SNAPSHOT | Hospital denies relocating due to temple, only proposing new building

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

6pm

Temples

• The Bukit Mertajam Hospital denied claims that it will be relocating to avoid disturbing a temple.

  The hospital’s visitors board urged the authorities to act against the dissemination of such a “defamatory and malicious” allegation.

  “What exists is a proposal to construct a new building, and the old buildings will remain without any relocation,” the board said in a statement today.

  The proposal is being reviewed by the Health Ministry, while the Penang government has provided eight acres of land, it added.

  In a Facebook post, Bukit Mertajam MP service centre officer Rosly Yusof said he accompanied the board to lodge a police report against the claims.

  He stressed that he had nothing against those who wished to champion the cause against “illegal” temples, but warned against regressive efforts motivated by political differences.

Health

• The Health Ministry announced that a delegation of experts will represent Malaysia at discussions for a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (Pabs) system from today until Saturday at the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Switzerland.

  They will follow the discussions online from a coordinated location in Malaysia and consisted of representatives from agencies including the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

  “The decision to participate online was taken after considering the conflict in West Asia as well as the critical logistical constraints at this time,” it said.

  Last Friday, local research platform Third World Network (TWN) questioned Malaysia’s absence at the talks, which aim to finalise the WHO Pandemic Agreement ahead of its ratification.

Weather

• Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad urged people to be on alert amid the heatwave, after 15 cases of heat-related injuries have been reported so far this year. This includes three cases of heatstroke and one death of a child who was left unattended in a vehicle.

  “Please monitor for early signs of heatstroke, including prolonged dizziness, unusual sensation of thirst, and rising body temperature. If any of these symptoms are present, take precautionary measures immediately by seeking shade, drinking more water, and cooling the body immediately,” he said on Facebook.

  

  His warning comes as the Meteorological Department escalates its heatwave warnings, including at Padang Terap in Kedah (Level One), as well as 14 other locations in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, and Negeri Sembilan (Level Two).

  A level one alert is when an area experiences daily maximum temperatures of between 35 and 37°C for at least three consecutive days, and a level two alert means a higher temperature between 37 and 40°C during the period.

• Durian orchard owners in Penang are expecting a strong harvest in the upcoming durian season, as the prolonged dry spell creates favourable conditions for flowering, The Star reported.

  It quoted orchard owner Tan Chee Keat saying 20 percent of his trees have begun fruiting earlier than usual, and he expects to start selling the fruits in mid-April.

  

  “This means less competition and better business for me. The rest will come from end-April to mid-August,” he was quoted as saying.

  While the hot weather has strengthened flowering and reduced the risk of fungal infection, orchard owners interviewed by The Star also spoke about the constant need to keep their plants watered.

• Paddy yields in the northern Peninsula are beginning to be affected by the ongoing dry spell, with farmers lamenting padi hampa (empty husks) amid 30 to 40 percent of fields still in the harvesting phase.

  Noting that he has received many complaints from farmers outside the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) scheme, Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) chairperson Abdul Rashid Yob said such areas have been hit harder than those within the scheme as they rely on limited irrigation systems and rainfall.

  “With dams currently at around 40 per centcapacity, it is impossible to channel water fully to the fields as domestic use is being prioritised,” he told the New Straits Times today.

  He noted that water shortages could result in up to 90 percent of crops potentially being lost in the worst-hit areas.

  He urged the government to provide immediate assistance through the Padi Crop Takaful Scheme or related funds.

2pm

Fireworks

• Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has ordered a review after a fireworks stall in Nibong Tebal, Penang, caught fire late last night.

  Following the incident, which marks the seventh such case, Nga told New Straits Times that his ministry will look into ensuring stalls are equipped with fire extinguishers and buffer zones between stalls and other structures.

  

  Seberang Prai City Council mayor Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the stall in the recent incident had its permit cancelled, while other safety measures will be implemented.

  In a fire at around midnight, the 3m by 3m stall and a motorcycle were destroyed, forcing nearby stalls to pull down their shutters to avoid stray sparks, while flames spread to three external air conditioning units at a house in the vicinity.

  Police are investigating the incident, which did not result in any casualties, for potential negligence.

• There was a 494 percent increase in the number of fires involving premises selling firecrackers and fireworks last year, said Fire and Rescue Department director-general Nor Hisham Mohammad.

  He told the New Straits Times that 113 cases were reported across the country in 2025, compared to 19 in 2024.

  

  The highest number of incidents last year occurred in Johor (32), followed by Terengganu (29), and Perak (23), he added.

  He said seven cases have been reported so far as of February this year, distributed across Johor (2), Penang (2), Kedah (1), Kuala Lumpur (1), and Malacca (1).

Health

• The supply of medicines in Malaysia is still stable despite the conflict in West Asia, said the Health Ministry, adding that the short-term impact of the fighting is expected to be minimal.

  It said the ministry maintains between a one and three-month stock of medicines at its facilities, while its suppliers maintain an additional buffer of two months’ stock.

  Monitoring is carried out through the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency’s Product Registration Holders (PRH) system.

  “As of March 22, 2026, no increasing trend has been detected in PRH reports involving disruptions in the supply of medicines,” Bernama quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

  It added that based on feedback from local manufacturers, the pharmaceutical industry has enough raw materials for the next three months, and finished products are available for about two months.

11am

Crime

• Investigations into a fatal accident in Kelantan are still ongoing, said Tanah Merah district police chief Haki Hasbullah.

  He clarified with Bernama yesterday that purported screenshots of the incident that went viral were not from Tanah Merah, where the accident occurred, and neither were they linked to the date of the incident.

  

  He warned that those spreading false information could face legal action under the Sedition Act, Communications and Multimedia Act, and Penal Code.

  On Saturday, the Kelantan Road Transport Department denied viral claims that the accident was caused by one of its enforcement vehicles chasing a lorry.

  The incident caused the death of Mursyid Azmi, 25, the son of Astro Awani senior editor Husna Yusop.

RTD denies viral allegations over fatal crash in Tanah Merah

Prolonged heatwave causing disruptions throughout M'sia

Govt moots national durian federation, undecided on 'national fruit'