Government & Policy across Malaysia
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DAP youth chief: Umno assembly lacked direction on staying in government
DAP Socialist Youth chief Woo Kah Leong criticised last week's Umno general assembly as lacking a clear direction, saying it did not answer whether Umno will stay in government or leave. He also rejected an Umno vice-president's claim that Chinese Malaysians can speak with one voice on education, citing Perak's failure to fund Chinese independent schools in 2022.
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Sanusi: Pas-UMNO Kedah meeting not yet formal cooperation
Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said yesterday's meeting between Pas Kedah and UMNO Kedah in Alor Setar was not the start of formal cooperation but an effort to build a positive political environment. He said no seat negotiations took place and any cooperation must be decided at the central level. Kedah UMNO chairman Mahdzir Khalid described the meeting as opening room for further discussion between the two Malay parties in the state.
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PAS told to focus on cost of living, not Najib's pardon delay
Two analysts urged PAS not to question the Federal Territories Pardons Board's postponement of Najib Razak's pardon application, saying the party should instead focus on cost of living and Budget 2027. Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya said PAS now looks like it is overreaching, while Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmood said pardons are the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim's prerogative. The postponement was announced on Friday by the Prime Minister's Department's legal affairs division.
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Ng Jia Liang: BN-PN cooperation is political manoeuvring, seat talks unresolved
DAP Socialist Youth chief Ng Jia Liang said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur that cooperation between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional is a political game of mutual calculation, with both sides painting unrealistic promises. Citing Perak, he said Pakatan Harapan won 26 seats in the last state election and could take all Malay and mixed seats with BN, but seat allocation after the polls would be awkward.
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NCER sets RM470bil investment target by 2030, 310,000 jobs planned
The government has set a target for cumulative realised investment in the Northern Corridor Economic Region to reach RM470 billion by 2030, up from RM343.8 billion realised so far. The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority says E&E, automotive, high-value tourism and modern agriculture will drive 70 per cent of the target, with EV investments being assessed in Kulim, Kedah. NCER also aims to create 310,000 jobs by 2030, 45 per cent of them high-skilled.
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Anwar chairs MA63 meeting in Kota Kinabalu, focuses on Sabah Sarawak rights
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim chaired the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting in Kota Kinabalu on 11 September, discussing special grants, border security, Borneonisation and increasing parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak. The meeting took place as political tensions rose in Peninsular Malaysia following a sharp speech by the UMNO president in Kuala Lumpur.
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114 BERSATU Perlis branch chiefs resign, party predicted to be buried
A wave of resignations involving 114 BERSATU branch chiefs in Perlis has triggered an internal crisis expected to affect the party at state and national levels. A UniMAP analyst said BERSATU lacks solo strength and depends on allies, while new party WAWASAN is seen as a potential successor.
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MA63 at 63: Sarawak's long push for its founding-partner rights
Sixty-three years after Malaysia's formation, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 remains the framework for Sarawak's negotiations with the federal government over autonomy and resources. The article traces how the late Adenan Satem revived the cause in 2016 and how Abang Johari's administration has carried it through institutional channels.
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Adam Yii: Spirit of Malaysia's formation must be respected
Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii said Malaysia Day should be a space for people to appreciate the country's formation history. He stressed understanding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the roles of Sarawak and Sabah in the Federation, noting some MA63 matters remain under discussion.
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Hashim Jasin: seat dispute should not block PAS-UMNO unity
PAS Mursyidul Am Datuk Hashim Jasin said efforts to unite PAS and UMNO should come before disputes over seat allocation for state elections. He said seat sharing is a small matter that can be settled if both sides trust each other, and urged all parties to stop issuing statements that could worsen the situation. He spoke to reporters at his home in Arau.
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PH weighs going solo in Melaka polls as seat talks with BN hit impasse
Seat-sharing talks between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional for the Melaka state election have stalled, with BN insisting on defending all 21 seats it won in 2021. Analysts say PH may contest all 28 seats on its own after Melaka PKR chief Adam Adli Abd Halim said the party was ready. They expect BN to keep its two-thirds majority, with PH likely to win five to seven seats in Chinese-majority and urban mixed areas.
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100,904 armed forces personnel declare assets in anti-corruption push
More than 100,000 Malaysian armed forces personnel have declared their assets as part of efforts to tighten oversight of high-risk positions. Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman said 97.53 per cent of 100,904 officers and personnel had done so, with a target for all commanders by Sept 16. The measures follow corruption charges against several senior military officers this year.
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BizSG portal for Singapore businesses to launch on September 30
A new AI-powered portal called BizSG will launch on September 30 to help Singapore businesses easily access government assistance and services. The portal will assist small and medium enterprises, including those in Little India, with information on grants, subsidies and taxes when expanding overseas. Tantra founder JK Saravana and Catering Solutions director S. Mahendran shared their views on its benefits.
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Amirudin proposes 100-Year Malaysia Vision to face future challenges
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has proposed a 100-Year Malaysia Vision, a long-term planning framework ahead of the nation's centenary. He outlined five focus areas including nation-building, the economy amid climate change, Malaysia's global standing, democracy and the AI challenge. He spoke at the Bicara Perdana programme at Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Shah Alam.
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Anwar concludes Maldives visit, pledges stronger parliamentary and trade ties
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ended a two-day official visit to the Maldives, his first since taking office in 2022, after meeting President Mohamed Muizzu, Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam. He said Malaysia and the Maldives can deepen parliamentary cooperation through the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and both sides discussed expanding ties in education, defence, trade, investment, tourism, the halal industry and the digital economy.
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Harpreet Singh: Pay not the reason top talent shuns politics in Singapore
Singapore Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh has questioned the premise behind the recent increase in political salaries, arguing that higher pay is not what keeps top private-sector talent out of politics. Citing the judiciary, where judges earn far less than top lawyers yet still serve, he said Singapore has no shortage of accomplished people willing to forgo large sums. He suggested the PAP government examine whether its inner circle of influence is too tightly drawn.
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He Ting Ru pauses speech as minister talks over her in Parliament
Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru interrupted her own speech on the Food Security Motion in Singapore's Parliament on Sep 10 after a minister kept talking while she spoke. She posted a clip of the exchange on social media the next day, prompting netizens to praise her and ask who the minister was.
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LKIM rolls out PADAN database to streamline aid, subsidies for fisherfolk
LKIM is now using its Fishermen Database System (PADAN) as the master database to coordinate aid and subsidies for fishing communities nationwide. Its chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said the system speeds up data access, vetting and eligibility screening, and also touched on maritime enforcement and a TVET programme for fishermen's children. He spoke after a MADANI community event in Bukit Gantang.
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CJ: Syed Ahmad Idid's pension is PSD's call, not judiciary's
In Putrajaya, Chief Justice Tun Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said the pension issue of former High Court judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid Syed Abdullah falls under the Public Service Department, not the judiciary. Syed Ahmad Idid has said he was forced to resign in 1996 after writing a letter alleging corruption in the judiciary, which cost him his pension.
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King and Queen extend Malaysia Day greetings
Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Zarith Sofiah, the King and Queen of Malaysia, posted Malaysia Day greetings on the King's Facebook page. They prayed for continued blessings, peace and protection from adversity, and the King expressed gratitude for the unity and harmony among Malaysians of different races.
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Budget to be tabled Oct 9, analysts warn snap polls may force re-tabling
The government will table the latest budget in Parliament on Oct 9, with analysts expecting continued aid payouts and subsidies. RHB Investment Bank Research says if the 16th general election is held before the budget passes, a new government may have to review and re-table it, repeating the 2023 situation.
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China: Philippines' maritime claims in South China Sea illegal
China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that the Philippines' maritime jurisdiction claims are illegal and that it will take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty. The dispute centres on features in the South China Sea including Meiji Jiao, Zhubi Jiao and Zhongye Dao, which Beijing says are part of its Nansha Qundao territory. The Philippines' Maritime Zones Act was also criticised as a grave violation of China's rights.
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Sarawak targets full ePASS rollout to replace paper timber transfer passes by June 2027
Sarawak aims to fully enforce the Electronic Transfer Pass (ePASS) statewide by June 2027, replacing paper-based timber transfer passes with a traceable digital format. The system, developed under the Sarawak Timber and Forest Revenue Tracking System (REVLOG), was launched at the Sheraton Hotel in Kuching and will roll out in three phases starting January 2027 in Kapit, Sibu and Sarikei.
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NTFP Southern Zone Expo 2026 records RM501,677 in sales
The Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Southern Zone Expo 2026 recorded RM501,677.70 in sales, involving 40 community entrepreneurs from across Sarawak. Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said it proves sustainably managed forest resources can generate income for local communities. He spoke at the Sarawak Forest Department's 2025 Excellent Service Awards and 2026 Retirees Appreciation Ceremony in Kuching.