Government & Policy across Malaysia
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Sepang UMNO chief regrets apology questioned as insincere
Sepang UMNO division chief Datuk Noorazli Said apologised after a joke referencing Christian priests and nuns in his speech at the UMNO General Assembly last week. He said he regretted that certain leaders questioned the sincerity of his apology and stressed his respect for other religions.
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Criminologist: unsound-mind acquittal needs treatment, not automatic release
A criminologist says a child acquitted of a serious offence on grounds of unsoundness of mind must still receive psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation and supervision, with any return to society based on clinical and risk assessments. Former Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir explains that legal insanity under Section 84 of the Penal Code concerns the accused's mental state at the time of the offence, and that such an acquittal does not mean the accused walks free.
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SUPP Youth: Umno delegate's religious remarks crossed the line
SUPP Youth Central vice-chairman Kelvin Hii has criticised an Umno delegate for remarks involving priests, nuns and Bible verses made at the recent Umno general assembly. Hii called the remarks insensitive and irresponsible, and urged the delegate to apologise publicly.
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Anwar proposes Malaysia-Maldives Joint Commission in KL this year
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has proposed holding the Malaysia-Maldives Joint Commission in Kuala Lumpur before the end of the year, during a joint press conference with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in Malé. Anwar said the platform would address outstanding bilateral issues, including bureaucratic matters affecting over 2,000 Maldivian students in Malaysia and healthcare access for Maldivians.
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GRS Wanita welcomes more Sabah, Sarawak parliamentary seats
GRS Wanita chief Datuk Seri Azizah Mohd Dun welcomed the Cabinet's decision to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak. She said the move would help bring rural voices to the Federal level, but noted it requires constitutional amendments and parliamentary debate.
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Abang Johari: next term may be my last, PBB must prepare successors
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg said his next term could be his last and that older Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu leaders should make way for younger ones. Speaking at the PBB Northern Zone Special Convention at Miri Indoor Stadium on Sunday, the 76-year-old party president said succession was inevitable and younger leaders must be trained to engage Sarawak's diverse communities.
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Anwar praises Maldives president's principled stand on Palestine
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim praised Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu for his principled stand on the Palestinian issue. Speaking at a joint press conference in Malé, Anwar said Malaysia and the Maldives share broadly similar foreign policy positions, particularly on Gaza.
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PGRS: Sabah, Sarawak need one-third of seats, not token additions
PGRS Supreme Council member Datuk John Ambrose said any review of parliamentary seats must restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal founding partners under MA63, not simply add a few seats. He backed a one-third representation target for the two states combined and called for transparent consultations and a permanent formula to protect Borneo's share in future boundary reviews.
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Arthur: RM1.5b interim payment not a settlement of Sabah's 40pc claim
Pensiangan MP Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the RM1.5 billion interim payment to Sabah is welcome but does not settle the state's constitutional claim to 40 per cent of its net revenue. He said he has raised the matter in the Dewan Rakyat since 2018 and wants a delimitation review to raise Sabah and Sarawak's share of seats, now about 25 to 27 per cent.
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PGRS: RM1.5b interim payment does not settle Sabah's 40pc claim
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah's information chief Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said the Federal Government's raised interim payment of RM1.5 billion to Sabah does not resolve the state's 40 per cent constitutional claim. He said the party welcomes the increase and the in-principle agreement to boost Sabah and Sarawak's parliamentary representation, but insists the 40pc entitlement and other MA63 matters must still be finalised.
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Jeffery: Delay on Sabah's 40pc entitlement eroding public trust
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said continued delay in resolving Sabah's 40 per cent net revenue entitlement is eroding public confidence in both the Federal and Sabah Governments. He said the Kota Kinabalu High Court affirmed the entitlement on Oct 17, 2025, but deadlines were stayed pending the Federal Government's appeal, and the RM1.5 billion interim grant for 2026 should not be treated as a final settlement. He urged the State Legislative Assembly to debate a resolution backing Sabah's claim and said Sarawak deserved a similar formula.
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Warisan leader rejects population-ratio seat plan for Sabah, Sarawak
A Warisan Supreme Council member, Mazliwati Abdul Malek Chua, criticised the Prime Minister's proposal to allocate Sabah and Sarawak parliamentary seats by population ratio. She argued it ignores the constitutional protections, including the Cobbold Commission findings and the one-third representation safeguard, agreed when the two states helped form Malaysia.
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National Climate Change Bill due next year, Sabah and Sarawak role unresolved
The Madani government is preparing to table a National Climate Change Bill in Parliament next year, with AmInvest Research expecting it to be finalised by end-2026 before a carbon tax on steel and energy. How Sabah and Sarawak fit into the federal climate and carbon laws remains an open question, as both states are exempted from the CCUS Bill 2025 and run their own carbon regimes.
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PBS leader puts forward five MA63 proposals for national narrative
A Parti Bersatu Sabah deputy information chief has proposed five measures to make the Malaysia Agreement 1963 part of Malaysia's national narrative, including school curriculum coverage, public access to original documents, stronger Malaysia Day emphasis, a review of the 1976 constitutional amendments, and greater transparency through the MA63 Dashboard. The proposals follow the Prime Minister's suggestion that MA63 be incorporated into the national narrative, which Sabah and Sarawak governments welcomed.
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Singapore retailers cut drink prices up to 50% ahead of Oct 1 deposit logo rule
With the Beverage Container Return Scheme's transition period ending Sept 30, some Singapore retailers and distributors are discounting drinks whose containers lack the 10-cent Return Right deposit mark by up to 50 per cent. From Oct 1, supplying regulated beverages without the mark and barcode becomes an offence under the Resource Sustainability Act, with fines up to $10,000 and/or three months' jail. Don Don Donki and K-Market are among those clearing non-labelled stock.
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Sarawak churches condemn Umno leader's joke, demand apology
The Association of Churches in Sarawak has condemned Umno Sepang chief Datuk Noorazli Said for a crude joke about a Catholic priest and a nun made during the Umno General Assembly. ACS president Rt Rev Datuk Danald Jute demanded an unconditional public retraction and apology, and urged politicians to stop using divisive, faith-disparaging rhetoric.
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Zakir Naik unbothered by Anwar's talks with India on extradition
Preacher Dr Zakir Naik said he is not worried about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent discussions with Indian representatives concerning him. Through his lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader, Zakir said Anwar made no commitment on extradition, and the Indian media report was dismissed as speculation. Zakir is wanted by Indian authorities over money laundering and incitement to extremism.
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NCER seeks fairer Budget 2027 funds for northern states
The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority wants Budget 2027 to direct more balanced and strategic allocations to less-developed parts of the northern region, and to look beyond manufacturing to tourism and agriculture. Its chief executive Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan spoke at a briefing on the NCER Strategic Development Plan 2026-2030, which targets RM470 billion in cumulative investment and RM369 billion in regional GDP by 2030.
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BERSATU Perlis denies claims 40 branches quit party
BERSATU Perlis chairman Izizam Ibrahim has denied claims that dozens of branches in the state have left the party, calling them political games by certain individuals. He said no official resignation letters were received and registration records show only a handful of branches are eligible to meet. The crisis erupted after leaders in the Padang Besar, Kangar and Arau divisions announced their resignations.
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Fahmi Hands Malaysia Day Invitation to Sarawak Governor
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil made a courtesy call on Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at Astana Negeri Sarawak in Kuching to present an official invitation to the Malaysia Day celebration. The event will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) tomorrow night, with about 5,000 people expected, including the Prime Minister and the Sarawak Premier.
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WFGT 2026 conference in KL highlights PETRONAS Twin Towers
The World Federation of Great Towers (WFGT) 2026 conference opened in Kuala Lumpur today. KLCC (Holdings) CEO Datuk Mohd Salem Kailany said the PETRONAS Twin Towers are not just a landmark but a symbol of Malaysia's identity and a catalyst for tourism, business and economic activity. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Lo Su Fui also attended.
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Nancy: 4.89 million women outside labour force, care economy framework 2026-2030 launched
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Nancy Shukri said 4.89 million women are outside the labour force, with 42.8 per cent citing domestic and care responsibilities as the main reason. She announced the Malaysian Care Strategic Framework and Action Plan 2026-2030 to strengthen the care economy and boost women's participation in the labour market.
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Anwar arrives in Maldives for two-day official visit
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at Velana International Airport in the Maldives last night to begin a two-day official visit. He was received by President Mohamed Muizzu and said he hoped the trip would strengthen Malaysia-Maldives ties built over nearly six decades.
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New MyKad applications open Sept 17, no need to rush, says Saifuddin
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has advised Malaysians not to rush to National Registration Department offices to replace their MyKad when applications for the new version open on Sept 17. The new card carries about 50 additional security features and will be rolled out in phases, with existing MyKads remaining valid. He also said JPN handles 13,000 to 15,000 unregistered birth cases each year.