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Saturday, June 21, 2025

Loke: KLIA Aerotrain delays due to safety tests

 

THE resumption of Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) Aerotrain service has been delayed to prioritise passenger safety, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Speaking at a media preview in Sepang, Loke emphasised that operations cannot proceed until all safety protocols and critical tests are fully verified, stating, “Our priority is safety. If the tests have not been conducted or they haven’t passed, we definitely cannot approve it.”

“Who would be responsible if I opened the service without all the proper tests being conducted?” he said.

“We do not deny there was a delay from what we initially expected. As a technical regulator, the ministry must ensure that passenger safety comes first. We will not allow any operations until we are fully satisfied it is safe for use,” he added.

He acknowledged the delays, initially expected to be resolved by January 2025, with the first train planned for July 2024 and full service by March 2025.

The service has been suspended since March 2023 due to multiple breakdowns, including incidents on Feb 27 and March 1, 2023, where passengers were stranded. Loke noted that the current shuttle bus service, implemented as a stopgap, will continue as a backup until the Aerotrain system stabilises. —  Focus Malaysia

Anwar in excellent health after annual check-up, says Serdang Hospital

 

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim underwent his annual health check-up at Hospital Sultan Idris Shah, Serdang, today, with results confirming he is in excellent health.

Dr Farique Rizal Abdul Hamid, the hospital’s director, stated, “Alhamdulillah, the examination shows that the Prime Minister’s health is in very good condition. He can carry out his official duties as usual.”

The check-up reflects Anwar’s commitment to staying fit to lead the nation and fulfil his responsibilities to the public with dedication, Dr Farique added in a statement.

In August last year, Anwar underwent a similar annual health check-up, which was conducted by a team of medical specialists from the Health Ministry at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital.

According to a statement issued then, the Prime Minister’s health condition was deemed as good and at an optimal level, allowing him to remain ‘enthusiastic and determined’ to continue bearing the responsibility of his job as prime minister.

 

- Focus Malaysia

Critics are now calling Anwar’s regime the ‘kuku besi’ regime

 

MALAYSIAN authorities are cracking down on online critics of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, with politicians and citizens facing police questioning or charges.

Former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli voiced his concerns after a pro-Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporter’s wife filed a police report following a visit by officers from both the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police at their home.

Rafizi on June 9 highlighted the case of the X user Amer Hamzah, who voiced his views on the PKR elections. Rafizi also identified other social media accounts allegedly targeted for commenting on the recent elections within PKR.

The clampdown coincides with controversy over the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) project, which collects mobile data from telcos without an opt-out, raising privacy and surveillance concerns.

Despite government assurances, critics remain sceptical. Recently, MCMC blocked two Telegram channels, Edisi Siasat (1.18 million members) and Edisi Khas, for allegedly violating local laws.

On June 19, MCMC obtained a court order against Telegram for spreading harmful content, compelling the platform to block the controversial whistleblowing channel Edisi Siasat. This action mirrors the 2015 blocking of Sarawak Report during the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal under former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration.

At least six individuals, including Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun, faced police questioning over social media posts criticising the government’s MPD project, which collects anonymous mobile data without opt-out until 2026. Critics fear privacy breaches and surveillance, despite assurances of data security.

Wong, questioned on June 18 for a TikTok video, called for parliamentary debate. Amid rising discontent and coalition tensions, social media censorship has surged, challenging Anwar’s free speech and reform commitments.

“They (the authorities) have to stop the data collection. Why is there a need for large-scale monitoring?” said Wong, whose party is aligned with the Anwar-led unity government.

“This involves public interest and trust. We are trying to foster public discourse on this… We have a role to play in making sure the government is doing the right thing,” she told The Straits Times.

On June 18, 2025,  Wong was questioned by police over a TikTok video where she criticised the government’s MPD project. She questioned whether Malaysia is undergoing genuine reforms or sliding into “dictatorship”, highlighting concerns over the non-consensual collection of mobile data from telcos, raising fears of privacy violations and surveillance.

While Madani is taking the same path Najib’s regime took, more people are now voicing concerns over the banishment of freedom of expression online. With the Edisi Siasat 2.0 channel now inaccessible, more people are voicing support for the channel.

An X user said the Anwar regime’s iron grip is no joke these days, calling it “kuku besi”.

The Telegram channel Edisi Siasat 2, which just started breathing two days ago and already hit over 100,000 subscribers, got buried yesterday after they managed to drop one post (complete with a phone number) of Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

The minister had joined the channel the night before, creating a flurry of comments on the channel.

A critic of the Madani regime who is also a whistleblower had this to say: “Edisi Siasat existed as a critic of government institutions since the Muhyiddin government, and look which kuku besi is trying to silence it.”

Note that in the years before Anwar took power, the words ‘kuku besi’ were used against the Najib regime. 

 - Focus Malaysia

Viewing the future of PAS, with caution and possibility

 A veteran journalist’s views on the Islamic party are not wrong, but a former minister’s suggestion should not be dismissed.

perhimpunan pas

From P Ramasamy

Terence Netto is a seasoned and respected journalist with years of experience in Malaysian political commentary. Recently, he took umbrage at former law minister Zaid Ibrahim for suggesting that PAS might rise to national prominence, drawing parallels with the clerical establishment in Iran.

Netto expressed surprise that a known liberal like Zaid, a contrarian by nature, would entertain the notion of PAS’s future political potential. For Netto, Zaid’s assessment seemed overreaching, particularly given PAS’s current ideological rigidity and limited appeal beyond its traditional base.

Rightly or wrongly, Netto holds a critical view of PAS as a party yet to fully awaken to the multiracial realities of Malaysian society and politics. His scepticism could stem from a deeper mental bloc against envisioning a pluralistic future for a party rooted in religious orthodoxy.

Yet, his reservations may hold merit, especially if PAS continues to struggle in articulating a political agenda that includes and addresses the concerns of non-Muslims.

Although there are efforts by PAS to broaden its appeal, the party has yet to clearly define the contours of a national consensus that reflects Malaysia’s diversity.

On the other hand, Zaid’s analysis invites a different lens. He appears to believe that PAS’s future should not be confined to the labels and limitations imposed by the heat of contemporary politics. While Netto may be focussed on the static nature of PAS’s current political stance, Zaid is attempting to explore its latent transformative possibilities.

It is important to note that PAS is not a static political entity frozen in time. If the party could reimagine its mission to include the rights and aspirations of all Malaysians, then its political potential would undoubtedly grow.

However, the comparison to Iran’s clerical regime is problematic. The Iranian model, marked by restrictions on democratic freedoms and women’s rights, is not an ideal template for Malaysia. Nevertheless, Iran’s revolutionary path has been shaped by continuous hostility from the West, particularly the US and, more recently, Israel.

Under such circumstances, it is perhaps unrealistic to expect democratic flourishing.

In conclusion, Netto is not wrong to point out the current limitations of PAS. His caution is rooted in observable realities. At the same time, Zaid’s vision of PAS’s moral and ethical transformation offers an alternative reading — one that should not be dismissed outright.

If PAS can evolve to embrace a more inclusive and holistic view of Malaysian politics, then its future may indeed defy current expectations. - FMT

P Ramasamy is the chairman of Urimai and a former DAP assemblyman.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

Pejuang calls for special panel to review discharge for politicians

 The party’s information chief, Rafique Rashid Ali, says that the Attorney-General’s Chambers should be placed under an oversight body which reports to Parliament.

Rafique Rashid Ali
Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali says the attorneys-general from 2019 to 2025 bear the responsibility for the handling of the Najib Razak case.
PETALING JAYA:
 Pejuang has called for a special committee to be set up to review high-profile cases, especially those involving politicians facing criminal charges who are granted a conditional discharge.

The party’s information chief, Rafique Rashid Ali, said the panel should determine if there are any questionable elements affecting the integrity of the high-profile cases.

In a statement referring to the recent discharge not amounting to an acquittal granted to former prime minister Najib Razak, he said: “Why do DNAAs like this often happen in cases involving politicians?”

Yesterday, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said it had “no choice” but to request a discharge as key documents, nearly 500 in total, could not be obtained until the conclusion of Najib’s two other trials involving 1MDB and SRC International.

The AGC said the conditional discharge meant the case can resume once the documents are available. Najib had been charged with money laundering involving RM27 million linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Rafique questioned the effort made to obtain the 500 documents required for the case.

He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, saying it was too easy for a prime minister to deflect responsibility by pointing fingers at the attorney-general or the courts. “Isn’t the attorney-general appointed on the advice of the prime minister?” he said.

Yesterday, Anwar had asserted that he had no involvement in the High Court decision to grant Najib a conditional discharge. Anwar said: “That is the judge’s decision and the attorney-general’s. I do not interfere (in such matters).”

Rafique questioned the six-year delay from the start of prosecution to the court decision yesterday, and said the public had been given insufficient information about the case’s progress.

The attorneys-general from 2019 to 2025 bore responsibility for the handling of the case and owed the public a clear explanation, he said.

To restore public confidence, Rafique proposed that the AGC be placed under an oversight body comprising legal experts, former judges, and MPs from both the government and the opposition.

He suggested that this body should report to Parliament and function as a check-and-balance mechanism.

Other prominent persons facing criminal trials who were also discharged include deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in 2023 on 47 charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust, and former Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah last year, who had been accused of criminal breach of trust involving RM6.6 billion in the International Petroleum Investment Company case. - FMT