Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.

Key Highlights

  • Preacher speared over ‘Vel’ insult

  • Home minister can declare home prison

  • PM runs country, not crime syndicate

Preacher speared over ‘Vel’ insult

Controversial Muslim preacher Zamri Vinoth is facing backlash for belittling Hindus, likening those who chant “Vel Vel” during Thaipusam to individuals who are possessed or intoxicated.

"Vel" refers to Lord Muruga’s divine spear, a sacred symbol of divinity in Hinduism.

MIC deputy president M Saravanan strongly condemned Zamri’s remarks and has called for his arrest under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).

DAP lawmakers Ramkarpal Singh and RSN Rayer also criticised the preacher, with Rayer filing a police report over the matter.

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Home minister can declare home prison

House arrest is already possible in Malaysia without the need for new legislation, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said.

She explained that the Prisons Act 1965 grants the home minister the authority to designate any home, building, or location as a "prison" for incarceration purposes.

Azalina made this statement in response to a question from DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng, who inquired whether Malaysian law permits house arrest - particularly in the case of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Najib is engaged in a legal battle to be placed under house arrest, following a royal decree from the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong granting him this privilege.

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PM runs country, not crime syndicate

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has firmly stated that he is not the leader of a criminal syndicate.

He used this analogy while dismissing claims that the corruption probe against his predecessor, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, is politically motivated.

“So, if you find a few hundred million ringgit in your house, are you saying we shouldn’t touch the case?

“If that’s the approach, then you’re not running a government - you’re running a ‘kongsi gelap’ (criminal syndicate),” he said.

MACC had raided premises linked to Ismail Sabri’s officers, where approximately RM170 million in cash was found.

HIGHLIGHTS

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