Latest news with #Johor
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
BN's solo strategy in strongholds a tactical move, says analyst
Last Saturday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan was reported to have said that BN might go solo in the Melaka election expected next year. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Barisan Nasional's (BN) suggestion of running solo in the states that it dominates while cooperating with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in other states could be a strategic move, provided that it is carefully planned, an analyst says. Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said that a flexible approach tailored by state could work if BN managed voter perceptions and maintained ties with PH at the federal level. He said BN could go solo in strongholds like Melaka and Johor, and partner with PH in states where PH or Perikatan Nasional (PN) hold the advantage such as Selangor, Penang and Kelantan. 'To make this strategy work, BN must clearly explain its position so that the public understands the rationale behind adopting different approaches in different states. 'At the same time, the strategic dialogue between BN and PH needs to be intensified to ensure coordinated action and maintain the stability of the unity government,' Awang Azman told FMT. He warned that if poorly handled, the 'friends at the federal level, rivals at the state level' approach could be seen as hypocritical and cause a loss of confidence in BN's integrity. He also said that the move risked alienating PH component parties, especially DAP and PKR, potentially undermining unity and cooperation at the federal level. Last Saturday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan was reported to have said that BN might contest solo in the Melaka election expected next year. He said a thorough study would be conducted beforehand, as political dynamics and formulas differ from state to state. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said BN going solo in Melaka would come as no surprise, describing it as a 'warning shot' for Amanah and PH. Amanah had previously demanded an equal number of seats for the Melaka election, including in constituencies currently held by Umno. Azmi said the prior agreement between BN and PH had established that incumbent parties would retain the right to contest their seats, adding that Amanah should not overreach in its demands. 'In Melaka, BN holds the incumbency, having won 21 seats in the last state election. These should remain with BN and be agreed upon by PH. 'My concern is that Amanah is being used as a proxy to pressure BN into going solo.' It was reported last week that the Hang Tuah Jaya Amanah division had passed a resolution at its annual meeting, urging PH to prepare for an independent contest. Earlier, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh said in a Facebook video that BN was ready to face PH in a contest, even though they are allies at both the federal level and in Melaka.
Malay Mail
14 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Police rescue two teenagers abused and forced to work for online sex fraud syndicate in Johor operation
JOHOR BARU, July 14 — Police rescued a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl believed to have been sexually abused and forced to work as members of an online sex fraud and extortion syndicate through an operation dubbed Op Bugil carried out here and in Kulai from June 20 to July 1. Johor Police Chief Datuk M. Kumar said another victim, a 26-year-old man, was also rescued. He said nine suspects, two of whom were women, were arrested. According to Kumar, investigations found that the syndicate had been operating since November last year, recruiting locals, including minors, as scammers with salaries ranging from RM2,200 to RM4,000 per month. He said the syndicate also offers them to work abroad, including in Laos, with a more lucrative salary of around US$2,500. 'The victims were recruited for an online sex fraud with the syndicate creating fake social media accounts for extortion purposes. They were locked up, forced to eat chilli and sexually abused, including being stripped naked, and all these actions were recorded for the purpose of extortion,' he told a press conference here today. Kumar said the victims were forced to work 12 hours a day with only one day off after two weeks, and had to sleep at work and were prohibited from leaving except on designated holidays, while their identity cards and mobile phones were taken from them. Meanwhile, Kumar said the syndicate carried out their fraudulent activities by using women to lure the victim to make obscene video calls on social media and then hacked the victim's mobile phone after clicking on the link provided. 'This syndicate would send a link to the victim's mobile phone, and when the victim clicked on it, the syndicate could access the contact list and photo gallery on the mobile phone. The syndicate then threatened to distribute pornographic video recordings of the victim if the victim refused to pay them,' he said. Kumar said 27 mobile phones of various brands, personal documents, plane tickets, currency exchange receipts, a sum of cash, a laptop, 49 SIM cards, employment books, as well as vehicles, were also seized throughout the operation. Further investigations were ongoing, he added. — Bernama
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Johor police seize ecstasy, marijuana worth RM3.55m in major drug raid, arrest local man and two Vietnamese women
JOHOR BARU, July 14 — Police seized various types of drugs worth RM3.55 million and arrested a local man and two Vietnamese women in special operations conducted on July 10 and 11. Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the three suspects, aged between 32 and 39, were arrested during separate raids conducted by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department of the state police and the Johor Baru Selatan district police. He said the syndicate, which is believed to be active since April this year, used gated and guarded residences to store and process the drugs before distributing them to the local market. According to him, the drugs were seized following the arrest of the local man by a roadside, which then led the police to raid a rented room in a shophouse here. 'The suspect also led the police to conduct raids at three luxury condominium units, also rented by him, where more drugs were seized and two Vietnamese women were arrested,' he told a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters, here today He said that in total, the police seized 20.7 kilogrammes (kg) of powder, suspected to be ecstasy, 18.49 kg of marijuana, 154.25 grams of ketamine and 141 grams of erimin 5 pills, as well as various equipment for processing and repackaging drugs, as well as RM800 in cash. He said the current drug trafficking trend also appears to be shifting towards marijuana flowers, based on recent seizures. 'This may be because marijuana flowers have a higher hallucinogenic effect due to their purity, besides being more expensive, with an estimated market value of RM36,000 per kilogramme,' he said. Kumar said all the suspects, who tested positive for methamphetamine, were on remand until July 17, and the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. — Bernama
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Perhilitan begins year-long mission to move elephants out of farms and villages, Johor first
KLUANG, July 14 — The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has launched a large-scale Integrated Elephant Translocation Operation to relocate 25 elephants from conflict zones across Peninsular Malaysia, starting this month through July next year. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the initiative aims to address human-elephant conflicts more systematically and effectively, with Johor as the first state involved. 'The operation targets high-risk areas by identifying and relocating elephant herds that disrupt farms, villages and residential areas,' he said after officiating the Johor leg of the operation here today. The event was also attended by Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tiang Soon and Johor Perhilitan director Aminuddin Jamin. Abdul Kadir said the effort also supports ecosystem restoration through population control outside natural habitats and will help gather scientific data to strengthen future elephant management policies. The Johor operation is being carried out in collaboration with the Elephant Transfer Team from the National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, alongside teams from Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu, with Johor Perhilitan as the lead coordinator. The initiative will utilise drone surveillance, digital movement mapping and early warning systems to minimise risks to local communities. Currently, about 1,300 wild elephants are estimated to inhabit Peninsular Malaysia. From 2020 to 2024, Perhilitan recorded 4,919 human-elephant conflict incidents, resulting in losses estimated at RM39.4 million, mainly in Johor, Kelantan, Perak and Pahang. Abdul Kadir said the programme aligns with key national strategies, including the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP), the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022–2030 and the National Forestry Policy. He also thanked the Johor state government for allocating RM600,000 to support the operation, highlighting its commitment to wildlife conservation and conflict mitigation. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
New CJ only after next Rulers' Conference, says Azalina
The constitution must be amended if the Judicial Appointments Commission's recommendations are to be made legally binding, said Azalina Othman Said. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : The appointment of a new chief justice to head the judiciary will be decided only after the next Conference of Rulers scheduled for July 15-17, according to the minister for law and institutional reform, Azalina Othman Said. Azalina said recommendations by the Judicial Appointments Commission on the appointment of new judges are not binding, Bernama reported. However, her assertion was disputed this evening by former law minister Zaid Ibrahim who said the prime minister is bound to forward the commission's recommendations. Azalina, speaking to reporters in Pengerang, Johor, said the commission's role under current law is to screen, evaluate and recommend candidates for appointment as judges. 'The commission's recommendations are 'not a final step in the appointment process. It only recommends names, and these recommendations are not binding'. The commission's recommendations are made to the prime minister. Under the constitution, appointment of judges on the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and the High Courts are made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister, and after consulting the Conference of Rulers. Azalina said the constitution would need to be amended if the commission's role is to be made legally binding. She cited a previous explanation by former law minister Nazri Aziz, who had stated in Parliament that the commission is an administrative provision without binding legal effect. The minister's comments come amid criticism over delays in the appointment of senior judges following the retirement of the chief justice and president of the Court of Appeal, and impending vacancies in the superior courts. The Malaysian Bar has planned a protest march tomorrow. Azalina said it is within their democratic right, as long as it is carried out professionally and within the boundaries of the law. 'If they want to march, that is their right. As lawyers, I believe most of them are professionals who understand the constitution and the JAC Act,' she said. Zaid calls for clarity Zaid, in a Facebook posting, said the law requires the prime minister to forward the names recommended by the commission to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. 'This duty is not optional. If the PM refuses to do so, he is in breach of the law; plain and simple,' he wrote. 'To now pretend that the law doesn't bind them, while quietly ignoring or defying its provisions, is to mock the very idea of the rule of law.' He called for clarity and not vague statements that 'only serve to confuse and deceive the public'. Zaid said: 'The people deserve clarity, not confusion — and certainly not a government that treats the law as optional.' (Under the Judicial Appointments Commission Act, the prime minister may ask for two more names to be submitted for consideration, and where he has accepted any of the names, he may proceed to advise the king, as required by the constitution.)
