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Public uni applications from UEC holders open June 30; PAS women's wing praises Tamil Nadu CM

2pm

Migrant workers

  • Former Klang MP Charles Santiago said that while Malaysia ratified the International Labor Organization’s Forced Labour Protocol in 2022, questions still linger about workers’ protection.

    He said ratifying the protocol means nothing if the government fails to answer questions surrounding Bestinet’s Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS).

    “Who audits FWCMS? What does accountability look like? And why has it stayed silent while the institutions it claims to align with are publicly walking away?” he asked, referring to ILO’s denial that it endorsed the FWCMS.

    ILO recently denied that it endorsed Bestinet’s FWCMS. In a statement on May 11, the United Nations agency clarified that the FWCMS was not recognised by the UN either, contradicting a previous Bestinet statement issued through law firm Lui & Bhullar.

READ MORE: ILO statement doesn’t diminish global recognition of migrant worker system - Bestinet

Education

  • DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the government’s announcement that certificate holders from non-Education Ministry systems could enter public universities was announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in January.

    He said the policy, which includes Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and tahfiz qualifications, was to improve opportunities for students from different backgrounds.

    He accused critics of opposing greater access to education for young Malaysians.

Economy grows, but costs increase

  • Malaysia’s economy expanded by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2026 (1Q 2026), slightly exceeding the estimate of 5.3 percent, according to Bank Negara.

    However, the pace eased from the 6.3 percent recorded in 4Q 2025, Bernama reported.

    The Iran-US-Israel war is also starting to impact prices and business costs as headline inflation increased to 1.6 percent in 1Q 2026 from 1.3 percent in 4Q 2025.

    Core inflation moderated to 2.1 percent from 2.3 percent previously, Bank Negara said, citing an increase in electricity charges and fuel prices.

Religion

  • PAS syura council secretary Nik Zawawi Salleh gave his statement at the Kota Bharu district police headquarters today, over remarks on two companions of Prophet Muhammad.

    In a video uploaded on Facebook, he said the incident should be a lesson for everyone to be more cautious and rely on the strongest sources from religious texts.

    PAS syura council secretary Nik Zawawi Salleh

    He came under fire, including from the party’s own cleric wing, over remarks about Prophet Muhammad’s companions and the first and second caliphs, Abu Bakar as-Siddiq and Umar al-Khattab.

    In a recent religious talk, Nik Zawawi said that before Islam, Abu Bakar was a moneylender who oppressed the poor, and that Umar was a violent person, adulterer, and fornicator. Following the backlash, Nik Zawawi apologised.

Orang Asli

  • The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) denied providing support, permission, or consent to batin (village heads) and the Orang Asli community to attend any programmes organised by NGOs or other parties.

    According to a Facebook post on May 12, Jakoa said its name was misused by certain parties to attract attendees, without naming specific programmes.

    “Jakoa hopes the Orang Asli community takes note that any activity or programmes intended to be carried out in village areas must first obtain approval from Jakoa headquarters,” it added.

  • Following the post, the Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli NGO Coalition accused Jakoa of over-regulation, arguing that it assumed Orang Asli lacked the capacity to decide for themselves on development and education matters.

    It also claimed enforcement inconsistencies, saying government agencies and private companies often enter villages without the strict procedures now applied to NGOs.

    The coalition demanded that Jakoa clarify which NGO activities triggered the restrictions and for the department to transition from control and restriction to trust and facilitation.

    Separately, the Orang Asli Network of Peninsular Malaysia and Pusat Komas also slammed Jakoa for the post.

    In a joint statement, they argued that requiring approvals from Jakoa bypasses the authority of the Tok Batin and Orang Asli Customary Council (Lembaga Adat).

Previously at 9am | Court bans media from tobacco case on Zoom then reverses; DOE: EIA has secret info