Improvements to Sara distribution ensure more orderly, targeted aid disbursement, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Improvements to the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance, which began today, were formulated with full commitment to ensure that the people can meet their basic needs in a more orderly, targeted and continuous manner, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the move is in line with the Madani Government's determination to...

Umno Youth rues absence of ‘commander’ Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: The absence of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is felt at the Umno Youth meeting, with debaters highlighting the former party president's influence in the political landscape. Pekan Umno Youth chief Mohd Fakhrul Akhmal Mohamed attributed Barisan Nasional and Umno's dominance at the Melaka and Johor state elections to Najib's presence. "How can...

Immigration officer among eight held over illegal passport syndicate

KUALA LUMPUR: Eight locals, including an Immigration Department officer, have been arrested in an operation to dismantle a syndicate involved in illegally obtaining Malaysian passports. The arrests were carried out at 10 locations across three states on Wednesday (Jan 14). Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban said the raids were conducted at six locations in Perak, two in Melaka...

Sisters detained for multiple petrol purchases in Tumpat

KOTA BARU: Two sisters, aged 33 and 23, were detained by the Kelantan office of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry after being found repeatedly purchasing petrol at a petrol station in Tumpat on Wednesday (Jan 14). Kelantan ministry deputy director Aswadi Jaafar said the women were arrested at about 1.57pm following intelligence received...

Greece warns shipping fleet of risks after Black Sea drone attacks

ATHENS, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Greece has ‌warned its shipping fleet to review their security measures when sailing ‌to Russian Black Sea ports after drone attacks on two ‌Greek-operated tankers this week, according to shipping ministry advisories. Drones struck two oil tankers on Tuesday, including one chartered by U.S. oil major Chevron, as they sailed toward...

Umno supreme council deliberates motions from party’s three wings

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno supreme council special meeting has received and heard reports from council members who attended the Women's, Youth and Puteri wings meetings. Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi (pic) said all motions raised by delegates from the three wings were also deliberated at the meeting. "Another important agenda was the discussion on the president's policy speech,...

Emergency protocols kicked in after blast, says Help University

KUALA LUMPUR: Help University says its emergency protocols, including immediate evacuation, were activated after an explosion at its Bukit Damansara campus. "An incident occurred in the kitchen of an F&B outlet located on the fourth floor of one of Help University's campus building at Bukit Damansara. "Students and staff on campus were immediately evacuated in accordance with...

Zizie Izette seeks to have RM2.8mil graft charges dropped

KUALA LUMPUR: The widow of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has submitted a representation seeking to drop charges of conspiring with her late husband to receive RM2.8mil in bribes. The bribes were allegedly for securing approval for Felcra Berhad to invest RM150mil in Public Mutual Berhad unit trust products. Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad's lawyer, Datuk...

Sultan Sharafuddin decrees for firm action against LBGT activities in Selangor

PETALING JAYA: Selangor's Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has decreed for firm action to be taken against any activities in the state with lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender (LGBT) elements. In a joint statement on Monday (Jan 12), Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin and Selangor Mufti Datuk Dr Anhar Opir said the Selangor Ruler...

Former political aide Sayed Amir demanded RM19mil ‘lump sum’ bribe, witness tells court

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court has heard that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir Al Sayed Mohamad demanded a RM19mil 'lump sum' payment from Nexuscorpgroup Sdn Bhd (NSB) after it secured a maintenance and spare parts tender for the police. NSB chief operating officer Azman Kamaruddin, 45, testified that the company's managing director, Wan Azhar Mohamed Yusof, informed him...