05/02/2026

THURSDAY | FEB 5, 2026

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Inmate who earns PhD in prison granted audience with Sultan after full pardon PETALING JAYA: Malaysia witnessed a special moment yesterday as Dr Malik Yatam became the first former detainee to receive a royal audience after earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) while serving a prison sentence. The 39-year-old met Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in a nearly hour-long audience, marking the first time Sultan Sharafuddin has met a former detainee who had been granted a full royal pardon, the Selangor Royal Office confirmed. The meeting was described as solemn and emotional. Malik, who spent 24 years in detention after being imprisoned at the age of 14 in 2001, was granted a full pardon during Sultan Sharafuddin’s birthday celebrations in 2024. He was released on Dec 11 that year. While serving his sentence at Kajang Prison, he pursued and completed a PhD in Business Administration. During the audience, Sultan Sharafuddin enquired about Malik’s life since his release and his future plans. “His Royal Highness was deeply moved by Malik’s life journey and expressed the view that he deserved a second chance,” the Selangor Royal Office said. “The decision to grant the pardon was carefully considered after taking

into account all factors presented during the Pardons Board meeting on Nov 24, 2024.” Sultan Sharafuddin urged Malik to uphold his family’s good name and remain determined in improving his quality of life as he rebuilds his future after incarceration. – BY HARITH KAMAL

‘M’sia-Indonesia land boundary set by treaties’

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The alignment of the Malaysia–Indonesia land boundary is determined strictly by established international conventions and treaties, not by compensation or land swaps, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday. Speaking in Parliament, he dismissed claims that Malaysia has surrendered 5,207ha to Indonesia as compensation for villages in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, namely Kampung Kabunggalo, Kampung Lempaga and Kampung Tertagas. He said boundary determination between the countries is governed by agreements inherited from the British and Dutch colonial administrations, such as the 1891 Boundary Convention, the 1915 Boundary Agreement and the 1928 Boundary Convention, covering a small sector in Sarawak. “For Sabah and Sarawak, boundary alignment is based on internationally recognised conventions and agreements that remain legally binding.” The current dispute involves outstanding boundary problems (OBP) along Sungai Sinapat and Sungai Sesai. Anwar said under the 1891 and 1915 agreements, the boundary is KUALA LUMPUR: Education-focused foundations will now enjoy a 10-year tax exemption, provided they meet requirements set by the Finance Ministry, announced Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday. The relief, aimed at supporting organisations established for educational purposes, will include groups such as Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman. “If a foundation’s mission is education and it complies with Finance Ministry regulations, it will be eligible for a decade-long tax exemption,” he said. He also used the occasion to challenge Malaysia’s youth to outshine the current generation, calling for bold strides in education, the economy and technological mastery, particularly in AI, to secure the nation’s future. Speaking at the Temu Anwar @ TAR UMT programme, he urged students to focus on core priorities, such as education, science and technology, warning against distractions that could weaken national unity. “We do not want the next generation to be as they are now. They must be better. I want my children, the next generation, to succeed far beyond what I have achieved, in the economy, education, IT and AI. Everything must improve. Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

must be made carefully and responsibly. This is not the time for narrow political gain at the expense of national interest or bilateral relations,” he said. He also criticised the Opposition for spreading false claims during the briefing. “Claims that Malaysia ceded land to Indonesia are untrue and, if not made with malicious intent, outright lies. “That is why we must adhere strictly to the agreement. The disputed area, as I see on the map, has been clearly defined since the 1915 agreement in all our records.” He said Malaysia’s relations with Indonesia have remained strong since 1974 and urged all parties to avoid rhetoric that could undermine diplomatic ties. “We may differ in views but we must not rush to judgement or offend our Indonesian counterparts, who are working sincerely to strengthen relations between the two countries.”

Malaysia–Indonesia Joint Border Committee meeting on Feb 18, 2025 and recorded in a memorandum of understanding. Under the agreement, Malaysia gained a small additional area at Pulau Sebatik and a larger area along Sungai Sinapat–Sungai Sesai. The remaining disputed area continues to be under Indonesian administration. Parts of the villages now fall within Malaysian territory, following the final boundary alignment, and have been incorporated into Sabah. “There is no element of compensation, exchange or loss-and-gain calculation in boundary determination. It is purely based on treaties and conventions.” Anwar cautioned that several sensitive boundary issues remain unresolved, including five land boundary sectors and inter-tidal areas in Sabah, as well as four OBP areas in Sarawak. “Statements on border matters

o Claims of ceded land untrue and, if not made with malicious intent, outright lies: Anwar

confirmed the final boundary. In the Sungai Sinapat–Sungai Sesai sector, similar surveys completed in 2023 finalised the boundary. Anwar said the negotiation and measurement process spanned 47 years and was resolved gradually to preserve strong bilateral relations. He said the Sabah government was fully involved, including the Chief Minister’s Office, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Lands and Surveys Department and other agencies. “Every inch of land was negotiated and agreed to by the Sabah government before any agreement was finalised between Malaysia and Indonesia.” Following the finalisation, the outcomes were tabled at the 45th

defined by the position of the river mouths in relation to 4° latitude 20 minutes north. The territory north of this line belongs to British North Borneo (now Sabah) while the territory south falls under the former Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). However, joint surveys conducted by Malaysia and Indonesia since 1977 have found that Sungai Sinapat flows north of that latitude, contrary to earlier map interpretations. “OBP areas cannot be regarded as belonging to either country until negotiations are concluded as they are, by definition, unresolved boundary sectors,” said Anwar. For Pulau Sebatik, joint surveys and marking carried out in 2019 Set your priorities. “Do you want to succeed in education? In AI and related fields? If so, then start focusing on these issues and study, struggle and succeed in every way possible.” Anwar stressed that Malaysia must undertake bold reforms and accelerate progress across multiple sectors, cautioning that failure to keep pace with rapid global changes in technology, digitalisation and energy transition could leave the country behind. He also urged young Malaysians to make difficult choices to preserve peace and social cohesion, noting that nations embracing conflict and hostility eventually decline. “There are moments when we, especially young people, must pause and consider our next steps, so this country can remain peaceful, nurture compassion, confidence and trust among one another, and eradicate hostility, racial hatred and division. “Our founding leaders, in the early years of independence, chose the challenging path. “They did not opt for the easy route that preserved separation and racial hostility but instead chose a system that promoted peace.” Warning that appealing to narrow communal sentiments may be politically convenient, Anwar called on youths to prioritise the nation’s long term interests to elevate Malaysia on the global stage.

Tax exemption for education-focused foundations

Anwar is accompanied by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, who is also TARC Education Foundation Board of Trustees chairman, at the Temu Anwar @ TAR UMT programme yesterday. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Highlighting the multicultural fabric and moderate values of Malaysia as unique strengths, he said the country’s potential lies in harnessing the collective wisdom and talents of all communities. “That is how we live. That is how far we have come. I want all races to

“Meaningful change requires courage and firm decision-making, even if it brings criticism, rejection or personal attacks. I will be honest: When I look at you, these faces reflect the future of Malaysia, and I am confident you will make the right decisions.”

respect one another. “This is not a zero-sum game. Respect is fundamental, and it is embedded within the Madani framework, alongside human dignity. We want goodness for all. This is the essence of our effort to bring meaningful change to the country.”