20/08/2025

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Billions spent but armed forces assets outdated: PM

Mulling tribunal on child bullying Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com KUALA LUMPUR: The government is considering the establishment of a special tribunal on child bullying, with a focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said Malaysia currently has no legal definition of bullying, although related offences are covered under several provisions of the Penal Code, including the recently amended Section 507. “To be fair, the Education Ministry already has its own guidelines. But when both perpetrators and victims are children, the Child Act still applies. “This is something the Cabinet may need to discuss – whether we should consider another process, such as a tribunal system for bullying cases involving children,”she said after the Asean Law Forum 2025 yesterday. Azalina said the proposed tribunal could be modelled on the Sexual Harassment Tribunal, with outcomes that are rehabilitative rather than purely punitive. “When it comes to children, the approach has to be different,” she said. She added that recent amendments to the Suhakam Act now allow for the appointment of child commissioners in Sabah and Sarawak, strengthening child protection mechanisms. Azalina also outlined wider reforms to strengthen alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, including mediation, arbitration and adjudication, to reduce court backlogs and lower costs. “Maybe we should even require mediation before going to court. This would lower costs, reduce the role of judges and allow communities to resolve issues with trained mediators.” She said Budget 2026 has allocated funds for a mobile court service in Peninsular Malaysia, following the model already operating in Sabah and Sarawak, to expand legal aid to communities in remote areas. On the regional stage, Azalina said Malaysia, as Asean chair this year, is championing ADR as a common platform across member states to boost investor confidence and economic growth. She said several key institutional reforms are in the pipeline, including the Legal Aid and Public Defence Act 2025 which will introduce a public defender scheme to complement existing legal aid services and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act that will grant the public clearer rights to access government data. She added that the government is also establishing Ombudsman Malaysia, an independent body to replace the Public Complaints Department, tasked with strengthening accountability in public service.

PETALING JAYA: Billions have been spent on defence, yet Malaysia is still deploying ships from 1976 – a failure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says is due to flawed procurement practices weakened by political interference and over-reliance on private agents. He said Malaysia must cut its dependence on intermediaries and instead prioritise government-to-government agreements which provide greater accountability and help avoid political or personal interests. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Anwar said the wasteful spending of the past had left the armed forces struggling with outdated equipment. “Even ships from 1976 are still in service because we do not have enough vessels. Imagine that. Billions spent, but ships are lacking. “Back then, I was still at Kamunting, and yet those ships are still being deployed today because there are no other ships available. This is a lesson for us.” Anwar said future procurements must involve proper negotiations, strict cost scrutiny and expert evaluation. The outcry over outdated assets has reached the highest level, with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia warning against putting servicemen in “flying coffins”. Speaking at the Rejimen Gerak Khas 60th anniversary parade last week, the King reminded the Defence Ministry not to repeat past procurement blunders, citing the ill-fated Skyhawk aircraft deal, and urged greater transparency to prevent middlemen from inflating costs. Anwar said Malaysia’s defence budget had risen from RM3 billion in 2020 to RM5 billion in 2024 in response to mounting o ‘Malaysia must cut dependence on intermediaries, prioritise government-to-government agreements which provide accountability and help avoid political interference’ Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Anwar stressing a point in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Malaysian Air Force chief and the relevant parties, including the Intelligence Division director. “I am awaiting the initial report but we will not cover up anything. If we begin compromising on breaches within our intelligence apparatus, it would be disastrous for the country.” Separately, Anwar addressed corruption allegations involving Sabah state assemblymen. Responding to Beluran MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee’s question on why only two out of eight individuals implicated were charged, Anwar said MACC would only proceed with cases that are “substantive in facts and law”. He said video or voice recordings alone are insufficient without corroborative evidence. He added that according to MACC, those who were charged are the ones against whom it is confident there is sufficient evidence and legal basis, not mere hearsay.

geopolitical threats. He cited the military build-up by the Philippines and the United States in southern Philippines, reportedly triggered by Chinese activity in the South China Sea. On internal security concerns, Anwar cited recent incidents, including of a syndicate involving senior Malaysian Armed Forces officers leaking operational information. He said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) uncovered bribery ranging from RM30,000 to RM50,000 per trip in that case. “These are serious national security issues which I am treating with utmost priority. A comprehensive investigation into alleged leaks within the military’s intelligence apparatus is already underway. “If there are groups, akin to cartels, profiting by selling confidential information, this is a grave matter for the nation. “Let a preliminary investigation be carried out. I have already briefed the Royal

Urgent need to address plight of Indian community, says Anwar

Tamil schools. He added that for this year, the government is adopting a more integrated approach, ensuring Mitra works closely with ministries to maximise impact. “For example, if the Housing and Local Government Ministry spends RM20 million on housing projects, Mitra will top up with an additional RM5 million to cover shortfalls. “ICT laboratory equipment for 50 Tamil schools will also be jointly funded by the Education Ministry and Mitra. The main focus remains education and poverty alleviation, but development must not be fragmented.”

aid for the Indian community is channelled solely through the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra). He said Mitra’s RM100 million allocation represents only part of a broader pool of support coordinated across ministries. “In 2024, out of the RM100 million allocated for Mitra, RM98.9 million was spent, benefiting more than 122,000 members of the Indian community.” He said this included RM93 million in early education subsidies, RM17.6 million in higher education aid for the Indian B40 group and RM2.99 million for 6,000 laptops distributed to

“Even Malays, who make up 60% of the population, have yet to reach 30% equity. The challenge cuts across all races,” he said, pointing out that almost RM1 billion was directed in 2024 alone to poor Indian households, particularly in estates. He added that long-term solutions depend on strengthening SMEs and entrepreneurship. “We can achieve zero hardcore poverty – families having food, shelter, schooling and transport. That is achievable. But poverty as a relative concept will always exist. “Hardcore poverty, however, we can and must end.” Anwar also dismissed claims that

eliminating hardcore poverty across all communities. He said allocations under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah scheme have significantly benefited Indian households, beginning with RM500 million in 2022 and rising to RM972 million by 2025. He also cited the RM1.2 billion Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme, along with targeted allocations for education and housing. Responding to calls for the revival of programmes such as the Amanah Saham Masyarakat India to boost equity ownership, he cautioned against framing poverty solely in racial terms.

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: While poverty is most prevalent among Malays due to their larger population, the Indian community faces a far sharper struggle, particularly in abandoned estate settlements, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said their plight must be urgently addressed, with housing and livelihood issues among the top priorities. Anwar reaffirmed that the government’s poverty eradication framework is based on need rather than race with a clear focus on