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Malaysia News

Four Bodies Of Illegal Immigrants Recovered After Boat Capsizes Off Pulau Pangkor

LUMUT, May 12 2026–Four bodies were recovered in the waters off Pulau Pangkor today during the second day of a search and rescue operation for victims of a capsized boat .... read more

Malaysia May Cut BUDI95 Fuel Quota to 150 Litres Amid Global Oil Supply Concerns

KUALA LUMPUR: The government may further reduce the fuel consumption quota under the Budi Madani (BUDI95) programme to 150 litres per month as part of efforts to safeguard the country’s .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Malaysia is intensifying efforts to strengthen talent development in the electric vehicle (EV), battery and new energy industries as the country positions itself as a key regional player in the rapidly evolving green technology sector. Speaking at the “Malaysia-China Forum on EV, Battery and New Energy Talent Development and Innovation” at the Asia School of Business (ASB) in Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National TVET Council Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the world is moving swiftly towards a future driven by technology, artificial intelligence, digitalisation and the transition to clean and sustainable energy. He stressed that Malaysia must not remain merely an observer in these industrial changes, but instead emerge as a major player in the development of the EV, battery and new energy ecosystem in the region. According to him, the strengthening of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) remains a key priority, as the future of the industry depends heavily on the nation’s ability to produce skilled workers, engineers, technologists and a future-ready younger generation. During the forum, Zahid also welcomed the establishment of the “Green and Smart Mobility Cooperation Platform” as well as the launch of the “Flagship EV Talent Programme”, which aims to develop 10,000 skilled workers over the next five years through close collaboration between industry players and TVET institutions. He expressed confidence that strategic collaborations between Malaysia and China would create greater opportunities for investment, talent development and technology transfer, while enhancing the country’s competitiveness and benefiting future generations. -- MINUTESMY -- SOURCE: FB ZAHID HAMIDI

Malaysia Strengthens EV and New Energy Talent Development Through Malaysia-China Forum

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Malaysia is intensifying efforts to strengthen talent development in the electric vehicle (EV), battery and new energy industries as the country positions itself as a .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR: The capacity of the flood reservoir in the capital is currently estimated to be only around 30 percent compared to its original size following the shrinkage of the area of ​​the reservoir in Jinjang and Batu due to development on 17 lots of land. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said her party was taking a serious view of the situation involving 70 percent of the 17 land lots in question, which had been given ownership rights to developers since 2015 for development purposes, resulting in a reduction in the capacity of the water body compared to the original area of ​​114.5 hectares. "Now there are only 34.35 hectares of water bodies left after the ownership was given. So our concern is that if everyone builds (developments), the capacity of the water bodies will decrease," he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Tower here today. Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud and Federal Territories Department Director-General Datuk Muhammad Azmi Mohd Zain. Hannah said that based on the technical assessment of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS), the situation also affected the original function of the flood reservoir and made maintenance work and machinery access difficult, as well as increasing the risk of flash floods in existing development areas. In this regard, he said DBKL would not approve the granting of planning permission (KM) for any development application on the flood reservoir area until the development conditions set by the DID to ensure the original function of the pond and maintenance access could be maintained. "We cannot continue to allow development on flood reservoirs," he said. Meanwhile, Hannah said the Federal Territories Department has created a special task force chaired by its Director General which involves the coordination and cooperation of all agencies involved in flood mitigation actions in Kuala Lumpur, including the Selangor DID. He said this approach was important to ensure that the capacity of the flood reservoirs in the capital was not further affected, besides ensuring the safety of residents and the sustainability of the city's drainage system.

KL flood reservoir capacity is now only 30 percent – Hannah

KUALA LUMPUR: The capacity of the flood reservoir in the capital is currently estimated to be only around 30 percent compared to its original size following the shrinkage of the .... read more

GEORGE TOWN: Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) for the Gurney Bridge in Andaman Island as the “ Widest Box Grider Bridge in Malaysia.” The recognition was presented by MBOR Chief Executive Officer Christopher Wong to E&O Managing Director Kok Tuck Cheong in conjunction with The Meg Appreciation Evening , which was also witnessed by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and E&O Executive Chairman Datuk Seri Tee Eng Ho. In a statement, E&O said the 450-metre-long, 40-metre-wide bridge across the sea has eight vehicle lanes and a dedicated pedestrian walkway on both sides, connecting Andaman Island with Gurney Drive, thus improving connectivity along the northern coast of Penang. "This bridge enhances connectivity, improves traffic flow distribution, reduces travel time and provides alternative access to the northern coastal areas of Penang," the statement said on Monday. Meanwhile, Kok said the recognition from MBOR was a meaningful achievement for the group because the Gurney Bridge was not just a connecting point, but rather a key catalyst for the vision of Andaman Island as an integrated and future-ready municipality. "This bridge not only improves accessibility and connectivity, but also plays a vital role in shaping a dynamic waterfront environment to support community, mobility and long-term growth," he said. The ongoing Andaman development project will cover an area of ​​approximately 307 hectares and is planned as a future urban island located off the coast of Gurney Bay and Seri Tanjung Pinang. -- BERNAMA

Gurney Bridge in Andaman Island recognized as ‘Widest Box Grider Bridge in Malaysia’

GEORGE TOWN: Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) for the Gurney Bridge in Andaman Island as the “ Widest Box Grider Bridge .... read more

PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will improve the MySejahtera application by providing a hantavirus outbreak tracker through the Disease Tracker menu on the application's dashboard if needed in the future, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib. He said the move was to enable users to obtain the latest information regarding the detection of infectious diseases more easily in real time. "For now, we will see and monitor as much as we can. If necessary, God willing, we will ensure (the detection of hantavirus infection) is included in the MySejahtera application." "We hope this matter is under control and will subside because perhaps in terms of experience after COVID-19, we should be more vigilant and we don't want hantavirus to spread anywhere," he said after attending the National Level International Nurses Day Celebration 2026 here today. He said this when asked to comment on whether the Ministry of Health would improve the MySejahtera application by adding hantavirus to the list of diseases that can be monitored through the Disease Tracker menu on the MySejahtera application dashboard, to empower users with access to information on infection hotspots in their surrounding areas in real time. The list of existing outbreaks on the Disease Tracker menu are dengue, tuberculosis (TB), measles, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), COVID-19, human rabies and animal rabies. He said that although there were three deaths and several infections, for now the situation appears to be under control and involves Western countries and has not shown any indication of spread to Asia. "With close contact with the WHO (World Health Organization) and related organizations, we found that this matter is still under control in the Western countries involved. At present, thank God, it is under control," he said. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was recently reported to have said that the Ministry of Health will continue to closely monitor the development of this outbreak at the global and regional levels to ensure that border preparedness and the country's health system are at the highest level. Previously, Dzulkefly said hantavirus is a rat-borne virus that can infect humans through air contaminated with the animal's feces, urine or saliva. International media reported that European countries are increasing monitoring and isolation measures after a hantavirus outbreak linked to a Dutch cruise ship, MV Hondius. -- BERNAMA

MySejahtera to be improved with “Disease Tracker” for hantavirus outbreak

PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will improve the MySejahtera application by providing a hantavirus outbreak tracker through the Disease Tracker menu on the application’s dashboard if needed in the .... read more

SHAH ALAM, 12 MAY -- A total of 19 factories that had been operating illegally for more than 20 years in Pulau Indah, Klang were demolished in the Integrated Demolition Enforcement Action Operation in the state. Selangor Local Government and Tourism Exco Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the operation involving 300 members from various agencies was carried out under Section 425 of the National Land Code against premises operating without proper compliance. "Based on information from the Klang District and Land Office, the entrepreneur involved has been operating a factory without permission at the site for a long period, estimated to be over 20 years." "The review also found that there was no record of a Temporary Occupancy License (LPS) ever being issued to any factory owner at the site. Several land expropriation applications received around 2019 to 2020 were also rejected," he said in a statement today. Ng said the operation was not carried out in a hurry, but rather the initial engagement process and site vacating orders began in early 2025, before the first notice was served on March 3, 2025. He said phased actions such as site visits, monitoring, installation of banners and announcements would be carried out on 19 Sept 2025, in addition to the submission or posting of the final notice on 7 April 2026, and the setting of the final date for vacating before the demolition operation on 10 May 2026. According to Ng, during that period, the state government also took into account views, applications and appeals for postponements from stakeholders to provide reasonable space to manage the transfer of operations, employees, assets and equipment of their respective companies. "However, after that period expires, the law still needs to be enforced. Government land must be preserved, industrial areas must be reorganized and public interests must not continue to be affected by activities that do not comply with the law," he said. Ng said the existence of unauthorized factories affects the image of industrial areas, environmental control, drainage systems, safety and logistical access, as well as creating unfair competition for legitimate operators who have complied with licensing, tax, development approval and technical requirements. He said enforcement was important to restore the integrity of government land and restructure industrial areas in a more orderly manner. "After the demolition operation is complete, focus will be on site cleanup, demolition waste management, safety monitoring and assessment of land restoration needs." "This site will then be reviewed within a more planned development framework, in line with the Local Plan, planning guidelines and technical requirements of the authorities," he said. -- BERNAMA

19 illegal factories operating for over 20 years in Pulau Indah demolished

SHAH ALAM, 12 MAY — A total of 19 factories that had been operating illegally for more than 20 years in Pulau Indah, Klang were demolished in the Integrated Demolition .... read more

CHENNAI, 12 MAY -- C. Joseph Vijay has expressed deep gratitude to Anwar Ibrahim for his warm congratulatory message following Vijay’s rise as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In a heartfelt statement, Vijay said he was “deeply honored” by the gracious wishes extended by the Malaysian Prime Minister and described the gesture as a reflection of the longstanding friendship between Tamil Nadu and Malaysia. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening cultural and people-to-people ties between Tamil Nadu and Malaysia. “Thank you for your gracious gesture. I am committed to fostering greater cooperation and enhancing the bond of friendship between Tamil Nadu and Malaysia,” Vijay said. The exchange of goodwill between the two leaders has drawn attention across the Tamil diaspora, particularly among the large Tamil community in Malaysia, which shares deep historical, cultural, and linguistic connections with Tamil Nadu. -- MINUTESMY -- SOURCE: X TVK VIJAY

Vijay Pledges Stronger Tamil Nadu–Malaysia Ties After Anwar’s Congratulations

CHENNAI, 12 MAY — C. Joseph Vijay has expressed deep gratitude to Anwar Ibrahim for his warm congratulatory message following Vijay’s rise as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. .... read more

Elderly Woman Cheated Out Of RM327,600 In Phone Scam

KUANTAN, May 12 2026 — A 76-year-old woman lost RM327,600 after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate posing as police officers. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said .... read more

KLUANG, 12 MAY -- Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will meet his Norwegian counterpart in Singapore later this month to seek clarification regarding the country's surprise decision to block the export licence of anti-ship missiles (NSM) to Malaysia. He said the meeting would also be used to express the Malaysian government's regret and surprise at Norway's action in cancelling the delivery of the assets, just a few days before the scheduled date last March. "It is very unfortunate that we have signed a contract to purchase missiles from Norway since 2018. The missiles were supposed to be delivered last March to equip our littoral combat ships (LCS) as well as KD Lekiu and KD Jebat. "... but a few days before the delivery date, without any 'storms and hurricanes', the Norwegian government told us they would not grant a license to market the product after eight years of our purchase. Of course it surprised us, of course it affected us," he said. He said this after officiating the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) MADANI Economic Programme here today. Mohamed Khaled said the action did not reflect good diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said Malaysia was currently using diplomatic channels at various levels, including the relationship between the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of both countries, to resolve the crisis. "Since this matter is still being handled through diplomacy, I do not want to comment further at this time," he said. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has reportedly revoked several export licenses related to certain technologies as part of the country's efforts to tighten export controls. According to the website of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KDA), the NSM procurement was signed between the RMN and KDA in April 2018 with a contract value of 124 million euros (RM571.9 million) to equip six new LCS ships. The missile is capable of carrying out long-range maritime strikes at high subsonic speeds with a range exceeding 300 kilometers. -- BERNAMA

Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled meets Norwegian counterpart to discuss missile sanctions

KLUANG, 12 MAY — Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will meet his Norwegian counterpart in Singapore later this month to seek clarification regarding the country’s surprise decision to .... read more

Latest News

SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, June 18 -- Vibefam, the all-in-one operating system for fitness businesses, announced the completion of a US$1 million seed funding round led by a Singapore-based family office with a strong track record of backing category-defining technology companies. In addition to capital, the investor brings deep operating insight and a network built through years of supporting founders and working alongside leading venture investors.  Today, Vibefam powers more than 700 fitness locations worldwide and serves over 500,000 end users. The platform supports a diverse range of fitness businesses, including Pilates studios, yoga studios, strength and conditioning gyms, dance academies, martial arts schools, and boutique fitness brands. The investment will accelerate Vibefam's mission to help fitness businesses launch, operate, and scale through a unified platform that combines operations, payments, customer engagement, and growth solutions within a single platform. The funding comes at a time when fitness operators are increasingly seeking intelligent operating platforms that unify operations, payments, and customer engagement, replacing fragmented technology stacks and legacy software platforms. "Fitness businesses deserve technology that works as hard as they do," said Serene Lim, Co-Founder and CEO of Vibefam. "Many operators still juggle multiple disconnected systems to manage bookings, payments, customer communication, marketing, and reporting. We're building a platform that brings everything together, helping businesses operate more efficiently while delivering better experiences to their customers." The newly raised capital will primarily be invested into artificial intelligence and embedded financial services, two areas the company believes will fundamentally reshape how service businesses operate. In July 2026, Vibefam will launch Vibe AI, a messaging-native customer engagement platform that allows members to interact with fitness businesses through natural conversations. From answering enquiries and recommending classes to completing bookings and re-engaging inactive customers, the platform helps businesses deliver instant service at scale without increasing administrative workload. The company is also expanding its embedded finance capabilities through a growing network of financial partners, enabling eligible businesses to access funding directly within the Vibefam platform to support expansion, hiring, equipment purchases, and working capital needs. By leveraging operational data already available on Vibefam, eligible businesses can gain faster access to growth capital with significantly reduced paperwork and approval times. "We believe the future of business software will be proactive, intelligent, and deeply embedded into the daily operations of every business," Lim added. "The opportunity extends far beyond managing bookings and payments. We're building infrastructure that helps fitness businesses acquire customers, automate operations, access capital, and make better decisions every day." The funding will support continued product development, strategic hiring, and the expansion of Vibefam's AI and embedded finance capabilities as the company continues its evolution into a comprehensive operating system for fitness businesses. About Vibefam Vibefam is an AI-powered operating system for fitness businesses. The platform helps gyms, studios, and wellness operators manage scheduling, memberships, payments, customer engagement, reporting, and growth from a single platform. Today, Vibefam powers more than 700 fitness locations worldwide and serves over 500,000 end users. Vibefam is also backed by leading early-stage investors including Hustle Fund and Ignite Asia, alongside strategic investors and operators from the fitness and wellness industry who bring deep expertise in building and scaling consumer and service businesses. --  PRNewswire -- Source: Vibefam

Vibefam Raises US$1 Million to Build an AI-Powered Operating System for Fitness Businesses

SEREMBAN, June 18 -- The Negeri Sembilan Road Transport Department (RTD) has seized 145 luxury vehicles for various road offences through Ops Luxury in the first six months of this year. Negeri Sembilan RTD director Jasyindar Singh Sihdu said this was the result of inspections on 870 luxury vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota Alphard, Lexus and BMW Limousine with 262 offences detected. "They include Motor Vehicle Licenses (LKM), insurance coverage and invalid or expired driving licenses, vehicle modifications without RTD approval and violations of provisions under the Road Transport Act 1987. "During the operation, seven luxury cars driven by non-citizens including from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholder were seized," he said in a statement here today. He said that every offence would be dealt with without any compromise, including confiscation of vehicles and prosecution in court. He said his party would increase the frequency and intensity of enforcement operations including patrols, roadblocks and technical inspections to ensure compliance with traffic laws is always at the highest level. -- BERNAMA

N.Sembilan RTD Seizes 145 Luxury Cars In Ops Luxury

HANOI, Vietnam, June 18  -- KPIT Technologies, a global technology partner to the Automotive and Mobility ecosystem, announced an expansion of its Vietnam presence with the inauguration of a new technology center in Hanoi and strategic collaborations with two leading universities. With over 25 years of specialized expertise in mobility, experience across 2000+ vehicle production programs, and software powering 20+ million vehicles on the road, this marks an important step in KPIT's long-term commitment to Southeast Asia and its vision to help shape the future of Mobility A strategic base for Southeast Asia's Mobility growth The global mobility industry is focusing on strengthening its competitive advantage by reducing vehicle costs, improving manufacturing efficiency, faster release of vehicles and features, and differentiated consumer experiences. Southeast Asia is emerging as an important region in the mobility value chain. For KPIT, Vietnam represents both a strong local opportunity and a strategic gateway into a fast-evolving regional ecosystem. The new technology center will serve as a hub for engineering, innovation, and collaboration, supporting mobility programs across Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. KPIT's growing presence in Vietnam reflects its strategy of being close to the markets where mobility is being reimagined. The company already works with Mobility leaders across Germany, Japan, USA, China, India and other markets. The Vietnam center has already employed several local engineers and will add 100+ positions in the near future. Building a long-term talent ecosystem and job opportunities in Vietnam As part of its long-term vision for the country, KPIT has also signed Memorandums of Understanding with Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST- is Vietnam's first and leading technical university, known for its strong academic tradition, quality faculty, and research achievements); and VinUniversity (VinUni is a private, not-for-profit university built to international standards, with strategic collaborations with Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania). These partnerships are aimed at strengthening industry-academia collaboration, developing next-gen Mobility talent, and creating huge job opportunities for students and young professionals in Vietnam. Commenting on the expansion, Sachin Tikekar, President & Joint MD, KPIT Technologies, said, "Vietnam is an important long-term market and talent hub for KPIT in Southeast Asia. We see strong potential in its talent, energy, and pace of innovation, with both homegrown and global vehicle makers continuing to invest in the country. With our new technology center and partnerships with leading universities, we are committed to building local talent, creating high-quality jobs, and establishing a meaningful long-term presence in the region."  About KPIT KPIT is reimagining mobility to create a cleaner, smarter, and safer world. With 25+ years of expertise, KPIT is transforming Software and AI-Defined Vehicles. www.kpit.com  -- PRNewswire -- Source: KPIT Technologies

Mobility Technology Firm KPIT Expands its Vietnam Presence with New Center and University Partnerships

JOHOR BAHRU, June 18 -- The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will deploy 11,926 officers and personnel to ensure security and the smooth conduct of the upcoming Johor State Election. Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the deployment will be carried out in five phases throughout the election process. “The deployment will be adjusted according to operational needs,” he told a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters today. In addition, Ab Rahaman said the Johor Police Contingent had received additional manpower support from units under the Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) to maintain public order He said it involved 54 officers and 701 personnel from the General Operations Force, Federal Reserve Unit, PDRM Air Unit and Marine Police Force. Ab Rahaman said that for nomination day on June 27, a total of 4,832 officers and personnel will be deployed to ensure the smooth running of the process, including security and traffic control aspects. He said that throughout the campaign period, from after nomination day until 11.59 pm on July 10, a total of 3,903 personnel will be deployed to monitor all campaign activities, ceramah, gatherings and political programmes. On polling day, July 11, Ab Rahaman said a total of 11,814 police officers and personnel will be deployed statewide to assist the Election Commission (EC) in overseeing the voting process and ensuring voters can carry out their responsibilities safely. He also said the police would take strict action against any form of provocation, threats, incitement, the spread of fake news and hate speech involving the royal institution, religion and race (3R), which could affect public order. Meanwhile, he said a total of 12,710 police officers and personnel in Johor were eligible for early voting in the state election based on the electoral roll gazetted by the EC as of May 31. --BERNAMA

PDRM Deploys 11,926 Personnel For Johor State Election

PUTRAJAYA, June 18 (Bernama) -- The Court of Appeal here today reduced the general damages awarded to DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng from RM1.05 million to RM450,000 in a defamation suit filed against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin relating to the revocation of tax exemption for Yayasan Albukhary. A three-member panel comprising Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli, Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid and Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar made the ruling after allowing part of Muhyiddin’s appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision. In the unanimous verdict, Justice Azhahari said after examining the three impugned statements dated March 9, 11, and 12, 2023, the High Court was correct in finding that the statements were defamatory and there was no reason to disturb this finding of fact. bootstrap slideshow “On the issue of quantum, having considered the pattern of events, and the evidence adduced at trial, we are of the opinion that the general damages awarded are manifestly high. “Accordingly, this court awarded RM150,000 for each of the three statements leading to RM450,000. We therefore substitute the sum of RM1.05 million with RM450,000,” he said. The panel also set aside the High Court’s decision in awarding RM150,000 for aggravated damages and RM150,000 for exemplary damages to Lim. However, the court granted Lim's cross appeal on interest and ordered that interest be paid at the rate of five per cent per annum from the date of judgment until full settlement. The panel ordered Muhyiddin to pay RM5,000 in costs to Lim, while the former Penang chief minister was ordered to pay RM30,000 in costs to the former prime minister. On March 27, 2023, Lim filed a lawsuit against Muhyiddin for allegedly making three defamatory Facebook statements on March 9, 11, and 12, 2023, involving him in the tax exemption issue. Reports on the matter were subsequently published in several newspapers and news portals. In Nov 2024, the High Court allowed Lim’s suit and ordered Muhyiddin to pay RM350,000 for each of the three statements leading to RM1.05 million in general damages, RM150,000 for aggravated damages and RM150,000 for exemplary damages. -- BERNAMA

Suit Against Muhyiddin: Court Reduces Guan Eng’s Damages From RM1.05 Mln To RM450,000