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

Quick highlights:

  • Fahmi takes note of media request

  • Sanusi says Kedah open to everyone

  • Hybrid post-cabinet briefing soon

  • Putrajaya mulling Russian oil

  • Lorry driver nabbed over diesel leakage

  • Pay cut for ministers?

  • KJ back in Umno

  • Police identify scam methods

  • JDT loses international football match

6pm

Fuel subsidy

  • Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he is prepared to raise a request from registered media practitioners for a special RON95 petrol quota exemption at next Tuesday’s National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting.

    Bernama reported Fahmi as saying that the proposal aims to allow media practitioners to keep receiving a monthly quota of 300 litres under the Budi95 programme, which was temporarily adjusted to a 200-litre limit.

    “I have taken note of this and will raise it at next Tuesday’s MTEN meeting,” he told reporters after launching Universiti Malaya’s health campaign at IWK Eco Park, Kuala Lumpur.

    Yesterday, Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM) urged the government to grant media practitioners a special exemption to keep their previous 300-litre RON95 petrol quota, stressing that the temporary Budi95 adjustment has created major challenges for reporters, photographers and videographers in the field.

    GKMM president and Malaysian Media Council member Fauzi Ishak welcomed the announcement as a part of the government’s commitment towards the media’s duty to deliver news from the ground.

Politics

  • Kedah Perikatan Nasional chairperson Sanusi Nor today said any political figure, including former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, is welcome to contest in the state at the next election.

    "Yes, anyone can come and contest in Kedah. Come and contest in Kedah - let's see what the people of Kedah say. Kedah is open to everyone.

    "(Khairy contesting in Kedah) No problem. His mother is from Kedah. He understands Kedah culture.

    "It's up to them. Kedah is an open field for everybody. Our country is democratic. Anyone can contest anywhere. I welcome whoever wants to contest in Kedah," the New Straits Times quoted him as saying.

    Kedah Perikatan Nasional chairperson Sanusi Nor

    Speculations over Khairy’s election move have heightened with his official return to Umno.

  • The Umno Supreme Council meeting held in Malacca last night has accepted the re-entry of 6,252 members across divisions nationwide, including Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, and former supreme council member Syed Hamid Albar.

    Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the decision was made in line with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s “Rumah Bangsa” vision to embrace without conditions all former members who were suspended, sacked, or left the party on their own accord.

    “In line with Clause 5.2 of the Umno Constitution, the supreme council has also amended the party’s membership regulations to allow for online registration, to facilitate the entry of new members, particularly among the youth,” he said.

  • Four years since his sacking from Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin last night marked his official re-entry with an Instagram story - an image of him as then-Youth chief, a song titled “Welcome Home” and captioned “I’m home”.

    former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin

    The post was shared last night after the party’s supreme council decided on his application to rejoin the party.

    Khairy was sacked on Jan 27, 2023, and at the time said he would not appeal the decision.

    READ MORE: The ex-Umno bigwigs staying out of 'Rumah Bangsa'

Cost-saving measure

  • Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the weekly post-cabinet media briefing will switch to a hybrid format from April 22 to make it easier for journalists to follow the latest developments online.

    According to Bernama, the communications minister said, “I am taking the initiative to hold the weekly press briefing in a hybrid format.

    “This way, reporters in Putrajaya can attend in person, while those in Kuala Lumpur can join remotely and ask their questions online.”

    Several larger media organisations still retain a bureau or dedicated journalists in Putrajaya, covering the surrounding areas, but a majority will travel from outside the area.

    The minister’s press briefings are typically held at the Communications Ministry and streamed live on RTM, but there have been recent occasions when only Fahmi’s remarks were captured, without the question-and-answer session that follows.

  • A proposal to cut ministers’ salaries as a cost-saving measure during a crisis has been discussed, but the final decision rests with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

    Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he is ready to accept any directive from the prime minister on the matter.

    “I am prepared to follow any instruction from the prime minister. We have discussed it before, but it is up to him,” he said, according to Astro Awani.

    He added that the cabinet had already taken a 20 percent salary cut following the formation of the Madani government in December 2022.

Enforcement effort

  • The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (BCPA) has foiled an attempt to smuggle four containers of undeclared chicken wings at Sepanggar Port, Sabah, yesterday.

    The shipment of chicken wings weighing 80,000kg seized in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department is estimated to be worth around RM1.5 million, according to Bernama.

    BCPA Kota Kinabalu jetty commander Shahrizan Ibrahim said the inspection was conducted at about 2.10 pm at the port’s Customs Examination Area following preliminary intelligence received by the agency.

    “Preliminary investigations found that the goods were inconsistent with what was declared in the import documents.

    “This constitutes an offence under Section 133(1)(a) and Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for making false declarations and possessing prohibited goods,” he said.

  • The Selangor branch of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has foiled an attempt to misappropriate approximately 3,400 litres of subsidised diesel valued at over RM100,000 during a patrol in Pandamaran, Klang, early this morning.

    Bernama reported that state chief enforcement officer Hanizam Kechek said the successful prevention of an estimated RM20,000 in national subsidy leakage was a result of monitoring by seven Selangor offices.

    "At around 1am, patrol officers spotted a bonded lorry parked suspiciously in the Pandamaran area. Inspections revealed six Intermediate Bulk Containers, with 1,000 litres capacity each, containing suspected subsidised diesel.

    “The lorry had also been modified with connecting hoses and a meter pump," he said.

    Hanizam also said a male driver, in his 20s, attempted to flee but was apprehended by swift-acting enforcement officers, adding that the youth could not produce valid documentation for possessing and transporting scheduled fuel.

  • The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has detected 31 cases of foreign-registered vehicles filling up subsidised RON95 petrol since the April 1 nationwide ban, Bernama reported.

    The ministry’s enforcement director-general Azman Adam said Malaysia’s lower fuel prices compared with neighbouring countries have driven the foreign-registered vehicles across borders.

    “Some also claimed they were unaware of which petrol stations sell RON97,” he said after joining an integrated operation with the Road Transport Department in Johor Bahru last night.

    Azman said offenders could face compounds or court action, with fines of up to RM1 million, depending on the type of offence and amount involved.

    He added that several petrol station operators were still configuring their systems for the full implementation of the ban on the use of foreign credit and debit cards at self-service fuel terminals.

Sports

  • National shuttlers Aaron Chia and M Thinaah will spearhead Malaysia’s challenge at the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3.

    The Badminton Association of Malaysia confirmed the decision and said both players, with a combined seven cup appearances, will bring experience and stability to their respective teams.

    The Thomas Cup line-up includes singles players Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh, and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, while the doubles line-up includes the world number two pair Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, and the independent duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani.

    The men’s team will take on Japan, England, and Finland in Group B, while the women’s team will face Japan, Turkiye, and South Africa in Group B.

    The Uber Cup line-up comprises singles players K Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching, Siti Zulaikha Azmi, and Goh Jin Wei, and double pairs Thinaah-Chong Jie Yu, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting, and Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah.

  • Malaysia’s hope to reach the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals was dashed after Johor Darul Ta’azim (JDT) ended a match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, with a 1-2 defeat against defending champion, Saudi’s Al-Ahli.

    The Star reported that a win for the Southern Tigers would have seen it emerge as the first Malaysian club to win a quarter-final match and proceed to the semi-finals.

    JDT scored early in the 19th minute when a low cross from Brazilian forward Jairo da Silva forced an own goal by Al-Ahli defender Ali Majrashi.

    The game shifted in the 37th minute after Majrashi was sent off for a high boot that struck Jairo in the head, leaving the striker unconscious and requiring a stretcher. He was replaced by Ager Aketxe.

    Al-Ahli rebounded and scored two goals, now scheduled to face Japan’s Vissel Kobe in the semi-finals after the latter beat Al Sadd on penalties in their quarter-final clash.

2pm

Fuel supply

  • Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today said Malaysia, through Petronas, has the option to negotiate with Russia to purchase fuel for domestic supply.

    In his speech at the launch of the new terminal at Kelantan’s Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Anwar noted that many European countries, as well as America, are now forced to compete with each other to secure supplies from Russia.

    “Previously, Europe imposed sanctions and the United States enforced restrictions, but now they have to make room. This is the economic reality.

    “Fortunately, our relationship with Russia remains good. So even in the current situation, our team, including those from Petronas, can negotiate with Russia to meet part of our needs as a friendly country,” he said.

    READ MORE: Diesel down 75 sen, unsubsidised petrol drops 25 sen

  • The Ocean Thunder vessel arrived in Malaysia today from Basrah, Iraq, with one million barrels of crude oil as part of an expanded supply chain to meet domestic demands, according to Petronas.

    It said the amount can be refined within six days into an estimated 159 million litres comprising up to 64 million litres of diesel, 48 million litres of petrol, 24 million litres of jet fuel, six million litres of liquefied petroleum gas, and 25 million litres of others.

    On average, Petronas said Malaysians use up to 112 million litres of fuel per day.

    “Ocean Thunder only carries a portion of the 38 percent crude oil import that passes through the Strait of Hormuz,” it said, adding that Petronas’ assurance of supply until the end of June is also based on various other sources of import.

    READ MORE: Fuel supply at Petronas stations secured until end of June

11am

Crime

  • Total losses from investment scams reached RM1.47 billion involving 9,603 cases last year, with the police identifying five common modus operandi, most of which use social media as the primary medium.

    Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Rusdi Isa said the tactics detected include firm cloning, offers of high returns within a short period, Ponzi schemes, romance investment scams, and the use of fake crypto platforms.

    He also said syndicates use Facebook and Instagram to attract victims before directing communication to WhatsApp or Telegram, and subsequently placing them into fake investment groups purportedly managed by professionals.

    “Victims will see profit displays on the fake platform but are unable to make withdrawals and are asked to make additional payments such as processing charges, taxes, or other fees,” he told Bernama.

    Rusdi said that aside from social media and communication apps, current trends also show an increase in the use of crypto assets such as Tether, where victims are instructed to transfer funds to syndicate-controlled digital wallets through unauthorised platforms.

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