News@9: Today's top headlines - June 3, 2025
Assets frozen
MACC has obtained a court order to freeze more than RM750 million in assets belonging to Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid in London, potentially linked to offences under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001.
The Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia has called for the postponement of the RON95 subsidy rationalisation until two critical issues are resolved.
Journalists should serve as a bridge to help the public understand the ethical implications and appropriateness of using emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
The MCMC will work closely with Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said on a proposal to make it mandatory for parents to monitor their children's online activities.
That's it for News@9.
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New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Dewan Rakyat approves AG's Report
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat yesterday approved the Auditor General's Report 2/2025 on the activities of federal government ministries, departments, statutory bodies, and companies. The report includes matters raised from audits on five programmes, activities, and projects across seven ministries. The motion, tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, was passed by a majority voice vote after being debated by 32 Members of Parliament. When winding up the debate for the department, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran clarified that the Auditor-General may be appointed from among public service officers. "For the information of Honourable Members, Clause 1 of Article 105 of the Federal Constitution provides that the Auditor-General shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. Referring to Article 105 read together with subparagraph 1(1) of the First Schedule to the Audit Act 1957 (Act 62), the Auditor-General may be appointed from among members of the public service, and such appointment is valid," he said. Kulasegaran was responding to Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), who had questioned the appointment of Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi as Auditor-General while she was still serving in the civil service. Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, during his winding-up speech, said continuous improvements are underway following the LKAN investigation into procurement management at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He said that since Feb 28, measures have been taken to align with the Higher Education Strategic Direction 2025, including urging the Internal Audit Committee to follow up after discovering that several procurement circulars previously used were outdated. "For example, UKM was still referring to Treasury Procurement Circular 2.0 when it had already been updated to version 2.2. The Pre-Tender and Coordination Committees have also been dissolved, effectively ending their functions," he said. Rural and Regional Development deputy minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, responding for her ministry, said it had taken note of AG's Report 2/2025's criticisms regarding Felcra Bhd's oil palm estate performance. Rubiah explained that plantation yields could only be measured progressively, noting that three out of four estates had shown improved output and profits, including Estet Telupid in Sabah, and Sungai Rawit 2 and Aring estates in Kelantan. "However, the current performance of one estate, Estet Dabong, has yet to reach the targeted level. This must be understood in light of unexpected factors, such as a shortage of skilled plantation workers and extreme weather affecting harvesting operations. Nevertheless, Felcra has taken proactive measures, including increasing the number of harvesters and progressively repairing agricultural roads. Recovery efforts are expected to yield more positive results moving forward," she said. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, in his winding-up speech, said contractor selection for Phase 1B of the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway Project was conducted through a selective pre-qualification open tender. He said the process was essential to ensure only companies with proven technical, financial, and experience capacity were awarded the large-scale, high-impact project. Nanta also cited delays in land acquisition, utility relocation, labour shortages, and material constraints as key challenges, adding that the ministry had taken remedial steps in collaboration with relevant agencies. Meanwhile, Energy Transition and Water Transformation deputy minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said all criticisms raised, including those on procurement management, would be taken into account.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Parliament approves Auditor-General's Report 2/2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat has approved the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) 2/2025 on the Activities of Ministries/Departments/Statutory Bodies/Federal Government Companies, which contains matters raised from audits on five programmes, activities and projects across seven ministries. The motion on it, tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, was passed by a majority voice vote after being debated by 32 MPs on Wednesday (July 23). Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran, when winding up debate for the department, clarified that the Auditor-General may be appointed from among public service officers. "For the information of Honourable Members, Clause 1 of Article 105 of the Federal Constitution provides that the Auditor-General shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. "Referring to Article 105 read together with subparagraph 1(1) of the First Schedule to the Audit Act 1957 (Act 62), the Auditor-General may be appointed from among members of the public service, and such appointment is valid," he said. Kulasegaran was responding to Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), who had questioned the appointment of Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi as Auditor-General while she was still serving in the civil service. Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, during his winding-up speech for his ministry, said continuous improvements were being undertaken following the investigation into procurement management at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He said that since Feb 28, several measures have been taken to align with the Higher Education Strategic Direction 2025, including encouraging the Internal Audit Committee to take follow-up action after discovering that several procurement circulars previously used were outdated. "For example, UKM was still referring to Treasury Procurement Circular 2.0 when it had already been updated to version 2.2. The Pre-Tender and Coordination Committees have also been dissolved, effectively ending their functions," he said. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang, while responding on behalf of her ministry, said it had taken note of LKAN 2/2025's criticisms concerning Felcra Berhad's oil palm estate performance. She explained that plantation yields could only be seen progressively, with three out of four estates having shown increased output and profits, including Estet Telupid in Sabah, and Sungai Rawit 2 and Aring estates in Kelantan. "However, the current performance of one estate, Estet Dabong, has yet to reach the targeted level. This must be understood in light of unexpected factors, such as a shortage of skilled plantation workers and extreme weather affecting harvesting operations. "Nevertheless, Felcra has taken proactive measures, including increasing the number of harvesters and progressively repairing agricultural roads. Recovery efforts are expected to yield more positive results moving forward," she said. During the winding-up session for the Works Ministry, minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the contractor selection process for Phase 1B of the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway Project was carried out through a selective pre-qualification open tender. He said this approach was vital to ensure that only companies with proven technical, financial, and experience capacity were awarded the large-scale, high-impact project. Nanta also acknowledged other challenges, including delays in land acquisition, utility relocation, and shortages of labour and construction materials, which had impacted project timelines. However, he said the ministry had taken improvement measures through engagements with relevant agencies. Meanwhile, Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, during the winding-up for his ministry, said that all comments and criticisms, including on procurement management, would be taken into account. The Dewan sits again on Thursday (July 24). – Bernama
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Ilham Tower challenges MACC's second seizure over alleged irregularities
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) failed to comply with proper procedure in its bid to seize Ilham Tower for the second time, the High Court heard. Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd, the owner of the building, claimed the second seizure notice issued by the anti-graft body failed to adhere to procedures under Section 51(1A) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001. Section 51(1A) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001 requires law enforcement agencies to issue a written notice to the person who owns or possesses any property seized under the Act, informing them of the seizure. The company claimed the MACC also failed to post the notice in a public place as required by law, choosing instead to issue a press statement on the seizure. The company said this in its supporting affidavit to seek leave (permission) to initiate a judicial review to challenge the seizure. "The fourth respondent (MACC) also said that with the seizure of Ilham Tower, all transactions or transfers of ownership involving the building are now prohibited. "This statement is clearly erroneous, as no formal notice was served on the applicant. "The issuance of the second seizure notice is an abuse of process and power. It overlaps the earlier seizure and appears to be an attempt to unlawfully circumvent the 18-month time limit for the first seizure, which expired on June 17. "Although the first seizure notice was issued on Dec 18, 2023, no prosecution or charge has been brought against the late Tun Daim Zainuddin to indicate that the premises are linked to any offence under the MACC Act. "Since the first seizure notice, no evidence has been presented linking the applicant or Daim to any specific offence under the MACC Act 2009, AMLA 2001, or any other law related to money laundering or corruption," the affidavit said. Ilham Tower further argued that the second seizure violates Article 13 of the Federal Constitution, as it deprives the applicant of the right to use and enjoy the property. The company said the seizure has caused a significant loss in rental income, reputational harm as a property owner, and depreciation in the property's value. It added that the prolonged and arbitrary denial of ownership rights – without any charge or prosecution – was not only grossly unfair but also risked rendering the judicial review application futile. Ilham Tower filed the ex-parte application through its legal firm, Messrs Raj & Sach, on June 23. One of the company's directors is the late Daim's wife, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid. In its application, Ilham Tower named the MACC, its Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, senior officer Mohd Razi Rahhim @ Rahim, MACC deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, the public prosecutor, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and the government as respondents. The company is seeking a declaration that the order or seizure notice issued by Ahmad Akram is null and void. The company is also applying for a certiorari order to quash the seizure notice and all related decisions or actions. Additionally, it seeks a mandamus order compelling the second respondent – or any officer, employee, agent, or authorised individual under the second respondent – to cancel the seizure notice. Ilham Tower is also requesting a court order to suspend the seizure notice and all related actions or decisions until its judicial review application is heard and decided by the High Court. The company is also seeking damages and costs.
