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Playful gesture sparks controversy: Kedah Chief Minister taps student’s head in viral video

Recently, a viral video showcases Kedah’s Chief Minister Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor playfully tapping a student’s head with a paper, drawing 4.6 million views on X (formerly Twitter).

Despite laughter from onlookers, Malaysian netizens criticized Sanusi for disrespecting and embarrassing the student.

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1 year ago

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MALAYSIA: A brief video featuring Metri Besar (Chief Minister) of Kedah, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, has recently gone viral on the X (formerly known as Twitter) social media platform.

The video depicts an incident where he playfully tapped a student’s head with a piece of paper.

The 18-second clip has achieved an impressive 4.6 million views as of the current date and was posted on Sunday (20 Aug).

In the clip, Sanusi engages in conversation with a group of individuals, including two female students positioned in front of him.

During their interaction, Sanusi leans in and raises his hand, playfully tapping one of the students on the head with the paper he holds.

However, the student managed to dodge the hit by stepping backwards.

Sanusi and others present in the video merely laughed in response.

Sanusi who appeared unfazed by his action, wearing a grin as he handed an envelope to the student.

Some netizens disapproval of Sanusi’s conduct

Unsurprisingly, netizens expressed disapproval of Sanusi’s conduct, criticizing him for showing disrespect and causing embarrassment to the female student.

A comment wrote, “This may look simple but she may feel offended. Was very excited to meet the MB but she got knocked on the head instead. She will remember this moment forever.”

Another user replied, “If a friend hit your friend, you will feel embarrassed, let alone when an MB does that.”

The subsequent comment has a hint of anger in her tone, using all capital letters, she wrote, “Hey, after he whacked her head, why is everyone watching laughed along? Wouldn’t the girl feel embarrassed? Why is everyone in the video does not have manners? This is too much.”

“What is their right to hit someone else’s head? Why do people even support him.”

“I heard he was only joking but I do not think he should whack her head, he can just joke verbally.”

While there are also a lot of comments defending Sanusi’s action, saying that this is how Kedah people usually ‘joke’ with each other, a commenter shared his opinions.

“I am not a PN supporter but as a Kedah person myself, this is how Kedah people who are close with each other play or joke amongst themselves.”

He added, “Normal for Kedah people, but not normal for others.”

Sanusi responded to the backlash

Defying the mounting criticism, Sanusi maintains his conviction that his actions were not out of line, and he steadfastly defends his behavior.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Sanusi explained that he playfully tapped the student’s head to reprimand her for being late.

“I lepuk (swatted) her with a piece of paper (a letter), not a piece of wood. I was just joking around with youths, that is how we kampung folk fool around.

“The student wanted to go to polytechnic the next day (Sunday) but only gave a letter asking for aid on that day (Saturday), so she got swatted,” he explained, adding that he eventually gave her RM650 to purchase what she needed.”

Watch the clip here:

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Civil Society

RSF condemns Malaysian court ruling against British journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown

Malaysia’s Federal Court rejected Clare Rewcastle Brown’s appeal against a defamation ruling, leaving her liable for damages over RM 435,000. RSF condemned the decision as an effort to silence the journalist, who is known for reporting on corruption scandals.

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4 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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Malaysia’s Federal Court has dismissed British journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown’s appeal against a defamation ruling, leaving her liable to pay damages exceeding RM 435,000 (US$103,325).

The defamation suit, which RSF (Reporters Without Borders) describes as part of a broader effort to silence journalists reporting on corruption, relates to a statement in Rewcastle Brown’s 2018 book, The Sarawak Report – The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose.

The journalist has faced legal challenges ever since, including both civil and criminal cases.

Rewcastle Brown, known for exposing Malaysia’s 1MDB financial scandal, was accused of defaming the Sultanah of Terengganu, the wife of a senior political figure.

The defamation suit stems from a misidentification error in the book, which wrongly stated that the Sultanah, rather than the Sultan’s sister, was connected to a businessman involved in the scandal.

Rewcastle Brown quickly corrected the mistake and issued an apology in 2018. Her legal team has argued that the error does not constitute defamation or criminal libel.

The Sultanah had initially sought RM 100 million in general damages, but the court ultimately awarded a much smaller sum of RM 300,000 (US$71,230) in damages, along with RM 135,000 (US$32,095) in legal costs. Additional fees are expected.

The Federal Court’s decision on 10 September 2024 closes Rewcastle Brown’s legal avenues for appeal in the civil case.

Reporters Without Borders has condemned Malaysia’s handling of the case, asserting that it is intended to intimidate other journalists from reporting on corruption.

Fiona O’Brien, UK Bureau Director of RSF, commented: “This case should never have made it to court. The accusations of defamation are nonsensical. The underlying agenda appears to be to silence Rewcastle Brown and warn other Malaysian journalists away from reporting on corruption.”

In a separate criminal case, Rewcastle Brown was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison in February 2024. She continues to appeal the criminal charges but has faced significant challenges in defending herself. The British government has not commented publicly on her case.

RSF also noted that Malaysia, once ranked 73rd in the World Press Freedom Index, has dropped to 107th in 2024, amid rising political instability and a pattern of defamation suits against journalists.

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Crime

Islamic firm CEO among 19 arrested in Malaysia’s charity home abuse scandal

The CEO of Islamic firm Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) and his wife were among 19 arrested by Malaysian authorities on Thursday for alleged child abuse linked to their charity homes. Last week, police rescued 402 children from these homes. Investigations revealed a horrifying network of abuse, with at least 13 children allegedly sodomised or taught to sexually assault others.

Published

6 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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MALAYSIA: In a major crackdown, Malaysian police have arrested several members of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) top management, including CEO Nasiruddin Ali and his wife.

The arrests were made in a special operation conducted by Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department at multiple locations.

As of 19 September, total of 19 people were detained, including the CEO’s two children and the child of former Al-Arqam leader Ashaari Muhammad.

Among those arrested are 12 men and seven women, aged between 30 and 65.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed the arrests and promised to provide updates soon.

The arrests come on the heels of a significant child sexual abuse scandal involving GISBH.

Last week, police rescued 402 children from 20 welfare homes linked to the organization in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

They also arrested 171 people, including an ustaz and a hostel warden.

The case sent shockwaves throughout the country as investigations revealed a horrifying network of child abuse.

At least 13 of the rescued children were allegedly sodomized or taught to sexually assault others.

GISBH initially denied operating the welfare homes and rejected the allegations of abuse.

However, Nasiruddin later admitted that cases of sodomy had occurred within the organization in the past, while denying any deviant teachings.

In a related development, three men linked to GISBH pleaded not guilty in a Seremban court to charges of sexually assaulting boys aged between nine and 11 at a religious school associated with the organisation.

The alleged assaults took place between 2022 and 2023 in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.

Additionally, another man was charged in Putrajaya for allegedly threatening a woman to withdraw a police report against GISBH.

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