Day: July 14, 2026

Malaysia’s RON95 Fuel Price Remains Lower Than Saudi Arabia, Qatar – PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s retail fuel prices remain lower compared with several major oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, despite global economic uncertainties. Anwar said the subsidised RON95 petrol price under the BUDI MADANI initiative is currently maintained at RM1.99 per litre, while petrol prices in Saudi Arabia have exceeded RM2.40 per litre. He said the comparison showed that the government remains committed to ensuring fuel remains affordable for Malaysians, while continuing to provide targeted assistance to the people. “Fuel prices in Malaysia are lower than those in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. That is a fact that must be remembered,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. Responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) on fuel prices during the previous administration and his earlier pledge, while in the opposition, to reduce petrol prices, Anwar said fuel costs must be viewed based on the current economic environment. He pointed out that when there were calls previously to reduce petrol prices to RM1.50 per litre, Saudi Arabia’s fuel price at that time was around 50 sen per litre. However, current prices in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are now higher compared with Malaysia. Anwar said the UAE, despite being a major oil-producing nation, had also increased fuel prices recently due to changing global market conditions. The Prime Minister stressed that fuel prices should not be assessed in isolation, as the government’s overall support measures include various forms of assistance such as the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), RON95 fuel subsidies and the BUDI Diesel programme. “Overall, the assistance provided is much greater than before. However, I do not want to compare because circumstances differ and the country’s revenue situation was also different,” he said. Anwar added that the government remains open to constructive suggestions on improving fuel-related policies, while ensuring economic stability and protecting the welfare of the people. Earlier, Rosol had asked the government to explain its assessment of the impact of the prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and measures taken to reduce its effects on Malaysia. In response, Anwar said the government is focusing on ensuring adequate fuel supplies, controlling the prices of essential goods, supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and strengthening the country’s economic resilience. He said allocations for STR and SARA had been increased to RM15 billion this year, benefiting more than nine million recipients nationwide. The Prime Minister added that geopolitical tensions in West Asia and disruptions to major trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, continue to pose challenges to both the global and Malaysian economies. -- MINUTESMY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s retail fuel prices remain lower compared with several major oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, despite global economic uncertainties. Anwar said the subsidised RON95 petrol price under the BUDI MADANI initiative is currently maintained at RM1.99 per litre, while petrol prices […]

Messi and the World Cup: The numbers behind the legend

LONDON: Lionel Messi has the chance to add another glorious milestone to his incredible World Cup journey when Argentina face England in Atlanta on Wednesday, reported PA Media/dpa. The Press Association traces Messi's contribution to world football's most prestigious stage. Repeat success? Messi led Argentina to victory in 2022 in Qatar, scoring seven goals, including two in the final, before they beat France on penalties. The success was seen as partly driven by the Argentine squad's determination to win the championship before Messi retired. However, not only did he return almost four years later, but he was once again a mainstay of the team. The 39-year-old has scored eight goals in this summer's tournament, equalling France forward Kylian Mbappé as the top scorer, and is now chasing a second World Cup title before almost certainly ending his career on the stage. Respect for the individual The World Cup Golden Shoe is one of the few major awards that Messi has yet to win after Mbappé surpassed him in the race for the award in the last edition. The French striker scored a hat-trick in the final even though his team ultimately lost. The same two players once again lead the competition this time, with Mbappé having the advantage through the separating criteria of number of assists and fewest minutes played. Two English players, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, are also close behind with six goals each, while closest challenger Erling Haaland has already been eliminated. Messi is a two-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, the award for the tournament's best player, and in this edition adds two more all-time records to his collection. However, Mbappé is just one goal shy of Messi's record of 21 World Cup goals and looks set to become the long-term record holder. Both surpassed Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 goals in this tournament. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also became the first two male players to play in six World Cups, with both surpassing Lothar Matthaus' record of 25 appearances. Messi is expected to make his 33rd World Cup appearance on Wednesday, six appearances ahead of Ronaldo. A scoring record – and one weakness? Messi scored one goal on his World Cup debut in 2006 and failed to find the target in the 2010 tournament, before making an impact with four goals in the 2014 edition hosted by Argentina's arch-rivals Brazil. He scored one goal in 2018 before showing an extraordinary performance in 2022 when, at the age of 35, his number of goals in one edition surpassed the total goals he had scored in the previous four tournaments. Messi has surpassed that number in this tournament. His total goals in 2022 were aided by four goals from penalty kicks, but he also failed to convert one and the problem returned to haunt him in North America. Messi missed a penalty kick as Argentina beat Austria in the group stage and had another saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir in the last 16, meaning he has now converted just four of his eight penalties at the World Cup, excluding shootouts. He successfully completed his kicks in all three World Cup penalty shootouts he participated in, against the Netherlands in 2014 and 2022, and France in the 2022 final. Messi, who was 19 at the time, was only a substitute and was not used when Argentina lost to Germany on penalties in 2006. -- BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa

LONDON: Lionel Messi has the chance to add another glorious milestone to his incredible World Cup journey when Argentina face England in Atlanta on Wednesday, reported PA Media/dpa. The Press Association traces Messi’s contribution to world football’s most prestigious stage. Repeat success? Messi led Argentina to victory in 2022 in Qatar, scoring seven goals, including […]

Ringgit opens higher against US dollar on uncertainty in West Asia

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would be the main focus at the moment, with crude oil prices such as WTI and Brent increasing by 9.42 per cent and 9.35 per cent to US$78.14 per barrel and US$83.12 per barrel respectively. Meanwhile, he said the yields on the two-year and 10-year US Treasury bonds rose by eight and six basis points to 4.28 percent and 4.62 percent respectively as inflation is expected to continue to rise, thus reinforcing expectations that the US Federal Reserve may raise policy rates this year. “This expectation has increased the US Dollar Index (DXY) to 101.276 points. "In this situation, emerging market currencies including the ringgit are expected to continue to fluctuate in the near term. Therefore, the ringgit exchange rate against the US dollar is expected to be in the range of 4.07 to 4.10 today," he told Bernama . At the opening of trading, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies. The ringgit strengthened against the Japanese yen to 2.5040/5075 from 2.5110/5142 at Monday's close, rose against the British pound to 5.4297/4370 from 5.4475/4542 and rose against the euro to 4.6296/6359 from 4.6501/6558. The ringgit, on the other hand, was traded mixed against ASEAN currencies. The local unit rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.1417/1464 from 3.1489/1530 and strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.1396/1618 from 12.1953/2151. However, the ringgit was unchanged against the Indonesian rupiah at 224.6/225.0 and remained flat against the Philippine peso at 6.60/6.62 compared to yesterday's close.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar on Tuesday following uncertainties in the Strait of Hormuz which increased global crude oil prices, said analysts. At 8am, the local unit rose to 4.0675/0730 against the US dollar from 4.0680/0730 at the close on Monday. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul […]

The death toll from the Venezuela earthquake has risen to 4,561

WASHINGTON: The death toll from two earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 4,561, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday. According to Anadolu Agency , Rodriguez said 16,740 people were injured. Authorities have assisted 128,324 families and set up 107 temporary camps housing 20,231 people, while another 17,907 still have no permanent place to live. Rodriguez said the earthquake also damaged 856 buildings, including 190 that collapsed. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck the South American country on June 24. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

WASHINGTON: The death toll from two earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 4,561, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday. According to Anadolu Agency , Rodriguez said 16,740 people were injured. Authorities have assisted 128,324 families and set up 107 temporary camps housing 20,231 people, while another 17,907 still have no […]

Malaysia Airports holds full air crash drill at Denai Alam R&R this Thursday

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia Airports will hold a Full-Scale Air Accident Exercise at the Denai Alam Rest and Treatment (R&R) area, Damansara-Shah Alam Expressway (DASH) from 8am to 2pm this Thursday. Malaysia Airports in a statement announced that the exercise, known as the Ex Urban Falcon 2026 Charity Exercise, was held in collaboration with Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (PROLINTAS) and the Malaysian Information Department (JaPEN) under the 2026 National Air Disaster Preparedness Program. "This charity exercise is part of the 2026 National Air Disaster Preparedness Program based on the theme 'Strong Integration, Noble Aspirations' organised by Malaysia Airports in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency, the Selangor State Secretary and PROLINTAS-DASH. "The implementation of this air disaster charity exercise has the main objective of assessing and testing the level of preparedness, coordination and response in dealing with any emergency situation." "In addition, this program also serves to test responses from various relevant security and emergency agencies," the statement said. Throughout the exercise, DASH Highway users and the public are advised to cooperate if they see the presence of emergency vehicles, smoke, aircraft replicas, siren sounds or simulated activities around the Denai Alam R&R area as they are part of the exercise. The public is also asked to obey the instructions of officers at the location to ensure the smooth implementation of the training. Malaysia Airports, PROLINTAS and JaPEN appreciate the public's cooperation in ensuring that the exercise is carried out safely and smoothly. -- NAMED

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia Airports will hold a Full-Scale Air Accident Exercise at the Denai Alam Rest and Treatment (R&R) area, Damansara-Shah Alam Expressway (DASH) from 8am to 2pm this Thursday. Malaysia Airports in a statement announced that the exercise, known as the Ex Urban Falcon 2026 Charity Exercise, was held in collaboration with Projek Lintasan […]

PM Anwar Chairs National Economic Action Council Meeting, Stresses Food Security, Refugee Enforcement and Manufacturing Resilience

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chaired the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting on Monday, where the government reviewed Malaysia's food security, refugee management, and measures to strengthen the country's manufacturing sector amid ongoing global supply chain challenges. Anwar said the meeting was informed that the country's supply of staple food remains stable and sufficient, with the government committed to ensuring continuous food security, maintaining affordable food prices, and safeguarding the welfare of paddy farmers and local food producers. He stressed that ensuring a secure and sustainable food supply remains a key priority under the MADANI Government as it continues efforts to strengthen the nation's food ecosystem. The meeting also focused on the management of refugees, an issue that has attracted increasing public attention. Anwar said the government is implementing a more systematic refugee registration process while leveraging technology and data analytics to combat smuggling, human trafficking, document fraud, and illegal border crossings. He reaffirmed the government's firm stance that no refugee is exempt from Malaysian law, including holders of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards. "Refugees who commit criminal offences have already been prosecuted, and enforcement actions will continue without compromise in accordance with the country's laws," Anwar said. On the economic front, MTEN reviewed strategies to enhance the resilience of Malaysia's manufacturing sector, which continues to face pressures arising from disruptions in global supply chains. Among the industries highlighted was the plastics sector, which plays a critical supporting role in several strategic industries, including food packaging, electrical and electronics, automotive manufacturing, and medical devices. Anwar said the government takes seriously the concerns raised by industry players regarding rising operational costs and current market challenges. He has instructed the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), together with the Ministry of Economy, to conduct further engagement sessions with industry stakeholders to formulate practical solutions aimed at easing cost pressures while ensuring the long-term competitiveness and resilience of Malaysia's manufacturing ecosystem. The Prime Minister reiterated that the MADANI Government remains committed to balancing economic growth, national security, and the well-being of the people through coordinated policy implementation and effective governance. -- MINUTESMY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chaired the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting on Monday, where the government reviewed Malaysia’s food security, refugee management, and measures to strengthen the country’s manufacturing sector amid ongoing global supply chain challenges. Anwar said the meeting was informed that the country’s supply of […]

Pakatan Harapan to Announce Negeri Sembilan State Election Candidates Tonight

KUALA PILAH, July 14 – Pakatan Harapan (PH) is set to officially unveil its lineup of candidates for the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election (PRN) during a special announcement ceremony tonight. The event will take place at Dataran Melang, Kuala Pilah, beginning at 7.30 pm, and is expected to draw party leaders, supporters, and members of the public ahead of the upcoming state polls. Pakatan Harapan has invited the public to attend the ceremony, describing their presence as a show of support for a more progressive, inclusive, and prosperous future for Negeri Sembilan. The candidate announcement is seen as a key milestone in PH's preparations for the state election campaign, with party leaders expected to outline their vision and priorities for the state. Supporters and residents are encouraged to gather at the venue as the coalition introduces the individuals who will represent Pakatan Harapan in its bid to form the next Negeri Sembilan state government. -- MINUTESMY

KUALA PILAH, July 14 – Pakatan Harapan (PH) is set to officially unveil its lineup of candidates for the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election (PRN) during a special announcement ceremony tonight. The event will take place at Dataran Melang, Kuala Pilah, beginning at 7.30 pm, and is expected to draw party leaders, supporters, and members […]