KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit ended firmly against major currencies and regional peers ahead of the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting, as its decision is expected to play a critical role in setting the market tone going forward.

However, the ringgit eased against the US dollar at 6pm today to 3.9600/3.9635 from 3.9540/3.9575 at yesterday’s close.

MORE TO COME

KUALA TERENGGANU: Two employees of a statutory body in Terengganu have been remanded for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to about RM30,000 in exchange for issuing competency certificates.

A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source said the two men, who worked as teaching staff at the statutory body, were remanded for four days until May 8. They were arrested yesterday when they gave their statements at the state MACC office.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that both suspects allegedly colluded to commit the offence last year, with the bribes solicited in exchange for the ‘immediate approval’ of competency certificates for course participants.

“Both suspects are believed to have received between RM900 and RM1,500 for each of the 31 participants, with payments made via bank transfers into their personal accounts,” the source said.

The source also said the commission was investigating whether the certification fraud occurred on a larger scale, adding that all certificates issued by the agency might be reviewed to verify their authenticity.

Terengganu MACC director Hazrul Shazreen Abd Yazid confirmed the arrests and remand, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 for soliciting, receiving, or agreeing to accept gratification.

He did not rule out the possibility of further arrests in the case.

PETALING JAYA: A man detained for the murder of an elderly woman in Taman Desa Aman, Ipoh, is believed to have been intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin said the motive behind the killing of the 70-year-old was still under investigation, Berita Harian reported.

“Initial investigations found that the suspect had previously received psychiatric treatment and was intoxicated when arrested. Checks at the scene also uncovered several cans of beer,” he told reporters after an event at Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Seri Iskandar.

Noor Hisam said a medical record book was found on the suspect, showing that he had received psychiatric treatment at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta.

He also said that although the suspect and the victim were neighbours, they were not close as they lived on separate lanes about 50m apart.

He added that the suspect’s blood sample was sent to the chemistry department for analysis and that the police were still tracking down witnesses to assist in the probe.

Earlier today, Ipoh police chief Najib Hamzah said the woman was found dead last night at a house in Taman Desa Aman, Ipoh, with slash wounds to her neck.

Hamzah said the victim also had other injuries, including cuts to her body and head, believed to have been inflicted with a sharp weapon.

The 52-year-old suspect was arrested at the crime scene. A parang believed to have been used in the attack was recovered at the same location.

The victim’s body was sent to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for a post-mortem.

Investigators have classified the case as murder.

BUCHAREST: Romania’s parliament will vote on a motion of no confidence that could oust liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, deepening political turmoil in the country, an EU and Nato member bordering Ukraine.

Romania’s biggest party, the Social Democrats (PSD), quit the government last month and joined forces with the far right to file the motion, a move which draw criticism of legitimising a surging far right.

AUR, Romania’s main far-right party, has surpassed the PSD in surveys since the last parliamentary elections, sitting at around 37%.

By joining forces with AUR, PSD has turned it “into a significant political player, from a party that was isolated, ostracised and kept on the margins of the political system”, political scientist Costin Ciobanu told AFP.

Tensions with the PSD escalated as Bolojan pushed for unpopular austerity measures to reduce the deficit, the biggest in the EU.

Analysts expect the motion against Bolojan to pass, leading to tough negotiations to form a new government.

Parliament began to debate the motion soon after 11am, with the vote expected in the afternoon.

Signed by 254 MPs when it was filed, the motion needs 233 votes to pass in the 465-seat parliament.

Pro-EU President Nicusor Dan has given assurances that the eastern European country of 19 million people will keep its pro-Western direction, ruling out the possibility of a far-right government.

“Political discussions will be difficult, but it is my responsibility as president – and that of the political parties – to steer Romania in the right direction,” he told reporters on Monday.

‘Impasse’ 

Bolojan’s liberals, the PSD and two other pro-EU parties formed a government last year following elections in which the far right won an unprecedented third of parliamentary seats.

The deal ended a stretch of political tumult, marked by the annulment of presidential elections over allegations of Russian interference in December 2024.

The no-confidence motion against Bolojan, 57, now threatens to revive the turmoil.

“I think there’s a very good chance this motion will pass,” political scientist Costin Ciobanu, a researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, said.

He added weeks of political negotiations were likely to follow, which could see a new government of the same four pro-EU parties but with a different premier.

“We’re seeing this existential anxiety within the Social Democratic Party” which “doesn’t know what it should do right now to get back to where it used to be”, Ciobanu added.

The alliance between the PSD and the far right to file the motion also drew criticism from centre-right parties, which accused the Social Democrats of straying from the pro-EU track.

Around 30 NGOs also asked for the Party of European Socialists to suspend the PSD if they collaborate further with the far right, while one PSD senator has resigned from the party in protest.

The PSD has insisted there is “no post-motion political agreement whatsoever” with the far right, only “a common goal” to dismiss the Bolojan government.

Since the crisis erupted, the interest rates at which Romania borrows have risen, and the currency has depreciated against the euro, which reached an all-time high of 5.19 Romanian lei on Monday.

Romania, which had a deficit of 7.9% of GDP in the fourth quarter of last year, has been subject to an EU excessive deficit procedure since 2020.

PETALING JAYA: Langkawi semakin ketinggalan di belakang pesaing serantau walaupun merekodkan 3.2 juta ketibaan pelancong tahun lepas, kata Teresa Kok, menyifatkan kekurangan itu berpunca daripada tadbir urus kerajaan negeri yang lemah.

Menurut Ahli Parlimen DAP Seputeh itu, Phuket mencatat sekitar 12.74 juta pelancong antara Januari dan November 2025, manakala Bali menarik 33.56 juta pelancong tahun lepas.

Kok turut menggariskan perbezaan pertumbuhan tersebut, di mana ketibaan pelancong ke Bali meningkat 17.16 juta dari 2024 hingga 2025, sementara Phuket mencatatkan kenaikan sebanyak 4.35 juta.

Sebaliknya, katanya, angka bagi Langkawi hanya bertambah 311,101 dalam tempoh yang sama.

“Melihat kepada angka tersebut secara terasing mungkin nampak positif, namun apabila dibandingkan dengan pesaing serantau, ia mendedahkan satu realiti pahit.

“Langkawi kini sedang tewas dalam persaingan pelancongan Asean akibat kegagalan tadbir urus kerajaan Kedah,” katanya dalam hantaran Facebook.

Beliau menyangkal dakwaan bahawa agensi persekutuan Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (Lada) patut dipertanggungjawabkan atas prestasi pelancongan pulau itu.

Kok menegaskan, Langkawi berada di bawah bidang kuasa Kedah dan mempersoalkan sama ada kerajaan negeri sudah cukup berusaha mempromosikan pulau berkenaan.

Beliau juga mengkritik kerajaan Kedah pimpinan PAS kerana menentang kegiatan ekonomi tertentu atas alasan moral, memberi amaran bahawa pendirian sedemikian boleh menyekat pertumbuhan industri pelancongan.

Kok merujuk kepada acara berskala besar seperti Pesta Muzik Air Rain Rave di Bukit Bintang, yang dilaporkan menarik 180,000 pengunjung dan menjana kegiatan ekonomi sekitar RM200 juta, sebagai contoh inisiatif yang boleh memberi manfaat kepada Langkawi.

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian man armed with two knives was arrested last night after running amok near some shophouses at Damansara Perdana here.

Petaling Jaya police chief Shamsudin Mamat said they were notified about the incident at around 7pm, and that policemen dispatched to the scene found the suspect near the staircase of one of the shophouses.

“The policemen approached the suspect and ordered him to hand over the weapons. He was then arrested without any untoward incident occurring,” he said, according to Berita Harian.

An investigation paper has been opened against the suspect for carrying an offensive weapon in a public place for unlawful purposes. He will be remanded until May 7.

PETALING JAYA: A Year 2 pupil died this afternoon after a van crashed into her at the entrance of SK Seri Maimon near Parit Sulong, Johor.

Nur Aini Umairah Fareez, eight, was reportedly hit by the van as she was leaving the school at around 12.40pm, Berita Harian reported.

Medical officers confirmed her death at the scene.

The van was reportedly leaving the school compound after delivering some goods and was exiting the gate when it crashed into the girl. The incident was witnessed by several parents who were there to pick up their children.

The girl’s body has been sent to Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital for an autopsy, while Batu Pahat police chief Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani confirmed that an investigation had been launched.

PETALING JAYA: Seorang murid perempuan Tahun 2 dilaporkan maut selepas dilanggar van di hadapan sekolah rendah di Parit Sulong, Batu Pahat, Johor, tengah hari tadi.

Menurut laporan Berita Harian, mangsa Nur Aini Umairah Mohd Fareez, 8, disahkan meninggal dunia di lokasi kejadian akibat kecederaan parah di kepala.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira 12.40 tengah hari, mangsa dilaporkan baru selesai sesi persekolahan di SK Seri Maimon sebelum bergerak keluar dari pintu pagar sekolah.

Difahamkan, van terbabit ketika itu juga keluar dari pagar sekolah selepas menghantar barang, namun dikatakan tidak menyedari keberadaan mangsa.

Kejadian disaksikan beberapa ibu bapa yang kebetulan menunggu anak masing-masing pulang dari sekolah.

Jenazah kanak-kanak itu dibawa ke Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail (HSNI) untuk bedah siasat.

Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Batu Pahat, Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani, mengesahkan menerima laporan kejadian.

Katanya, kenyataan berhubung kejadian akan dikeluarkan dalam masa terdekat sebaik siasatan awal selesai.

PETALING JAYA: The Sabah government will study a proposal to revive barter trade between the state and the southern Philippines, says chief minister Hajiji Noor.

Hajiji said although the state had received numerous proposals on the matter, a detailed study must first be conducted to consider various factors.

He said the State Development Action Council and the National Security Council would discuss the matter in their meetings.

“We will study this … All aspects will be taken into account, especially security and its benefits to our economy,” he said in a statement.

Last week, Sungai Manila assemblyman Hazem Mubarak Musa urged the government to reconsider the barter trade system as a way to revive Sandakan’s economy.

He said the activity would not only boost Sabah’s economy, but also help attract investors to Sandakan, according to the Sabah News portal.

Esszone facilities in good condition

Hajiji also said he inspected the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) and found that security facilities, including control posts, were in good condition after being upgraded.

He said he had raised the need for additional assets with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, noting that further enhancements were still required to strengthen maritime surveillance.

Hajiji also said he was reassured by the security situation along Sabah’s east coast, adding that no incidents had been reported for some time.

He added that a secure environment would encourage more tourist arrivals.

The Esszone is a special security area spanning some 1,700km of coastline in the east coast of Sabah.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has identified 167 trees requiring urgent attention under a new tree monitoring system using satellite and artificial intelligence.

Mayor Rajendran P Anthony said the trees were among 3,736 flagged for monitoring and further action under MBPP’s “Smart Sight Trees” system, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

He said the RM988,000 system, developed by local firm Spacegen, covers 12,531 trees across 44 sq km in the northeast district. The one-year project began last July and will run until this July.

Rajendran said the northeast district was chosen because most tree-fall incidents on the island were recorded there. He added that satellite images had been taken for the entire island, with further analysis to follow.

He said the system uses satellite imagery that can detect changes in leaf colour and canopy condition. The data is then analysed using AI to identify potentially unhealthy trees.

Rajendran said the system had an accuracy rate of up to 94%, but stressed that it would not replace inspections by arborists.

“Once the satellite image provides a reading, the site must still be inspected to determine whether the tree can be saved,” he said at the council’s town hall here.

Rajendran said 31 of the 167 high-risk trees had already been inspected and action had been taken. He added that MBPP will prioritise high-risk trees, with follow-up checks potentially including tests for internal decay, termite damage, or hollow sections.

“If a tree cannot be saved, it will be cut down. The priority is public safety,” he told reporters, adding that five trees would be replanted for every tree felled.

Rajendran said MBPP recorded 1,484 cases of fallen trees or broken branches last year. As of May this year, 46 cases had been recorded. The council felled 131 trees in 2024, 293 last year, and 89 so far this year. It also maintained 40,144 trees last year and 16,725 up to May this year.

He noted that many urban trees were old, with an average age of around 80 years, and estimated that 10-20% could be more than 100 years old. He added that road-widening and drainage works had affected tree root systems.

“On one side, we widen the road; on the other, we widen the drain. So the roots are affected,” he said.

Rajendran said MBPP has three arborists, and the new system will help them focus on trees requiring urgent inspection. He added that the council would continue using the system beyond July as efforts to improve tree safety across the island continue.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia reversed earlier losses to end higher today as buying interest gained momentum in the afternoon session, said an analyst.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said while the late rebound indicates some buying support, overall market participation remains selective as investors assess ongoing geopolitical developments and elevated oil prices.

“The local bourse remained cautious despite today’s positive close, as underlying sentiment continues to be influenced by external uncertainties.

“Looking ahead, we expect the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) to trade in a consolidation mode with a slight upward bias, supported by selective accumulation in key sectors. In the near term, the index is expected to move within the 1,710-1,750 range,” he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Sedek Jantan said today’s performance showed measured resilience despite rising geopolitical tensions, with gains concentrated in petroleum-linked heavyweights as crude oil held firm near US$110 (RM435.82) per barrel amid emerging strains in the US-Iran ceasefire.

The move highlights how the index’s composition remains tactically leveraged to energy price dynamics, allowing oil-related names to cushion broader risk-off sentiment.

“The index trended higher through the mid-afternoon and sustained momentum into the close, suggesting steady institutional accumulation rather than momentum-driven buying.

“While elevated oil prices are providing near-term support, the durability of this uptrend will depend on whether geopolitical risk translates into sustained earnings upgrades rather than remaining a sentiment-driven catalyst,” he said.

At 5pm, the FBM KLCI rose 7.66 points, or 0.44%, to close at 1,747.43 from yesterday’s close of 1,739.77.

The benchmark index, which opened 1.97 points lower at 1,737.80, moved between a low of 1,732.64 and a high of 1,747.82 throughout the day.

Market breadth was negative with losers leading gainers 605 to 539. A total of 599 counters were unchanged, 889 untraded, and 11 suspended.

Turnover decreased to 2.86 billion units, worth RM2.59 billion, compared with 3.05 billion units, worth RM2.55 billion, yesterday.

Among heavyweights, Maybank fell eight sen to RM11.20, IHH Healthcare erased four sen to RM8.83, CIMB jumped 20 sen to RM7.89, while both Public Bank and Tenaga Nasional were flat at RM4.75 and RM14.80, respectively.

On the most active list, Zetrix AI inched up 0.5 sen to 86.5 sen, GIIB Holdings went up 2.5 sen to 18.5 sen, Tanco added one sen to RM1.62, Straits Energy Resources lost three sen to 4.5 sen, and UEM Sunrise slid one sen to 63 sen.

Among the top gainers, Petronas Dagangan garnered 24 sen to RM20.34, and Telekom Malaysia put on 19 sen to RM7.80. Petronas Chemicals and Hong Leong Industries advanced 22 sen each to RM5.92 and RM17.92, respectively.

Among the top losers, Nestle dropped RM2.10 to RM101.70, Malaysian Pacific Industries declined 50 sen to RM37.50, Fraser & Neave dipped 46 sen to RM29.56, Hong Leong Bank shed 20 sen to RM22.10, and Malayan Cement slipped 19 sen to RM6.71.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index climbed 39.57 points to 12,887.34, the FBM Top 100 Index soared 42.58 points to 12,731.62, the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 42.10 points to 12,866.55, and the FBM Mid 70 Index rose 4.27 points to 18,269.48.

However, the FBM ACE Index declined 34.99 points to 4,601.07.

By sector, the financial services index strengthened 44.01 points to 20,134.33, the industrial products and services index ticked up 1.45 points to 197.67, and the plantation index improved 33.43 points to 9,007.20, while the energy index fell 2.08 points to 835.63.

The Main Market volume slipped to 1.67 billion units valued at RM2.38 billion from 1.74 billion units valued at RM2.27 billion yesterday.

Warrants turnover shrank to 871.29 million units worth RM113.70 million from 918.52 million units worth RM146.22 million previously.

The ACE Market volume decreased to 319.05 million units valued at RM96.14 million from 388.84 million units valued at RM132.46 million yesterday.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 219.52 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (288.34 million), construction (161.44 million), technology (305.67 million), financial services (62.4 million), property (192.77 million), plantation (29.78 million), real estate investment trusts (18.05 million), closed-end fund (18,000), energy (160.97 million), healthcare (106.99 million), telecommunications and media (26.68 million), transportation and logistics (48.49 million), utilities (45.5 million), and business trusts (314,700).

PETALING JAYA: Kedah Pakatan Harapan says it still enjoys a good relationship with Barisan Nasional, despite BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying the coalition is “almost certain” to go solo in the next general election.

Kedah PH deputy chief Asmirul Anuar Aris said the state chapter’s cooperation with BN in the northern state would continue, though it was open to going solo in the next election.

Asmirul said the coalition was prepared to remain flexible in its approach, as long as this did not compromise the interests of the people.

“We are open to any form of approach, whether contesting (with BN) or separately, as long as it does not affect the interests of the people,” he said in a statement.

The state Amanah chief said Kedah PH respected Zahid’s stance on the possibility of BN going solo at the polls, describing it as part of the current political dynamics.

“However, it must be emphasised that until now, there has not been any official decision by PH and BN at the national level.”

On Sunday, Zahid said it was highly likely that BN would contest the 16th general election on its own.

However, the Umno president said the coalition would consider reaching an understanding with other parties or coalitions to avoid seat overlaps and multi-cornered contests.

Kedah’s next state election is only due in 2028 as its last polls were held in August 2023, along with five other states – Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Perikatan Nasional nearly made a clean sweep of state seats in the 2023 Kedah polls, winning 33 while PH won three and BN failed to win a single state constituency.

PETALING JAYA: The main suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Nurfisya Zulkipli whose body was discovered with 61 stab wounds in Kampung Simah, Ketereh, is expected to be charged in court on Thursday.

Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat said the suspect, believed to be Nurfisya’s 19-year-old boyfriend, would be charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

“Another suspect has been released on police bail. Investigations into the case are about 70% complete and once completed, the case will be handed over to the prosecution,” he was quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying.

On May 2, Yusoff said jealousy was believed to be the motive behind the murder, and preliminary investigations indicated that an argument broke out between the suspect and the victim before her death.

He also said Nurfisya was believed to have been stabbed in the suspect’s car.

Police arrested three men and one woman, including two senior citizens, in raids on two separate locations in Ketereh on May 1.

Police also seized a knife believed to have been used in the incident, along with two cars, two mobile phones, a set of clothing and a pair of slippers, among other items.

Investigators believe Nurfisya, a third-year student at a college in Perak, was killed at another location before her body was dumped near a padi field in Kampung Simah, where she was found.

PETALING JAYA: Langkawi is falling behind regional competitors despite recording 3.2 million tourist arrivals last year, says DAP’s Teresa Kok, who attributes the shortfall to weak state governance.

The Seputeh MP noted that Phuket recorded about 12.74 million visitors between January and November 2025 while Bali attracted 33.56 million tourists last year.

Kok also highlighted growth differences, noting that Bali’s tourist arrivals increased by 17.16 million from 2024 to 2025, while Phuket saw a rise of 4.35 million.

She said that in contrast, Langkawi’s numbers grew by just 311,101 over the same period.

“Viewed in isolation, Langkawi’s figure appears positive. But a comparison with regional competitors reveals a harsher reality,” she said in a Facebook post.

“Langkawi is currently losing the Asean tourism race due to the Kedah state government’s failure in governance.”

She dismissed claims that the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada), a federal agency, should be held responsible for the island’s tourism performance.

Kok stressed that Langkawi is under Kedah’s jurisdiction and questioned whether the state government was doing enough to promote the island.

She also criticised the PAS-led Kedah government for opposing certain economic activities on moral grounds, warning that such positions could constrain tourism growth.

Kok pointed to large-scale events such as the Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Bukit Bintang – which reportedly drew 180,000 attendees and generated about RM200 million in economic activity – as examples of initiatives that could benefit Langkawi.

BEIJING: The death toll from a giant explosion at a fireworks factory in central China rose to 26, with 61 more injured, officials said today.

The explosion occurred at around 4.43pm on Monday at the Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, Hunan province, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Following the blast, all fireworks makers in Hunan’s provincial capital Changsha, which administers Liuyang, had been ordered to stop production ahead of safety inspections, CCTV said.

Videos on social media from Monday showed continuous explosions accompanied by a vast cloud of smoke rising high into the air in a rural area surrounded by mountains.

Drone footage from CCTV taken a day later showed a swathe of smouldering debris where buildings had stood, with rescue workers and excavators scouring the rubble.

Smoke continued to rise from some buildings left standing, many of them with their roofs blown off.

Changsha mayor Chen Bozhang told a news conference this afternoon that another five people had died since earlier reports that 21 were killed.

“We feel deeply grieved and filled with remorse,” Chen said, adding that search and rescue work was “basically complete”.

The central government had sent experts to guide rescue efforts, while more than 480 rescuers had been urgently dispatched to the site, according to CCTV.

They had established a 3km control zone around the site and evacuated people nearby.

Police had apprehended the company’s management while investigations into the cause of the accident continue, CCTV said.

President Xi Jinping had called for “all-out efforts” to treat the injured, search for missing persons, and for those responsible to be held accountable, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Liuyang is a major fireworks hub, producing around 60% of the fireworks sold in China and 70% of those exported.

Industrial accidents, including in the fireworks industry, are common in China due to lax safety standards.

Last year, an explosion at another fireworks factory in Hunan killed nine people, and in 2023, three people were killed after blasts struck residential buildings in the northern city of Tianjin.

In February, separate explosions at fireworks shops in Hubei and Jiangsu provinces killed 12 and eight people.

DUBAI: The fragile truce in the Middle East was in jeopardy today after the US and Iran launched new attacks as they wrestled for control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military said on Monday it destroyed six Iranian small boats, as well as cruise missiles and drones, after President Donald Trump sent the navy to escort stranded tankers through the strait in a campaign he called “Project Freedom”.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said in a social media post today that the security of shipping and energy transit had been threatened by breaches of the four-week-old ceasefire by the US and its allies.

The strait is a vital thoroughfare for global supplies of oil, fertiliser and other commodities that has been virtually closed since the US and Israel began attacks on Iran on Feb 28, causing price rises around the world.

Several merchant ships in the Gulf reported explosions or fires on Monday, and an oil port in the UAE, which hosts a large US military base, was set ablaze by Iranian missiles.

Conflicting reports

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has effectively closed the narrow waterway under threat of mines, drones, missiles and gunboats. The US has responded with a blockade of Iranian ports.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Monday’s events showed there was no military solution to the crisis.

He said peace talks were progressing with Pakistan’s mediation, and warned the US and the UAE against being drawn into a “quagmire”.

The US military said two US merchant ships made it through the strait, without saying when, with the support of Navy guided-missile destroyers.

While Iran denied any crossings had taken place, Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged ship, exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by the US military on Monday.

The commander of US forces in the region said his fleet had destroyed six small Iranian boats, which Iran also denied.

Iranian media quoted a military commander as saying US forces targeted civilian boats, killing five civilians.

Iran also said on Monday it had fired on a US warship approaching the strait, forcing it to turn around. Iranian officials later described the fire as warning shots.

Reuters could not independently verify the full situation in the strait on Monday as the warring sides issued contradictory statements.

South Korea reported one of its merchant ships, HMM Namu, in the strait suffered an explosion and fire in its engine room, though no one aboard was hurt.

A South Korean government spokesman said it was unclear if the fire was caused by an attack.

Also on Monday, the British maritime security agency UKMTO reported two ships had been hit off the coast of the UAE, and the Emirati oil company ADNOC said one of its empty oil tankers was hit by Iranian drones.

UAE oil port ablaze

Iranian authorities released a map of what they said was an expanded sea area now under their control, extending far beyond the strait to include long stretches of the UAE’s coastline.

After reported drone and missile attacks inside the UAE throughout the day, including one that caused a fire at Fujairah, an important oil port, the UAE said Iranian attacks marked a serious escalation and it reserved the right to respond.

Fujairah lies beyond the strait, making it one of few export routes for Middle East oil that does not require passing through it.

Iran’s state television network said military officials had confirmed they attacked the UAE in response to the “US military’s adventurism”.

Oil prices eased 1% on Tuesday after climbing by as much as 6% in the previous session on signs the US Navy is loosening Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

The war in the Middle East has cost thousands of lives and roiled the global economy.

US and Iranian officials have held one round of face-to-face peace talks, but attempts to set up further meetings have failed.

Trump has said the US-Israeli attacks aimed to eliminate what he called imminent threats from Iran, citing its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, its support for Hamas and Hezbollah and its “menacing activities”.

Iranian state media said on Sunday that the US had conveyed its response to a 14-point Iranian proposal via Pakistan, and Iran was reviewing it. Neither side gave details.

The Iranian proposal would postpone discussion of Iran’s nuclear energy and research programmes until after an agreement to end the war and resolve the standoff over shipping.

Trump said over the weekend he was still studying it, but would probably reject it.

The latest US intelligence shows limited damage to Iran’s nuclear programme since the war began, officials told Reuters.

Trump wants to remove Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium to prevent it from processing it to the point where it could make a nuclear weapon. Iran denies any intention to build a nuclear bomb.

SEPANG: Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) sedang meneliti cadangan penggunaan ‘taser gun’ atau pistol renjatan elektrik sebagai langkah awal dalam usaha melengkapkan keperluan persenjataan anggota Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia (AKPS).

Menteri Dalam Negeri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail berkata, keputusan dasar telah dipersetujui untuk menyediakan kemudahan persenjataan kepada AKPS, dengan pelaksanaannya akan diuruskan dalam masa terdekat.

“Terdapat pandangan supaya dimulakan dengan penggunaan taser gun memandangkan situasi di sempadan mungkin tidak semuanya memerlukan penggunaan senjata api dan perkara ini akan diteliti,” katanya dalam sidang media selepas meninjau pengoperasian di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) Terminal 1 hari ini.

Saifuddin berkata, hala tuju kerajaan bagaimanapun jelas ke arah melengkapkan AKPS dengan persenjataan bagi memperkukuh keupayaan kawalan sempadan kerana tugas agensi itu melibatkan risiko tinggi dan memerlukan anggota yang bersedia dari segi psikologi serta kemahiran.

Katanya, anggota yang mempunyai latar belakang pasukan keselamatan seperti polis sudah mempunyai kemahiran penggunaan senjata dan hanya perlu dilengkapkan dengan keperluan tersebut.

Selain itu, Saifuddin berkata, AKPS dibenarkan merekrut sehingga 200 veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) di bawah inisiatif Pengawal Sempadan Malaysia (MBG) tahun ini bagi memperkukuh kawalan pintu masuk negara.

Katanya, pengambilan fasa pertama melibatkan 50 anggota telah selesai, manakala selebihnya akan menyusul dalam fasa seterusnya dengan mereka ditempatkan di beberapa pintu masuk utama termasuk KLIA dan Pelabuhan Klang.

“Di sini (KLIA Terminal 1) sahaja terdapat 18 orang anggota yang baru tamat latihan. Pengambilan kedua sedang dalam proses dan dijangka selesai tahun ini.”

Beliau berkata, anggota yang direkrut mempunyai pelbagai latar belakang kemahiran termasuk latihan komando, jurulatih kawad serta kepakaran lain yang dapat menyokong operasi kawalan sempadan.

Saifuddin berkata, KDN terbuka kepada cadangan daripada Ketua Pengarah AKPS Shuhaily Mohd Zain sekiranya kaedah pengambilan itu terbukti memberi nilai tambah kepada organisasi.

PUTRAJAYA: Six men will each spend 30 years in prison after the Federal Court today upheld their conviction for trafficking in 7.58kg of methamphetamine at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) in 2018.

Justice Nazlan Ghazali, delivering the unanimous decision of a three-member bench, said the court had given careful consideration to the men’s appeals but found them to be without merit.

“The High Court and the Court of Appeal did not commit any appealable error. We affirm the conviction as it is safe,” he said.

Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh chaired the bench, which also comprised Justice Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh.

However, the court allowed the whipping sentence imposed on Lo Wei Ryh, 34, Mak Kwong Ming, 49, Yap Fook Chen, 32, Joon Zheng Han, 29, Lim Zhen Qiang and Yen Tai Xiang, both 24, to be reduced from 15 strokes to 12.

Their lawyers argued that the trial judge wrongly invoked the presumption of trafficking based on the evidence presented.

They contended that, at most, their clients should have been charged with a lesser offence involving the substance.

Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, appearing for Joon, submitted that the trial judge only stated in her written grounds that the presumption of trafficking had not been rebutted, but did not do so at the close of the trial before convicting them.

According to the facts of the case, the drugs were strapped to the appellants’ thighs and concealed in the soles of their shoes when auxiliary police arrested them at KLIA2 during a security screening.

In their defence, they claimed they accepted part-time job offers from a man known only as “The Company” to deliver packages to South Korea, and were told the items were gym supplements or clenbuterol, not dangerous drugs.

Lawyer Goh Cia Yee represented Lo and Mak; Kitson Foong and Chew Jee San acted for Lim; Izwan Ishak represented Yap; and Chong Joo Tian acted for Yen.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz appeared for the prosecution.

PETALING JAYA: Police will close several roads in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, tomorrow evening ahead of a mega Pakatan Harapan ceramah at Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Paroi.

Seremban police chief Azahar Abdul Rahim said the closures are to ensure the event runs smoothly as it takes place at the stadium’s parking area.

“Road closures will be carried out tomorrow from 7pm until the event ends,” he said in a statement.

The affected routes are Jalan Kedidi in Taman Paroi Jaya, as well as Lorong Kedidi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

Azahar advised road users to use Jalan Persiaran Merak and Jalan Tok Dagang as alternative routes, especially residents who live at Lorong Kedidi 1 to Lorong Kedidi 7.

The ceramah, expected to begin at 8pm, is being held amid a political crisis in Negeri Sembilan following the withdrawal of support for menteri besar Aminuddin Harun by 14 Barisan Nasional assemblymen.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PH chairman, is expected to take the stage at the ceramah, joined by other top leaders, including DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo.

Aminuddin, a PKR vice-president, continues to lead a minority government backed by 17 PH assemblymen.

Negeri Sembilan BN initially claimed to have the numbers to form a new state government, but coalition chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it has never discussed unseating Aminuddin.

Zahid also said BN lynchpin Umno has no intention of joining the opposition, as suggested by state Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias.

PETALING JAYA: Beberapa laluan utama di sekitar Taman Paroi Jaya akan ditutup sementara esok bagi memberi laluan kepada Program Ceramah Perdana Pakatan Harapan (PH) Negeri Sembilan yang akan berlangsung di Tapak Parkir Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Paroi.

Program berkenaan turut akan dihadiri Pengerusi PH, Anwar Ibrahim, yang juga perdana menteri.

Ketua Polis Seremban, Azahar Abdul Rahim berkata penutupan jalan akan dilaksanakan bermula 7 malam sehingga selesai program, melibatkan Jalan Kedidi serta Lorong Kedidi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 dan 7.

Sehubungan itu, pengguna jalan raya khususnya penduduk di kawasan Taman Paroi Jaya dinasihatkan menggunakan laluan alternatif iaitu Jalan Persiaran Merak dan Jalan Tok Dagang bagi mengelakkan kesesakan.

Beliau turut menasihatkan orang ramai supaya mematuhi arahan anggota polis yang bertugas bagi memastikan kelancaran lalu lintas sepanjang program berlangsung.

Sebarang pertanyaan lanjut boleh diajukan kepada Bilik Gerakan IPD Seremban.

Penganjur ceramah PH itu dibuat ketika Negeri Sembilan dilanda krisis kepimpinan susulan tindakan 14 Adun Barisan Nasional (BN) menarik sokongan terhadap Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun daripada PH.

Selain Anwar, Setiausaha Agung DAP Loke Siew Fook, Ketua Setiausaha PH Saifuddin Nasution Ismail; Aminuddin yang juga Adun Sikamat; Pengerusi DAP Gobind Singh Deo dan Speaker DUN Negeri Sembilan MK Ibrahim Abd Rahman dijangka turut hadir dalam ceramah tersebut.

Sebelum ini, semua 14 Adun Umno-BN Negeri Sembilan mengumumkan hilang kepercayaan terhadap Aminuddin dan menarik sokongan terhadap kerajaan negeri pimpinannya.

Ketua Umno Negeri Sembilan Jalaluddin Alias berkata keputusan itu dibuat susulan krisis didakwa membabitkan institusi adat dan perlembagaan negeri yang kini menjadi perhatian umum.

BN kemudian mendakwa mempunyai majoriti mudah dalam DUN 36 kerusi untuk membentuk kerajaan negeri, dengan sokongan lima Adun Perikatan Nasional (PN) yang menyatakan kesediaan bekerjasama.

Gabungan BN-PN menyaksikan blok itu memiliki 19 kerusi, mengatasi 17 kerusi PH di DUN Negeri Sembilan. Komposisi DUN selepas PRN 2023 ialah PH 17 kerusi, BN 14 dan PN lima.

Bagaimanapun, Biro Politik Umno pada Khamis lalu memutuskan parti itu kekal menyokong kerajaan perpaduan Negeri Sembilan, walaupun menghormati pendirian Adun BN yang hilang kepercayaan terhadap Aminuddin.

WARSAW: Iran have suffered a significant on-field blow ahead of their World Cup campaign after winger Ali Gholizadeh suffered a season-ending knee injury while playing for his club Lech Poznan in Poland.

Gholizadeh, who would have started on the right flank for Iran at the World Cup, was taken off the field against Motor Lublin last Saturday and tests later confirmed he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

“Gholizadeh will face surgery in the coming days, followed by several months of rehabilitation,” the club said in a statement.

While there is still a shadow of doubt over Iran’s participation in the World Cup because of the war with the US and Israel, their home-based players have continued their tournament preparations in Tehran.

Iranian top flight football was suspended after the US and Israeli air strikes started in late February so the players have been limited to drills and the occasional intra-squad match at a training camp.

In a sign of the importance of football in the country, squad members have also been a regular presence at pro-government night demonstrations in the city’s Valiasr Square.

Midfielder Mohammad Mehdi Mohebi attended last Wednesday night and told reporters that if he scored at the World Cup he would dedicate his goal to the “martyrs” of the March missile strike on a girls’ school at Minab which killed 156 civilians including scores of children.

After the bad news about Gholizadeh, fans of Team Melli will be hoping that reports in the Iranian media of mediation talks between Iran striker Sardar Azmoun and the authorities bear fruit.

Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 internationals since making his debut as a ​teenager in 2014, was left out of the squad for friendlies against Costa Rica and Nigeria in March.

Reports in the local media said the 31-year-old had been expelled for “disloyalty” after posting a picture on social media of his meeting with Mohammed bin ​Rashid Al Maktoum, who rules Dubai.

Azmoun plays his club football for Shabab Al-Ahli in the Emirate, which has been the target of Iranian missile and drone attacks during the conflict with the US and Israel.

President Gianni Infantino last week told Fifa’s Congress that Iran would be at the World Cup and play their three group fixtures, as scheduled, in the US.

Team Melli are set to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before taking on Belgium at the same stadium on June 21 and rounding out their Group G fixtures against Egypt in Seattle five days later.

PETALING JAYA: Sebuah premis kitar semula di Kawasan Perindustrian Mahkota Beranang disyaki menjadi punca pencemaran bau di Sungai Semenyih, yang berisiko menjejaskan operasi LRA Sungai Semenyih dan LRA Bukit Tampoi.

Exco Kesihatan Awam dan Alam Sekitar Selangor, Jamaliah Jamaluddin, berkata Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas) mengesan bau abnormal sehingga dua ton pada 10.30 malam, 3 Mei lalu, sebelum mengaktifkan kod kuning untuk siasatan dan mitigasi segera.

Katanya, siasatan LUAS bersama Air Selangor menemukan pelepasan berwarna dari premis itu yang disyaki mengalir ke sistem perparitan sebelum memasuki Sungai Kabul dan seterusnya Sungai Semenyih.

“Premis berkenaan mempunyai Lesen Air Kembalian di bawah Zero Discharge Policy, namun tidak patuh kepada syarat lesen,” katanya dalam kenyataan.

Jamaliah berkata LUAS mengarahkan premis terbabit menghentikan pelepasan serta-merta dan menjalankan kerja pembersihan, selain meletakkan kira-kira 100kg karbon teraktif bagi tujuan nyahbau.

Beliau berkata pengepaman air dari Kolam B dan C di bawah SJAM turut diaktifkan bagi menyalurkan sehingga 770 juta liter sehari ke LRA Sungai Semenyih bagi memastikan tiada gangguan bekalan air mentah.

Katanya, sampel sudah dihantar ke Jabatan Kimia Malaysia, manakala kertas siasatan dibuka bawah Enakmen LUAS 1999 bagi kesalahan mencemarkan sumber air dan tidak mematuhi syarat lesen.

Setakat 8 malam semalam, tiada lagi bau abnormal dikesan di Sungai Semenyih dan Sungai Kabul, manakala LRA Sungai Semenyih kembali beroperasi seperti biasa.

Jamaliah berkata pemantauan rapi diteruskan dan kerajaan negeri tidak akan berkompromi terhadap pihak yang sengaja atau cuai mencemarkan sumber air.

PETALING JAYA: PAS mencadangkan kerajaan menubuhkan majlis penyelarasan nasional yang menghubungkan sektor pendidikan dan industri bagi memastikan sistem pengajian negara benar-benar memenuhi keperluan ekonomi semasa.

Pengerusi Lajnah Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Usahawan PAS, Haim Hilman Abdullah, berkata penyusunan semula program pengajian di institusi pendidikan tinggi perlu dibuat berdasarkan permintaan sebenar pasaran kerja, termasuk menghentikan kursus yang tidak lagi relevan.

“Pendidikan mesti menjadi enjin ekonomi negara, bukan sekadar sistem akademik,” katanya di Facebook, mengulas hasil dapatannya berhubung perbincangan dalam Kongres Pendidikan Bumiputera baru-baru.

Ahli Jawatankuasa Kerja PAS Pusat itu berkata, sistem pendidikan negara kini berada pada tahap membimbangkan dan memerlukan perubahan menyeluruh, bukan sekadar penambahbaikan kecil.

Katanya, sistem pendidikan tinggi ketika ini dilihat tidak lagi selari keperluan ekonomi sebenar apabila universiti seolah-olah menjadi ‘kilang graduan’ yang gagal memenuhi kehendak industri.

Dakwanya, kira-kira 1.65 juta graduan bekerja di bawah kelayakan, 165,000 masih menganggur tetapi aktif mencari pekerjaan.

“Manakala 838,000 lagi tidak bekerja dan tidak mencari pekerjaan, menjadikan keseluruhan sekitar 2.6 juta graduan tidak berada dalam kedudukan pekerjaan yang sesuai. Ini menunjukkan berlaku krisis padanan antara pendidikan dan pasaran kerja yang serius,” katanya.

Exco Kedah itu turut menegaskan universiti kini semakin hilang fungsi asal sebagai pusat pemacu ilmu, inovasi dan kepimpinan, sebaliknya terperangkap dalam birokrasi, penetapan KPI yang sempit serta kekangan campur tangan politik.

“Institusi pendidikan tidak lagi menjadi pusat idea besar. Kepimpinan universiti pula tidak cukup berani melakukan perubahan kerana terikat dengan struktur sedia ada,” katanya.

Beliau turut membangkitkan isu di peringkat sekolah rendah dan menengah, termasuk masalah literasi dan numerasi yang berlarutan serta jurang pendidikan antara bandar dan luar bandar semakin melebar.

Katanya, guru kini dibebankan dengan tugas pentadbiran sehingga menjejaskan fokus terhadap pengajaran, manakala kurikulum pula terlalu padat tanpa memberi penekanan kepada pembinaan pemikiran kritikal.

Beliau turut mencadangkan penubuhan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja (RCI) bagi mengaudit keseluruhan sistem pendidikan negara merangkumi kurikulum, institusi, hasil pembelajaran serta impak terhadap sosioekonomi.

Menurutnya, krisis kepimpinan dan ketiadaan penyelarasan jelas antara dasar pendidikan dan ekonomi menyebabkan reformasi dilakukan setakat ini bersifat kosmetik dan tidak menyelesaikan akar masalah.

ASHKELON: Israeli authorities are expected to ask a court to extend the detention of two foreign activists by six days, as the pair face their second hearing today, a rights group representing them said.

Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila were brought to Israel for questioning last week and are being held at an Israeli prison in Ashkelon.

The two were among dozens of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces off the coast of Greece early on Thursday.

At their first hearing on Sunday, the court extended their detention by two days. A second hearing is expected Tuesday.

“Our lawyers have been informed that the state is requesting for a six-day extension for the two activists,” Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the Israeli rights group Adalah, told AFP.

Adalah said the two activists were on hunger strike and Tuesday was the sixth day.

On Monday, the rights group alleged the activists had been subjected to physical and psychological abuse in detention.

Both Abu Keshek and Avila are being held in isolation, with “high-intensity lighting” on at all times in their cells, Adalah said, adding that Avila was being held in “extremely cold temperatures”.

“They are kept blindfolded at all times whenever they are moved outside their cells, including during medical examinations,” it said.

Israeli authorities have rejected the abuse claims.

At Sunday’s hearing, Adalah said the state attorney had presented a list of offences the pair were accused of, including “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “membership in and providing services to a terrorist organisation”.

However, Adalah’s lawyers challenged the state’s jurisdiction, arguing there had been an “unlawful abduction” of the two activists in international waters.

Israel’s foreign ministry said both individuals were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a group accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The ministry said Abu Keshek was a leading PCPA member, and that Avila was also linked to the group and “suspected of illegal activity”.

The flotilla’s vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.

However, they were intercepted by Israeli forces off the coast of Greece.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first voyage last year was also intercepted by Israeli forces off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza.

Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

Throughout the Gaza war that started in October 2023, there have been shortages of critical supplies in the territory, with Israel at times cutting off aid entirely.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two online scam syndicates targeting victims in India and the US were crippled in separate raids at a luxury condominium in the capital last month.

Bukit Aman commercial crime investigation department director Rusdi Isa said 22 people, including Malaysians, Taiwanese, Pakistani and Indian nationals, were arrested in a raid on April 23 for suspected involvement in a “Macau scam”.

He said the syndicate’s modus operandi involved impersonating Indian authorities and accusing victims of being involved in the dissemination of seditious content.

“Most shockingly, the syndicate also used ‘Delhi police’ uniforms bearing the name tag ‘Inspector Sunil Kumar’. The attire was used by suspects during video calls to instil fear and panic among victims in that country.

“They were also provided with lists of victim’s phone numbers and used 12 customised scripts in various languages, including Tamil, to deceive victims into making payments to resolve the purported investigations,” he said at a press conference.

A second raid was conducted on April 24, leading to the arrest of 13 people, including Malaysians, Chinese, Myanmar and Vietnamese nationals, allegedly involved in “love scam” activities targeting victims in the US.

He said the syndicate used fake profile applications to build personal relationships with victims before switching to WhatsApp and Telegram to solicit money.

“Since the victims are from the US, we will also share information and cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for further action and investigation,” he said.

He said both syndicates used luxury condominium units with rental values of RM3,000 and above, equipped with tight security, as call centres to evade detection by authorities.

“They would stay inside the condominium, eating and sleeping there without going out to minimise movement. Even neighbours next door were unaware of their presence.”

Both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for residing in Malaysia without a valid pass.

Eight foreigners linked to the love scam case have already been charged with criminal conspiracy under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is among the most resilient emerging markets in navigating recent global financial shocks, supported by strong policies and relatively stable market conditions, according to Moody’s Ratings.

In a report released today, the global rating agency said Malaysia, rated A3 with a stable outlook, is among several large emerging market economies demonstrating solid resilience across key market indicators.

“Malaysia, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico have consistently shown market resilience,” it said, adding that increases in credit spreads were limited and short-lived, yield differentials between emerging markets and the United States (US) remained moderate, and exchange rate movements were contained.

It said that while market volatility rose during periods of stress, it remained controlled and lower than in weaker economies, indicating that adjustments were driven mainly by typical interest rate and currency movements rather than deeper financial stress.

“Market access was preserved throughout, and stress was absorbed without prolonged disruption across market channels. Overall, these countries showed durable resilience across market indicators, with shocks absorbed through price adjustments rather than financing constraints,” it said.

The report also highlighted that Malaysia’s performance was underpinned by improved investor confidence, supported by policy adjustments and government spending measures during periods of stress.

However, it noted that resilience remains uneven, with countries such as Turkey, Argentina and Nigeria continuing to face persistent market stress due to policy inconsistency and structural constraints.

Moody’s added that while Malaysia had demonstrated strong resilience to recent shocks, its longer-term resilience – like that of Brazil and South Africa – depends on specific conditions.

“In Brazil, decisive monetary tightening restored inflation control and supported confidence, but high interest costs and fiscal pressures limit its ability to absorb future shocks, with the durability of market stability depending on progress in reducing deficits and debt-servicing costs.

“South Africa’s case is different but also conditional, as a freely floating exchange rate helps preserve reserves and enables market adjustment, but leads to larger currency swings during global stress, while weak growth and high debt constrain fiscal flexibility, allowing volatility to persist even with sound policies,” it said.

According to Moody’s, Malaysia sits between these two cases.

“While recent fiscal reforms signal progress and could strengthen buffers over time, fiscal space remains limited amid a volatile and narrow revenue base.

“Future resilience depends in part on the successful implementation of further fiscal reforms in the face of ongoing political and social pressures,” it added.

PETALING JAYA: Seorang atendan stesen minyak warga Bangladesh didenda RM10,000 oleh Mahkamah Majistret selepas mengaku bersalah memiliki dan menggunakan dua MyKad untuk membeli petrol bersubsidi bulan lalu.

Jakir Hossain, 51, membuat pengakuan itu selepas dua pertuduhan dibacakan di hadapan Majistret Aina Azahra Arifin.

Dia didakwa memiliki dan menggunakan MyKad milik Lim Mei Cheow dan Yap Thin Wuei di sebuah stesen Shell di Jalan Pahang, Wangsa Maju tanpa kuasa sah atau alasan munasabah, bagi membeli petrol bersubsidi.

Kesalahan itu dilakukan antara 8 April hingga 22 April.

Pertuduhan dikemukakan di bawah Peraturan 25(1)(o) Peraturan-Peraturan Pendaftaran Negara 1990, yang memperuntukkan denda maksimum RM20,000 atau penjara sehingga tiga tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Aina mengenakan denda RM5,000 bagi setiap pertuduhan.

Beliau turut memerintahkan Jakir menjalani hukuman penjara tujuh bulan bagi setiap kesalahan, sekiranya gagal membayar denda.

Pendakwaan dikendalikan Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Hench Goh manakala tertuduh diwakili peguam Carmen Low.

PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya will reduce the rental rates for commercial premises owned by government agencies from this month to ease the financial strain on small traders, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said the move would involve all premises under agencies such as Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and UDA Holdings Bhd, with specific details to be announced soon.

“I believe the first step we must take is to reduce rental rates. Starting this month, rent at all government-owned business premises will be reduced,” Anwar said in a televised briefing on the global energy crisis.

He urged all local authorities and state governments to follow suit by lowering rental rates for business premises owned by their agencies, adding that Kuala Lumpur City Hall had already done so and that the Selangor government is expected to announce similar reductions soon.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, announced that Putrajaya would provide an upfront payment of RM200 per hectare to padi farmers under the special ploughing incentive to help cover initial costs such as machinery rental.

He said this initiative, which would cost the government some RM48 million, would benefit about 240,000 registered padi farmers.

He said the assistance was in response to northern Kedah facing a prolonged dry spell that had affected padi farming and cultivation while farmers grappled with rising operational costs.

Anwar also said the Rahmah sales programme would be expanded across the nation as part of efforts to reduce the cost of goods.

He said more than 25,000 Rahmah sales programmes were held nationwide last year, and that the target for 2026 has been increased to 30,000.

The programmes will be held weekly in every state constituency, including selected rural and village areas, with priority given to small traders rather than large companies.

Anwar acknowledged that these measures would not resolve every issue being faced by Malaysians but said they would help ease immediate cost of living pressures.

PUTRAJAYA: Seorang bekas anggota polis mula menjalani hukuman penjara setahun hari ini selepas Mahkamah Rayuan mengekalkan sabitannya kerana memiliki 81 ekor tenggiling secara haram, iaitu spesies yang disenaraikan sebagai terancam kritikal di bawah Akta Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar 2010.

Ketika membacakan keputusan sebulat suara panel tiga hakim, Hakim Azman Abdullah berkata, panel bersetuju dengan dapatan selari yang dibuat oleh hakim perbicaraan dan Mahkamah Tinggi pada peringkat rayuan.

“Sabitan itu adalah selamat kerana tiada kekhilafan yang boleh dirayu,” kata Azman, yang bersidang bersama Hakim Noorin Badaruddin dan Radzi Abdul Hamid.

Bagaimanapun, panel hakim membenarkan rayuan Sharwandy Sollahudin, 39, terhadap hukumannya, dengan mengurangkan tempoh pemenjaraan daripada 78 bulan kepada 12 bulan.

“Kami telah mempertimbangkan hujahan yang dikemukakan oleh peguamnya bahawa dia akan kehilangan pekerjaan dan pencen,” katanya.

Bagi tuduhan pertama, Sharwandy disabitkan kesalahan menyimpan 24 ekor tenggiling matang tanpa permit, manakala tuduhan kedua membabitkan pemilikan 13 ekor anak tenggiling.

Sementara itu, bagi tuduhan ketiga, dia didapati bersalah menyimpan 44 ekor tenggiling betina, manakala tuduhan keempat berkaitan dengan perbuatan menyimpan kesemua 81 mamalia itu dengan cara yang menyebabkan kesakitan dan penderitaan yang tidak sepatutnya.

Kesalahan-kesalahan tersebut dilakukan di kediamannya di Taman Teratai, Alor Setar, Kedah pada kira-kira 12.35 tengah hari, 18 Sept 2018.

Sharwandy ditahan susulan maklumat orang awam yang disalurkan kepada Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (Perhilitan), namun motifnya menyimpan haiwan-haiwan tersebut tidak pernah didedahkan.

Mahkamah Sesyen menjatuhkan hukuman penjara 24 bulan ke atasnya bagi tuduhan pertama, kedua, dan ketiga, dengan jumlah keseluruhan 78 bulan. Dia turut dijatuhi hukuman tambahan sembilan bulan bagi tuduhan keempat.

Bagaimanapun, hakim perbicaraan memerintahkan tertuduh agar menjalani hukuman selama 78 bulan sahaja dan dia perlu memulakan hukuman penjaranya serta-merta.

Mahkamah Tinggi kemudiannya membenarkan hukuman ditangguhkan selepas Sharwandy membayar ikat jamin RM30,000 sementara menunggu keputusan rayuan terhadap sabitan dan hukumannya, yang kemudiannya ditolak.

Hari ini, Mahkamah Rayuan memerintahkan dia dipenjara 12 bulan bagi tiga kesalahan pertama, dan sembilan bulan lagi untuk kesalahan keempat, dengan kesemua hukuman berjalan serentak.

Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Noor Farhana Adham sebelum ini memohon mahkamah mengekalkan hukuman yang dijatuhkan oleh hakim perbicaraan.

Beliau berkata, tertuduh bernasib baik kerana didakwa di bawah undang-undang sebelum ia dipinda pada 2023 yang menaikkan tempoh pemenjaraan daripada 10 tahun kepada 15 tahun.

Peguam G Ravishankar dan Nizam Adzha Zaidi tampil mewakili Sharwandy.

PETALING JAYA: A fatal crash involving a married couple who were struck by a car driven by a man allegedly under the influence is now being investigated as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Kuala Lumpur traffic investigation and enforcement chief Zamzuri Isa said the driver, who had been receiving treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, had since been arrested to assist in the investigation.

“He has been remanded for seven days until May 11 to facilitate investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code,” Zamzuri was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying.

The 24-year-old suspect was discharged from the hospital yesterday and gave his statement at the Jalan Tun HS Lee traffic police station the same day.

The case was previously probed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless or dangerous driving.

In the 5.34am incident last Saturday, the 61-year-old victim and his wife, 56, were pronounced dead after the motorcycle they were riding was hit by a car along Jalan Ampang near Menara Great Eastern.

The driver of a Toyota Vios is believed to have lost control of the car before crashing into the rear of the victims’ Honda Wave Alpha motorcycle.

The driver and two passengers in the car sustained injuries and were treated at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

PETALING JAYA: The aerotrain service at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is expected to resume 24-hour operations by the end of this month after receiving approval from the authorities.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) had completed all necessary technical tests and has submitted a full report to the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) for evaluation and safety verification.

“It is expected that the aerotrain will resume 24-hour operations by the end of this month after it receives Apad’s certification,” said Loke, reported Bernama.

“At present, the service is still running, but we have to halt operations for several hours at night to allow for maintenance work and track inspections,” he told reporters after launching the MyKLIA and MyPutrajaya Monthly Travel Card (MTC) campaign at KLIA Terminal 2 today.

Last November, MAHB said it was committed to enhancing the reliability of KLIA’s aerotrain system through a comprehensive plan aimed at fully resolving technical issues that surfaced after services resumed last July.

Deputy transport minister Hasbi Habibollah previously said 19 minor incidents involving the aerotrain were recorded between July 2 and Sept 30 last year, involving the signalling system as well as cases where passengers attempted to manually force open the train doors, among others.

Since operations resumed on July 1, the aerotrain system has transported about seven million passengers and completed more than 53,000 round trips, achieving an operational service availability (OSA) rate of 98.41%.

BANGKOK: Thailand unilaterally terminated a longstanding agreement with Cambodia to work towards joint offshore energy exploration, defying calls from its neighbour to stay the course on the 25-year-old pact.

The Thai cabinet’s cancellation of the agreement, which seeks to develop a framework to jointly explore hydrocarbons in parts of the Gulf of Thailand where the two countries’ claims overlap, had long been expected and follows two rounds of armed conflict between them last year.

The withdrawal was an election campaign pledge of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who earlier this year rode a wave of nationalism stoked by the fierce fighting with Cambodia to become the first Thai premier to be reelected in two decades.

“Cancelling the deal is not related to the border conflict with Cambodia, but part of my policy.

“It has been 25 years and there has been no progress,” Anutin told reporters, adding that Cambodia would be informed of the decision.

Cambodia’s foreign minister Prak Sokhonn expressed regret over the termination and said Phnom Penh “has no option” but to settle the boundary issue under processes outlined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

“Cambodia’s decision to pursue compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS reaffirms its commitment to resolving maritime disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law,” he said in a statement.

Scant progress

Despite multiple rounds of meetings, the agreement known as “MOU 44” has made little progress since it was signed, with the process derailed by political instability in Thailand, intermittent disputes between the two neighbours and fierce opposition from Thai nationalists.

The two-track agreement had proposed the creation of a framework to allow offshore oil and gas to be jointly explored in overlapping areas while parallel negotiations take place on formal demarcation.

Thai government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek said on Tuesday that UNCLOS would be used as a reference to negotiate directly with Cambodia on maritime boundary demarcation.

Thailand has historically refused to take part in Cambodian efforts to settle border disputes using international mechanisms, including the International Court of Justice, insisting those be negotiated bilaterally.

A ceasefire has been in place between Thailand and Cambodia since late December after two eruptions of fighting along large stretches of their 817km border, the first of which ended after intervention by US President Donald Trump.

Each side blames the other for triggering both rounds of clashes, which killed close to 150 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

SEPANG: Perkhidmatan aerotrain di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) dijangka kembali beroperasi selama 24 jam menjelang hujung bulan ini selepas menerima pengesahan daripada pihak berkuasa berkaitan, kata Menteri Pengangkutan Loke Siew Fook.

Beliau berkata semua ujian teknikal dilaksanakan Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) dan ketika ini laporan penuh ujian berkenaan sedang dikemukakan kepada Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (Apad) untuk tujuan penilaian serta pengesahan aspek keselamatan.

“Dijangkakan selepas pengesahan oleh Apad, menjelang akhir bulan ini, aerotrain akan beroperasi semula selama 24 jam,” katanya pada sidang media selepas melancarkan kempen MyKLIA dan MyPutrajaya Monthly TravelCard di KLIA Terminal 2.

Mengulas lanjut, Loke berkata perkhidmatan aerotrain ketika ini masih beroperasi, namun dihentikan sementara selama beberapa jam pada waktu malam bagi memberi laluan kepada kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan serta pemeriksaan trek.

Sebelum ini, MAHB pada 14 Nov lepas mengulangi komitmen untuk memperkukuh kebolehpercayaan sistem aerotrain di KLIA menerusi Pelan Tindakan Komprehensif bagi menangani sepenuhnya isu teknikal yang timbul sejak perkhidmatan itu disambung semula pada Julai 2025.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan Hasbi Habibollah pada 13 Okt dilaporkan berkata aerotrain di Terminal 1 KLIA mencatat 19 insiden antara 2 Julai hingga 30 Sept, berpunca daripada pelbagai isu termasuk masalah isyarat serta faktor manusia seperti tindakan penumpang yang memaksa membuka pintu tren.

Sejak kembali beroperasi pada 1 Julai lepas, sistem aerotrain di Terminal 1 KLIA telah mengangkut kira-kira tujuh juta penumpang serta melengkapkan lebih 53,000 perjalanan pergi balik dengan mencatatkan kadar kebolehsediaan operasi sebanyak 98.41%.

KUALA LUMPUR: A Bangladeshi petrol station attendant was fined RM10,000 by the magistrates’ court here today after pleading guilty to possessing and using two MyKads to purchase subsidised petrol last month.

Jakir Hossain, 51, entered his plea after two charges were read out before magistrate Aina Azahra Arifin.

He was accused of possessing and using a MyKad belonging to Lim Mei Cheow at a Shell station at Jalan Pahang, Wangsa Maju, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to purchase subsidised petrol.

He also committed a similar offence involving another MyKad belonging to Yap Thin Wuei.

The offences were committed between April 8 and April 22.

The charges were framed under Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000, or up to three years’ jail, or both.

Aina imposed a RM5,000 fine for each charge.

She also ordered Jakir to serve seven months’ jail for each offence, to run concurrently, in default of payment.

Deputy public prosecutor Hench Goh had earlier urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, saying that the MyKad owners had suffered losses as their subsidised petrol quotas were used.

He said Jakir could have returned the MyKads but instead used them to purchase subsidised fuel despite knowing they did not belong to him.

Defence lawyer Carmen Low asked the court to impose only a fine, saying her client had learnt his lesson.

She said Jakir is married and is the sole breadwinner of his family. He earned RM900 a month and a first-time offender, she added.

Low also said that her client had been remanded since April 23 and spent 12 days in custody.

SEPANG: Kerajaan akan memastikan pelaksanaan Sistem Imigresen Bersepadu Nasional (MyNIISe) di pintu masuk negara berjalan lancar selepas beroperasi sepenuhnya September ini.

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, berkata sistem itu akan menjadi pemangkin utama dalam memperkukuh kawalan sempadan dengan lebih cekap, yang mampu menyelesaikan proses pemeriksaan penumpang dalam tempoh hanya empat hingga lima saat.

“Sistem baharu itu yang menggantikan Sistem Imigresen Malaysia (MyIMMs) dilaksanakan berperingkat membolehkan pelepasan dilakukan melalui tiga kaedah iaitu pengecaman wajah, kod QR dan pasport.

“Ini merupakan ‘game changer’…kita tak mahu lagi berdepan keadaan ‘airport congestion’ sama ada pelepasan ataupun ketibaan,” katanya dalam sidang media selepas meninjau pengoperasian di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).

Beliau bagaimanapun mengakui kemungkinan berlaku gangguan teknikal kecil dalam tempoh peralihan sistem, namun menegaskan ia adalah proses biasa yang akan diminimumkan.

Pada masa sama, Saifuddin berkata aspek keselamatan kekal menjadi keutamaan, terutama dalam pemeriksaan bagasi bagi memastikan tiada kemasukan barangan terlarang seperti dadah dan senjata.

Katanya, pelaksanaan sistem itu sebahagiannya sudah dimulakan dengan lebih 60 lorong ‘autogate’ di pintu masuk dan keluar, sekali gus meningkatkan kecekapan pergerakan penumpang.

LOS ANGELES: Doris Fisher, the co-founder of American clothing retailer Gap, has died at 94, according to a statement from the company yesterday.

She died “peacefully, surrounded by her family,” the company said, without giving a cause or date of death.

“There is simply no equal to Doris Fisher. In Gap-speak, she was a true original,” company president and CEO Richard Dickson said in the statement.

“She understood first-hand the value of self-expression, diversity, and inclusion.

“And she worked tirelessly to ensure that Gap Inc always did more than sell clothes,” he said.

Fisher and her late husband Donald Fisher opened the first Gap store in San Francisco in 1969.

The couple made their mark on casual American style, putting a focus on ready-to-wear, affordable items like jeans, T-shirts and sweatshirts.

Doris Fisher came up with the company’s name as a reference to the “generation gap” and young customers they sought to attract, according to The New York Times.

The Fishers’ retail philosophy, The Times said, “was to make shopping easy by keeping sizes well organized and stores well stocked”.

The company went on to expand to include other iconic brands including Banana Republic and Old Navy.

Today, Gap operates about 3,500 stores worldwide, including company-operated and franchise locations.

“Never content with what is, Doris continuously imagined what might be and then made it happen,” Dickson said.

“In fact, a great deal of Gap Inc culture at its best derives from Doris’s influence,” he added.

She is survived by her three sons, Robert, William and John.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang lelaki warga Myanmar didakwa di Mahkamah Majistret atas pertuduhan membunuh bekas isterinya di Wangsa Maju bulan lalu.

Aung Tun Ngwa, 26, didakwa membunuh Merry Yet Ngwa, 33, di hadapan Blok 1 kondominium Genting Court di Taman Setapak Indah Jaya.

Kejadian itu didakwa berlaku kira-kira 2.30 petang, 23 April lalu.

Pertuduhan dikemukakan mengikut Seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan, yang memperuntukkan hukuman mati atau penjara antara 30 hingga 40 tahun serta tidak kurang 12 sebatan, jika sabit kesalahan.

Tiada pengakuan direkodkan di hadapan Majistret Izzah Hasan Basri kerana kes bunuh terletak di bawah bidang kuasa Mahkamah Tinggi.

Tertuduh tidak diwakili peguam, manakala M Naresh Kumar mewakili pihak pendakwaan.

Mahkamah menetapkan 31 Julai untuk serahan dokumen termasuk laporan bedah siasat.

MILAN: Italy’s Unicredit unveiled a 16.1% rise in first quarter (Q1) net profit to a record €3.2 billion year-on-year, boosted by an increase in fees and lower costs.

“Italy’s second-largest bank, which is seeking to acquire German competitor Commerzbank, saw earnings rise by 4.9% to €6.9 billion,” Unicredit said in a statement.

Profitability came in well above the consensus of Factset analysts, who had forecast a net profit of some €2.7 billion for the quarter.

Unicredit was already coming off a record year, with 2025 seeing net profit of €10.58 billion on slightly lower revenue of €24.5 billion, down 1.3%.

“These results reflect disciplined execution on all fronts – revenue growth, cost efficiency and capital strength – demonstrating that a well-managed and diversified bank can achieve excellent returns across the entire macroeconomic cycle, while investing for its future,” CEO Andrea Orcel said in a statement.

Unicredit was Tuesday to launch its hostile takeover bid for Commerzbank with the Italian entity’s shareholders having approved on Monday a capital increase for the bank which should allow it to launch an offer of some €35 billion (US$41 billion) amid fierce resistance on the German side.

Italy’s second-largest bank, which increased full-year 2026 net profit guidance to “at least €11 billion” as opposed to around 11 billion previously, is already the leading shareholder in Commerzbank with a stake of 25%.

Under German market rules, if it increases its holding above 30% it has to make other shareholders an offer to acquire their shares.

UniCredit has wooed Commerzbank shareholders with promises of higher returns by refocusing its activity on the German market to spur faster growth.

SEPANG: The top leaders of Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional will meet this evening to discuss several issues, including the ongoing political crisis in Negeri Sembilan.

PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the meeting would be held in Putrajaya following a PKR and PH meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“We will first hold a PKR political bureau meeting chaired by the party president (Anwar) followed by the PH presidential council meeting, and then PH and BN leaders will meet,” he told reporters after an event at KLIA here today.

Saifuddin added that a statement would be issued after the PH-BN meeting.

Last week, Negeri Sembilan BN’s 14 assemblymen withdrew support for menteri besar Aminuddin Harun of PKR.

It later claimed to have the numbers to form a new state government, with the backing of Perikatan Nasional’s five assemblymen.

However, Negeri Sembilan BN chief Jalaluddin Alias later said the 14 assemblymen were prepared to sit in the opposition. Bersatu’s two assemblymen have also decided against backing any attempt to form a new administration.

Negeri Sembilan BN nonetheless appears to be contradicting the central BN leadership’s stand on the crisis. Earlier today, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition would continue backing the Negeri Sembilan unity government led by Aminuddin.

Zahid, who is also Umno president, said BN would not join the opposition, contrary to what Jalaluddin had said on Saturday.

PUTRAJAYA: A 39-year-old former policeman began serving a one-year prison sentence today after the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction for illegally possessing 81 pangolins, a species listed as critically endangered under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

Justice Azman Abdullah, delivering the unanimous decision of a three-member bench, said the panel agreed with the concurrent findings made by the trial judge and the High Court on appeal.

“The conviction is safe as there is no appealable error,” said Azman, who sat with Justices Noorin Badaruddin and Radzi Abdul Hamid.

However, the bench allowed Sharwandy Sollahudin’s appeal on sentence, reducing the jail term imposed on him from 78 months to 12.

“We have considered the submissions made by his counsel that he will lose his job and pension,” he said.

On the first count, Sharwandy was convicted of keeping 24 mature pangolins without a permit. The second count involved possession of 13 immature pangolins.

On the third count, he was found guilty of keeping 44 female pangolins, while the fourth count related to keeping all 81 mammals in a manner that caused them unnecessary pain and suffering.

The offences were committed at his residence in Taman Teratai, Alor Setar, in Kedah, at about 12.35pm on Sept 18, 2018.

Sharwandy’s arrest came about following a tip from the public to the wildlife and national parks department (Perhilitan). His motives for keeping the pangolins were never made known.

The sessions court sentenced him to 24 months jail for the first count, for the second and third counts, a total of 78 months. He received an additional sentence of nine months for the fourth.

However, the trial judge ordered the accused to serve only 78 months and that he was to begin his jail term forthwith.

The High Court then allowed a stay of execution after Sharwandy arranged for RM30,000 bail pending the outcome of his appeal on conviction and sentence, which was later dismissed.

Today, the Court of Appeal ordered that he be jailed for 12 months for the first three offences, and another nine months for the fourth, and for all terms to run concurrently.

Deputy public prosecutor Noor Farhana Adham had urged the court to maintain the sentence imposed by the trial judge.

She said the accused was lucky to have been charged under the law before it was amended in 2023 to increase the imprisonment term from 10 to 15 years.

Lawyers G Ravishankar and Nizam Adzha Zaidi represented Sharwandy.

PETALING JAYA: Kes kemalangan maut pasangan suami isteri yang dirempuh sebuah kereta disyaki dipandu seorang lelaki disyaki mabuk kini disiasat mengikut Seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan kerana membunuh.

Sebelum ini kes tersebut disiasat di bawah Seksyen 41(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987, lapor Sinar Harian.

Ketua Jabatan Siasatan dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik Kuala Lumpur, Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa berkata, susulan itu pemandu terbabit yang sebelum ini dirawat di Hospital Kuala Lumpur telah ditahan bagi membantu siasatan.

Katanya, suspek lelaki berusia 24 tahun itu telah dibenarkan keluar hospital semalam sebelum hadir memberi keterangan di Balai Polis Trafik Jalan Tun HS Lee pada hari sama.

“Suspek telah direman tujuh hari sehingga 11 Mei bagi membantu siasatan di bawah Seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan,” katanya.

Menurutnya, kertas siasatan akan dirujuk ke Pejabat Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Kuala Lumpur dalam masa terdekat untuk tindakan lanjut.

Dalam kejadian 5.34 pagi Sabtu lalu itu, pasangan suami isteri berusia 61 dan 56 tahun itu disahkan meninggal dunia selepas motosikal dinaiki dirempuh sebuah kereta di Jalan Ampang berhampiran Menara Great Eastern,

Dalam kejadian itu, kereta jenis Toyota Vios yang dipandu suspek dipercayai hilang kawalan sebelum melanggar bahagian belakang motosikal jenis Honda Wave Alpha ditunggang mangsa.

Pemandu kereta dan dua lagi penumpang kenderaan tersebut mengalamai kecederaan dan dirawat di Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Penulisan yang membingkai isu penamaan jalan sebagai soal ‘berani atau tidak berani’ mungkin kedengaran menarik dan provokatif. Namun, di sebalik gaya bahasa tersebut, terserlah satu kelemahan asas iaitu kecenderungan untuk merendahkan isu yang kompleks kepada sekadar retorik emosi.

Artikel oleh Ronasina di FMT misalnya, berlegar sekitar premis bahawa penukaran nama jalan adalah satu bentuk ‘keberanian’. Frasa seperti ‘berani kau tukar nama jalan’ bukan sekadar tajuk, tetapi menjadi paksi kepada keseluruhan naratif. Masalahnya, pendekatan sebegini mencipta dikotomi palsu, seolah-olah isu ini hanya berkisar antara keberanian dan ketakutan.

Hakikatnya jauh lebih rumit.

Penamaan atau penukaran nama jalan bukan keputusan individu yang memerlukan keberanian peribadi, tetapi satu proses institusi yang melibatkan pertimbangan sejarah, dasar awam dan sensitiviti masyarakat. Dengan mereduksi isu ini kepada persoalan ‘siapa berani’, perbincangan telah dialihkan daripada soal akauntabiliti proses kepada sekadar reaksi emosi.

Lebih daripada itu, terdapat juga implikasi bahawa menukar nama jalan seolah-olah mencabar atau bahkan menghapuskan sejarah. Ini merupakan satu lagi simplifikasi yang mengelirukan. Sejarah tidak bersifat statik, dan dalam banyak keadaan, penamaan semula bukanlah usaha memadam masa lalu, tetapi memperluas ruang pengiktirafan kepada tokoh atau naratif yang sebelum ini terpinggir.

Malaysia sendiri mempunyai banyak contoh penamaan semula yang berlaku tanpa menimbulkan krisis identiti. Jalan-jalan utama di ibu negara pernah melalui proses yang sama, bukan untuk menghapus sejarah, tetapi untuk menyesuaikan simbol awam dengan perkembangan semasa serta menghargai sumbangan tokoh tertentu.

Pandangan yang dibawa oleh sarjana seperti Prof Murad berasaskan kerangka sejarah sosial dan pembinaan identiti, bukan retorik peribadi atau cabaran emosi. Pendekatan ini penting kerana ia meletakkan isu penamaan jalan dalam konteks yang lebih luas, iaitu bagaimana sejarah ditafsir, dibentuk dan diwariskan dalam ruang awam.

Namun, apabila isu ini dibingkai dalam nada cabaran dan sindiran, ia membuka ruang kepada tafsiran yang lebih sempit, khususnya yang bersifat politik identiti. Tanpa hujah yang disokong oleh fakta atau penerangan tentang proses sebenar, pembaca mudah digiring untuk membuat kesimpulan berdasarkan persepsi, bukan pemahaman.

Di sinilah kelemahan terbesar pendekatan tersebut: ia mungkin berjaya mencetuskan reaksi, tetapi gagal membina kefahaman.

Dalam konteks Malaysia, setiap simbol awam termasuk nama jalan, mempunyai makna yang melangkaui fungsi fizikalnya. Ia berkait dengan memori kolektif, rasa kepunyaan dan pengiktirafan sejarah. Justeru, perdebatan mengenainya memerlukan pendekatan yang lebih berhati-hati, bukan sekadar retorik yang mengangkat ‘keberanian’ sebagai nilai utama.

Lebih mengecewakan, kritikan yang dibawa tidak disertai dengan cadangan penyelesaian. Tanpa jalan ke hadapan, wacana awam akan terus terperangkap dalam kitaran reaksi dan polemik.

Sedangkan keperluan sebenar adalah jelas.

Pertama, perlu ada garis panduan yang konsisten dalam penamaan jalan supaya setiap keputusan tidak dilihat sebagai bermotif politik. Kedua, proses tersebut mesti telus dan inklusif, melibatkan pandangan pelbagai pihak termasuk sejarawan dan komuniti setempat. Ketiga, pendekatan yang lebih seimbang perlu dipertimbangkan, mengiktiraf tokoh baharu tanpa memadam warisan sedia ada secara sewenang-wenangnya.

Inilah bentuk kematangan yang sepatutnya dibawa ke dalam wacana awam.

Media memainkan peranan penting dalam menentukan arah perbincangan masyarakat. Apabila media memilih untuk menonjolkan sudut provokatif semata-mata, ia mungkin berjaya menarik perhatian, tetapi pada masa sama berisiko merendahkan tahap wacana.

Wacana awam yang sihat tidak dibina atas keberanian retorik, tetapi kejelasan pemikiran.

Akhirnya, persoalan sebenar bukanlah siapa yang berani menukar nama jalan. Persoalannya ialah sama ada kita cukup matang untuk mengurus sejarah kita sendiri, dengan prinsip, keseimbangan dan tanggungjawab.

Mahdzir Ibrahim ialah narator politik Melayu.

Artikel ini adalah pandangan penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili FMT.

PETALING JAYA: Mahkamah Tinggi Johor Bahru menganugerahkan pampasan RM482,328 kepada seorang pengawal keselamatan atas kehilangan pendapatan dan keupayaan meraih pendapatan, susulan kecederaan akibat nahas jalan raya enam tahun lepas.

Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Noradura Hamzah memerintahkan operator platform perkongsian kereta, Socar Mobility Sdn Bhd, agar membayar ganti rugi tersebut kepada B Vekneswaran, berikutan kegagalan syarikat itu memastikan kenderaannya diselenggara dengan sempurna.

Dalam kejadian pada 21 Jun 2020, Vekneswaran bersama seorang lagi penumpang, Pavithra Deiwi, menaiki sebuah Perodua Myvi milik Socar yang dipandu oleh B Saravanan.

Semasa menghampiri sebuah simpang di Jalan Gaya 11, Ulu Tiram, Johor, pemandu cuba membrek sebelum membelok ke kanan. Bagaimanapun, brek tidak berfungsi lantas mengakibatkan kenderaan itu terbabas ke bahu jalan dan merempuh papan tanda.

Insiden tersebut menyebabkan Vekneswaran cedera parah di tulang rusuk dan tulang belakang lumbar, manakala Pavithra disahkan meninggal dunia di Hospital Sultan Ismail.

Pada 2023, Vekneswaran dan keluarga Pavithra memfailkan saman terhadap Socar dan Saravanan di Mahkamah Sesyen. Kes terus dibicarakan ke atas Socar selepas Saravanan gagal memfailkan kehadiran.

Mahkamah rendah mendapati Socar bertanggungjawab 90% atas kemalangan itu, manakala 10% diletakkan ke atas Saravanan.

Mahkamah menganugerahkan ganti rugi RM57,600 kepada keluarga Pavithra atas kehilangan tanggungan serta RM54,000 untuk kecederaan Vekneswaran, namun menolak tuntutannya berhubung kehilangan pendapatan dan keupayaan meraih pendapatan.

Berhubung rayuan balas mengenai kuantum pampasan, Noradura membenarkan tuntutan Vekneswaran bagi kehilangan pendapatan (RM83,160) dan kehilangan keupayaan meraih pendapatan (RM399,168), dengan mengambil kira mangsa telah ditukarkan ke tugasan lebih ringan dengan gaji lebih rendah selepas insiden terbabit.

Ketika mengekalkan keputusan liabiliti ke atas Socar, beliau menegaskan syarikat itu memikul kewajipan berjaga-jaga secara langsung ke atas mana-mana individu, termasuk pemandu dan penumpang, yang secara munasabahnya berisiko terjejas akibat keadaan kenderaan yang disediakan.

Noradura turut mendapati Mahkamah Sesyen membuat keputusan yang tepat apabila membuat inferens bertentangan ke atas Socar, selepas syarikat itu melupuskan kenderaan terbabit sebelum pemeriksaan kedua sempat dijalankan.

“Pegawai penyiasat telah memberikan arahan tegas agar sebarang pembaikan atau pengubahsuaian tidak dibuat sementara siasatan lanjut dijalankan. Apabila pegawai tersebut mahu menuntut kenderaan itu, beliau diberitahu ia telah pun dilupuskan.

“Tindakan perayu melupuskan Myvi berkenaan sebelum pemeriksaan kedua menyebabkan mahkamah dan plaintif kehilangan keterangan yang mungkin konklusif berhubung keadaan sebenar sistem brek kenderaan itu,” tegasnya.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three affiliates within Malaysia Athletics have raised concerns over how officials handled correspondence from World Athletics regarding the president’s eligibility, escalating a governance dispute that is widening internal divisions.

The issue surfaced ahead of a council meeting tomorrow and has placed the national federation under renewed scrutiny, with questions mounting over timing, circulation and transparency.

At the centre of the dispute is correspondence from World Athletics that affiliates say raises questions over the eligibility of president Karim Ibrahim.

Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Perlis athletics associations have written to national authorities over the handling of key World Athletics letters.

The Negeri Sembilan Athletics Association says officials did not circulate the letters in full to council members despite their importance.

It says Malaysia Athletics received the first letter in January but failed to properly table it to the council.

Its president, Mark Ling, has called for full disclosure of all correspondence and clarity on who manages communication with World Athletics, and whether the council approved that arrangement.

Ling says council members could not access the documents even after formal requests.

He also says the matter never appeared in two earlier council meetings.

Negeri Sembilan has said it will not support any sanction linked to Karim’s eligibility.

It also objects to him remaining in office unless the World Athletics Vetting Panel clears him.

The association has also questioned how the constitution was applied. It says Karim was previously ruled ineligible by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

It points to a later constitutional amendment that introduced a five-year cap on disqualification periods. It says that change allowed Karim to return and win the presidency in June last year.

It has urged the sports commissioner and youth and sports ministry to step in and review the matter.

Melaka cites breach of trust

The Melaka Athletics Association has raised similar concerns and describes the handling of the correspondence as a breach of trust at leadership level.

Its president, Fadzil Bakar, says officials did not share the World Athletics letters with council members despite formal requests during the April 9 meeting.

Fadzil also points to a possible conflict of interest involving family ties between Karim and his daughter Nurhayati, the federation’s secretary-general.

He says this raises questions over independence in decision-making.

Melaka has called on the sports commissioner to act and wants full disclosure of all correspondence and a formal investigation into how officials handled the matter.

It also says Karim should not remain in office unless cleared by the World Athletics Vetting Panel.

The association warns that failure to resolve the issue could carry wider consequences, especially with Malaysia preparing for the 2027 SEA Games.

Perlis flags delay and limited access

The Perlis Athletics Association echoed the concerns and added further detail on how the matter unfolded.

The association is led by former Malaysia Athletics president Shahidan Kassim. Secretary Iyaru Muthusamy signed its letter.

Perlis says council members did not receive full access to the World Athletics correspondence. Instead, officials only read out the contents during meetings.

It also highlights delays in disclosure. It says Malaysia Athletics received the first letter in January but only brought it to the council in April.

The association says the delay raises serious concerns over how officials handled key governance documents and says it has damaged trust within the council.

It warns the issue could also affect Malaysia’s standing with World Athletics if it remains unresolved.

Pressure builds ahead of council meeting

All three affiliates have written to the sports commissioner Arrifin Ghani and youth and sports minister Dr Taufik Johari, and copied the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

They want a full review of how officials handled the matter and clearer rules for future communication with World Athletics.

Reform group RISE has also requested a meeting with the minister. It is calling for wider structural changes in how the federation operates.

Attention now shifts to tomorrow’s council meeting, where members are expected to press for answers.

The leadership now faces a direct test as pressure builds from inside and outside the federation.

SEPANG: Pimpinan utama Pakatan Harapan (PH) dan Barisan Nasional (BN) akan mengadakan pertemuan petang ini bagi membincangkan pelbagai perkara termasuk krisis politik Negeri Sembilan.

Ketua Setiausaha PH Saifuddin Nasution Ismail berkata mesyuarat di Putrajaya itu akan berlangsung selepas mesyuarat dalaman PKR dan PH diketuai Anwar Ibrahim selesai.

“Kami akan ada pertama mesyuarat Biro Politik PKR di pengerusikan presiden diikuti Majlis Presiden PH, selepas itu pertemuan antara pimpinan PH dan BN

“Kita bincang pelbagai perkara cuma jadual hari ni menarik perhatian sikit sebab latar belakang tentang politik Negeri Sembilan dan segala macam,” pada selepas melawat Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).

Saifuddin berkata satu kenyataan media dijangka dikeluarkan selepas pertemuan berkenaan.

Minggu lalu, ,14 Adun BN Negeri Sembilan mengisytiharkan menarik balik sokongan terhadap Menteri Besar Aminuddin susulan dakwaan kegagalannya menguruskan krisis institusi di negeri itu sehingga menjadi perdebatan umum.

Perkembangan itu berlaku di tengah-tengah krisis berterusan melibatkan empat pembesar yang mahu menyingkirkan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

Ketua Umno Negeri Sembilan Jalaluddin Alias pada Sabtu berkata pihaknya rela menjadi pembangkang daripada bersama PH dalam pentadbiran kerajaan susulan krisis adat dan perlembagaan di negeri itu.

Menurutnya, ini kerana mereka tidak rela melihat sahaja kesilapan yang dilakukan oleh Aminuddin.

Bagaimanapun, Presiden Umno Zahid Hamidi hari ini menegaskan parti itu kekal sebahagian kerajaan perpaduan di Negeri Sembilan dan tidak pernah membincangkan pengganti Aminuddin.

Zahid berkata pihaknya tidak berminat menjadi pembangkang seperti disuarakan oleh Ketua Umno Negeri Sembilan Jalaluddin Alias, Sabtu lalu.

PETALING JAYA: Dua pengajar sebuah badan berkanun di Terengganu direman kerana disyaki meminta dan menerima rasuah hampir RM30,000 sebagai balasan mengeluarkan sijil lulus kelayakan kompetensi.

Perintah reman empat hari sehingga 8 Mei itu dikeluarkan Majistret Iffah Nabihah Mohd Ishak selepas permohonan dibuat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) di Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Terengganu pagi tadi.

Bernama memetik sumber sebagai berkata, dua suspek lelaki lingkungan 20-an dan 40-an itu ditahan sekitar 12 tengah hari semalam ketika hadir memberi keterangan di pejabat SPRM Terengganu.

“Siasatan awal mendapati kedua-dua suspek disyaki bersubahat melakukan perbuatan tersebut pada 2025 dan wang rasuah yang diminta adalah sebagai balasan memberikan ‘kelulusan segera’ sijil kompetensi kepada setiap peserta kursus.

“Kedua-dua suspek dipercayai telah menerima antara RM900 hingga RM1,500 bagi kira-kira 31 peserta dan wang rasuah diperoleh melalui transaksi pemindahan wang ke akaun bank peribadi milik masing-masing,” katanya.

Menurut sumber berkenaan, SPRM kini sedang meneliti sama ada penipuan sijil kompetensi tersebut berlaku pada skala lebih besar dan tidak menolak kemungkinan untuk melakukan semakan terhadap setiap sijil yang telah dikeluarkan agensi berkaitan untuk mengenal pasti kesahihan sijil berkenaan.

Sementara itu, Pengarah SPRM Terengganu Hazrul Shazreen Abd Yazid mengesahkan penahanan tersebut dan berkata kes disiasat mengikut Seksyen 16(a) Akta SPRM 2009.

Beliau juga tidak menolak kemungkinan beberapa siri tangkapan susulan akan dibuat bagi membantu siasatan.

PETALING JAYA: Pertubuhan Perdagangan Dunia (WTO) baru-baru ini melaporkan bahawa gangguan bekalan baja akibat ketegangan geopolitik Iran-Amerika Syarikat menimbulkan ancaman berganda kepada keselamatan makanan global melalui kekurangan pengeluaran dan peningkatan harga.

Apabila ketegangan global, ia menjejaskan rantaian bekalan, yang mana sektor pertanian Malaysia turut terkesan, terutamanya dari segi kekurangan baja.

Ekoran konflik berterusan di Timur Tengah hingga sekatan eksport dari China, kos dan ketersediaan baja menjadi semakin tidak menentu. Bagi petani Malaysia, khususnya pekebun kecil, kesannya dirasai serta-merta.

Semasa pelancaran Dasar Keselamatan Makanan Negara 2023 (DKMN 2030) Januari lalu, timbalan perdana menteri merangkap menteri peralihan tenaga dan transformasi air, Fadillah Yusof menekankan betapa pentingnya menangani cabaran ini.

Beliau berkata, “Apabila kos input meningkat, ia mencetuskan kesan domino, membawa kepada inflasi harga makanan global. Beban ini akhirnya akan ditanggung rakyat. Kebergantungan kita kepada rantaian bekalan luar menjadikan kita terdedah kepada kejutan ekonomi global”.

Situasi ini semakin ketara bagi bekalan baja Malaysia.

Krisis yang semakin meningkat

Menurut laporan berita, Malaysia hanya mengeluarkan kira-kira 39% daripada keperluan bajanya di dalam negara, menyebabkan negara ini amat bergantung kepada keperluan baja import. Pada masa yang sama, China yang membekalkan satu pertiga daripada baja import Malaysia telah mengetatkan eksportnya bagi melindungi bekalan makanan mereka sendiri.

Lebih memburukkan keadaan, gangguan dalam laluan perkapalan utama seperti Selat Hormuz yang merupakan laluan yang membawa satu pertiga daripada perdagangan baja global, telah menyebabkan peningkatan kos dan masa penghantaran.

Di Malaysia, kesannya telah dirasai apabila pengeluar baja tempatan dilaporkan telah menghentikan tempahan baharu kerana harga bahan mentah telah melonjak 100% hingga 150% dalam masa beberapa minggu.

Bagi petani sayur berskala besar, risikonya juga tinggi. Kebergantungan kepada baja yang diimport, terutamanya untuk sistem fertigasi, menyebabkan mereka mudah terkesan apabila berlaku gangguan bekalan global. Ketegangan berterusan yang menjejaskan laluan utama seperti Selat Hormuz, ditambah dengan sekatan eksport China atas bahan seperti urea, nitrogen dan fosfat, memberi tekanan segera kepada kos bekalan dan pengeluaran.

Bagi pekebun kecil pula, kesannya lebih besar. Dengan keuntungan yang lebih kecil, keluasan tanah terhad dan hasil yang rendah, mereka kurang berupaya menampung kenaikan harga atau gangguan bekalan. Akses berterusan kepada baja bukan sahaja penting, tetapi kritikal untuk kelangsungan hidup mereka.

Golongan pekebun kecil memerlukan pendekatan penyelesaian yang berbeza.

Syarikat besar mungkin berupaya menyerap kenaikan harga atau membeli barangan secara pukal, tetapi pekebun kecil selalunya tidak mempunyai keupayaan yang sama. Adalah penting untuk mencari pendekatan yang lebih cekap bagi membantu mereka.

Satu usaha ke arah itu adalah kajian penyelidikan pra-pengkomersilan yang dijalankan oleh syarikat pembetungan nasional, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn.Bhd, sebuah syarikat milik Menteri Kewangan Diperbadankan (MKD) di bawah bidang kuasa Kementerian Peralihan Tenaga dan Transformasi Air (PETRA) melalui cabang penyelidikannya, Indah Water Research Centre (IWRC), telah menunjukkan potensi penyelesaian dalam sektor pertanian.

Kajian yang telah dijalankan menilai keberkesanan baja organik IWK, yang dihasilkan daripada biosolids, hasil proses rawatan kumbahan. Ujian dijalankan kepada empat tanaman landskap (Vinca, Marigold, Japanese Rose dan Petunia) dan empat tanaman makanan (okra, sawi hijau, terung dan keledek) di dalam persekitaran rumah hijau. Hasil kajian menunjukkan peningkatan ketara dalam pertumbuhan tanaman dan kualiti tanah.

Baja berasaskan biosolids ini membekalkan nutrien penting seperti nitrogen, fostorus dan kalium yang diperlukan untuk perkembangan tanaman, sekali gus membuktikan bahawa baja IWK selamat untuk kegunaan pertanian.

Dalam percubaan berasingan yang dijalankan di ladang kelapa, pokok-pokok yang terjejas akibat panas yang melampau mengalami tekanan teruk sehingga kelihatan hangus dan merosot dengan ketara.

Namun, selepas penggunaan gabungan baja organik IWK dan penggalak tumbuhan IWK selama lima bulan, perubahan yang positif mula kelihatan. Pokok kelapa beransur pulih, dengan pertumbuhan pelepah baharu serta penghasilan buah yang kembali berlaku.

Satu lagi percubaan melibatkan rumput Napier, sejenis rumput yang cepat tumbuh dan digunakan secara meluas sebagai tanaman pelbagai guna. Percubaan ini menggunakan gabungan biosolids kering sebagai baja bersama penggalak tumbuhan IWK selama 15 bulan. Hasilnya menunjukkan pertumbuhan vegetatif yang sihat serta peningkatan ketara dalam pengeluaran biomas. Ini disumbangkan oleh kandungan nutrien penting dalam biosolids kering yang menyokong perkembangan tanaman dengan lebih baik.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif IWK, Narendran Maniam berkata, “penyelesaian ini menunjukkan betapa kayanya baja organik IWK sehingga ia mampu membantu pekebun kecil dan meningkatkan ketahanan tanaman.

“Dalam satu ujian di ladang kelapa, baja IWK digunakan sekali setiap dua minggu dan ini telah mengurangkan kos pembelian baja daripada pembekal lain sebanyak kira-kira 68%. Ini merupakan kelebihan besar bagi petani yang beroperasi dengan margin keuntungan yang kecil.”

“Daripada bergantung kepada jumlah input konvensional yang lebih tinggi, formulasi baja organik IWK memberi tumpuan kepada penyampaian aplikasi yang kaya dengan nutrien yang memaksimumkan keberkesanan setiap penggunaan,” tambah Narendran.

Untuk tanaman seperti kelapa dan rumput Napier, di mana kesihatan tanah dan produktiviti jangka panjang adalah penting, strategi ini boleh membantu mengurangkan ketergantungan pada kualiti besar baja import sementara mengekalkan hasil tanaman.

“Baja organik IWK direka untuk meningkatkan penyerapan nutrien dan keadaan tanah, membolehkan petani mencapai hasil yang setanding dengan jumlah penggunaan yang lebih rendah. Dalam pasaran yang bekalannya tidak menentu, kecekapan ini menjadi penting,” tambahnya.

Baja Organik IWK: Alternatif kepada krisis yang kian meruncing

Dihasilkan daripada enap cemar kumbahan yang dirawat daripada loji rawatan kumbahan, baja organik IWK mengandungi kira-kira 7% unsur NPK (Nitrogen, Fosforus dan Kalium), menjadikannya penyelesaian yang berkesan untuk memulihkan tanah yang tidak berkualiti dan membekalkan nutrien penting yang diperlukan untuk pertumbuhan tanaman.

Di samping bekalan nutrien, komposisi organik membantu mengimbangi semula keasidan tanah yang sering disebabkan oleh penggunaan baja kimia yang berpanjangan, menyokong ekosistem tanah lebih sihat dan pengeluaran tanaman yang lebih mampan dari masa ke semasa.

Baja organik IWK telah menjalani analisis yang meluas untuk memastikan ia tidak mengandungi logam berat berbahaya atau bakteria patogen, bagi memastikan ia selamat untuk digunakan. Kajian toksikologi untuk Prosedur Naik Turun Ketoksikan Oral Akut (Acute Oral Toxicity Up-and Down Procedure – UDP) pada tikus oleh SIRIM juga tidak menunjukkan kesan negatif, mengesahkan keselamatannya untuk digunakan dalam tanaman tanpa risiko pencemaran. Di samping itu, Helaian Data Keselamatan Bahan (Material Safety Data Sheet – MSDS) telah dibangunkan untuk mendokumentasikan komposisi kimia tersebut, pengendalian langkah keselamatan, serta pematuhan peraturan alam sekitar dan kesihatan.

Yang lebih penting, baja IWK juga telah mendapat pengiktirafan Majlis Agama Kebangsaan. Pada mesyuarat kali ke-126 yang berlangsung dari 25 – 27 Februari 2025, Jawatankuasa Muzakarah Majlis Kebangsaan bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam mengkaji penggunaan biosolids daripada loji rawatan kumbahan sebagai sumber baja organik.

Berikutan penilaian menyeluruh terhadap penemuan penyelidikan dan bukti teknikal, jawatankuasa membuat kesimpulan bahawa penggunaan baja organik berasaskan biosolids yang diperoleh daripada loji rawatan kumbahan adalah harus, dengan syarat ia terbukti selamat dan bermanfaat.

Kedudukan ini diperkukuhkan lagi dengan Majlis Agama Islam Pahang yang mengeluarkan fatwa pada 2025 yang membenarkan penggunaan biosolids yang dihasilkan melalui proses rawatan kumbahan sebagai bahan penghasilan baja organik. Ini berdasarkan kelulusan awal daripada Negeri Sembilan, Kedah dan Selangor masing-masing pada 2006, 2016 dan 2024, yang menunjukkan peningkatan
pengiktirafan dan penerimaan.

Hala tuju masa depan

Seiring dengan ketidaktentuan global yang berterusan, perbincangan mengenai ketahanan makanan semakin menjadi keutamaan. Selain isu bekalan, terdapat keperluan yang semakin meningkat untuk memberi tumpuan kepada kelestarian jangka panjang, khususnya dalam memperkukuh penyelesaian yang dapat membantu petani kecil di Malaysia.

Menteri Perladangan dan Komoditi Noraini Ahmad juga baru-baru ini menyatakan kerajaan sedang berusaha untuk mengembangkan import baja melalui rundingan dengan negara pembekal sedia ada dan baharu.

Mereka juga akan berusaha untuk mengaktifkan saluran bekalan alternatif dalam tempoh tiga hingga enam bulan akan datang, sambil memastikan harga kekal kompetitif untuk meminimumkan tekanan.

“Penyelesaian tempatan boleh memainkan peranan penting untuk menyokong cabaran yang semakin meningkat. Buat masa ini IWK mampu mengeluarkan sehingga 4-5 tan baja organik dalam sehari, dengan potensi untuk lebih banyak pengeluaran baja di empat wilayah – Utara, Tengah, Timur dan Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia, bagi mengurangkan kos logistik dan menjadikannya lebih murah,” kata Narendran.

Walaupun baja IWK belum diletakkan bagi memenuhi keperluan berskala besar oleh pemain utama industri perladangan, syarikat menawarkan alternatif yang bersesuaian untuk pekebun kecil. Ini melengkapkan usaha negara untuk mempelbagaikan bekalan dan membina daya tahan yang lebih besar dalam sektor pertanian.

Narendran menambah, “Inisiatif baja organik IWK mencerminkan arah tuju yang jelas dan berpotensi tinggi. Ia menyokong pemuliharaan tanah dengan mengurangkan kebergantungan kepada baja kimia dan mengurangkan kos rawatan tanah jangka panjang.

“Ia juga menggalakkan kelestarian alam sekitar melalui kitar semula biosolids dan mengurangkan pelupusan di tapak pelupusan. Malah, ia dapat memajukan ekonomi kitaran dengan mencipta nilai tambah daripada sisa kumbahan. Namun, adalah penting baja IWK ini boleh mendapat penerimaan awam.”

Jadual di bawah menunjukkan perbandingan antara had parameter yang dibenarkan di bawah Piawaian Malaysia dengan parameter bagi Biosolids Kering IWK dan baja organik IWK.

PETALING JAYA: The man accused of assaulting his wife in Sungai Petani is now being investigated for allegedly burying a foetus following the victim’s miscarriage.

Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah said the 43-year-old suspect admitted to burying the foetus and led police to the location last Thursday, Berita Harian reported.

He said the foetus was from the suspect’s wife, who miscarried at 12 weeks after allegedly being beaten in an incident at Ambangan Heights on April 2.

“We brought a forensic team from the Kedah police headquarters to the location and found an incomplete foetus,” he told a press conference today.

The remains were sent to the chemistry department for analysis. Police will open a separate investigation if it is confirmed to be a human foetus.

The case is being investigated under Section 318 of the Penal Code for concealing a birth.

Adzli urged anyone who may have been victimised by the suspect to come forward to assist in investigations.

A woman was previously reported to have suffered multiple injuries after allegedly being assaulted by her husband, including fractures to her ribs and spine, as well as swelling and wounds across her body.

The victim, a civil servant, is currently receiving treatment at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani.

The suspect was arrested at a homestay in Alor Setar on April 28 and remanded for seven days to assist in the investigation.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reaffirmed that the party remains part of the unity government in Negeri Sembilan, and has never discussed replacing menteri besar Aminuddin Harun.

Speaking to reporters after an event, Zahid said Umno has no intention of becoming the opposition, as suggested by state Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias on Saturday.

“We have no intention of becoming the opposition.

“Umno’s central leadership has decided that all 14 of the party’s assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan will remain part of the unity government,” he said.

Last week, all Umno assemblymen in the state announced that they were withdrawing support for Aminuddin, citing his alleged failure to manage an institutional crisis that has become a matter of public debate.

The development came amid an ongoing crisis involving four chieftains seeking to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

Jalaluddin said on Saturday that the state Umno chapter was prepared to sit in the opposition rather than continue working with Pakatan Harapan in the state administration following the constitutional crisis.

He said the move was driven by their unwillingness to remain silent over what they viewed as Aminuddin’s mistakes.

On preparations for the possibility of snap state elections, Zahid said all parties in Barisan Nasional were on full alert.

“All parties are prepared, and most importantly, when we return the mandate to the people, they must choose the best possible combination,” he said.

Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said the party machinery had been instructed to be ready for possible snap polls in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor should their state assemblies be dissolved in the near future.

BEIJING: China has, for the first time, invoked a law targeting companies that comply with foreign sanctions it rejects, escalating a pushback against the US blacklisting of several oil refineries over purchases of Iranian crude.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Commerce ordered companies not to comply with US sanctions against five refiners, including recently designated Hengli Petrochemical citing a law that allows Beijing to retaliate against entities enforcing sanctions it deems unlawful.

Washington and other Western governments have sanctioned a number of Chinese firms for trading Iranian or Russian oil, drawing repeated criticism from Beijing.

Hengli Petrochemical has denied US allegations that it traded with Iran. Independent refiners in China are the main buyers of Iran’s oil exports.

The move comes less than two weeks before US President Donald Trump is due to visit Beijing, highlighting China’s willingness to deploy its economic pressure tools despite a trade truce with Washington.

“Any company considering skirting US sanctions should think twice,” a White House official told Reuters without elaborating on the Chinese order.

Under the law, introduced in 2021 and most recently revised in April, China can impose countermeasures on companies and individuals, including trade and investment curbs and entry and exit restrictions.

Legal analysts say the law leaves counterparties of sanctioned firms caught between jurisdictions, risking violations of Chinese law if they comply with foreign sanctions, or penalties elsewhere if they do not.

Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service warned companies operating in China last August that they could be squeezed between the US, European Union and Chinese rules because of the legislation.

China’s official People’s Daily said on Sunday the move “uses the power of the rule of law to precisely counter the US’s ‘long-arm jurisdiction.'”

The law allows companies to apply for waivers. A trader at a Hengli counterparty who declined to be named said firms with substantial business overseas should be able to make the case for exemptions to Chinese regulators.