Law & Paneir

The qualification of Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde, Curaçao, and Haiti for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reshaped global football expectations and delivered a loud message to nations still struggling with direction and identity including Malaysia. Except for Haiti, making its second appearance after 1974, these nations are stepping onto the world stage for the first time in history. Their achievement is not accidental, nor is it a miracle but it is the product of years of systematic planning, investment in grassroots development, and football administration grounded in professionalism rather than political symbolism. Watching these nations rise while Malaysia continues to stumble forces an uncomfortable but necessary reflection: how did a country that once dominated Southeast Asian football fall so far behind? During the 1970s and early 1980s, Malaysia commanded respect on the Asian football scene. The names of legends such as Mokhtar Dahari, R. Arumugam, Hassan Sani, Santokh Sing...

The recent Red Fort car blast in New Delhi has not only exposed operational vulnerabilities but also illuminated a worrying new chapter in terrorism: the structured, strategic use of women in extremist organisations. What was once seen as a male-dominated ecosystem is rapidly evolving into a gender-inclusive machinery in which women are no longer peripheral supporters but embedded operatives, recruiters, and ideological enforcers. The revelation that a women’s wing played a crucial role in the Red Fort incident underscores how deeply and deliberately terrorist groups are integrating women into their command structure. The Red Fort attack involved more than the placement of explosives in a public zone. Investigations revealed that women were actively involved in the planning, organisation, and support of the attack. Dr. Shaheen Saeed, a medical doctor, was reportedly tasked with assisting in the creation and oversight of a clandestine women’s division connected to the group in que...

The emergence of an organised women’s wing within Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) marks an important shift in the global trajectory of extremist movements one that Malaysia cannot afford to overlook. While this trend is unfolding abroad, its underlying dynamics are not geographically restricted. The establishment of a structured female division, complete with ideological training, leadership hierarchies, and recruitment pipelines, signals a more adaptive and sophisticated strategy among militant groups. For Malaysia, where women have historically played smaller but still notable roles within extremist ecosystems, this development serves as a critical reminder that gender is becoming an increasingly deliberate tool in extremist strategies. This trend reflects not merely the inclusion of women but the institutionalisation of their participation, marking a shift from informal involvement to formalised structures. Extremist organisations are leveraging gender for ideological legitimacy, opera...

The question of why professionals who are educated, respected, and successful individuals, turn to extremism is both psychological and sociological. Their radicalisation is not born of deprivation, but of conviction. Many are drawn by a deep moral disillusionment or frustration with perceived global injustices. They see violence not as cruelty, but as sacrifice i.e. a way to correct what they view as moral imbalance in the world. Extremist recruiters understand this psychology well. They appeal not to greed but to pride, offering educated minds a sense of purpose and superiority. Professionals also offer terrorists what they lack: sophistication. They bring structure, knowledge, and access to systems that can make extremist operations appear legitimate. The engineer knows how to build. The accountant knows how to hide transactions. The lecturer knows how to persuade. The doctor knows how to gain trust. Each professional skill becomes a potential tool in the hands of ideology. ...

When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his deep sorrow over the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, his words resonated beyond sympathy for the victims. His condemnation of such acts of terror was a statement of principle that violence against innocents is never justifiable, no matter its cause or context. Yet, beneath his compassion lies an important warning: terrorism today has evolved beyond the familiar image of armed radicals or religious fanatics. It has entered a new, more insidious phase, one where professionals, educated individuals with status and legitimacy, become silent enablers of extremism. In this modern era, terrorism no longer operates solely through the gun or the bomb. It thrives through systems of trust - financial systems, educational institutions, charities, and corporations. These are the same systems managed and occupied by professionals: doctors, accountants, engineers, lecturers, executives, and researchers. These individuals have access to credibi...

The recent exposure of a terror network run by educated professionals in India has revealed an unsettling new dimension of extremism, one that blurs the line between legitimate professions and violent ideology. Doctors, academics, and religious leaders were found using their social credibility, digital expertise, and international networks to facilitate terrorist activities. This development holds important lessons for Malaysia, where an increasingly educated, connected, and mobile population could inadvertently offer the same opportunities for extremist exploitation if safeguards are not strengthened. The new face of terrorism: educated insiders Terrorism has evolved beyond the image of radicalised youth or militants in remote camps. The more insidious threat today is “white-collar terror” where educated, respected individuals leverage their professional roles to advance extremist causes. These individuals have access to funding channels, sensitive information, and trusted s...

The rise of digital technologies has transformed how extremist actors operate, particularly in the Global South, where online platforms, encrypted apps, and gaming spaces have become fertile ground for spreading radical ideologies. In Malaysia, a country with one of Southeast Asia’s highest internet penetration rates and a deeply interconnected society, this reality presents an urgent challenge. Violent extremism is no longer confined to physical gatherings or traditional recruitment; it now thrives in digital shadows where identity politics, grievances, and misinformation intersect. The line between online radicalisation and offline mobilisation has blurred, and Malaysia is increasingly at risk of becoming a digital battleground for extremist narratives. Malaysia’s hyper-connected landscape amplifies this danger. With nearly the entire population online and social media embedded in daily life, extremist groups can easily reach young audiences searching for identity, belonging,...

The recent statement by Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin that China supports the development of a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) underscores Malaysia’s cautious but strategic approach to maritime diplomacy. Behind the diplomatic language lies Kuala Lumpur’s balancing act by protecting its territorial sovereignty and economic interests while maintaining stability and constructive relations with Beijing. Malaysia’s treatment of the COC process reflects its deliberate caution: an understanding that preserving and protecting national territory requires both firmness and finesse. Malaysia’s approach to the South China Sea is defined by three interlocking objectives: safeguarding sovereignty, preserving regional peace, and avoiding great-power entanglement. On sovereignty, Malaysia has long maintained that disputes must be resolved through diplomacy and international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Kuala Lumpur reje...

The accelerating convergence of quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and stablecoin technologies has placed Malaysia’s financial sector at a crossroads. These innovations promise efficiency, speed, and inclusion but they also introduce unprecedented vulnerabilities that could destabilise the nation’s economy and sovereignty. As financial crimes become more sophisticated, borderless, and automated, the idea of creating a national intranet: a semi-closed digital ecosystem similar to China’s “Great Firewall” or its “national internet” is gaining quiet traction in security circles. The question is not simply technological but existential: can Malaysia afford to remain open in a world where cyber and financial terrorism can paralyse an economy in minutes? To understand why this debate matters, one must first appreciate the growing complexity of financial terrorism. Unlike traditional terrorism, which relies on physical violence, financial terrorism weaponises economic systems by...

Youth violence in schools is a rising concern in both Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Although these two nations differ in context and systems, recent incidents have revealed troubling similarities. The rise in school-based knife crimes, particularly those involving students, signals deep structural and emotional challenges that require immediate attention. Comparing Malaysia’s recent high-profile school stabbing in Bandar Utama with the UK's long-standing issue of youth knife crime offers valuable insights into shared vulnerabilities and the urgent need for cross-sector solutions. In the UK, knife-related incidents in schools have been steadily increasing. Teachers report students carrying knives to school, and violent altercations have become more frequent in certain areas. While there are varying reasons behind this trend ranging from gang involvement to personal protection—the root issue often ties back to emotional distress, lack of adult support, and easy access to weapo...