All posts tagged: Malaysia

To sack or not: PM Anwar and PKR’s dilemma on fierce critic Rafizi

To sack or not: PM Anwar and PKR’s dilemma on fierce critic Rafizi

Published by Sam Flores

PKR UNLIKELY TO SACK RAFIZI Analysts believe PKR is unlikely to take severe disciplinary action against Rafizi in the immediate term.  This is because the party is likely wary of legal loopholes that could allow him to remain an MP, said Syaza Shukri, a political scientist at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). If Rafizi quits PKR, he would need to vacate his seat but if the party sacks him, he may remain as an MP, based on what happened to opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) members, she noted. Under Malaysia’s Anti-Hopping Law, MPs must vacate their seats if they resign from their party or join another party.  After six Bersatu MPs switched allegiance to the government in 2023, they were sacked by the party.   However, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul ruled in July 2024 that the MPs were not required to vacate their seats. He said the anti-hopping law was not triggered, because the members were expelled and did not resign of their own accord.   Syaza did not believe that Rafizi having …

PMs Wong, Anwar agree on importance of diplomacy, discuss supply chain resilience amid Middle East crisis

PMs Wong, Anwar agree on importance of diplomacy, discuss supply chain resilience amid Middle East crisis

Published by Sam Flores

SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday (Apr 20) that he and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim agreed on the importance of upholding diplomacy in a call amid the war in the Middle East. The two prime ministers also discussed how Singapore and Malaysia can fortify supply chain resilience. “We agreed on the importance of sustained diplomacy to secure a durable resolution to the crisis,” said Mr Wong, who is also Singapore’s Finance Minister. “We also discussed how Singapore and Malaysia can work more closely to strengthen supply chain resilience,” he added in a Facebook post. Mr Wong said that he spoke with Mr Anwar on Monday afternoon to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. “At a time like this, it is all the more important for close neighbours like Singapore and Malaysia to stay coordinated and support one another,” said Mr Wong. In a Facebook post, Mr Anwar wrote that the two leaders also welcomed the temporary ceasefire and stressed the need for a lasting resolution to the conflict. “Malaysia …

Fire razes 200 homes in Sabah, leaving hundreds homeless | News

Fire razes 200 homes in Sabah, leaving hundreds homeless | News

Published by Sam Flores

Sabah fire displaces 445 people as relief efforts focus on safety and immediate aid for victims in affected areas. Published On 19 Apr 202619 Apr 2026 Hundreds of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed about 200 homes in a coastal village in Malaysia’s Sabah state, the state news agency Bernama reported. Authorities were notified of the fire in Sandakan district at ⁠about 1.32am on Sunday (17:32 GMT, Saturday), the district’s fire and rescue chief, Jimmy Lagung, was quoted as saying. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “Strong winds and the close proximity ‌of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water source,” Bernama quoted Lagung as saying. The fire broke out in one of Sabah’s water villages, ⁠which feature wooden houses built on ⁠stilts and are home to some of the country’s poorest communities, including many stateless and indigenous groups. About 445 people have ⁠been displaced so far, Bernama said, citing unofficial figures of people ⁠registered at a …

Malaysia’s work-from-home policy: Experts flag minimal fuel savings, businesses wary of economic fallout

Malaysia’s work-from-home policy: Experts flag minimal fuel savings, businesses wary of economic fallout

Published by Sam Flores

Two educators excluded from the WFH policy were neutral about it, but one – a high school teacher in Terengganu – pointed out that the education ministry should put more effort into online learning. The high school teacher said he commutes roughly 140km every day from his home to his school in rural Terengganu. “Most of the teachers here travel roughly 50km to 60km one way,” the 28-year-old said. The WFH policy should be more flexible and the private sector should be involved if the government is serious about saving fuel, he added. “Surely the ministries have figured out a way to make sure that learning can happen, even though it is conducted online,” he said. “We should be doing everything that we absolutely can to preserve our oil.” The other educator, a senior lecturer in her 40s at a public university in southern Malaysia, agreed. The education/higher education, health and home ministries are four ministries “commanding the highest percentage of civil service staff, yet we are excluded from the WFH arrangements”, she noted. “It …

Malaysian senior cop among 6 nabbed for alleged armed robberies targeting wealthy foreigners; US.1 million stolen

Malaysian senior cop among 6 nabbed for alleged armed robberies targeting wealthy foreigners; US$1.1 million stolen

Published by Sam Flores

KUALA LUMPUR: Six men, including a senior police officer, were arrested on Wednesday (Apr 8) over their alleged involvement in three armed robberies targeting wealthy foreign nationals, with losses from the heists estimated at RM4.4 million (US$1.1 million). The senior police officer purportedly acted as the coordinator in the heists, allegedly impersonated police officers to gain access to victims’ homes in Kepong in the early hours on Sunday (Apr 5), Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus told local news outlets at a press conference on Wednesday.  The suspects reportedly stole three luxury cars – a Toyota Alphard, a Rolls-Royce and a Bentley – and a safe containing RM24,200 and US$1,200 in cash, assorted jewellery and gold bars, according to local news publication The Star. The victims include two Chinese nationals – a man and woman – and an Indonesian woman, aged between 29 and 52, said the police chief. “One of the suspects allegedly threatened the victims with an object resembling a pistol,” Fadil was quoted saying in a Malay Mail report. The arrested police officer has been suspended from …

JB food guide: Railway-themed briyani and seafront treats in Stulang Laut

JB food guide: Railway-themed briyani and seafront treats in Stulang Laut

Published by Sam Flores

We choose to rest our bursting bellies in Jom Cha’s tranquil, cow-themed garden, looking out at the Singapore skyline. With a final thanks to Vimala for welcoming me aboard the day’s itinerary of recommendations, my mind returned to Railway Briyani Station. The theme might suggest a gimmick, but the quality of the menu delivers a substance that more than matches the style. Though it only opened 20 months ago, it has already cemented itself as a favourite in the community. “They love the environment because they feel like they are in Chennai once they enter. All of our ingredients – tea, coffee powder, spices, everything – come from Chennai,” Dineshraj said. “And I travel there regularly to visit relatives and my grandmother.” A fittingly delicious tribute to family and the importance of staying connected to one’s roots. So next time you’re in the area, choo-choo-choose Railway Briyani Station for a one-of-a-kind JB dining experience. Railway Briyani Station is located at Vantage Bay Lot 6376 & 9236, Jalan Ibrahim Sultan, Stulang Laut, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia. It’s open from 11am to 8pm, closed …

Malaysian driver in fatal Klang crash charged with murder of motorcyclist

Malaysian driver in fatal Klang crash charged with murder of motorcyclist

Published by Sam Flores

KUALA LUMPUR: A 28-year-old Malaysian driver was charged with murder on Wednesday (Apr 1) for a crash that killed a motorcyclist reportedly on his way to buy a textbook for his son in Klang, Selangor on Sunday. Saktygaanapathy Ravichandran’s car allegedly struck Amirul Hafiz Omar, 33, on Jalan Raya Barat at about 11.40am on Sunday.  Amirul, a warehouse worker and father of three, was thrown onto another vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Saktygaanapathy was reportedly driving at a high speed towards Klang town and is believed to have overtaken several vehicles before veering into the opposite lane and colliding head-on with the motorcycle, reported news outlet New Straits Times (NST).  He was remanded on Monday and charged a day before his four-day remand was due to expire. At the Klang district court, he nodded to indicate he understood the charge when it was read.  No plea was taken as murder cases fall under the High Court’s jurisdiction. If convicted under section 302 of the Penal Code, he faces the death penalty, or a jail …

Yeo’s lays off 25 employees at Singapore’s Senoko facility

Yeo’s lays off 25 employees at Singapore’s Senoko facility

Published by Sam Flores

SINGAPORE: Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) announced on Tuesday (Mar 31) that 25 employees will be laid off due to a “consolidation of can manufacturing to Malaysia”.  “This consolidation enables the Group’s Johor and Selangor facilities to optimise capacity utilisation and strengthen overall manufacturing efficiency across its network,” said the food and beverage company in a media statement. Yeo’s said its Senoko facility will continue to serve as its headquarters, cross-border logistics hub and smaller-scale manufacturing centre.  “Yeo’s is fully committed to helping affected employees with job placement assistance, career guidance and counselling support,” it said, adding that opportunities for open roles in Malaysia will be offered to them whenever possible. In response to CNA’s queries, Yeo’s added that it will have 245 employees across all its Singapore operations after the retrenchment. The affected roles were all within can manufacturing. It said the Senoko facility will continue to support light manufacturing activities, along with logistics optimisation, commercialisation initiatives, innovation work and regional coordination. Yeo’s is unionised under the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) and …