KUALA LUMPUR: Her Majesty, Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia attended a breaking of the fast ceremony with members of the Cabinet and foreign delegates at Istana Negara here on Wednesday (Feb 25).
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as well as the two deputy prime ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Among the Cabinet members present were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and deputy ministers.
The ceremony was also attended by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Johari Abdul as well as foreign delegates from Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, Brunei, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan.
Also present were chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and acting deputy editor-in-chief of the Economic News Service Harlina Samson.
Her Majesty also performed Maghrib prayers with invited guests led by Federal Territories Mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil at the Istana Negara Main Surau.- Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit four states as well as Kuala Lumpur and Labuan until 11pm on Wednesday (Feb 25) night.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) in a statement said that the warning involved several areas in Perak, namely Manjung, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Bagan Datuk, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang and Muallim.
A similar warning was also issued for Pahang, covering Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Raub, Jerantut and Bentong, while in Selangor, it involves Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Hulu Langat.
In Sarawak, the affected areas include Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei (Pakan), Sibu (Selangau), Mukah, Bintulu, Miri (Telang Usan) and Limbang, while in Sabah, it involves the Interior, West Coast, Sandakan (Beluran) and Kudat.- Bernama
Another “Tangkap Azam Baki” protest will be held at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 10am this Friday to pressure the government to take strong action against the anti-graft agency and its chief commissioner.
This time, the rally is propelled by controversial businessperson Albert Tei and activist Lee Wai Hong, who want the government to investigate allegations that MACC is involved in a scheme of collusion with business figures to oust rivals and orchestrate corporate takeovers.
Citing a recent Bloomberg article on the alleged “corporate mafia” scheme, they said the news agency’s investigation revealed in detail how MACC was allegedly used as a tool to force business founders into surrendering their company shares.
“When the agency meant to curb corruption operates with the selective and discriminatory tactics of a criminal syndicate, it completely destroys Malaysia’s free-market integrity, deters foreign investment, and makes a mockery of our justice system.
“We cannot stand by while our tax dollars fund an institution that protects cronies and persecutes citizens.
“To demand accountability and defend the independence of our state apparatus, the secretariat of the ‘Arrest Azam Baki Rally’ officially calls upon all Malaysians to voice their outrage,” the organisers said in a statement.
Businessperson Albert Tei
Chance for people to voice out
The demonstration would be the second such recent protest against Azam.
Lee told Malaysiakini they are not related to the organisers of the “Tangkap Azam Baki 2.0” rally in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 15, but said they are serving the same purpose.
According to the activist, the protest this Friday is to keep the issue running and ensure that people do not forget.
It is also to give the chance for many who could not attend the Feb 15 rally due to the Chinese New Year celebration to voice out, Lee added.
The organisers are expecting a turnout of around 100 people because it is held during a working day and Ramadan.
MACC headquarters in Putrajaya
“We chose to do it on Friday because we want to show the people who are working at the MACC (headquarters) that it is actually a shame for them.
“So that’s why we need to do it on a working day, even though we expect that it would only attract a small group of people,” he said.
Malaysiakini has reached out to MACC and the police for their comments on the planned protest.
Alleged takeover tactic
ADS
On Feb 12, Bloomberg reported that MACC, including senior officials, allegedly colluded with certain business figures to oust rivals and orchestrate corporate takeovers.
The report detailed a tactic in which a select group of businesspersons would target a company, then file MACC complaints against it. MACC would then investigate the company’s founders, exerting pressure that enabled the complainants to gain control of the firm.
Eyewitnesses, including insiders from MACC, claimed that some businesspeople or their representatives were even present at the agency’s offices when their competitors were brought in for questioning.
Following the report, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki dismissed the allegations as baseless.
The story emerged amid scrutiny of Azam, whose tenure has been extended three times by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, over the MACC chief’s shareholdings. This is the focus of a separate inquiry.
Azam has denied any wrongdoing and welcomed the investigation. He has also filed a RM100 million defamation suit against Bloomberg. - Mkini
Selain itu lapan prasekolah dibuka di matrikulasi bagi menampung keperluan.
Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan Wong Kah Woh, berkata kementerian akan membuka 350 kelas prasekolah di pelbagai jenis institusi KPM. (Gambar Bernama)
IPOH: Sebanyak 66 kelas prasekolah ditempatkan di institusi pendidikan di bawah selian Kementerian Pendidikan setakat ini, kata Timbalan Menteri Wong Kah Woh.
Wong berkata, daripada jumlah itu satu di tempatkan di Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG), empat di kolej vokasional, lapan di matrikulasi, dan 53 di sekolah menengah kebangsaan (SMK).
Beliau berkata, di bawah kerajaan Madani, KPM membuat keputusan memperluaskan prasekolah ke institusi yang lain seperti kolej vokasional, SMK, dan juga IPG.
“Institusi-institusi ini apabila kita sediakan kelas prasekolah juga dapat menampung keperluan untuk sekolah tersebut.
“Ada anak-anak kepada warga pendidik dan sebagainya ini diberikan satu peluang untuk menikmati atau mengikuti pendidikan prasekolah KPM di institusi tersebut,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Pesta Angpau Tahun 2026 di IPGM Kampus Ipoh.
Wong berkata, KPM telah melakukan peluasan sebanyak 150 kelas prasekolah pada tahun lalu dan tahun ini dijangkakan 350 kelas prasekolah akan diperluas melibatkan pelbagai jenis institusi KPM.
Selain itu, beliau berkata pada 2025 KPM telah menampung 220,000 daripada kira-kira 370,000 murid prasekolah, manakala yang lain ditampung oleh Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat (Kemas), Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi Nasional (JPNIN) dan juga pihak tadika swasta.
“Apa yang penting JPNIN, Tabika Kemas dan juga prasekolah di bawah KPM itu adalah di bawah agensi kerajaan dan kementerian.
“Sudah pasti apabila kita sampai ke tadika swasta ia mengenakan satu yuran tetapi semua ini membina dan juga menjadi satu ekosistem pendidikan awal kanak-kanak kita. Apa yang KPM hendak capai adalah kita mahu memperluaskan lagi kelas-kelas prasekolah yang kita ada,” katanya. - FMT
The menteri besar says investor confidence proves that there is harmony among Kedahans.
Sanusi Nor urged those who doubt the level of unity in Kedah to visit the state and see for themselves.
PETALING JAYA: Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor has rejected the findings of the National Unity Index for 2025 after the state was placed last in the annual rankings.
Sanusi dismissed the score of 0.593 given to Kedah, saying it did not reflect the reality in the state, and even hinting at possible political sabotage to tarnish the state’s image in the eyes of foreign investors.
He claimed that the influx of investors Kedah was seeing – being among the top five states in terms of approved investments in the first nine months of 2025 – was partly thanks to unity and harmony.
Sanusi said investors would not be looking to do business in Kedah if there was no unity among the people.
“I do not believe in the index,” he told FMT, urging those who doubt the level of harmony in Kedah to visit the state and see for themselves.
The National Unity Index for 2025 showed that five states and federal territories scored lower than the national average of 0.701.
Kedah ranked the lowest at 0.593, followed by Perak (0.648), Kelantan (0.654), Kuala Lumpur (0.659), Selangor (0.675), Penang (0.692) and Putrajaya (0.693).
Pahang recorded the highest National Unity Index score at 0.817.
The index was calculated following a survey of 9,448 respondents aged 18 and above, involving Malays (60.3%), Chinese (19.1%), Indians (6%), Sabah Bumiputeras (8.8%), Sarawak Bumiputeras (4.4%) and others (1.4%).
The bulk of the interviewees were from urban areas at 76.7%, with 55.1% of them being men. - FMT
The former assemblymen for Guar Sanji, Bintong and Chuping had filed legal action challenging the vacating of their seats.
Perlis state assembly speaker Rus’sele Eizan has said he will write to the Election Commission to ask for by-elections to be held in the three vacated seats. (Bernama pic)
KANGAR: Perlis state assembly speaker Rus’sele Eizan has filed an application to strike out a suit brought by three former assemblymen at the Kangar High Court.
Rus’sele’s lawyer, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, said the application was filed on Monday.
After a case management session via Zoom before Justice Abazafree Abbas this afternoon, Wan Rohimi said the court set March 25 as the deadline for the plaintiffs to file their reply to Rus’sele’s affidavit.
“The court also fixed April 15 for the defendant’s further reply. Subsequently, a proceeding via Zoom before the High Court judge has been scheduled for April 16 to set the hearing of the application and related instructions,” he said in a statement to Bernama.
On Jan 2, the three former assemblymen, who have ceased to be PAS members, filed legal action against Rus’sele to challenge his decision declaring that their seats were vacant.
Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Saad Seman (Chuping) filed a motion each seeking a declaration that Rus’sele’s decision was ultra vires, null, invalid and defective.
On Dec 25, Rus’sele announced that the three seats had been vacated as the trio were not sacked but had their PAS memberships “terminated” for retracting support for then menteri besar Shukri Ramli.
While no by-elections are mandatory as the state assembly automatically dissolves within two years, Rus’sele had said he would write to the Election Commission to ask for by-elections to be held as it was necessary to ensure political stability. - FMT
