overwhelming majority. This includes Kuala Kubu Baharu, the state seat in Selangor where PN will face Pakatan Harapan (PH) in a by-election next month. There, Malays make up around 47% of the electorate. PN, often labelled a "right-wing" Malay party, has acknowledged the importance of gaining non-Malay support. In the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, it is expected to focus on Malay areas such as Bandar Utama Batang Kali, Ampang Pecah and Batu 30. "But we will not abandon the 18% Indian voters and 33% Chinese voters," said Hasnizan Mohd Harun, PN's deputy election director for the upcoming polls. "We want to gauge the level of non-Malay support for PN in this by-election," the Hulu Selangor MP, who is also the Selangor PAS treasurer, told MalaysiaNow. Hasnizan said although Malay voters form the majority in Kuala Kubu Baharu, they are more divided than the non-Malays who form a unified bloc. PN is targeting an 85% turnout of Malay voters, more than the 70% goal set at last year's state election. While PN is struggling to win the support of non-Malays who have supported DAP for more than a decade, PH is fighting for acceptance by the Malays, many of whom switched their allegiance to PN after the last general election. In Kuala Kubu Baharu, the burden of winning Malay support for PH has been placed on Amanah, a party that is still largely dependent on non-Malay voters. Amanah said it had its own "strategy" to achieve this. "By mobilising the entire machinery of the parties in the unity government and promoting the trend of peace, tranquility and harmony that the unity government has brought, I am confident that the people will maintain this trend in the upcoming by-election," Dzulkefly Ahmad, the party's strategic director, was quoted as saying. But if PH is relying on its relatively weak component to shoulder this task, so too is PN, which has given the job of winning over the non-Malays to Gerakan. And PN's efforts to present Gerakan as the non-Malay part of the coalition have yet to bear fruit. Analyst Oh Ei Sun said it would take "a lot of luck" for PN and PH to win over their targeted voters. He does not believe that the Chinese will buck the trend by voting for PN any time soon. However, he acknowledged the possibility that PH supporters would refrain from voting, to show their displeasure with the coalition. "Most Chinese continue to be bothered by what they perceive as discrimination despite PH being a supposedly reformist government," Oh told MalaysiaNow. In last year's elections, Gerakan won only one of the 36 seats it contested. PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin does not deny that his coalition has failed to win the support of the non-Malays. "We have to find ways to win the support of the Chinese, Indians and other communities," he said at a convention for PN elected representatives last month. The May 11 by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu was triggered by the death of PH incumbent Lee Kee Hiong. While the larger parliamentary seat of Hulu Selangor went to PN in the last general election, PH was able to hold Kuala Kubu Baharu with a majority of 4,119 votes. A PH defeat in this seat would have major implications for the coalition government as it struggles with issues such as its plan to remove fuel subsidies, and the controversy over the royal pardon for Najib Razak. A recent statement by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming also caused a stir, after he justified the sudden announcement of RM5 million in government projects for the area by citing "feng shui" - the Chinese custom of finding good fortune in one's surroundings. "It's not just because of the by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu. We chose this area because it is an auspicious place. The feng shui here is 'ong' (good). So the first visit must be to a place of luck," Nga said in a statement on April 18. This drew a sharp response from Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who asked if the feng shui in his constituency was so bad that it was being left out of the allocation of public funds. Meanwhile, Hasnizan said Chinese residents in Kuala Kubu Baharu had many grievances, including the increase in taxes and the introduction of the e-invoice system by the Inland Revenue Board. "Many of them are traders and are not happy about the increase in sales and service tax from 6% to 8%. "Small traders are also against the e-invoice system to be implemented by the government in a few months," he said. He also said that the case of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, whose 47 criminal charges were controversially dismissed, had further fuelled the Chinese community's discontent with the government.

people waiting for the bus for alms. A man wearing only a pair of shorts sits with a plastic container which he uses to hold the small sums of money he receives from passersby. or these two, cardboard and old blankets form the only beds they have. Whether it is day or night makes no difference to these homeless, who snatch a moment of rest whenever they can. A charity group hands out containers of food to the urban poor. Whatever food packets they receive are eaten on the floor of walkways, in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur's giant skyscrapers. When evening falls, they venture out into the darkness. These women also made the journey from Indonesia in hopes of finding a better life hopes that remain unfulfilled. A woman with hair cropped short heads back to her small corner of the city after spending the day collecting recyclable material to sell. At night, Lebuh Pudu is filled with the homeless who crowd the narrow walkways. They hold tight to their few belongings some of them incongruous, such as these giant teddy bears. They come from all walks of life, united by their lack of a place to call home. Their stories are all different: some were abandoned by their families, while others suffer from mental health issues or are convicts who have served their time. Most of them have little or no education, and cannot do much to change their lives. Many are resigned to spending their old age on the streets, like this man who lost his wife seven years ago and now faces the rest of his life alone. Zainab (not her real name) and her husband struggle to adjust to life on the streets, but cannot help remembering how things used to be. From cookies and clothes to songkoks and slippers, traders hurry to fulfil all of the orders from their customers ahead of the festive period. Regular Malaysians do what they can to make ends meet while paying their household expenses for the month.

earlier. The HOM aircraft crashed at TLDM stadium in Lumut, while the Fennec crashed at a swimming pool atthe TLDM Lumut Sports Complex. The personnel killed on board the HOM aircraft include two lieutenant commanders Wan Rezaudeen Kamal Wan Zainal Abidin and Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohamad Marzukhi, as well as Muhammad Firdaus Ramli, Muhammad Faisol Tamadun, and three others to be identified. Three more personnel killed on board the Fennec are Muhamad Amir Mohamad, Sivasutan Thanjappan and Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Termizi.

Nasional (BN) coalition, remain unconvinced by senior leaders from the Malay-based party who have urged them to consider PH's candidate as their own. Today, MCA president Wee Ka Siong launched a stinging attack on DAP. "After happily insulting MCA, now you want MCA to help campaign for DAP? Do you think MCA has no dignity or feelings, when my party members are insulted by DAP leaders, should I, as the MCA president, remain silent?" Wee said, in a response to an earlier statement by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke. Loke, appearing on the Keluar Sekejap podcast recently, said MCA is a party of "tawkehs" which does not care for the people's interest. Observers see MCA and MIC's refusal to campaign for DAP as the result of the "cold treatment" given to the two parties, which have struggled for more than a decade with a lack of support from their traditional Chinese and Indian vote banks. Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said that "marginalisation" was to blame, adding that the current power-sharing agreement between PH and BN had only benefited Umno. "This is due to the dominance of DAP as a non-Malay party in the unity government," he told MalaysiaNow. MIC has called for a BN candidate to represent the government in Kuala Kubu Baharu, a state seat in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency. The seat, where almost half of the voters are non-Malays, was won by DAP at the state election last year with a majority of 4,119 votes. MCA, for its part, has refused to participate in the campaign for the by-election, scheduled for May 11. Mazlan said Umno had succeeded in gaining control of key ministries despite similar rejection by its traditional vote bank. "This was not the case with its partners MCA and MIC," he added. It had been common practice for MCA and MIC leaders to be given important ministry portfolios such as health, transport, human resources and technology. These portfolios are now held by PH ministers, including the transport ministry - a major powerhouse which is under the control of Loke, the DAP secretary-general. Political researcher Anis Anwar Suhaimi said MIC and MCA viewed DAP as their main enemy due to their conflict in predominantly non-Malay constituencies. "The parliamentary framework in the country makes these two blocs natural enemies," said Anis, a chief researcher at O2 Research which has conducted field studies to measure political sentiments. He said this was not the case with Umno and PH, where cooperation is complementary to rural and urban politics as well as the divide between Malays and non-Malays. He said the stance taken by MIC and MCA was a message that any cooperation between BN and other coalitions should aid BN in regaining its former glory, not simply use it as a tool to form a government. "If the candidate belongs to a party other than BN, campaigning and other efforts will not be considered as adding any value." He said the rift between the parties in government also indicated that Umno had failed to apply a strategy to ensure cooperation with PH. He said Umno had so far only focused on strengthening itself by securing key ministries. "This is also the case when decisions are made without consultation and discussion in the BN Supreme Council. "This shows the non-Malay voters that MCA and MIC are not as important as DAP in the current collaboration," he said.

their festive aid - may seem small, it goes a long way for many. NUBE represents the interests of about 25,000 bank employees nationwide and their families, which could easily total 75,000 or more. So, my question is why is Steven taking such an arrogant approach to this when he could well be dangling with the interests of more than 50,000 voters? Apart from the festive aid, I was also disturbed why banks, which reap in millions in profit every year, cannot even have the decency to provide their Muslim staff with a prayer room. It is shocking to learn that some Muslims had to perform their prayers in store rooms, while others even pray in a room which was stocked with what looked like chemicals. This all boils down to greed. The banks are only interested in profits and do not care a whim about their downline staffers. However, as a seasoned former bank staff, I must agree with NUBE that customers often return to a particular bank mainly because of the service provided to them by the banking staff. If a customer receives poor service, he or she will simply move on to another bank - after all, it is the customer's money. Therefore, I urge Steven to step down from wherever he thinks he is and meet with representatives from NUBE and sort this matter out before it gets way out of hand. _The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow._

of more humiliating defeats in predominantly Malay seats. Azhar said the speaker, after receiving a written notice from any MP regarding a vacancy, must establish within 21 days whether such vacancy exists in accordance with Article 49A. "The question here is whether those MPs have ceased to be members of the political party of which they were members when they contested the 15th general election," Azhar, who served as speaker from July 2020 until the last election, told MalaysiaNow. Article 49A states that an elected representative will lose his seat if he resigns from his political party, ceases to become a member, or joins another party after his election to the Dewan Rakyat. A total of six MPs from Bersatu had declared their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim while stating that they would remain with their party. Bersatu subsequently amended its constitution to read that those who are out of line with the party's position will cease to be members, thereby causing them to lose their status as MPs. The six MPs who expressed support for Anwar are Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), and Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar). Selat Klang state assemblyman Abdul Rashid Asari also declared his support for Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari. Azhar, a lawyer by training, said that if their membership ceases in line with Bersatu's amended constitution, their cases would come under Article 49A(1)(A)(II). This provision states that the speaker must declare a seat vacant if its elected representative loses his party membership. Azhar said the next step would be for any MP to notify the speaker about the vacancy, as mentioned in Article 49A(III). MalaysiaNow's query on whether such a notice has been sent to the speaker has yet to receive a response from Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin. Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul did not respond, either. In 2022, the government of then prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob backed the anti-party hopping law in fulfilling its agreement with then opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH). The six MPs from Bersatu had taken advantage of what was considered a legal loophole in expressing support for Anwar while stating that they remained party members. This caused Bersatu's move to amend its constitution, which was approved by the Registrar of Societies. As of yesterday, the MPs who defected had yet to receive notice that they were no longer members, according to one of them, Syed Abu Hussin. MalaysiaNow understands that the delay in formally informing the speaker of the seat vacancies is a deliberate move by Bersatu to allow time for the MPs to retract their stand and return to the party fold. Following the changes in the party's constitution, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had said if the six continued to support the prime minister, their seats would be vacated. Syed Abu Hussin, the fifth MP to declare support for Anwar, previously said that he would rather support the government than continue to be with Bersatu in order to remain as an MP. "We are ready to face any possibility including vacating our seats if that's the reality we have to accept," he said in February. Observers nevertheless predict that the PH-Barisan Nasional coalition will be dealt another round of defeat in the event of more by-elections as the government continues to struggle with a deficit in Malay support. In Bukit Gantang, which has 76% Malay voters, Syed Abu Hussin won by a majority of 12,756 votes, defeating candidates from Umno, Amanah and Pejuang. In Kuala Kangsar where 70% of the voters are Malays, Iskandar defeated both Umno and Amanah candidates. Likewise in Tanjong Karang, Zulkafperi defeated candidates from Umno and Muda, the latter at that time part of PN, in a constituency with some 73% Malays. In Labuan, where Malay and Bumiputera groups make up more than 80%, Suhaili emerged the winner in a six-cornered contest. Two other Bersatu men, Zahari in Jeli and Azizi in Gua Musang, both contested on a PAS ticket. Zahari left his three rivals far behind with a majority of more than 12,000 votes while in Gua Musang, Azizi was considered a giantslayer after defeating Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who represented the Orang Asli area for more than four decades.

was made possible by several agencies, which stepped up its efforts following news of two JKM officers who tried to evict them from the only home the elderly couple had left. Now, they begin each day in the room instead of under leaky umbrellas, thanks to Yayasan Kebajikan Negara and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. They have also received essentials and some cash with which to rebuild their lives. "I cannot tell you how grateful I am to everyone who has helped us," Zaleha told MalaysiaNow, fighting back tears. "For so long we were on the pavement. Today, we are in a room where we can rest, shower and pray. Thank you, Allah." To receive kindness from others was almost unreal to the couple, who had spent the last six months fending for themselves. But Zaleha is determined not to continue depending on the goodwill of strangers in order to get by. Although she is no longer young, she believes she still has what it takes to earn enough to support herself and her husband, who suffers from depression. The rented room is close enough for her to continue her work as a dishwasher at a nearby restaurant. "I want to keep working so that I can collect enough money for food and some savings," she said. Still, a number of agencies have come forward seeking monthly support for Zaleha and her husband. And JKM, which became the target of many following news of how its officers had treated the couple, has set up a special team to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, MalaysiaNow has been inundated with calls and emails from people who, touched by the simple story of an elderly couple struggling to get by, wish to lend a helping hand as well. But while Zaleha's story might have closed its chapter on hardship and homelessness, countless others continue to face the harsh realities of urban poverty. These are the stories that MalaysiaNow will be telling in the weeks to come.

Umno circles that pressure is also mounting on party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who recently submitted an affidavit supporting Najib's judicial review on the matter. Many senior leaders are likewise beginning to feel the pressure from grassroots who are unhappy with Umno's alliance with PH. An Umno leader in Perak told MalaysiaNow that party leaders were particularly upset that Zahid had remained silent on the matter despite claiming to have earlier knowledge of the addendum. "Why was he silent for more than two months on this big request which he claims was actually shown to him?" said the Umno man who asked to remain anonymous. It is a view shared by many others, including former Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil, a Najib loyalist who has emerged as the coalition government's fiercest critic in recent months. "It was only when Najib filed the case and the issue of the addition came to public attention that they pushed to file an affidavit to avoid the heat from the grassroots. "Zahid should have come out openly on this matter two months ago, not now after it goes to court where you can be summoned," he said in a recent post. In his affidavit dated April 9, Zahid said he could confirm the existence of an addendum to the "partial pardon" granted to Najib by Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, just before the monarch ended his five-year reign as Agong in January. According to Zahid, he was shown a picture of the addendum by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz on Jan 30 - Sultan Abdullah's last day as Agong. "Upon querying further, he subsequently showed me a copy of the said addendum order on this phone which he personally photographed/scanned from an original copy as shown to him by His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong XVI," Zahid said in his affidavit, adding that he was told the attorney-general also had a copy of the addendum. Najib was fined RM210 million and sentenced to 12 years in jail for criminal breach of trust, power abuse and money laundering over charges of embezzling RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. Since he began serving his prison sentence on Aug 23, 2022, Umno leaders have been lobbying for a royal pardon like the one granted to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim which allowed the PKR leader's release from prison in 2018 where he had been serving time for sodomy and lifted his ban from active politics. Calls for a royal pardon grew after Zahid brought his Umno MPs to join forces with PH as Najib loyalists, who still hold great influence in the party, felt that Anwar should reward Umno for supporting PH and enabling him to fulfil his prime ministerial ambitions. After months of speculation and pressure on the government, the Pardons Board announced that Najib's prison sentence would be reduced to six years and his fine to RM50 million which, if paid, would get him another year off. Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has charged the government with concealing the addendum. He said this was the first time that an order of the Agong had not been enforced. "Why did they conceal the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's order when you (were) authorised to expose it? They should expose and enforce it," he was quoted as saying. He said those who "concealed" the order had committed a serious offence. "You cannot conceal. This was the Agong's order. You have to obey." Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla warned that concealing the royal order could be tantamount to treason. He said the authorities should have at least acknowledged the order and, if they disagreed, appealed to the Agong to revoke it. He also named several parties whom he said were responsible for the disclosure of the purported addendum order. Apart from the Pardons Board itself which he said should have been the first to be informed of such an order, he said the minister in charge of the Federal Territories in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, and the Prime Minister's Department, under which the board falls, should explain what really happened. He also said that Anwar was ultimately responsible for whether he had been informed about the addendum order. He also named Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution, who is in charge of prisons, and Azalina Othman Said, the minister in charge of legal affairs, saying they should be held accountable. On Wednesday, Shafee said he had written to Anwar and other ministers several times but received no reply.

contracts awarded to the company. On Monday, it was reported that Heitech Padu Bhd was awarded a three-year contract worth RM190.01 million by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) for maintenance works and technical support for ICT infrastructure, including the MySikap system. Last month, Anwar's former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador, through his company Rosetta Partners Sdn Bhd, emerged as the company's largest investor with a 15.91% stake. In a statement today, PN said the series of contracts awarded to Heitech Padu by the government has raised questions about the tendering process. "These concerns have been raised by the public mainly because one of the major shareholders of Heitech Padu is the former political secretary to the prime minister," said Khairil Nizam Khirudin, who heads PN's transport portfolio. He cited reports that the company had won the same contract worth RM36 million back in 2021, which was then renewed in 2023 for RM27 million. "This begs the question as to why the contract is now worth RM190 million for three years That works out to an average of RM63 million annually. The government needs to respond to this huge increase in value," he said. He called on both the transport and finance ministries to be transparent in all tendering processes involving Heitech Padu. "(This) includes the question of the contract's high value as well as all the companies that were shortlisted for the RM190 million project," he added. Earlier, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said Anwar, who is also the finance minister, and Transport Minister Anthony Loke had explained the contract awarded to Heitech Padu to the Cabinet today. Fahmi said the contract was approved by the transport ministry on Feb 2 last year dismissing its link to Farhash. "So there is no connection with the position of any person when the approval was given," Fahmi said. Farhash's purchase of HeiTech Padu came just a day after MyEG Services Bhd acquired a 14.4% stake in the company for RM31.25 million in cash on March 11. On the same day, HeiTech Padu announced that its Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) contract, worth over RM13 million, has been extended by one year. HeiTech Padu was one of three companies shortlisted by the government to develop the RM1 billion National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) project to replace MyIMMs. This was not Farhash's first foray into the world of corporate deals involving listed companies with close ties to the government. Since his boss became prime minister in November 2022, Farhash has been appointed chairman of three companies: retail chain 7-Eleven, part of billionaire Vincent Tan's empire, a stockbroking firm and a fintech company. The Farhash case is not the only one raising concerns about nepotism and cronyism in Anwar's government. The prime minister's daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who was defeated in the last elections, was appointed her father's economic and financial adviser, sparking a wave of condemnation. Nurul Izzah, a vice-president of PKR, is now an adviser to the National Economic and Strategic Coordination Agency, an agency under the finance ministry led by Anwar.

happens, he loses all of his followers as well. This week, his TikTok account was deleted for the fifth time - but it did not take him long to create a sixth one. Now Na'im, who uploads short clips questioning the government's actions through sarcasm and comedy, has set another goal for himself. "I'm aiming for 100 accounts by the end of the year," he joked when asked by MalaysiaNow. His last video was a criticism of Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, who said the police probe of Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh was proof that the government was not conducting "selective" investigations. Na'im had said that while politicians from all sides were investigated, no action had ever been taken or charges laid against anyone in government. "The difference is that no action is taken after the investigations," he said in the video uploaded on Sunday. He cited examples of various investigations launched against DAP leaders Tony Pua, Howard Lee and Ngeh Koo Ham. "And our favourite, the Agus case," he said, referring to former director-general of the Community Communications Department (J-Kom) Mohammad Agus Yusoff, who resigned shortly after a sexually charged video call with a PKR man. While Na'im has not faced any restrictions on YouTube, his TikTok accounts are a different story. The first time Na'im's account was blocked was on Feb 20. He lost 120,400 followers after posting a video criticising the manner in which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim responded to a reporter's question on the ringgit's decline. On March 9, a second account with 35,000 followers was blocked. These days, Na'im has accepted the fact that his TikTok accounts only have a lifespan of one to two weeks. With a series of by-elections looming on the horizon, he expects this to be shortened even further. "I am always prepared with many new accounts waiting to be used in case my account is removed." According to Na'im, each time he creates a new account, it racks up millions of views in just a short period of time. He said many users were curious about the content of the deleted clips on TikTok and would try to find them on other platforms. Na'im has nothing to say to the communications minisry or the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which has ordered TikTok and other platform providers to delete anti-government content. "The more accounts are blocked, the more they will have to explain in court one day," he said. Na'im is not the only one facing online restrictions. MalaysiaNow previously reported that many influencers critical of the government such as Ratu Naga and YB Viral have also had their TikTok accounts deleted. The blocking of anti-government content has been widespread under Anwar's administration, although the government has denied its involvement. However, Putrajaya has admitted to making requests through MCMC for platform providers like TikTok to delete certain videos. Shortly after coming to power in November 2022, the government threatened TikTok as it was unhappy over its wide use by opposition supporters. So far, only the China-based TikTok appears to have complied with MCMC's requests. Other platforms such as X, YouTube and Facebook have repeatedly refused the government's request to delete content, in line with their policy on free speech. Since his appointment as minister in charge of media affairs, Fahmi Fadzil has come under criticism over action taken against media outlets. In June last year, MalaysiaNow was blocked for 48 hours without any notice. TV Pertiwi and Utusan TV have had their websites blocked as well, in addition to a blog run by former MP Wee Choo Keong. Last year, Wee was granted leave to file a judicial review against MCMC for blocking access to his blog. Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which publishes an annual media freedom index, has spoken out against the government's apparent crackdown on freedom of expression. "RSF is very concerned by this wave of suspensions by Malaysian authorities, without any explanations or judicial control, of news websites critical of the government," RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau director Cedric Alviani said last September. Malaysia improved its ranking in the Media Freedom Index for 2023, which is based on the results for 2022, the period before Anwar's tenure. The index placed Malaysia at the top in Southeast Asia and at 73rd position globally.

name is Zaleha Haron, and her husband, who suffers from depression, went viral, with calls and emails from the public asking for more details in order to raise funds for the couple. The overwhelming public sympathy was in stark contrast with the attitude of the JKM officers, who came to Zaleha on the third day of Hari Raya after the authorities were alerted of her plight. MalaysiaNow understands that the officers were instructed to follow up on Zaleha after the matter came to the attention of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri. But instead of helping the couple, the officers threatened them and told them to pack their belongings and leave Kuala Lumpur. They were taken by car to the Integrated Transport Terminal (TBS) in Bandar Tasik Selatan and told to board a bus to Muar, Johor - a place where they had once lived but where they no longer have any family ties. Zaleha told the officers that they had no one in Muar, which they had left a long time ago. Neither are they open to returning to their son, who threw them out of his home in November last year. Zaleha also told the officers that she had a job as a dishwasher at a nearby restaurant in the capital city, but her explanation fell on deaf ears. "They came and asked, 'What are these umbrellas here?'" Zaleha said, referring to the only shelter the couple had from the elements. "'Your story has gone viral. Stop pretending to cry, you are only causing problems for others,'" she quoted the officers as saying. She said the officers, whom she identified as Malay and Indian women, were angry that she had gone to the press with her story and asked why she had not enquired directly with JKM. Zaleha previously told MalaysiaNow that she had in fact applied for the department's assistance in renting a room. However, she was told to submit water and electricity bills - documents which, living on the streets, she did not have. "They never bothered to listen to what I told them," she said. She said the officers also threatened to send them back to Kulim. "I said we did not want that because our son would never accept us after we were kicked out." Despite Zaleha's pleas, she and her husband were taken to TBS along with their meagre belongings. During the journey, her mobile phone was confiscated by the officers who monitored all incoming and outgoing calls. However, Zaleha had made contact with an acquaintance during the officers' initial confrontation. Her friend, together with her husband, rushed to TBS where they were able to intercept the group. There, an argument ensued with the officers who refused to let Zaleha go. Eventually, she and her husband were taken to a beat base at the bus terminal where they were detained. It was not until her friend questioned the officers for confiscating Zaleha's phone that it was returned. Zaleha said the officers warned her not to tell anyone about the incident, and threatened to revoke her husband's permanent resident status. "They told me, 'Don't come up with anymore stories. If it goes viral again, I will take away his IC and cut it up'," Zaleha said. For now, Zaleha's friend has arranged for her and her husband to stay at a flat. "I thought that would be the end of our grief," she said. "But as if being kicked out by our son was not bad enough, JKM is now doing something like this. I am very sad. God only knows how I feel." When asked how the public could channel donations to them, Zaleha said she had an account with Bank Islam but could not recall the account number. MalaysiaNow will inform readers as soon as the details are available.

it would vacate 75 village head positions under the Village Community Management Council (MPKK), aiming to instead fill the posts under the Madani Village Community (KDM) to be created in each village. MPKK, which is under the jurisdiction of the state government, was rebranded from the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) in 2018, during the time of the first Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Meanwhile, KDM will come under the rural and regional development ministry helmed by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Isham Jalil, among the Umno leaders given the boot after the party embraced PH two years ago, reminded it of its waning influence in rural areas. "Umno under Zahid is losing influence everywhere, not only in urban areas but now in the rural areas, too, which used to be its stronghold," the former Umno Supreme Council member told MalaysiaNow. He acknowledged that there were those "who still like Umno". Umno's move to vacate the MPKK posts came soon after its decision to decline about 20 local council seats offered by the PH-led Selangor government. Political observer Azizi Safar said it was an admission of the reality Umno has faced since last year, when it won only two of the 12 seats it contested in the Selangor election. "This move by Selangor Umno can be interpreted as an acknowledgment by the party that it is no longer relevant in urban areas," said Azizi, a former executive secretary of Penang Barisan Nasional. A total of six state elections were held last year. Umno won only 30 seats, and was trashed in its former strongholds in the wake of a surge in Malay support for Perikatan Nasional components PAS and Bersatu. Isham said Zahid's move to create KDM was to allocate positions to his supporters in Umno. He said this would allow Zahid, who won his Bagan Datuk federal seat in the last general election by only a narrow margin, to remain as Umno president at the 2026 party polls, and lead the party in the next general election by continuing its collaboration with Anwar Ibrahim and DAP. "The majority of Malays won't support Zahid's formula, and Umno will lose in Malay areas. It will have to depend on DAP for votes. That will be the end of Umno." Azizi said the formation of KDM as another power structure in rural areas showed an absence of unity at the grassroots and state levels despite the efforts by top leaders to stick together in Putrajaya. He also said that conflict could be expected between MPKK and KDM. "Can these two bodies complement each other, or will both compete in the quest to build support for their respective parties? This is not good for the Madani government," said Azizi. Meanwhile, a former Petaling Jaya councilor said influence in urban areas is patterned on residents' associations. He said that in rural areas, different power structures depend on individual communities. "Whether Umno has let go of urban power depends on how strong its influence is on these organisations," said Mak Khuin Weng. "Urban power centres on the city councils that are under PH. The way PH could lose urban power is if it screws up. It's difficult for Umno to challenge this at the moment." Umno lost power in Selangor in 2008 after its election defeats to Pakatan Rakyat, a loose political alliance between PKR, DAP and PAS.

the traffic under the scorching heat: for the first time in 21 years, he will be celebrating Raya as a free man. For more than two decades, he had been on death row in prison, waiting for the day that his name would be called for execution. While friends and relatives celebrated Raya at home, the food and customs surrounding the celebration were but a distant memory. But when his name was finally called, it was not for execution but for release. "This is the best Raya of my life," Razali, now 49, told MalaysiaNow. "It's a big miracle for me and the others who have been released." Razali was convicted under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. In November, the Federal Court commuted his sentence to 30 years' imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane in accordance with the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023. The lashes were administered at Kajang Prison, and he was then transferred to Sungai Buloh Prison. His mother is 70 years old and no longer as mobile as she once was. His father, meanwhile, is a stroke patient under long-term care in hospital. And as an ex-convict, it is almost impossible for Razali to find a job - a fact which he understands but finds sad nonetheless. "Aren't we people who can start a new life? Don't we deserve a future? "If an ex-convict can become prime minister, we deserve a chance to at least earn a living," he said. Unable to find an employer willing to hire him, he has opened a small shop in Danau Kota, Gombak, with the help of his friends. There, he spends his evenings selling clothes and snacks. During the day, he helps his stepmother who runs a catering business near her home. He also accepts any invitations he receives to speak about his experience with students at colleges and universities. His message to young people is clear: stay away from drugs and other crimes. "That is my goal now. I want to save the young generation after 21 years in prison."

last year. He came to Malaysia to further his studies and find a job so that he could send money back home. His last contact with his family was several months ago. "My parents and my 11 siblings are all there," he told MalaysiaNow at a recent demonstration at the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur. "One sibling was martyred three and a half months ago. Nineteen of my cousins have been martyred while some have lost limbs. It has been four months since I last heard my mother's voice." Of the more than 187,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia, fewer than 1,000 are Palestinians fleeing the decades-long conflict in the occupied territories. More than 30,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched a massive bombing campaign in the besieged enclave, most of them women and children. Troubled by the images coming from the conflict, Yousuf was determined to do what he could to help those in Gaza. He decided to share news and footage of the war on his social media pages with the intent of spreading awareness, especially to Malaysians. Slowly but surely, his Instagram and TikTok accounts began to pick up traction until he had almost 200,000 followers on both platforms combined. His footage comes from relatives and others in Gaza. Once he has received it, he edits it and uploads the clips along with Malay captions. "Before the war, I was unknown here. But the audience loves getting updates from my stories on Instagram and TikTok, and I do it consistently," said Yousuf, who runs a business in Malaysia to survive. However, he has faced online threats, and his initial accounts on TikTok and Instagram were banned. "In the comments section, I was accused of being paid by Hamas to talk about Palestine, of being part of the mujahidin, which is not true," he said. "Recently, I received a call from a local Malaysian number. The person spoke to me in Malay, warning me not to post anything on social media again. "I made a police report, and a group of policemen came to my house to ensure my safety." Meanwhile, the Hari Raya festivities continue around him but Yousuf has little heart to celebrate this year. He has been in Malaysia for nearly a decade now, marrying a local Malay from northern Selangor. His old baju Melayu hangs ready in his closet, and rendang awaits in the kitchen. "I bought some new Raya clothes for my wife and child, but not for myself. I will only perform the Eid prayer, and then go back home. For now, I fear for my safety," he said, recalling the recent arrest of an Israeli citizen. And he is dogged by a hollow feeling in his stomach as he remembers his family in Gaza, sleeping on the streets after losing their homes in the bombings. "This war is the worst. When I was in Gaza, the longest war was two months, but this time it has been going on for half a year," he said.

find themselves living rough in the capital city. The pain of their move was made worse by the fact that it was their own son who kicked them out of his house. Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Zainab recalled how he had invited them to live with him in Kulim, Kedah. They agreed, and with about RM60,000 saved up in her EPF, Zainab decided to stop working. Her retirement was short-lived, though, as her son did not make enough as a cook to meet all of their needs. Eventually, she went back to work, earning RM80 a day for washing dishes and cleaning chicken carcasses. This, together with her shrinking EPF balance, was used to cover the family's daily expenses. "Every time I came home from work, I gave my daughter-in-law RM60 for nappies, milk and food for the grandchildren," Zainab said. Her wages were meagre, but Zainab never thought twice about providing for her son, her only remaining child following the death of his siblings, one in an accident and the other due to Covid-19. Even so, she and her husband were sad about the way they were treated by their daughter-in-law. After three years, they began to consider moving out. But before they could come to a decision, the matter was taken out of their hands. "One day, I heard my son's wife say to him: 'It's either me or them'," Zainab said. She still remembers the day in November last year when their son took them to the bus station and put them on a bus to Kuala Lumpur with only RM80 in hand. By then, her EPF savings were gone, and they had nothing with which to start afresh. In the morning, they arrived in the Kota Raya area with not a clue as to where to go. Since then, the streets have been their home, and they have heard nothing from their son. "I told him to stop looking for me as soon as I left the house. I just miss my two grandchildren, I miss them so much," Zainab said. Zainab and her husband have tried several times to find accommodation, including from the Social Welfare Department. However, the department requires documents such as water and electricity bills - records that no homeless person has. "All I need is a room to shower, pray and do laundry. That's all." Now, for a daily wage of RM50, she has gone back to washing dishes at a nearby restaurant. During Ramadan, however, the restaurant is closed until evening and there is no other work. For basic necessities like food and clothing, the couple rely on the good will of charity organisations and NGOs. Living from day to day, they still struggle to accept what has happened to them. For Zainab, there is no way she can return to her son. "Even if he came and threw himself at my feet, I would reject him," she said. "I'm sorry, but the hurt is just too much." And the pain is only compounded by the arrival of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. "I could never have imagined that one day, I would spend Hari Raya on the streets," Zainab said. "All this time, I have watched homeless people celebrating Hari Raya on the pavements and today, it's my turn. "No Raya clothes, no Raya cookies, nothing. But I'm still grateful to be here celebrating Aidilfitri."

must be solved first. "It's not that there is no rice in Malaysia, but it is hidden and mixed (with imported rice) so that the manufacturers can make a big profit. So while they are raking in profits, people are supposed to eat tapioca?" she told MalaysiaNow. Johari said that tapioca is not only rich in carbohydrates, but also healthier due to its low sugar content. His proposal was followed by a flood of condemnation on social media in the form of sarcastic comments and memes. Fatimah said that tapioca has a higher glycaemic index compared to rice. The glycaemic index ranks carbohydrate-containing foods to show how quickly each food affects blood sugar levels when eaten on its own. In addition, Fatimah says, tapioca also has side effects such as bloating. A popular health advocacy Facebook page, Public Health Malaysia, explained that while tapioca is useful for strengthening bones and teeth, excessive consumption can lead to weight gain and the risk of cyanide poisoning. Malaysia has been struggling with a shortage of local white rice since last year, due not only to climate change and the rising cost of padi seeds, but also hoarding and price manipulation by middlemen and cartels. Following India's ban on rice exports, which led to a surge in the price of imported rice, cheaper local white rice became scarce. Malaysia covers around 60% of its rice consumption domestically. One solution proposed by the Anwar Ibrahim government is the introduction of "Madani rice" to replace all rice varieties on the market. The proposal is aimed at curbing manufacturers from mixing rice varieties and selling them as imported rice in order to get a higher profit margin. However, Fatimah said the problem of rice supply has nothing to do with the variety, but is due to the manufacturers and Padi Beras Nasional Berhad (Bernas), the company controlled by tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, which has a monopoly on rice import. "The National Rice and Padi Board, founded in 1971, which later became Bernas, has become such a 'giant' that the government is afraid to take action," she said. Fatimah said it was not difficult to question the rationale behind Johari's proposal. "Ask the Datuks if they want to eat boiled tapioca three times a day." Analyst Anis Anwar Suhaimi said it does not make sense to replace a society's staple food. "The importance of rice in our society is reflected in the Malay proverb that refers to a person's source of income as a 'rice bowl'. This shows how rice is synonymous with livelihood," said Anis, lead researcher at O2 Research Malaysia. Anis added that statements like Johari's show how far removed government leaders are from reality and the people's problems.

them. Yeoh's comments on the controversial citizenship bill is grossly misleading, dishonest and completely ignores the serious concerns about the Bill raised by civil society, human rights lawyers, the Bar Council, Suhakam, prominent individuals and even some PH MPs. Firstly, the citizenship bill failed to be debated and passed by parliament in the recent session, despite all the promises made by the unity government leaders that the plight of the Malaysian mothers would be resolved. In fact, what happened was that the home minister announced that the Bill was ready to be debated just minutes before the parliament sitting was adjourned. This was just a charade, and a clear abuse of the standing orders of the Dewan Rakyat. As the government controls the business of the Dewan, they could easily have had the bill debated and passed. In the end, nothing was accomplished, and no relief given to the thousands of Malaysian mothers who were waiting desperately for the law to be passed. Secondly, the thousands upon thousands of stateless children born overseas to Malaysian mothers will receive no benefit whatsoever from this bill, contrary to what was claimed by Yeoh. By virtue of clause 12(1) only children born after the passing of the amendments will receive citizenship. Those existing thousands of children will be left in the lurch. This is cruel and ridiculous because the government claimed from the beginning that it was to help these children that they are amending the constitution. As a result, the Malaysian mothers have been left hopeless and devastated by this deliberate exclusion of their children from the ambit of the Bill. It is a great disappointment that Yeoh and her colleagues persist in painting a false and positive picture of the citizenship bill, which bears no connection with the reality. PH had repeatedly promised when in opposition to resolve the terrible problem of statelessness in Malaysia. Now in power, they are misleading and offering excuses. We strongly urge the government to immediately announce that the citizenship bill will be amended to include existing children born overseas to Malaysian mothers. To do otherwise would be a betrayal of the hopes and aspirations of thousands of Malaysian mothers and their innocent children. _The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow_

"national heritage" recognition for bak kut teh, a Chinese dish known for its main ingredient of pork, and the renewed debate on vernacular schools which have left Umno and DAP firmly entrenched in opposing positions. Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh appears to be the Malay party's answer to ministers often embroiled in racially charged issues, such as DAP leader Nga Kor Ming and Sarawak politician Tiong King Sing. Such issues would appear to confirm that attempts by the Umno leadership, particularly its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to portray DAP as a "friend" have been in vain. "Umno and DAP have fundamental differences in their ideological approaches, which were not discussed in depth when the alliance was formed," said International Islamic University analyst Rabi'ah Aminudin. Rabi'ah was referring to Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH), bitter enemies for decades which joined forces to form the federal government after the general election two years ago which ended with an impasse in Parliament. Since then, there have been some shifts among Umno warlords who are unhappy with DAP. The "Allah" socks affair, in particular, put Umno in a tight spot, especially for Akmal. When the socks were discovered at KK Mart, a retail chain owned by Chinese businessmen who are traditionally seen as supporters and funders of DAP, Akmal wasted no time championing the issue by calling on Muslims to boycott the company. KK Mart has since apologised several times, including after a rare royal audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong granted to the owner, saying it had been negligent in not inspecting the socks. Umno Youth's campaign meanwhile has failed to gain momentum, largely due to PAS' lack of interest in Akmal's boycott call. Instead, the Islamist party has called for the company to be penalised through legal action. For Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Umno should focus on other issues in order to win the support of the Malays. Syed Abu Hussin, the Bersatu MP appointed to head a committee on food supply after defecting to support Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, cited as an example the problems in the rice industry that have affected Malay businesses but have not attracted attention. "Umno should stand up for the rice issue because it does not have the problem of dissent among Malays. I urge Akmal to fight for the rice issue together and save the Malay industry," he added. Despite criticism from both sides, though, Akmal has continued to defend his tough stance on the "Allah" socks issue. Among others, he uploaded a picture of himself holding a sword on social media, along with the message that he would not budge from his stand. "Better to die standing than live kneeling," wrote Akmal. As condemnation of Akmal by PH has increased, DAP has moved to defend KK Mart, and launched a campaign urging people to shop at the chain store in a show of solidarity. Rabi'ah said the unresolved ideological differences between Umno and DAP would determine whether the political cooperation between BN and PH would continue in future elections. She said there was a clear polarisation at hand, as Umno tries to represent the sentiments of Malay Muslims while DAP defends a Chinese-run company. Political observer Azizi Safar said DAP had no choice but to take a firm stand to counter Umno Youth's campaign. "Lest DAP be seen by its supporters as too compliant with Umno's wishes and actions," added the former Penang BN secretary. Malay political observer Ahmad Atory Hussain also said that Anwar Ibrahim's government had no choice but to maintain its current support from the non-Malays. He said Anwar's government had been seen as inept in managing race-related issues in the country. Akmal, Atory said, was isolated when it came to raising the "voice of the Malays" in the government. "Of the 148 parliamentary seats backing Anwar, 73 are Muslim and 75 are non-Muslim. How will Akmal win support?" Atory meanwhile said Anwar's "silence" in the wake of sensitive issues could tarnish his reputation among both Malay and non-Malay voters. "He will be seen as trying to be neutral and allowing the issues remain at 'status quo' or even decisionless. This is aimed at securing the political interests of DAP in exchange for its continued support for him," he added.

orders placed by customers ahead of the Hari Raya celebration. Customers collect their orders from Noorlizah Salman, who has been paralysed from the waist down since she was 16 years old. Although she is wheelchair-bound, she has run a successful business for the past 10 years, supplying cookies and kuih for festive seasons. Her husband, Hashim Mahmud, is also disabled but always pitches in to help his wife, even taking unpaid leave every Ramadan to help with the orders. Each year, they take on temporary workers to help meet the rush of orders. These women work from 8am to 6pm, making some 20 different types of kuih and cookies. This worker is making what is known as the Johor version of kuih sarang semut, a traditional favourite. Elsewhere, other types of preparations are ongoing as well. Tailor Mazwan Abdullah has been making men's clothes for 25 years, and has even created baju Melayu outfits for a former minister, the late Zainuddin Maidin. His sketches and drafts are pinned up on the wall beside the calendar which he uses to count down the days left until Hari Raya. His shop may be small, but this year he has received some 200 orders of baju Melayu and batik shirts. He takes his last order three months before the start of Ramadan. Siti Hartini Rasudin is also an experienced seamstress and has been making baju kurung for 27 years now. She even worked on batik shirts ordered by none other than former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during her time at the famous Pusat Jahitan Pakaian Lelaki in Kuala Lumpur. She and a customer go over the six sets of clothes the woman ordered ahead of Hari Raya this year. Risnaldy Bachtiar is a songkok maker who took over the family business from his father. He entertains a customer who is looking for a songkok to wear during this year's festivities. Some of his stock was made by his late father, who was known for his work throughout Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Irwan Shah Mansor Din is a slipper maker who has been in the business for 15 years. Once he has measured the sole of a slipper, he fastens it in place and sandpapers the piece to ensure a smooth surface before adding on the next few layers. A Wahab Syamaruddin is also a veteran slipper maker, having been in the business for 37 years. His slippers are even shipped overseas, across the South China Sea. He does careful and meticulous work, trimming each piece to the exact size before putting them all together. The finished slippers are put on display in glass cases at the front of the shop. Full-sized slippers go for RM65 to RM70 per pair, while children's slippers are sold at RM25 to RM35. Regular Malaysians do what they can to make ends meet while paying their household expenses for the month. In pictures: Palestinian flags flood KL's US embassy Tens of thousands march toward the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur in the largest anti-Israel protest in Malaysia since the latest war in Gaza erupted this month. As the country grapples with a food crisis and price surge, some consumers resort to cheaper locally grown products, while others strive for self-sufficiency by growing their own food.

I'm ashamed, low on self-esteem and worried how people will look at me when I tell them that I don't have an identity card," she told MalaysiaNow. Fatimah, 41, said her citizenship application was rejected twice without good reason. She first made the application in 2002 under Article 15(A) of the Federal Constitution, and then again in 2017 under Article 19. In 2018, Fatimah was granted an interview session. Four years later, her world came tumbling down when she was told that her application was rejected. She was born in September 1983 just one day before her mother was granted citizenship. That essentially means that Fatimah was born to a foreigner, even if it is only for a day. In addition, she was informed that her citizenship bid failed because she had an Indonesian passport during the time she applied in 2002, as well as no proof of entry permit into the country. "This only adds to the confusion because I was born in Malaysia, at Klang Hospital, educated in Malaysia from pre-school to diploma," she said, adding that the Indonesian passport under her name was never used at all. Both her parents and siblings are already Malaysian citizens. From the age of 12 to 21, she was issued a Permanent Residence card, or red Mykad. Later, she was issued MyKas, the identification card issued to those born in Malaysia but whose citizenship could not be determined, in other words, stateless. She carried MyKas for 15 years until it expired in 2019. Her application to renew MyKas was rejected three times, the last time in 2020. This makes her not only stateless, but also without any identification document. Fatimah said she, like many others without citizenship, could not lead a normal life. This includes getting a driver's license, having their own phone number, a bank account or own a business. Over the course of four decades, she met countless number of government officials in her fight for identification documents and citizenship status in the land she was born in. With help from family members, Fatimah has been sending letters and emails to leaders hoping they could come hear her plight. In August last year, she wrote to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, appealing to him to fulfil his Pakatan Harapan's election promise to solve the problem faced by thousands of stateless people like her. The letter was handed personally to Anwar's eldest daughter Nurul Izzah, when her mother and siblings managed to slip in the envelope to the poltiician during a state election campaign in Pandamaran, Klang. On March 21, Fatimah sent an email to the PKR office hoping to get the ruling party's attention. With the government's recent attempt to amend the constitution to deny automatic citizenship to those who are stateless, including those born in the country, how PKR will respond to Fatimah's plight is anyone's guess. The proposal drew strong objections from activists involved in championing the plight of the stateless and foundlings. The government later decided not to proceed with the proposal, only to be criticized by Perikatan Nasional who wanted Putrajaya to go ahead with the controversial amendments. Fatimah is saddened by this stand taken by the opposition. She said politicians will not understand the sufferings of the stateless people. She said words cannot describe their feelings and pains living without citizenship. "So when we fail to understand and we don't feel it, the oppression will continue for individuals like me. "They (politicians) and their lives are not affected. It is only those like us who are deprived of this citizenship status. Fatimah said she has been suffering long before the recent talk on the amendments. "I have lived during the era of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Badawi, Najib Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin, Ismail Sabri and now under Anwar and Malaysia Madani. "Is my struggle over?" she asked, her voice trembling in holding back emotions. Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/malaysianow To be updated with all the latest news and analyses daily.

Christians, Muslims and Jews. The choice of Al-Quds, one of the three holiest sites in Islam, is due to its symbolisation of Palestinian unity. Since this declaration, Al-Quds Day has been marked with rallies and speeches by Muslims around the world, who gather after Friday prayers at the symbols of Zionist occupation in their respective countries. In Malaysia, Muslims have been celebrating Al-Quds Day for decades with demonstrations in front of the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur. This year, Al-Quds Day falls on Apr 5, and is likely to attract even more attention in view of the current Israeli atrocities in the Gaza Strip, in which more than 30,000 people have been killed so far, the overwhelming majority of them civilians, women and children, as confirmed by UN organisations. But even before the Israeli genocide in Gaza began last October, there were growing numbers of demonstrators in the US, Europe, Asia and Africa marking Al-Quds Day, with Muslims usually protesting after Friday prayers to draw attention to the ongoing occupation of Jerusalem. Today, Al-Quds Day rallies have become a global phenomenon. In Malaysia, it will take place this Friday afternoon in front of the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

food. Villagers say the East Coast Rail Link project will cut through their neighbourhood and destroy their family homes. Snake breeder Waliyuddin Jali shares his passion for exotic animals with as many people as he can. Waliyuddin Jali, nicknamed Jebat, struggled to find a conventional job due to facial scars from childhood, but he has turned his snake breeding hobby into a stable income stream. For years, Naim Samin, 65, has been skilfully crafting tofu from soybeans, distributing it across local markets in Sepang, Selangor. Crowds flock to Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur in a show of protest against the decision to halt the corruption trial of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Thousands throng Dataran Putrajaya in the administrative capital to celebrate the country's 66th independence day. The spirit of patriotism is on full display as Malaysians welcome National Day once more. The residents of Kampung Melayu Bumi Hijau recall their struggle to save their village, and voice gratitude for the home they have now. Villagers recall their eviction in the 1980s despite efforts to fight development activities.

linked to anger over the sale of socks with the word "Allah" on them. The move by the Chinese-based party to break its silence on the KK Mart episode came shortly after PKR Youth launched a stinging attack on its Umno counterpart, accusing it of causing "rising tensions" in the country. In recent days, DAP leaders have called for everything from an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to the launch of a solidarity campaign for KK Mart. In a statement yesterday, party leader Lim Guan Eng rebuked Umno and called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to convene a National Security Council meeting, saying that anger was being "fuelled" and was getting "dangerously out of control". Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng also urged Putrajaya to intervene. "I strongly condemn this act of violence and urge the Cabinet to take serious action to prevent similar incidents from happening again," he said. The series of statements by senior DAP leaders in support of KK Mart may reinforce the perception that the party will not tolerate any move that affects businesses owned by the Chinese community, its main vote bank for every election. Meanwhile, an aide to Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen has called on the public to support KK Mart following a Molotov cocktail attack at a Kuching branch last weekend. In a video posted on Facebook, Soo Tien Ren called on people to spend at least RM10 at the shop and launched an online campaign with the hashtag #lawanekstremis. In an immediate reaction, Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh asked why DAP was only defending KK Mart when it had also launched a boycott of a popular Malay celebrity over a Hari Raya teaser video condemned for being insensitive. "Let me ask the DAP gang, especially Anthony Loke Siew Fook," Akmal said, referring to the DAP secretary-general. "We are also boycotting Aliff Syukri for releasing a Hari Raya song video which is against the sensitivity of Muslims. "So DAP, are you silent? Don't you want to defend Aliff Syukri, too? Or are you just defending your own gang?" The party has also fielded its Muslim spokesman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali in an attempt to appeal to Muslims to counter Umno Youth using an Islamic narrative. Despite PAS' stance against joining the Umno campaign, Umar, who is a member of the DAP central executive committee, took aim at at Abdul Hadi Awang, accusing him of extremism and urging Akmal not to emulate the PAS president. "In the name of 'defending the sanctity of religion', his approach may unwittingly sow extremism. This is not what Islam teaches," Umar said. The KK Mart episode made headlines after pictures of socks with the word "Allah" on them went viral on social media. Akmal subsequently called for action to be taken against the retail chain owners. On March 16, the company's top management expressed remorse and publicly apologised for not checking the socks from its suppliers, saying it was a mistake. After an investigation, KK Mart founder Chai Kee Kan and his wife Loh Siew Mui, who is also a director of the company, were charged under the Penal Code with offending religious feelings. This did not stop Umno Youth from mobilising its supporters to protest in front of KK Mart outlets and call for a boycott. While analysts believe this is a tactic by Umno to win back the Malay-Muslim support it lost in a series of humiliating election defeats, the protests received no endorsement from the PAS leadership, whose support is seen as crucial on issues relevant to Muslims in the country. "PAS does not take the approach to boycott them," said Ahmad Yahya, leader of the party's influential Ulama wing "If you look at speeches or comments from PAS leaders, none of our leaders have asked to boycott KK Mart. "Our leadership just wants strict action to be taken against those responsible," he was quoted as saying. Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/malaysianow To be updated with all the latest news and analyses daily.

Islamic University Malaysia. "They did not register because you (Rafizi) failed to tell them why they need to register," she told MalaysiaNow. Rafizi recently uploaded a short clip on his social media pages, as part of a series of promotional videos featuring his use of poetry to encourage the public to enrol in PADU. On the last day of the registration exercise on Sunday, Rafizi said he was tired of poetry. "No poetry for today. It's up to you guys. You want to register, go ahead. If you don't want to register, then all the best in your Raya celebrations," he said, sparking hundreds of critical comments. PADU has been touted as a centralised database to guide the government in its implementation of targeted subsidies. However, doubts have been raised about data security, with the GPS-led Sarawak government suspending registration in a snub to Rafizi. Shafizan said so far, PADU's objectives as explained by the economy ministry had been "generic". "Instead of asking the people to register with PADU, they should have created a clear mechanism for the targeted subsidies first. Only then would we know why we should register," she said, adding that the public did not see the benefit of registering on the database. UiTM communications lecturer Abd Aziz Azizam said the lukewarm public response to PADU signalled a lack of trust in the government. He said Rafizi had resorted to "a carrot-and-stick" approach in the hope of getting the public to embrace PADU. "This does not guarantee an increase in the public's trust," he added. Aziz said Rafizi should be more pragmatic in delivering information, and less of a politician in countering critics. Shafizan meanwhile said the PKR politician should exercise patience in facing criticism over data privacy, adding that such concerns were legitimate. "It's not just about the system, it's how the government uses this data. It seems that the minister's response to criticism has always been political. He needs to respond like a minister, not like a politician. "When people decide to register or not, it goes beyond political affiliation," she said. Political analyst Kartini Aboo Talib said Rafizi's last video showed that he had given up. "He needs to ramp up the campaign and not give up," she told MalaysiaNow, adding that the ministry would do well to address concerns that the data collected could be used for political purposes. Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/malaysianow To be updated with all the latest news and analyses daily.

data hub, Padu, the ministry said middle-income (M40) and high-income (T20) individuals would be eligible to receive subsidies, taking into account their household expenditure. It gave the example of a person in the T20 category with an income of RM15,000, whom it said could be categorised as M40 if he or she had eight children. However, economist Anuwar Ali said the main objective of targeted subsidies was to ensure that the assistance is given to those who really need it. He pointed to the over two million Malaysian workers whose salaries are less than RM2,000. "There are a huge number of people who fall in the B40 category, including the hardcore poor who have fallen out of the system, such as the Orang Asli and people in rural areas. "The government must take care of these groups first. The T20s can come later," Anuwar, a member of the National Salary Consultative Council, told MalaysiaNow. He said those who belong to the T20 group are likely to have other financial resources, including savings and hefty contributions to the Employees' Provident Fund. He said if they were to be considered at all, their finances would have to be scrutinised, taking into account various factors. "For example, did he buy a house or a car that was too expensive? "The question is, what measures or indicators need to be applied to the T20 before you classify them as eligible? If the person does not fulfil these indicators, the aid should be refused. "We cannot allow certain people to abuse the system. Complete information must be provided," Anuwar said. Last year, government subsidies for oil, electricity and food totalled RM81 billion. The government has claimed that its plan to move to targeted subsidies will ensure that only the poor receive assistance and not the "super rich". Government leaders have touted Padu, promoted by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, as a "game changer" in identifying those who deserve help in the form of subsidies. Launching the initiative earlier this year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that with Padu, foreigners, the wealthy and high-income people would no longer receive subsidies as the system would be able to identify them. Rafizi, however, is embroiled in a debate over the credibility of Padu, mainly related to concern over the security of personal data. Anuwar said one concern was how effective the implementation of targeted subsidies would be for those in the low-income group, or B40, who are not in Padu's sights. He said that in the spirit of transparency, the economy ministry could disclose the percentage of hardcore poor who are registered in the system. Economist Madeline Berma said giving subsidies to middle- and high-income groups was a tricky issue as it violated the principle of equity and the money could be channelled to the poor. However, there are many factors and variables that play a role in more accurately determining a household's financial situation, she said. "Targeted subsidies are based on the principle of need and are not usage-based. It is hoped that they are more comprehensive to ensure that they reach the target group and that there are no shortfalls or leakage in the distribution of subsidies," she added. Meanwhile, Universiti Tun Razak analyst Barjoyai Bardai said concern over the effectiveness of targeted subsidies was more about the middle-income or M40 category. He said there were not many among the T20 who had so many dependents that they needed subsidies. "I am more concerned about the middle class because they are a vulnerable group. Their income may be slightly higher than the B40, but they have more obligations. So the government should focus on this M40 group," he said.

smiling Rafizi said he was too "tired" to recite another poem, as he had done in previous clips to encourage public registration in Padu. "No poetry for today. It's up to you guys. You want to register, go ahead. If you don't want to register, then all the best in your Raya celebrations," he said. The registration deadline for Padu ended at midnight, with Rafizi claiming that more than 10 million people had updated their financial and personal details. His latest clip attracted criticism in the comments section of his Facebook and Instagram accounts. "Is this how a minister in the Madani government behaves? Just resign," wrote Instagram user ismailaidabinti. "I've never heard such a chaotic minister talking to the people. If you don't want to serve the people, resign... the people are fed up bro," said another user, azali_azizan. Meanwhile, ievonnlution complained that he was unable to double-check the information he had given. "Is this how the government wants to manage something? If it's not ready, don't announce and release it. Duh." Rafizi's Facebook page was flooded with similar criticism. "There are 3 reasons why I didn't fill it in. Firstly, because I'm not confident in Padu's data management, the second is because I don't think I will get any subsidy benefits. Third, because I want to see what happens next," said Khairunnisa Suboh. "It's like buying a car, people say don't get the first batch because we never know what the problem is with that particular model." User Richard Wong wanted Rafizi to clarify some issues about Padu, including the fact that people would be automatically registered even if they do not sign up themselves. "Why didn't the ministry say so earlier, that those not registered will be registered automatically?" he asked. Yesterday, chief statistician Uzir Mahidin said Padu would still keep the basic data of those who did not update their information. MalaysiaNow reported yesterday that lingering doubts about Padu had driven many who updated their records not to furnish their personal information accurately or sincerely. The GPS-led Sarawak government has been among the most vocal in questioning Padu, saying it is unhappy that the system requested the public to key in personal details that are irrelevant. Rafizi in his response said Padu was safe as it was developed internally using the expertise of civil servants. He also said that it met international standards and best practices. He said information stored in Padu was subject to the Official Secrets Act and the hardware used was protected by the Computer Crimes Act, with access for only officials vetted by the chief government security officer. However, his assurances did little to allay the concern of various parties, including Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong who said he was not convinced. "If you already have information, why do you want to collect the same information from us again? What is it really good for? What else do you want to collect if you say you already have our data?" the MCA president told MalaysiaNow recently.

Rafizi Ramli - the man at the centre of the new system, which the government claims will help with the distribution of targeted subsidies - claims that almost 9.3 million people have already registered with PADU. Rafizi has publicly refused to acknowledge criticism of PADU's weakness from various parties, including the GPS-led Sarawak government, which delayed registration due to concerns over the security of personal data. The Sarawak leadership is not alone in expressing its doubts about PADU. MalaysiaNow has spoken to many MPs and politicians from the ruling bloc who have refused to register, despite the government's aim for PADU to collect data from all strata of Malaysians to facilitate future planning of government support and subsidies. Among them is MCA chairman Wee Ka Siong, who said he was not convinced by the system. "I have not registered at all, why should an MP register when his salary is between RM15,000 and RM16,000?" the Ayer Hitam MP, told MalaysiaNow. Wee said he was puzzled by Rafizi's ministry's statement that every citizen should be registered regardless of their financial status. The ministry had said that the T20 group of top earners can also be eligible for subsidies as long as they are registered. "If a (T20) family has eight children, their net household income can fall in the M40 group and they also qualify to receive targeted subsidies," the ministry said on X recently. "There is no MP with eight children who qualifies to receive subsidies, that's stupid! And then they tell us to sign up for PADU. For what?" said Wee. He questioned why JUSA officials, the top tier of the civil service, must also register with PADU. "Can you give aid to someone with a salary of more than RM100,000? People will look at that with suspicion," he said. Wee said if PADU could indeed be trusted, why had Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg postponed the registration in the state? The Sarawak government explained that the freezing of PADU was to protect citizens' personal information in line with Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution. Wee said the government had failed to address privacy concerns. He said if the government claimed it already had data on people, there should be no need for PADU. "If you already have information, why do you want to collect the same information from us again? What is it really good for? What else do you want to collect if you say you already have our data?" Wee said that by saying that the T20 group could also be eligible for subsidies, public confidence was further undermined. On March 26, Rafizi again defended PADU, stating that it had security measures in place to prevent any form of attack, in addition to strict data protection controls. However, Perikatan Nasional MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said the minister had still failed to dispel the public's doubts. "Rafizi should not think that the state government is stupid," Fayhsal said of Sarawak's decision. "They also have their own IT consultants, so what Rafizi has stated is certainly not convincing, he has not properly scrutinised the PADU system and should not have embarked on it at this time," the Machang MP added to MalaysiaNow. He said the government seemed to be in a hurry to rationalise subsidies but had been reckless in achieving this goal. Fayhsal said Rafizi's involvement in Invoke, a PKR-linked company that manages data, played a role in the trust deficit he is currently facing. In the past, Invoke, which conducts polls to assess voters, has been criticised for its inaccurate results and predictions ahead of the general election. In the 2018 general election, for example, Rafizi predicted that PAS would not win a single seat, which turned out to be wrong after the party's huge success.

networks, professional associations and non-governmental organisations, said the government has failed to defend human rights at home by silencing dissent online and harassing peaceful protesters and activists. "Critical news websites and blogs have been blocked. Peaceful protesters continue to be hauled in by the police for questioning under the Peaceful Assembly Act. Malaysia has also yet to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the group said, documenting a series of rights violations by the government. This followed the Universal Periodic Review of the human rights situation in Malaysia by the UN Human Rights Council, of which Malaysia is a member, in which 348 recommendations were made. Civicus stated that despite calls for member states to improve democratic space, authorities in Malaysia have arrested peaceful protesters such as participants in a pro-Palestine rally and a women's march, harassed and charged filmmakers and others with sedition, and cracked down on online speech. The report notes that the Sedition Act was used in 28 cases in 2023, a 65% increase from 17 cases in 2022. Local human rights group Suaram had reported that 97 individuals were investigated, arrested, charged or convicted under the Communications and Multimedia Act for comments and posts made online. These include blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, former Umno man Zool Amali Hussin and academic Teo Kok Seong for his comments on vernacular schools. Civicus' observations followed another damning report on the government's human rights record when Human Rights Watch's report on the treatment of detained migrants was released earlier this month. The report documents how thousands of refugees and migrants are held in "violent, squalid" detention centres, deprived of basic necessities and sometimes tortured. Anwar's Pakatan Harapan, which leads the coalition government formed with Barisan Nasional, has been criticised for a series of U-turns on reforms. Recently, the government came under fire for wanting to deny automatic citizenship to foundlings and stateless children, forcing the home ministry to postpone tabling a bill to amend the constitution. The prominent lawyer, who once led the Bersih protests for institutional reforms with the support of PH leaders, said it was "shameful" that the coalition, which came to power on a platform of reforms, was now introducing regressive laws.

finding their content either blocked or removed. Na'im Brundage, who regularly uploads short videos questioning government policies, found his TikTok account blocked for the third time on March 26. His last clip had questioned the government for allowing PKR to hold a meeting at Seri Perdana, the prime minister's official residence. The account was created less than a month ago, but had already garnered over 14,300 followers. The first time Na'im's account was blocked was on Feb 20. He lost 120,400 followers after posting a video criticising the manner in which Anwar responded to a reporter's question on the ringgit decline. On March 9, a second account with 35,000 followers was blocked. Na'im said none of the videos he uploaded, which have a total of two million "likes", had ever been flagged for community violations. "I sent a report to the TikTok management several times but have not received any explanation," he told MalaysiaNow. He also said he had never touched on so-called 3R issues - race, religion and royalty - a reason often cited by government leaders to justify action against critics and opposition politicians. Dozens of other Malaysians, including politicians, have had similar experiences. Putrajaya MP Radzi Jidin told the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 27 that his TikTok video commenting on the fall of the ringgit had been deleted. The same was the case with influencer Ratu Naga, who often uploads clips making fun of government leaders, and YB Viral who is known for his hard-hitting comments on the government's economic management. To date, seven TikTok accounts involving 50 videos from YB Viral have been "geo-restricted", meaning that videos cannot be viewed in Malaysia except through VPN access. "We understand that this geo-restriction is due to government request," YB Viral told MalaysiaNow. "Fortunately, my videos have been uploaded to other netizens' accounts." He also said that the constant restrictions on TikTok had caused video views on Facebook and YouTube to increase. The government has consistently denied involvement in the restriction of online content, saying this is up to the platform operators themselves. However, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching admitted that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), an agency under the control of Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, had made requests to platforms such as TikTok for videos to be taken down. So far, only TikTok, the popular China-based video platform, appears to have met MCMC's requests. Other platforms such as X and YouTube have repeatedly refused the government's request to take down content, in line with their policy on free speech. Since his appointment as minister in charge of media affairs, Fahmi has come under criticism over action taken against media outlets. In June last year, MalaysiaNow was blocked for 48 hours without any notice, drawing flak from various quarters. TV Pertiwi and Utusan TV have had their websites blocked as well. The move prompted concern from global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which publishes an annual media freedom index. "RSF is very concerned by this wave of suspensions by Malaysian authorities, without any explanations or judicial control, of news websites critical of the government," RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau director Cedric Alviani said last September. For Na'im, there is no justification for TikTok blocking his account other than pressure from MCMC. He said the government had found itself unable to counter narratives on social media. "So it takes the easy way by deleting their social media accounts. This contradicts the right to freedom of speech enshrined in the Federal Constitution," he said, vowing to continue uploading his videos.

challenge Pakatan Harapan's (PH) image as a progressive coalition, or in debunking the stereotype of the opposition being interested only in Malay and Islamic issues for political mileage. One example is the controversy over the government's attempt to amend constitutional provisions on citizenship, which sparked strong criticism from parties who had traditionally considered the coalition government led by Anwar Ibrahim as "better" than the "right-wing" opposition. The amendments, which were postponed following protest from rights groups and victims of statelessness, had been described as cruel to foundlings and stateless children born in Malaysia. But while the issue has been actively championed by civil society, this is not the case with the opposition bloc. "In Parliament, there appear to be no PN representatives who are capable of taking up prolific issues in debates," said political analyst Mazlan Ali from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, responding to a question on the performance of PN which came close to forming the government following the hung parliament after the last general election. Mazlan gave the example of last year's Budget 2024 debate. "There were no ideas or alternatives coming from the opposition to the government." This was despite an array of grievances against the government that have dominated the political debate on social media, including the cost of living and the rice supply problem, with no lasting solution in sight despite an entire ministry dedicated to food security. PN has 74 MPs, although six of them have defected by expressing support for Anwar. Mazlan said this showed the internal problems plaguing the coalition. The matter is further compounded by what has been seen as Anwar training his guns on his political enemies by launching corruption investigations. "This is likely to cause them to lose focus," Mazlan said. Leaders who have been targeted by the government include Bersatu president and PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces four charges of corruption amounting to RM232.5 million. Meanwhile, Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan has been slapped with corruption and money laundering charges, and Bersatu information chief Razali Idris with sedition. Political observer Azizi Safar believes the majority of PN MPs have performed well. However, he said their work had received no mainstream media coverage. "This makes PN look like it is not championing important issues affecting the people these days," said Azizi, the former executive secretary of Penang Barisan Nasional. He said even assuming that PN had been "slow", the government was still in panic mode, especially as PH's own supporters had started airing their disappointment with the ruling coalition. These disappointments are largely centred on what is seen as the administration's failure to make good on promises of reforms, such as the use of draconian laws against its critics, restrictions on the media, and the introduction of new taxes such as the luxury goods tax or the increase of current taxes such as the sales and service tax and the digital services tax. Azizi said PN was still in a "comfort zone" due to the solid support it enjoys from the Malay community. "PN is probably comfortable and confident that the majority of Malay support is still with it, even though it is not on the front line when it comes to people's issues. "It may also be PN's strategy not to play up the people's issues too much, so as not to be seen as disrupting political stability."