108 schools in Serian closed as haze worsens

 Students will continue lessons through home-based learning after API readings exceed 200.

The Sarawak disaster management committee said API readings in the state had shown an upward trend since Aug 1. (Bernama pic)

KUCHING:

A total of 108 schools in Serian have been temporarily closed after air pollutant index (API) readings in the area exceeded 200, as a precautionary measure amid the worsening haze.

The Sarawak disaster management committee said home-based teaching and learning would continue throughout the closure to ensure lessons were not disrupted.

“Under the national haze action plan, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak education department director, schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be closed immediately once the API reaches 200,” it said in a statement.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous.

The committee said API readings in the state had shown an upward trend since Aug 1.

As of 4pm today, Tebedu and Serian recorded very unhealthy API readings of 212 and 202, respectively.

Eleven areas – Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Samalaju, Miri, Lundu, Lubok Antu and Lawas – recorded unhealthy readings.

The committee advised the public to reduce outdoor activities, particularly when air quality readings were at unhealthy levels or higher.

It also urged high-risk groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory or heart conditions, to limit their exposure to polluted air. - FMT

Dr M, Hasmah set Asean records as centenarian couple

 Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Dr Hasmah Ali have been recognised as the oldest living former prime minister and spouse of a former prime minister.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Dr Hasmah Ali receiving their certificates at Perdana Leadership Foundation yesterday. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Dr Hasmah Ali, have made history after setting three official records recognising their longevity and achievements.

At a ceremony at the Perdana Leadership Foundation yesterday, Asean Records recognised Mahathir as the region’s oldest living former prime minister and Hasmah as the oldest living spouse of a former prime minister.

According to a post on Mahathir’s Facebook page today, Asia Records also jointly recognised them as the first former head of government and spouse to both reach centenarian age.

“The conferment coincides with a month of milestones: Mahathir’s 101st birthday on July 10, Hasmah’s 100th birthday on July 12, and the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary on Aug 5.

“Verification by the adjudication team confirmed that no equivalent achievement is publicly documented across the Asean region and major Asian markets,” read the post.

The records were presented by Asean Records advisory board chairman Danny Ooi, who was accompanied by chief adjudicators Gillian Ooi and Eldrick Koh.

Mahathir and Hasmah first met in 1947 while studying medicine at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore.

Mahathir served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020, for a total of more than 22 years.

Hasmah used her position as the prime minister’s wife to champion maternal health, family planning, literacy, drug abuse prevention and mental health. - FMT

Student at private institution charged with murder over fatal crash

 N Vishwesh, who allegedly drove while under the influence of alcohol, is accused of murdering an elderly man in Banting, Selangor, on Aug 7.

The Telok Datok magistrates’ court did not grant bail and fixed Oct 1 for mention. (Bernama pic)

SHAH ALAM:

A student at a private higher education institution who allegedly drove while under the influence of alcohol has been charged with murdering an elderly man.

N Vishwesh, 23, was charged at the Telok Datok magistrates’ court in Kuala Langat before magistrate Maslinda Selamat last week. No plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the High Court’s jurisdiction.

Vishwesh is accused of murdering Eng Kim Kheng @ Ng Kim Swee, 78, at Km38 Jalan Klang-Banting-Port Dickson in Kuala Langat at 7.20pm on Aug 7.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty, or 30 to 40 years in prison and at least 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Amirul Syafiq Yazid prosecuted, while Vishwesh was represented by T Mishant.

The court did not grant bail and fixed Oct 1 for mention.

A video of the accident at the Kanchong Bengkok traffic light in Banting had gone viral. - FMT

PH hasn’t discussed working with Bersatu, says Fahmi

 Selangor PH chief Amirudin Shari previously said the coalition had not closed the door to cooperating with PN or Bersatu in the interest of political stability.

Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil said PH and PKR leaders have not talked about working with Bersatu.

PUTRAJAYA:

Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil says PH and PKR leaders have not discussed the possibility of cooperating with Bersatu.

Last Friday, it was reported that Selangor PH appeared open to the possibility of collaborating with Bersatu, which is involved in a spat with PAS.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here today, Fahmi, the PKR information chief, said the matter had not been discussed at PH or PKR meetings.

“At this point, the leadership has not discussed the matter (cooperation with Bersatu),” the communications minister said after a HKHM (National Day-Malaysia Day) 2026 sponsorship ceremony at his ministry.

On Monday, Selangor PH chief Amirudin Shari, who is also a PKR vice-president, said PH had not closed the door to cooperation with PN or Bersatu in the interest of political stability.

Following the statement, DAP deputy secretary-general Ramkarpal Singh asked if such cooperation had been discussed or decided by the PH presidential council.

Ramkarpal also said DAP had never discussed the possibility of such alliances.

Bersatu, a former PH member, remains a PN component party despite its fallout with PAS. - FMT

Kelantan assembly unanimously approves shariah law amendments

 The enactment replaces 16 provisions struck down as unconstitutional by the Federal Court in 2024.

Six assemblymen debated the bill before it was passed with no objections. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Kelantan’s legislative assembly has unanimously approved amendments to its shariah criminal enactment, replacing 16 provisions struck down by the Federal Court in 2024.

The Syariah Criminal Offences (Kelantan) Bill 2026 was tabled by deputy menteri besar Fadzli Hassan and debated by six assemblymen before being passed, Bernama reported.

The bill comprises nine parts, 62 clauses and one schedule with several improvements made to provisions involving the five daily prayers, restorative punishment, whipping as a punishment, and compound mechanisms.

In winding up the debate on the bill, menteri besar Nassuruddin Daud said it essentially captured the spirit of the 2019 enactments.

In an 8-1 majority decision on Feb 9, 2024, the Federal Court struck down 16 provisions under the Kelantan enactment on grounds that they were unconstitutional.

The court ruled that the Kelantan assembly had no power to enact the provisions as they dealt with offences that fell under Parliament’s authority to enact federal criminal laws. - FMT

RON97 down 20 sen, unsubsidised RON95 down 15 sen

 Unsubsidised diesel will also cost 10 sen cheaper, with these prices in effect until Aug 19.

PETALING JAYA:

The prices of RON97 petrol as well as unsubsidised RON95 and diesel will all drop from tomorrow, the finance ministry has announced.

RON97 will be priced at RM4.15 per litre, down 20 sen from RM4.35 currently, while unsubsidised RON95 will be sold at RM3.62 per litre, a 15 sen reduction from RM3.77.

Unsubsidised diesel will, meanwhile, retail at RM4.47 per litre, a 10 sen decrease from RM4.57 presently.

RON95 under the BUDI95 scheme will continue to be sold at RM1.99 per litre, while the price of diesel will be fixed at RM2.10 per litre under the BUDI Diesel initiative.

Subsidised petrol under the subsidised petrol control system (SKPS) will remain at RM2.05 per litre, while subsidised diesel under the subsidised diesel control system (SKDS) will retail at RM2.15 per litre.

These prices will be in effect until Aug 19.

In a statement, the ministry said the price of unsubsidised petroleum products was influenced by movements in the global oil market in the past week.

However, it pointed out that the price of crude oil rose by nearly 5% on Monday following concerns that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would continue to be delayed.

“The prices of petroleum products are expected to remain significantly volatile in the near future,” it said.

It urged the public to continue to use fuel prudently, plan their journeys more efficiently, and reduce unnecessary travel to help conserve the nation’s fuel supply and ease pressure on subsidy expenditure. - FMT