Trump calls for Iran's 'unconditional surrender' as Israel-Iran air war rages on

 

Trump weighing options as Iran conflict escalates

Smoke billows in the distance from an oil refinery following an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital Tehran. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

WASHINGTON/DUBAI/JERUSALEM: President Donald Trump called on Tuesday for Iran's unconditional surrender and warned US patience was wearing thin, but said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader "for now", as the Israel-Iran air war raged for a fifth day.

Explosions were reported in Tehran and the city of Isfahan in central Iran, while Israel said Iran fired more missiles late on Tuesday and early Wednesday. Air raid sirens sounded in southern and central Israel, and explosions were heard over Tel Aviv. The Israeli military said it had conducted strikes on 12 missile launch sites and storage facilities in Tehran.

Trump's comments, delivered via social media, suggested a more aggressive stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement.

"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," he wrote on Truth Social. "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now... Our patience is wearing thin."

Three minutes later, he posted, "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could face the same fate as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who was toppled in a US-led invasion and hanged in 2006 after a trial.

"I warn the Iranian dictator against continuing to commit war crimes and fire missiles at Israeli citizens," Katz told top Israeli military officials.

Trump's sometimes contradictory and cryptic messaging about the conflict between close US ally Israel and longtime foe Iran has deepened the uncertainty surrounding the crisis. His public comments have ranged from military threats to diplomatic overtures — not uncommon for a president known for an often erratic approach to foreign policy.

Trump said on Monday that he might send US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff or Vice President JD Vance to meet Iranian officials. The president said his early departure from the Group of Seven nations summit in Canada had "nothing to do" with working on a ceasefire deal, and that something "much bigger" was expected.

Britain's leader Keir Starmer said there was no indication the US was about to enter the conflict.

Trump met for 90 minutes with his National Security Council on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the conflict, a White House official said. Details were not immediately available.

The US is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials told Reuters. The move follows other deployments that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described as defensive in nature. The US has so far only taken defensive actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel.

Women react as they check the destruction in the northern Arab-Israeli city of Tamra. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Regional Influence Weakens

Khamenei's main military and security advisers have been killed by Israeli strikes, hollowing out his inner circle and raising the risk of strategic errors, according to five people familiar with his decision-making process.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had killed Iran's wartime chief of staff Ali Shadmani, four days after he replaced another top commander killed in the strikes.

With Iranian leaders suffering their most dangerous security breach since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the country's cybersecurity command banned officials from using communications devices and mobile phones, Fars news agency reported.

Israel launched a "massive cyber war" against Iran's digital infrastructure, Iranian media reported.

Ever since Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023, and triggered the Gaza war, Khamenei's regional influence has waned as Israel has pounded Iran's proxies — from Hamas in Gaza to Hizbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq. Iran's close ally, Syria's autocratic president Bashar al-Assad, has been ousted.

Israel launched its air war — its largest ever on Iran — on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed that he will not back down until Iran's nuclear development is disabled, while Trump says the Israeli assault could end if Iran agrees to strict curbs on enrichment.

Before Israel's attack began, the 35-nation board of governors of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years.

The IAEA said on Tuesday an Israeli strike directly hit the underground enrichment halls at the Natanz facility.

The Iranian news website Eghtesadonline, which covers economic news, reported on Tuesday that Iran arrested a foreigner for filming "sensitive" areas at the Bushehr nuclear power plant for Israel's spy agency Mossad.

People take cover inside a cable car tunnel following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, at Haifa, Israel June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Itay Cohen

Iranian security forces also arrested a "terrorist team" linked to Israel with explosives in a town southwest of the capital Tehran, Iranian state media reported.

Oil Markets on Alert

Israel says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in coming days.

But Israel will struggle to deal a knock-out blow to deeply buried nuclear sites like Fordow, which is dug beneath a mountain, without the US joining the attack. Israel's Katz said Fordow was an issue that will be addressed.

Iran has so far fired nearly 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones towards Israel, with about 35 missiles penetrating Israel's defensive shield, Israeli officials say.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they hit Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate and the foreign intelligence service Mossad's operational centre early on Tuesday. There was no Israeli confirmation.

Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Residents of both countries have been evacuated or fled.

Global oil markets are on high alert following strikes on sites including the world's biggest gas field, South Pars, shared by Iran and Qatar.

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Decades later, Mahathir still stuck in a dilemma of his own

 

It’s okay to call for unity but to wantonly resort to make use of race and religion for political relevance is not healthy for a multi-ethnic country.

For young Malaysians unfamiliar with the nation’s political history, here’s a recap of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s obsession with his version of Malay supremacy.

In 1970, a year after the May 13 racial riots that followed huge electoral losses for the ruling Umno-led Alliance, Mahathir authored “The Malay Dilemma”, essentially his manifesto outlining his political and racial beliefs.

It examines and analyses the make-up of the Malays and the problem of racial harmony in Malaysia. The book claims that the tolerant and non-confrontational nature of the Malays led them to fall under the dominion of others, and that the government must correct Malaysian Chinese hegemony in business.

The book was banned by the then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, who felt that it threatened racial harmony. As soon as Mahathir became prime minister in his first term in 1981, he lifted the ban. 

Many times, Mahathir has labelled all non-Malays as “pendatang” (immigrants) despite most having been born and bred here, many for at least three generations. He has been unapologetic about this term, insisting that he is correct historically.

In his latest bid at wantonly promoting Malay supremacy, he is attempting to bring together all the Malay parties, including his former rivals Bersatu and PAS, while inviting Umno members to join too.

His approach appears to be rooted in a perception of threats to Malay identity and interests, which he argues necessitates a collective response from the Malay population.

Honestly, there is nothing wrong in any party trying to unite a community. It’s not just the Malays, others do it subtly too. Groups in Sabah and Sarawak are also known to use such divisive tactics for political reasons.

However, to premise his arguments on a narrative of vulnerability, suggesting that the community faces challenges from other ethnic groups, is tantamount to falsehood, in my opinion.

He has sensationalised his concerns about the erosion of Malay rights and the position of the Malay language when there is no such threat whatsoever. He knows hitting the primordial sentiments of Malays will hit the right chord.

Figures on Malays in power

Claims of erosion of Malay and Bumiputera rights is an utterly reckless claim if one cares to look deeply into who’s in charge in the public sector. This is vital because these are the people who formulate government policies and implement them.

A check with the government’s latest list of secretaries-general and directors-general will show some shocking figures – well, shocking to those who claim that Malays and Bumiputeras are losing their position. The list actually makes Mahathir’s assertions laughable.

Of the 43 top-most government officers — namely the chief secretary to the government and secretaries-general — only three are non-Malays.

Of the 107 directors-general and those of their equivalent ranks, only four are non-Malay. If you take the deputies into account, only about 5% of this total are non-Malay.

The heads of security forces and the police, their deputies and senior officers are mostly, if not all, Malays or Bumiputera. The head of the judiciary and the majority of judges are Malays or Bumiputera too.

None of the vice-chancellors in public universities are non-Malays. Government scholarships, jobs and placements in public universities stick to the quota system, although it’s not a written policy. But most Malaysians accept this reality.

Constitutional rights

The special rights of the Malays and Bumiputera are securely entrenched in the Federal Constitution, and it’s safe to say it will never ever be erased until the majority of Malays decide that they don’t need it anymore.

Claims that the DAP is trying to remove their special privileges and dilute the political power of the Malays is all hogwash. The DAP leaders themselves are seen as being more compromising these days.

All they appear to want is to remain in power to ensure there is non-Malay representation in the government. They know better not to rock the boat.

As for Islam and the royalty, they are not only untouchable, but no sane Malaysian wants to even go near these subjects. Besides the constitutional safeguards, there is enough fear among Malaysians to keep their distance.

No one in their right senses would ever want to rock this boat as they know the serious consequences that they will have to face.

The data on population growth also shows that the percentage of Malays and Bumiputera will reach a super majority in a few decades. When it reaches that stage, political battles will mainly involve Malay parties. Non-Malays will be an insignificant minority.

To argue that it’s all right for the Malays and Bumiputera to dominate the government since the Chinese control the private sector is akin to comparing apples with oranges.

The private sector generates revenue from private investment and pays taxes to help run the government. The government is mainly funded by taxpayers. They must coexist for the betterment of the nation. It is not a competition.

Election strategy

Most know that the perceived threats to the Malay community raised by Mahathir and his ilk are exaggerated or politically constructed to rally support ahead of the next general election, due by February 2028. Their goal is to bring down Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan.

Mahathir is leveraging on ethnic solidarity in an attempt to regain influence after previous electoral setbacks, including losing his deposit in Langkawi in the 2022 elections.

Mahathir is reckless in taking this approach, as such tactics can exacerbate ethnic tensions in a country that is inherently multi-ethnic, with all citizens enjoying enshrined constitutional rights pertaining to race and religion.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FM

Source link https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2025/06/09/decades-later-mahathir-still-stuck-in-a-dilemma-of-his-own

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California sues Trump administration over "unlawful tariffs

 

California governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that the western U.S. state which has the largest economy in the nation is suing the Trump administration over the President's sweeping "unlawful tariffs" on international trading partners.

"President Trump's unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy - driving up prices and threatening jobs," Newsom said in a statement, adding that "We're standing up for American families who can't afford to let the chaos continue."

"Donald Trump does not have the authority to impose these destructive and chaotic tariffs. America stands to lose too much," said the governor in a post on X platform.

"We're taking him to court," said the governor.

"California is the largest manufacturing state in our union, one of the largest trading partners around the globe. No state will be impacted more than the state of California as it relates to the unilateral authority that's been asserted by the Trump administration to impose the largest tax increases in modern American history," he noted.

Newsom pointed out that "In America, forty percent of goods movements in this country come through two ports of entry in California. About 50 percent of that from China itself."

In the lawsuit, expected to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, California officials will argue that the law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump cited to impose the tariffs, does not grant him the ability to unilaterally adopt those tariffs.

California, also the most populated U.S. state, is the first state in the nation to sue Trump administration on tariffs.

The Golden State is the largest importer among all U.S. states, with more than 675 billion U.S. dollars in two-way trade supporting millions of jobs throughout the state. Mexico, Canada and China are California's top three export destinations, buying nearly 67 billion dollars in California exports, which was over one-third of the state's 183 billion dollars in exported goods in 2024, according to the data released by the governor's office. - Xinhua

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VOA a biased lens, never ‘an important window’ into China

 

Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

As Voice of America (VOA) ceases operations due to the US administration cutting its public funding, some Western media outlets have immersed themselves in "lamentations," mourning the loss of an "important window into China" and a "significant source of reporting on China." VOA, a propaganda tool that manufactures lies, is somehow hailed by them as the "voice of freedom," prompting the question: Are those lamenting that the "beacon is flickering and faltering" genuinely mourning the loss of "press freedom," or are they lamenting the loss of a tool to smear China?

VOA's "China reporting manual" has long been notorious. Its narratives are never based on facts but are carefully woven stories designed to align with Western political agendas. In their reports, the economic development in Xinjiang is framed as "suppression of human rights," social stability in Xizang is portrayed as "cultural genocide," and China's defense of sovereignty in the South China Sea is depicted as "expansionism"… What VOA produces has never been a source of "reliable information." It selectively edits and distorts the truth to create a narrative that misleads the public. How can such a media outlet be called an "important window into China"? It is, instead, clearly a "funhouse mirror," severely distorted by political manipulation.

Not only is VOA's lie-manufacturing directed at China, but it also serves as a tool for ideological attacks globally. VOA has a history of creating biases, peddling the image of US' "moral high ground," infiltrating ideologies, and exporting political views. However, the changing landscape of information dissemination is making such operations increasingly difficult to sustain. 

For years, the US relied on creating concepts, packaging academic research, and disseminating fake news, using media, research institutions, and think tanks as accomplices to stir up international discourse. But today, with the rise of social media and the diversification of media outlets across various countries, this "media hegemony" built on financial power is gradually losing its effectiveness. VOA and other "mouthpieces" have been marginalized, which is an inevitable consequence of this trend. VOA's fate has provided a lesson: Concocting biases does not bring real influence and lies can never replace facts.

By no means can Western media outlets like VOA be called "important windows into China." VOA has long viewed China through a lens of prejudice and distortion, fabricating news. How could it have ever opened a "window"? It only forces the world to wear "cognitive sunglasses" clouded by ideological fog. 
Truly understanding China requires dismantling these artificial cognitive barriers. 

As the "China Travel" trend grows, more and more foreign bloggers are sharing images of China's high-speed trains, the safety of streets at night, and the overwhelming array of Chinese cuisine… These unfiltered, authentic scenes are the "ultra-high-definition window" through which the world can see the real China.
For Western media outlets like VOA, which thought they could forever dominate public opinion, their logic is that if reality does not fit their interests, they will distort reality. Unfortunately, prejudice can never replace facts, and fictional stories cannot rewrite history. When people can freely access information, lies will eventually fade away.

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Concerned by increasing corruption

 

Press Release: Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

THE Association of Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni is very disappointed with Malaysia’s ranking in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. Our score is 50 over 100, the same as last year, and only marginally above the global average score of 43 over 100. Of the 180 countries involved in the survey, we are ranked 57, the same as last year.

This is not surprising given the seemingly increasing incidence of corruption among public servants. Hardly a day goes by without reports on corruption appearing in newspapers, confirming the perception some have that corruption is systemic in Malaysia.

In January, The Star reported that “Corrupt enforcement officers have been raking in close to RM200,000 each month from vape smugglers at the KL International Airport Free Commercial Zone (“Big money for dirty Customs men”, Jan 24; online at bit.ly/star_badvape). It is disappointing that while the government is trying to balance its budget and reduce its public debt, which currently stands at over RM1.5 trillion, we have such large leakages in revenue collection. And this is just one case of many.

Government programmes to inculcate good values in the public service over the last few decades seem not to have had the desired results.

While enforcement by the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission needs to be enhanced, efforts by all ministries and agencies to stop corrupt practices have to be stepped up without any compromise. In fact, incidents of corruption and the quantum involved seem to have been increasing geometrically.

The association feels that the government must adopt a no-nonsense approach to corruption in the public sector. The fear factor is not there to prevent officers and staff from being involved in corruption. Research suggests that enforcement will be more successful if the penalty is heavy and the probability of being caught is high – and this includes the successful prosecution of such cases.

While some have suggested structural reforms, the association would like to suggest that we go back to basics and focus on programmes and policies that are already in place to combat corruption. What seems to be lacking is proper implementation. These include:

> Annual asset declaration: Officers and staff, especially those in services prone to corruption, must make their annual declaration, and their senior officers must go through these declarations to check for veracity and accuracy.

The Bureau of Asset Inspection in the Public Sector in Thailand and the Central Bureau of Investigation in India are entrusted with this responsibility. Use of artificial intelligence and big data analysis will be helpful in this.

> Ensure integrity: Heads of enforcement departments and supervisors at different levels must ensure integrity among officers in the workplace.

One cannot help but wonder how some officers and staff can work with syndicates under the very eyes of their supervisors and senior officers. Either seniors close one eye to the goings-on in the office or they are part of the game themselves. They must be held responsible and accountable and be made to face the music.

Supervising officers must be up and about and moving to see what is going on around them. They must also pay attention to news coming through the grapevine and undertake follow-up actions.

> Act against those who

corrupt, offer bribes: Action must be taken against those doing the corrupting too.

We support the action taken in the case of the Customs Department where, apart from the collection of the unpaid taxes, the warehouses of the importer were raided for further checks. It must be done to ensure that every cent of the unpaid taxes is collected, apart from imposing other legal penalties associated with the giving of bribes.

> Stronger action: More drastic actions should be taken against officers and staff involved in corruption.

While we support the programme to transfer officers at regular intervals, action must also be taken against those suspected of being involved in corruption before they are transferred out. Demotion and no possibility of promotion for a very long time must be imposed.

The penalties imposed on those convicted must be revised upward. Additional penalties, such as the confiscation of all assets of those convicted of corruption, as well as the assets of their relatives if they were obtained through corruption, would surely discourage corruption.

The action taken against corruption must create fear and shame among officers and staff involved in corruption. The fact that some charged with corruption have been able to get off scot-free, for whatever reasons, has not helped in creating the fear and shame factors.

-TAN SRI ABDUL HALIM ALI President Association of Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni (Persatuan Alumni Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik) Read the full letter at Thestar.com.my. 17 Mar 2025

The Dismal Reality of Malaysian Political Corruption

[1] Yet again we are seeing another former prime minister under investigation for corruption. That makes three former prime ministers either in jail, under investigation or charged with corruption; surely another world record. Add to that one deputy prime minister, at least two former chief ministers and several cabinet ministers who at one time or another were investigated or charged and you get a picture of just how rotten the whole system really is. 

[2] But we’ve seen a similar show-and-tell performance by the MACC before; it usually ends in an anticlimax. All the jewellery and gold watches that were seized from Najib and Rosmah with so much fanfare a few years ago, for example, were eventually returned to them. So this latest show may not mean much in the end.

[3] Indeed, when it involves senior politicians or well-connected individuals, the show is always quite dramatic at the beginning but it invariably ends with a whimper (Mahathir’s sons),  a DNAA (Zahid Hamidi, Riza Aziz and many more) or is allowed to die for want of further action (Sabah scandal, LCS). The current MACC chief must surely have the best record in the world for opening investigations into high-level corruption but thus far he has had zero success in obtaining actual convictions. But the politicians are apparently very happy with his performance as his contract has been extended.

[4] The only time when a corrupt senior politician actually went to jail was of course during the brief period after the 2018 elections when political elites were temporarily in disarray and made the fatal mistake of appointing an outsider (Tommy Thomas) as AG. It was a once-in-a-century convergence of the planets, an aberration. It won’t happen again. Now it back to business as usual.

[5] The other thing to note is that all that loot from the Ismail Sabri investigation – RM170 million in cash, RM7 million in gold bars and an assortment of jewellery –  was reportedly siphoned off from just from one single government program.   Imagine, then, how much is being looted from the hundreds of other government programs. It is estimated that between 30-40% of the more than RM150 billion that the government spends on procuring goods, works and services is siphoned off each year. 

[6] And it goes on and on, year after year. Corrupt politicians and their cronies are the hardest working people in Malaysia – they never sleep, never tire of inventing ways to siphon off public funds and never lack programs to pillage. 

[7] The present administration is proving to be a huge disappointment when it comes to fighting corruption. The Madani anti-corruption agenda is just an elaborate PR exercise, fakery on a grand scale. Their SOP is DNAA, NFA or pardons for friends and allies; MACC for everyone else. Nothing quite brings home the absolute absurdity of the government’s position than the sight of  the prime minister vociferously railing against corruption while standing beside his deputy who, if not for the DNAA he was generously given, might well be in in prison right now for corruption. 

[8] Recently, a RM16.6 billion MINDEF helicopter deal was given to a friend of the prime minister. They say it’s a good deal (and maybe it is) but the  lack of transparency,  the apparent conflict of interest and the fact that all 28 helicopters could have been purchased outright for about a third of the price  (according to some reports) is reminiscent of the scandalous way UMNO did defence procurement. And this from a prime minister who insist he wants to change the system.

[9] Despite all the big talk, there’s really zero interest in fighting corruption where it matters most – among senior politicians. It’s not hard to eradicate corruption; the problem is that there’s simply no political will to do so. If people are making tons of money why would they want to change anything? 

[10] We have to face the ugly truth: corruption is too deeply woven into the fabric of Malaysian politics to be rooted out. The entire machinery of government is thoroughly corrupt and beyond cleansing. There are very few good men left. Syndicates,  cartels and corrupt politicians have a finger in everything from rice distribution to foreign workers. Anyone who dares to expose corruption – like that whistleblower in Sabah or that intrepid reporter from Malaysiakini – will quickly find themselves harassed, investigated and even charged. There’s no hope left; the war on corruption is over and we have lost!

by Dennis Ignatius in corruption, Malaysia, Politics| 18 March 2025]