Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in January announced a push for a two-term limit amid renewed calls for him to tackle corruption and improve governance. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A Malaysian man is offering people a chance to impress their girlfriends and wives with one-of-a-kind “villain for hire” service, according to a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP). The man, identified as Shazali Sulaiman, 28, took to social media to promote his service, earlier this month, claiming he could help the clients demonstrate their masculinity and leave a lasting impression on their partners.

“Are you tired of your partner thinking you’re weak? For a reasonable fee, I’ll help you prove them wrong,” wrote Mr Sulaiman.

“Just tell me the time and place, and I’ll show up to ‘disturb’ your partner, giving you the chance to step in as the hero and take me down.”

Based in Ipoh, Perak, Mr Sulaiman charges Rs 1,975 (RM100) for his basic service on weekdays and Rs 2,963 (RM150) on weekends.

Mr Sulaiman shared a photo of himself with messy hair and an unlit cigarette to enhance his tough-guy image. He also stated that the service was not limited to men and that females could also seek his assistance.

“When the boyfriend went to the bathroom, I pretended to ‘harass’ his girlfriend. When he came back, he confronted me like a hero,” Mr Sulaiman said, recalling a scenario when he was called into action.

Mr Sulaiman iterated that no one was harmed throughout the entire process. “It is all just an act, like WWE. No one gets hurt, I am the only ‘loser’,” he said.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is one of the world’s most famous professional wrestling competitions, known for its choreographed combat performances.

Internet reacts

As of the last update, the post had garnered over 1,000 likes and hundreds of comments. “Save post now. I will use it later,” said one user, while another added: “Bro is on that grind”

A third commented: “People who pay to play the hero would probably be the first to run in a real crisis. Fake heroes are always fake.”

While the idea by Mr Sulaiman appears rather eccentric but intended to help individuals, some pointed out that it could lead to potential sexual harassment charges against him. As per Malaysian law, anyone found guilty of sexual harassment may be forced to pay compensation for any financial or moral damage.

Plastic waste piled outside an illegal recycling factory in Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Malaysia October 14, 2018. Picture taken October 14, 2018.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Malaysia’s trade ministry said it has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, originating or exported from China and Indonesia.

The anti-dumping duties range from 6.33% to 37.44% and took effect on January 7, 2025, the trade ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday.

New Delhi:

Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim paid tributes to his “true friend” Dr Manmohan Singh, former two-time Prime Minister who died at the age of 92. Calling Dr Singh the “midwife of India’s emergence”, Mr Ibrahim said the praise that is poured upon the former PM is “truly well-deserved”.

“The weight of grief bears down on me at the news of the passing of my honoured and cherished friend: Dr Manmohan Singh. Obituaries, essays and books a plenty there will surely be about this great man, celebrating him as the architect of India’s economic reforms. As Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh was the midwife of India’s emergence as one of the world’s economic giants,” Mr Ibrahim wrote in a post on X.

According to Mr Ibrahim, Dr Singh was “slightly awkward” as a politician but “undeniably upright, steadfast and resolute” as a statesman.

Also Read | Not Health, Manmohan Singh Asked About This After 10-Hour Heart Surgery

He also shared Dr Singh’s ‘act of kindness’ towards him during his incarceration years.

“Not many people know this, and it is time that I share it with Malaysians: during the years of my incarceration, he extended a kindness that he didn’t have to – one that was neither politically expedient nor, as one can imagine, appreciated by the Malaysian government at that time. Yet, true to his character, he did it anyway. He offered scholarships for my children, particularly my son, Ihsan. Although I had declined the gracious offer, such a gesture undoubtedly showed his extraordinary humanity and generosity, demonstrative, as the Bard would have it, of a man so full of “the milk of human kindness”,” he said.

“In those dark days, as I navigated the labyrinth of imprisonment, he stood by me as a true friend. Such acts of quiet magnanimity defined him, and they will remain etched in my heart forever. Goodbye, my mitra, my bhai, Manmohan,” the Malaysian PM added.

Also Read | Why Manmohan Singh Always Wore A Blue Turban

The weight of grief bears down on me at the news of the passing of my honoured and cherished friend: Dr Manmohan Singh.

Obituaries, essays and books a plenty there will surely be about this great man, celebrating him as the architect of India’s economic reforms. As Prime… pic.twitter.com/44bA3s7vst

— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) December 27, 2024

Manmohan Singh died due to age-related medical complications. He had been in poor health for the last few months. His remains will be brought to his residence in Delhi for the public to offer their condolences. The funeral will be held at 9:30 am on Saturday. The former Prime Minister’s last rites will be conducted with full state honours. A seven-day state mourning will be observed throughout the country as a mark of respect to Dr Singh. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast across India.

As India steps into its third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, Southeast Asia has emerged as a central focus of its foreign policy. The region plays a crucial role in the Indo-Pacific theatre and has become pivotal to India’s strategic, economic, and diplomatic interests.

Recent high-level engagements, such as Modi’s visit to Singapore and Brunei in early September, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s articulation of India’s stance on the South China Sea, and the visits of Vietnamese and Malaysian Prime Ministers to India, signal a continuity in the strategic significance of Southeast Asia to India’s foreign policy vision.

‘Look East’ To ‘Act East’

The central government’s “Act East Policy,” an evolution from the previous “Look East Policy,” signifies a more proactive engagement with Southeast Asian nations. Under Modi, this policy has become a cornerstone of India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which promotes a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order.

The region’s strategic importance is underscored by its geographical proximity to India and its role as a gateway to the South China Sea, a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Southeast Asia is a crucial part of the Indo-Pacific’s geopolitical framework, and India’s growing relationship with the region is seen as a counterbalance to China’s expanding and often predatory influence. In Modi 3.0, India aims to solidify its position as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific region, with Southeast Asia being a crucial element of this strategy.

New Delhi has placed particular emphasis on fostering closer ties with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states. Trade between India and ASEAN has grown steadily in recent years, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion in 2023. In addition to economic cooperation, India’s strategic interests in the region have also deepened.

Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam

In Singapore, Modi’s talks with newly elected Prime Minister Lawrence Wong resulted in substantive agreements, particularly in the semiconductor sector in addition to health, skilling, and digital security. The “India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership” inked during the visit, aims to facilitate the entry of Singaporean companies into India. This partnership is integral to New Delhi’s ambitions to become a global semiconductor hub, leveraging complementary strengths to build resilience in the global chip supply chain. Parallelly, Modi’s visit to Brunei, a strategically located nation in the South China Sea, marked a key moment in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister and coincided with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In Modi 3.0, Vietnam has emerged as one of India’s most important Southeast Asian partners. The two countries share concerns over China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, where both India and Vietnam have vested interests in oil exploration and freedom of navigation. Discussions on defence cooperation, trade, and energy security marked the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính to India. Vietnam is a linchpin in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy, strengthening their naval ties and defence collaboration. India and Vietnam have signed several agreements on defence, maritime security, and energy and economic cooperation. Both countries are committed to upholding international law in the South China Sea, further aligning their strategic interests. The bilateral relationship has also expanded into renewable energy, IT, and infrastructure development, with India playing a significant role in Vietnam’s development plans.

Resetting Ties With Malaysia

Similarly, the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to India highlighted a much-needed reset in bilateral ties following a dip in relations before 2022. Malaysia’s importance to India stems from its strategic location along vital maritime routes in the Indo-Pacific and its role as a significant trading partner. During Anwar’s visit, the two leaders discussed enhancing economic cooperation, particularly in technology, renewable energy, and digital connectivity. Malaysia’s support for India’s Act East Policy and its role in ASEAN make it a valuable partner for India as it seeks to expand its presence in Southeast Asia.

The South China Sea Question

Finally, India’s position on the South China Sea has evolved significantly over the years, shifting from a cautious, neutral stance to one that has now clearly articulated its support for the Philippines’ sovereign maritime territorial claims, freedom of navigation and maritime resource exploitation, in line with international law. This aligns India with Southeast Asian nations against unilateral actions by China, while also serving India’s strategic interests by ensuring freedom of navigation and bolstering regional security. India’s nuanced stance, informed by its own territorial tensions with China on its northern land border, underscores its intent to deter unilateral and unlawful advances.

Modi 3.0 marks a significant evolution in India’s engagement with Southeast Asia, driven by geopolitical imperatives and economic interests. The Modi administration has steadily deepened the extent and scope of its ties with Southeast Asian countries, and his third consecutive tenure in office looks poised to build on the gains of the last ten years. 

(Harsh V. Pant is Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy, at Observer Research Foundation, and Professor of International Relations at King’s College London. Pratnashree Basu is an Associate Fellow – Indo-Pacific, at Observer Research Foundation.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Kuala Lumpur:

A 45-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh has gone missing in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur after being swept away into a sewage drain after the footpath she was walking on collapsed suddenly.

The woman, identified as Vijayalakshmi from Chittoor district’s  Animiganipalle village, was reportedly walking along a footpath when the ground collapsed. While her husband and son managed to escape the collapse, she was swept into the underground sewer.

Rescue operations were launched immediately by the civic authorities in Kuala Lumpur and are ongoing. Despite their efforts, there was no sign of Vijayalakshmi as of Saturday evening.

Vijayalakshmi was known for frequently travelling to Malaysia and Singapore as part of her business. 

In response to the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials from the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu (APNRT) Society to ensure that the search operations are conducted effectively. 

The Chief Minister, along with Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Nara Lokesh, has been closely monitoring the situation.

Iran has relied on Malaysian service providers to get around international sanctions and sell its oil in the region. File (Image used for representation purpose only)
| Photo Credit: AP

Iran has relied on Malaysian service providers to get around international sanctions and sell its oil in the region, a senior U.S. Treasury official said on May 7 .

Washington has imposed significant sanctions on Iran and its proxies aimed at choking financial flows it said were being used to foment instability in the Middle East.

Tehran’s oil sales in East Asia have financed its armed proxies, including Palestinian militant group Hamas and Yemen’s Huthis, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The oil shipments have been sent to buyers in the region through waters near Singapore and Malaysia, the official said.

“The capacity of Iran to move its oil has relied on these types of service providers that are based in Malaysia. We want to have a direct conversation with Malaysians about that,” the official added.

“Stopping these oil shipments will deal a critical blow to Iran’s ability to fund these attacks around the world including the Houthi attacks that are currently threatening commercial shipping.”

The U.S. Treasury will work with maritime operators and banking executives in Singapore and Malaysia to stop the sales, the official added.

Washington also wants to “prevent Malaysia from becoming a jurisdiction where Hamas perceives that it can both fundraise and then move money”, the official said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last month that Washington was working to diminish Iran’s ability to export oil, adding there might be “more that we could do”.

Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel launched a retaliatory offensive that has killed at least 34,789 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s Health Ministry.

A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a store belonging to a Malaysian chain that had offered socks bearing the word “Allah” for sale, the police said on March 30.

The incident came days after the mini-market chain’s executives were charged with hurting religious feelings over the sale of the socks at another of its stores.

Wan Mohamad Zahari Wan Busu, police chief in Kuantan city in Malaysia’s east, said the KK Supermart branch had been hit just before dawn, causing a small fire at the entrance.

He said that the attack was “still under investigation, but we’re not denying that it may be related to the incident involving stockings with the word Allah”.

Employees put out the fire with an extinguisher and no injuries were reported, he said.

Pictures of the socks spread on social media this month, sparking public outrage among some Muslims who regarded them as insulting, especially because they went up for sale during the holy fasting month of Ramzan.

Islam is the official religion in Malaysia and Malay-Muslims make up more than two-thirds of the population of 34 million.

Race and religion are thorny issues in Malaysia, which witnessed deadly racial riots in 1969.

KK Super Mart CEO Chai Kee Kan, 57, and his wife, who serves as a company director, were charged this week with “deliberately intending to hurt the religious feelings” of Malaysians, according to a charge sheet seen by AFP.

Three officials from supplier Xin Jian Chang were also charged with abetting them.

All five pleaded not guilty and face a maximum jail term of one year or a fine, or both, if convicted.

The case drew a rare royal rebuke from Malaysia’s king, who called for an investigation and “strict action” against any party found guilty.

KK Supermart, Malaysia’s second-largest mini-market chain, has apologised for the socks, saying it viewed the matter “seriously” and had taken action to stop their sale immediately.

Supplier Xin Jian Chang also issued an apology, saying the “problematic socks were part of a larger shipment of 18,800 pairs ordered” from a company based in China.

Melbourne:

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Monday he would be “happy to reopen” the search for flight MH370 if “compelling” evidence emerged, opening the door to a renewed hunt a decade after the plane disappeared.
“If there is compelling evidence that it needs to be reopened, we will certainly be happy to reopen it,” he said when asked about the matter during a visit to Melbourne.

His comments came as the families marked 10 years since the plane vanished in the Indian Ocean with 239 people aboard.

“I don’t think it’s a technical issue. It’s an issue affecting the lives of people and whatever needs to be done must be done,” he said.

Malaysia Airlines flight 370, a Boeing 777 aircraft, disappeared from radar screens on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Despite the largest search in aviation history, the plane has never been found and the operation was suspended in January 2017.

About 500 relatives and their supporters gathered Sunday at a shopping centre near the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur for a “remembrance day”, with many visibly overcome with grief.

Some of the relatives came from China, where almost two-thirds of the passengers of the doomed plane were from.

“The last 10 years have been a nonstop emotional rollercoaster for me,” Grace Nathan, a 36-year-old Malaysian lawyer whose mother, Anne Daisy, 56, was on the flight, told AFP.

Speaking to the crowd, she called on the Malaysian government to conduct a new search.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke told reporters that “as far Malaysia is concerned, it is committed to finding the plane… cost is not the issue”.

He told relatives at the gathering that he would meet with officials from Texas-based marine exploration firm Ocean Infinity, which conducted a previous unsuccessful search, to discuss a new operation.

“We are now awaiting for them to provide suitable dates and I hope to meet them soon,” he said.

An earlier Australia-led search that covered 120,000 square kilometres (46,000 square miles) in the Indian Ocean found hardly any trace of the plane, with only some pieces of debris picked up.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)