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Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops, immigration owe Fahmi Reza an apology, says G25
On Saturday, Fahmi Reza was told he could not leave the country, when he went to KLIA Terminal 2 to take a flight to Singapore. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The immigration department and Bukit Aman owe graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza an apology after he was barred from travelling abroad last Saturday, says G25. In a statement today, the group comprising prominent retired civil servants said despite the police's claim that no travel ban had been imposed on Fahmi, the fact remains that he was still denied permission to leave the country. G25 also questioned if there would be some accountability from the authorities after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had called for the deputy inspector-general of police to conduct a full review of Fahmi's travel restrictions, and for the police to clarify the matter further. 'Despite the inspector-general of police admitting there was no actual travel restriction and blaming the incident on 'confusion', neither the police nor the immigration department has apologised or taken responsibility. 'We believe that at the very least, Fahmi is owed a public apology by those responsible,' he said. On Saturday, Fahmi was stopped at KLIA Terminal 2 while trying to board a flight to Singapore to attend a concert. He said an immigration officer allegedly told him the police had denied him clearance to travel overseas and asked him to check with Bukit Aman for further clarification. Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain later said the police did not issue a travel ban against Fahmi and the incident was the result of a 'misunderstanding'. Anwar then said he had instructed the police to investigate the matter, and the government supports individual freedom as long as national security and laws are not compromised. G25 noted the latest incident came just nine days after Fahmi was barred from entering Sabah on May 29. 'These repeated restrictions reflect not only an erosion of due process and a growing pattern of arbitrary infringement on constitutionally protected rights, but also risk diminishing Malaysia's standing in the eyes of the international community. 'When such incidents occur with increasing frequency, they become more than isolated lapses. They signal systemic issues that are both concerning and, frankly, embarrassing on the global stage,' the group said.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Addiction to money a bigger problem than religion, says Zaid
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said the suggestion of G25 member Johan Ariffin for a decoupling of religion from politics is too impractical to implement. PETALING JAYA : Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim today responded to remarks on corruption and religion by a member of the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants, saying the main problem in Malaysia is a general 'addiction' to money. Johan Ariffin had called for a decoupling of religion from politics, arguing that religiosity had proven to be an insufficient deterrent against corruption. In a post on X today, Zaid said that while Johan might be right, his suggestion was too impractical to implement. 'Religion, with proper application, can make us a better country. Our problem is not (mainly) religion; it is that politicians and our elites are addicted to money. 'We have entrusted our ruling class with curbing corruption, but they will not do that because they also like a lot of money,' he said. Earlier today, FMT reported Johan as saying that Malay leaders often projected a keen sense of religiosity, but consistently scored low on clean governance measures. He said these politicians used race and religion to 'shield, justify or deflect wrongdoing'. Johan also said the Malays remained entrenched in a 'feudal mindset, where loyalty to race, religion, and rulers supersedes critical thinking and moral accountability'. However, Zaid said Malaysian politics was about making money, and that its elites 'compete (about) who makes more money from the system'. He said the lack of a genuine political funding law or measures to ensure transparency in procurement showed the elites' disinterest in curbing corruption.
Daily Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Corruption a ‘big problem' despite Malay religiosity, says G25 member
Published on: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: G25 member Johan Ariffin Samad wants the authorities to decouple religion from politics, saying it would help the country's battle against corruption. PETALING JAYA: Religiosity has proven to be an insufficient deterrent against corruption, a member of the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants said, citing a 2020 survey by anti-graft group, Transparency International. According to the survey, 71% of Malaysians felt that government corruption was a 'big problem'. Malaysians, according to the 'Global Corruption Barometer for Asia 2020', viewed Parliament, the police and the government as institutions most likely to be corrupt. G25's Johan Ariffin Samad noted that these institutions are 'overwhelmingly dominated by Malays' who, by definition under the Federal Constitution, must be Muslim. 'Despite outward displays of faith, rampant corruption continues to erode Malaysia's institutions and future. 'This raises a difficult but necessary question: how can a society which prides itself on religious and moral values tolerate such widespread corruption within its own ranks?' he said at a recent event in Penang. Advertisement Johan said the country must 'decouple' religion from politics to help in its war against corruption. Malay leaders, he said, often project a keen sense of religiosity, yet consistently score low on clean governance measures. He added that these politicians would use race and religion, two concepts which are deeply intertwined, to 'shield, justify or deflect wrongdoing'. Malays, on the other hand, remain entrenched 'in a feudal mindset, where loyalty to race, religion, and rulers supersedes critical thinking and moral accountability', said Johan. 'Where does Malay loyalty truly lie? To justice? To religion? To the constitution? Or merely to race, status and symbolism?' Johan said both Sabah and Sarawak have decoupled religion from crime. Recent cases of alleged corruption involving the issuance of mining licences in Sabah, for instance, have been addressed strictly as matters of potential criminal wrongdoing. 'There are no attempts to justify or excuse them on religious grounds.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Corruption a ‘big problem' despite Malay religiosity, says G25 member
G25 member Johan Ariffin Samad wants the authorities to decouple religion from politics, saying it would help the country's battle against corruption. PETALING JAYA : Religiosity has proven to be an insufficient deterrent against corruption, a member of the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants said, citing a 2020 survey by anti-graft group, Transparency International. According to the survey, 71% of Malaysians felt that government corruption was a 'big problem'. Malaysians, according to the 'Global Corruption Barometer for Asia 2020', viewed Parliament, the police and the government as institutions most likely to be corrupt. G25's Johan Ariffin Samad noted that these institutions are 'overwhelmingly dominated by Malays' who, by definition under the Federal Constitution, must be Muslim. 'Despite outward displays of faith, rampant corruption continues to erode Malaysia's institutions and future. 'This raises a difficult but necessary question: how can a society which prides itself on religious and moral values tolerate such widespread corruption within its own ranks?' he said at a recent event in Penang. Johan said the country must 'decouple' religion from politics to help in its war against corruption. Malay leaders, he said, often project a keen sense of religiosity, yet consistently score low on clean governance measures. He added that these politicians would use race and religion, two concepts which are deeply intertwined, to 'shield, justify or deflect wrongdoing'. Malays, on the other hand, remain entrenched 'in a feudal mindset, where loyalty to race, religion, and rulers supersedes critical thinking and moral accountability', said Johan. 'Where does Malay loyalty truly lie? To justice? To religion? To the constitution? Or merely to race, status and symbolism?' Johan said both Sabah and Sarawak have decoupled religion from crime. Recent cases of alleged corruption involving the issuance of mining licences in Sabah, for instance, have been addressed strictly as matters of potential criminal wrongdoing. 'There are no attempts to justify or excuse them on religious grounds.'
