KUALA LUMPUR: In an age when businesses are increasingly turning to technology and artificial intelligence, Sophia Natasya Malik, the general manager of Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur believes there is one thing technology cannot replace: the human touch.

For her, that human touch began with something surprisingly simple – getting to know a young man she had never met.

His name is Ziqri.

Sophia had come across Facebook posts by his mother, Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, about her autistic son and the times he would leave their home in Mont Kiara and make his way towards his former school, SMK Kiaramas.

Then Sophia realised something.

Dorsett Hartamas sits almost right in the middle of that journey.

And she began to wonder: what if Ziqri passed the hotel one day?

What if the staff knew who he was?

What if, instead of simply seeing a young man walking past, they could recognise him, approach him and help him get safely home?

That simple thought eventually led to an invitation for Ziqri, Hasnah and his brother Aidel to spend a night at Dorsett Hartamas.

Dorsett Wanted to Know Ziqri

The invitation was not simply about giving the family a complimentary hotel stay.

For Sophia, it was about allowing her team to meet Ziqri, understand him better and, importantly, know what he looks like should he ever pass the hotel on his own.

It was about turning a name and a Facebook story into a person they knew.

Sophia said the initiative also came from understanding how challenging life can be for parents raising children with autism and other special needs.

“There’s something AI cannot do,” she said during a conversation with Hasnah and Aidel. “It cannot give the human touch” or compassion.

That, she said, was where the hotel could play a role.

Sophia spoke about giving families like Hasnah’s some time away from their usual routines – not necessarily a grand “me time”, but at least an opportunity to relax, be pampered and enjoy a change of environment.

She even drew a comparison with the idea of parents being given trusted support so they could have an occasional date night or simply some personal time.

For parents who spend so much of their lives caring for their children, she noted, such opportunities can be difficult to come by.

Aidel’s Birthday Makes the Stay Extra Special

There was another reason the hotel wanted to make the stay memorable.

Aidel’s birthday had fallen just a few days earlier.

Once the team found out, they decided to make the occasion part of the family’s stay.

The family was treated to accommodation and a set hi-tea at Table Talk, turning what had started as an opportunity to get to know Ziqri into a small family celebration.

For Aidel, it was a chance to enjoy his birthday in a setting away from his usual routine – a nice break from his weekday college routine and weekend work at Nandos.

For Ziqri, it was an opportunity to become familiar with the people and surroundings of a hotel that happens to sit along a route he has travelled before.

And for Hasnah, the gesture carried a meaning that went beyond the room or the meal.

It was the knowledge that someone outside the family had taken the time to understand her sons.

More Than a Hotel Stay

That is perhaps what made the experience different.

Hotels are accustomed to welcoming guests. But there is a difference between accommodating someone and taking the trouble to understand them.

For Hasnah, the Dorsett Hartamas team went beyond the usual expectations of hospitality.

In her review of the hotel, she described how the management and staff treated her two sons “like kings”, adding that it was obvious that giving back to the community was part of the hotel’s DNA.

That impression was also reflected in the hotel’s wider community initiatives.

Dorsett Hartamas recently launched its “Thank You, Riders!” programme, allowing delivery riders to purchase breakfast takeaway packs for RM3 every Friday, with the proceeds channelled to the hotel’s charity fund.

It is a small gesture, but it reflects the same philosophy: a hotel is not isolated from the community around it.

It is part of that community.

When Social Sustainability Becomes Personal

For Sophia, that sense of community extends beyond environmental sustainability.

It includes people.

It includes families.

And it includes creating opportunities for people who may not always feel included in conventional spaces.

Her conversation with Hasnah touched on the particular challenges faced by families with special needs and how hospitality businesses could potentially create experiences that make such families feel more comfortable and welcomed.

There is also a practical dimension.

Sophia acknowledged that initiatives must have both heart and commercial value. Greater community awareness and stronger engagement can also create value for the business, while making the hotel more connected to the neighbourhood it serves.

In other words, social sustainability does not have to sit separately from business.

It can become part of how a business operates.

From One Family to a Bigger Vision

The stay also gave Hasnah an opportunity to share with Sophia the wider vision she is developing through her RISE NGO and its collaboration with Dorsett Grand Subang.

That vision goes beyond inviting neurodiverse families into hotels.

It looks at how neurodiverse people themselves can become part of the hospitality ecosystem – as artists, performers, guests and, potentially, employees.

Among the ideas discussed are art exhibitions and sales, performances by neurodiverse talents, inclusive high-tea experiences and opportunities to engage neurodiverse young people in hospitality.

Hasnah also sees potential for hotels to provide calming spaces for neurodiverse guests, while training management and staff to better understand and support neurodiverse employees and visitors.

The longer-term goal is to make hospitality more inclusive not just for the people staying in the hotel, but also for those working and performing there.

These are still ideas and possibilities, rather than initiatives being announced as part of this particular stay.

But they all come from the same principle that brought Ziqri to Dorsett Hartamas in the first place:

Get to know the person. Understand what they need. Then find a way to include them.

Sometimes Inclusion Starts With Knowing a Face

There is something quietly powerful about the reason behind the invitation.

Sophia did not invite Ziqri because she wanted to turn his story into a publicity exercise.

She had read about him, realised that her hotel was part of the route he sometimes took, and thought her team might one day be able to help.

So she wanted them to know him.

To know his face.

To understand him.

And perhaps, if Ziqri ever walks past Dorsett Hartamas alone, someone inside will recognise him and know that he is not simply a stranger passing by.

He is Ziqri.

And they know where he belongs.

For Hasnah, that was the most meaningful part of the stay.

The suite was lovely. The hi-tea was a treat. Aidel’s birthday celebration was special.

But sometimes, the greatest hospitality is something much simpler.

It is knowing that someone has taken the trouble to know your child.

And perhaps that is the human touch that no technology can replace. – NMH

The post Dorsett Hartamas: When A Hotel Decides To Know Ziqri, Not Just Know His Story first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: For former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Wednesday’s court decision was undoubtedly another painful setback.

But it was not the end.

After the High Court rejected his application to stay the execution of the 15-year sentence and RM11.4 billion fine in the 1MDB case, his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah emerged from court visibly disappointed — describing the decision as one that had left the defence “very disappointed” and, indeed, “shocked”.

Yet beneath the disappointment was something else: determination.

Because for Najib and his legal team, the question now is not simply what happened in the High Court.

It is what happens next.

Shafee confirmed that the defence will file a fresh application for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal after obtaining the full grounds of the High Court’s decision.

And that distinction matters.

Najib’s substantive appeal against the conviction and sentence imposed by Sequerah has already been filed at the Court of Appeal. He lodged his notice of appeal on 29 December 2025, shortly after being sentenced on 26 December. What the defence is now seeking is a stay of execution pending that appeal.

It Was A Stay, Not The End Of The Appeal

Najib was not asking the High Court to overturn the 1MDB conviction or the sentence imposed by Sequerah.

He was asking for the execution of that sentence to be stayed while the legal challenge continues.

That distinction matters.

A stay would not have erased the conviction or overturned the sentence. It would simply have paused its execution while Najib pursued his appeal.

The High Court, however, found that Najib had failed to satisfy the special-circumstances test required to justify a stay.

Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin gave significant weight to the gravity of the offences and public-interest considerations, and also rejected the defence’s arguments based on Najib’s medical condition.

That was where the defence fundamentally disagreed with the court.

Shafee argued that public interest should be viewed differently when the issue before the court was whether execution should be stayed.

“Public interest is when you consider how to punish it, not when it is a question of stay,” he said.

That argument will now be taken to the Court of Appeal.

Why The Defence Is So Disappointed

There was another point that clearly troubled Shafee.

He questioned the treatment of Najib as a repeat offender, pointing out that the prosecution itself had submitted that Najib was not a repeat offender.

Yet the judge did not accept that position.

Shafee argued that the offences in the SRC and 1MDB cases occurred during broadly the same period and questioned why Najib should be treated as a repeat offender in the circumstances.

For the defence, these are not minor technicalities.

They go to the reasoning behind the decision to refuse the stay.

And there is another important part of the story that may easily be overlooked.

The defence had deliberately chosen not to seek a stay immediately after Sequerah delivered the 1MDB judgment in December 2025.

According to Shafee’s submissions, Najib was then already serving his SRC sentence, and the defence wanted to preserve the possibility that the two sentences could run concurrently if the appellate court ultimately ruled in Najib’s favour on that issue.

The decision not to seek a stay at that time, Shafee argued, was expressly premised on Najib retaining the right to apply for a stay later, depending on subsequent developments.

The situation changed after the conditional pardon and the prospect of house arrest.

The 1MDB sentence, which is due to begin after Najib completes his existing SRC sentence, suddenly became much more immediate in practical terms.

That is why the defence is fighting for a stay now.

Stay First

Shafee was clear that the main appeal could take years.

And that, from the defence’s perspective, is precisely why a stay matters.

“We are going to the Court of Appeal to file a similar application,” he said.

The substantive appeal is already there.

The new battle is over whether the 1MDB sentence should be put on hold while that appeal is being heard.

For now, Shafee’s strategy can perhaps be summed up in two words:

“Stay first.”

And Then There Is Home

While one door has closed for Najib, another appears to be opening.

And this is perhaps the most human part of Wednesday’s developments.

Shafee confirmed that Najib has now received the official order relating to his house arrest, together with an attachment setting out its terms and conditions.

But the details cannot be disclosed.

According to Shafee, Najib has been instructed by the Prisons Department not to reveal the contents because the information is intended for his own use and disclosure could lead to public speculation.

One important detail, however, has been confirmed.

The house-arrest location is Najib’s own home at Langgak Duta, where he will be able to stay with his family.

The arrangement relates to the remainder of his existing SRC sentence, which was reduced to six years under the earlier pardon and is due to run until 23 August 2028.

The conditional pardon granted in September allows him to serve that remainder under house arrest, subject to the RM50 million payment condition.

But the High Court’s rejection of the 1MDB stay does not, in itself, cancel the separate house-arrest arrangement.

Shafee confirmed that the two matters remain distinct.

Two Legal Battles, Two Very Different Paths

This is where the story becomes more complicated than the headline of a rejected stay application might suggest.

There are now two separate legal tracks.

The first is the 1MDB case, where Najib has suffered a setback in his bid for a stay, but where his substantive appeal is already before the Court of Appeal and his lawyers will now file a fresh application seeking a stay.

The second is the SRC sentence and house-arrest arrangement, where the mechanism for Najib to serve the remainder of his reduced sentence at home has moved forward.

The two should not be conflated.

Indeed, the fact that Najib has received the house-arrest order and its accompanying documentation is significant in its own right.

For the first time, there is greater clarity about what the arrangement means in practical terms: when the conditions are fulfilled, the former prime minister will be able to serve the remainder of his SRC sentence at the home where his family lives.

And yet the future beyond 2028 remains tied to the 1MDB case.

As Shafee explained, if Najib ultimately does not obtain a stay of the 1MDB sentence, he could still face that sentence after the SRC term ends in 2028.

So Wednesday’s ruling did not simply produce a “yes” or “no” outcome for Najib’s future.

It produced another layer of uncertainty.

The Human Side Of The Legal Battle

For someone who has been behind bars since August 2022, the prospect of returning home is about more than legal technicalities.

It means waking up in his own home.

It means being with his family.

It means a very different kind of confinement from prison, even though it remains a form of detention with conditions attached.

And that prospect now exists alongside another battle — one that could determine what happens after 2028.

That is why the disappointment expressed by Shafee matters.

The stay application was, in practical terms, about buying time while the substantive appeal runs its course.

The High Court has said no.

The defence believes it should have said yes.

And now it will ask the Court of Appeal to decide whether the 1MDB sentence should remain on hold while that larger legal battle continues.

The Fight Moves On

For Najib, Wednesday was therefore neither a final victory nor the end of the road.

The immediate hope that the 1MDB sentence could be stayed by the High Court has been dashed.

But the substantive appeal remains alive.

And the defence is preparing another application — this time before the Court of Appeal — to seek the stay it failed to secure at the High Court.

At the same time, there is the prospect of home.

Langgak Duta.

His family.

And the possibility of serving the remainder of his SRC sentence under house arrest, once the conditions of the order are fulfilled.

For Najib, one door has closed.

But another legal door is already opening.

And somewhere in between those two doors is the prospect of home — and, beyond that, another legal battle still waiting to be fought.

For now, however, the message from his legal team is simple:

Stay first.

Then, the fight continues. – NMH

The post For Najib Razak, The Fight Continues first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur mahu mengucapkan terima kasih kepada golongan penghantar makanan yang setiap hari menjadi penghubung antara restoran, perniagaan dan pelanggan di sekitar Kuala Lumpur.

Menerusi inisiatif “Thank You, Riders!”, penghantar makanan boleh mendapatkan pek sarapan untuk dibawa pulang pada harga hanya RM3 setiap Jumaat, mulai jam 11 pagi, selagi stok masih ada. Pengenalan rider yang sah diperlukan.

Tetapi yang menjadikan inisiatif ini lebih bermakna ialah RM3 yang dibayar oleh rider bukan sekadar harga untuk sebungkus sarapan.

Keseluruhan hasil jualan akan disalurkan kepada tabung kebajikan hotel bagi membantu golongan yang memerlukan.

Maka, dalam satu urusan yang cukup kecil, ada dua bentuk kebaikan berlaku.

Rider mendapat sarapan pada harga berpatutan.

Dan pada masa sama, bayaran mereka turut membantu orang lain.

Dorsett Hargai Abang Rider Dengan Sarapan RM3

Bagi seorang rider yang ditemui, RM3 mungkin nampak kecil kepada sesetengah orang.

Tetapi bagi mereka yang setiap hari perlu mengira perbelanjaan petrol dan keperluan lain, sedikit penjimatan tetap membawa makna.

“RM3 ni kita dapat jimatlah untuk pagi hari. Kita boleh gantikan dengan duit minyak,” katanya.

Rider berkenaan juga sebenarnya masih belajar dan melakukan kerja penghantaran secara sambilan, biasanya ketika cuti atau selepas menghadiri kelas.

Bagi seorang pelajar yang menggunakan masa lapang untuk mencari pendapatan tambahan, beberapa ringgit yang dapat dijimatkan pada waktu pagi boleh membantu mengurus perbelanjaan harian dengan lebih baik.

Seorang lagi rider pula sudah beberapa tahun melakukan kerja penghantaran dan melihat inisiatif itu sebagai sesuatu yang praktikal untuk golongan rider.

Menurutnya, selain dapat menjimatkan kos, lokasi Dorsett Hartamas juga memudahkan rider yang mengambil pesanan di kawasan berkenaan untuk singgah mendapatkan sarapan sebelum meneruskan perjalanan.

“Bagus untuk masyarakat. Benda ni bagus,” katanya.

Di Sebalik Setiap Penghantaran, Ada Cerita

Kehidupan seorang rider mungkin kelihatan mudah dari sudut pelanggan.

Pesanan dibuat.

Rider mengambil makanan.

Beberapa minit atau mungkin lebih lama kemudian, makanan sampai di depan pintu.

Tetapi di sebalik setiap penghantaran itu ada seseorang yang perlu berada di atas motosikal, berdepan kesesakan lalu lintas dan cuaca yang tidak menentu, selain menanggung kos petrol dan penyelenggaraan kenderaan.

Bagi seorang lagi rider yang ditemu bual, kerja penghantaran juga dilakukan secara sambilan bagi mencari pendapatan tambahan. Beliau biasanya mengaktifkan aplikasi Grab sekitar jam 5 petang dan turut bekerja pada hujung minggu.

“Kalau buat satu kerja mana cukup,” katanya.

Ayat yang ringkas, tetapi menggambarkan realiti bahawa bagi sesetengah orang, satu sumber pendapatan mungkin belum mencukupi untuk memenuhi keperluan harian.

Sebab itu, apabila sebuah hotel menyediakan sesuatu yang kecil tetapi benar-benar berguna kepada mereka, penghargaan itu terasa lebih dekat.

Bila Rider Juga Boleh Menyumbang

Bagi Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, inisiatif ini bukan sekadar tentang menyediakan sarapan murah.

Menurut Sophia Natasha Malik, General Manager Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, penghantar makanan merupakan sebahagian penting daripada kehidupan seharian dan komuniti.

Hotel itu mahu mewujudkan cara yang mudah tetapi bermakna untuk mengucapkan terima kasih atas usaha mereka, selain menggalakkan semangat memberi kembali kepada masyarakat.

Dan di sinilah “Thank You, Riders!” mempunyai nilai yang tersendiri.

Rider bukan sekadar penerima manfaat.

Mereka juga menjadi sebahagian daripada usaha membantu orang lain.

RM3 yang mereka bayar untuk sarapan membantu mereka menjimatkan sedikit perbelanjaan harian.

Pada masa yang sama, wang yang sama dikumpulkan untuk tabung kebajikan hotel dan disalurkan kepada mereka yang memerlukan.

Satu sarapan.

Satu tanda penghargaan.

Dan satu lagi peluang untuk berbuat baik.

Kebaikan Yang Bermula Dengan RM3

Dalam dunia yang semakin sibuk, kita mungkin tidak selalu terfikir tentang orang di sebalik setiap penghantaran yang kita terima.

Kita hanya nampak makanan sampai.

Tetapi bagi rider, setiap pesanan adalah sebahagian daripada usaha mencari rezeki.

Justeru, mungkin sebab itu penghargaan seperti ini terasa bermakna.

Ia tidak perlu besar.

Tidak perlu mewah.

Kadangkala, cukup dengan menyediakan sarapan yang mampu dibeli, mengucapkan terima kasih dan mengingatkan mereka bahawa usaha mereka turut dilihat dan dihargai.

Dan yang lebih indah, kali ini abang rider sendiri turut diberi peluang untuk membantu orang lain.

Mungkin hanya RM3.

Tetapi kebaikan yang bermula dengan RM3 itu boleh pergi lebih jauh.

Terima kasih, abang rider. – NMH

The post Dorsett Hartamas: Terima Kasih, Abang Rider, Kami Hargai Jasa Anda first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur is putting a different spin on corporate social responsibility (CSR) by turning something as ordinary as a RM3 breakfast into a two-way community initiative.

Under its “Thank You, Riders!” programme, delivery riders can purchase a takeaway breakfast pack for RM3 every Friday from 11am onwards, while stocks last.

The initiative is designed as a gesture of appreciation for the riders who spend their days connecting businesses and communities across Kuala Lumpur.

But there is another layer to it.

All proceeds from the breakfast sales are chanelled to the hotel’s charity fund to support people in need.

So while the rider receives an affordable breakfast, the RM3 also becomes part of a wider contribution to the community.

It is a small transaction with a potentially bigger social purpose.

Dorsett Turns a Simple Meal Into a Community Loop

At the heart of this initiative is a simple yet meaningful idea for just RM3, a rider enjoys a breakfast and receives something genuinely useful in return, while the proceeds are channelled to a charitable cause. In this way, the rider is not merely a beneficiary, they are a valued participant in a cycle of kindness and giving.

The rider becomes part of the giving.

That distinction is what makes the initiative interesting from a CSR perspective.

For one rider interviewed, the RM3 saving can be put towards petrol.

“RM3 ni kita dapat jimatlah untuk pagi hari. Kita boleh gantikan dengan duit minyak,” he said. (This RM3 can be our saving for the morning. It can be replaced with the cost of pertrol.)

The rider is also a student who does delivery work part-time, usually during his holidays or after classes.

Another rider, who has been doing delivery work for several years, said the initiative could help riders reduce their daily expenses while offering a convenient place to stop for breakfast when collecting orders around Hartamas.

He described it simply as “bagus untuk masyarakat” (good for the community).

For riders, the benefit may seem modest.

But that is precisely where the model becomes interesting.

Dorsett’s Different Approach to CSR

CSR is often associated with large donations, sponsorships or one-off community programmes.

“Thank You, Riders!” takes a more everyday approach.

Instead of simply giving something away, Dorsett has created a product that people can genuinely use, priced it affordably and connected the transaction to a social purpose.

It is not a large financial commitment from the individual rider.

But collectively, those small contributions can support the hotel’s charity fund.

For Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, it also creates a direct connection with a community that is an increasingly visible part of everyday urban life.

“Delivery riders are an important part of our everyday lives, and we wanted to create a simple yet meaningful way to say thank you for everything they do,” said Sophia Natasha Malik, General Manager of Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur.

She said the initiative was intended not only to show appreciation, but also to encourage a spirit of giving back to the community. Press Release – Helping Community

From Beneficiary to Participant

There is a subtle but important difference between helping a community and involving a community.

In the first model, the company gives and the community receives.

In the second, both sides participate.

That is what makes Dorsett’s RM3 breakfast concept worth looking at from a business and ESG perspective.

The hotel provides the platform.

The rider receives an affordable meal.

The rider’s payment contributes to a social cause.

And the wider community benefits from the proceeds.

The initiative therefore creates a simple cycle of appreciation, participation and giving.

It also gives dignity to the recipient.

The rider is not being positioned as someone who simply needs help. He is a working member of the community who is being recognised for his contribution – and given an opportunity to contribute in return.

Why Small Can Be Meaningful

There is perhaps a broader lesson here for businesses thinking about CSR.

Not every meaningful initiative needs a large budget.

Sometimes, the strongest ideas are those that can be incorporated into everyday business activity and repeated consistently.

“Thank You, Riders!” runs every Friday from 11am, while stocks last, with valid rider identification required and the breakfast available for takeaway only.

Its simplicity may actually be one of its strengths.

There is no elaborate event.

No complicated mechanism.

Just breakfast, a RM3 price tag and a social purpose attached to the transaction.

For the rider, it can mean saving a few ringgit on breakfast and putting that money towards petrol or other daily expenses.

For Dorsett, it becomes a way to recognise an important part of the community while supporting its charitable efforts.

And for the people who ultimately benefit from the charity fund, those small contributions can add up to something more meaningful.

Dorsett Shows That Everyone Can Give

The most interesting aspect of the initiative may be the question it raises for businesses:

What if CSR does not always have to be about giving something away?

What if it can be about creating something people value, making it accessible and then giving them the opportunity to be part of the social impact?

That changes the relationship between business and community.

The company is no longer simply the giver.

The customer, employee or community member is no longer simply the recipient.

Everyone has a role to play.

For Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, that idea begins with the people who keep the city moving – one delivery at a time.

And sometimes, giving back does not need to start with a big cheque.

It can start with RM3. – NMH

The post CSR With a Difference: When Giving Back Starts With RM3 first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: If RM30 million of the RM42 million in dispute was subsequently returned to SRC International, why is the company still seeking the full RM42 million from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak?

That is one of the central questions raised by Najib’s counsel Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee in his submissions before High Court judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan in the civil suit brought by SRC International Sdn Bhd and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd.

The trial in SRC International Sdn Bhd & Anor v Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Hj Abd Razak (Kuala Lumpur High Court Suit No. WA-22NCvC-340-05/2021) continues tomorrow.

Farhan’s submissions have put the spotlight on the actual movement of the RM42 million, the amount that ultimately remained with Najib, and the evidence required to establish what he knew at the material time.

RM30m that Went Back to SRC

According to the defence’s reconstruction of the banking records, RM32 million was credited into Najib’s Accounts 880 and 906 on 26 December 2014.

Three days later, RM27 million and RM5 million were paid to PBSB and PPC respectively.

But the defence says the money trail did not end there.

On 7 January 2015, RM30 million was credited back into SRC’s own Account 650.

Farhan’s submission argues that this return is reflected in SRC’s own banking records and completes a portion of the fund flow which the Plaintiffs’ own chart stops short of showing.

The defence has highlighted SRC’s “Timeline 5”, introduced during cross-examination in January, which traced the disputed funds into Najib’s accounts and subsequently showed RM27 million and RM5 million being paid out to PBSB and PPC.

But the chart, the defence says, stops at PBSB and PPC.

The defence’s amended chart adds the subsequent RM30 million payment from PBSB back to SRC, effectively closing the loop.

Why Claim RM42m when RM30m was returned?

This is where the defence’s quantum argument comes in.

Farhan argues that an award of the full RM42 million would effectively require Najib to pay SRC RM30 million which SRC had already received back.

The defence cites the principle against double recovery, arguing that any damages or other monetary relief must take into account the RM30 million already returned to SRC.

The defence therefore says that, even if the Court were to find against Najib on liability — which it does not accept — the full RM42 million cannot stand as the amount recoverable.

Its alternative position is that any award should be limited to the amount that actually remained outstanding, with credit given for the RM30 million returned to SRC. …

The Banking Record Behind the RM30m

The defence also challenges the suggestion that the RM30 million payment from PBSB to SRC cannot be connected to the earlier RM27 million transfer.

It points to PBSB’s bank statement, saying the account held only RM1,956 before the RM27 million arrived on 29 December 2014 and returned to RM1,956 after the RM30 million cheque left on 7 January 2015.

The defence argues this makes it difficult to maintain that the RM30 million came from an unrelated source.

A Civil Trial Must Stand on its Own Evidence

Another major plank of Farhan’s submissions is the distinction between the criminal proceedings against Najib and the present civil action.

The defence argues that Najib’s previous criminal conviction cannot simply be treated as proof that the elements of SRC’s civil claims have been established.

The submission points out that the criminal proceedings involved statutory presumptions and different legal tests, whereas the present action requires SRC to prove the specific elements of its civil causes of action.

The defence notes that the Plaintiffs’ own Reply states that “No equivalent presumption is relied upon in this suit” and that the criminal offence elements are not equivalent to the elements of the civil causes of action.

In other words, Farhan’s argument is that the civil case must be decided on the evidence led in this trial — not by simply importing conclusions from the earlier criminal case.

That distinction is particularly important because SRC’s civil claims include knowing receipt, dishonest assistance, misfeasance in public office and abuse of power.

What Did Najib Actually Know?

The defence has also challenged the evidence concerning Najib’s state of mind.

Farhan argues that the Plaintiffs must establish actual knowledge or conscious dishonesty, rather than relying on hindsight or the proposition that Najib ought to have asked more questions.

The defence submission stresses that suspicion is not knowledge and negligence is not dishonesty, and that the Court must examine the evidence available to Najib at the material time.

The BlackBerry Messages — and Najib’s Absence

The defence has also relied heavily on a 264-page collection of BlackBerry messages involving Jho Low, former SRC CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and AmBank banker Joanna Yu.

One point Farhan’s submission highlights is that there are no messages from Najib in the bundle.

Instead, Najib appears in the conversations as “MNR”, “PM” or “boss” — as the subject of discussions rather than a participant sending messages.

The defence says the chats are important contemporaneous evidence of how the accounts were actually operated by others.

It also points out that the Plaintiffs themselves relied on the same bundle during the trial.

The USD620m Return

The defence has further drawn attention to Najib’s instruction in July 2013 to return USD620 million, which was described in his instruction as the unutilised sum of donations and personal gifts.

The defence says the amount was voluntarily returned long before the RM42 million transactions now under scrutiny and before any allegation against Najib had arisen.

It describes the sum as roughly 48 times the RM42 million at the centre of the present suit. SRC 340 – Knowledge Element Dec…

The argument is that such conduct is relevant to assessing whether Najib could genuinely have believed that monies entering his accounts were legitimate funds rather than money belonging to SRC.

The Question Before the Court

The defence is therefore asking the Court to look beyond the headline figure of RM42 million.

Its case is that the banking evidence shows RM30 million came back to SRC, that the Plaintiffs’ own fund-flow chart does not show the complete trail, and that the evidence of what Najib actually knew must be examined independently of the earlier criminal proceedings.

For Najib, the defence submission is ultimately about three questions: where did the money go, how much actually remained with him, and what did he know at the time?

The Plaintiffs are expected to respond to these arguments when the trial continues tomorrow before Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin. – NMH

The post RM42m SRC Suit: If RM30m Came Back To SRC, Why Is The Full Amount Still Being Claimed? first appeared on NMH.

At Dorsett Hotels, it has meant early morning check-ins, last-minute birthday cakes, remembering a guest’s coffee order, and holding space for travellers during their best days and their hardest ones.

That’s why Dorsett is marking its milestone with Perfect 10 – a 10-day celebration across its properties, beginning this month.

But this isn’t about balloons and banners.

It’s about the people who made the last decade feel like home.

Dorsett’s Perfect 10 is about Staying, Exploring and Being Rewarded

In Malaysia, Perfect 10 was launched at Dorsett Kuala Lumpur as the latest experience under the Dorsett Your Rewards loyalty programme.

Its promise is simple:

Stay. Explore. Reward.

Members who complete 10 eligible room nights across a minimum of two stays within 12 months will unlock a Reward Credit equivalent to one complimentary night.

Or, put even more simply:

Stay 10 nights. Get 1 night free.

But Perfect 10 is not simply about getting a free night.

It is about giving guests more reasons to stay at Dorsett, discover new destinations and experience the little things that can turn a hotel stay into something worth remembering.

And that is where the celebration comes in.

Ten Stories, Ten Experiences

Rather than one big anniversary gala, Dorsett has built Perfect 10 around 10 themes that reflect what guests and staff say matters most: Welcome, Family, Comfort, Discovery, Care, Celebration, Sustainability, Local Roots, Togetherness and Giving Back.

Each day of the campaign, a different Dorsett hotel will spotlight one of these themes through an experience designed to put people first.

At Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, Welcome Day began with handwritten notes left on pillows.

Not printed.

Handwritten.

Housekeeping team members stayed after their shifts to write “we’re glad you’re here” in six languages.

At Dorsett Singapore, Family Day turned the lobby into a pop-up play area where parents could enjoy 20 minutes of uninterrupted coffee while staff ran craft tables for their children.

One father, who has stayed at Dorsett on 14 business trips this year, said it was the first time he did not have to choose between taking work calls and reading to his daughter.

At Dorsett Hong Kong, Care Day meant partnering with a local senior centre. Chefs taught residents how to make congee the Dorsett way, while the residents shared recipes dating back to the 1970s.

“We learned more about flavour in two hours than we did in culinary school,” said Chef Mei Ling.

The Kuala Lumpur launch itself reflected that spirit, with guests invited to move through 10 interactive experience stations covering everything from Malaysian flavours and local discoveries to wellness, social experiences and rewards.

Each guest received a Perfect 10 passport and collected stamps along the way, with those completing all 10 stations earning entry into a Lucky Draw.

The People Behind the Perfect Stay

Perfect 10 also turns the spotlight inward.

Because behind every remembered coffee order, birthday cake and warm welcome is a person.

Over the past year, Dorsett asked team members across 12 cities one question:

“What’s one moment that made you proud to work here?”

Their answers became the backbone of the campaign.

There’s Arif from Dorsett Putrajaya, who once drove 40 minutes at midnight to deliver forgotten medication to a guest’s child.

There’s Priya in London, who coordinated with three embassies to help a couple get married at 48 hours’ notice after their original venue cancelled.

And there’s the entire night team at Dorsett Tsuen Wan, who pooled their tips to buy groceries for a family stranded during a typhoon.

“We don’t train people to do those things,” said Peggy Tan, Cluster General Manager, Dorsett Kuala Lumpur.

“We hire people who already care, then we get out of their way. Perfect 10 is about celebrating that instinct.”

Throughout the 10 days, each hotel will share a staff story on social media and in its lobby. Guests are invited to share their own memories too, through a memory wall carrying a simple prompt:

“My Perfect 10 moment at Dorsett was…”

When a Hotel Stay Becomes a Memory

Peggy summed up the thinking behind Perfect 10 at the Malaysian launch.

“At Dorsett, we believe that every stay should be more than simply a night away,” she said.

“It should be an opportunity to discover, connect, experience and create memories.”

It is a simple thought, but perhaps that is what makes it work.

A hotel stay can be a business trip, a family holiday, a weekend escape or simply one night between two destinations.

But it can also be where someone celebrates a birthday, meets an old friend, discovers a new city, gets a little help when things go wrong – or simply feels looked after.

That is the kind of hospitality that people remember.

And that is what Dorsett is celebrating after 10 years.

Giving Back Beyond the Hotel

The celebration will also extend beyond Dorsett’s properties and into the communities where its hotels operate.

Over the next 10 months, Dorsett is committing to 10 community projects, with each property choosing a local partner.

In Petaling Jaya, Dorsett will sponsor 10 scholarships for hospitality students at a local college, together with mentorship days involving department heads.

In Sydney, the hotel will fund 10,000 meals through a food rescue organisation, while in Johor Bahru, the team will refurbish a community reading room.

“We grew because neighbourhoods let us be part of them,” Chan said.

“Perfect 10 is a promise that the next decade will be even more local.”

Guests can play a part too.

For every booking made during Perfect 10, Dorsett will donate a meal to its city partner.

And for returning guests who have stayed 10 times or more, there is a different kind of reward: a Perfect 10 Passport, offering experiences rather than conventional discounts.

Think a kitchen tour with the chef, a sunrise rooftop walk with the general manager, or even choosing the lobby playlist for a day.

What Comes After 10?

Hospitality is changing fast.

Guests want speed, but they also want warmth.

They want apps, but they also want someone to remember their name.

For Dorsett, the next 10 years will be about finding that balance.

The company plans to invest in quieter technology, such as mobile check-in that does not replace the front desk hello, while strengthening its community focus, including a plan to source 30 per cent more ingredients from local farms by 2028.

“We’re not trying to be the biggest,” Tan said.

“We’re trying to be the hotel you think of when someone asks, ‘where did you feel taken care of?’

“If we do that 10 times out of 10, that’s perfect to us.”

And perhaps that is what Perfect 10 is really about.

Not just 10 years.

Not just 10 nights.

Not even just one complimentary night.

But all those small moments that make someone want to come back.

Because ten years is a long time to show up for people.

And if Dorsett has learnt anything in those 10 years, it is that the best stays are the ones that give people something to remember.

Perfect 10 runs from 15 to 24 October 2026 across Dorsett Hotels in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, the UK and Australia. – NMH

The post Dorsett Hotels Marks 10 Years With ‘Perfect 10’ Celebration first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tahanan rumah merupakan satu mekanisme berbeza dalam sistem hukuman yang membolehkan seseorang banduan menjalani hukuman di luar penjara, tertakluk kepada syarat yang ditetapkan, kata peguam Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Beliau berkata tahanan rumah tidak sama dengan remisi atau parol, yang mempunyai mekanisme dan proses tersendiri.

Pengampunan diraja, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada kuasa prerogatif Yang di-Pertuan Agong di bawah Perkara 42 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, turut mendapat perhatian meluas bukan sahaja di dalam negara tetapi juga di peringkat antarabangsa.

Pelbagai persoalan dan spekulasi mengenai pelaksanaan pengampunan bersyarat serta tahanan rumah Najib turut muncul sejak pengumuman dibuat pada 18 September lalu. Shafee sendiri berkata beliau dihujani pertanyaan dan memilih untuk tidak membuat spekulasi kerana masih terdapat perkara yang belum diperjelaskan secara rasmi.

Justeru, sidang media itu memberi ruang kepada Shafee untuk menjelaskan beberapa perkara yang menurutnya telah menimbulkan kekeliruan, termasuk perbezaan antara tahanan rumah, remisi dan parol serta kedudukan syarat yang dikenakan di bawah pengampunan tersebut.

Rekod “Exemplary” Sepanjang Berada Dalam Tahanan

Shafee turut menjelaskan bahawa apabila sesuatu cadangan berkaitan pengampunan atau pengurangan hukuman dikemukakan, antara perkara yang akan dinilai ialah laporan mengenai kelakuan dan aktiviti seseorang banduan sepanjang berada dalam tahanan.

Dalam kes Najib, Shafee berkata laporan mengenai kelakuan dan aktiviti beliau sepanjang berada di penjara adalah “exemplary”.

Penilaian itu menarik perhatian kerana kehidupan dalam tahanan boleh memberikan tekanan dan cabaran yang besar kepada seseorang individu, termasuk dari segi disiplin, emosi dan penyesuaian diri.

Dalam kes Najib, menurut Shafee, rekod yang dilaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa kekal “exemplary”.

Bagi mereka yang telah mengikuti perjalanan Najib sejak beliau berada dalam politik dan perkhidmatan awam — daripada ahli politik, menteri dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri hingga Perdana Menteri — perkara itu juga boleh dilihat sebagai kesinambungan disiplin, perwatakan dan etika kerja yang sama ketika beliau berdepan keadaan yang jauh berbeza di dalam penjara.

Tahanan Rumah Bukan Untuk VIP

Shafee turut menolak tanggapan bahawa tahanan rumah merupakan satu bentuk keistimewaan yang hanya diberikan kepada VIP atau bekas pemimpin.

Menurutnya, tahanan rumah boleh dilaksanakan dalam keadaan tertentu selagi seseorang itu masih berstatus banduan dan tertakluk kepada hukuman.

Beliau berkata persoalan yang lebih penting ialah rasional di sebalik tahanan rumah, bukan siapa yang diberikan kemudahan tersebut.

Menurut Shafee, antara tujuan tahanan rumah ialah membantu seseorang banduan menyesuaikan diri semula dengan struktur sosial dan kehidupan bermasyarakat selepas berada dalam penjara untuk tempoh yang panjang.

Beliau memberi contoh seseorang yang menjalani hukuman selama bertahun-tahun mungkin menjadi semakin terpisah daripada kehidupan dan masyarakat di luar.

Tahanan rumah, katanya, boleh memberi ruang kepada seseorang banduan untuk menyesuaikan diri semula secara berperingkat sebelum kembali menjalani kehidupan dalam masyarakat.

Shafee menegaskan bahawa rasional tersebut bukan khusus untuk Najib atau mana-mana golongan tertentu, sebaliknya boleh terpakai kepada banduan secara umum.

Apa Berlaku Selepas RM50 Juta Dibayar?

Mengenai syarat pembayaran RM50 juta, Shafee berkata beliau tidak dapat memastikan sama ada pembayaran tersebut akan membawa kepada pembebasan Najib ke tahanan rumah pada hari yang sama.

Beliau berkata terdapat kemungkinan timbul persoalan atau cabaran undang-undang lain, dan kerana itu beliau tidak mahu membuat sebarang ramalan mengenai apa yang akan berlaku pada hari pembayaran dibuat.

“Saya tidak tahu,” katanya ketika ditanya mengenai perkara tersebut.

Mengapa Tahanan Rumah Tidak Berlaku Lebih Awal?

Shafee turut ditanya mengapa tahanan rumah tidak dilaksanakan lebih awal, memandangkan terdapat perintah berkaitan tahanan rumah yang dikaitkan dengan Yang di-Pertuan Agong terdahulu.

Menurut Shafee, perintah tersebut sebelum ini tidak diiktiraf.

Beliau menyifatkan keadaan itu sebagai “travesty of justice”.

Katanya, Yang di-Pertuan Agong sekarang telah mempertimbangkan semula perkara berkenaan dan memberikan tahanan rumah, dengan syarat bayaran yang ditetapkan dipenuhi.

Kuasa Pengampunan Terletak Pada Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Shafee turut menyentuh mengenai kekeliruan berhubung keperluan mendapatkan perintah mahkamah bagi melaksanakan keputusan berkaitan pengampunan.

Beliau menegaskan bahawa mahkamah tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk memberikan pengampunan.

Menurutnya, kuasa tersebut terletak pada Yang di-Pertuan Agong, dan dokumen rasmi berkaitan keputusan itu perlu datang daripada pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan.

Shafee berkata beliau telah membuat pertanyaan rasmi mengenai dokumen berkenaan.

Bagaimanapun, beliau menegaskan bahawa sebarang kelewatan dalam pelaksanaan tidak seharusnya secara automatik dikaitkan dengan Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Jangan salahkan Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” katanya, sambil menjelaskan bahawa proses melaksanakan sesuatu keputusan merupakan perkara berbeza daripada pihak yang mempunyai kuasa untuk membuat keputusan tersebut.

Perkembangan Rayuan Kes 1MDB

Sidang media Shafee itu turut berlangsung selepas pengurusan kes permohonan Najib untuk menangguhkan pelaksanaan hukuman dalam kes 1MDB di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada Khamis, dengan mahkamah menetapkan 14 Oktober untuk mendengar permohonan berkenaan.

Perkembangan itu menjadi antara perkara yang disentuh Shafee ketika bertemu media selepas prosiding tersebut, selain menjelaskan kedudukan tahanan rumah dan perkara berkaitan pengampunan bersyarat Najib.

Menunggu Kepastian

Bagi Najib dan keluarganya, setiap perkembangan ini bukan sekadar proses undang-undang yang perlu dilalui, tetapi turut menentukan bila beliau boleh kembali bersama keluarga dan menjalani baki hukumannya di rumah.

Semakin lama proses itu mengambil masa, semakin panjang juga tempoh penantian dan perpisahan yang perlu dilalui.

Buat masa ini, beberapa perkara masih menunggu keputusan dan pelaksanaan, termasuk permohonan penangguhan hukuman kes 1MDB, pembayaran RM50 juta serta proses rasmi berkaitan tahanan rumah.

Bagi seorang banduan dan keluarganya, setiap hari yang berlalu sementara menunggu kepastian mempunyai makna yang tersendiri. – NMH

The post Tahanan Rumah: Shafee Jelaskan Perbezaannya Dengan Remisi, Parol first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 September 2026 — Moneywave is entering a new phase of growth, combining more than three decades of experience in money services with a physical-and-digital model designed around how people and businesses move money today.

Operating since 1994, Moneywave has moved its headquarters from Pandan Indah to Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang, where its new flagship brings currency exchange, international remittance and business payment solutions under one roof.

The company currently operates five outlets across West and East Malaysia, with remittance services covering more than 60 currencies.

The New Phygital

Moneywave’s new proposition, described as “phygital”, is built around giving customers flexibility between physical and digital channels.

Customers will be able to start their journey on their phone and complete it at an outlet, or begin at an outlet and continue digitally.

One planned capability will allow customers to lock an FX rate on their phone and collect later at the counter.

The company’s mobile app is scheduled to launch in Q4 2026.

Moneywave CEO Aiman Kallahan said the company’s approach was shaped by more than 30 years of understanding customers’ money-moving needs.

“We spent thirty years learning what people need when they move money. Wisma MCA is where we build the outlet around that, instead of asking customers to fit the counter.”

The company believes digital convenience and face-to-face accessibility can work together, particularly for customers such as foreign workers sending money home, families supporting relatives overseas, students, travellers and small businesses making cross-border payments.

From Heritage to the Future

The new flagship also reflects Moneywave’s long history.

A collection of rare international banknotes from one founder’s personal collection, accumulated over more than 30 years, is displayed at the premises.

What began as an interest connected to his work eventually became a lifelong hobby, offering a glimpse into how money itself has evolved over the decades.

Moneywave sees the Wisma MCA flagship as a blueprint for future outlets, combining physical accessibility with its expanding digital capabilities.

Regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia, the company says its broader vision is to make “Sending Money Like a Message” a daily reality for customers.

With its flagship now open and the mobile app planned for Q4, Moneywave is positioning its next chapter around a simple proposition: digital when convenient, physical when needed. – NMH

The post Moneywave’s Next Chapter: Where Physical Meets Digital first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 September 2026 — Ada lagu dan muzik yang kita dengar dan kemudian kita lupakan. Namun ada juga lagu yang melekat dalam ingatan, membawa kita kembali kepada zaman muda, kenangan bersama insan tersayang, atau kisah pahit manis kehidupan yang pernah kita lalui.

Di sebalik setiap lagu itu, ada susuk manusia. Ada pemuzik yang menghabiskan masa bertahun-tahun di atas pentas, di studio dan di kelab-kelab. Ada yang bermain muzik ketika masyarakat sedang menikmati zaman kegemilangan industri hiburan, dan ada pula generasi muda yang kini cuba mencari tempat dalam dunia muzik yang semakin mencabar.

Namun apabila lampu pentas dipadamkan, kehidupan mereka tidak semestinya semeriah persembahan yang disaksikan penonton. Bagi Persatuan Pemuzik Malaysia (Musicians for Musicians – MfM), inilah realiti yang perlu diberi perhatian.

Menerusi MfM Benefit Showcase 2026 – “Rocking for a Cause”, persatuan itu bukan sahaja mahu mengumpulkan dana untuk membantu pemuzik yang memerlukan, tetapi mahu mengetengahkan persoalan lebih besar: Bagaimana memastikan pemuzik Malaysia mempunyai masa depan yang lebih terjamin?

Konsert amal tahunan keempat itu akan berlangsung pada Sabtu, 10 Oktober 2026, mulai jam 4 petang di Dewan Tunku, Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS), Petaling Jaya.

Bukan Sekadar Bantuan Ketika Kesusahan

Presiden MfM, Francis Danker, melihat cabaran pemuzik hari ini daripada perspektif yang lebih jauh. Menurutnya, pemuzik tidak seharusnya hanya menerima bantuan apabila mereka jatuh sakit, tidak mampu bekerja atau sudah berada dalam keadaan kewangan yang kritikal.

Mereka memerlukan pekerjaan yang berterusan.

Mereka memerlukan ruang untuk bermain muzik.

Mereka memerlukan pendapatan yang membolehkan mereka menyimpan untuk hari tua dan, yang paling penting, menjalani kehidupan dengan bermaruah.

“Kami perlu memberikan pemuzik-pemuzik ini satu talian hayat. Kami perlu memberikan mereka satu tempat yang boleh mereka harapkan,” kata Danker.

Beliau berkata ramai pemuzik, khususnya veteran dan anak muda yang baru memasuki industri, semakin sukar mendapatkan tempat persembahan secara konsisten. Lebih menyedihkan, terdapat juga pemuzik yang sudah membuat persembahan tetapi terpaksa menunggu berminggu-minggu untuk mendapatkan bayaran.

Bagi mereka yang hidup dari satu persembahan ke satu persembahan, kelewatan kecil boleh membawa kesan besar.

“Mereka ini bekerja dari hari ke hari. Mereka perlukan pendapatan kecil itu. Tetapi pendapatan itu pun mereka tidak terima,” katanya tentang masalah bayaran yang sering dihadapi oleh segelintir pemuzik. Justeru, MfM mahukan bantuan kepada pemuzik dilihat bukan hanya sebagai amal, tetapi sebagai satu bentuk pelaburan terhadap masa depan komuniti muzik negara.

Hotel Boleh Menjadi Pentas Baharu

Danker percaya satu penyelesaian yang praktikal ialah kerjasama antara kerajaan, industri pelancongan, hotel dan komuniti muzik.

Beliau mencadangkan supaya hotel dan pusat peranginan, khususnya hotel bertaraf lima bintang, menyediakan ruang persembahan secara tetap kepada pemuzik tempatan.

Bagi beliau, pendekatan itu bukan sahaja membuka peluang pekerjaan, malah boleh menjadi sebahagian daripada pengalaman budaya yang ditawarkan kepada pelancong.

Malaysia mempunyai khazanah muzik yang luas. Alat muzik seperti sape, gambus, sitar dan rebana boleh digabungkan dengan instrumen moden untuk menghasilkan persembahan yang segar tanpa kehilangan identiti tempatan.

“Kenapa kita tidak boleh memainkan muzik menggunakan sape dan menggabungkannya dengan rebana? Satukan kedua-duanya dan hasilkan sesuatu yang berbeza,” katanya.

Malah, dengan nada berseloroh, beliau bertanya:

“Siapa kata anda tidak boleh memainkan ‘Hotel California’ menggunakan sape? Tunjukkan kepada mereka!”

Di sebalik gurauan itu tersimpan satu gagasan yang serius — muzik Malaysia tidak perlu sekadar dipelihara sebagai warisan lama. Ia boleh dihidupkan semula, dikembangkan dan diperkenalkan kepada dunia dalam bentuk baharu.

Danker turut melihat lagu-lagu daripada zaman P. Ramlee hingga generasi selepasnya sebagai khazanah yang boleh disusun semula untuk pendengar masa kini.

“Mereka mahu merasai budaya kita, menikmati makanan kita, melihat hasil kraftangan kita dan mendengar muzik kita.”

Jika ruang seperti ini diwujudkan secara konsisten, pemuzik bukan sahaja mendapat peluang bekerja, malah mungkin memperoleh bentuk pekerjaan yang lebih stabil, termasuk faedah seperti caruman KWSP.

Persoalan masa depan pemuzik juga berkait rapat dengan kesinambungan generasi.

Daripada Legenda Kepada Generasi Baharu

Setiausaha Kehormat MfM, Latifah Abdullah, berkata persatuan itu mempunyai lebih 800 ahli berdaftar, daripada usia 18 tahun sehingga pemuzik dalam lingkungan 80-an. Sekitar 300 hingga 400 daripadanya merupakan ahli aktif.

Katanya, lebih ramai pemuzik muda perlu mengenali MfM kerana generasi tersebut membawa pandangan, pengalaman dan idea yang berbeza.

“Kami mahu mereka tahu bahawa kami wujud. Kami perlu diiktiraf,” katanya.

Atas semangat itulah “Rocking for a Cause” turut menjadi ruang pertemuan antara pemuzik muda dan veteran.

Tahun ini, MfM akan memberi penghormatan kepada 20 pemuzik yang telah mengabdikan antara 40 hingga 50 tahun dalam Industri musik. Ia merupakan penghargaan yang cukup bermakna kepada insan yang mungkin selama ini hanya dikenali oleh nama mereka dalam dunia muzik, tetapi jarang diraikan atas keseluruhan perjalanan hidup mereka

Malam Untuk Mengenang Mereka Yang Pernah Mencipta Sejarah

Barisan persembahan tahun ini juga sarat dengan nostalgia. Electric Orgasm bakal meraikan reunion 50 tahun, manakala Datuk Francissca Peter, Goblokes, Heavy Machine, Dato’ Leonard Tan, Lighthouse bersama Vijay David, Royston Sta Maria, Os Pombos, The Polymaths bersama Raja Singham dan The Studio 10 Experience turut akan beraksi di pentas.

Konsert ini juga memberikan penghormatan kepada nama-nama yang pernah membentuk muzik Malaysia seperti The Falcons Malaysia, Sons of Adam, Ollie daripada Heavy Machine, The Strollers dan Alleycats.

Bagi Heavy Machine, penghormatan khusus akan diberikan kepada pemain saksofon Olie, yang kini kurang sihat. Anak perempuannya dijangka membuat persembahan bersama kumpulan tersebut bagi menggantikannya. Segmen penghormatan turut mengenang pemuzik yang telah meninggal dunia, termasuk Seha dan Gani.

Tetamu Dari Jauh

Royston Sta Maria, yang akan datang dari Australia dijangka menyampaikan “Mulanya Di Sini” sebagai sebahagian daripada ‘tribute’ kepada rakan-rakan seperjuangan.

Bagi Royston, konsert itu mempunyai makna yang jauh lebih besar daripada sebuah persembahan.

“Ini merupakan sebuah konsert yang hebat, apabila pemuzik berkumpul dan menggunakan bakat mereka untuk mengumpulkan dana bagi membantu rakan-rakan pemuzik yang menghadapi kesusahan atau tidak mampu bekerja disebabkan masalah kesihatan.”

⁠Sasaran RM100,000, Tetapi Nilai Kemanusiaannya Lebih Daripada Itu

MfM menyasarkan kutipan sebanyak RM100,000 menerusi konsert tahun ini. Sumbangan itu akan digunakan untuk membantu pemuzik yang memerlukan, di samping sebahagian sumber diharapkan dapat disalurkan kepada usaha pembangunan industri muzik.

Antara pihak yang menyumbang untuk acara tersebut ialah itu ialah Weststar, yang telah memberikan sokongan selama beberapa tahun, selain KJ&S dan Memories bagi aspek produksi, bunyi dan pencahayaan.

MfM sendiri bergerak dengan semangat kesukarelawanan. Ahli jawatankuasanya terdiri daripada pemuzik — ada yang masih aktif dan ada yang telah bersara — yang meluangkan masa tanpa bayaran.

“Semua ahli jawatankuasa adalah pemuzik, dan kami semua melakukan kerja ini tanpa bayaran. Tugas kami adalah untuk melihat siapa yang boleh kami bantu,” kata Danker. Dan mungkin di situlah terletaknya jiwa sebenar “Rocking for a Cause”.

Ia bukan semata-mata tentang RM100,000.

Ia tentang seorang pemuzik yang mungkin memerlukan bantuan ketika sakit. Tentang sebuah keluarga yang kehilangan pencari rezeki. Tentang seorang veteran yang pernah menghiburkan ribuan manusia tetapi kini tidak lagi mempunyai tempat untuk bermain. Dan tentang anak muda yang mempunyai bakat, tetapi tidak tahu di mana hendak memulakan perjalanan.

Muzik telah menjadi sebahagian daripada kehidupan rakyat Malaysia selama beberapa generasi. Kini, tiba masanya masyarakat bertanya: siapa yang akan menjaga mereka yang selama ini menjaga muzik kita? Pada 10 Oktober nanti, apabila gitar dipetik, dram dipalu dan suara bergema di Dewan Tunku, yang diraikan bukan hanya lagu-lagu lama dan legenda muzik.

⁠Yang Diraikan Ialah ‘Manusia Di Sebalik Muzik’

Kerana sesebuah lagu mungkin hanya mengambil masa beberapa minit untuk dimainkan, tetapi kesannya boleh bertahan sepanjang hayat.

Dan seperti kata Danker:

“Kita mahu melakukan perkara ini untuk golongan muda. Membina satu platform untuk mereka.”

Mungkin itulah “Rocking for a Cause” yang sebenar, bukan sekadar mengumpul wang untuk hari ini, tetapi membina talian hayat supaya muzik Malaysia terus mempunyai manusia yang mampu menyambungnya esok.

BUTIRAN ACARA

MfM Benefit Showcase 2026 – Rocking for a Cause
Sabtu, 10 Oktober 2026
4.00 petang dan seterusnya
Dewan Tunku, Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS), Petaling Jaya

Tiket:
•⁠ ⁠Ahli MfM: RM85
•⁠ ⁠Kemasukan umum: RM105 seorang, termasuk minuman percuma
•⁠ ⁠Meja Standard: RM1,050 untuk 10 orang
•⁠ ⁠Golden Hearts: RM3,000
•⁠ ⁠Diamond Hearts: RM5,000

The post Rocking For A Cause: Apabila Muzik Menjadi Talian Hayat Pemuzik first appeared on NMH.

It began with defeat. It may yet end with a comeback.

There was a time, not very long ago, when Barisan Nasional (BN) looked like a political relic.

GE14 in 2018 was supposed to be the end of BN as Malaysians had known it. After six decades in power, the coalition was swept out by Pakatan Harapan (PH), and the country was suddenly introduced to the intoxicating promise of a “New Malaysia”.

For many, it was supposed to be a new beginning.

For others, it became something very different.

What followed was political upheaval — governments rising and falling, defections, realignments and, after GE15, the unlikely marriage of old rivals in the Unity Government.

But beneath all the manoeuvring, something else was happening.

BN was learning how to survive.

And more importantly, it was learning how to come back.

Today, the signs are no longer subtle.

BN’s stunning performance in Johor in July — winning 48 of 56 state seats and a two-thirds majority — was more than a state election victory. It was a psychological breakthrough.

Three weeks later came Negeri Sembilan, where BN won 18 of 36 seats and returned to power after eight years, forming the state government with PN support.

Two states.

Two confidence-boosting results.

And suddenly, the conversation has changed.

BN is no longer behaving like a coalition fighting merely for survival.

It is beginning to look like one preparing for the next battle.

From “New Malaysia” to Political Fatigue

Perhaps the biggest irony of the post-GE14 story is that the forces that were supposed to bury BN may have contributed to its resurrection.

The collapse of the first PH government, the Sheraton Move and successive changes of administration left many voters exhausted.

And Malays, above all, are loyal to a fault.

For a sizeable section of the Malay electorate, 2018 meant seeing the traditional political establishment dismantled, familiar leaders prosecuted and the country plunged into prolonged political uncertainty.

Najib Razak became the most potent symbol of that rupture.

The former prime minister was convicted in the SRC International case and subsequently faced further convictions in the larger 1MDB proceedings. He remains in prison.

Yet politically, Najib has never disappeared.

For his supporters, he has become a symbol of what they regard as selective justice and political persecution.

And the pressure has not ended with Najib.

More BN-era leaders are finding themselves in court, with cases involving Tabung Haji and Felda among those drawing attention, and more cases potentially to come.

Whether these cases are viewed as accountability or political persecution, their cumulative effect within BN is difficult to ignore.

The more its leaders come under legal pressure, the more the coalition’s members appear to be closing ranks.

And that solidarity extends beyond UMNO. For the component parties, it can reinforce the sense that BN’s survival — and their own political future within it — are intertwined.

The old BN instinct of standing together may be returning.

The Unity Government’s Uncomfortable Contradiction

When BN entered the Unity Government with PH after GE15, it was widely seen as a marriage of necessity.

For Anwar Ibrahim, it provided the numbers and stability needed to govern.

For BN, it provided something equally valuable: time.

Time to regroup. Rebuild its machinery. Reconnect with voters. And remind Malaysians that BN was still there.

The irony is difficult to miss.

The coalition that was supposed to be transformed by the post-GE14 order was given the opportunity to rebuild from within it.

That does not mean BN is about to leave the Unity Government.

But politically, the distance between BN and PH increasingly looks wider than the Cabinet table suggests.

At the UMNO general assembly today, Zahid made the distinction plain: BN is in the Unity Government, but it is not the same thing as being in the “Madani Government”.

It may sound semantic.

Politically, it is anything but.

It is a reminder that BN has its own identity, its own constituency and, increasingly, its own political calculations.

Johor Changed the Mood

If one moment shifted BN’s confidence, it was Johor.

UMNO won 36 seats, MCA eight and MIC four. PH managed eight, while PN and the other parties were shut out.

The message was clear: BN could still win — and win big.

Then came Negeri Sembilan, where its return to power through an arrangement with PN reinforced the momentum.

For Zahid, the results could hardly have come at a better time.

BN’s political stock is rising, even as PH grapples with the difficult task of defending its reform credentials, managing internal contradictions and keeping a sprawling coalition together.

And then there is Najib.

The Najib Question Refuses to go Away

This week, Najib submitted a fresh application for clemency.

The Federal Territories Pardons Board met today, but his application was deferred to a future meeting.

There was no Najib pardon today.

But politically, the issue had already brought the fault line between UMNO and PH into sharp focus.

PH said those convicted of corruption and abuse of power should serve their full sentences. UMNO pushed back against what it saw as an attempt to prejudge the constitutional powers of the King.

Zahid’s position was more carefully calibrated: leave the matter to the King and the Pardons Board.

But there was little ambiguity about Najib’s emotional significance to UMNO’s grassroots.

At the assembly, Zahid spoke of expecting “good news”.

He also acknowledged another figure deeply woven into the Najib story.

When he asked Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to stand in the Dewan Merdeka, the gesture was about more than protocol.

It was a public acknowledgement of a woman who remains deeply woven into the history and emotional landscape of UMNO’s grassroots.

For those who believe Najib was treated unfairly, her presence — and Zahid’s decision to recognise her — was significant.

It was a reminder that Najib and Rosmah remain part of the emotional memory of a significant section of UMNO, and that their story is far from over in the hearts and minds of their supporters.

The Quiet Separation

Perhaps that is where BN’s revival becomes most interesting.

There has been no dramatic announcement that BN is leaving the Unity Government.

No grand declaration of war.

No political divorce.

Instead, there appears to be something quieter: a psychological separation.

BN can remain in government while increasingly behaving like a coalition preparing for life beyond it.

Johor gave it confidence.

Negeri Sembilan reinforced it.

The Najib issue has energised its grassroots.

And every disagreement with PH provides another opportunity to remind supporters that BN is not PH.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important.

BN no longer needs to convince its supporters that it can survive.

It needs to convince them that it can win.

And that is a very different political proposition.

The Next Question: Can BN Become More Than UMNO?

For decades, BN’s strength lay in bringing different communities and political traditions under one umbrella.

UMNO was its dominant force, certainly. But MCA, MIC and the other component parties were never merely decorative. They gave BN a genuinely multi-ethnic political machine with roots in different communities.

Johor offered a glimpse of that again.

MCA doubled its representation from four seats to eight. MIC won four.

They were part of the victory.

And now another part of BN’s revival deserves attention: the emergence of a younger generation of leaders.

But this is not necessarily a generation seeking to leave the past behind.

Quite the opposite.

Many grew up during Najib’s years as prime minister. They watched his rise, his fall and his transformation into “Bossku”. For many, he remains a political role model.

His influence also has a remarkable digital dimension.

An ILHAM Centre analysis in May found Najib to be Malaysia’s most followed political figure across six major social-media platforms, with 9.35 million followers, including 4.6 million on Facebook.

For BN’s young Turks, social media is their natural political battleground — and Najib remains one of the most powerful figures occupying that space.

So “young” does not necessarily mean a break with Najib or the old BN.

It may mean something quite different: a younger generation carrying forward a political legacy they still believe in, using the tools and language of a different Malaysia.

That is the story Emma Harith will explore in Part Two — the component parties, new faces and young leaders who may determine whether BN’s resurgence lasts.

Because if BN really is rising again, the story is no longer simply about whether UMNO can regain power.

It is about whether Barisan Nasional can reinvent itself without losing the identity that made its supporters loyal to it in the first place.

For now, one thing is increasingly difficult to deny.

The coalition that was supposed to have died in 2018 is very much alive.

After Johor and Negeri Sembilan, it is no longer merely trying to survive.

It is beginning to believe it can come back.

Perhaps that is the real story of the rise — and rise — of Barisan Nasional. – NMH

The post The Rise And Rise Of Barisan Nasional first appeared on NMH.