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Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PAS leader backs Sanusi as veep, says he has all the right qualities
Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor has been nominated for the post of vice-president by the Alor Setar PAS division. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : PAS needs a bold and outspoken vice-president, says a party leader on the nomination of Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor for the post. PAS Dewan Ulama committee member Mokhtar Senik said he fully supports the motion passed by the Alor Setar PAS division for Sanusi to be a candidate for the post in the upcoming party elections. 'PAS needs a vice-president who can boldly voice the party's aspirations and struggles. 'We also need someone who is not afraid to step into the arena to face-off with our opponents (rival parties), and Sanusi has all the right qualities,' Mokhtar said in a Facebook post. The current PAS vice-presidents are Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Bagan Serai MP Idris Ahmad, and Kelantan state assembly speaker Amar Abdullah. Sanusi currently serves as the party's election director. Yesterday, Alor Setar PAS approved a motion nominating Sanusi to contest for the vice-president's post in the party elections this September. 'This nomination has received unanimous support from all delegates present at the Alor Setar PAS annual general meeting. 'With this, Alor Setar officially sends the Kedah menteri besar as a candidate for PAS vice-president,' Alor Setar PAS said in a Facebook post.

Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Chief of Defence Force leads list of state honours recipients on Kedah Sultan birthday
ALOR SETAR, June 22 — Chief of the Defence Force General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaafar headed the list of recipients of state honours in conjunction with the 83rd birthday of the Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah Aman, today. Mohd Nizam was conferred the Darjah Datuk Seri Setia Pahlawan Yang Amat Dihormati (SSPK), which carries the title 'Datuk Seri Pahlawan', at an investiture ceremony held at Istana Anak Bukit here. The Sultanah of Kedah, Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff; the Raja Muda of Kedah, Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah; and the Tunku Mahkota of Kedah, Tunku Shazuddin Ariff, also graced the ceremony. Also present were Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, state secretary Datuk Seri Norizan Khazali and members of the State Executive Council. Sultan Sallehuddin also conferred the Darjah Datuk Seri Setia Pahlawan Yang Amat Dihormati (SSPK), which carries the titles 'Datuk Seri Indera Setia' and 'Datuk Seri Derma Wangsa', respectively, on Tun Zaki Tun Azmi and Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim. Three individuals were awarded the Darjah Dato' Setia Pahlawan Negeri Kedah Yang Amat Dihormati (DSPK), which carries the title 'Datuk Pahlawan'. They were Royal Malaysian Air Force Joint Force Commander Lieutenant General Datuk Zahani Zainal Abidin and Royal Malaysian Navy Deputy Chief Vice Admiral Datuk Ts Shamsuddin Ludin. Kedah Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply and Environment Committee chairman Mohamad Yusoff Zakaria received the Darjah Dato' Setia Sultan Sallehuddin Kedah (DSSS), which carries the title 'Datuk'. Six individuals were conferred the Darjah Dato' Setia Diraja Kedah (DSDK), which also carries the title 'Datuk'. They were Kubang Pasu District Officer Muhamad Mahazi Ibrahim; Malaysian Ambassador to Bahrain Shazryll Zahiran; Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli; Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Investigation Division director Datuk Zainul Darus; Honorary Secretary of the Kedah State Council of Justices of the Peace Ahmad Fatahi Omar; and Fuji Electric Malaysia Sdn Bhd executive director Chong Nee Hwa. The Darjah Dato' Setia Pahlawan (DDSP), which carries the title 'Datuk', was bestowed on the Ministry of Defence's Logistics Division Assistant Chief of Staff Brigadier General Abd Hafiz Ahmad and Malaysian Armed Forces Director of Infantry Brigadier General Saiful Bahari Zainol. Four individuals received the Darjah Setia Sultan Sallehuddin Kedah (SSS), namely Kedah Agriculture, Plantation and Transport Committee chairman Dzowahir Abdul Ghani; Kedah Human Resources, Chinese, Indian and Siamese Communities and Non-Governmental Organisation Committee chairman Wong Chia Zhen; Ayer Hitam assemblyman Azhar Ibrahim; and Tunku Putri Nur Asma Dato' Paduka Tunku Ja'afar Laksmana. Eight recipients were conferred the Setia Diraja Kedah (SDK), among them Sungai Petani Municipal Council president Tunku Iskandar Shah Tunku Muszaffar Shah; Pendang district officer Nasrun Mohd Sheriff; consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital Dr N. Kantha Rao; and Veterinary Services Department senior director Dr Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Haron. Also receiving the Setia Diraja Kedah (SDK) were Public Works Department Building Facility Maintenance Branch director Ir Ahmad Shahruzi Ahmad; Kedah Forestry Department director Muhamad Abdullah; Kedah Squash Association president Andrew Lim Hwa Eng; and Kedah Sailing Association deputy president Mohd Afendy Abdullah. A total of 34 individuals were honoured with the Ahli Mahkota Kedah (AMK); 11 received the Ahli Setia Pahlawan (ASP); 24, the Bintang Perkhidmatan Cemerlang Kedah (BCK); 46, the Bintang Kebaktian Masyarakat (BKM); four, the Ahli Cemerlang Semangat Jerai Kedah (ASK); 27, the Pingat Perkhidmatan Cemerlang Kedah (PCK); 41, the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK); and 22, the Pingat Perkhidmatan Lama (PPL). — Bernama

Malay Mail
19-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Spiced and seized: Robber caught 300 metres from Langkawi gold shop after chilli powder heist
ALOR SETAR, June 19 — A robber was arrested before he could even turn the corner on the street of a gold shop he had just fled from at Jalan Pandak Mayah 5, Kuah in Langkawi today. Langkawi police chief ACP Shariman Ashari said in the robbery at about 11.48am, the 45-year-old local man entered the shop wearing a face mask. 'During the robbery, the 69-year-old owner and his 60-year-old wife were inside the shop. The suspect threw chilli powder at the victim's wife and proceeded to smash the jewellery display glass with a machete. 'The suspect then fled but was chased down by the goldsmith and several bystanders,' he said in a statement today. He said the suspect was arrested about a 300-metre dash from the gold shop by policemen on patrol in the vicinity. 'The gold (jewellery) looted was estimated at RM50,000. The suspect has been detained for further investigation and the case is being investigated under Section 392/397 of the Penal Code (robbery and causing grievous harm),' he said. — Bernama


Free Malaysia Today
16-06-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
French man faces death sentence in Malaysian drug trial
French national Tom Felix is charged with drug possession and trafficking. (AFP pic) KUALA LUMPUR : A French man went on trial in northern Malaysia today, charged with drug possession and trafficking which could carry the death penalty if he is found guilty, his lawyer said. Tom Felix, a former executive of French waste management firm Veolia with a degree in aquaculture and marine biology, was set to open a restaurant on the scenic resort island of Langkawi when he was arrested in early August 2023. Police found several hundred grams of cannabis in a common area of a home where Tom, 34, was living with his Malaysian business partner, who was also arrested. 'The trial started,' Tom's lawyer Collin Andrew told AFP, saying mid-morning the case before the Alor Setar High Court had been adjourned because 'there were some items the first witness had not brought to court today'. It would resume tomorrow with the same witness again taking the stand, he added. The trial was scheduled to end on Thursday, but it was not known whether sentencing would take place immediately afterwards. Tom faces the death penalty, or '104 years of cumulative imprisonment, 54 strokes of the cane and a €27,000 fine', his mother Sylvie Felix told AFP. Drug possession and trafficking are serious crimes in Malaysia that can still carry the death sentence if the amounts are above a certain threshold. Death sentences, however, are no longer mandatory and no executions have taken place since 2018. Tom's parents spoke to French president Emmanuel Macron about his case during a recent state visit to neighbouring Singapore, where they live. 'He (Macron) said this situation is indeed unacceptable and that he would do everything possible to ensure Tom's release,' Sylvie said.

Malay Mail
06-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Mada ready for Southwest Monsoon to ensure smooth padi planting in Muda Area
ALOR SETAR, June 6 — The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) is fully prepared for the arrival of the Southwest Monsoon, which is expected to bring dry and hot weather conditions this month, in an effort to ensure the success of the first padi planting season in the Muda Area this year. In a statement today, MADA advised farmers to adhere strictly to the scheduled planting calendar and to expedite padi planting in their fields to maintain a smooth agricultural cycle. 'To address the anticipated water shortage, MADA has intensified the operation of drainage water reuse pumps and booster pumps to increase irrigation supply and speed up water distribution to padi fields. 'MADA is also deploying mobile pumps directly to affected fields to help farmers access water from the existing irrigation network,' the statement read. The agency said it had also held briefings and coordination meetings with field officers and farmers to tackle irrigation challenges, while expanding its agricultural extension efforts to ensure farmers remain aligned with the planting schedule. 'Farmer cooperation is crucial during this dry season to ensure uninterrupted planting activities,' it said. MADA said efficient on-field water management is key to ensuring equitable and sufficient distribution throughout the season. It also encouraged regular field monitoring to reduce the risk of pest and disease outbreaks that could affect crop yields. As of yesterday, water levels at all three of MADA's main dams remain adequate, namely Pedu Dam at 66.34 per cent, Muda Dam at 66.87 per cent, and Ahning Dam at 68.52 per cent. 'These levels indicate that the overall water reserves are sufficient to support irrigation needs for Season 1/2025 in Muda Area,' the statement read. MADA added that water will be released from the dams and distributed in phases, according to the official Season 1/2025 Paddy Planting Schedule. The agency will also continue to monitor weather developments closely, relying on forecasts and advisories from the Malaysian Meteorological Department to prepare for potential heat waves or prolonged dry spells. — Bernama