BN, PN ink pact to face 16th Melaka election

 

Barisan Nasional and its strategic partner, Pas, representing parties under Perikatan Nasional, today formalised their cooperation and political understanding ahead of the 16th Melaka election. -- PIC FROM ASYRAF WAJDI’S FACEBOOK PAGE

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional and its strategic partner Pas, representing parties under Perikatan Nasional, today formalised their cooperation and political understanding ahead of the 16th Melaka election.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed this evening by him and PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who is also Pas secretary-general.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi witnessed the signing.

"The Umno Supreme Council, which met today, unanimously agreed to formalise cooperation and a political understanding with strategic partners Pas and other parties under PN to face the Melaka election," he told reporters after the council meeting at Menara Dato Onn.

Asyraf said the supreme council had also agreed that BN and PN would launch a joint election manifesto, pledging to provide the best services to the people and build on the achievements in public service delivery and state development under the previous Melaka state government.

"The manifesto will be launched in the evening after nomination day (on Saturday). If there are any changes, we will inform later," he said.

He added that the party's election machinery and supporters would be directed to assist and provide strong support to all PN candidates contesting in the election.

"The supreme council also called on party leaders and election machinery to conduct their campaigns prudently and ethically, without resorting to slander, ridicule or insults against opposing parties," he said.

Asked whether Parti Wawasan would also field their candidates, Asyraf said the matter should be referred to PN.

"That is for PN to decide. We leave it to them to determine the candidates and the parties that will contest the seven state seats, as agreed upon under the terms of the agreement and understanding reached with BN.

"BN will contest 21 seats, including two allocated to MCA and one to MIC, while PN will contest seven seats," he said.

Meanwhile, BN Melaka chairman and caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the meeting discussed the coordination of campaign activities for the state election, with clear instructions for everyone to focus on the 21 constituencies being contested.

"Every vote counts in our efforts to defend all 21 constituencies," he said.

The Election Commission has set polling day for Nov 14, with early voting on Nov 10.

In the 2021 Melaka election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats contested, enabling it to form the state government. Pakatan Harapan won five seats, while PN secured two. - NST

Siasatan terhadap pelaburan KWAP dalam eFishery masih jalan

 Siasatan belum menemukan sebarang unsur salah laku jenayah melibatkan rasuah atau penyelewengan berkaitan pelaburan KWAP dalam eFishery.

Kementerian Kewangan kata SPRM masih menjalankan siasatan terhadap pelaburan KWAP dalam eFishery. (Gambar KWAP)

KUALA LUMPUR:

Kementerian Kewangan (MoF) memaklumkan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) masih menjalankan proses siasatan terhadap pelaburan Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) dalam syarikat teknologi akuakultur Indonesia, eFishery.

Katanya, siasatan belum menemukan sebarang unsur salah laku jenayah melibatkan rasuah atau penyelewengan berkaitan pelaburan KWAP dalam eFishery seperti yang dilaporkan media pada 13 Ogos 2026.

KWAP juga bekerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa berkaitan serta konsortium pelabur dalam mengambil tindakan sewajarnya terhadap pihak yang bertanggungjawab.

“Pada masa yang sama, usaha melalui saluran yang bersesuaian bagi memaksimumkan pemulihan nilai pelaburan terus dilaksanakan,” menurutnya dalam jawapan bertulis di laman Parlimen.

Kenyataan itu menjawab pertanyaan Kalam Salan (PN-Sabak Bernama) yang meminta kerajaan mengesahkan pelaburan KWAP kira-kira RM200 juta dalam eFishery yang terdedah kepada penipuan.

Selain itu, beliau meminta penjelasan mengenai pihak yang meluluskan pelaburan itu dan bertanggungjawab atas kegagalan usaha wajar, nilai kerugian sebenar dan sama ada KWAP akan mengambil tindakan terhadap pihak yang cuai.

Menurut MoF, pelaburan dalam eFishery telah melalui proses penilaian dan tadbir urus yang ditetapkan termasuk pengesahan juruaudit antarabangsa bertauliah berdasarkan maklumat yang tersedia ketika itu.

Bagaimanapun, menurutnya, syarikat berkenaan kemudiannya didapati terlibat dalam manipulasi kewangan yang disengajakan serta penyelewengan fakta dalam laporan kewangan syarikat.
“Keadaan ini berlaku walaupun proses penilaian yang dilaksanakan telah merangkumi penilaian dalaman, usaha wajar bebas serta penelitian terhadap aspek kewangan, perundangan dan operasi sebelum cadangan pelaburan diluluskan.

“Malah, beberapa pelabur institusi global utama turut terjejas akibat salah laku berkenaan,” menurutnya.

Menurut kementerian, jumlah sebenar pelaburan KWAP dalam eFishery sebanyak RM163.4 juta dan mewakili kira-kira 2.51% pegangan saham dalam syarikat tersebut.

MoF memaklumkan KWAP merupakan pemegang saham minoriti dalam eFishery manakala sebahagian besar saham syarikat tersebut dipegang oleh pelabur lain termasuk pelabur institusi global utama. - FMT

Full education autonomy too costly for Sarawak, says state minister

 Roland Sagah Wee Inn says teachers’ salaries alone would cost the state a significant amount every year.

Sarawak education, innovation and talent development minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn said greater flexibility in managing education matters is sufficient.

PETALING JAYA:

Seeking full autonomy over education would be too costly for Sarawak, says the state’s education, innovation and talent development minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

Sagah said teachers’ salaries alone would cost the state a significant amount every year, Borneo Post reported.

“We cannot afford to spend that amount of money. Imagine how many teachers and schools there are. If we are going to spend it, we might as well put it toward other developments instead,” he was quoted as saying after officiating the 4th International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation 2026 in Kuching today.

At the same time, he said, major federal taxes are taken by the central government.

Sagah said major administrative issues between the state government and the education ministry had been resolved.

He said Sarawak’s priority was to ensure greater flexibility in managing education matters.

“Don’t misunderstand the meaning of autonomy. As long as there is ease of doing business, that is enough for us,” he said.

He cited the agreement allowing English to be used to teach Mathematics and Science, as well as the Sarawak Dual Language Programme Assessment Test (UP-DLP) as examples of progress in the state’s education autonomy.

Sagah also said Sarawak was incorporating artificial intelligence and digitalisation into the syllabuses of all teacher training institutes to help educators use the technology in their work.

He said the state was still behind developed countries in this area, but was catching up. - FMT

Umno tells machinery, supporters to help PN in Melaka polls

 Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also says Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional will unveil a joint manifesto.

Barisan Nasional and PAS-led Perikatan Nasional formed an electoral pact for the Negeri Sembilan state election in Aug 1, winning 26 of the 36 seats up for grabs.

KUALA LUMPUR:

Umno has instructed its machinery and supporters to go all-out to help Perikatan Nasional in seats it is vying for in the Melaka state election next month.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the directive follows the party’s decision to formalise its collaboration with PAS and PN ahead of the Nov 14 polls tonight.

“Barisan Nasional and PN will also unveil its joint manifesto for the election,” Asyraf told reporters after an Umno supreme council meeting here.

Umno and PAS formed an electoral pact for the Negeri Sembilan state polls on Aug 1 and won 26 of the 36 seats up for grabs.

In the run-up to the election, PN directed its members and supporters to vote for BN in the 25 seats the coalition was not contesting.

Similarly, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi instructed members and supporters to vote for PN candidates in the 11 seats they contested in.

Nomination for the Melaka state election will take place on Saturday. - FMT

MSECC: Malaysia must fix economic fault lines, not rely on cash aid

 

THE Malaysian Strategic Economy Chamber of Commerce (MSECC) has called on the government to prioritise structural economic reforms, corporate governance and strategic industrial development, warning that cash assistance alone cannot deliver sustainable prosperity.

MSECC president Syed Azaudin Syed Ahmad said the RM16 bil allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) under Budget 2027, up from RM15 bil, reflected the government’s efforts to ease household financial pressures.

However, he said longer-term economic weaknesses also needed to be addressed.

“While financial assistance is necessary to protect vulnerable Malaysians, we cannot build a high-income nation through handouts,” he noted.

“The government must address why wages remain under pressure, why businesses struggle to compete and why so many Malaysians continue to depend on financial assistance to meet their basic needs.”

Syed Azaudin said the controversy surrounding alleged “corporate mafia” activities highlighted the need to strengthen corporate governance, regulatory independence and enforcement.

While acknowledging the government’s move to establish a special task force to investigate the allegations, he questioned why a new task force was necessary when existing enforcement agencies should already be addressing such concerns.

“Malaysia needs decisive action, not another report. The investigation must also expose regulatory failures, hold those responsible accountable and deliver meaningful reforms to restore investor confidence,” he stressed.

“We cannot talk about attracting high-quality investments and building national champions while serious questions are being raised about the integrity of our corporate ecosystem. Time is of the essence.”

Syed Azaudin said Malaysia also needed to address structural weaknesses, including stagnant wages, low productivity, excessive dependence on foreign labour, bureaucratic inefficiencies, rising operating costs and limited domestic technological capabilities.

He said Budget 2027 should be assessed not only on the immediate assistance it provides but also on its ability to accelerate economic transformation.

“Cash assistance helps people cope with today’s problems. Structural reforms determine whether those problems will continue tomorrow,” he said.

MSECC also urged Malaysia to revive its ambition to develop major domestic companies and strengthen strategic industries, citing PETRONAS, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), DRB-HICOM and Boustead Holdings as examples of organisations that had developed significant capabilities across key sectors.

Syed Azaudin also pointed to major national development projects, including the PETRONAS Twin Towers and Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), as examples of the country’s earlier ambitions to develop world-class infrastructure and strengthen its international competitiveness.

“These were not merely infrastructure projects or corporate achievements. They reflected a larger national vision to transform Malaysia, develop domestic capabilities, attract international investment and establish our presence on the global stage,” he said.

Looking ahead, MSECC called for a national economic strategy to nurture globally competitive Malaysian companies in industries where the country has competitive advantages.

Its proposed priorities include moving up the semiconductor value chain into chip design and advanced manufacturing, developing homegrown artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital technologies, building globally competitive renewable energy and green technology companies, and advancing sustainable palm-based products.

“Our goal should be to create a nation of wealth creators, innovators and global champions by leveraging on our existing natural and human resources,” Syed Azaudin said. ‒  Focus Malaysia