SNAPSHOT | PKR to process membership application of anti-illegal temple activist

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 11am, 2pm, and 6pm.

6pm

Politics

• PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh confirmed that the party received a membership application from activist Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak, who has been at the forefront of campaigning against unauthorised temples.

  Fuziah (above) told Free Malaysia Today that PKR will screen the application, which was received on March 5, through the usual processes.

  Tamim was arrested last month after demolishing a temple in Rawang in response to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s call for local authorities to “clean up” places of worship that were erected in violation of the law.

  

  He had been arrested several days prior, along with preacher Zamri Vinoth and others, when they turned up for a planned rally on Feb 7 against what has been described as illegal houses of worship.

Middle East conflict

• The Interior Ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a warning of a possible missile strike and urged residents to seek shelter.

  According to Xinhua, the ministry told residents to shelter in secure buildings while keeping away from windows, doors, and open areas.

  At the same time, UAE airports have partially resumed operations, although airport authorities stress that access to terminals is limited to passengers with confirmed flights.

• About 649 Malaysians are still stranded in the Middle East due to the conflict there, said the Foreign Ministry.

  It said evacuation efforts are continuing, with diplomatic missions shifting focus to evacuation coordination and consular assistance.

  In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the cabinet approved an evacuation plan for Malaysians in the region should the situation worsen.

  “The government’s priority is assisting Malaysians stranded due to travel disruptions and facilitating their return through available commercial flights,” it added.

• Malaysian pilgrims who intend to undertake their haj pilgrimage should not worry too much about the conflict in the Middle East, said Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Rashid Hussain.

  He said Tabung Haji is prepared for all possibilities and is closely monitoring developments.

  

  “For now, everything is moving as planned, and there are no changes. We will only know for sure if any changes need to be made after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, as we watch the escalation or de-­escalation of the conflict.

  “If the airlines are allowed to fly the Malaysian pilgrims, then that means Saudi Arabia has given us clearance to perform the haj safely.

  “The situation is fluid, and we are monitoring everything. There is no contingency plan for now, but should the haj be disrupted, as it happened during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have our contingency plans in place,” he told The Star.

Enforcement operations

• The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to traffic 16 Myanmar migrants, including five women, via a river route in Kota Bharu during an early morning operation on Friday.

  According to Bernama, Kelantan MMEA director Kamal Mohamad said all 16 were arrested at Sungai Kampung Kijang after a speedboat carrying them was spotted five nautical miles offshore.

  “The boat escaped by speeding into a narrow, shallow river. Darkness made it hard for patrol boats to approach, so a land team was sent to intercept the group,” he said at a press conference in Kota Bharu.

  He said a 36-year-old local man was also arrested, suspected of transporting the migrants by land.

  “The migrants said they were charged RM3,500 each to return to Myanmar, while the land transporter earned RM250 per trip,” he added.

• The MMEA early yesterday morning seized nearly 16,500 e-cigarette devices worth over RM500,000 at the Fisheries Development Board jetty in Kuala Sanglang, Perlis, believed to be destined for smuggling to a neighbouring country.

  Kedah and Perlis Maritime director Romli Mustafa explained that this seizure followed the interception of a lorry at 1.15am, based on intelligence from the Kedah, Perlis, Kuala Perlis, and Kuala Kedah maritime zones.

  “Checks revealed the vehicle, driven by a man with two local male workers aged 19 to 47, was carrying 56 brown boxes holding nearly 16,500 vape devices of various kinds.

  “The devices are believed to have been intended for smuggling to a neighbouring country via a fibreglass boat waiting at the river mouth,” he said at a press conference at Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone today, according to Bernama.

2pm

International Women’s Day 

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has paid tribute to women in his International Women’s Day message today.

  “Women are the heartbeat of the family, the pillar of society and an important driver of the nation’s progress,” he said on Facebook. 

  The premier noted that behind every resilient family and harmonious society lies the sacrifices, resilience and wisdom of women who continuously dedicate love and care for a better future.

  Reflecting on his own life, Anwar said he deeply appreciates the sacrifices made by the women closest to him, particularly his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and their children, calling them his “source of strength, patience and support throughout this journey of struggle.”

• The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has prepared several new initiatives to assist women, including expanding opportunities for them to gain knowledge and receive support.

  The initiatives are in conjunction with the national-level International Women’s Day celebration, which is expected to be officiated by Anwar on March 10.

  

  Its minister, Nancy Shukri, said further announcements, however, will depend on the prime minister’s decision during the launch ceremony. 

  “There is something that we have prepared specifically to help women and make it easier for them to gain knowledge and access assistance,” said Nancy after a function in Kuching, Sarawak, as reported by Berita Harian. 

• Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said that while many women today serve as educators of future generations and catalysts for social change, efforts to strengthen their well-being, safety, and access to equitable opportunities must be continuously intensified.

  Fadillah said it is an appreciation of the immense sacrifices made by women not only within the family institution, but also to society, the nation, and at the international level.

  

  "As we celebrate women, we must also acknowledge the reality still faced by many women around the world. Gaps in social, economic, and political aspects persist and require our collective attention.

  "Furthermore, women and children still face significant issues of violence and conflict," he said, according to Bernama.

Umno politics

• Umno’s “Rumah Bangsa” initiative does not impose any conditions because it is based on the concept of "forgive and forget" to strengthen unity within the party and the Malay race’s struggle.

  Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan said the initiative is a noble idea, serving as a unifying platform to strengthen the party and the Malay race’s struggle within Umno.

  

  "We do not impose any conditions. No one needs to apologise to anyone. We want to forgive and forget. If we want to bring (something) up, many things that can be brought up, but when we keep bringing it up, in the end, no one will want to come back," he told Bernama last night. 

  "Whoever wants to come in, come in. If you don't want to, that's fine. We have stated that this approach is unconditional," he added.

• Former Jempol Umno division chief Salim Sharif, whose membership was suspended in January 2023, has confirmed that he applied to return to the party through the “Rumah Bangsa” initiative about two weeks ago.

  Salim said the appeal letter was submitted through the Jempol Umno division before being forwarded to the Negeri Sembilan Umno liaison committee, chaired by Jalaluddin Alias, Sinar Harian reported. 

  

  The former Jempol MP said Jalaluddin supported the application and personally submitted it to Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin, who chairs the “Rumah Bangsa” committee, for further consideration.

  “At this time, there has been no reply or response. However, I understand that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he will make an announcement whenever he deems it appropriate,” Salim was quoted as saying. 

MH370 search

• Families of passengers and crew lost in the MH370 flight urged the government to extend Ocean Infinity’s search for the missing aircraft.

  Voice370, a support group for the families, said the contract with the company runs until June, but it will unlikely be able to search other areas due to the upcoming winter season and worsening sea conditions.

  In a statement today, the group further called on Putrajaya to consider extending the “no find, no fee” arrangement to other deep-sea exploration companies should Ocean Infinity’s search prove unsuccessful.

• The latest search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has covered more than 7,500sq km of seabed in the southern Indian Ocean but has yet to locate the missing aircraft.

  In an update today, the Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Transport Ministry said the search was carried out with marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity in two phases between March 2025 and January 2026.

  

  Malaysia signed an agreement with Ocean Infinity on March 25 last year to search for the aircraft in a new 15,000sq km area in the southern Indian Ocean under a “no find, no fee” arrangement.

  A total of 28 operational search days were conducted across both phases, surveying about 7,571sq km within the designated search zone.

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