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Key Highlights
Port doors shut to Israeli vessels
Religious backlash fear mutes politicians
Opposition cries graft, minister cries slander
Doors shut to Israeli vessels
The government has barred vessels belonging to ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd and those flying the Israeli flag from docking in Malaysian ports. ZIM is a firm based in Israel.
Ships headed for Israel are also barred from loading cargo from Malaysian ports.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who made the announcement, conceded that the move could result in losses.
However, he said the stand was based on humanitarian principles in opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
His predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad also supported the ban and explained the reason his government had allowed ZIM’s ships to dock in Malaysia in 2002.
The former premier said that at the time, Putrajaya was hopeful for a positive outcome from the Palestine-Israel peace efforts.
Following the latest development, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said ZIM needs to remove 4,000 transhipment containers still stranded in Malaysia, especially at Port Klang, soon.
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Religious backlash fear mutes politicians
Former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan has criticised politicians for not speaking out against the recent raid on transgender women dubbed “Ops Cegah Pondan”.
“Unfortunately, there is little leadership shown on this issue by our politicians due to the possible religious backlash on them.
“Thus the cowardice on this issue and lack of knowledge carries on, resulting in this one community being hounded with rights-abusing actions by enforcement officials,” she said.
Ambiga also censured the “appalling language and labels” used with regard to “Ops Cegah Pondan” which literally means an “operation to curb transgenders”.
She said this demonstrated a lack of understanding or scientific knowledge about the issue.
Previously, the Perak Islamic Department had defended the raid, stressing the department is determined to prevent the LGBTQ+ community from engaging in immoral activities that are against the religion.
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Opposition cries graft, minister cries slander
Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin lodged a police report claiming that millions in kickbacks were being paid out to secure flood mitigation projects, resulting in a significant hike in costs.
Refuting the allegations, Natural Resources and Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the cost of the projects had shrunk, contrary to claims that it ballooned to over RM16 billion.
He described the claims by Badrul Hisham - better known as Chegubard - as “malicious and unfounded” slander.
“Chegubard’s accusations are without basis and show that he does not understand the government's procurement process,” he said.
Nik Nazmi added that almost all flood mitigation projects this year are still going through a tender process, with only 19 offer letters of award issued.
The minister, who has vowed to take legal action against Badrul Hisham, said flood mitigation projects undergo a transparent procurement process overseen by the Finance Ministry and the procurement board, which he is not involved in.
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Views that matter
 | By S Thayaparan |
 | By Mahathir Mohd Rais |
 | By Mohamed Hanipa Maidin |
Other news that matter
PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung said DAP should have discussed internally within Pakatan Harapan about its proposal to revive the local council election. This could have helped to gain better acceptance of the idea.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged Malaysian youths to broaden their knowledge in order not to fall for claims of “landing in hell” and to break free from the prison of a narrow mindset.
Mara chairperson Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki issued a reminder to parents who falsified their incomes so that their children have a better chance to enrol in the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM).
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