What's happening around you
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Penang education dept: students may skip school if haze harms health
Penang's state education department has told schools to let parents take children home early and to allow students to stay away on health grounds as haze worsens. Schools in affected areas will close if the API reading hits 200. Four Penang air monitoring stations recorded unhealthy readings up to 11am.
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Penang API unhealthy at all four stations, Minden highest at 167
Air quality across Penang reached unhealthy levels at all four monitoring stations as of 11am, with Minden recording the highest API of 167. State environment committee chairman S. Sundarajoo advised children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory problems to limit outdoor activity, and said the state and the Department of Environment would step up monitoring and enforcement against open burning.
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Childminder in Air Itam charged with negligence over 13-month-old baby's death
A 44-year-old childminder was brought before the Sessions Court in Georgetown today, accused of exposing a 13-month-old boy in her care in a manner that may have caused his death. She pleaded not guilty and was granted RM8,000 bail with one surety, with the case set for mention on 16 November pending a post-mortem report. The alleged offence took place at a house in Taman Desa Mawar, Air Itam, Northeast District, at 2pm on 8 September.
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Factory bus plunges into drain near Jalan Tun Dr Awang roundabout, driver hurt
A factory bus crashed through a road divider and fell into a three-metre-deep drain near the Jalan Tun Dr Awang roundabout in Penang during evening peak hour. The 49-year-old driver was trapped and later extricated by firefighters before being taken to Penang Hospital.
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One-eyed student enters USM, shares story of losing sight
At Universiti Sains Malaysia in Georgetown, two new students shared their life stories during registration for the 2026/2027 academic session. Batrisya Umairah Ahmad Rezuan, 20, who can only see with her right eye after two nerve surgeries, is pursuing English Language and Literature studies. Nurul Atiqah Husna Azli, 20, from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, was raised by her grandparents and is now in the Education programme.
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Penang teacher moved to district office pending probe into pupil abuse claim
Penang's state education department has temporarily reassigned a teacher to the district education office after a complaint of physical violence against a pupil. The district office is investigating the claim, and the department says the pupil's welfare will be protected with psychosocial support. The case involves a pupil at a Chinese primary school in the Southwest district who was found with bruises.
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USM urges students not to reject offers over financial problems
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has urged students not to turn down study offers solely because of financial difficulties. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed said the university will assist B40 and M40 students facing hardship. A total of 5,804 candidates registered for the 2026/2027 academic session, including 2,241 B40 students and 999 international students.
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Gerakan Penang wants state education dept to probe claim pupil, 9, hurt by teacher
Gerakan Penang has asked the Penang State Education Department to investigate a claim that a nine-year-old boy was injured by his teacher at a Chinese national-type school in the Southwest district. The complaint was received on 8 September and the pupil claims he suffered bruises on his back and left arm. The state education director confirmed a report was received and an investigation is under way.
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Body of man found in 10m-deep drain at Jalan Pantai Jerejak
An unidentified man, believed to be in his 40s, was found dead at the bottom of a 10-metre-deep drain at Jalan Pantai Jerejak in George Town, Penang. The Penang Fire and Rescue Department retrieved the body after a police call at 2.34am, and the operation ended at 3.15am. The body was handed to police and sent to hospital for a post-mortem.
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Babysitter in Air Itam remanded seven days after 13-month-old dies
A 13-month-old boy was found unconscious at his babysitter's home in Kampung Melayu, Air Itam, Penang, on Tuesday and later pronounced dead at Penang Hospital. Police have detained the 44-year-old babysitter and the victim's mother, with the babysitter remanded for seven days until Sept 15 and the mother for three days. The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, and the cause of death is pending laboratory analysis.
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Toddler found unconscious at Air Itam babysitter's home dies; two held
A 13-month-old child was found unconscious with bluish lips at a babysitter's home in Kampung Melayu, Air Itam, Penang, on Tuesday afternoon and pronounced dead at Penang Hospital. Police have detained the 44-year-old babysitter and the child's mother, and the case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. A post-mortem was done but the cause of death awaits laboratory analysis.
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Police arrest 10 more suspects over armed Air Itam brawl, total now 23
Police have arrested 10 more men over an armed brawl in Air Itam, Penang, bringing the total number of arrests to 23. The incident on Aug 29 in front of SJK(C) Kong Min involved three local men, with two attacked with weapons and one run over by a car. The case is believed to stem from a debt dispute and is being investigated under sections related to violent crime.
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Four Chinese nationals plead not guilty to kidnapping Singaporean man at Penang airport
Four Chinese nationals pleaded not guilty in the Balik Pulau Sessions Court to kidnapping a Singaporean man at Penang International Airport on 26 July. They are accused of demanding a S$1 million ransom, and the court denied bail while the case is set for mention on 15 October.
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Penang seals 7 more Taman Manggis PPR units, total now 12, residents seek shelter
Seven more units at the Taman Manggis People's Housing Project in Penang were sealed, bringing the total to 12. Residents' association chairman Pannir Selvam said affected families are scrambling for shelter and questioned the state government's relocation plans to Seberang Prai. Residents claim they were not given adequate notice and are appealing for suitable housing alternatives.