SNAPSHOT | Govt still working to tighten online protection for kids; Petronas sourcing fuel amid supply rush

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

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2pm

Child sexual abuse

• The government is still working to tighten online protection for children following a rise in digital sexual crimes involving minors, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri.

  “We are amending the Online Safety Act 2025 to strengthen online safety protection, particularly for children. We are also working to set up a registry for individuals involved, but it is not straightforward.

  “Discussions have been held with several ministries, but nothing concrete has been finalised yet. Some procedures need to be addressed,” Bernama quoted her as saying.

  

Energy crisis

• Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said the government is working to ensure Malaysia has a sufficient energy supply until December, extending from July.

  “Petronas is working tirelessly to secure available supplies, even having to go to Africa.

  “If all the supplies can be secured, insya-Allah, we will be able to ensure our energy supply security until December,” Bernama quoted him as saying at the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya.

  He lamented that many Malaysians are still taking the energy crisis lightly, but many parties are working behind the scenes to ensure the current state of comfort.

• Fadillah assured that domestic electricity consumers who use less than 600kWh of electricity per month will be shielded from any electricity tariff hikes, covering about 85 percent of Malaysians.

  

  However, those using more than 600kWh per month may face “slight adjustments”, Bernama reported.

  The minister also launched the Sustainable Rebate and Incentive Assistance Home initiative, which allocates RM150 million to provide rebates for residential rooftop solar installations.

  Eligible users can receive a rebate of RM600 per 1kWac of solar installation, up to RM3,000 or 5kWac.

  “This programme is expected to benefit between 45,000 and 50,000 homes with a cumulative solar capacity of around 250MW, while also expanding the use of residential rooftop solar nationwide,” said Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister.

Court

• The Sepang Sessions Court fined an alternative treatment therapist RM4,000 after he pleaded guilty to spreading false information on Facebook regarding the Budi Madani RON95 (Budi95) initiative.

  Bernama reported that judge Ahmad Fuad Othman imposed the fine on Ariffaizal Nor Ariffin, 46, who faces six months’ imprisonment in default of payment.

  

  According to the report, the father of nine knowingly created and shared a false Facebook post on April 6 last year with the intention of annoying others.

  He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

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No decision yet on withdrawing Budi95 from the wealthy - Loke