Day: July 6, 2026

Johor Election: Sharon Teo’s Six Offers in “Permas Kita Settle” Manifesto

JOHOR BAHRU, July 6 -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Permas State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sharon Teo Siew Hui, today announced six offers under the "Permas Kita Settle" manifesto which focus on solving infrastructure issues, traffic congestion, youth development, women and family well-being and community empowerment. He said the offer was formulated based on feedback from residents, results from field visits and studies with several think tanks to identify the main issues in the Permas DUN. "From the survey and feedback we received in the field, infrastructure issues are actually the main issue in Permas. That is what we hear from the people," he said at a press conference here today. Teo said the results of the audit would later form the basis for the preparation of the Permas Traffic Plan 2030 to address congestion problems, especially on the Permas Jaya to Pasir Gudang route. He said other offers were the establishment of the Permas Youth Hub , making Permas more women and family friendly, empowering the Sabah and Sarawak communities including upgrading the Borneo Market and holding regular Permas Community Dialogues. Commenting on the demographics of voters, Teo said the 18 to 39-year-old group comprised approximately 53 percent of the total 113,963 voters in the Permas DUN, thus making the youth agenda among the priorities in his bid. Therefore, he hopes that voters, including young people and voters on the fence, will give him the opportunity to serve in Permas for five years, by bringing the experience he gained while serving as a special assistant to the late former Pulai Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub since 2018. With five days left before the vote this Saturday, Teo has chosen the approach of listening to the people's voices and reaching out to voters regardless of race as the focus of his campaign. "I will treat the people as well as possible, regardless of race. I will sit and discuss with them. If you want to be a representative of the people, the first thing you need to do is listen to what the people want," he said. He said voter sentiment in the area was also increasingly positive as more and more voters gave words of encouragement throughout the campaign period. Teo will be challenged by the incumbent of the seat, who is also a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, Baharudin Mohamed Taib, Dr Zamil Najwah from the United Malaysia Party (Bersama) and T. Vela representing the Perikatan Nasional (PN) in a four-cornered contest. -- BERNAMA

JOHOR BAHRU, July 6 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Permas State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sharon Teo Siew Hui, today announced six offers under the “Permas Kita Settle” manifesto which focus on solving infrastructure issues, traffic congestion, youth development, women and family well-being and community empowerment. He said the offer was formulated based on […]

World Cup gambling: 554 arrested in Malaysia, betting value over RM3.2 million

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 554 individuals were arrested in 422 Op Soga XI raids nationwide in an operation to crack down on unlicensed gambling activities in conjunction with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said all the suspects arrested were suspected of being involved in illegal betting and online gambling activities, consisting of 508 men and 46 women, with 341 of them being locals, while the other 213 were foreigners. He said the police also seized cash totaling RM167,062.09 and detected betting worth RM3.24 million during the operation. "During the period of this operation, a total of 422 raids were carried out in strategic collaboration with various interested agencies, especially the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)," he said in a statement today. M. Kumar said the operation also focused on monitoring gambling promotion and advertising activities through websites and social media platforms. He said a total of 263 websites, platforms, applications and social media were detected to be used for football betting activities and gambling promotions. "Website blocking and content removal actions will be taken with the assistance of MCMC," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 6(1) of the Betting Act 1953 for betting at an open betting house or with a bookmaker; Section 6(3) of the same act for individuals acting as bookmakers as well as Section 4(1)(c) for caring for, managing or assisting in managing a betting place. M. Kumar said the offence of promoting or advertising gambling activities was being investigated under Section 4(1)(e) of the Betting Act 1953, while the detained foreign national was also being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for being in the country without a valid pass or permit. "Investigations are also being conducted in accordance with the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA)," he said. He said the Royal Malaysian Police would continue to intensify operations and enforcement actions, as well as strengthen strategic cooperation with relevant agencies, and asked the public to provide information to help the authorities combat this activity. Op Soga XI is being implemented in conjunction with the 2026 FIFA World Cup which takes place from June 11 to July 19. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 554 individuals were arrested in 422 Op Soga XI raids nationwide in an operation to crack down on unlicensed gambling activities in conjunction with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said all the suspects arrested were suspected of being involved in […]

Moderate Earthquake Hits Mindanao, Philippines

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 -- A moderate earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck the Mindanao region of the Philippines at 4.11 pm today. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) in a statement said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres (km), 171 km south of Koronadal City, Philippines. However, there is no tsunami threat to Malaysia. -- BERNAMA 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — A moderate earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck the Mindanao region of the Philippines at 4.11 pm today. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) in a statement said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres (km), 171 km south of Koronadal City, Philippines. However, there is no […]

Dewan Rakyat Passes Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 -- The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 with amendments at the committee stage. The bill was passed by a majority voice vote after Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali tabled a minor amendment to Clause 22. He said the amendment was made to correct a typographical error in paragraph (f) relating to a reference to the subsection which has been renumbered. On Thursday, 18 MPs took part in the debate on the bill, which was subsequently passed at the policy stage. The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 seeks to strengthen enforcement against anti-competitive practices in response to the growing use of technology in cartel activities and the abuse of dominant market positions. The 34-clause bill also seeks to amend Section 24 by introducing a criminal offence for attempting to destroy, conceal, mutilate or alter records and data to obstruct investigations by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC). -- BERNAMA 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 with amendments at the committee stage. The bill was passed by a majority voice vote after Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali tabled a minor amendment to Clause 22. He said the amendment was made […]

DOSM: Bumiputera Participation In High-growth Sectors Must Be Strengthened

PUTRAJAYA, July 6 -- Bumiputera economic participation continues to improve, although there remains room to increase Bumiputera involvement in high-growth sectors to narrow the socio-economic gap, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said. He said data presented through the Bumiputera Data Analytics Dashboard, developed by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), showed that wages for both Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera workers generally recorded growth of more than five per cent. However, he said the increase was influenced by population composition, with the average wage growth among Bumiputera appearing more moderate because it reflected a much larger population than that of non-Bumiputera. “The Bumiputera population is much larger, so while some segments may be experiencing faster growth, the overall average is moderated by the size of the population,” he told reporters after launching the Bumiputera Data Analytics Dashboard at the Simfoni Data and Media special discourse here today. The Bumiputera Data Analytics Dashboard was developed as a strategic monitoring platform to track and assess the current performance and progress of the Bumiputera empowerment agenda based on the key indicators outlined in the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35). Meanwhile, Mohd Uzir also introduced the subnational indicators portal, an interactive platform that consolidates the country's official data to facilitate analysis and monitoring across various levels of administration. He said the platform integrates data covering 1,998 administrative areas, comprising 16 states and federal territories, 160 districts, 222 parliamentary constituencies and about 600 state constituencies, enabling users to make location-based comparisons and analyses more efficiently. The portal contains 22 official datasets across eight domains, namely demography, economy, education, labour, agriculture, environment, crime and electoral affairs. It is updated regularly and includes metadata to ensure transparency and consistency in data definitions. “Our goal is to establish a single, trusted source of official data to support evidence-based decision-making, while helping the government and stakeholders formulate policies and development programmes more effectively,” he said. -- BERNAMA 

PUTRAJAYA, July 6 — Bumiputera economic participation continues to improve, although there remains room to increase Bumiputera involvement in high-growth sectors to narrow the socio-economic gap, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said. He said data presented through the Bumiputera Data Analytics Dashboard, developed by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), showed that […]

Police Seize 208 Bullets, Arrest Man In Sitiawan Drug Raids

IPOH, July 6 -- Police seized 208 live rounds of ammunition and several objects resembling firearms, besides arresting a local man in two raids linked to drug trafficking activities in Sitiawan, near Manjung, last Wednesday. Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the operation conducted by the Perak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) also resulted in the seizure of drugs believed to be Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine, with a total estimated value of RM6,547. "The first raid was carried out in the Taman Terus Maju area in Sitiawan, where police stopped a Proton Wira driven by the 29-year-old suspect. "An inspection of the vehicle uncovered three red plastic packets containing substances believed to be MDMA, weighing 66.64 grammes," he told a press conference at the Perak Police Headquarters here today. He said said following the arrest, police raided a house in Jalan Kampung Cina, Sitiawan, where they found 12 transparent plastic packets containing substances believed to be ketamine, weighing 64.30 grammes. Mohd Alwi said further inspection of a wooden shed behind the house led to the discovery of an object resembling a pistol, seven rifle-like barrels, two crossbow-like barrels, 208 live rounds of ammunition and eight spent cartridge casings. "Initial investigations also found that the suspect is believed to have been actively involved in drug trafficking for about four months, selling the drugs directly to users. The drugs seized were estimated to be sufficient to supply about 100 addicts," he said. He said the suspect was found to have no criminal record, while preliminary urine screening showed he was tested positive for ketamine. According to him, police also seized RM720 in cash under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, bringing the total value of the seizures and confiscations to RM7,267. “The suspect was remanded for six days from July 2 until today to facilitate investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 8A of the Firearms Act 1960,” he added. -- BERNAMA 

IPOH, July 6 — Police seized 208 live rounds of ammunition and several objects resembling firearms, besides arresting a local man in two raids linked to drug trafficking activities in Sitiawan, near Manjung, last Wednesday. Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the operation conducted by the Perak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) […]

YB Datuk Fahmi Calls on Semerah Voters to Back PH Candidate Mohd Khuzzan

SEMERAH, July 6 -- YB Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has called on voters in Semerah to support Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar, describing him as a hardworking leader who understands the needs of the people and consistently serves the community yesterday. Fahmi said he had the opportunity to accompany Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the People's Feast Programme alongside Mohd Khuzzan. According to Fahmi, the Prime Minister urged the people of Semerah to give their mandate to Mohd Khuzzan so that he could become an effective voice in the Johor State Legislative Assembly and champion the aspirations and welfare of local residents. Fahmi said Semerah needed a representative who was committed to serving the people, understood local issues and maintained a strong presence on the ground. He also highlighted the Prime Minister's appreciation for the efforts of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), which continues to assist communities, particularly women, by providing opportunities to generate income and improve their standard of living. Fahmi said empowering women through access to opportunities and sustained support not only transforms individual lives but also strengthens families and contributes to building more prosperous communities. -- MINUTESMY

SEMERAH, July 6 — YB Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has called on voters in Semerah to support Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar, describing him as a hardworking leader who understands the needs of the people and consistently serves the community yesterday. Fahmi said he had the opportunity to accompany Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim […]

OBK: RM81.8 Million Worth Of Bird’s Nests Seized In Sarawak

KUCHING, July 6 -- The integrated Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK) in Sarawak recorded its biggest success with the seizure of assets worth RM81.8 million involving the illegal trade of bird’s nests during a series of operations conducted from June 1 to 16. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said six individuals were arrested in 10 raids, effectively crippling the illegal processing and commercial trade of bird’s nests in the Kuching area. “All the suspects have been handed over to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) for further action as they are suspected of harvesting, collecting, selling and possessing bird’s nests without a valid licence issued by the Controller of Wildlife. “The case is being investigated under Sections 33(1) and 33(2) of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, while the seizures were made under Section 48(1) of the same ordinance,” he said at a press conference at the General Operations Force (GOF) Sarawak Brigade headquarters here today. Mohd Yusri said that during the same period, OBK operations nationwide resulted in 70 investigation papers being opened and the arrest of 62 individuals, with the total value of seized assets estimated at RM98.4 million. Among the items seized during the operation were 16,367 kilogrammes of bird's nests; 223 birds of various species; eight eagles; two pangolins; 790 turtle eggs; 4,238 tortoises of various species; 218 axolotl salamanders; 116 exotic fish; 959 fighting cocks; 1,673 logs; 7,600 saplings of various species; 14 animal microchips; and nine mammals of various species. “Throughout the operation, the police successfully carried out a series of raids at strategic locations, including storage facilities, residential premises, logistics vehicles and distribution networks believed to have been used by the owners,” he said. -- BERNAMA 

KUCHING, July 6 — The integrated Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK) in Sarawak recorded its biggest success with the seizure of assets worth RM81.8 million involving the illegal trade of bird’s nests during a series of operations conducted from June 1 to 16. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) director Datuk Seri Mohd […]