Permadu Malaysia

Why should holding several political offices entitle one person to several taxpayer-funded pensions? There is something quite extraordinary about Malaysia's political pension system. A politician can serve as MP, state assemblyman, menteri besar or chief minister, state executive councillor and perhaps speaker or deputy speaker, and potentially emerge from this political career with several separate pensions. In other words, the more political positions one occupies, the more retirement benefits one may accumulate, all at the taxpayer’s expense. What kind of retirement system is this? And why should politicians enjoy privileges that ordinary Malaysians can only dream about? The issue has once again entered public discussion following Penang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong's proposal for a “one person, one pension” policy during the debate on the Penang Budget 2027. His intervention deserves to be taken seriously, but this should not remain a Penang issue. It is a national scandal requ...

FMT reported Pejuang information chief Encik Rafique Rashid Ali has defended Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar over alleged mistakes in a court order concerning Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak’s house arrest, saying the AG should not be blamed for a document prepared by the court. Rafique, a lawyer by profession, said those questioning the errors should ask the Kuala Lumpur High Court for an explanation, rather than point fingers at Dusuki or the lawyers involved in the case. The controversy centres on a court order issued after Najib paid a RM50 million fine on 6 November. The document purportedly called for his immediate release but also said he was to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest until 24 August 2028, following the payment of his RM50 million fine. Rafique said there appeared to be confusion over who was responsible for preparing such documents. “In criminal cases, neither the defence lawyers nor t...