Day: May 8, 2026

Island Tourism Sector In Sabah Needs Diesel, Petrol Subsidie

SEMPORNA, May 8 2026– The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) is seeking diesel and petrol subsidy assistance for the state’s tourism sector, particularly operators in island areas. Its minister, Datuk Jafry Ariffin, said the global fuel supply crisis has significantly affected tourism operators on the islands, resulting in a sharp increase in […]

Several Areas In Klang Valley Hit By Flash Floods

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 2026 — Several areas in the Klang Valley were hit by flash floods after it rained continuously since noon today. Social media posts by users indicated that areas in Ampang and Sungai Besi in Kuala Lumpur were flooded, while in Selangor, Section 51, Jalan 223, areas in PJS 2, 4 and 6, […]

Grab Malaysia Introduces Group Ride To Promote Smarter, Cost-efficient Commuting

PUTRAJAYA, May 8 2026– Grab Malaysia has introduced “Group Ride”, a new feature on its application aimed at promoting more efficient and sustainable travel while helping users reduce transportation costs. The feature, which carries the tagline “Kongsi Perjalanan, Kongsi Tambang”, is aligned with the government’s efforts to encourage Malaysians to adopt smarter and more sustainable […]

UAE air defenses respond to ‘missile threat’

LONDON: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday said its air defense system was responding to a "missile threat", Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. "Air defense systems are currently responding to the missile threat," the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said via X. NCEMA urged residents to "remain in safe locations and follow official channels for the latest updates." The notice was issued a few hours after the exchange of fire between the United States (US) and Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.

LONDON: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday said its air defense system was responding to a “missile threat”, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. “Air defense systems are currently responding to the missile threat,” the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said via X. NCEMA urged residents to “remain in safe locations and follow […]

Baru Bian seeks to quash PKR’s suit for breaching bond conditions

KUALA LUMPUR: Ba'kelalan state assemblyman (ADUN) Baru Bian has filed an application to strike out the suit filed against him by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which is seeking RM10 million in damages over alleged breach of bond conditions when he quit the party after winning the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018. The notice of application was filed through Messrs. YH Teh & Quek on April 6 on the grounds that the High Court of Malaya in Peninsular Malaysia did not have jurisdiction to hear the case because the cause of action arose in Sarawak. The court set May 20 for case management before High Court Judge Roslan Mat Nor. In the application, Baru Bian, who is also the former Member of Parliament for Selangau, said he signed the bond in Kuching on April 25, 2018 and his involvement with PKR was only focused on Sarawak. "The plaintiff's (PKR) actions against me, even if proven true, do not arise in Peninsular Malaysia. The claim arises in Sarawak," he said in the application. Baru Bian is among 16 former MPs and assemblymen who were sued by PKR Secretary-General Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh on behalf of PKR for allegedly violating the terms of a RM10 million bond signed with the party. Also named as defendants are Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, Datuk Mansor Othman, Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and Datuk Seri R. Santhara Kumar. Apart from that, Abdul Yunus Jamhari, Datuk Azman Nasrudin, Dr Afif Bahardin, Chong Fat Full, Daroyah Alwi, Haniza Mohamed Talha, Muhammad Hilman Idham, Muhammad Jailani Khamis, Robert Ling Kui Ee and Zulkifli Ibrahim were also named as defendants. In separate suits filed on Feb 19 and 27, PKR claimed that under the operative clause of the bond, each defendant agreed to pay the party RM10 million within seven days of the occurrence of any event including the defendant resigning from the party, joining another political party or becoming an independent elected representative. The plaintiff claimed to have nominated each defendant as a candidate to contest in the 14th GE and successfully won several Parliamentary and State Assembly seats, subsequently forming the Federal Government and several state governments. "However, on 24 Feb 2020, each of the defendants ceased to be party members after being elected under the party banner. They also expressed support for political coalitions other than PKR," PKR said in the statement of claim. PKR announced on March 11, 2020 that the party decided to terminate the membership of each defendant immediately and a certificate dated March 16, 2020 was issued to confirm that the membership of each defendant had been terminated and demanded that each defendant pay a bond of RM10 million, but they failed to do so.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ba’kelalan state assemblyman (ADUN) Baru Bian has filed an application to strike out the suit filed against him by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which is seeking RM10 million in damages over alleged breach of bond conditions when he quit the party after winning the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018. The notice of […]

KPKM accelerates efforts to strengthen national food supply chain – Mohamad Sabu

TASEK GELUGOR: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is actively strengthening long-term efforts to reduce the country's dependence on basic food following global geopolitical uncertainties which could affect the country's costs and supply chain. Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said his party is targeting 30 percent of the country's corn grain needs to be produced locally by 2030, including through the development of more than 2,000 hectares of crops in Perlis which will be launched this month. He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was also expanding onion planting on a large scale involving the Farmers' Organisation Board (LPP) and related agencies, with the target of covering 30 percent of the local onion supply within the next four years. Malaysia currently, he said, depends almost 100 percent on corn and soy imports, which are among the main factors influencing the price of chicken and eggs if there is a price increase in the international market. "Animal feed such as corn and soy still depends heavily on imports. When world prices rise, the costs of our farmers also rise. When oil rises, the costs of fishermen going out to sea also rise. When fertilizer rises, the costs of farmers also rise. "Although the cause is beyond our control, the government cannot let up. The government must work, be prepared and ensure that the food supply is sufficient," he told reporters after the opening ceremony of the MADANI Adoption Village and MADANI Adoption School in Kampung Guar Petai, here, today. Mohamad said that so far the prices of basic foods including chicken, eggs and rice are still under control, but the government will continue to monitor the situation including the possibility of price manipulation if import costs increase. In terms of the country's main food supply, he said it was still stable with the country's rice buffer stock at around 300,000 tonnes while the supply of chicken and eggs was also at a good self-sufficiency level. Meanwhile, commenting on the claims of rice farmers regarding the increase in the cost of planting rice, Mohamad said the ministry always takes into account the views of the group, including regarding the cost of ploughing and agricultural inputs. He said the government had previously approved assistance of RM200 for initial ploughing work to help reduce the burden on rice farmers.

TASEK GELUGOR: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is actively strengthening long-term efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on basic food following global geopolitical uncertainties which could affect the country’s costs and supply chain. Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said his party is targeting 30 percent of the country’s corn grain needs […]

China visit continues as planned, Trump expects ‘great’ meeting with Xi

LONDON: United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Friday that his official visit to Beijing would go ahead as planned, expecting a "great" meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said China had provided his administration with great economic benefits. "We will have a meeting with President Xi. "I think it will be a pretty great meeting. He's my friend. I've had a really good relationship with him for a long time," he said. Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14-15 to attend a summit with Xi, following the two leaders' meeting in South Korea last year.

LONDON: United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Friday that his official visit to Beijing would go ahead as planned, expecting a “great” meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said China had provided his administration with great economic benefits. “We will have a meeting with President Xi. […]

No Need To Rush For New MyKad Replacement – Saifuddin

JOHOR BAHRU, May 8 – Holders of existing MyKad nationwide are not required to replace their identity cards when the new version is introduced on June 1, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said. He said while possessing a MyKad is mandatory for Malaysians aged 12 and above, there is no requirement for cardholders to replace their MyKad simultaneously. More than 20 million Malaysians currently hold the identification card. “I urge the public not to rush to the National Registration Department (JPN) to change their MyKad. “The law does not require holders of the existing MyKad to immediately replace their cards once the new version is introduced,” he told a press conference after inspecting the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project at the Sultan Iskandar Building Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex and Bukit Chagar Station here today. Also present was Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain. Saifuddin Nasution said this when asked whether the replacement of existing MyKad with the new version featuring enhanced security elements would be made compulsory for all Malaysians. Earlier, JPN director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias reportedly said the new MyKad would feature 53 security elements compared with 23 on the current card. The enhanced features include laser engraving, ultraviolet elements, holograms, guilloche patterns, microtext, a Quick Response (QR) code for enforcement purposes and a chip with upgraded encryption. Besides MyKad, new versions of MyPoCA and MyTentera will also be introduced next month.

JOHOR BAHRU, May 8 – Holders of existing MyKad nationwide are not required to replace their identity cards when the new version is introduced on June 1, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said. He said while possessing a MyKad is mandatory for Malaysians aged 12 and above, there is no requirement for cardholders […]

ASEAN Must Remain United in Facing Global Crises – PM Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia’s strong commitment to strengthening ASEAN unity in addressing increasingly complex global challenges, particularly geopolitical crises that have directly impacted energy security, food security, and the stability of regional supply chains. Speaking at the 48th ASEAN Summit today, he stressed that no country could confront the ongoing global uncertainties alone, underscoring the need to further reinforce collective cooperation and regional solidarity within ASEAN. Anwar said Malaysia also expressed support for accelerating the ASEAN Power Grid initiative, strengthening regional petroleum security mechanisms, and expanding strategic cooperation networks, including through ASEAN-GCC-China collaboration, to ensure long-term energy resilience. On food security, he said ASEAN must take more decisive action through the coordination of emergency food stockpiles and the strengthening of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) mechanism to shield the region from food inflation and supply disruptions. He also emphasised that the safety of ASEAN citizens in conflict areas must remain a shared priority among member states. According to him, ASEAN should intensify information sharing, diplomatic cooperation, and emergency response mechanisms to safeguard the welfare of ASEAN citizens abroad. Anwar stressed that ASEAN must continue to serve as a platform for regional stability, inclusiveness, and resilience amid growing global uncertainty and intensifying geopolitical competition. -- MINUTESMY -- SOURCE: FB ANWAR IBRAHIM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia’s strong commitment to strengthening ASEAN unity in addressing increasingly complex global challenges, particularly geopolitical crises that have directly impacted energy security, food security, and the stability of regional supply chains. Speaking at the 48th ASEAN Summit today, he stressed that no country could confront […]