
What's Anwar's big surprise? Malaysians dread more taxes – or a pardon for Najib
Anwar Ibrahim has become the latest lightning rod for
Malaysia 's restless public, whose patience is wearing thin after months of new taxes, political scandals and economic anxiety.
Late on Monday, Anwar posted a stylised silhouette and the words Akan Datang (Coming Soon) across his social media accounts, promising a special gesture of 'extraordinary' appreciation for all Malaysians.
The post, which was met with widespread derision, appeared just hours after nearly 1,000 lawyers had
marched to the prime minister's office in Putrajaya, protesting alleged government meddling in judicial appointments.
Malaysia's digital town square fired back with its trademark blend of wit and scepticism. Comments flooded in, many laced with biting humour about the government's recent
expansion of taxes on goods and services , which came into force on July 1.
The social media post shared by Anwar late on Monday. The central text reads 'Coming Soon: an extraordinary tribute to the people of Malaysia'. Photo: X/AnwarIbrahim
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
17 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Weakened mandate looms for Ishiba as Japan votes in upper house election
Japanese voters could unleash political turmoil as voting got under way on Sunday in a tightly contested upper house election, with rising prices and immigration concerns threatening to weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba 's grip on power. Opinion polls suggest Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner Komeito may fall short of the 50 seats needed to retain control of the 248-seat upper house of parliament in an election where half the seats are up for grabs. The polls show smaller opposition parties pushing for tax cuts and increased public spending are set to gain, among them the right-wing Sanseito, which vows to curb immigration, oppose foreign capital inflows and reverse gender equality moves. A poor showing by the coalition could shake investor confidence in the world's fourth-largest economy and disrupt critical trade talks with the United States, analysts said. Ishiba may have to choose between making way for a new LDP leader or scrambling to secure the backing of some opposition parties with policy compromises, said Rintaro Nishimura, an associate at the Asia Group in Japan. 'Each scenario requires the LDP and Komeito to make certain concessions, and will be challenging, as any potential partner has leverage in the negotiations.'


South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Rebranding of horse racing is bearing fruit
Hong Kong's horse racing season has ended on a high, with a capacity 20,000 crowd enjoying a party atmosphere at Happy Valley last week. The season has been successful. Wagering turnover bounced back from last season's decline to increase 3 per cent to almost HK$139 billion. But the bigger achievement lies in the rebranding of racing, to make it about more than just betting on the races. The aim is to provide world-class sport and entertainment, attracting tourists and a younger crowd. The transformation is bearing fruit. Among the 1.7 million who attended last season were nearly 200,000 mainland tourists, more than double the number for the previous season. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has responded well to the call by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for horse racing to be one of the unique Hong Kong experiences appealing to visitors. Race days now feature live music, DJs and a focus on food and drink. The aim is to offer a 'cool' experience to complement the sporting action. This is drawing a new generation of young fans. Some of them, encouragingly, don't even bet. The club, which has a monopoly on legal gambling in Hong Kong and pumps billions into charitable causes, is establishing itself as a global sports and entertainment brand. It has teamed up with American Idol creator Simon Fuller. One of his bands is to play at the races. Racing, though, remains at the heart of the events. Hong Kong hailed three champion horses – Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble – last season. The introduction of lawful gambling on basketball will boost the club's revenue as well as the government's coffers and is intended to draw money away from illicit bookmakers. The club's Conghua racecourse in Guangzhou, meanwhile, provided more winners than before and will start staging races next year. Amid all the excitement, the risk of gambling leading to addiction, with serious social consequences, must not be forgotten. More must be done to prevent problem gambling and to help addicts. Horse racing has long been an iconic Hong Kong event which has flourished under the 'one country, two systems' concept. China's former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping famously said horse racing would continue after the 1997 handover. As the club adapts to changing times, the sport is set to become an even bigger winner.


South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Myanmar's military leader makes rare appearance at event honouring Aung San Suu Kyi's father
The head of Myanmar's military government made a rare appearance at a ceremony on Saturday honouring General Aung San, an independence hero and father of jailed former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It was the first time that 69-year-old Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the Martyrs' Day wreath-laying since the army ousted Suu Kyi and seized power in February 2021. The leader's appearance comes as his embattled government is preparing to hold elections while fighting armed opposition groups across the country. Martyrs' Day was an important event in Myanmar's calendar for decades, but the military has downplayed the holiday in recent years. It commemorates the assassination of Aung San, a former prime minister who was gunned down at the age of 32 along with six cabinet colleagues and two other officials in 1947, just months before the country – then called Burma – achieved freedom from British colonial rule. A political rival, former prime minister U Saw, was tried and hanged for plotting the attack. Myanmar's national flag flutters at half-mast outside the City Hall in Yangon on Saturday on the 78th Martyrs' Day. Photo: AFP Suu Kyi was absent from the ceremony for a fifth year Suu Kyi, who was detained when the army took over in 2021, was absent from the event for a fifth consecutive year. She is currently serving a 27-year prison term on what are widely regarded as contrived charges meant to keep her from political activity. She has not been seen in public since her arrest. Ye Aung Than, a son of Suu Kyi's estranged older brother, laid a wreath in front of his grandfather's tomb during the main ceremony at the Martyrs' Mausoleum near the foot of the towering Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. With Myanmar national flags flying at half-staff, members of the ruling military council, and cabinet, as well as high-ranking military generals, joined Min Aung Hlaing in placing a basket of flowers in front of the tombs of the nine martyrs. As the ceremony was held, people in Yangon paid tribute to independence leaders by blaring car horns and sirens at 10.37am, the time of the 1947 attack.