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KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 -- The decision by Selangor FC chief executive officer Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon to voice his views outside official channels has raised questions and could potentially spark polemics within the local football ecosystem, according to a veteran football administrator. Former acting president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, said the move was puzzling, given that Johan is not new to the country’s football administrative system. He said official platforms, such as meetings of the Malaysian Football League (MFL) board of directors and the MFL Congress, should be fully utilised if there is a genuine intention to improve the situation. “When one chooses to speak outside, it is no longer merely a professional view, but opens the door to various perceptions,” he said in a statement today. At the same time, Mohd Yusoff described the timing of the remarks as odd, raising speculation about the possibility of certain interests being at play. He did not rule out the possibility that the move carried an underlying intent, including an attempt to divert attention from internal weaknesses that have yet to be comprehensively addressed. He said criticising the league via external platforms could also be seen as an effort to exert indirect pressure on the MFL, while shaping a particular narrative. “There is a tendency to build momentum from the outside, dragging in other parties. This is no longer a routine critique. Its impact risks causing division and undermining the stability of the league,” he said. As such, Mohd Yusoff stressed that any effort to improve national football must be carried out professionally through proper channels, rather than through open statements that may raise more questions than solutions. Recently, Johan called for serious discussions to be held, including the possibility of organising a roundtable session involving all stakeholders of the M-League, particularly in light of the increasingly worrying financial situation among most teams. Johor Darul Ta'zim, Negeri Sembilan FC, Terengganu FC, Penang FC and Sabah FC are among the clubs that support the proposal to hold the roundtable session. Among the recurring issues affecting the M-League are delays in the payment of salaries to players and team officials by several clubs, as well as the challenge of rising operational costs, further exacerbated by the impact of ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Johan’s Statement Risks Sparking Controversy – Mohd Yusoff

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — The decision by Selangor FC chief executive officer Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon to voice his views outside official channels has raised questions and could potentially .... read more

MEXICO CITY: The International Football Federation (FIFA) has decided not to move a World Cup match involving the Iranian team from the United States (US) to Mexico, despite the conflict in West Asia. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this on Friday in a press conference, according to a report by the German News Agency (dpa). Iran has requested not to play in three group stage matches in the US following the US and Israeli attacks on Feb 28. Although the fighting has been halted by a fragile ceasefire, Washington has warned of further attacks. "FIFA ultimately decided that the match could not be moved from the original venue," Sheinbaum said. According to him, from FIFA's perspective, the move would involve "a very large logistical effort." World football's governing body had previously expressed doubts about Iran's request to move matches against Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt at the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Mexico and Canada. FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously insisted that Iran should continue to participate despite tense relations between Tehran and Washington. "We want Iran to play and Iran will play in the World Cup. There is no Plan B, C or D – there is only Plan A," Infantino told Mexican broadcaster N+ Univision two weeks ago. Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj recently stated that the team was boycotting the US, but not the World Cup, without elaborating on the details, the state news agency IRNA reported. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump described Iran's involvement as "inappropriate" due to "their own lives and safety." Amid a ceasefire that began Tuesday, talks between the US and Iran for a lasting peace settlement are scheduled to take place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Friday. Iran has previously launched retaliatory strikes after attacks by the US and Israel, including targeting Gulf countries and closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route.

World Cup: FIFA rejects Iran’s request to move match to Mexico

MEXICO CITY: The International Football Federation (FIFA) has decided not to move a World Cup match involving the Iranian team from the United States (US) to Mexico, despite the conflict .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) aims to hold a roundtable meeting involving all chief executive officers (CEOs) of Malaysian League (M-League) clubs and relevant stakeholders in the near future. MFL CEO Mohd Shazli Shaik Mohd said previous plans were delayed due to several unavoidable circumstances. He, however, said the MFL remained open to suggestions and views submitted by clubs to discuss the direction and resolution of current issues in the league. "Actually, we already had plans to meet with the CEOs of this club. However, as everyone knows, several things are happening that have caused it to be postponed." "...but, when there are requests and views from the club, we are very open. God willing, MFL will hold a meeting with all the CEOs of this club, including shareholders and board members in the near future," he said when met after the collaboration ceremony between Konami and MFL here today. Mohd Shazli said his party is currently examining the suitability of the date to ensure that the attendance of all stakeholders can be well coordinated. He expects the meeting to be realized before the end of April. Meanwhile, Mohd Shazli, when commenting on the notion that the proposal to hold a roundtable meeting depicted the M-League being in a dire situation, stressed that the actual situation was not like that. He said the implementation of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) Regulations, which is now entering its first year, still needs time to show its overall impact on the stability of the league. "La Liga (Spanish League) took five years to really stabilize their league, while we are only in the first year and the process is still ongoing. However, we can already see many positive developments as a result of the implementation of this FFP. "So, for me at the MFL, we do not see this situation as dire or that the league is heading towards decline. On the contrary, this meeting is a good platform for us to hear the voices of the clubs and subsequently improve the matters raised," he said. Recently, several clubs have called for serious discussions to be held, including the possibility of organising a roundtable session involving all M-League stakeholders, especially following the increasingly worrying financial situation among most teams. Selangor FC, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Negeri Sembilan FC, Terengganu FC, Penang FC and Sabah FC are among the clubs that support the proposal to hold the roundtable session. Among the recurring issues affecting the M-League are the delays in paying salaries to players and team officials by several clubs, as well as the challenge of increasing operating costs, exacerbated by the effects of ongoing tensions in West Asia.

MFL plans roundtable meeting with all M-League club CEOs

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) aims to hold a roundtable meeting involving all chief executive officers (CEOs) of Malaysian League (M-League) clubs and relevant stakeholders in the near .... read more

KUALA NERUS: Terengganu Football Club Sdn Bhd (TFCSB) today announced the resignation of c as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Terengganu FC (TFC) team effective April 1. TFCSB, through a media statement today, announced that Sheikh Farouk had played an important role in strengthening management and contributing to the overall development of TFC throughout his term of service starting in August last year. The statement stated that all of Sheikh Farouk's efforts and contributions are greatly appreciated and will always be remembered by club members and TFC supporters. "The club wishes him continued success in whatever field he ventures into. Hopefully all the experience gained with TFC will be a valuable asset for him to continue moving forward," the statement said. In the same statement, Sheikh Farouk said he appreciated the support given and wished continued success for the Turtle Squad.

TFC CEO Sheikh Farouk resigns

KUALA NERUS: Terengganu Football Club Sdn Bhd (TFCSB) today announced the resignation of c as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Terengganu FC (TFC) team effective April 1. TFCSB, through .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 -- Compound archer Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh hopes that the national women’s compound squad will be sent to compete at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which is scheduled to take place from Sep 19 to Oct 4. She said that in various archery competitions this year, her focus is on competing at the Asian Games, which is one of the most important tournaments for her this season. However, the 35-year-old revealed that so far, there has been no official decision regarding the participation of the women’s compound squad in the quadrennial sporting event. “The biggest target this year should be the Asian Games, but for the women’s compound team it is still 50-50. I have not received confirmation that the women’s compound team will be sent. “I hope that with our recent achievements (2026 Asia Cup Archery Championship), we will be given the opportunity to go to the Asian Games. If not, it’s okay, we will just compete in domestic-level tournaments,” she said when contacted by Bernama recently. At the 2026 Asia Cup (Stage 1) Archery Championship in Bangkok, Thailand last month, Fatin Nurfatehah won three medals - two silvers in the women’s compound individual and mixed team events alongside partner Mohd Juwaidi Marzuki, as well as one bronze in the women’s compound team event. The national women’s team was made up of Fatin Nurfatehah, Aina Syazwana Abdul Muhaimin, and Ng Sui Kim. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Fatin Nurfatehah was eliminated in the second round of the individual event, while in the mixed team event the national squad advanced to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Malaysia did not send a team for the women’s team event. Meanwhile, Fatin Nurfatehah, who won a mixed team bronze medal at the 2023 World Cup in Antalya, Turkiye, believes that exposure to international-level competitions is the key factor that differentiates the performance of national athletes from their rivals. According to her, to compete at the highest level, more frequent participation in overseas tournaments can strengthen mental preparation in facing pressure and the intensity of competition. “Our opponents take part in more competitions than we do. When you compete more frequently, your experience increases, and in terms of mental and psychological readiness, they are also better prepared because they are exposed to more major tournaments. “I think the most important thing for an archer to perform at their best is thorough preparation in terms of both physical and mental aspects. When the preparation is sufficient and we step into competition, insya-Allah, we will be able to give our best,” said the athlete from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Fatin Nurfatehah and her teammates are scheduled to compete in the 2026 World Cup (Stage 2) in Shanghai, China from May 5 to 10.

Fatin Nurfatehah Hopes Women’s Compound Squad Gets Nod For 2026 Asian Games

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 — Compound archer Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh hopes that the national women’s compound squad will be sent to compete at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, .... read more

KOTA BHARU: A total of 320 athletes and 30 coaches who will represent Kelantan at the 22nd Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor, completed a self-motivation camp last Saturday. Kelantan State Sports Council Assistant Sports Officer Muhammad Aiman ​​Hakim Amir said the motivational camp, which lasted for three days starting on April 2, was his party's preparation for the athletes to face the biennial games. "This motivational camp is our initiative to build cooperation between athletes, coaches and management, as well as to build self-confidence and high discipline among those involved. "In fact, the filling of this camp also involves psychology, motivation and anti-doping slots for athletes," he said when contacted by Bernama today. Muhammad Aiman ​​Hakim said that all athletes participating in the camp not only need to prepare with physical and tactical training, but mental and emotional preparation is also given focus, especially when facing challenges from athletes from other states. "This camp can indirectly foster a high fighting spirit to achieve the medal targets set by the respective sports management," he said, adding that the Kelantan contingent will participate in 30 types of sports this time. Among the sports are athletics, swimming, netball, weightlifting, Muay Thai, badminton, futsal and archery. Asked about the medal target for this year's games, he said the management had not yet officially announced it due to several factors. SUKMA 2026 will take place from August 15 to 24 with the opening ceremony at the Sepang International Circuit, while the Para SUKMA Games will begin from September 5 to 10. A total of 474 events from 37 sports were contested in nine districts involving 52 competition venues, while the Para SUKMA held in Petaling and Klang involved 10 sports and 316 events.

320 Kelantan athletes complete motivational camp ahead of SUKMA Selangor 2026

KOTA BHARU: A total of 320 athletes and 30 coaches who will represent Kelantan at the 22nd Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor, completed a self-motivation camp last Saturday. Kelantan State .... read more

Pro Bowlers Association’s “PBA USA vs. The World” to air live on CBS and Paramount+ Saturday, April 4 at 2p ET

RICHMOND, Va., April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This Saturday, April 4, the premier Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) international team competition, PBA USA vs. The World, will be nationally televised live .... read more

Marriott Bonvoy Returns as an Official Partner of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2026

HONG KONG, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel platform, today announced a renewed partnership with Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) to serve as an Official .... read more

Team Alive-Rampage, Seawolf to return for next Rolex China Sea Race

HONG KONG, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Asia’s premier offshore event, the 2026 Rolex China Sea Race, a 565nm Cat 1 race to the Philippines, concluded successfully after starting from .... read more

Tradeify Joins Forces With Cricket Superstar Travis Head

HYDERABAD, India, LONDON, and ADELAIDE, Australia, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tradeify, the global trader evaluation platform, is thrilled to announce a long-term partnership with Australian cricket star Travis Head, .... read more

Latest News

SHANGHAI, June 15 -- The Shanghai Museum will present "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas" (July 9, 2026 – Nov. 14, 2027 at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square), a major exhibition exploring the artistic, cultural, and spiritual traditions of ancient civilizations across Central and South America. Following the success of 'On Top of the Pyramid,' this exhibition features exceptional objects from Mexico and Peru, showcasing the ancient Americas' greatest achievements. Organized in partnership with museums and cultural institutions in Mexico and Peru, the exhibition features 1,129 groups of objects, nearly 3,000 pieces. Through an expansive presentation of archaeological and artistic material, it examines the development of ancient civilizations across Central and South America and their enduring cultural legacies.    Occupying more than 7,000 square meters of gallery space, the exhibition is organized into two complementary sections focused on the histories, artistic traditions, and material cultures of Mexico and Peru. The first section, "Sacred Spaces: Civilizations of Ancient Mexico". Examining the relationship between belief systems, political authority, and artistic production, the presentation explores the cosmological frameworks that shaped ancient Mesoamerican societies. Through monumental works, ritual objects, and everyday artifacts, visitors are introduced to the intellectual and cultural worlds of these civilizations. The second section, "Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru". As the largest exhibition on Andean civilizations ever presented in China, it is also among the most significant international touring exhibitions of Peruvian gold and silver artifacts. Tracing the development of societies across the Andes, the exhibition highlights the region's artistic achievements while examining the social, political, and spiritual systems that shaped its civilizations. During the exhibition period, the Shanghai Museum on People's Square will be dedicated exclusively to the presentation. Inspired by the symbolic concept of the World Tree, exhibition design throughout the museum incorporates visual references drawn from the ancient Americas, including maize, jaguars, feathered serpents, and pyramids. To create an authentic ancient American ambiance, the venue becomes a 10,000 square meters immersive space, where visitors enter through a cornfield directly into the ancient landscape. Interpretive installations before the galleries introduce ancient America's landscapes, beliefs, and traditions. Starting June 1, 2026, international visitors can buy timed-entry tickets on Trip.com (ID required) or on-site at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square. -- PRNewswire -- Source: The Shanghai Museum

The Shanghai Museum to Present “On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas”

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 16 -- The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar on expectations that the United States Federal Reserve (US Fed) will maintain interest rates amid easing inflation concerns and falling US Treasury yields. At 8am, the local currency strengthened to 4.0455/0550 against the US dollar from 4.0485/0525 at yesterday's close. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist, Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said crude oil prices continued to decline following growing expectations that a peace deal between the US and Iran on June 19 could potentially lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He said West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil prices fell 4.87 percent and 4.24 percent to US$80.75 and US$83.63 per barrel, respectively, while the 10-year US Treasury yield fell below 4.50 percent, reflecting concerns over easing inflation. "Therefore, such developments could influence members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) as they consider the interest rate decision on June 16 and 17," he told Bernama. Mohd Afzanizam said the ringgit has the potential to continue its strengthening today after closing 0.18 percent higher on Monday, supported by optimism over the possibility of a US-Iran peace deal, although investors remain cautious ahead of the signing of the deal expected to take place on June 19. At the opening of trading, the ringgit also strengthened against a basket of major currencies. The local currency rose against the Japanese yen to 2.5245/5306 from 2.5283/5309 at Monday's close, strengthened against the British pound to 5.4270/4398 from 5.4355/4409 and rose against the euro to 4.6891/7002 from 4.6987/7033. Against regional currencies, the ringgit traded mostly higher except against the Philippine peso which was almost unchanged at 6.69/6.71 compared to the 6.69/6.70 level when it closed on Monday. The ringgit also strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.4228/4601 from 12.4294/4474 at yesterday's close, rose against the Indonesian rupiah to 228.4/229.1 from 228.5/228.9 and rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.1534/1611 from 3.1580/1613. -- BERNAMA

Ringgit opens higher against US dollar on expectations of Fed rate hold

KUANTAN, JUNE 16 -- The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, is confident that tahfiz education in the state is capable of producing a generation of huffaz who will not only excel in the field of religion, but also become experts and leaders in various strategic fields in the future. His Majesty said that the Huffaz generation has great potential to venture into fields such as medicine, engineering, technology, artificial intelligence, economics and national leadership, in line with the needs of an increasingly challenging world driven by technological advancements. "With a strong foundation in the Quran, they will be able to emerge as future leaders who are not only excellent in terms of professionalism, but also have strong religious beliefs, noble character and high integrity," said His Majesty at the Pahang State Tahfiz Maahad Excellence Award Ceremony 2026, here, on Monday. At the ceremony, His Majesty also presented awards to 48 tahfiz students who excelled in academics, memorization and co-curricular activities. Al-Sultan Abdullah said the success of Pahang State Tahfiz School and Pahang State Tahfiz Turath School, which were listed among the top three schools in Malaysia for the 2025 Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) results, proved the excellence of the state's tahfiz education system. "This achievement demonstrates the success of producing a generation of huffaz who are balanced between excellence in religious appreciation and academics, and my wish to see this tahfiz maahad become the premier tahfiz educational institution in Malaysia has come true," said His Majesty. The Sultan of Pahang also said that the establishment of the Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah Pahang Al-Quran University (UNIQSAAS) is a significant and historic step in strengthening the Islamic education ecosystem in the state. His Majesty said the university would become a new landmark in the development of knowledge based on the Quran and provide a more comprehensive educational path for huffaz to continue their studies to a higher level without abandoning the identity of Quranic education that was built since school. "I believe this effort will strengthen the Islamic education ecosystem in Pahang, thus making this state a leader in tahfiz education and Quranic studies in Malaysia," said his Majesty. His Majesty also stressed that the state government will continue to be committed to raising the academic prestige of the Quran at all levels of education to produce more scholars, professionals and leaders who are based on the values ​​of the Quran for the sake of religion, race and country. -- BERNAMA

Sultan of Pahang confident that tahfiz education can produce experts, leaders in strategic fields

KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 16 -- Five Taiping Prison officers are currently facing disciplinary action proceedings, while a prison officer has been charged in court following an attack on more than 100 prisoners that killed a prison inmate last year. In an incident on 17 Jan 2025, the media reported that more than 100 prisoners at Taiping Prison were attacked by about 60 wardens during the transfer process from Ward B to Block E, resulting in the death of one prisoner, Gan Chin Eng. The Malaysian Prisons Department (JPM) in a statement on Monday confirmed that action against the prison staff involved was taken following an examination of the report and conclusions of the Public Inquiry Panel of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) regarding the incident. According to the JPM, it has provided full cooperation to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to ensure that the investigation is carried out independently, transparently and thoroughly. "The results of the investigation led to a charge against a prison staff member under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code. At the same time, five other prison staff are facing disciplinary action proceedings implemented by the JPM," the statement said. The JPM said the action reflects the department's continued commitment to upholding the principle of accountability without protecting any individual found to have violated the law, regardless of rank or position. "The department practices a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of misconduct, abuse of power or violation of the law in the service," the statement said. Meanwhile, the SUHAKAM Public Inquiry Panel in its final decision on the inquiry into the incident also recommended that Taiping Prison be turned into a museum because it was no longer suitable for use as a prison institution. In a related development, the JPM, through the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), is committed to continuing the prison infrastructure modernisation agenda, including planning the construction of a new complex to replace the aging institution. According to the statement, Taiping Prison, which is now 146 years old and has the status of a National Heritage Building, is among the institutions identified as needing immediate replacement. "The construction of new facilities that are more modern, safe and conducive is important to increase the efficiency of institutional management, strengthen security aspects and preserve the welfare of prospects and prison officers," he said. -- BERNAMA

Taiping Prison incident: One member charged, five face disciplinary action

JOHOR BAHRU, June 16 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday called on the people of Johor to remain steadfast in supporting what he described as the "politics of hope" and a reform agenda aimed at strengthening accountability, justice and good governance in Malaysia. Speaking at a gathering in Johor, Anwar stressed that the nation's political struggle has never been solely about winning elections, but rather about determining the direction Malaysia takes in the years ahead. "Our struggle has never been just about winning elections. It is about deciding whether Malaysia continues to be driven by old politics filled with hatred and abuse of power, or moves forward based on the principles of accountability, justice and respect for the people," he said. The Prime Minister said the Unity Government has demonstrated that its reform commitments are more than mere slogans, citing improvements in governance, efforts to combat corruption, increased investments and the restoration of international confidence in Malaysia. "We have proven that what we promised is not merely rhetoric. Governance has been strengthened, corruption has been challenged, investments have increased and global confidence in Malaysia has recovered," he said. However, Anwar acknowledged that the government's reform journey remains a work in progress and that many challenges still need to be addressed. He noted that there are still shortcomings within the system that require correction, citizens who need greater protection and assistance, and public concerns that must continue to be heard and addressed. "The journey is still long and far from perfect. There are many things that need to be improved, many citizens who need to be defended and assisted, more voices that must be heard, and weaknesses in the system that need to be closed," he said. Anwar urged Johoreans to continue supporting an inclusive political approach that promotes unity and mutual respect among Malaysians. "With the support of the people, we will continue working harder to uplift the nation's dignity and ensure Malaysia emerges as a strong, just and respected country," he added. -- MINUTESMY -- SOURCE: FB ANWAR IBRAHIM

PM Anwar Calls on Johoreans to Defend Politics of Hope and National Reform