THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING FRIENDS.

 We need friends because they allow us to express ourselves as we are !

We need friends for many reasons,
all throughout the four seasons.

We need friends to comfort us when we are sad,
and to have fun with us when we are glad.

We need friends to give us good advice.
We need someone we can count on to treat us nice.

We need friends because we are social in nature,
and having friends makes us feel secure.

We need friends to remember us once we have passed
sharing memories that will always last.

(I loved these lines from "That’s Why We Need Friends")

Friends will :

1. Unlimited laughter, adventure and fun! : Friends are the open and free access to ultimate laughs and fun times. There is no need of topics to laugh on. They can make us roll on the floor laughing even without any funny reason.
2. Unconditional love : They unconditionally love and care for us without expectations and assurances
3. Understanding : No one in the world, understand our thinking, dreams and desires like friends do
4. Motivation : Motivates you to get what you want to even when it seems impossible achieve it
5. Comfort Zone

6. Partner in Crime

7. Away from loneliness : Being alone, away from the world, can be appealing at times but loneliness for an extended period becomes extremely depressing. Hence, friends come as the cure for loneliness.

In one sentence

Family outside your family

As usual, we remind you to take your Memo Plus Gold daily. It will help to keep you alert and mentally sharp. For more information or to order for Memo Plus Gold, please visit : https://oze.my

“Hero with b*lls” Rafizi on course to disrupt PKR but will he trigger early GE16 with BERSAMA?

 

DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli has lived up to his “Formula King” reputation when he exacted revenge at PKR – the party which he joined in its 2003 as its youth wing treasurer to eventually excelled as an election strategist – by unleashing a new political platform via the takeover of the Malaysian United Party a.k.a. Parti Bersama Malaysia.

While it remains to be seen if the former PKR deputy director who yesterday (May 17) put his new offerings on the table to put an end to his fall-out with party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and successor Nurul Izzah Anwar is able to re-live his past glory, a renewed sense of excitement nevertheless filled the air.

To the former economy minister who has already sparked an exodus from PKR as disgruntlement grew over allegedly unfair treatment on him coupled with stale reform agenda, more misery could be piling up for the former as the BERSAMA membership is now open with a mere RM20 to be a lifetime party member.

Early polls

But the more pressing question from yesterday’s multiple revelations is the prospect of an early national poll stemming from Rafizi and former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad having resigned from PKR and at the same time relinquished their Pandan and Setiawangsa MP-ship respectively.

The duo would resign as MPs effective today (May 18) before joining Bersama tomorrow (May 19).

For starter, while a parliamentary seat being vacated can trigger a by-election, this requirement is waived if the vacancy takes place within the final two years of the parliamentary term.

Given that Rafizi and Nik Nazmi have vacated their seats to join Bersama, consequently, the Pandan and Setiawangsa parliamentary seats are expected to sit empty rather than triggering a sudden, nationwide early election.

Nevertheless, political uncertainties elsewhere can always trigger an opportunity for Bersama to test its new-found influence.

This came about as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hinted at the possibility of dissolving Parliament to hold the 16th General Election (GE16) early if the action by coalition partners in the unity government continues to undermine political stability.

The stance came in the wake of Johor UMNO’s announcement Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest all 56 seats in the state election that must be held on or before Feb 25, 2027.

Henceforth, PMX who is also the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman countered that if the coalition partners choose to “fight” and break ties, he would not hesitate to return the mandate to the rakyat to determine the future of the country’s leadership.

“In fact, in the near future, I’ve to call the PH leadership to negotiate,” the PKR president told the PH Convention 2026 in Johor Bahru which coincidentally clashed with Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s mega “Political Direction Announcement”.

“Not only in these states, but we’ve to think seriously. If this is how we’re compartmentalising and breaking ties within the Madani government, it is possible that we’ll choose to hold a general election nationwide?”.

Whatever the outcome is, at least Rafizi and Nik Nazmi need not be subject to the hefty RM10 mil PKR bond for party hopping given they are giving up their MP-ship first prior to leaving PKR.

“The risk of facing PKR lawsuit or the bond only arises if we leave the party and join another party while still serving as MPs,” Rafizi told the media after unveiling his and Nik Nazmi’s new political direction.

Previously, no MP was willing to vacate their seat because everyone wanted to remain an MP while switching parties. What we’re doing today is vacating the seats and returning the mandate to the rakyat.

So when we quit PKR as members on Tuesday (May 19), we’re no longer bound by the bond.

Our decision is to ensure that this is not seen as party-hopping. Because we respect the mandate we won under PKR and PH’s ticket, we’re therefore vacating our seats.

Meanwhile, PKR has confirmed that the party membership of Rafizi and Nik Nazmi is automatically terminated under the party’s constitution following their announcement to resign from the party and vacate their parliamentary seats.

In a statement, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said the party has received recordings of speeches by both the MPs who had declared their decision to leave the party and relinquish their seats.

She said under Clause 9(1)(c) of the party constitution, their announcement automatically ends their membership in the party.

The declaration was also in line with Article 49A (1)(a)(ii) of the Federal Constitution which states that a Dewan Rakyat seat must be vacated if an elected representative ceases to be a member of a political party under which he or she was elected.

According to Fuziah, the party would next refer the matter to the Dewan Rakyat speaker to determine the status of the two MPs in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

On the same note, Fuziah added that PKR would also review the status of other party members who were present at the event where the announcement was made. –  Focus Malaysia

Shafie's Kaamatan appearance 'purely for celebrations', says Star chief

 

The presence of Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal at the Kaamatan festival is purely for celebrations, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said. — PIC FROM SHAFIE APDAL’S FB

KOTA KINABALU: The presence of Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal at the Kaamatan festival is purely for celebrations, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said.

Jeffrey said the Kaamatan, or harvest festival, this year carries the theme "Harvesting Unity" and "Celebrating Harmony".

"That's exactly what we are doing.

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"This is Kaamatan… Kaamatan is for all, right?

"After all, Mohd Shafie is also part of the current Madani federal government," he told the New Straits Times.

Kaamatan is a harvest festival celebrated by Kadazan-Dusun and Murut communities

Jeffrey, who is also Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman, was commenting on speculation of a possible political pact between the two parties after Shafie was recently seen at the Kaamatan festival in Keningau.

During the last Sabah state election, Star contested on its own after pulling out from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition.

The party secured the Tambunan and Bingkor state seats, while Warisan won 25 of the 73 state seats.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah secured 29 seats and formed a coalition government with Sabah Barisan Nasional, Upko and independents. - Star

Zizie Izette arrives at court for RM2.8 million corruption hearing [WATCH]

 KUALA LUMPUR: Actress and entrepreneur Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad arrived at the Sessions Court here today for the hearing of her RM2.8 million corruption case.

Zizie Izette, the wife of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, arrived at 8.15am in a black and white outfit and was accompanied by friends.

In March, the defence closed its case after the 48-year-old businesswoman read her 13-page witness statement, followed by cross-examination and re-examination before judge Rosli Ahmad.

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In January, Rosli acquitted and discharged Bung Moktar after deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How informed the court that the prosecution would not proceed with the case following his death.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/1357837/bung-moktar-discharg…

Bung Moktar had faced three corruption charges linked to Felcra's approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trust funds. The prosecution rejected Zizie Izette's request to withdraw three charges of abetting her late husband.

Zizie Izette is represented by Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran, M. Athimulan, Ridha Abdah Subri, and Teh See Khoon, while Law appeared alongside co-deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry.

On May 3, 2019, Bung Moktar was charged with two counts of corruptly obtaining cash bribes of RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to secure Felcra's approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trust funds.

He was alleged to have received the bribes from Public Mutual Bhd investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid via Zizie Izette and a Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund account in her name.

The offences were said to have occurred at the Public Bank Taman Melawati branch between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015, and at 12.16pm on June 19 the same year.

For the third charge, Bung Moktar was accused of receiving RM337,500 in cash from unit trust consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar in Zizie Izette's name at the same location, date and time.

The charges were framed under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Zizie Izette faces three charges of abetting her late husband in relation to the same matter, at the same locations, dates, and times.

Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad. - NSTP FILEPIC

- NST

No train service on Singapore's Bukit Panjang LRT between Senja and Bukit Panjang after man falls onto track

 

At about 9am, the entrance of Segar station was cordoned off by the police. A body was removed from the track by Singapore Civil Defence Force officers. - ST/ANN

SINGAPORE: LRT train services on the Bukit Panjang line - between the Senja and Bukit Panjang stations - were not available on the morning of May 18 after a man fell onto the track.

In a Facebook post at 6:52am, train operator SMRT said the service was disrupted “due to a track intrusion”.

In a subsequent update at 7.08am, it said that a man was seen trespassing onto the track near the Segar station at about 5am. It later updated the post to say that a man “was seen to have fallen onto the track”.

“Train services between the Petir and Senja stations, in both directions, were temporarily suspended to allow the police safe access to the tracks for investigations,” it said.

While there is no service between Senja and Bukit Panjang stations, train services between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang stations remain available.

SMRT added that free bridging bus and regular bus services “have been activated to support affected commuters”.

A long queue for the bridging bus was seen at the Bukit Panjang bus interchange at around 8.30am.

At the Bukit Panjang LRT station, SMRT staff were seen advising commuters on alternative travel options.

A couple who were on their way to Fajar station from the airport said taking the bus would be “more difficult” due to their heavy luggage, though they noted they had “no other choice”.

A fire truck was seen at the Segar station at about 8.45am. Earlier, a police car was seen parked at the Jelapang station, which is next to the Segar station.

At about 9am, the entrance of Segar station had been cordoned off by the police. A body was removed from the track by Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and police officers at about 9.10am.

Notice of the disruption first appeared on the MyTransport.SG app at around 6am, with the Land Transport Authority telling commuters to consider free bus services at the affected stations.

In a Facebook post at 6.25am, SMRT said affected travellers could download an e-Travel Chit as proof of travel at smrttravelchit.sg/

It added that live updates would be available at mytransport.sg/trainstatus

The Bukit Panjang LRT line is undergoing an exercise to replace the power rail, which supplies electricity to the trains. It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The fully automated network’s fleet was also completely refreshed in October and the line has been using a new communications-based train control signalling system since Nov 8.

The 8km line connects residential estates within Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang to the North-South and Downtown lines and is the first driverless inter-town train feeder service. - The Straits Times/ANN

Thunderstorms and heavy rain expected in five states until 1pm

 

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds across five states, effective until 1pm on Monday (May 18).

In the northern region, the weather alert covers Yan, Kuala Muda, Baling, Kulim and Bandar Baharu in Kedah, as well as the entire state of Pulau Pinang.

In Perak, residents in Kerian, Larut, Matang Dan Selama and Manjung should brace for severe weather conditions.

The department also issued a warning for Rompin in Pahang.

Further south, the affected areas include Batu Pahat, Pontian, Kulai and Johor Baru in Johor.

MetMalaysia issues these warnings when there are signs indicating a thunderstorm with a rainfall intensity exceeding 20mm per hour that is imminent or expected to occur for more than one hour.

A thunderstorm warning is a short-term warning that is valid for a period not exceeding six hours for any single release.

The notice was officially issued by the department at 9.35am today.

 - Star