WASHINGTON, April 11 — Israel said yesterday it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah when it holds talks with Lebanon’s government next week in Washington.

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors spoke to set up the talks that will open Tuesday at the State Department.

Israel “agreed to begin formal peace negotiations” with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, said the Israeli ambassador, Yechiel Leiter.

“Israel refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which continues to attack Israel and is the main obstacle to peace between the two countries,” he said in a statement.

Israel launched massive strikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon after attacking Iran on February 28, in response to rocket fire into Israel from Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shia Muslim movement.

Without a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the talks would center on Israel seeking actions from the Lebanese government, which has for years struggled to rein in Hezbollah but has been stepping up its efforts.

Israel has said that a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which will hold talks starting Saturday in Islamabad, does not cover Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities say the weeks of hostilities have killed more than 1,950 people, with Israeli strikes killing more than 350 people Wednesday alone, the first full day of the US-Iran ceasefire. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — A Chinese national has been remanded until April 24 to assist investigations into an alleged sexual harassment case involving a woman at the MRT Kuchai Lama station pedestrian walkway here, Harian Metro reported.

According to the Malay daily, Brickfields district police chief ACP Hoo Chang Hook said the 20-year-old suspect was arrested after police received a report on the incident at 9.22pm last Thursday.

He said the 23-year-old victim, a beauty therapist, claimed she was hugged from behind without consent by an unknown man while walking towards a toilet at the station’s pedestrian walkway.

“Initial investigations found that the suspect is believed to have followed the victim before committing the act,” he was quoted as saying. 

The suspect was arrested on the same day and has been remanded until April 24 to assist investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code for assault or use of criminal force to outrage modesty and Section 6(1)© of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for lack of valid travel documents.

In a separate development, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd said a suspect linked to a recent sexual harassment case on an LRT train had also been detained by Prasarana auxiliary police within 24 hours of a report on April 8.

Authorities later found that the same suspect was also involved in another harassment case at the MRT Kuchai Lama station on the Putrajaya Line.

SEPANG, April 11 — The safety of Malaysian Haj pilgrims and personnel remains a top priority for the government, particularly in facing any potential risks arising from geopolitical developments in West Asia, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan.

He said Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has established a special committee to monitor current developments and coordinate immediate action in the event of any emergency involving pilgrims.

He added that the preparedness measures also include the implementation of comprehensive scenario planning that has been arranged in advance to address various possibilities throughout the Haj season.

“TH has already set up a special committee and we are monitoring the situation from time to time. TH has comprehensive scenario planning,” he told the media after the send-off ceremony for the Haj personnel team here today.

Zulkifli said the government is confident in the capability and experience of TH’s machinery in managing Haj operations, and is able to ensure the welfare of 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims is protected at all times, even in the face of unforeseen challenges.

“Nevertheless, we are confident that with the full strength of our machinery and TH’s capabilities, insya-Allah, we will be able to care for and face any challenges that may arise. We pray that everything will proceed smoothly,” he said.

The Haj operations for 1447H/2026 will involve 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims, with the first flight scheduled to depart on April 18 and the last on May 20.

Wukuf Day, the peak of the Haj pilgrimage, is expected to fall on May 26. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for outdoor activities must be reviewed continuously and anchored in a preventive approach, not only after tragedies occur, said Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Lee said the recent drowning incident at Pantai Merdeka, Kedah, which claimed the lives of two trainee teachers from Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Perlis Campus, highlighted the critical importance of safety in all outdoor and co-curricular activities organised by educational institutions.

“While the Education Ministry’s move to review SOPs for outdoor activities is welcomed, it raises a fundamental concern — why are SOPs often revisited only after a tragedy has occurred?

“Safety reviews must not be reactive. They must be proactive, preventive, and continuous. Proper planning, risk assessment, supervision, and emergency preparedness must be mandatory — not optional,” he said in a statement today.

He said educational institutions have a duty of care towards students, trainee teachers and staff participating in outdoor activities, especially in higher-risk environments such as beaches, rivers, waterfalls and hiking trails.

Lee said one life lost is one too many, noting that there have been far too many drowning incidents and outdoor mishaps over the years.

He said each tragedy should serve as a permanent reminder that safety must never be compromised for the sake of programme objectives, schedules or convenience.

Accordingly, he proposed several measures to be strictly implemented for all outdoor activities, including comprehensive risk assessments before programme approval, clear SOPs tailored to each activity, mandatory safety briefings, adequate ratios of trained supervisors, and the engagement of certified lifeguards for water-based activities.

Lee also emphasised the need to monitor weather and tide conditions, establish emergency response plans including access to nearby medical facilities, ensure the use of appropriate safety equipment, and implement a formal approval process with accountability at every level.

“SOPs must be established before activities take place - not drafted in response to tragedy. Preventive safety culture must be embedded within every educational institution.

“Let this painful incident be a turning point. We must move from reactive safety to preventive safety. No programme is worth risking lives. Safety must always come first. Because when it comes to safety, prevention is not just better than cure - it saves lives,” he said.

In the incident last Saturday, two Bachelor of Teaching Programme (PISMP) Physical Education students, Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21, and Joey Ling Lin Siang, 20, were found drowned at about 7.30pm while participating in a kayaking activity at Pantai Merdeka, Sungai Petani, Kedah. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Tow truck services are expected to be disrupted for three days from tomorrow until Tuesday as operators plan a strike urging the government to introduce diesel subsidies to sustain operations.

Harian Metro reported that, according to a notice issued by Zurich Takaful, the Klang Valley is expected to be the most affected area, with the disruption potentially spreading to other states in Peninsular Malaysia.

In the same notice, Zurich Takaful said its internal towing operations will be extended to assist customers, with services arranged based on availability.

Customers may also arrange for third-party towing services during the disruption, with reimbursement claims subject to terms and conditions.

Meanwhile, the Association of Muslim General Takaful Agents (Perwatam) has urged the government to urgently improve the diesel subsidy mechanism to prevent paralysis in the towing industry, the Malay daily reported. 

Perwatam president Datuk Khairi Anuar Ahmad said immediate and decisive action is needed to ensure towing services continue operating without disruption affecting road users.

“Any further delay is unacceptable and will only worsen the situation and undermine public confidence in Malaysia’s insurance and takaful protection system,” he reportedly said in a statement.

He also urged general insurance and takaful companies to review and adjust payment rates to towing operators, saying current charges do not reflect actual operating costs.

He said failure to adjust tariffs would affect operators’ ability to function effectively, leading to delays in assistance, service disruption and increased safety risks for motorists on the ground.

TAWAU, April 11 — The Marine Police Force (PPM) in Tawau seized 30,800 litres of diesel worth RM1.16 million and arrested a local man in a raid at a warehouse on Jalan Sin San here yesterday.

Sabah PPM Region 4 commander ACP Ahmad Amri Abd Rahman said the 5 pm raid was carried out based on PPM intelligence and a public tip-off, before trailing a lorry driven in a suspicious manner to the location.

“Inspections found that illegal diesel transfer activities were taking place, and also uncovered three lorries, three skid tanks and 10 drum barrels believed to have been used for the misappropriation of controlled goods,” he said in a statement here today.

Ahmad Amri said the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, and enforcement operations will continue to be intensified to combat the misappropriation and smuggling of controlled goods, while ensuring economic stability and national security are preserved. — Bernama

APRIL 11 — We live in an age of interconnected crises—climate change, pandemics and supply chain fragility—that demand unprecedented global cooperation. Yet the political landscape is increasingly defined by trade wars that fracture economies, border conflicts that spill blood, and a resurgence of zero-sum thinking that treats the world as a chessboard of winners and losers.

The user’s plea, “Can’t there be more diplomacy?” is not naive; it is the essential and urgent question of our time. The current disruption of sustainability is not a side effect of global politics—it is a direct result of its failure.

The problem is not a lack of diplomatic forums; the United Nations, G20 and countless summits already exist. The crisis is one of diplomatic intent and method. Modern statecraft has become dangerously transactional, reduced to public threats and sanctions, and often conducted for domestic audiences rather than genuine problem-solving.

Leaders are incentivised to appear “strong”, often conflating strength with belligerence, while the quiet, patient and courageous work of building understanding is dismissed as weakness. This is a catastrophic miscalculation. In a world of climate tipping points and nuclear arsenals, there are no victors in a war of all against all—only varying degrees of collective loss.

Recalibrating diplomacy

So, how do we recalibrate? The path forward requires a renaissance of diplomacy, rebuilt on three pillars.

First, we must institutionalise and legitimise “permanent dialogue”. The most successful diplomatic frameworks of the past—such as the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe during the Cold War—created continuous tables for conversation even amid deep hostility. We need new, dedicated and high-level channels for the most fraught issues, particularly between major powers.

These should be insulated as far as possible from the daily churn of domestic politics and social media storms. Their mandate should not only be to manage crises, but to proactively identify shared interests—such as pandemic preparedness or Arctic governance—and build cooperation that can withstand external tension.

Second, we must empower “track-two” diplomacy and civil society. Official state-to-state talks are necessary but insufficient. Parliamentarian exchanges, scientific collaborations, city-to-city partnerships and business leader dialogues create a web of relationships that states cannot easily sever.

When Beijing and Washington are at odds, collaboration between their climate scientists or epidemiologists must be protected and amplified. These networks act as shock absorbers and idea incubators, often finding pragmatic solutions that formal politics cannot. This is the essence of science diplomacy.

Third, we must redefine national interest for the Anthropocene. The outdated definition equates interest with relative advantage. The new definition must integrate absolute survival.

No nation “wins” a trade war if it worsens food insecurity and fuels regional instability. No nation wins a border conflict if it triggers refugee flows or diverts resources from the green transition. Statesmanship now means recognising that national security is inseparable from adversary stability and planetary health.

This requires leaders to educate their publics, arguing that funding global vaccine initiatives or honouring climate agreements is not charity, but strategic foresight.

The problem is not a lack of diplomatic forums; the United Nations, G20 and countless summits already exist. The crisis is one of diplomatic intent and method. — Reuters pic

Leadership and responsibility

Ultimately, this hinges on leadership. We need leaders with the historical imagination to see beyond electoral cycles, and the moral courage to pursue dialogue when demagoguery is easier.

They must be held accountable not only for short-term economic indicators, but for the long-term health of the international system. Critics will dismiss this as utopian. But the truly naïve belief is that 21st-century existential threats can be managed with a 19th-century playbook of rivalry and domination.

Diplomacy is not a synonym for concession; it is the instrument of intelligent statecraft. It is the recognition that in an interconnected world, your opponent’s problem inevitably becomes your own.

The stakes are not merely peace or prosperity, but sustainability and continuity itself. The choice is not between diplomacy or strength. It is between diplomatic engagement and collective ruin. We must choose the former decisively. The table is waiting—we only need the will to sit down at it.

*The author is affiliated with the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and is an Adjunct Professor at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. He can be reached at ahmadibrahim@ucsiuniversity.edu.my 

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.

APRIL 11 — Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH)’s 3.5 per cent profit distribution for the FY2025 has understandably drawn attention. For most depositors, the annual payout remains the clearest public measure of performance.

But the bigger development lies elsewhere. TH has rebuilt its reserves for the first time in three years while maintaining an asset-to-liability ratio above 1.0, which is a stronger signal of improving financial health.

It suggests that recent corrective measures are restoring balance sheet stability. In a period still shaped by market volatility and pressure on institutional investors, that matters more than the headline profit.

Still, recovery is not the same as resilience. A stronger balance sheet marks the end of one difficult phase, but it also raises a harder question: can this recovery be translated into a stronger and more sustainable depositor base?

A large institution with incomplete reach

This year, about 9.7 million depositors received a total distribution of RM3.22 billion. Set against Malaysia’s Muslim population of about 20 million, that means TH currently reaches fewer than half of Malaysian Muslims, leaving roughly 10 million outside its ecosystem.

For an institution that occupies such a central place in Malaysia’s Islamic financial landscape, that conspicuous gap matters. It shows room for expansion, but also the danger of assuming that historical achievement and relevance guarantee present and future participation.

That risk becomes sharper when one considers how younger Malaysians now engage with finance. They are used to digital banks, e-wallets, mobile-first platforms and a wider range of Shariah-compliant products than earlier generations had. They expect convenience, speed and transparency as standard.

If TH fails to engage younger savers in ways that match those expectations, it risks becoming overly dependent on an ageing depositor base.

Tabung Haji’s resilience depends on depositors who choose to remain even after they no longer need to save for their own pilgrimage. — File picture by Hari Anggara

Renewal is not just about branding

Viewed this way, TH’s brand rejuvenation should not be dismissed as cosmetic. It reflects a broader effort at institutional renewal, whether through a refreshed visual identity, a more resonant slogan, or stronger digital engagement via the THiJARI app.

The challenge is not to dilute TH’s identity as a pilgrimage-linked institution, but to communicate more clearly that it is also a modern Islamic financial platform with wider economic and social relevance. It sits at the intersection of savings, Hajj (pilgrimage) administration and collective welfare.

In Islamic terms, this is close to the idea of fardu kifayah, or collective obligation. For a broader business audience, the nearest parallel is the social dimension of ESG. In both cases, the principle is similar: an institution should be judged not only by what it delivers to individual users, but also by the wider social value it creates and sustains.

By that measure, TH does more than enable individuals to save for the Hajj. It also preserves an ecosystem through which access and affordability remain within reach for others, especially those in the lower- and middle-income groups.

Why the composition of deposits matters

But that wider role can only be sustained if its funding base remains stable. That is why TH should be judged not only by the number of accounts it holds, but also by the durability of the deposits behind them.

If it relies too heavily on depositors who save only until they have enough for their first Hajj, then a significant share of its funds will remain transitional. Once those pilgrims depart for Hajj, much of that capital may leave the system, making TH’s funding base less stable and long-term planning more difficult.

What TH needs, therefore, is not only more depositors, but more committed ones. This is where those who have already performed the Hajj become especially important. Their continued participation provides a more stable pool of funds that supports longer-term investment and smoother liquidity management.

The logic is akin to the concept of takaful or mutual guarantee: a pool remains strong not merely because people enter it, but because enough continue contributing to sustain it.

In the same way, TH’s resilience depends on depositors who choose to remain even after they no longer need to save for their own pilgrimage. That point is especially important because the implications extend beyond TH’s own balance sheet.

A misconception worth correcting

There remains a tendency to assume that the roughly RM200 million spent annually on Hajj Financial Assistance (HAFIS) comes directly from government subsidies and therefore from taxpayers.

In reality, that support depends entirely on the strength of TH’s own deposit base and the returns generated from its investments.

That distinction matters because it means the affordability of the Hajj for B40 and M40 pilgrims is tied directly to the institution’s financial resilience.

When financially capable depositors remain in the system, even after performing the Hajj, they help preserve a funding base that supports others who have yet to do so.

The outflow trend deserves attention

The reported average net outflow of RM1.2 billion in 2025 should not be brushed aside. It is not yet a sign of immediate distress, but it is a signal worth watching.

Depositors today are more financially aware and more willing to compare TH’s returns with those of Islamic fixed deposits, unit trusts or even gold. Loyalty can no longer be assumed.

Nevertheless, TH maintains a unique value proposition that commercial institutions cannot replicate through its hybrid role of fund manager and Hajj administrator. This includes Shariah-compliant savings with zakat fully settled by TH, world-class Hajj management, and a broader model of social responsibility that is ‘ummah-centric’.

The spillover effect of TH is significant, where its key entities, e.g. Bank Islam, Syarikat Takaful Malaysia, TH Properties and other major subsidiaries, continue to contribute to socio-economic development through business zakat and employment.

By saving in TH, a depositor is indirectly supporting a network of businesses that provide essential services to the nation while adhering to the highest standards of Islamic ethics.

The harder phase begins now

The 3.5 per cent payout should therefore be seen as an encouraging milestone as TH appears to have regained a measure of financial normalcy.

But the next phase will be harder. It will require the institution to curb net outflows, attract younger savers, broaden participation among the millions still outside its ecosystem and renew public understanding of why it matters.

That is the real test ahead. The profit may dominate the headlines, but TH’s future will be decided by the strength, stability and renewal of the depositor base behind it.

* The authors are Dr Mohamed Hadi bin Abd Hamid, a certified Shariah advisor and Islamic financial planner, and Dr Mohd Zaidi Md Zabri, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Islamic Economics, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.

NIBONG TEBAL, April 11 — A team of 10 students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is set to take Malaysian innovation to new heights as they prepare to compete in the International Rocket Engineering Competition 2026 (IREC 2026) in Midland, Texas, United States from June 15 to 20.

Known as WAU Rocketry USM, the team will represent Malaysia alongside another team from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) at one of the world’s largest intercollegiate rocketry competitions, which bring together students from around the world to design, build and launch rockets.

In an exclusive interview with Bernama, the team leader P. Vymarleena Avriel, 23, said their APEX-1 rocket is designed to ascend 10,000 feet into the air, competing in the Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) category.

Unlike large-scale launch vehicles developed by agencies such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) or SpaceX, she explained that the APEX-1 is a high-powered sounding rocket, a more compact system suitable for academic engineering competitions, yet still demanding rigorous design, simulation and testing.

“IREC 2026 is actually an engineering competition but it is for to launch rockets and we have students worldwide that participate in the competition. We launch a rocket and compete.

“I would say with my team and our current progress from the technical and engineering side, I am really confident and hoping to get at least a top five result but we can achieve even more,” she told Bernama at the School of Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Campus, USM here.

As the only female member of the team, Vymarleena Avriel shared that the journey to IREC has taken nearly a year, beginning with a fully online application process that required detailed computer-aided design (CAD), simulations and technical reports.

She added that the competition involves multiple evaluation phases, including the Preliminary Design Report (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR) and the Flight Readiness Review (FRR), before teams are cleared for launch.

The third-year Aerospace Engineering student said balancing academic commitments with the project has been one of the team’s biggest challenges.

“Most of us are third-year students with packed schedules, so we work overnight and spend long hours in the lab, even during semester breaks, we stayed on campus to continue building the rocket,” she added.

Beyond technical hurdles, she said financial constraints remain a significant obstacle, thus the team has actively reached out to sponsors, government agencies and industry players, securing partial funding while continuing efforts to cover remaining costs.

“As a student team, funding is one of our biggest challenges, not just for the rocket components but also for travel to the US,” said Vymarleena  Avriel, who aspires to become an astronaut.

Due to regulatory restrictions in Malaysia, she also said the rocket will be assembled locally, disassembled for transport and reassembled in the US, where the motor classified under strict regulations and will be integrated before launch.

Meanwhile, the project supervisor Dr Chang Wei Shyang commended the team’s discipline and progress, noting that participation in competitions like IREC offers value beyond academics.

“We won seventh place in 2022 and competed again in 2023, but unfortunately unable to send teams after that due to financial issues and challenges to actually get the bright students into the team to continue.

“However, this new batch really have the fire to continue. I can see that the rocket is almost ready and consistently meet their deadlines without needing reminders, I think this speaks for itself how disciplined they are in this particular endeavour,” he said.

Chang, a lecturer at USM’s School of Aerospace Engineering, said the team’s achievement showcases the capabilities of Malaysian students and demonstrates that the country can compete with leading universities globally, reflecting national progress in technology.

He also highlighted growing interest in aerospace among Malaysian students, with increasing enrolment and industry opportunities, including over 300 aerospace-related companies nationwide.

For the record, WAU Rocketry USM previously secured third place in the A4 International Category at the Teknofest 2025 Rocket Competition in Aksaray, Turkey, following the successful launch of their Hebat-3 rocket.

Six members including Vymarleena Avriel, participated in an international mobility programme at Hochschule Stralsund, Germany, gaining hands-on experience in hybrid rocket engine manufacturing.

Besides Vymarleena Avriel, the other team members are Lim Wiky, 25; Danish Irfan Saiful Nizam, 21; R. Krishna Baniel, 22; Aizad Aizal Abdul Aziz, 22; K. Aditteya, 22, Muhammad Hafiz Hakimy Gazali, 22; Muhammad Farhat Mohd Sharipa, 22; M. Saravanan, 22 and S. Loganraj, 22. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — The Proton S70 is seeing strong early demand in 2026, with bookings coming in at a rate of one unit every four minutes since order books opened on February 11.

Proton said a total of 7,157 bookings have been secured so far for the latest model year.

The encouraging response signals continued buyer confidence in the sedan as interest in the C-segment category grows in Malaysia.

Since its debut in November 2023, the S70 has steadily gained traction among local car buyers.

Total deliveries have now crossed 40,112 units, marking a key milestone for the model.

The performance reflects a broader revival of interest in sedans, which have been facing stiff competition from SUVs in recent years.

The 2026 S70 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 181PS and 290Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Proton said the package offers a balance of performance, comfort and everyday drivability aimed at a wide range of Malaysian drivers.

Inside, the model features a spacious cabin, connected infotainment system and a suite of driver assistance technologies.

Proton also highlighted its nationwide network of 190 3S and 4S centres and 77 body and paint facilities as a key strength supporting ownership experience.

It added that services such as one-day delivery and relief vehicles for extended repairs help smooth after-sales support.

The company said the strong uptake underscores continued trust in the brand as it looks to build further momentum for the S70 in 2026.

JOHOR BAHRU, April 11 — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) exposed alleged misappropriation of subsidised packet cooking oil at a food premises in Taman Megah Ria, Masai, here during a 3pm operation on Thursday.

Johor KPDN director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said inspections found that the premises owner had cut open packets of cooking oil and transferred the contents into bottles.

“Further inspections also found equipment such as scissors, funnels and bottles believed to have been used in carrying out the activity at the premises,” she said in a statement today.

She said the premises was also found to be storing controlled items, namely sugar and wheat flour, as well as packet cooking oil, without a valid permit.

The premises owner and manager were detained on suspicion of offences under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, she said.

“We seized the controlled goods and equipment believed to have been used in the misappropriation, and the value of the seizure is still being documented,” she added. — Bernama

KOTA KINABALU, April 11 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Sabah branch, has requested that facilities of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) be utilised to strengthen operations in combating the misappropriation of fuel subsidies, particularly in coastal and border areas of Sabah.

State KPDN director Shahril Nizam Shahidin said the effort is seen as capable of helping the ministry expand its operational reach, especially in addressing smuggling activities and the misuse of controlled goods, such as petrol and diesel.

“It serves as an important platform to strengthen bilateral cooperation, information sharing, and coordination of actions between KPDN and the RMN, towards enhancing the effectiveness of enforcement in tackling the misappropriation of government subsidies in an integrated manner.

“At the same time, it ensures that supply security and market stability are always maintained,” he said in a statement here, today, after receiving a courtesy call from Eastern Fleet deputy commander, Rear Admiral Erman Shahril Adlan, yesterday.

Shahril Nizam said that, among other matters discussed during the meeting, was the implementation of integrated operations, which will be further refined in terms of mechanisms and jurisdiction, to ensure that enforcement actions can be carried out in a more organised and high-impact manner.

He added that the move is expected to enhance monitoring and enforcement capabilities, thereby ensuring that supply security and market stability in Sabah continue to be safeguarded.

“Another key topic discussed was the implementation of the Rahmah Madani Sales programme, as an initiative to help ease the cost of living for the people,” he said. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — An academic has urged Malaysia and Turkiye to strengthen defence cooperation by moving beyond procurement and establishing a strategic partnership to jointly develop the local defence and aerospace industry.

Malaysia should elevate ties with Turkiye to a strategic alignment perspective, said Director of Policy and Engagement, Business Development (South-east Asia), Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, United Kingdom, Dr Kogila Balakrishnan in an interview held in conjunction with the KL-Ankara Dialogue 2026 here on Tuesday.

“The bilateral relationship should be reframed as a strategic partnership anchored in defence policy, foreign policy alignment and a coherent industrial strategy,” she said.

With Malaysia being Turkiye’s seventh-largest defence partner and its oldest in South-east Asia, the strategic partnership should also include joint training programmes and research and development (R&D) to bolster Malaysia’s defence sector, said Kogila, alluding to the need for deepening defence cooperation given the tumultuous security situation due to the West Asia conflict.

“Malaysia’s defence and foreign policy should integrate industrial strategy with Turkiye, emphasising a coherent localisation approach and considering offsets,” she said.

Kogila said Malaysia should adopt a bigger systems approach and progressively move forward based on a blueprint, starting with strategic direction at the government level, followed by structured knowledge exchange between Malaysian and Turkish defence institutions, research bodies and academia.

This includes developing joint training programmes, research and development collaborations and centres of excellence, as well as building expertise in systems integration, programme management and defence technology.

“There should be focus on the commercialisation and industrial engine of the partnership,” said Kogila, emphasising that the approach should not be transactional but guided by a broader systems perspective.

Earlier this year, the government launched the National Defence Industry Policy (NDIP), a long-term strategic plan to reduce Malaysia’s dependence on external parties in matters of security and defence, while building a self-reliant, sustainable and resilient local defence industry.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had said the increasingly complex, fragile and uncertain global security landscape requires Malaysia to strengthen its defence capabilities by developing a strong and competitive domestic industry.

Among the key reforms outlined are the setting of a minimum local content of 30 per cent for each defence procurement, as well as the requirement that all maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities be carried out by local companies, except during the warranty period, which remains under the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

“It is timely to announce the NDIP, given the heightened geopolitical uncertainty in the region. But at the same time, there are gaps in the policy, particularly in terms of implementation structure, commitment to defence expenditure, and clarity on capability articulation.

“This is important because capability ultimately translates into procurement-driven initiatives,” said Kogila.

She said that while Malaysia needs to achieve the 30 per cent local content aspiration in stages, its strengths in MRO and semiconductors could be leveraged to position the country as a regional hub for Turkiye’s aircraft in South-east Asia.

Currently, Malaysia’s procurement from Turkiye includes armoured vehicles, drones and naval vessels, with increasing emphasis on surveillance and maritime platforms, alongside potential future expansion into fighter aircraft.

It was reported that South-east Asia’s defence spending rose by 7.5 per cent to US$55 billion in 2025, marking a threefold increase since 2015.

While the region’s arms market remains dominated by the United States, European and increasingly South Korean companies, Turkish defence firms are emerging as key players and are expected to expand their market share. — Bernama

DUNGUN, April 11 — Residents in Paka, near here, expressed disappointment with the water supply issue, which is alleged to taste brackish and rusty, and is affecting their daily routines since last month.

Due to the problem, most residents claim they have been forced to buy mineral water as they are uncomfortable using the supply for drinking and cooking.

A resident, Aishah Ramli, 45, from Kuala Paka, said the water supply issue began to worsen about a week before Aidilfitri, and has continued until now.

“The issue of brackish-tasting water is not new in this area; in fact, it has been recurring for several years.

“Moreover, at the same time, residents also frequently receive rusty water supply, especially when water pressure is low,” she said, when met by reporters, today.

A restaurant operator in Tebing Tembah, Nurul Miezan Qamaliena Mazidi, 23, said she has been forced to buy mineral water to prepare drinks for customers, due to the brackish water issue.

She added that she has also incurred additional expenses to purchase ice, as she is unable to make her own due to the water supply problem.

“I have had to spend nearly RM300 on mineral water and ice for use at the restaurant over the past two to three days, because the water supply received is unsatisfactory,” she said.

A resident of Taman Mulia Perdana, Tengku Harith Sufri Tengku Amran, 36, said residents are under pressure as the issues of brackish and rusty water are occurring simultaneously, placing a burden on their daily lives.

He said that, although he has installed a water filter outside his house, the water he receives still tastes brackish and appears rusty, and those who do not have water filters face even worse conditions.

“I recently reported the water supply issues faced by residents to Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd (SATU) for follow-up action, to ensure that the water supply received is always of good quality,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Infrastructure, Utilities and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Hanafiah Mat, when contacted, said that the water supply becomes brackish when the intake point at the Bukit Bauk Water Treatment Plant (LRA) receives an influx of seawater, due to the dry season and tidal phenomena.

“SATU has increased the supply capacity at the Bukit Bauk LRA, to reduce the impact of brackish water by adding supply from the Kemudi LRA,” he said.

The brackish water supply has affected a total of 26,883 SATU consumer accounts in Paka since last month.

He added that the number of accounts involves 11,675 accounts in the Paka Zone, 10,552 accounts in the Dungun Zone, and 4,167 accounts in Kerteh 2, Kerteh 3 and Ketengah Jaya.

“This brackish water supply issue is expected to persist in the affected areas until September, throughout the Southwest Monsoon period,” he said. — Bernama

LENGGONG, April 11 — The Perak Man skeleton, which was previously kept by the National Heritage Department in Kuala Lumpur, has been re-exhibited to the public at the Lenggong Valley Archaeological Gallery here since July.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that the relocation of the skeleton, which is approximately 11,000 years old, has become one of the main attractions and has helped increase tourist arrivals to the gallery.

“Previously, the remains of the Perak Man were kept by the National Heritage Department to allow for upgrading work to be carried out in this gallery. We were informed that the skeleton of the Perak Man was brought back here (archaeology gallery) on June 26 last year.

“Throughout the period it was there, the skeleton underwent a meticulous conservation process to ensure it remains preserved, particularly in terms of physical integrity and environmental control such as temperature and humidity,” said Shamsul Anuar, who is also the Member of Parliament for Lenggong.

He said this after attending the reopening of the Lenggong Valley Archaeological Gallery and the launch of the World Heritage Site Commemorative Coin here yesterday.

Earlier, the opening of the gallery was officiated by the Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. Also present were Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot, as well as State Secretary Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim.

Shamsul Anuar, who is also Lenggong Geopark chairman, said that his team was working to bring back the Perak Woman skeleton, which is around 8,000 years old and is currently stored at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

He said that the skeleton found in 2004 in Gua Teluk Kelawar (Lenggong) proves the significant existence of prehistoric civilisation in the Lenggong Valley.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad (5th left) views the ‘Perak Man’ skeleton at the reopening of the Lenggong Valley Archaeological Gallery in Lenggong, Perak, April 10, 2026. — Bernama pic

Meanwhile, Saarani said that RM5 million has been allocated for upgrading the gallery, which includes hologram technology, interactive displays, and modern visuals aimed at attracting visitors.

He said that the new approach through current technology is in line with the changing times, which demand a more dynamic, effective, and easily understandable method of delivering historical information to visitors of various age groups.

“The increase in visitors to over 51,000 people last year indicates that the efforts being implemented are on the right track and have the potential to continue to grow,” he said.

Touching on the commemorative coins, he said the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley is one of the six World Heritage Sites in Malaysia selected to be featured in the special edition.

In addition to its collectible value, Saarani said the commemorative coin also serves as an educational medium that conveys messages of history, identity, and national pride to current and future generations.

“In addition to the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley, this special edition commemorative coin also showcases the uniqueness of five World Heritage Sites in Malaysia, namely the Mulu National Park and Niah Caves (Sarawak), Kinabalu Park (Sabah), George Town (Penang), Melaka, and the Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor (FRIM FPS).”

“This approach shows that the nation’s heritage can be highlighted in a more creative way and closer to the community,” he added. — Bernama

LONDON, April 11 — West Ham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 4-0 win against Wolves yesterday that dumped Tottenham into the bottom three.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took the lead through Konstantinos Mavropanos’ first-half header at the London Stadium.

Valentin Castellanos netted twice in the second-half to ensure fourth-bottom West Ham, who started the evening in the relegation zone, moved two points above third-bottom Tottenham.

Mavropanos completed the rout with his second goal in the closing stages in an ironic twist as the former Arsenal defender helped to push his old club’s bitter rivals closer to the drop.

It is the first time Tottenham have been in the bottom three at the end of a Premier League match-day since August 2015, when they lost 1-0 to Manchester United.

Tottenham can climb back out of the relegation zone if they win at Sunderland in Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge on Sunday.

The north Londoners have seven games to save themselves from playing in the second tier for the first time since 1977-78.

Beaten on penalties by Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend, West Ham bounced back with a vital victory in their own fight for survival.

“All of us deserve this kind of evening, especially our fans. London Stadium today was amazing, bouncing with energy,” Nuno said.

“The first half was tough. We didn’t find spaces, the game didn’t flow. Then after the break we really improved.

“The way we did it proved to ourselves that we cannot give up. That was the team spirit from the beginning.

“We are in the fight. I realise we have a lot of work to do yet. We made a big step today, important for us, but nothing has changed.”

Bottom of the table Wolves are 15 points from safety and, with only six matches left, they are destined for relegation to the Championship.

Knockout blow 

Wolves looked rusty in their first game for 25 days due to the international break and their exit from the FA Cup.

El Hadji Malick Diouf’s poor pass gave Adam Armstrong a sight of goal, but the Wolves striker couldn’t keep his effort on target.

Armstrong wasted a better chance moments later when his close-range header was saved by Mads Hermansen.

West Ham took advantage of those escapes to steal the lead in the 42nd minute.

Replays showed West Ham were lucky to be awarded a corner when the final touch came off Jarrod Bowen and the England forward quickly rubbed salt into Wolves’ wound.

When Bowen’s corner was headed back to the forward, he produced a far better cross with his second attempt and Mavropanos rose to thump his header past Wolves keeper Jose Sa.

Bowen hit the post with a dipping curler early in the second half and Castellanos delivered the knockout blow in the 66th minute.

Playing a one-two with Pablo, the Argentine striker surged through the Wolves defence but his tame shot should have been saved by Sa before it trickled over the line.

Castellanos struck again two minutes later with a deflected shot that squirmed past the hapless Sa.

Mavropanos volleyed home at the far post from an 83rd minute corner to compound Wolves’ misery. — AFP

MADRID, April 11 — Real Madrid dropped more points in the Spanish title race with a frustrating 1-1 La Liga draw at home against Girona yesterday. 

Fede Valverde drilled Alvaro Arbeloa’s side ahead early in the second half but Thomas Lemar’s fine strike secured a point for the Catalan visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The draw against Girona brought Madrid within six points of La Liga leaders Barcelona, but the Catalans host local rivals Espanyol on Saturday when they could move nine ahead with a victory.

Madrid head to Bavaria to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday, trailing 2-1, in the competition where their hopes of silverware this season now mainly lie.

Los Blancos were upset by a late penalty appeal not given after Girona defender Vitor Reis’ arm caught Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in the face.

“It’s a penalty here and on the moon,” complained Madrid coach Arbeloa.

“Nobody understands it... when VAR gets involved, I imagine it’s when it suits them, and when it doesn’t, then it doesn’t.”

The coach admitted his team were not at their best following a third consecutive game without a win across all competitions.

“Without playing the most brilliant match we’ve played, it’s obvious and clear this is a game we should have won,” said Arbeloa, insisting Madrid would not give up in the title race despite their situation.

“Until we lose La Liga we’ll keep fighting for it... we have to fight until the last day.”

After Jude Bellingham impressed as a substitute in the first leg against Bayern, Arbeloa gave him his first start since January.

Madrid had the better of the first half but needed goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to save well from Azzedine Ounahi early on.

At the other end Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga denied Mbappe and Valverde as Los Blancos began to knock on the door.

Bellingham tested Gazzaniga early in the second half with a drive from the edge of the box, shortly before his team took the lead.

Valverde lashed in a shot from the edge of the box which Gazzaniga tried to push out with his wrists but badly misjudged and the ball flew past him and into the net.

Madrid’s top goalscorer Mbappe mis-hit a shot when well placed and Gazzaniga saved well at his near post to keep Vinicius at bay as Madrid tried to put the game to bed.

Instead Girona pulled level, with former Atletico midfielder Lemar planting a superb strike from the edge of the box beyond Lunin’s helpless dive and into the bottom corner.

Munich in mind 

Arbeloa took off England international Bellingham shortly after the hour with the visit to Munich in mind.

“We saw Bellingham feeling good, sharp, confident,” said Arbeloa.

“This is the first game he’s started since coming back (from injury) but I think it’s done him a lot of good to get minutes, find rhythm... and I think we should be very pleased with his performance.”

Madrid’s hopes of a trophy appear to hinge on that match against Vincent Kompany’s side, with only seven La Liga matches remaining to try and overhaul Hansi Flick’s Barca, the reigning champions.

Gazzaniga beat away Mbappe’s shot and the French superstar appealed in vain for a penalty as he collided with Reis in the box.

The defender caught the forward with his arm as Mbappe tried to dart behind him, leaving the French forward with blood on his face.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added on but they were not enough for Arbeloa’s underwhelming team to conjure a late winner.

“To beat any team we need to give 200 percent,” reiterated Arbeloa, after saying the same following last weekend’s defeat by Mallorca in La Liga.

Girona, 12th, could make a late push for a European spot after spending much of the season battling relegation.

“I think we improved as the game went on, the first half was a bit tough for us and the second, we came into the game well,” Lemar told Movistar.

“We’re going game by game, we’ll try to get to 42 points and after that we’ll see (how high we can go).” — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Malaysia’s campaign at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 came to an end after all three national doubles pairs were eliminated in the quarter-finals in Ningbo, China, yesterday. 

At the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre, women’s doubles second seeds Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah were defeated by China’s world number nine pair Li Yi Jing-Luo Xu Min in straight games, 21-13, 21-15.

The defeat marked the Malaysians’ second loss to the Chinese duo in three meetings.

Meanwhile, men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were also shown the exit by South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk-Ki Dong Ju after a gruelling one hour and 23-minute encounter.

The world number two pair bounced back to take the second game after losing the first, but the 22nd-ranked South Korean duo held their nerve to secure a 21-19, 16-28, 21-13 victory.

Earlier, mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei were also knocked out in the quarter-finals. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, April 11 — The Court of Appeal yesterday allowed the appeals by Puncak Gali Harmoni Sdn Bhd (PGH) to set aside the High Court’s decision to summarily dismissed its suit and ex parte injunction to prevent Emrail Sdn Bhd from terminating a subcontract award letter related to railway track restoration work between Gua Musang and Tumpat Stations in Kelantan.

A three-judge panel led by Justice Datuk Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ordered the case to be reinstated and remitted to the High Court Shah Alam for the hearing of the originating summons as well as for the injunction application to be heard inter parte before another judge or judicial commissioner.

The panel, also comprising Datuk Faizah Jamaludin and Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohamed Salleh, allowed PGH’s appeals with costs of RM30,000 subject to allocatur.

In the court’s broad grounds, Justice Mohamed Zaini said the panel was of the view that in the interest of justice, it would be best for the previous Judicial Commissioner not to continue presiding over the suit as she had made findings on the facts and issues in the suit.

“We further direct that the appellant’s application for an inter parte injunction be fixed for hearing within two weeks from today and be disposed of expeditiously, in view of the fact that this is a national project for the public’s benefit,” he said.

The decision was delivered online via Zoom yesterday. Lawyer Steven Thiru representing PGH confirmed the decision of the court, when contacted by Bernama.

In delivering the decision, Mohamed Zaini said the High Court had set aside the ex parte injunction even though PGH did not file an application to set it aside, adding that the absence of such an application, the High Court’s setting aside of the ex parte injunction was irregular.

“The learned Judicial Commissioner misdirected herself in law when she set aside the ex parte order and ordered that damages to be assessed, despite the absence of an application by the respondent (Emrail) to set it aside,” he said.

Justice Mohamed Zaini said the Judicial Commissioner Datuk Anita Harun’s decision to summarily dismissed the suit constituted a clear breach of natural justice.

In the judgment, Justice Mohamed Zaini said the appellant’s claim arose from a dispute between the company as subcontractor and the respondent (Emrail) as the main contractor regarding the railway restoration project awarded by the government through the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

He said PGH was appointed as a subcontractor via a Letter of Award dated 29 May 2025, with a contract value of approximately RM145.3 million, and a Letter of Undertaking dated 29 August 2025 was subsequently issued by Emrail. 

Justice Mohamed Zaini said the respondent had argued that the Letter of Award was conditional, being subject, inter alia to the respondent being awarded the main contract by MOT and the execution of a formal agreement. However, the appellant maintained that the contract had become unconditional.

He said PGH then commenced the suit against Emrail at the Shah Alam High Court by way of an originating summons on Sept 10, 2025, seeking among others an injunction to restrain the respondent from terminating the Letter of Award pending mediation and arbitration.

On 19 September last year, the Shah Alam High Court granted PGH’s application for an ex parte injunction. However, following an inter partes hearing on 2 October the same year, the court set aside the ex parte injunction and struck out the originating summons.

In the court’s proceeding yesterday, PGH was represented by lawyers Steven Thiru, Alvin Oh, Chong Jen Hui, Priscilla Lim, and Sew Chang Peng, while lawyers Ooi Suan Kim and Terrence Boo Honn Chin acted for the respondent. — Bernama

BELURAN, April 11 — Likas assemblyman Tham Yun Fook has called on both the state and federal education ministries to urgently address the plight of students at SK Balaban Jaya here, where students are reportedly attending classes in temporary and unsuitable learning spaces.

Tham said classrooms at the school currently include wall-less tents and corridors of a mosque, as the school does not yet have a complete permanent building.

He had received complaints from parents expressing concern over the condition, which they say is affecting pupil’s comfort and learning environment.

He said he was informed that the Ministry of Education (MoE) has already allocated approximately RM2 million for the construction of a permanent school building.

However, the project is expected to take time due to tender processes and construction timelines, which could extend over several months to a year.

While acknowledging the allocation, Tham urged immediate interim measures to resolve the urgent needs of the students.

“I urge the Ministry of Education or the State Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to take immediate action by providing temporary cabin classrooms as a stopgap measure,” he said in a statement.

Tham said such an approach was necessary to ensure pupils are able to learn in a safer, more comfortable and conducive environment while awaiting completion of the permanent school infrastructure.

Tham also called on ministers and senior officials to visit the school site to witness the situation firsthand.

“Children are currently forced to study in temporary placements at the mosque, some on the corridor, exposed to rain during wet weather and under tents during the current hot conditions.

“It breaks my heart to see our children having to learn under such conditions.

“Imagine if your own children had to study under such circumstances. How would you feel?” he added.

Tham said the situation was deeply distressing and should not be allowed to continue, questioning how long students must wait for proper facilities.

“How much longer are we willing to let children study in such conditions? Must our children continue to wait in an environment lacking basic facilities?” he said.

Tham also argued that earlier resolution of Sabah’s fiscal entitlements could help prevent such infrastructure shortcomings.

“If the 40 per cent net tax revenues could be implemented earlier, situations like this would definitely not occur,” he added. — The Borneo Post

GEORGE TOWN, April 11 — Malaysia and Brunei are to continue strengthening regional cooperation in the aspects of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement to combat drug and substance abuse.

The cooperation was boosted through the Annual Bilateral Meeting between the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and the Brunei Darussalam Narcotics Control Bureau (BKN) which was held here yesterday.

AADK director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the meeting aimed to strengthen the network of cooperation between the two agencies, particularly in the sharing of best practices, experiences and innovative approaches in addressing the increasingly complex threat of drug and substance abuse.

“AADK is always committed to expanding regional cooperation in various aspects, including the exchange of information, knowledge and expertise, especially reducing the demand for drugs and substances.

“In this regard, AADK expresses confidence that through this spirit of close cooperation, both parties were able to achieve more effective and significant goals in addressing the challenges of drug and substance abuse at the regional level,” he said in a statement last night.

The BKN Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by its director Datuk Mohd Zalani Ismail along with seven senior officers while the AADK delegation was led by Ruslin.

Following the meeting, Ruslin said AADK also expressed its willingness to continue sharing expertise with BKN Brunei Darussalam officers, especially involving aspects of human resource capacity development.

In addition, he said AADK also offers training opportunities in the implementation of the Drug-Free Workplace (Tekad) programme which emphasises early prevention, intervention, and continuous support in the workplace environment.

As part of the visit, the delegation was also taken to inspect the operation of the In-Institutional Treatment and Rehabilitation (RPDI) programme implemented by AADK at Kampung Selamat Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen), Tasek Gelugor near here.

“This working visit indirectly provides extensive exposure to a variety of treatment and rehabilitation programmes in Malaysia, thus translating the strong commitment of both countries in combating the issue of drug and substance abuse for the sake of regional well-being,” he said. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA, April 11 — Malaysia and Thailand continue to strengthen bilateral ties through cultural diplomacy with shared traditions and people connections, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said.

He said the long-standing relationship between the two nations extends beyond formal agreements, rooted instead in generations of cross-border interactions.

“For generations, our people have moved across borders. In the north of our peninsula especially, the connection is not something written in agreements — it is something lived, daily and naturally,” he said in his welcoming speech at the official launch of Malaysia’s Premier Songkran Festival 2026 here yesterday, which was officiated by Thailand’s ambassador to Malaysia, Lada Phumas.

Gobind, who is also Damansara MP, said such bonds reflect the strength of cultural diplomacy, which grows over time through trust, respect and shared experiences.

“What begins as cultural understanding often becomes economic strength and diplomatic trust,” he said.

Gobind added that platforms such as the Songkran Festival play an important role in reinforcing these ties by bringing communities together while showcasing shared values and traditions.

“To our Thai friends and to everyone celebrating Songkran, thank you for sharing this beautiful tradition with us and thank you for having this festival in the Damansara constituency. May this festival bring you peace, happiness and new beginnings,” he said.

Malaysia’s Premier Songkran Festival, organised by the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with EQ Solutions, returns from April 9 to 19 at the Ground Floor Forecourt, Outdoor Car Park of 1 Utama Shopping Centre, with more than 80,000 visitors expected.

Now in its fourth consecutive year at the venue, Songkran marks the Thai New Year and symbolises renewal, blessings and unity. Known globally for its joyous water-splashing traditions, the festival brings communities together in a spirit of celebration and goodwill. — Bernama

SAN FRANCISCO, April 11 — The luxury San Francisco home of OpenAI boss Sam Altman was hit by a Molotov cocktail yesterday, the company said, as police announced the arrest of a suspect.

No one was injured in the incident, and the firm behind the popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot would not confirm if the CEO was home at the time.

The motive for the attack, and subsequent threats to set fire to OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters—apparently by the same man—were not immediately known.

But they come as Altman’s profile has risen with the increasing use of AI both in the workplace and in the US military, amid fears it could massively disrupt employment patterns and cause irreversible societal changes.

Police in San Francisco, a hub for tech development, said they had responded after reports that someone had tried to set fire to a gate at the sprawling home.

A statement from the San Francisco Police Department said officers were dispatched to the home just after 4am. 

“At the scene, officers learned that an unknown male subject threw an incendiary destructive device at a home, causing a fire to an exterior gate. The suspect then fled on foot,” SFPD said.

A short time later they were called to the firm’s offices where a man was making threats.

“When officers arrived on scene, they recognized the male to be the same suspect from the earlier incident and immediately detained him,” the statement said.

The man they arrested has not been named, but police said he was 20 years old.

A spokesman for OpenAI confirmed the attack on the chief executive’s residence and the threats to the San Francisco headquarters.

“We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe,” the spokesman told AFP. “The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation.”

Altman and OpenAI have become targets for people protesting AI as a threat to humans.

Protesters have been particularly troubled by OpenAI’s decision to provide its technology to the US Department of Defense.

OpenAI last month said it was valued at $852 billion after a funding round that raised $122 billion.

The figure reflects the surging costs of computing power and came amid lingering questions about whether OpenAI and rival companies can generate sufficient revenue to cover expenses.

ChatGPT claims the top position in consumer AI, with more than 900 million weekly active users and some 50 million subscribers.

Use of ChatGPT’s online search engine has tripled over the course of a year, according to OpenAI. — AFP

WASHINGTON, April 30 — Inflation in the United States rose sharply in March, government data showed yesterday, as higher energy prices due to the war in the Middle East hit Americans hard.

The nationwide sticker shock put pressure on President Donald Trump, who has ordered peace talks with Iran and faces mid-term elections in November.

The rate of inflation rose to 3.3 per cent year-on-year in March, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). By comparison, this same consumer price index (CPI) was 2.4 per cent year-on-year a month earlier.

Gasoline prices surged by 21.2 percent between February and March—the largest monthly increase since the government began publishing a related index in 1967, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said.

Markets had anticipated the surge, according to the consensus published by MarketWatch.

The United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28 and Tehran retaliated by blocking traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway used to carry a fifth of the world’s oil and gas deliveries.

Despite being the world’s top producer of crude oil, the United States also felt the pain, as prices at the gas pump shot up.

A gallon (3.78 liters) of regular gasoline currently costs an average of US$4.15 in the United States, compared to approximately US$3 just before the war.

The Trump administration—elected in part on a promise to quash inflation—maintains that the war’s economic disruptions will be temporary.

More price pain ahead 

Reacting to the data, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said the US economy “remains on a solid trajectory.”

Economic advisor Kevin Hassett claimed some wins for the White House, citing drops in the price of eggs, beef and concert tickets on Fox News.

US Vice President JD Vance said he hoped for a “positive” outcome as he departed Washington for US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan this weekend.

But experts predicted more economic pain ahead due to the war in Iran, especially for middle and lower-income households already squeezed by rising energy and airfare prices.

Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said that inflation soared in March to the highest level in almost two years.

“This is only the beginning. Food prices, travel and shipping costs are all going up in April and will exacerbate the pain,” she said.

“March CPI was as expected, so no surprises. But there is a huge increase in fuel prices, boosting inflation,” Christopher Low of FHN Financial told AFP.

“And we got the news last night that the ceasefire is not being honored by either side, apparently,” he said. “There’s still very little traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Some economists calculate the oil price surge will cost each US household at least $350 per household.

Consumer sentiment also dipped sharply — 11 per cent — this month, according to a University of Michigan survey.

During the Federal Reserve’s most recent meeting in mid-March, Chairman Jerome Powell said that the war risked delaying efforts to bring inflation under control in the United States.

The US central bank’s target for inflation is two percent—an objective it has not met in five years due to the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine and tariffs. — AFP

ISLAMABAD, April 11 — Pakistan is set to host talks between Iran and the United States in a bid to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting end to a war that has left thousands dead and roiled global energy markets.

Here are five things to know about the Islamabad talks:

 The war behind the talks 

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched deadly coordinated strikes that killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei and struck Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.

More than 3,000 people were killed in Iran in five weeks, according to Iranian media and US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Tehran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf waterway through which about a fifth of global oil and gas passes, sending energy prices soaring and disrupting trade worldwide.

On April 8, Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The ceasefire is expected to expire April 22.

Pakistan’s unlikely starring role 

Pakistan’s value as a mediator rests on an unusually broad diplomatic network.

Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan’s statehood following independence in 1947, with the two neighbours sharing a 900-kilometre (560-mile) border and deep historical, cultural and religious ties.

Pakistan is also home to more than 20 million Shia Muslims, the second-largest such population in the world after Iran.

Islamabad has cultivated strong ties with Washington, Riyadh and Beijing.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Beijing at the end of March for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who backed Islamabad’s mediation efforts as “in keeping with the common interests of all parties”.

Trump himself told AFP that China helped bring Iran to the negotiating table, an account backed by Pakistani officials.

“On ceasefire night, hopes were fading, but China stepped in and convinced Iran to agree to a preliminary ceasefire,” a senior Pakistani official familiar with the negotiations told AFP on condition of anonymity.

What’s on the table? 

The gap between the two sides remains vast.

Washington’s reported 15-point proposal centres on Iran’s enriched uranium and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran has countered with a 10-point plan demanding control over the strait, a toll for vessels crossing the strait, an end to all regional military operations and the lifting of all sanctions.

Lebanon is also a major sticking point.

Israel has continued its strikes in the country targeting Hezbollah—after the ceasefire came into force—with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s assertion that the truce included Lebanon.

US Vice President JD Vance appeared to take a softer tone, saying there may have been a “legitimate misunderstanding” from Iran that Lebanon would be included.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on X that Israel’s strikes on Lebanon rendered the negotiations “meaningless”.

Iran has also long refused to concede to Washington’s demands on its nuclear programme.

Iranian sources have also told Iranian media that Tehran won’t attend the talks unless a ceasefire is in place in Lebanon.

Who are the negotiators? 

Vance will lead the American team, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.

It marks the most senior US engagement with Iran since Secretary of State John Kerry negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal.

Witkoff held multiple rounds of Oman-mediated talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi before the war cut the process short.

Araghchi and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with other security and economic officials, have arrived in Pakistan, Iranian state television and the Pakistani government confirmed.

Reporting their arrival, state broadcaster IRIB reiterated Tehran’s position that talks will not begin unless its conditions are met, including a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Islamabad on lockdown 

The talks are being held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The government has kept its cards close to its chest, not confirming the venue, but the Serena Hotel—located next to the foreign ministry in the capital’s high-security Red Zone—asked its guests to clear out on Wednesday.

Authorities in the capital announced a two-day public holiday on Thursday and Friday.

The streets of Islamabad are flooded with armed security personnel in military fatigues, traffic diversions are in place and police checkpoints are set up.

The talks are expected to be indirect: the two delegations sitting in separate rooms with Pakistani officials shuttling proposals between them, mirroring the format used in earlier Oman-mediated rounds. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Crime cases recorded a decrease to 747 during Op Selamat 25 and 26 this year, compared to 858 cases in 2025.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the reduction was achieved through periodic patrols involving 61,122 houses, as well as the deployment of the Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) Units and the Motorcycle Patrol Units (URB).

He said the use of the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) application, which has recorded over 1.7 million users, also contributed to the decline in crime cases, with 16,889 users utilising the “balik kampung” notification module compared to 8,036 users the previous year.

“The combination of VSP usage along with MPV and URB patrols has successfully reduced crime, strengthened community safety, and enhanced cooperation between the public and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM),” he said at the Op Selamat 25 and 26 Appreciation Ceremony held at Dewan Pengaman, Police Training Centre (Pulapol), here last night.

During the same period, he said statistics showed that the number of accidents increased to 9,934 cases compared to 9,859 previously, while fatal accidents rose to 90 cases from 77.

“A total of 144,726 summonses were issued during the operations compared to 107,365 summonses in Op Selamat 24, an increase of 37,361 summonses or 34.8 per cent,” he said.

Mohd Khalid also reminded motorists to comply with traffic laws, ensure their vehicles are in good condition, and get sufficient rest before starting their journeys.

At the same event, he presented awards to the best contingents and districts for both operations.

“For Op Selamat 25 in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2026, Selangor Contingent emerged as the best in Category A, followed by Sabah (Category B) and Perlis (Category C). For the best district awards, Miri was selected for Category A, Kuala Krai (Category B), and Jerantut (Category C).

“Meanwhile, for Op Selamat 26 in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Johor Contingent was named the best in Category A, followed by Kedah (Category B) and Melaka (Category C). For the best district category, Johor Bahru Selatan was selected for Category A, Seberang Perai Selatan (Category B), and Bagan Datuk (Category C),” he said.

The event also brought together PDRM personnel and strategic partners, including Telekom Malaysia and PLUS Malaysia, which supported the implementation of Op Selamat 25 and 26. — Bernama

MIRI, April 11 — The federal government has been urged to reposition Sarawak’s iconic Mulu National Park and Niah National Park by upgrading their infrastructure to unlock their full tourism potential.

Miri City Council’s Tourism Development Committee chairman Councillor Sean Huang hails both national parks as world-class tourist attractions, yet they have long been constrained by inadequate facilities, limited accessibility and insufficient promotion despite their global recognition.

“Over the years, these national parks have not seen the level of development needed to match their world-class identity.

“Infrastructure remains outdated, access is limited, and promotional efforts have not been sufficiently aggressive,” he said in a statement.

Huang stressed that the federal government must take decisive steps to reposition both parks as major tourism destinations by elevating infrastructure to national standards.

He said the measures should include road connectivity, enhancing facilities, expanding accommodation options, and, most critically, establishing direct international flight links to better connect northern Sarawak with the global markets.

Huang added that both parks should be strategically promoted as key gateways to Borneo’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, leveraging their pristine ecosystems and features to attract eco-tourists and adventure travellers.

He also pointed out several Sarawakians holding key positions in the federal tourism leadership, most recognisably Miri MP Chiew Choon Man as Deputy Tourism, Art and Culture Minister.

“There is renewed hope that development priorities will begin to shift towards the state, especially in strengthening Miri’s role as tourism hub.”

Huang called for stronger collaboration between the federal and Sarawak governments to implement a comprehensive development framework, including upgrading transport infrastructure, improving hospitality standards, intensifying global promotion efforts and ensuring sustainable management of the parks.

“Repositioning Mulu and Niah national parks is not just about tourism; it is about unlocking economic opportunities for the region and placing Miri firmly on the global tourism map,” he pointed out. — The Borneo Post 

LONDON, April 11 — An African AIDS charity co-founded by Britain’s Prince Harry said on Friday it had launched legal proceedings against him for “reputational harm”, as the royal “categorically” rejected the defamation claims.

Harry helped found the Sentebale charity in 2006 in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana. 

But he quit the institution last year amid a bitter governance dispute with its chairperson.

King Charles III’s younger son and Mark Dyer, who was also previously a Sentebale trustee, are both named as defendants in the case at London’s High Court, according to court filings.

“As Sentebale’s co-founder and a founding trustee, they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims,” a spokesperson for the pair said in a statement.

“It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organisation for nearly two decades, rather than being directed to the communities the charity was created to serve,” the statement added.

Sentebale said earlier in a statement sent to AFP it had commenced legal proceedings in the High Court “following a coordinated adverse media campaign... that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership and its strategic partners”.

The case was filed by Sentebale on March 24, according to the court filings.

The case type is described as “Media and Communication – Part 7 Claim – Defamation – libel and slander”.

“The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership,” Sentebale added in its statement.

In August 2025, the UK’s Charity Commission pointed to “mismanagement” at the charity.

But it found no evidence of “bullying” – a charge that had been levelled at Harry by the organisation’s chairperson, Sophie Chandauka, in March 2025.

The charity was launched to help young people with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and later Botswana.

Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho announced last year they were resigning from the charity, after the trustees quit.

The trustees walked out when Chandauka refused their demand to step down.

Bitter dispute 

After an inquiry, the Charity Commission said it had “found no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir (prejudice against black women) at the charity”.

But it “criticised all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly”, saying the “damaging internal dispute” had “severely impacted the charity’s reputation”.

It found there was “a lack of clarity in delegations” which led to “mismanagement in the administration of the charity” and issued the organisation with a plan to “address governance weaknesses”.

Speaking to British media after accusing the prince of trying to force her out, Chandauka criticised Harry for his decision to bring a Netflix camera crew to a fundraiser in 2024.

She also objected to an unplanned appearance by his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the event.

The accusations were a fresh blow for the prince, who kept only a handful of his private patronages, including with Sentebale, after splitting with the British royal family in 2020.

He left Britain to live in North America with his wife and children.

Harry chose the name Sentebale as a tribute to Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 when the prince was just 12.

It means “forget me not” in the Sesotho language and is also used to say goodbye. — AFP

TAWAU, April 11 — A 25-year-old trainee teacher was killed in a road accident along Jalan Bandar Sri Indah here yesterday while on her way home from school, according to Sinar Harian.

The victim, Amierah Aqeelah Arbin, who was also a final-year university student, was confirmed dead at the scene at about 12pm.

According to the Malay daily, she was undergoing her teaching practicum at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Balung.

Tawau Fire and Rescue Department chief Jemishin Ujin said the department received an emergency call at 12.26pm and deployed six personnel to the scene, about 17 kilometres away.

He said the incident involved a Perodua Kenari that had skidded and veered off the road.

“A victim was removed by medical personnel before the fire team arrived. The victim was confirmed dead at the scene,” he was quoted as saying. 

The victim’s remains were later handed over to police for further action, he added.

SAN FRANCISCO April 11 — Anthropic postponing the release of its new AI model Claude Mythos, said to be so skilled at coding it could be a wicked weapon for hackers, has encountered a mix of alarm and skepticism.

The company is among several contenders in a fierce artificial intelligence race. Promoting the awe of Anthropic’s own technology boosts business and enhances its allure in the event it soon goes public, as is rumored.

“The world has no choice but to take the cyber threat associated with Mythos seriously,” said David Sacks, an entrepreneur and investor who heads President Donald Trump’s council of advisors on technology.

“But it’s hard to ignore that Anthropic has a history of scare tactics.”

Mythos has sparked fears of hackers commanding armies of AI agents able to break through computer defenses with ease.

At this week’s HumanX AI conference in San Francisco, Alex Stamos of startup Corridor, which addresses AI safety, acknowledged a real threat from agentic hackers.

And Stamos quipped about what he referred to as Anthropic’s “marketing schtick.”

“They have these adorable cutesy cartoons about these products that are so incredibly dangerous that they won’t even let people use them,” Stamos said of the San Francisco-based startup.

“It’s like if the Manhattan Project announced the nuclear bomb within a cute little Calvin and Hobbes cartoon.”

The heads of America’s biggest banks met this week with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to weigh the security implications of the yet-to-be released Claude Mythos, according to reports Friday.

“Mythos model points to something far more consequential than another leap in artificial intelligence,” Cato Networks co-founder and chief executive Shlomo Kramer said in a blog post.

“It signals a shift that could redefine the balance between attackers and defenders in cyberspace.”

A tightly restricted preview of Mythos was shared with partner organizations this week, under an initiative called Project Glasswing. They include Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Cisco, CrowdStrike and JPMorgan Chase.

According to Anthropic and partners, Mythos can autonomously scan vast amounts of code to find and chain together previously unknown security vulnerabilities in all kinds of software, from operating systems to web browsers.

Crucially, they warn, this can be done at a speed and scale no human could match, meaning it could be used to bring down banks, hospitals or national infrastructure within hours.

“What once required elite specialists can now be performed by software agents,” Shlomo said.

“The immediate consequences will be a surge in vulnerability discovery, a true tsunami” of exploiting known and unknown vulnerabilities.

‘Agent-to Agent War’ 

At HumanX, the apparent consensus was that it makes sense that AI agents already adept at coding will excel at finding weaknesses in software.

“We’re not in an era where human beings can write code when we have superhuman (AI models) that are then going to find bugs in it,” Stamos contended.

“It’s just not possible.”

He predicted the coming dynamic will involve humans supervising AI agents to protect networks against hackers using that same technology to attack.

Stamos referred to it as “agent-to-agent war,” with humans on the sidelines giving advice.

Wendy Whitmore, of cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks, expects “some sort of catastrophic attack” this year connected to AI agent capabilities.

“The thing that keeps me up at night is that we’re staring down the barrel of a massive influx of new vulnerabilities that are going to be found by AI,” said Adam Meyers of CrowdStrike.

Meyers saw embedding a tiny AI model directly into malicious code infecting networks as a natural tactic to be explored by hackers.

“The ultimate weapon would be malware that has no pre-programming,” Meyers said.

“It can do whatever you ask it to.” — AFP

SHAH ALAM, April 11 — A proposal to activate the Variation of Price (VOP) clause for construction materials will be submitted to the Finance Ministry and the Economy Ministry soon, following the global energy crisis, says Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

He said the proposal stemmed from discussions with contractors’ associations last week, which reported an increase in construction material costs of between 20 and 30 per cent, although the matter still required further study before any decision could be made.

“We hope for a study to be conducted using data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) so that the increase in construction material prices can be accurately determined.

“I would like to inform that the authority to approve this lies with the Finance Ministry, with reference to the Economy Ministry. We are (only) conveying the request from contractors’ associations to activate the VOP,” he said.

He said this when met after the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sports Awards 2025 at Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor, UiTM Shah Alam, here yesterday.

Ahmad Maslan also stressed that in facing the impact of the crisis, the government would not allow any ‘stop work’ implementations by industry players.

“In the same meeting, they also requested an extension of time (EOT) for certain projects due to price increases. I’d also like to inform that no stop work will be allowed, as it violates contract conditions.

“However, there have been requests to slow down a little until diesel prices, for example, become more stable. A slight slowdown may be possible, but stop work is not permitted,” he said.

Yesterday, the media reported that Malay Contractors Association of Malaysia (PKMM) president Datuk Mohd Rosdi Ab Aziz had urged the government to take immediate steps, including reactivating the VOP for construction materials, to help contractors facing rising costs due to the global energy crisis.

Mohd Rosdi said the measure, which had been implemented during previous crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, had proven effective in helping contractors manage rising costs. — Bernama

SAN DIEGO, April 11 — The Nasa spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down as planned Friday off the California coast, capping the US space agency’s successful crewed test mission around the Moon, the first such flyby in more than 50 years.

Mission commander Reid Wiseman reported that the crewmembers – himself along with Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen – were “stable” and “green.”

“They’re in great condition, that’s what that means,” said Rob Navias, the Nasa public affairs official who narrated their return on the agency’s livestream.

Following a brief but nerve-wracking communications blackout during their high-stakes re-entry, Wiseman’s voice triggered relief that the astronauts were well on their way back home.

“We have you loud and clear,” he said following a voice check from mission control in Houston.

Nasa and the US military will now help them leave the bobbing capsule, after which they will be flown to a recovery ship off the Pacific coast near San Diego.

As the astronauts returned to Earth their spacecraft reached maximum speeds more than 30 times the speed of sound, and faced searing temperatures around half as hot as the surface of the Sun. It was a key test of their heat shield, which in an earlier trial mission had faced complications.

But the Artemis II re-entry went off without a hitch.

“This was a textbook entry and a textbook touchdown,” said Navias.

Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman called the voyage “a perfect mission.”

“We’re back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon,” he said, and “this is just the beginning.”

“We are going to get back into doing this with frequency, sending missions to the Moon until we land on it in 2028 and start building our base.”

Historic journey 

From liftoff to splashdown, the trip clocked in at nine days, one hour, 31 minutes and 35 seconds – though Nasa rounds up and calls it a 10-day mission.

It began with a dramatic launch from Florida on April 1, and was studded with firsts, records and extraordinary moments.

It was the inaugural crewed mission of Nasa’s program aiming to install a sustained presence on the Moon, including, as administrator Isaacman emphasized, the eventual construction of a base.

The second phase of the Artemis program was a test mission to verify the reliability of the Orion capsule, which before now had not carried humans.

The voyage also broke a record: the four astronauts become the humans to travel furthest away from the Earth, at 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers).

While hurtling through deep space and zipping around the Moon the astronauts took thousands of photographs, amassing a stunning portfolio of images that captivated people on Earth.

They also witnessed a solar eclipse along with extraordinary meteorite strikes on the lunar surface, which left Nasa scientists awe-struck.

Several achievements added to the voyage’s historic nature: Glover was the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Koch was the first woman, and Canadian Hansen the first non-American.

Vital heat shield 

The Orion capsule passed a key test: the re-entry stakes were particularly high given concerns that arose during Artemis I, when an uncrewed 2022 test flight to the Moon and back saw a crucial heat shield erode in unexpected ways.

To minimize risks this time around, Nasa shifted the re-entry path they had used in the test mission, after determining it had played a role in the complications.

The astronauts returned at a steeper and thus shorter trajectory, which Nasa officials in discussion with the astronauts concluded would reduce risk to an acceptable degree.

Still, the heat shield situation prompted uneasy comparisons to the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters of 1986 and 2003 respectively, when astronauts died after warning signs were set aside.

The Orion capsule will now be painstakingly examined to assess how it fared.

But to the relief of Nasa, the astronauts and their families along with the public at large, Artemis II completed a successful trip home, returning four still-healthy astronauts.

Loved ones were watching the descent from mission control in Houston, where the astronauts are due to reunite with their families, likely this weekend. — AFP

PUTRAJAYA, April 11 — Former Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah was laid to rest at the Precinct 20 Muslim Cemetery here, at 10.20pm last night.

The hearse carrying his remains arrived at the cemetery at 9.30 pm.

About 150 people, including family members, friends and EC staff, attended the funeral.

The funeral prayer was earlier held at Surau Al-Mizan, Precinct 8, led by his eldest son, Arif Izwan, with more than 100 people performing the prayer.

Among those present to pay their last respects were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, Putrajaya MP Datuk Radzi Jidin, former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, former Prime Minister’s Department senior deputy secretary-general Tan Sri Othman Mahmood and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah.

Mohd Hashim, 71, a native of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, breathed his last breath at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 2pm today due to health complications.

Bernama reported that he had suffered a heart attack last Tuesday before being rushed to Putrajaya Hospital.

He was referred to IJN at 10am today but suffered another heart attack en route and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Mohd Hashim was appointed EC chairman on January 24, 2016, and ended his service on July 1, 2018.

He had previously served as senior private secretary to the Minister of Youth and Sports, senior private secretary to the Minister of Rural Development, and deputy secretary-general (Entrepreneurs) at the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development

The late Mohd Hashim served as secretary-general of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry from November 11, 2010 to August 31, 2014 upon reaching mandatory retirement age. — Bernama

BANGKOK, April 11 — Three Malaysian men were arrested in Thailand’s northeastern Khon Kaen province after about 97 kilogrammes (kg) of crystal methamphetamine were seized during a joint operation on a train bound for Bangkok, police said yesterday.

In a statement yesterday, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) said the suspects were detained after officers found three unclaimed suitcases containing drugs on a train travelling from Nong Khai in northeast Thailand to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok.

The CIB said the operation was carried out in coordination with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Crime Suppression Division and the Highway Police Division as part of efforts to enhance passenger safety and curb crime on rail services.

“Officers on patrol on April 8 noticed three large black suitcases with combination locks placed on a luggage rack in one of the train carriages while passing through Khon Kaen province.

“Initial checks found no passengers claiming ownership of the bags, prompting further investigation,” the statement said.

CIB said train staff later confirmed that three men had brought the suitcases on board at Nong Khai station, with CCTV footage identifying the suspects, who were later found seated in the same carriage.

Initial investigations found that the three men admitted transporting the luggage but claimed they were unaware of its contents, saying they had been asked by another party to deliver the suitcases to Bangkok, it said

“The suspects and the seized items have been handed over to investigators at Phon Police Station in Khon Kaen for further action”, the CIB said. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — The public is reminded not to conceal or abet the Pakistani accused person (OKT) who escaped from Sungai Buloh Prison on Friday.

Sungai Buloh district police chief, Superintendent Mohd Hafiz Muhammad Nor said legal action could be taken under Section 216 of the Penal Code against any individual found to have assisted the OKT.

He said the offence carries a prison sentence of up to three years, either together with a fine.

Mohd Hafiz said the remand prisoner escaped while getting out of a police vehicle upon arrival at the Sungai Buloh Prison Parade Ground.

Members of the public with information on the prisoner’s whereabouts are asked to immediately contact investigating officer, Inspector Muhendran Chandra at 010-4304383 or Inspector Mohamad Azamuddin Mohd Razib at 016-5661597.

Information can also be channelled to the Sungai Buloh district police headquarters at 03-61561222 or any nearby police station. — Bernama

ISLAMABAD, April 11— Iranian officials arrived in Pakistan yesterday for peace talks with the United States as Tehran insisted on a truce in Lebanon and unfreezing of its assets for the negotiations to go ahead.

US President Donald Trump vowed meanwhile to have the Strait of Hormuz open “with or without” Iran’s cooperation and said his top priority at the Islamabad talks was to ensure the Islamic republic cannot have a nuclear weapon.

Trump has dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan to meet with the Iranians in a bid to reach a peace deal in the Middle East war following a two-week ceasefire that was agreed on Tuesday.

Vance warned Iran not to “play” Washington as he headed to Islamabad to represent the United States at the high-stakes meeting along with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance said. But “if they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

The leader of the Iranian delegation, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, was equally wary.

“We have good intentions but we do not trust,” Iranian state TV quoted Ghalibaf as saying upon his arrival in Pakistan’s capital. “Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises.”

Tehran has said the talks would only begin if Washington accepts its preconditions: a Lebanon ceasefire and the unfreezing of Iran’s assets.

Israel is to hold discussions with Lebanon’s government in Washington next week but Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said his country will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Israel “agreed to begin formal peace negotiations” with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, Leiter said in a statement.

“Israel refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which continues to attack Israel and is the main obstacle to peace between the two countries,” he added.

‘Make or break’ 

Israel launched massive strikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon after attacking Iran on February 28, in response to rocket fire into Israel from Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shia Muslim movement and militant group.

Israel has said the ceasefire between the United States and Iran does not cover Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities say the weeks of hostilities have killed more than 1,950 people, with Israeli strikes killing more than 350 people Wednesday alone, the first full day of the US-Iran ceasefire.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said making progress at the Islamabad talks would be hard work.

“A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations,” he said. “This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of ‘make or break.’”

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world’s crude passes, will loom large in the peace talks in Islamabad and Trump told reporters the critical oil conduit would be open “fairly soon.”

“We’re going to open up the Gulf with or without them... or the strait as they call it,” he said. “I think it’s going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off. We will have that open fairly soon.”

Asked what a good deal with Iran would look like, Trump said: “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 percent of it.”

Official sources say the talks will cover several sensitive points, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment and the free flow of trade through the strait.

Trump posted Friday on his Truth Social network that Iran has “no cards” in the talks “other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways.”

In Islamabad, all routes leading to the Serena Hotel, the expected venue for the talks, were blocked off with heavy security, while a large banner and digital signs along the expressway heralded the “Islamabad Talks.”

In Tehran, a 30-year-old resident told AFP he was skeptical negotiations would be successful, describing most of what Trump says as “pure noise and nonsense.” — AFP

WASHINGTON, April 11 — US President Donald Trump vowed yesterday to have the Strait of Hormuz open “with or without” Iran’s cooperation, and said his top priority in peace talks was to ensure Tehran can’t have a nuclear weapon.

Trump has dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan to meet with top Iranian officials in a bid to reach a peace deal following a two-week ceasefire that was agreed on Tuesday.

“We’re going to open up the Gulf with or without them...or the strait as they call it. I think it’s going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off,” Trump told reporters as he left Washington for a domestic trip.

“We will have that open fairly soon.”

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world’s crude passes, will loom large in the peace talks in Islamabad.

But when asked what a good deal would look like, Trump said: “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 percent of it.” — AFP

BUDAPEST, April 11 — US President Donald Trump made a late intervention in Hungary’s bitter election campaign yesterday, as nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban battles for votes against a pro-European opponent leading him in polls.

Trump vowed to bring US “economic might” to Hungary if Orban’s party secures a victory over his arch-rival Peter Magyar in Sunday’s election.

The comments added late drama to the campaign finale that saw Orban and Magyar trade accusations of dirty dealing.

Orban, who has run Hungary for 16 years and is close to Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, faces an unprecedented challenge with opinion polls putting Magyar’s conservative Tisza party well ahead.

“We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orban’s continued leadership,” Trump said on social media.

Trump’s administration has embraced the promotion of hard-right forces in Europe—casting migration and “woke” values as a “civilisational” threat to the continent.

Orban has locked horns with the European Union leadership, which accuses him of quashing dissent and eroding the rule of law, and has frozen billions of euros in funding.

“Our opponents will stop at nothing to seize power,” Orban said in a social media video, accusing the opposition of “colluding” with foreign intelligence and threatening his supporters with violence.

“This is an organised attempt to use chaos, pressure, and international vilification to call into question the decision of the Hungarian people,” he said.

Magyar fired back with accusations of his own.

“The series of ongoing election fraud carried out for months by the ruling party, Fidesz, along with criminal acts, intelligence operations, disinformation and fake news cannot change the fact that Tisza is going to win this election,” he said in a Facebook post.

Orban will be removed

“Viktor Orban will be removed by the very same people... he has abandoned and betrayed: millions of Hungariaalm and dignity”.

Orban’s government has repeatedly made accusations of foreign interference.

Magyar has in turn alleged the same, as US Vice President JD Vance visited the country this week to underline Washington’s support of Orban.

The two rivals have also stepped up their campaign appearances, drawing big crowds to rallies.

“We came out here because we have faith in Peter Magyar, and we’ve had enough of the old system,” Attila Jozsa told AFP at the opposition leader’s rally before 20,000 people in Gyor, 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Budapest, on Thursday.

Around 2,000 Orban supporters gathered in Hungary’s second largest city Debrecen, as the nationalist leader appealed to them to “not put everything at risk” and to “protect what we have achieved”.

Trump had already hailed Orban as a “truly strong and powerful leader”.

“Hungary: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR VIKTOR ORBAN... I AM WITH HIM ALL THE WAY!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

During Orban’s tenure, his ruling coalition has used its two-thirds majority in parliament to overhaul the central European country’s electoral system and leverage state resources to campaign, while his business allies radically changed the media environment. — AFP

MELAKA, April 11 — Efforts to carry out cloud seeding in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in Melaka, will be intensified through several follow-up attempts after initial results were found to be less encouraging.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the cloud seeding attempt conducted in Melaka had minimal impact due to wind movement factors, which caused clouds to drift away from the targeted areas.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said that the relevant parties would carry out second and third attempts to increase rainfall, which would help boost water supply in Melaka.

“The Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh) informed me that second and third attempts will be implemented until the situation at the dams can be improved,” he told reporters after attending the Melaka Sayang Rakyat Aidilfitri Open House for the Duyong state constituency at Stadium Tun Fatimah, Bukit Serindit here yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid said the operation would involve cooperation among several agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM), the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and other relevant implementing agencies.

He said the effort was important to help the Melaka government reduce dependence on external water sources such as Sungai Gersik in Muar, Johor, while ensuring a more stable local water supply.

Meanwhile, he said cloud seeding operations were not only being carried out in Melaka but had also begun in Johor following successful implementation in several other states, including Perlis, Kedah and northern Perak.

“In those states, we have seen an increase in rainfall between 3.5 millimetres and 10 millimetres in the targeted areas, resulting in higher water levels at the dams.

“This problem is temporary and, God willing, by mid-May the situation will be different. We will continue with the efforts being carried out,” he said. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — The Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) has ordered all state contingents to double their operations against drunk drivers, with priority given to weekend nights to curb the increased risk of accidents.

Bukit Aman JSPT director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said the order involves implementing operations regularly and more aggressively nationwide.

“I have ordered that all operations regarding Op Mabuk be enhanced. We have emphasised the implementation of this operation not only on weekend nights, but also on normal nights, but priority is given to weekend nights,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after attending the Appreciation Ceremony for Op Selamat 25 and 26 at the Security Hall, Police Training Centre (Pulapol), here last night.

He said JSPT had been put on standby and all state contingents were instructed to intensify enforcement to ensure that drivers under the influence of alcohol do not continue to endanger other road users.

“We want to reduce the risk and incidence of accidents due to drunk drivers, so our approach is to improve operations comprehensively and consistently,” he said.

Earlier, Bernama reported that a local man was arrested for driving against the flow while drunk at Kilometre 0.7, Sprint Highway, Petaling Jaya early Thursday morning.

Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Shamsudin Mamat said the man was arrested at 2.10 am after being detected driving dangerously before investigations found that the suspect was under the influence of alcohol.

On April 3, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said suggested that the law relating to road accident offences be re-evaluated so that the punishments are harsher and have a deterrent effect.

Azalina said this when asked to comment on a fatal accident case in Klang, Selangor involving a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol that killed a motorcyclist, Amirul Hafiz Omar, 33, in an incident on March 29. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Some desserts ask for patience. A stew might need hours to deepen in flavour; a cake demands careful measuring, folding and the steady watch of an oven timer. Baking, for many of us, carries that quiet expectation of effort.

Then along comes a recipe that feels almost cheeky in its simplicity.

This viral “Japanese cheesecake” – if we may call it that – is one such creation. It has been making the rounds online, quietly astonishing home cooks everywhere with how little it asks of you.

No whisking. No mixing. No baking.

Just yoghurt. And biscuits.

I will admit my first reaction was scepticism. Cheesecake, after all, is usually a more involved affair: cream cheese softened carefully, eggs beaten just so, perhaps even a water bath tucked gently into the oven. The sort of dessert you plan an afternoon around.

Greek yoghurt. — Picture by CK Lim

This version takes about five minutes.

You assemble it at night, slide it into the refrigerator, and forget about it entirely. By morning, the biscuits will have softened into delicate layers while the yoghurt settles into something surprisingly close to a light cheesecake.

No drama, no complicated technique – just a small bit of kitchen alchemy happening quietly while you sleep.

Chocolate biscuits. — Picture by CK Lim

And really, isn’t that the sort of recipe weekends are made for?

VIRAL JAPANESE CHEESECAKE

A thick Greek yoghurt works best as it has already been strained, giving it a richer body than standard yoghurt. The added density also brings the consistency closer to that of a traditional cheesecake, while contributing a pleasant tang that keeps the dessert from becoming cloying.

Press the biscuits down into the yoghurt. — Picture by CK Lim

The type of biscuit is flexible. The original viral version used Biscoff biscuits, but almost any crisp biscuit will do just as well. Plain tea biscuits, chocolate sandwich biscuits, or even lightly spiced varieties all work nicely, each bringing its own character to the finished dessert.

Just before serving, a light dusting of cocoa powder or raw cacao powder is worth adding. The faint bitterness contrasts beautifully with the mild sweetness of the yoghurt and biscuits, giving the dessert a more balanced flavour.

Dust with raw cacao powder. — Picture by CK Lim

Ingredients

500 g thick plain yoghurt (preferably Greek, unsweetened)

10–12 chocolate biscuits, or any crisp biscuit you enjoy

1–2 teaspoons raw cacao powder or cocoa powder

Scoop away and enjoy! — Picture by CK Lim

Method

Begin by spooning the yoghurt into small jars or containers that can be covered later. The containers need not be elaborate; anything with a lid that fits comfortably in the refrigerator will work well.

Once the yoghurt is in place, start adding the biscuits. Press them gently into the yoghurt so that they are mostly submerged.

If you are using tall jars, placing the biscuits vertically works neatly, allowing you to fit several into each container. In a wider, shallower dish, laying them flat tends to be easier.

Continue until all the biscuits have been used. Finish with a layer of yoghurt on top so the biscuits are fully enclosed.

Cover the containers and place them in the refrigerator for at least six hours, though leaving them overnight gives the best result. During this resting period the biscuits soften while the yoghurt thickens slightly, forming a texture that resembles a chilled cheesecake.

When ready to serve, remove the jars from the refrigerator and dust the surface lightly with cocoa or raw cacao powder. Scoop away and enjoy!

KEPALA BATAS, April 11 — Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s main focus at the moment is on his application to rejoin the party.

Therefore, he described any discussion about the seat to be contested in the upcoming general election (GE) as too early.

“I think it is too early for us to discuss where to contest (because) I am just in the process of returning, so the matter is not appropriate to discuss,” he told reporters after attending the Aidilfitri Open House of Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican here last night.

After three years of being expelled from Umno, Khairy submitted an appeal letter to return to Umno on March 15.

Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin previously said that the applications of several former Umno leaders including Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy to rejoin the party would be discussed at the Umno supreme council Meeting (MT) on April 17 based on the spirit of “Rumah Bangsa”.

Khairy said the determination of candidates and seat distribution by Barisan Nasional (BN) was under the jurisdiction of its chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also Umno president, hence he did not want to pre-empt any party decisions.

Meanwhile, he said that the wish of former prime minister the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is also a former Kepala Batas MP for the parliamentary seat to continue to be led by an individual he trusted, namely Reezal Merican who is now the chairman of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), should be respected.

“During his lifetime, Pak Lah had advised both of us, me as his son-in-law and Reezal Merican as his political son, to let Reezal take care of Kepala Batas.

“So, I will not disrespect his decision and wish. I hope that Reezal Merican will succeed in the GE and be able to reclaim the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat,” he said.

In the 15th GE, Reezal Merican failed to defend his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat when he lost to Perikan Nasional (PN) candidate Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad with a majority of 2,867 votes. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — As global oil prices remain volatile amid tensions in the Middle East, Malaysia’s subsidy system is once again under pressure.

Not all subsidies have disappeared. Several forms of support tied to daily essentials remain in place, even as Putrajaya moves away from blanket subsidies towards a more targeted approach aimed at managing the cost of living while containing fiscal strain.

So what subsidies or financial support do Malaysians still have in 2026, and how substantial are they?

RON95 at RM1.99 still anchors cost-of-living support

Fuel remains the most significant subsidy affecting everyday life.

The government continues to maintain the subsidised price of RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre under its targeted subsidy system, despite higher market prices.

The weekly pricing cycle for April 9 to 15 indicates the unsubsidised retail price of RON95 would exceed RM4 per litre.

Support measures linked to fuel subsidies have also been recalibrated. Schemes such as BUDI95 and BUDI Diesel remain in place for targeted groups, with usage limits in some categories adjusted — for instance, from 300 litres to 200 litres per month — reflecting the shift away from blanket subsidies.

Diesel floats above RM6 — but key sectors still get RM2.15

Diesel subsidies have undergone the most significant restructuring, moving from a blanket system to a controlled, sector-based model.

In Peninsular Malaysia, diesel prices are floated weekly and were listed as above RM6 per litre for the period of April 9 to 15, reflecting market conditions.

Subsidised diesel, however, remains available to approved sectors such as logistics, public transport and agriculture at around RM2.15 per litre.

In Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, diesel prices are still fixed at RM2.15 per litre.

Access is regulated through fleet card systems and registration schemes to ensure subsidies reach intended users.

Cash aid expands — but tighter targeting kicks in

Cash assistance remains a key pillar of support.

Programmes such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) have been expanded significantly, with combined allocations reaching about RM15 billion in recent budgets.

SARA alone has been scaled up to cover millions of recipients, with spending running into several billion ringgit annually, and is increasingly delivered through cashless systems for essential purchases.

At the same time, eligibility has been tightened to focus on lower-income households, reflecting a shift from broad subsidies to targeted income support.

Targeted support for essential goods remains

While blanket subsidies for several food items such as chicken and eggs have been phased out, targeted support for essential goods continues in selected areas.

The most prominent example is the subsidised 1kg packet cooking oil, which remains fixed at RM2.50.

More broadly, the government continues to manage food prices through targeted interventions, supply measures and temporary controls when needed, rather than permanent across-the-board subsidies.

Utilities and basic services still cushioned

Support also extends to essential services, largely through tiered pricing structures that keep basic usage affordable.

Electricity tariffs remain structured to protect lower levels of household consumption, with lower rates applied to initial usage blocks before rising progressively.

Water tariffs, which vary by state, follow a similar model. Basic household usage is typically priced at below RM1 per cubic metre in many states, before increasing significantly at higher consumption levels.

These tiered systems function as indirect subsidies, ensuring affordability for essential use while discouraging excessive consumption.

No toll hikes, for now

Tolls remain an indirect but significant form of support.

For 2026, the government has frozen toll rates on 10 major highways, preventing scheduled increases under concession agreements.

The freeze applies to Duta–Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Maju Expressway (MEX), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), East Coast Expressway Phase 2 (LPT2), Kuala Lumpur–Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR), Cheras–Kajang Expressway (Grand Saga), Senai–Desaru Expressway (SDE), Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB), New North Klang Strait Bypass (NNKSB), and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge (Penang Second Bridge).

To maintain existing rates, Putrajaya is expected to pay about RM591 million in compensation to concessionaires.

While motorists are not paying less than before, they are shielded from price hikes that would otherwise have taken effect.

Beyond the 10 highways under a formal freeze, the government has also extended several concession agreements to keep toll rates unchanged.

This includes PLUS Malaysia Bhd, whose concession runs to 2068, as well as ANIH Bhd — operator of the KL–Karak Highway and East Coast Expressway Phase 1 — extended to 2069.

The New Pantai Expressway (NPE) concession has also been extended to 2057, tied to the development of a new 15km elevated NPE2 extension while maintaining toll rates at RM2.30.

RM1 clinics, RM3 wards: Healthcare remains heavily subsidised

Public healthcare remains one of the most heavily subsidised areas in Malaysia.

Basic services at government facilities continue to be offered at nominal rates — typically RM1 for outpatient visits, RM5 for follow-up specialist consultations, and ward charges from about RM3 per day — with the government absorbing most treatment costs.

Schemes such as MySalam also remain in place, providing hospitalisation income support and lump-sum payouts for critical illness.

Global oil shocks keep pressure on subsidy bill

Malaysia’s subsidy system does not operate in isolation, but is influenced by volatility in global oil markets and geopolitical tensions that drive up the cost of maintaining fuel subsidies.

This places pressure on government finances, as sustaining subsidised prices requires billions of ringgit annually.

In response, Putrajaya has focused on preserving essential subsidies, tightening targeting and redirecting savings into direct aid.

For most households, support remains strongest where it matters most: fuel, basic goods, utilities, transport and healthcare.

WASHINGTON, April 11 — Shortly after news of a US-Iran ceasefire, an Iranian group released a new Lego-style video lampooning President Donald Trump and declaring “Iran won,” the latest in a wave of war-themed AI-generated propaganda flooding the internet.

Explosive Media, a group of pro-Iran creators that describes itself as independent but is widely suspected of government ties, has produced a series of such videos that have racked up millions of views during the conflict.

“The way to crush imperialism has been shown to the world. Trump surrendered. IRAN WON,” read the caption of its video on X after the two-week ceasefire agreement was announced on Tuesday.

“TACO will always remain TACO,” it added, referring to the acronym “Trump always chickens out.”

The ceasefire—already showing signs of strain—followed a series of apocalyptic threats from Trump, including his warning that he would take Iran back into the “Stone Age.”

With dramatic background music, the video depicts a Trump-like toy figure huddling with Arab leaders, hurling a chair at US military figures, while Iranian generals press a red button with the label “Back to the Stone Age,” unleashing a torrent of destruction across the Middle East.

Another clip on X depicted Trump—caricatured with an oversized yellow head and a flaming backside—holding a sign that read: “VICTORY! I am a loser.”

‘Age of AI slop’ 

Explosive Media, whose videos often tap into American popular culture, has portrayed Trump as old, isolated, and prone to childish tantrums, seemingly disconnected from reality.

Iranian state media and diplomatic accounts have leaned into their strategy, regularly posting similar so-called AI slop—mass-produced content created by cheap artificial intelligence tools.

“Iran has crafted a wartime propaganda strategy tailored for the age of AI slop and algorithmic amplification,” Joseph Bodnar, a senior research manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told AFP.

“They are playing to the AI aesthetics and hyperbolic anti-imperialist narratives that draw attention, spark controversy and get rewarded by platforms.”

In recent weeks, viral meme videos have depicted fictional Iranian military victories, world leaders in subservient scenarios—dependent on Iranian leaders for oil—and even the strategic Strait of Hormuz reimagined as a cartoonish toll booth.

“It is clear that Iran is putting out content that resonates,” Bodnar said.

The English-language content of Explosive Media, which describes itself as an “Iranian Lego-style animation team,” appears aimed at audiences outside Iran, where platforms like X have been blocked for years and are only accessible via VPN.

With Iranians facing what monitor Netblocks calls an “internet blackout,” the ability of Explosive Media to produce and upload slick content has fueled suspicion of government ties.

The group rejected the claim on X as a “media distortion.”

Meme battlefield 

The White House’s X account has meanwhile posted its own war-themed content—combining battlefield footage with clips from films such as Iron Man, Gladiator and Top Gun.

The content highlights an internet meme battlefield that has blurred the line between propaganda and entertainment.

And while the Trump administration used AI-generated content in its social media strategy well before the war, the virality of Explosive Media’s clips suggests it may be contending on the digital front, experts say.

The group is “beating the Trump administration at its own game,” said Nina Jankowicz, chief executive of the American Sunlight Project.

“The immature humor, the polarizing rhetoric, the idea of ‘owning’ opponents, and the clicks-at-whatever-cost strategy that Trump and allies have employed is now being mobilized against it.” — AFP

JOHOR BAHRU, April 11 — A flea and thrift market catering to lovers of antiques, vintage clothing, shoes, artefacts, toys and one-of-a-kind collectibles is quietly becoming one of Johor Bahru’s coolest weekend rituals.

Pasar Pagi, a weekly Saturday-morning market specialising in vintage and retro finds, has been gaining traction since its launch in 2024 — fuelled by a growing appetite for throwback style and collector culture.

With a strong social media presence, the market has found itself riding the wave of retro revival, drawing in both seasoned collectors and curious newcomers.

 

 

 

 

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A market built by collectors, for collectors

Pasar Pagi bills itself as a trading hub “by collectors for collectors”, with visitors travelling from as far as neighbouring states and Singapore for the early-morning hunt.

“What was initially a gathering of collectors operating out of their car boots more than two years ago, has now grown into a permanent base with the support of our fans.

“This is in addition to the current trend for retro-themed vintage and classic items, especially clothing, that has attracted a good mix of collectors,” said Pasar Pagi event representative Harris Irfan Jamaludin when met at Angsana Johor Bahru Mall.

Pasar Pagi event representative Harris Irfan Jamaludin explains the concept behind the community-driven flea market. — Picture by Ben Tan

Where the hunt happens

Every Saturday, from 7am to noon, the covered walkway facing the car park at Angsana Johor Bahru Mall in Tampoi transforms into a buzzing trading strip.

More than 100 vendors set up shop, offering everything from antiques and retro collectibles to pre-loved clothing — including premium designer pieces. Entry is free.

Harris, a 22-year-old content creator with a love for 1970s disco-era fashion, said vendors see Pasar Pagi as more than just a marketplace.

“In a way, the market also acts as a platform for creating opportunities for these communities to gather, trade, exchange or buy with like-minded people on a weekend.

“The vendors have been supportive as Pasar Pagi allows them to sell without the pressure of having to operate a physical shop,” he said, adding that vendors pay RM50 to participate each Saturday.

Pasar Pagi vendor Muhammad Taufiq Koh (left) with customers at his stall at Angsana Johor Bahru Mall. — Picture by Ben Tan

From car boots to a fixed crowd

The idea for Pasar Pagi came from founder Meezam Azmi, evolving from humble car boot sales into a regular weekly fixture.

“I have been with Pasar Pagi from the start, back in 2024, when we participated in the car boot sale event at Angsana Johor Bahru Mall’s car park, and later to our present location.

“It’s an incredible journey for Pasar Pagi as we continue to be passionate and grow the platform despite facing early challenges,” Harris said.

A Pasar Pagi banner welcomes visitors at the side entrance of Angsana Johor Bahru Mall. — Picture by Ben Tan

Treasures, trinkets and throwbacks

For vendors, the appeal lies as much in the community as it does in the commerce.

Collector Syed Fadzlon Syed Ahmad Al Edrus, 62, uses the platform to showcase decades of personal treasures — from stamps and coins to historically significant pieces.

“Some of the items on display are more than 30 years old.

“My valued items are a vintage Ericsson rotary house phone and a classic German-made Ansco Viking folding camera from the 1950s,” he said, noting both are not for sale.

A collection of classic and vintage items for sale at Pasar Pagi at Angsana Johor Bahru Mall. — Picture by Meezam Azmi

Pre-loved clothing seller Muhammad Taufiq Koh, a newer vendor, said the crowd mix keeps things interesting.

“For me, what attracts people is dependent on the items I have on display and their rarity.

“However, for the time being, my target is to be established in Pasar Pagi here first,” he said, adding he also sells online and operates at Bazaar Karat.

Meanwhile, collectibles vendor Muhammad Azni Abu Bakar said his prices range widely, from budget finds to serious collector pieces.

“I am a collector and also will sell what I have for a price. My items go for as low as RM1 to RM2,000,” he said.

Pasar Pagi vendor Syed Fadzlon Syed Ahmad Al Edrus with his personal collection, including a vintage Ericsson rotary house phone and a classic German-made Ansco Viking folding camera from the 1950s. — Picture by Ben Tan

More than just a market

Regulars say Pasar Pagi has grown into a weekly hangout spot as much as a shopping destination.

Classic Vespa enthusiast Mohd Noor Fairus said the market’s community vibe keeps him coming back.

“As a retro-inspired fan, I don’t mind coming to Pasar Pagi on a weekly basis as there is always something to do there.

“It can be just gathering with my Vespa community, to meeting like-minded friends and catching up on the latest trends or even finding something inspirational,” he said.

Collectibles and automotive accessories vendor Muhammad Azni Abu Bakar at his stall at Pasar Pagi. — Picture by Ben Tan

Fashion enthusiast James Chai said the thrill lies in the unexpected finds.

“Be it a simple used T-shirt or a pair of seasoned Converse Chuck Taylors, I’m sold as long as these were the things that reminded me of my youth.

“At times we get lucky as there is a particular piece from the 1990s where the price is right,” said the 47-year-old assistant surveyor who works in Singapore.

WUXI, April 11 — In a community centre in eastern China, Shu Fangqiang shrugged off his jacket and stepped onto a scale, one of hundreds of locals signing up for an unusual weight loss programme—“Trade Fat for Beef”.

The rules are straightforward: for every half kilogram he loses, Shu will receive the same weight in boneless beef, or 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of beef on the bone.

The programme is one of many springing up across China, backed by local authorities anxious to tackle rising obesity rates, which are fast becoming a pressing public health issue.

Participants who are already keen to lose weight say the initiative is a bonus.

“Even without the beef, I wanted to lose weight for my health,” said Shu, whose body mass index (BMI) of 30 is classified as obese.

More than a third of Chinese adults were overweight in 2022, and around 8.3 per cent were obese, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), compared with the United States, where 72.4 per cent of adults are overweight and 42 per cent are obese.

However, the number of obese people in China has tripled between 2004 and 2018, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

If current trends continue, the share of overweight and obese Chinese adults could reach 70.5 per cent by 2030, the National Health Commission (NHC) says, whose obesity criteria is stricter than the WHO’s.

“This opportunity just came at the right time, so I signed up,” Shu said.

Participants of the campaign in the city of Wuxi were weighed once in March, and will return in January 2027 for a second and final weigh-in.

They will then be rewarded with expensive cuts like oxtail if they lose more weight—though the total amount of free meat available is capped at 10 kilograms (22 pounds).

Organisers say more than 1,000 people have registered since the Wuxi campaign started in March—with thousands more turned away for not meeting local community residence requirements.

Queues for weigh-ins reached up to a dozen people at a time in both the men and women’s sections, an AFP journalist saw.

At the front of the queues, participants stepped on weighing scales which displayed their height, weight and BMI.

Staff members then measured their waists, logged their data on a form and used an encouraging stamp to mark it and to cheer participants on.

An on-site doctor offered personalised medical advice.

‘Flab for potatoes’ 

Similar grassroots initiatives have also surfaced in other localities across the country, with many shared widely on social media.

In the southwestern province of Yunnan, slimmers can take part in the “Flab for Potatoes” programme and if they shrink their waistlines considerably, can upgrade to chicken.

Countrywide, popular supermarket chain Yonghui has invited customers to register their losses over 10 days by weighing themselves in-store.

They can then trade every 1.5 kilograms lost for half a kilogram of beef, crayfish or kiwi.

When AFP visited the Wuxi community centre, banners at the weigh-in urged participants to slim down steadily rather than quickly, and to aim for health over thinness.

Organisers also posted warnings against weight-loss drugs, self-induced vomiting and extreme fasting, with doctors on hand to offer guidance.

Participant Shu told AFP he wanted to lose 20 kilograms.

“Being obese affects your mental state, your work performance and your overall well-being,” he said.

“Sometimes when I’m heavier, I don’t sleep well at night.”

As of 2021, there were 402 million overweight or obese adults over 25 in China—the world’s largest population, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.

Another study, published in The Lancet in 2021, attributed the problem to rapid urbanisation and a shift toward processed, high-sugar and high-fat foods, as well as increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

Hard to resist

In Wuxi, 44-year-old Zheng Haihua said she was signing up to encourage her to “move more and eat less”, and to commit to exercising.

“The biggest challenge for me is... controlling my appetite, because when you see delicious food, it’s hard to resist,” Zheng laughed.

Local physician Wu Changyan sympathised, adding “there’s life pressure, and the convenience of modern life makes it easy to eat more and eat too much.”

The NHC and other authorities have launched national initiatives in an effort to counter the trend, concerned about links with chronic disease and increased healthcare costs.

Local efforts like the Wuxi one are “a fun way to get people motivated”, Wu told AFP.

But Li Sheyu, a clinical professor at Sichuan University’s West China Hospital, said the campaigns might have limited impact.

“I would not consider it a gamechanger in the big picture,” he said, noting they were essentially just a traditional incentive method for weight loss.

“But (they are) a good example of disseminating weight-loss ideas to the public.” — AFP

MANILA, April 11 — The Middle East war is expected to drag on Asia’s economies over this year and next, the Asian Development Bank warned yesterday, as it predicted growth to slow to 5.1 per cent across the world’s most populous region.

That prediction could prove optimistic, however, if new evidence suggesting a “more prolonged conflict and more persistent disruptions” bore out, it said.

Growth predictions could fall to as low as 4.7 per cent for 2026 and 4.8 per cent in 2027 should the US-Israeli war with Iran drag into the third quarter.

“Most economies in developing Asia and the Pacific will see their growth outlook worsen this year and in 2027,” was the bank’s stark assessment.

The region’s status as a net energy importer left it particularly vulnerable to the war’s fallout, ADB chief economist Albert Park told reporters at an embargoed Thursday new briefing

“Higher energy prices can generate significant income losses,” Park said.

“Even after energy prices normalise, supply-chain disruptions, higher producer prices, and tighter financial conditions would prolong stagflationary pressures,” he added.

A more drawn-out conflict in the Middle East could also see inflation spike by as much as 5.6 per cent, the ADB said yesterday.

Completed in March, the bank’s report had predicted price jumps of 3.6 per cent in 2026 and 3.4 per cent in 2027 under what it dubbed an “early stabilisation scenario”.

Park noted that Iran’s squeeze on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz had ripple effects far beyond the gas pump, including regional food security.

“Although rice prices still remain relatively low … high fertiliser and diesel prices raise agricultural costs, which could lead to less input use and lower yields later in the year, and that could contribute to food insecurity,” Park said.

In Manila yesterday lines stretched around the block in some neighbourhoods as residents flocked to take advantage of a government-backed programme providing rice for just 20 pesos (33 cents) per kilo.

The new ADB report also said continued trade uncertainty in the face of US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime could be expected to weigh on regional investment.

Global powerhouse China was expected to see growth dip to 4.6 per cent this year and 4.5 per cent next, down from five per cent, on the back of continued weakness in its property market and slower export growth, the report said. — AFP

TRIPOLI, April 11 — It was supposed to be a temporary closure for renovations, but for 17 long years, Tripoli’s zoo — like the city itself — was embroiled in the violence of Libya’s brutal conflict.

Only now, during a spell of tenuous calm, has the zoo managed to reemerge from a bloody past, reopening its doors last month to offer rare relief in a city that still bears the scars of years of fighting.

On the first day of Eid al-Fitr in March, hundreds of families queued to enter the facility, despite the pouring rain.

Decked out in their best new Eid clothes, children stared wide-eyed at the bears, lions, Bengal tigers and white oryxes with their long, slender horns.

Several local species were also on display, including fennec foxes, rhim gazelles and waddans, or Barbary sheep — a goatlike animal with curved horns, native to Libya’s Waddan region.

Each of these indigenous species is at risk of poaching.

Dressed in a traditional embroidered robe, Mohammed Erbeh, 44, said he was “very happy” about the reopening of the zoo, as he visited with his three children.

“At last, a place to take children for outings after they were deprived of them for nearly 20 years,” said the civil servant.

Lions killed 

Built in 1985, the Tripoli Zoo sprawls on 45 hectares of parkland in the Libyan capital.

It was closed in 2009 for renovations under the administration of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, less than two years before a Nato-backed uprising ousted and killed him.

The North African country has since been gripped by violence and bouts of fighting, with occasional short-lived lulls of relative calm.

Now, the country remains divided between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east backed by strongman Khalifa Haftar.

In 2011, Tripoli Zoo staff had to flee the fighting, as the park is located close to Bab al-Aziziya, Gaddafi’s fortified compound.

Even the animals were not spared the grinding violence, many of them having been traumatised by the sounds of fighting and stray bullets that swept through the zoo and littered its grounds that year.

Charities sent food and medicine to help the abandoned animals, as the zoo remained for years closed and held by militias, with a migrant sorting centre in its surroundings at one stage.

Last year, fighting flared again between pro-government forces and the militia that controlled that part of Tripoli.

Gunmen opened fire on the animals, killing dozens of them, including lions, according to a zoo management official who requested anonymity.

Dozens of others, including rare species, were stolen, the official added.

Of its 1,100 animals, only 700 remained at the time of reopening, but management is seeking to rebuild the herd.

At the time, pictures and video circulated online showing lions shot dead and armed men hauling away gazelles in trucks.

An escape 

For years, the authorities steered clear of this area, controlled since 2011 by the militia led by Abdelghani “Gheniwa” al-Kikli, who had been accused of human trafficking, torture and killing prisoners.

After Kikli’s death last year, a mass grave was discovered in the vicinity of the zoo.

It was only last summer that the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) was able to retake the area, allowing authorities to begin work to bring the zoo up to international standards and refurbish the enclosures.

Abdullah Aoun, a 62-year-old airline pilot, said he was proud of the progress made to reopen the zoo, describing it as an ideal escape from “crises and financial worries”.

“It’s another side to our country, far removed from pessimism and disagreements,” he said. — AFP

KOTA BHARU, April 10 — The prolonged hot spell is not only affecting the public but also increasing operating costs for hotel and homestay operators in Kelantan, prompting a shift to solar energy as a long-term cost-saving measure.

Operators are now actively implementing various austerity measures, including adopting green technology, following rising utility bills and increasingly challenging weather conditions.

Citra Kadok Hotel & Banquet Hall managing director Masdiyah Jemain said using solar energy has become a primary approach to reducing dependency on conventional electricity.

Masdiyah, who is also the Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) Kelantan Chapter chairman, said there are plans to replace existing lighting with solar-powered alternatives in stages, alongside implementing more efficient operations, such as self-check-in systems.

“Savings also involve restructuring staff schedules by minimising physical presence and carrying out tasks online,” she told Bernama recently.

Masdiyah added that tasks that can be conducted virtually have been expanded, including work-from-home arrangements, to further reduce overheads. She also noted that room bookings showed a slight decline after the festive season, which she attributed to the extreme heat.

She said such measures must be implemented early to ensure the tourism industry remains sustainable and resilient in the long run.

Meanwhile, Che Deris Garden Cottage managing director Mohamad Zin Yaacob said his establishment has fully transitioned to solar lighting on the premises. He said despite high initial costs, it was far more economical in the long run.

Seri Melawi Chalet Bachok managing director Muhamad Hyder Syahril Mohd Nor said using five-star energy-rated appliances and scheduling guest activities for the cooler morning and evening hours helped reduce electricity consumption while ensuring guest comfort.

State Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said the current heatwave stems from global climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, which has led to drier conditions than usual.

He advised operators and the public to reduce outdoor activities, ensure adequate water intake, and take necessary precautions to adapt to current weather conditions. — Bernama

LONDON, April 10 — In a handwritten note on a sketch of an evening dress for her official visit to India and Pakistan in 1961, Queen Elizabeth II specified it should be sewn in “yellow satin”, a colour symbolising health and prosperity in the region.

The sketch is one of about 300 items on display, some for the first time, at the exhibition “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style”, which opens today at Buckingham Palace.

This unprecedented survey of the late UK monarch’s wardrobe throughout her life (1926-2022) reveals the important diplomatic role she attached to her outfits.

The display in the King’s Gallery at the London palace features sheath dresses sparkling with sequins and swirling outfits in vibrant colours from the 1960s.

There are also spectacular draped evening dresses straight from the atelier of Cristobal Balenciaga, maternity outfits and the military uniforms the princess wore during World War II.

In a section called “the finishing touch”, the queen’s signature colourful hats are pinned up on a wall opposite the coordinating outfits.

Tickets for the spectacular exhibition, which runs to October, have already sold out for April.

Highlights include Elizabeth’s wedding dress, dating from 1947, and the ornate embroidered gown she wore for her coronation, both created by British designer Norman Hartnell.

Political aims 

“We wanted to pay tribute not only to her style but also to British fashion and designers,” stressed Caroline de Guitaut, the curator, who chose the outfits on display from an archive of some 4,000 items.

A key attribute of the royal’s wardrobe was its political aims, the exhibition reveals, with fashion choices also playing a diplomatic role.

The coronation gown illustrates this, perfectly decorated with the national emblems of the nations of the United Kingdom: the English rose, the Welsh leek and the Scottish thistle, as well as flowers symbolising the Commonwealth countries.

This diplomatic dimension was a recurring theme of Elizabeth’s wardrobe through her record-breaking 70-year reign.

In 1954, while travelling in Australia, she wore a yellow stole delicately embroidered with the golden wattle, the national floral emblem.

And in 1961, on a visit to Pakistan, she dined with President Mohammad Ayub Khan wearing a satin dress in the colours of the national flag of the country, a former British colony.

“She was the undisputed queen of sartorial diplomacy,” said de Guitaut.

The monarch’s aim was always the same: “to show respect for the country she was visiting”, the curator said, since her visits were made on government advice largely to countries with whom Britain hoped to build stronger ties.

‘Eye for everything’ 

This broke with the ancient tradition of royal clothing as a way to display wealth and power, historian Lisa Hackett told AFP.

Now confined to ceremonial roles, monarchs “no longer use their clothing to display their power” but instead want to convey respect and courtesy, said the academic from the University of New England in Australia.

These were dress codes that Elizabeth mastered to perfection.

“She was educated from an early age about her role and her wardrobe,” Hackett said.

Elizabeth was also very involved in the design of her outfits.

“She decided what she wanted to wear, chose her designers, and even selected her suppliers,” said de Guitaut.

Her handwritten note on the dress sketch for the trip to India and Pakistan was not exceptional: the exhibition shows that she added comments on several occasions.

“She had an eye for everything. I think it’s fair to say she had almost complete mastery of her style,” said the curator. — AFP