GUTSHOT PODCAST EP 99: DR M AS PRESIDENT OF DAP, ANTHONY LOKE AS PRESIDENT OF PAS

 

TRUMP TARIFFS MALAYSIA AGAIN.

 

By  PAUL WISEMAN and MAE ANDERSON

July 24, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners 

The United States will slap taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners accounting for 99% of U.S. imports

The new tariffs will take effect just as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday. 

'make it clear that this conduct carries consequences..' - signed by SIX US Congressmen.

 

Google AI describes this letter as follows:

This document appears to be a formal letter signed by several members of the U.S. Congress, including Greg Landsman, Josh Gottheimer, Jimmy Panetta, Dan Goldman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz, Brad Sherman, and Jake Auchincloss. The text visible in the image urges the recipient to suspend IMET (International Military Education and Training) funding if Malaysia does not reverse a specific policy within 15 days. The letter emphasizes that certain conduct carries consequences and seeks to address a discriminatory policy through financial pressure on foreign aid.

My Comments: 

Hero dari jauh bolehlah. 
Tak payah angkat kaki untuk berjihad pun. 
Gempak sikit-sikit cukuplah.

SITUATION CRITICAL FOR UKRAINE. NO MORE AIR DEFENSES.

There is much intrigue inside Ukraine. The Minister of Defense has been fired and there are protests against the unelected government. The Minister of Defense (Fyodorov??) was advocating for drone warfare which has not been successful against the Russians. Last week in Turkey NATO pledged US$70 BILLION annually to fund the war against Russia. The new drone warfare supply chain (in the EU and NATO) is eyeing this money. The old guard is also eyeing this US$70 billion.  

Here is a three minute video of the port city of Odessa. The Russians say 'Adiyessa'. If you double the playback speed on YouTube you can watch this in 1.5 minutes. 

This is part of the Russian summer offensive of 2026. Prior to this Odessa was largely unmolested.  As you can see the port is burning. Odessa has been effectively put out of commission. It does not function as a port anymore. When the Russians take Odessa Ukraine will lose access to the sea. 

Other things are moving at a rapid pace. Ukraine has lost all its air defenses. There are no more American made Patriot anti-aircraft missiles in operation in Ukraine. Each Patriot battery costs US$1.0 billion. Ukraine had EIGHT Patriot missile batteries (ie US$8.0 billion). They were supplied by NATO. Now all these Patriot missile batteries have been destroyed by the Russians. The Americans are not able to resupply Ukraine with the Patriot missiles because of the situation in the Middle East. I say 'situation' because there is no real war in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian regime has resorted to shooting at Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and other Gulf states. So the Americans are strengthening their Patriot batteries in the Middle East. The Patriots in the Middle East have far better success against the Iranian missiles. 

In Ukraine the Patriots were never able to shoot down any of the Iskandar and Khinzal hypersonic missiles which the Russians kept firing. And the Patriots certainly cannot shoot down the super hypersonic Oreshnik missile. (The Russians say 'Ariyeshnik').

This Ukraine war has proven the total collapse and inadequacy of all Western weapons systems against Russian weapons. The Russian technology is far superior. Even in the drone war a high percentage of Ukrainian UAVs are being shot down by Russian anti-drone defenses whereas the Russian made jet-powered Geran drones now rule the skies over Ukraine (picture). The Geran drones are quite unstoppable. They carry 50kg - 90kg warheads and fly at 500 km/h with a range of 450 km. 

This week a few EU ambassadors in Moscow asked to meet the Russian Foreign Ministry. They proposed a ceasefire but according to the same terms the EU / NATO have been repeating the past few years. So the Russians sent them away.

In April 2026 there was an exchange of remains of soldiers killed in combat.

• Russia returned the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
• Ukraine returned the remains of 41 Russian soldiers.
• The ratio was 1:25 (Russia : Ukraine).

In a more recent repatriation of remains of soldiers the Ukrainians returned the remains of 500 Russian killed. The Russians returned over 10,000 Ukrainian killed. The ratio was over 1:20 (Russian : Ukrainian). 

The Hamas war was executed on the orders of the Muslim Brotherhood which is based in Turkey, Qatar, Europe and the US. The people of Gaza knew little about it until it happened.  Likewise the Ukraine war was executed on the orders of the British and NATO. The people of Ukraine have nothing to gain from this war.  

Sejahtera Malaysia

 

Bersemarak Malaysia tercinta
Kibarkan panji kebesarannya
Kami rela menjaga namamu
Sejahtera Malaysia

HOI ANTHONY LOKE - SO AUGUST 16TH STILL GOT MEETING AH? WHAT FOR? WASTING TIME ONLY.

 

CLICK HERE FOR MALAY MAIL ARTICLE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — DAP will not leave PH coalition 
despite recent electoral setbacks Anthony Loke has said
CNA interview, Loke rejected suggestions DAP go it alone 
after disappointing performances in recent state elections
governing through coalition only realistic way to shape country’s future

OSTB:  What future? Two terms for PM also sudah mati.

“I dont think DAP can go far if we just go solo” Loke said

• OSTB: But you got your backside kicked 8-0 in Sabah. 
• In Johor you got your backside kicked. 
• In SIX state elections you got your backside kicked. 
• Your pintu belakang partner won ONE seat in Johor and ONE seat in Sabah. 
• So are you planning to go farther than that?

scrutiny over DAP’s future within PH following losses in Sabah, Johor 
to effect change in government, you have to be in a position of power 

OSTB:  What changes have you 'effected' ? Nga Kor Ming has delivered Building Plan approval in 24 hours. Development Order approval in one week? Fantastic. DAP = Developers Action Party. Developers are happy. But what about the 34 million other Malaysians? 34 million Malaysians must wait longer than the property developers?

He added that withdrawing from PH would only play into the hands of political opponents who wanted to push DAP out of government.

• OSTB: 
• NO NO NO. 
• Anthony Loke PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE  do not pull out of the gomen. 
• Please stay in the gomen. 
• So that in GE16 you will get kicked out. 
• Then good riddance. 
• The voters will kick you so hard you will fly into orbit in outer space.

For Loke, slower reforms are preferable 
forced DAP to accept compromises 
what matters is delivery,” he said
Loke said realities of gomen meant progress slower than hoped.
proposals to limit prime minister’s tenure to 10 years encountered setbacks 

OSTB: Except if you are a property developer. For property developers

Building Plan (BP) approval: targeted completed within 24 hours
Development Order / Planning Permission: targeted at 7 days 

The remaining 34 million Malaysians can wait patiently for the Slow Boat from China.

we know these might not necessarily translate into support on the ground 

OSTB: Then whose support are you looking for? Who are you working for?

the beauty of democracy 
the beauty of elections 
you send a message to gomen 

OSTB: But he who harvests the durians is heard more loudly. The trick is to juggle between the durians and the voters.  

HOI ANTHONY LOKE - SO AUGUST 16TH  STILL GOT MEETING AH? WHAT FOR? WASTING TIME ONLY. 

You want power so you are NOT going to pull out of PH.
You want power so you wont pull out of gomen.
You want power so you wont give up your GLC positions.
So why waste time with that meeting on August 16th? 

Just cancel the meeting lah. Save taxi fare, save travelling expenses, save hotel expenses, save flight tickets. What is there to discuss? There is nothing to discuss. You want power. So you will stay in gomen.  End of story.  

RM178 MILLION CONTRACT TO THE BROTHER!! HOI ANTHONY LOKE CAN YOU EXPLAIN?

CLICK ANYWHERE HERE: "Ah Loke mahu komen kenapa beri kontrak RM178 juta kepada adik A--m B--i dua bulan lalu pada Mei 2026 tak?"

ALAMAK INI KALI KAPAL ADA TAPI MISSILE TAK ADA

This is taken from the South China Morning Post, click here. 

• Malaysia’s US$500 million warship set for delivery, minus the missiles
• navy’s first littoral combat ship arriving 
• without anti-ship missiles meant to give it offensive teeth
• Published: 15 Jul 2026 
• warship fully equipped for anti-submarine, anti-air and electronic warfare 
• except a way to sink an enemy ship
• After nearly decade of delays, financial scandal, shipyard mismanagement 
• first littoral combat ship finally due in December
• But it will arrive missing any anti-ship missiles

• Norway decision to revoke export licence for Naval Strike Missile 
• the ship itself sails ahead regardless
• vessel would still carry anti-submarine, anti-air and electronic warfare systems
• ship will not carry, for now, a way to strike enemy ships 
• the capability that was meant to define the class.
• missing missile system left “gaping hole in conventional naval deterrence”.
• Turkey and South Korea potential missile suppliers

• More than 60%  of naval fleet over 40 years old
• driving up maintenance costs and straining operations
• search for replacement surface-to-surface missile system will be crucial
• vessel can still handle surveillance, disaster relief, search-and-rescue 
• Maritim Malaysia (coastguard) already does that
• navy never meant to double as coastguard
• replacement surface-to-surface missile system will be crucial
• 
  

• A troubled history
• five Maharaja Lela-class LCS costing roughly RM10.2B or RM2.04B each
• Built to the French Naval Group’s Gowind-class design
• due for delivery in stages through 2029 (originally due in 2019)
• mismanagement at the debt-laden Shipyard caused delays
• Public sentiment soured against programme in scandal’s wake

newest warships capable escorts with no sting

MY COMMENTS:

• five Maharaja Lela-class LCS costing roughly RM10.2B or RM2.04B each

Originally six Maharaja Lela-class LCS were ordered.

Original contract (2011–2014): RM9.13 billion for 6 ships.
This worked out to roughly RM1.52 billion per ship on average.
By 2022, gomen already paid RM6.08 billion, but no ships delivered.

RM10.2 billion +  RM6.08 billion =  RM16.28 billion.

I asked ChatGpt, at today's prices,  what can be bought for RM16.28 billion. Here is the answer from ChatGpt :

A budget of RM16.28 billion (about US$3.8–3.9 billion, depending on exchange rates) is large enough to buy a substantial naval force. The exact number depends on weapons, sensors, logistics, training, and local construction, but here are four realistic examples:

Option. Approximate purchase within RM16.28 billion.

1. Modern frigates. 3 FREMM-class frigates. Large 6,700-ton multi-role ships with anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-ship capabilities. Individual ships have sold for roughly US$1–1.3 billion depending on configuration.

2. Modern submarines. 3 Scorpène-class submarines. Similar family to Malaysia's existing submarines. Modern export prices are roughly US$1–1.3 billion each with weapons and support.

3. Japanese Mogami-class frigates. 6–7 Mogami-class frigates. Japan's latest stealth frigate is designed to be relatively affordable compared with larger Western frigates. (Pictured here).

4. Mixed fleet. 2 submarines + 2 modern frigates A balanced force providing underwater deterrence plus surface combat capability. This would fit broadly within a US$3.8–3.9 billion budget depending on weapons and support packages.

MY COMMENTS: Why pay less when you can pay more?

WILL / SHOULD THE US TAKE KHARG ISLAND?

 

• US strikes hit southern Iran 
• strikes overnight on Saturday 
• explosions in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island 
• US warplanes struck city of Shadagan in southern Iran on Sunday (today)
• eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran 
• hit Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities
• Several locations on Qeshm Island in Strait of Hormuz targeted by US strikes

My Comments:

The past eight days the US has been striking targets in southern Iran, around the Bandar Abbas, Straits of Hormuz area (report above). The media is speculating that the US will invade Kharg Island, Iran's oil export terminal which is located far to the north hundreds of kilometers from Hormuz. Kharg Island exports 90% of Iran's oil.

However with the US reimposing the naval blockade against Iran since the 14th July invading Kharg Island will not serve any military objective. Iran's oil exports are now effectively zero because of the naval blockade against the entire Iranian coastline. They do not need to invade Kharg Island, and also risk casualties, to cut off Iran's oil exports. 

Also if the extensive oil facilities on Kharg Island are destroyed the US will certainly take the blame. World opinion will hold the Americans responsible for any disaster on Kharg Island. 

Looking at the intense bombardment of southern Iran and also against the SEVEN islands in the Straits of Hormuz - Qeshm Island, Greater and Lesser Tunb, Abu Musa Island, Larak Island and Hormuz Island (plus one more) - it appears that the US may take these islands instead.  Militarily this would be the better option - the forces required to take these islands would be much smaller (except Qeshm Island), potential casualties could be minimised and holding these islands would be less taxing on the US Navy. 

Strategically speaking, taking these SEVEN islands would completely knock out all the Iranian staging and launching areas for attacks into the Straits of Hormuz. The US would completely own the entire Straits of Hormuz - both on the Iranian and the Oman sides of the straits. 

The US must face the fact that the Iranian regime is never going to surrender or negotiate terms. This is not a democracy. Iran is no more a theocracy either. The IRGC has completely taken over the country and the era of the mullas has actually ended. The mullas are never coming back. The IRGC will not allow them back. And for all intents and purposes Mojtaba Khamenei is dead. 

With the Israeli Mossad and the CIA having so much influence in covert operations inside Iran, it is not impossible that the regime change has already happened. But they do not know it yet.  Maybe Iran is already in a transition phase.

Since the IRGC will not surrender the US may have to put boots on the ground. But it would be suicidal to put American boots on the ground on the Iranian mainland. Also it is not necessary.  That naval blockade and taking those seven islands in the Straits of Hormuz can bring things to a conclusion. 

Things are drawing to a conclusion quite fast. Lets see what happens.  

p.s. I feel that what is happening has been planned all along - by the US and allies.

China is now the world's No 1 Science power.

Leading Russian chemist and materials scientist Artem Oganov, who received China’s top international science and technology award, said the honour from the world’s No 1 science power was a sign he was “on the right track”.

Oganov, a distinguished professor at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow and long-time China collaborator, and eight other experts were awarded the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a ceremony in Beijing last week.

After Oganov visited China in 2008, he told colleagues and friends in Europe that the country was “on the way” to being No 1 in both industry and science, but said this was met with scepticism at the time.

MY COMMENTS:  Too many people around the world are not even aware that China is a super modern, super advanced and super scientific society. And they are just getting started. 

Deng Xiaoping, China's de facto leader from 1978 to 1992, began China's Four Modernisations in ernest.  

China's Four Modernizations were first proposed by Zhou Enlai, not by Deng Xiaoping.

• 1963 – Zhou Enlai first outlined the idea of modernizing four key sectors of China's economy.
• 1975 – At the Fourth National People's Congress, Zhou formally presented the Four Modernizations as China's long-term development strategy.
• 1978 – After emerging as China's paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping made the Four Modernizations the centerpiece of China's "Reform and Opening Up" policy and began implementing them on a large scale.

The Four Modernizations are:

1. Agriculture
   • Increase food production and farmers' incomes.
   • Introduce more efficient farming methods and reduce collective farming.
   • The later "household responsibility system" gave farming families much greater control over production.
2. Industry
   • Modernize factories, improve productivity, and introduce advanced technology.
   • Encourage foreign investment and joint ventures.
3. National Defense
   • Modernize the armed forces with better equipment, training, and technology.
   • Shift from a large but outdated military to a more capable modern force.
4. Science and Technology
   • Expand universities and research institutions.
   • Train scientists and engineers.
   • Import foreign technology and send students abroad for advanced education.

These reforms dramatically reshaped China. Over the following decades:

• Hundreds of millions of people were lifted out of poverty.
• China became one of the world's largest manufacturing economies.
• Special Economic Zones such as Shenzhen Special Economic Zone became laboratories for market-oriented reforms.
• China emerged as a major exporter and later as a global leader in areas such as high-speed rail, telecommunications, and renewable energy.

A phrase closely associated with Deng Xiaoping's implementation of these ideas is:

"It doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice."

This expressed his pragmatic view that policies should be judged by whether they worked, rather than by whether they were considered purely socialist or capitalist. While versions of this saying predated him, Deng made it famous as a guiding principle for economic reform.

MY COMMENTS: China made the correct turn in the road. 

Sunday Lite: Kahwin Rohingya? Why Not Lantik Rohingya Jadi PM?

KLIK SINI Janganlah jealous lelaki Rohingya dapat awek Melayu cun

GUTSHOT PODCAST EP 97 - ECONOMY SLOW BOILING FROGS

FRIDAY NOTES (17/07/26) FROM THE QURAN - "EVERYTHING ON EARTH SHALL PERISH"

Among the Shias the doctrine of the Twelve Imams (Ithna 'Ashariyyah) is the central belief of Twelver Shi'aism,  the largest branch of Shi'iasm. 

The Twelfth Imam -  According to Twelver Shi'a tradition  the twelfth Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan was born around 869 AD in Samarra. His father, Hasan al-Askari, died in 874 AD.   At that time, the Twelfth Imam is believed to have been about five years old.

Twelver Shias believe the five year old Imam entered occultation (ghaybah).   There is a shrine in Samarra known as the Sardab (cellar) beneath the house where the eleventh Imam lived. I have been to Samarra in Iraq and climbed up that famous spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra but I did not visit the  Shia shrine.  Twelver Shi'a generally revere the site because it is associated with the Imam. Here is a picture of the cellar. 

The Two Occultations - or period of ghaybah.

1. Minor Occultation (874–941 AD)

This lasted about 69 years.  During this period, the Hidden Imam communicated through four successive deputies (sufara').   The fourth deputy received a final letter stating there would be no further deputies.

2. Major Occultation (941 AD until today).   Since 941 AD, the Twelfth Imam has had no official representative.  Shi'a believe he remains alive until his return in the future.  This period has now lasted approximately 1,085 years.

Twelver Shi'a believe that near the end of time the Imam will reappear publicly,

Here are some verses from the Quran that may be of interest:

1.  Qur'an 2:96  (partial)   ۚ يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ ۖ   
Each one of them wishes that he could be granted a life of a thousand years..

(OSTB: Meaning no one can live forever, or for a thousand years). 

2.   Qur'an 55:26–27    كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ۝ وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Everyone upon the earth will perish, and there will remain only the Face of your Lord, Possessor of Majesty and Honor.

(OSTB: Meaning no one can last forever. We will all perish). 

3.   Qur'an 3:185  (partial)   كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْت
Every self shall taste death. 

4.  Qur'an 21:34   وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِي۟ن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ
We did not grant everlasting life to any human being before you. If you will die, will they live forever?

5.  Qur'an 21:35 (partial)   كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ  
Every self shall taste death. 

6.  Qur'an 29:57    كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
Every self shall taste death. Then to Us you will be returned.

7.  Qur'an 39:30  إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ
Indeed, you will die, and indeed, they too will die.

8.  Surah Al-Ahzab 33:62 (partial)   وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا
" And you will never find any change in the SUNNAH (way) of Allah."    

9. Surah Ar-Rum 30:30 (partial):     لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ
There is no changing the creation of Allah. 

(OSTB: Humans live a normal lifespan. No one lives forever). 

August 16th - New Destiny or Disaster For The DAP?

The DAP has postponed that 12 JULY party meeting to Aug 16th. The July 12th meeting was supposed to discuss if they should remain in PH or leave, go to the market and buy fish etc,

1. Government posts
   • This was the officially announced purpose of the special congress/national conference.
   • Delegates were expected to debate whether DAP leaders holding ministerial, deputy ministerial and other executive positions should relinquish those posts while remaining a component of the Unity Government.
2. Leaving Pakatan Harapan
   • There has been speculation and pressure from some grassroots members and commentators that DAP should leave PH or even withdraw from the Unity Government because of dissatisfaction with the pace of reforms.

Anthony Loke has now publicly sought to shut down that speculation. He said DAP will not leave Pakatan Harapan, arguing that the party cannot achieve meaningful reforms on its own.

Well for a DAP leader Anthony Loke does not have too strong a backbone. 

Well the Johor polls are almost a week old now. DAP got their butts kicked again - after losing 8-0 in Sabah. Next up are the Negeri Sembilan polls on Aug 1st.  The DAP will get their butts kicked again. Then party time on August 16th. May I advise the DAP - dont forget to nail the chairs to the floor. Otherwise they might go flying into the air. Things may get explosive. 

MCA won EIGHT seats in Johor, knocking out DAP in four  seats with majorities up to 2000 votes. Under YB Wee Ka Siong, the MCA is now on a warpath. Penang people say that the MCA is ready to takeover Penang as well. The party has plenty of  highly educated and young faces who are quite driven.  

The weak link that is pulling the DAP down is PKR. 
They won one seat in Sabah. 
Now they won only one seat in Johor.
This is the Party of Doom.
And they are pulling the DAP down with them.

It is totally careless and not clever at all for Anthony Loke to say:  DAP will not leave Pakatan Harapan, arguing that the party cannot achieve meaningful reforms on its own.

What reforms are you talking about? Your partner PKR got their butts kicked in SIX State elections, they got kicked out in Sabah and now in Johor. They will likely get kicked out in Negeri as well. The DAP will also get kicked out. Obviously you have not  achieved meaningful reforms - otherwise you will not be getting your backsides kicked around. So DAP better wake up.

Here is something about Negeri.  The Malay Rulers cancelled their last Ruler's Conference. The Singapore Straits Times reported (click here) 'that Malaysia’s Malay Rulers postponed their 272nd Conference of Rulers meeting, which was scheduled for June 23 to 25, 2026. The last-minute postponement was triggered by a brewing dispute over the throne of Negeri Sembilan'.

Ok the Negeri polls are scheduled for Aug 1st. Someone will win and a new Menteri Besar will be sworn in. The new Menteri Besar will have to be sworn in by the rightful Ruler of Negeri Sembilan.  

'the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan—who holds the title Yang di-Pertuan Besar—is elected rather than inheriting the throne directly. This election is carried out by a council of four territorial chiefs known as the Undang Yang Empat (the Four Undangs). These chiefs represent the state's largest territories - Wikipedia.

Of course.