses, his refusal might induce In fighting within GPS, which will n turn open up the opportunity for Semenanjung parties, especially PH, to enter Sarawak politics, play the role of Kingmaker and Peacemaker, and bring Sarawak again under the control of Putrajaya.

If it is true that Abang Jo loves Sarawak and wishes for Sarawak to remain in the hands of Sarawakians, soon it will be time that he proves it, by putting the interest of Sarawak above his self-interest.

No lessons learnt: Hindu temple row leaves only a bitter aftertaste

No lessons learnt: Hindu temple row leaves only a bitter aftertaste

By Phlip Rodrigues
11 hours ago





THE stark reality that emerged from the Hindu temple row is that when it comes to religion, the Malays will close ranks—be they in the government or the opposition.


Religion is the one issue that can make or break the career of a politician aspiring to climb the slippery totem pole of power.


Other national issues can take the backseat as they do not carry as much weight and importance as matters that touch the spiritual realm.


When it comes to fighting for your faith, all people, from the humblest to the most high, will immediately answer the call to defend their sacred ground.

Politicians know very well that the most effective sure-fire way to strike a chord is to play up a sensitive topic.

When emotions are whipped up through the roof, that’s the moment for politicians to don their shining armour and lead the charge to the frontline.

However, using the weapons of religion to burnish your credentials is a cheap way to garner instant support and overnight fame.

But that’s how things are in Malaysia. Politicians are always on the prowl looking for any sensitive issue with a religious slant to exploit and fan into a bigger flame.

The matter may be insignificant but the bigots will promptly make a mountain out of a molehill and ceaselessly sound the alarm throughout the nation.

People will rush to the barricade in the belief that the status of their religion has been challenged and must be repulsed. It has become a matter of life-and-death.

How then can this trend be reversed? Impossible! As long as the doctrine of racial supremacy is preached and practised, the country will always be sitting on a tinderbox.

Malay-based political parties, whether in the government or outside the arena, are all united in their fight against outsiders if the latter are perceived trying to dip their fingers into their religious affairs.

PAS, PKR, Bersatu and UMNO may be political enemies but when it comes to religion, they bury their hatchet and join forces to face the outsiders.

The “war cry” that is most often heard is “don’t think the Malays are weak”, which carries a dark warning that they can go on the offensive if they are provoked beyond endurance.

Are there any lessons to be drawn from the Hindu temple episode? None. It left only a bitter aftertaste to those whose hope of seeing the 130-year-old temple stay intact demolished. – March 31, 2025



Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.

Elderly man killed after 12-year-old on motorcycle crashes into his

theVibes.com:

Elderly man killed after 12-year-old on motorcycle crashes into his

The man died of head injuries while being treated in hospital, while the boy suffered injuries to his knee.

Updated 8 hours ago

Published on 31 Mar 2025 7:41PM

Police said the incident occured when the man was riding home on his motorcycle. - March 31, 2025


A 65-YEAR-OLD man was killed after a 12-year-old on a motorcycle crashed into him in Kampung Sri Aman, Johor Bahru.

Police said the incident occured when the man was riding home on his motorcycle.

The man is believed to have been exiting Lorong Sentosa while the boy was riding on the straight lane before crashing into him.

The man died of head injuries while being treated in hospital, while the boy suffered injuries to his knee.

The case is being probed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act for causing death by dangerous or reckless driving. - March 31, 2025

Shock Le Pen verdict rocks French far right

BBC:

Shock Le Pen verdict rocks French far right

Hugh Schofield
Paris correspondent

Getty Images


"Incredible." That was the single word uttered under her breath by Marine Le Pen as she stormed out of a Paris courtroom on Monday morning.

She left the court early – just before hearing that she was barred from running for office for five years after being found guilty of embezzlement of EU funds – almost certainly ruling her out from standing in the 2027 French presidential election.

Without even waiting for the judge to pronounce the full details of the sentence, the head of the National Rally knew that her political goose was cooked.

There would be no reprieve pending appeal. The bar on running for office was real and immediate.


A four-year prison sentence, of which two will be suspended, will be on hold pending appeal.

But her political plans are dead.

Le Pen's incredulity can be better excused, perhaps, in the context of the moment.

A consensus had almost established itself across France's political world that this ultimate sanction by the court could not, would not – in the end – take place.

It was not just Le Pen's followers who said it. Her enemies agreed, from Jean-Luc Melenchon on the far left to Prime Minister François Bayrou in the centre and Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin on the right.


Le Pen attacks ban from running for public office as 'political decision'

Marine Le Pen hits back in EU funds misuse trial


But they were all wrong. The judge said that the law was the law.

The law had in fact recently been toughened – by the very politicians who were now complaining about its application – to make the penalty for misuse of public funds very severe indeed. Well, said the judge in so many words, now let politicians suck up their own medicine.

Maybe Marine Le Pen was naive in not predicting this outcome. It certainly appears as if her National Rally party was singularly unprepared for it.

So as they met in an emergency session after the verdict, party leaders were in a dilemma.

Do they continue as if there is still a chance Marine Le Pen will run in 2027?

In theory there is still a (small) possibility. She has launched an appeal. The appeal could be accelerated and take place at the end of this year or early 2026. A verdict would follow in the spring.

A different decision at the appeal hearing could lessen the period of ineligibility, or remove it altogether – in which case she could still run. But the chances must be regarded as slim.

Or, should they proceed with plan B – that is to say, with naming party president Jordan Bardella as de facto the man who will run in Marine Le Pen's place?

Getty Images
29-year-old Jordan Bardella is a rising star in the French far right


That might be a more realistic assessment of what lies ahead. But to turn to Bardella too quickly would be unseemly. And anyway, not everyone in the party is a fan.

By the evening the choice had been made: in a TV appearance Marine Le Pen came out fighting, saying she had no plans to retreat from the political scene.

Denouncing what she called a "political" decision by the judge and a "violation of the state of law", she called for a swift appeal trial, so that her name could be cleared – or at least the ineligibility lifted – in time for the 2027 vote.

"There are millions of French people who believe in me. For 30 years I have been fighting against injustice. It is what I shall continue to do right to the end," she said.

Fighting words – but in reality the future looks very unclear. And there are many unanswered questions.

What, for example, will the effect of the court decision be on the RN vote?

In the short term we can expect an outcry, and a boost to the party's support. Why? Because what has happened fits so neatly into the RN narrative that the populist right is a victim of the "system".

No-one likely to vote for the RN seriously holds it against Marine Le Pen for illegally financing her party using EU parliament funds. They all know that practically every French political party has resorted to similar underhand methods in the past.

By the same token, her "draconian" punishment – being banned from standing for the presidency – will be interpreted as a badge of honour: proof that she alone is standing up to the powers-that-be.

Longer term, though, the boost may not be so powerful. The truth is that Marine Le Pen is a huge asset to the RN. This battle-hardened, sentimental, cat-loving, tough-talking, long-suffering woman is held in affection by her supporters, who feel they know her personally.

Jordan Bardella is a popular figure too, but at just 29 it is hard to see him filling her shoes. If Marine Le Pen is indeed unable to run in 2027, the RN loses much of its appeal.

What is certain is that many would-be candidates on the non-RN right – Laurent Wauquiez, Bruno Retailleau for example – would see in a Bardella candidacy a big opportunity for themselves.

The other unknown is vengeance.

Marine Le Pen remains a member of the National Assembly, where she leads a bloc of 125 – the parliament's biggest. Till now she had been benign towards the beleaguered prime minister Francois Bayrou, who struggles on despite having no majority.

Those days may be over.

Why should we do anyone any favours now, they will be saying at RN HQ. Why not bring the house down?

Body of missing four-year-old autistic boy found in Sungai Ketil, says Baling police

Body of missing four-year-old autistic boy found in Sungai Ketil, says Baling police



The search for four-year-old Mohamad Fayyad Affan Mohd Fakhri, missing since last Friday, ended with the discovery of his body in Sungai Ketil today. — Picture courtesy of the Baling Fire and Rescue Department

Monday, 31 Mar 2025 8:31 PM MYT


BALING, March 31 — The search for four-year-old Mohamad Fayyad Affan Mohd Fakhri, missing since last Friday, ended tragically with the discovery of his body in Sungai Ketil here at 3.15 pm today.

Baling police chief Supt Azmi Mokhtar said the victim’s body was found some 500 metres from where he was believed to have fallen.

“The body was discovered by family members searching the riverbank. The remains have been sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) in Alor Setar for a post-mortem scheduled for tomorrow,” he told Bernama today.

Baling Fire and Rescue Station chief, Assistant Fire Superintendent Zulkhairi Mat Tanjil, said his team received a call reporting the discovery of the child’s body at 3.30 pm.

“Rescue personnel who were deployed to the location, retrieved the victim from the water, and brought him ashore. He was confirmed dead and handed over to the police for further action,” he said.

“The operation concluded at 4.52 pm,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the fire department had conducted searches and monitoring in the area from this morning until noon, but the victim was not found.

“Around eight people, including the victim’s uncle and other relatives, continued searching and eventually found the body in the river,” he said.

Last Friday, Mohamad Fayyad Affan was reported missing after leaving his home in JPS Quarters at Kampung Landak Paya, Kupang, at around 2.30 pm.

Based on CCTV footage, the child was seen walking out of his home and heading toward the village road. — Bernama

Father hails Malaysians’ generosity after RM1.5m raised for daughter’s life-saving surgery

Father hails Malaysians’ generosity after RM1.5m raised for daughter’s life-saving surgery



Harsheetaa Sai, who studies at the school where her father teaches, has been battling heterotaxy since birth. — Picture via Facebook/Harsheeta Sai

Monday, 31 Mar 2025 4:47 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — The father of eight-year-old S. Harsheetaa Sai has expressed his gratitude to Malaysians for raising RM1.5 million for his daughter’s upcoming heart surgery in the United States.

R. Selva Ganapathy, 42, said the amount was raised in less than a month after news about his daughter’s congenital heart defect was shared in the media.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible generosity and unwavering support during this challenging time. Thanks to your kindness, we have now reached the fundraising goal necessary to take the next crucial step in my child’s journey to healing.

“Our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also provided financial aid recently, which helped ease the financial burden we felt since day one. With your donations, we are now able to proceed with the upcoming treatment and surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital, where Harsheetaa Sai will receive the specialised care she needs,” he told Bernama.

Selva Ganapathy, who is a teacher at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Saraswathy in Sungai Buloh, said he is waiting for his visa interview at the United States embassy here. He hopes to leave for the US between April 12 and 14.

“These are all crucial steps before we can travel for the surgery, and we feel so much closer to this life-changing opportunity because of your support,” he added.

Harsheetaa Sai, who studies at the school where her father teaches, has been battling heterotaxy since birth and requires financial assistance to undergo a procedure at Boston Children’s Hospital, a leading medical centre in Massachusetts known for its expertise in treating complex heart conditions.

Heterotaxy is a rare congenital disorder in which internal organs develop in abnormal positions due to improper left-right patterning during foetal development. It commonly affects the heart, lungs, liver, spleen and intestines, often leading to severe complications.

On March 20, Anwar extended financial aid to the family of Harsheetaa Sai, and the contribution was delivered by the Prime Minister’s political secretary, Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, during a visit to the child’s home in Batu Caves, Selangor. — Bernama

Police rescue disabled child, arrest man who hijacked car with boy inside

Police rescue disabled child, arrest man who hijacked car with boy inside



Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the suspect was arrested after police traced the vehicle to the Behrang R&R along the PLUS Highway heading south. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

Monday, 31 Mar 2025 5:19 PM MYT


GEORGE TOWN, March 31 — Police have rescued a five-year-old disabled boy who was inside a car hijacked by a man in Penang last night.

Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the suspect was arrested after police traced the vehicle to the Behrang R&R along the PLUS Highway heading south.

“The suspect was found sleeping in the vehicle with the engine running. He attempted to escape when policemen instructed him to open the door,” he said in a statement today.

In his attempt to flee, the suspect reversed the car into a police patrol vehicle behind him.

“The policemen broke the car windows, but the suspect resisted and tried to fight back before he was subdued and arrested,” Hamzah said.

The boy was rescued unharmed.

The suspect, a 36-year-old Malaysian, has 10 previous convictions related to drug offences and other crimes. He is also wanted for two criminal cases.

“He has been remanded until April 3 for further investigation,” Hamzah said.

The case is being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft, which carries a jail term of between one and seven years and a possible fine upon conviction. It is also being investigated under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and a possible fine upon conviction.

The incident occurred around 8pm last night when the boy’s 41-year-old father stopped his car at the parking area of the Kampung Banggol Mosque in Pokok Sena, Tasek Gelugor.

He had stepped out to pacify his one-year-old daughter but left the car engine running with his five-year-old son still inside.

The suspect then entered the car and drove off. The father attempted to chase after him but was unable to stop him.

Hamzah advised the public to be vigilant and not leave young children inside vehicles unattended, especially with the engine running.

“This incident could have been avoided if proper safety measures were taken,” he said.