Government & Policy across Malaysia
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Mustapha: Hari Malaysia a platform to strengthen unity, not destabilise the nation
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the Hari Malaysia celebration should strengthen unity and harmony, not threaten national stability. In his Hari Malaysia 2026 message, he also touched on MA63 implementation, additional parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, and Sabah's interim special grant rising to RM1.5 billion.
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Armizan: Malaysia Day 63rd celebration should be a space to appreciate nation's formation
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the 63rd Malaysia Day celebration should be a space for society to appreciate the history and meaning of the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. He stressed that MA63 remains relevant and binding, and the country does not need a new agreement or 'new deal'.
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Agong extends 93rd Armed Forces Day greetings to all personnel
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim conveyed 93rd Malaysian Armed Forces Day greetings to all ATM personnel via a Facebook post today. He also expressed appreciation for the sacrifices of serving members and veterans and prayed for their wellbeing.
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Lo Khere Chiang says Sarawak still needs Abang Johari to finish transformation plans
SUPP deputy secretary-general Datuk Lo Khere Chiang said Sarawak still needs Abang Johari Tun Openg's experience to complete major transformation initiatives. He was responding to Abang Johari's recent remarks about his age and eventual leadership succession at the PBB Northern Zone Special Convention in Miri on Sept 13. Lo cited renewable energy, hydrogen, the ART, a new airport and deep-sea port as projects that need continuity.
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Sarawak governor's Malaysia Day message: development must reach elderly, disabled and rural folk
Sarawak's Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Wan Junaidi, said in a Malaysia Day message that national development must benefit everyone, with no one excluded, naming the elderly, disabled, rural residents and vulnerable groups. He cited regional development agencies including NRDA, URDA, SADA and HDA as channelling funds into interior roads, clean water and electricity so indigenous and longhouse communities share in modern development. He called for unity to build a fairer, more caring nation.
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Kedah UMNO meets Sanusi, formal talks with PAS to be arranged
Kedah UMNO chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said an informal meeting with Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor at Seri Mentaloon yesterday gave an early indication of more serious talks. He will inform UMNO's central leadership before any next step is arranged with Kedah PAS ahead of GE16.
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Chow: Penang's diversity is its strength, RM17.3b investments in H1 2026
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in his Malaysia Day 2026 message that the state's diversity is a core strength, not a dividing line. He cited RM17.3 billion in approved manufacturing investments for the first half of 2026, a rise in average household income to RM7,386, and 11 per cent growth in international passenger traffic at Penang International Airport. Chow also listed the Mutiara Line LRT, the Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway, PILA, the PIA expansion and Silicon Island as key projects.
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Malaysia loses RM3.2bil a year to illicit tobacco, study finds
A policy paper by the Centre for Market Education estimates Malaysia loses about US$775 million (RM3.2 billion) in tobacco tax revenue each year to illicit trade, with illegal products making up 55 per cent of consumption. The study covers 14 Asia-Pacific economies and says the problem is a fiscal and policy-design challenge, not just an enforcement one.
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Lawyer: Najib's pardon bid delayed over serious, high-profile case
Najib Razak's application for a full pardon has been deferred to a future Pardons Board meeting, after Sultan Ibrahim's decision last Friday. Senior lawyer Datuk M Reza Hassan said the delay may stem from the seriousness and high profile of the case, the RM42 million SRC International conviction, and ongoing civil suits. He added it may also be to avoid the perception of a pardon as a political gift.
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Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign extended to end-2027
The government through MOTAC has extended the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign until the end of 2027 to give the global tourism market time to recover fully. The decision follows continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and this season's haze, which has hit outdoor tourism. Tourism Malaysia is targeting 47 million international arrivals by the end of 2026.
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New Zealand parliament approves India free trade agreement bill
New Zealand's parliament approved the bill to implement its free trade agreement with India on September 16, by 93 votes to 29. Tariffs will be removed or cut on nearly 95% of New Zealand exports to India.
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Armizan: MA63 remains binding, Malaysia does not need a 'new deal'
GRS secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali said Malaysia does not need a new agreement because the commitments and responsibilities under MA63 remain relevant and binding. He urged Malaysians to understand the meaning of Malaysia Day and accept MA63's place in the nation's formation.
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Hannah Yeoh says she gave honest view in Najib pardon meeting
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said she gave an honest and frank view on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pardon application at the Pardons Board meeting on 11 September. She said the view was given after studying the Attorney General's written opinion and in her capacity as a board member and the minister responsible for the Federal Territories, following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decision to defer the application to a future meeting.
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Jamus Lim: WP formula puts MR4 minister pay at about S$1.08m, not S$1.8m
Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim said the party's own formula for ministerial pay works out to about S$1.08 million for the lowest MR4 tier, roughly three-fifths of the S$1.8 million the salary committee proposed. Lim, who missed the Parliament debate while in Taiwan with residents, said the government's benchmark against top corporate earners differs fundamentally from the WP's public-service principle.
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RELA's RM8 hourly allowance should be reviewed, activist says
The RM8 hourly allowance for RELA volunteers is no longer seen as fitting given their workload and the rising cost of living. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of Pertubuhan Ikatan Komuniti Selamat, backed a review because the rate falls below the minimum wage. The Home Minister had earlier said the allowance should be revised to a reasonable range.
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Guan Eng repeats call for Umno to be dropped from Penang govt
DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng has renewed his call for Umno to be removed from the Penang state government, saying it has no value while working with Perikatan Nasional and Pas. He also criticised Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow for brushing off his statement, and said the final decision rests with DAP and PH central leadership.
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Malaysia Day 2026: MA63's 11 articles and the five parties who signed
As Malaysia marks its 63rd Malaysia Day on Sept 16, the article revisits the Malaysia Agreement 1963 signed in London on July 9, 1963 by the UK, the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore. It sets out the treaty's 11 articles, covering the formation of Malaysia, the Malaysia Bill, state constitutions, sovereignty, immigration and defence. The agreement was registered with the United Nations in 1970 as Treaty Series No. 10760.
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Kuching archbishop urges Malaysians to reject divisive rhetoric on Malaysia Day
Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, called on Malaysians to reject political and religious rhetoric that divides society. He was responding to a viral video of Sepang Umno chief Noorazli Said making an inappropriate joke about priests and nuns at the Umno general assembly. The statement followed the National Catholic Pastoral Convention held in Sibu, Sarawak, from Sept 9 to 13.
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Selangor, Kedah Sultans issue Malaysia Day messages
Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin conveyed Malaysia Day 2026 greetings via the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page, urging unity. Sultan Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah also issued a Malaysia Day message.
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Maritime expert seeks written explanation on RM220m K8 cargo handling at Tanjung Langsat
Maritime expert Datuk Seri R Jeyenderan has urged authorities to issue a written explanation on the regulatory treatment of two petroleum cargoes worth over RM220 million under Customs K8 procedure at Tanjung Langsat, Johor. He said tank records, cargo custody and testing are key to determining how the cargo was handled after discharge, and that his company acted only as ship agent. MACC said its checks so far found no basis for an offence under the MACC Act 2009.
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Selangor Sultan urges Malaysians to strengthen unity on Malaysia Day
Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has called on all Malaysians to strengthen unity and cherish the peace the country enjoys as Malaysia Day is marked. He also urged people to nurture tolerance and mutual respect regardless of race, religion or culture. The message was posted on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page.
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Aaron Ago Dagang: National interests must come before racial and religious differences
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said Malaysians must keep strengthening their shared identity, with national interests placed above racial, religious and regional differences. In a Facebook post for the 63rd Malaysia Day, he urged people to respect one another and preserve the unity and harmony that underpin the country's peace and stability.
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Wan Junaidi: Malaysia Day a time to reflect on unity and maturity
Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Malaysia Day should be a platform for reflection on building a mature and inclusive society. In his Malaysia Day message, he called for a culture of excellence and for vulnerable groups not to be left behind. He also urged more young Sarawakians to become scientists, engineers and technology founders.
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Policy paper: Illicit tobacco costs Malaysia about USD775 million a year
The Center for Market Education published a new policy paper estimating Asia-Pacific governments lose USD14.85 billion in tax revenue to illicit tobacco trade. Malaysia is estimated to lose about USD775 million a year, with illicit market share reaching 55%. The study urges governments to shift focus from tax rates to actual revenue performance.