No advanced payment made for axed Norway missile deal, says Khaled

 The defence minister says payment of RM571.9 million was made only after the contract's terms had been finalised.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin rejected allegations that the contract with a Norwegian company for a naval strike missile system lacked adequate provisions to protect the government. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Defence minister Khaled Nordin has denied claims that Malaysia made an advanced payment of RM571.9 million for a cancelled naval strike missile (NSM) system, stating that the payment was only made after contractual milestones were fulfilled.

Khaled said the payment was made in accordance with the contract’s terms after all missile systems had been completed, passed tests conducted by the navy, and were ready for delivery to Malaysia.

“It was not an advance payment, but was made according to the terms of the contract based on verified work progress,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.

He was responding to Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang), who asked why the government released the full RM571.9 million payment and whether the agreement contained sufficient safeguards for Malaysia’s interests.

In May, Khaled had said the government paid nearly 95% of the contract value, amounting to more than RM500 million.

According to the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace website, the NSM procurement contract was signed between the navy and the company in April 2018, valued at €124 million (RM571.9 million), to equip six littoral combat ships.

Khaled also rejected allegations that the contract lacked adequate provisions to protect the government.

He said the agreement included clauses allowing the government to take action in the event of non-performance or breach of contractual obligations.

He said Norway’s decision to revoke the export licence for the missile system was beyond the control of both the Malaysian government and the supplier.

Malaysia is seeking more than RM1 billion in damages from Kongsberg, which include indirect costs such as the removal of missile mounting systems already installed on the navy’s vessels, as well as the integration of replacement systems supplied by other vendors. - FMT

Fake WhatsApp account impersonates PH’s Endau candidate

 Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil criticises those behind the move, saying ‘some are willing to do anything to win the Johor state election’.

PH’s Endau candidate, Saiful Nizam Samat, shared a screenshot of the fake account, which used his profile photo and the caption, ‘I am Saiful Samad, the future Endau assemblyman’.

PETALING JAYA:

Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil has slammed an attempt by an unknown party to impersonate the coalition’s Endau candidate, Saiful Nizam Samat.

Fahmi said some were willing to go to any lengths to win the Johor state election.

“This is the act of irresponsible parties. They’ll do anything to win!” he wrote in the comments section of Saiful’s official Facebook post.

Earlier, Saiful denied owning a WhatsApp account that had been using his name and identity to contact members of the public.

He also shared a screenshot of the fake account, which used his profile photo and the caption, “I am Saiful Samad, the future Endau assemblyman”.

Saiful said the account did not belong to him and had no connection to him or his campaign team, “Team SS”.

He advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid sharing personal information, and refrain from dealing with those behind the fake account.

“If you receive any suspicious messages, please contact Team SS’s official channels for verification,” he said.

The Endau seat will see a four-cornered fight involving Saiful, Hasnul Hakimi Hussien of Perikatan Nasional, Jati Awang of Parti Orang Asli Malaysia, and Alwiyah Talib of Barisan Nasional. - FMT

Hands off Sabah: Sovereignty is not up for negotiations

 

MCA Sabah is deeply concerned by remarks made by Philippine columnist Alex Magno in The Philippine Star, in which Sabah’s long-settled status was referenced in the context of the South China Sea dispute.

While the article primarily discussed the Philippines’ diplomatic strategy in the South China Sea, it also revisited the Sabah claim. MCA Sabah believes such references are unhelpful and risk undermining regional goodwill and mutual respect among ASEAN member states.

Let us be clear: Malaysia’s sovereignty over Sabah is indisputable and non-negotiable

Sabah became part of the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

This historic process was supported by a United Nations-facilitated assessment of public opinion overseen by then UN Secretary-General U Thant, which affirmed the wishes of the people of Sabah to form Malaysia.

For more than six decades, Sabah has been an integral part of Malaysia, governed through its own state institutions and represented by democratically elected leaders at both state and federal levels. The will of the people has long been established, and Sabah’s place within Malaysia is a settled matter.

MCA Sabah therefore rejects any attempt to revive or legitimise territorial claims over Sabah through diplomatic submissions, historical interpretations or technical manoeuvres.

We note with concern that the Philippines, in its submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), reportedly invoked baselines linked to Sabah as part of its maritime claims.

The Malaysian government has rightly lodged a formal protest through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, reaffirming Malaysia’s position on the matter.

Sabah’s sovereignty must never be obscured under the guise of historical claims or quiet diplomacy. Respect for internationally recognised borders and national sovereignty remains a fundamental principle of regional stability.

At the same time, MCA Sabah believes disputes and differences should be managed through dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect. ASEAN has long demonstrated that cooperation and engagement are more effective than confrontation in preserving peace and stability.

We therefore encourage ASEAN member states to continue working towards the effective implementation of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), while strengthening confidence-building measures and regional cooperation.

Malaysia and the Philippines share longstanding ties as ASEAN partners. We value that relationship and remain committed to constructive engagement. However, good bilateral relations must be built upon mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

MCA Sabah calls on the Philippines to respect historical and legal realities, refrain from actions that may cast doubt on Sabah’s status, and work together with Malaysia to strengthen regional trust and stability.

To all Sabahans, MCA Sabah reaffirms this simple and unwavering position: Sabah is, and will always remain, an integral part of Malaysia.

Datuk Teah Heok Kuin is the MCA Sabah chairman.

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

- Focus Malaysia

Make free drinking water a requirement at all eateries, says think tank

 

THE Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has called on the government and local authorities to require all licensed food establishments to provide drinking water to customers free of charge, describing it as a simple and cost-effective public health measure.

The policy think tank said the requirement should apply to restaurants, cafés, food courts, mamak shops, fast-food outlets and other licensed food premises through legislation, licensing conditions or food establishment regulations.

Galen Centre chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib said access to free drinking water should not depend on a customer’s ability or willingness to purchase bottled water or other beverages.

“Access to free drinking water should not depend on whether a customer is willing or able to buy bottled water, a sweetened drink or a hot beverage,” he said.

“In a country facing a worsening obesity and non-communicable disease crisis, plain drinking water must be made the easiest, most accessible and most affordable choice.”

Azrul noted that Malaysians continue to consume high levels of sugar-sweetened beverages, contributing to rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

He cited findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023, which showed that one in five Malaysian adults do not consume enough plain water daily.

“When free water is not readily available, customers are often nudged towards sugar-sweetened beverages, flavoured drinks, carbonated drinks, milk teas, juices and other high-calorie options,” he noted.

He added that the impact is particularly significant among children, adolescents, low-income households and individuals who frequently eat outside the home.

According to Azrul, more than half of Malaysian adults are now overweight or obese, while one in five is living with diabetes.

“A requirement for free drinking water would not solve the problem of NCDs. However, it is an important baseline measure. It sends a clear public health signal that water is the default beverage, not an optional extra,” he stressed.

He pointed to international examples where free drinking water is already provided in food establishments.

These include Spain, where restaurants and bars are required to offer free tap water, as well as regulations in the United Kingdom, Australia and India that ensure access to drinking water for patrons.

Azrul said Malaysia could adapt similar measures by incorporating free drinking water requirements into business licensing and food handling regulations.

“Customers should not have to pay extra just to choose the healthiest drink. Making free drinking water available in restaurants is one of the simplest public health interventions we can implement,” he said. ‒  Focus Malaysia

Beliawanis MCA: “Protecting children requires more than legislation alone”

 

BELIAWANIS MCA has welcomed the proposed amendments to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), describing them as an important step towards strengthening Malaysia’s ability to prosecute child sexual offences committed both within and outside the country.

The amendments, which were tabled for second reading in the Dewan Rakyat, seek to expand the Act’s extraterritorial application by allowing authorities to pursue cases involving Malaysian citizens, permanent residents and children who ordinarily reside in Malaysia, regardless of where the offence was committed.

Beliawanis MCA national chairperson Ivone Low Yi Wen said the proposed changes would help prevent child sexual predators from evading justice by exploiting international borders.

“Extending protection to Malaysian citizens, permanent residents and children who ordinarily reside in Malaysia, regardless of where the offence takes place, is an important step towards ensuring that child sexual predators cannot evade justice simply by crossing international boundaries,” she said.

However, Low stressed that stronger legislation alone would not be sufficient without effective enforcement, adequate resources and comprehensive support systems.

“As the Bill is tabled for its second reading, Beliawanis MCA reiterates Wanita MCA’s longstanding position that while stronger legislation is necessary, meaningful child protection ultimately depends on effective enforcement, institutional capacity and comprehensive support systems that ensure no child falls through the cracks,” she continued.

Low noted that cross-border prosecution remains one of the key challenges in combating child sexual exploitation.

Differences in legal systems and the principle of dual criminality could create obstacles when offences committed overseas are not recognised under local laws.

She said the government must strengthen legal frameworks and international cooperation mechanisms to prevent perpetrators from exploiting jurisdictional loopholes.

At the same time, Low highlighted the growing threat posed by technology-facilitated child sexual abuse, including online grooming, livestreamed abuse, dark web activities and AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

“Malaysia must invest in specialised cybercrime capabilities, improve intelligence-sharing arrangements and establish more effective cross-border investigation protocols to respond to these evolving threats,” she emphasised.

Low pointed to the case of convicted British paedophile Richard Huckle as an example of successful international law enforcement cooperation.

Huckle was arrested in the United Kingdom following information-sharing between Australian authorities and Britain’s National Crime Agency.

She added that stronger legislation must also be matched by sufficient funding, specialist expertise and effective coordination among enforcement agencies.

“The Government should ensure that the necessary funding, expertise and inter-agency cooperation are in place to implement these amendments effectively,” she noted.

Low further urged policymakers not to overlook vulnerable groups within Malaysia, including stateless, undocumented and refugee children, who may remain outside existing protection mechanisms.

“Expanding protection beyond our borders while leaving gaps at home would be an incomplete approach to child protection,” she said.

She emphasised that protecting children requires a broader ecosystem beyond legislation, including accessible reporting channels, survivor support services, public awareness programmes and age-appropriate education that equips children to recognise and report abuse.

“These are not supplementary measures, but essential safeguards that give real meaning to the law,” she said.

Beliawanis MCA expressed support for the passage of the amendments and urged the government to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, institutional capacity and victim support systems alongside the proposed legal reforms.

“Passing the law is an important beginning, but its true success will be measured by whether it delivers meaningful protection to every child in Malaysia,” Low said. ‒  Focus Malaysia