Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Srbn

N9 and Johor

Srbn — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:59:12 +0800

N9 dan Johor sama election.

Why Madani no give hadiah besar to N9

In Kuala Lumpur, Uyghurs made their case against

Srbn — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:05:41 +0800

In Kuala Lumpur, Uyghurs made their case against China — quietly, and at every level

A senior Uyghur human rights leader completed a civil-diplomacy visit to Malaysia this week, holding a series of meetings with the country’s religious establishment, foreign ministry, and the United Nations refugee agency — all in the same trip.

Abdureşid Eminhaci, president of the East Turkestan Human Rights Watch Association and a board member of the International East Turkestan NGOs Union (IUETO), arrived on 11 June for what his organisation described as a civil-diplomacy visit.

By the time it concluded, he had met officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a foreign ministry adviser, and representatives from UNHCR Malaysia.

He also addressed an international summit.

The visit coincided with the 3rd International Religious Leaders Summit, organised jointly by Malaysia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Muslim World League.

Eminhaci participated in a workshop focused on the role of youth in the global order — speaking not as a refugee advocate, but as a representative of East Turkestan youth — and for a man who has visited Malaysia many times, the breadth of doors that opened this trip suggested the relationships had matured into something more deliberate.

East Turkestan is what Uyghurs call their homeland — a region in northwestern China that Beijing calls Xinjiang, where roughly 12 million Turkic-speaking Muslims have lived for centuries and where the Chinese government stands accused of mass detentions, forced labour, and the systematic erasure of their culture.

The Protest March and the Iftar Table
The framing was deliberate; by entering the conversation through a mainstream Islamic multilateral platform rather than a geopolitical one, the East Turkestan cause was placed in a space that is harder to dismiss and harder for regional governments to distance themselves from.

Civil society groups including ABIM, Global Peace Mission (GPM), IKRAM, and WADAH were also part of the engagement.

All four — ABIM (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia), GPM (Global Peace Mission), IKRAM (Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia), and WADAH (Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia) — are Malaysia’s most prominent Islamic civil society NGOs, ideologically rooted in the same 1970s–80s Islamic revival movement, and while not formally linked, they routinely act as a unified bloc on Muslim minority rights issues like the Uyghur cause.

ABIM is one of the most notable mainstream voices on Uyghur rights in Southeast Asia — and one of Malaysia’s most storied civil society organisations, counting current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim among its former presidents — known for organising protest marches to the Chinese Embassy while regularly engaging in friendly, cooperative diplomatic initiatives.

For example, they have jointly hosted programs such as the Grand Iftar for Humanity and exchanged visits to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

When Beijing offered state-supervised tours to Xinjiang to placate local Muslim critics in 2019, ABIM called it an attempt to normalise persecution through political propaganda.

The Issue They Didn’t Lead With — But Couldn’t Avoid
Buried near the end of the organisation’s Facebook post was a single line that carried significant weight.

The situation of Uyghur Turks currently detained in Thailand, it noted, was “one of the most important agenda items” of the visit.

Thailand has held Uyghur detainees for years — men, women, and children who fled Xinjiang and became stranded in legal limbo, unable to return to China and unable to secure resettlement elsewhere.

Malaysia has historically been a transit and pressure point in how their cases are handled, at times allowing Uyghur detainees to travel safely to third countries such as Turkiye — even in the face of Chinese extradition requests.

The fact that this was raised with both the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry adviser in the same visit suggests the delegation was not simply raising awareness.

They were applying pressure through every available channel — and doing it quietly enough to keep the doors open.

Why Malaysia — And Why It Cuts Both Ways
Malaysia occupies an unusual position on the Uyghur question.

It is a Muslim-majority country with strong trade ties to China, a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and a nation that has spent years navigating between Beijing’s expectations and its own Islamic identity.

For Uyghur advocates, that tension is precisely the point.

A Malaysia that speaks — even softly — carries more weight in the region than a Western government issuing another formal condemnation.

But Malaysia’s record is not clean.

In one of the most recently cited cases, American-Uyghur scholar Abdulhakim Idris was detained and deported upon arrival in Malaysia for an advocacy trip — a decision widely attributed to pressure from Beijing.

One Uyghur was welcomed into government offices, another turned away at the border, and the difference between the two outcomes has never been fully explained.

A Community Already Here
The discussions during this visit, according to the organisation, covered “the future of the East Turkestan cause in Malaysia and the broader region” — a phrase that suggests the conversations went beyond the immediate and into the strategic.

Beyond diplomacy, Uyghurs have been quietly building a presence in Malaysia for years — through advocacy, student communities, and culture.

Uyghur-owned restaurants operate in Kuala Lumpur, serving halal Central Asian cuisine to a city that has become, for some, a temporary home between a country they cannot return to and a future that has not yet been arranged.

For those who have settled here, the stakes of this week’s meetings were not abstract.

Over the last decade, thousands of Uyghurs escaped China by travelling clandestinely through Southeast Asia (including Thailand and Malaysia) to reach Turkiye.

The Malaysian government strictly adheres to a policy of safe passage.

If Uyghurs flee into Malaysia, the government’s official stance is to refuse extradition requests from Beijing and instead quietly facilitate their travel to a third country (usually Turkiye).

sos

UK will be in civil war in 5 years

Srbn — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:08:59 +0800

UK anti-Islam activist Robinson briefly detained under terrorism laws

LONDON: British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson said he was detained at Heathrow Airport on Saturday and had his phone seized, after a week when he posted heavily online about racist and anti-immigrant riots in Northern Ireland.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said on X he was held on Saturday evening for around three hours under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act.

“My phone has been seized by the police,” he said on X. “Please help kick off my legal fund for defence”.

Robinson tweeted repeatedly last week about violence that swept Belfast after a video went viral showing the brutal stabbing of a man, who lost an eye in the attack. A Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder. Police have said they are not treating the attack as terrorism.

In the days that followed rioters targeted homes and businesses owned by ethnic minorities or foreign residents in what the British minister for the province called racist thuggery.

Local politicians have said far-right agitators online had helped to coordinate or promote the violence.

Without naming him, a police spokesman said officers had stopped a man in his 40s at Heathrow Airport on Saturday, following his return to Britain from Russia via Turkey.

“The man was interviewed by officers and his communication devices were seized. He was subsequently released,” the spokesman said.

sos

Jakoa denies gazetted Orang Asli land 'stolen'

Srbn — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:03:07 +0800

PETALING JAYA: The Orang Asli development department (Jakoa) has denied claims that land gazetted for the community had been “stolen”, dismissing such allegations as inaccurate.

Jakoa said no Orang Asli customary land had been stolen by any party, and the department remains committed to protecting the welfare and interests of the community, Utusan Malaysia reported.

Following the submission of a memorandum to the rural and regional development ministry by hundreds of Orang Asli protesters yesterday, the department said it appreciated the views and suggestions provided by the parties involved.

It said it will study the memorandum before taking further action.

The protesters, led by environmental groups Peka and Greenpeace, urged the government to recognise Orang Asli customary land rights.

They called for formal recognition of Orang Asli land as customary ancestral land under established common law principles, rather than relying solely on existing administrative gazettement.

A representative from Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia, identified only as Ismail, said much of the community’s customary land has been allocated to companies approved by state governments, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable.

They added that a larger gathering would be organised should the government fail to follow through on its commitments.

sos

Local Workers retrenchment

Srbn — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:46:37 +0800

Now, small business bosses are prone to fire local workers (which are more expensive) and keep foreign workers, to save cost.

Our government also give more protection to legal foreign workers, in terms of humanity, but Malaysia labour law (applied to local workers) is prone to protect the employers and outdated.

Robots in China Factory

Srbn — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:18:08 +0800

[YOUTUBE]S8oBbDpON38?si=B6Zp4b3m6r-btH1y[/YOUTUBE]

NGO launches third free clinic in Nilai

Srbn — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:59:47 +0800

A THIRD Klinik Amal Percuma has been opened in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, marking the strategic expansion of free, community-based primary healthcare for economically disadvantaged households.

A collaboration between Maaedicare Charitable Foundation (YAM) and Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), the Nilai clinic is a continuation of Maaedicare’s approach to care anchored in early detection, clinical rigour and continuity of treatment, according to the foundation’s press statement.

Since 2023, the model has already reached over 8,000 patients through its clinics in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, Perak, many of whom presented with previously undiagnosed or poorly controlled chronic conditions.

YAM chief executive officer Anne Rajasaikaran said the Nilai community reflected the very populations the foundation was established to serve.

“Many of the patients who visit our clinics are living with silent conditions – hypertension, early diabetes – without knowing it,” she said at the launch.

“By the time they reach tertiary care, the disease has often progressed significantly.

“Our free clinics allow us to intervene earlier, detecting risk, initiating treatment and reducing the financial toxicity that too often causes families experiencing hardship to delay care until it is too late.

“In communities such as Nilai, those most at risk are often the least likely to seek care – not because of reluctance, but because each consultation carries a cost they cannot consistently absorb.

“Our clinics remove that barrier. What it provides is not just access, but dignity, continuity and the confidence for individuals to take control of their health.

“Reaching 8,176 patients through our first two clinics has validated this model.

“Nilai is the natural next step in scaling that impact.”

YAM chairman Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra said: “Access to healthcare alone is not enough – what matters is when and how care is delivered.

“By placing primary care directly within communities like Nilai, we are shifting the paradigm from reactive treatment to proactive health management.

“This is how we reduce the long-term national burden of chronic disease – by acting earlier, closer to the patient and with greater continuity,” he said.

Maaedicare as a non-governmental organisation was uniquely positioned to complement the public healthcare system, he added.

“Ultimately, this is about building a healthcare ecosystem that is not only accessible but resilient.”

Open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm on a walk-in basis, services at the free clinic include point-of-care screenings, chronic disease management and lifestyle counselling.

Additional Klinik Amal Percuma locations are currently in development.

The launch was attended by Tunku Temenggong Kedah Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who is also MRCS national chairman, and MRCS secretary-general Datuk Danial Iskandar Abdul Rahman.

sos

Bujang Valley, the ancient kingdom still revealing

Srbn — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:54:30 +0800

Bujang Valley, the ancient kingdom still revealing its secrets

SUNGAI PETANI: More than a century after archaeologists first began uncovering traces of Kedah Tua, one of Southeast Asia’s oldest civilisations, Bujang Valley continues to surprise researchers.

New sites are still being discovered, ancient temple structures continue to emerge from the earth, and excavations are shedding fresh light on a civilisation that once thrived along the northern Malay peninsula.

Yet, even as researchers uncover more of the valley’s past, preserving it for future generations is becoming increasingly challenging.

According to Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum senior museum assistant Faudzi Sulaiman, development pressures and changing land use remain among the biggest obstacles facing archaeologists today.

“Some areas that were once identified as historical sites are now padi fields, plantations or residential land,” he told Bernama recently.

“For example, in Sungai Mas, when we want to widen our excavation, some parts have already been encroached upon by residential development. This makes it difficult to carry out more comprehensive exploration.”

The museum’s collection tells the story of Kedah Tua, an ancient kingdom whose influence stretched across a landscape covering about 1,000 sq km, from Cherok Tok Kun in Penang to Bukit Choras in Kedah.

For Faudzi, who has spent more than two decades working in museology, the challenge is particularly significant because research in the valley is far from complete.

One of the most active sites today is Bukit Choras in Yan, a location that has long attracted scholarly interest. Bukit Choras Site 1 was first documented by Colonel Sir James Low in 1845 and has since been studied by generations of researchers.

Excavations in recent years have revealed another temple structure as well as a large, 1,200-year-old Buddha statue, adding to evidence of the region’s rich history as an important centre of trade and culture.

Research there continues phase by phase, Faudzi said.

New discoveries are also emerging elsewhere. At Kota Kuala Muda, researchers recently identified another site known as Candi Kampung Baru, further strengthening the view that much of Kedah Tua’s story remains untold.

“Studies there continue to reveal the potential for further discoveries linked to Kedah Tua’s history,” he added.

‘Not rebuilding on a whim’

Beyond the practical challenges of excavation, Faudzi noted that archaeologists sometimes face misunderstandings about the work being carried out.

According to him, some members of the public mistakenly assume conservation efforts are attempts to rebuild ancient temples rather than preserve and study them.

“There’s been some confusion. We’re not rebuilding on a whim; every step we take is in the service of historical research and understanding the Kedah Tua civilisation,” he said.

Officially opened in 1980, the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum was Malaysia’s first museum dedicated specifically to the field.

There, visitors can explore galleries showcasing archaeological discoveries, ancient trade networks, and artefacts that help piece together life in one of the region’s earliest civilisations.

The museum also organises talks, workshops and hands-on programmes aimed at introducing younger generations to archaeology and history.

Last year, the museum welcomed about 130,000 visitors – a figure Faudzi hopes will continue to rise as more Malaysians discover the significance of Bujang Valley.

For researchers, however, the real excitement lies beyond the museum walls. With new sites still being uncovered and excavations continuing, one of Malaysia’s oldest civilisations may yet have many more stories waiting to be told.

Learn more about the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum by clicking here.

sos

Rohingya now renting houses, suburban flats

Srbn — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:05:24 +0800

KUANTAN – The settlement pattern of foreign nationals, particularly the Rohingya ethnic group in this district, is seen to be changing as they begin renting housing areas and low-cost apartments on the outskirts of the city.

Previously, some of this group resided in open settlement areas or remote locations..

However, they are now seen to be more inclined to rent formal residential properties such as terraced houses and low-cost apartment units.

A survey by Sinar found that residential areas in Medan Warisan are among the locations said to be a focal point, with these housing units occupied by the group as well as other foreign nationals.

Observations also found that several apartment units in the area show fairly frequent movement of foreign individuals entering and leaving, although the actual status of the occupants could not be fully confirmed.

In addition, several commercial premises in the area were also found to be used by the group to conduct small-scale business activities believed to be operating under third-party licences.

A resident, Ahmad, in his 50s, claimed that he had observed a significant change in the movement pattern of occupants in a nearby apartment block over the past few years.

He said that the situation is clearly different from before, with an increase in the movement of individuals in and out of certain units.

“Sometimes you see a lot of people coming in and out of the block. The situation is quite noticeable compared to before,” he said.

He said that this has raised concerns regarding comfort and the living environment in the neighbourhood.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Razali, in his 40s, who claimed that there are also small-scale business activities being carried out in several premises within the residential area.

“In this area (Medan Warisan), there are indeed small shops such as eateries and grocery stores run on a small scale.

“Not all, but in some cases there are activities like collecting used items and asking for donations that make residents feel uncomfortable,” he said.

sos

Rohingya Prince

Srbn — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:41:12 +0800

[YOUTUBE]8DqqDqWfRWY?si=j2MepK6r9e24_aRZ[/YOUTUBE]

DAP, PH more puas than puas

Srbn — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:04:05 +0800

[YOUTUBE]L-0krmYE-Nc?si=tBiUVDhVHgNCNiWp[/YOUTUBE]

Malaysia’s Rohingya Question

Srbn — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:13:46 +0800

Malaysia’s Rohingya Question: What The Petition Says, What The Anger Is About, And What The Facts Actually Show

A petition addressed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, calling on the government to act on the presence of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, has drawn more than 125,000 signatures on Change.org

It has been shared widely on social media, cited in mainstream media, and held up as evidence that Malaysian public opinion has reached a tipping point.

But here is the first thing worth knowing: Change.org does not verify the nationality or identity of its signatories.

Anyone with an email address — Malaysian or not, resident or overseas, human or automated — can sign.

The platform’s own description of “verified signatures” refers only to email confirmation, not citizenship.

That does not mean the anger is manufactured; community leaders, welfare groups and residents in areas with high concentrations of Rohingya — Selayang, Ampang, Terengganu and parts of Penang — have been raising concerns for years.

The frustration is genuine, but in a story where numbers and claims are doing a lot of heavy lifting, it is worth being precise about what we actually know.

A Measured Petition, And The Angrier Story Around It
The petition, started by an account identifying itself as “Aku Anak Malaysia,” does not explicitly call for forced deportation.

Its stated demands are more measured — it urges the government to work with international organisations on resettlement to third countries, and to prioritise the welfare of Malaysian citizens.

But the language used to promote it has been sharper.

Social media shares have framed it as the taking of resources, the flouting of laws, and toothless enforcement.

And those specific claims have been amplified by community voices in the mainstream press.

The Accusations On The Table
Mohd Sophian Mohd Zain, chairman of the Persatuan Kebajikan Surplus Pulau Pinang, gave the most detailed public articulation of the grievances this week, speaking to Harian Metro.

He said the anger has been building for years, not days.

The core claims circulating are:

1)Rohingya refugees are openly running businesses despite having no legal right to do so
2)During this year’s Aidiladha celebrations in Selayang, the community collectively purchased 70 sacrificial cows worth an estimated RM700,000 — raising questions about undisclosed income
3)Some refugees operate using Malaysian citizens’ business licences as fronts — the so-called “Alibaba” arrangement
4)UNHCR cardholders are routinely released after immigration raids, making enforcement effectively pointless
5)There is no government timeline for resettlement, and no clear policy on what refugees are permitted to do

These are the claims; here is what the evidence says about each.

Claim 1: Rohingya Refugees Are Freely Running Businesses
Partly true — but the full picture is more complicated.

Rohingya refugees in Malaysia have no legal right to work or operate businesses.

That is not disputed, but informal economic activity among refugees is a predictable consequence of a system that provides no legal pathway to employment and no government subsistence support.

People without income find ways to survive.

The more important question is not simply “why are they working” — it is who is enabling it and why enforcement has been inconsistent for years.

If refugees are operating through Malaysian-owned licences, as alleged, then Malaysian citizens are active participants.

Any enforcement action would need to target both sides of that arrangement equally.

Claim 2: They Spent RM700,000 On Korban Cows
Unverified — and the number deserves scrutiny; this is the claim that has spread furthest and fastest.

It is specific, tied to a religious occasion, and carries an implicit accusation — that refugees are hiding significant wealth.

But Harian Metro, which published the claim, did not independently verify it.

No receipts, no market records, no statements from the Selayang municipal authority or any mosque committee have been cited as evidence.

The claim originated from a single community leader’s public statement.

It may be accurate, or exaggerated or based on a misunderstanding of how communal korban contributions work — in which many individuals pool small amounts to purchase animals collectively.

What is certain is that it has done enormous work in shaping public perception, and it has not been fact-checked before being widely repeated.

Claim 3: UNHCR Cards Make Refugees Immune To Enforcement
Partially true — but it is a government policy choice, not a legal loophole.

Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and has no domestic law formally recognising refugee status.

When immigration officers encounter someone with a valid UNHCR card during a raid, they have generally — though not always — released them, in line with an informal arrangement with the UN agency.

This is not the UNHCR card granting special immunity.

It reflects a long-standing practice by Malaysian authorities of not detaining registered refugees en masse — one that has never been formally explained or publicly announced.

The result is a perception gap; residents see “catch and release” and conclude the system is broken.

In reality, it is functioning as the government intended — just without anyone being told why, or for how long.

Claim 4: Crime Is Rising Because Of Refugees
The petition makes this claim; the data does not support it.

The petition states that “crime rates have increased in areas where refugee settlements are concentrated.”

No source is cited, no specific areas, timeframes or crime categories are referenced.

Malaysia’s official crime statistics, published by the police, do not break down crime by refugee status.

There is no publicly available data linking Rohingya presence to increased crime rates in any specific area.

The claim, as stated, is unsubstantiated — and a flood of unverified social media posts alleging Rohingya involvement in fights, robberies and antisocial behaviour is not making a sober assessment any easier.

sos

After Water Crisis, Delhi Plans 1,500 Rainwater

Srbn — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:48:31 +0800

After Water Crisis, Delhi Plans 1,500 Rainwater Harvesting Projects Before Monsoon

Weeks after water shortages hit parts of the capital, the Delhi government has launched a pre-monsoon rainwater harvesting drive that will see 500 new structures built and 1,000 non-functional systems revived across government buildings by June 30.

The initiative, to be implemented by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), aims to improve groundwater recharge ahead of the monsoon and comes as the city looks for longer-term solutions to recurring summer water stress.

Officials say that the programme could help recharge around 733 million litres of water annually, more than 73 crore litres, by capturing rainwater that would otherwise flow into drains.

After Summer Water Stress, Focus Shifts To Recharge

The announcement comes after several parts of Delhi reported water shortages during the peak summer months, bringing water availability and conservation measures back into focus.

Delhi relies heavily on water from neighbouring states and the Yamuna to meet its daily demand. Every summer, rising temperatures and growing demand put pressure on the city's water resources, prompting renewed discussions on groundwater recharge and rainwater conservation.

Officials say the latest initiative is aimed at improving the city's ability to capture and store rainwater during the upcoming monsoon season.

500 New Structures, 1,000 Defunct Systems To Be Revived

According to the Delhi Jal Board, the first phase of the campaign includes the construction of 500 new rainwater harvesting structures and the restoration of 1,000 existing systems that are no longer functional.

The plan will cover buildings belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Directorate of Education and other government departments.

Rainwater harvesting has been mandatory in Delhi for plots measuring 100 square metres and above since 2001. However, many systems installed over the years have fallen into disrepair due to inadequate maintenance.

Currently, around 7,596 of Delhi's 9,148 government buildings are equipped with rainwater harvesting systems. Officials said a key objective of the exercise is to ensure existing infrastructure is functioning before the arrival of the monsoon.

June 30 Deadline Before Monsoon Gains Pace

The Delhi Jal Board has set a June 30 target for completion of the first phase of the project.

Officials said tenders are being invited immediately, while work orders are expected to be issued in the first week of June.

The timeline is intended to ensure that both new and restored systems are operational in time to capture rainfall during the monsoon season.

Government Targets Over 73 Crore Litres In Groundwater Recharge

Based on the rooftop area covered under the initiative and Delhi's average annual rainfall, officials estimate the project could help recharge around 733 million litres of water every year.

The government says improving groundwater recharge is a key objective as concerns over declining groundwater levels continue to be raised in several parts of the city.

The initiative also comes amid a broader push by agencies across Delhi to improve water conservation measures and revive water bodies.

Online Portal To Track Installations And Compliance

To monitor implementation, the Delhi Jal Board is developing a dedicated online portal to track rainwater harvesting systems across the city.

Officials said the platform will monitor installations, compliance and maintenance while providing information related to rainwater harvesting infrastructure in Delhi.

The board has also empanelled 59 service providers for installation and maintenance work across the National Capital Territory.

"Every Drop Of Rain That Falls On Delhi Is A Valuable Resource" : Minister

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma said water conservation should be treated as a continuous effort rather than a seasonal exercise.

"Water conservation cannot remain a seasonal discussion. It has to become a continuous movement. Every drop of rain that falls on Delhi is a valuable resource, and our responsibility is to ensure that it is conserved and returned to the ground instead of being wasted."

He said the campaign would focus on both building new infrastructure and restoring existing systems.

"This campaign is not just about building new structures. It is equally about reviving the infrastructure that already exists and ensuring that government institutions lead by example. The upcoming monsoon presents an important opportunity to recharge Delhi's groundwater reserves, and we are determined to make the most of it."

Can Rainwater Help Ease Delhi's Water Challenges?

Mr Verma said long-term water security would require a combination of conservation measures, efficient water management and public participation.

"The Delhi Government is committed to creating a sustainable and water-secure future for the city. Rainwater Harvesting is one of the most effective tools available to us, and this initiative reflects our resolve to strengthen groundwater resources and make Delhi more resilient to future water challenges."

sos

Europe cannot maintain welfare state anymore!

Srbn — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:50:23 +0800

Jack Mintz: Is the welfare state still affordable? It never was

Last week German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said what the public needs to hear: “The welfare state that we have today can no longer be financed with what we produce in the economy.” In fact, the welfare state was never affordable. But better late than never! In the OECD taxes have risen as a share of GDP from 25 per cent in 1965 to 35 per cent and that has been accompanied by a half-century growth slowdown.

Merz was mainly referring to Germany’s current fiscal plight: sluggish growth, major new military commitments and rising public debt. Population aging is stressing the public finances, with 19.5 million Germans leaving the workforce by 2036 and only 12.5 million entering — which raises the question: where will the new soldiers come from?

To get defence and related spending to five per cent of GDP will stretch Germany’s budget. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany’s defence spending will have to rise from US$88.5 billion now (1.9 per cent of GDP) to US$329 billion in 2035. That will require a mix of spending cuts and more taxes and indebtedness. So far, the major policy response has been to borrow more by excluding military and infrastructure spending from debt limits. Even before the increase in defence spending, the IMF was predicting that gross debt will climb from 64 to 75 per cent of GDP.

This week Germany announced a teeny step to undo its welfare state. To deal with its pension crisis — pensions now account for a quarter of the federal budget — the government wants to encourage Germans to put more money in the stock and bond markets. In hopes of reducing future pension payments, it will deposit 10 Euros every month into an account for children aged six to 18 that can’t be touched until they retire.

It might start a policy trend. After all, in 1889 Germany introduced the world’s first public pension scheme. The idea of relying on individual saving in its place will be a difficult change in culture, however. Today, it is sacrilege to touch public pensions.

And not everyone will be following Germany’s lead. Spain’s socialist Prime Minster Pedro Sánchez rejected NATO’s five per cent plan, saying it “would be incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision.” He’s right. With Spain’s high taxes and heavy indebtedness, its welfare state almost certainly wouldn’t survive defence spending rising US$25 billion to US$135 billion by 2035. Sánchez did agree to increase defence spending this year to two per cent of GDP, however.

As for Canada, cracks in the welfare state could be coming here, too. Our prime minister thinks we’re the most European country not in Europe. We’re making a good case for that, with our slow growth of GDP, GDP per capita and investment, our “consolidated government gross debt” of 110 per cent of GDP (much higher than Germany’s), our defence spending of just 1.3 per cent of GDP (much lower than Spain’s 1.9 per cent) and our rapidly aging population: with over-65s rising from 20 per cent of us last year to 25 per cent in 2030.

Under heavy U.S. pressure, Canada has committed to the five per cent NATO defence target, which will require spending to rise by US$140 billion in the next decade. Where will the money come from?

The government promises to cut operating spending by 15 per cent over three years but not touch the welfare state. It’s also going to bail out the forest, steel, aluminum and canola sectors, cancel the Digital Sales Tax and reduce retaliatory tariffs. As Germany has done, it may hide military spending in the capital budget rather than report a larger operating deficit. For their part, with $42 billion in deficits this fiscal year, the provinces are no better able to afford their welfare states.

Will electorates agree to the unravelling of the welfare state? In France, a weak economy and growing public debt are pushing up interest rates as markets worry over France’s fiscal position. The country’s minority government proposes spending cuts and tax increases equal to €44 billion to reduce its 2026 deficit. But with both left- and right-wing parties rejecting austerity, Prime Minister François Bayrou is likely to lose a vote of confidence in the National Assembly, creating even more uncertainty. Defence commitments will be difficult to implement.

Governments are coming to understand the welfare state is not affordable. The question is: can they convince voters of this? Making room for military spending will be as big a challenge for our Liberal government as it is in every other NATO country.

sos

Guan Eng urges govt to roll back 50% Bumi equity

Srbn — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:43:25 +0800

Guan Eng urges govt to roll back 50% Bumi equity rule to boost investor confidence

FORMER finance minister Lim Guan Eng has urged the government to reverse its controversial increase in Bumiputera equity ownership requirements for high-value asset disposals, arguing that the move could weaken Malaysia’s competitiveness and discourage investment.

Lim called on the Finance Ministry to reinstate the previous 30 per cent Bumiputera equity threshold for acquisitions involving properties worth more than RM20 million sold by government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs), instead of the current 50 per cent requirement.

According to Lim, restoring the earlier threshold would strengthen market confidence and attract greater investor participation.

“The Finance Ministry needs to consider reversing the increase in bumi equity ownership to 50 percent by reverting to the previous 30 percent threshold for disposals of properties valued above RM20 million by the government-linked companies (GLC) or government-linked investment companies (GLICs),” Lim said in a statement.

The DAP chairman cited the recent RM2 billion acquisition involving Eco World Development Group Bhd as an example of how major corporate transactions could proceed smoothly without provoking racial tensions.

“No non-bumi had opposed the RM2 billion acquisition of a substantial stake in Eco World Development Group Bhd and its sister company by the bumi entrepreneur Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.

“The shares in EcoWorld, equivalent to 30.1 percent, were sold by former deputy chairman Datuk Leong Kok Wah resulting in Syed Mokhtar as the dominant shareholder in EcoWorld,” he said.

Lim argued that Malaysians broadly accepted the transaction because it was viewed as a commercial decision rather than an ethnic issue.

“All Malaysians accepted this transaction because they see this not through a racial lens but as a market-based commercial decision by private parties,” he said.

“The problem is that there are still extremists in Malaysia who continue to look at the racial angle in every commercial decision.”

Lim stressed that Pakatan Harapan’s longstanding position had been to maintain the status quo of a 30 per cent bumiputera quota in public policy and government-linked economic frameworks while ensuring equal opportunities for all Malaysians.

“Fostering national unity, stability and harmony is the understanding for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in maintaining the status quo of 30 percent ethnic quotas in government and public policy.

“Within this framework, PH seeks to provide equal opportunities for all Malaysians,” he said.

He criticised the revised framework under the Ministry of Economy’s Property Acquisition Guidelines (PAG), which came into effect on November 18, 2025, describing it as inconsistent with Pakatan Harapan’s original approach.

Under the updated guidelines, companies acquiring properties valued above RM20 million from GLCs and GLICs are now required to have at least 50 per cent Bumiputera equity ownership, an increase from the previous 30 per cent threshold.

Lim highlighted the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as one of the key institutions affected by the policy, noting that it represented the retirement savings of Malaysians from all communities.

“Amongst the most important GLICs is the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the premier statutory retirement fund of all Malaysians, from both bumi and non-bumi,” he said.

While acknowledging that the policy framework had existed under previous administrations, Lim noted that the current government had chosen to strengthen the requirement rather than maintain existing arrangements.

“The increase in bumi equity ownership from 30 percent to 50 percent by the current government has not only caused disillusionment amongst the PH base supporters but also raises concerns that this government may do the same for other policy instruments and administrative arrangements,” he said.

Lim ultimately called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to intervene directly and restore the earlier threshold.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should reverse the increase in bumi equity ownership by reverting to the previous 30 percent for disposals of properties valued above RM20 million by GLCs and GLICs,” he added. - May 24, 2026

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Japan blame foreigners burnt down their temples.

Srbn — Sat, 23 May 2026 10:34:23 +0800

[YOUTUBE]3YJan82-ejs?si=3FV8iTxLGP7jfrEP[/YOUTUBE]

8 old temples (several hundred years old) were burnt since Jan 2026.

Talk to your own BN minister: Loke tells Wee Ka

Srbn — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:35:53 +0800

Talk to your own BN minister: Loke tells Wee Ka Siong where to bring UEC grouses

JOHOR BAHRU, May 17 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has told MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong to direct his complaints regarding the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to his own coalition partner, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.

Speaking at the 2026 Pakatan Harapan Convention today, Loke pointed out that since Zambry is from Barisan Nasional (BN) and MCA is a component party, any dissatisfaction should be resolved internally within their coalition.

“If you are not satisfied, please look for the minister from BN, as he determines the conditions and policies,” Loke said.

“He agreed with the Cabinet decision. So, don’t blame Anthony Loke and DAP. We also want to resolve the issue quickly.”

Loke reframed the debate by stressing that the UEC is an issue of educational access, not a political tool or a threat to the national language.

“Today, we have a prime minister who wants to provide fair access to education for all,” he said, adding that the mandate to resolve the long-standing issue came directly from the prime minister.

Addressing concerns within the Malay community, Loke gave his assurance that the status of Bahasa Melayu as the national language is secure and will never be disputed by DAP.

“The Malay community does not need to worry, as Bahasa Melayu will forever be the national language,” he affirmed.

“Today, we want Malaysian children to master various languages. This is the Madani government and our philosophy.”

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Rebuilt, not founded: Yap Ah Loy’s descendant says

Srbn — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:43:55 +0800

Rebuilt, not founded: Yap Ah Loy’s descendant says KL’s true legacy lies in its recovery after war

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Yap Ah Loy is widely remembered as the man who founded Kuala Lumpur, but according to his fifth-generation great-grandson Glenn Yap, that story only tells half the truth.

Glenn said Yap’s defining contribution was not founding the city, but rebuilding it after it was almost wiped out during the Klang War.

“People always say Yap Ah Loy founded Kuala Lumpur, but what made him extraordinary was that he rebuilt KL after it was completely destroyed during the Klang War,” he said during the Life and Legacy of Yap Ah Loy talk organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia.

Born in Guangdong, Yap came to Malaya as a young migrant seeking opportunities. His early years were marked by false starts — after losing his travel money to gambling at 17, he was too ashamed to return to his uncle in Kesang and instead travelled north on foot until he reached Sungai Ujong.

There, he met Liu Ngim Kong, a figure who would later play a key role in regional developments. Yap initially worked as a cook but quickly demonstrated business acumen, trading surplus goods for profit before expanding into livestock and tin-related activities.

Liu Ngim Kong recognised his abilities and appointed him Kapitan of Sungai Ujong following the death of Shen Ming Li, marking the first time Yap held a formal leadership role.

Not long after, he followed Liu Ngim Kong to Kuala Lumpur and was officially installed as Kapitan Cina in 1869.

His greatest test came during the Klang War, a prolonged civil conflict involving multiple rulers, mining interests and their respective Chinese allies.

“This civil war, involving rival Malay factions and competing Chinese groups, lasted around six years. At its climax in 1873, Kuala Lumpur was devastated. Entire rows of shops and homes were destroyed, leaving the town looking like an abandoned construction site covered in mud and rubble.

“There were no drainage systems, infrastructure or functioning settlements left. Many survivors fled to places such as Taiping and other mining towns in search of new opportunities,” Glenn said.

Glenn said Yap then begged people to stay, convinced that Kuala Lumpur still had tremendous potential and that its people were more experienced and capable than those elsewhere.

However, rebuilding came at an enormous personal cost to Yap, who had spent heavily throughout the war on troops, supplies and welfare, depleting much of his fortune.

To finance reconstruction, he borrowed from three separate parties, with some loans carrying interest rates as high as 50 per cent.

The recovery only gained momentum around 1878 and 1879, when improving global tin prices helped restore both the town’s economy and Yap’s finances.

By then, he had become one of Kuala Lumpur’s largest property owners, controlling nearly two-thirds of the town, including more than a dozen mines and much of the Medan Pasar commercial centre.

Yap later established brick kilns in what became Brickfields and set up a tapioca mill along Petaling Street that created jobs for the growing population.

Among his lesser-known contributions was the establishment of what is believed to be Kuala Lumpur’s first Chinese school along High Street, now known as Jalan Bandar.

“He invested his own money to set up the school, spending more than 500 dollars. Based on research, that amount would be equivalent to a significant sum today, roughly RM25,000.

“He also helped secure a headmaster and supported the school’s early development as enrolment gradually increased,” he added.

One of Yap Ah Loy’s major contributions was the establishment of basic healthcare facilities. The first hospital he introduced was rudimentary by modern standards and was more accurately described as a hospice.

Glenn said medical facilities were extremely limited and Western medicine was not widely trusted, with many people instead relying on traditional Chinese medicine.

Despite its simplicity, the early hospital created awareness of the need for proper healthcare, eventually leading to the development of more formal medical institutions in Kuala Lumpur.

His contributions also extended to road construction. The earliest roads linked to his development efforts included Ampang Road, Batu Road, Damansara Road and parts of what later became the Federal Highway stretch leading towards the University Hospital area.

Glenn said Yap’s most enduring contribution was the founding of the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.

He added that visitors and researchers from China continue to travel to the temple to study its architecture and history.

“It is one of the oldest Taoist temples in Kuala Lumpur. Visitors can enter the temple freely, and it continues to attract researchers and tourists interested in Chinese heritage, architecture and history,” Glenn said.

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Chinese court rules firms can’t lay off workers on

Srbn — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:52:19 +0800

Chinese court rules firms can’t lay off workers on AI grounds

A Chinese court ruled that companies cannot terminate employees just to replace them with artificial intelligence systems, as authorities juggle the need to stabilize the domestic labor market with a global race to develop AI technologies.

The court decided that a tech firm in eastern China had illegally fired one of its workers after he refused to take a demotion when his job was automated by AI, according to a statement published by the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court.

“The termination grounds cited by the company did not fall under negative circumstances such as business downsizing or operational difficulties, nor did they meet the legal condition that made it ‘impossible to continue the employment contract,’” the court said in the article dated April 28.

Companies cannot unilaterally lay off employees or cut salaries due to technological progress, the court said in a separate statement, citing the same case.

The ruling comes as Chinese companies race to implement AI systems as part of a state-directed push to dominate the new technology. At the same time, planners in the Chinese Communist Party have indicated a willingness to prioritize stability in the labor market as the country reckons with a slowing economy and elevated youth unemployment.

The employee at the center of the case, a quality assurance professional at a tech company identified only as Zhou, had been responsible for checking the accuracy of outputs by large language models, according to the filing. When an AI system took over his job, he was demoted and forced to take a 40% pay cut.

When Zhou refused the reassignment, the company terminated him, pointing to reductions in staffing due to AI. The case went to arbitration and then the Chinese court system, which supported a compensation package.

The ruling builds on a precedent set by another Chinese court in December, which found that AI implementation did not meet the necessary legal standard for a mapping company to terminate one of its employees’ contracts.

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Illegal contractors from mainland China taking up

Srbn — Sun, 10 May 2026 15:19:31 +0800

My friend said his boss hired contractor from China to renovate the office.

Why our government never stop this kind of thing?

We never heard that anyone was caught.