US 'act of war' against Venezuela must be strongly condemned - Will the United Nations be able to take a STRONG position against US? Have we lost 'INDEPENDENT MEDIA" - similarities with WMD in Iraq kind of reporting?

ACT OF WAR? What the US did was very wrong - and what would have been US response if the same happened in US and Trump and wife kidnapped by another country? One must be most thankful that Venezuela chose not to respond with 'FORCE' - exercising its right to defend itself... 

How would Malaysia react if the US did the same to Malaysia - and our King was taken? 

Now, the UNITED NATIONS, that was created to deal with such situations, is where the SPOTLIGHT will be. Will it STRONGLY CONDEMN US Action - or will US use its VETO power to prevent any condemnation of the gross human rights violation that it committed in another sovereign nation? Do not forget LIVES were lost and buildings were destroyed... It is sad when we lack INDEPENDENT MEDIA - somehow many media are pro-US and so, it becomes difficult to get the TRUTH... 

Abolish VETO power to enable the United Nations to be able to be an effective defender of human rights (HR Day Statement of 19 Groups)

“The reality is that America is in breach of the United Nations charter,” he  [Geoffrey Robertson KC, a former president of the UN war crimes court in Sierra Leone]  added. “It has committed the crime of aggression, which the court at Nuremberg described as the supreme crime, it’s the worst crime of all.” 

US invasion of Venezuela violates international law and threatens Global South sovereignty

The military assault and abduction of President Nicolás Maduro threatens nations seeking independence from US economic dominance

4 Jan 2026

Aliran condemns the US large-scale attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores – a blatantly illegal attempt at regime change.

The military assault on 3 January and the abduction of the country’s leaders breach international law, specifically Article 2 of the UN Charter, constituting an act of aggression against a sovereign nation.

The earlier killing of innocent fisherfolk in Caribbean waters, the seizure of oil tankers and violation of regional territorial waters reveal a pattern of state terrorism in the tradition of imperial violence.

All this amounts to a brazen transgression of Venezuelan sovereignty, international law, democracy and human rights, which must be fully condemned.

This aggression forms part of a decades-long campaign against Venezuela. It has involved sanctions, attempted coups, economic warfare and the seizure of Venezuelan assets. This is all designed to control the country’s vast oil reserves.

These actions also represent the behaviour of a global menace that has been responsible for the suffering and deaths of millions of people through ideological proxy wars and competition for influence.

The US flexes its muscles simply because it can, acting as little more than a bandit driven by greed for others’ resources, as seen in its recent designs on Canada and Greenland.

Such military aggression cannot be dressed up as a deep concern for democracy, especially in Venezuela, which has 303 billion barrels of oil, the world’s largest reserve. The US has consistently cloaked illegal interventions with justifications such as spreading democracy or combating drug cartels, when the real aim is to control oil flows and to access reserves.

History shows a similar pattern: the allegations of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which proved to be a bogus pretext for invasion. Western invasions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and elsewhere in West Asia caused over a million direct deaths and a few million more indirect deaths.

Some believe the invasion of Venezuela aims to protect the petrodollar system, which has allowed the US to wield global economic dominance. Venezuela’s move since 2018 to sell oil in currencies other than the dollar poses a direct threat to this system.

We see a disturbing pattern emerging from history: Iraq switched oil sales to euros in 2000 before the illegal 2003 US invasion. Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi proposed a gold-backed pan-African currency before the 2011 Nato intervention. Venezuela itself has sought Brics membership and has provided priority oil access to Brics nations while moving away from dollar-based transactions.

We condemn the US’ latest unlawful action, as President Donald Trump tries to bring Latin America under the US sphere of influence with his version of the Monroe Doctrine.

The international community must not allow the powerful to bully weak and small nations – for this would be tantamount to the rule of the jungle.

This direct invasion of a sovereign nation crosses international red lines and demands severe condemnation. No nation has the right to invade another country simply because it dislikes its leader or covets its resources.

This display of aggression now threatens developing nations in the Global South seeking political and economic independence. What has taken place in Venezuela could one day undermine the hard-won self-determination by formerly colonised peoples across the world.

Many well-meaning governments have fallen for US pretexts for aggression, which have enabled violations of international law to proceed unchallenged. This is unacceptable.

Aliran is thus happy to note that the Malaysian government has called for the immediate release of President Maduro and adherence to international law.

Regional organisations in the South, including the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), the African Union and Asean – apart from the United Nations – must speak out louder against these international crimes.

Otherwise, they will have failed to defend Venezuelan sovereignty in the face of a neo-colonial act of war, which might strike closer to home next time.

Finally, we call on the Nobel Committee and the world football federation, Fifa, to withdraw their peace prizes to the laureates implicated or who have supported this aggression.

Aliran executive committee
4 January 2026

Have Malaysian MP's ability to remove Prime Minister been compromised? Laws to prevent bribes/threats/etc from compromising MP's ability to withdraw support for any PM?

Did OUR Members of Parliament(MPs) act UNCONSTITUTIONALLY - by signing away their POWER to remove a BAD Prime Minister? Did political parties do this - agree to sack MPs(threatening disqualification) if they TRY to express their NOW loss of confidence in Anwar>

Our Federal Constitution wisely gave MPs the power to forthwith remove any Prime Minister - a power that it failed to exercise when PM Najib 'abused his powers' and caused Malaysia to not only LOSS Billions - but also its CREDIBILITY....

Now, apparently the same may be happening all over again - this time by the Pakatan Harapan PM Anwar Ibrahim ... WHY do I say so? Well, it came out in a media report...

Secondly, BN is bound by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by all government parties in December 2022.

One of the clauses in the MOU compels signatories to ensure that all MPs in their respective parties vote for Anwar and the government in confidence or budget votes.

MPs who don’t comply are considered to have resigned as a lawmaker, according to the MOU.

So, this suggests:-

- An AGREEMENT that current government MPs will NEVER withdraw their  support or confidence in Anwar Ibrahim being the Prime Minister. So, even when this PM 'abuses his power', enters into bad agreements, etc or even do things similar to Najib's 1MDB scandal - all them government MPs will still keep such PM in power because of fear that if they speak up or withdraw their support - they may RISK being disqualified as MP?? 

Art. 43  Cabinet [FEDERAL CONSTITUTION]

 

(4) If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet. 

It is OK in December 2022 that all these government MPs had 'confidence' in Anwar being Prime Minister... and the Federal Constitution provided a needed 'check and balance' - a way to get rid any Prime Minister anytime - clearly our FEDERAL CONSTITUTION did not give the right of any PM to be PM unchallenged until next GE ... any Prime Minister can be removed at any time if they LOSE the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament - thus the INDIVIDUAL votes of MPs must be counted... 

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim secured a vote of confidence during his first parliament session as the country’s top leader on Monday (Dec 19), confirming the legitimacy of his leadership and the unity government he leads. The vote of confidence was done via a voice vote only,... CNA, 19/12/2022

How many MPs in government parties or others did NOT VOTE - stayed silent because they did not have confidence in Anwar being Prime Minister...or opposed, etc...or ABSTAINED - we will only know if the individual VOTES were counted... maybe 100 MPs shouted in support of Anwar - but that is not enough for Anwar would have needed the support of 50% plus 1 at least to be PM...so, does Anwar then and NOW have the support of more than 50% MPs to remain Prime Minister?

Has Anwar already lost the support of more than 50% of MPs to remain as Prime Minister - and the ONLY reason he is still PM is because of what I consider an 'anti-Constitutional' agreement that parties/MPs may have signed - which may lead to DISQUALIFICATION of MP/s if they now honestly say(or VOTE) that they no longer support Anwar to remain Prime Minister???

SHOULD have a transparent system in Place that will require all MPs to express their confidence in Anwar remaining as Prime Minister - so, today we may have 120 MPs who say they have confidence in Anwar remaining as Prime Minister....and maybe next week, it may rise to 140....but then it may also drop to 70 > and Anwar may be forced to tender his RESIGNATION....and Malaysia will have a NEW Prime Minister...

Will it be better if it is TRANSPARENT - an MPs must bravely state their VOTE - Anthony Loke VOTES loss of confidence in Anwar, for example - this may be better... so MP bravely states his/her VOTE and not HIDE or be 'secretive' - which some say is the 'Malaysian Way' - yes, some politicians may do this depending on their audience - their positions on issues change according to who they are speaking too...end result, we simply do not know a politician's TRUE position...Something that must END in Malaysia...

After 3 years plus of not really doings what is needed...REFORMS, now suddenly plans being stated for REFORMS coming ---- will it happen? Some may...or then the EXCUSE of 'not enough time' - vote us into power again in upcoming GE so we can do these REFORMS - is this all BULL SHIT? For me, changes should be done speedily ...not revealed at the tail end...  

On Jan 5, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivered a New Year’s Day address filled with significant policy announcements, touching on a wide range of issues, including those related to the economy and cost of living.

The prime minister also announced a slew of proposed institutional reforms....According to the prime minister, these bills will be tabled this year. In fact, some of them will be tabled in the first meeting of Parliament. Therefore, these are not mere lip service, but tangible commitments to institutional reforms....While some reforms were implemented then, the 22-month stint was filled with announcements of what would be done, instead of actually doing things.

Meanwhile, Anwar said it best in his speech when announcing the reforms. Those given a mandate and opportunities by the Almighty must do what is needed for the betterment of this country. Do not lament what could have been done when one is no longer in power. Let 2026 be the most significant year for reforms in the history of our beloved country. (The author was a Pakatan Harapan MP, so was the write-up biased? - and it failed to look at the 'failures' or breach of promises...) - Malaysiakini, 6/1/2025)

Can the Prime Minister maintain support of MPs 

- by 'BRIBES" > Cabinet positions, GLC and other government positions, ...?  

- by 'THREATS' - investigation/prosecution, re-charging and continuation of criminal trials?

....and these alleged MOUs - is a 'THREAT" - i.e. withdraw your support for Anwar, etc...and you will be DISQUALIFIED as MP??? 

OR should MPs act without FEAR or FAVOUR for the good of Malaysia and its people - and WILL change Prime Ministers as and when required?

Do we need LAWS that criminalize agreements and/or MOUs that attempt to VIOLATE the Federal Constitution - by preventing MPs from being able to remove a Prime Minister - as soon as they LOSE confidence in him/her?

Do we need laws that will not allow anyone to 'control' the vote of confidence of any MP - something most important to get rid of any Prime Minister fast - to prevent continuous abuse or just 'bad decisions'. Will Anwar get Parliamentary APPROVAL before putting the US-Nalaysia Agreement in force?

How many Malaysian MPs now support Anwar to continue being Prime Minister??? 

Transparency - Will the Malaysian Public be shown that  memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by all government parties in December 2022.?

 

Anwar still PM if BN exits, but will Umno survive?

Zikri Kamarulzaman

Published:  Dec 31, 2025 7:00 AM

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Updated: Jan 1, 2026 7:57 A

Threats from certain quarters in Umno to quit the Madani coalition and join forces with PAS are in danger of falling flat.

While there remains unhappiness in the party over DAP celebrating former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak being kept in jail, the cards are not stacked in Umno’s favour.

First, the party does not have leverage if it wants to pull off an exit in the near future before the current government term ends.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commands the support of 153 MPs, and if Umno/BN and its 30 MPs quit, the former will still be in power with 123 MPs.

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Anwar can quickly stabilise the government by giving more ministerial posts to GRS, as well as to smaller allies like Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), and independents supporting him.

Secondly, BN is bound by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by all government parties in December 2022.

Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim at a BN event in 2023

One of the clauses in the MOU compels signatories to ensure that all MPs in their respective parties vote for Anwar and the government in confidence or budget votes.

MPs who don’t comply are considered to have resigned as a lawmaker, according to the MOU.

Third, the hopes of Umno gaining power by reviving Muafakat Nasional (MN) are also slim.

While PAS had, for a moment yesterday, expressed inclination towards going solo or reviving MN, such sentiments evaporated after Muhyiddin Yassin decided to quit as Perikatan Nasional chief.

This has opened the window for PAS to take over the PN leadership.

As International Islamic University Malaysia political science associate professor Syaza Shukri puts it, if PAS can take over PN, then it doesn’t need Umno or MN.

Further, she said, leaving the Madani coalition is not beneficial for Umno.

“Umno would have to leave the government and at this point, again, although there are unhappy voices, Umno benefits more from being in power,” she told Malaysiakini.

Umno-Harapan ties

Sunway University political scientist Wong Chin Huat expressed a similar view when contacted.

He said Umno and PAS both compete for the same electoral market, and it would be more ideal for Umno to crush PAS than work with it.

“Umno would be acting against its best interest to join PAS now. With Umno holding only 26 (parliamentary) seats against PAS’ 44, Umno would be condemned to be PAS’ junior partner.

“No matter how much Umno leaders shout to declare their love for Najib, they won’t be stupid enough to subject their party to PAS’ control. They won’t want to be Bersatu 2.0,” he said.

Umno and PAS collaborated in 2019

Wong added that the benefits of Umno staying with Pakatan Harapan are obvious, in that as long as Harapan can’t win more Malay support, it would need Umno.

Waning power

Umno’s political fortunes have been in decline since 2004.

Back then, Umno had 50 percent of the Parliament seats, while BN controlled almost 90 percent.

However, after the last general election in 2022, Umno only accounts for 12 percent of MPs.

At present, the top leadership under Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is betting on support from Harapan to keep BN afloat, and even to claw back seats.

This strategy has had mixed results thus far, with BN being wiped out in Kedah during the 2023 state election, while its share of state seats in Sabah also diminished in last month’s polls.

Harapan also suffered badly in the Sabah election, with DAP losing all its seats. - Malaysiakini, 31/12/2025