10/02/2026

TUESDAY | FEB 10, 2026

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No easy fix for tension within Bersatu: Specialist

Singaporean fined RM1,500 for littering KUALA LUMPUR: A Singaporean man was fined RM1,500 by the Sessions Court here yesterday after he pleaded guilty to discarding a cigarette butt in a public place early last month. Judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin imposed the sentence on Mohamed Nuh Qursaini Kayat, 25, and ordered him to serve one month’s jail in default of payment. He was also ordered to perform four hours of community service within a month. He was accused of improperly disposing of solid waste in a public space instead of in a designated receptacle near a convenience store in Jalan Bukit Bintang here at 1.45am on Jan 1. The charge was framed under Section 77A(1) of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007, which provides a maximum fine of RM2,000 and a community service order of up to 12 hours within a maximum period of six months. Earlier, Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) prosecuting officer Muhammad Syarihul Mohd Dzahir urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence as a deterrent to the accused and the public, stressing the importance of maintaining cleanliness in public areas. Mohamed Nuh Qursaini, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency, saying there was no rubbish bin nearby and he threw it on the ground because there were already cigarette butts there. Speaking to the media after the proceedings, SWCorp CEO Khalid Mohamed said six foreign nationals have been charged in court for littering offences, including the disposal of cigarette butts. “So far, 644 cases involving littering offences have been recorded under the Act, of which 500 involve Malaysian citizens. More individuals will be charged in court on Feb 10, 11 and 12.” In a recent Dewan Rakyat sitting, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said all offenders convicted of littering would carry out their community service orders simultaneously on Friday. He said the offenders would be required to clean drains, sweep streets and wash public toilets, following their convictions. – Bernama Gold miner denies RM2m robbery KUALA LUMPUR: A gold miner pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to a charge of committing gang robbery on a Chinese national woman, resulting in losses of more than RM2.1 million. Mohamad Al-Farouq Mat Isa, 41, is charged with three others with robbing housewife Chen Kexue, 31, at a villa in Bukit Damansara at 10.10pm on July 21 last year. The charge is framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which provides up to 20 years’ jail and a fine or whipping, upon conviction. Judge Suhaila Haron granted bail at RM15,000 in one surety and ordered him to report to a nearby police station once a month, as well as not to intimidate witnesses. The court set March 30 for mention. DPP Subri Hashim appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Bazlinda Bahrin represented Mohamad Al-Farouq. Mohd Syaqir Mohd Ami, 30, Nur Mohamed Mahsar Mohamed Nor, 34, and Syed Ali Imran Alqudri Syed Zulkefeli @ Syed Zulalqudri, 42, were charged with the offence last year and all pleaded not guilty. – Bernama

o A‘ ny attempt to paper over differences would be fragile at best’

“Muhyiddin needs to resolve this as soon as possible because it affects PN. “It affects PAS in terms of confidence from their own supporters, and more so from those who want to support PN but do not belong to either Bersatu or PAS.” He also highlighted the stakes ahead of the 16th general election (GE16). “This internal bickering is hurting Bersatu, PAS and PN as a whole. They need to resolve it before GE16, but more importantly, they need to resolve it immediately. “The first step is probably to remove all of Hamzah’s supporters. Politics is brutal and you need to be brutal to control your party.” Recently, Hamzah was reportedly summoned before the party’s disciplinary board over allegations that he attempted to disrupt the 2025 annual general assembly and undermine party leadership. Over the weekend, several top Bersatu leaders, including deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, visited Muhyiddin’s residence for a special meeting. Sources said it was a long-planned, informal gathering, not linked to Hamzah’s rumoured resignation, and attendees reportedly agreed that any disciplinary action against party MPs should follow the party constitution and be handled by its disciplinary board.

political appeal. “Nowadays, most parties across the political divide are rife with internal or intra-coalition power struggles and strangely, it does not quite affect their political appeal as perhaps these negative happenings cancel each other out.” Pressure on Muhyiddin is mounting amid rumours of potential disciplinary action against Hamzah. The cracks within Bersatu are no longer subtle. Instead, they are now glaring headlines that could affect party morale and public perception. Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan stressed the urgency for decisive action. “Muhyiddin has no other choice. He needs to suspend or terminate not only Hamzah, but also his supporters within Bersatu because it looks like Muhyiddin has lost control of the party.” He pointed to broader implications for PN, citing controversies in Perlis and the botched PN chairmanship reshuffle. “The respect Muhyiddin once had is gone, not only within Bersatu, but also from its ally PAS. The only supporters left are Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party.” He warned that leaving Hamzah’s faction unchecked could destabilise party hierarchy and coalition credibility.

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Political tension within Bersatu shows no sign of easing as the power struggle between party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who is reportedly facing disciplinary action, casts doubt on party cohesion and the stability of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition. Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun described the standoff as one with no easy solution. “As Hamzah looks keen to climb the party ladder one step further and Muhyiddin appears to cling to the presidency, it goes logically that one faction will have to be purged from the party power structure. “But their hold on the party machinery is so evenly matched that any attempt to paper over their differences would be fragile at best.” However, he suggested that Bersatu’s public infighting may not seriously dent its

Five seven-tonne lorries, an excavator and 27 cleaning personnel were deployed during the three-hour operation. – PIC COURTESY OF IPOH CITY COUNCIL

Ipoh authorities clear house of hoarder for sixth time

Ű BY P. CHANDRA SAGARAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

uncontrolled accumulation of recyclable items and rubbish, which had affected their wellbeing and quality of life. It said the situation also posed potential health risks as the rubbish could become a breeding ground for disease-carrying pests, such as mosquitoes, cockroaches and rats. The council expressed hope that relevant government agencies and NGOs would work towards a holistic, long-term solution to prevent similar cases from recurring. It added that the council remains committed to safeguarding public wellbeing and quality of life through continuous enforcement of the law.

the court to clear the accumulated waste but had failed to comply. The clean-up operation, carried out with the cooperation of the Social Welfare Department and police, was witnessed by councillor Zuraidah Zakaria. Five seven-tonne lorries, an excavator and 27 cleaning personnel were deployed during the three-hour operation. Large amounts of plastic, paper, iron and wood were removed from the yard of the single-storey house. The council said the clean-up followed continuous complaints from residents over the

IPOH: After nearly a decade of repeated court action and clean-up operations, the Ipoh City Council has been forced to clear a hoarder’s house for the sixth time as accumulated rubbish continued to pose health risks and disrupt residents in Taman Bersatu, Simpang Pulai. The Jan 29 operation involved a 69-year-old woman who lives alone and has previously been hauled to court and fined three times for the same offence. The council said she had been ordered by