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SHAH ALAM — Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today reiterated his call for Muslims to prioritise unity in facing various challenges, in conjunction with the Maal Hijrah 1448H celebration.

The ruler said the Hijrah event, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar, was not merely a physical migration from one place to another, but symbolised positive change and the unification of the ummah.

“I still remember the advice of my father, the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, who often reminded us not to wash our dirty linen in public,” he said in a Maal Hijrah 1448H message posted on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page today.

“This means that if there are any issues, differences of opinion or matters that need to be corrected, they should be voiced with wisdom and decorum. If advice or criticism needs to be given, it should be done in a good and courteous manner,” he said.

The Sultan said issues should be resolved through private discussions, guided mutual respect and a shared commitment to finding the best solutions. 

Matters that could be settled amicably should not be brought into the public domain to the extent of triggering open disputes that would only expose the weaknesses of the ummah and the nation, he added.

“When we quarrel openly, others will see those weaknesses and it is not impossible that some may take advantage of the divisions that arise. If such a situation is allowed to persist, no one will truly emerge as the winner,” he said.

The ruler also called on Muslims to embrace the spirit of Hijrah by strengthening unity, fostering tolerance and placing the interests of religion, race and the nation above personal or group interests.

He expressed hope that the new Islamic year would bring blessings, peace and prosperity to all and mark a renewed effort to strengthen unity and harmony among Muslims and society at large. — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — The scale of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (picture) was so vast that it made ‘Attila the Hun look like a choirboy by comparison’, according to then High Court Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Justice Sequerah, who is now a Federal Court judge, made the observation in his 810-page grounds of judgment released today while describing what has been portrayed both locally and internationally as one of the world’s largest cases of kleptocracy.

“The scale of the plunder that took place (financially speaking, of course) made Attila the Hun look like a choirboy by comparison,” said the judge. 

Attila the Hun was the feared ruler of the Hunnic Empire in the fifth century and was notorious for leading devastating military campaigns across Europe. He earned a reputation for destruction, brutality and plunder, gaining the nickname ‘The Scourge of God’.

His campaigns caused widespread fear and significant damage to cities and territories under Roman control. 

On Dec 26, 2025, Justice Sequerah sentenced Najib, 72, to 15 years in jail and imposed a total fine of RM11.4 billion after finding him guilty on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in funds linked to 1MDB. 

Nearly six months later, in the much-awaited full written judgment, the judge said the trial, which began in August 2019, took approximately six years to conclude – a record no court would wish to hold.

“It has in all probability surpassed the length of any other trial in the annals of Malaysian court history, an unenviable record,” he said.

The judge said the lengthy proceedings reflected the complexity of the case, which involved extensive documentary evidence, numerous witnesses and allegations surrounding one of the country’s largest financial scandals.

He said that after the trial had progressed for some time, the nation – and indeed much of the world – was plunged into the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The judge said that the ensuing Movement Control Order (MCO) forced the court to adjourn the trial on several occasions.

“As a result of the lockdown, a total of 19 days of trial were lost, while another nine trial dates were lost due to someone involved in the proceedings testing positive for COVID-19 or coming into close contact with a person who had tested positive,” Justice Sequerah said.

The judge said the trial eventually resumed, and one might have thought that the worst, at least in terms of its progress, was over. — BERNAMA

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KULAI — Johor will acquire 10 new commuter train sets for its Southern Shuttle service under a long-term expansion programme worth more than RM200 million, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today.

The new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains are expected to be procured within two to three years for the shuttle service, which is a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Transport (MOT), Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) and the Railway Assets Corporation.

“This is an investment for the future to ensure rail public transportation services in Johor continue to be strengthened,” he told reporters after the launch of the Southern Shuttle service at Kulai Railway Station here.

Meanwhile, KTMB is using two existing train sets to operate the Southern Shuttle service linking Kulai with Johor Bahru Sentral and Pasir Gudang, with the latter route passing through Kempas Baru.

Loke said the shuttle service initiative was made possible following the completion of the Gemas–Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Track Project, which has enabled Electric Train Service (ETS) operations to run directly to Johor Bahru Sentral. 

He said the MOT would allocate between RM11 million and RM15 million annually to support operating costs, as fare revenue alone is not expected to cover expenses.

“These trains were previously used on the Johor Bahru–Gemas route, so no additional assets are required. However, there are operational expenses such as diesel, manpower and other costs,” he said.

The Kulai–Johor Bahru Sentral route has a journey time of about 30 minutes and operates 10 daily return trips, with the fare set at RM10.20 per trip.

A total of 3,000 MADANI Southern Shuttle cards, each with a value of RM50, were distributed at the launch, with free usage offered for the first six months.

Loke said service frequency and route coverage would be expanded if public response was encouraging.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, and Kulai Member of Parliament Teo Nie Ching. — BERNAMA

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