FORMER prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among those investigated regarding asset declarations, said MACC chief Azam Baki. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said the former premier was among those investigated by the anti-graft body, according to reports.

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will seek remand extension against Perlis menteri besars son and five others who were arrested to assist in the probe into the RM600,000 falsified claims case, said chief commissioner Azam Baki. He also said more people are expected to be called in to help in the investigations.

IN February, analysts questioned the viability of the RM120 billion Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed rail (HSR) project,raising doubts on the private sectors ability to fund it. Some said the government has land that could be swapped with those to be acquired for the project.

PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has offered his prayers for the wellbeing of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who had been hospitalised at the National Heart Institute (IJN). Anwar posted on his social media that he prayed that the former prime minister, better known as Pak Lah, be spared from any difficulty.

PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today dismissed a report in Bloomberg News that there is a plan to open a casino in Forest City, Johor. Not true, not true. Casino licence Thats a lie, he told reporters in Putrajaya.

THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urges the government to seriously consider 2020 call by the then-deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or the establishment of a charities commission.

THE prevalence of diabetes among Malaysians has become a hot topic.It was reported that up to fivemillion Malaysians are projected to have the disease by the end of the year. The debate over 24-hour restaurantssurfaces each time the sorry state ofpublic health is mentioned.

UNIVERSITI Malaya today apologised for the controversy arising over the pro-Zionist speech of a visiting American academic earlier this week. It said it had cancelled all programmes and activities scheduled to be attended by the US speaker.

DIGITAL Nasional Bhd (DNB) appointed five new board members comprising leaders in the telecommunications and technology industry, effective yesterday. In a statement today, the special purpose vehicle company said this followed the share subscription agreements signed between DNB, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, and five mobile network operators on December 1.

THE Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will restructure its members accounts, effective May 11, to include a third account called Akaun Fleksibel to allow contributors under the age of 55 to withdraw their savings for theirshort-term financial needs. Savings in the third account can be withdrawn anytime.

ACCUSED gunman Hafizul Harawi claimed trial today to a charge of attempting to murder his wife Farah Isaat the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on April 14. He also denied a second charge of causing grievous hurt to Nur Hadith Zaini, 37, his wifes bodyguard who took a hit from the bullets allegedly fired by Hafizul.

THE Higher Education Ministry has directed Universiti Malaya to investigate the pro-Zionist remarks of by a visiting American academic earlier this week. Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir urged local higher education institutions to exercise caution when selecting speakers for their events.

PUTRAJAYA is reported to be in talks with two tycoons on a plan to open a casino in Forest City in Johor. Bloomberg News , quoting sources, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met magnates Vincent Tan of Berjaya Corporation and Lim Kok Thay of the Genting Group last week to discuss the matter.

WHEN an accused is guilty and convicted by the court, the court will proceed to impose sentence according to law. The sentence must be according to law.

THE Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has revoked the air operators certificate (AOC) of cash-strapped low-cost carrier MYAirline Sdn Bhd, effective April 15, The Edge reported that this was after the airline failed to find a new investor before the April 14 deadline.

THE matter of an order forNajib Razaks house arrestis immaterial because such a provision does not exist in Malaysian law, government sources said The officials, who asked to remain anonymous, said a royal pardon which offers house arrest is unenforceable.

BANNING the display of cigarettes and vape products will only add a huge financial burden to the sundry shops, said their association today. The Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia (FSGMAM) said while it understood the governments aim is to discourage smoking and vaping, such measures however will also impose a deeper hole in their pockets.

A DAP ministers aide will be named as the partys candidate for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, report Malaysiakini. The news portal said Pang Sock Tao will be announced as the candidate later tonight.

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should be allowed to investigate his son who was arrested along with five others today, said Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli. They were arrested and remanded for two days for allegedly falsifying claims amounting to RM600,000 over government public works contracts.

FAHMI Fadzil today defended the unity governments stand on freedom of expression, saying that action was only taken against these spreading slander. The communications minister, who is also the government spokesperson, said the government does not act against those who criticized the government.

THE Malaysian Indian Peoples Partys influence in Perikatan Nasional willonly be impactful if the party has the backing of Indian community, said P Ramasamy. Ramasamy, the head of another Indian-based party, Urimai, however, said MIPPsadmission as a PN component party is big improvement over the subordinate status of Indians as associate members previously.

A COMPANY manager who was allegedly involved in the recent shooting at KLIAs Terminal 1 was charged at the Kota Baru sessions court today with seven charges, including the possession of firearms. However, the accused, Hafizul Harawi, 38, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial for all the charges read before judge Nik Habri Muhamad.

AS the repercussions of climate change intensify, so do the disparities in health outcomes. The intersection between the climate crisis and health inequity is often overlooked in climate and health policies and initiatives. However, as climate change magnies natural disasters and resource insecurity, risks to healthcare systems also arise. Climate variability can thus be identied as a key perpetuating factor for health inequality in Malaysia.

AMNESTY Internationals human rights report for 2023 depicts Malaysia in a poor light with the government allegedly failing to fulfill commitments to reform laws restricting the right to freedom of expression. Amnesty International said Malaysia continued to use repressive laws to silence critical voices and prevent peaceful protest.

AS an RA representative, we read with amusement and worrying concern with the current post PJDL mud-slinging between Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung.

PENANG is bracing fora bumper year for tourism after enduring the nightmarish Covid-19 lockdowns that almost drove the industry to the brink of bankruptcy between the years of 2020 and 2022. Now, two years later, Penang is regaining its status as a preferred tourism destination not only for the northern region but the country, state exco for tourism Wong Hon Wai noted.

WHILE the Canadian House of Commons sidesteps the recognition of Palestinian statehood, it pivots, endorsing the roles of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court in the fray.

THE KL20 summit is a disappointment and does not offer any benefits to local startups, according to a tech startup innovator. Vidola Titans founder Vishnu Kanth, in a post on LinkedIn, said he did not see any benefits to local startups at the summit.

A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation has supported the move by some eateries to shorten operating hours, claiming that late-night meals cause negative effects such as weight gain, sleep disorders and digestive issues. The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) said limited access to late-night eating will be healthier for Malaysians.

IT is disheartening as well as disturbing to read about the ongoing dispute between the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.

HUMAN rights have remained unchanged in Malaysia since the last Country Reports on Human Rights, according to the US Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Bureau. But unlike in previous years, there were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, and no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities, the agency said.

I WAS amused by a recent report with the heading Maybe my expectations were too high: Tourist left underwhelmed after trying the best Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore.

WE need to take serious and drastic action against corruption and power abuse, especially amid elections of any kind. Stakeholders must not be allowed offer any form or promise of assistances or benefits to the voters. Strict measures must be taken to gain public trust. If there is a plan to for aid, it should be announced before an election is called or after polling ends.

IN the spirit of Eid Mubarak and muhibbah, many Malay-Muslim families had conducted open houses for relatives, as well as neighbours, colleagues and friends of diverse backgrounds. It was the season to be merry and inclusive, which had also often become the subject matter of corporate advertisements in celebrating the blessed festivity. A few video clips tried to pull the heartstrings of viewers.

THE Malaysian Indian Peoples Party (MIPP) has indicated that it would back any Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election and would not demand the seat for itself. Its presidentPunithan Paramsiven said that the party may opt to not make its electoral debut in this by-election.

RESIDENTS of rumah panjang PJS 1 in Petaling Jaya are growing frustrated with the lack of action by the local authorities in mitigating floods as well as keeping the area clean. They have been experiencing flooding problems for several years now, largely caused by the alleged ineffectiveness of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

PICTURE this: were nestled in our favorite niche cafes, sipping on single-origin coffee, convinced that shunning some big-name brands is a revolutionary act. Its high time we wake up from this comfortable delusion. If you think abstaining from your daily corporate coffee fix is a major geopolitical statement, youre merely scratching the surface while patting yourself on the back. The seductive mirage of boycotts

PUTRAJAYAS decision to scrap the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway project should be final with no turning back by the government, the Coalition Against PJD Link said. Coalition leader Sheikh Moqhtar Kadir said the decision to scrap the project must be announced by the works minister (Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi) and endorsed in parliament.

INVESTMENT, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has written to the high court seeking its permission to file an affidavit to correct factual errors in another affidavit linked to Najib Razaks bid for house arrest. According to reports in the New Straits Times, Tengku Zafrul sent the letter via law firm Cecil Abraham & Partners to judge Amarjeet Singhs office.

PERIKATAN Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has no moral standing to make statements regarding the countrys current affairs, PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said. Fahmi said Muhyiddin has failed to aid the authorities in urging his son-in-law, Muhammad Adlan Berhan, to return and face criminal charges.