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Rosmah Mansor denies involvement in royal pardon request for jailed husband
Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has denied any involvement in the request for a royal pardon for her husband. Najib is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for stealing US$42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Malaysian government’s sovereign wealth fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In a rare public appearance,…
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Police clear church in Malaysia reserve land ownership row
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has called on all parties not to manipulate the issue of PDRM reserve land ownership in Kamunting, Perak, which could potentially confuse the public. PDRM Secretary Noorsiah Saaduddin announced that the police have completed an investigation into the ownership of the reserve land, which includes police quarters and the house of the Taiping district police…
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Pattaya street food vendors cause traffic chaos, face foreign competition
Officials in Thailand’s eastern city of Pattaya organised a meeting yesterday to address the increasing number of complaints regarding street food vendors in the city. Motorists raised concerns about vendors causing traffic congestion and choke points throughout the city. Meanwhile, local vendors have complained about the influx of foreigners operating food carts, which they claim is negatively impacting their income…
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Thai woman crashes car into factory wall after fortune teller’s warning
A 25 year old Thai woman miraculously survived a severe car accident after her vehicle collided with a factory wall in the Mueang district of Chachoengsao province today. An eyewitness revealed that the driver, Chalita, seemed to have dozed off at the wheel, while her mother claimed to have received warnings about the incident from a fortune teller. Upon receiving…
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New moon sighting to determine Aidiladha date on June 18
The Malaysian government has announced that the sighting of the new moon of Zulhijjah, which will determine the date for Aidiladha, is set to take place on June 18. The date will be announced over radio and television on the same night, following the sighting. The Conference of Rulers has agreed to set the date for Aidiladha based on the…
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Umno deputy president hopes apology demand won’t divide coalition government
Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan expressed his hope that the apology demanded by his party’s Youth Chief would not lead to divisions within the federal coalition government with Pakatan Harapan (PH). Mohamad Hasan, also known as Tok Mat, stated that he respects DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke’s opinion against issuing such an apology and urged all parties involved to…
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Rosmah Mansor denies involvement in royal pardon request for Najib Razak
In Kuala Lumpur, Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, stated that she has not been involved in the request for her husband’s royal pardon. The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has been seeking a pardon for Najib, who was convicted of corruption charges. Rosmah made a rare public appearance and expressed her gratitude to UMNO…
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Malaysia considers five-season paddy cultivation for agro-food ecosystem boost
The Malaysian government is considering a two-year paddy cultivation initiative with five seasons to enhance the country’s agro-food ecosystem. The decision was made during a recent Cabinet Committee on the National Food Security Policy (JKSMN) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The committee also discussed efforts by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to ensure food supply availability and…
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ACCCIM urges stamp duty exemption extension for RM500,001-RM1m properties
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) has expressed its hope that the government will extend the stamp duty exemption period for properties priced between RM500,001 and RM1 million until the end of 2025. This extension would align the exemption period with that of properties valued at RM500,000 and below, which is also set to expire…
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Malaysia’s trade outlook brightens with global growth upgrade
The recent upgrade in the global economic growth forecast for this year is expected to have a positive impact on Malaysia’s trade performance, according to Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz. The World Bank has increased its global growth projections to 2.1% in 2023, up from the 1.7% predicted in January. Additionally, the growth forecasts for the…
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Putin admits Ukraine’s counteroffensive, claims significant losses
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, confirmed that Ukraine has launched its anticipated counteroffensive against Moscow’s occupying forces. He acknowledged the Ukrainian army’s use of strategic reserves, while claiming they had not achieved their objectives and were suffering significant losses. However, the lack of independent reporting from the front lines and limited information from Kyiv makes it difficult to verify Putin’s…
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Boris Johnson resigns, blasts Sunak and slams partygate inquiry
Boris Johnson has resigned as an MP, effective immediately, and criticised Rishi Sunak in a scathing resignation letter. The former Prime Minister also attacked the panel of MPs investigating whether he lied to the Commons over the partygate scandal. The privileges committee confirmed that it will meet on Monday to conclude its inquiry, with a spokesperson promising to publish its…
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Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission accused of unlawful lawyer denial
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), a Malaysian lawyer group, has stated that it is unlawful for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to deprive the public of their right to legal counsel during questioning. The group’s director, Zaid Malek, emphasised that MACC has no arbitrary right to deny the public legal counsel during the interrogation process. “This is arbitrary, unlawful and unbefitting…
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Son kills father in brutal attack, Thai village demands life sentence
A 46 year old man was found dead in his home in Nong Bua Lamphu province, Thailand after allegedly being killed by his 24 year old son. Locals witnessed the son, Amarin, confessing to the murder while covered in blood before being apprehended by police. At the crime scene, a one-storey house with two bedrooms, the police found the body of…
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Phuket emergency centre opens as mystery illness strikes 100+ people
An emergency operations centre (EOC) has been established by the Public Health Ministry in response to over 100 people falling ill from an unidentified pathogen across three districts in Phuket. The pathogen has caused severe diarrhoea among those affected. Public Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, stated that health authorities are investigating the cause of the outbreak, which was initially…
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Russia blamed for Ukraine dam collapse causing floods and $5m Japanese aid
The Kakhovka dam collapse in Ukraine has sparked a heated debate over responsibility, with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pointing the finger at Russia. According to Borrell, the dam was destroyed by explosives placed in the turbine areas, which are under Russian control. The New York Times cited an unnamed US official who claimed that US spy satellites…
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Boris Johnson resigns as MP after tumultuous political career
Boris Johnson’s fall from power in the UK was as dramatic and controversial as his rise. The former prime minister, whose career was defined by surviving scandal, stepped down as an MP after a series of controversies. Despite this, Johnson left the possibility of a return to politics open for his allies. Born in New York in 1964, Johnson’s political…
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Tajuddin urges Umno to lift suspension for state elections participation
Former Umno Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, has reportedly called for his six-year suspension to be lifted ahead of the state elections. In an interview with Malaysiakini, the seasoned politician expressed his desire to engage in a metaphorical “silat” match against Umno’s opponents in Perikatan Nasional, the Malay martial arts. However, he currently cannot participate, comparing his…
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Khairy Jamaluddin to discuss Bersatu membership with Muhyiddin Yassin
Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is set to meet with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin next week to discuss the potential of joining the party. In a recent podcast, Khairy clarified that there was no conspiracy behind his meeting with suspended former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. “I have known Hisham for a…
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Man escapes work stress, rescued after six days lost in forest
A 41-year-old man, Mohamad Suhairy Mohamed, who had sought refuge in a forest for six days to escape work-related stress, was rescued by the Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) in the early hours of the morning. The rescue took place after the man contacted emergency services for help. Perak JBPM assistant director of operations, Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, stated that…
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Trump indicted for hoarding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago
In a major development, US federal prosecutors have unveiled a comprehensive indictment against former President Donald Trump, accusing him of hoarding and concealing classified documents containing sensitive national security information. The 49-page document details 37 federal charges against Trump, with 31 of those charges relating to violations under the Espionage Act. The remaining six charges are connected to Trump’s alleged…
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Probe leader steps down amid partisanship in Canada’s China interference inquiry
The investigation into alleged Chinese interference in Canada has experienced a major change, as David Johnston, the government-appointed leader of the probe, announced his resignation on Friday. Johnston, a former Canadian Governor General, cited the highly partisan atmosphere surrounding his work as the reason for his departure. His appointment had been controversial, with some, including opposition Conservative Party leader Pierre…
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Sunak faces revived Tory chaos as Boris Johnson resigns as MP
The political landscape in the United Kingdom has been shaken once again with the unexpected resignation of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson as an MP. This development has reignited the internal squabbles within the Conservative Party that had somewhat subsided during Rishi Sunak’s seven-month tenure as Prime Minister. Sunak, who has been struggling in opinion polls, now faces the challenge…
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Malaysia seeks to improve ‘Allah’ usage directive with Islamic scholars
The Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) recently held a meeting with Islamic scholars and religious teachers in an effort to develop a proposal aimed at improving the administrative directive on the use of the word ‘Allah.’ This move comes in response to the order issued by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on June 5,…
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20,000 Man City fans in Istanbul for Champions League showdown
Istanbul is preparing to welcome an influx of 20,000 Manchester City supporters, as the team gears up to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final this Saturday night. The Turkish authorities are relieved that the city does not appear to be overwhelmed by football fans, and English police officers are optimistic that the chaos experienced during last year’s…
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Partygate aides among honourees in Johnson’s resignation list
The resignation honours list of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been released, revealing nominations for political aides involved in the partygate scandal. Martin Reynolds, who earned the nickname “party Marty,” has been awarded a Companion of the Bath (CB). Reynolds gained notoriety for inviting people to “socially distanced drinks” in the Number 10 garden during the first national lockdown…
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Boris Johnson resigns, avoiding career-ending suspension and by-election
In a surprising turn of events, Boris Johnson announced his resignation on Friday, effectively putting an end to his political career. Despite hints of a possible comeback in his resignation statement, it seems unlikely that Johnson will return to the political stage. Some MPs may call for his return if the Conservatives underperform in the next general election, but the…
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Umno Women and Youth wings embrace former rivals for Malaysian stability
Sections of Umno Youth and Women leaders in Malaysia have announced their readiness to work alongside former rivals within the national unity government, putting aside years of hostility for the sake of the country’s political stability. Leaders from the party’s Women and Youth wings spoke about the importance of this collaboration during this year’s Umno general assembly. As Malaysia gears…
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Pakistan targets 6.54% deficit with $50.45bn budget to unlock IMF funds
Pakistan’s finance minister has announced a budget deficit target of 6.54% of economic output for the upcoming fiscal year, starting July 1. This figure is slightly lower than the current year’s revised estimate of 7%. The budget aims to satisfy the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure the release of bailout funds for the crisis-stricken country, which is due to…
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South Korea summons China’s ambassador over ‘senseless’ US tilt accusation
South Korea’s foreign ministry has called on China’s ambassador, expressing concerns over comments made by the diplomat that accused Seoul of favouring the United States over China. This comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing escalate in the battle for global influence. On Friday, South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin cautioned Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming about his “senseless…
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