20/08/2026

THURSDAY | AUG 20, 2026

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King set record in 1982 as first royal to become Air Force pilot KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty the King of Malaysia and the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim, made history in 1982 as the first Malaysian royal to earn his wings from the Air Force after completing helicopter pilot training. His Majesty achieved the feat while serving as the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, having been cleared to fly a helicopter solo without an instructor after just four hours of training. according to a post on the Johor Sultanate’s Facebook page. The achievement was a rare feat in the country’s military aviation training history, as trainees would normally require a considerably longer period of instruction before being allowed to undertake solo flights, the post added. His Majesty’s ability to master flying skills with speed and precision also enabled him to complete his pilot training ahead of his coursemates. the late Sultan Iskandar, as Sultan of Johor. Before embarking on his flight training, Sultan Ibrahim underwent training as a platoon commander at the Army Training Centre in Kota Tinggi before being sent to the United States to attend the Young Officers’ Course at Fort Benning in Georgia. His Majesty also underwent advanced training at the Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Military Force. The King subsequently enrolled as a helicopter pilot trainee with the Air Force and underwent training at Pulatibang 2 in Kluang in 1982. On April 26 that year, His Majesty received his pilot wings at the passing out parade at Pulatibang 2, where he also served as the parade commander. The recognition was personally presented by Sultan Iskandar. Anwar orders detailed probe into Immigration truck crash “Due to exceptional skills and perseverance, Sultan Ibrahim was permitted to fly a helicopter solo without an instructor in the cockpit after just four hours of training,” The King’s military career began after he was proclaimed Tunku Mahkota of Johor on July 3, 1981, following the accession of his father, Upon returning to Johor, Sultan Ibrahim was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer of the Johor Sultan Ibrahim subsequently continued his military training in other branches of the Armed Forces, including a three-month naval training programme at the Navy base in Lumut,

Perak, as well as airborne and ranger training for infantry officers. His Majesty later underwent American Special Forces and Pathfinder training, completing 19 parachute jumps, some of which were conducted at night. “His Majesty is a commissioned officer in all three branches of the country’s armed forces: land, sea and air.” The post also said the breadth of military training undertaken by Sultan Ibrahim places His Majesty among Malaysian royals with the most extensive military backgrounds. – Bernama ‘Cabinet did not discuss Taiwan remarks’ PUTRAJAYA/TAIPEI: The Cabinet did not discuss Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks on Taiwan, which sparked an immediate response from Taipei, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. He told reporters after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that the matter did not come up for discussion. “It was not discussed,“ he said when asked by journalists at the post-Cabinet press conference. Fahmi was responding to questions about a statement issued a day earlier by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was in regard to comments Anwar made in a recent interview with Al Jazeera. In the interview, Anwar expressed support for the One China policy. Meanwhile in Taipei, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung said at a press conference for visiting international journalists: “We do not oppose Malaysia developing economic cooperation with China,” adding that Taiwan hopes its interests would be taken into consideration. He also said the episode highlighted the increasingly complex environment facing businesses operating in sectors such as semiconductors, in which supply chains involve Malaysia, Taiwan, China and other major economies. He said Taiwan remains interested in maintaining and strengthening its economic relationship with Malaysia, adding that both sides should continue working towards closer cooperation in trade, investment and other areas. Lin said Malaysia’s ties with both the United States and China could have implications for industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, in which business decisions are increasingly influenced by wider geopolitical considerations. Taiwan and Malaysia recorded trade of US$33 billion (RM133.9 billion) in 2025. █ BY HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Immigration truck to lose control and veer off the road before crashing into the four pedestrians. It also hit an MPV driven by a 38-year-old man, which was stationary at the intersection. All three drivers were unharmed in the crash. Police arrested the Immigration truck driver and the car driver to assist investigations. Breathalyser tests and preliminary urine screenings on both drivers returned negative results. Police have inspected the scene, obtained CCTV footage and are tracing independent witnesses. The vehicles involved were also towed away for further inspection. The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

truck belonging to the Federal Territory Immigration Department, a car, an MPV and four pedestrians. Preliminary investigations found that the 43-year-old Immigration truck driver was travelling from the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Office to the Chow Kit area to pick up detainees following an operation against undocumented migrants. “The truck is believed to have entered the intersection while the traffic light was red, with its beacon lights and siren activated.” At the same time, the car, driven by a 50-year-old man, was travelling straight through the intersection after the traffic light turned green. Zamzuri said the car driver is believed to have been unable to avoid the Immigration truck, resulting in a collision in the middle of the intersection. The collision caused the

“My condolences to those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.” The crash, which occurred at about 1am at the Maju Junction traffic light intersection, claimed the lives of a 53-year-old man and his two daughters, aged 25 and 12. The victims died at the scene after an Immigration Department truck allegedly ran a red light, collided with a Proton Saga car and then ploughed into four pedestrians from the same family. The man’s 55-year-old wife was injured in the crash, suffering injuries to her head, hands and legs. She was taken to the Red Zone of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment. Kuala Lumpur Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief assistant commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the crash involved a

o A‘ ppropriate action must be taken without compromise’

█ BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the Immigration Department to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation following a crash involving one of its trucks that killed three members of a family in Jalan Sultan Ismail yesterday. Anwar said appropriate action must be taken without compromise if the investigation reveals any negligence or breach of the law.

GENTLE GREETING ... Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, NGO Kasih Malaysia chairman and wife to the prime minister speaking to a resident during her visit to the National Leprosy Control Centre at the Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor. – BERNAMAPIC