Budi95 fuel subsidy benefits nearly 14mil Malaysians

 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. -- BERNAMA PIC

KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly 14 million Malaysians have benefited from subsidised RON95 petrol under the Budi95 scheme, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the figure, recorded as at Sept 30, represented about 85 per cent of the more than 16.5 million eligible Malaysians.

Anwar said beneficiaries could buy RON95 petrol at RM1.99 a litre by verifying their identity through MyKad, in a written parliamentary reply to Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok).

He said the government's latest assessment showed positive results in improving subsidy targeting, reducing leakage and protecting consumers' purchasing power.

The shift from blanket to targeted subsidies meant the benefits were no longer widely enjoyed by ineligible groups, including foreigners, he said.

The scheme is projected to generate annual savings of between RM2.5 billion and RM4 billion, depending on global crude oil prices, exchange rates and actual fuel consumption.

Anwar said the additional fiscal space would allow the government to strengthen assistance programmes, including Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah.

Eligible e-hailing drivers were provided with additional fuel entitlements of up to 800 litres a month, based on actual travel distances verified through data supplied by e-hailing operators, he said.

The government would continue reviewing Budi95 based on actual consumption, global energy prices and the country's fiscal position, he added. - NST

Whirlwind videos showing cars lifted into air go viral

 

The video, posted on Threads by user @zhaeim, showed a blue Perodua Alza briefly lifted into the air before crashing into a white Perodua Ativa in the adjacent lane. - PIC CREDIT: SOCIAL MEDIA

KUALA LUMPUR: A car was seen being lifted into the air and thrown into another vehicle near the Damansara Toll Plaza during a thunderstorm, in footage that has gone viral on social media.

The video, posted on Threads by user @zhaeim, showed a blue Perodua Alza briefly lifted into the air before crashing into a white Perodua Ativa in the adjacent lane.

Another car farther ahead appeared to hover briefly as the whirlwind moved back and forth before dissipating during the thunderstorm.

The user said in a comment that the video belonged to a friend who was travelling home from work.

In a separate clip, Threads user @amnmnf_ showed a whirlwind passing through the car park of an apartment block in Kota Damansara, moving a red Perodua Axia several metres and making tall trees sway violently.

"Thunderstorm in the Kota Damansara area, oh God, the whirlwind is scary. Be careful to those riding home from work," the user wrote.

The videos drew shocked reactions from social media users. One said it was their first time seeing a "baby" whirlwind, while another wondered what might have happened if a motorcyclist or pedestrian had been passing by. - NST

Sabah schools to close if API exceeds 150 for three consecutive days

 

Tawau has recorded an API reading of 155, with all schools in the district ordered to close from tomorrow amid worsening haze. NSTP/FILE PIC

KOTA KINABALU: Schools in Sabah will be temporarily closed if the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeds 150 for three consecutive days, the state government has announced.

State Secretary Datuk Zainudin Aman, who is also State Disaster Management Committee chairman, said the measure was taken to protect pupils and teachers from the adverse health effects of haze.

"This measure is also in line with the Education Ministry's directive following the advice of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim," he said in a statement today.

As of 7pm, Tawau was the only district to record an API reading above the threshold, at 155.

All schools in Tawau have been ordered to close from tomorrow amid worsening haze conditions. - NST

PM Anwar condemns international order's failure to address Palestinian suffering

 

BANGI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has condemned the failure of the international order to address the suffering of the Palestinian people.

He said the international community should remain steadfast in upholding the principles of democracy and human rights, but its response to the plight of the Palestinians exposed contradictions in its commitment to fighting colonialism and imperialism.

"What is so hypocritical is the failure of the international community. I have to speak as Prime Minister, I understand that. But I have to express my utter disgust with the failure of the international order.

"We talk of democracy, whose democracy? We talk of human rights, which human? When human beings are treated as animals and slaves,” he said in his speech at the Sumud Nusantara Dinner, held in conjunction with the Global Sumud Congress 2026, here on Tuesday (Oct 13).

Anwar, who is also the Patron of Sumud Nusantara, also questioned whether the different treatment accorded to the Palestinian issue was influenced by the fact that Palestinians were Arabs or Muslims.

"To me, it does not matter. What is important is that they are human beings and we cannot allow this continued oppression, atrocities to be inflicted upon innocent lives," he stressed.

The Prime Minister said Malaysia, having experienced colonialism, understood the importance of resisting all forms of injustice, thus would continue to support efforts to assist the Palestinian people despite the risks and challenges involved.

He reaffirmed the Madani government’s full commitment to the Palestinian cause and urged all parties to continue contributing their time, effort and resources to help.

"I know the risks and the problems, but what are they compared with the plight of Palestinian children who are crying out, hoping the world will hear them, yet the world remains deaf.

"It is deeply shameful if we say we cannot do anything because we are too caught up in our own world. So, take the necessary steps, no matter how small the effort, to help the people who have endured 70 years of suffering,” he added.

Anwar also expressed his appreciation to the international participants involved in the Global Sumud Movement, describing them as vital to ensure calls for justice for Palestine continued to resonate internationally.

"It means a lot because you are part of this international movement. But more importantly, you are part of a voice of conscience, of reason, clamouring for justice.

"You don't show that you are giving up. You show your determination...  you will have a voice of reason, a voice of conscience, a voice that calls for freedom and justice. May Allah guide us," he added.

Also present were Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.- Bernama

Ayer Keroh bukan kerusi selamat DAP sejak dulu lagi, kata Kerk

 Penyandang kerusi itu berkata PH tidak boleh ambil mudah ramalan penganalisis berhubung kawasan itu berisiko kalah pada PRN Melaka.

Penyandang DUN Ayer Keroh, Kerk Chee Yee, berkata PH tidak boleh pandang ringan sebarang ramalan atau ancaman lawan. (Gambar Facebook)

PETALING JAYA:

Pemimpin DAP Melaka Kerk Chee Yee mengakui DUN Ayer Keroh disandangnya bukan kawasan selamat, sebaliknya sentiasa berdepan cabaran sejak parti itu menang kerusi itu, pada 2008.

Kerk selaku Adun Ayer Keroh sejak 2018 sehingga DUN dibubarkan bulan lalu, berkata Pakatan Harapan (PH) tidak boleh memandang ringan sebarang ramalan atau ancaman lawan, pada PRN Melaka akan datang.

“Betul, saya mengakui DUN Ayer Keroh antara kerusi bahaya bagi PH dan DAP.

“Sebenarnya, sejak dulu lagi, DUN Ayer Keroh bukan kerusi selamat bagi DAP,” katanya kepada FMT.

Pada PRN Melaka 2021, Kerk menang Ayer Keroh dengan majoriti 5,624 undi, menumbangkan wakil Perikatan Nasional (PN) Michael Gan yang meraih 2,479 undi, manakala wakil Barisan Nasional (BN) Yong Fun Juan mendapat 3,835 undi.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas pandangan penganalisis politik Ong Kian Ming berhubung dua kerusi PH yang berkemungkinan tewas ialah Bukit Katil, disandang bekas ketua menteri, Adly Zahari, dan Ayer Keroh yang dianggap kubu kuat DAP.

Dalam pada itu, Kerk berkata ketika pertama kali bertanding pada PRU14 pada 2018, BN baru sahaja melaksanakan persempadanan semula kawasan pilihan raya, yang menurutnya bertujuan merampas Ayer Keroh daripada DAP.

Beliau turut mengimbas cabaran pada PRN 2021 apabila berdepan dua calon ‘heavyweight’ daripada MCA dan Gerakan.

Katanya, calon MCA ketika itu merupakan setiausaha hal ehwal masyarakat Cina kepada ketua menteri Melaka, manakala calon Gerakan ialah pengerusi parti itu di peringkat negeri.

“Jadi, saya sedar bahawa perjalanan kali ini bukan mudah,” katanya.

Kerk berkata kerjasama PAS dan Umno yang disifatkannya menggunakan retorik perkauman tanpa menawarkan penyelesaian substantif terhadap isu rakyat boleh memberi kesan kepada kawasan pengundi campuran seperti Ayer Keroh.

Beliau berkata, prestasi pilihan raya tidak seharusnya dinilai berdasarkan ramalan penganalisis semata-mata, sebaliknya turut mengambil kira komitmen dan khidmat kepada masyarakat.

“Bagi saya, yang penting bukan sekadar apa yang diramalkan oleh penganalisis, tetapi sejauh mana kita membuktikan komitmen kita melalui usaha serta khidmat kepada masyarakat sepanjang lapan tahun yang lalu,” katanya.

Pengundi Melaka akan mengundi pada 14 Nov. Setakat ini, belum ada pakatan yang diumumkan secara rasmi bagi PRN itu. - FMT

Jobs created not proportional to data centre investments, says Ramanan

 The human resources minister says the majority of jobs created in the sector are high-value and require specialised technical skills.

Research firm BMI recently said Malaysia has 125 data centres with 925.6MW of live capacity, 2GW under construction and another 3.1GW planned. (EPA Images pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

The number of jobs created from data centre investments is not directly proportional to the value of investments announced, says human resources minister R Ramanan.

In a written parliamentary reply, Ramanan said this was because data centres are capital-intensive projects, with much of the investment going toward high-quality equipment, electrical infrastructure and cooling systems.

“The majority of jobs created in this sector are high-value and require specialised technical skills,” he said.

Ramanan was responding to Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PH-Bandar Tun Razak), who asked for the latest statistics on the number of high-skilled jobs created for Malaysians through data centre investments.

Data centre and cloud computing projects attracted RM95.8 billion in investments in the first half of this year, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

Malaysia recorded RM385.7 billion in data centre-related investments from 2021 to the first half of 2026, reflecting strong investor confidence among global technology companies such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon.

Ramanan said the ministry, through Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), had identified 12 high-demand job roles in the data centre sector, most of which require specialised technical skills.

They include electrical and mechanical engineers, IT project managers, commissioning engineers, solutions architects, network security engineers, facility managers, data centre technicians, facility technicians and chargemen.

Of the 12 roles, eight require a degree, one requires a diploma and two require technical and vocational education and training (TVET) qualifications. Chargemen must have an SPM qualification and at least a B4 certificate of competency from the Energy Commission.

Ramanan said this showed that the sector offers employment opportunities to both university graduates and graduates of local TVET institutions.

Malaysia has 125 data centres with 925.6MW of live capacity, 2GW under construction and another 3.1GW planned, according to a report by research firm BMI.

Despite growing competition from Vietnam and Thailand, BMI expects Malaysia to remain Southeast Asia’s leading data centre market.

However, there have been widely reported concerns that the surge in data centre investments in Malaysia could strain water and electricity supplies. - FMT

UEC holders don’t need to pass BM to study for free in Sarawak

 State deputy minister Dr Annuar Rapaee advises UEC holders to have a good command of English as it is the main medium of instruction at the four institutions.

The Unified Examination Certificate was recognised by Sarawak in 2016 for entry to state civil service positions, state-owned colleges and universities and also to qualify for Yayasan Sarawak education loans. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders do not need to pass Bahasa Melayu to qualify for Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), says Sarawak’s deputy minister of education, innovation and talent development Dr Annuar Rapaee.

He said eligibility depended on meeting the academic and programme-specific admission requirements of the four participating institutions – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Curtin University Malaysia and i-CATS University College.

According to The Borneo Post, he said UEC holders did not need to pass Bahasa Melayu to qualify for admission. However, he said they should be proficient in English as it is the main language of instruction at the four institutions.

“They do not need Bahasa Melayu to qualify for entry into our four universities or to receive free tertiary education,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the Sarawak state assembly sitting.

He was responding to See Chee How (Independent-Batu Lintang) about the eligibility criteria for UEC holders under FTES.

Annuar said admission requirements varied by institution and programme A UEC holder generally needs five Grade Bs to qualify for a bachelor’s degree programme, along with additional prerequisite subjects for certain courses such as Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Physical Science. Some institutions also imposed their own English-language proficiency requirements.

UEC holders admitted to any of the 64 courses covered by FTES would not need to submit a separate application for the scheme.

As of June 30, 192 UEC students were receiving full tuition fee coverage under FTES. Of these, 137 were studying at Swinburne Sarawak, 33 at UTS, 21 at Curtin Malaysia and one at i-CATS University College.

Annuar said UEC students would receive the same treatment as other students in securing industrial placements, provided they obtained placements in the relevant industries.

He said the inclusion of UEC holders in FTES reflected Sarawak’s policy of ensuring that deserving Sarawakians had equal opportunities to pursue higher education and develop their potential, skills and talents.

He added that Sarawak’s education policy was based on the principle that education should transcend race and ethnicity, serve as a means of social mobility, and help lift communities out of poverty – particularly in rural areas.

“No deserving Sarawakian should be denied educational opportunities,” he said.

“I hope this sends a very clear message to all Sarawakians, particularly UEC holders, that you are no different from others.”

The UEC is the school-leaving certificate for students attending Chinese independent schools and is academically equivalent to the national Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) or international A-levels.

The certificate was recognised by Sarawak in 2016 for entry to state civil service positions, state-owned colleges and universities, and to qualify for Yayasan Sarawak education loans. - FMT