Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the authorities had ensured the infrastructure was in good condition before traders began operating. - NSTP/NURUL HIDAYAH BAHAUDIN
KUALA LUMPUR: The 30-day Deepavali Bazaar 2026 in Brickfields has received an encouraging response from visitors since opening on Oct 9.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the authorities had ensured the infrastructure was in good condition before traders began operating.
"We have reduced the rental rate for traders at the bazaar to just RM400. This gives more traders the opportunity to sell a variety of goods for Deepavali.
"With the bazaar provided by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), I hope visitors and traders will feel more comfortable," she said.
She was speaking to reporters after officiating at the bazaar at the car park of Kompleks Tun Sambanthan.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud was also present.
Hannah said: "This is the first time DBKL has provided this kind of support by setting up a mega bazaar.
"DBKL has also spent RM1.8 million to support Deepavali celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, extending the bazaar from 21 days to 30 days.
"I hope more visitors will come here and support the traders," she added. - NST
Both Syed Saddiq and Bella Astillah were taken aback by the large crowd turnout at their Kenduri Rakyat in Muar today. — Picture via Instagram/RizmanRuzaini
KUALA LUMPUR, October 25 — The Kenduri Rakyat hosted by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and singer-actress Bella Astillah drew thousands of people from across Malaysia to celebrate the newly-wedded couple, known to fans collectively as BASS, after the first initials of their names.
The event proper only started at 1.30pm, but the crowd, estimated to be in the thousands, had been in a snaking queue before the Yong Sheng Banquet Hall here from morning, long before the couple arrived.
There were even police officers and personnel from the civil volunteer corps to escort Syed Saddiq and Bella into the hall as people began surging forward.
That’s when Syed Saddiq stepped up to address the crowd.
“I asked for her permission to keep my speech brief because I want to spend as much time as possible with the people who have been waiting outside in the blazing heat for hours.
“We are deeply indebted to everyone who came — some traveled from Perlis, Kedah, and Terengganu, others flew in from Kuching, and some even drove up from Singapore.
“We apologise from the bottom of our hearts for any shortcomings.
“We never expected people to start queuing as early as 6am all the way until 2pm, so we will do our best to meet as many of you as possible,” the Muar MP said.
BASS arrived in matching light blue traditional Malay wedding outfits with hints of gold lining, designed by Rizman Ruzaini.
Bella’s children Ayden and Ara were supposed to join them at the entrance, but the couple’s security team advised against it, fearing the crowd would surround and overwhelm the youngsters.
Today marks BASS’ third wedding celebration, but Malaysians appear not to have got enough of the couple.
Some Malaysians present at the Muar venue shared videos of the event as it happened and their reaction to it on Threads.
A post by Threads user @bakingnerds showed the groom’s family members handing out bottled water to attendees waiting outside the venue.
Another clip, shared by user @assnabell, showed Syed Saddiq asking his team to prioritise letting attendees into the hall, which drew praise online.
Several other clips showed the large crowd at the event.
It was previously reported that BASS raised more than RM500,000 in sponsorship for the event, which they will channel back to the people as daily essentials and supplies.
Local brand Jasmine Food Corporation sponsored 1kg packs of rice and coconut milk in 200ml boxes as door gifts for the first 10,000 attendees.
At least 15 local food and beverage vendors were also on site, offering coffee, pizza, fried chicken, ayam gepuk and ice cream.
BASS tied the knot on October 10 at Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur in an all-white ceremony attended by close family, friends and prominent political figures.
They held another reception at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur on October 18.
The celebrations will continue with another Kenduri Rakyat in Bella’s home state of Sabah on October 31 in Kota Kinabalu. - malaymail
Schools in Johor will reopen in phases, with the first phase on Monday (tomorrow) and Tuesday limited to students sitting for examinations according to the scheduled timetable. — Bernama pic
JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 25 — Schools in Johor will reopen in phases, with the first phase on Monday (tomorrow) and Tuesday limited to students sitting for examinations according to the scheduled timetable.
State Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said the decision was made following the decree of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, who places great importance on the safety, health and well-being of the people of Johor.
He said the arrangement would also give school administrators and teachers time to prepare for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik (UASA) examinations.
“The second phase will begin on Wednesday, when all schools throughout Johor are scheduled to resume full operations as usual, subject to developments in air quality,” he said in a statement today.
Muhammad Naqib said the Johor State Education Department (JPNJ) would coordinate the implementation of health and safety standard operating procedures (SOPs), including the wearing of face masks and monitoring of school activities, based on current air pollutant index (API) readings.
He said the state government and relevant agencies would continue to monitor the haze situation closely to ensure that any necessary action could be taken based on assessments of prevailing conditions.
Yesterday, the Johor state government decided that all educational institutions would resume operations tomorrow after taking into account developments in the haze situation and assessments by the relevant agencies.
As of 4 pm today, only two districts in Johor recorded unhealthy API readings, namely Pasir Gudang at 154 and Batu Pahat at 127. — Bernama
Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor says Perikatan Nasional will form the federal government after GE16, even though the Registrar of Societies deregistered the coalition on October 20, 2026 and it is challenging the decision in court. — File picture by Shafwan Zaidon
KOTA BHARU, Oct 25 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has predicted that Pakatan Harapan will lose power in Putrajaya at the 16th general election, according to online reports.
He told supporters that PN must use the time left before GE16, expected by December 2027, to strengthen its election machinery.
“This is Pakatan’s final term governing Malaysia and Perikatan’s final term as the Opposition. After this, we (Perikatan) will form the federal government,” he was quoted as saying by news portal Kedah Online at Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV here during a gathering for Muslim unity last Friday.
According to Sanusi, a PN government would take a new approach to national development, “developing together with Islam”.
Sanusi also said the PN leadership will make a decision about its participation in the coming Sarawak state election after the November 14 Melaka polls.
Sarawak’s polling date has yet to be announced, but the state assembly’s five-year term expires in February 2027.
Sarawak minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has said the polls could be held on December 12 or 19.
Sanusi added that informal talks had been held on synchronising elections in the four PN-ruled states with GE16, but no decision had been finalised.
He urged party members and supporters to work hard, and called on Malaysians who value peace and justice to give PN a chance to form the next government. - malaymail
GEORGE TOWN: Two cars were badly damaged after being buried in a landslide near 33 Leisure Bay Condominium, Jalan Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah here on Sunday (Oct 25).
Penang Fire and Rescue Department Operations and Firefighting Division assistant director John Sagun Francis said the department received an emergency call at 6.50pm before a team from the Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene at 7pm.
"Upon arrival, we found that two cars, a BMW and a Honda City, had been buried by the landslide. Initial checks found that no one was present during the incident.
"Rescue and monitoring operations are still underway, involving six personnel, including a supervisor and a Fire Rescue Tender, with assistance from the police at the scene,” he said in a statement on Sunday night.
He said firefighting operations were still ongoing at the scene as of 7.45pm, while the cause of the incident remained under investigation.
Earlier on Sunday, a 73-year-old doctor was killed in a separate landslide in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong. – Bernama
KANGAR: Perlis Mentri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah should convene a meeting with all state assemblymen to determine whether he still commands majority support to remain in office.
Bersatu Perlis chairman Izizam Ibrahim said Abu Bakar must prove that he still has the support from the assemblymen and seek an audience with the palace to explain the situation.
"If he has the majority, he can continue serving as Mentri Besar. If not, he should be a gentleman and step down," he said when contacted.
Izizam said politics requires majority support to lead, whether at the state or national level.
He said without sufficient support, it would be difficult to govern effectively.
He said there was an urgent need to restore harmony within the state government so that the people could benefit from its programmes, enabling the state administration to focus on implementation.
Effective Oct 13, Abu Bakar's membership was suspended for the duration of two party elections.
The Bersatu disciplinary board decided to suspend Abu Bakar following allegations of breaching Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution.
He was stripped of all party posts but can still appeal against the decision.
Perlis has 15 state assembly seats, three of which – Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji – remain vacant following the removal of three PAS assemblymen.
The remaining seats are held by six PAS assemblymen, five Bersatu assemblymen, and one PKR assemblyman. - Star
The Penang Island City Council has ordered an immediate halt to condominium construction and roadworks on a hillside near the site of a landslide that killed a doctor in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, Bernama reported.
Mayor A Rajendran said the stop-work order was issued to facilitate further investigations into the incident.
“The road and condominium projects have been ongoing for more than a year, while slope stabilisation works are also being carried out in the area.
“So far, we have recommended that the occupants of six houses identified as potentially unsafe relocate temporarily to prevent any untoward incidents,” he was quoted as saying at the scene.
The landslide struck at about 8.36am, trapping 73-year-old Dr Wong Kar Lin in his house. Rescuers recovered his body at about 11.20am.
His wife, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and his mother-in-law, Wong Poh Lim, who is in her 80s, managed to escape shortly after the incident.
State exco for infrastructure, transport, and digital, Zairil Khir Johari said slope stabilisation works were under way, but some sections remained unfinished when the landslide occurred.
“Unfortunately, the section that had yet to be completed was the one affected by the landslide. Further investigations are ongoing before more detailed information can be provided,” he said.
Group says landslide foreseeable
Meanwhile, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) expressed shock over Wong’s death, saying the landslide risk was foreseeable given extensive hill-cutting and construction in an environmentally sensitive area, despite repeated warnings from residents and environmental groups.
“We have been proven right once again, unfortunately. The state government must explain how this tragedy happened and why such a landslide was not prevented,” said SAM president Meena Raman.
“Photos of the area show unprotected and bare slopes. Our authorities, it seems, just never learn from previous incidents. Was there any monitoring of the slopes? Why were there insufficient mitigation measures?
“The state must explain and take urgent measures against the company responsible for the works."
She called for immediate slope rehabilitation and additional preventive measures to protect nearby residents and prevent further fatalities and damage. - Mkini
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