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Ex-national footballer recounts ‘small but grand’ reward

Selangor team members each received RM50 and ‘10-sen size’ medal for reaching 1966 Malaya Cup finals.

Malaysian Paper www.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPY

Report on — page 5

SCAN ME No. 9183 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195)

Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching previously revealed that cases recorded by police increased from 68 in 2024 to 152 last year, while 100 cases have been recorded this year. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Report on h page 4 Seeds of crime

Possession of child sexual abuse material may cause behavioural addiction and spawn more serious offences to feed escalating level of perversion: Police

RM210 million allocated for PTPTN eKasih Children’s Scholarship Report Initiative expected to benefit 10,000 students from poor and hardcore poverty families, says minister. on — page 2

Questions rife over stability of opposition landscape ahead of GE16

Report on — page 3

Parti Wawasan Negara launch adds another layer to already crowded Malay political field: Analyst

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MONDAY | JUNE 15, 2026

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/thesun

Governance, accountability key to economic development: PM

Work together for peace, unity and stability, says minister TAIPING: Malaysians from all backgrounds must remain united and work together to ensure peace, stability and prosperity for the nation, just as every instrument in an orchestra must play in harmony to create beautiful music, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Taiping International Youth Marching Band Festival 2026 yesterday, Nga said music, with various beats and rhythms, serves as a powerful reminder that diversity is not a weakness but a strength, when guided by mutual respect, understanding and a shared purpose. He added that in a country blessed with rich diversity, Malaysians must always respect and understand one another’s differences, as turning against ourselves would not help the country prosper but would cause more damage and instability. “As the nation moves closer to the election season, Malaysians must not allow differences in political views to divide society but must uphold the spirit of maturity, respect and unity, just as musicians playing different instruments remain focused on producing one harmonious performance for the benefit of all.” Nga said Malaysia has been selected by the Global Peace Index as one of the top 12 most peaceful countries in the world, which is an achievement that shall be cherished by all Malaysians under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership. On the festival, Nga said the gathering of youth marching bands from Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Hong Kong demonstrates how people from different cultures and nationalities could come together in harmony despite having different backgrounds. He said music transcends barriers of race, religion, language and nationality, making it a universal language that fosters friendship, inspires hope and strengthens bonds between communities across borders. “A world-class city must not be measured by economic development per se. Music, culture and art must be crucial components in creating such a world-class environment.” Nga also commended the organisers, educators, volunteers, sponsors and community partners whose dedication and collaboration transformed the music festival into a successful international event that showcases Taiping’s heritage and Malaysia’s cultural richness to the world. Expressing hope that the friendships forged during the festival would endure beyond the final performance, Nga called on all Malaysians to embrace the values embodied by music, which are respect, discipline, understanding and unity as the foundation for a stronger and more harmonious nation. – Bernama

greater responsibility in shaping national development outcomes. Anwar stressed that Malaysia’s development agenda must be grounded in social justice, equality and inclusivity, with every decision taking into account both growth and fair distribution. “Every step, every decision must consider the majority of the people, how to generate growth and how to distribute it. That is a necessity.” He added that without this balance, development would fail to reflect the true meaning of independence and democracy. He also referenced political philosopher John Rawls, pointing out that justice is about fairness rather than identical treatment. Anwar said equal allocations in unequal contexts do not produce real justice. “If a rural school requires more support, it would not be fair to allocate the same amount as a school that is already well-resourced. “That is why justice is understood as social democracy, fairness and compassion.” He said social democracy and cooperative economics are built on the principle of “justice as fairness”, combining equality with contextual support. He added that such institutions help to widen participation in economic activity while reducing inequality through collective ownership and shared benefits. Anwar said governance remains the key determinant of success or failure and even well-resourced institutions could collapse if corruption persists or oversight is weak. “In the country, we may have strong revenues and resources, but if we allow a small group to steal at will, we cannot distribute the wealth fairly.” He expressed hope that successful organisations such as Koprojaya would serve as models for others, with their governance frameworks studied and replicated to strengthen the wider movement. approved first to ensure that they could continue their studies, before being considered for the scholarship. Alin Nairien Wong Mohd Allif Wong, 20, and Muhammad Amar Khoo Arif Khoo, 21, the recipients of the scholarship, said it would ease the financial burden of their families and help them focus on their studies. Alin Nairien, from Tanjung Sedili near Kota Tinggi and a Diploma in Event Management student at Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, said she relies on the income of her mother and eldest brother, following her father’s death in 2019. Muhammad Amar, a Cyber Security degree student at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, said the scholarship would help reduce the financial burden on his father.

and the distribution of power in government are important, even if some take them lightly. “If not corrected, even large amounts of funds will not benefit the public but only a small group,” he said at the 10th AGM of Koperasi Professional Putrajaya Berhad (Koprojaya) in Putrajaya yesterday. Anwar said governance standards must be upheld across all institutions to ensure that profits and wealth are distributed fairly among members and the wider community. He said this principle aligns with the values of justice and compassion which underpin the government’s Madani framework. He urged young civil servants and public officials to move beyond routine administrative roles and take

o Issues such as corruption, misuse of power and weak management must not be taken lightly if financial gains are to reach wider population, says Anwar

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

He well-managed organisations consistently perform better, adding that issues such as corruption, misuse of power and weak governance must not be taken lightly if economic gains are to reach the wider population. He also said if cooperatives in the country are managed well, their performance would be good. “That is why issues like corruption said

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for governance and accountability to remain central to Malaysia’s broader economic development, stressing that strong management is essential for ensuring that benefits are shared more widely with the public.

Anwar visiting a stall set up in Dewan Damar Sari, Kompleks F in conjunction with the event held in Putrajaya yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC RM210m eKasih scholarship to benefit 10,000 students KULAI: The National Higher

RM8.79 million in allocations since its introduction this year. The scholarship is open to Malaysian students aged 25 and below who are enrolled in National Higher Education Fund Corporation registered courses, have an active Simpan SSPN account, no outstanding loan arrears and at least one semester remaining in their studies. Recipients will receive RM4,750 annually for diploma studies, RM6,180 for bachelor’s degree (Arts) programmes and RM6,650 for bachelor’s degree (Science) programmes, Bernama reported. Norliza said students must first apply for a loan through the myPTPTN app. She also said the loan would be

said after presenting the scholarship to two recipients in Johor on Saturday. Also present were the corporation’s chairman Datuk Seri Norliza Abdul Rahim, CEO Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid and its Johor office director Mazni Ruslan. Zambry said eligible recipients must be registered in the eKasih database and enrolled full-time in diploma or bachelor’s degree programmes at public higher education institutions from Jan 1. He urged the public and public higher education institutions to inform the corporation of students who may qualify for the scholarship. Norliza said as of May 31, the scholarship had benefitted 402 students nationwide, involving

Education Fund Corporation has allocated RM210 million under its eKasih Children’s Scholarship, benefitting 10,000 students from poor and hardcore poverty families this year. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the allocation is a significant increase from the RM120 million announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim under Budget 2026 last October, which was expected to benefit 5,800 recipients. “In the latest announcement under the Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035, the number of beneficiaries of this free education initiative has been increased to 10,000 from low-income families,” he

MONDAY | JUNE 15, 2026 3 PKR to contest 36 seats in state polls PETALING JAYA: PKR will contest at least 36 seats across the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections after Pakatan Harapan (PH) completed seat negotiations among its component parties, signalling the coalition’s readiness for two of the country’s most closely watched state polls. PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said the party is expected to field candidates in at least 20 seats in Johor and 16 in Negeri Sembilan, with discussions within the coalition concluding smoothly. “The latest number of seats PKR will contest in Negeri Sembilan is 16, while the minimum in Johor is 20. Everything has been sorted out,“ she reportedly said after officiating the opening of a supermarket in Bandar Kuantan Putri, in Kuantan, yesterday. PH has previously announced that it will contest all 56 seats in Johor and all 36 seats in Negeri Sembilan. Fuziah also expressed confidence that voter turnout in Johor would be higher than during the 2022 state election, which was held while the country was still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. “Many voters working in Singapore did not return to vote in 2022 because of health concerns. I am confident turnout will be higher this time.” On the emergence of new political parties such as Bersama and Wawasan, Fuziah said Malaysia’s political landscape had evolved significantly since the 2008 general election, moving away from the dominance of a single coalition. She said the rise of PKR, and its key role in PH, had strengthened political competition and provided voters with credible alternatives. “In many mature democracies, a multi-party system is the norm. It is also common for different coalitions to govern at the federal and state levels. This should not be seen as unusual in Malaysia.” Fuziah added that political parties should compete through policies and ideas that benefit the people rather than by attacking their opponents. The upcoming state elections are expected to be closely contested, with Barisan Nasional contesting all 36 seats in Negeri Sembilan on its own and Perikatan Nasional planning to field candidates across both states. Within PH, DAP has confirmed it will contest 17 seats in Johor and defend its 11 seats in Negeri Sembilan. ‘New Malay parties welcome if they unite’ JOHOR BAHRU: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has welcomed the formation of any new Malay-based political party, provided it contributes to greater unity among Malays and does not further divide the community. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said any new political platform established by individuals or prominent figures should aim to unite Malay thinking and strengthen common objectives. “We welcome any individual or leader who wishes to establish a new platform, on the condition that it helps unite thinking and does not lead to further divisions. “Whatever platform is used, if it ultimately brings people together in support of the national agenda, the Islamic agenda and the interests of the Malay community, then it deserves support,” he told reporters after attending the ‘Haul Asmaulhusna 2026 Zikir’ at Sultan Iskandar Mosque in Bandar Dato Onn here on Saturday. Also present were Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Johor BN chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. Ahmad Zahid was commenting on the emergence of a new political party centred on the Malay-Muslim struggle. On Saturday, RESET Movement founder Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced the formation of Parti Wawasan Negara, which is scheduled to hold its first annual general meeting next week. – Bernama Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newdesk@thesundaily.com

Political landscape redrawn by new Malay party

o Wawasan launch sparks debate over whether opposition is fragmenting or consolidating around PAS, says analyst

“Voters want parties that are there for the long haul because they’re thinking of the nation’s future. “For parties, or specifically Malay politicians, it provides flexibility to manoeuvre and thus longevity to their careers. But even that is not straightforward. We saw Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad trying with different parties and it didn’t work,” she said. Syaza added that the more fundamental challenge lies in whether any broader Malay alignment involving Umno, PAS and Wawasan can survive internal leadership competition. Speculation over a possible revival of Malay political cooperation has resurfaced following PAS’s decision to end its alliance with Bersatu, as well as recent engagements between Umno and PAS leaders. Syaza warned that any attempt to formalise a broader alignment would immediately face leadership tensions. “If they work together, it’s going to be problematic. Let’s take something as simple as the prime ministership. Would it be Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hamzah or Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar? “Even if they can agree immediately after GE16, what happens in the future? Will they rotate leadership? “When there were only two parties, Bersatu and PAS within PN, it was already complicated enough to decide who would lead or chair the coalition. If there are three (parties), each with their own base, it becomes even more difficult.” She added leadership rivalry could ultimately become the central fault line in any attempt to build a durable Malay political umbrella, even if short-term cooperation is achieved.

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

“The fragmentation comes from the sidelining of Bersatu within PN, although that has not officially happened yet. “The two main Malay political blocs now are Umno and PN (with the inclusion of Wawasan). Where is Bersatu in this equation? That is where the real fragmentation is.” Her comments point to a shifting Malay political landscape in which Bersatu’s long term relevance appears increasingly uncertain, even as PAS expands its influence across multiple political channels. The launch of Wawasan last Saturday, along with PAS’s reported involvement in its naming and positioning, has further strengthened the perception that the Islamist party is emerging as a central organising force within the Malay opposition bloc. “Not only the fact that Wawasan is working with PAS, but also the announcement of former leaders from Umno and other parties joining PAS is also pointing in that direction. “Furthermore, even Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party appear to be aligning with PAS. “There is an acknowledgment, I think, that we cannot avoid the future of Malaysian politics without PAS,” Syaza said. However, she cautioned that while such fluid alignments may offer short-term tactical advantages, they risk weakening voter confidence and long-term coalition stability. “I think the splintering weakens Malay-based coalitions just because it confuses voters.

PETALING JAYA: A new Malay-centric party linked to Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is fuelling questions over whether Malaysia’s opposition landscape is fragmenting ahead of GE16, or quietly shifting toward a PAS-centred realignment that could redraw coalition power dynamics. The launch of Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan) has added another layer to an already crowded Malay political field, but analysts say the more consequential development may not be fragmentation itself, but PAS’ growing role as a pivotal force within opposition alignments. International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst and ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Assoc Prof Dr Syaza Shukri said the common narrative of widening fragmentation may be overstated, arguing instead that Wawasan is likely to operate within an existing opposition structure anchored by PAS. “I understand that fragmentation is an easy narrative to sell. But I don’t see further fragmentation caused by Wawasan. Wawasan will work with PAS – in that sense it is still consolidated within Perikatan Nasional (PN),” she observed. Instead, she said the more significant political rupture lies within the broader opposition structure, particularly Bersatu’s uncertain position.

QURANIC QUEST... Deputy Prime Minister Datuk

Seri Fadillah Yusof interacting with a

participant during the

presentation of hafazan prizes (a Quran memorisation competition) at

the opening ceremony of Surau Nurul Muslimin in

Kampung Sungai Bedil in Kuching, Sarawak yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

MONDAY | JUNE 15, 2026

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‘Child sexual abuse material creates chain of crimes’

Couples detained in maid assault investigation ISKANDAR PUTERI : Two married couples were arrested on Saturday to assist in investigations after a video showing domestic helpers being assaulted in Taman Johor near Tampoi was widely circulated on social media. Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the couples, aged between 30 and 34, were arrested at a house in the residential area at 7.30pm by personnel from the Johor Criminal Investigation Department and the Johor Bahru Utara district police headquarters. He said preliminary investigations revealed that the couples were living in the same house and that the female suspects were siblings. According to him, the assault is believed to have involved three domestic helpers and is suspected to have taken place on July 26 last year. “The video was recorded by one of the victims but only surfaced on social media on Saturday. However, the motive behind the incident remains under investigation,” he told a press conference at the Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters here yesterday. He said the three domestic helpers, believed to be in their 20s, were suspected to have fled but are believed to still be in the country. Ab Rahaman said police had seized mobile phones, clothing belonging to the suspects, a closed-circuit television camera and passports belonging to the two domestic helpers. He said all four suspects tested negative for drugs and had no prior criminal records. They have been remanded for four days, beginning Saturday. The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt and Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation. – Bernama Man arrested for suspected abuse of stepson SEREMBAN: Police have arrested a man on suspicion of abusing his two-year old stepson here on Saturday. Seremban district police chief ACP Mohd Yatim Osman said police received a report on the incident from the child’s biological mother at 8.30pm before arresting the 24-year-old suspect in front of Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital about two hours later. “Preliminary investigations found that the incident occurred inside a car occupied by the victim, his mother, who is in her 20s, and his stepfather at a petrol station along the Seremban Jelebu road. “Investigations also revealed that the victim had allegedly been repeatedly assaulted by the man, who works as a delivery rider, resulting in injuries while at the family’s home in Jalan Rasah here on previous occasions,” he said in a statement yesterday. He said a physical examination of the victim found reddish bruising on the front and back of the body, believed to have been caused by pinching. The child is currently receiving treatment at the hospital. – Bernama

individuals involved in CSAM-related offences, while also carrying out victim identification processes involving images or videos seized so that rescue operations could be undertaken as quickly as possible. At the same time, she said the introduction of the Online Safety Act 2025 (Onsa) was seen as an important step in strengthening the country’s ability to tackle online sexual crimes, including those involving CSAM. She added that previously, cooperation between digital platforms and the authorities had largely depended on voluntary basis, resulting in longer delays in obtaining information and removing criminal sexual content, including CSAM,. She said Onsa places clearer responsibilities on digital platforms to comply with Malaysian laws, thereby facilitating the process of obtaining account-holder information, tracking suspects, identifying victims and removing harmful content more swiftly.

own connections and exchanges material with others.” She said demand for such content also fuelled exploitation, with some individuals selling the material to others for financial gain. Siti Kamsiah said individuals involved in the possession, storage or distribution of CSAM came from diverse occupational backgrounds, age groups and social strata. Previously, Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said CSAM cases recorded by the police increased from 68 in 2024 to 152 last year, while 100 cases had been recorded so far this year. She said the figures could represent only a fraction of the actual situation, as greater internet connectivity and the growing availability of content-generation tools had made such material easier to produce and disseminate. To address the threat, Siti Kamsiah said police continued to intensify enforcement operations to detect

o Police say offenders may escalate to grooming, sextortion and crimes against children

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have warned that individuals who access or possess online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) may escalate to more serious offences, including grooming, sextortion and sexual crimes against children. Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division principal assistant director Senior Assistant Commissioner Siti Kamsiah Hassan said the trend had been identified through investigations conducted by the division and the Malaysia Internet Crimes Against Children (MICAC) Centre into CSAM-related cases. She said repeated exposure to CSAM could lead to behavioural addiction, a condition in which

individuals are compelled to seek more content and spend longer periods accessing such material. “Like other forms of addiction, individuals who are continuously exposed to CSAM may require increasingly extreme content to achieve the same level of satisfaction,“ she told Bernama. Siti Kamsiah said investigations had found that online communities sharing the material typically operated within closed groups, whose members often did not know one another personally. “They are connected by a shared interest in such content. Over time, these groups form extensive networks, as each group develops its

GREEN GATHERING ... Members of the public enjoying various activities during the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Car-Free Day at Laman Rekreasi Tasik Tambahan yesterday. The World Environment Day event was aimed at encouraging healthy

and sustainable lifestyles through community programmes. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN Drones more effective than boat patrols along border

KOTA BHARU: The use of drones is more effective than conventional boat patrols in curbing smuggling activities along the Sungai Golok border, as syndicates can easily detect patrol boats operating in the narrow river, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said. He said the movement and engine noise of Marine Police patrol boats can be heard from across the border, allowing smugglers to suspend their activities before enforcement personnel can take action. “The river is too narrow. By the time the boat arrives, people on the other side can already hear it approaching, so they will not attempt to smuggle at that time.

including mobile patrol vehicles and GOF personnel, are now required to wear body cameras. Mohd Yusoff said strict standard operating procedures, including the buddy system during motorcycle patrols, are enforced to safeguard personnel. He added that there had been no incidents involving physical threats, confrontations or intimidation against personnel during the one and-a-half years he has led the state police contingent. “Random inspections along the border have also been conducted to check on smuggling of firearms, drugs or other illegal goods.” – Bernama

smuggle stolen vehicles into the neighbouring country. To strengthen border surveillance, blind spots are being monitored by GOF intelligence units, while requests have been made for more advanced drones from the police Air Operations Unit to support integrated operations. Kelantan police are also using artificial intelligence (AI) technology and high-tech closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to counter syndicates that have increasingly turned to encrypted communication platforms and social media. To enhance integrity and transparency, all enforcement personnel conducting border patrols,

“That is why I believe drone technology is a better option for monitoring the border area before the security wall or fence is fully completed on our side.” Mohd Yusoff said 300 General Operations Force (GOF) personnel are deployed each month to monitor the 91km border stretch through 17 control posts. However, he acknowledged security gaps due to the distance between posts, which can be as far as two to three kilometres, are often exploited by criminal syndicates. He said syndicates have also taken advantage of changing weather conditions, including periods when Sungai Golok became shallow, to

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Former footballer recounts playing for passion, not pay o National defender reflects on time when representing state and country mattered more than money

KUALA professional footballers today enjoy contracts worth hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of ringgit, former national player Abdul Hamid Gani still remembers having to visit a bank to collect a RM50 reward after helping Selangor reach the 1966 Malaya Cup final. More amusingly, the medal he received after the final was, according to him, “about the size of a 10-sen coin”. For Hamid, 87, however, the true value of football in that era was never measured by money or rewards, but by a deep passion for the game. “Reaching the Malaya Cup final only earned us RM50. The manager told us there was not enough cash and asked the players to collect the money themselves from the bank. At that time, I thought, never mind. The important thing was that we could play and represent the team,” he told Bernama during a recent interview at his home. The former Selangor and national team defender said Malaysian football has changed dramatically over the past six decades, particularly since the introduction of professionalism. According to Hamid, today’s players deserve greater financial rewards given the demands of the modern game and the commitment required in their careers. However, he believes some have failed to make full use of the opportunity to secure their future. LUMPUR: While In an increasingly competitive digital environment, journalists are no longer merely information gatherers. Instead, they are expected to think like content creators who can identify opportunities, understand audience preferences and produce reports that deliver both commercial value and audience impact. New Straits Times (NST) associate editor (content and digital) Najmuddin Najib said journalists today must move beyond the basic task of reporting events and constantly look for added value that can be generated from an issue. “Journalists today can no longer be passive reporters,“ he said, adding that to keep the newspaper relevant, journalists are trained to look at how an assignment can be expanded from different angles and developed into a broader chain of issues. “They can no longer simply file a report and assume their job is done. Instead, journalists must think like content creators, constantly seeking opportunities to develop a story further and attract readers,“ he told Bernama in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2026. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in the media industry, Najmuddin said NST’s ability to remain in operation for 181 years would not have been possible if the organisation had relied solely on management to commercialise its content. He added that technological advances have provided a range of analytical tools that allow media organisations to understand reader behaviour in real time and plan more effective content strategies. An analytics platform can be installed at a monitoring centre near editors’ and journalists’ workstations, enabling the performance of each report to be tracked live. “We can now see which stories are attracting readers, which content is receiving less attention and what trends are emerging. This information helps editors and journalists make quicker decisions while gaining a better understanding of audience preferences. “In today’s media landscape, we are not merely delivering information. News is also a product that must be marketed to readers.“ Meanwhile, Sinar Harian group editor-in

joined Selangor before receiving a call-up to the national squad, where he played alongside several football greats, including the late Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Minhat. Hamid believes modern football has become faster and increasingly dependent on physical attributes, but has lost some of the artistry that once defined the game. “In the past, people came to the stadium to watch specific players. They came to see talent and creativity. Now the game is faster and more physical. That is the evolution of football, but some of the artistry is disappearing,” he said. Despite the many changes that have taken place since he played alongside Malaysia’s football legends almost 60 years ago, Hamid said one thing should never change – the love for the jersey being worn. “Playing for your state or country is an honour. We may not have earned much money back then, but we played with our hearts. That is what I hope still exists among players today.”

was different. We played because of our passion. Money was not the main consideration,” he said. Before making a name for himself with Selangor and the national team, Hamid built a reputation in Australia while pursuing economics studies at the University of Queensland in the late 1950s. He began his career with Merton Rovers in the Queensland First Division and helped the club win the league title in 1962 before earning selection for Queensland in 1963 and 1964, making him one of the few Malaysian-born players to represent an Australian state side during that period. Upon returning to Malaysia in 1964, he

He said the biggest change he has witnessed over nearly six decades in football is not in facilities or salaries, but in the motivation displayed by players at both domestic and international levels. “The spirit was different back then. We played because we loved football. Now there are players earning big salaries. There is nothing wrong with that but they should not forget why they started playing football in the first place. A football career does not last forever. I always advise young players to save their money and think about the future. “Many forget that a football career has an end. If a player is good, they deserve to be paid well. Football is professional now. But our era

Reporters urged to embrace content creator mindset KUALA LUMPUR: If journalists were once considered to have completed their work after filing a report to the editor’s desk, technological advances and changes in the media landscape now demand a far broader role than simply reporting the news.

Zamri said journalists must continuously seek story angles that resonate with the public. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

with ministries. This is based on my own experience during discussions on a project with a ministry last year. “I was surprised to see representatives of a portal that copied up to 60 Sinar Harian reports a month also receiving advertising support from the ministry.” In this regard, Zamri said content theft and unethical news practices should be elevated as key agenda items at discussions involving Hawana and the Malaysian Media Council to ensure the sustainability of the industry. Scheduled to take place on June 20 at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Arena Butterworth in Penang, Hawana 2026 will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

differentiates one report from another,“ he said. However, Zamri noted that efforts to nurture creative and entrepreneurial-minded journalists face a major challenge due to the emergence of news portals that copy content from mainstream media organisations for easy profit. Describing the practice as unfair, he said media organisations incur significant operational costs to produce quality content, only for their work to be copied and repackaged using artificial intelligence (AI) by irresponsible parties. “What is worrying is that these portals, which operate with only two or three staff members, are also being trusted to collaborate

chief Zamri Rambli said the concept of content creation requires journalists to view news as a valuable asset with its own identity and unique characteristics. He said journalists must continually seek story angles that resonate with the public and have a direct impact on their lives, in line with the identity and editorial DNA of their respective organisations. “Every media organisation has a different DNA. Therefore, we cannot produce reports that are the same as those of other media organisations. Journalists need to think about the added value they can provide to readers. “What we produce must be relevant to the public and able to benefit them. That is what

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Air India crash final report misses one-year deadline

Philippine quake raised seabed 2m MANILA: A powerful earthquake that killed at least 61 people in the Philippines last week raised the seabed by as much as 2m, exposing coral and harming marine life. The 7.8-magnitude tremor in southern Mindanao island last Monday has also left at least 40 people missing. Local residents first reported the geological phenomenon known as “coastal uplift” two days after the quake, which extended the shoreline by as much as 200m in some places, the Environment Department said. A shifting of the Cotabato Trench “pushed upward part of the coastlines of Sarangani and Davao Occidental (provinces) ... exposing the bottom of the sea that was originally submerged”, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement. “Approximately 2m was the mapped uplift.” The Cotabato Trench, which lies as close as 50km off the coast of southern Mindanao, is the site of frequent seismic activity, including a “swarm” of thousands of mostly small earthquakes recorded in January. A team dispatched to the area “found that long stretches of shoreline, coral reef and seagrass beds have been exposed”, the Environment Department said. Images released by the department’s regional office showed a large swathe of exposed coral with dead fish and other aquatic life lying on top. Residents initially reported the changes to the seabed out of concern that they might be poisoned by the fumes from decaying sea life. – AFP NEW DELHI NAMES DHIRAJ SETH ARMY CHIEF HYDERABAD: The Indian government named Lt-Gen Dhiraj Seth as the new army chief to replace Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who is retiring at the end of this month. Seth, who is serving as the vice-chief of the army staff, will assume his new role on June 30, according to a Ministry of Defence statement. He was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986 and has experience “across the operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains” in a career spanning four decades. Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Maharashtra. As a lieutenant general, he commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, an elite unit, and later served as General Officer Commanding of the Delhi area, overseeing national and international military engagements. – Bernama GERMAN PRESIDENT HEADS TO JAKARTA BERLIN: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier left yesterday for a five-day trip to Asia, with stops in Indonesia, the Philippines and Uzbekistan. Steinmeier will be accompanied by his wife Elke Budenbender and a business delegation, his office said. A key focus of Steinmeier’s visit to Jakarta will be the peaceful coexistence of different religions. In Manila, he plans to visit a Lufthansa production facility and meet Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa. The final stop on Steinmeier’s trip is the Uzbek capital Tashkent, where the president plans to visit a branch of German construction company GP Gunter Papenburg, among other engagements. The visit is expected to focus on skilled labour migration. – Bernama

o Bereaved families kept waiting for answers

It also urged all stakeholders, including the media and the public, to refrain from speculation or premature conclusions while the investigation remains in progress. The International Civil Aviation Organisation’s standards require investigators to produce the final accident report within a year of a crash. If they can’t, they must release an update on the inquiry on every anniversary of the disaster. The regulations also require the final accident report to reveal the probable cause and offer recommendations on avoiding similar incidents. A team of lawyers representing a large group of bereaved families said the focus remains on the lack of answers and transparency. “One year on, bereaved families are still waiting for meaningful answers about how and why this tragedy occurred,” said lawyers Sarah Stewart and Peter Neenan. “While aviation rules anticipate the publication of a report or, where this is not possible, an interim update on each anniversary, no such update has been issued. For bereaved families, who have endured 12 months of uncertainty, the absence of clear findings only reinforces the sense of frustration and unanswered questions. – The Independent

“On this solemn occasion, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau expresses its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who lost their lives,” it said in an interim statement on the one-year anniversary. “We also acknowledge the enduring pain and loss suffered by all those affected. “Over the past year, the investigation team has undertaken an extensive and rigorous examination of all relevant technical, operational, organisational and human factors associated with the accident. “Significant progress has been made in the examination and analysis of aircraft systems, flight recorder data, engine-related components, maintenance and operational records, and other evidence relevant to the investigation.” The statement added that evidence gathered and the results of various examinations are being analysed in a comprehensive and integrated manner by the investigators. “The final report will be released upon completion of all investigative activities and the requisite international review and consultation processes. “Every aspect of the accident will be examined with the utmost care and diligence.”

NEW DELHI: The investigative agency probing the Air India crash that killed 260 people said it made “significant progress” in analysing the evidence but the final report is yet to be released, a year after the deadliest aviation disaster in India. The update was issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday, the first anniversary of the crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound to Gatwick airport from India’s western city of Ahmedabad. The plane crashed on June 12 last year just 6km away from the airport into a doctors’ accommodation at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital, killing more people on the ground. A total of 241 passengers and crew members died, along with 19 people on the ground. Only one person, a British citizen of Indian origin, miraculously survived the crash that left behind a huge pile of plane debris, mangled with concrete from the building.

BR I E F S

EVERY TREE COUNTS ...

University students planting mangrove saplings at a park in Banda Aceh on Friday. – AFPPIC

Taiwan launches intel report website TAIPEI: Taiwan’s government launched a website yesterday to encourage Chinese nationals to report intelligence tips, saying it was offering a secure channel to what it says is an increasing number of people who are fed up with the system and want change. agencies in Taiwan, wishing to provide various types of information.” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The website opens to a one-minute promotional video that the bureau said was AI generated, showing a Chinese civil servant witnessing colleagues being investigated and removed from their posts.

The website is blocked in China, though many Chinese use VPNs to access other blocked sites like Western social media and search engines. The bureau called on Chinese nationals at home or abroad to “actively provide information and make changes with courage”. It said the new tactic was following the lead of agencies in such countries as the US, Britain and Israel. The channel enables Chinese nationals to provide intelligence-related information to “expand the bureau’s diverse intelligence sources”, it said. China has tried similar tactics itself. In 2024, China announced an email address where people could report tipoffs about crimes committed by Taiwan “separatists”. – Reuters

Taiwan and China have long spied on each other, and Taiwan in particular has reported an increased number of Chinese espionage cases. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau said on its website that in recent years, China’s economy has faced growing difficulties, while political control has remained “tight”. “Coupled with a growing range of social and livelihood-related problems, these conditions have fuelled public discontent,” said a statement in Chinese and English.“As a result, an increasing number of individuals have approached relevant

“Ah, yet another person has been taken away,” the unnamed civil servant says in a northern Chinese accent, with subtitles in the simplified characters used in China. “The old comrades are inexplicably vanishing one by one,” the narrator says. The video ends with the official buying a mobile phone and typing on it, saying: “Now is the time to change.”

MONDAY | JUNE 15, 2026

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New South Wales to review drone curbs after shark attack

UK defence budget poser

LONDON: Discussions on how much Britain can spend on defence are ongoing, with other departments being pushed to free up more cash, a minister said yesterday, following the resignation of the defence secretary in a dispute over spending. Keir Starmer was dealt a heavy blow on Thursday when John Healey, widely respected in government and the defence sector, quit, accusing the premier of failing to secure enough money to keep the country safe. Starmer had for months been mulling how to fund a Defence Investment Plan (DIP) before settling on a figure that Healey said was unacceptable. New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis told the Sunday Telegraph he was determined to get the Armed Forces the funding they need, saying the government must“meet the moment”. Culture Minister Lisa Nandy said talks were ongoing. “I’m having discussions with my officials about the amount we can make available,” Nandy said, adding that Jarvis was looking at the DIP in its draft form and having talks with the finance minister and Starmer. Starmer has said he will publish the defence spending plan before the Nato summit in Ankara next month. Healey said the plan he had seen would increase defence spending to only 2.68% in 2030, when it will already reach 2.6% next year. That compares to Germany’s plans to spend 3.7% of its GDP on defence by 2030. – Reuters AI to help assess academic articles TOKYO: An artificial intelligence startup recently developed a system that analyses academic papers to determine whether they were written by humans or AI-generated. Developed by Valar Intelligence, the identification system “Puddin AI” requires users to write and submit their papers on its platform. Kyushu University has been using it in classes while several universities are considering its adoption. The system focuses on the process of writing, recording when a user begins writing, their speed and the chronological order of their revisions. When the identification button is pressed, it assesses the “humanness” of a piece of writing using around 200 indicators, such as common spelling mistakes, pauses taken in between and the estimated time typically required to produce the piece. Copy and pasting an AI-generated composition shortens the process, allowing the system to determine that a piece was not written by a human. The results are divided into three categories: AI, AI-supported and Human. The system handles Japanese, English and four other languages, and it could analyse university assignments, academic papers and corporate documents. Andrew John Chapman, an associate professor of energy economics at Kyushu University, said, “I want students to take their time and write their work on their own. This system can verify originality, making fair evaluation possible.” – Bernama

going on out there, clear the water if they could, and get the power craft out there,” he said. “She ended up getting taken underwater for a second. I couldn’t see where she was because it was all red. And luckily, she popped up and the shark had let her go and I was able to get close enough to bring her into shore.” There, they were met by lifeguards, police and medical experts, after which the woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Australia has seen a spate of shark attacks this year. Most attacks occur along the east and southeast seaboard of Australia, which averages around 20 incidents a year, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. – Reuters

Australian lifesavers use drones to help watch for sharks, but Coogee Beach has had restrictions covering commercial drone use because it sits under the flight path of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. After the attack, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority said in a statement that it would look at adapting the rules. Paddleboard champion and off duty lifeguard Charlie Verco, 25, who rescued the woman and brought her to shore, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he was “very scared” when he saw the three-to-four-metre shark near a group of swimmers. “I just looked at the beach, tried to signal to the lifeguards, a big code X, to get them to understand how it was

Hospital yesterday, a spokesperson told Reuters, after she sustained serious injuries to her lower left leg and arms. Coogee Beach and others in the city’s Randwick Council area were closed for 24 hours following the attack. Drones flew overhead under emergency provisions to scan for sharks. “It’s been a really tough summer of shark activity and shark attacks in Sydney and it’s something that the NSW government is taking really, really seriously,” said Tara Moriarty, New South Wales state minister for agriculture. She said the government would consider fresh measures to keep swimmers safe from shark attacks, including using drones.

o Aviation regulator likely to adapt rules MELBOURNE: Restrictions on drones flying over Australia’s Coogee Beach will be reviewed by a regulator so rescuers in New South Wales state can monitor for sharks, after an attack on Saturday left a woman critically injured. Emergency services were called to Coogee Beach in eastern Sydney on Saturday morning following reports that a 35-year-old woman had been bitten by a large shark about 30m from shore. The woman was in a critical but stable condition at St Vincent’s

MANY HANDS, LIGHT WORK ... Taiwanese making traditional rice dumplings ahead of the annual Dragon Boat Festival in New Taipei City yesterday. – AFPPIC

Tribunal rejects Inpex move to stop strike PERTH: An Australian labour tribunal yesterday rejected an application by Japanese gas company Inpex to halt a strike by some 400 oil and gas workers at its Ichthys LNG project. The Fair Work Commission rejected Inpex’s claim that a shutdown would hurt the Australian economy due to lost export revenue and would risk dangerous blackouts. The strike at the facility will now run until June 23 with a ban on the loading of all cargo. The commission’s deputy president, Michael Easton, ruled that unions and the company must keep bargaining. business hours. The company is expected to submit another offer to workers today. After a lengthy hearing that began on Saturday, Easton said he had found no evidence of an adverse economic effect from a strike or a danger to Northern Territory but accepted Inpex’s view that there could be a halt to production that could last up to a week. “I do not regard this to be a significant disruption. At least some of the previous production will not be lost as soon as the loading ban is lifted,” he said. Northern Territory, has organised contingency measures to avoid blackouts, Easton said, while the Ichthys liquefied natural gas facility has sustained more comprehensive outages in the past with no adverse effect. Strikes escalated on Thursday to periods of up to eight hours after Inpex and union groups failed to find a solution. Late on Friday, the strike periods were wound back to two blocks of two hours at the beginning and end of a shift. The strike will result in LNG and condensate storage onshore

Inpex’s superintendent for onshore, Damien Chandler, told the commission. If production is halted for a week, four LNG cargoes would miss their loadings, an Inpex employee said, while two condensate cargoes had already missed loading. Another Inpex employee said offshore production could slow and that this could create technical challenges that would also lead to a shutdown. Ichthys is a joint venture between Inpex, France’s TotalEnergies and subsidiaries of CPC Corporation Taiwan, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, Jera and Toho Gas. – Reuters

reaching capacity within a few days, forcing a production shutdown,

Power and Water Corp, a government-owned utility for the

Inpex did not respond to a request for comment outside