Category :

Malaysia News

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 23 -- A keropok (fish cracker) trader in Kampung Losong Su here suffered losses estimated at RM500,000 after his premises were destroyed in an early morning fire today. Shop owner Rohaimi Mohd, 43, said he discovered the incident at about 5.40 am after checking CCTV footage on his mobile phone shortly after waking up. The businessman, who has operated the family enterprise for the past 12 years, said the fire was still in its early stages when he arrived at the premises. Still, his attempts to extinguish it were unsuccessful. “When I arrived, the fire had not spread extensively. I managed to enter the office, switched off the main power supply and tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, but failed. My hair and skin were slightly burnt. In less than 10 minutes, the fire grew rapidly, and I had to get out to save myself,” he said when met at the scene today, just 50 metres from his house. Rohaimi, who inherited the business from his late uncle, said the blaze destroyed stock worth RM170,000, including new supplies received just two days ago. Also destroyed were 22 refrigerators and freezers, as well as a Yamaha NVX motorcycle. “I am at a loss thinking about my family's future because we depend entirely on this business for our livelihood. “My four employees also rely on this business to support their families. At the moment, I can only pray that Allah will show us a way through this hardship,” said the father of four. Meanwhile, the officer-in-charge of the Kuala Terengganu Fire and Rescue Station, Thoyibbah Taib, said they received a report about the fire at 6.28 am, and quickly deployed three fire engines and 18 personnel to the scene to carry out firefighting and rescue operations. “The blaze was brought under control and fully extinguished by 6.49 am. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no casualties were reported,” he said. -- BERNAMA 

Fire Destroys Keropok Shop, RM500,000 Lost

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 23 — A keropok (fish cracker) trader in Kampung Losong Su here suffered losses estimated at RM500,000 after his premises were destroyed in an early morning fire .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 23 -- The government will assess and study the suitability of implementing B50 biodiesel following the need to comprehensively upgrade existing blending depots which is expected to involve high costs, according to the Plantations and Commodities Ministry. According to the ministry, in assessing the country's ability to support the expansion of biodiesel use, palm oil supply balance data for 2025 is used as a reference. "Data shows that Malaysia has a strong supply base and total palm oil supply is estimated to reach 22.76 million tonnes, comprising initial stocks of 1.71 million tonnes, production (20.28 million tonnes) and imports (0.77 million tonnes). "Of the total supply, 15.27 million tonnes is allocated to meet global export demand while 4.43 million tonnes is used to meet domestic needs across various economic sectors including the biodiesel sector," he said in a written response released on the Parliament website on Monday. Based on the supply situation, the expansion of biodiesel implementation to B30 is not expected to affect the country's palm oil export supply. "This is because the palm oil consumption required to support the implementation of B30 is estimated to be only about 1.60 million tonnes per year, which is equivalent to about 7.0 percent of the country's entire palm oil supply," he said. According to the ministry, the percentage is relatively small compared to the total supply available, proving that the country still has sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the export market and domestic consumption simultaneously. "Therefore, the expansion of biodiesel use can be implemented without affecting the country's ability to meet palm oil export demand," he said. Currently, the government's long-term plan to increase the use of biodiesel is up to B30 and it has been stated in the National Agri-Commodity Policy. It is supported by other policies such as the National Transport Policy and the National Energy Transition Plan when the National Biodiesel Program will be expanded in phases throughout Malaysia to B30 by 2030 for the land transport sector. -- BERNAMA

Government studies suitability of implementing B50 biodiesel, takes into account depot upgrade costs

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 23 — The government will assess and study the suitability of implementing B50 biodiesel following the need to comprehensively upgrade existing blending depots which is expected to .... read more

BUKIT MERTAJAM, JUNE 23 -- The Penang State Government, through the state Public Works Department (JKR), has devised several short-term and long-term solutions to improve road safety on Jalan Berapit here, following complaints from the public regarding safety issues in the area. The chairman of the state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee, Zairil Khir Johari, said that among the short-term measures that will be implemented is painting the road lines with yellow transverse bars and red rumble strips to provide a visual warning and vibration effect to drivers to slow down. "In addition, the installation of road signs including stop signs, no entry signs, directional signs and accident area warnings is also proposed to increase the level of awareness among road users," he said in a statement today. He said that Jalan Berapit is a route under the supervision of the state Public Works Department and is subject to the Road Technical Instructions (ATJ), therefore, the proposed construction of a hump at that location is not permitted due to safety factors and legal implications. Zairil said other measures that were also proposed were painting yellow box lines to ensure smooth traffic at intersections, painting pedestrian crossings to improve the safety of local residents, and installing barrier posts or bollards to prevent motorcycles from encroaching on pedestrian walkways. For a long-term solution, Zairil said, the state Public Works Department will submit an official application to conduct a Road Safety Study to identify blackspot areas and assess appropriate engineering treatment methods. "Among the proposals that will be examined through the study is the implementation of a Left-In/Left-Out (LILO) system which only allows movement in and out to the left to reduce high-risk crossing movements." "Other suggestions include the construction of road medians as physical separators between opposing traffic flows to reduce the risk of head-on collisions and control vehicle movement in a more orderly manner," he said. However, he said, all the proposals are subject to approval by the technical committee based on existing guidelines and Road Technique Instructions. Zairil also reminded road users to always drive carefully, obey the set speed limit and practice a responsible attitude when on the road. He said road safety not only depends on the infrastructure provided, but is also influenced by the level of discipline and concern of each driver. "A careful driving attitude is a key factor in preventing accidents and protecting the lives of other road users," he said. -- BERNAMA

Penang formulates comprehensive plan to address Jalan Berapit safety issues

BUKIT MERTAJAM, JUNE 23 — The Penang State Government, through the state Public Works Department (JKR), has devised several short-term and long-term solutions to improve road safety on Jalan Berapit .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 23 -- The government is ready to assess suitable collaboration if the Sabah State Government wishes to lead the state's economic transformation through the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), according to the Economy Ministry. The Ministry of Economy announced that the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 (BEV2035) document, which was agreed upon during the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP–EAGA) Special Summit in the Philippines last May, included the entire Sabah in two economic corridors. "This means that economic development in Sabah is linked to and also contributes to cross-border economic development in the BIMB-EAGA sub-regional area," the ministry said in a response released on the Parliament website on Monday. The two Economic Corridors are the West Economic Corridor - focusing on logistics and transportation, manufacturing and enterprise, tourism, digital services and finance, and the Central Economic Corridor - focusing on cross-border trade, halal industry, logistics and supply chain. "To enhance development in the Economic Corridor, BEV2035 has set the direction for the establishment of a Working Group to facilitate cooperation between different economic zones across borders. "In this regard, aggressive and precise policy coordination will ensure that Sabah not only remains a geographical participant in BIMP-EAGA, but emerges as a critical economic hub and growth centre in Southeast Asia," according to the Ministry of Economy. -- BERNAMA

Government ready to value cooperation in establishing Sabah Special Economic Zone – Ministry of Economy

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 23 — The government is ready to assess suitable collaboration if the Sabah State Government wishes to lead the state’s economic transformation through the establishment of a .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 -- The government has allocated RM25.2 million for the initial phase of installing solar-powered LED street lights at 32 high-risk and accident-prone locations along highway networks nationwide. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the initiative, under the MADANI Monitoring programme, involves the installation of 3,000 light poles to enhance road users’ safety at the identified locations. He said the project is a proactive measure by the Works Ministry, together with the Finance Ministry and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call when he announced the related allocation in the 2026 Budget in October last year. “The government takes road accidents very seriously. The original allocation mentioned earlier was RM30 million, but for this initial phase, we are allocating RM25 million first. The remaining funds will be disbursed after we assess requirements from time to time. "The Letter of Acceptance (SST) has been handed over to the selected contractor today, which means physical works on site can commence immediately. The project is targeted for full completion by the end of November this year," he said. -- BERNAMA 

RM25.2 Million Allocated For Solar LED Lights At 32 High-risk Highway Locations – Nanta

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — The government has allocated RM25.2 million for the initial phase of installing solar-powered LED street lights at 32 high-risk and accident-prone locations along highway networks .... read more

PUTRAJAYA, June 23 -- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) will provide full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding the investigation into the transfer of three Asian elephants, known as Dara, Amoi, and Kelat (DAK), from Taiping Zoo to Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan. Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the ministry has taken note of the ongoing investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in every aspect of the country's wildlife management. “NRES is prepared to provide full and comprehensive cooperation to the authorities throughout the course of this investigation to ensure that the investigative process is completed thoroughly and transparently,” he said in a statement today. Arthur said the ministry would not compromise or shield any party if any misconduct, irregularities, or breaches of procedure in relation to the transfer are proven. He added that this stance is important to safeguard the integrity of institutions and the country's reputation at the international level. Yesterday, the MACC confirmed that it had opened an investigation into the transfer of DAK following allegations of leakages and irregularities in the process. On June 18, wildlife rights group Hak Asasi Hidupan Liar Malaysia (Hidup) called on the MACC to investigate the transfer of the three elephants. The organisation also alleged that certain payments related to the transfer were not channelled to the government and linked several individuals to transactions estimated to be worth RM53 million. -- BERNAMA  

NRES To Fully Cooperate With MACC Over Elephant Transfer To Japan Probe – Arthur

PUTRAJAYA, June 23 — The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) will provide full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding the investigation into the transfer of .... read more

PUTRAJAYA, June 22 -- The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Rectors of Public Universities (JKNCR) today stressed that public higher learning institutions have never engaged in the practice of selling admission slots or providing entry through the “backdoor” to any party. In a statement today, JKNCR dismissed a politician’s claim as baseless, saying that it had indirectly cast doubt on the integrity of the student admission system and the credibility of the country’s higher education institutions. “Admissions to public universities are always subject to academic requirements, merit, programme capacity, accreditation requirements and approval from the relevant university authorities,” the statement said. Earlier, the media reported that a state assemblyman had claimed that public universities provide “backdoor” entry to unqualified individuals who are able to pay full fees. JKNCR explained that public universities have increased their intake capacity for subsidised mainstream students annually, as reflected in the steady increase in offers to Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) holders and bachelor’s degree students over the past three years. Data shows that the number of offers rose from 79,646 in the 2023/2024 academic session to 79,845 in 2024/2025 and further increased to 88,102 in 2025/2026. “This continuous increase proves that the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is always expanding access to public higher education and not reducing it as claimed,” the statement said. On claims that the open channel constitutes a “backdoor”, JKNCR stressed that the allegation was unfounded, saying admission to public universities is not limited to the UPUOnline platform, but also involves various structured admission initiatives based on programme regulations and requirements. JKNCR said the initiative was implemented based on provisions under the Malaysia Education Development Plan (Higher Education), PPPM (PT) 2015-2025, Fifth Shift: Financial Sustainability. “This initiative enables public universities to cover rising costs by offering full-fee academic programmes. As a result, they are able to offer places to students, appoint contract lecturers, improve teaching and learning facilities, and enhance other support facilities. “The MOHE has stipulated that intake through this channel must not, in any way, reduce the number of places allocated under the established primary admission channel,” the statement said. JKNCR also rejected claims that underprivileged groups are denied the opportunity to pursue studies at public universities, stressing that the country’s higher education access policy always gives special attention to students from low-income families. “This commitment is reflected in substantial government funding, with tuition fees at public universities subsidised by up to 95 per cent, ensuring that financial constraints are no longer a barrier to pursuing knowledge “Based on official data on admissions for the 2025/2026 academic session, 79.75 per cent of the 88,102 students who accepted offers for bachelor’s degree programmes through UPUOnline are from low-income families,” according to the statement. Regarding claims that students with low merit were accepted because they paid full fees without subsidies, JKNCR explained that financial ability is not a basis for admission to public universities, as all students must meet the minimum academic requirements set. “Entry requirements for professional and critical programmes such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, accounting, law and education are stricter, as they are subject to professional body standards and accreditation requirements. “The quality of these programmes is consistently maintained through regular monitoring by professional bodies and continuous review by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to ensure that the country’s higher education standards remain at the highest level,” the statement said. JKNCR said that the MOHE, together with public university management, is always proactive in assisting underprivileged students, with 493 welfare incentives totalling more than RM115 million provided last year and this year, including early registration assistance, SULUNG aid, early admission assistance, university zakat assistance, student welfare funds, scholarships and bursaries. In addition, the committee said the ministry has instructed all public universities to be flexible in accepting underprivileged students, allowing advance registration and deferment of registration fees where necessary. --BERNAMA 

JKNCR: No ‘Backdoor’ Entry In IPTA, Admissions Strictly Based On Merit

PUTRAJAYA, June 22 — The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Rectors of Public Universities (JKNCR) today stressed that public higher learning institutions have never engaged in the practice of selling admission .... read more

PUTRAJAYA, June 23 -- The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) is conducting investigations into a fatal accident involving a maintenance worker at the Saujana 1 water tower in Kuala Selangor on June 16. In a statement today, the commission said any party found to have failed to comply with required procedures, including Air Selangor or a SPAN permit holder, would face appropriate action. Any infringement of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) or relevant subsidiary legislation will be subject to appropriate action, SPAN said. “SPAN's checks found that the contractor responsible for the cleaning or maintenance works was registered with the commission and held a valid permit. “Initial findings suggest there may have been non-compliance with confined-space safety procedures, including workers entering the site without approval and prior to safety verification. “However, the determination of the actual cause will be subject to the official probe and final report issued by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH),” read the statement. SPAN said it views the incident with utmost seriousness, given that it resulted in a loss of life. The commission said it received information on the incident on June 17 and visited the site the following day, adding that routine water tank cleaning was conducted on June 16 by the appointed vendor.  “During the incident, the water level in the tank was said to be at waist level, with two workers encountering difficulties near a 200mm scour point. “One of them was rescued, while the other was reported to have become trapped in the area,” it said, adding that emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered, but the victim was confirmed dead before being taken to UiTM Hospital for a post-mortem examination. “The initial cause of death was identified as drowning. DOSH conducted a site inspection on June 17, 2026, and issued a prohibition notice. A joint follow-up visit was carried out on June 18 June by SPAN, Air Selangor and DOSH to establish the cause of the incident. “DOSH said the final report would be published after the conclusion of the formal investigation. Safety and health in the workplace remain the primary priority during maintenance work to prevent similar incidents in the future,” it said. SPAN said further enhancements would be prioritised to strengthen adherence to safety protocols, confined-space work supervision, contractor management and on-site risk control. Media reports cited that a Universiti Putra Malaysia student on industrial training died while carrying out maintenance work at the Saujana Perdana water tower tank, with drowning confirmed as the cause of death. -- BERNAMA 

SPAN Probing Fatal Incident Involving Worker At Saujana 1 Water Tower

PUTRAJAYA, June 23 — The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) is conducting investigations into a fatal accident involving a maintenance worker at the Saujana 1 water tower in Kuala Selangor .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today held an audience with the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, reaffirming the commitment of both the Federal and Johor state governments to work closely for the progress and welfare of the people. In a statement, Anwar said the meeting provided an important platform to exchange views and discuss matters related to the well-being of the rakyat, particularly those in Johor Darul Ta’zim. “We discussed various issues concerning the welfare and interests of the people, as well as current developments and ongoing initiatives undertaken by the MADANI Government to drive economic growth and development in Johor,” he said. According to the Prime Minister, the discussion also touched on efforts to strengthen cooperation between Putrajaya and the Johor state administration to ensure development plans and public initiatives continue to benefit the people effectively. Anwar said both sides agreed on the importance of preserving the strong relationship that has long existed between the Federal Government and the Johor state leadership. “Tunku Mahkota Ismail and I agreed to continue nurturing our good relationship while further enhancing the close cooperation between the Federal Government and the State Government of Johor,” he said. The Prime Minister stressed that strong Federal-State relations remain crucial in ensuring sustainable development, economic progress and the well-being of the people, in line with the aspirations of the MADANI Government. He added that continued collaboration between both administrations would contribute significantly to Johor’s growth and strengthen efforts to improve the quality of life of its people.

PM Anwar, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Reaffirm Federal-State Cooperation for Johor’s Development

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday held an audience with the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended his warm congratulations to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Prosperity Party following their victory in Ethiopia’s general election. In a statement, Anwar expressed confidence in the continued leadership of Abiy and said Malaysia looked forward to further strengthening its partnership with Ethiopia, which he described as an important gateway for Malaysia’s engagement with Africa. The Prime Minister recalled his official visit to Addis Ababa last year, the first by a Malaysian prime minister to Ethiopia, describing it as a significant milestone in bilateral relations. “When I visited Addis Ababa last year, I was deeply touched by the warmth of the welcome extended to me and by the substance of our discussions,” Anwar said. He noted that both leaders shared similar perspectives on global developments and the importance of closer cooperation among countries of the Global South. “Prime Minister Abiy and I found that we read the world in much the same way, and that countries of the Global South stand to gain a great deal by working together as equals,” he said. Anwar added that several initiatives and areas of cooperation were set in motion during his visit, and expressed optimism about advancing those efforts in the years ahead. “There is much that we set in motion last year, and I look forward to carrying it forward together,” he said. The Prime Minister reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to deepening relations with Ethiopia across strategic sectors and strengthening cooperation with African nations through mutually beneficial partnerships based on respect, equality and shared development goals. -- MINUTESMY

PM Anwar Congratulates Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed, Reaffirms Commitment to Stronger Bilateral Ties

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended his warm congratulations to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Prosperity Party following their victory in .... read more

,

Latest News

Fire Dept Launches SAR For Missing Hiker In Gua Musang

Join PDRM Fun Run 2026 At Dataran Merdeka This November

PM Anwar Flags Off Malaysia Sarong Music Run 2026

Anthony Loke Offers To Resign As Transport Minister

Malaysia Launches Cyber Force Nucleus Team to Strengthen Digital Defence