KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 ― The Unity Government Secretariat Supreme Leadership Council has agreed in principle to consider extending allocations to elected representatives from the Opposition, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation minister, said a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be drawn up and extended to the Opposition for further discussions. The unity government chief whip said this agreement was reached at the council’s meeting held at Sri Perdana in Putrajaya yesterday. “The meeting, which lasted ..read more

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — The Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office should explain to the public its decision to approve former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application to block the media from covering his court case yesterday, electoral watchdog Bersih said today. In a statement, the civil society emphasised that proceedings of high-profile cases should be transparent to the public who has the right to know of their status. “If it's not, it may give rise to perceptions of double standards that can erode public confidence in the government and our justice institutions. “Bersih once agai ..read more

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 ― Besides Malaysia Airlines, low-cost carrier AirAsia has also announced flight cancellations to/from East Malaysia due to the eruption of Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. At the moment, the impacted scheduled AirAsia flights are between Kuala Lumpur and Tawau. According to AirAsia, all notified guests have been notified and they encourage all guests travelling to/from affected destinations to check their registered email and mobile phones for cancellation notifications. From AirAsia’s list, a total of 16 flights for today have been cancelled consisting of Kual ..read more

GEORGE TOWN, April 18 — The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is on high alert after Sungai Muda measured at 1.61m at the Lahar Tiang intake yesterday, which is below the two-metre safe level. PBAPP CEO K. Pathmanathan said PBAPP still managed to abstract about 1,200 million litres per day (MLD) from the river to support optimal treated water production at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP). “As of today, there is no immediate threat to water supply in Penang in relation to the Sungai Muda river level,” he said in a statement today. He said this is because Syarikat Air Darul Ama ..read more

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has today urged the High Court to reconsider the decision to block the media from covering former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s court case on his pardon. The media watchdog said the public’s right to information in an open, transparent and timely manner must be protected and upheld at all times. “Barring the media and the flow of unbiased information on this case, effectively prevents the public from monitoring the outcome of a corruption case that rocked the nation and to hold all those accountable to the rule of ..read more

IPOH, April 18 ― The new water tariff rate for domestic users in Perak has been set at 75 sen per cubic metre compared with the previous 70 sen, effective May 1. Perak Menteri Besar Office, in a statement, said that the increase of five sen involves the use of up to 20 cubic metres per month while the charge for the use of up to 21 to 35 cubic metres is set at a rate of RM1.08, compared with RM1.03 sen previously. It said that to reduce the impact of tariff changes on domestic users, the Perak Water Board (LAP) provides a rebate at the rate of 40 sen per cubic metre for the use of up to the f ..read more

GEORGE TOWN, April 18 — Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) has blamed the presence of an air pocket within a boulder during controlled blasting work at the construction site of a highway project for the damage caused at an adjacent condominium yesterday. PIC said the air pocket acted as a volatile chamber for gas accumulation. “During the explosive initiation, the air pocket acted as a catalyst for an intensified release of energy, propelling soil forcefully toward the adjacent Jay Series condominium area,” it said in a statement issued today. It admitted that the blast damaged cars, a s ..read more

KUCHING, April 18 ― Malaysia Airlines has announced the cancellation of 19 flights between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and destinations in Sabah and Sarawak today following the volcanic eruption of Mount Ruang in Indonesia. In a Facebook post, the airline listed the 11 affected flights to or from Sabah as: • MH7420 (KUL-TWU) • MH7421 (TWU-KUL) • MH2612 (KUL-BKI) • MH2621 (BKI-KUL) • MH2710 (KUL-SDK) • MH2711 (SDK-KUL) • MH2610 (KUL-BKI) • MH2611 (BKI-KUL) • MH7404 (KUL-BKI) • MH7405 (BKI-KUL) • MH2613 (BKI-KUL) The eight affected flights to or from Sarawak are: • MH2520 (KUL-KCH ..read more

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 ― A total of 759 people were at six flood relief centres in three states namely Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka as at 6am today, down from 1,319 people at midnight. National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) said in Selangor, the evacuees are being accommodated at a relief centre in Klang (204 from 57 families), Kuala Selangor (48 from 12 families), and Petaling (382 from 90 families). In Negeri Sembilan, 10 people from four families are being housed at a relief centre in Rembau and 67 people from seven families are in Port Dickson, while in Melaka, 48 people from ..read more

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — Social Protection Contributors Advisory Association Malaysia’s (SPCAAM) international labour adviser Callistus Antony D’Angelus said that the Employment Act 1955 is a legislation of its time and did not take flexible work arrangements into consideration when it was drafted. The workers’ rights group said that unless the Act is amended, it is still the prerogative of the employer in Malaysia, almost entirely, to approve or conversely disapprove such applications. “Flexible work arrangements, including working from home, is clearly not something which can be very easily ..read more