BN’s manifestos never about a particular race, says Asyraf

 The Umno secretary-general also hails the inclusive manifesto for the Melaka polls.

BN and PN leaders launched their manifesto on Nov 6 for the Melaka polls.

MELAKA:

Barisan Nasional’s manifestos have never focused on a particular ethnic group, says Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Hailing the inclusiveness of its election pledges for the Melaka polls, Asyraf said the manifesto – prepared jointly with its ally, Perikatan Nasional – had the state’s multiracial community in mind.

“It covers (the interests) of everyone – Malays, Chinese, Indians, and minorities such as Indian Muslims, Thais and the Orang Asli,” he told reporters after campaigning for BN in Peringgit.

In their manifesto unveiled on Nov 6, BN and PN promised to provide free water for Melaka households who use up to 20 cubic metres a month, no increase in land tax and 25,000 affordable homes over five years if the alliance wins the state election on Nov 14.

The joint manifesto, themed “Building Melaka’s Future, Prospering the Nation,” also sets a target of RM30 billion in investments over five years and promises 25,000 jobs for young people.

Separately, Asyraf said BN and PN were more coordinated when campaigning for the Melaka polls compared to the Negeri Sembilan state election.

He said the two coalitions would integrate their election machinery, with their respective party wings working in tandem during door-to-door campaigns and ceramahs.

The state election this Saturday has 28 seats up for grabs. BN is contesting 23 seats, while PN will vie for five seats. -FMT

4 Pakistanis held over robbery, assault of cop in Penang

 Penang police chief Dennis Lim says the four suspects, including two women, were arrested in Kuala Lumpur.

Penang police chief Dennis Lim said the four suspects, aged between 23 and 36, have been remanded for six days until Nov 17 to facilitate investigations. (Johnshen Lee pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Penang police have arrested four Pakistani nationals, including two women, to assist in investigations into a robbery in which a 43-year-old policeman was injured by suspects armed with sharp objects near a petrol station in Permatang Pauh, Penang, on Tuesday.

Penang police chief Dennis Lim said the four suspects, aged between 23 and 36, have been remanded for six days until Nov 17 to facilitate investigations.

“All four were arrested in two raids in Kuala Lumpur yesterday afternoon and early this morning,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt while committing robbery.

The policeman sustained injuries to his hands after being robbed by four suspects armed with sharp objects near the entrance to a petrol station on Jalan Samagagah, Permatang Pauh.

Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Nik Aminuddin Raja Abdullah said the incident occurred at about 11.30am and was believed to involve foreign suspects, including two women.

He said the suspects acted aggressively and fled with the policeman’s personal belongings, worth RM10,000.

The gang is believed to have approached members of the public at petrol stations seeking monetary donations before robbing them. - FMT

Let Parliament inspect security arrangements at Najib’s house, says MP

 Lim Lip Eng says there is no reason to fear an inspection by the special select committee on security if everything is in order.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng asked who would replace the prison officers reassigned from their duties at Kajang prison to Najib Razak’s home. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

A backbencher has asked the home ministry to arrange an official visit by members of the special select committee on security to Najib Razak’s residence, which has been gazetted as a prison for his house arrest.

Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), a member of the committee, said the visit was to ensure the house arrest arrangements complied with stipulated procedures and safety requirements.

“If everything is in order, there is no reason to fear an inspection by Parliament,” he said today while debating the 2027 budget at the committee stage for the home ministry.

Lim’s suggestion comes after home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the security arrangements would incur no additional cost to the government, as personnel had been reassigned from their existing duties at Kajang prison to Najib’s home.

Saifuddin said the conditions for the former prime minister’s house arrest cover restrictions on his residence, association, movement, visits and the use of telecommunication devices. They also include mandatory participation in rehabilitation and intervention programmes.

He also said prisons department officers were stationed at the residence in three shifts, with three officers working each shift, alongside a continuous police presence.

However, Lim asked who would replace these officers at Kajang prison.

“Also, what are the travel costs and allowances, and how much does it cost to assign police personnel? What is the impact on normal prison operations?” the DAP MP asked.

Najib, 73, arrived at his home in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, on Tuesday night to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence in the SRC International case, having previously been in Kajang prison since Aug 23, 2022.

In January 2024, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, halved Najib’s 12-year prison sentence and reduced his RM210 million fine to RM50 million under a royal pardon.

In September 2026, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.

Umno subsequently paid the RM50 million fine using funds raised through a public crowdfunding exercise. - FMT

Bukit Aman team going to Pakistan over 130 detained Malaysians

 Fifty-nine are from Sabah, 57 from Sarawak, and the rest from Johor, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan.

Bukit Aman CCID director Rusdi Isa said 107 of the Malaysians had overstayed their visas in Pakistan. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

Bukit Aman’s commercial crime investigation department (CCID) will send a team of officers to Pakistan soon to obtain further information regarding the detention of 130 Malaysians in Rawalpindi last month.

Its director, Rusdi Isa, said the team will meet Pakistani authorities, record statements, and analyse devices seized following a raid on an alleged cyber scam centre.

He said examining the evidence was very important to uncover the syndicate’s modus operandi, including the use of Malaysian police uniforms to deceive victims.

“We need to arrange a meeting to obtain statements from the authorities there, in addition to examining the evidence or devices seized.

“We also want to obtain more information about the parties who brought them to Pakistan,” he said at a press conference here today.

Rusdi said police were only informed about the arrests at the end of October through the home ministry’s official channels and their counterparts in Pakistan, even though they were detained on Oct 13.

He said the identities of the Malaysians were confirmed through cooperation among the police, embassies and Interpol.

He said 59 were from Sabah, 57 from Sarawak, and the rest from Johor, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan.

“Checks found that 92 of them do not have criminal records in Malaysia. The others have records for various offences including drugs, fraud and gambling.

“Two of them are wanted by the police in connection with fraud cases in Sabah.”

He added that 107 of them had overstayed their visas in Pakistan, while 20 had valid visas, two had visa extensions, and one did not have valid travel documents.

The Malaysians involved arrived in Pakistan in stages between June 8 and Sept 29, with the highest number of arrivals recorded on Aug 3, totalling 53.

Previously, Pakistani authorities raided a premises at Kasa Tower, Bahria Town Phase VIII, Rawalpindi, which was used as a call centre for financial fraud, targeting victims in Malaysia.

The syndicate reportedly impersonated bank customer service officers and police to trap victims through false money laundering allegations. - FMT

Govt to acquire Turkish missiles for LCS

 Defence minister Khaled Nordin says the decision was based on price, delivery timelines and upfront costs.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin said the decision on the missiles for the navy’s littoral combat ships was made after the government evaluated proposals from several other countries, including France and Italy. (malaysiandefence.com pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The government will fit the navy’s littoral combat ships (LCS) with anti-ship missiles from Turkey, replacing the current naval strike missile (NSM) from Norway, says defence minister Khaled Nordin.

Khaled said the decision was made after the government evaluated proposals from several other countries, including France and Italy, based on price, delivery timelines and upfront costs, Bernama reported.

“We decided that Turkey provided the best alternative.

“We will engage with the Turkish side for further negotiations so that we can finalise the matter,” he was quoted as saying after attending the ministry’s Innovation Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur.

In October, Khaled said the government was mulling allocating RM700 million to more than RM1 billion for a new surface-to-surface missile system after Norway cancelled the export licence for the system intended for the LCS.

Malaysia previously ordered the system from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace under a 2018 contract to equip six LCS.

However the Norwegian government revoked the export permit, saying exports of its defence technology would be limited to its “allies and closest partners”. - FMT

Penang to discuss raising Muslim marriage age to 18

 Deputy chief minister Mohamad Abdul Hamid says the minimum age for Muslims to marry in Penang stays at 16 for now.

Penang deputy chief minister Mohamad Abdul Hamid said no discussions have been held on the proposal to raise the marriage age for Muslims. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Penang government will hold engagement sessions to explore the possibility of raising the minimum age for Muslims to marry to 18, says deputy chief minister Mohamad Abdul Hamid.

Selangor and Kedah are the only states that have set this minimum age for marriages at present.

Mohamad said the minimum age for Muslims to marry in Penang remained at 16, Bernama reported.

Mohamed, who is also Penang Islamic religious council president, said the engagement sessions would help gather views on implementing the rule in the state.

“So far, no discussions have been held on the proposal,” he said after witnessing the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Penang Islamic Foundation and Idrissi International School.

Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri was previously reported as saying that the government, through her ministry, would continue efforts to gradually standardise the minimum marriage age at 18 nationwide, in close cooperation with state governments.

She said this would require engagement with state religious authorities, relevant agencies and stakeholders, as Islamic family law falls under the jurisdiction of state governments. - FMT