SNAPSHOT | Senator urges more subsidised fuel for vital public sectors; Zahid warns of bad weather

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

6pm

Subsidised fuel 

• A special travel allowance for civil servants in critical sectors such as healthcare should be considered as the government prepares to embark on a work-from-home scheme starting April 15, said a senator.

  Dr A Lingeshwaran said a hypothetical RM600 allowance for nurses and medical officers in public healthcare facilities would help them bear rising fuel costs, as they would still have to travel to work.

  

  Lingeshwaran also urged the government to reconsider raising the Budi95 subsidised fuel quota for these workers to above 200 litres per month.

  “In my recent working visit to Penang, I met a nurse who travels more than 80km a day to her workplace. She is worried that the 200 litre quota would not be enough for her,” he said in a statement.

  “I have also received personal messages and comments on my social media accounts that community nurses usually use their own vehicles to visit patients to deliver treatment.”

Dangerous weather warning 

• Thunderstorms, strong winds, and heavy rain are expected in parts of Peninsular Malaysia in the coming week as the monsoon transition phase hits the country, says Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

  In a social media post, Zahid said that according to the Malaysian Meteorological Agency, these weather conditions would likely affect states in the Western part of the peninsula, including Johor and Malacca, and parts of the interior of Sabah and Sarawak.

  

  However, Zahid, who is in charge of disaster relief operations, said the northern and some inland areas in the peninsula will still see high temperatures.

  He added that the government was paying close attention to dams in Malacca and Johor, where water levels are at worrying levels due to the lack of rainfall.

  “Cloud seeding operations will be conducted based on suitable atmospheric conditions to increase rainfall in water catchment areas.”

Political Financing Act 

• PAS will support the proposed Political Financing Act to regulate political funding and calls on the government to increase engagement to refine the law.

  Party vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said such engagements would allow all parties to craft a bill agreed to by all, which would be passed by Parliament.

  

  “From the start, we agreed to the Political Financing Act. Before it is done, the structure must be discussed by parties in Parliament and those who are not in Parliament,” Samsuri told the media in Johor today.

  “We need repeated engagements to find the best way forward, so that when it is tabled in Parliament, it can be passed smoothly.”

  The Madani administration has proposed a Political Financing Act, but civil society organisations have questioned the lack of progress and information on the bill’s draft. 

Corporate mafia 

• The police will utilise all legal instruments, including extradition, to assist in investigations into alleged corporate manipulation activities, says Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

  He said the investigation into the case was being conducted under the Penal Code and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

  

  “If any individuals are overseas, and there is a need to record their statements to assist in completing the investigation, we will use all available processes to enable us to bring them back,” he said, according to Bernama.

  “The investigation is proceeding well. I am briefed from time to time by the police conducting the investigation. I have no reason to doubt the competence of the police,” he told reporters in Pengkalan Hulu, Perak.

  On March 18, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail was reported to have said that businessperson Victor Chin, allegedly involved in corporate manipulation activities, was abroad.

2pm

Diesel supply

• Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin has urged Putrajaya to issue an official statement clarifying the Philippines’ Energy Department’s (DOE) confirmation that the government has received a shipment of 52.311 million litres of diesel “from Malaysia”.

  The Putrajaya MP cited a contradiction between the Philippines government’s statement with both Petronas’ denial of its involvement in supplying diesel to the Philippines, and the National Economic Action Council’s statement that the diesel sent to the Philippines “did not originate from Malaysia”.

  “At a time when the whole world is scrambling for diesel supply, 52.311 million litres is significant for any country,” he said.

  DOE Undersecretary Sandy Sales reportedly said on April 7 that an initial 300,000 barrels will arrive by April 10 “from Malaysia via Singapore,” sourced through the global commodities firm Vitol - with a refinery in Tanjung Bin, outside the Straits of Johor and Singapore.

  This means that while the supply originated in Malaysia, it is not part of Malaysia’s domestic subsidised supply, and exports are based on commercial ownership.

Cost of living

• Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh today said nearly 10,000 traders under the supervision of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will receive a 50 percent rental reduction for two years.

  

  The rental reduction for hawker sites and selected premises under DBKL will be in effect from April 1 to Dec 31, 2027.

  According to Bernama, Yeoh said DBKL and Labuan Corporation are among the earliest local authorities to announce the initiative, which is aimed at easing the cost-of-living burden on traders amid rising fuel prices.

  The 10,000 traders include those at food courts and markets, she reportedly said after launching the Putrajaya Aktif Programme today.

  She added that the government is prioritising rental reductions over other forms of subsidies, taking into account financial constraints and the need to generate alternative revenue.

Army assault

• The body of soldier Amirul Raziq Rosafindi, 24, was laid to rest at the Pusara Damai cemetery in Felda Sungai Kelamah, Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, at about 4.30am today.

  Berita Harian reported that family members, army personnel and friends were present to pay their last respects and accompany the body of the 25th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (25 RAMD) member.

  

  Amirul was pronounced dead at 9.45am yesterday after being in a coma since March 30 while receiving treatment at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital in Pahang, following an alleged assault by a corporal.

  He had reportedly been unconscious and placed in intensive care since March 30 due to severe injuries sustained in a beating incident at the 25th Battalion camp of the Royal Malay Regiment in Pahang.

Border security

• Sungai Buloh district police chief Hafiz Nor said tighter inspections are in place at all immigration exit points to recapture a remand detainee who escaped from Sungai Buloh Prison on April 9.

  Hafiz said search and arrest operations against Pakistani national Muhammad Hassan, 24, are now being carried out on a larger scale, involving assistance from the General Operations Force, the Air Operations Base, as well as the Internal Security and Public Order Department.

  “Police assure that public safety remains intact. However, the public must remain vigilant and not take any situation lightly,” he said in a statement today.

  The suspect escaped from police custody at the Sungai Buloh Prison field after attending trial proceedings at the Shah Alam court, Selangor.

  

  The suspect, who was being detained for trial over a sexual offence involving a child and immigration-related offences, was last seen wearing an orange T-shirt and black long pants.

11am

Temple Raya do

• A Penang temple at the centre of a Hari Raya Open house controversy has hit back at Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, calling his remarks over the issue “unfair”.

  The Thean Hock Keong Temple Association in Butterworth went on to explain that the original plan was to hold the gathering at a space outside the temple’s compound that was owned by a private entity.

  On the advice of the National Unity Ministry, the event was then moved to the Panorama Community Hall, which is managed by the Seberang Perai Utara Land and District Office, the association said in a statement yesterday.

  

  The Penang Islamic Affairs Department cancelled the event, saying all Islamic religious activities, including celebrations related to Hari Raya Aidilfitri, require permission from the Penang Islamic Religious Council.”

  Media reports had quoted Chow as saying that while the temple’s intentions were “noble”, the poster for the event featured the temple as a backdrop, and this “would touch on sensitivities among certain quarters, especially Muslims who see it as a religious celebration”.

Sports

• Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) saw their run of 20 consecutive wins come to an end after being held to a 1-1 draw by Terengganu FC in a Super League match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri yesterday.

  However, the Southern Tigers, coached by Xisco Munoz - champions for 12 straight seasons - remain unbeaten after 21 matches, with three matches remaining against Melaka FC (April 28), Kuala Lumpur City FC (May 2) and Kelantan The Red Warriors (May 10).

  

  JDT scored the first goal in the 21st minute, but the Turtles stunned the hosts in the 35th minute by equalising.

  In the second half, JDT came close to regaining the lead in the 55th minute, but Terengganu’s goalkeeper, Rahadiazli Rahalim, saved the attempt.

COMMENT | Are Malays that easily confused?

SNAPSHOT | Chinese shrine demolition postponed for items removal; MCMC to act against Papagomo

Penang temple's Hari Raya do risks confusion, replaced with 'unity banquet'

Deputy unity minister warns AI racial, religious posts being 'weaponised'

Don't pour oil on fire, speaker warns against racist remarks