Shop faces probe after customer overcharged RM50 for roti canai, drinks

 Domestic trade and cost of living ministry issues notice to shop after a viral video of a disgruntled customer.

The dispute arose after a man claimed he was ‘ripped off’ over the cost of roti canai and drinks ordered for him and his group. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 The domestic trade and cost of living ministry has issued a notice to a restaurant in Seremban demanding an explanation after a diner claimed he and his entourage were charged RM120 for food and drinks allegedly worth only RM70.

Negeri Sembilan domestic trade and cost of living ministry’s director Zahir Mazlan said the restaurant had been served a notice to explain its pricing within four days, Harian Metro reported.

The dispute arose after the man claimed he was “ripped off” over the cost of roti canai and drinks ordered for him and his group.

In a widely shared video, a disgruntled customer said he was billed RM120 for food and drinks served across three tables.

He said he requested a recount, which he claimed showed the actual total should have been RM70. He also alleged that he had to wait an hour for the recount.

In the clip, the diner can be heard shouting: “Just eating roti canai, you want to charge me RM120? Give me back my money. Why are you ripping me off?” - FMT

MCMC withdraws suits after Murray Hunter apology, retraction

 MCMC reaches a settlement with the political commentator at the Bangkok South Criminal Court following several mediation sessions.

MCMC said it was compelled to pursue legal action against political commentator Murray Hunter as four of his publications had the potential to undermine MCMC’s integrity and erode public confidence in its statutory duties. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has withdrawn a criminal defamation case in Thailand against political commentator Murray Hunter following his public apology and retraction of four online publications.

In a statement, the commission said the criminal proceedings in Thailand stemmed from four misleading and inaccurate online articles about MCMC which were published while Hunter was residing in the country.

The commission said the criminal defamation case in Thailand was initiated by the relevant Thai authorities in accordance with Thailand’s domestic legal framework and procedures.

MCMC said it reached a settlement with Hunter at the Bangkok South Criminal Court after several mediation sessions.

Upon the signing of a settlement agreement, MCMC informed the Thai criminal court of its decision to withdraw the reports lodged in relation to the case.

MCMC had previously lodged police reports in both Malaysia and Thailand over the four publications, claiming they contained serious and unfounded allegations that had misled the public and damaged the commission’s reputation.

The commission said it was compelled to pursue legal action as the publications had the potential to undermine MCMC’s integrity and erode public confidence in its statutory duties.

Separately, MCMC said it has also resolved a civil defamation suit in Malaysia involving 13 allegedly defamatory articles through a consent order dated Feb 4.

MCMC said both the criminal case in Thailand and the civil suit in Malaysia are considered resolved, subject to Hunter’s compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement and consent order.

The Australian, once a long-time resident of Malaysia, now stays in Thailand. He is known for his critical writings on Malaysian politics. - FMT

Penangites wonder how well-intentioned is CNY greeting from all-red state PAS: A ploy to fish for votes?

 

SUCH is the presumption Penangites have on PAS as the state level Islamist party extended a rare trilingual Chinese New Year (CNY) greeting in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin to Chinese community in the DAP-rule state.

But instead of reciprocating with an expression of gratitude to PAS for its kind thoughts, unfazed Penangites tended to harbour suspicion.

“First time in a lifetime wearing red. Why ahh? Is there any hidden agenda? In Penang some more!” jibed a grandma in the comment section to the dismay of PAS hardcore backers who hit back that PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang has a Chinese daughter-in-law.

This prompted one commenter to snub PAS with the latter’s tendency “to liken the Chinese as Zionists who come to conquer Tanah Melayu like what happened to Palestine”.

In defending PAS, one party backer remarked that it has been an annual affair for Hadi and his PAS MP team to extend their CNY greeting to the Chinese community while donning a red attire.

Another remarked that DAP leaders also had their fair share of hidden agenda by having no qualms “wearing a kopiah (skull cap), songkok or even arbitrarily express Islamic dhikr phrases like Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) and Assalamualaikum (peace be upon you).

A presumably DAP backer’s claim that “PAS will become more Chinese than the Chinese” was also shot down by the walaun (diehard PAS supporters) fraternity who clarified that “Chinese is a race while Islam is a religion acknowledged by Allah who is the creator of all races (mankind)”.

After all, CNY is a celebration linked to a particular race as opposed to a religion, hence it is not deemed as contradictory to Islam.

Interestingly, one Malay detractor shunned PAS for having disregarded its official green theme in favour of red just for CNY after which “it would resume its insults against the Chinese”.

Another warned of PAS poor track record in losing defamatory suits, an insinuation that PAS cannot be trusted to govern the country.

Other likened PAS’ CNY greeting to “wayang kulit (puppet show)”, “haram to express CNY greetings” and “very sinful to don Type C’s New Year wear”.

Whatever said and done, one commenter aptly summed up by contending that “snake or no snake in this Horse Year, PAS shouldn’t be forcing itself to extend CNY greetings if it’s insincere in doing so”. 

Based on the August 2023 Penang state election results, PAS has seven state assemblymen in the 40-seat Penang State Legislative Assembly. They are part of the 11-seat Perikatan Nasional (PN) set-up in the state with the remaining four Opposition seats held by Bersatu. – Focus Malaysia

PAS will not give up on a grand Malay-Muslim coalition despite challenges

 

PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party will not abandon the idea of a grand Malay-Muslim coalition, despite the recent debacle faced by the Perikatan Nasional.

He said unity among Muslims is grounded in Islam, citing the failed PAS-UMNO-Bersatu alliance as a missed opportunity.

Revisiting the PAS-UMNO-Bersatu alliance pursued during the 15th General Election (GE15) to forge a united Malay-Muslim political force, he said these efforts will become increasingly challenging as long as divisions persist within the ummah (Muslim community).

While he acknowledged internal crises are common in politics, he said they must be resolved through faith-based unity.

He emphasised that partisan disputes harm the ummah and vowed PAS will continue pushing for cooperation.

“PAS believes that efforts to revive existing political cooperation will leave lasting effects and scars if they are not handled with wisdom.

“The experience of GE15 reflected a major aspiration to unite three main parties – PAS, UMNO and Bersatu – to form a Malay-Muslim political force.

“However, that effort did not succeed, as no consensus was reached among the parties involved,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday (Feb 16).

He said in the current situation, questions are being raised about whether there is still room to form a “grand Malay-Muslim umbrella” capable of uniting all parties willing to come under it.

He also said that internal turmoil and crises within an organisation are not unusual.

“The difference is that, for political parties, crises spread more easily because they are constantly under public scrutiny.” — Focus Malaysia

Pressure is piling on Prime Minister to suspend Azam Baki

 

AMANAH Youth has reiterated the call for Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commisioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to take leave during the investigation into his shareholdings in some companies while holding office in the anti-graft commission.

Stressing that it was necessary to uphold the principles of good governance and to protect the integrity of the country’s enforcement institutions, Amanah Youth deputy leader Danial Al-Rashid said:

“As the MACC chief commissioner, any controversy that raises public questions should be handled professionally and prudently to avoid perceptions of conflict of interest,” he said.

Yesterday (Feb 16), Azam insisted that he did not need to take leave in response to the matter.

“I don’t need to take leave. If I were to take leave, then how many people currently facing charges in court are still serving in their positions?

“There was even a former finance minister who continued to serve while under investigation. So what’s the problem? Have I committed a crime?” he said.

DAP National Legal Bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh also insisted that Azam’s case must be investigated by an independent committee whose members have no vested interest in the outcome of the investigation.

Ramkarpal argued that the committee currently lacks investigative powers, such as the authority to submit or obtain documents, or the power to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, as provided under the Criminal Procedure Code.

On the other hand, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) joined the list of organisations calling for transparency in the case, urging the government to consider mechanisms such as a Royal Commission of Inquiry or a Parliamentary Special Select Committee to investigate the claims against the MACC head.

ABIM president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said both of these mechanisms would be clearly empowered to investigate allegations of a “corporate mafia network” involving senior MACC officials.

He said the fact that the commission cannot investigate its own top leadership demonstrates the need for an independent mechanism to ensure transparency and justice.

The campaign to send Azam on garden leave started when former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli cautioned the government over its handling of allegations involving the embattled chief.

“We are told we are whining. But change only happens through persistent pressure from the people,” he said when addressing protesters at the “Tangkap Azam Baki” rally on Sunday (Feb 15).

The Pandan MP called on Pakatan Harapan partners, specifically the DAP, to speak up on the matter.

He warned that the issue could become a liability for the government. — Focus Malaysia