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Up to RM500,000 fine, 10 years’ jail for toxic

Srbn — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:47:17 +0800

Up to RM500,000 fine, 10 years’ jail for toxic food packaging under proposed food act amendments

KUALA LUMPUR: Individuals and businesses that manufacture or sell food packaging containing harmful substances could face fines of up to RM500,000, 10 years in prison, or both, under sweeping amendments to the Food Act 1983 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Food (Amendment) Bill 2026 passed its first reading on Monday (Oct 5). Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said its second and third readings will take place during the current parliamentary sitting.

The proposed law expands the scope of the original Act to regulate "food contact materials"—defined as any article or material intended to come into contact with food or likely to transfer chemical components into food during normal use.

Under the bill, importing non-compliant packaging will be strictly prohibited, and businesses that suspect or know their packaging materials are unsafe must initiate immediate product recalls.

The bill significantly stiffens penalties across the board for a wide range of food safety violations. Maximum fines for preparing or selling food containing harmful substances, as well as for failing to execute mandatory product recalls, will jump fivefold from RM100,000 to RM500,000.

Penalties for selling adulterated food or items unfit for human consumption, previously capped at between RM20,000 and RM50,000, will also rise to RM500,000, with maximum jail sentences doubling from five to 10 years. Meanwhile, maximum prison terms for false advertising and deceptive labelling will increase to five years, up from the current range of one to three years.

To bolster enforcement, the Health Director-General will be empowered to order the immediate closure of non-compliant premises for up to 40 days. Premises owners who defy closure orders face fines up to RM500,000, 10 years' imprisonment, or both.

Responding to the rise of e-commerce, the bill grants enforcement officers full authority to inspect digital and computer records related to the manufacture, import, sale, or advertising of food, including demanding access passwords and decryption codes. Refusing to cooperate carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or five years in prison.

Additionally, the Health Ministry will be allowed to conduct on-site inspections of foreign food manufacturing facilities after consulting destination governments. Food imported beyond designated personal-use limits will automatically be presumed intended for commercial sale unless proven otherwise.

To ensure swift judicial enforcement, First Class Magistrates' Courts will be authorised to pass the full statutory penalties under the Act, bypassing standard jurisdictional limits that typically cap fines at RM10,000 and imprisonment at five years. Court convictions may also be published across digital and electronic media rather than restricted to print newspapers.

The amendments will take effect on a date to be gazetted by the Health Minister upon parliamentary approval.
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Nearly 1,500 migrants arrive in Myanmar from

Srbn — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:46:19 +0800

Nearly 1,500 migrants arrive in Myanmar from Malaysia despite UN warnings

Nearly 1,500 Myanmar refugees and migrants deported from Malaysia have arrived in their war-ravaged country under an opaque repatriation scheme heavily criticised by human rights groups and the United Nations refugee agency.

The 1,479 returnees, transported from Malaysia on board two navy warships and a hospital ship on Tuesday, arrived in southern Yangon early Sunday, Nay Lin Tun, a regional government minister, said.

They are among 5,000 Myanmar nationals who will be repatriated in stages from Malaysia, where more than 10,300 others are being held in immigration detention centres, according to the country’s Home Ministry.

Malaysia insists all returnees agreed to voluntary repatriation, but rights monitors have raised concerns that Myanmar refugees had little choice and warned that conditions for return remain unsafe.

The UN refugee agency said this past week that its staff were not allowed to meet the Myanmar nationals to confirm whether their decisions to return “were genuinely free and informed”.

Rohingya make up the majority of Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, but it remains unclear how many members of the persecuted Rohingya are among the returned group.

The deportation was carried out during escalating raids on refugee communities in Malaysia by immigration officials, which led to the detention of more than 50,000 refugees in 2026.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the repatriations in July against a backdrop of rising xenophobia towards refugees, particularly the Rohingya.

Kuala Lumpur is moving ahead with plans to return a second group of more than 3,500 refugees and migrants, saying they have caused financial, social and security burdens.

While Malaysia is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants, it is home to about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Myanmar pledged last month that returns will be “safe and dignified”.

But Yap Lay Sheng, a senior human rights specialist with Fortify Rights, told the AFP news agency: “There’s no telling how the regime would treat returnees.”

Myanmar has been accused of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opened its first genocide case it has heard in full in more than a decade.

The UNHCR and rights groups said returnees could face persecution and forced military conscription in an active war zone. Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war since the military seized power from the elected government in 2021.

The war has killed more than 100,000 people since the coup, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project.

Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing, the military coup leader who was installed as civilian president in April, is expected to visit Malaysia soon to discuss the repatriation scheme.

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Thousands of Malaysian doctors just got permanent

Srbn — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:37:16 +0800

Thousands of Malaysian doctors just got permanent jobs — and then did not show up

The jobs were permanent, the salaries were confirmed, and the postings were issued.

On Monday (28 Sep), over 4,000 Malaysian doctors were due to report for their first day as permanent government medical officers — and most of them did not walk through the door.

Ground reports cited by CodeBlue, a healthcare news outlet, indicate that between 70 and 76 per cent of newly appointed Grade UD10 medical officers failed to report to their assigned postings on the designated date.

At least four hospitals in Sabah and Sarawak — Beluran, Keningau, and Sipitang in Sabah, and Kanowit in Sarawak — recorded zero arrivals.

The Ministry of Health (KKM), in a statement issued on Thursday (1 October), confirmed that the reporting process for Phase 2 permanent appointments “is still ongoing” and urged all remaining officers to report to their respective Centres of Responsibility by 7 October.

The ministry also urged “all parties not to jump to conclusions.”

A total of 4,255 medical officers were offered placements under Phase 2 through the government’s ePlacement system, effective 28 September.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) pointed to the financial calculus behind the no-shows.

The current fixed regional incentive structure, the MMA noted, has reduced the financial appeal of postings in East Malaysia — a region that has historically recorded the highest rejection rates due to geographical remoteness and limited infrastructure.

For doctors who spent years on contract status lobbying for permanent appointments, the decision to walk away on day one of permanency signals that the terms attached to that permanency were, for many, a dealbreaker.

District hospitals in Sabah and Sarawak have no private alternatives down the road.

A zero-arrival rate at Beluran or Kanowit is not a staffing statistic — it is a ward that opens understaffed, a clinic that runs short, a patient who waits longer.

The MMA has called for upfront relocation allowances and the restoration of progressive regional incentives. No government response to those specific demands has been issued as of publication.

CodeBlue’s ground-level reporting preceded the KKM’s official statement by at least a day — the ministry’s public communication arriving after the scale of the no-shows had already entered the news cycle.

The 7 October deadline now stands as the next indicator of how many of the 4,255 appointed officers will ultimately take up their posts — and how many will not.

In July 2026, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib publicly forecast a 50 per cent no-show rate for Borneo placements.

The final figure, by ground accounts, ran considerably higher.

The financial architecture behind the exodus has taken years to build.

The government previously replaced the progressive, percentage-based Bayaran Insentif Wilayah — a regional allowance calibrated to offset East Malaysia’s higher cost of living — with a flat-rate structure.

MMA has consistently flagged that the substitution eroded the financial case for accepting remote postings.

Relocation support compounded the problem.

Contract officers transitioning to permanent status were historically barred from claiming relocation expenses due to a technical “disruption of service” between employment tiers — leaving doctors to fund cross-South China Sea moves from personal savings.

KKM adjusted the timeline in 2026 to widen access to those allowances, but the MMA notes that upfront disbursement ahead of the move remains the exception, not the rule.

The ePlacement system required doctors to list at least one Sabah or Sarawak facility among their top three preferences — and when the algorithm assigned them there, many chose to leave public service altogether rather than go.

Permanency, it turns out, is only as attractive as the conditions attached to it.

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Immigration probes alleged ‘additional services’

Srbn — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:01:07 +0800

Immigration probes alleged ‘additional services’ at men-only KL entertainment venue

THE Immigration Department is investigating allegations that dancers at a men-only entertainment venue in Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur offered “additional services” involving male-to-male relations outside the premises.

Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said investigations found that the entertainment centre catered exclusively to male customers, who were charged RM780 per table.

“Investigations found that the premises was open exclusively to male customers, with an entrance fee of RM780 per table. Once inside the premises, customers were entertained by sexy dance performances by a line-up of local and foreign men,” he said today.

Zakaria said four foreign men detained during an operation at the premises — three Chinese nationals and a Filipino — were being held for 14 days to assist investigations.

“We believe there were offers of additional services involving male-to-male relations,” he said.

He added that the department did not rule out the possibility that arrangements for such services were made between the dancers and customers outside the entertainment centre.

The Immigration Department will share its investigation findings with the police’s Criminal Investigation Department D7 division, which handles secret societies, gambling and vice, for further action.

The department had earlier reported uncovering alleged vice activities at the entertainment centre during a special operation on Sept 27.

The joint operation with the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) began at 12.05am and resulted in the detention of the four foreign men, aged between 21 and 31.

They are being investigated under Section 6(1)© of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The Immigration Department said the entertainment centre had been operating since last year and targeted both local and foreign customers in the Klang Valley. - September 29, 2026

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PM Anwar: Bumiputra agenda to get attention in

Srbn — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:09:35 +0800

PM Anwar: Bumiputra agenda to get attention in Budget 2027

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bumiputra Development Policy will receive attention in Budget 2027, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assuring that the agenda can be expanded without compromising the rights and well-being of non-Malay citizens.

Anwar said the economic, social and educational advancement of the Bumiputera would remain a priority under the government.

“I would like to stress that under this government, attention to the development and economic, social and educational advancement of the Bumiputra will be far greater than under any previous administration,” he said in his officiating speech at the UiTM Alumni Gathering in conjunction with UiTM’s 70th anniversary on Saturday (Sept 26).

Anwar said the Bumiputra agenda could be expanded while ensuring social justice and without compromising the security and comfort of non-Malay citizens.

“That is the difference. It is not a zero-sum game,” he said.

“I want to help the Malays because they are my people. I am proud of their culture and heritage.

“But I have never agreed with any view that insults others, belittles the role of others or denies the rights of others. That is my position,” said Anwar.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, stressed that those involved in advancing the Bumiputera agenda must work together and draw on the experience of previous generations.

“This is not one group against another. To make the Bumiputra agenda successful, we need to harness all our strengths.

“There are experienced people from previous generations. We should make the best use of their experience because they have seen the strengths and weaknesses of these institutions first-hand.”

Anwar also cited UiTM’s allocation as an example, saying its combined operating and development allocation had risen from less than RM2bil before his government took over to RM3.08bil this year.

Budget 2027 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 9.

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Malaysian man in Europe mocks locals on TikTok

Srbn — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:39:27 +0800

Malaysian man in Europe mocks locals on TikTok

When we step into someone else’s house, it’s important to be mindful of our manners.

This also applies when we are travelling in a foreign country. It doesn’t take much to behave well — Don’t be rude, be considerate of others, and don’t break any laws.

A Malaysian man recently received heavy criticism for posting TikTok videos of locals in Europe while making rather mocking remarks in Bahasa Melayu.

Many did not find his antics amusing, leaving comments like “This is not funny” and “If they do this to us, don’t get angry okay?”.

In his videos, he would either make up a narrative based on what people were doing in the scene or ask them questions in Malay, which they obviously did not understand.

It doesn’t cost anything to be rude, but being a well-behaved and decent human being is free too — the man made a conscious decision to be the former.

His videos have also been widely spread and criticised on other social media platforms, where people expressed concerns about Malaysia and Malaysians being labelled as racist by the global community because of the man’s actions.

“No wonder Malaysia has been labelled as a racist country since we have these kind of people,” said one Threads user.

Many also pointed out that the man had recorded the faces of many people without their consent, which is heavily frowned upon these days.

TikToker @yanthebeast3 has over 77,000 followers and makes social commentaries while travelling abroad.

His videos garner at least 100,000 views on average, with some hitting the 1 million mark.

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Lorry on fire at N9 highway

Srbn — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:49:46 +0800

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Residents ordered to vacate apartment following

Srbn — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:04:19 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR - Residents of an apartment block in Bandar Damai Perdana, Cheras, were ordered to evacuate their homes on Tuesday night following a landslide near the building, believed to have been caused by an underground water leak.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant operations director Ashrul Riezal Asbar said the on-site operations commander ordered residents near Block A of the apartment complex to immediately evacuate their homes as a precautionary measure.

He said the department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 9.03pm and a team of five personnel with a fire engine from Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Fire and Rescue Station was deployed to the scene.

He added that the rescue team, arriving eight minutes later, found that a landslide involving a 4.57-metre-high slope had occurred.

"The distance the soil slid into the collapse area was approximately 0.91 metre," he said in a statement last night.

Ashrul Riezal said observations revealed that water was still flowing in the area, though no further soil movement had been detected by the rescue team so far.

"Monitoring of the soil condition and water flow is actively being carried out to ensure safety at the scene," he said.

He noted that there were no casualties or injuries resulting from the incident, and the Public Works Department (JKR) has been informed for further action. - BERNAMA

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Museum bill may be tabled in Parliament next year,

Srbn — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:31:51 +0800

Museum bill may be tabled in Parliament next year, says Aaron

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysia Museum Bill may be tabled in Parliament next year, says National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang

"This Bill will only apply to the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan," he told a press conference at the Malaysia Storytelling Festival 2026 here on Monday (Sept 21).

"This is because in the Federal Territories, we see many museums popping up such as cartoon museums, things that people establish arbitrarily.

"We want to control and prevent the misuse or misinterpretation of what constitutes a museum."

He added that other states may opt in later, but the Federal Government cannot directly regulate them as each has its own museum enactments.

"We have completed it (the draft Bill)... and are just waiting for the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to finalise it," he said.

Aaron also noted that the Cabinet policy approval process for the Bill has already been completed.

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Mandatory equity rules risk forcing small tuition

Srbn — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:25:30 +0800

Mandatory equity rules risk forcing small tuition centres to close, says Lee Lam Thye

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to require tuition centres to comply with equity rules, including mandatory Bumiputera ownership, warrants careful consideration and timely action, says social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic).

Lee said most tuition centres were small, neighbourhood-based businesses run by educators rather than large, profit-driven corporations.

"Many operate on modest budgets, founded by people who want to help students keep pace with schoolwork, build confidence and reach their potential," he said in a statement on Sunday (Sept 20).

He said the centres served families across communities, often offering classes at rates affordable to ordinary households.

Lee said imposing strict equity ownership requirements on such small businesses could place an unnecessary and disproportionate burden on operators.

"Unlike large commercial entities, they do not have the resources to restructure ownership or navigate complex regulatory requirements," he said.

He warned that the proposed rules could force established, community-focused tuition centres to close or scale back their operations, resulting in fewer learning options for students and removing an important support system for families.

Lee said if the policy objective was to increase Bumiputera participation in the education sector, there were other ways to achieve this without imposing mandatory ownership requirements.

"The relevant ministry could focus on empowering educators through government-backed training programmes, start-up grants and accessible resources," he said.

He added that such measures would directly encourage more Bumiputera teachers to open their own tuition centres, building participation from the ground up rather than through mandatory rules.

Lee also urged policymakers to protect small independent tuition centres from regulations intended for larger businesses so that they could continue providing affordable educational support.

At the same time, he called for greater use of positive incentives, including support, funding and skills development, to broaden participation in the sector voluntarily.

"This approach is proactive and does not disrupt the grassroots education service," he said.

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MACC detains MD of fertiliser supply firm in Kedah

Srbn — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:29:28 +0800

MACC detains MD of fertiliser supply firm in Kedah

KUALA LUMPUR: A managing director of a fertiliser supply company in Kedah has been remanded in connection with the delayed distribution of Baja 3 fertiliser to padi farmers in the state.

He is remanded until Wednesday following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday.

The suspect was detained on Saturday after turning up at the Kedah MACC office to have his statement recorded.

Kedah MACC director Datuk Nazli Rasyid Sulong confirmed the arrest.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act.

It was previously reported that the delay in the distribution of additional Baja 3 fertiliser to padi farmers in Kedah was being investigated following a complaint received from the Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Association (Pesawah) on Aug 26.

This led to Kedah MACC opening an investigation paper into the delay by a company appointed by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to meet the needs of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority area covering 100,000ha.

Sources said the investigation was not limited to possible criminal elements but would also cover any weaknesses in governance that might have contributed to the delay.

On Sept 6, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu acknowledged that the case had tarnished the image of the ministry.

Appropriate action would be taken against the company concerned, he said in a Facebook post.

“The ministry will give its full cooperation to the MACC to ensure every question relating to the supply process can be clarified,” he said.

For now, he said the ministry’s immediate priority is to ensure the remaining fertiliser is delivered as soon as possible.

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Micron says Taiwanese workers to get up to 68

Srbn — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:52:40 +0800

Micron says Taiwanese workers to get up to 68 months’ pay after strike threat

TAIPEI: US memory chip giant Micron Technology said on Friday that its workers in Taiwan will receive the equivalent of up to 68 months of pay, as labour unions threaten to strike unless the company overhauls its bonus system.

"Taiwan direct labour team members will receive total rewards equivalent to 35 to 68 months of pay, with minimum cash compensation of T$1.7 million" (US$53,700) for fiscal 2026, Micron said in a statement.

Global chip companies, including Micron, have been major beneficiaries of booming demand for artificial intelligence technology, but as their earnings skyrocket, many workers are demanding a bigger cut of profits.

The firm posted record revenue of US$41.5 billion for the fiscal third quarter of 2026.

Micron, which produces around 50-60% of its chips in Taiwan, has been locked in talks with two labour unions representing nearly 12,000 of its roughly 15,000 workers at its Taoyuan and Taichung plants.

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Negri Umno chief hopes for swift resolution of

Srbn — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:08:58 +0800

Negri Umno chief hopes for swift resolution of state's royal row

KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan Umno is calling for a swift resolution to the ongoing issues involving the state Ruler, urging that the matter be settled as soon as possible.

Its chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said there was an urgent need to resolve the matter.

"As the state Umno chief, I hope that a resolution can be reached as soon as possible," he told reporters after a closed-door meeting with party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (Sept 9).

Asked if he was aware of any updates on the situation, Jalaluddin said he only learnt about developments through media reports over the past day or two.

He also declined to comment on statements issued by the Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar.

Earlier, Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim revealed that he had been made to sign an instrument of proclamation to remove the state Ruler, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, under duress.

Ismail said he had signed the document involuntarily.

"Referring to the issue of the instrument of proclamation mentioned in a media statement on the night of Sept 8, I wish to clarify that I signed it involuntarily and under duress.

"I lodged a police report around 6pm on Sept 8 to enable an investigation to be conducted by the authorities," he said in a statement.

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"I'm begging for my own money": KPF members

Srbn — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:21:15 +0800

"I'm begging for my own money": KPF members hit out at share redemption delays

KUALA LUMPUR: Members of Koperasi Permodalan Felda Malaysia Bhd (KPF) are demanding a resolution to delays in share redemption payments amounting to millions of ringgit.

The delays have been described as a systemic crisis affecting more than 9,000 members nationwide.

KPF member Syed Alwi Syed Shariff, 61, said he and other affected members had been waiting for their share redemption payments since 2023.

He said the situation was unacceptable as they were merely seeking to withdraw their own money.

"We do receive dividends from our savings, but the amount is not commensurate.

"Every time I want to withdraw my savings, the relevant parties give us one excuse after another. They claim there is insufficient cash flow to make the payments," he said when met outside Balai Felda in Jalan Gurney 1 here today.

Syed Alwi who is from Seremban, Negri Sembilan said the delays had severely affected senior citizens, retirees and settlers' widows who relied on their savings for their livelihoods.

He said the situation had left him feeling as though he was begging for his own money.

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Senior Citizens Bill tabling delayed to 2027

Srbn — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:22:56 +0800

Senior Citizens Bill tabling delayed to 2027, says Nancy

PUTRAJAYA: Tabling of the Senior Citizens Bill has been pushed back from October to early next year to incorporate critical stakeholder feedback, according to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

While the initial draft was complete, she said additional proposals raised during engagement sessions with state governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had to be incorporated.

“Actually, we already have a draft. It just may not make it in time to be tabled in October,” she said after the Social Welfare Department’s 80th anniversary celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Nancy said the ministry had initially set a timeline for the Bill to be tabled this year, with the draft nearing submission to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).

However, she said the engagement process raised several new matters that the ministry agreed should be incorporated into the draft.

“When we held the engagement sessions, there were many new things they wanted to include, and we agreed that these should be included as amendments to our draft. We had engagements with NGOs and the states as well, which is why the process has been delayed,” she said.

When asked about the revised timeline, Nancy said the ministry would seek to have the Bill tabled in early 2027 if it could not be completed this year.

“If we cannot manage it this year, it will be early next year,” she added.

The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen the protection, welfare and rights of senior citizens as Malaysia moves towards becoming an aged society.

On another matter, Nancy said the ministry is prepared to provide psychosocial support and counselling to Malaysians affected by the recent floods in Nepal, as well as their family members.

She said the ministry is coordinating directly with the Foreign Ministry.

“We are in contact through the Foreign Ministry. When they need us, they will inform us and we will cooperate through Wisma Putra. We cannot go there on our own. Wisma Putra will assist and inform us,” she said.

She added that Social Welfare Department counsellors are routinely deployed during disasters, including at temporary relief centres. If more intensive psychosocial assistance is required, the ministry can increase the number of personnel deployed.

Malaysians were among those affected by severe flooding and landslides in Nepal following the disaster in the Rasuwa district, with Wisma Putra coordinating efforts to verify the status of those involved.

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Malaysia Islamic authorities to summon contestan

Srbn — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:01:03 +0800

Malaysia’s Islamic authorities to summon contestant in transgender pageant over Syariah concerns

Malaysia’s Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will summon a Malaysian who participated in an international transgender beauty pageant in Thailand, with authorities examining potential legal action under Syariah law.

The Miss Equality World 2026 pageant was held in Bangkok from 22 to 30 August.

Authorities said the contestant did not represent the Malaysian government.

Religious authorities will take action
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan, issued a statement condemning the participation, saying it tarnished Malaysia’s international image and went against Islamic teachings.

Jakim will work with state Islamic religious authorities and relevant agencies to summon the individual and examine potential legal steps under existing laws.

Zulkifli said the act of imitating the opposite gender, known in Islamic jurisprudence as tasyabbuh, and promoting a transgender lifestyle are prohibited under Islamic and Syariah law.

He said neither the government nor religious authorities had endorsed or recognised such events.

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UNHCR warns Malaysia against Myanmar refugee

Srbn — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:46:25 +0800

UNHCR warns Malaysia against Myanmar refugee repatriation

KUALA LUMPUR: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is not involved in Malaysia’s planned repatriation of Myanmar refugees, and warns that it remains unsafe for them to return to the war-torn country.
Last week, the home ministry said it had finalised the first phase of a voluntary repatriation programme that would see 1,476 refugees return to Myanmar on Sept 29.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim earlier said Myanmar had agreed to receive 5,000 Rohingya, amid rising tensions over the refugees within local communities in Malaysia.

UNHCR said the ongoing armed conflict and violence across Myanmar meant there could be no safe, dignified and sustainable voluntary return of refugees.

“Under customary international law – a binding obligation on all states – no one should be sent to a country where their rights or freedoms may be at risk. Any refugee return must be voluntary and based on an informed decision, and take place in conditions of safety and dignity.

“UNHCR calls for careful consideration to be given to the protection needs of all those concerned before they are returned to Myanmar, and stands ready to engage with the relevant authorities on protection safeguards,” it said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

A home ministry spokesman declined to comment on the UNHCR statement, referring to its earlier remarks that the repatriation process was voluntary.

Thousands of refugees have fled Myanmar since a 2021 military coup that sparked a nationwide civil war.

As of February, Malaysia had around 193,800 refugees from Myanmar of various ethnicities including Rohingya and Chin, according to UNHCR data. Activists say many more remain unregistered.

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Cameron Highland now weather very hot

Srbn — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 08:41:27 +0800

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Hands off Seberang Jaya seat, PAS Youth man tells

Srbn — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:08:15 +0800

Hands off Seberang Jaya seat, PAS Youth man tells Gerakan

GEORGE TOWN: A PAS Youth leader has warned Gerakan against laying claim to the Seberang Jaya state seat after Gerakan's Permatang Pauh division approved a motion calling for the party to contest there in the next Penang polls.

Permatang Pauh PAS Youth chief Aiman Shamsul Bahrin said Seberang Jaya was a Malay-majority seat last won by Bersatu.

He said these factors should be given serious consideration to ensure victory for Perikatan Nasional (PN).

He added that the aim of the Gerakan division to contest Seberang Jaya went against the spirit of cooperation among PN components.

"Gerakan would be better off strengthening its efforts in areas with a larger non-Malay electorate and building its influence and grassroots support in those areas.

"Don't target seats that were won by your allies," he said in a statement.

Aiman also said the Gerakan division's motion could create the perception of efforts to incite internal competition and division in PN.

"At a time when people want a strong opposition coalition, component parties should strengthen cooperation instead of allowing room for internal conflicts."

He said PN should learn from its decision to field Gerakan president Dominic Lau in the Malay-majority seat of Bayan Lepas during the last state election, which the PN deputy chairman lost to Amanah's Azrul Mahathir Aziz.

"Conflict among ourselves in areas with winning potential will only benefit Pakatan Harapan," he added.

Seberang Jaya is one of three state seats under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, which is currently represented by PAS's Fawwaz Jan.

The current Seberang Jaya assemblyman is Izhar Shah Arif Shah of Bersatu, although his party's fallout with PAS is likely to lead to a grapple for Bersatu seats.

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Google build data centre campus in Selangor

Srbn — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:17:54 +0800

Google to invest US$2 billion in Malaysian data centre campus in Selangor

Google is investing US$2 billion in its first Malaysian data centre campus in Selangor, with construction expected to support about 4,200 jobs annually over three to five years.

Google estimates that the campus will generate US$3.2 billion in local economic activity by 2030 and create nine additional community jobs for every job at the facility.

Once the facility is running, it sustains hundreds of permanent, high-skilled roles – network deployment engineers, facility controls specialists, clean energy managers among them.

Google estimates its first Malaysian campus will generate US$3.2 billion in local economic activity by 2030, driven by local supply procurement, service contracts, and spending from visiting teams.

“For every one job inside a Google data center, we create nine more jobs in the local community – this 1:9 ratio is well above the industry average,” said Ken Siah, Google’s Principal of Global Infrastructure for Asia Pacific.

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