The beginning of the end of Trumps fetishism of gladiator The octagon on the South Lawn was a strong symbol. It was the deliberate demonstration of a political style that has always treated power as something that must be performed rather than merely exercised. On the evening Donald Trump turned 80, professional fighters contested inside a steel cage erected where the Republic once conducted its more sober ceremonies. The production was labelled UFC Freedom 250, an exercise meant to celebrate ..

I refer to the incident of a leader of a state government who arrogantly said that he would rather not be the leader if he had to sit at the same table as the DAP or Democratic Action Party. Assuming that the DAP has not contracted Covid-19 or other dangerous communicable diseases, I guess this statement is a political one. First, to not be able to sit with your opponent in a meeting is a strange thing when we remember our father of the nation, Tunku Abdul Rahman who sat with the renowned Chin ..

When care becomes quiet exclusion: Rethinking how we love our elders It was a simple piece, quietly written, its author unknown. Yet in its microscopic honesty, it held up a mirror many of us may not be ready to face. A piece that my dear friend Yusuf Ali sent, asking me to write in honour of the senior citizens. It spoke in the voice of a 70-year-old woman, Samina, who described a reality both tender and troubling, not neglect in the obvious sense, but something far more subtle. Something many ..

I refer to the incident of a leader of a state government who arrogantly said that he would rather not be the leader if he had to sit at the same table as the DAP or Democratic Action Party. Assuming that the DAP has not contracted Covid-19 or other dangerous communicable diseases, I guess this statement is a political one. First, to not be able to sit with your opponent in a meeting is a strange thing when we remember our father of the nation, Tunku Abdul Rahman who sat with the renowned Chin ..

As ruling coalition, PH cannot ignore the Rohingya question As of February 2026, according to official statistics from the UNHCR, there are 126,144 Rohingya in Malaysia. Many of us may not truly feel their presence because they do not live in our immediate surroundings or directly participate in our daily lives. However, this does not mean the Rohingya issue is unrelated to us. In fact, the impact of the Rohingya issue on national security, the allocation of public resources, and the ..

BN/Umnos smooth path in Johor, PHs future uncertain in Negri Sembilan The state elections in Johor and Negri Sembilan are expected to take place within the next 60 days, and barring any unforeseen developments, both contests will proceed as scheduled. While a royal dispute has generated headlines in Negri Sembilan, recent court rulings and the federal government's firm recognition of Tuanku Muhriz as the rightful Yang di-Pertuan Besar suggest that the constitutional situation remains under ..

In dire straits: Electrostate versus hydrocarbon hegemon Having accepted that control over energy reinforces super power status, the Contest of the Century has morphed into an intense rivalry between China as an electrostate, whilst the United States safeguards her position as the worlds hydrocarbon hegemon. China emerged as the worlds first electrostate by recognizing that electricity drives its energy, economy, education and environmental eco-systems. Despite being a major producer of coal, ..

Homeless senior citizens: A growing challenge in an ageing Malaysia Malaysia is on the threshold of becoming an aged nation. Advances in healthcare, improved living standards and better nutrition have enabled Malaysians to live longer than previous generations. While this is a positive achievement, it also presents new social challenges, one of which is the growing number of homeless and destitute senior citizens. For many Malaysians, old age is expected to be a period of rest, dignity and ..

In the floodlit cathedrals of the 2026 World Cup, where nations parade their myths and markets hawk their dreams, China is everywhere and nowhere at once. The high-performance fabrics that wick away the sweat of Brazilian forwards and German midfielders are woven on Chinese looms. The instant analytics that flash across stadium screens owe their speed to Chinese semiconductors and engineers. The referee whose decisions ripple through global betting markets may well be Chinese; the noodles and ..

That Cabinet group photo may be signalling General Election is around the corner On the night of June 4, a friend in political circles forwarded me a message regarding the timing of a Cabinet meeting and arrangements for a group photograph of all Cabinet ministers before the meeting. The moment I read the message, I sensed that the possibility of an early general election had increased. Traditionally, an official Cabinet photograph is taken before Parliament is dissolved. Likewise, when a new ..

100 days of the global energy crisis: Why discipline and unity are our strongest shield One hundred days into the global energy crisis, one truth is now unavoidable: this is no longer a temporary disruption to be waited out. The escalating conflict in West Asia and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have produced what the International Energy Agency calls the largest supply shock in the history of the global oil market. Malaysia must therefore make a deliberate shift from emergency ..

Indo-Pacific does not need another imported security crisis The Indo-Pacific does not need to be converted into the next theatre of externally managed **peace through strength**, especially when West Asia has just shown how quickly **US-designed security architecture** can produce insecurity for everyone and anyone else. We already know that Washington can produce elegant phrases about partnership. But the question is whether US-led security architecture, once embedded in a region, actually ..

Recent geopolitical trends threaten more food crises, especially in developing countries. A new IPES-Food report urges a strategy of resilient self-reliance, proposing available opportunities to improve equity, sustainability and solidarity. _The New Geopolitics of Food. Navigating policies for resilient self-reliance_argues that international food systems have been profoundly transformed by the geopolitical changes of the last four decades. Geopolitics referring to political sanctions, trade ..

Cracks in Perikatan Nasional: Who will win the next general election? Malaysian politics has always been an alliance of convenience. When PAS President Tan sri Abdul Hadi Awang publicly indicated a potential end to the party's partnership with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), it marked a potential turning point that could reshape the country's political landscape. Over the past few years, Perikatan Nasional's (PN) rapid rise was fueled by a complementary relationship: PAS secured the ..

What makes the Negeri Sembilan dispute so significant is not merely that it involves questions of custom, succession, or appointment. More importantly, it touches the foundations of institutional stability that have formed part of Malaysias state structure since before independence. The issue therefore extends beyond personalities and enters the broader realm of constitutional governance, public confidence, and the preservation of long-standing institutions. History has a tendency to repeat ..

**Stop exporting plastic waste: the developed world must take back responsibility** I was angered reading recent reports on how developed nations continue to ship their plastic waste to countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey. It exposes a blatant double standard: nations that preach sustainability at home are still offloading their environmental burden onto others. This is not responsible waste management; it is the deliberate export of a problem they are unwilling to confront ..

The world isnt running out of food, so why are more children going hungry? It is an uncomfortable truth: the world is producing enough food, yet more children are going hungry. This is not a crisis of supply. It is a crisis of systems and of choices. Across Asia, the warning signs are impossible to ignore. Even under the good scale of food production, the World Food Programs Global Outlook Report 2026 estimates that 318 million people now face acute hunger worldwide; 38 million children under ..

Anyone who has been to the seaside or watched marine documentaries is probably familiar with barnacles. These marine creatures attach themselves in dense clusters to ship hulls, rocks, and even the skin of sea turtles and whales. Once a barnacle latches onto a host, it secretes an extremely powerful adhesive that is notoriously difficult to remove. It clings tightly to its host and is almost impossible to shake off. Barnacles continuously absorb nutrients from their surroundings and reproduce ..

Johor polls: Turnout key to DAP's hold on marginal seats In the 2022 Johor state election, five of the 12 seats won by Pakatan Harapan (PH) were secured with majorities of less than 10%. Of these five seats, four had Malay voter populations below 40%: Bukit Batu (37.2%), Perling (39.6%), Tangkak (40.6%) and Jementah (40.8%). These urban and semi-urban constituencies, where Chinese voters form a significant proportion of the electorate, were mostly won by the Democratic Action Party (DAP), with ..

In the marble precincts of Indias Supreme Court one May afternoon in 2026, a single phrase slipped from the bench and detonated across the subcontinent. Chief Justice Surya Kant, presiding over a hearing, observed that certain unemployed young peoplewho dont get any employment or have any place in the professionbehaved like cockroaches. They became, he said, parasites of society, turning to social media, RTI activism, and criticism of the system. A clarification followed: the remarks targeted ..

As Malaysia moves towards an ageing society, discussions on road safety have renewed interest in whether senior citizens should undergo medical examinations when renewing their driving licenses. This is a sensitive subject, but one that deserves balanced consideration. Road safety must remain the priority, while policies affecting senior citizens should be implemented fairly and respectfully. The objective should not be to restrict elderly drivers solely because of age. Many senior citizens ..

From Umno and Gerakan to DAP: Skudai's revolving-door seat The sudden and unannounced retirement of Skudai assemblywoman Marina Ibrahim from politics continues to be played up. It is a good moment to take a closer look at this state seat and its rather unusual electoral history. Since its creation in 1974 for the fourth general election, Skudai has returned candidates from Barisan Nasional's Umno and Gerakan, as well as from DAP under both the Pakatan Rakyat and Pakatan Harapan banners. What ..

Political realignment or strategic survival? Growing speculation over Bersatus possible return to PH Malaysias political landscape is once again being shaped by speculation surrounding the possibility of Bersatu re-establishing cooperation with the government led by Anwar Ibrahim. Although no official confirmation has emerged, the growing circulation of claims involving discreet meetings between key political figures has intensified discussion about whether a new political alignment is quietly ..

Hong Kongs first woman astronaut that wins the hearts and minds It was just before dawn on May 24, 2026, when the Shenzhou-23 rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, its engines carving a scar of fire across the Gobi Desert sky. Four hundred kilometers above the turning Earth, inside the cramped, humming confines of the Tiangong space station, Dr. Lai Ka-ying floated in the weightless dark and allowed herself one small, private moment. She was forty-three years old, a mother ..

Selangor is spacious why is the space for non-Muslims so narrow? Issues affecting non-Muslims in Selangor keep coming one after another from putting food on the table to matters of faith and worship. Selangor is such a large state; is there really no room for its people? The recently unsettling Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities explicitly prohibits the establishment of non-Islamic religious premises in commercial zones and also bars the conversion of ..

Crossroads of powers: Interplay of parties, monarchy in Malaysian politics No mortal is ever spared from worries or the bitter taste of uneasenot even Anwar Ibrahim, comfortably seated at the zenith of power as Malaysias prime minister. Late last Friday night, Anwar unexpectedly posted a video on social media, admitting with unusually candid and emotional disposition that he was far from perfect, and that there was much room for reflection and improvement. He pledged to continue carrying out ..

The Federal Reserve Banks turn to reserve management exposes the limited policy options still available as the US seeks to protect itself against international stagflation stemming from President Trumps policies. Successive US administrations have long refused to address the roots of the worsening fiscal and debt problems. As the US Treasury borrows ever more to continue funding federal government spending with less tax revenue, the accumulated public debt of $39 trillion now costs over a ..

Gerakan believes Ahmad Samsuris recent remarks were friendly towards the Chinese community and supportive of a multicultural society. Perikatan Nasional (PN)or more precisely, PASbelieves it stands a strong chance of taking over Putrajaya in the next general election. PAS successful push to install Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as PN chairman and Opposition Leader in parliament, while positioning him as a potential prime ministerial candidate, is part of that strategy. Compared to Datuk ..

Keeping costs of machinery inspections sustainable for SMEs Workplace safety is essential and machinery inspections play a critical role in protecting workers, preventing industrial accidents, and ensuring safe operations. Businesses generally recognize these responsibilities and understand that compliance comes with costs. Safety inspections for machinery and pressure equipment are essential and should never be compromised. They help prevent accidents, protect workers and ensure equipment ..

China should open Its doors to American travellers unilaterally If Thomas Friedman has learned one thing from three decades of watching globalisation, it is this: the most powerful forces in the world today are not governments, but people moving, meeting, and changing one anothers minds one conversation at a time. That is why Beijings next smart move is staring it right in the face: announce a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary American passport holders. Not as a favour to Washington. Not ..

So, the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya health department has apologized for the confusion caused when a medical monitoring card in the Chinese language was handed to a patient at a public clinic somewhere in Kuala Lumpur. The apology was issued more than a week ago and the confusion in question happened a couple of daysor maybe a few days earlier, I think. Hence, you, or most of you, must have read about the issue. Still, I need to say something because of what happened after the confusion, if not ..

PKR was once seen as the reformist backbone of Pakatan Harapan the party that promised institutional reforms, multiracial politics and a cleaner democratic culture. Today, however, it increasingly looks like the coalitions weakest link. As the leading party of the Unity Government, PKR should ideally project stability, discipline and confidence. Instead, it has become the most internally troubled component within Pakatan Harapan, plagued by factionalism, leadership insecurity and policy ..

The final chapter of World War II in the Pacific remains one of the most fiercely contested episodes in modern history. On 15 August 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japans unconditional surrender, formally ending a conflict that had claimed tens of millions of lives across Asia and the Pacific. In the West, the dominant story has long centred on a single, cataclysmic act of American technological supremacy: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August. These weapons, ..

Eat here if you dare: Sauna hawker centres KL office workers are forced to call home Step into the only hawker centre serving Semantan's teeming office belt, tucked in the shadow of the Zurich building and similar glass-and-steel towers and within seconds, the heat hits you like a wall. Not the gentle warmth of a humid Malaysian morning, but the suffocating, damp blast of a sauna. Pots of fried rice sizzle on open flames. _Roti canai_ is slapped onto screaming-hot iron skillets. Bowls of soup ..

Unity Government heading down Perikatan Nasionals path At the Pakatan Harapan convention, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim criticised Johor Barisan Nasionals intention to go solo in the coming state election, saying this could even lead to an early dissolution of Parliament and a general election. BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir responded by saying BN would continue to uphold the consensus within the Unity Government until the end of the current administrations term. ..

If post-election coalitions are needed, Rafizi will ultimately choose PH After taking over Parti Bersama Malaysia, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad declared that they would contest future elections as an independent political force, without aligning themselves with any existing political coalitions. However, the political landscape in Malaysia is becoming increasingly fragmented. Voter trends in the upcoming state and general elections are likely to be even more scattered. ..

When winning at the tribunal is only half the battle The Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia was established to provide ordinary consumers with a simple, affordable and accessible avenue for resolving disputes without engaging lawyers or going through lengthy court proceedings. In many respects, the tribunal has fulfilled that purpose well. Consumers who would otherwise lack the means to pursue legal action are able to present their cases in a relatively informal and inexpensive setting. ..

Chinese community no longer votes for DAP in tears, but is Bersama worthy of their vote? Just two days after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced their takeover of Parti Bersama Malaysia on May 17, this leader writer sat down with them face to face in the newsroom. Joining senior writers and Pocketimes hosts under _Sin Chew Daily_, we conducted an in-depth interview lasting about three hours with them. As I listened to them speak with confidence, painting an ambitious ..

Growth without gain: Why Indonesians dont feel the economy Indonesias economy grew at a steady 5.2 per cent through 2025 and into early 2026. On paper, that is a success story. Yet in practice, millions of Indonesians arent buying it, because they arent feeling it. Household budgets remain tight, the middle class has stopped expanding, and a quiet frustration is building between what the macroeconomic data says and what people actually experience at the market, at the fuel pump and at the end ..