SNAPSHOT | MACC probes National Stadium upgrades; state rep calls for Johor assembly reforms

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

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6pm

Corruption

• The MACC said it is investigating the evaluation process and implementation of upgrading works at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, after a contractor reportedly lodged a report about the RM24 million upgrade project.

  The project reportedly involved two tenders linked to preparations for the 2027 SEA Games.

  

  The MACC said it views claims of corruption, abuse of power, and misappropriation seriously, Bernama reported, and thanked the cooperation of those who stepped forward to provide information.

  However, it said those channelling information are advised not to reveal details of the complaints to others, to prevent information leaks that could affect MACC’s follow-up actions.

Politics

• Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz has called for reforms to strengthen the Johor state assembly, particularly by enhancing the role of its committee system.

  Speaking ahead of a sitting scheduled for June 22, Amira said the committees should be empowered to take on a greater role in policy development and scrutiny, arguing that this would improve the quality of debates and recommendations in the assembly.

  

  The Muda president also questioned the need for Johor’s appointed assemblypersons, claiming that their intended function could be fulfilled by strengthening existing committee structures without incurring additional costs

  Amira asserted that a more robust assembly system with longer sitting periods would allow elected representatives to carry out their duties more effectively and reinforce the legislature’s checks-and-balances role.

Sabah special grant

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he will provide clarification tomorrow regarding negotiations between the federal government and the Sabah government, including the review of Sabah’s 40 percent special grant entitlement under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

  

  This is in conjunction with his visit to the state tomorrow, Bernama reported.

Higher Education

• The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), the Higher Education Department, and the Health Ministry are seeking solutions for Alexandria University pharmacy graduates who are not allowed to sit for the Malaysian Pharmacy Board examinations.

  MQA chief executive Shatar Sabran told Malaysiakini that the issue arose after the university changed the name of its Bachelor of Pharmacy programme in 2019 to “Bachelor of Pharmacy - PharmD” and “Bachelor of Pharmacy - PharmD (Clinical Pharmacy)”.

  

  Shatar said the name change is beyond the MQA and the Pharmacy Board’s control since it is a foreign university, but follow-up actions are being taken, including contacting the university to ask it to apply for Pharmacy Board recognition.

  He added that the MQA, Health Ministry, and Higher Education Department will meet soon to discuss the matter and ensure the graduates will be able to practice as pharmacists.

  Reporting by Haspaizi Zain

READ MORE: Egypt pharmacy graduates in limbo: 'Do we have to bang tables to be heard?'

• The Higher Education Ministry has clarified that the matriculation programme is under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry, describing remarks by Kota Kemuning assemblyperson Preakas Sampunathan on a top SPM scorer’s admission as inaccurate and misleading.

  In a statement today, the Higher Education Ministry said Preakas, who has since retracted his statements claiming a student who scored 11As in SPM failed to secure a matriculation place, had wrongly blamed the ministry over the issue, reflecting a misunderstanding of the national education system.

  

  The ministry stressed that all matters related to matriculation admissions, including recruitment policy, placement offers, appeals and admission management, are handled solely by the Education Ministry’s Matriculation Division.

  It added that the Higher Education Ministry has no role in the selection or admission process and said calls for it to intervene were incorrect, irresponsible, and could mislead the public.

  The ministry also expressed regret that issues involving students’ futures were being used to target certain parties without proper fact-checking.

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