Ibrahim Linggam says the majority of the Supreme Council members are actually against leaving the ruling Sabah coalition.
Usno deputy president Ibrahim Linggam (left) said party chief Pandikar Amin Mulia did not discuss the withdrawal from GRS with the Supreme Council.
PETALING JAYA: Usno president Pandikar Amin Mulia has been accused by his deputy of unilaterally deciding for the party to leave the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Usno deputy president Ibrahim Linggam claimed that the majority of the Supreme Council members were actually opposed to leaving the coalition led by chief minister Hajiji Noor.
He said Pandikar did not bring the matter to the council for discussion, Sinar Harian reported.
“To us, that was a unilateral decision that was hastily made by the president. It was not a unanimous decision by the Usno Supreme Council,” he said.
Ibrahim also claimed that a last-minute Supreme Council meeting has been called on May 6 to take action against those who defy Pandikar as party president.
On April 22, Pandikar announced that Usno had decided to leave GRS, citing incompatibility with the state government’s policies and style of administration, especially following the state election in November.
Usno, led by Pandikar, a former Dewan Rakyat speaker, had joined GRS in May 2022. - FMT
A US official denies a report that it had been struck by Iranian missiles.
Iran has blocked nearly all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war, except for its own vessels. (EPA Images pic)
DUBAI: Iran said it had forced a US warship to turn back from entering the Strait of Hormuz today, but a US official denied a report that it had been struck by Iranian missiles, according to an Axios journalist.
Iran’s navy said it had prevented “American-Zionist” warships entering the Strait of Hormuz area by issuing a “swift and decisive warning”.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said two missiles had hit the warship near the port of Jask at the southern entrance to the strait, where Iran’s navy has a base, but a senior US official immediately denied the report, Axios’ Barak Ravid said.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
Iran had warned US forces today not to enter the strategic waterway after President Donald Trump said the US would “guide out” ships stranded in the Gulf by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Trump gave few details of the plan to aid ships and their crews that have been confined to the vital waterway and are running low on food and other supplies more than two months into the conflict.
“We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site on Sunday.
In response, Iran’s unified command told commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement that was not coordinated with Iran’s military.
“We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces,” Ali Abdollahi, head of the forces’ unified command, said in the statement.
“We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US Army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz,” Abdollahi said.
Iran has blocked nearly all shipping into and out of the Gulf apart from its own since the start of the war, cutting off around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments and sending oil prices soaring by 50% or more.
US Central Command, which for its part is blockading Iranian ports to put pressure on Tehran, said it would support the rescue effort with 15,000 military personnel and more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, plus warships and drones.
“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. - FMT
The former economy minister says he will need to return for a second session tomorrow morning.
Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli was summoned to assist in an MACC investigation into a RM1.1 billion government deal with UK-based semiconductor company Arm Holdings.
PUTRAJAYA: Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has left the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s headquarters here after spending more than nine hours giving a statement to the graft-busters.
Rafizi had arrived at the MACC headquarters at 9.30am today to assist in an investigation into a RM1.1 billion government deal with UK-based semiconductor company Arm Holdings.
He left the building at 6.50pm.
He told reporters waiting outside that he will return for another round of questioning at 10am tomorrow.
“I gave my full cooperation, but it was a lengthy process,” he said.
This morning, about 50 people had gathered outside the MACC headquarters to show support for him, including PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan and Balik Pulau MP Bakthiar Wan Chik.
MACC is investigating alleged misconduct in the strategic partnership agreement between the economy ministry and Arm Holdings.
It interviewed Rafizi’s former officer, James Chai, for three days last week.
The government had committed US$225 million (RM930.52 million) to a four-year partnership with Arm Holdings to lower barriers for Malaysian companies seeking access to its intellectual property and technology. - FMT
State immigration director Rusdi Darus says the syndicate raked in lucrative profits reaching RM900,000 a month.
Johor immigration director Rusdi Darus said the raid on the high-end apartment in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru, followed a week of surveillance after a tip-off. (JIM pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Johor immigration department has crippled an online gambling syndicate generating about RM900,000 in monthly profits following a raid in Iskandar Puteri last Wednesday.
State immigration director Rusdi Darus said “Op Serkap” was launched on April 29 after a week of surveillance. This followed a tip-off about suspicious activities at a high-end apartment, Bernama reported.
Eight foreign nationals, comprising two Chinese men aged 35 and 38, a seven-year-old Chinese child, and five Thai women aged between 33 and 38, were detained during the raid.
“Investigations revealed that the syndicate raked in lucrative profits, reaching RM900,000 a month.
“They are believed to have been operating in the country for the past three months,” he said.
The syndicate had used the residence as a call centre, targeting players in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
They contacted players via mobile phones to arrange money transactions through banks in those countries. The operators at the apartment were then responsible for crediting points for the players.
Rusdi said they seized RM2,500 in cash, seven computers, 34 smartphones and a printer.
He said the 38-year-old Chinese national is believed to be the mastermind. The others managed transactions and bets. - FMT
Ridzuan Ahmad says he will continue to serve as an opposition assemblyman acting as a check and balance on the state government.
Ridzuan Ahmad was one of the five PN assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan who had indicated that they were willing to join the 14 BN representatives to form a new state government. (PSUKNS pic)
PETALING JAYA: A Bersatu assemblyman in Negeri Sembilan has backed down from pushing for a change in the state government, saying this could trigger political instability and affect the economy.
Germas assemblyman Ridzuan Ahmad acknowledged that it was not suitable to have a change in the state government at this time, despite Barisan Nasional’s 14 assemblymen retracting support for menteri besar Aminuddin Harun.
He said he was now taking a neutral stand on the matter, as the focus should be on economic issues like reducing the cost of living and providing job opportunities.
“I decided to take this stand after considering the people’s interest and the stability of both the state and the nation,” Utusan Malaysia quoted him as saying.
“It is my priority to ensure political stability to allow economic recovery to continue, especially amid this challenging global economic climate.”
Ridzuan said he will continue to carry out his responsibility as an opposition assemblyman acting as a check and balance on the state government.
Previously, Negeri Sembilan Perikatan Nasional, with its five assemblymen, gave BN the backing to form a new state government. A simple majority of 19 assemblymen is needed to form the government.
On Saturday, state BN chief Jalaluddin Alias took responsibility for the crisis, but said the withdrawal of support for Aminuddin was necessary to steer members back to Umno’s core struggle.
He also said the 14 Umno assemblymen were prepared to assume the role of the opposition until the next state election. - FMT
The DAP chairman calls for transparency nearly two months after the Cabinet ordered a full probe into the allegations.
DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo urged the IGP to reveal whether those named in the Bloomberg report have been questioned, as well as to outline the next steps in the probe.
PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo has called on Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail to give an update on the status of the investigations into the so-called “corporate mafia” involving officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Gobind, the digital minister, pointed out that it had been about two months since the Cabinet ordered multiple agencies, including the police, to investigate the allegations made in a Bloomberg report.
He said transparency was paramount, and urged Khalid to reveal whether those named in the report had been questioned, as well as to outline the next steps in the investigations.
“Given the specific allegations involving named companies and individuals, the probe must be exhaustive, extending to every person, entity, and MACC officers implicated in the complaints.
“This is a matter of significant public interest, as the integrity of our markets and national institutions is at stake. Such serious allegations cannot be left unchecked and must be resolved strictly in accordance with the law,” he said in a statement.
The Damansara MP said it would also be apt for the Securities Commission Malaysia to disclose what steps it had taken to investigate the allegations.
“If there is market manipulation involved, and this is by use of force or any other measures to transfer shares in any company, then the SC would also have jurisdiction over the matter.
“They must tell us if they have looked at this aspect of the case and whether any action will be taken against anyone found to have committed offences or abetted any offences in the matter and, if so, when,” he said.
Last month, Khalid said police had identified several people linked to the investigations, with some currently abroad, and did not rule out seeking international cooperation to locate them.
He also said no MACC officers had been summoned for questioning to date.
The Bloomberg report had claimed that a network of businessmen and MACC officers used raids and investigations to pressure executives into selling shares in targeted companies, prompting calls for thorough, multi-agency investigations. - FMT
