Serial founder Ashran Ghazi exits Dattel, takes up his second CEO stint in a govt agency at MRANTI
- Although past CEO, Rais Hussin, had promised “exciting and seductive” advances, he fell short.
- Has Mosti set to take the 34th position in the Global Innovation Index by 2030, making it one of the top 20 nations in the world?
Thankfully, it was different this time. The Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation’s decision to appoint Ashran Ghazi ( pic ), a renowned serial founder and former head of MaGIC ( Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Council ), as the next MRANTI CEO for a two plus one-year contract was made known to the MRANTI board at the time. Now, Ashran clocked in.
He succeeds Rais Hussin, who had a brief two-year word from October 2023 to September 2025. Prior to an official news, the board just learned about that appointment when the media leaked the news. ” How could you, people were asking me,” I thought. recalled a committee part. That observation was connected to the agonizing two-year stay Rais spent working as a non-executive president at Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation from 2020 to 2022, where he was frequently perceived as acting in an administrative capacity rather than as a consultant and supporting MDEC authority.
When asked if he had stepped up his game in the past, his reply? ” I’m not here to serve as the president of the dish breath.” ( He didn’t want to move back and enjoy the benefits )
Yet a part of MDEC’s then-presidential management team claimed that his interference in running a government agency was absurd.
Regardless, there were enough people who believed Rais had done a good job while working for MDEC to allow him to transition to the MRANTI position, this occasion as CEO and on a two-year deal rather than the regular two plus one.
Some board members were offended by this because they believed that the country’s top development agency, with such a small contract, couldn’t expect to change a country’s innovation culture.
The plank was unsatisfied, but Rais told the board on his first time that his main task was to strengthen governance and set the development agenda on track, despite the fact that they were unable to do anything about it.
How has Rais performed so far in his brief time there?
Read more: May Rais Hussin make a name for himself in the development ecosystem of Malaysia?
He  promised “exciting and hot” advances to occur during a press briefing in March 2024. However, it will be difficult to find any noteworthy changes made by MRANTI over the past two decades, let alone beautiful.
The beautiful announcements could have been made after the announcement that two of the top cloud services players in the world had leased land to MRANTI to build their data centers. However, the businesses refused to let MRANTI disclose the talks.
These were backup sites for the cloud companies ‘ main websites in Malaysia, according to an administrative in the know, and they usually do not show people information.
And he said,” so we are working really very difficult in this area,” despite the fact that he had announced that MRANTI had been appointed to help addressing food safety, which is a hot button topic for Rais, with the government’s 2023 food costs at around RM72 billion.
If one defines announcement as information that is shared through media sources, that is. However, MRANTI announced on its social media channels that a MoA with an Indian NGO also known for its function on mechanized wheat gardening, Praanadhaara, was being conducted as a proof-of-concept for 4IR-driven, mechanized rice cultivation over 500 hectares in Kuala Penyu, Sabah, this past August. Sabah’s Department of Agriculture is a lover. This is a larger cooperation between Malaysia and India on food security and climate-smart rice production.
Some board users are divided over the manner in which the MoA was announced. A frustrated committee member remarked,” We are doing 101 issues, but our work is not being communicated externally.”  ,
The POC was formalized in 18 months, which reinforced the MRANTI board’s argument that Rais ‘ role’s too brief tenure was insufficient to make any significant progress. It is not known if Ashran feels the same way about food security and whether or not MRANTI may be involved.
In terms of Rais, it is time to slow down and concentrate on more important matters. ” After two years of tedious, never-ending labor transforming the tech area, I am now enjoying some time with my family, finished writing my guide, and better equipped to deal with the rapidly changing relationships of the world. When the appropriate moment, I’ll make a prediction for the future. He continued,” For the moment, I hope Slot ( the current Liverpool manager ) will be replaced with ( Jurgen ) Klopp or ( Oliver ) Glasner,” adding as a devoted die-hard supporter of the Liverpool football team.
Expectations for Ashran: Work tight, run quickly
DNA has learned about Ashran’s track history as a serial entrepreneur and former CEO of MaGIC from May 2016 to January 2019, despite the fact that they did not play a role in his choosing. He co-founded and led the client insights business, Dattel, from January 2019; DNA has learned that he just sold his play, making him eligible to apply for the MRANTI position.
Although his initial official meeting with the board will take place later this year, he has already had one with them before bringing them on board.
Expectations for him are to improve his communication with the state, as it was thought Rais ‘ frequent scheduling of meetings with the Mosti or the government had put him under a burden.
Rais tells DNA,” I attended numerous post-cabinet sessions. And occasionally I send unique SLTs as part of their in-house education because I had been concentrating on building methods, MRANTI, and resources. Sharing of meeting information helps with review and information sharing, which is more commonplace after the cabinet.
Ashran will also need to concentrate on Phase 2 of the” Innovation Gateway” project, which will transform the outdated TPM buildings into a suitable 4IR-ready office/R&, D area with respect to the university and anchor corporations that surround it. The position and expectations are very different from his MaGIC encounter, where he worked to create the business ecosystem, focusing on small businesses and not closing any sales, which he will have to do at MRANTI, which has 686, acres of land, which he has to finance by bringing in top companies to set up their development centers that, while leading the transformation of MANTI into an “integrated AI Park” that is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
In addition, one big tenant expressed satisfaction with Ashran’s appointment, saying that MRANTI has been outbound rather than inbound for developments in startup, tech incubation, R&, D, and talent development.
There isn’t a formal group forum where MRANTI tenants can exchange ideas between the numerous businesses in this area.
A leader who has worked for MRANTI for a while welcomed a leader as CEO. MRANTI should not act in a tenant-landlord type because it is a major tech and innovation park. The capacities as an open technology program should be strengthened. ( which is typically the case ) Why if prospective tenants become enticing themselves to emigrate to MRANTI? and existing people may discover a compelling value they won’t consider moving elsewhere.
He thinks that MRANTI should use its position as a real-world tests ground for firewalls, living laboratory, and POCs with the benefit of being the owner of the buildings and equipment. There have been some of these carried out, but they must be done more forcefully.
In fact, Ashran must follow the MRANTI Master Plan, which was released in October 2022, aggressively to meet the goal set by the then-Minister of Mosti, Adham Baba, who claimed that the implementation of the Master Plan will help improve Malaysia’s position in the 34th spot on the World Intellectual Property Organization’s ( WIPO ) Global Innovation Index ( GII ). This is merely a two-place progress over the 2022 position, which highlights the difficulty of Ashran’s task ahead. By 2030, Mosti hopes to place Malaysia among the top 20 GII nations.
Ashran may undoubtedly have a lot of disk to fill in this endeavor.
India plans action against IndiGo over flight cancellations to ‘set an example’
The country’s civil aviation minister announced on Monday ( Dec. 8 ) that India will take strict action against IndiGo in response to at least 2, 000 cancellations of flights this month in an effort to” set an example” for airlines that break the law. Tens of thousands of passengersContinue Reading
Thailand-Cambodia conflict: Thousands flee disputed border after deadly clashes and air strikes
Panisa Aemocha,BBC Thai, Bangkokand
Kelly Ng
The Ministry of Information of CambodiaAs new conflicts erupted, killing at least five people, inhabitants on both sides of Thailand’s and Cambodia’s borders rushed to evacuate in droves on Monday.
The conflict, which has become the most critical between the two countries since they signed a peace in July, has been led by each side’s accusation of starting it.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul claims that the country “never wanted assault” but did “use all means necessary to protect its sovereignty,” while Hun Sen, Cambodia’s ex-leader, accused Thai “invaders” of provoking retribution.
More than 40 deaths have been caused by the neighbours ‘ escalating tensions since May, as well as transfer limits and go restrictions.
The Thai army claimed on Monday that its soldiers had responded to Vietnamese fire in Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani Province by launch airstrikes along the disputed border, while Phnom Penh’s defense ministry claimed that the Thai makes had attacked first in Preah Vihear province, in response to Vietnamese flames.
According to leaders on either side, Monday’s preventing resulted in the deaths of at least one Thai soldier, four Thai civilians, and about a dozen injuries.
However, according to Thai instructor Siksaka Pongsuwan, there are other, unidentified victims of the clashes: children living close to the border are “losing opportunities and… beautiful time,” he warns, in contrast to their peers living in relatively quiet cities.
Babies are the ones who suffer the most.
Following the freshening up that has been simmering since Sunday, Thailand’s education minister said, almost 650 schools in five Thai regions have been ordered to close for health reasons.
However, videos of parents rushing home with their kids present chaotic scenes at schools in Cambodia’s boundary provinces.
And this is not the second day these kids have had their education interrupted in recent months.
Siksaka PongsuwanFive days of intense battle between the two countries broke out in the middle of the children’s exams in July.
Pongsuwan’s class switched to online courses in the wake of the switch, but not everyone could use them. Some students lived in homes without online, and iPads distributed by the schools did not reach anyone.
Former blogger Mech Dara shared a number of videos of children desperately running out of their classrooms in Cambodia on his X accounts.
How many times must these children endure the startling environment? he wrote. ” The drivel fighting causes a terrible nightmare for boys.”
He even shared a photo of a child eating some meals in an underground bunker while still wearing his school costume. Why are the child and his household required to eat in the bunker? he wrote.
Pongsuwan told the BBC that he and his neighbors are currently debating whether to move out despite the occasionally heard gunshots in his community.
If we keep if you inquire about our fear,” Yes, we are,” Did it actually become safer? Or may we continue? he tells the BBC.
A century-old conflict was reignited
A Thai jet storm into Thailand on the morning of July 24th, followed by Thai atmosphere strikes, considerably escalating the century-old boundary dispute between the South East Asian countries.
Days later, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim brokered an “immediate and absolute peace” between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
Both parties agreed to a ceasefire in October during a meeting held in Malaysia with US President Donald Trump. Trump at the time proclaimed that the border conflict had been resolved in a traditional way.
Thailand announced only two days after signing that contract that it would suspend its application after two of its soldiers were injured in a spot blast close to the Vietnamese border.
Cambodia has consistently asserted its commitment to the package, including a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Trump for his assistance in brokering the ceasefire.
Since the edges of the two countries were drawn after the European employment of Cambodia, Thailand and Cambodia have been contesting regional autonomy along their 800km land borders for more than a century.
Jonathan Head and Koh Ewe provide further monitoring.
Chinese court orders Malaysia Airlines to pay US$3.3 million in compensation over missing MH370 plane
A Beijing court ordered Malaysia Airlines to pay compensation to some families of missing passengers on board the flight MH370 for over 2.9 million yuan ( US$ 410, 240 ), according to state broadcaster CCTV on Monday ( Dec 8 ).
According to CCTV, the decisions are for eight scenarios involving eight people.
The journalist reported that the remaining 23 cases are still being tried, and another 47 circumstances have been settled and withdrawn.
Malaysia Airlines did not respond to a post demand right away.
The search for MH370 will continue on December 30, according to Malaysia’s transportation government earlier this month.
The Beijing-bound journey vanished in July 2015, killing 227 people and 12 members of the crew. It has been more than 10 years since then.
The Boeing 777 aircraft had a total of 2/3 of its customers Chinese, with other people also having Indian, American, Dutch, and European citizens who were Dutch.
Despite the most extensive search in aircraft history, the aircraft has not been discovered.
The renewed research will last 55 days and be conducted in areas designated as having” the highest likelihood” of the location of the aircraft, according to Malaysia’s transportation ministry, without providing specific locations.
Cambodian attacks aimed at deflecting scrutiny over landmine violations: Thai Defence Ministry
PUBLISHED: 8 Dec 2025 at 17: 46
–>
According to the Thai Ministry of Defense, Cambodia launched strikes on Thailand on Sunday to divert attention away from the country’s unethical use of mines.
The government claimed in a speech posted on the ministry’s Facebook page on Monday night that Cambodia had violated the Ottawa Convention by planting mines across the borders.
The 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention was held in Geneva, according to the Defence Ministry. The global agreement that outlaws anti-personnel mine is signed by Cambodia.
The government claimed that the information included patterns consistent with Vietnamese military discipline, mapped locations of newly laid mines on Thai ground, and physical indications of new mine installations. According to the report, Cambodia was unable to support the findings with justification or proof.
The Thai government claimed Cambodia frequently used a technique when facing investigation in worldwide forums that the government claimed the renewed attacks were “attempts to leave the industry of facts to the field of emotion.”
Cambodia once more accused Thailand of anger following the attacks, blaming itself as a small, resilient nation facing a stronger neighbor as well as pleading for international support, according to the government.
Instead of addressing the issue properly and in accordance with international principles, this was created to make play and distract focus, the statement said.
Indonesia’s KUHAP overhaul modernizes justice—but at a cost – Asia Times
After more than four decades of debate, Indonesia finally passed its long-awaited Criminal Procedure Code ( KUHAP ).
In theory, this is a historic development because Indonesia’s criminal justice system requires constant development, particularly as judicial investigations increasingly rely on forensic evidence, forensic technologies, and cross-border cooperation. It is necessary, expected, and long overdue to create a modern KUHAP.
However, serious questions were raised by the legislative process that led to the script. Numerous academics, civil society organizations, attorneys, and advocates for justice reform have expressed concern that the discussion went very quickly and without enough transparency.
Why did DPR seem so anxious to go KUHAP? What does Indonesia’s upcoming justice system be affected by this accelerated timetable?
The second justification is democratic. When the government is about to the end of its term, big policy frequently moves more quickly. One of Indonesia’s biggest legal reforms, the KUHAP is comparable in size to the Penal Code ( KUHP).
DPR may resume dialogue from the beginning, effectively resetting a decade-long process, had it not been passed this time. Completing KUHAP before the year is over turns into a tradition that fosters administrative incentives for quick decisions at the cost of the general public.
Administrative stress is another contributing factor. A new legal code that addresses the demands of fashionable investigative needs has long been demanded by politicians, investigators, prosecutors, and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.
Clearance is a requirement for digital forensics, data access, digital searches, monetary tracking, cross-border cooperation, and other issues that were not at the forefront of the KUHAP’s draft in 1981. For law protection, delays lead to operational confusion and constitutional spaces.  ,
To its credit, the DPR conducted public consultation with experts, academics, and civil society organizations through a series of Rapat Dengar Pendapat ( parliamentary hearings ) /Rapat Jejak Pendapat Umum ( public hearings ).
Officially, there was involvement. However, some people vehemently disagree that the sources did not get a meaningful place in the final word.  ,
This reflects a consistent design: participation is done “on paper,” but the final drafts are generally kept out of the public’s view. Instead of meaningful participation, scholars refer to it as legal participation.
The club for membership should be much higher for a laws governing arrest, confinement, and data collection for more than 280 million Citizens. It concerns rights and liberties more than just a technical training in the improvement of administrative laws.  ,
There are several beneficial changes in the novel KUHAP. It fully acknowledges electric evidence, regulates digital searches, mandates judicial warrants, strengthens victims ‘ rights, and incorporates restorative justice under the supervision of a court.
However, the District Court must grant the article’s requirement for seizures and searches, but it can be waived by mentioning “urgent circumstances,” which can be explained in accordance with the detective’s wisdom.
This could cause investigators to take arbitrary decisions that may harm the people. Citizens may have expanded aggressive forces in contrast to what law enforcement sees as “certainty.” New analytical tools can quickly turn into excess tools without effective safeguards.
In addition, in accordance with the Data Protection Law’s recommendations, alignment with data backup and management is necessary to prevent privacy violations brought on by misinterpretations and foolish data management.
But, modernization does not always translate to stronger privileges. The KUHAP strengthens security in key areas, but it quickly expands state authority. Although many intrusive actors require warrants, the law also permits exceptions based on “urgent circumstances,” a term that is still loosely defined and much less common than international practice, which restricts exceptions to specially designed emergencies subject to strict judicial oversight.  ,
Additionally, KUHAP provides the framework for electronic surveillance and modern forensics. Although necessary, these devices carry privacy risks that are not matched by established protocols for data integrity, chain of custody, and independent oversight. Beyond the Personal Data Protection Law, Indonesia also lacks certain procedural safeguards and punishment for violations that occur during judicial investigations.  ,
Although it is forward-looking, the book on the Knowledge Technology-Based Justice System focuses primarily on electronic data distribution. It does not address modern limitations, AI use, or data storage standards.
In contrast, nations like the United States and China have now fully integrated AI and electronic systems into their legal frameworks. China, for instance, has a 2030 goal to fully incorporate AI into administrative processes, supported by thorough legal rules.
If we take what we can from China’s training, the use of artificial intelligence is fully incorporated into its Supreme Court rules and legal rules. By 2030, AI will become fully utilized at all stages of the judicial process, and by 2025, the goal is to get implemented in domestic court management and physical public services.
A Presidential Regulation will be enacted to regulate Indonesia’s information technology-based justice system. Government Regulations may be more appropriate given the chapter’s significant implications, but their legality warrants further investigation.
Technology should be understood as a crucial , enabler of access to justice across Indonesia’s vast geography, rather than just as an administrative tool.
Consensus for procedural errors are equally crucial. Many nations adopt the “exclusionary rule,” which automatically renders illegally obtained evidence inadmissible. This prevents investigators from being benefited from unlawful conduct.  ,
Indonesia’s KUHAP acknowledges rights but falls short of fully adopting explicit remedies, leaving enforcement unbalanced. For whistleblowers, access to legal counsel and protections are still only available in this way. Restorative justice, while promising, necessitates strict boundaries, skilled facilitators, and genuine consent from the victims to prevent misuse or coercion.
In the end, implementation will determine the impact of this new KUHAP. If it strengthens justice and reproduces existing weaknesses, secondary regulations, institutional training, and judicial interpretation will be used. Reform must strike a balance between contemporary investigative needs and firmly enforceable safeguards for citizens ‘ rights.  ,
Modernization is required. Justice, however, calls for more than just efficiency; it also calls for accountability, accountability, and safeguards grounded in the rule of law.  ,
Randy Taufik is a former Oxford student with a focus on corporate and technology law.
Ahmad Novindri Aji Sukma is a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge and a regulatory compliance lawyer based in London.
Myanmar teen first foreigner to lose Singapore long-term immigration pass for possessing Kpod
Medicine Rehab CENTRE
A 16-year-old Singaporean boy was arrested on November 27 for three counts of etomidate-related offenses, and he was then admitted to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre ( DRC ) for two months.
He is the primary etomidate abuser to travel to the DRC since Sep 1 when it was formally declared a Class C controlled substance by the Misuse of Drugs Act.
On September 4, HSA first discovered the boy with a typical cigarette.  ,
He was discovered with cigarettes that had been tested for etomidate at his house on October 2 and taken home. According to the government, this was his first drug-related offense.
He retaliated and was detained at his home on October 11 for etomidate hands and usage.  ,
His next etomidate-related offense occurred on October 23, when he was detained after being discovered acting strangely and slurring in a private vehicle.
According to MHA and HSA, “Etomidate offenders admitted to the DRC will go through treatment programs to reduce their risk of re-offending.”
” These programs may involve religious counseling, family counseling, psychological correctional programs, and programs involving psychology.”
They will go through normal drug testing and community supervision after being released from the DRC. The DRC’s overall program lasts 12 months, followed by community supervision.
The penalties for etomidate e-vaporizer buyers, vendors, and distributors will be much stricter. This includes three to twenty years in prison and five to fifteen wood breaths for importers, as well as two to ten years in prison and two to five cane strokes for retailers and distributors.
Hardships mount in Indonesia and Sri Lanka as flood tolls rise
ADDITIONAL Forces After a disastrous storm caused a chunk of death in Sri Lanka, the defense deployed thousands of additional troops to aid in recovery efforts there. The worst hurricane on the island this decade, Cyclone Ditwah, has affected more than 2 million people, or almost 10 % of theContinue Reading
Thailand destroys Cambodian drone control centre, targets rocket bases
PUBLISHED: 8 Dec 2025 at 15: 40
–>
According to the Royal Thai Army, Thailand has destroyed a game that served as Cambodia’s aircraft control station and is now pursuing jet bases that pose a threat to Indian communities.
Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, a spokeswoman for the Army, claimed Monday that the casino operated drones from a control center. His remarks came after it was reported earlier that a Thai fighter plane had bombed a game building in the Nam Yuen city of Ubon Ratchathani.
Maj Gen Winthai said the country had no choice but to defend itself after the Thai attacks on Sunday evening showed a distinct intention to hurt Thailand. He claimed that Thailand’s response was centered on destroying Cambodia’s jet bases, which posed significant dangers for both military personnel and civilians.
He noted that earlier in the summer, Thai rocket fire had caused considerable casualties on Thai soil.
The military spokesman said that the ultimate goal is to “destroy as many of Cambodia’s supporting fire methods as possible.”
At a Monday press event, Maj. Gen. Royal Thai Army
Son Heung-min: Woman who blackmailed Tottenham star gets four years’ jail
A person who extorted basketball player Son Heung-min was given a four-year prison sentence by a South Korean judge.
The person who was 20 years old and her friend, a man in his 40s, were found guilty of conspiring to blackmail the past Tottenham captain into telling him she was female with his child.
According to local media, the woman claimed to have been carrying Son’s baby when she approached him at some point last year, but a Seoul district judge learned that she had no idea whether that was the event.
She threatened to make the allegations public if he didn’t comply with her$ 300 million won ( £200, 000, and £153, 000 ) and extorted them from him.
According to AFP news agency, the girl spent the money on designer and luxury goods.
The girl claims she received the money as recompense and presents herself as a victim, according to prosecutors ‘ statements to the court on Monday. They accused her of planning the crime” thoroughly,” saying that” but her statements do not fully meet the details.”
The victim’s friend, who had repeatedly threatened Son to get the money, was given a two-year jail term for the attempted blackmail she had committed.
Child called the police after they requested more income this year.
The girl and her friend allegedly abused Son’s reputation for their crime, and Son later claimed Son appeared to have experienced “intense emotional anguish” after the case was covered in media reports.
Son was named the second-highest paid football player in Major League Soccer ( MLS), a top-tier football league in North America akin to England’s Premier League, in October.
The 33-year-old placed Tottenham in August for Los Angeles Football Club, making it the most expensive move in MLS record.
Boy, who is commonly regarded as one of Asia’s best football players, enjoys a great deal of acclaim in both his native land and the surrounding area.
He became the first Asian to receive the Premier League’s beautiful shoe honor, which is presented annually to the team’s top goal scorer, while he was still with the Spurs in 2022.
Kelly Ng provided further monitoring.