Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (left) says the state government will decide on the possible implementation of a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement at its next cabinet meeting. – Pic courtest of Sabah Chief Minister’s Office
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will decide on the possible implementation of a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement at its next cabinet meeting.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the move would be considered following a directive issued at the federal level.
"At the federal level, the prime minister has directed that, starting April 15, many civil servants are likely to work from home to save not only energy but also costs.
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"This is something that should be given attention not only by the government but also by the public.
"If necessary, we will implement it. We will see how the concept works," he told reporters after a Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration with the media here.
Commenting on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Hajiji said the situation could have a broader impact on economies worldwide, including Malaysia and Sabah.
The Strait of Hormuz has faced disruptions following Iran's restriction of maritime traffic, triggered by last month's United States-Israeli strikes, leading to a surge in oil prices.
"In Sabah, we have 1,400MW of electricity capacity. Of that, 1,100MW comes from gas supplied by Petronas directly to the state.
"We will not be significantly affected in that aspect. Only about 300MW comes from diesel, which we are monitoring closely, as any increase in diesel prices will affect Sabah.
"There will be an impact if diesel prices rise. However, Sabah still receives diesel subsidies, which help ease the burden," he said, adding that the state government would continue to monitor developments.
Earlier, Chief Minister's Department Media and Communications director Datuk Lucy Irene Yong expressed appreciation for the commitment and dedication of media practitioners in disseminating information to the public across government, mainstream and social media platforms.
"We appreciate the role of the media in clearly explaining government policies while also conveying the people's voices to the authorities for action.
"However, while the media today is driven by speed, this should not come at the expense of accuracy," she said, adding that the Media and Communications Office would continue to ensure the timely and accurate dissemination of information related to the state government and the Chief Minister.
Among those present were Sabah Journalists Association president Mariah Doksil, Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association chairman Datuk Jimmy Goh, editors-in-chief, bureau chiefs and more than 200 media practitioners.
Also in attendance were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, Yayasan Sabah director Datuk Ghulam Khan Bahadar and heads of departments. - NST
Samirul Ariff Othman says those making such claims overlook how the system actually works.
Samirul Ariff Othman (right) responds to Isham Jalil’s accusation that Petronas had not revealed its ‘additional net profit’ arising from the Mideast crisis.
PETALING JAYA: An oil and gas analyst pushed back against claims that Petronas is quietly reaping windfall profits from the current global energy crisis, saying such arguments overlook how the system actually works.
Samirul Ariff Othman, an adjunct professor at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, said recent criticism directed at Petronas and its president and CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik Aziz was based on an oversimplified reading of both market dynamics and the company’s role.
The criticism followed a televised interview on Friday (April 3) in which Tengku Taufik outlined why higher global oil prices do not automatically translate into extraordinary profits for Petronas.
Among the critics was former Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil, who argued that the explanation was too basic and failed to address the key issue.
“If prices go up, of course Petronas should be making more money. The real question is how much extra profit are they making,” Isham said, adding that Petronas had not disclosed the “additional net profit” arising from the crisis.
He also questioned Malaysia’s crude trade structure, saying the country exports higher-value oil while importing cheaper crude, suggesting this should generate profits even if import volumes are higher.
Isham further argued that Petronas had not sufficiently addressed gains from LNG exports, while placing greater emphasis on rising costs.
Only for public understanding
Responding to the criticism, Samirul said the CEO’s remarks were never intended to be a detailed financial breakdown. “What was presented was a high-level explanation for public understanding. That is appropriate in that setting,” he said.
He noted that detailed profit and cost figures are typically disclosed through formal financial reports, not during a public interview, particularly when the crisis has unfolded over a short period.
“You cannot simply produce precise profit numbers in real time for an ongoing situation. That comes through structured reporting.”
Samirul said the assumption that higher oil prices automatically lead to higher profits misses how the system behaves during a crisis. “At a glance, markets see price. But systems absorb shock,” he said.
While global oil prices have surged close to US$120 per barrel, he said this has been accompanied by sharp increases in costs. Shipping rates through key routes such as the Strait of Hormuz have risen by up to three times, while insurance premiums in conflict zones have increased by as much as 337%, the highest in two decades.
“These are not marginal increases. They significantly reshape cost structures across the system,” he said, adding that crude oil prices themselves have risen by about 40%, increasing input costs for refining and processing.
LNG contracts do not reprice overnight
Addressing Isham’s point on LNG, Samirul said the assumption that higher global prices immediately translate into higher profits is inaccurate because a large portion of the commodity is sold under long-term contracts, often spanning 10 to 20 years.
These contracts typically use pricing formulas linked to oil benchmarks with a lag, fixed within a range or negotiated ahead of time. “This means when prices spike suddenly, revenue does not instantly jump in the same way,” he said.
He added that even when prices adjust upward, it often happens with a delay, and not all volumes are exposed to spot market prices. “At the same time, the cost of producing, liquefying and transporting LNG also rises during a crisis. So the net effect is far more moderate than people assume.”
Samirul said Isham’s argument treated Petronas as if it is a single-segment oil seller, despite the fact the national oil company operates upstream, midstream and downstream, with each segment affected differently.
He pointed to Petronas’s latest financial results, which showed that despite elevated energy prices, profit after tax declined to about RM45.5 billion in the 2025 financial year, from around RM55 billion the year before.
“If there were clear windfall profits across the system, you would expect to see that reflected in the overall numbers. Instead, what we see is pressure on margins,” he said, adding that gains in upstream operations are often offset by rising costs and weaker performance elsewhere, particularly in downstream activities.
Addressing Isham’s point on crude trade, Samirul said Malaysia’s position reflects structural realities and pointed to the fact that Malaysia has been a net importer of crude oil since around 2014 or 2015.
Domestic production is around 350,000 barrels per day, while refinery demand is closer to 700,000 barrels per day, creating a gap that must be filled through imports.
“This is not a simple buy-low-sell-high situation. It is about matching refinery configurations and meeting domestic fuel demand.”
At the same time, Malaysia remains a major exporter of natural gas and LNG, though Samirul noted that LNG revenues are moderated by long-term contractual structures.
What Petronas returns to the system
Samirul also addressed the broader claim that Petronas retains excess profits, saying the company contributed a significant portion of its earnings back to the government.
Over the past five years, Petronas has accounted for more than 20% of federal government revenue, with dividends typically ranging between RM20 billion and RM32 billion annually. Cumulatively, since 1974, Petronas has contributed about RM1.6 trillion to the national coffers.
“These funds support public expenditure, including subsidies and infrastructure.”
Samirul said the debate reflects a broader misunderstanding of how energy systems function under stress.
“The narrative that higher prices automatically mean higher profits is appealing, but it does not hold in an integrated system facing disruption,” he said, adding that in this environment, every price increase is matched by increases in cost, risk and operational complexity.
He said that while scrutiny is important, public discourse should reflect how the system actually operates, adding that the issue is not hidden profit, but “misunderstood complexity.” - FMT
An MACC source said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect submitted an invoice for RM50,000 in consultancy services for temple repairs which were never conducted.
The man was arrested on April 2 when he went to the Selangor MACC office to make a statement.
KUALA LUMPUR: A former chairman of a temple in Selangor has been arrested over suspected misappropriation of RM50,000 in temple funds.
The man, in his 70s, was arrested on Thursday when he went to the Selangor office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to make a statement.
An MACC source said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect, colluding with another person who was arrested in March, submitted an invoice for RM50,000 in consultancy services for temple repairs which were never conducted.
Investigations are now centred on the temple, which was founded in the 1950s, and its major financial sources – donations from Hindu devotees of the temple.
The source said the temple had been deregistered by the Registrar of Societies in October 2024 and the temple was found to have been built on government land without legal authorisation.
Selangor MACC director Azwan Ramli confirmed the arrest when contacted, and said the two suspects are expected to be charged soon. - FMT
Azlina with her family on her convocation day. PIC COURTESY OF AZLINA ABD AZIZ
KUALA LUMPUR: When her son was charged with murder, Azlina Abdul Aziz did not crumble - she picked up a law textbook.
The 52-year-old, who had spent years as a full-time housewife, said the harrowing experience in 2016 became the turning point that set her on an entirely new path in life.
"I never once thought of becoming a lawyer. I was just a housewife.
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"I grew up in a poor family in a Felda settlement and never managed to finish school up to SPM level.
"I left school early because of financial hardship and family circumstances.
"The challenges I faced from a young age were also shaped by my father's mental health condition," she told Harian Metro.
Azlina, known on social media as Makcikmanis, has drawn widespread attention online for her transformation from housewife to lawyer, made all the more remarkable by the fact that she does not hold an SPM certificate.
She married young, but the marriage did not last and ended in divorce.
"I thought marriage would solve my problems, but it turned out to be a different kind of test.
"I was a single mother for several years before I met my Australian husband.
"We settled in Australia in 2003 before returning to Malaysia in 2010," she said.
She remained a full-time housewife until her son was detained by police in 2016.
"At first, I thought it was a drug case, but when the police said it was murder, I was in shock.
"My son has a learning disability and was charged alongside others in the case. He looks normal, but he is actually slow," she said.
Throughout her son's trial, Azlina began reading legal materials to understand court proceedings.
"I read case law and tried to understand how the prosecution proves a charge.
"Going back and forth to prison every week opened my eyes to the struggles faced by other inmates' families.
"I saw many parents who did not understand the procedures, so I tried to help as best I could," she said.
She said encouragement from friends to pursue a law degree proved to be the spark that changed everything.
"They said I spoke like a lawyer, so I decided to try and apply. Even without an SPM, I used my work experience to qualify for university entry through a special pathway.
"I still remember going to the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) to ask how I could further my studies in law.
"The officer who attended to me was rather surprised because I had no SPM and was a housewife. So I had to summon the courage," she said.
At the age of 43, Azlina began her law degree while still managing her son's court case.
"I studied because I wanted to understand and help my own child," she said.
The year 2022 proved to be the most meaningful, when her son was acquitted of the charge.
"Alhamdulillah, my son was freed after nearly six years, having been found not guilty.
"He even made it to see me on my convocation day," she said.
Azlina has since opened her own firm, focusing on civil and criminal cases drawn from her own life experience.
"I have been a client myself, so I know what that feels like. I am determined to be a lawyer who truly helps people and does not take advantage of others in their time of need.
"From my own personal experience, I have become a lawyer who genuinely understands a client's problems and will try my utmost to help, because I have been through all of it myself," she said. - NST
The tremor struck off the remote northern Talaud islands at a depth of 99km. - Image: USGS
JAKARTA (AFP): A 6.0 magnitude quake struck off Indonesia's remote northern Talaud islands on Saturday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The tremor struck at a depth of 99 kilometres (61 miles), some 90 kilometres southeast of Sarangani province on the Philippine island of Mindanao.
Harry Sauro, a provincial disaster official, told AFP the quake was only "slightly felt" and there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Earthquakes are a near-daily occurrence in the Philippines, which with Indonesia and other neighbours is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said there was no threat of a tsunami.
A magnitude-9.1 quake struck Indonesia's westernmost Aceh province in 2004, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000 people in Indonesia. -- AFP
