Government & Policy news in Malaysia
-
NCER targets RM470 billion in investments by 2030
The Northern Corridor Economic Region is targeting RM470 billion in cumulative investments by 2030 under its newly launched Strategic Development Plan 2026-2030. The plan covers Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak and aims to lift regional GDP to RM369 billion and create 310,000 jobs. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the blueprint translates the 13th Malaysia Plan into a regional growth strategy.
-
Government announces 250MW FiT quota for 2027, expects RM3bil investment
PETRA announced a new 250MW quota under the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) programme for 2027, expected to generate RM3 billion in investment and over 5,000 jobs. The quota is offered to renewable energy developers in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, with applications via e-bidding on the SEDA Malaysia website from Feb 3 to March 24, 2027.
-
Kon Yeow: Guan Eng's challenge to Zahid is not official PH stand
Chow Kon Yeow says Lim Guan Eng's challenge to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to push for UMNO's removal from the Penang state government is not an official party position. The Penang PH chairman says no party directive has been issued and everyone should wait for the PH Presidential Council's decision.
-
Fatimah Abdullah launches Estella Child Development Centre in Kuching
Sarawak's women, children and community wellbeing minister Fatimah Abdullah launched the Estella Child Development Centre in Kuching today. She urged parents and teachers to keep drawing out the talents of special-needs children so they can earn a living and stand on their own. She also praised Sarawak's ParaSUKMA athletes, who won 138 medals, as proof of what that group can achieve.
- You saw it first Something happening near you? Post it. Road closed, night market moved, burst pipe, lost pet — share it nearby. Post something nearby →
-
FINAS seeks stronger film ecosystem in Budget 2027
FINAS hopes Budget 2027 will keep supporting Malaysia's film and creative content industry to strengthen its value chain and competitiveness. Chairman Datuk Dr Hans Isaac said government backing matters for production, marketing, post-production and talent development involving about 30,000 workers. FINAS is also reviewing its funding mechanisms and the use of its Hulu Kelang complex.
-
PAS central leadership decides to work with BN for Melaka state election
A party source says PAS's central leadership has decided to cooperate with Barisan Nasional to contest the coming Melaka state election, avoiding a clash between Malay-Muslim parties. The decision was made at a PAS central committee meeting at its Kuala Lumpur headquarters, but must still be endorsed by the party's top leadership before formal talks with BN begin.
-
Baru Bian: Noorazli's Catholic joke at Umno assembly wrong, Psalm 129 reference false
Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian has criticised Sepang Umno chief Datuk Noorazli Said over a sexually suggestive joke about a Catholic priest and nun made at the party's general assembly, saying it misused scripture. Baru backed the Catholic Lawyers' Society of Kuala Lumpur's call for Noorazli to retract the remarks and apologise, and said leaders should build bridges rather than ridicule religions.
-
KPKM tightens integrity monitoring of agencies after Kedah fertiliser probe
Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will strengthen monitoring of governance, integrity and financial management across its agencies and subsidiaries, Minister Mohamad Sabu said. The statement follows an MACC investigation into a fertiliser supplier director over delays in distributing Baja 3 in the MADA area of Kedah, where only 333,655 of 616,015 bags were delivered by September.
-
Communications Ministry ready for Malaysia Day celebration at Kuching Borneo Convention Centre
The 2026 national Malaysia Day celebration will be held on September 16 at the Borneo Convention Centre in Kuching, with the Communications Ministry completing final preparations. Minister Fahmi said sound system issues raised during rehearsals were addressed immediately, and MCMC has been asked to ensure media facilities including high-speed internet. The event was moved indoors because of recent haze affecting Sarawak.
-
SC: Malaysia needs RM3.47 trillion to RM4.5 trillion for climate adaptation by 2050
Securities Commission Malaysia chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said Malaysia will need between US$852 billion and US$1.1 trillion for climate adaptation by 2050, citing World Bank figures. Speaking at the SC-AlBaraka Forum Strategic Dialogue in London, he said adaptation projects are often unbankable and called for blended finance to draw in private capital.
-
PBB veteran wants Abang Johari to stay on as Sarawak premier until 2030
A veteran of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Peter Minos, has urged Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg not to step down and to lead until 2030. The appeal follows Abang Johari's hint that this term may be his last, with the Sarawak state assembly's term ending in February.
-
PBDS condemns religious joke at Umno assembly, demands apology
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has condemned the use of Catholic religious figures and scripture as material for a political joke at the recent Umno general assembly. Its president Dr John Brian Anthony said religion should not be turned into political entertainment and called for an unconditional apology to the Catholic and Christian community.
-
China's new exit rules bar citizens deemed a tech security risk from leaving
China's new exit-and-entry rules took effect on Sept 15, allowing authorities to bar citizens deemed a threat to national technology security from leaving the country for six months to three years. Foreign nationals may also be denied entry for one to five years over false visa statements. Taiwan has warned its citizens, especially tech workers, to take extra care when visiting China.
-
Selangor Umno to decide on delegate over priest-nun joke, says Azalina
Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said says any action against a Selangor Umno delegate over a controversial priest-nun analogy at the 2026 Umno general assembly will be decided by the Selangor Umno liaison body. She said she did not believe the delegate intended to insult anyone, but acknowledged religious figures should not be used as analogies. Sepang Umno chief Noorazli Said has said he is prepared to apologise to Christians if the joke caused offence.
-
Cambodia, Thailand begin maritime dispute conciliation talks in Singapore
Cambodia and Thailand have started a formal conciliation process to settle their maritime boundary dispute, with talks held in Singapore. Cambodia's foreign minister called it a way to rebuild trust, while Thailand's foreign minister said Bangkok joined in good faith despite having earlier proposed direct negotiations first. The UNCLOS process involves an independent panel whose findings are not legally binding.
-
Economist defends April BUDI95 quota cut as economically sound
A Universiti Teknologi Mara economist said the April cut in the BUDI95 quota from 300 to 200 litres was reasonable because global oil prices were high. Tan Peck Leong said the government did not withdraw subsidies or raise the RON95 price, but limited subsidised petrol purchases. He rejected the claim that restoring the quota was purely a political move.
-
US judge blocks new visa limits for foreign students and journalists
A US federal judge in Washington postponed a Trump administration policy that would have capped student visas at four years and cut foreign journalists' stays to 240 days, with Chinese journalists limited to 90 days. The preliminary injunction came a day before the rules were to take effect, and another hearing is set for October 2.
-
Fahmi: Malaysia Day 2026 preparations at BCCK Kuching on track, media internet assured
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil inspected final preparations for the 2026 Malaysia Day celebrations at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Monday night and said they were satisfactory. He said internet coverage at BCCK is at an optimum level for media practitioners, with MCMC confirming all telco equipment is installed and working. About 5,000 people are expected at the 8.15pm event on Sept 16, to be graced by Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and attended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg.
-
RTD to step up Op PEWA enforcement against foreign motorists
The Road Transport Department will intensify enforcement against foreigners driving without valid documents, and vehicle owners who lend them vehicles will also face action. Director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli said the move follows existing operations such as Op PEWA, with hotspots identified in several states.
-
Hamzah not invited to Umno assembly, Malay pact may be Umno-PAS only
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin's absence from Umno's recent general assembly has sparked speculation that the Malay alliance Umno is pursuing may involve only PAS. Analysts say Umno prefers a direct relationship with PAS over cooperation with the wider Perikatan Nasional, and Hamzah's bitter history with Umno is a factor.
-
LDP leader: religion should not be a political joke after Umno assembly incident
Liberal Democratic Party vice president Sim Fui said religion should never be turned into a political joke, following a recent joke involving a Catholic priest and nun at the Umno General Assembly. He said the incident concerned Christians in Sabah and urged the individual involved to apologise sincerely and unconditionally.
-
Sepang Umno chief defends apology over clergy joke, tells DAP critics only God can judge sincerity
Sepang Umno chief Noorazli Said has defended his apology for a lewd joke about a priest and a nun made at the Umno general assembly, telling DAP leaders they are in no position to judge his sincerity. A police report was filed against him and several Umno figures had demanded he apologise. He says he meant no insult to Christians and accepts his Bible reference was inaccurate.
-
Sarawak police chief Mohamad Zainal to be Bukit Aman management director from Oct 19
Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah will move to Bukit Aman as management director, effective Oct 19. He replaces Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid, now deputy inspector-general of police. The Sarawak police contingent headquarters posted a congratulatory message praising his leadership.
-
Armed Forces chief proposes reviving NTF to curb undocumented migrant entry
Malaysia's Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman has proposed reviving an integrated operation modelled on the disbanded National Task Force (NTF) to curb the entry of undocumented migrants. The proposal was discussed in the National Movement Planning Committee and forwarded to the National Security Council for the government's consideration. The NTF, which involved 18 government agencies, was officially dissolved on 31 December 2022.