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Malaysia News

Politicians should be careful with their words, don’t misuse freedom of speech – Agong

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 1 — The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim today ordered all political leaders to always maintain good manners and speech and to be careful in issuing any .... read more

MADANI government administers the country with full dedication under the patronage of the Agong – PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 1 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today expressed his deepest gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, for His Majesty’s patronage and wisdom in .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said Malaysia’s strong relationship with Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen confidence in the country’s ability to navigate the current global economic challenge. He said the close ties between the two countries were recently reaffirmed through a personal message from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. “I received a personal text message from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week, assuring continued excellent relations between our two countries. This gives us confidence to continue focusing on the development of this country," he said when launching the 2026 Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) here today. Anwar said Malaysia has also been able to manage ongoing economic pressures and remains assured of adequate crude oil and diesel supplies despite uncertainties in the global economy. “Despite the economic pressures, Alhamdulillah, we have been able to manage them well. We have enough crude oil and diesel supplies, and we enjoy excellent relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said. Nevertheless, the prime minister acknowledged that the government still needs to address the impact of rising prices on the people, but stressed that the government would manage the situation wisely. -- BERNAMA

PM Anwar Ibrahim — Strong Saudi Ties Boost Confidence To Navigate Current Economic Challenges

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said Malaysia’s strong relationship with Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen confidence in the country’s ability to navigate the .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 -- The Yang di-Pertuan Agong not only symbolises the sovereignty of the nation, but is also a guardian who protects the citizens, safeguards the religion and is the mainstay of the nation’s stability. In conjunction with the official birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on June 1, the Friday sermon today specially reminded all Muslims to uphold proper conduct towards His Majesty the King and national leaders, while warning against abusing freedom of speech on social media for negative purposes. “Indeed, religious and royal institutions form the key foundations that preserve the nation’s sovereignty, the people’s unity and the sanctity of the religion of Islam in this blessed nation. The Rulers are not mere symbols of government, but they protect the religion, peace and harmony of the society. “Therefore, preserve decency and respect for the Rulers, leaders and the nation’s institutions with ethical words and moral actions,” according to the sermon entitled “Dirgahayu Tuanku: Amanah Raja, Tanggungjawab Rakyat”. The sermon prepared by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) was read out by Imam II Hassan Alfadhli Abdul Rahman and broadcast live from Masjid Negara during the Friday prayers. The sermon also reminded Muslims that the well-being of a nation cannot be achieved through the strength of the leadership alone, but also through the efforts of its citizens. On the contrary, it arises when trustworthy leadership and responsible citizens walk together, hand-in-hand and complementing one another. Muslims are also reminded that the destruction of a nation does not only result from external threats, but usually starts when there is an internal fracture and disrespect of the nation’s identity. “When trust is disregarded, when morals are discarded, when fractures are ignored, those are the signals of the beginning of a nation’s destruction,” the sermon read. It also reminded Muslims to never abuse the freedom of expression on social media by spreading abusive words and falsehoods, which would eventually destroy unity, but instead, to protect the values of civility and courteousness as a strong shield that preserves the sanctity of the religion, race and beloved nation. “Today, let us manifest our love and allegiance by proclaiming ‘Dirgahayu Tuanku’. Indeed, the responsibility should not only be carried by the leaders, but should also be shouldered by every citizen. “If Rulers shield the nation with justice, then the citizens must surely prosper it with allegiance. If leaders protect the nation, citizens should preserve the nation’s soul,” the sermon read. -- BERNAMA

Yang Di-Pertuan Agong A Vital Pillar Of Nation’s Stability, People’s Unity

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — The Yang di-Pertuan Agong not only symbolises the sovereignty of the nation, but is also a guardian who protects the citizens, safeguards the religion and .... read more

SINGAPORE, May 29 -- Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will lead the Malaysian delegation at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, a three-day high level security forum focusing on regional security beginning Friday. Mohamed Khaled is scheduled to meet, among others, the United States (US) Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Onshuus Sandvik during the event held at Shangri-La Singapore. The minister is set to address the Sixth Plenary Session on the topic “Managing Regional Tensions Amid Global Competition” on Sunday. On the sidelines, Mohamed Khaled is set to hold several bilateral meetings with defence counterparts and leaders from Australia, Vietnam, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, New Zealand, Thailand, and the United Kingdom (UK). He is also expected to meet Singapore Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam as well as engage in a bilateral discussion with his Singapore counterpart, Chan Chun Sing. In addition, Mohamed Khaled is also scheduled to attend a multilateral session with ASEAN Defence Ministers and the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Defence Ministers’ Informal Breakfast. Organised by the Britain-headquartered International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, and diplomats from dozens of countries across the world. Vietnamese leader To Lam is slated to deliver the keynote address on Friday evening. – BERNAMA

Mohamed Khaled Leads Malaysian Delegation At IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2026

SINGAPORE, May 29 — Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will lead the Malaysian delegation at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, a three-day high level security forum focusing on .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 -- Landasan Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) Laluan Ampang/Sri Petaling yang terjejas akibat insiden tren tergelincir berhampiran Stesen Chan Sow Lin semalam dijangka dapat beroperasi semula selewat-lewatnya Rabu depan. Menteri Pengangkutan Anthony Loke Siew Fook berkata tren terbabit dijadualkan dialihkan hari ini menggunakan kren sebelum kerja pembaikan landasan dimulakan. He said the incident occurred during the track change process when the first carriage of the six train carriages was on the correct track heading towards Putra Heights, but the next carriage strayed onto the track heading towards Ampang. "This situation caused the traction from the carriage behind to pull the first carriage out, thus causing the first and second carriages to completely derail." "The reason why the switch system or track change equipment did not function properly as it should needs to be investigated in detail," he told reporters after inspecting the incident location about 250 metres from the Chan Sow Lin LRT Station, here, today. Meanwhile, Loke said the special task force established to investigate the incident was an independent team without the involvement of representatives from Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana), led by the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents of the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BSKU), Major General Tan Chee Kee, as well as experts in the field of rail engineering. He said the team was given a maximum period of 30 days to complete the investigation report before submitting it to the Cabinet for follow-up action. "The investigation will examine whether the incident was caused by human error, system malfunction or system failure. The report will also be made public to ensure transparency in the investigation," he said. In addition, the investigation also includes examining the maintenance regime by Prasarana, records and system logs related to the incident including operations at the Operations Control Centre (OCC), the signalling system as well as other factors that may have contributed to the incident. Loke said statements from staff working at OCC, train drivers and related individuals would be taken to identify the true cause of the incident. He also did not rule out the possibility of a more comprehensive internal audit being carried out on the entire rail transit system operated by Prasarana, including LRT and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) services. Regarding current operations, Loke said all stations on the Ampang/Sri Petaling line are still operating, but using a modified schedule to allow train movements to continue. He said that for now, passengers will have to change trains at certain stations with the arrival interval (frequency) increasing to between six and eight minutes until the repair work is completed. In an incident yesterday morning, an Ampang/Sri Petaling Line train derailed near Chan Sow Lin Station due to a faulty track switch, which affected the service schedule, however all 25 passengers involved were safely evacuated without any injuries. -- BERNAMA

LRT derails: Tracks expected to resume operations on Wednesday

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Landasan Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) Laluan Ampang/Sri Petaling yang terjejas akibat insiden tren tergelincir berhampiran Stesen Chan Sow Lin semalam dijangka dapat beroperasi semula selewat-lewatnya .... read more

PUTRAJAYA, May 29 -- The Ministry of Finance c) has issued a strong warning against using another individual's MyKad number or information without permission to obtain BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) subsidy benefits. MoF, in a statement today, informed that it is taking seriously several recent complaints involving allegations of unauthorized use of MyKad information for transactions under the BUDI95 program. According to the ministry, the use or possession of another person's MyKad without lawful authority is a serious offence under Regulation 25 of the National Registration Regulations 1990. "If convicted, the individual concerned can be fined up to RM20,000 or imprisoned for up to three years, or both. "Therefore, MoF strongly warns that no party should use another individual's MyKad number or information without permission to obtain BUDI95 subsidy benefits," the statement said. MoF has also instructed oil retail companies to tighten compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for MyKad verification for every BUDI95 transaction. "Any transactions carried out manually without first physically verifying MyKad are not permitted as it opens the door to unauthorized transactions, abuse of subsidies and violations of the integrity of program implementation," according to the MoF. Apart from that, oil retail companies have also been instructed to conduct further investigations into transactions identified as violating SOPs and take appropriate follow-up action against the stations involved. "This includes strengthening internal monitoring to ensure continued compliance at all petrol stations." "Corrective measures have also been issued, including retraining of frontline staff, display of SOPs at payment counters, as well as appropriate distribution and compensation to affected customers, subject to the results of the investigation," MoF informed. According to the ministry, oil retail companies have also been instructed to contact the affected MyKad holders to discuss the matter further. "MoF will continue to monitor BUDI95 transaction patterns at all petrol stations and will not compromise on any non-compliance with SOPs or misuse of targeted subsidies," the statement said. BUDI95 recipients are encouraged to check their transaction records on the portal https://www.budi95.gov.my and immediately file a police report if there are unauthorized transactions. For BUDI95 recipients who are affected by unauthorized transactions, they can file a complaint within 30 days of the incident to the BUDI MADANI Service Center (BMCC) by attaching the necessary documents for further action. The documents that need to be submitted are a police report stating the date, time and details of the relevant petrol station; a copy of the identity card; and a list of transactions submitted in the police report. Complaints can be submitted to BMCC via 1300-88-9595, WhatsApp at +603-2631 4595, or email to tanya@budi95.gov.my which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MoF urges the public to always be vigilant and not share MyKad information with any party for the purpose of subsidy transactions. -- BERNAMA

MoF issues stern warning on using someone else’s MyKad without permission for BUDI95 transactions

PUTRAJAYA, May 29 — The Ministry of Finance c) has issued a strong warning against using another individual’s MyKad number or information without permission to obtain BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 -- The tendency among some individuals to underestimate the mountain, fuelled by the pursuit of instant popularity on social media, has been identified as one of the main factors contributing to the rising number of missing hikers and emergency incidents in the forest. Mountain Medicine Society Malaysia president Muhamad Aliff Abdullah said that although more people are taking up outdoor recreational activities, safety awareness among enthusiasts has not grown in tandem with the rising popularity of the activity. He said that the abundance of aesthetic content on digital platforms has given rise to a trend of “express hikers” who are obsessed with chasing peaks or ticking off mountains, for fear of missing out (FOMO). “Many people see hiking as a low-risk activity, while the mountain environment can change very quickly and unpredictably. Problems arise when social media doesn’t reflect the reality of the challenge, but only shows the beautiful end result. “As a result, many go for challenging category trails without basic experience, proper physical training, and without honestly assessing their own abilities. This can lead to a reduced ability to make rational decisions due to extreme fatigue, hypothermia, or acute mountain sickness (AMS),” he told Bernama recently. Muhamad Aliff, an expert in wilderness medicine and high-altitude hiking and climbing, explained that emergencies in the forest are usually the result of a chain of weaknesses, including equipment preparation, fitness levels, terrain, and mental assessment of hikers. He said that among the common critical mistakes in the field are failing to maintain team discipline, refusing to turn back during bad weather, as well as relying too heavily on gadgets without basic navigation and survival skills. Commenting on beliefs surrounding missing hiker incidents and mystical elements or forest taboos, Muhamad Aliff, who is also the 7 Continents Exploration Club of Malaysia (KE7B) president, said that while elders’ customs and advice should be respected as part of culture, modern science must remain the priority. “Many traditional taboos, such as not speaking loudly or not leaving the group, actually carry important safety elements. However, scientifically, what is often seen as ‘mystical disturbances’ is usually caused by dehydration, panic, lack of sleep, or or reduced oxygen to the brain, or high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE),” he said. In this regard, he suggested that hiking safety management in the country be reformed through a more modern and structured risk management system. Muhamad Aliff also proposed a standard mountain risk-rating classification system, as well as mandatory digital registration systems, including QR codes, live tracking, or emergency beacons for high-risk routes. He also called for stricter action against those engaging in hiking activities without a permit, as well as efforts to strengthen rescue expertise through a national-level outdoor recreation safety education module. “Mountains cannot be challenged with ego. The best reform lies not only in law enforcement, but in building a more mature safety culture within the outdoor recreation community,” he said. Meanwhile, Norimah Abd Karim of Persatuan Malim Gunung Perhutanan (MGP) Selangor said SOP violations, such as ignoring team discipline and refusing to use the ‘buddy’ system in the rush to reach the summit first, remained the biggest challenge faced by mountain guides. With over 10 years of experience, including completing the Trans Titiwangsa expedition, she warned that it is risky for hikers to carry minimal gear just to appear like professional trail runners on social media. “There are hikers who focus more on getting interesting content that they are willing to take risks and neglect their own safety. In fact, there is a trend where they go on ‘Trans’ trips (covering several peaks in one expedition) without enough preparation. “Going with friends on what is expected to be a leisurely hiking experience often turns out differently when faced with the real situation in the field,” said the private sector worker, has been doing mountain guiding since 2022. Norimah said that to minimise risks in the future, she supports the Forestry Department’s move to make MGP services mandatory for hiking activities above 500 metres above sea level, as well as the use of digital tracking applications and efforts to continuously strengthen safety education campaigns. Forest and hiking safety issues have once again come under the spotlight following a series of tragedies, including the case of Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who went missing at Gunung Batu Putih, Tapah, last Saturday, with search and rescue (SAR) efforts still ongoing. Nur Izzati Humaira Azizul, 19, went missing on May 23 while descending Bukit Changkat Asa in Hulu Bernam, Selangor, before her body was recovered four days later by search teams, while in October last year, 34-year-old Mustaqqeem Mansoor died from hypothermia during an expedition at Gunung Liang Barat in Perak. These fatal incidents add to the case of Mohammad Ashraf Hassan, 29, who went missing during the Gopeng Ultra Trail event at Bukit Batu Putih, Gopeng, in March 2019, which remains an unresolved mystery to this day. --BERNAMA

Social Media Trends, Safety Lapses Contributing To Hiking Emergencies – Expert

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — The tendency among some individuals to underestimate the mountain, fuelled by the pursuit of instant popularity on social media, has been identified as one of .... read more

KOTA KEMUNING, May 29 — Kota Kemuning State Assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan has officially retracted two earlier media statements regarding a student who scored 11A in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination and was reportedly denied placement in the Matriculation programme. In a latest statement issued today, the assemblyman confirmed that the student in question had in fact received an offer to enrol in the Matriculation programme. “Following confirmation and clarification on the matter, the previous statements issued in relation to this case are hereby withdrawn to avoid further public confusion,” he said. The assemblyman also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Ministry of Education (MOE), and all relevant agencies for their explanation and continued efforts in ensuring deserving students are given opportunities within the national education system. “As a representative of the people, it is my responsibility to voice public concerns, especially those involving the educational future of our young generation. At the same time, it is equally important to correct information once the actual facts have been clarified,” the statement added. He reaffirmed his commitment to advocating transparency, fairness, and equal educational opportunities for all students in Malaysia. -- MINUTESMY / DARSINI SARAVANAN

Kota Kemuning ADUN Retracts Earlier Statement on 11A Student’s Matriculation Placement

KOTA KEMUNING, May 29 — Kota Kemuning State Assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan has officially retracted two earlier media statements regarding a student who scored 11A in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) .... read more

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today opened the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), here. His arrival at 10.30 am was greeted enthusiastically by thousands of visitors who had begun flooding the venue since early morning. Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. At the event, the Prime Minister also launched the book Membangun Masyarakat MADANI Versi Kartun by cartoonist Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar. The work depicts efforts to combat corruption, reform administration, and strengthen the governance of the MADANI Government through cartoon illustrations that are easy to understand by all levels of society. The 43rd edition of the KILBF this year will run for 10 days from today until June 7. -- BERNAMA

PM Anwar Opens KLIBF 2026 At WTCKL

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today opened the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), here. .... read more

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PARIS, June 16 -- Vusion (VU - FR0010282822), the global leader in AI-powered digitalization solutions for physical commerce, today announced the expansion of its long-standing partnership with JYSK, one of Europe's leading home furnishing retailers, through a major new agreement supporting the retailer's next phase of store modernization and cloud transformation strategy.   The agreement includes the upgrade of electronic shelf labels across JYSK's already deployed 450 Nordic stores, the roll-out of Vusion solutions in 750 additional stores across Europe, and the full migration of JYSK's legacy on-premise platform to VusionCloud. By 2027, the deployment is expected to scale to approximately 2,500 stores across the Nordic, DACH and BENELUX regions. Through the transition to VusionCloud, JYSK will benefit from a more scalable and centralized platform enabling faster deployment cycles, simplified store operations, improved performance, and greater flexibility to support future retail innovation at scale. The cloud-based architecture will also strengthen operational consistency across markets while reducing infrastructure complexity. The project further reinforces Vusion's strategy to accelerate the migration of its installed base toward cloud-native solutions while deepening long-term customer relationships through operational excellence, local support, and continuous innovation. "JYSK has partnered with Vusion for more than 10 years, and this new agreement reflects both the strength of our collaboration and the value we see in moving to a more advanced cloud-based platform," said Carsten Nørgreen Weinkouff, Executive Vice President Retail Development, Marketing, E-commerce & Omnichannel at JYSK. "As we continue to modernize our stores across Europe, we are investing in solutions that provide greater scalability, operational efficiency, and flexibility for the future. Vusion's technology and teams have consistently demonstrated the reliability and support needed to accompany us at this scale." "This new milestone with JYSK demonstrates the strength of long-term customer partnerships and the accelerating shift toward cloud-native retail platforms," said Sébastien Fourcy, SEVP EMEA at Vusion. "By transitioning to VusionCloud, JYSK gains a scalable infrastructure designed to continuously improve operational efficiency and support innovation across thousands of stores. We are proud to support JYSK with a combination of technology leadership, local execution and long-term commitment." More about Vusion : www.vusion.com  -- PRNewswire -- Source: Vusion  

Vusion extends partnership with JYSK Across Europe

SINGAPORE, June 16, -- Galaxy Data Center ("Galaxy DC") today announced that it has secured US$250 million in an initial strategic financing round from a renowned international investment institution. The proceeds support the company's data center platform development in Southeast Asia, project execution, and deployment of high-density infrastructure for the AI era.    Galaxy DC is strategically leveraging its regional hub in Singapore to advance the multi-country deployment of GW-scale AIDC campuses across Southeast Asia. By employing diversified capital models and industrial ecosystem synergy strategies, the company delivers customized hyperscale AIDC infrastructure services to a broad range of clients. Galaxy DC believes that the demand for AI computing power is reshaping data centers from traditional facility assets toward a new phase of deep collaboration among energy strategy, engineering execution, operational resilience, and customer growth. The company will continue to strengthen its comprehensive capabilities in GW-scale AIDC across technology adaptability, power resources, green energy, localized rapid delivery, and low-carbon operations. It will also further enhance strategic capital partnerships, leveraging diversified capital models to position Southeast Asia as a key hub for global sustainable digital infrastructure. Arthur Yang, Co-founder and CEO of Galaxy DC, said: "This financing further strengthens Galaxy DC's regional platform capabilities. We are seeing rapidly evolving requirements from AI and cloud service clients — focusing not only on capacity, but also on delivery certainty, energy efficiency, operational resilience, and long-term scalability. Galaxy DC remains committed to leveraging cutting-edge, ever-evolving technology and synergistic sustainable energy solutions as its core, building future-ready GW-scale green computing infrastructure for our clients." Representatives from a world-renowned investment institution stated: "Galaxy DC has a clear development path in Southeast Asia as well as differentiated technical capabilities. We see long-term value in the company's high-density, green, and scalable data center platform, and look forward to supporting its role in regional digital infrastructure development." About Galaxy Data Center Galaxy Data Center (Galaxy DC) is a next-generation digital infrastructure platform built for the intelligent era, committed to becoming a continuously evolving global digital service provider. The company focuses on the growing computing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, with hyperscale AI data centers (AIDCs) at the core of its offering. Galaxy DC builds digital infrastructure that is highly efficient, highly reliable, and highly scalable. Leveraging its unique strengths in sustainable design, resource-efficient deployment, and long-term operations, the company balances rapid compute capacity growth with environmental responsibility and lasting asset value. -- PRNewswire -- Source: Galaxy Data Center

Galaxy Data Center Secures US$250 Million in an Initial Strategic Financing Round to Build Next-Generation Green Compute Infrastructure in Southeast Asia

TANJUNG MALIM, JUNE 16 -- The establishment of a new political party in the country will not affect the chances of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections. BN Secretary-General Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said his party had made thorough preparations to face the two state elections by focusing fully on work in the areas that will be contested. He said that in a democratic system, every party has the right to establish a new political party, but BN remains consistent with the strategy and level of preparedness that has been planned. "UMNO and Johor BN have made thorough preparations. I am confident that the establishment of the new party will not affect BN based on the focus given to the work that has been arranged," he said. He said this to reporters when asked whether the existence of the National Vision Party and the United Malaysia Party (BERSAMA) could threaten BN's position in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections. Earlier, Zambry, who is also the Minister of Higher Education, officiated the National Service Training Pilot Programme (PLKN) 3.0 at the Public University Level before attending the launch of the book titled 'Nahas Gerik: UPSI Berduka' at the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) here today. The Johor state election will be held on July 11, while the Negeri Sembilan state election will be held on August 1. The Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) has 56 seats with BN controlling 40 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) with 12 seats, Perikatan Nasional (PN) with three seats and MUDA with one seat. For the Negeri Sembilan state assembly, PH has 17 out of 36 seats, followed by BN with 14 seats and PN with five seats. -- BERNAMA

BN not threatened by the existence of new political parties – Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir

GEORGE TOWN, JUNE 16 -- Penang is working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure that the management of nearly 20,022 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers in the state is carried out in an orderly, registered and controlled manner. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that based on data from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) as of August 2023, an estimated 20,022 refugees and asylum seekers from the Rohingya community are in Penang and living in several areas in the state. "They live in the areas of Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor, Bagan, Permatang Pauh, Bukit Mertajam, Batu Kawan, Nibong Tebal, Bukit Bendera, Tanjong, Jelutong, Bukit Gelugor, Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau. "The state government has always taken a pragmatic, prudent and responsible approach in dealing with the issue of refugees and asylum seekers in the state, in line with the policies and decisions set by the Federal government," he told reporters after the 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of PBA Holdings Bhd (PBAHB) here today. He commented on the current situation and the number of Rohingya communities in Penang. Chow explained that matters relating to the entry of foreigners, recognition of refugee status, border control and immigration enforcement, fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) and the National Security Council (MKN). Therefore, he said the state government always gives full support to the implementation of MKN Directive No. 23 (Revision 2023), including the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) mechanism which aims to ensure that refugee management is carried out in a more systematic, registered and controlled manner. "The DPP is not seen as a policy to increase the number of refugees in Penang, but as a mechanism for the Federal government to find out who they are, where they are and how they can be monitored more effectively," he said. He also stressed that the state government will not compromise on violations of the law with any criminal activity, misuse of documents, human trafficking, involvement in immoral activities or violations of immigration conditions, which will be dealt with by the authorities in accordance with the provisions of the law in force, without any exceptions. In another development, Chow described the memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced between the United States (US) and Iran to end the conflict between the two countries as a positive development that is expected to benefit the global economy, including Malaysia and Penang. He said the conflicts that had erupted previously had had a significant impact on various sectors of the world economy including energy supply, logistics, commodity prices and global supply chains due to geopolitical uncertainties. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that a deal with Iran had been finalized and he ordered the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of US naval blockades. -- BERNAMA

Penang to cooperate with Federation to handle issue of 20,022 Rohingya refugees – Chow

ISTANBUL, JUNE 16 -- FIFA said on Monday that it found no evidence of a breach of the FIFA Disciplinary Code after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official Shaun Evans made a hand signal before a recent World Cup match, Anadolu Ajansi reported. "FIFA's Independent Disciplinary Committee can confirm that after examining the matter involving Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officer Shaun Evans, it found no evidence of a breach of the FIFA Disciplinary Code," the organisation said. Evans, an Australian official, was seen on the broadcast of Germany's match against Curacao on Sunday making the "OK" hand sign, a gesture associated with white supremacy and classified as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League in 2019. Evans strongly denied any malicious intent, describing the move as an "unconscious and unintentional reflex". He expressed regret over the perception that arose following the gesture, but stressed that he did not make the symbol "knowingly or intentionally", which first gained attention after it was used by attackers in the Christchurch mosque incident in 2019 that killed 51 Muslims. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

World Cup: Referee hand signal controversy, no evidence of disciplinary code violation – FIFA