Latest news with #FMT
Daily Express
a day ago
- Daily Express
7-day remand for trio linked to Cyberjaya varsity student's murder
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: The three suspects were remanded at the Sepang sessions court this morning. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: The three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a 20-year-old university student in Cyberjaya have been remanded for seven days until July 3. The remand order was issued by sessions court judge Azaraorani Abdul Rahman this morning, Berita Harian reported. Police arrested the trio – a man and two women aged 19 and 20 – around Johor Bahru, Johor, and Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan, between 9am yesterday and 2am today. Sepang police chief Norhizam Bahaman said all three suspects were known to the victim, University of Cyberjaya student Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, who was found dead in her condominium unit by a friend at about 10am on June 24. She was staying in the room with five other students, but her housemates had reportedly returned to their hometowns for the holidays on June 21. An autopsy identified her cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. Police said there were no signs that her residence had been broken into, and that she had not suffered injuries consistent with rape. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Why last-minute revamp of 13th Malaysia Plan, Rafizi asks government
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli said the 13th Malaysia Plan is an important document for the nation. PETALING JAYA: Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has questioned the government's decision to revamp the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), slated to be tabled in Parliament at the end of July. Rafizi said the last-minute overhaul of the next five-year development plan would raise concerns among the civil servants who prepared the 13MP, market analysts, and Malaysians as a whole. The PKR MP for Pandan also asked whether the changes would be rushed since there would be insufficient time to refer the plan to the inter-agency planning group, the technical working group, and experts who formulated the initial 13MP. 'Why is this overhaul of the 13MP arising now when there was no such issue raised when the economy ministry and I tabled the contents of the 13MP previously? 'The 13MP is an important document for the nation and Malaysians, developed by thousands of Malaysians from various segments of society. If we're not careful, the 13MP will be dragged into political polemics which would end up affecting the people's confidence in the final document. 'If this happens, it would be a great injustice to those who worked hard on the 13MP over the past year,' he said in a statement. Earlier today, the government announced that finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan has taken on the duties and functions of the economy portfolio, and given the duty of overhauling the 13MP. Amir said he had received 'a lot of feedback' from his Cabinet colleagues on the plan, which necessitated an overhaul of the document. Rafizi said the preparation of the 13MP started in September 2024 when feedback was obtained from all stakeholders, first through the inter agency planning group which involved every government ministry and agency. Then, he said, there was a technical working group comprising policy experts in specific areas, from health, fiscal and education reforms to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. He said there were also numerous engagements between the economy ministry and state governments, industry players, and MPs from September to December 2024. 'At the same time, there was a 'top down' process, namely the development of key policies that were bold and radical, running concurrently involving the economy ministry and experts. 'These policies, categorised according to the various fields, were identified as key catalysts for structural reforms in those areas. These bold and radical policies that were proposed may not have been acceptable to the relevant ministries. 'That's why I tabled them to the prime minister multiple times beforehand between February to April, and tabled it twice to the Cabinet to achieve a compromise and consensus,' he said. Rafizi said there was a tight schedule to prepare and tabled the 13MP compared with previous Malaysia plans. He also said the 13MP was fully developed by civil servants without the involvement of external consultants. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Shafee asked by AG to show cause over ‘Nazi hearing' claim
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: V Anbalagan, FMT Text Size: Lawyer Shafee Abdullah is alleged to have made the remark during a press conference on May 29, which was live-streamed via ex-prime minister Najib Razak's Facebook page. PETALING JAYA: The attorney-general (AG) has asked lawyer Shafee Abdullah to show cause why committal proceedings should not be brought against him over his description of a court proceeding as 'a Nazi-Germany kind of hearing'. In a letter dated June 23 and handed personally to Shafee, the AG sought a reply from him within seven days. 'If you do not provide a satisfactory explanation within seven days from the date of this notice, criminal prosecution will be initiated against you,' the letter, sighted by FMT, read. The letter was signed by deputy public prosecutor Saiful Edris Zainuddin on behalf of AG Dusuki Mokhtar and sent pursuant to Order 52, Rule 2B of the Rules of Court 2012. The provision states that any formal notice to show cause why a person should not be committed to prison or fined must be served personally. The letter claimed that Shafee, who acts for ex-prime minister Najib Razak in his ongoing criminal charges and civil suits, made the remark during a press conference on May 29, which was live-streamed via Najib's Facebook page. The letter alleged that the words spoken as a whole could undermine public confidence and interfere in the administration of justice. Malaysiakini last month reported Shafee's criticism of a court order to temporarily stop all proceedings linked to Najib's royal addendum, during which the lawyer allegedly compared the decision to 'a Nazi-Germany kind of hearing'. Shafee clarified to the media that the remark was made during an exchange with a reporter and was intended to educate the public, not undermine the judiciary. He also said the remark was made solely in the context of explaining the meaning and essence of a 'judicial decision'. Najib has obtained leave from the Court of Appeal to begin judicial review proceedings to enforce a royal decree which allows him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest. However, proceedings have been suspended pending the disposal of the AG's appeal to the Federal Court, which will be heard next week. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Speed up surveys for Sarawak native customary land, Nurul Izzah says
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar said that for communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan, land is more than just a place to live. PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has called for the expedition of land surveys and ownership approvals for native customary land in Sarawak, and a halt to the issuance of new licences on disputed land. She said for communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan, land was more than just a place to live. 'It is their source of livelihood, a place for worship, where they celebrate their customs and raise their families. Most importantly, it is part of their soul and identity. 'I urge that the process of surveying and granting ownership of native customary land be expedited, and that no new licences be issued on land still under dispute,' she said in a statement. Citing veteran advocates like Harrison Ngau and the late Bill Kayong, she said their unwavering spirit must live on. 'This spirit shines through their struggle – never afraid despite pressure, never silent even when sidelined. Their resilience reminds me that this is a fight worth continuing, to defend the native customary rights that form part of Sarawak's soul and history.' Although native customary rights are recognised under federal law and the Sarawak Land Code, Nurul Izzah said only a fraction of such land had been formally surveyed and allowed legal ownership. 'Many remain unresolved. As a result, the majority of indigenous communities are vulnerable to encroachment, forced eviction, and exploitation,' she said. She also criticised the expansion of oil palm plantations and logging activities which she said had come at the expense of these communities. 'Land is leased to large companies without consultation, without consent, and without proper compensation,' she said. While courts have repeatedly affirmed native rights based on ancestral customs and in line with the Federal Constitution and international human rights standards, she said enforcement remained inconsistent. 'This has forced many indigenous people to face serious legal, bureaucratic, and financial challenges just to have their rights recognised. 'All development must receive free, prior and informed consent from the land's original owners, and fair compensation must be given to any affected or displaced community,' she added. Last month, the Sarawak government affirmed its commitment to recognising and protecting legitimate native customary rights over land, in accordance with land laws. Deputy premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said that since the New NCR Land Survey Initiative began in October 2010, up to April 30 this year, a total of 1,200,766 hectares had been surveyed perimetrically. 'Of this, around 935,760ha have been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserves (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. These surveying efforts are based on applications from the communities involved,' he said. Awang Tengah said that since 2017, surveying efforts had also covered individual lots for land titles in gazetted areas where claimants had applied and were ready. He added that as of April 30, 99,438 individual lots had been surveyed, covering 118,749ha, with land titles issued or in the process of being issued. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Banks confirm basic services unaffected by new service tax in Malaysia
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: The associations emphasised that the annual fees for credit or charge cards, along with interest, profit, and penalty charges, will also be excluded from the service tax. The move aims to ensure that everyday banking activities for individuals remain unchanged. - FMT pic for illustration only. Kuala Lumpur: Major banking associations in Malaysia have reassured the public that essential banking services will remain exempt from the expanded service tax set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The clarification comes after the recent gazetting of new service tax regulations. In a joint statement, the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM), and the Malaysian Investment Banking Association (MIBA) confirmed that fees linked to basic banking services such as savings accounts, current accounts, and e-wallets will not be taxed. 'These services include fees for cash deposits, withdrawals, payments, and local fund transfers, as well as debit card issuance and annual fees. Transactions conducted at bank branches or ATMs will also remain unaffected,' the statement read. The associations emphasised that the annual fees for credit or charge cards, along with interest, profit, and penalty charges, will also be excluded from the service tax. The move aims to ensure that everyday banking activities for individuals remain unchanged. The expanded service tax will primarily apply to specialised financial services such as fund management, investment banking, and trade financing. 'Phase 1 of the expansion, effective July 1, 2025, will only cover selected treasury, corporate, and investment banking services as outlined in the service tax guide,' the statement added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
