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KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 21 -- National squash player S. Sivasangari failed to win the 2025-2026 PSA Tour Finals title after losing 1-3 to world number one Hania El Hammamy from Egypt in the women's final in Paris, yesterday. Despite the defeat, the world number five player closed the campaign by emerging as the runner-up, thus presenting Malaysia with its best achievement in the prestigious tournament since national squash legend Nicol Ann David reached the final in 2012. Sivasangari, who was seeded fourth in the tournament, lost 6-11 in the first game before coming back to win the second game 11-10 over the second seed. However, El Hammamy regained control of the match and won the next two games 11-8, 11-8 to confirm the championship. Sivasangari booked her ticket to the final after pulling off a huge upset by defeating world number two and top seed from Egypt, Amina Orfi, 8-11, 11-10, 11-8, 11-10 in a semi-final that lasted 74 minutes. The runner-up's achievement continues his excellent performance throughout 2026 after also winning the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich last April. -- BERNAMA

Sivasangari emerges as runner-up in the 2025-2026 PSA Tour Finals

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 21 — National squash player S. Sivasangari failed to win the 2025-2026 PSA Tour Finals title after losing 1-3 to world number one Hania El Hammamy from Egypt in the women’s final in Paris, yesterday.

Despite the defeat, the world number five player closed the campaign by emerging as the runner-up, thus presenting Malaysia with its best achievement in the prestigious tournament since national squash legend Nicol Ann David reached the final in 2012.

Sivasangari, who was seeded fourth in the tournament, lost 6-11 in the first game before coming back to win the second game 11-10 over the second seed.

However, El Hammamy regained control of the match and won the next two games 11-8, 11-8 to confirm the championship.

Sivasangari booked her ticket to the final after pulling off a huge upset by defeating world number two and top seed from Egypt, Amina Orfi, 8-11, 11-10, 11-8, 11-10 in a semi-final that lasted 74 minutes.

The runner-up’s achievement continues his excellent performance throughout 2026 after also winning the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich last April.

— BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 -- The government and Tabung Haji (TH) will consider increasing financial assistance for prospective pilgrims from the B40 income group if the cost of performing the haj continues to rise, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said TH had continued to provide targeted financial assistance to B40 pilgrims this year despite rising haj costs. She said the actual cost of performing the haj this year stood at RM33,300 per pilgrim, but those in the B40 category were required to pay only RM15,000, with the remaining RM18,300 covered through TH's financial assistance scheme. “The assistance is funded through TH's investment returns generated from depositors' savings. Therefore, it must be provided prudently and on a targeted basis, taking into account the needs of prospective pilgrims as well as the interests of depositors as a whole. “However, TH will study the proposal to increase financial assistance for B40 pilgrims for future haj seasons,” she said in reply to Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat) on whether the government and TH were prepared to increase assistance for B40 pilgrims amid rising haj costs. Marhamah also said TH was reviewing improvements to its haj queue management system to make it more systematic and equitable, particularly for depositors who had planned ahead, saved consistently and accumulated sufficient funds. She said the move could reduce the need for repeated replacement offers when selected pilgrims defer their pilgrimage due to financial constraints. “The main challenge is that haj registrations now exceed four million people, while Malaysia's annual haj quota remains at around 31,600 pilgrims. As a result, newly registered applicants face very long waiting periods. “The government and TH remain committed to improving the quality of haj services, welfare and safety, with the aspiration of positioning Malaysia as a global leader in haj management and services,” she added. -- BERNAMA  

TH To Consider Increasing Financial Aid For B40 Pilgrims Amid Rising Haj Costs – Marhamah

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22  -- The ‘New Bar Course’ (NBC) will be introduced to replace the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) examination under a new approach that places greater emphasis on practical training and professional skills. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, said the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) had completed its review of the Common Bar Course (CBC) curriculum on March 31 through a dedicated committee. He said the committee had proposed that the CBC be renamed the New Bar Course and be applied to individuals who are not qualified persons under the Legal Profession Act 1976, whether they obtained their law degrees locally or abroad. “Under the NBC, which will replace the CLP examination, the LPQB will introduce two programmes known as the Conversion Course and the Legal Practice Postgraduate Certificate (LPPC),” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today. He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) on the latest status of the NBC and the articled clerkship pathway review undertaken by the LPQB. Kulasegaran said the Conversion Course would be a three-month online programme for overseas graduates requiring a structured introduction to Malaysia's legal system, including core substantive laws. He said the course would be conducted through a Learning Management System (LMS) developed by the LPQB and assessed through Computer-Based Assessment (CBA). Meanwhile, the LPPC would be a six-month vocational programme for both local and overseas graduates, focusing on legal practice before they undergo pupillage. “The LPPC is conceived as a new approach that places greater emphasis on practical skills development than the CLP examination, with a more relevant assessment method,” he said. Meanwhile, he said the LPQB had established an NBC Task Force on April 27 to undertake a study titled "A Study to Develop the Operational Framework for the New Bar Course (Conversion Course and Legal Practice Postgraduate Certificate): From Policy to Practice". Kulasegaran said the study is aimed at developing the operational framework for the NBC and ensuring the smooth implementation of the proposed course. He said the task force comprises experts from public universities, private higher education institutions and members of the Malaysian Bar, with the 12-month study running from May 1 this year until April 30, 2027. On the articled clerkship pathway, Kulasegaran said the LPQB had also established a special committee to undertake a Strategic Review and Enhancement of the Articled Clerk Pathway, with the nine-month study scheduled to run from March 1 to Nov 30, 2026. -- BERNAMA 

New Bar Course to Replace CLP Examination, Emphasis On practical Skills – Kulasegaran

PETALING JAYA, JUNE 22 -- The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS has not ruled out contesting several seats traditionally held by the Democratic Action Party DAP in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election on Aug 1. Negeri Sembilan PAS chief Fairuz Isa said the party is preparing to contest more than 10 seats, similar to its strategy in the 2023 state election, while also aiming to defend the three seats it currently holds. He said final seat allocations will depend on negotiations with other political partners, especially in the event of continued cooperation within the opposition bloc. “There are parties willing to work with us, and during seat negotiations, we may face limited Malay-majority seats to contest,” he was quoted as saying in Seremban. He added that PAS is considering seats currently held by Pakatan Harapan and DAP where Malay voters make up about 40% of the electorate. Fairuz said the party’s candidate selection process is about 90% complete, with emphasis on integrity, service capability, and candidates aged below 60. He also urged party members and machinery to respect and accept any final decision made by the leadership. In the 2023 state election, the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional won five of the 36 seats it contested. Within the coalition, PAS secured Paroi, Serting and Bagan Pinang, while Bersatu won Labu and Gemencheh. The Election Commission has set Aug 1 as polling day for the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, with nomination day on July 18 and early voting on July 28. -- MINUTESMY

PAS considers contesting traditional DAP seats in Negeri Sembilan polls

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 -- Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has confirmed that Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin resumed his role as Opposition Leader on June 18. Based on developments since the previous First Meeting of the Dewan Rakyat and notifications that had been considered, Johari said Hamzah was the Opposition Leader as of May 20, 2026. He said Kemaman MP Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was subsequently appointed to the post from May 21 to June 10, before Hamzah returned as Opposition Leader on June 18. “I would like to express my appreciation to the Honourable Member for Kemaman for his service as Opposition Leader during that period and welcome the Honourable Member for Larut back to serve as Opposition Leader,” he said. Johari announced the status of the Opposition Leader under Standing Order 4A(3) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders in his opening remarks before today’s Oral Question Time. In a separate development, Johari also confirmed the casual vacancies in the Pandan and Setiawangsa parliamentary seats after their incumbents, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, submitted letters relinquishing their memberships as Members of Parliament on May 18. Johari said he had notified the Election Commission of the vacancies in both seats in accordance with Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution. -- BERNAMA  

Speaker Confirms Hamzah’s Return As Opposition Leader

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 -- The government and Tabung Haji (TH) will consider increasing financial assistance for prospective pilgrims from the B40 income group if the cost of performing the haj continues to rise, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said TH had continued to provide targeted financial assistance to B40 pilgrims this year despite rising haj costs. She said the actual cost of performing the haj this year stood at RM33,300 per pilgrim, but those in the B40 category were required to pay only RM15,000, with the remaining RM18,300 covered through TH's financial assistance scheme. “The assistance is funded through TH's investment returns generated from depositors' savings. Therefore, it must be provided prudently and on a targeted basis, taking into account the needs of prospective pilgrims as well as the interests of depositors as a whole. “However, TH will study the proposal to increase financial assistance for B40 pilgrims for future haj seasons,” she said in reply to Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat) on whether the government and TH were prepared to increase assistance for B40 pilgrims amid rising haj costs. Marhamah also said TH was reviewing improvements to its haj queue management system to make it more systematic and equitable, particularly for depositors who had planned ahead, saved consistently and accumulated sufficient funds. She said the move could reduce the need for repeated replacement offers when selected pilgrims defer their pilgrimage due to financial constraints. “The main challenge is that haj registrations now exceed four million people, while Malaysia's annual haj quota remains at around 31,600 pilgrims. As a result, newly registered applicants face very long waiting periods. “The government and TH remain committed to improving the quality of haj services, welfare and safety, with the aspiration of positioning Malaysia as a global leader in haj management and services,” she added. -- BERNAMA  

TH To Consider Increasing Financial Aid For B40 Pilgrims Amid Rising Haj Costs – Marhamah

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22  -- The ‘New Bar Course’ (NBC) will be introduced to replace the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) examination under a new approach that places greater emphasis on practical training and professional skills. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, said the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) had completed its review of the Common Bar Course (CBC) curriculum on March 31 through a dedicated committee. He said the committee had proposed that the CBC be renamed the New Bar Course and be applied to individuals who are not qualified persons under the Legal Profession Act 1976, whether they obtained their law degrees locally or abroad. “Under the NBC, which will replace the CLP examination, the LPQB will introduce two programmes known as the Conversion Course and the Legal Practice Postgraduate Certificate (LPPC),” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today. He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) on the latest status of the NBC and the articled clerkship pathway review undertaken by the LPQB. Kulasegaran said the Conversion Course would be a three-month online programme for overseas graduates requiring a structured introduction to Malaysia's legal system, including core substantive laws. He said the course would be conducted through a Learning Management System (LMS) developed by the LPQB and assessed through Computer-Based Assessment (CBA). Meanwhile, the LPPC would be a six-month vocational programme for both local and overseas graduates, focusing on legal practice before they undergo pupillage. “The LPPC is conceived as a new approach that places greater emphasis on practical skills development than the CLP examination, with a more relevant assessment method,” he said. Meanwhile, he said the LPQB had established an NBC Task Force on April 27 to undertake a study titled "A Study to Develop the Operational Framework for the New Bar Course (Conversion Course and Legal Practice Postgraduate Certificate): From Policy to Practice". Kulasegaran said the study is aimed at developing the operational framework for the NBC and ensuring the smooth implementation of the proposed course. He said the task force comprises experts from public universities, private higher education institutions and members of the Malaysian Bar, with the 12-month study running from May 1 this year until April 30, 2027. On the articled clerkship pathway, Kulasegaran said the LPQB had also established a special committee to undertake a Strategic Review and Enhancement of the Articled Clerk Pathway, with the nine-month study scheduled to run from March 1 to Nov 30, 2026. -- BERNAMA 

New Bar Course to Replace CLP Examination, Emphasis On practical Skills – Kulasegaran

PETALING JAYA, JUNE 22 -- The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS has not ruled out contesting several seats traditionally held by the Democratic Action Party DAP in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election on Aug 1. Negeri Sembilan PAS chief Fairuz Isa said the party is preparing to contest more than 10 seats, similar to its strategy in the 2023 state election, while also aiming to defend the three seats it currently holds. He said final seat allocations will depend on negotiations with other political partners, especially in the event of continued cooperation within the opposition bloc. “There are parties willing to work with us, and during seat negotiations, we may face limited Malay-majority seats to contest,” he was quoted as saying in Seremban. He added that PAS is considering seats currently held by Pakatan Harapan and DAP where Malay voters make up about 40% of the electorate. Fairuz said the party’s candidate selection process is about 90% complete, with emphasis on integrity, service capability, and candidates aged below 60. He also urged party members and machinery to respect and accept any final decision made by the leadership. In the 2023 state election, the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional won five of the 36 seats it contested. Within the coalition, PAS secured Paroi, Serting and Bagan Pinang, while Bersatu won Labu and Gemencheh. The Election Commission has set Aug 1 as polling day for the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, with nomination day on July 18 and early voting on July 28. -- MINUTESMY

PAS considers contesting traditional DAP seats in Negeri Sembilan polls

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 -- Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has confirmed that Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin resumed his role as Opposition Leader on June 18. Based on developments since the previous First Meeting of the Dewan Rakyat and notifications that had been considered, Johari said Hamzah was the Opposition Leader as of May 20, 2026. He said Kemaman MP Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was subsequently appointed to the post from May 21 to June 10, before Hamzah returned as Opposition Leader on June 18. “I would like to express my appreciation to the Honourable Member for Kemaman for his service as Opposition Leader during that period and welcome the Honourable Member for Larut back to serve as Opposition Leader,” he said. Johari announced the status of the Opposition Leader under Standing Order 4A(3) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders in his opening remarks before today’s Oral Question Time. In a separate development, Johari also confirmed the casual vacancies in the Pandan and Setiawangsa parliamentary seats after their incumbents, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, submitted letters relinquishing their memberships as Members of Parliament on May 18. Johari said he had notified the Election Commission of the vacancies in both seats in accordance with Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution. -- BERNAMA  

Speaker Confirms Hamzah’s Return As Opposition Leader

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