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Asia Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Asia Times
Anwar's bold and conflicted bid for legal immunity
KUALA LUMPUR – In the corridors of Malaysian power, the language of justice often changes depending on who is speaking — and who is being spoken about. Several years after alleging Anwar Ibrahim sexually assaulted him in a private residence in Segambut, Yusoff Rawther's civil suit has reached a legal crescendo — just as Anwar, now prime minister, seeks to halt the case by invoking what he calls a 'qualified immunity.' But this is no ordinary courtroom drama. It is a test of institutional resolve, of whether Malaysia's judiciary can still call to account the most powerful office in the land. The story began on October 2, 2018. Yusoff, then a young research assistant, claimed he was assaulted by Anwar, the man then touted as Malaysia's next prime minister. In December 2019, he went public, took a polygraph test and filed a police report, but no criminal charges followed. By July 2021, Yusoff took matters into his own hands by launching a civil suit against Anwar. The High Court refused to strike it out, sending the case toward trial. Then came a twist: Yusoff was arrested in September 2024 with imitation firearms and over 300 grams of cannabis. His defense insists he never entered the car where the contraband was found, never had control over it and was immediately handcuffed outside. Three prosecution witnesses appeared to support that view. If he was being framed, as his lawyers claim, the motive was as political as it was personal. On May 27, 2025, Anwar made a move no Malaysian prime minister has made before. He applied to the Federal Court to be granted immunity — not for his actions as a sitting prime minister, but for something alleged before he took office. The timing is curious. The civil suit is scheduled for trial on June 16. The Chief Justice, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat — known for her judicial independence — retires in June. And Anwar's new legal team, appointed just days before, rushed to file their applications to postpone the trial and elevate the question of immunity to the highest court. Critics note that even Malay royalty do not enjoy such blanket protection — they are answerable in a Special Court. Anwar's attempt to shield himself, they argue, goes beyond what any prime minister before him, not even Najib Razak at the height of the 1MDB scandal, ever dared to seek. And therein lies the rub. Anwar, the man once imprisoned and persecuted by the very system he now leads, is asking that same system to silence a voice calling for justice. The bigger issue is, if we accept this logic, then any citizen can be denied their right to be heard in court, depending on who the defendant is. Indeed, Article 8 of Malaysia's Federal Constitution guarantees equality before the law. Immunity — real or rhetorical — flies in the face of this principle. Anwar frames his application as protection for the Office of the Prime Minister from 'abuse of legal process.' Yet the suit is personal, the alleged incident predates his premiership and the plaintiff is an individual, not a rival party or political movement. This is no frivolous Twitter/X spat. This is about whether the nation's highest office can become a fortress of impunity. On May 29, Perikatan Nasional's whip, Takiyuddin Hassan, urged the Attorney General to intervene — not to side with any party but to protect the Constitution from what he called a 'dangerous judicial precedent.' He noted that Articles 181–183, which govern immunity, were crafted for Malaysia's monarchs, not its ministers. There is speculation, too, about timing and motive. Why is Anwar seeking constitutional cover only now? Is it a strategic bet on the post-Tengku Maimun judiciary? Or a preemptive strike to prevent cross-examination in open court? The deeper paranoia relates to Rafique Rashid, a relatively young legal figure who is central to both Anwar's feud with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and this case with Yusoff. What does Rafique know that so rattles the nation's now most powerful man? This saga is not just about legal technicalities or political strategy. It is about the moral soul of a 'reformasi' movement that promised accountability, transparency and the rule of law. Anwar once stood in prison and declared the system broken. Today, seated in Putrajaya, he asks that same system to shield him. In doing so, he risks becoming the very caricature his younger self once fought against. In the coming weeks, Malaysia's judiciary will be called to choose between precedent and power, between access and exclusion, between immunity and accountability. As Malaysia positions itself as a stabilizing force in ASEAN — mediating conflicts in Myanmar, projecting soft power in Palestine and countering great-power rivalry in the South China Sea — its domestic credibility matters more than ever. A nation that cannot resolve its own crises transparently cannot lecture others on justice. A prime minister who claims global moral leadership must not seek local legal exemption. This case, in its quiet courtroom battles and explosive political undertones, will be remembered not just for what was said under oath, but for what it revealed about the state of Malaysia's democracy. Amir Al Fateh is an independent journalist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, specializing in political analysis, governance and civil liberties. He is a verified contributor to Newswav and his work has been featured in MalaysiaNow and Utusan Malaysia. His professional portfolio is accessible via on his Muck Rack profile .
The Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
'We're just so sweet': Thai ice cream exports surge, leading Asia and climbing global ranks
Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thai ice cream is booming—No.1 in Asia, No. 4 globally. Exports averaged $106 million annually over 5 years, up 11%, driven largely by FTA benefits boosting market access. Anukool Pruksanusak, Deputy Spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, announced that Thai ice cream has emerged as a standout product on the global stage, gaining popularity among consumers of all ages, especially during the summer months. Despite global trade challenges, Thailand's ice cream exports have shown consistent growth and strong adaptability, securing the country's position as Asia's No. 1 ice cream exporter and No. 4 globally, behind the EU, the US, and the UK. Between 2020 and 2024, Thailand exported an average of US$106 million worth of ice cream annually, with an average growth rate of 11% per year. In the first two months of 2025 (January–February), exports reached US$22 million, up 3% from the same period last year. A key driver of this export success is Thailand's network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), which help eliminate tariff barriers and expand market access. Thailand currently has 14 FTAs with 18 countries, including ASEAN, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Peru, Chile, and Hong Kong. Of these, 17 countries now offer tariff-free access for Thai ice cream products, with Japan being the only exception, maintaining an import tax of 21–29.8%. In the first two months of 2025, ice cream exports to FTA partner countries totaled US$20 million, accounting for 87% of all Thai ice cream exports—an increase of 4%. Notably, Asean remains the largest export market, growing 9%, with specific surges in: Malaysia: +9%, Philippines: +70%, Vietnam: +41%, South Korea: +9%, Australia: +32%, Hong Kong: +116%, Japan: +827% Looking ahead, Anukool expressed confidence in the long-term growth of Thailand's ice cream industry, citing the country's strong production capacity, access to quality raw materials, and competitive advantages from FTA benefits. These factors position Thailand to become Asia's regional hub for ice cream production and exports. Many of the world's leading ice cream manufacturers have already invested in Thailand for this purpose. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Palmerston Island in the Cook Islands facing critical power shortage
By Melina Etches , Cook Islands News The solar power station on Palmerston Island. Photo: Cook Islands / Stella Neale Palmerston Island is currently facing a critical power shortage due to the failure of its ageing diesel generator. The generator has long needed repairs beyond the capabilities of local administration staff. The generator is no longer operational, leaving the community entirely dependent on solar power-an insufficient solution for the island's energy needs. In response, residents are required to adopt strict power-saving measures to maintain a minimal electricity supply. The isolated island has been running on intermittent solar power since 19 April due to the generator not putting out the correct voltage (240 volts). Palmerston's Executive Officer (EO), Stella Neale says the solar energy system is shut down from 7pm - 7am to ensure that there is enough capacity in the battery banks to provide power supply to the island. Homeowners have been asked to turn off all their freezers before 7am to minimise overloading the system when the power supply is switched back on. A diesel generator is required to support the charge of solar batteries if there has not been enough sunlight hours or demand is greater than usual. "We are at a point where we are unable to keep the generator running at all because of faulty parts," said Neale, "we have been waiting since last year in July/August." Because of the isolation of the island - the only access is by sea; the huge issue is transportation. Due to irregular shipping schedules and limited berth availability, the parts for the generator and a mechanic have not been able to reach Palmerston. With limited berth, space available on the next scheduled shipping vessel MV Taunga Nui - the only vessel that ships from Rarotonga to Palmerston, the arrival of both the necessary technician and equipment remains uncertain. Neale is hoping for a last-minute solution that would allow the mechanic to travel to Palmerston and restore the island's power infrastructure. She said the generator supplements the solar energy when necessary. Yesterday (Monday), Neale said so far they have had no problems with the intermittent power supply. However, she is hopeful that this is only a short-term solution. "In the meantime, we carry on resolutely with prayers for sunny days and the goodwill of those angels who can make miracles happen," she said. Te Koutu Mana Tutara O Te Ipukarea Pa Enua Governance Officer at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Mata Takioa says, the heavy machinery parts for the generator are at Avatiu wharf. Most of the spare parts have been sourced from the mechanic's workshop, additional or specialised parts are procured from overseas suppliers as needed. Takioa says these parts will be shipped on the next available vessel, MV Taunga Nui, on its scheduled voyage to Palmerston next month on May 21. According to Takioa, at this stage, the passenger capacity on MV Taunga Nui has been fully allocated for its May voyage. "As a result, the Pa Enua Mechanical Overseer (mechanic) does not have a confirmed booking on this trip, however, we will continue to hold in case a berth opens up," she said, also confirming that the parts required for the generator will be shipped on this voyage. Installing the parts will require the support of the Island Administration staff with the mechanic providing remote assistance as needed, she added. "OPM is actively exploring alternative options to deploy the mechanic to Palmerston as soon as practical while ensuring all relevant regulations are followed. In the meantime, we remain committed to supporting the people of Palmerston in every way possible," Takioa said. Palmerston Island first received solar power on February 15, 2015, as part of the "Uira Natura O te Pae Tokerau" project. The new solar energy system officially became operational on February 21, 2015. To maintain battery charge and ensure the system functions properly, daily use of a diesel generator is still required. The continuous power supply is essential, as the island's fishermen rely on freezers to store their catches before shipping them to Rarotonga. The last ship left Palmerston on 3 March 2025. - Cook Islands News
Business Insider
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
AI cybersecurity agent startup Reco just raised $25 million from Insight Partners
The startup told Business Insider exclusively that it secured a $25 million Series A extension from Insight Partners, Zeev Ventures, Boldstart Ventures, Angular Ventures, and Redseed. The startup originally raised a $30 million Series A in 2022, led by Insight and Zeev. In total, Reco's has raised $55 million from VCs. Investors are clamoring to back AI security startups following Google's historic $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity startup Wix. Founded in 2020 by Ofer Klein, Gal Nakash, and Tal Shapira, Reco is working to fix the "SaaS security gap," which Klein, the startup's CEO, explains is the gap that exists between a company's existing cybersecurity protections and the rapidly advancing tech — which, these days, is mostly AI — that employees are using, often without proper oversight. To solve the problem, he linked up with co-founders Nakash, who previously headed up research at the Office of the Prime Minister in Israel, and Shapira, a machine learning ph.D. who also worked in Israel's Office of the Prime Minister. Klein is based in Orlando, while Nakash and Shapira both live in Tel Aviv, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Klein explained that the market has undergone a huge change during the last few years. Most companies have changed their policies from banning employees from using AI tools in the workplace to embracing them. "AI and gen-AI agents are amazing for the business and not something you can block anymore," he said. "Banks, insurance companies, and healthcare are all starting to adopt it, but the only way to adopt it is to have the right visibility and security for it." That's where Reco comes in. The startup helps companies keep their cloud apps safe — especially ones that employees use without telling IT, like a random tool they download and try out. As enterprises rely more and more on apps, it's easy to lose track of who's using what, which can open the door to security risks. Reco's AI finds the apps, monitors how they're being used, and flags risks before they become big problems. Klein added that Reco has spent the last two and a half years building AI agents that can quickly understand and fix app issues. The AI agents are trained on Reco metadata rather than customer data, making them faster and more secure than competitors on the market. "We could foresee an AI revolution, and having thousands of AI applications is amazing, until you get to the problem of, 'I'm a security expert, and I don't have any visibility'," Klein said. "Our vision has been to empower teams and enable businesses so that security feels like innovation." Reco is one of many startups using AI to help enterprise customers beef up their cybersecurity offerings. Tel Aviv-based Torq, a no-code security platform, raised a $70 million Series C funding round in 2024 led by Evolution Equity Partners with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners. 7AI, which is building a "swarm" of AI cybersecurity agents, launched from stealth in 2024 with a $36 million seed round led by Greylock. And Astrix Security, which uses AI agents to shield enterprise customers from cyberattacks, raised a $45 million Series B in 2024 led by Menlo Ventures.
Business Insider
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
AI cybersecurity agent startup Reco just raised $25 million from Insight Partners
Reco, which uses generative AI and AI agents to provide businesses with an SaaS security platform, just raised more funding. The startup told Business Insider exclusively that it secured a $25 million Series A extension from Insight Partners, Zeev Ventures, Boldstart Ventures, Angular Ventures, and Redseed. The startup originally raised a $30 million Series A in 2022, led by Insight and Zeev. In total, Reco's has raised $55 million from VCs. Investors are clamoring to back AI security startups following Google's historic $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity startup Wix. Founded in 2020 by Ofer Klein, Gal Nakash, and Tal Shapira, Reco is working to fix the "SaaS security gap," which Klein, the startup's CEO, explains is the gap that exists between a company's existing cybersecurity protections and the rapidly advancing tech — which, these days, is mostly AI — that employees are using, often without proper oversight. To solve the problem, he linked up with co-founders Nakash, who previously headed up research at the Office of the Prime Minister in Israel, and Shapira, a machine learning ph.D. who also worked in Israel's Office of the Prime Minister. Klein is based in Orlando, while Nakash and Shapira both live in Tel Aviv, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Klein explained that the market has undergone a huge change during the last few years. Most companies have changed their policies from banning employees from using AI tools in the workplace to embracing them. "AI and gen-AI agents are amazing for the business and not something you can block anymore," he said. "Banks, insurance companies, and healthcare are all starting to adopt it, but the only way to adopt it is to have the right visibility and security for it." That's where Reco comes in. The startup helps companies keep their cloud apps safe — especially ones that employees use without telling IT, like a random tool they download and try out. As enterprises rely more and more on apps, it's easy to lose track of who's using what, which can open the door to security risks. Reco's AI finds the apps, monitors how they're being used, and flags risks before they become big problems. Klein added that Reco has spent the last two and a half years building AI agents that can quickly understand and fix app issues. The AI agents are trained on Reco metadata rather than customer data, making them faster and more secure than competitors on the market. "We could foresee an AI revolution, and having thousands of AI applications is amazing, until you get to the problem of, 'I'm a security expert, and I don't have any visibility'," Klein said. "Our vision has been to empower teams and enable businesses so that security feels like innovation." Reco is one of many startups using AI to help enterprise customers beef up their cybersecurity offerings. Tel Aviv-based Torq, a no-code security platform, raised a $70 million Series C funding round in 2024 led by Evolution Equity Partners with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners. 7AI, which is building a "swarm" of AI cybersecurity agents, launched from stealth in 2024 with a $36 million seed round led by Greylock. And Astrix Security, which uses AI agents to shield enterprise customers from cyberattacks, raised a $45 million Series B in 2024 led by Menlo Ventures.
