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New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
No 'BMW-standard' toilet, no licence, says JB city council
JOHOR BARU: Business licence renewals for food outlets in the state capital now hinge on its toilets' conditions. The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) introduced a new condition requiring all 7,435-food premises, including cafes and restaurants in its council's jurisdiction, to achieve at least a four-star toilet cleanliness rating under its Bersih, Menawan dan Wangi (clean, attractive, and fragrant) standard to qualify for business licence renewal starting this year. Raising the bar on toilet hygiene, the standard, cheekily abbreviated as BMW, shares its initials with the German luxury marque — but now represents premium toilet standards, not high-end cars. The initiative was first coined last year in Putrajaya by the Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, under its BMW-i smart toilets initiative. The smart public toilets incorporated advanced features such as built-in automatic bidets, automatic floor-cleaning machines, automatic doors for people with disabilities (PWD) toilets, and automated customer feedback systems. MBJB mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the ruling, approved by the council's administration, is part of an initiative to raise public hygiene standards, in line with national toilet rating guidelines. "The move signals a strict no-excuse approach to public cleanliness and hygiene, placing toilet conditions front and centre in the food industry's compliance requirements. "This will apply to all food outlets, 24-hour or otherwise. If the toilet fails to meet BMW criteria, the business licence will not be renewed or may be suspended until compliance is achieved," he said after MBJB's full council meeting at Menara MBJB today. He added that the council's licensing department will distribute self-audit BMW toilet checklists for operators to complete before official inspections. Outlets failing the assessment must carry out cleaning or upgrades to meet the required standard before renewal applications can proceed. "Enforcement action under existing by-laws will also apply where necessary. "We want a cleaner city, and business owners must take responsibility for hygiene inside and outside their premises," Haffiz said. The move signals MBJB's stricter approach to enforcing sanitary standards in public-facing businesses, amid increasing scrutiny of food safety and public hygiene.
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Reflections from a Chinese Malaysian who attended the 'Turun Anwar' rally
Letter to Editor I WAS one of those minority non-Malays who attended the 'Turun Anwar' rally last Saturday. Crowd size debates aside, it was a success. Peaceful, orderly, and held with purpose. But if we are being honest, something was missing, and it was not just the numbers. What stood out most to me was the diversity, or in this case, the lack of it. I have been attending rallies since the Bersih days. Back then, the streets were filled with Malaysians from all walks of life and different backgrounds. The vibes were euphoric and there was a festival-like atmosphere to it. You felt like you were part of something bigger. At 'Turun Anwar', that multiracial spirit was hardly there. As a Chinese Malaysian, I could not help but notice how few non-Malays were present. This is not a criticism of those who stayed home, but a reflection of how disconnected they feel from today's opposition. A key part of this disconnect lies with the opposition leadership. For a movement to feel national, its leaders must sound national too. Instead, we are left with someone who once openly declared himself 'Malay first'. That statement, though made years ago, continues to shape public perception. It is difficult to expect broader support when the top opposition figure still carries the weight of that remark. This is not a personal attack on Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin but it is fair to say that many Malaysians do not see him as a leader for all. His passivity as head of the country's opposition bloc stood in stark contrast from the passionate leadership that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had portrayed when the latter was leading the charge to bring down Barisan Nasional. Anwar's fiery speeches and how he was victimised by state apparatus such as going to jail, captured the imaginations of Malaysians. As head of the opposition coalition, Muhyiddin was content with rehashing media statements. Sadly, most non-Malays do not relate to the eighth prime minister, especially with several court cases hanging over his head and a son-in-law who is on the run. The opposition needs someone who can bring all Malaysians together with credibility and vision. Malaysia deserves an opposition that is inclusive, forward-looking, and unafraid to lead. Until then, many of us will stay away from such rallies and for better or worse, opt for the lesser of the two evils. Unless, of course, a new figure steps forward to change the conversation. ‒ July 28, 2025 Sebastian Ong Cheras, Kuala Lumpur The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Malay Mail/Firdaus Latif
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Turun Anwar? It'll be Anwar Naik, for a second term
I would like to congratulate many parties for the Turun Anwar rally yesterday, at which an estimated 20,000-25,000 demonstrators turned up in black, filling all of Dataran Merdeka. I will explain how this rally would actually allow Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to secure a second term in office. First, I would like to congratulate the unity government for allowing democracy to be practised in the searing heat and unhealthy air of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysians will be reminded that this government is unlike the Mahathir or Najib governments, which were against the Reformasi and Bersih rallies that easily saw 40,000 to 50,000 Malaysians of all backgrounds coming together on their own, without free buses and nasi lemak money. Second, I salute the police and DBKL officers for facilitating the rally with dignity and respect. This is a far cry from the days of Reformasi and Bersih rallies, which were met with batons, tear gas and that all-time favourite, the water cannon. Young Malays can ask my friend Tian Chua to recount his experiences: he sat in front of a few of those cannons many times. They can also ask one of my daughters about her stinging experience of tear gas while attending a Bersih rally, specifically against her father's order not to attend! Third, I would like to congratulate Perikatan Nasional for being able to organise in a militaristic fashion and mobilise 20,000 Malay supporters. 'Hidup Zahid' rally next? Will Umno answer with a stadium filled with 35,000 Malays? It should be easy if they can just get Siti Nurhaliza and Jamal Abdillah to come. It does not have to be an 'Anwar Kekal' rally but a 'Hidup Zahid' one. Come on, lah. Malaysians should know that the Turun Anwar rally was not directed at their potential and former political partner. Wink. Wink. Fourth, I would like to congratulate the Old Man himself for braving the heat without a sheltered podium. I once had to deliver a 15-minute speech in the hot sun at the May 13 Cemetery in Sungai Buloh, and sat waiting in the tent for 20 minutes. At 63 years old, I hastily left after my speech as my health could not tolerate it. But the Old Man was true to form. It so happens that I agree with everything he said about Anwar being a judge in the Batu Puteh issue. Right on, Tun M! We Malaysians should really be angry at Anwar for letting Tun off the hook. More so when we hear that his grandchild's house was robbed of RM1.8 million in jewellery and other things. My wife owns only a total of RM6,000 in jewellery. My granddaughter does not have jewellery. A turning point for Anwar Now that all the congratulations have been given, I come now to why I think the rally is a turning point for Anwar and the unity government with regard to the next general election. I have always known that PKR would be soundly beaten at GE16, because non-Malays have been listening to influencers and reading columnists criticising anything and everything Anwar has done, as well as for what he has yet to do. My readers and viewers reject me when I say that change takes time, and that we are required to change the way we look at things. But when the Turun Anwar rally threatened to bring around 300,000 Malays, my column and video about the rally received positive and frightened responses from non-Malay readers. In my column, I asked PN to show who they would replace Anwar with. They did not respond. I asked PN to show how they were going to solve the issues that Malaysians wanted solved quickly and efficiently. They did not respond. I asked PN to call out their own partners of old, GPS and Umno, but they did not do that either. The new political reality But as they were able to assemble nearly 25,000 Malays in the searing heat, Malaysians must take a long hard look at the reality of Malay politics that Anwar has inherited. In the days of old, Tun M had the Malay majority at his beck and call with money, projects, positions and other perks. Anwar is a bit stingy. He will not spend that much to make Malays come around to his side. I was actually hoping to see 300,000 Malays thronging the whole of Kuala Lumpur to send the message that it is an uphill task to change Malaysia with such 'kurang cerdik' Malays, who have been educated in schools and universites. To these Malays, as Tun M says, Malaysia belongs to them and, according to PAS, should be ruled under shariah law. If today's reality check does not teach Malaysians about the dangers we face in the near future, and about the forces who do not want to change and who face a government trying its very best to change for the better, we and our children will have truly lost the war for our future. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Focus Malaysia
4 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Rally organisers regret police intervention at Dataran Merdeka
CONFUSION arose at Dataran Merdeka when members of the police force intervened after rally organisers set up their stage at the Dataran. Police said the organisers had no permission to set up a stage at Dataran Merdeka, with acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad saying the organisers did not apply for any permit to set up a temporary stage at Dataran. The stage has since been removed by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. He said there were safety concerns over the stage's structure, adding that there was no indication as to how many people would be on the stage at any one time. 'The earlier agreement between the police and the organisers was that two Toyota Hiluxes would be used as a 'stage,'' he said in a brief statement to the media. Nevertheless, according to reports, Takiyuddin expressed disappointment with the authorities for asking organisers to reopen the stage at Dataran Merdeka. 'The police should be facilitating the organisers, not making things more difficult,' he said. Meanwhile, former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leader Tian Chua was announced at the Turun Anwar rally as a participant, while former Bersih leader Mandeep Singh has extended his support to participants of today's rally. Mandeep encouraged participants to celebrate democracy peacefully and responsibly. In a Facebook post, he urged attendees to state their demands with facts, avoid emotional arguments, keep the area clean, support local traders near Dataran Merdeka, and prioritise safety. 'The right to assemble is the right of every citizen,' he emphasised. Mandeep also shared practical tips for rally-goers based on past Bersih experiences and posted a photo from the 2015 Bersih 4 rally, recalling the massive turnout against the former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak administration. The rally attendees are also informed that former PKR politician Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, will also be appearing at the checkpoint before marching to Dataran Merdeka at 2pm. Meanwhile, over a thousand rally participants gathered outside the Sogo shopping mall, where PAS leader Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan addressed members of PAS' Unit Amal. The crowd chanted 'Pudin' in reference to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail while waving at passing police vehicles. However, traffic along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman came to a halt after large crowds from the opposition rally occupied the traffic junction in front of the Sogo shopping complex around 12.30pm. Although the road had not been initially closed, police later blocked it using their motorcycles due to the overwhelming presence of demonstrators. Vehicles from Chow Kit had to be redirected via Jalan Dang Wangi and the route between Sogo and Kompleks Pertama. Traffic police, supported by the Royal Malaysia Police Mounted Unit, were on-site to manage the situation. Protesters also gathered at other locations, including Pasar Seni, Masjid Negara, Masjid Jamek, and Kampung Baru, before heading to the main venue at Dataran Merdeka. Crowds filled areas around Kompleks Pertama, Kompleks Campbell, and the old Odeon cinema. At Pasar Seni, Bersatu Armada exco Na'im Brundage delivered a speech under police monitoring, with the situation reported to be calm and under control. — July 26, 2025 Main photo credit: Malay Mail
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Wake-up call for Madani government
ONE would think that street protests are second nature to Pakatan Harapan politicians, yet many of them were worried almost to the point of paranoia over the "Turun Anwar" rally. Surely they know that such protests cannot capsize the government or make Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim step down, given the sort of majority he commands in Parliament. But it can be dangerous because, as one political observer put it, it can weaken the political authority of the leader. That was the Pakatan playbook where repeated demonstrations against Datuk Seri Najib Razak damaged his reputation to the extent that the ground was crumbling under his feet by the time he called for election in 2018. Perikatan Nasional appears to be going by that same playbook against Anwar. Perikatan leaders have not responded to the Prime Minister's challenge to move a vote of no confidence against him because they do not have the numbers. Peel away everything, and politics is basically a numbers game. The Opposition is not interested in a Sheraton Move-type of takeover, which will only lead to more instability. The people elect the government, but in a political coup, all roads lead to the Palace, and these ambitious politicians know the backdoor approach to power is not going to sit well with the Palace. They also do not want to inherit the ongoing economic confusion. Moreover, whatever is being said about Anwar's performance as premier, the fact is that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, Perikatan's presumptive candidate for the top job, has yet to impress people as someone who could do a better job than Anwar. Yet, there was this sense of siege coming from Putrajaya, with the people up there - the Chief Secretary to the government, Inspector-General of Police, Attorney General - issuing warnings about the rally. It was ironic to see Pakatan leaders acting the way Barisan Nasional reacted to protests like the Bersih rallies. The PM's announcement of goodies for the rakyat was a welcome move, even if it did not result in a tsunami of goodwill and was reminiscent of Najib's practice of throwing money at problems, which Pakatan used to slam as 'dedak' (animal feed or bribery). The elite may scoff at the payout but times are hard and people do not mind extra money in their pockets. 'The PM is between a rock and a hard place. He has wonderful numbers in Parliament but his base is demanding reforms while the Malay ground is demanding something else,' said an aide to a former minister. There were jitters within the team at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as well as Pakatan leaders who are more used to being the ones on the streets than seeing people take to the streets to protest against them. Anwar has been putting out too many fires this year and he has every reason to be unnerved. There were various attempts to hype up the achievements of the Madani administration in the days leading to the rally. Ministers emerged to explain the progress of promised reforms such as the separation of the Attorney General's Chamber and public prosecution, a term limit on the prime minister's post and reviewing Sosma or the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act. The way those around Anwar reacted has raised questions about the team in the PMO and their understanding of the complexities of governance and how to deal with public opinion. Who does the Prime Minister turn to for feedback, advice and ideas? Is the team playing an effective role or just looking after their own interests? The air in Putrajaya is quite rarified, and it is not always easy for anyone at the top to keep in touch with sentiments down below. Is his team able to speak the truth to him, or do they play safe because, as they say, a whale that spouts is often harpooned. Aides who brush off criticism as the work of cybertroopers are not doing their boss a favour. 'The PMO boys are generally well-educated and devoted to him, but they come across as rather inexperienced and unfamiliar with the weight of being in government,' said the above aide to a former minister. For instance, the chief press secretary, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, a clean-cut and well-spoken man, holds 'press briefings' where he reads from a script, the video of which is released to the media. The inside joke among some journalists is that he is 'talking to himself'. There is a sense that Anwar's media team distrusts the media and is cautious about cultivating or engaging the media. Some suggest that Anwar is not fully aware of the Chinese rumblings because most of his team do not read or speak Chinese. They keep tabs on the Malay and English media but they would probably pass out if they could read what is being said in the Chinese press or Chinese social media. The Chinese electorate, which was a solid plateau of support, deserves more attention. Were they aware that Nanyang Siang Pau carried a frontpage story with the headline: 'The government treats the business sector like an ATM'? The article was about the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry telling the government not to treat the business community like a cash cow to plug the country's fiscal deficit. A PKR insider said Anwar felt the loss of two of his most effective aides - one suffered a severe stroke and another died. The latter, Rozaid Abdul Rahman, was an experienced media man who did not tiptoe around the truth and won Anwar's respect for that. And has anyone noticed that none of the Umno leaders have condemned or discouraged the rally? They are said to be enjoying the spectacle because they were once at the mercy of Pakatan protestors. Time is on Anwar's side, and he should try to implement the low-hanging fruits in the list of reforms that were promised, take note of criticism and not get distracted by the noise and politics. The high expectations are a burden he has to carry. No one is expecting him to deliver the moon and the stars, but he can bring in professionals with ideas and skills to help realise his reforms and generate growth for the country. They can also help inject public confidence in his government. The cafe society is clamouring for reforms while the working class need to feel less pain in their pockets. There will probably be more rallies unless the government pulls up its socks and delivers. >The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own
