RM500 special financial aid for civil servants to be disbursed March 13

 

KUALA LUMPUR: The Special Financial Assistance (BKK) of RM500 for all civil servants in Grade 15 and below, including contract appointees, will be disbursed on March 13.

The Public Service Department, in a statement on its Facebook page on Monday (Feb 23), said the aid is given to assist civil servants and retirees to prepare for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

It added that the aid would be extended to government retirees, as well as pensioned and non-pensioned veterans, with a payment of RM250.

"The aid will be paid out on March 13, 2026, and will be borne by the department in which the officer is serving on the date of payment.

"This aid is exempt from income tax, in accordance with the provisions under subsection 127(3A) of the Income Tax Act 1967," it added.

The disbursement of the BKK was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2026 on Oct 10, 2025. – Bernama

Hot air balloon lands in Kedah paddy field; no CAAM approval - Cops

 

The hot air balloon spooted near Kampung Pisang, Kota Sarang Semut. - Pic courtesy of police

ALOR STAR: A hot air balloon landed in a paddy field at Kampung Pisang, Kota Sarang Semut, today without an approved flight plan from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), police said.

Kota Setar police chief, Assistant Commissioner Syed Basri Syed Ali, said a 32-year-old local farmer witnessed the landing at 8.30am.

"While heading to the town of Kota Sarang Semut, the witness saw several people folding the hot air balloon and placing it into a Mitsubishi Triton four-wheel drive vehicle," Syed Basri said in a statement.

After speaking to the Triton driver, the witness learned the balloon had taken off from Stadium Mini Pendang at 6.30am and landed in the village to avoid drifting out to sea, he added.

"The hot air balloon was later removed from Kampung Pisang using the four-wheel-drive vehicle. No injuries or fatalities were reported," Syed Basri said.

Investigations revealed the balloon was owned by a resort in Bertam, Penang, he said.

"Those involved included an Italian trainer, three local crew members, and two men in the Triton.

"The resort had only obtained flight permission for Taiping, Perak, and not for Kedah," he added.

The case has been referred to CAAM for further action. - NST

Home Ministry leaves misconduct probe in Durian Tunggal shooting to IPCC

 

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail -file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has left it to the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) as an independent body, to determine any action on misconduct in the Durian Tunggal police shooting.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Subsection 32(1) of the Independent Police Conduct Commission Act 2022 [Act 839] empowers the IPCC to initiate investigations into alleged misconduct on its own accord in the public interest, regardless of whether a formal complaint has been lodged.

"This includes the shooting incident in Durian Tunggal, Melaka.

"In this matter, the ministry leaves it entirely to the IPCC, as an independent and impartial body, to take appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of the law," he said in a written parliamentary reply today.

He was responding to William Leong Jee Keen (PH–Selayang), who asked whether the IPCC was involved in the investigation and how the government could ensure that the internal police probe would be free from conflict of interest and conducted fairly and objectively.

Saifuddin said a special task force had been set up at the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department to take full charge of the criminal investigation into the incident.

He said the police Integrity and Standards Compliance Department is conducting a disciplinary investigation to determine whether there were any breaches of the Inspector-General of Police's Standing Orders or standard operating procedures, particularly in relation to detention, inspection, arrest and the handling of firearms by the officers involved.

"The police has given its assurance that a transparent, fair and professional investigation will be conducted in accordance with existing laws to ensure that justice is upheld.

"The investigation papers have also been referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further scrutiny in line with Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution," he said.

On Nov 24, 2025, three men – G. Logeswaran, 29, M. Puspanathan, 21, and a 24-year-old identified as M. – were shot dead during a police operation at an oil palm plantation.

Police had earlier said the incident occurred after one of the men allegedly attacked a policeman with a parang, prompting officers to open fire.

Lawyers representing the families have since disputed the police account. - NST

Civil servant arrested for recommending relatives in Rumah Mesra SMJ scheme

 

The case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 - NSTP FILE PIC

SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sabah has detained a civil servant suspected of abusing his authority by recommending two of his family members as recipients of the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) housing scheme.

The man, in his 50s, was arrested at about 9.50am today when he arrived to give a statement at the MACC Sandakan office.

According to a source, the suspect is believed to have abused his power by recommending two nominees — his father-in-law and brother-in-law — as beneficiaries.

"Preliminary investigations found the suspect allegedly committed the act in 2022, and the houses built under the names of his father-in-law and brother-in-law were completed in 2023.

"However, until last year the houses were found to be unoccupied, raising doubts about the recipients' actual eligibility and potentially undermining the objective of the assistance programme," the source said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Sabah MACC director Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah, when contacted, confirmed the arrest.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, and the suspect is expected to be charged at the Sandakan Sessions Court tomorrow. - NST

Garis panduan seragam penganugerahan ijazah kelas pertama akan diperkenal

 Kerajaan mahu standard penilaian yang sama antara IPTA dan IPTS, khususnya dalam konteks pemberian pengecualian bayaran balik PTPTN.

MQA kata satu garis panduan khusus bagi menyeragamkan definisi dan kriteria ijazah kelas pertama di semua IPT akan dikeluarkan pada Mei. (Gambar fail)

SHAH ALAM:

 Kerajaan akan memperkenalkan garis panduan baharu bagi menyeragamkan penganugerahan ijazah kelas pertama di semua institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT).

Menteri Pendidikan Tinggi Zambry Abd Kadir berkata langkah itu penting bagi memastikan wujud standard penilaian yang sama antara institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) dan institusi pengajian tinggi swasta (IPTS), khususnya dalam konteks pemberian pengecualian bayaran balik Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) kepada graduan yang memperoleh ijazah kelas pertama.

Beliau berkata antara cabaran utama ketika ini ialah kekangan kewangan kerajaan memandangkan perbelanjaan tahunan bagi pengecualian tersebut melebihi RM300 juta.

“Kerajaan sebelum ini membuat keputusan di peringkat IPTA dahulu dan mungkin pada peringkat akan datang kita juga ingin mencadangkan sebagai permulaan di peringkat IPTN (negeri) dan juga syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC), sebelum melihat pelaksanaannya di IPTS.

“Isu yang timbul ialah bagaimana kita mengukur pelajar yang mendapat kelas pertama di IPTS kerana di IPTA sudah ada sistem yang jelas. Kita tidak mahu ada persepsi bahawa di satu tempat mudah mendapat kelas pertama dan di tempat lain sukar,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada dialog anjuran Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar Kebangsaan (MPPK) di Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, dihadiri 1,000 kepimpinan pelajar daripada IPTA, IPTS, politeknik dan kolej komuniti.

Zambry berkata beliau telah meminta Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia (MQA) membuat penilaian menyeluruh bagi memastikan tiada diskriminasi terhadap pelajar IPTS, termasuk mereka daripada keluarga berpendapatan rendah yang menunjukkan prestasi akademik cemerlang.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MQA Shatar Sabran berkata pihaknya akan mengeluarkan satu garis panduan khusus bagi menyeragamkan definisi dan kriteria ijazah kelas pertama di semua IPT.

“MQA akan menyelaras dan mengeluarkan satu garis panduan supaya semua kelas pertama yang ada dalam negara ini sama. Tidak ada lagi unsur menyatakan bahawa di satu tempat senang dapat kelas pertama, di tempat lain susah dan sebagainya,” katanya.

Beliau berkata garis panduan itu dijangka dibentangkan kepada mesyuarat majlis MQA pada Mei ini, sebelum dikemukakan kepada Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi.

Sebelum ini dalam pembentangan Belanjawan 2026, Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim mengumumkan kerajaan bersetuju mengecualikan bayaran balik PTPTN kepada semua mahasiswa yang memperoleh ijazah sarjana muda kepujian kelas pertama di IPTA daripada keluarga pendapatan rendah dan menengah, yang akan memberi manfaat kepada hampir 6,000 peminjam dengan peruntukan RM90 juta setahun. - FMT

Penjawat awam Perak dapat ‘duit raya’ RM1,500

 Bantuan khas kewangan sempena Aidilfitri itu akan disalurkan pada 16 Mac, kata MB.

Menteri Besar Perak Saarani Mohamad berkata, pemberian BKK Aidilfitri kepada penjawat awam babit implikasi kewangan berjumlah RM16.9 juta kepada kerajaan negeri.

PETALING JAYA:

 Penjawat awam di Perak akan menerima Bantuan Khas Kewangan (BKK) Aidilfitri sebanyak RM1,500, dijangka disalurkan pada 16 Mac ini.

Menurut Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad, pemberian itu turut melibatkan guru lantikan negeri, Orang Besar Jajahan (OBJ), pekerja sambilan harian serta pegawai di bawah Program Pekerjaan Jangka Pendek Malaysia (MySTEP).

“Pemberian BKK Aidilfitri sebanyak RM500 turut diberikan kepada guru Kelas Al-Quran dan Fardu Ain (Kafa) serta pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JPKK),” katanya, lapor Bernama.

Pemberian BKK Aidilfitri ini, katanya, membabitkan implikasi kewangan keseluruhan berjumlah RM16.9 juta kepada kerajaan negeri.

Beliau memaklumkan sedemikian pada Majlis Berbuka Puasa Menteri Besar bersama Penjawat Awam Perak di Laman Seri Ridzuan, Ipoh, yang turut dihadiri Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, Pegawai Kewangan Negeri Mohd Zaki Mahyudin, serta barisan exco.

Dalam pada itu, Saarani berharap semua penjawat awam negeri terus mengekalkan tahap profesionalisme dan produktiviti ketika berpuasa dan tidak menjadikan Ramadan sebagai alasan menangguhkan tugas yang diamanahkan.

Beliau berkata, semangat berpuasa seharusnya menjadi pemangkin untuk bekerja dengan lebih tekun kerana mencari rezeki yang halal adalah sebahagian daripada tuntutan agama.

“Ramadan bukan alasan untuk kita mengurangkan produktiviti. Jangan jadikan lapar dan dahaga sebagai sebab fail tidak bergerak atau keputusan tertangguh.

“Tugas kita tetap amanah yang perlu dilaksanakan dengan penuh tanggungjawab,” katanya. - FMT

Govt reviewing new proposal to complete MEX II

 Works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi says key items such as cash flow and toll rates have yet to be finalised.

Work on MEX II, connecting the MEX Highway from the Putrajaya interchange to the KLIA highway, began in 2016 but stalled after the concessionaire ran into cash flow problems. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 The government is reviewing a new proposal to complete the long-delayed Maju Expressway Extension (MEX II), works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said.

Nanta said the public-private partnership unit in the Prime Minister’s Department had received a new proposal from the receivers and managers last December to complete the construction of MEX II.

He said the government was studying the proposal before bringing it to the Cabinet for a decision.

Meanwhile, he said, the project could not proceed as several matters remained unresolved.

“Matters involving cash flow, financing costs, traffic impact analysis, the concession period, toll rates and other related issues to ensure the project remains viable have not been finalised,” he said in a parliamentary reply to Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Puchong).

Nanta said the project was placed under receivership after the company operating the highway failed to make payments to investors in January 2022.

The investors subsequently appointed receivers and managers to take over the project, restructure the finances, and complete the remaining construction.

MEX II is a planned extension of the MEX Highway linking the Putrajaya interchange to the KLIA highway.

Work began in 2016 but stalled after the concessionaire ran into cash flow problems and could not repay investors who financed the project.

In December, Nanta said about RM449 million was needed to complete MEX II. - FMT