PKR to hold 2026 national congress in Melaka Aug 15-16

 

PKR will hold its national congress on Aug 15 and 16 in Melaka. NSTP file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR will hold its national congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh on Aug 15 and 16, with the event expected to draw about 2,500 delegates and 3,000 observers.

Congress director Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would open the congress and deliver the policy speech, while the PKR Youth and Wanita congresses would take place a day earlier.

"The congress is also expected to see the attendance of several foreign ambassadors, including representatives from the United States, China, Japan and Australia, as well as leaders of political parties," he said in a statement.

He said the theme "Memugar Reformasi, Membina Madani" was selected for the congress, carrying the aspiration to further strengthen the spirit of reform as the foundation of the party's struggle, while ensuring it remains relevant in facing current challenges.

He said debates throughout the congress would focus on issues related to the economy, education and politics, with 16 debaters representing the party's wings and states scheduled to take part in the debate on the president's policy speech.

"This congress will serve as a platform to strengthen the commitment of party members in upholding integrity, championing social justice, supporting the underprivileged and vulnerable groups and strengthening unity within the multiracial community," he said.

He added that the congress would also present the Bill Kayong Award to five families in recognition of the contributions of their family members who had dedicated their lives to serving the party.

"To provide direct services to delegates and observers, the congress will also be held in collaboration with several ministries and agencies, including the National Registration Department, the Immigration Department, police and the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

"At the same time, the Melaka Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will organise the Rahmah Mega Carnival for the public," he said, expressing hope that the congress would create greater momentum for unity and find common ground among party leaders and members. - NST

Anwar’s aide to coordinate govt aid, projects in Ampang

 Azman Abidin says he was appointed 'coordinator' for the parliamentary constituency to ensure government aid is delivered more effectively.

Azman Abidin’s appointment as parliamentary coordinator for Ampang comes after Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail was barred from accessing the online portal which manages special funding for constituencies.

PETALING JAYA:

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary Azman Abidin has been appointed as the “parliamentary coordinator” for Ampang to ensure the effective delivery of government aid and initiatives in the federal constituency.

Azman said Anwar entrusted him to serve in the role to ensure government initiatives were delivered in a more organised, efficient and effective manner.

In a statement, he said he would be liaising directly with the Prime Minister’s Department’s implementation and coordination unit and relevant government agencies.

The delivery of aid will also be coordinated with assemblymen under the Ampang parliamentary constituency, community leaders and other stakeholders, he added.

”Applications for welfare assistance in the Ampang parliamentary constituency can be submitted directly to my office for the necessary coordination.

“My team and I are committed to carrying out this responsibility with full accountability, professionalism and integrity to ensure the welfare of the people of Ampang remains the priority,” said Azman, who also heads Federal Territories PKR.

This comes after PKR’s Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail was barred from accessing the MyKhas portal, which manages special funding for constituencies.

Rodziah questioned whether this was linked to her presence at the launch of Bersama, the new party started by former PKR leaders Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, in May. - FMT

Teen found to be offering sexual services on messaging app

 Kangar police made the discovery while probing a 34-year-old man for sexual assault of a child.

Kangar police chief Yusharifuddin Yusop said the teenager has been placed in a safe house pending investigations. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

An investigation by Perlis police into a 34-year-old man under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 has led to the discovery of a teenager offering sexual services through social media.

The 17-year-old, a school dropout, admitted to using MiChat — a messaging app that also functions as a dating app — to solicit clients, Utusan Malaysia reported.

Kangar police chief Yusharifuddin Yusop said the girl revealed that she had met the 34-year-old suspect in June.

“She said she advertised herself on the app and had sex with the suspect at a hotel on July 19,” he was quoted as saying.

The man has since been remanded until Aug 11 to facilitate investigations into the alleged sexual assault of the teenager.

Yusharifuddin said the teenager was later taken to Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar for a medical examination.

“For the time being, the teenager has been placed in a safe house.” - FMT

MCA veep calls for return of elite police units scrapped in 2018

 Lawrence Low says the specialist police units, disbanded by the PH-led government, should be brought back to strengthen the fight against organised crime.

The special task force for anti-vice, gaming and gangsterism, or Stagg, was formed to catch ‘big fish’ involved in local and international vice syndicates. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

An MCA leader has urged the government to reinstate three elite police units that were disbanded in 2018, saying their absence has weakened the fight against organised crime and drug syndicates.

MCA vice-president Lawrence Low said the special tactical intelligence narcotics group (Sting), special task force for anti-vice, gaming and gangsterism (Stagg) and special task force on organised crime (Stafoc) were once the “worst nightmare” for organised crime syndicates.

He added that their abolition in 2018 by the then Pakatan Harapan-led government created a major gap in the police force’s tactical and intelligence capabilities to combat organised crime and international drug cartels.

“We are all concerned and disappointed by the rising trend in crime, particularly cases involving drug trafficking syndicates and organised crime, which have become increasingly serious in recent times.

“The gaps in enforcement to address these issues can no longer be ignored by the government,” he said in a Facebook post.

Low cited recent cases of Malaysians being arrested abroad after attempting to smuggle drugs, including a pilot who was nabbed in Indonesia for allegedly trying to smuggle 26kg of drugs.

“These incidents clearly show that drug syndicates and organised crime groups are becoming increasingly bold and are no longer afraid of the existing enforcement system.

“The re-establishment of these three units is critical at this time to strengthen integrated tactical operations against drug trafficking syndicates,” said Low.

Stagg was formed to catch “big fish” involved in local as well as international vice and gambling syndicates, while Sting targeted the most notorious drug syndicates and drug barons.

Stafoc was formed to go after underworld kingpins and those involved in gangsterism and other serious crimes.

The government disbanded the three units in June 2018, citing overlaps in duties which escalated into finger-pointing among them.

The home ministry argued that the disbandment would not lead to a rise in crime but would actually allow for better coordination.

After the change in government, then home minister Hamzah Zainudin said in 2021 that there were no plans to revive the three units as there was no need to do so. - FMT

Justice shouldn’t rely on reputation alone

 

“NO one is above the law” is one of the defining principles of any democracy. Yet there is a quieter question we rarely ask: how do we know whether our courts are performing well?

For years, confidence in the judiciary has rested on its reputation, traditions and constitutional safeguards. Those remain essential.

But in an age where we measure everything from hospital waiting times to public transport performance, should the justice system be any different?

Many countries have begun assessing their courts using objective measures rather than perception alone.

They evaluate how efficiently cases move through the system, how accessible the courts are, whether proceedings are transparent and whether court users believe they have been treated fairly. The goal is not to climb international rankings. It is to strengthen public confidence with evidence.

Malaysia has made significant progress.

The introduction of e-filing, virtual hearings and specialised commercial courts has modernised the administration of justice, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our judges, judicial officers and court staff deserve recognition for adapting quickly and ensuring the courts continued to function during an exceptionally challenging period.

But efficiency alone is not the same as excellence.

Can we confidently answer questions such as these? How long does an ordinary civil case take in Terengganu compared with Kuala Lumpur? Are court users satisfied with the way their cases are handled? Are complaints dealt with transparently and consistently? Is the quality of justice the same regardless of where a person lives?

These are not criticisms of the judiciary. They are questions about how we measure success. At present, too much of the discussion relies on assumptions. For something as fundamental as justice, assumptions should never replace evidence.

One practical step would be a publicly accessible court performance dashboard. It could publish key indicators such as case disposal rates, backlog statistics, waiting times and mediation outcomes.

If we can monitor inflation, GDP and hospital performance, there is no reason court performance should remain largely invisible to the public.

Such transparency would do more than reassure the public. It would help identify bottlenecks, improve resource allocation and ensure that courts in every state receive the support they need.

It would also make it easier to identify disparities between regions and address them before they become systemic problems.

Some argue that measuring court performance could undermine judicial independence. The opposite is true.

Judicial independence protects the courts from political interference. Accountability strengthens public confidence. These are complementary principles, not competing ones.

A judiciary that is willing to measure and publish its performance demonstrates confidence in its own integrity.

Technology can also support these efforts. Artificial intelligence may help forecast case backlogs, improve scheduling and allocate administrative resources more efficiently.

But technology should remain an administrative tool. Decisions involving justice, fairness and the interpretation of the law must always remain in human hands.

Public confidence cannot be sustained through reputation alone. It must be reinforced through fairness, professionalism, transparency and a willingness to improve.

Malaysia’s judiciary is widely respected, and that is something we should value. But respect should never become complacency. Strong institutions continually evaluate themselves because public trust is earned, not inherited.

The courts remain the final refuge for every Malaysian. They protect our rights, uphold the Constitution and safeguard the rule of law. Institutions with responsibilities of that magnitude should welcome transparency rather than fear it.

Justice is not something we should simply assume is being delivered. It should be measured, reviewed and continuously improved. Only then can Malaysians have confidence that the rule of law rests not only on reputation, but on standards of excellence that are visible, accountable and open to public scrutiny. 

KT Maran is a Focus Malaysia viewer.

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

- Focus Malaysia.

More young women are being diagnosed with cervical cancer and here’s why

 

MANY women still think cervical cancer is something that happens later in life. But doctors say that assumption is leading some younger women to delay screening until the disease has already advanced.

Cervical cancer is now the fourth most common cancer among women globally and the third most common among Malaysian women.

More than half of cases occur in women aged between 40 and 59, but specialists are increasingly seeing patients in their late 20s and 30s diagnosed at advanced stages.

“Cervical cancer is absolutely preventable, yet many women are still coming in too late. Most of my younger patients with cervical cancer had never undergone a Pap smear before their diagnosis because they didn’t think they were at risk,” said Dr Andi Anggeriana Andi Asri, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and robotic surgeon at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City.

Why younger women are at risk

Doctors say delayed screening and poor awareness remain among the biggest reasons younger women are being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Many women in their 20s and 30s prioritise work, studies and family commitments over routine health checks. Others avoid gynaecological screening because of discomfort or stigma.

The disease is primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus spread through skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity.

While most HPV infections clear naturally, persistent infection with high-risk strains such as HPV 16 and HPV 18 can silently cause changes in cervical cells that may eventually develop into cancer.

“There is a widespread misconception that cervical cancer only affects older or married women,” Dr Andi said.

“In reality, HPV causes more than 90% of cervical cancers and can be acquired from the very first sexual encounter, even with just one partner.”

More than 90% of cervical cancer cases in Malaysia are linked to HPV. Yet  Health Ministry data shows that six in 10 women have not had a Pap smear within the past three years.

The warning signs women shouldn’t ignore

Consultant emergency physician Dr Mohd Khalis Abdul Rahim said many women only seek medical attention after symptoms become severe.

“We often see women coming in with abnormal vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between normal periods or after menopause. Many assume it’s simply a heavier menstrual cycle, but by then the cancer may already be advanced,” he noted.

Persistent bleeding outside the normal menstrual cycle, unusual vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour, pelvic pain and bleeding after intercourse should all prompt medical evaluation.

“If these symptoms continue for more than one or two cycles, don’t wait. Get checked,” Dr Mohd Khalis added.

Apps can help, but they don’t replace screening

Period-tracking apps and smartwatches have become increasingly popular for monitoring menstrual cycles and general wellbeing. However, both doctors caution that these technologies should complement, not replace, medical screening.

“Apps can help identify patterns, but they can’t tell you what’s wrong,” Dr Andi said.

“A Pap smear or HPV test remains the gold standard for detecting cervical abnormalities early.”

Doctors also encourage women who missed the national school-based HPV vaccination programme not to assume it is too late.

Malaysia offers free HPV vaccination to 13-year-old girls, but Dr Andi said women in their 20s and early 30s may still benefit.

“Even in your 20s or early 30s, the vaccine can still reduce your risk. It won’t protect against every HPV strain, but it remains an important layer of protection.”

Early diagnosis can also preserve fertility.

“If we detect cervical cancer early, some women may not need to undergo removal of the uterus and can still conceive naturally,” she said.

By contrast, advanced disease often requires chemotherapy, radiotherapy or major surgery that can have lasting physical and emotional consequences.

Don’t wait for symptoms to worsen

Dr Andi and Dr Mohd Khalis encourage women to ask themselves three simple questions whenever something feels different:

• Is this bleeding outside my usual cycle?
• Has it happened more than once?
• Would I be worried if this were happening to my sister, daughter or friend?

“If your answer is yes to any of these questions, don’t wait. Even if it’s nothing serious, you’ll have peace of mind,” Dr Mohd Khalis said.

Dr Andi added that women should never hesitate to seek a second opinion if they feel their concerns are being dismissed.

“Don’t ignore your body. Most women with abnormal bleeding don’t have cervical cancer, but the only way to know is to get checked. Cervical cancer doesn’t wait, and neither should you,” she remarked. ‒  Focus Malaysia