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Fifa upholds red card, regent cries foul
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Will teddy bear succeed where apex court failed?
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How many times must Anwar step down?
Fifa upholds red card, regent cries foul
Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim – whose passion for football is well known – has blasted Fifa for its unwavering stand that the seven “heritage” players in the national team obtained Malaysian citizenship through forged and falsified documents.
Calling the sanctions “politically motivated” and a “misapplication of the law,” the regent did not mince his words as he condemned the world football body’s decision.
While the ruling has left the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) red-faced and critics demanding heads to roll, Tunku Ismail vowed to continue defending the players’ rights.
“Some choose to point fingers, some choose to make noise, while I choose to stand and support the fight for the players at all costs till the end, which will now be at the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) — an independent body,” he declared.
Fifa on Monday announced that it had rejected FAM’s appeal against the sanctions imposed on the seven “heritage” players.
In response, FAM, which has denied any wrongdoing, had earlier appointed former chief justice Raus Sharif to head an independent committee to probe the matter.
The issue also ignited controversy over what many see as double standards – with critics questioning how foreign-born players allegedly secured citizenship with ease, while stateless individuals born and raised in Malaysia continue to face endless hurdles.
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Will teddy bear succeed where apex court failed?
Nearly a decade after the Federal Court ordered police to arrest N Indira Gandhi’s former husband, Muslim convert Riduan Abdullah, and reunite her with her missing daughter, justice remains elusive.
On Nov 22, Indira hopes that a teddy bear belonging to her daughter, Prasana Diksa, might finally shift the equation.
“Indira will be pushing Prasana’s stroller, filled with her daughter’s toys and clothes, as a silent yet powerful message that, despite Federal Court orders, promises, and repeated assurances from authorities, Prasana remains unrepatriated, and justice remains undelivered,” said social activist Arun Dorasamy, referring to a planned march that day.
Dubbed the “Justice March”, protesters will gather at the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur before marching to the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters, where Indira will hand over the teddy bear.
The march follows claims that Riduan has been living freely in the country and even receiving government aid.
Checks by Malaysiakini on the Budi95 and Rahmah Necessities Aid (Sara) platforms, using an IC number linked to Riduan, found that the account had fully utilised the one-off RM100 Sara cash aid and part of the 300-litre Budi95 fuel subsidy quota.
In 2009, Indira’s ex-husband unilaterally converted their three children to Islam without her consent and sought custody through the Syariah Court.
The following year, the Ipoh High Court granted Indira full custody. However, in 2014, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court order directing the inspector-general of police to recover Prasana.
In 2016, the Federal Court put an end to the protracted legal dispute by ordering the police to arrest Riduan and reunite Indira with her daughter.
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How many times must Anwar step down?
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appears to have run out of patience with critics calling for his resignation over Malaysia’s trade pact with the United States – and leading the familiar chorus is none other than his century-old sparring partner, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“That’s enough,” he told Parliament.
“This isn’t about surrender, betrayal, selling out, or a new kind of colonisation… enough of that.
“Want to ask (me) to step down again? Berapa kali nak suruh turun? (how many times do you want to ask me to step down?) Enough already,” he added.
Mahathir, joined by several NGOs and political parties, had unveiled a dozen resolutions rejecting the trade deal.
Among their claims: that the exit clause Anwar cited was a mere sleight of hand, incapable of freeing Malaysia from what they described as a trap.
“The only exit clause now is for Anwar and his cabinet to take responsibility and resign,” the resolutions declared.
Anwar went on to tell the Dewan Rakyat that Putrajaya had sought the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) counsel on the reciprocal trade agreement, to ensure it stayed within the bounds of the Federal Constitution.
He said the AGC’s input was vital in guaranteeing that the agreement’s provisions aligned with “the spirit of the Federal Constitution and domestic laws”.
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