Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin says his party has not violated any rule.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said it is PAS that has gone against the PN constitution.
PETALING JAYA: Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has described Perikatan Nasional’s plans to take disciplinary action against his party as “strange and absurd”, insisting that it has not violated any rules.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu had yet to receive any letter concerning the proposed action.
“Why should disciplinary action be taken against us when we have done nothing wrong?” he told reporters after a three-hour Bersatu supreme council meeting tonight.
He was responding to PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who said yesterday that disciplinary action would be taken against Bersatu for allegedly violating the coalition’s constitution, including contesting against PN in the Negeri Sembilan election.
Muhyiddin pointed out that it was Bersatu that had reported alleged violations by PAS within PN to the Registrar of Societies.
“And RoS has taken action,” he said, referring to PN’s deregistration, which has since been stayed.
He said RoS’s move to deregister PN was evidence of wrongdoing on the coalition’s part, while Bersatu had adhered to the rules by reporting the matter to the registrar.
“So it is rather strange and absurd that PN’s supreme council wants to punish us,” he said.
Muhyiddin also confirmed that Bersatu would contest the Nov 14 Melaka state election, with an announcement to be made on Oct 29.
“We will be contesting and preparations have already begun,” he said.
He said the supreme council had agreed that the party would contest a certain number of seats, although some matters had yet to be resolved.
Asked whether Bersatu would also contest the coming Sarawak election, Muhyiddin said the matter had not been discussed.
He also said the meeting reviewed preparations for upcoming divisional meetings, and decided to hold the party’s general assembly towards the end of January. - FMT
The Independent Police Conduct Commission says the investigation will be conducted independently and impartially, based on statements obtained and verified through the relevant procedures.
Noorizwan Zulkefly, 42, was arrested on Sept 19 and held at the Cheras police headquarters before being taken to hospital on Sept 30. (Facebook pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation into alleged misconduct in connection with the death of a detainee while in police custody.
The commission said the investigation would examine the facts, documents, statements, and circumstances surrounding the death of Noorizwan Zulkefly, in accordance with its mandate and procedures under the Independent Police Conduct Commission Act 2022 (Act 839).
It said the investigation would be conducted independently and impartially, based on statements obtained and verified through the relevant procedures.
“The findings will be submitted to the Police Force Commission in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.
“The IPCC emphasises that the referral and commencement of this investigation should not be interpreted as a preliminary conclusion that any party has committed misconduct,” it said in a statement today.
The commission said any assessment, findings, or recommendations would be made solely on the basis of the investigation’s outcome and the legal provisions.
“The IPCC remains committed to carrying out its independent oversight responsibilities with transparency, integrity, and professionalism, ensuring that every matter referred to it is thoroughly examined while respecting the rights and interests of all parties involved,” it said.
The commission said updates would be provided to the public through its official channels, subject to the need to maintain confidentiality, and protecting the integrity of the investigation.
It also extended its condolences to Noorizwan’s family, and acknowledged the concerns raised by them and the public over the incident.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered a thorough, transparent, and uncompromising investigation into Noorizwan’s death on Oct 1.
Media reports previously said police were still waiting for the full report from the chemistry department and the pathology findings to determine the actual cause of death.
Noorizwan was detained by the Cheras police headquarters to assist in an investigation under Section 39A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, as well as Sections 457 and 379 of the Penal Code involving housebreaking and theft.
He was referred to Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz on Sept 30 for treatment and was pronounced dead at 1.52am the following day. - FMT
THE directive barring civil servants from using Waze while performing official duties raises questions beyond the choice of navigation app: who controls our movement data, and can Malaysia build a trustworthy domestic alternative?
The government has cited concerns about Waze’s data handling and its legal jurisdiction. Waze, founded in Israel and acquired by Google in 2013, has rejected allegations that it collects sensitive government information or allows users’ data to be exploited.
The restriction applies to civil servants conducting official duties, although the government has also encouraged the public to consider local alternatives.
These concerns deserve scrutiny based on evidence. The government should explain the specific risks it has identified, while service providers should clearly disclose what data they collect, how it is used, how long it is retained and who can access it.
Digital sovereignty is not established simply by putting a Malaysian name on an application.
Navigation depends on road databases, routing algorithms, traffic information, computing infrastructure and satellite-based positioning.
Waze does not own the satellites it relies on; it combines positioning data from users’ devices with traffic reports and other information to calculate routes.
Malaysia need not build every component from scratch. But it should understand which capabilities it controls, where it depends on external providers and what risks those dependencies create.
Why Waze is difficult to replace
(Pexels/Stanislav Kondratiev)
Waze’s competitive advantage lies in its community. Active users generate traffic information, report accidents and road hazards, and help keep maps updated. The application combines these inputs to estimate journey times and reroute drivers when conditions change.
This creates a network effect: more users can generate more useful information, which can attract more users. Newer applications cannot reproduce that advantage merely by launching with similar features.
That is the challenge facing TuJu and PINTAZ. A navigation app is not a finished product simply because it has maps, voice guidance and traffic alerts. It must continuously process reliable information, update road conditions and perform consistently as demand grows.
TuJu and PINTAZ must prove their value
TuJu was launched by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) in November 2025 with Prosignal Consortium.
Its features include route guidance, toll information, traffic updates, highway CCTV access and emergency assistance. However, launch coverage reported that TuJu used Google’s mapping and points-of-interest data, illustrating that local development does not necessarily mean complete technological independence.
A surge in users following the government’s recommendation subsequently caused service disruptions. Restoring confidence requires more than apologies.
TuJu must demonstrate system stability, reliable estimated arrival times, accurate alternative routes and timely updates on incidents and closures.
PINTAZ, another Malaysian navigation app, advertises features including lane guidance, toll information, camera alerts, traffic reports and Bahasa Malaysia and English voice guidance.
These features offer potential, but advertised capabilities and download figures are not substitutes for independent testing under real driving conditions.
The opportunity is not simply to copy Waze. Local developers could build features tailored to Malaysian needs, including motorcycle-friendly routing, road-safety warnings based on reliable crash data, parking and toll-cost comparisons, and journey planning that integrates cars with public transport.
Such services could create opportunities in geospatial analytics, software engineering and intelligent mobility. But they require dependable public data, cooperation with transport operators and local authorities, and robust privacy safeguards.
Learn from MyTeksi, but do not assume success
(Image: Kuala Lumpur International Airport)
MyTeksi began in Malaysia in June 2012 as a taxi-booking service founded by Anthony Tan and Tan Hooi Ling. It became GrabTaxi before the company rebranded as Grab in 2016 and expanded across Southeast Asia.
Its history shows how a local solution can grow into a regional business through investment, expertise and continuous improvement.
That success does not guarantee similar results for navigation apps. TuJu and PINTAZ must establish their own competitive advantages and earn users’ trust through performance.
The government can help by providing appropriate access to road and traffic data, supporting university-industry research and setting transparent performance targets. Public support should be tied to demonstrable improvements, not treated as an unconditional guarantee.
Rules governing information such as roadblocks and enforcement-camera locations should also be clear and consistent across navigation platforms, balancing useful travel information with legitimate operational security concerns.
Malaysia should not have to choose between data security and convenience. The Waze restriction could become an opportunity to strengthen local technology, but only if security claims are explained, dependencies are acknowledged and domestic alternatives are judged fairly.
Local technology does not need automatic praise. It needs the opportunity to prove its capabilities, and the courage to be judged by results.
Shahrim Tamrin is a road safety advocate and sustainable transport advocate. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS).
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT
THE Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy has renewed calls for the government to release an independent inquiry report into the 2016 fire at Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru (HSAJB), which killed six patients, as the tragedy marks its 10th anniversary.
The centre said the findings remained unavailable to the public despite the report being completed in 2018 and declassified in October 2019.
However, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Oct 25 that the ministry was in the final stages of preparing the report for public release. He said the ministry would also outline measures to prevent similar incidents at healthcare facilities.
Galen Centre chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said the delay had denied the families of the deceased and the public answers about the tragedy.
“Ten years is far too long for families to wait for answers. The report of the independent inquiry commissioned by the government was completed in 2018 and declassified in October 2019. The findings remain hidden from the Malaysian public,” he said.
The fire broke out at the hospital’s south intensive care unit on Oct 25, 2016, killing six patients who were receiving treatment.
An independent inquiry committee chaired by former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus submitted its findings to the Health Ministry in June 2018.
The Cabinet agreed on Oct 2, 2019, to make the report public, and the ministry reclassified it as an open document on Oct 15 that year. Its publication was subsequently put on hold amid civil litigation involving victims’ families.
Azrul said Dzulkefly had received the inquiry findings during his first tenure as health minister and had initiated the declassification process.
“What is still preventing the Health Minister from fulfilling the commitment that he made? The government cannot keep hiding behind administrative explanations and procedural excuses,” he stated.
Reporting on the 225-page inquiry has highlighted concerns about fire safety preparedness, staff training, emergency evacuation procedures and institutional oversight.
The findings have prompted calls for the government to explain what went wrong and what measures have been implemented to prevent another tragedy.
Azrul said fire drills, evacuation training, functioning alarm systems and procedures for moving critically ill patients were fundamental requirements for healthcare facilities.
“If the Health Ministry cannot demonstrate that the public healthcare system has implemented the lessons from HSAJB, how can Malaysians be confident such a tragedy will not happen again? Every patient and healthcare worker deserves assurance that the government has learnt from this tragedy,” he stressed.
The Galen Centre also said previous justifications for withholding the report, particularly concerns about ongoing litigation, should no longer delay its release.
The centre said the remaining reported civil suits brought by victims’ families had been settled in early 2025.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) has also called for the report to be made public. Its chairman, Mohd Hishamudin, who chaired the independent inquiry, joined health advocates in urging the ministry to disclose the findings ahead of the anniversary.
The Galen Centre urged the Health Ministry to publish the full report and provide a public account of which recommendations had been implemented, which remained outstanding and what steps had been taken to improve patient and staff safety in government hospitals.
“An independent inquiry serves little purpose if its findings are concealed from the very people it was intended to protect,” Azrul said.
“Keeping the report out of public view undermines confidence in the government’s commitment to transparency and patient safety.
“Don’t kick the report to the next health minister to deal with it. Ten years is enough.” ‒ Focus Malaysia
WANITA MCA national chairperson Datuk Wong You Fong has urged the Education Ministry to suspend a headmaster under investigation over allegations of inappropriate messages to a female Form Three student in Teluk Intan, Perak.
Wong said the ministry should prioritise student safety while ensuring that the investigation proceeds fairly and thoroughly.
The case emerged after allegations circulated on social media that the headmaster had sent romantic messages to the student. A video showing the girl’s mother confronting the headmaster at the school also went viral.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek has directed the Perak Education Department to investigate the allegations. The headmaster has been temporarily transferred to the Bagan Datuk District Education Office pending the outcome of the investigation.
Wong said the ministry’s responsibility to address school-related misconduct extended beyond incidents occurring within school premises, particularly when alleged behaviour involved online communication with minors.
She expressed concern that transferring the headmaster to an education office might not, by itself, address all potential risks while the investigation was ongoing.
“A transfer to another department does not, in itself, prevent further inappropriate contact with students through online messaging or other digital platforms,” Wong stressed.
She urged the ministry to suspend the headmaster from his current duties pending the completion of the investigation and to take appropriate disciplinary action if the allegations were substantiated.
The incident has renewed questions about how education authorities manage allegations of misconduct involving students, including the safeguards imposed on staff members while investigations are under way.
Wong said cases involving minors required particular sensitivity, urgency and transparency, adding that the ministry’s response would influence public confidence in its commitment to student welfare.
She also stressed the importance of respecting due process while protecting students from potential harm.
“Protecting children requires more than administrative transfers. It calls for decisive, responsible and transparent action that safeguards potential victims while ensuring that due process is respected throughout the investigation,” Wong stated.
The investigation into the Teluk Intan case is ongoing, and the allegations have not been established as fact. ‒ Focus Malaysia
