So can we have a Malaysian Chinese as PM for more than seven months?

So can we have a Malaysian Chinese as PM for more than seven months?

By CS Ming
4 hours ago





JUST WHEN we are about to rejoice on the fact that Malaysia finally has a three-star Chinese general, he retires in seven months. What did he ever do wrong?


Regardless, it was still a small victory for diversity in Malaysia where an imposing racial glass ceiling looms overhead.


To recap, Lieutenant-General Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng was given a retirement parade on Wednesday (Jan 14) at the First Royal Rangers Regiment parade ground in Wardieburn Camp, Kuala Lumpur, with his official retirement taking effect two days later.

But what is the position of a general compared to the most coveted job post in Malaysia, the Prime Minister. Or more importantly, is a Chinese ever able to break the glass ceiling and occupy this very illustrious post?

It isn’t a difficult question when we realise that Mahathir who sat on it for over 24 years has a strong Indian ancestry, hidden behind all that Malay-first marketing pitch.


But if we are to turn back the pages of history, Malaysians will be surprised to find that a Chinese once sat on the post, although not for an extended period of time.

That Chinese was no other than Ling Liong Sik, and the reason behind his appointment was a story as interesting as it was dramatic. Back in 1987, UMNO was heading into one of the most dramatic internal elections in its history.

For the first time during his presidency, (Team A) Dr Mahathir Mohamad faced a serious challenge for the party’s top job. His opponent was no lightweight — it was (Team B) Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, or Ku Li, the former finance minister with strong backing and deep roots in the party.

When the votes were counted, Mahathir narrowly retained the presidency, defeating Ku Li 761 votes to 718. Team A also secured many of the other key party positions. But the result did not settle matters.

Unhappy with how the election had been conducted, several Team B leaders took the dispute to court. They argued that the outcome should be invalidated due to irregularities involving unregistered or improperly approved UMNO branches that had participated in the voting.

After months of legal wrangling, the case took an extraordinary turn. On Feb 4, 1988, Justice Harun Hashim ruled that UMNO itself was unlawful, effectively deregistering the party.

With UMNO suddenly out of the picture, an unusual constitutional situation emerged. Within BN, the ruling coalition, MCA now held the largest number of parliamentary seats among the remaining component parties — 17 in total. Its president, Ling Liong Sik, therefore became the acting chairman of BN.



By extension, Ling briefly found himself in the position of acting prime minister in practical terms, and even chaired a Cabinet meeting. It must have been a surreal moment: no UMNO ministers were present, and Mahathir himself was absent.

However, Ling was never formally appointed prime minister by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which is why no official records list him as having held the office.

His time at the top of BN was also extremely short-lived. According to accounts from that period, at his first BN Supreme Council meeting as acting chairman, Ling approved the entry of Mahathir’s newly formed party, UMNO Baru, into the coalition.

With UMNO Baru in, the balance of power immediately shifted back, effectively ending Ling’s fleeting stint as acting BN chairman and de facto head of government.

Despite all the talk about glass ceiling and racial barriers, there is nothing in Malaysia’s laws that bars a non-Malay from becoming prime minister. In fact, Mahathir himself once said he believed a non-Malay could one day lead the country. —Feb 2, 2025

***

AAB had some Chinese blood on his maternal side.

Can mayoral election be KJ's stepping stone to becoming PM?

Can mayoral election be KJ's stepping stone to becoming PM?

Zikri Kamarulzaman
Published: Feb 2, 2026 1:23 PM
Updated: 4:23 PM



Last month, DAP's former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming created buzz when he pledged support for a theoretical Khairy Jamaluddin premiership, saying he would gladly serve in the former Umno leader’s cabinet.

While the prospect created excitement, the realities of Malaysian politics make it very unlikely that Khairy (above) would become prime minister in the near future.

This is because the parliamentary system requires Khairy to have support from elected politicians and party institutions - not the public - to become prime minister.

As it stands, Khairy is a political outsider after he was sacked from Umno - a party whose fortunes are in decline - while the first-past-the-post (FPTP) election system makes it difficult for any new party to gain a foothold.

However, a proposal that is being studied may provide the former Umno Youth chief the necessary platform to expand his popularity while proving he has the administrative chops to run a country: a mayoral election for Kuala Lumpur.

If adopted, it would be the first public executive post in the country to be elected directly by the people.


Ways to open up political system

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Sunway University political scientist Wong Chin Huat said having a mayoral election was one of two simple ideas that could open up the political landscape.

"For Khairy and Ong to form a new party and be prime minister, their new party must set out to steal enough votes and seats from some existing party to emerge as the largest. Not impossible, but the field is crowded.

"The most realistic way to open up the political system is not changing our constitutional monarchy or parliamentarianism, but by doing something simpler - (a) change the electoral system to have a substantial percentage - if not all - of party-list seats, allowing a new party to come into power.

“And (b) having a metropolitan mayoral election for charismatic leaders like Khairy to build a national following such that popular support may help him to build a coalition before or after the election, even if his party cannot win a majority," Wong said.

Political analyst Wong Chin Huat


A party-list proportional representation system, as Wong has championed, is one where parties get a share of seats proportional to their vote share.

It is a system that allows new and small parties to gain seats and influence, while avoiding the pitfalls of the FPTP system, where in a multi-cornered fight, those with the most votes win, even if it's with less than 50 percent of the votes.


Right wing pushback

While mayoral election would mark a significant evolution for Malaysian democracy, there are significant hurdles to overcome.

Namely, buy-in from right-wing Malay-based political parties, who have long opposed the local council election, claiming it would erode Malay power in urban areas where non-Malays are the majority.

Already, Umno leaders have had a knee-jerk reaction to the mayoral election study, fanning racial sentiments while not making any merit-based arguments.

READ MORE: KL mayor polls: Umno froths, S'gor PAS Youth wants rational dialogue

PAS is also expected to mount objections, although Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar has given a measured response in raising concerns over the proposal.

Such objections would weigh heavily on Putrajaya's decision on whether or not to adopt any form of local election.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has shown that he can be swayed by Malay sentiments, a key voter demographic that his Pakatan Harapan coalition is lacking support from.

However, Anwar's pandering to right-wing sentiments is also risking non-Malay support for Harapan, and may upset the coalition's dominance of Kuala Lumpur politics over the last decade.

Expel Wan Fayhsal, suspension too lenient, says Machang Bersatu

FMT:

Expel Wan Fayhsal, suspension too lenient, says Machang Bersatu

Division chief Kamaruddin Ab Kadir says the Machang MP has repeatedly disregarded party discipline and challenged the leadership

Machang Bersatu chief Kamaruddin Ab Kadir (left) accused Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal of lodging complaints using falsified statutory declarations.

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu’s Machang chief Kamaruddin Ab Kadir has urged the party to immediately expel Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal from Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional, saying that the latter’s one-term suspension was too lenient.

Kamaruddin said the Machang MP had repeatedly shown disregard for party discipline, challenged the leadership and sowed confusion in the district.

“The decision to suspend him for one term is insufficient given the damage he has caused to the party, particularly to Machang Bersatu,” the New Straits Times reported him as saying today.


Kamaruddin also claimed Wan Fayhsal had maliciously lodged complaints against the division using falsified statutory declarations.

“We urge the disciplinary board to expedite action on all complaints lodged against him, especially those involving the alleged use of falsified declarations.”


Wan Fayhsal was suspended in October for violating the party’s constitution and code of conduct.

On Thursday, he had called for Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to resign for claiming that Bersatu and PAS had agreed to abolish the top post in PN. The claim has been denied by PAS leaders.

Wan Fayhsal said Muhyiddin should take responsibility for his actions and resign, as he had smeared PN’s image and strained Bersatu’s ties with its allies, especially PAS.

‘Why fear research?’ Hannah Yeoh defends data-driven approach amid KL mayoral election debate

‘Why fear research?’ Hannah Yeoh defends data-driven approach amid KL mayoral election debate



In a Facebook post shared in conjunction with the Federal Territories Day public holiday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said higher education teaches individuals to examine issues critically and conduct thorough research, rather than simply aiming to pass examinations. — Bernama pic

Monday, 02 Feb 2026 3:11 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh today defended the importance of research and evidence-based policymaking, saying leaders should not shy away from in-depth studies when making decisions that affect the public.

In a Facebook post shared in conjunction with the Federal Territories Day public holiday, Yeoh said higher education teaches individuals to examine issues critically and conduct thorough research, rather than simply aiming to pass examinations.

She said accurate and convincing decisions require sound data and facts, adding that her legal education had taught her how to assess the strengths and weaknesses of policies.

According to Yeoh, weighing the pros and cons of a proposal allows decisions to be made more carefully, while saving time and energy by avoiding efforts that bring little benefit and reducing the risk of mistakes.


She added that research plays a key role in sharpening judgment and is an essential process in arriving at better decisions.

“Do not ever be afraid of research,” she said, adding that wisdom is a crucial quality for leaders who bear responsibility for guiding the public.

Yeoh’s remarks come amid criticism over her ministry’s move to conduct a feasibility study on the possible introduction of elections for the Kuala Lumpur mayor, a proposal that has drawn mixed reactions from various quarters.

Earlier, Yeoh had said the study was aimed at gathering data and assessing implications before any policy decision is made.

***

The fear of the Yellow Peril is far greater amongst Malays, at least Malaysian Malays, than amongst Whites

Umno leaders push back against KL mayoral election feasibility study

Umno leaders push back against KL mayoral election feasibility study


Published: Feb 2, 2026 10:51 AM
Updated: 2:21 PM



Umno politicians have unsurprisingly opposed the Federal Territories Department's study to see whether or not it is feasible to hold mayoral elections in Kuala Lumpur.

Thus far, the pushback has played on sentiments aimed at riling up Malays, and not logical arguments that challenge the merits of such polls.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh was reported by China Press that her office was studying mayoral elections, saying it was more practical than electing local councillors for Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Right-wing Malay-based political parties have long opposed the local council election, claiming it would erode Malay power in urban areas where non-Malays are the majority.

In a Facebook post this morning, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh said the concept of mayoral election must be rejected just like how the Urban Renewal Act (URA) proposal was dunked on.

"We fight among ourselves because of power, they unite for power. Wake up, my brothers," Akmal (above) added, in a clear reference to Malay and non-Malay politics.

Agong’s prerogative?

Meanwhile, Seputeh Umno chief Razlan Rafii - who is an aide to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - said that appointing the Kuala Lumpur mayor is the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Seputeh Umno chief Razlan Rafii


This is not strictly accurate. The mayor is appointed by the government, specifically the minister in charge of the Federal Territories, with the Agong's consent.

Razlan also accused Yeoh of flip-flopping on the issue of local council polls.

"First, you say you won't do it. Today you say something else. This minister is flip-flopping!" he said on Facebook.

He attached an article where the minister said the local council election would not be the decision of a single party. She did not outright reject the idea.


Underworld influence warning

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi took the debate in a whole other direction, claiming that mayoral polls will be influenced not just by race, but also the criminal underworld.

"Kuala Lumpur has many entertainment centres, pubs, nightclubs, massage parlours and immoral activities. There are a lot of underworld activists, cartels and gangsters.

"Imagine if Kuala Lumpur's gangsters used their money and network to support certain candidates. The mayor's office would no longer be free," he said.

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi


He argued that an appointed mayor can have disciplinary action taken against them, while an elected mayor will stay in office until the end of their term.

While support for Umno is declining, as admitted by the party during its general assembly last month, the party still holds significant influence in the cabinet.


READ MORE: Underneath bravado at AGM, Umno worried about its survivability


Two weeks ago, the cabinet decided to hit pause on the URA so that proposals from Umno could be incorporated.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is banking on Umno to deliver conservative Malay support for his Pakatan Harapan coalition.

***

UMNO, PAS live in perpetual fear of Chinapek, Mormoh and 3rd level elections until bandar bandar are populated by 99.82% Melayu voters

Water music festival to proceed with adjustments, says DPM

FMT:

Water music festival to proceed with adjustments, says DPM

The event had drawn backlash, with critics calling it a 'foreign street party'

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government would adjust the festival’s programme to reduce elements that had caused controversy. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The three-day water music festival in Bukit Bintang on May 1-4 can proceed, but its programme will be adjusted in line with Malaysian cultural values, said deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“We will adjust the programme to reduce elements that have caused controversy,” Utusan Malaysia reported him as saying.

The water festival, organised under the tourism, arts and culture ministry, had drawn backlash on social media, with some calling for it to be cancelled.


Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar also urged the organisers to reconsider, calling the festival a “foreign street party” and warning that road closures could paralyse the city’s pulse as well as affect traders and the public.

He also said the open-air festival and street-party format might conflict with local cultural values, public decorum and social harmony, given Malaysia’s multiethnic, Muslim-majority context.

However, Malaysia Inbound Tourism Association president Mint Leong said the event had been professionally planned and was aimed to showcase Malaysia as a safe, stable and vibrant multicultural nation while respecting racial and religious sensitivities.

Cameron Highlands crash leaves one dead, six injured after Myvi, Serena and Xpander collide on winding stretch

Cameron Highlands crash leaves one dead, six injured after Myvi, Serena and Xpander collide on winding stretch



An elderly man was killed and six others injured in a three-vehicle collision at Kilometre 13 of Jalan Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai. — Bernama pic

Monday, 02 Feb 2026 11:03 AM MYT


IPOH, Feb 2 — An elderly man was killed and six others injured in a three-vehicle collision at Kilometre 13 of Jalan Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai here yesterday.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department acting assistant director of operations Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah said the department received an emergency call at 3.04pm involving a Perodua Myvi, a Nissan Serena and a Mitsubishi Xpander.

“Upon arrival, we found that the 65-year-old driver of the Myvi had died at the scene, while a six-year-old girl and three female passengers aged in their 20s and 50s sustained injuries.

“The 60-year-old driver of the Nissan Serena was unharmed, but two passengers, a 15-year-old girl and a 60-year-old woman, were injured. All six occupants of the Mitsubishi vehicle were unharmed,” he said in a statement tonight.

Shazlean said the deceased and injured were taken to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for further action. The rescue operation concluded at 5.40pm. — Bernama

Zahid calls for ‘something extraordinary’ to avoid Umno closing shop

FMT:

Zahid calls for ‘something extraordinary’ to avoid Umno closing shop

The party president says Umno and its partners in Barisan Nasional must undergo rebranding and adopt political marketing strategies

Party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno would not get anywhere ‘even if our product is good, but external perceptions of us remain negative’.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must move out of its comfort zone and take extraordinary steps, including generating new ideas, to enable the party to regain its dominance in the country’s political landscape, party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told members today.

He said Umno must no longer be seen as a party rooted in nostalgia, but instead must undergo rebranding, including the adoption of political marketing strategies. This approach should not only involve Umno but also its partners in Barisan Nasional.

“We must think about our direction not only 20 years from now, but also the fact that in about 22 months we will be facing a general election. Therefore, from now on, we must have good products, branding and marketing.

“We must do something extraordinary, because if the people make the same decisions as in the 2018 and 2022 general elections — the period of our decline — I fear that 20 years from now, when Umno reaches 100 years of age, we will have to close shop,” he said.

Zahid’s remarks came in a speech at the first anniversary dinner of the Umno political school held here tonight.

The party president said efforts to strengthen Umno and Barisan Nasional must also involve countering negative narratives and perceptions levelled against them, which have resulted in voters distancing themselves from the party.

“Even if our product is good, but external perceptions of us remain negative, Umno will not go anywhere. This perception is our collective nightmare, so we must dismantle it properly,” he said.

Zahid said graduates of the political school are Umno’s future leaders and also serve as the party’s young thinkers in helping to analyse issues and provide input to the party’s top leadership.

***

UMNO Baru-iest-est-est?

MCA Baru-iest-est-est?

MIC Baru-iest-est-est?

Iran supreme leader signals war risk after deadly protests amid US military deployment

Iran supreme leader signals war risk after deadly protests amid US military deployment



Iranian nationals arrive in Turkey through the Razi-Kapikِy border crossing today, as Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of a "regional war" if the United States attacked following heavy military deployments. —AFP pic

Sunday, 01 Feb 2026 6:07 PM MYT


TEHRAN, Feb 1 — Iran’s supreme leader today likened recent anti-government protests to a “coup”, warning that any US attack on the Islamic republic following Washington’s military deployments in the Middle East would trigger a regional war.

The Iranian authorities’ deadly response to the protests sparked threats of intervention from US President Donald Trump, who dispatched an aircraft carrier group to the region.


“The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, telling Iranians they “should not be scared” of Trump’s rhetoric.

The demonstrations in Iran began as an expression of discontent at the high cost of living, but grew into a mass anti-government movement that the country’s leaders have described as “riots” fomented by the United States and Israel.


“They (rioters) attacked the police, government centres, IRGC centres, banks, and mosques, and burned the Koran... It was like a coup,” Khamenei said, adding that “the coup was suppressed”.


Tehran has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths during the protests, but insists that most were members of the security forces and innocent bystanders, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts”.

Rights groups and foreign governments, however, have accused Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of carrying out a crackdown that killed thousands of protesters.


The response prompted the European Union to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, with Iranian lawmakers retaliating on Sunday by slapping the same designation on European armies.

Lawmakers wore the green uniform of the Guards in a display of solidarity at the legislative session, where they chanted “Death to America”, “Death to Israel” and “Shame on you, Europe”, state television footage showed.

Slamming the bloc’s “irresponsible action”, speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that under “Article 7 of the Law on Countermeasures Against the Declaration of the IRGC as a Terrorist Organisation, the armies of European countries are considered terrorist groups”.

It remained unclear what immediate impact the decision would have.

The law was first passed in 2019, when the United States classified the Guards as a terrorist organisation.

Sunday’s session was held on the 47th anniversary of the return from exile of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic republic in 1979.

The Guards are the ideological arm of Iran’s military, tasked with safeguarding the Islamic revolution from external and internal threats.

The European Union agreed on Thursday to list the Guards as a “terrorist organisation” over the response to the protests.

The step matched similar classifications enacted by the United States, Canada and Australia.

Ghalibaf said the decision had “accelerated Europe’s path to becoming irrelevant in the future world order”, adding it had only increased domestic support for the Guards.

Threats and dialogue

Iran and the United States have been trading warnings and threats of potential military action, even as their leaders appear to leave the door open for negotiations.

Firouzeh, a 43-year-old homemaker who declined to give her full name, said the recent tensions had left her “very worried and scared”.

“Lately, all I do is watch the news until I fall asleep. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to check the updates.”

IRGC official Ahmad Vahidi was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying “enemies” sought to create a “war atmosphere”.

“This is part of their psychological operations. Therefore we should not fall into this trap,” Vahidi said.

The ultra-conservative Kayhan daily ran the headline “West Asia, Iran’s home and America’s graveyard”, while Mehr said several thousand graves in Tehran were ready to receive the remains of American soldiers if the United States attacked.

But Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday: “Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing.”

Trump also confirmed that dialogue was taking place, but without withdrawing his earlier threats, adding “we’ll see what happens”.

The US president previously said he believed Iran would make a deal over its nuclear and missile programmes rather than face military action.

Tehran, meanwhile, has said it is ready for nuclear talks if its missile and defence capabilities are not on the agenda.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that “a war would be in the interest of neither Iran, nor the United States, nor the region”, during a call with his Egyptian counterpart, according to his office.

Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, who also serves as foreign minister, held talks in Iran yesterday to try to “de-escalate tensions”, the kingdom’s foreign ministry said. — AFP

‘I have absolutely no connection’: Anwar responds to Epstein email mentions

‘I have absolutely no connection’: Anwar responds to Epstein email mentions



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he was surprised to see his name in Epstein-linked emails on February 1, 2026 and adds that he’s not involved. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Sunday, 01 Feb 2026 7:35 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was unaware until today that his name had been mentioned in emails linked to the Epstein case.

“Just today I found out that some outsiders wanted to meet and even ‘dropped’ my name in emails related to the Epstein case,” he wrote in a statement on his social media accounts.

“Alhamdulillah, it’s been more than a decade as mentioned in the emails, and I have absolutely no connection with any of the parties exchanging those emails, especially Epstein,” he added.

He also used the laugh out loud emoji after mentioning the email and the angry emoji next to Epstein’s name.

He added the hashtag #DoneExplain, and said he will continue with his personal plans in Johor Bahru.

Anwar’s comments came amid renewed attention online after the emails surfaced, though he stressed there was no involvement on his part.

The Epstein scandal involves convicted US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of running a global network of sexual abuse and trafficking of minors before his death in 2019.

Mental health terms used to harm LGBTQ+ individuals

Mental health terms used to harm LGBTQ+ individuals

Zarrah Morden
Published: Feb 1, 2026 7:00 AM
Updated: 11:20 AM



Linking work stress to how individuals "become” gay is an example of how mental health language can be used to cause harm to the LGBTQ+ community, said critics of a minister who recently made the claim in the Dewan Rakyat.

They argued that this tactic amounts to pathologising, where certain identities or behaviours are framed as medical disorders to justify control, discrimination, or punishment of marginalised groups.

Clinical psychologist Shaleen Chrisanne said this strategy masquerades as concern or correction while perpetuating stigma and moral judgment as well as deepening social hierarchies.

"In other communities, mental health discourse is usually oriented towards support, destigmatisation, and access to care,” she told Malaysiakini.

"However, when applied to LGBTQ+ identities in Malaysia, it is often used to question or dismiss their identities instead."

Clinical psychologist Shaleen Chrisanne


She noted that those in power have long used this tactic to pathologise minority groups, including women and racial minorities in Western societies.

Queer rights activist Gavin Chow echoed this view, saying that the practice of pathologising the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia has been ineffective, unscientific and extremely harmful.

"LGBTQ+ people do not become so because of stress, but we instead experience daily stresses as a minority group while coping with trauma, discrimination, and marginalisation," said Chow, who is the executive director of People Like Us Hang Out (Pluho).

Minister cites study

In a written parliamentary response on Jan 26, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan said the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has limited information and no statistical data on the LGBTQ+ community.

Zulkifli then cited a 2017 study by Sulaiman et al, claiming it identified factors such as work stress, community influences, sexual experiences, and other personal factors as contributing to what he described as “involvement in an LGBTQ+ lifestyle”.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan


Checks by Malaysiakini found an Indonesian study by Sulaiman, Hasmiana Hasan, and Hafidh Maksum titled "Model Project Citizen Untuk Mengatasi Gaya Hidup LGBT" (Project Citizen Model to Overcome LGBT Lifestyle), which stated five factors of a person becoming LGBTQ+: the community, work, sex, the self, and spiritual strength.

However, it did not elaborate on the factor of work, nor did it mention work stress specifically.

Malaysiakini was unable to verify whether this was the study that Zulkifli referred to.

Weaponising misinformation

Commenting on the issue, Justice For Sisters (JFS) co-founder Thilaga Sulathireh said the government is no stranger to employing misinformation when it comes to the queer community.

Research has found that diversity in sexual and gender orientations is natural and normal, she added.

"The World Health Organization and other bodies have stressed that LGBTQ+ people's sexual orientation and gender identity are not a result of any form of medical, behavioural, sexual illnesses or deficiencies," she said.

Pointing to religious programmes that aim to "rehabilitate" LGBTQ+ sexual and gender identities, she said this is based on misinformation that reinforces assumptions that such identities can be changed or "corrected".

JFS co-founder Thilaga Sulathireh

It also creates harm by validating discrimination and strengthening inequalities, isolation, and exclusion, she added.

"I think the government clearly is misinformed about and has a bias against LGBTQ+ people.

"The LGBTQ+ misinformation often has a religious intersection. I think that makes it a bit more challenging to correct, especially in a conservative environment where there is a hegemonic and patriarchal interpretation of religion and where LGBTQ+ people face high religious exclusion," Thilaga added.

Concerns over crackdown

JFS had called 2025 an abysmal year for LGBTQ+ rights, with over 307 arrests between January and December based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

The queer advocacy group further raised concerns about how the authorities had, within the year, turned public complaints into legitimising repression of the queer community, such as with RTM pulling the children's cartoon “Santiago of the Seven Seas” off the air after viewers expressed worries about LGBTQ+ influences.

It also found that federal and state authorities, along with religious and political actors, have intensified anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns by exploiting HIV, religion, and moral narratives to spread misinformation about the community, entrench stigma, and justify harmful so-called rehabilitation practices.

It noted a considerable increase in censorship of LGBTQ+ content in media, arts, and culture, citing the ban of publications, stricter performance guidelines, and gendered dress codes.

FT ministry studying mayoral election for KL - Yeoh

FT ministry studying mayoral election for KL - Yeoh


Published: Feb 1, 2026 2:27 PM
Updated: 6:02 PM


Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has instructed her ministry to conduct a study on the feasibility of holding a mayoral election for Kuala Lumpur.

She said the ministry is considering such an election as it would be more practical than electing multiple city councillors through local council polls.

Yeoh pointed out that the current administrative structure already involves “too many units”, with the capital overseen simultaneously by a mayor, MPs and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) advisers.

“If I were the mayor, whose advice would I have to take? Would I have to listen to the elected MPs, the DBKL advisers, or the city councillors?” she was quoted as saying in an interview with China Press.

Yeoh said if the local council election is reinstated in the future, a direct election would then take place for the Kuala Lumpur mayor or for city councillors, but not both at the same time.

Local council elections, particularly in the capital, have long been a contentious issue.

At present, Kuala Lumpur and DBKL are under federal control, with the city administered by a government-appointed mayor.

Critics have argued that this structure concentrates power in the hands of the mayor, with limited checks and balances compared to other local councils.

However, right-wing Malay-based political parties have long opposed the local council election, claiming it would erode Malay power in urban areas where non-Malays are the majority.

Different election procedures

The minister said mayoral and local council elections would also require different procedures from a general election, including separate considerations on costs, laws, voter eligibility and voter registration.

“In a general election, anyone aged 18 and above can vote. But in a mayoral election, we need to clarify whether eligibility depends on being a homeowner, a tenant, or someone who works in Kuala Lumpur,” Yeoh said.

She added that amendments to the Federal Capital Act 1960 would be required if such elections were to be held, and that new legislation might be considered if the amendments proved too extensive.

Yeoh also said a separate study on local council elections will be conducted by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), with findings expected in March, which will be made public.

The research and preparation on the matter were still needed, regardless of whether a mayoral election can ultimately be carried out, Yeoh said, assuring that MPs and the public would eventually be notified and given a clearer explanation.

Oversight committees to advise mayor

Yeoh also said DBKL’s five new oversight committees, chaired by MPs, would improve monitoring of development projects and provide advisory input to the mayor.

This is because MPs previously had no access to DBKL’s internal processes and were often only made aware of development plans after approvals had been granted.

“When the development plan is still in the One-Stop Integrated Centre, MPs will know that they can also provide advice to the mayor before the mayor makes a decision,” she said.

On Jan 19, Yeoh announced that the committees would also oversee DBKL’s 2026 budget, review key city policies and help improve the administration of the capital.

The committee chairpersons are Batu MP P Prabakaran (Sustainable Business), Bandar Tun Razak MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Public Housing Projects and Community Welfare), Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan (Flood Mitigation, Road Maintenance, Slope Management and Maintenance), Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng (Systems Management and Traffic) and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (Clean, Green Cities and Sustainable Development).

Reviving local polls

Calls to reinstate local council elections in Kuala Lumpur resurfaced in November last year following the abrupt end of former mayor Maimunah Sharif’s tenure.

Former KL mayor Maimunah Sharif


She was replaced the following day by Fadlun Mak Ujud, with the approval of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

At the time, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Kuala Lumpur residents have no say in how the city is governed, calling for “long-overdue reforms” to curb the concentration of power in the mayor’s office.

He also cited Pakatan Harapan’s 2022 general election manifesto, which pledged to strengthen democratic participation at the local level.

Nik Nazmi was joined by six other Kuala Lumpur MPs who submitted a Private Members’ Bill to Parliament, seeking to amend the Federal Capital Act 1960, and calling for a councillor-based governance system for the nation’s capital.

***

PUS will be right royally pissed.

'It could be a gold mine' – Anwar praised in 2012 email involving sex predator Epstein

'It could be a gold mine' – Anwar praised in 2012 email involving sex predator Epstein

The correspondence, part of the recently released Epstein files, described Anwar Ibrahim as someone who could benefit a US investment banker should he become prime minister.

February 1, 2026 3:19 PM3 minute read

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been asked to explain an email correspondence involving US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in which the Pakatan Harapan leader's name was mentioned favourably.


Questions have been raised over Anwar Ibrahim's ties with one of the world's most prominent sexual predators in recent decades, after a copy of a 2012 email exchange released as part of the Epstein files showed the prime minister's name being touted as someone who could open up a "gold mine" for US investment bank JP Morgan.

The email was among millions of pages of files released by the US Department of Justice, part of a legal requirement to make public unclassified records related to the investigations and prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein, the man at the centre of a major sex trafficking scandal that has implicated some of the most prominent US politicians and financiers.

In one of the emails published by White House, where the names of the senders other than Epstein were redacted, an individual claiming to be close to Anwar proposed arranging a meeting between him and one "Jes".


Jes is believed to refer to Jes Staley, an American banker who subsequently resigned from JP Morgan following revelations about his relationship with Epstein.

"Should we arrange a private meeting for Jes with Anwar Ibrahim?" the person asked Epstein in the email dated Feb 21, 2012, four years after he pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from girls as young as 14.

"If he becomes prime minister of malaysia he will clean up and it could be a gold mine for JPM. I know Anwar well, always stayed close to him for many years even though everybody said he's finished and can never come back. Looks different now," reads the unedited email to Epstein.

Epstein responded warmly to the proposal and asked if Anwar would be available for a meeting either in Europe or the US, to which he was told that Anwar might be visiting Europe the following month.

"Will check re USA. May in Malaysia is also possible but it will depend when elections will be called," it added.

Jeffrey Epstein.


Epstein then suggested that he could meet Anwar in Paris alongside filmmaker Woody Allen: "You can tell him that Woody Allen, is with me in paris, and many countries are offereing him money to mae a movie in their country„ midngiht in paris, chirstin barcelona , bop, rome, etc," [Unedited].

MalaysiaNow is unable to determine Anwar's overseas destinations during that period, or whether any such meetings took place.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute, for which he spent 13 months in jail.

He died mysteriously in a New York prison in 2019 as he awaited trial on fresh charges of running a vast network of underage girls for sex.


Mahathir's warning

Meanwhile, about two weeks after the correspondence in February 2012, former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad accused Anwar of being a tool of the US, and warned that the PKR leader would do the bidding of the Zionist lobby should he become prime minister.

"Malaysia is independent. But when foreign powers could change the Malaysian government through various illegal means, will Malaysia remain independent?" Mahathir asked in a blog post on March 6,2012.

The statement also came just two months after Washington welcomed Anwar's acquittal by the High Court over a charge of sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhary Mohd Azlan.

"The ruling reflects favorably on the independence of Malaysia's judiciary and presents an opportunity for all Malaysians to focus on the future," a US official had then said in a statement.

Anwar was subsequently convicted of the same charge in 2014.


Bersatu: 'Come clean on gold mine'

A Bersatu leader urged the prime minister to come clean on the revelation.

Na'im Brundage.

"As the prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim must come forward and provide a full explanation to protect the dignity and integrity of the country's institution of leadership," said Bersatu Youth spokesman Na’im Brundage.

He said it was troubling that Anwar had been touted as someone who could open up a "gold mine" for JP Morgan.

"This raises serious questions that should be clarified openly to avoid any negative perceptions that could undermine the people's confidence," he said.

The latest revelation comes as Anwar faces increasing pressure to cancel the Malaysia-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) he signed last October, a deal experts have criticised as one-sided and reducing Malaysia’s status to that of a vassal state of the US.

Anwar and Pakatan Harapan leaders have defended the deal as a way to persuade Washington to reduce President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, but it later emerged as a document filled with clauses forcing Malaysia to align with American geopolitical interests, along with heavily skewed conditions favouring the US economy.

To forgive is divine: PAS Syura Council reinstates 3 Perlis assemblymen

The PAS Syura Council, in its meeting on January 27, accepted the appeals of three former Perlis assemblymen whose party memberships were revoked last month. - Scoop file pic, February 1, 2026


To forgive is divine: PAS Syura Council reinstates 3 Perlis assemblymen


The three members, previously expelled for withdrawing support from the Perlis menteri besar, will have their cases reviewed by PAS’s central leadership


Scoop Reporters
Updated 11 seconds ago
1 February, 2026
2:21 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR – The PAS Syura Council, in its meeting on January 27, accepted the appeals of three former Perlis assemblymen whose party memberships were revoked last month.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin confirmed that the appeals involved Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong), and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), local media reported.

Hashim explained that the decision to reinstate the three members was based on several factors, primarily the teachings of the Quran, which emphasise unity and brotherhood rather than expulsion without compassion.

“The mercy of Allah SWT and reconciliation should be prioritised, not stirring anger within the party.”

He further stated that the decision was also in line with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad SAW, where repentance and forgiveness should precede punishment, as demonstrated in the Hadith of al-Ghamidiyyah and Juhainah.

Additionally, Hashim referred to Islamic jurisprudence, which asserts that “harm should be removed.” He explained that the absence of representatives for three constituencies resulted in significant public harm, a situation which the party could not ignore.

“The welfare of the people must not be sacrificed for the sake of administrative firmness,” Hashim added. He stressed that Islamic governance aims to preserve unity, maintain internal trust, and manage differences without destroying the party.

Hashim also reminded that PAS, as an Islamic movement, has granted significant authority to the Syura Council and the Mursyidul Am to safeguard the constitution and ensure that PAS’s principles are upheld in its actions and administration.

“The Syura Council must act with fairness, be conciliatory, and foster forgiveness to unite divided members, especially in Perlis, so that the conflict does not persist. Scholars should not fuel the flames of hostility,” he said.

Earlier, PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had announced that the three assemblymen’s memberships were immediately suspended after they were accused of signing a statutory declaration (SD) withdrawing their support for the then Perlis menteri besar, Mohd Shukri Ramli.

Abdul Hadi explained that this decision was made during a special meeting of PAS’s central working committee on December 24 of the previous year, held at the PAS President’s office in Rusila, Terengganu.

In a separate statement, PAS Ulama Council chief Ahmad Yahaya clarified that the Syura Council did not make a final decision on the appeals as the matter fell outside its jurisdiction.

The seats of Ridzuan (Guar Sanji), Fakhrul (Bintong), and Saad (Chuping) were officially declared vacant after their membership was terminated.

Hashim had previously expressed that while he did not oppose the punishment, he felt the decision was made hastily without the matter being referred to the Syura Council for proper deliberation. He added that any disciplinary measures should be based on Islamic wisdom and should serve as an educational tool when addressing wrongdoing. – February 1, 2026

Nanta Linggi urged to resign over cabinet responsibility breach: Aziz Bari

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi’s remarks suggesting Peninsular Malaysia should “divorce” Sarawak if issues could not be resolved have violated his responsibility as a federal minister to the rest of the cabinet, a law expert has said. - Bernama file pic, January 31, 2026


Nanta Linggi urged to resign over cabinet responsibility breach: Aziz Bari


Constitutional expert says Alexander Nanta Linggi crossed the line by making public statements regarding Sarawak that were incompatible with collective cabinet responsibility


Scoop Reporters
Updated 19 hours ago
31 January, 2026
7:08 PM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR — Constitutional expert Dr Abdul Aziz Bari has said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi should resign from the cabinet after making public statements that breach the principle of collective cabinet responsibility.

Aziz said a cabinet minister cannot openly express views that contradict cabinet solidarity, stressing that ministers are bound by Article 43(3) of the Federal Constitution and long-established conventions under the Westminster system.

“Unlike his party colleagues from GPS who are not in the cabinet, he is bound by collective cabinet responsibility and must keep such sentiments to himself,” said Aziz, who is also a Perak exco and Tebing Tinggi assemblyman.

On Thursday, when speaking in a radio interview with BFM 89.9, Nanta had used the word “divorce” when voicing frustration over “bickering” on political issues, noting the harmonious way Sarawak dealt with race, religion and politics, while politicians in the peninsular were prone to “quarrelling”.

His remarks as reported by media in Borneo were: “I want Malaysia to go on as a Malaysia that is progressive and people live in harmony. Is that too much to ask for? But I’m worried. I’m worried if we continue to quarrel over everything then don’t blame us, don’t blame Sarawakians. If you don’t like us, divorce us.”

Aziz in a statement to Scoop said that if Nanta wished to make his views public, the proper course was to first step down from the cabinet, describing this as a constitutional requirement rather than a discretionary choice.

Aziz said the situation had now become difficult, adding that he did not think Nanta was willing to withdraw what he had said.

He pointed to several historical precedents where senior leaders resigned on principle after breaking with cabinet positions, including Tun Dr Ismail under Tunku Abdul Rahman, Ghafar Baba during Tun Hussein Onn’s tenure, and Rais Yatim under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“These precedents exist for a reason,” he said, adding that there were other MPs from Sarawak who could take over Nanta’s cabinet role.

Nanta is secretary-general of Gabungan Parti Sarawak and of his party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu.

Aziz also said the episode had embarrassed the prime minister, particularly after Sabah leaders distanced themselves from the statement.

“The Constitution must be followed. That is the benchmark of our political tradition,” he said. “One cannot have it both ways.” – January 31, 2026

Ex-aide predicts Bersatu’s end, urges Muhyiddin to quit and wish attackers ‘good luck’

A former aide of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, said it is an open secret that PAS wants Muhyiddin out so that it can lead the Perikatan Nasional coalition. - Scoop file pic, January 31, 2026


Ex-aide predicts Bersatu’s end, urges Muhyiddin to quit and wish attackers ‘good luck’


Former principal private secretary Dr Marzuki Mohamad tells former boss no point leading those who see him as a liability to their own interests


Scoop Reporters
Updated 1 day ago
31 January, 2026
3:32 PM MYT


Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, who was formerly principal private secretary to the eighth prime minister, said there is no point for Muhyiddin to lead a party of people who did not appreciate him.

“In fact, they are thinking of you as a huge liability to them. Just wish them good luck.

“If I may, I would advise Tan Sri Muhyiddin to exit,” Marzuki said on Facebook.

To support his claim that Bersatu did not appreciate Muhyiddin’s leadership, Marzuki posited that should Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin become party president, he would then dissolve Bersatu and have its members join, or be re-admitted in the case of some, to Umno.

“As Bersatu president, Hamzah would be of high value to Umno. In line with the recent call by the Umno president for former members who left the party to return to Umno, Hamzah could dissolve Bersatu and its members become Umno members.

“Bersatu would be buried, and Hamzah will kiss goodbye to PAS. PAS would lose heavily in the 16th general election,” said Marzuki, a political scientist and now an associate professor at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, adding that this was his own speculation.

Marzuki’s post follows a meeting at Muhyiddin’s house on Thursday night for Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders, where PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was the only component party leader who did not attend.

While this appeared to indicate a split between Bersatu and PAS and instability within PN, Parti Rakyat India Malaysia (MIPP) president P Punithan denied it.

Marzuki in his post said Muhyiddin was being consistently attacked from within PAS which now has the goal of seeing his exit.

“It’s an open secret. Attacks after attacks are in full swing. Words like ‘go away’, ‘your time is finished’ have come out of the mouth of PAS leaders.

“There is also a push from within Bersatu so that Muhyiddin resigns as president.

“Many are waiting to clap their hands to witness the success of project ‘Muhyiddin exit’. For PAS, the PN problem will be solved when Muhyiddin steps down. PAS can appoint one of them as PN chairman. There won’t be any need to amend the PN constitution,” Marzuki added.

Bersatu and PAS are at odds over changes to PN’s leadership structure following Muhyiddin’s resignation as PN chairman earlier this month.

Muhyiddin had claimed that PAS had agreed to his proposal that the PN chairman’s post be abolished, and that the coalition be led by a presidential council headed by Bersatu, and an executive committee led by PAS.

However, PAS has denied agreeing to the proposed restructuring. – January 31, 2026

Three ex-Perlis reps seek to rejoin PAS after being stripped of membership

Three ex-Perlis reps seek to rejoin PAS after being stripped of membership



(From left) Former Perlis assemblymen Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), whose PAS membership was terminated in December.

Sunday, 01 Feb 2026 3:56 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 — PAS’ Ulama Council has confirmed it has received fresh membership applications from three former Perlis assemblymen whose party status was terminated during the state’s political turmoil late last year, Berita Harian reported.

The council said it had accepted new applications from Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), effectively passing the matter to the party’s central leadership rather than treating it as a reinstatement.

In a statement, council member Datuk Ahmad Yahaya said the body had declined to decide on the trio’s appeal because it fell outside its jurisdiction.

“(We are) accepting the new membership applications from the three former assemblymen and handing them to the PAS secretary-general for the central leadership’s consideration,” he said.


His clarification followed a Facebook post — later deleted — by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin, who had earlier indicated the council had approved the appeals.

The three men were removed from the party on December 24 after a crisis that culminated in the resignation of Perlis Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.

PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the decision was made under Clauses 76 and 15A(1)(b) of the party constitution, amended in 2025.

Police detain ‘Inspector Sheila’ over alleged Thaipusam commotion in Batu Caves

Police detain ‘Inspector Sheila’ over alleged Thaipusam commotion in Batu Caves

Sunday, 01 Feb 2026 3:04 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 — A suspended police officer was arrested after allegedly causing a disturbance during Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves last night, police confirmed, following the circulation of a viral video showing the incident.

According to The New Straits Times, the woman — identified as “Inspector Sheila”, whose real name is Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar — was detained under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of their duties and remanded for one day.

Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the arrest stemmed from “an altercation between the woman and traders near the temple”.

Speaking during a community policing programme at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple, he confirmed that police had also invoked Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, which covers actions intended to insult the modesty of an individual.


“A woman known as Sheila was arrested yesterday after an incident that could have caused a disturbance. We obtained a one-day remand under Section 186 for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of their duties, and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for actions intended to insult the modesty of an individual,” he said.

Khalid added that investigations were ongoing.

The arrest followed the circulation of a video purportedly showing the suspended officer, wearing a black shirt and shorts, being handcuffed by two female police personnel as crowds gathered nearby during the festival.

IGP: Police expect to submit investigation paper on journalist Rex Tan to AGC soon

IGP: Police expect to submit investigation paper on journalist Rex Tan to AGC soon



The IGP said police have recorded multiple witness statements over the journalist’s controversial remarks at a public forum in January. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Sunday, 01 Feb 2026 3:36 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 — Police expect to submit the investigation paper involving a journalist to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) soon, following a probe triggered by a controversial question he raised at a public forum on January 12.

According to Utusan Malaysia, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the investigation, opened under the Sedition Act 1948, is now in its final stages.

“So far, four to five witnesses have been called in to assist the investigation.

“We are completing the probe and will see if there is any need to call more witnesses before submitting the investigation paper in the near future,” he said.

The journalist, Rex Tan, was previously released on police bail after his statement was recorded and his mobile phone seized on January 16.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar earlier said the probe centres on a video showing Tan posing a question to UK politician George Galloway during a public forum in Kuala Lumpur, touching on the Palestine issue and drawing a comparison with racial dynamics in Malaysia.

He said three police reports had been lodged over the matter, signalling wider public concern.