Kedudukan lebih baik CPI bukti kerajaan tegas perangi rasuah, kata PM

 Anwar Ibrahim berkata, lonjakan Malaysia ke tangga 54 antara lain didorong tindakan penguatkuasaan tegas pihak berkuasa.

Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, kerajaan pimpinannya tidak berkompromi apabila integriti institusi strategik dipersoalkan.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, usaha kerajaan Madani perangi rasuah yang sistemik serta membetulkan kelemahan struktur tadbir urus negara terbukti dengan peningkatan kedudukan Malaysia dalam Indeks Persepsi Rasuah (CPI).

Beliau berkata, kedudukan Malaysia yang melonjak ke tangga 54 dalam CPI dunia antara lain didorong oleh tindakan penguatkuasaan tegas pihak berkuasa seperti Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), polis, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) dan Jabatan Kastam.

“Ini termasuk kejayaan memulihkan lebih RM15.5 bilion hasil negara melalui rampasan aset, dana dan pembanterasan sindiket rasuah serta ketirisan yang telah lama menjejaskan kewangan awam,” katanya menerusi hantaran di Facebook.

Sambil menzahirkan rasa syukur atas peningkatan CPI itu, Anwar berkata, kerajaan Madani juga tidak berkompromi apabila integriti institusi strategik dipersoalkan.

Perdana menteri berkata, tindakan tegas terhadap salah laku dan penyelewengan dalam sektor pertahanan, di samping pembongkaran kartel serta rasuah berprofil tinggi, menegaskan prinsip bahawa tiada sesiapa yang kebal daripada undang-undang.

“Pencapaian ini juga adalah peringatan untuk kita menggandakan usaha memerangi rasuah secara konsisten dan berani, demi memulihkan keyakinan rakyat serta memastikan amanah negara terus dipertahankan,” kata Anwar.

Berdasarkan laporan CPI 2025 yang dikeluarkan Transparency International (TI) hari ini, kedudukan Malaysia bertambah baik daripada tempat ke-57 pada 2024 ke tempat ke-54 tahun lepas.

Menurut laporan itu, Malaysia di kedudukan ketiga dalam kalangan negara Asean, selepas Singapura dan Brunei, malah skor negara bagi tahun lepas meningkat kepada 52 mata, berbanding 50 dalam penilaian 2024, menunjukkan trend menaik yang sederhana tetapi menggalakkan. - FMT

Microsleep leads to m-cyclist being killed in Melaka, say cops

 Melaka Tengah police chief Christopher Patit says the crash was triggered when a Perodua Myvi driver apparently fell asleep momentarily and veered into the opposite lane.

The wrecked cars after the accident in Melaka this afternoon. (PDRM pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 A motorcyclist was killed and five others were injured in an accident involving three motorcycles and three cars at the Padang Jambu traffic light intersection in Melaka this afternoon.

Melaka Tengah police chief Christopher Patit said in the incident at 2pm today, Shahrol Anuar Roby, 44, died from severe injuries to his head, face, body and hands.

He said initial investigations found the accident occurred when a 35-year-old man driving a Perodua Myvi from the Melaka city centre towards Bukit Beruang apparently experienced microsleep.

His car veered into the opposite lane and crashed into several vehicles before stopping at the traffic light intersection, he said.

“The victim, who was riding a Honda EX5 motorcycle, sustained serious injuries and was confirmed dead at the scene, while two other motorcyclists, both aged 25, sustained injuries to their right legs,” Bernama quoted him as saying today.

The driver of a Proton Saga, a 48-year-old woman, sustained injuries to her forehead and reported pain in her right shoulder, while the driver of a BMW was unharmed.

The Myvi driver, who works in logistics, sustained only abrasions on his elbow.

“Breathalyser and drug screening test results for the Myvi driver were negative; however, blood samples were taken for toxicology testing.

“Police have also obtained dashcam footage from an independent witness, which will assist in the investigation,” said Patit.

Patit said Shahrol’s body was sent to Melaka Hospital’s forensic department for an autopsy, while the vehicles involved were taken to the Malim police station and a Puspakom centre in Alor Gajah for further examination.

He said the Myvi driver will be brought to the Ayer Keroh courthouse tomorrow for a remand application, and the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving. - FMT

“Crime harms in multiple directions”: The hidden trauma of committing crime

 

MALAYSIA has been shaken by a series of violent crimes. From femicides and familicides to killings between acquaintances and attacks by strangers, these acts leave entire communities stunned.

The recent discovery of the remains of six individuals in a remote area in Johor is another sobering reminder that crime is rarely a distant phenomenon.

It arises from moments where judgment collapses, emotions override reason, and consequences are tragically underestimated.

Public conversations rightly centre on victims. But there is another dimension that deserves attention especially for anyone tempted to rationalise wrongdoing. Criminology has long shown that crime is often driven by short-term thinking that masks long-term failure.

What appears to be a solution in the moment frequently becomes a source of enduring psychological and social harm.

Strain theory explains how people under pressure such as financial hardship, humiliation, or social exclusion may view crime as a practical shortcut.

Rational choice theory goes further by explaining how individuals weigh perceived gains against risks, often persuading themselves that the act is justified or controllable.

In that critical moment, the mind constructs narratives such as, “this will fix things,” “I deserve this,” or “I won’t get caught”. Crime is then psychologically framed as a calculated decision rather than what it truly is, a destructive act.

But criminological research consistently shows that the perceived gain is fleeting. What follows is rarely part of the rationalisation. Many offenders experience what psychologists describe as moral injury namely the distress of acting against one’s own ethical boundaries.

Guilt, anxiety, hypervigilance and emotional numbing frequently emerge. Even when legal consequences are avoided, the internal burden remains. The act that promised relief becomes a source of lingering psychological strain.

Repeated offending compounds this harm. Labelling theory highlights how individuals can internalise their deviance, gradually seeing themselves through the lens of their worst act. Shame hardens into identity.

Desistance research demonstrates that leaving crime behind requires rebuilding self-worth and purpose, a process made far harder when a person believes their future has already been defined by past behaviour.

The consequences extend beyond psychology. While a criminal record does not legally bar someone in Malaysia from rebuilding their life including securing housing or employment, reintegration is often fragile.

Social stigma, unstable income and fractured relationships can reinforce marginalisation. Families absorb emotional and financial strain, creating ripple effects that outlast the original offence.

None of this diminishes the suffering of victims. Instead, it illustrates a fundamental criminological insight: crime harms in multiple directions. The decision that promises short-term gain often produces long-term personal failure namely moral, psychological and social.

This is why deterrence is not only about punishment but also about understanding how people rationalise harmful behaviour. Crime thrives in moments where individuals fail to anticipate consequences.

The most powerful prevention begins internally by pausing to interrogate the narrative: “What happens after this? Is this moment worth years of fallout?”.

Correctional research reinforces this lesson. Rehabilitation that addresses trauma, identity and decision-making reduces the likelihood of reoffending because it confronts the same cognitive patterns that justified the initial act. Crime prevention, therefore, is not just institutional, it is psychological.

Ultimately, crime offers a dangerous illusion. It presents itself as a shortcut but delivers enduring cost. The lingering trauma such as guilt, stigma, and fractured identity rarely appears in headlines, yet it shapes lives long after the act.

If there is one criminological truth worth remembering, it is this: short-term rationalisations often lead to long-term consequences that cannot be undone. True strength lies in resisting the impulse, questioning the narrative and choosing a path that preserves one’s future.

Crime is not a victory. It is a decision whose shadow can last a lifetime. 

 Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid is a Criminologist and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya.

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

- Focus Malaysia.

The reason why Sara stands out

 

Malaysia’s Sara demonstrates that smart welfare can be both compassionate and efficient. NSTP FILE PIC

MALAYSIA's cash grant programme Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) is shaping up to be one of the most effective targeted cost-of-living interventions globally — combining high uptake, strong accountability and real-world impact.

Governments around the world respond to economic shocks of the needy in one of two ways: direct cash transfers such as those of Malaysia's Sara or voucher schemes.

The most widely used government tool happens to be cash transfer programmes, according to an article published in an Oxford University blog by Dr Kate Orkin on May 12, 2020.

Admittedly, in the past governments were concerned that cash transfers would increase dependency on the state or would not be used well, a concern that shouldn't be dismissed quickly.

The latter fear led to either food aid or food subsidy schemes being popular. Over time, governments began to realise that money was the most efficient and effective way to distribute aid to people who needed it most.

The World Bank lends support to Orkin's view by its findings on how governments around the world responded to Covid-19 lockdowns. Unsurprisingly, the question on how people use cash transfers is said to be the most studied in development economics.

Although Sara isn't the only social programme that aids those who need it most — 22 million in the estimate of Putrajaya — it is arguably the one which is beginning to be noticed globally. But first a quick look at welfare programmes around the world.

Let's begin with the United States, the world's richest nation. There, direct cash transfers get a little tricky to assess with some coming with conditions attached while yet others are either universal or targeted. They are of large scale, but struggle with misuse and access issues.

In the United Kingdom, cash grants offer flexibility but lack controls, so funds may not be used to buy essentials.

Our neighbour to the south, Singapore, dishes out very efficient digital vouchers, but they are less targeted towards essential-only spending.

Food aid helps millions in populous Indonesia, but leakages and logistical inefficiencies persist.

Why does Sara stand out? We offer a few reasons why this is so. It has a near-universal usage — around 98 per cent — indicating aid is actually reaching and being used by intended recipients.

Targeted spending controls ensure funds go towards essential food and daily necessities, not non-critical items.

MyKad-based digital delivery reduces fraud, improves accuracy and minimises administrative waste. By the end of the year, there would be 10,000 retail outlets to ensure the rural and lower-income communities have easy access.

At a time when governments worldwide struggle to design cost-of-living support that is effective, targeted and financially sustainable, Malaysia's Sara demonstrates that smart welfare can be both compassionate and efficient.

We wouldn't be wrong to say that Sara is emerging as a regional and global benchmark for how governments can protect households from rising living costs without waste, abuse or runaway subsidies. - NST

Axia driver surrenders over viral toll plaza cone-throwing incident

 

The suspect in a viral road rage incident at the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) toll plaza, in which a traffic cone was thrown, has surrendered to police. PIC FROM SOCMED

SUBANG JAYA: The suspect in a viral road rage incident at the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) toll plaza, in which a traffic cone was thrown, has surrendered to police.

He will be charged at the magistrate's court tomorrow.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat said the 35-year-old local man from Kuala Lumpur turned himself in at the Subang Jaya district police headquarters at about 11am today and is currently being held in police custody.

"The suspect will be charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act at 9 am tomorrow," he said in a statement today.

He said investigations found the incident was triggered by a misunderstanding when the suspect attempted to enter the Touch 'n Go lane and nearly collided with another vehicle.

He said the owner of the other vehicle, a 54-year-old male foreigner driving a purple Perodua Myvi, came forward to lodge a police report at about 11.20am on Feb 9 after recording the incident using a dashboard camera.

The case is an update to an earlier police appeal after a video showing a red Perodua Axia driver allegedly throwing a traffic cone and shouting insults during heavy congestion at the LDP toll plaza went viral on social media.

Police had earlier opened investigations under Section 427 of the Penal Code (mischief), Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act, and Section 48(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. - NST

Govt not ruling out expanding Special Branch’s functions, says Saifuddin

 The home minister says this is to address the growing complexities of domestic and global threats.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said as the nation’s primary intelligence organisation, the Special Branch is critical to safeguarding national security. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 The government has not ruled out the possibility of expanding the functions and roles of the Special Branch, says home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

In a written parliamentary reply today, he said this was to address the growing complexities of domestic and global threats.

“The government guarantees that the Special Branch will continue operating as the nation’s ears and eyes without jeopardising civil liberties guaranteed under the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Saifuddin was responding to Chow Yu Hui (PH-Raub), who asked him to state the Special Branch’s current functions and whether the government plans to review, or has reviewed, its role and necessity.

The minister said as the nation’s primary intelligence organisation, the Special Branch is critical to safeguarding national security.

“The Special Branch is responsible for compiling, processing and analysing security intelligence related to subversive activities, extremism, sabotage, violence and other threats to national security.

“In the context of contemporary threats encompassing ethnic and religious conflicts, the spread of ideologies, cross-border crime, smuggling, undocumented migrants and threats from foreign sources, the Special Branch’s intelligence clearly serves as the nation’s forward line of defence,” he said. - FMT