Prove you can do better on subsidy, Mahfuz tells Zahid; NGOs urged to end ties with Harapan

 

Politics

- Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar has challenged Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to explain how his party could “do better” after the deputy prime minister took a swipe at the government’s Budi95 petrol subsidy policy.

“If Zahid truly believes what he said, ‘God willing, we can do better than what the teacher has done’, then he must have the courage to explain to the people what Umno can do better, and how,” Mahfuz said in a statement today.

He also said Zahid (above), as a cabinet member, should raise any disagreement over government policy internally rather than criticise it using the Umno general assembly stage.

“If you disagree, discuss it in the cabinet. If you have a better proposal, present it to cabinet. If you still want to remain together, shoulder the responsibility together.

"If you no longer have confidence, resign honourably and take BN out of the Madani government,” Mahfuz said.

- Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it would be preferable for the coalition government to serve out its mandate until February 2028 before Parliament is dissolved.

“I did not say I disagree; I said it would be preferable. There is still a long time left in the term,” he told reporters in Nenasi, Pahang, today.

Saifuddin (above) said the remaining period should be used to manage the economy carefully, focus on public welfare, and allow the government more time to deliver.

He was responding to calls at the Umno general assembly for GE16 to be called earlier, including from Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said voters were increasingly longing for BN’s leadership.

Civil society

- Mandiri executive director Amir Hariri Abd Hadi said he and several others will voluntarily present themselves at Bukit Aman on Monday after their bank accounts were frozen as part of an investigation for alleged money laundering.

“To this day we have yet to be called in for questioning,” he said in a statement.

Amir (above) also said the group, which also includes Hayat executive director Dobby Chew, whose account was also frozen, is seeking an explanation from the police and allowing the authorities to investigate them.

“If it is true that we committed criminal breach of trust or used the money for personal interests, then just charge us in court,” said Amir.

- Meanwhile, Youth collective Liga Rakyat Demokratik has urged NGOs, civil society organisations and student movements to end cooperation with Pakatan Harapan over alleged action against activists and civil society groups.

It said this in reference to bank accounts belonging to Amir, Chew, Mandiri and Hayat being allegedly frozen, and that the duo, as respective executive directors of the two organisations, were allegedly barred from leaving the country.

The group demanded that the government explain the legal basis for the restrictions and identify the agency responsible.

It also called for lifting any measures imposed without reasonable grounds immediately, adding that civil society groups should not continue lending the government “cooperation and legitimacy” while the matter remained unresolved.

Brics

- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, discussed expanding semiconductor cooperation, including integrated supply chains, talent development, and two-way investment, during a bilateral meeting in New Delhi today.

Meeting on the sidelines of the 18th Brics Leaders’ Summit, Anwar also reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to boosting bilateral trade and investment and facilitating Malaysian exports to India.

The two leaders also explored ways to strengthen tourism and people-to-people ties through increased flight connectivity.

Malaysia is attending the summit as a Brics Partner Country, a status it has held since Jan 1, 2025.

India was Malaysia’s largest trading partner in South Asia in 2025, with bilateral trade valued at RM79.49 billion (US$18.59 billion).

- Meanwhile, Anwar expressed concern over the continued conflict and escalation across West Asia during a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian today.

Bernama reported that Anwar reiterated the importance of maintaining the freedom and safety of maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law.

“Malaysia urged all parties to return to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes and de-escalate the situation,” the prime minister said during a 30-minute meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Brics Summit.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, welcomed Putrajaya and Tehran’s long-standing diplomatic relations and reaffirmed cooperation on various fronts.

He also called for the continuation and expansion of trade and investment cooperation and opportunities - especially in energy, agriculture, palm oil, food security, halal industry, technology, and higher education.

Online scams

- Malaysia will investigate whether 30 Malaysians arrested in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, over suspected online scam activities were part of a larger organised syndicate.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Indonesian authorities would normally contact Malaysian police to allow them to conduct their own investigation.

“The purpose is to determine whether this was an independent operation involving only these 30 individuals or whether they were part of a more organised syndicate.

“The information obtained will then allow us to plan our next course of action,” he told reporters in Pekan today.

Indonesian authorities reportedly arrested the 30 Malaysians and a Taiwanese national at a hotel on Tuesday following intelligence on suspicious activities involving foreign nationals. - Mkini