Good morning and Happy New Year!

Here's what you should know today.

Key Highlights

  • 2025 forecast for M'sian politics

  • Ghost of Christmas PAS

  • Fahmi Reza arrested

2025 forecast for M'sian politics

Malaysian politics in the year 2025 will likely be just as whacky as it was last year.

Here are some things to watch out for:

  • Licensing for social media platforms begins today

  • Musa Aman starts his term as Sabah governor

  • Malaysia becomes the Asean chairperson

  • Court of Appeal hearing Najib Abdul Razak's bid to be placed under house arrest on Jan 6

  • PAS and Umno rallying in support of Najib

  • PN plotting to capture Putrajaya before GE16.

  • PKR to hold party elections

  • Sabah state election due by Dec 6 at the latest

Policy-wise, these are among the things that are still pending

  • Removal of blanket RON95 subsidies by the middle of the year

  • Reclassification of income groups based on net income

  • Full implementation of progressive wage policy

  • Minimum wage increase to RM1,700 per month starting Feb 1

  • The Federal Territories Mufti; Media Council; and house arrest bills

  • Implementation of luxury tax

HIGHLIGHTS

Not everything govt does is popular, Anwar acknowledges
Next year I turn 100, says Dr M in message for 2025
Khazanah Research: T30 the real middle class, not M40

Ghost of Christmas PAS

One thing that's not changing in 2025 is PAS making DAP a bogeyman.

But rather than Dickensian ghosts trying to redeem a lost soul before Christmas, the visions PAS is experiencing are self-induced horror.

PAS Youth information chief Nazir Helmi insisted that the party was not against Christmas in general - just not on government property,

The party is now pushing for religious authorities to take action against Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming for hosting a Christmas celebration at his ministry.

Meanwhile, they also claim that Muslims are "threatened" by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh's purported "Christianisation" agenda, and want her to be sacked from the cabinet.

PAS and Bersatu youths will be organising a protest against both Nga and Yeoh this Friday.

HIGHLIGHTS

Fatwa Council guidelines: Muslims can't join events with Christmas trees
PAS to Nga: 'Which side did your grandfather fight for?'
Pray for my victory, says prof sued by Yeoh over evangelism claims

Fahmi Reza arrested

Artist-activist Fahmi Reza was arrested in Sabah on Monday after repeatedly pasting murals depicting now-Sabah governor Musa Aman as the state's most corrupt person.

He is expected to be released today.

The arrest sparked criticism from various quarters, including PKR, who reminded police that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was against arresting or probing Fahmi.

HIGHLIGHTS

Around 50 march in Sabah anti-corruption rally, 1k at counter protest
'Najib solidarity rally undermines govt, casts doubt on Umno's sincerity'
'Never talked with PAS': Umno leaders say pro-Najib rally not political

Views that matter

Is Umno creating national embarrassment 2.0?
By Mohamed Hanipa Maidin
Pretenders silencing fight against corruption
By R Nadeswaran
Shameful chapter in Malaysia's syariah justice system
By Sisters in Islam

Other news that matter

UM lecturer accused of sending nudes remains on campus, victim claims
MCA sacks leader for joining Bersatu, wants councillor post revoked
'It's a dialysis centre', councillor says over complaint of temple being built