KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — A 25-year-old factory worker has been fined RM2,800 by the Magistrates’ Court in Ayer Keroh in Melaka after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing explicit videos involving her former husband and another woman.

According to The Star, Magistrate Nur Afiqah Radhiah Zainurin imposed the fine after the accused entered a guilty plea.

The charge stated that the woman was found in possession of obscene videos and images stored on a mobile phone.

The offence was committed along Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama in the Melaka Tengah district on January 11.

Based on the facts of the case, the complainant reportedly received a video from her sister in December last year.

The video was sent via a telephone number believed to belong to the former wife of a man known to the complainant.

It allegedly showed the complainant engaged in sexual activity with the accused’s former husband and was said to have been recorded without her knowledge or consent.

A police report was later lodged by the complainant, who said she was aggrieved by the distribution of the recording.

The charge was framed under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Nur Alia Safri urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, saying the offence involved obscene material depicting identifiable individuals and breached both the law and the victims’ privacy and dignity.

The accused, who was unrepresented, appealed for leniency, telling the court she was emotionally distressed at the time as she had suffered a miscarriage.

The court fined her RM2,800, in default six months’ imprisonment.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Police have identified a Chinese national, who was detained during a raid at a hotel here last month, as the organiser of a party linked to deviant activities and drug abuse.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said investigations found that the event was promoted on Instagram.

He said initial investigations showed that the drugs seized were for personal use and shared among party attendees, with no evidence of trafficking.

“However, intelligence gathering is ongoing to trace the source of the drug supply,” he said when contacted here today.

In a related development, Hussein said the department is still waiting for the medical report to determine the cause of death of a man believed to be involved in the party who was found unconscious during the raid.

The man was confirmed dead upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).

Hussein said that of the 51 individuals detained in the raid, 17 were charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, one under Section 39A(1), and 33 under Section 12(2) of the same Act.

He added that the Chinese national has been charged under Section 12(2) and Section 15(1)(a) of the same Act.

On May 24, police arrested 51 men in four raids at a hotel in the federal capital and seized various types of drugs worth RM103,070. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Authorities will decide tomorrow whether to continue or call off the search and rescue (SAR) operation for missing hiker Jaslinda Saludin, who disappeared at Gunung Batu Putih on May 24.

According to Berita Harian, Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the decision would be made following a coordination meeting involving agencies involved in the operation.

He said the meeting, chaired by the Batang Padang district officer, would review the current status of the SAR mission, developments over the past 10 days and possible next steps.

“The meeting will discuss the current status and progress of the SAR operation, as well as follow-up actions after 10 days of search efforts,” he was quoted as saying.

The operation, now in its 10th day, has faced numerous challenges, including difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.

Earlier, Jaslinda was reportedly captured on one of the surveillance cameras along the Gunung Batu Putih hiking trail, believed to be heading towards Kem Sukaneka on the day she was reported missing.

Authorities have also enlisted the help of the local Orang Asli community, with more than 20 residents from Kampung Orang Asli Ampang Woh deployed in small teams to search areas outside the main trail between Kem Sukaneka and Gunung Rayu.

Meanwhile, aerial search efforts have been hampered by clustered cloud cover, strong winds and limited space surrounded by dense forest.

Deputy Fire Superintendent II Mohd Hasrizal Kamaruzzaman previously said an MI-17 helicopter from the Fire and Rescue Department's Central Region Air Base had been deployed for winching operations.

The operation involved lowering and extracting 32 rescuers by cable in the Kem Sukaneka area as part of efforts to locate the missing hiker.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for mature politics, responsible leadership and practical solutions to address current challenges in an increasingly complex global environment.

In conjunction with BN’s 52nd anniversary, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the coalition must continue to move forward with a spirit of renewal, grounded in experience and an openness to adapt to future demands.

“Believe me, the journey ahead will not always be easy. We will face various terrains, with the biggest challenge being the coming General Election,” he said in a Facebook post.

He urged all BN leaders, machinery and supporters to remain united, loyal to the struggle and attentive to the needs and sentiments of the people in order to secure a stronger mandate for the coalition.

Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno president, said BN was formed 52 years ago out of a spirit of understanding, moderation and cooperation among Malaysia’s diverse communities, to build the nation collectively.

Over the past five decades, he said, BN has gone through various phases of struggle, including an era of leading the nation’s growth as well as facing challenges that required resilience and self-reflection.

“However, one thing that has remained unchanged is our commitment to serve the people and uphold the country’s stability,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to all party members and machinery who continue to support BN’s struggle with dedication and loyalty. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) minister Nga Kor Ming revealed that Kuala Lumpur now ranks 65th in the global smart city index. 

Speaking at the launch of the KL Architecture Festival’s (KLAF) Tropical Fruit Pavilion launch at Titiwangsa Lake Garden this morning, Nga also said that KL is among the top 10 most popular cities in the world in terms of international tourist arrivals according to Mastercard.

The launch was also attended by the Federal Territories minister Hannah Yeoh as well as KL mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud. 

“Among thousands, we are ranked number 65. 

“And I’m fully confident under Hannah and Datuk Fadlun’s leadership, KL is going to be in the top 50 soon,” Nga said. 

He added that KL is also ranked number four globally for a city with the most skyscrapers. 

“To my surprise as well, KL is ranked number four in the world for a city with the most numbers of high skyscrapers. 

“We currently have 494 buildings that are actually qualified as skyscrapers,”Nga added. 

Touching on the KLAF’S Tropical Fruit Pavillion in Titiwangsa, Nga said that there are around 12 interactive pavillions that have has been installed at the park starting today until this December. 

He said that this is an example of how architecture can transcend conventional boundaries and be meaningfully integrated into public spaces, allowing people from all walks of life to engage with design in an open and inclusive setting. 

“At KPKT, we strive to create liveable and, most important, lovable communities.

“We want to build urban environments that are not only economically vibrant but also economically resilient, culturally expressive, and socially inclusive,” he said. 

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — Malaysia’s gas supply remains sufficient for now, with the majority of the country’s electricity generation supported by domestic sources, according to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang.

He said authorities continue to monitor developments in the industry.

“About 80 per cent of electricity generation in Malaysia is supported by domestic sources, so we are not too dependent on external supplies.

“For now, supply is adequate, and there is no cause for major concern,” he told reporters after launching the ‘Revolutionising Industry with Graphene’ initiative here today.

Meanwhile, Gas Malaysia Bhd president and chief executive officer Azli Mohamed said the industry is not facing any supply constraints, with the company’s primary source of gas coming from Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

“Our reliance on the Middle East is minimal. Our supply comes mainly from domestic sources and Australia. Essentially, there are no issues meeting industry demand, and we are able to supply our more than 1,000 customers,” he said.

However, Azli noted that the industry could still face indirect challenges, including higher transportation costs and supply chain disruptions. He cited the rubber industry as an example, as it depends on raw materials sourced from countries such as South Korea and China. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 6 (Bernama) -- A total of 270 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) have recorded a graduate employability rate of 99.5 per cent, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said the impressive achievement demonstrated that MARA’s TVET institutions are at the forefront of advancing the nation’s TVET agenda, which has now entered the TVET 2.0 phase.

“I also greatly appreciate the private sector for being at the forefront of supporting TVET nationwide. They have not only introduced new training modules, but have also extended their support through the provision of equipment, machinery and other facilities for selected TVET institutions.

“They have embraced TVET 2.0 not only through the various contributions I mentioned earlier, but also by signing agreements with the National TVET Council and most TVET institutions across the country to ensure that all TVET students will be employed by the industry, with 100 per cent absorption into the workforce,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National TVET Council, in his welcoming remarks at the National TVET Day 2026 celebration here today.

The celebration was held at Dataran Putrajaya, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the launch of TVET 2.0.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the implementation of TVET 2.0 would place greater emphasis on emerging high-demand fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and renewable energy, while continuing to strengthen conventional sectors that remain in demand.

“In TVET 2.0, in addition to the priorities I have outlined, we have also sent instructors from selected TVET institutions abroad for training at no cost to the government. The programmes are fully funded by industry players overseas, enabling our instructors to acquire the latest knowledge and skills,” he said.

He added that industry players are also offering premium salaries to TVET graduates, with holders of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) receiving a minimum starting salary of RM2,500, above the current minimum wage.

The employability rate of TVET graduates nationwide rose to 98.7 per cent as of the end of May this year, compared with 95.1 per cent previously.

“This is an achievement we are grateful for. As I have often said, achieving success is difficult, but sustaining it is even more challenging. Our task and responsibility are not only to preserve this success, but to continue building on it and raising the bar even further,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said students from tahfiz institutions and pondok schools are now being given opportunities to pursue TVET programmes, including in aerospace engineering and maritime engineering, through courses offered by Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

“This will elevate the capabilities of tahfiz students, who have traditionally focused on the fields of syariah and usuluddin. Insya-Allah, within the next three to five years, while continuing to preserve their Quranic memorisation, we will also see them emerge as engineers, including in the aerospace sector,” he said.

He said the initiative is expected to produce more highly skilled professionals from among tahfiz students without compromising their grounding in religious studies.

Ahmad Zahid also said that seven universities within the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) provide pathways for TVET students to further their education up to master’s and doctoral levels.

He added that the government has allocated RM7.9 billion to the TVET sector under Budget 2026, the largest allocation ever provided to strengthen the implementation of TVET 2.0, including upskilling and reskilling programmes.

On the National TVET Day 2026 celebration, he said this year’s event was organised on a relatively large scale despite being conducted at a very low cost, reflecting efficient resource management and the government’s commitment to ensuring that high-impact programmes can continue without placing an undue burden on national expenditure.

Held under the theme ‘TVET Pilihan Utama Kerjaya’ (TVET: The Preferred Career Path), the three-day celebration, which runs until Sunday, from 9 am to 10 pm daily, brings together more than 107 agencies, institutions and industry players from nine key sectors on a single platform. These sectors include aerospace, electronics and digital technology, agriculture, transport and automotive, advanced manufacturing, services, rail, maritime and energy. — Bernama

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — Politicians and Malaysians in general should heed and uphold the call by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, for the people to embrace and practise the spirit and values of the Rukun Negara in their daily lives, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said.

He said Sultan Ibrahim’s reminder of one of the darkest chapters in the country’s history, the May 13, 1969 incident, should be taken seriously by all parties to ensure that such an event never recurs and that the country’s unity and harmony continue to be preserved.

Fahmi, who is also the Unity Government spokesperson, described His Majesty’s remarks as a timely and important reminder that should serve as a guide for all Malaysians.

“I respectfully uphold His Majesty’s call, and I believe politicians across the country will do the same.

“This is an important reminder for all of us. I believe many people, including politicians, will heed His Majesty’s call to embrace the spirit of the Rukun Negara, and to deepen their understanding, appreciation and practice of its values,” he said.

He said this to Bernama after the investiture ceremony for Federal awards, honours and medals held in conjunction with the King’s official birthday celebration at Istana Negara today.

Earlier, Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, graced the ceremony.

In his Royal Address, the King reminded Malaysians to embrace the spirit of the Rukun Negara and stressed that anyone unwilling to uphold its principles is not worthy to be called a Malaysian citizen.

His Majesty also called on all political leaders to uphold proper conduct and decorum, and to exercise caution when making public statements.

Sultan Ibrahim said politicians should refrain from provoking sensitive issues, especially ahead of election periods, which often become a platform for individuals to seek prominence and win public support.

Also present at the investiture ceremony were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail; Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; and members of the Cabinet.

A total of 161 individuals received Federal awards, honours and medals in conjunction with this year’s official birthday celebration of His Majesty the King. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Malaysia’s national oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Italian oil company Eni have announced the formation of Searah, a 50:50 joint venture (JV) that combines selected assets in Malaysia and Indonesia.

In a statement today, Petronas said the JV is a part of a partnership-led approach to strengthen portfolio value, support sustainable energy development and strengthen Malaysia and regional energy security. 

“Designed to operate as an independent entity, Searah provides a more focused platform to enhance

operational performance and accelerate value creation, in line with Petronas’ ongoing efforts to optimise its portfolio and pursue new avenues for growth.

“By combining selected assets across Malaysia and Indonesia, Petronas and Eni have formed synergies in portfolios, technical expertise, and regional insights. This approach enables greater scale, sharper execution and stronger value delivery,” said the statement.

Petronas president and group chief executive officer, Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, said Searah aligns with the company’s focus on exercising greater discipline in developing resources, coupled with more agile capital deployment, as well as a stronger emphasis on sustained value creation across the gas value chain.

“Searah is envisaged to bring the operational depth, financial resilience and growth capacity of both partners in addressing the region’s growing energy needs reliably and responsibly, even as it contributes towards the long-term security of supply in Indonesia and Malaysia,” he said.

Eni chief executive officer Claudio Descalzi said Searah embodies the proven strategy focused on creating high-quality businesses that integrate scale, efficiency, and growth.

This is driven by Eni’s excellence in exploration and project execution, and the company’s continued focus on technology and innovation.

“Searah is a strong new entity in Southeast Asia, the first and largest of its kind in the region, 

combining our expertise with Petronas to support the development of energy resources in Indonesia and Malaysia, with a strong commitment to environmental protection and local growth,” he said.

The establishment builds on the memorandum of understanding announced in February 2025 and the subsequent signing of the investment agreement announced on Nov 3, 2025, with all required regulatory, governmental and partner approvals obtained. 

With a portfolio of 19 gas-producing and development assets — 14 in Indonesia and five in Malaysia -

Searah starts with an initial production base of approximately 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day

(boe/d), targeting over 500,000 boe/d of sustainable production within the next three years. — Bernama