Queen calmly cooked up a feast after 2022 Raya date surprise, palace staff recall

KUALA LUMPUR: The unexpected Aidilfitri date announcement in 2022 saw Malaysians nationwide rushing to tackle their final preparations with only hours before the day arrived. Soon after the announcement by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, people scrambled to gather the ingredients, especially fresh produce, to make their festive dishes such as chicken or beef rendang,...

One dead, four feared buried alive in Cameron Highlands landslide

KUANTAN: One man died while four others are feared to have been buried alive following a landslide early Friday (Jan 26) morning at Batu 54, Blue Valley, Cameron Highlands. Pahang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said the department received a distress call at 2.51am, and so far, the search and rescue...

Floods: Number of evacuees rises in T’ganu, Johor, unchange in Kelantan, Pahang

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood victims in the four flood-affected states in the country increased to 3,323 people from 1,016 families as of 6am Friday (Jan 26), compared to 3,128 people from 958 families on Thursday (Jan 25) night. Based on a report by the National Disaster Control Centre of the National Disaster Management Agency...

New Zealand withdraws bill allowing 16-year-olds to vote in local body elections

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The New Zealand government on Friday withdrew a bill that would have allowed sixteen year olds to vote in local government elections if it had passed. New Zealand's highest court ruled in late 2022 that the country's current voting age of 18 was discriminatory, forcing parliament to discuss whether it should be lowered. The...

Contract system may affect civil service productivity, says Pasir Gudang MP

JOHOR BARU: The move to introduce a contract system for new civil service recruits could affect the government’s overall productivity, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim. The Johor lawmaker said the lack of job security for contract staff was also a cause of concern for the people. “This will affect the public’s desire to enter the...

No safe harbour, warns Immigration Dept

SEREMBAN: The Immigration Department, which detained 110 undocumented foreigners in a three-hour operation near here yesterday, has again reminded employers that stern action will be taken against them if they hire or harbour such individuals. State director Kennith Tan Aik Kiang said his department had been conducting regular operations against undocumented foreigners and would come down...

Johor Immigration nabs 84 illegals in factory raid after tip-off

JOHOR BARU: A total of 84 illegal immigrants from four countries and a local woman have been arrested following a raid at a factory in Senai near here. Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said that the operation, codenamed Ops Mahir, was conducted at 11am on Wednesday (Jan 24) following a tip-off from the public. "We received a...

Sabah police rescue eight teenage girls in anti-human trafficking raid

KOTA KINABALU: Eight teenage girls - some as young as 14 - were rescued from a factory where they were made to work as forced labour in Sabah’s east coast Lahad Datu district. The factory was also found employing foreigners without valid travel passes or working permits during the raid by the Sabah Criminal Investigation Department’s...

Man who allegedly hit daughter also accused of rape, say Negri cops

REMBAU: A 47-year-old man who was caught on video allegedly hitting his 17-year-old daughter with chairs and an ironing board is also being investigated for raping the teenager. Rembau OCPD Deputy Supt Hazri Mohamad said the girl, who required 12 stitches for her injuries, reported this to a doctor while receiving treatment at the Tunku Ampuan...

The people come first, says King

PUTRAJAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has sent a letter to the Cabinet, reminding them that their duty first and foremost is to serve the nation and her people. Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah penned the advice to the ministers, stating they should not think of positions, personal interests or possessions while in power, says government...