Author Archives: wcw

Simply sacred

ALL our Members of Parliament are required to take their oath of office and allegiance before sitting in the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara.

This practice is also mandatory for Ministers and Deputy Ministers before they exercise any functions of the office.

They must swear to faithfully discharge their duties to the best of their abilities, to bear true faith and allegiance to Malaysia and, most importantly, to preserve, protect and defend the Federal Constitution.

Marang MP Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS’ president, is no exception to the rule.

He has, in fact, raised his hand seven times to pledge his backing for the Federal Constitution.

So, were his pledges hollow words bereft of sincerity and only a show for his fellow lawmakers?

He’s now hinting at doubts about the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of the nation.

Hadi, in his Facebook post, insists our Constitution was drawn up by the British colonists and aimed at depriving Islam of authority. These are certainly loaded words. The statement in Bahasa Malaysia sounds even stronger.

Truth be told, I’m no law expert, but having majored in history and politics in university, I have a keen interest and training in these areas.

Our Federal Constitution came into effect in 1957 as the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya and was amended to be the Constitution of Malaysia in 1963, following the formation of Malaysia with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

So, it’s the supreme law of Malaysia. Without doubt, the Reid Commission, which drafted the legal framework, included constitutional experts from fellow Commonwealth countries with a working party appointed by the British, the Conference of Rulers and the Government of the Federation of Malaya.

According to the article “Contextualising constitutional Islam: The Malayan Experience” by Kristen Stilt, published in the International Journal of Constitutional Law, the drafters included two Muslim judges – one from India and another from Pakistan. Justice Abdul Hamid from Pakistan had the experience of working on his country’s constitution.

The Commission received 131 written reports from individuals and organisations which included Persatuan Agama Islam Se-Malaya, or PAS, as it’s now known, she wrote.

The panel visited each state and the Settlements, as Melaka and Penang were called, and met the Sultans, the officials, and British representatives, and held hearing sessions across the peninsula to get feedback from individuals and representatives of parties and organisations.

Basically, the views of all segments were sought, and naturally, they were as diverse as they were varying, but in the end, compromises had to be made, and understandably, there were many.

Our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, certainly knew what he was doing in his negotiations with the British. Our Malay Rulers, who endorsed and approved the Constitution, certainly understood it, too.

Our founding fathers, particularly Tunku, clearly knew that Malaya, and then Malaysia, needed a multiracial compromise and appreciated its relevance.

He didn’t forget the importance of Islam, and the Federal Constitution supported the establishment of the syariah courts in the states.

List II Schedule 9 of the Federal Constitution delineates the powers of the states to constitute, organise and set out procedures of such courts within the state over persons professing the religion of Islam.

Fast forward to 2024, as columnist Mohsin Abdullah wrote in FMT, “the Federal Constitution which Hadi has questioned and criticised has benefited the Islamist party by enabling them to take part in elections, capturing a few states and even holding government positions.”

Prominent lawyer Datuk Joy Appukuttan wrote that “this Constitutional Oath is sacrosanct, since without which, Ministers and the respective Speakers of both Houses cannot take office, while Members of Parliament will not be allowed to take their seats in Parliament.

“This oath becomes even more prevalent since the Federal Constitution is expressed as the supreme law of the nation.

“Hence, the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Federal Constitution means the Executive as well as Parliament must uphold the concept of accountability, transparency and good governance and the failure to do so will surmount to breach of the constitutional framework.”

The position of Islam is clearly defined in the Constitution as the country’s official religion. But other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the federation.

There is growing concern among the people about empowering syariah courts. Many of the penalties, such as fines, may possibly be outdated and need to be adjusted, but ignorance and prejudice shouldn’t lead anyone to jumping the gun.

It’s best that the issue be left to the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs, which is currently chaired by the Sultan of Selangor.

Certainly, I have my trust and faith pinned on the Majlis Kebangsaan Islam (MKI), headed by a Ruler and comprising experts, rather than relying on politicians who exploit religion.

Tunku understood that Malaysia is a multiracial country and, in most disputes, whether civil or criminal in nature, will most likely involve people of different races and religions.

Syariah laws can’t be invoked in criminal offences which clearly come under federal laws.

As Appukuttan rightly put it, “Such is our current state of affairs that it is opportune now to be reminded of these basic principles.

“To conclude, it is held that ‘Every legal power must have legal limits, otherwise there is dictatorship.’

“Such tyranny is avoided through the adherence to the Constitutional Oath of office. Paying lip service to this oath will only erode the protection envisaged in the Federal Constitution.”

As the late Lord President Tun Mohamed Suffian Hashim wrote in his book An Introduction to The Constitution of Malaysia, in Malaysia, only the Constitution is supreme.

“Clearly, the legal doctrine that applies in Malaysia is not that of Parliament or any other body is supreme but that the Constitution is supreme.”

That’s clarity at its finest.

Quality, not quantity

EARNING a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) heritage accreditation for a place drives many countries to seek it because of its economic value to tourism as it offers international recognition.

It creates jobs and business opportunities, helps tourism promotion and marketing, and often improves the quality of local lives.

But more importantly, world heritage sites are places regarded as important to and belonging to everyone, no matter its location.

They comprise monuments, groups of buildings, sites – archaeological and cultural – and natural features and geological formations which are important from the science, conservation or natural beauty perspectives.

So, before we make bids for sites, it’s best we do our homework. There’s nothing more embarrassing than having a high-profile pitch ultimately rejected. Yes, we’ve had that egg on our face before.

Controversy has rumbled over Local Government and Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming’s announcement in seeking Unesco heritage endorsement for the new Chinese villages in Selangor.

The proposed bid has hit a brick wall, though, with resistance coming from groups which are predictably arguing from the race perspective rather than employing academic, persuasive and rational approaches.

There’s a fundamental question that needs answering by those supporting the Unesco Heritage Site submission plan; do the 400-odd new villages, which were historically internment camps created during the Malayan Emergency in 1950 to round up ethnic Chinese to contain the communists, fulfil the criteria for recognition and do we truly stand a chance? Of these, 77 are in Selangor.

No doubt the new villages have an appealing story of perseverance against blatant discrimination by the British, who cruelly locked up the Chinese community for fear they were supporting the communist cause.

Many prominent Chinese tycoons grew up and lived in these villages as they worked their way to the top.

But even without the strong resistance towards Nga’s proposal, it would be tough selling the proposal to Unesco.

The new villages are only about 50-odd years old, a glaring contrast to other contenders, which are mostly many centuries old.

It’s not easy drawing Unesco’s attention.

The political lesson to be learned here is, Nga should have consulted the leaders of the unity government for their consent before making the announcement. The unfortunate reality in Malaysia is that everything is political and inextricable from the warped sense of race and religion.

It’s disappointing that the debate over the new village proposal has invariably degenerated to one with racial overtones.

That’s how the politics of consensus works in a government, and it’s probably harder for DAP leaders, who are now learning that component leaders shouldn’t be caught unawares by arbitrary pronouncements, regardless of the initiatives’ nobility.

So, now we have these pointless arguments over the gambit, which in the end, may just come to a premature conclusion.


Coveted status: Tourists throng Armenian street in the George Town heritage area during the holidays. Unesco’s recognition as a World Heritage Site can provide economic value to tourism as well as create jobs and business opportunities. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

For a dose of reality, even the iconic limestone hills at Batu Caves housing the Lord Murugan temple, one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, failed in its Unesco World Heritage Site bid.

Despite its cultural, geological and ecological arguments, Batu Caves was deemed unfit for consideration.

It was reported that it didn’t even meet one of the 10 criteria listed, with Unesco claiming that the illegal structures in the caves weren’t harmonious with the surroundings of the 400-million-year-old limestone rock formations.

Unesco is very clear that a site must have universal values that transcend the importance it holds for a single nation.

Ethnic or religious considerations are moot points if Unesco’s selection committee accords recognition.

In the queue for Unesco endorsement from Malaysia are Taman Negara National Park, FRIM Selangor Forest Park, Gombak Selangor Quartz Ridge, Royal Belum State Park, Sungai Buloh Leprosarium and the Niah National Park.


The Niah National Park is expected to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site this year. — Tourism Malaysia

Places in our country which have Unesco World Heritage Site status include George Town and Melaka, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park and the Lenggong Valley.

Melaka and George Town are cities which have earned recognition because they comprise historic urban centres with 500 years of cultural and trade exchanges between the East and West.

It’s surely more beneficial for us to provide greater resources to support and promote these chosen sites, especially the Lenggong Valley’s archaeological heritage site, which has the oldest relics of human settlement outside Africa but is unfortunately unknown and neglected.

The Perak Man, the oldest human skeleton found in South-East Asia, settled there almost two million years ago.

However, reports suggest that the sites are in disrepair, with rotting signs and broken boardwalks.

I hope this is old news, but if these places have received due attention, then trumpet it. Travellers will research their destinations online, so it’s imperative they get the latest updates.

There are other sites which deserve Unesco endorsement, including the 115-year-old Masjid Jamek located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.

Then, there’s the Kek Lok Si temple in Penang, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and built in 1891, making it 133 years old.

There’s also the beautiful 19th century Cheong Fatt Tze, the Blue Mansion building in Penang, which won Unesco’s Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. I wonder if it’s possible to take this a step further to have it upgraded to a full-fledged Unesco Heritage site.

Anyway, while we may feel passionate about the many historical sites in Malaysia, regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds, it’s essential for our leaders to understand the criteria that need to be fulfilled to ensure a bid’s success.

The lush and tranquil Penang Botanic Gardens, set up in 1884 by Kew-trained botanist Christopher Smith, remains a favourite spot, but older Penangites would know that it’s in dire need of more attention to boost the collection of plants and flowers there. The place was certainly a prettier sight before.

Let’s prepare our cases and efforts to add to the list of Malaysian spots on the Unesco list, but we need to make sure to spend equal time in ensuring that these places are well maintained and promoted.

Like the rest of the world, Malaysians often complain about politicians who twiddle thumbs, but let’s hope they don’t do more damage instead.

Reduced sentence ignites sparks

IT’S understandably a decision that has angered Malaysians, with many expressing their discontent on social media.

This follows the Pardons Board’s decision to shorten Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s jail sentence from 12 to six years as well as reduce his fine from RM210mil to RM50mil.

Malaysian social media has exploded since the Board’s decision was made known on Friday, with many demanding the government justify the move.

The former prime minister’s family and Umno supporters are not happy either.

They expected a full pardon and for him to be released immediately as they insist Najib has done nothing wrong.

Naturally, there has been a backlash against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Unity Government.

But the Prime Minister has reminded everyone that Najib, like all prisoners, has the right to seek a pardon.

His appeal was rejected by the Pardons Board but that can’t stop Najib from submitting a fresh appeal to the new King.

All prisoners are entitled to a remission and those who are well behaved are most likely to have their jail term reduced.

It remains unclear if Najib could walk out of jail by August 2026 or even as early as 2025 for good behaviour.

But of course, he’s no ordinary prisoner since his case has captured international attention and the Pardons Board’s decision will surely ignite controversy, if not get roundly criticised, especially if he’s perceived to have been let off, escaping from a scandal of tectonic proportions.

The multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal has generated tremendous global attention and Najib is still on trial for multiple cases related to it.


As the debate rages, Najib will have to be back in court tomorrow, a reminder that his problems aren’t over. — Bernama

While he was acquitted of audit tampering in connection with 1MDB, he hasn’t admitted guilt or shown remorse over the entire fiasco.

He has relentlessly said he had been misled and squarely blames businessman Jho Low for what has transpired, accusing him of masterminding the scheme from the start.

While the decision to trim his sentence was made in the name of the Pardons Board, the views of the Sultan of Pahang, the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong, most likely carries the most weight.

The meeting on Monday at Istana Negara was chaired by Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the previous King.

The board members included Dr Zaliha Mustafa as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Federal Territories, the Attorney-General and two other officials.

The King has discretionary powers to pardon convicted offenders or reduce their sentences, as provided under the Federal Constitution.

The respective Sultans also enjoy the same authority in pardoning convicts who had erred in their states. Also, it has never been the Pardons Board’s practice to explain its decisions.

Prisoners who were pardoned or had their sentences reduced, were those who displayed exemplary behaviour, were of old age or had health issues.

In Najib’s case, the media came up with many speculative stories alluding that the former Prime Minister would be pardoned, but of course, that didn’t happen.

Najib applied for a royal pardon in 2022, shortly after his conviction and sentence was upheld by the Federal Court.

Like it or not, the Pardons Board has made its decision. It’s not required to publicly reveal the reasons for its decision.

It also doesn’t need to provide details of how the board deliberated on the issue or whether it was unanimous, a majority decision or what the final say of the previous king was. The then king chaired the meeting of the board.

Article 42 (1) of the Federal Constitution is clear, stipulating the King has the power to decide on the matter and the decision cannot be challenged in court.

However, the timing of the Pardons Board’s announcement has come under fire, with some questioning why it was not announced immediately after the meeting.

Many citizens, including the media, have yet to understand the process involved. After the meeting, the AG is required to officially inform the heads of the prisons, for example, Kajang Prison. Then, the prison would need to notify the prisoners and their families. All this is through official letters and not mere phone calls.

It’s reasonable to think that the meeting discussed clemency for other prisoners, too, and not just Najib. The others could be pardoned, or have their sentences reduced, similarly, on grounds of good behaviour or health concerns.

So, those who are demanding for the board to explain its decision are going to be left disappointed.

But Anwar has correctly emphasised that the decision of the Pardons Board on any punishment by the courts is “beyond the ambit of the prime minister and the government of Malaysia.” In simple English, he’s saying, “Don’t blame us because it’s out of our hands.”

The public, however, is unlikely to understand this legal jargon or swallow the simpler explanation either and will only blame the government for this.

Anwar said the decision made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong should be respected as it was undertaken after due process.

Anwar made this remark when asked for his comments in an interview with Al Jazeera’s Arabic channel following the announcement of the decision by the Pardons Board’s secretary on Friday.

The Sultan of Pahang, who ended his reign as King recently, had earned much respect, popularity, and goodwill from the public, but that has changed overnight.

Criticism is rife, but as Anwar said, His Royal Highness must have taken “all the considerations” and “then, the king, after listening to the board, finally decided to reduce the sentence by 50%.”

But as the debate rages, Najib will have to be back in court tomorrow, a reminder that his problems aren’t over.

While his jail sentence has been reduced, and even if he doesn’t get a full pardon, Najib’s political career must surely be over because he won’t be eligible to run for elections or hold any positions.

In any case, while he is still very much an influential figure in Umno and has a strong following, an active return to politics won’t help the Unity Government.

Najib has had his jail sentence and fine reduced, but it’s Anwar who must deal with the potential loss of support, even if he has no part or say on the issue.

To visit the South Pole, head to the “End Of The World” first


An adult penguin looking after its chicks at Jougla Point in Antarctica. — Polar Latitudes

Just the thought of eventually seeing it sent a tingle down my spine. The point was not lost on me that I was about to see one of the most pristine parts of our planet, a view most absorb only through National Geographic and Animal Planet documentaries, and their ilk.

It took almost two years to plan my trip to Antarctica as unlike other places, it’s not quite a hop, skip and a jump away. And neither is it about getting on a plane and flying straight to the White Continent.

The seventh continent remains the remotest and coldest place on Earth and the summer months of December through to March are the best to experience this breathtaking landscape.

Visitor numbers may have increased over the years, but only a few operators specialise in the South Pole.

The missus and I opted for an expedition ship – MS Seaventure – that could board about 130 passengers, a company which included Malaysia’s most famous adventurer Yusuf Hashim, and some other Malaysians.

This was a crucial decision because its relatively smaller size provided us with special access to most of the possible land stops, so we didn’t have to merely sail past The Ice.


Sailing on the MS Seaventure at Paradise Bay. — Polar Latitudes

The typical luxury megalithic ocean liner with thousands onboard is prohibited from landing on many of the islands that are teeming with wildlife. It’s near impossible to organise a non-stop landing for a ship with 3,000 people because a maximum of 10 passengers in a single zodiac (inflatable boat) is allowed to travel to the islands.

With numbers strictly regulated, only about 100 people get to land on an island at a time to see the animals up close. Yes, patience is a virtue, but coming face-to-face with penguins and seals in their natural habitat is an exhilarating experience that’s worth the wait.

Polar Latitudes, the Britain-based company we chose for our sea adventure had scientists and naturalists on board the ship. There were daily lectures on climate change, the formation of islands and wildlife. Sure, that may seem like a far cry from the extravagance and luxuries of having a casino or dance club, but a trip to Antarctica is purely for the devout.

The trusty tank was home to us for three weeks, beginning from Ushuaia in Argentina, through to the country’s southern tip, the Falklands, South Georgia and then Antarctica.

Of course, en route is the treacherous Drake Passage, with its violent waves.


The tail fluke of a whale seen above water. What a sight to behold. — DR ALEX TAN

On our return to Ushuaia, dubbed the “End Of The World” (being at the southern-most tip of South America), our ship rocked and rolled through the two nights. Not for the faint-hearted or those with queasy stomachs.

Antarctica is an unpredictable place where anyone and everyone is at the mercy of the weather. The winds and choppy sea can change landing spots overnight and sometimes, within hours. Nothing usually goes to plan, but that’s part of the fun.

It also means getting wet when the zodiac ferries people from the ship to the islands, but all that is forgotten when standing among hundreds of thousands of penguins and seals, with the birds and mammals right beside them.

The scents of nature

What does Antarctica and the islands at South Georgia smell like? As expected, ice and snow are scentless but the smell of guano, or penguin poo, is thick in the air.

It has even been reported that a series of brown smudges against the vastness of the White Continent is clearly visible from space. I got used to stepping on puddles of what seemed like mud but were actually penguin poo. Nauseating for most people but this is part of the adventure.


The writer (left) keeping warm at Brown Station in Antarctica with Malaysian adventurer Yusuf Hashim. — FLORENCE TEH

Also, there are no toilets on the Antarctica islands. Older folks are advised to wear disposable adult diapers. In urgent cases, they are taken back to the ship; while the penguins can leave their waste anywhere, humans are reminded to leave nothing behind, take and touch nothing. We are only allowed to take with us photographs and of course, the priceless memories.

What a pity that many travellers choose to spend 10 days for the long trip, yet skip South Georgia, regarded as the gateway to Antarctica and located in the Southern Ocean, about halfway between the south-east coast of Argentina and Antarctica.

The remote island, which takes at least two days to reach by sea, is synonymous with Antarctica travel even though it’s technically not part of the continent. However, it must be included in any itinerary to this part of the world.

The Serengeti of the Antarctic, as South Georgia is known, has boundless and stunning wildlife, spectacular landscapes, and rugged coves. More than 100,000 breeding pairs of king penguins live there, regarded as the largest creche in the world. Seeing their trademark yellow head markings on a screen is one thing but seeing them in the flesh is something else entirely.


A seal pup possibly looking for its mother. — DR ALEX TAN

This is also the home to the southern elephant seal, the largest seal species in the world. It’s amazing that they have no fear of human beings, and the only predators are themselves, with seals or birds, for example, preying on baby penguins.

What I saw at Fortuna Bay was beguiling to the eyes. The greatest artist of them all is Mother Nature herself.

Watching whales and orcas swimming just a breath away past our boats was another sight to behold. So, all those animal documentaries never exaggerated with CGI or camera tricks – this is truly the living world’s creation.

It was awe inspiring to watch numerous whales swimming close to our ship and the zodiacs in their natural habitats as they flip their wide tail flukes up and down several times, with some even leaping out of the water.

Climbing snow-covered hills and getting on and off the zodiacs sometimes proved daunting, so I’m glad I decided to travel to Antarctica while my knees and legs still allowed me to walk and hike through these rough terrains.

A trip to Antarctica isn’t cheap with our ringgit continuing to depreciate and air travel becoming pricier. It’s unfortunate that not many people can take three weeks off from work to head to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica.

Once in a lifetime

So, how does a Malaysian traveller get to Antarctica? I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul (Turkiye) on Turkish Airlines and then straight to the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires.


The writer at Brown Station, Antarctica. — FLORENCE TEH

After a night’s stop, we took a three-hour flight on Aerolineas Argentinas, Argentina’s local airline, from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.

Flight delays and cancellations are normal, but they are anxiety-inducing because they affect connecting flights. Keeping a cool head in moments like these is imperative.

A voyage to Antarctica is not for the timid or those who want to remain “plugged in” on the ship because these “necessities” are limited and expensive. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

In a near four-decade career, my journalism job has been kind enough to accord me the visit to more than 60 countries, but seeing Antarctica is the mother of them all. As they say, you should only see Antarctica after you’ve seen everything else because nothing will ever compare.

If you’re afraid of the cold, then just live vicariously. Even though it’s accessible only during the South Pole’s summer, there was still light snow, and the temperature was around 1°C and 0°C.

Sure, there were tricky moments during the trip. Taking pictures while riding for two hours on the zodiac proved arduous, especially when I had to remove my gloves and endure the biting cold from the wind, but the snapshots are worth a lifetime.

However, by being properly attired for the weather, using merino wool material for thermal wear, things should be fine.

The most important reason to go to Antarctica is simply because it remains the last untouched place on Earth, a locale which belongs to no country or government. So, just enjoy the vastness of the place and appreciate that the human race is but a speck in this world.

Antarctica remains the only place on Earth not only with no government, but no citizens, no population, police, army and legal system, and for sure, no politicians. This is definitely Heaven on Earth.

As someone from the tropics, the sights of the giant floating icebergs and glaciers, including the A23a whopping block of ice, which is 4,000sq km big and 400m thick, is nothing short of staggering. After all, it’s said to be three times the size of New York City, and over double the size of Greater London.

But more importantly, the trip left me with a commitment to sustainable living and a renewed passion to save this unique ecosystem and our beautiful planet.

Time is running out, unfortunately, and that’s what drove me to see Antarctica. As it happens, it’s now almost impossible to see polar bears in the North Pole. Not acting now will come at our peril.

Stone of contention


Need to know: The Royal Commission of Inquiry into how Malaysia lost the strategic Batu Puteh to Singapore will hopefully reveal why we did not pursue the matter following the International Court of Justice’s 2008 decision. — Filepic/The Star

MALAYSIA may never regain Batu Puteh following the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision in 2008 to award the islet to Singapore, but the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) will help answer some important questions.

Top of the agenda is surely the decision of then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to drop a review application to the ICJ.

It’s crucial for Malaysians to know the reason for the decision because it was as good as waving the white flag before even going through another round of battle at the ICJ. Never mind if the Singapore legal team had a superior argument and better preparation than our side, the dispute had not been resolved yet.

New evidence was discovered supporting Malaysia’s case, but the opportunity was lost when the Pakatan Harapan government led by Dr Mahathir at that time chose to drop the suit.

So, the lingering question is whether the decision to drop the case was solely Dr Mahathir’s.

What were the dates on which he signed off the documents to call off the case, and did he seek the opinions of his Cabinet members before making his decision?

If not, then this is surely a case of gross negligence since it involves national sovereignty.

The people of Johor, and the rest of Malaysia, surely want to know whether Dr Mahathir consulted the Sultan of Johor before he made the decision not to pursue the case, and if not, what was the rationale behind that because Johor is obviously a stakeholder.

Was Johor’s sovereignty insignificant to the government at that time, or was His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s opinion irrelevant, or was this just Dr Mahathir’s prejudice towards palace views showing? All loaded-gun questions that surely need answering.

Setting up the RCI is the right step after the special task force, put together by the Federal Government, reviewed the actions and legal issues regarding Batu Puteh and nearby Batuan Tengah and Tubir Selatan.

Then PM Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had commissioned a special task force headed by former attorney general Tan Sri Apandi Ali to review the case.

The task force was given six months to reveal its findings and recommendations to the Cabinet for further action.

In 2022, Ismail said there may have been “possible negligence” when the former Pakatan government decided to withdraw the appeal, implicating Dr Mahathir.

When Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took over as premier, he instructed the then AG, Tan Sri Idrus Harun, to review matters pertaining to the Batu Puteh claims so that negotiations with Singapore on the issue could be more fruitful without affecting bilateral ties.

He had also asked the AG to study the impact of the ICJ decision to award legal jurisdiction of Batu Puteh to Singapore.

Idrus had said that based on the report of the special task force, the Cabinet viewed the act of withdrawing the review application as “not in order and improper”.

Let’s hope the composition of the RCI will be revealed once the incoming Yang di-Pertuan Agong begins his five-year reign on Wednesday.

We definitely want to know the decision-making process, and as Pasir Gudang Member of Parliament Hassan Abdul Karim said, if the decision to withdraw the review application was made by Dr Mahathir alone, then the ex-PM has committed treason, betraying the nation in his personal capacity.

Treason may not be a criminal offence, and no one has been charged with such an act as far as I know, but surely no person of standing, especially Dr Mahathir, would want to go down in history as having betrayed the nation. Putting treason into context, it was once deemed a crime punishable by death in many parts of the world.

The investigations of the RCI will certainly be revealing, if not contentious, as it’s almost certain Dr Mahathir will be summoned to attend the hearing to defend himself for his decision to drop the legal pursuit.

So who was responsible for waving the white flag over the Batu Puteh legal appeal issue? Shouldn’t we have planted the Jalur Gemilang on that rock instead?

Training to lift standards


Leading the way: (From left) HRD Corp chief programme officer Soffian Mohammed Amin, Sim, Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee and Shahul at the soft launch of NTW 2024.

THE 2024 National Training Week (NTW) has got off to an early start following a soft launch last week by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.

This year’s NTW will take place from June 24 till June 30 nationwide with free training programmes offered through the initiative based on five pillars – life skills, future skills, creativity and innovation, financial and sustainable development.

Building on the success of the inaugural NTW last year, the Human Resources Development (HRD) Corp has set a target of providing over 25,000 free training courses to 150,000 Malaysians nationwide.

Last year, NTW saw 21,473 training courses offered involving 129,312 participants and recorded 503,572 training hours.

It’s a feat that HRD Corp can be proud of as it was an inaugural event where it only set a target of 5,000 training courses for 125,000 participants involving 500,000 training hours.

But HRD Corp has outperformed itself with the support of its partners ranging from registered employers, trainers, training providers, academics, government agencies and the various ministries, as well as non-government organisations.

The training offered during the week included physical classroom, e-learning, remote online training and hybrid training.

Other ancillary activities included skills competition, open interviews, career talks and career coaching.

As a supporter of NTW, and a certified trainer, I have personally observed and followed closely the broad programmes initiated by HRD Corp.

In the case of the media industry, it has generously supported courses to upskill and re-skill journalists, especially on digital and social media skills.

Certainly, newsmen, like every worker, want to know how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect them and hope they can embrace AI skills.

The support of HRD Corp has helped media companies, which have understandably focused on revenue in an increasingly challenging business environment.

Such training provides career development opportunities, as well as the ability to provide better income to journalists.

It is important that HRD Corp continues to work with partners to provide more high value courses and programmes and, deliver high impact events and activities to all levels of Malaysians.

This is important for HRD Corp as the custodian of the nation’s human capital development efforts. For the past 31 years, it has worked hard to ensure every Malaysian employer and their employees are given sufficient support to up-skill and re-skill through the HRD Corp levy.

Given the large amount of levy it has collected, involving 82,00 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) out of 1.2 million employers, HRD Corp will always be evaluated by stakeholders, and rightly so too.

But NTW isn’t just all about workers and employers. It has always intended to involve Malaysians at all levels from all backgrounds, from students to retirees, across the nation. That has made NTW so special.

Last year, HRD Corp’s chief executive Datuk Wira Shahul Dawood, noted that beyond community-based learning and outreach, NTW partners offered some high value tech-based training programmes centred on AI and machine learning, data analytics, social media marketing and content creation that proved to be extremely popular amongst participants.

In fact, the top-10 courses from NTW were all in these key areas.

This is in line with industry demands and the prevailing view that “data is money”, and having the skills to extract and analyse data and turn them into actionable insights for crucial business decision-making is key.

Shahul also noted that HRD Corp has gone through a significant digital transformation journey in the past few years, investing into new technological solutions and infrastructure designed to improve the organisation’s efficiency and enhance stakeholder experience.

Having led the way in this area, he is pleased to observe its stakeholders moving in the same direction as reflected in the high value courses offered through NTW.

“We realised that efforts at the governmental and organisational levels alone are insufficient. We must encourage and inspire Malaysians to learn in order to improve their capabilities to earn.

“Training programmes offered must be aligned to what the market needs, and right now there is a strong need for digital technology and future skills.

‘’More than individuals, lifelong learning should be a collective culture that Malaysians want and will embrace. This is what the NTW is all about and we are pleased to have the support of our new minister YB Steven Sim Chee Keong to drive NTW this year,’’ he said at the soft launch of NTW 2024, last week.

The message from HRD Corp is that it wants Malaysians to know that nothing can stop them from seeking knowledge to upgrade themselves from cradle to grave.

Training is a necessity and not a luxury, and even though NTW is merely a week old, HRD hopes the ripple effect will continue to boost our lifelong learning aspirations and create a continuous culture for upskilling in the long term.

There’s also a target from the minister – NTW will be a launch pad for Malaysia’s training industry to develop Ivy League gold standards as well as put us on the path to be a regional training hub.

Lost legacy

MANY Malaysians are annoyed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks, which question the loyalty of the Indians and Chinese because of their supposed failure to assimilate into Malay society.

In a way though, I feel sorry for the former prime minister, who’s in the twilight years of his life.

Without doubt, those of us who were present during his 22-year tenure as PM will remember him fondly and proudly for building Malaysia into a nation clearly on a path to modernisation. He put us on the world map with the construction of the Petronas Twin Towers and bringing Formula 1 racing to Malaysia.

Under his stewardship, we enjoyed double-digit economic growth, and he inspired Malaysians by instilling confidence in us.

Many of us even chose to adopt a more lenient outlook then as Dr Mahathir tore down reforms and civil society the way we knew it as he moved pieces in the judiciary system, including sacking the Lord President then, and diminishing the powers of our Rulers.

During his tenure, his dissidents were arrested and jailed and newspapers which refused to toe the line were temporarily shut down.

But worst of all, he undermined every single one of his successors. In his eyes, none of them were fit to be PM.

Unfortunately for him, his legacy is now firmly consigned to the history books.

Malaysians have stopped according him the respect he likely desires.

He should know that by now, right? Or has someone forgotten to give him that memo? After all, he managed to garner only 4,566 votes, which is 12.5% short of the vote threshold to retain his deposit to hang on to his Langkawi parliamentary seat.

Incredibly, he was quoted saying he doesn’t understand what contributed to his disastrous defeat.

The reason was staring at him, but his sycophants probably didn’t have the heart to tell him.

Malaysians, including the predominantly Malay voters of Langkawi, essentially just want Dr M to retire for good.

He had 22 years as PM and even came back for a second hurrah as PM at the age of 92, and he was certainly back with his usual combative style of politics.

Plus, he was also glaringly out of sync with how things worked in the modern age. Dr Mahathir was a man caught in a time warp as he talked about policies and formulas which sounded archaic.

We can forgive him for believing he’s still a political icon and legend.

After all, ours is a society which accords respect and reverence to the elderly, especially our leaders.

Many of us will still request wefies with the nonagenarian, but let’s hope he doesn’t get carried away with delusions of grandeur.

His time ended some years back. A new Prime Minister – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – has been in power for a year.


Crumbling record: Tun Dr Mahathir will always be credited for putting us on the world map with the construction of the Petronas Twin Towers, among others. However, he is fast losing respect with his recent remarks and antics. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

Dr Mahathir barely has any clout, but like all politicians, he, too, thrives on publicity to prove his imagined relevance. He knows the controversies, including his nasty remarks, earn column inches and attention.

The media should just ignore him, though. His divisive sound bites don’t make Malaysia better, but instead, unnecessarily generate discontent. Instead of dedicating his time to writing elder statesman-like essays to share his experiences and wisdom on nation building, he has opted to continually spew toxic race and religion narratives.

Loyal Malaysians including Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Ibans, Kadazans and others are the ones who toiled for our beloved country.

The disloyal Malaysians are the corrupt leaders who have stolen, plundered and looted from our nation’s properties and coffers, including government-linked companies, and perpetrators include many cronies, too. Malaysia had bled profusely long before the 1MDB scandal, and this was the final straw for our people.In our history’s national fiascos, many of those implicated, unfortunately, are elites with political connections, including those from the time of Dr Mahathir’s reign.

So he has no moral standing to lecture us about loyalty to Malaysia, where most of the people born and raised here would surely desire to die in this country as well. Our loyalty should never be questioned.

Malaysia is what it is today because of the contributions every single one of us has made.

Some of us may have linguistic inadequacies and the inability to integrate, but our hearts and minds are truly Malaysian, and that’s what matters most.

With due respect, Tun, please stop talking about loyalty and calling us pendatang.

In case you’ve forgotten, this is 2024.

Leave it to the cops


In good hands: The Fire and Rescue Department putting out the fire at Ngeh’s house last Wednesday. It’s best for investigations to be left to the police, says the writer. — Photo courtesy of the Fire and Rescue Department

REPORTERS from Singapore’s media, whether based in Kuala Lumpur or their country, keep close tabs on the political developments in Malaysia daily.

After all, our politicians are adept at being newsmakers unlike their Singapore counterparts.

Malaysia makes it into the front pages more than Singapore’s PAP leaders and unfortunately, often for the wrong reasons.

This isn’t a case of bad publicity being publicity nonetheless because we’d prefer to keep our politics mundane like on the island republic.

Politics is toxic and unproductive in Malaysia, where race and religion are part of the daily recipe of every issue, and outsiders reading about these explosive debates might expect things to go off the rails.

But despite the rattling of pots and pans, the racket never amounts to violence. There are no riots, assassinations, racial conflicts or worse, civil war.

Protests are rather tame since organisers work with the police to ensure they disperse once the protest note is handed over.

By and large, our politics never crosses the line of extremism because we’re a middle-class country.

Malaysia prides itself on being a stable nation with a population that has great tolerance and is peaceful, despite its multiracial and multi-religious fabric.

Our people can’t afford to stay on the streets for months, unlike say, Bangkok, because we must all report to work. Basically, prolonged rent-a-crowd protests aren’t feasible here.

Malaysia isn’t a despot country either, unlike Myanmar, where the military has slowly begun losing to the various ethnic rebel groups that have opted to work together to fight the oppressive junta.


The police investigating a ‘bomb-like’ object under Siti Kasim’s car last year. — Agencies

In Indonesia, protests can also get out of control, especially those initiated by religious groups which can mobilise huge crowds.

What happened last week when a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the home of Perak DAP Member of Parliament Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham is rare indeed. Three vehicles belonging to the MP for Beruas caught fire as a result.

It’s commendable that PAS quickly condemned the attack, saying burning and destroying property is unacceptable regardless of political difference, especially when it puts a person’s property or life at risk.

Likewise, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has also rebuked the attack.

Ngeh, who has apologised for his proposal to include non-Muslims on a committee studying the conflicts between syariah laws and the Federal Constitution, has since withdrawn his remarks.

He has also forgiven those behind the incident at his home saying the perpetrators might have been misled by falsehoods and instigated by others into committing the crime.

It’s best for investigations to be left to the police. There’s little to gain from jumping to conclusions, pointing fingers and prematurely blaming without proper evidence. After all, it would only create more tension.

Give the police time and space to do their work. In fact, our cops should also probe Netizens who posted seditious comments on the act of arson.

The attack is unacceptable, and the culprits need to be arrested and charged swiftly to send a strong message.

Malaysia doesn’t condone such violent acts and those responsible must face the consequences.

In my 38-year journalism career, I can only recall a single assassination, that of MIC Lunas state assemblyman Dr Joe Fernandez in 2000, when he was shot dead in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Many believed it was an act of terrorism although an open verdict was declared. To this day, the real motive remains a mystery.

Eighteen years after the incident, the Special Coroner’s Court ruled that his assassination had nothing to do with business, political or personal reasons.

Last July, there was an attempted hit on outspoken activist lawyer Siti Kasim, where an explosive device was planted under her car. Until now, the police have yet to find any leads, which is most disappointing.

Let’s hope that with the attack on Ngeh’s house, the police will be able to resolve it with proper answers. We’re confident that our Polis Diraja Malaysia will do their best for the nation’s peace and harmony.

Beauty in diversity

BETTER late than never, goes the adage, so I’m relieved that I’ve finally watched Malaysia’s much-acclaimed first crowdfunded film, Pendatang, which has emphatically won my admiration.

The movie’s makers certainly deserve all the accolades for their willingness in tackling the subject of race relations in Malaysia.

They have also chosen to release it online to navigate past our censors as well as to make it accessible to as many people as possible. It has garnered more than 400,000 views on YouTube in just four days after its release and the numbers are climbing.

The film reportedly received over RM400,000 in donations from 600 Malaysians with more than RM300,000 sought by the studio. So, making money wasn’t the main reason behind Kuman Pictures doing this movie.

Most Malaysians would choose to avoid sticky and sensitive subjects, and race relations has been one of them for far too long.

It’s practically taboo and only finds voice in hushed tones. There’s a distinct demarcation not to be crossed and constructive discussions are nearly impossible.

There’s excessive self-censorship in the mainstream media because we fear the potential backlash and controversy which could put us in a pickle with the authorities.

There’s also an abundant supply of operatives from political parties who enjoy lodging police reports to create hype and flex their muscles with their scare tactics.

Keeping it real, despite our praises, Pendatang is unlikely to be a box-office hit because it doesn’t have a de rigueur commercial storyline.

Moreover, it’s in Cantonese and the audience demographic is predominantly Malay, as far as local viewing is concerned.

And by the time it goes through our stringent censorship board, there’d barely be anything left to watch. Arguably, that’s the perception Malaysians have of our censorship board.

Pendatang (or immigrant, a derogatory term used to describe other races apart from Malays) is a dystopian movie depicting a fictional setting.

A small accident leads to Malaysia’s diverse society being torn apart and a referendum conducted, where the three main races – Malays, Chinese and Indians – choose to stay exclusively within marked borders.

The Malaysian ringgit plunges, and Sabah and Sarawak decide to leave Malaysia. Martial law is declared with an 8pm to 8am curfew.

There’s a 25-year jail penalty for anyone engaging in interracial contact, but for the Wongs, the ethnic Chinese family’s nightmare begins when they relocate to a Chinese-only settlement.

Their new home is a kampung house previously owned by a Malay, and the shock for them is finding a scared Malay girl – who was presumably left behind – hiding in the attic.

Should they pity her and treat her as part of their family and risk breaking the law? That’s the predicament the family faces.

Relatives, friends and colleagues find themselves segregated with security governed by forces from their respective ethnic groups.

By now, Malaysians should realise that those who exploit race and religion are the worst of the lot as they include the powerful elites who are corrupt and hypocritical. And this is the movie’s message.

Wong Kin Seng, the family’s breadwinner, seeks employment at a furniture factory, but realises the boss interviewing him is the advocate of the referendum to divide the races. However, he requires a driver to send his stocks to the border to sell to the Malays.

He sports a smirk and tells Wong that even though everyone is now segregated, he still needs to do business with other races, and that “life must go on.”

The racist, corrupt Chinese security officer, who eventually shoots the businessman for betraying his race, also finally does the same – sell the furniture to the same Malay man, but with a marked-up price.

He’s hardly the hero the Chinese expect, protecting his own race as he continually demands protection money, which he calls “donations.”

The Malay businessman who wants to sell to the Indians, also uses the phrase “life must go on” to justify his need to break the segregation law.

The film-maker has managed to tackle the concerns of race in a tasteful manner without being seen to champion or demonise any one, choosing, instead, to show that all races have their good values of sympathy and forgiveness, and their bad points of prejudice and extremism.

More importantly, for the children, they just enjoy each other’s company, reminding us of our own childhood, where we never saw racial differences until we grew up. In a nutshell, no one is born a racist.

The many comments posted online, especially among the Malays, have been positive with suggestions that the issue of race should also be covered from the Malay and Indian perspectives, with calls for sequels even.

Of course, there are also the predictable nasty comments, but that’s expected of the online world. Ironically, some of these come from those who haven’t even watched the movie.

It’s commendable that Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chairman Kamil Othman has called for the movie to be screened at schools, to invite discussions, and dismantle deep-seated perceptions and prejudices, adding that it’s a small step towards a desired destination.

This writer can’t agree more. We need to have more rational and moderate voices and not allow those who advocate race and religion division to dominate the narrative. The negative campaign of “us vs them” with imagined threats must end.

Spend the hour and a half watching Pendatang if you haven’t already. Malaysia needs more of these movies. After all, our plurality is about the beauty in our diversity.

Malaysia does not need any toppling of the unity government

IT doesn’t matter where the move to topple the Unity Government is made – Dubai, Chow Kit or Timbuktu. And if it’s real, then Malaysia doesn’t need it.

Such talk gives rise to the perception that Malaysia is not politically stable, which will only lead to foreign investors not committing to any ventures as any change of government could only bring a shift in policies.

One year has passed and during that time, we have been subjected to all kinds of speculation on the durability of the Anwar Administration.

The main question being; could Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last even a year as PM?

But PMX, as the country’s 10th Prime Minister, has managed to hold the reins and secure a comfortable two-thirds majority at the Dewan Rakyat.

After having four prime ministers in five years, it’s safe to say that most of us are not keen to go through another turbulent period.

It is important to note that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has decreed that Istana Negara will not get involved in political manoeuvres.

In fact, His Majesty also decreed that Anwar and his Madani Government are to continue managing the country’s affairs.

It simply means the King, whose reign ends on Jan 31, is not in a mood to grant an audience to anyone who claims to have a list of statutory declarations to change the Federal Government.

Likewise, the Sultan of Johor, the incoming King, will not be granting an audience to anyone until he assumes the role of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has decreed that he would not be accepting any appointments, except for previously scheduled ones as well as the weekly audience with the Johor Mentri Besar and state government.

For certain, some of the Rulers have become wary and cautious when meeting with political figures, as they do not want any encounters to be misinterpreted and worse, politically exploited.

So, the best thing to do is avoid any controversies at this crucial juncture, when the King is about to complete his five-year term while the new King has yet to take over officially.

His Majesty holds the record of having four PMs during his time and in 2020, Anwar, too, told the King he had a convincing majority in Parliament and that then-PM Tan Sri Muhyidddin Yassin must resign.

After meeting Al-Sultan Abdullah, Anwar announced he had registered a “formidable convincing majority among the parliamentarians.’’

The King wasn’t convinced and for sure, please do not expect the present and incoming kings to entertain any politician with claims of having the support of 120 Members of Parliament and seek to now replace the Unity Government.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has said that Anwar should be given a chance to prove himself, pointing out that it is not possible for PMX to make changes in just one year.

Even most Malaysians aren’t convinced. Without the Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s 23 MPs, there is little possibility of a change of government.

Anwar has the support of Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, the Premier of Sarawak, who has declared that 2024 will be the best year for Sarawak.

Predicting a 5-6% economic growth for Sarawak, he has allocated RM9bil for development.

He knows the state will get more concessions from Anwar and in return, he would place his support for Anwar.

His comments on the Dubai move were simple and short: “it’s a waste of time”, in reaction to the alleged meeting in the United Arab Emirates involving opposition leaders and some government officials with the aim of carrying out a coup against Anwar and his government.

“What’s next – the Monaco move or London move? “ he asked, saying Sarawak will just focus on development.

There is no need to travel to Dubai or anywhere else, opposition MPs need just to table a vote of no confidence at the next Parliament meeting, raise their hands to prove the numbers.

Or better still, wait for the next general election. Work on being a good opposition now.

Can we all just move on? Meanwhile, the rest of us have lots of work to do.