Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Azam Baki’s position as a National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) Advisory Board member has nothing to do with his previous position as the MACC chief commissioner.
According to Bernama, he said Azam was appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and the appointment remains valid until 2027.
“It can only be revoked by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. His appointment is not tied to the MACC chief commissioner post,” Anwar said.
Amid reports claiming that fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho may be considered for a presidential pardon in the United States, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s stance on the matter remains unchanged.
“Malaysia’s position is clear. We follow the rule of law. Whatever the US decides, that’s their internal matter. We will not be influenced, disturbed, or affected by any US decision,” Bernama quoted him as saying.
Fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (right) and United States President Donald Trump Previously, The Atlantic reported that Low, also known as Jho Low, was among 250 people being considered for a pardon in conjunction with the US’ 250th Independence Day on July 4.
He was reportedly being considered alongside Pras Michel, of the music group Fugees, who was convicted of conspiring with Low and a Chinese government official to orchestrate a lobbying campaign aimed at halting US criminal investigations into the 1MDB scandal.
The Court of Appeal today unanimously dismissed an appeal by Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen in a defamation suit brought by the Sarawak government.
A three-member appellate panel also allowed the Sarawak government’s cross-appeal, increasing the damages awarded by the High Court from RM150,000 to RM300,000, Dayak Daily reported.
The appellate court also upheld the High Court’s order requiring Chong to pay RM50,000 in costs. In addition, he was ordered to pay RM100,000 in costs for the dismissed appeal and another RM50,000 for the successful cross-appeal.
ADSThe case stemmed from a High Court judgment on Aug 30, 2022, which found him liable for defamation over statements alleging that RM11 billion from the Sarawak Treasury had “disappeared into a black hole”.
Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen The High Court held that the remarks had defamatory imputations that the Sarawak government and the Sarawak Financial Authority lacked transparency and accountability in their financial management, which led to them filing the civil suit.
Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen voiced regret over the Court of Appeal’s ruling against him in the long-running “black hole” defamation case, and said he is weighing an appeal to the Federal Court.
Dayak Daily reported him saying in a statement that governments should not have the legal standing to sue citizens for defamation.
He pointed to apex courts in England, Canada, and Australia, which have generally held that public authorities must remain open to scrutiny, and claimed that a few Malaysian judges share that view too.
Chong also referenced the Federal Court’s prior ruling that political parties cannot sue for defamation, questioning why a state government - formed by a majority party - should have standing to do so.
The case against the supplier behind last year’s “halal ham” sandwich controversy has come to a close, after the company Shake and Bake Cafe Sdn Bhd and its managing director Ewe Sarn Yeun paid a RM100,000 compound to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The fine amounted to RM50,000 for offences under Section 8(a) of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of ‘Halal’) Order 2011, and another RM50,000 under Section 102(1)(c) of the Trademarks Act 2019.
The prosecution then dropped all 14 charges against Ewe and his company, while the court granted them both an acquittal and discharge.
Ewe, who announced the administrative settlement in a Facebook post, thanked his lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad and his team.
He added that the court had retained his passport since he was charged, which kept him from his family in the US, and from taking up speaking engagements at the invitation of universities in China.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has unveiled an additional RM10 million allocation for the Vehicle Replacement Matching Grant Programme to help taxi drivers replace ageing vehicles.
He said this was after the initial RM10 million allocated under the National Madani Taxi Reform Programme announced in Budget 2026 received an encouraging response, Bernama reported.
He said the initiative could boost taxi drivers’ net income to as much as RM7,000 per month, taking into account savings from maintenance and vehicle financing.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the programme allows taxi drivers to own their vehicles outright, replacing the longstanding leasing system.
The Proton S70 sedan was selected as the official car for the programme. - Mkini
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