Kedua-dua suspek berusia 18 tahun yang didapati positif dadah jenis THC telah direman empat hari.
Ketua Polis Ampang Jaya Mohd Azam Ismail berkata, kedua-dua suspek ditahan di Ampang pada Ahad lepas. (Gambar Facebook)
PETALING JAYA: Dua remaja lelaki ditahan kerana disyaki mengugut seorang rakan mereka supaya membayar sejumlah wang jika tidak mahu video bogel mangsa bersama teman wanitanya tersebar.
Ketua Polis Ampang Jaya Mohd Azam Ismail berkata, kedua-dua suspek berusia 18 tahun itu ditahan di Ampang pada Ahad lepas.
Tiga telefon bimbit turut dirampas bagi membantu siasatan, tambahnya.
“Siasatan mendapati mangsa menerima pesanan WhatsApp daripada rakan yang dikenalinya pada 11 April lepas, mengugut dengan meminta wang. Mangsa kemudian membayar RM2,800 secara ansuran.
“Suspek juga ada meminta lagi sejumlah wang tunai RM1,000, mendorong mangsa membuat laporan polis,” katanya, lapor Bernama.
Mohd Azam berkata, saringan air kencing mendapati kedua-dua suspek positif dadah jenis THC, manakala seorang mempunyai empat rekod jenayah lampau, termasuk berkaitan dadah.
Kedua-dua suspek direman empat hari bermula semalam dan kes disiasat mengikut Seksyen 385 Kanun Keseksaan kerana melakukan pemerasan serta Seksyen 292 akta sama kerana memiliki bahan lucah. - FMT
The Sabah Umno chief says ‘real change’ only took place in 1994 when Barisan Nasional took over the administration.
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said development took a back seat from 1963 to 1994 because of political infighting and power struggle among the local parties.
PETALING JAYA: Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said the state saw “minimal development” when it was governed by local parties in the past.
Bung said that between 1963 and 1994, development took a back seat due to the political infighting and power struggle among the local parties, The Borneo Post reported.
The frequent changes in government, he claimed, led to incoherent development plans and resulted in much of rural Sabah being underdeveloped.
Not only did rural Sabah put up with poor infrastructure, it also witnessed an increase in poverty levels, he said.
“These were the consequences during nearly four decades under local party rule,” he was quoted as saying, when responding to calls for unity among state leaders.
“In our pursuit of unity, we must also be fair to history, lest we repeat past mistakes under the guise of new ideals.”
Bung claimed real change only took place in 1994 when Barisan Nasional took over the administration.
He said BN’s stable rule meant that the state government was able to focus on development across Sabah and provide essential infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals, establish universities, and implement major projects, including the Pan Borneo Highway.
“This progress was not achieved through slogans, but through stability, experience and a strong administrative network between the state and federal governments,” he said, likely alluding to the “Sabah for Sabahans” slogan.
Bung’s remarks on local parties come in the wake of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) saying that it was ready to contest in the upcoming state election on its own if Pakatan Harapan and BN’s decision to cooperate for the state polls is final.
GRS chairman Hajiji Noor said the state’s ruling coalition had consistently held that local Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government, without sidelining the important role national parties played in the larger political framework.
The Sabah chief minister said this was because local parties had a better understanding of the realities, cultures and needs of Sabahans. - FMT
IN today’s hyperconnected world, misinformation spreads faster than verified facts, posing significant threats to national security, democratic stability, and public trust.
For a diverse, multi-ethnic and digitally engaged country like Malaysia, the consequences of unchecked disinformation can be particularly severe.
From polarising communities to undermining public institutions, misinformation has become a strategic challenge that demands a comprehensive national response.
Globally, misinformation has been weaponised for political influence, economic disruption, and geopolitical advantage. Malaysia is not immune to these risks.
It is imperative that the country develop a robust, future-ready strategy to combat the growing threat of disinformation by learning from international best practices and tailoring them to local contexts.
Finland: Media literacy as a national defence tool
Finland is widely recognised as one of the most misinformation-resilient nations, and much of its success stems from a strong foundation in media literacy.
Finnish students are taught from an early age to critically evaluate information, understand propaganda techniques, and spot disinformation.
Media literacy is not confined to classrooms it extends into civil society, libraries, newsrooms, and public institutions through coordinated campaigns.
Malaysia would benefit from adopting a similar, whole-of-society approach. Embedding media literacy in the national curriculum, supported by public awareness initiatives in multiple languages, would equip citizens to think critically about the information they consume online.
In a multicultural society, these programmes must be culturally sensitive and accessible across all regions and communities.
Singapore: The role of legal frameworks
(Image: The Straits Times)
Singapore’s approach to misinformation includes legislative tools such as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).
Enacted in 2019, this law empowers government authorities to swiftly correct or remove false online content that could threaten public order or national security.
The model has been effective in curbing the spread of falsehoods, but it has also drawn criticism for the potential to curb legitimate dissent.
Malaysia previously experimented with the Anti-Fake News Act in 2018 but repealed it over concerns about freedom of expression.
Moving forward, Malaysia should consider enacting new legislation that strikes a balance addressing malicious disinformation especially that linked to foreign interference or incitement while ensuring transparency, judicial oversight, and safeguards for civil liberties.
Any legal measures must be administered in a manner that earns public trust, avoids political misuse, and supports open democratic discourse.
The United Kingdom: Early detection and crisis response
The UK offers a model of institutional readiness through the National Security and Online Information Team (NSOIT), formerly the Counter Disinformation Unit.
This government entity monitors digital misinformation trends, works with technology platforms, and coordinates cross-departmental responses, especially during national crises like pandemics or elections.
Malaysia could benefit from creating a similar independent body perhaps an “Information Integrity Centre” tasked with real-time monitoring, threat analysis, and rapid response to viral falsehoods.
Using artificial intelligence and multilingual capabilities, the centre could detect misinformation in various local languages and dialects, issue public alerts, and support media literacy campaigns.
For such a centre to be credible, it must operate independently, transparently, and without political bias.
Australia: Community-driven media literacy
Australia’s approach emphasises public education and grassroots involvement over legal enforcement.
Programmes such as Newshounds, which trains schoolchildren to critically assess digital news, and local library-led workshops on misinformation detection, reflect a strong focus on empowering citizens at the community level.
Malaysia’s rich network of religious institutions, community associations, and civil society organisations can be powerful allies in a similar effort.
Training community leaders, educators, and influencers to spread media literacy and verify information could significantly improve public awareness.
These trusted figures can help reach populations that may be sceptical of government sources or lack access to reliable information, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Strategic recommendations for Malaysia
To counter the evolving threat of misinformation, Malaysia must adopt a multi-pronged strategy grounded in education, technology, legislation, and diplomacy.
First, media literacy must be prioritised for all age groups by embedding it into school curricula and extending outreach to adults through public campaigns, community workshops, and accessible online resources in multiple languages.
(Image: AFP)
This will empower citizens with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate digital information responsibly.
Second, Malaysia should establish an independent monitoring agency an information integrity centre that is non-partisan and equipped to identify, analyse, and respond to disinformation in real time.
This centre should work closely with media outlets, tech platforms, and civil society to ensure rapid, coordinated responses to viral falsehoods.
Third, the government should introduce clear and balanced legal frameworks to address malicious misinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression.
Legislation should include transparent enforcement processes, judicial oversight, and mechanisms for public accountability to avoid misuse.
Fourth, community engagement is essential; local institutions, religious leaders, educators, and influencers should be mobilised to spread verified information and counter disinformation, especially in rural and underserved regions where trust in official sources may be lower.
Finally, Malaysia must invest in regional cooperation and technological accountability by working with ASEAN partners to monitor cross-border disinformation campaigns and collectively pressure social media companies to ensure greater transparency and responsibility in content moderation across Southeast Asia.
Conclusion
Misinformation is no longer a peripheral issue it is a central challenge to national security, democratic integrity, and social stability. As a vibrant and digitally engaged society, Malaysia cannot afford to be reactive.
The country must act decisively, learning from international examples like Finland’s educational strength, Singapore’s legal framework, the UK’s monitoring capabilities, and Australia’s community outreach.
By building an inclusive, rights-respecting, and future-proof information defence strategy, Malaysia can protect its sovereignty, foster national unity, and reinforce public trust in an increasingly uncertain digital era.
R. Paneir Selvam is the principal consultant of Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd, a think tank specialising in strategic national and geopolitical matters.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
ANGRY customers and bad service. These two do not separate although the thought about who was right or wrong can be difficult to point out.
Recently a lady went viral stating that her meal was being removed right in front of her eyes even though she was not done eating.
According to the lady, she became speechless as the waiter took away her plate and replaced it with dessert.
Was it a deliberate act by the waiter or was it part and parcel of the restaurant’s procedure? No one could tell for sure.
Like any other customers who are well aware of their rights to complain, she went onto the social media to voice out her grievances. Netizens, however, were divided over her rant.
Netizen @arbeeZONE said she should have complained to the manager or the staff instead of trying to make the issue viral.
“I have eaten at Absolute Thai, been to two to three branches and it was alright,” said @arbeeZONE.
Also, @Lady_Ezzah added that the waitress would not have taken the plate away if she had immediately stopped her.
“Based on your story, you were both speechless and didn’t say a thing, so the waitress assumed that the both of you were fine so she took both of your plates,” she said.
“It only takes you two seconds to save your Tom Yam. Your sense of entitlement lost you your Tom Yam,” said @_akmalrodzi.
Another netizen claimed a similar situation happened at his shop. “The customer was washing his hand so the staff thought he was done with his meal and took the plates. I saw the customer being confused so I approached him and asked. Apparently he hasn’t finish eating,” he said.
However, @Fdzmhmd believed the waitress was in the wrong since she should be alert to the customer’s needs.
Several disgruntled customers too have since come up to voice their discontent.
Netizen @seraalie said she and her friends went to Absolute Thai in TRX. “Usually, we will call the staff when we’re ready to order, but this time the staff came to us first so we were a bit flustered trying to decide what to eat because he was standing there waiting,” she said.
Lastly, @SaifulA77188378 said the lady was ranting on her social media for nearly four minutes.
However, she could have avoided the situation by informing the waitress that she was still eating or given her a hand gesture to stop the waitress. — Focus Malaysia
