The Penang chief minister says the state’s vast waters and its proximity to Thailand make the island a ‘natural’ transit point for drugs and other contraband.
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Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow handing out mandarins to guests at his Chinese New Year open house at the Setia Spice Arena today. (Johnshen Lee pic)GEORGE TOWN: Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said while he is grateful Penang has been recognised as the safest state in the country, he remains concerned over the state being used as a transshipment hub for illicit drugs.
Chow said Penang’s vast waters and its proximity to Thailand made the island a “natural” transit point for drugs and other contraband.
“For many years, serious crimes and robberies have been on the downtrend and under control.
“But we remain a centre for drug trafficking from the north, through land and sea, and the drugs are then transferred to other places,” he told reporters when met at his Chinese New Year open house here.
It was reported earlier this week that Numbeo, an international statistics firm, had named Penang the safest city in Malaysia, beating other big cities such as Kuala Lumpur.
According to the latest Numbeo rankings, Penang scored 69.7 and ranked 77th in the world, making it the city with the lowest crime rate among five major cities in Malaysia.
On a related note, Chow said the state government was doubling the number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the state. Seberang Perai will get more than 1,000 cameras, which would be installed in the next two years to deter crime.
The Penang 2030 blueprint calls for at least 5,000 CCTV cameras to be installed by 2030. As of last November, 27% of the target had been achieved.
Last year, 3,501 crimes were committed between January and October, with the northeast district, where George Town is located, topping the list with 1,094 cases, according to police statistics presented in the Penang state assembly.
Of the total, 787 were violent crimes and 2,714 were property crimes across the state.
Donald Trump insisted that Egypt and Jordan would take in displaced Gazans, despite the two Arab nations dismissing his plan to move Palestinians from the territory. — Pic by Reuters
Friday, 31 Jan 2025 9:43 AM MYT
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 — US President Donald Trump insisted yesterday that Egypt and Jordan would take in displaced Gazans, despite the two Arab nations dismissing his plan to move Palestinians from the territory.
Trump’s comments came a day after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II rejecting any forced displacement of Gazans following the war between Hamas and Israel.
“They will do it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked for his response to the Egyptian and Jordanian refusal, and whether he would consider imposing tariffs on either country to push them.
“They’re going to do it. We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it.”
After an Israel-Hamas ceasefire took effect on Jan 19, Trump last week floated a plan to “clean out” the Gaza Strip and for Palestinians to move to “safer” locations such as Egypt or Jordan.
He said the 15-month war had reduced the Palestinian territory to a “demolition site.”
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff made a rare trip to Gaza this week, the White House said, in a bid to prop up the fragile ceasefire. He also met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Egypt’s Sisi, a key US ally, had said on Wednesday in his first public response to Trump’s comments that displacing “the Palestinian people from their land is an injustice that we cannot take part in.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II separately stressed his country’s “firm position on the need to keep the Palestinians on their land.”
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, both Egypt and Jordan have warned of plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank across their borders. — AFP
***
kt comments:
S-Whole is just doing what Ariel Sharon once said to the Palestinians: Go to Jordan as that's your homeland
Singapore Airlines is the second-highest-ranked Asian firm in the Fortune most admired companies list. — Picture from Facebook/Singapore Airlines
Friday, 31 Jan 2025 10:04 AM MYT
SINGAPORE, Jan 31 — Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been ranked as the world’s most admired airline and placed 28th overall in Fortune magazine’s annual list of the most admired companies globally.
SIA climbed from 29th place last year, marking its highest ranking to date.
“At Singapore Airlines, we are firmly committed to setting new standards in air travel and maintaining our industry leadership position,” SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong was quoted saying by the Straits Times.
“This accolade from Fortune magazine reflects the passion, dedication and resilience of our people, who continuously strive to deliver a world-class travel experience.”
SIA is also the only Singapore-based company in the top 50 and the second-highest-ranked Asian firm after Toyota, which placed 25th.
SIA also emerged as the top airline in the industry rankings, moving up from second place in 2024. Delta Air Lines came in second, followed by Lufthansa, SkyWest, and ANA.
There are 26 companies from the Asia-Pacific included in the list.
The list, now in its 27th edition, is based on a survey of executives, directors, and analysts who select the 10 companies they admire most.
Apple topped the overall list for the 18th consecutive year, followed by Microsoft and Amazon.
Donald Trump accused his predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama of having kept good employees out of the Federal Aviation Administration in pursuit of DEI. — Pic by AFP
Friday, 31 Jan 2025 9:01 AM MYT
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 — US President Donald Trump — speaking as the bodies of 67 people were being pulled from Washington’s Potomac River — launched a political attack yesterday blaming diversity hires for the midair collision between an airliner and a military helicopter.
Trump’s politicisation of the tragedy came as investigators warned they needed time to unpick how the Bombardier jet, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, and an army Black Hawk helicopter could smash into each other late Wednesday.
According to a report in The New York Times, staffing was thin at the control tower in Reagan National Airport, where the airliner was about to land when the collision occurred. One controller, rather than the usual two, was handling both plane and helicopter traffic, the Times quoted a preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report as saying.
A fireball erupted in the night sky and both aircraft tumbled into icy Potomac, leaving rescue crews with the grim, difficult task of searching for bodies in the dark and cold.
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly said 28 corpses had been found so far.
Trump, who took office 10 days ago, turned a press conference on the disaster into a platform for his crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI — a series of often decades-old measures meant to combat racism and sexism across the United States.
Accusing his Democratic predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama of having kept good employees out of the Federal Aviation Administration in pursuit of DEI, he claimed: “They actually came out with a directive: ‘too white.’ And we want the people that are competent.”
The passenger plane was carrying 64 people and the Black Hawk had three aboard.
The collision — the first major crash in the United States since 2009 when 49 people were killed near Buffalo, New York — occurred as the airliner came into land after a routine flight from Wichita, Kansas.
Reagan National is a major airport located a short distance from downtown Washington, the White House and the Pentagon. The airspace is extremely busy, with civilian and military aircraft a constant presence.
Trump politicises crash
Trump opened his White House press conference by speaking of the nation’s anguish.
However, he then launched into an extended broadside against DEI, aiming directly at Biden’s openly gay transport secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“He’s run it right into the ground with his diversity,” Trump said.
The message was hammered home as Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, and new defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, took turns at the podium to repeat — without any evidence — the hard-right theory that diversity measures keep capable Americans out of responsible jobs.
Asked again by reporters whether he was blaming workplace diversity for the crash, Trump answered: “It could have been.”
Buttigieg responded on X, calling Trump “despicable.”
“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he said.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy wrote on X that Trump’s comments “blaming the FAA’s hiring of women and black people for the crash — was disgusting.”
“He’s in charge. This happened on his watch,” Murphy said.
Trump doubled down, however, later issuing an official memo that directed the government to investigate “deterioration in hiring standards” under Biden and “replacement” of anyone unqualified.
Skaters among victims
Among those on the airliner were several US skaters and coaches, US Figure Skating said. Officials in Moscow also confirmed the presence of Russian couple Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the 1994 world pairs title.
The force of the collision soon made it clear that survivors were unlikely.
“I just saw a fireball and it was gone,” one air traffic controller was heard telling a colleague after communication with the helicopter was cut.
Transport officials said both aircraft were on standard flight patterns on a clear night with good visibility.
And Hegseth said the Black Hawk chopper had “a fairly experienced crew that was doing a required annual night evaluation.”
The federal investigation team deployed to the site cautioned that it will need time.
“We look at facts... and that will take some time,” National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said. — AFP
***
kt remarks:
Trump reminds me of a political party in M'sia, always blaming every wrong on people they hate most.
This photograph shows the Peace Palace, the seat of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in The Hague. — File pic via AFP
Friday, 31 Jan 2025 9:41 AM MYT
THE HAGUE, Jan 31 — Nine countries, including Malaysia, will convene in The Hague to discuss their shared commitment to upholding international law, responding to threats against the International Criminal Court (ICC), and defending Palestinian rights.
The participating nations also include Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa.
Following the meeting, the nations are expected to form The Hague Group and will announce “coordinated legal, economic, and diplomatic measures” to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law, including its ongoing actions in Gaza, at an afternoon press conference organised by the Progressive International, an international political organisation.
“The Hague Group is born of necessity,” said Co-General Coordinator of the Progressive International, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, in a joint statement today.
“In a world where powerful nations act with impunity, we must stand together to defend the principles of justice, equality, and human rights,” she said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said : “Israel’s violations go beyond the mass murder and persecution of Palestinians.
“They strike at the very foundations of international law, which the global community has a duty to defend,” said Anwar, who has been vocal and consistent in championing the Palestinian cause.
The meeting, convened by the Progressive International, will bring together state representatives from nine nations to explore collective action at both national and international levels in support of international law and Palestinian rights during the ongoing crisis.
The discussions will build on actions already taken by these nations, including Belize and Bolivia’s severance of diplomatic ties with Israel, as well as Chile’s referral of the situation in Palestine to the ICC in January 2024 and its recall of its ambassador to Israel.
Colombia has suspended weapons purchases from and coal exports to Israel and has also severed diplomatic ties.
Meanwhile, Honduras has consistently condemned the genocide against the Palestinian people, and Malaysia has imposed a maritime ban preventing Israel-affiliated vessels from docking at its ports while maintaining no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Further reinforcing these efforts, Namibia has blocked a vessel carrying military shipments destined for Israel and condemned Germany’s decision to support Israel in the genocide case brought by South Africa, recalling Germany’s own history of genocide in Namibia between 1904 and 1908.
Senegal, under Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has committed to taking “more concrete actions” in support of Palestinian rights.
South Africa has taken a landmark step by bringing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for breaches of the Genocide Convention, setting a significant precedent in international law.
“Our actions are not punitive – they are preventative, designed to ensure compliance with international law and protect the vulnerable,” explained South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, in the joint statement.
“The Hague Group’s formation marks a turning point in the global response to exceptionalism and the broader erosion of international law. It sends a clear message: no nation is above the law, and no crime will go unanswered.”
The Hague, known as the City of Peace and Justice, is a symbolic location for this historic meeting.
Home to the Peace Palace, the ICJ, and the ICC, The Hague represents the global community’s aspirations for a world governed by law, not force.
“The world cannot stand by and watch, when we made a commitment more than 75 years ago, that never again shall the world suffer atrocities,” implored Namibia’s Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab.
“We can not be and must not be selective about protecting lives regardless of who the victims are, all lives matter, Palestinian lives matter."
The Progressive International noted that today’s meeting and expected announcement of “coordinated legal, economic, and diplomatic measures” come at a critical moment, as international law faces unprecedented stress.
Israel’s violations in Gaza – documented by international courts and condemned by global civil society – have been met with impunity, enabled by diplomatic and military support from powerful allies.
Compounding this crisis, the United States, under President Donald Trump, imposed sanctions against the ICC, undermining the very institutions designed to uphold justice and accountability.
By coordinating legal, economic, and diplomatic measures, The Hague Group aims to disrupt the systems that enable violations of international law and hold violators accountable, said the organisation. —
Its director, Amidi Abdul Manan, in a statement said as an experienced figure in international relations, Rafidah should not have made remarks that undermine Malaysia’s assistance to Palestinians. — File pic via Hari Anggara
Friday, 31 Jan 2025 9:15 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 -- PKR’s Department of Religious Understanding and Strengthening has criticised former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz for questioning the government’s humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.
Its director, Amidi Abdul Manan, in a statement said as an experienced figure in international relations, Rafidah should not have made remarks that undermine Malaysia’s assistance to Palestinians.
“Israel has never yielded to international pressure, especially on the two-state solution, despite United Nations resolutions. Rafidah’s statement is akin to waiting for the impossible,” he said.
He added that the conditions set for Malaysia’s assistance to Palestinians are nearly impossible to fulfil, given the history of the conflict.
“The very existence of Israel is disputed. Malaysia has never recognised it, let alone sought a clear decision on land ownership in Palestine,” he said.
Amidi also highlighted the devastation in Gaza, adding that in the latest Hamas-Israel conflict, Zionist forces have indiscriminately attacked public facilities, including mosques, schools, and hospitals.
“Perhaps she has not seen images of Eid prayers held amid the ruins of bombed buildings. Doctors have been arrested or killed when hospitals were bombed. Where is Tan Sri’s compassion?” he asked.
Malaysia recently announced the construction of Malaysia Wakaf City in Gaza, making it the first ASEAN country to initiate such a reconstruction effort.
The high-impact project, under the patronage of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to be launched after Ramadan. — Bernama
A view inside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, currently closed to all flights after the midair collision. — Pic by AFP
Friday, 31 Jan 2025 10:00 AM MYT
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 — It was a cold and clear night in Washington as a passenger plane descended towards a runway at the US capital’s airport, seemingly unaware that an army helicopter was flying into its path.
American Airlines flight 5342, with 60 passengers and four crew, was in the final minutes of its journey from Wichita, Kansas — where some figure skaters onboard had taken part in a competition and training camp.
Meanwhile, a Black Hawk helicopter with three military personnel was flying at the same altitude over the Potomac River during what was described as a routine nighttime training flight.
The first warning of an impending collision came from air traffic controllers.
“Pat 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?” a controller asked, using the call sign for the Black Hawk helicopter, asking if it could see the airplane.
Gasps could then be heard moments later, with one voice asking “tower, did you see that?”
“I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river,” another air traffic controller said after the crash.
A webcam at the nearby Kennedy Center captured the moment the helicopter flies into the well-lit plane, producing a bright flash followed by a plume of smoke, before the two aircraft fall from the sky.
Witness Ari Schulman was driving home when he saw the plane, saying it “looked normal” before looking back seconds later to see it “banked all the way to the right.”
“I could see the underside of it. It was lit up a very bright yellow, and there was a stream of sparks underneath it,” he told CNN.
The plane and helicopter plunged into the icy waters below, prompting a desperate rescue mission that began with at least 300 first responders.
Working with spotlights in pitch darkness, they began scouring the river for survivors — a search that soon turned to a recovery operation of 67 bodies, with all those involved presumed dead.
At Reagan National Airport, some were waiting to greet their loved ones from the flight when they learned of the crash.
Hamaad Raza, whose wife was on the plane, told news outlet WUSA that she sent a message to say they were landing in 20 minutes.
“The rest of my texts did not get delivered, that’s when I realized something might be up,” he said. — AFP
Former minister Rafidah Aziz responds to the prime minister’s announcement that Malaysia will build a school, hospital and mosque in Gaza.
She points out that rural schools and outlying hospitals in Malaysia are in a poor state.
Rafidah adds that Malaysian leaders must prioritise local needs.
Former minister Rafidah Aziz has suggested the government prioritise resolving domestic issues before committing to the mission of rebuilding Gaza.
Commenting on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement, she said while Gaza needs to be rebuilt and any intention to do so is commendable, there are also pressing issues back home.
Among others, the former minister cited the “sad state” of rural schools which are often highlighted in the media.
“Also the inadequacies in our outlying government hospitals as well as places of worship,” she told Malaysiakini this afternoon.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Rafidah also said that pensioners, especially those living below the poverty line, should be given their dues.
“The government should not be contesting such legitimate and timely requests, which have been decided by the highest courts in the country,” she added.
On Jan 24, it was reported that the government had filed a notice of appeal against a High Court decision which allowed a judicial review regarding a pension increase for retirees based on their final salary according to the 2016 Public Services Department Circular, effective January 2022.
Prioritise needs of Malaysians
Stressing that Malaysian leaders must prioritise the needs of Malaysians, Rafidah remarked: “It is commendable to help the world but surely it is not because of political brownie points?”
“So much needs to be resolved and done in our country,” she added.
Rafidah also pointed out that the destruction in Gaza is upon “disputed land”, where entitlement to ownership has not been resolved.
“Until the relevant international arbitrating/deciding bodies have made clear, and indisputable decisions which must be adhered to, then any rebuilding efforts may come to naught.
“There will be continued tussle and fighting. And the rebuilding effort is futile,” she added.
Rafidah suggested that after the conflict is clearly resolved and all terms are accepted by the parties involved, Putrajaya could set up a special humanitarian fund.
“Inviting the private sector to donate, tax-exempt monies, with minimum or no involvement of other taxpayers’ monies by the government,” she added.
Yesterday, Anwar said that Malaysia would build a school, hospital and mosque as an initial effort to assist in the reconstruction of Gaza.
He said the reconstruction would be jointly carried out in collaboration with the people and private sector.
Urimai deputy chairperson David Marshel pours cold water on the debate on whether Gerakan or MIPP should lead PN’s charge in Penang.
He accuses the leaders of making “superficial boasts” about having non-Malay support in the state.
He says Chinese voters have long abandoned Gerakan while MIPP has yet to make an impact.
The United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) has poured cold water on the debate of whether Gerakan or the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) should lead Perikatan Nasional in Penang.
Urimai deputy chairperson David Marshel argued that neither party could make a significant impact in the DAP stronghold.
He referred to their claims of support as "superficial boasts," stating, “Gerakan and MIPP have little to no meaningful backing from non-Malay communities in Penang, or across the country.”
“Given this reality, their leaders’ assertions of strong support from non-Malay communities are both unfounded and misleading,” he added.
‘MIPP just appendage of Bersatu’
David (above) pointed out that MIPP is largely composed of former MIC members but has failed to make any significant strides.
“In the last three by-elections, despite bold claims of Indian support, MIPP remained little more than an appendage of Bersatu,” he added.
The Urimai leader also cast aspersions on MIPP’s pact with Bersatu, since the latter does not grant full membership rights to non-Malays, relegating them to associate status without voting rights.
“This raises serious questions about MIPP’s independence within PN or even its relevance in national politics,” he added.
MIPP president P Punithan
‘Gerakan needs a miracle’
As for Gerakan, David said its president Dominic Lau might reminisce about his party’s past dominance in Penang, but history alone does not translate into present-day support.
“Chinese voters have long abandoned Gerakan, and winning them back would require nothing short of a political miracle.
“MIPP, on the other hand, lacks even a historical legacy to fall back on, making its leader P Punithan’s boast of leading the Indian community in the next state election particularly hollow,” he added.
Gerakan chief Dominic Lau
‘Urimai more effective’
David claimed that Urimai, led by former DAP leader P Ramasamy, had played a more effective role in influencing Indian voters during the recent Sungai Bakap by-election.
He added that the low turnout of Chinese voters was not due to Gerakan’s influence but rather their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
“If Gerakan and MIPP struggled to make an impact in a by-election, what basis do they have for claiming leadership over the Chinese and Indian communities?
“Instead of posturing for influence in Penang, both parties should pressure PN leadership to articulate a clear, progressive agenda for non-Malays.
“Without this, Gerakan and MIPP will remain politically irrelevant, offering no real substance to the communities they claim to represent,” he added.
Yesterday, Lau dismissed suggestions for MIPP to lead PN in Penang after MIPP said it is open to discussions on assuming a leadership role in the state.
He questioned the basis for such a move, saying that Gerakan had held the chief minister post for 39 years.
Man with ‘sexsomnia’ not guilty of raping woman after judge warns jury in Sydney trial
The 40-year-old had a medical condition where people exhibit sexual behaviour during sleep, court heard
Timothy Rowland, who was diagnosed with ‘sexsomnia’, has been found not guilty of raping a woman at his Sydney apartment in 2022. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP
Australian Associated Press
Thu 30 Jan 2025 19.32 AEDT
Jurors have acquitted a man diagnosed with “sexsomnia” of rape.
On Thursday, Timothy Malcolm Rowland, 40, was found not guilty of having non-consensual sex with a woman at his Sydney apartment on 26 August 2022, after the pair spent a night out together.
The 40-year-old told the seven-day jury trial he was experiencing an episode of sexsomnia, a medical condition where people exhibit sexual behaviour during sleep.
The not guilty verdict came hours after jurors sent a series of questions to Judge John Pickering at Sydney’s Downing Centre court.
One inquiry of concern to the judge regarded the consequences of committing crimes while a person was unconscious.
“This is a really dangerous logic,” the judge said.
A jury should not be determining a case based on laws it wished were in place but instead on the current laws, he warned.
Doing this would be unfair on any accused, he said.
Someone could not be found guilty of a crime they did unconsciously, Pickering said.
“We’re not about to punish people for acts that they have no lawful control over.”
There were no current laws, rules or regulations about having sexsomnia or doing something while having the medical condition, the judge said.
“‘No laws about that exist. There are no criminal offences about that that exist. And it’s not for you to create the law.”
Rowland and the woman went drinking at a cocktail bar in inner-city Darlinghurst on the night of the alleged rape, returning to his apartment about 1am, the jury heard during the trial.
Once there, they drank some more and took a naked bath together before the woman fell asleep in Rowland’s bed, the parties agreed.
About 6am, the woman allegedly woke to find Rowland having sex with her before she pushed him off, jumped out of the bed and left the apartment.
There was no dispute during the trial that Rowland had sexsomnia.
But the issue before the jury was whether he was having an episode at the time of the alleged rape or whether he was awake.
It was also not in dispute that the woman was asleep when Rowland began having sex with her.
Earlier on Thursday, the jury asked what sort of evidence there could be to prove someone was awake.
And if there was insufficient evidence, why was the case prosecuted and why did it come before a jury, it asked.
Pickering said it was none of his business why the director of public prosecutions had decided to pursue the case in court.
It was also not the jury’s responsibility to wonder about these things.
Instead, he urged them to look at the evidence before them and determine whether the alleged rape had been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Determining a verdict was a “cold-analytical process” which should not be concerned with how the alleged victim or the community may feel, he said.
***
Only in Australia - mind you, some "locals" may be interested in this case 😂😂😂
[1] In lamenting the way the Anwar Administration responded to the recent student protest against corruption, DAP MP Syahredzan Johan was reported to have said: “This isn’t us. We shouldn’t pretend to be authoritarian when we know we are certainly not… high time that we bring the state apparatus in line with what we truly are – reformists.”
[2] Syahredzan then went on to say that the PM himself had to overrule the “state apparatus” to allow the demonstration to proceed “despite just having come back from a worldwide tour for our country.” Shifting the blame from the government to the “state apparatus” however won’t fly given that the Home Minister and the Communications Minister (both close confidants of the PM) defended the actions of the “state apparatus” only days before.
[3] The government’s attempted crackdown on Saturday’s demonstration is, in any case hardly, surprising. In fact, it is just the latest episode in a series of actions and policy decisions that speak to a growing intolerance of dissent and the abuse of power. Increasingly, dissenting voices are met with threats, intimidation and arrests while censorship of social and other media has now reached unprecedented levels. Just ask the indomitable Fahmi Reza if you have any doubts.
[4] As well, the prime minister goes around the world posing as an anti-corruption crusader but how seriously can he be taken when he works behind the scenes to engineer a pardon for man convicted of looting millions, liberally dispenses DNAAs to favoured allies and appoints those charged with corruption to high office? And even as he encourages young Malaysians to fight corruption, the first instincts of his government are to clamp down on students protesting the grotesque way serious allegations of corruption in Sabah are being handled.
[5] For many months now, NGOs and civil society groups have been sounding the alarm. Bersih gave the Anwar administration a “D” grade over its failure to implement promised reforms. C4, the respected anti-corruption watchdog, was also scathing in its assessment of the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and pursuing reform. Senior journalists have protested the “censoring or blocking of portals and online news content.” Civicus, Suaram, Centre for Independent Journalism, Forum-Asia and Article 19 have expressed concern that since the Anwar Ibrahim government came to power, the state has continued using anti-democratic legislation to criminalise human rights defenders, the opposition, and critics”. Suaram reports that there has been a 65% rise in sedition probes since 2023.
[6] Other international NGOs including Amnesty International and Reporters without Borders have highlighted the declining human rights situation in Malaysia pointing to increased censorship, restrictions on peaceful assembly and the use of repressive laws to stifle dissent. Malaysia recently saw its World Press Freedom Index ranking plummet 34 places.
[7] And just recently, 8 former bar council presidents delivered the most damning assessment yet of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, saying his government is falling behind the three previous governments, including that of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s second term when it came to ensuring the independence of the judiciary. Even the Chief Justice felt compelled to express the hope that the prime minister will live up to his own promises regarding the independence of the judiciary.
[8] The signs that our democracy is under threat have been evident for some time now. As Lawyers for Liberty noted, the Anwar Administration has “slipped comfortably into authoritarianism.” The response to Saturday’s demonstration is simply part of a now familiar pattern of authoritarian behaviour on the part of the government. Pakatan Harapan MPs might delude themselves that they are still reformists but there’s little doubt that authoritarian is what their government has become.
[Dennis Ignatius |Kuala Lumpur |30th January 2025]
