REALITY has finally bitten PAS painfully.

It cannot hope to form the Federal Government without support from the non-Malay electorate, including those from Sabah and Sarawak.

And it knows that even many Muslim voters in the peninsula, especially those in urban and semi-urban areas, find the PAS brand of politics a little too extreme.

This admission was made by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man who told the recent PAS annual gathering that it cannot capture Putrajaya with Malay votes alone.

All political party gatherings have plenty of chest-thumping rhetoric and drummed up optimism for the diehard delegates.

The Islamist party’s general assembly in Temerloh, Pahang, was no exception, with plenty of hot air.

But PAS has a problem.

It cannot decide what it should do next to convince non-Muslims that it is worthy of their votes.

Non-Muslims, especially the Chinese, are practical people. They look at PAS and they only see politicians in robes, serbans (turbans), beards, and goatees, with religious studies as their only credentials. Chinese voters are unlikely to be inspired by having theologians run the country.

Call it prejudice or whatever, but the constant harsh statements from PAS have not helped to improve how non-Malays see the party. The ‘’Green Wave’’ – a term to describe the growing strength of PAS – has probably frightened or alienated non-Muslims even more.

It also doesn’t help that at PAS general assemblies, there is a glaring absence of discussions of substantial issues like the economy, growth, tackling the cost of living, boosting the ringgit, digital challenges, and how PAS can take Malaysia to the next level of development.

Instead, party leaders continue to be obsessed about projecting themselves as puritanical and pious, with little knowledge or interest in handling development priorities.

The biggest comic relief this time came from Selangor PAS Youth leader Aubidullah Fahim Ibrahim who proposed that members marry non-Malays to increase support for the party, reportedly saying “a mixed marriage would not just be able to secure one vote but hundreds from the non-Malay community’’.

PAS youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden urged members to start learning vernacular languages to help the party get closer to non-Malay communities.

He said the ability to converse in two languages can be a powerful tool for PAS members in wooing support from non-Malay voters.

At least Afnan spoke some sense. But the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Mahkota by-election, Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, has already beaten the PAS man to it. Syed Hussien has an advantage because of his Chinese school education: He speaks Mandarin fluently.

The Chinese community just hopes that leaders from both PAS and Umno will stop talking of shutting down vernacular schools and not just use Chinese language as a tool to win votes during elections.

While some were talking about how to woo the non-Malays, one PAS delegate loudly proclaimed that their next target would be the Malay majority state of Pahang, and vowed to shut down all gaming outlets in the state, including the Genting Highlands casino.

Most Chinese voters have reacted with alarm at the statement. While most Chinese do not encourage gambling, we tolerate this game of risks as long as there is a level of self-restraint.

It is common to see card games with small bets during Chinese New Year while mahjong is encouraged as a pastime for senior citizens to keep their minds sharp. Naturally, there are bets involved.

Eye on the future: PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang giving his speech at the recent PAS annual gathering in Temerloh. — Bernama

Pahang PAS deputy commissioner Andansura Rabu quickly moved to soothe ruffled feathers, saying the decision may involve the Federal Government and thus won’t be easy.

Gaming licenses come under the purview of Putrajaya and until PAS forms the next Federal Government on its own, this remains just plenty of hot air.

In July, the High Court in Alor Setar ruled that the Kedah PAS government needed to uphold consistency with the Federal Constitution, which says only the Federal Government has the authority to enact laws and regulations concerning gambling.

The High Court also ordered the Kedah state government to compensate STM Lottery Sdn Bhd and Magnum Corporation Sdn Bhd, the companies behind Sports Toto and Magnum 4D respectively, for the losses they suffered when the state closed their outlets.

As expected, the state government has said that it will take the matter to the Court of Appeals.

Perlis PAS delegate Saifizi Saidon reportedly devoted his speech to calling for action to be taken against certain party leaders, especially those who shook hands with women. He also attacked those who went to karaoke lounges.

To make things worse, Terengganu has banned women from taking part in gymnastics and swimming events, because of “non-syariah compliant” outfits.

Recently, the Terengganu Amateur Swimming Association had to apologise for taking part in the Malaysia Games despite getting approval from the national association and the athletes’ families.

Political observers who have followed the PAS general assembly would have noticed clearly that the agenda of the party hasn’t changed. It has probably got worse with added race and religious narratives.

Its past presidents, like the late Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and the late Datuk Dr Fadzil Noor, focused on religion as the main thrust of the party’s struggle. As in any democracy, PAS has a right to its political ambitions, and it has been fairly consistent.

It has grown in clout and has a sizeable number of Members of Parliament, with three states under its administration. Despite having 43 MPs and being the party with the largest number of lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat, PAS has reached its limits. That is why it has to win over non-Muslim voters.

But how can party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang expect his party to endear itself to non-Malays when he described non-Muslim leaders in government as becoming arrogant and irresponsible as well as seeking to play on racial and religious sentiments?

He also claimed that Malay-Muslim leaders in the government are unable to “control” their fellow non-Muslim leaders.

PAS is upset that it was dismissed as being Taliban-like and its style of running state governments equated with that of the Afghan leaders. That may be an unfair comparison, but the pronouncements of its leaders have not helped shed such perceptions.

To be fair, there are some PAS leaders with professional backgrounds and credentials, seemingly giving it a progressive image, and who prefer to talk to the media on issues like the economy, investments, and good governance.

One shining example is Terengganu Mentri Besar Dr Ahmad Shamsuri Mokhtar, an aerospace engineer, but he is not among those who call the shots in the party. That is done by the ultra-conservative leaders, who continue to spook non-Muslims with their declared aim of turning Malaysia into an Islamic State.

These are the guys who issue cut-and-paste statements with a list of festivals and events that they wish to ban, with calls for gender segregation, and a demand to stop “hedonism”, a popular agenda they like to use without even understanding the word.

Tuan Ibrahim has proudly asked PAS members to organise visits to Kelantan to see the development there for themselves.

This is ironic since Kelantan is certainly not a shining example for anyone. After 34 years of PAS rule, it has remained one of the worst run states in this country where one cannot even get decent clean water from the taps.

While the posturing by PAS leaders could have been done to retain its core base, it really needs to embrace diversity and to champion the rights of non-Muslims to win them over.

Mass appeal: There was a lot of anticipation for Uncle Roger’s first fried rice restaurant, which finally opened last week at Pavilion KL. Now many are eagerly waiting for it to get its halal certification. — Instagram

WHEN Religious Minister Datuk Dr Naim Mokhtar Abdullah announced that Jakim was mulling over requiring all restaurants except those serving pork and liquor to have halal certification, he probably did not expect to run into a storm.

After all, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia’s proposal did not affect outlets that strictly serve non-Muslims.

Jakim must have observed the mushrooming of restaurants that loudly proclaim to be “Muslim friendly’’ with “no pork, no lard” signs while some shout that they are run by “Chinese Muslims’.’

A closer look, however, would reveal that most of these restaurants, while having visible Muslims staff, do not have halal accreditation. These include those owned by China-born Muslims now operating in Malaysia, especially the popular Lanzhou pulled mee eateries.

“Pork free” is not tantamount to halal, something many non-Muslims may not understand.

Nevertheless, many non-Muslim restaurant owners now see the upside of going pork-free, or better still, to be properly halal certified, because the reality is that 70% of the population are bumiputras, and mainly Muslims.

The Chinese population is shrinking – they make up only 25% of Malaysians now – and will continue to slide further in coming years.

Even without Jakim’s prompting, more hotels and restaurants will opt to be halal-compliant. And a certificate still does not guarantee that these eateries will be fully patronised by Muslim customers.

For businessmen targeting mass and multiple stores, getting a halal certification is surely the right move.

It is also easier to cater and supply to multinational corporations, government, and chain stores who insist on halal-certified food. Being pork-free is just not good enough.

Halal is a way for Muslims to uphold their religious obligations, purity, and lifestyle. It is not just about food but extends beyond that. This is something that non-Muslims must understand as it is a very fundamental aspect of being a Muslim.

Naim, however, would be better advised to engage restaurant owners, openly and privately, to work out how the process of applying for these halal certificates can be simplified and sped up.

It may only cost RM100 a year or RM1,000 annually for the certificate but the additional costs for renovations to fulfil other requirements can deter many small-time businessmen.

Then there are those who fork out huge sums to consultants to help them apply for these certificates although there is no requirement to do so. Still, businessmen prefer to pay someone who knows how to navigate the bureaucracy. I am told that costs between RM4,000 and RM8,000.

Those who have applied for these certificates say they had to handle additional costs of between RM2,000 and RM5,000 a month, depending on the scale of the business.

Let’s admit it. Applying for a halal certificate is not a straightforward process as the average wait can be between four and six months.

Just last week, comedian/chef Nigel Ng, aka Uncle Roger, who has just opened a fried rice restaurant at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, released a video appealing to Jakim to speed up his halal certification application.

Some businessmen have also made allegations about how approvals can be sped up by other means, but until they actually lodge reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), these remain substantiated claims.

The fastest is said to be three months – if all the documents are ready and an experienced team is able to liaise with Jakim.

The Halal Development Corporation Bhd (HDC) and Jakim have also announced moves to make the certification process easier, specifically in the pre-approval and post-approval process.

Jakim has pledged to reduce the processing time to just 23 working days. Upon approval, HDC will make halal certification convenient. This is a move in the right direction.

It is understandable that the process of auditing and checking the premises and the supply chain can take time but it is good that Jakim understands the need to improve its performance too.

For many restaurants, the challenges include sourcing for raw material to make them halal certified, which means minor tweaks to their recipes. But with halal raw materials now easily available, according to restaurant owners I speak to, it is not a valid excuse.

There is also the need for additional manpower as many even engage a halal executive, but in-house administration staff trained to handle Jakim requirements can also manage this.

For example, a popular bubble tea chain owner said his company needed about two months to apply for a new menu, but any additional new items only took an extra month.

For these eateries, though, the revenue returns after the wait and additional expenditure have been worth it. They have seen their customers increase in number, especially Muslims, assured by the Jakim logo.

The consumer power of Muslims must never be underestimated. Just look at what happened with their boycott of Starbucks and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

It cannot be denied that halal certification can generate employment and bring substantial revenue as well as new opportunities. But it must be a business decision, not a law.

Jakim was set up as a government agency to determine the development and progress of Islamic affairs as well as to help formulate and harmonise the necessary laws and regulations.

It answers to the National Council of Islamic Affairs, now headed by Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak. It was previously chaired by Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for two years.

It has to be remembered that Naim’s proposal has not even been discussed at the Cabinet level or among the Rulers.

Naim has good intentions – to protect Muslims as halal is a sensitive matter – but he must have overlooked the fact that many Indian-run restaurants do not serve pork or beef.

They are vegetarian restaurants, and while the raw materials they use may not meet Jakim’s standards, it does not make sense to insist that they apply for halal certification.

It’s the same with Chinese vegetarian shops as even with halal certificates, it is unlikely that Muslims will patronise these eateries. Their dishes probably will not suit the taste buds of most Malays.

Surely it will be odd to have Jakim officers, who are Muslims, carrying out inspections and imposing their standards and requirements on such shops, which have Hindu and Buddhists values.

Then there are the thousands of kopitiams all over the country, especially near government offices and police stations. They are mostly run by ageing mum-and-dad teams and sell only roti bakar, eggs, and coffee.

They don’t sell pork because their clients are almost all Muslims. Does Jakim really want to impose the rule on them? They will likely just close shop and retire, which would be sad. They are so much an integral part of Malaysian life and culture.

Such eateries also exist in small towns and are melting pots where older people of all faiths and races still come together, although they have become much less distinct now.

How can we insist that they renovate their kitchens, supply entries, and have a new set of utensils and wares when they probably have only five tables in their shops?

There are hundreds of thousands of non-Muslim stalls and small shops selling pork-free beef noodles, fish-paste yong tau foo, Thai food, yoo tiao, chee cheong fun, tau foo fah, seafood porridge, fish head curry, grilled fish, and nasi lemak.

Jakim is not a sacred entity that cannot be criticised, and Naim, as a learned scholar and not a politician, would certainly have understood that.

But our politicians, unfortunately, cannot communicate well. Maybe it’s intentional because they think that raising the political temperature will make them champions of their respective races.

When DAP Member of Parliament Teresa Kok made a dismissive remark about the Jakim proposal – saying it would make Malaysia a “laughing stock abroad’’ – she should have been prepared for the backlash from Muslims.

Last week, she met with HDC officials, something she should have done first to understand the matter better.

Instead, she provided Umno Youth chief Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh with fodder to stoke the fire. In his trademark toxic and uncouth manner, he resorted to name calling, labelling Kok a “nonya tua” and wanted to “paste a non-halal logo on her forehead”.

The Seputeh MP now finds herself being investigated by the police. Surely serial rabble-rousers like Dr Akmal and some religious preachers should also get the same treatment.

Rightly or wrongly, the police have been criticised for having been swift in investigating certain cases and personalities but dragging their feet on others, giving the impression that they have selective priorities.

In Kok’s case, the standard operating procedure is that the police, by law, must investigate once reports have been lodged. They cannot refuse to carry out a probe.

Some of our politicians are incapable of taking part in a discourse civilly and they are the ones who are usually to blame for stirring up controversies that lead to unnecessary ill-will that divide Malaysians.

It is not correct to suggest that non-Muslims should refrain from speaking about this issue – as amplified by some politicians – as the proposal directly affects many non-Muslim food operators, with huge implications.

Malaysians are mature enough to discuss any contentious issue in a respectful and convincing manner. Let there be no compulsion and coercion.

Businessmen are realistic people. They will understand the fast-changing demographics. But then, not everyone has the means to make an immediate change.

Diverse culture: The 67th National Day 2024 celebration at Dataran Putrajaya also included dragon and lion dances as well as urumi drumming and the bhangra dance (below), many of which making their national parade debut that day. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

THE National Day parade in Putrajaya on Aug 31 continues to be a popular conversation topic although it has been more than a week.

That’s simply because the nation continues to be divided by race and religious issues.

When the rare occasion takes place with diversity being openly displayed, there is a sense of acknowledgement of multiculturalism and multiracialism.

The Madani government, which has been facing criticism for being slow to institute reforms and fulfil electoral promises, deserves credit for putting on the best National Day parade ever.

Diverse traditional attire, culture and dances from various ethnic groups were showcased with over 800 participants dressed up in traditional costumes, complete with accessories.

The contingent included kompang performances, dragon and lion dances, a chingay parade, urumi drumming as well as bhangra and peacock dances, many of which making their national parade debut that day.

No ethnic group, including those from Sabah and Sarawak, was left out from the parade. There were even 10 warrior horses from the Bajau group from Sabah.

There was even a display of traditional costumes of the Orang Asli, the Siamese and the Peranakan communities, reflecting Malaysia’s diverse make-up.

The Malaysian Madani Community Contingent parade was led by the National Unity Ministry and certainly they stole the hearts of many Malaysians with its vibrance.

At the Bernama office, the home of the Malaysian National News Network, it was heartening to see National Day celebrated in a unique way.

Muslim women in tudung wore ethnic costumes from Sabah and Sarawak, Chinese women were in sarees and Malay men in Chinese clothes.

Malay staff also performed an improvised lion dance as their colleagues cheered.

At 63, I can safely say that I have watched many National Day celebrations, right from the time when the event was broadcast live over RTM in black and white.

Younger Malaysians may not realise but at one time in our nation’s history, there were politicians who openly frowned at lion dances being performed at public events.

I remember being involved in helping to organise the Mooncake Lantern Festival on campus in the 1980s and being “advised’’ by the university student affairs department not to have “too many lions” on stage.

How lion dances could be deemed as sensitive is incredulous but that was the toxicity then.

And now, Malaysia and China have signed an agreement to jointly nominate the lion dance to be listed for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) cultural heritage, as well as Malaysia’s membership in the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia.

Kudos must go to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who was tasked with organising the National Day parade, for taking this year’s parade to a higher level.

The expectations will certainly be higher next year and as expected, there will always be criticism as well.

The human graphic display on National Day displayed greetings in Malay, Chinese and Tamil – another first – but the fake information on social media which went viral was that only Chinese was used.

Then, there was a comment over a Malay news portal on Aug 31, titled “Jangan sampai budaya Melayu hilang di dunia’’ expressing concern that the Malay culture and use of Bahasa Melayu were eroding with less usage.

But in an ironic way, the PAS governments in Kelantan and Terengganu have been the ones who are responsible for killing off several Malay cultural activities.

Even the elegant baju kebaya is in danger of becoming extinct as PAS equates Arabisation with Islamisation at the expense of Malay identity.

The position of Islam and the special rights of Malays is clearly stated in the Federal Constitution and no one should question it.

The long and short of it is that it has not been easy for the Madani government as the main party of Pakatan Harapan is Parti Keadilan Rakyat, a multi-racial party.

For the first time in the country’s history, a multi-racial political party helms the government but the reality is also that the country’s demographic has changed dramatically since 1957 with 70% of the population being Malays and bumiputras.

The government must balance the demands and expectations of the country’s electorate in a delicate and sensible way. Managing race relations is never easy.

After over six decades of independence, Malaysia is at a crossroads, and while we rather stick to niceties at a time of celebration, many of us have also wondered where Malaysia is heading.

The country’s independence would not have been achieved without the efforts of the Malays, Chinese and Indians. Malaysia would not have formed without Sabah and Sarawak.

Let us reaffirm this in our textbooks, so that our young understand that Sabah and Sarawak did not join Malaysia but they helped form Malaysia as equal partners.

The country has progressed by leaps and bounds because Malaysians of all races and religions have toiled to build it.

The Malays in the police, army and civil service have kept the country safe, sound and stable, let us not forget.

By and large, Malaysians are peaceful, tolerant and moderate people, and for that, we must always be respectful of each other to keep Malaysia intact. There is no room for rabble rousers.

Politicians and religious preachers certainly should take the rap, but so could ordinary Malaysians.

Many have become brazen with racial and extreme religious views being amplified in recent years because of social media.

The government and police regularly warn of actions being taken against those who violate the 3R – race, religion and royalty – but the perception so far is that they have only acted against those who criticised the Rulers.

Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is facing a sedition charge with the action coming swiftly following a royal rebuke.

But the nation still awaits action against religious preachers who have brazenly used religion to run down non-Muslims.

Despite numerous police reports being lodged and these recalcitrants being asked to give their statements to the police, we have not seen these cases being taken forward.

The days of politicians thumping at the rostrums, playing racial cards and displaying their political masculine postures and brandishing keris or swords, are over.

It doesn’t help and they won’t get the votes if they wish to re-invent themselves. Worse, they will lose the votes of non-Malays who will still prefer them if they remain moderates because the other political option is simply worse.

No federal government can also be formed without the support of Sabah and Sarawak, and that is a fact.

The display of diversity should not be featured only at National Day parades and tourism promotion dances. All of us should be made to feel we are Malaysian every day.

After 67 years of independence, there shouldn’t be any need to harp on race and religion, by right.

Diversity is an asset of Malaysia and it should be celebrated openly as in the National Day parade and not merely tolerated.

As if scripted, many of us are loathe to authenticate the information, and instead, simply forward it. To add insult to injury, some even included a caveat saying they weren’t sure how true the data was but shared it anyway. — The Star

MALAYSIANS found themselves in a web of fake newsmongers once again, with a series of fraudulent reports furiously making the rounds on social media, misleading many.

And as if scripted, many of us are loathe to authenticate the information, and instead, simply forward it. To add insult to injury, some even included a caveat saying they weren’t sure how true the data was but shared it anyway.

In swooped “archaic” mainstream media to handle the task of checking and dismissing this sham. No, the Prime Minister doesn’t have a Palestinian son-in-law. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is committed to the Palestinian cause but that’s not because one of his four daughters is married to a Palestinian.

The most well-known daughter, Nurul Izzah, is married to Malaysian Chinese Yin Shao Loong. Contrary to speculative belief, he isn’t related to either DAP leader Lim Guan Eng or former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The low-profile Yin is a policy researcher whose late father was a Malaysian military doctor. His great-grandfather embraced Islam and is buried in Kedah.

Nurul Nuha is married to a Malay Malaysia Airlines pilot, while her sister, Nurul llham, is married to a Japanese Pakistani. Nurul Hana is a student in the United States finalising her master’s degree.

On Aug 26, the New Straits Times was forced to expose a fraudulent news report credited to it by displaying a screen grab of the fake NST website featuring a couple at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The image of the couple was passed off as that of the PM’s daughter and his alleged Palestinian son-in-law. Instead, the screengrab is that of Malaysian Nurul Ain Haron and her Palestinian husband Mohamed AM Shaat. The picture was taken upon their arrival at KLIA Terminal One on Nov 14 last year after they were evacuated from Gaza.

If that wasn’t enough, on the same day, Universiti Malaya had to issue a statement dismissing a social media post claiming a huge cave formation exists beneath the city. The university’s geology department chief, Asso Prof Dr Meor Hakif Amir Hassan, pointed out that the university had no “renowned geologist named Dr Sarah Jamal”. Neither was there such a geologist registered with the Board of Geologists Malaysia.

The contents of the viral article weren’t based on facts but to the public, they seemed real, and many were convinced, especially following the sinkhole incident at KL’s Jalan Masjid India on Aug 23 which took a life.

“Dr Sarah Jamal” had claimed that beneath the developed Kuala Lumpur City, “lies a huge cave” which was formed millions of years ago and that “limestones had gradually eroded by the underground water which formed a large cavity under the surface”.

It was pure fantasy. It’s uncertain what the writer was smoking or drinking when composing the fake article, but it was obviously a work of fiction.

City Hall was also kept busy having to dismiss another bit of fake news: that Jalan Yap Ah Loy had been renamed Jalan Palestin.

The “news” byte even came replete with the voice of a man angrily claiming the road’s name, an honour to a famous Chinese Kapitan, had been changed.

Yap Ah Loy was an important figure in early Kuala Lumpur, and in his administrative role, he helped develop KL into a commercial and mining centre during the 19th century.

The truth is, Jalan Raja Laut 1 was renamed Jalan Palestin in 2020 at the directive of then Federal Territories minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, now in Bersatu, during the previous administration.The fake news had triggered unnecessary disputes and ill-feelings, clearly aimed at making the Chinese community, the core support for Pakatan Harapan, turn on the PM for his commitment to the Palestinians.

It was surely a politically motivated and concerted move to attack him, and dovetails with the on-going effort to chip away at the support of the non-Muslims for the Madani government, and the Pakatan coalition especially. These detractors are using social media platforms to troll the government almost daily, whether on record or via fake news.

Unfortunately, the perception is that the government isn’t fighting back hard enough or effectively. Ironically, when these Pakatan leaders were in Opposition, they gave Barisan Nasional a hard time for using social media. But now that they’re in government, these Pakatan leaders are on the defensive instead of the offensive. They look helpless.

Perhaps they’re bogged down with government work, but if they don’t respond strongly, it will be politically costly. The Palestinian issue has certainly resonated with Malay voters, but it has not garnered the same sentiments with non-Malays, even though it’s a simple humanitarian issue.

Although only 41 injured Palestinians and 86 of their family members, including children, were brought in for medical treatment, there’s still been a political backlash with unnecessary fears created that this would lead to the flood gates opening for Palestinian refugees, with questions even raised over the need to help them.

The criticism seems ridiculous because more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 77,000 injured since the Israeli attacks. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has been displaced and more than 14,000 children have been killed in the war of vengeance, while over 7,000 people remain missing.

Do the maths – 41 injured Palestinians don’t amount to even 0.001% of the Palestinian casualties, killed, injured or displaced.

There’s also another misconception, or simply a fake narrative – the reason behind Malaysia helping when neighbouring Egypt has refused to aid Palestinian patients, as one Sarawakian writer wrote on a portal.

On the contrary, Egypt has allowed 40,000 family members to attend Egypt schools while over 1,000 injured Palestinians are in the United Arab Emirates, 3,000 orphans and 1,000 injured in Qatar. Saudi Arabia is hosting 1,000 family members.

The United Nations Human Rights Watch said, “Egypt’s healthcare system is strained” with “over 40 hospitals across the country treating Palestinians.”

In fact, there’s even a Palestine Hospital in Cairo that’s become a comforting refuge and community hub for displaced Palestinians.

The hospital was founded in 1979 by Dr Fathi Arafat, the late Palestinian Liberation Front leader Yasser Arafat’s brother. It is one of the services offered by the Palestinian Red Crescent in Egypt.

The narrative against the Palestinians who are here with their families is, this is the start of more coming in. Importantly, they’re not refugees, they are patients seeking medical treatment.The healthcare system in Gaza has broken down, and contrary to popular scammer clickbait, Arab countries do want to help them. The nearest country is Egypt, and it has helped the most.

Palestinians who have managed to cross over to Egypt are the lucky ones because Israel has closed its gates at the border.

Rather than believe everything circulated on social media, no matter how convincing, it’s still vital that information is verified, especially by journalists.

The government or non-governmental organisation has no plans to send Palestinians to any state outside KL. So the hysteria is quite unfounded.

Honorific hoax: Be warned, fake title holders – thanks to social media and public scrutiny, you’re being watched. — 123rf

THERE must be an assumption that it’s easy to get a Datukship in Malaysia. After all, there are so many decorated people running around. Throw a stone, and you might even hit one.

So, why not fake credentials and “be” a Datuk, since it automatically earns respect?

However, no one cares or asks why they are Datuk, Dato, Datuk Seri, Datuk Wira or Datuk Sri. To avoid confusion, the press has categorised them all as Datuk.

But like scammers, there are many people posing as Datuk, and they have become so brazen that they even put their fake honorifics on their business cards.

To add insult to injury, some imposters also claim they have a doctorate or worse, are medical doctors.

There’s a Datuk Sri Dr who claims to be an expert in some scientific field, but there’s no published medical work anywhere online. Surely a cause for suspicion.

And it’s becoming common practice for a genuine Datuk to falsely “upgrade” himself to a Datuk Sri, a title from Pahang, or a Datuk Seri, from other states.

There’s the case of a con woman facing criminal charges for attempting to pass off as Tan Sri. Certainly, that’s not very clever of her since there aren’t too many Tan Sris.

Not only have these cheats made false claims in their call cards and Facebook, but they’ve also spun this tale with the Registrar of Companies and Bursa Malaysia.

The Council of Datuk and Dato (MDDM) secretary-general Datuk Samson David Maman said the council has noticed a trend among many Dato upgrading their titles to Dato Sri, when they received no such award.

“We have been receiving almost daily complaints of people with influence using such fake Tan Sri, Datuk and Dato awards.

“We have also seen an increase in the use of fake and unrecognised Dato titles by businessmen in their SSM business records to upgrade their status for whatever scams or investments they want to promote, and this attracts innocent investors to their schemes, ultimately many become victims to scams,” he said.

MDDM president Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz had previously said based on the council’s records, almost 200 individuals have been linked with fake title scams.

He said that misusing awards and titles was a serious issue because the council has received many reports from the public about crossing paths with these scammers.

The MDDM has proposed upgrading the Awards Act 2017 on the use of illegal and unrecognised titles to address many loopholes in its enforcement to enable the police to be more effective in arresting this problem at national and state levels, as it is an affront to our country’s honorifics and royal institutions.

It has suggested amendments to several clauses in the Awards Act 2017 to the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) to strengthen the Act’s enforcement, so that the misuse of awards and titles can be stamped out.

The suggestions include fixing police powers to arrest and officially investigate individuals committing such abuses before they are charged because currently, the Act is vague about whether police can make arrests if an offence is committed under the Act.

“Also, whether the Act is applicable at the state level as not all states have enactments relating to it, so we suggest that certain clauses be amended to allow enforcement at state levels for awards conferred by those states,” he said.

There have also been reports of Malaysians, who knowingly or otherwise, have accepted – or paid for – foreign awards which offer the title of Datuk.

Those who bestowed these titles often claim to be rulers from southern Philippines.

For the record, only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, our respective Malaysian State Rulers and State Governors are authorised and recognised to bestow such awards on the public.

It’s an offence for a citizen to accept a foreign Dato or Tan Sri award without the written consent of our King. This is law as drafted in Act 787 2017.

There have been recent cases of Malaysians being arrested and charged in court for using fake titles, which have gained wide media attention.

In June, 41-year-old businessman, Mohammad Shaiful Nizam Abu, was fined RM200,000 by the Sessions Court in Johor Baru for using a fake Datuk title from Pahang. He pleaded guilty to two counts of the offence, committed at a wellness centre of a resort in Senai, Kulai.

In January, businessman Hazimi Abd Hamid, 54, was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for using a fake Datuk Seri title and honorific items from Pahang for business purposes two years ago. He pleaded not guilty.

He was found to have possessed Darjah Kebesaran items such as an appointment letter, the Dato Sri title necklace, the Dato Sri identification card and other paraphernalia, which were all confirmed to be fake.

In July, businessman Wan Yon Ann, 40, pleaded not guilty in the KL Sessions Court to a charge of using a fake “Datuk Seri” title – not conferred on him by the Melaka Governor for business, trade and profession – at a fast-food restaurant in Jalan Ipoh.

Last year, a jobless man, 50-year-old Imran Tolot, was jailed two years after pleading guilty to using a fake “Datuk Seri” title in 2018 – which he claimed was awarded by the Sultan of Pahang for business purposes – at a hotel in Johor.

Without doubt, there’s an urgent need to have the Act amended to preserve the reputation of genuine title recipients and the institutions conferring them.

It doesn’t help that there are regular news reports of Datuks being arrested or charged for numerous high-profile crimes.

Datuks are supposed to be responsible and credible leaders and surely not criminals. There are, in fact, convicted criminals who are still Datuks because their titles have not been revoked.

While these awards are bestowed by the various state rulers, if I may humbly suggest, the matter could perhaps be discussed by the Conference of Rulers, where their wisdom would be helpful in protecting the institution.

The public can easily authenticate recipients by visiting www.istiadat.gov.my, and scrolling down to “semakan Darjah Kebesaran,”. Key in their name and identity card number to verify their claims.

The suspected fraudster’s identity card isn’t required, so verifications can be easier, but the computer system is slow. Patience is required, but it is worthwhile to weed out the phoneys.

But a counter check with the website of the respective state would be helpful for accuracy. The database possesses information from all states, except for Sabah and Sarawak.

In one state, the information needs updating because its backlog dates back to 2016, an MDDM official said.

Journalists could be more thorough and not take things at face value when people claim they are titled personalities during interviews.

But the time-pressed media can’t check on every Datuk that appears on TV or is being quoted. Some news portals are dropping these honorifics from the names in their reporting.

More importantly, thanks to social media and public scrutiny, those who use fake titles, including even faked or expired professorships and doctorates, are hereby warned that you’re being watched.

Women in charge: Newly-minted KL Mayor Maimunah and Customs director-general Anis (bottom) are ready for the tough battle ahead after they declared war on graft and the abuse of power. — Photos: The Star

IF the men are failing, then faith should logically be placed in two women who embody competency and integrity to take the reins in running two important government agencies.

Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif was named Kuala Lumpur’s Mayor last week, and at her first press conference, she laid down the law for her zero tolerance for corruption.

Then there’s Customs director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin, who assumed the role last September.

The two tough ladies, hand-picked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for their abilities, have declared their readiness to combat graft and abuses of power.

Malaysians can be assured that their pledges aren’t empty promises, the true bane of our existence.

Maimunah said she wants Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to be seen as a local authority with integrity, accountability and transparency.

The timing of her installation as Kuala Lumpur’s first woman mayor coincided with a DBKL enforcement deputy director and his assistant being charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with two counts of soliciting and accepting bribes from the operator of an unlicensed entertainment centre.

Muhammad Irwan Abdullah, 44, and Zahari Muhammad, 34, were jointly charged for soliciting RM200,000 and receiving RM160,000 monthly from a man as an inducement for not taking enforcement action against unlicensed entertainment premises under his supervision.

Muhamad Irwan also pleaded not guilty to a third corruption charge for allegedly receiving RM130,000 in cash from the same individual in a similar charge over an unlicensed entertainment centre managed by the man.

Although debatable, DBKL can’t cover itself in glory now as an institution. In fact, it has a history of urban legends of the nefarious kind.

Gutsy Maimunah is no stranger to managing local government authorities, as she was mayor of the Penang Island Municipal Council and was also the first woman president of the Seberang Prai Municipal Council.

Another civil servant in the spotlight is Anis, who detailed her battle against corruption as the top of her agenda.

She has declared that the Customs Department, an arguably stained institution, will not protect officers or personnel found guilty of corruption and abusing their power for personal gain, describing these offences as “unforgivable”.

She said these actions had not only tarnished the country’s image and reputation but also affected most of the staff who are honest and dedicated.

Between May and July, numerous Customs officers were charged with a variety of corruption offences in various states, mostly involving transactions at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

This was a follow-up to the arrests of 34 Customs officers at KLIA and 11 officers at Port Klang by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The activities of the “flying containers” syndicate are believed to have led to RM3.5bil in tax leakages for the country.

MACC seized RM4.4mil in cash, believed to be obtained from the proceeds of corruption by Customs officers suspected to be involved in the case.

Also seized were four Yamaha XMAX motorcycles worth RM28,000 each, a luxury multi- purpose vehicle worth more than RM200,000, a used BMW car, jewellery, luxury watches, as well as a plot of land, all of which were bought with cash.

MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the agency had identified more than 100 companies involved in the syndicate, which had been operating for more than a decade in Port Klang.

The companies, he said, acted as intermediaries for the payment of bribes to rogue Customs officers.

The probe has also seen MACC liaising with Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau to track down a Singaporean believed to be a key figure behind the syndicate.

We’re certainly seeing early results since Anis began helming the Customs Department, as the number of illegal cigarettes seized and confiscated has increased by over 20% in 1Q 2024 compared with the same period in 2023, according to the Malaysia Integrity and Governance Society (MIG).

Illegal cigarette prevalence in Malaysia has seen an improvement from 56.4% in January 2024 to 55.4% in March, according to Nielsen’s Illicit Cigarette Study in Malaysia.

“When the current Customs director-general, Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin, was appointed on Sept 23 last year, she vowed to seriously go all out to address corruption,” MIG president Datuk Seri Dr Akhbar Satar was quoted as saying.

Recent news reports have also put a spotlight on a series of high-profile raids, including the RM12.8mil haul in contraband cigarettes and liquor made by Melaka Customs in two separate operations in Johor.

In Negri Sembilan, Customs seized over RM600,000 worth of illicit cigarettes and liquor from a three-storey bungalow rented by Bangladesh nationals, revealed a news report.

Maimunah is known as a “turn-around specialist”, a skill set that is common among companies in the private sector, but in this situation, it’s local government, or more specifically, municipal councils that have benefited.

When she took over the Seberang Prai Municipal Council in 2011, it was in a complete financial mess, but by the end of her term in 2017, the council had a surplus in its budget.

Her achievements caught the attention of the United Nations, and in 2017 she was appointed executive director of UN-Habitat at the level of under-secretary general by the UN secretary-general, and in 2018 she assumed her role at UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Crucially, she was headhunted for the job, and again displayed her turn-around ability, putting things right at the headquarters.

Born to a poor rubber tapping family in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, she had to wake up every morning at 4am to help the family, but that didn’t stop her pursuing her studies until the tertiary level.

She studied town planning at the University of Wales’ Institute of Science and Technology before embarking on postgraduate studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia for a Master’s degree.

She is married to businessman Adli Lai Abdullah, and they have two adult daughters. Amira is working while Atira, who is now a businesswoman, was a former student of SMJK (C) Heng Ee in Penang.

Realistically, it would be impossible for Maimunah and Anis to battle graft alone.

“I alone cannot do it because we have 9,000 City Hall officers. So I am asking department heads and the executive management to monitor. We also have partners from MACC,” said Maimunah.

“We educate and provide knowledge, but if civil servants are determined to be corrupt, I will not hesitate to take action.”

She said it was vital for City Hall staff to have strong integrity and a firm awareness of rejecting corruption.

For Anis, she has reminded her staff that those who are stationed at airports need to understand that Malaysia’s reputation is always on the line through the services they render, so corruption, leaking government’s secrets, and abusing one’s position for personal gain will not be tolerated.

Both Maimunah and Anis certainly need plenty of support since their bold efforts will surely be unpopular among rogue officers who may still be holding powerful positions.

There could possibly be acts of sabotage to undermine their leadership. The duo must be mindful of these responses, and slowly and meticulously strategise their fight to ensure effectiveness.

For Malaysians who have routinely and repeatedly been let down, news of these two appointments is encouraging, and these ladies can be assured of our support.

The Proton e.MAS 7 electric SUV was unveiled recently. Let’s axe the X owner and turn our attention to the Chinese, especially Geely, for collaboration as they’re a committed partner who’s here for the long haul, says the writer. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

IT’S disappointing that Tesla has opted against investing in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand after months of aggressive courting by leaders of these countries of Elon Musk’s electric car brand.

But it’s not surprising since China-made electric vehicles (EV) are already way ahead of the American company in this region.

From 2023, China’s BYD (Build Your Dreams) has become the world’s EV brand of choice, surpassing Tesla.

No doubt, Tesla is perceived as the better brand, but it now plays second fiddle to the Shenzhen-based BYD, the number one EV car in Malaysia.

As a regular visitor to China who has seen EVs on display in their showrooms across the republic, I can safely say these Chinese cars are quality vehicles offering value for money.

Their China-made status doesn’t make these EVs inferior to American or European cars. The days of China products signifying second-rate quality are well and truly consigned to the history books in this fast-paced age we live in.

South China Morning Post reported that BYD has been selling over 8,000 units since last year, 3,000 more than Tesla.

It said that EV sales in South-East Asia are expected to hit between US$80bil (RM354bil) and US$100bil (RM443bil) by 2035, from about US$2bil (RM8.9bil) in 2021, according to a January report by EY-Parthenon, the strategy consulting arm of Ernst & Young.

But while BYD is the best-known Chinese brand for EVs, there are also many other options.

The floor price set by the Malaysian government to protect Proton and Perodua is RM100,000.

If it wasn’t for this policy, Chinese competitors would have flooded the Malaysian market with cheaper options.

Jakarta Post reported that Chinese EV makers such as BYD, SAIC Motor-Corp-owned MG, Nio, GAC Motor, Li Auto, Geely and Chery, collectively controlled 53% of the global market share for EVs in 2023.

“Fierce competition in the EV market has prompted governments in several jurisdictions, particularly the US and the European Union (EU) to enact measures to curb China dominance and protect their domestic industries.”

Instead of contemplating their cost effectiveness, price offers and improving their EV designs, the US has predictably taken the easy way – slapping tariffs on China made EVs by quadrupling the import duties on Chinese EVs by a whopping 100%!

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is right in believing that intense competition from China rivals had influenced Tesla’s decision.

While Musk took his time to decide when and how to set up shop in Asean, playing hard to get despite the many incentives offered by wooing suitors, he’s ultimately a late comer because China beat him to it.

The SCMP quoted Cassey Lee from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute saying, “Tesla would be a latecomer in this market, and its EVs are pricier than those from Chinese companies.”

Unsurprising U-turn: Cars on the assembly line at Tesla’s Giga Texas manufacturing facility in Austin. Musk has opted against investing in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand after months of aggressive courting by leaders of these countries of his EV brand. — AFP

Tesla’s decision to skip Asean could mean it will miss out on a chunk of the region’s market, said to be worth up to US$100bil (RM443bil) by 2035.

“The global EV industry landscape has intensified, with China solidifying its position as the world champion in the EV space.

“As a result, China experienced a significant surge in the export value of its battery electric vehicles, which quadrupled from US$8.59bil in 2021 to US$34.13bil by 2023,” Jakarta Post reported.

The International Energy Agency reported that China accounted for nearly 60% of new electric car registrations globally in 2023, Europe at 25%, the US at 10%, and the rest of the world for the remaining 5%.

In contrast to the US blanket policy that applies to all EV automakers from China, the EU’s rule imposes a provisional individually tailored increase in tariffs for different manufacturers.

For instance, BYD will face a 17.4% tariff, while Geely and SAIC will be subject to import tariffs of 20% and 38.1%, respectively.

Jakarta Post added that a recent report by Counterpoint Research revealed that Chinese brands accounted for over 70% of EV sales in South-East Asia this year, with BYD leading the market.

“Chinese brands have successfully overtaken Japanese and South Korean brands for the EV space, which have long dominated Southeast Asia’s internal combustion engine car market, as the latter two countries lag in the transition to EVs.”

In Malaysia, Geely has partnered with Malaysian Proton to invest US$10bil (RM44.3bil) to expand its presence in South-East Asia while in Thailand, Chery has plans to set up a factory in Rayong province aiming to produce 50,000 BEV and hybrid EV units in the first phase of production.

Let’s axe the X owner and turn our attention to the Chinese, especially Geely, for collaboration as they’re a committed partner who’s here for the long haul.

The Proton e.MAS7 has already been unveiled and surely, this will be the first of many models that could arrive from 2025.