TEHRAN, March 8 — For a moment Tehran resembled a city at peace, with birdsong, joggers and tranquil views of the snow-capped Alborz mountains in the distance. Then the sound of another explosion ripped through the air.

A week ago, opening strikes by the US and Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, upended residents’ lives and transformed the city streets into a battleground.

In Tehran’s west, a block that belonged to the security forces had been blasted apart, and the entire surrounding area was choked with rubble.

Bizarrely, a green gate and fence enclosing the site stood untouched.

None were surprised by the war, and few had believed the nuclear talks then taking place between Iran and the US would avert it.

The broad-daylight strike at the country’s power centre was nevertheless a shock.

Chaotic scenes followed of panicked passers-by, parents scrambling to retrieve their children from school, queues at bakeries and endless traffic jams.

A week on, the noise and energy have ebbed, giving way to a rare, disquieting calm in a capital usually thronging with 10 million people.

The city is at times granted breaks of a few peaceful hours before another string of explosions shatters the air.

Mushroom clouds 

Another block, this one in the city centre, had also been gutted.

Men stood guard, some of them heavily armed despite their apparent youth.

The blast was powerful enough to sow chaos through a nearby primary school, breaking windows and carpeting the playground with rocks and rubble.

Dust coated a row of motorbikes parked nearby.

In another neighbourhood, only the steel framework of a bombed-out building had survived, still supporting a massive antenna on the roof.

Local people busied themselves with clearing away the rubble and recovering a few possessions.

They loaded salvageable sofas and home appliances onto decrepit blue pickup trucks in the unmistakable 1960s design of local brand Zamyad.

On the horizon, yet another black mushroom cloud reached skywards.

‘Ramadan War’ 

In the first days of the war, Tehran could seem like a ghost town.

But pedestrians were again venturing outdoors: a father walking with his daughter on a scooter, children playing with a ball, or locals sunning themselves in a park.

Runners and cyclists resumed their exercise. More shops were open again.

But the semblance of normality is skin-deep.

Along major roads, armed men in plain clothes and others in military fatigues and body armour inspected random cars at checkpoints.

The blockades made for traffic jams on the avenues, where other traffic was mostly restricted to scooters and delivery riders.

Forbidding armoured vehicles appeared on high alert, one of them flying the banner of the Islamic republic.

At prayer time, armed Revolutionary Guards checked the faithful as they filed into a mosque.

One week after his death, posters and placards bearing Khamenei’s image were everywhere on the streets.

Some walls bore street art-style portraits in his honour that appeared in recent days.

In a neighbourhood grocery shop, one employee was anxiously following the latest in what state TV had dubbed the “Ramadan War” across the Middle East. — AFP

BEIRUT, March 8 — Few people know Lebanese cuisine like Anissa Helou. The James Beard Award-winning author and Beirut native has penned nearly a dozen cookbooks on topics ranging from Mediterranean street food to modern mezze.

But it wasn’t until she began researching her latest, Lebanon: Cooking the Foods of My Homeland, that she realized how little she ‌knew about the diversity within her own country’s cuisine.

Speaking with Reuters ahead of the book’s March 10 release, Helou, who lives in Sicily, reflects on uncovering regional specialties that most ​Beirutis wouldn’t know and why documenting these recipes now feels more urgent than ever.

This conversation, conducted before the outbreak of the latest conflict in the Middle East, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Can you tell me about your introduction to cooking growing up in Beirut?

My mother and grandmother were very, very good cooks and they always prepared the food for us. We spent some of the summers in Syria, because my father is originally ‌Syrian, and we spent it in (the northwestern Syrian town of) Mashta el-Helou with my aunt who grew everything and did everything at home. So from when I was a kid, food has been incredibly important in my life.

How did ​that passion manifest into cookbook writing?

I didn’t have to cook when I was in Lebanon, so when I left at 21 and started living with a man, the first thing I said to him (was) “Don’t expect me to cook for you,” mainly because I was into women’s liberation and I was a bit of a feminist. I loved food and I loved eating and going to markets and everything, but I saw cooking as a domestic occupation rather than an interesting way of approaching culture.

(Then one day,) a friend of his came to the house and she cooked. I was looking at them eating and him with his ​beatific expression and I was thinking maybe I should review my attitude to cooking. I very foolishly decided to cook a Lebanese meal for 30 of our friends, most of them foreign, in mid-’70s London, a culinary desert. Olive oil, flat-leaf parsley, burghul (or bulgur wheat), tahini – (all) almost unknown ingredients for the general public. I crisscrossed London to get the ingredients and I managed to produce a meal having not been able to get in touch with my mother because it was at the height of the (Lebanese) Civil War and there was no communication. But I cooked from memory.

It wasn’t until 20 years later (that I had) a chance encounter with a Lebanese friend (who had) taken a literary agent to write a book. They were talking about cookbooks as an emerging genre in publishing. I started thinking, you know, my mother is such a great cook. She won’t be with us forever. Maybe I should write down her recipes. And because a lot of young people had been displaced in the Civil War, I thought a good Lebanese cookbook would be ‌great for people who didn’t have the chance I had.

Lebanon examines the country’s cuisine through a regional rather than a national lens. What inspired that approach?

What people eat in the south is quite different from what people eat in the north. There’s a whole selection ⁠of kibbehs (a popular dish made of spiced ground meat and bulgur wheat) in the south that you don’t find anywhere else; even breads ⁠that you don’t find either in Beirut or in the north. 

So looking at it from a regional point of view makes you focus more on the communities and on the specialties ⁠of that region.

How unfamiliar to you were some of these dishes?

Take the ⁠example of a flatbread called Mishtah. Until I did my book ⁠on savory baking (in 2007), I didn’t know it existed. That bread was made on a daily basis an hour away from Beirut and I never saw it. Even my mother, who was a fount of knowledge of Lebanese cuisine, didn’t know about it. So it was a revelation – there’s this flatbread that’s more like focaccia than pita with texture because it has like cracked wheat in it and lots of spices that I had never seen or tasted.

And then the different kibbehs. There’s what I call our own “steak tartare,” Frakeh. The burghul is mixed with herbs and spices ⁠and then with the raw meat. And that again I didn’t know about until I started researching this book.

You’ve written nearly a dozen cookbooks. What was your aim with this one?

There are lots of books on Lebanese food, but there are very few authors that have had an approach that is both historical and aesthetic and in-depth. What I wanted to do with this book is to have these approaches (for) those who don’t know Lebanese cuisine and to present the beauty of our food and to make them discover new things. Like why, for instance, the Druze will not eat molokhia (a popular, nutrient-dense stew made of jute mallow). I didn’t know until I found out that they don’t eat it because their sheikh in the 11th century decided that it was an aphrodisiac and there (are) still many Druze now who, not knowing why, still will not touch molokhia.

You’ve been living outside of Lebanon for more than 50 years now. What were the biggest changes you observed going back?

I live in Sicily now, and you go to places where they look like medieval paintings. They ⁠haven’t changed at all. One thing that struck me (in Lebanon) is how little conservation there was in the rural parts. I’m not talking about the cities because it’s quite obvious that Beirut has been overdeveloped. I mean, Tripoli is a city that I love that still has kept a lot of its old character, especially in the souks and the old part, or Saida in the south.

But the people were always very nice. We were in Tyre ⁠and we were walking down the street and I saw a woman rolling vine leaves on her veranda and I just barged in on her and started talking to her and asking what she was doing, who she was cooking for. And she offered us coffee and talked ⁠to us. Everywhere we went, everybody received us ⁠with open arms. I know it’s cliche, but they’re so hospitable and generous with the food, whatever they’re preparing.

Your work often explores how food preserves cultural memory – something that has been similarly discussed by cookbook authors like Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi. How important is it in the Lebanese context?

I think it’s very important. My ​whole purpose writing about food is preserving culinary traditions for future generations. Food is much more important for Palestinians to preserve for their identity because most of their food ​is being appropriated. Whereas in the case of the Lebanese, we don’t yet have that problem. But there is the problem of instability, ‌conflicts, aggression. 

There is a risk of loss of this knowledge because people get displaced, places get destroyed. Lebanon is not immune to destruction, especially now.

So it’s very important ​for me to preserve and to document, especially visually, because you might lose that beautiful village ​or this gorgeous house with the old lady who is making mishtah in a hole in the wall. These places are going to go eventually; they will not stay. And so to document them visually, as well as in the written word, is very important. — Reuters

*The perspectives expressed in Culture Current are the subject’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Reuters News. 

SORAN, March 8 — On a deserted road not too far from the border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan, Satar Barsirini looked up at the sky, now streaked with jets and drones.

Iraq’s Kurdish region has found itself caught in the crossfire of a regional war triggered by US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic republic.

Dressed like the Kurdish fighters he once served alongside, Barsirini still wears the khaki shalwar, fitted jacket and scarf wrapped around his waist.

Though recently retired, he refuses to give up his peshmerga uniform as he tills his small plot of land.

The rumble of jets and hum of drones “come from everywhere. Especially at night”, he told AFP in the hamlet of Barsirini, dozens of kilometres from the border.

He described the “shiver in our flesh” as the drones hit the ground outside.

“I feel bad for the people, because we have paid a lot in blood to liberate Kurdistan... We just want to live.”

Erbil, the autonomous region’s capital, and the valleys leading to the border have been targeted by Tehran and the Iraqi armed groups it supports.

American bases there have come under fire, as have positions held by Iranian Kurdish parties—the same ones US President Donald Trump said it would be “wonderful” to see storm Iran.

But Iran warned on Friday it would target facilities in Iraqi Kurdistan if fighters crossed into its territory.

“This isn’t my war,” said 58-year-old Barsirini.

He recalled the brutal repression and flight into the snowy mountains after the 1991 Kurdish uprising that followed the first Gulf War.

Dangerous people

The uprising was repressed, leading to an exodus of two million Kurds to Iran and Turkey.

“When we fled the cities for our lives, we went to Iran. They helped us, they gave us shelter and food,” he said.

The Kurds would not forget that, Barsirini stressed, adding that they could not just “turn against them” now to support the US and Israel.

“I don’t trust (Americans). They are dangerous people,” he said.

The Kurds, an ethnic minority with a distinct culture and language, are rooted in the mountainous region spread across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

They have long fought for their own homeland, but for decades suffered defeats on the battlefield and massacres in their hometowns.

They make up one of Iran’s most important non-Persian ethnic minority groups.

A week of war has gripped daily life in Iraqi Kurdistan, residents told AFP.

“People are afraid,” said Nasr al-Din, a 42-year-old policeman who, as a child, lived through the 1991 exodus—“thrown on a donkey’s back with my sister”.

“This generation is different from the older ones” that have seen “seen fighting”.

Now, he said, you could be “sitting down in your home... and all of a sudden a drone hits your house”.

“We may have to go into town or somewhere safer,” said Issa Diayri, 31, a truck driver waiting in a roadside garage, his lorry idle for lack of deliveries from Iran.

Shouldn’t get involved

Soran, a small town of 3,000 people about 65 kilometres (40 miles) from the border, was hit Thursday by a drone that fell in the middle of a street.

There, baker Yussef Ramazan, 42, and his three apprentices, hurriedly made bread before breaking their fast.

But, living so close to the Iranian border, he said “people are afraid to come and buy it”.

He told AFP he did not think it was a good idea “for the Kurdish region to get involved in this war”.

“We are not even an independent country yet. We would like to become one, but we are nothing for now, so we shouldn’t get involved in these situations.”

Across the street, Hajji watched from his empty dry cleaning shop as the road cleared.

Before the war, the town was crowded as evening fell, he said, declining to give his full name.

“But after the drone explosion, no one was here. In five minutes, everyone left the street and no one was out.” — AFP

MARCH 8 — UN Women had shared that in 1972, to mark its 25th anniversary, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) recommended that 1975 be designated International Women’s Year – an idea endorsed by the General Assembly to draw attention to women’s equality with men and to their contributions to development and peace.

The year was marked by holding the First World Conference on Women in Mexico City, followed by subsequent International Conferences on Women.

Two years later, in 1977, the United Nations officially recognised International Women’s Day, which first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.

Presently, International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March in many countries around the world, a day celebrating the achievements of women, sharing current challenges women face, engaging in discussions to find solutions, and inspiring more women to achieve further success.

Inspiration from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s recommendations of eight actions for a more equal world

On 2nd March 2026, Bernama had reported His Excellency’s remarks:

“Over nearly a decade leading the United Nations, I have seen our world repeatedly tested – by climate shocks, deepening poverty, violent conflict and shrinking civic space. But I have also watched many solutions take root, and they shared one common denominator: women.

“As the world marks International Women’s Day, it is time to recognise that gender inequality is the greatest human rights challenge of our time – and advancing equality is one of the strongest drivers of sustainable development and peace.

“Here are eight actions drawn from my own experience, and inspired by the work of the UN system and civil society movements across the globe, to advance women’s rights and deliver results.”

The eight actions listed by the Secretary-General included:

1. Fix the power gap

Gender equality is a question of power. But male-dominated institutions still shape our world. A rising tide of authoritarianism is deepening these inequalities, rolling back hard-won protections – from fair work practices to reproductive rights – and entrenching racial and gender biases that hold women back.

Gender equality lifts societies. When power is shared, freedom expands.

2. Make parity a priority

Women are grossly under-represented in governments and boardrooms across the globe. At the United Nations, we set out to make gender parity a priority, starting with senior leadership.

We did this by widening the search for qualified candidates, not by lowering standards.

The UN is stronger for it, with an enhanced workplace culture and more inclusive decision-making.

The lesson is clear. When institutions choose equality, results follow.

3. Bet on the highest-return investment

Investment in women delivers outsized returns. Every dollar spent on girls’ education yields nearly triple the gains, while maternal health and family planning generate more than eightfold benefits.

Policies that support families such as child care and elder care strengthen communities and unlock even more growth.

Taken together, such steps lay the foundation for closing gender gaps – which can boost national income by as much as 20 per cent.

4. Make room at the peace table

Peace agreements are more durable when women take part in negotiating and implementing them. Yet in too many conflicts – including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan – women have been largely shut out of the room, even though they carry the heaviest burdens of war.

At a time of rising instability, inclusion is not symbolic – it is a shortcut to stabilise our fractured world.

5. End legal discrimination

Worldwide, women hold only 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men. In too many places, they cannot own property, work freely, or seek a divorce.

Even where protections exist, women face higher barriers to access legal aid or the courts. 

Every country must commit to dismantling discriminatory laws, and to enforcing rights in practice.

6. Zero tolerance for gender-based violence – and zero excuses

Violence against women is a global emergency, rooted in inequality and sustained by silence. Every woman and girl has the right to live free from fear.

Yet gender-based violence – including sexual exploitation and abuse – remains a horrific breach of trust and humanity. We must confront it everywhere, with zero tolerance, full accountability, and unwavering support for survivors.

7. Code out bias

With women comprising just one in four tech workers, bias is being hardwired into the systems that shape daily lives. Meanwhile, misogyny is exploding online.

Technology companies and governments must act together to build safe, inclusive digital spaces – and the world must do more to remove barriers for girls in science and technology.

8. Put gender in the climate plan

Climate change is sexist. Women often eat last in food crises and endure greater danger in emergencies. Girls face higher risks of child marriage when livelihoods collapse.

But women are also leading climate solutions – advancing green legislation, powering global movements, and driving change on the ground.

A liveable planet demands gender-responsive climate policies, including equal access to green jobs, better protection in emergencies, and full participation in environmental decision-making.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlights gender equality as the strongest driver of sustainable development and peace on International Women’s Day. — Reuters pic

And His Excellency concluded his remark:

“Across the globe, I have seen these eight solutions in action – in war zones and recovery efforts, parliaments and classrooms, organisations and communities. If leaders get serious about gender equality and commit to them now, we will change the world – for women and girls, and for us all.”

Recommendations to the government of Malaysia and Philippines

Arising from the eight actions highlighted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres above, I am inspired to offer the following recommendations on three of the action plans outlined by His Excellency for the attention, consideration, and support of the government of Malaysia for adoption and implementation for the benefit of women in Malaysia.

1. Put gender in the climate plan

Malaysia has and continues to experience severe weather conditions caused by climate change, creating havoc, chaos, destruction to lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, society, and nations.

Presently, much of policy, decision-making, and planning is primarily being organised and determined by men, whilst women and children suffer significantly from the impact of these disasters.

During COP28, world leaders, government, and policy makers had signed a number of declarations and pledges aimed at achieving the Paris Agreement target of not reaching more than 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050 – covering everything from oil-and-gas company emissions and tripling renewables, tripling nuclear capacity through to food systems, and how the world can better integrate action on climate change and biodiversity loss.

In view of and recognition of the contribution and role of women in these initiatives, there was an initiative themed COP28 Gender-Responsive Just Transitions and Climate Action Partnership, which outlined the fundamental pledge by ministers and government officials covering:

“We, ministers and government officials, declare our resolve as we implement the Paris Agreement to drive gender-responsive just transitions, which strengthen all women’s and girls’ leadership and meaningful participation, decision making, capacities, and livelihoods in climate action to achieve gender equality and support the sustainable and transformational impacts of our adaptation, mitigation, and finance efforts.”

This is listed in full via this link.

Below are the contents for clarity covering: Building on progress in this regard in this year (2023) of the Global Stocktake, Women’s and girls’ full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership, Nexus of Gender Equality and Just Transitions, Advancing a “Gender-Responsive Just” Transition, and signatories to this pledge.

Building on progress in this regard in this year of the Global Stocktake, we:

1. Reaffirm the relevant outcomes of previous Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement and the enhanced Lima Work Program on Gender and its Gender Action Plan.

2. Reaffirm, as applicable, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome documents of its reviews.

3. Reaffirm the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the fifth goal on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

4. Reaffirm, as applicable, commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls made at relevant United Nations summits and conferences, including the International Conference on Population and Development and its Programme of Action and the outcome documents of its reviews.

5. Welcome, as applicable, the agreed conclusions of the 66th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women in the context of climate change, energy transitions, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.

6. Welcome the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Synthesis Report of the 6th Assessment Report, which recognises that vulnerabilities and climate risks can be reduced through carefully designed policies and laws that address specific inequities such as those based on gender.

Women’s and girls’ full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership

7. Acknowledge the significant contributions and roles of all women and girls in decision-making, governance and finance for climate action, including the clean energy transition.

8. Emphasise that achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, including for women and girls facing intersecting inequalities, such as Indigenous women and girls, rural women and girls, and women and girls with disabilities, accelerates the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Nexus of Gender Equality and Just Transitions

9. Recognise the disproportionate impacts of climate change on all women and girls, including as they relate to access to and the creation of decent work in the context of just transitions and as these effects relate to exacerbating inequalities.

10. Emphasise that where women have secure land rights that are legally recognised and enforceable, they are better able to use and benefit from the lands and resources and meaningfully participate in sustainable agriculture and land restoration efforts, with strong climate adaptation and mitigation benefits.

11. Take into account the climate-linked sectors in which women are often employed, including, but not limited to, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, the care economy, and the garment industry, and recognise that access to resources, services, education and training in climate-smart practices in these and other sectors, such as clean energy, is critical to both women’s economic security and just and inclusive transitions to decent work and sustainable, climate-adaptive livelihoods and effective climate action.

12. Express concern that climate change is exacerbating existing inequalities, as well as gender-based violence, and barriers to accessing critical services that underpin access to decent work, including, but not limited to, education, food, clean water and sanitation, health services including sexual and reproductive health, education, emergency response, and a healthy environment, and stress the need to strengthen and expand access to gender-responsive social protection systems.

Advancing a ‘Gender-Responsive Just’ transition

13. Recognising that urgent action is needed to combat climate change, we commit to working collaboratively to support just and inclusive transitions that advance gender equality and the goals of the enhanced Lima Work Program on Gender and its Gender Action Plan. To that end we will strengthen efforts to:

• Fully incorporate the human rights of women and girls in just transition efforts, including through social dialogue and working with decision makers and with men and boys, to promote gender-responsive investments in climate action that provide for the full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of all women and girls.
• Encourage gender-responsive strategies on mitigation and adaptation, in line with national, regional, and international instruments, to strengthen the resilience to the adverse effects of climate change, with the aim of protecting, respecting and promoting human rights, economic empowerment, access to decent work and education, sustainable livelihoods and gender-responsive and disability-inclusive social protection systems that facilitate livelihoods transitions.
• Implement, as appropriate, gender-responsive budgeting, policy and planning, and develop legislation and policy, as well as promote skills training, including in informal sectors, and equal opportunities in job markets.
• Identify funding sources and opportunities with a view to continuing to enhance access to funding for women and girls in the regions most impacted by climate change, and with a view to promote gender-responsive, inclusive, locally led climate action, and improve tracking and reporting on gender-related aspects of climate finance, impact measurement and mainstreaming.
• Share experiences and best practices on gender-responsive planning and budgeting in the context of a just transition and conduct studies on gender-responsive just transitions in respective national contexts.
• Encourage and support the development of evidence-based methodologies, including sex, disability, and age-disaggregated data and standard indicators, to assess gender equality in the transition to a Paris Agreement-aligned economy.
• Pursue efforts and collaboration across sectors and in partnership with women’s organisations to ensure that they counteract any potential negative consequences and benefit from the transition to a Paris Agreement-aligned economy, including expanding access to gender-responsive social protection, and to support efforts towards the eradication of poverty in the transition.
• Promote measures to reduce, redistribute and value unpaid care and domestic work, including by promoting the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men within the household.
• Make best efforts to reflect progress on gender equality in Biennial Transparency Reports, as appropriate.
• Reconvene for a dialogue at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference to report on the implementation of these commitments.

The above pledge serves as a strategic fundamental platform to enhance women’s participation in the Climate Action Plan.

However, currently only 82 countries are signatories to this pledge:

1. Albania
2. Andorra
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Australia
5. Austria
6. Azerbaijan
7. Bangladesh
8. Belgium
9. Burkina Faso
10. Cabo Verde
11. Canada
12. Chad
13. Chile
14. China
15. Colombia
16. Comoros
17. Cook Islands
18. Costa Rica
19. Cote d’Ivoire
20. Cyprus
21. Czechia
22. Democratic Republic of the Congo
23. Denmark
24. Dominican Republic
25. Ecuador
26. Estonia
27. Fiji
28. Finland
29. France
30. Germany
31. Guatemala
32. Hungary
33. Iceland
34. Ireland
35. Israel
36. Jamaica
37. Japan
38. Jordan
39. Kiribati
40. Kyrgyzstan
41. Latvia
42. Lebanon
43. Lesotho
44. Mali
45. Mexico
46. Micronesia
47. Moldova
48. Monaco
49. Mongolia
50. Morocco
51. Netherlands
52. New Zealand
53. Nicaragua
54. Nigeria
55. North Macedonia
56. Norway
57. Pakistan
58. Palau
59. Paraguay
60. Peru
61. Poland
62. Portugal
63. Rwanda
64. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
65. Serbia
66. Seychelles
67. Sierra Leone
68. Slovenia
69. Somalia
70. Spain
71. Sri Lanka
72. Sweden
73. Switzerland
74. Tuvalu
75. UAE
76. Ukraine
77. United Kingdom
78. United States of America
79. Uruguay
80. Venezuela
81. Vietnam
82. Yemen

Vietnam is the only Asean member country signatory to this pledge key for putting gender in the climate plan via advancing a “gender-responsive just” transition.

A. Recommendation to the government of Malaysia

In view that this requires support, commitment, and action from several ministries in Malaysia, including Ministry of Women headed by Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri responsible for women, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) headed by Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup responsible for climate, and Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof responsible for energy transition, I look forward to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim encouraging these three ministries to review the contents of this pledge and to determine which ministry should take the lead for Malaysia to be a new signatory to the pledge, to facilitate and support women having the opportunity to advance green legislation, power global movements, and drive change on the ground, whilst also having equal access to green jobs, better protection in emergencies, and full participation in environmental decision-making.

B. Recommendation to the government of Philippines

I had the honour and pleasure to meet the Secretary of Energy Philippines, Her Excellency Sharon Garin, at the recent Singapore International Energy Week 2025 (SIEW2025), where Her Excellency had offered her views and insights on energy at this prestigious event.

As the Philippines is Chair of Asean this year 2026, I would like to propose to Her Excellency Sharon Garin that, as a distinguished female energy leader, she could approach other remaining Asean member countries which have not signed this pledge to support signing the pledge, and for Philippines, during the Asean Energy Ministers Meeting this year, to set aside a special session for all Asean leaders to sign the pledge and officially announce that all Asean member countries are signing this pledge, and briefly share the benefits to and for women, which ultimately impacts our nations and our region.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.

Nancy chats with Awang Al Muayyad Awang Mulanna – a 10-year-old pupil of Perkata Special School at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee in Kuching – during a photo-call, as other guests and officials look on. — Photo by Roystein Emmor

PM set to unveil new women’s initiative this International Women’s Day

Nancy Shukri hints at special programme to ease women’s lives, open opportunities

KUCHING, March 8 — The federal government is expected to unveil a major initiative for women during the International Women’s Day 2026 celebration at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur this March 10.

In this regard, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri hinted at ‘something that had been prepared especially to help women, to make things easier and to provide opportunities for them to gain knowledge and receive assistance’.

“I cannot say much. It is up to the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) whether he wishes to announce it, but something has been prepared, Insha Allah (God-willing),” she told reporters when met after officiating at the ‘Program Shopping Raya Pekema Sarawak Bersama Anak-Anak Asnaf dan Anak Yatim’ at a shopping mall here on Sunday.

The Santubong MP was responding to questions about if there would be any significant announcement to be made at the upcoming event.

On preparations for this year’s ‘International Women’s Day’, themed ‘Memartabat Wanita, Memperkukuh Negara’ (Uplifting Women, Strengthening The Nation), Nancy said the event, to be launched by Anwar, would highlight women icons, as well as non-government organisations (NGOs) and companies that prioritised collaboration with and greater attention to women.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s programme involved 100 children selected by the Welfare Department (JKM) – each of whom received AEON shopping voucher worth RM240 that allowed them to select their own Hari Raya essentials.

Nancy remarked: “This shopping programme is meaningful to these underprivileged children, bringing joy to them as they prepare to welcome the blessed month of Syawal.

“This initiative helps ease the burden of their guardians, so that the children would remain focused on their studies and future aspirations.”

The federal minister also expressed appreciation to the Association of Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders of Malaysia (Pekema) Sarawak, the volunteers, and all parties involved in making the programme a success.

Also present was Pekema Sarawak president Dato Ismail Abang Saufi. — The Borneo Post

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — The number of stranded Malaysians in several parts of the Middle East following the escalating conflict in the region has decreased to 641 as of 5.15 pm on Sunday, while the evacuation coordination efforts to assist affected Malaysians are continuing, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry widely known as Wisma Putra said all Malaysians contacted by Malaysian diplomatic missions remain safe, including Malaysian Armed Forces personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“Malaysian diplomatic missions across the region continue operating in evacuation coordination mode.

“Consular officers have been deployed to transit hubs, assembly points and cross-border departure locations to support evacuation convoys and assist Malaysians during departure procedures,” it said in a media advisory on Sunday.

The ministry said efforts remain focused on assisting Malaysians stranded due to the conflict, noting that the travel advisory issued on March 5 remains in effect.

Wisma Putra said Saudi Arabia continues to serve as the primary regional staging hub for evacuation coordination, with Malaysians from locations with restricted airspace are being assisted to travel overland to Riyadh and Jeddah, where they connect to onward commercial flights to Kuala Lumpur.

“Malaysian diplomatic missions are coordinating these movements, including road transport arrangements, entry documentation and visas, and arrival procedures with Saudi authorities,” it said.

In Jeddah, the Consulate General of Malaysia continues coordinating the consolidation of stranded Malaysian pilgrims and travellers prior to departure, with the number of affected Malaysian Umrah pilgrims has decreased to fewer than 300 following the resumption of commercial flights.

It added that the ground teams have been deployed to surrounding cities, including Madinah, to facilitate road transfers to Jeddah as the departure hub.

Meanwhile, commercial flight corridors from Saudi Arabia continue to facilitate departures, with Malaysia Airlines flight MH151 scheduled to depart today (Sunday), while flights by AirAsia and Batik Air are scheduled to operate from Jeddah on March 8 and March 9, respectively.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), commercial travel is gradually resuming.

Emirates has restored ticket sales for the Dubai-Kuala Lumpur route, while Etihad Airways has resumed a limited flight schedule to Kuala Lumpur between March 6 and March 19, adding that Malaysian missions continue assisting stranded Malaysians in securing seats on these flights.

In Oman, commercial departures from Muscat continue to provide an exit route for Malaysians in the region.

“Diplomatic missions are coordinating with airline operators to facilitate onward travel through Oman. Oman Air has also assisted several stranded Malaysian students with complimentary tickets for departures scheduled on March 8,” it added.

Meanwhile, the ministry said airspace restrictions continue to affect regional travel, with civilian flight operations in Qatar remain restricted, while other areas continue to face intermittent airspace closures affecting commercial travel.

The ministry said it takes note of the recent statement by the Interim Leadership Council of Iran on Saturday, indicating the suspension of attacks against neighbouring countries unless attacks originate from those territories.

Wisma Putra said while this development may contribute to reduced tensions in parts of the region, the overall security environment remains volatile, adding that the ministry, together with the National Security Council, continues to monitor developments.

The ministry added that it will continue working with the National Security Council, Malaysian diplomatic missions, host governments, airlines and travel operators to facilitate the safe return of Malaysians affected by the conflict.

Malaysians in the region are strongly urged to register and update their details through the e-Konsular system at https://ekonsular.kln.gov.my or through the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission. The evacuation arrangements will be coordinated based on the database of registered Malaysians.

The ministry’s operations room in Putrajaya remains active on a 24-hour basis and can be contacted at +603-8887 4570 or via email at dutyofficer@kln.gov.my.

The situation in the Middle East has been tense since Feb 28, when Israel and the United States (US) launched strikes on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliatory attacks against US interests in Gulf countries. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — National track cyclist Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang managed to win the bronze medal in the men’s individual sprint event at the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Perth, Australia today.

He secured the bronze after beating Mikhail Yakovlev 2-0 in the third-fourth place decider at the Speed Dome, his second medal at this year’s World Cup after winning the gold medal in the men’s keirin event yesterday.

The 38-year-old Malaysian had previously lost to Matthew Richardson of Great Britain 2-0 in the semifinal previously.

Richardson went on to win the individual sprint event by beating Australian Leigh Hoffman 2-0 in the final. — Bernama

KOTA BHARU, March 8 — The Kelantan Health Department is investigating the sudden death of a 29-year-old trainee doctor at a hostel room at Hospital Sultan Ismail Petra in Kuala Krai.

State health director Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob said a committee has been formed and investigations will be comprehensive, including checks on possible workplace stress, New Straits Times reported today.

“We are saddened by what happened,” he told the newspaper, adding that he visited the trainee doctor’s family earlier.

He said the trainee doctor was a graduate of Mansoura University in Egypt and had been undergoing practical training at Hospital Sultan Ismail Petra before her death.

Dr Azman also urged the public to refrain from speculation that could further distress the victim’s family while investigations are ongoing.

The trainee doctor whose name has yet to be made public was found unresponsive in her hostel room yesterday. 

Kuala Krai district police chief Superintendent Mazlan Mamat said the case is classified as sudden death, adding that investigators did not find any criminal elements so far.

MELBOURNE, March 8 — World champion Lando Norris said he feared it will be a "long, tough season" after steering his McLaren to a distant fifth at the Australian Grand Prix today. 

The Briton was well off the pace all weekend as Mercedes and Ferrari dominated, having adapted more quickly to new rules around engines, chassis and aerodynamics.

Norris has been critical of the regulation changes, claiming they are taking the sport backwards.

But he was content with finishing fifth in Melbourne given how far McLaren seem to be behind their arch-rivals at the start of the season.

"P5 is a good result, I think we maximised what we could achieve today," he said.

"The gap to the guys ahead is pretty big and we clearly have a lot of work to do, which we thought might be the case coming into this weekend."

Norris was encouraged by how he was able to hold off charging Red Bull ace Max Verstappen, who came sixth after starting from 20th on the grid.

"The fact that we could defend against Max and keep him behind, even though he had a lot more pace, was positive," he said.

"But we need to work hard to understand where we're losing pace to the front runners, as well as understanding how we can approach the weekend better.

"I've got full confidence in my team to be able to do that, but it's looking like it's going to be a long, tough season."

His teammate Oscar Piastri failed to start his home race after crashing out on a lead-up lap and team chief Andrea Stella said it was important that Norris got in the points.

"It was very important to finish it with Lando, to gather as much data and learning as possible under these new regulations," he said.

"Lando did a great job to adapt to various scenarios... however we finished some distance behind the leaders so it is clear we have work to do." — AFP

DHAKA, March 8 — Bangladesh launched fuel rationing today as the war in the Middle East deepened an energy crunch, creating long queues at filling stations and boiling over into anger.

The country of 170 million people imports 95 per cent of its oil and gas needs.

Following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes throughout the Gulf, the national oil company, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), restricted fuel sales for most vehicles.

Authorities capped fuel purchases for several types of vehicles as panic buying and hoarding spread following warnings of possible supply disruptions.

For example, motorcyclists are now limited to a maximum of two litres (0.5 US gallons) per tank.

“Consumers tend to buy more than they usually purchase” during times of crisis, BPC said in a statement.

One man was killed on Saturday night in the southern district of Jhenaidah after an altercation with filling station staff over refuelling, triggering unrest.

Following the death of Nirob Hossain, 25, angry crowds torched three buses and vandalised a filling station, police officer Md Mahfuz Afzal said.

As soon as the restrictions took effect on Sunday, long lines of vehicles formed outside numerous gas stations in the capital Dhaka.

“I waited for more than an hour to get two litres,” said motorcyclist Md Al-Amin, 45.

“My tank holds eight litres, and I usually fill up once a week—so now I’ll have to come back the day after tomorrow.”

AKM Ruhul Amin, a paediatrician, had just filled his sedan car—but said it was not enough.

“I already waited yesterday, and they closed the station just one car ahead of me,” he said.

“I was only able to buy 10 litres today... the government could at least allow us to fill up completely.”

Ahmad Rush, an official with the distributor Meghna Petroleum Ltd., estimated that the number of customers had almost doubled.

“We opened at 7:30 this morning and were able to refuel 300 vehicles in three and a half hours,” he said.

BPC said that fuel deliveries were expected soon.

Due to the current tensions, five of the country’s six fertiliser factories have been closed until March 18, an official with the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, Ahsan Quddus Kuntal, told AFP. — AFP

GOLD COAST, March 8 — Iran’s players sang the national anthem and saluted before their last group match at the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday in Australia, having stayed defiantly silent earlier in the tournament.

When Iran faced South Korea on Monday in their opening game the players stood motionless, two days after the US and Israel began a war against the country.

But on Thursday in their second game, against hosts Australia, all the Iranian players saluted and sang the anthem on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Against the Philippines on Sunday they again sang and saluted as the rain came down on the Gold Coast.

No public reason was given for their original stance, but coach Marziyeh Jafari has said her team had “so much concern” about their families as the conflict raged and that players felt “fully disconnected” from their loved ones.

Iran lost 3-0 to South Korea and 4-0 to Australia. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — The Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) is working closely with religious organisations and authorities to address issues involving Hindu temples and shrines, including cases that require relocation, its president T. Ganesan said.

He said the organisation is collaborating with about 35 religious bodies to collectively look into matters concerning Hindu places of worship and ensure that solutions are found in accordance with religious practices and proper procedures.

“We are not acting alone. About 35 religious organisations are working together to look into issues involving our temples and to ensure these matters are handled appropriately,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Paarvai programme at Wisma Bernama here on Friday. 

Ganesan said MHS has also engaged with the relevant authorities and temple management to resolve specific cases, including those involving temples in Kuala Kubu Bharu.

“Recently, there were cases involving two temples in the Hulu Selangor district. We held discussions with the relevant authorities and temple administrators to find suitable solutions,” he said.

He explained that in situations involving smaller shrines or temples, the approach may include consolidating or relocating them through proper consultation with authorities and temple management.

“When we refer to small temples or shrines, they may sometimes need to be consolidated or relocated. This is done through discussions with the relevant authorities and with the consent of the temple management,” he said.

Ganesan said the Malaysian Hindu Sangam has also formed a team of lawyers to study legal avenues and provide guidance on resolving temple-related issues.

“We have set up a team of lawyers to examine how these matters can be addressed through legal channels as well as through community-based solutions,” he said.

He added that the organisation ensures religious procedures are strictly followed, particularly when relocating idols or statues from affected temples.

“According to our religious practices, proper rituals must be performed by priests before any relocation of idols is carried out,” he said.

The remarks come as the government continues strengthening governance of non-Islamic houses of worship (RIBI) through inter-agency coordination, adherence to guidelines and dialogue-based approaches, according to a joint statement by National Unity Deputy Minister R. Yuneswaran and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Roslin. — Bernama

SUNGAI PETANI, March 8 — A former bodyguard who impersonated a police officer was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to robbing a motorcyclist and causing injury to the victim last month.

The accused, Mohd Faizal Sinorcho, 40, entered the plea before Sessions Court judge Najwa Che Mat here today.

According to the charge, he robbed a man of his motorcycle and intentionally caused injury to the victim in front of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) office on Jalan Cindai, Bandar Puteri Jaya, here at 12.45am on February 9.

The charge, framed under Section 392 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment and may also include a fine or whipping upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Mohd Faizal was also sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of impersonating a police officer at two separate Magistrates’ Courts.

Before Magistrate Mohamad Azlan Basri, he was charged with posing as a police officer by wearing a vest bearing the police logo and holding handcuffs in front of a woman at the entrance of CMart Cengal here at 12.45am on February 9.

He was charged under Section 170 of the Penal Code and sentenced to five months’ imprisonment.

Before Magistrate Muhammad Syaiful Akmal Mohamad Razi, he was charged with posing as a police officer by wearing a vest bearing the police logo and deceiving a woman in a Perodua Viva travelling from Gerik, Perak to Sungai Petani, Kedah between 5.50pm and 11.30pm on February 8.

He was charged under Section 171 of the Penal Code and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.

Muhammad Syaiful Akmal also sentenced Mohd Faizal to 24 months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to using criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty at the same time, place and date.

The charge was framed under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a fine, or whipping, or any two of those punishments upon conviction. — Bernama

JERTIH, March 8 — Police have confirmed that a teenage boy who was reported missing while on his way to Cameron Highlands was last seen stopping at a petrol station in Beting Lintang here early Friday morning.

Besut district police chief Supt Rozaime Ab Rahim said closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the fuel station showed the missing individual to be Ahmad Azreeq Zafreen Ahmad Azhar, 19.

“The CCTV footage confirmed that the victim stopped at the petrol station before he could no longer be traced,” he said when contacted here today.

Rozaime said police are actively working to locate the teenager and have opened a missing person investigation after receiving a report from the victim’s family on Friday evening.

He also urged members of the public with any information about the teenager’s whereabouts to contact the Besut District Police Headquarters or the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, the victim’s father, Ahmad Azhar Mohd Yusof, 59, said his son went missing while their family of seven from Kampung Batin, Seberang Takir, was travelling to Cameron Highlands on Thursday.

According to Ahmad Azhar, his son was riding a Yamaha R15 motorcycle during the trip, while the rest of the family travelled in a car.

“The last time we saw Ahmad Azreeq Zafreen was when we stopped at a fuel station in Kampung Saujana, Setiu. After that, I continued the journey ahead with the rest of the family.

“At about 12.30am, we stopped for food at Kampung Anak Ikan in Besut and contacted him, asking him to stop at the same eatery. However, we have been unable to reach him since then,” he said.

Ahmad Azhar said he prayed that his son would be found safe and hoped that members of the public with relevant information would come forward to assist the authorities. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Individuals facing online sexual harassment can take their cases to the Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal to seek justice, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.

She said that under the law, victims who are subjected to nasty or abusive comments online have the right to file a suit at the tribunal for review.

According to Teo, the tribunal, established in March 2024, is highly accessible as victims can represent themselves without the need for a lawyer and all cases brought before it must be resolved within 60 days.

“If this harassment happens online, according to the law, we actually can go to the Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal and the judge will decide whether this constitutes sexual harassment. They will say whether an apology is needed, or sometimes we can actually get a monetary award,” she said.

Teo, who is also DAP Women Chief, said this in her speech at the launch of the Selangor DAP Women’s Free Legal Advice Programme in conjunction with International Women’s Day here today.

Teo acknowledged a significant challenge in pursuing online harassment cases, particularly in identifying anonymous perpetrators.

She noted that, unlike physical harassment, where the abuser is often known, online perpetrators frequently hide behind fake profile pictures or anonymous accounts, making it difficult for victims to seek redress.

“When someone says something very sexist to us online, how does a victim even begin legal proceedings when the abuser has no face, no name and no accountability?” she said.

Teo also highlighted the escalating threat of artificial intelligence (AI) driven digital violence like deepfake pornography, which disproportionately targets women, stressing that technology platforms could not dismiss their responsibility and must be held accountable for the tools that facilitate such acts.

“We must demand gender-inclusive AI governance, with women at every decision-making table. We also need to have this culture of accountability where companies cannot hide behind the excuse of ‘the algorithm did it’ and act as if they have zero responsibility at all,” she said.

Commenting on today’s programme, Teo said the main aim of the initiative was to ensure that the group concerned received initial advice or legal consultation in a professional, organised and easily accessible manner.

For a start, she said the service, which is open to women residing in Selangor and not represented by any lawyers, has brought together a panel of 10 lawyers. — Bernama

KUWAIT CITY, March 8 — Iran struck Gulf infrastructure on Sunday, hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport and damaging a desalination plant in Bahrain as Tehran pressed its missile and drone campaign against its neighbours into a second week.

Two border guards were also killed “while performing their national duty”, Kuwait’s interior ministry said without elaborating on the circumstances.

Neighbouring countries have borne much of Tehran’s response after the US and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran, with 16 people, eight of them civilians, killed in the Gulf states since the war began, according to an AFP tally.

Iran President Massoud Pezeshkian warned Sunday that the Islamic republic “will be forced to respond” against neighbouring countries if their territory is used to attack it.

On Saturday the president had apologised to neighbouring countries hosting US military bases for attacks on their territory.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait all reported new attacks, after loud explosions were heard in Dubai and Bahrain’s Manama a day earlier.

Fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport were targeted in a drone attack, the military said.

The official Kuwait News Agency said a fire at the airport was brought under control, reporting no “significant injuries”.

The military called the drone attack “a direct targeting of vital infrastructure”.

A separate statement said “some civilian facilities sustained material damage as a result of falling fragments and debris from interception operations”.

‘Drone threats’

Kuwait’s national oil company announced a “precautionary” cut to its crude production, as the country’s military said Sunday that it had responded to several drone and missile attacks.

Authorities said Kuwait’s main building for social security was targeted, causing material damage, and that it would not receive visitors there on Sunday.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said Sunday that an Iranian drone attack damaged a water desalination plant, accusing Tehran of “randomly” targeting civilian infrastructure.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Saturday that it had struck the United States’ Juffair base in Bahrain, adding it had been used to attack an Iranian desalination plant earlier in the day.

Bahrain’s national communication office later said the Iranian attack on a water desalination facility has had no impact on water supplies or network capacity.

Falling missile debris also injured three people and damaged a university building in the Muharraq area, the interior ministry said in a separate statement.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said on Sunday that it intercepted 33 drones, adding there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attacks.

Among them was a drone targeting Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, thwarted with no material damage or civilian injuries, the ministry’s spokesman said, adding the capital and surrounding areas were targeted by 26 drones.

One drone targeted the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the country, according to the Saudi defence ministry.

‘At the disposal of the enemy’

The UAE said its air defences were responding to “incoming missile and drone threats from Iran”, while Qatar said 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired from Iran the previous day were mostly intercepted without casualties.

Despite the Iranian president’s apology to the Gulf countries for earlier strikes, hours later its judiciary chief said strikes would continue on sites in Gulf countries that were “at the disposal of the enemy”.

UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a rare televised address that the Emirates were in “a period of war” and “will emerge stronger” from it.

Dubai authorities said Saturday that a Pakistani national had been killed by debris from an “aerial interception”.

Dubai briefly closed its main airport – the world’s busiest for international traffic – on Saturday after authorities said an unidentified object was intercepted nearby.

A witness told AFP of a loud explosion in the area followed by a cloud of smoke. Footage verified by AFP recorded the sound of a drone followed by a loud explosion and plumes of smoke close to an airport concourse.

The government said there had been “a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception”, without directly mentioning the airport. It said there were no injuries. — AFP

DUBAI, March ‌8 — The clerical body that ​will choose Iran’s next supreme leader, succeeding the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ‌more or less reached a majority consensus, Assembly ​of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri said on Sunday.

The Mehr news agency quoted him as saying “some obstacles” still ​needed to be resolved regarding the process.

On Saturday, a senior cleric in the Assembly of Experts said its members would meet “within one day” to choose the leader.

Iranian ‌media said the group had a ⁠minor disagreement over whether their ⁠final decision must follow ⁠an in-person meeting or instead ⁠be issued ⁠without adhering to this formality.

Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, another member of the Assembly of Experts, ⁠said in a video released by Nournews on Sunday that an in-person meeting by the assembly for a final vote was not possible under current conditions.

He said a candidate ⁠had been picked, based on the late supreme leader’s advice that Iran’s top leader should “be ⁠hated by the enemy” instead of praised by it.

“Even ⁠the ⁠Great Satan (US) has mentioned his name,” Heidari Alekasir said ​of the chosen successor, ​days after US President Donald ‌Trump said that Khamenei’s son, ​Mojtaba, was an “unacceptable” ​choice for him. — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Lembah Pantai is set to receive new infrastructure developments, including the construction of a health clinic and a primary school, to enhance facilities and the well-being of residents.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the new health clinic, estimated to cost RM60 million, is planned to be built in the Pantai Central Park area to improve healthcare access for residents.

“The level and type of services provided will also be on a larger scale and higher than those available at the Tanglin Health Clinic,” he told reporters after attending the ‘Tadarus dan Khatam Al-Quran Perdana’ ceremony at Ar-Rahah Mosque in Bangsar South here today.

The annual programme was attended by about 800 women and organised jointly by Pertubuhan Kebajikan Inspirasi Anggun Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (WPKL), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dinamika Rakyat WPKL and Muafakat Muslimat JBAQ LP.

Fahmi, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, said the clinic is highly anticipated by residents as it would be closer than the Tanglin Health Clinic.

On education infrastructure, Fahmi said a new primary school will be built at the site of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Pantai to address overcrowding at existing schools.

“At the former SMK Seri Pantai site, a new primary school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Pantai, will be developed. It is expected to have 36 classrooms and help ease congestion at at least two primary schools in the Lembah Pantai area,” he said.

In another development, Fahmi said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is studying a proposal to redevelop Bazaria Pantai to improve comfort for traders and visitors.

He said the plan requires further consideration as there is also a proposal to build the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 3 line near the location.

Two design options are currently being considered, including a multi-storey concept that combines elements of an Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), multi-level parking and more spacious and comfortable stalls.

“There is no final decision yet on the design. It involves discussions with MRT (Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd), and we expect further discussions next week,” he said. — Bernama

KOTA BHARU, March 8 — Thai police plan to install barbed wire at all illegal crossing points along the Sungai Golok River, which forms the border between Malaysia and Thailand, as an initial step to strengthen security control in the area.

Narathiwat Provincial police chief Maj Gen Prayong Kotsakha said the move is part of a broader effort to tighten border security.

He said the installation of barbed wire would be the first phase before further measures are introduced, including the construction of security walls and the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, similar to measures already implemented in several areas in Sungai Golok district.

“For now, barbed wire will be installed at locations frequently used as illegal crossing points, similar to steps taken by Malaysian authorities,” he told Malaysian media through a local interpreter recently.

“This measure aims to strengthen border control and curb cross-border criminal activities,” he told the Malaysian media through a local interpreter recently.

Prayong added that Thai authorities would seek feedback from villagers in affected areas before implementing the plan to avoid potential issues.

He stressed that close cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand is crucial to ensure that illegal crossing routes along the border can be monitored more effectively.

He also commended Malaysian authorities for installing warning signs at several illegal crossing points along the border to alert the public to the offence of crossing the border illegally.

Commenting on drug trafficking in Narathiwat province, Prayong said authorities had detected an increase in drug smuggling using courier and delivery services.

He said three cases had been detected since the end of last month in the districts of Rueso, Rangae and Sungai Golok, involving the seizure of between 10,000 and 500,000 Yaba pills.

According to him, most of the drugs intercepted in the three districts were believed to have been destined for Malaysia.

However, taking legal action against the perpetrators has been difficult as smugglers often use other individuals’ identities when sending packages through delivery companies.

He said the syndicates also frequently provide inaccurate delivery addresses to avoid detection by authorities.

Prayong added that most of the Yaba pills were transported from northern Thailand and temporarily stored in border districts such as Sungai Golok or Takbai before being smuggled into Malaysia.

He noted that drug trafficking activities involving substances such as Yaba pills and syabu often take place in border areas to evade detection by enforcement agencies in both countries.

“Our investigations also found that some Yaba pills smuggled into Malaysia were brought back into Thailand after the syndicates feared the drugs would be detected and seized,” he said. — Bernama

KEPALA BATAS, March 8 — A total of 34 houses were damaged after a storm and strong winds hit several areas in Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) here yesterday, including a house in Kampung Tasik that was struck by a tree about 30 metres long.

The incident, which occurred at about 6.20pm, involved houses in Kampung Tasik, Kubang Menerung, Taman Seri Menerung and Taman Seri Desa. No injuries were reported.

The owner of the house struck by the tree, Norazimah Ibrahim, 43, said the roof of her house was damaged after it was hit by a petai tree with a trunk diameter about the size of an adult’s embrace during the storm.

The single mother said she was making kuih in the house to prepare for breaking fast with her four children aged between eight and 19 when they suddenly heard a loud sound, like thunder, hitting the house.

“At first, we thought it was only branches falling, but we did not expect the large tree to topple. During the incident, my mother (Faridah Harun, 64) saw the tree falling slowly before it struck my house,” she said when met by reporters after receiving a visit from Kepala Batas Umno division chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican at her house today.

Norazimah, a food trader, said the incident also caused electricity wires to snap and emit sparks, but she was grateful that all her family members who were at home managed to get to safety and were not injured.

She said part of the tree had been cut by members of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) last night to prevent further damage, but the structure of her roof is already damaged and leaking.

Meanwhile, Tasek Gelugor Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Yazi Taib said it took more than two hours to cut and remove the petai tree, as the work had to be carried out carefully to avoid causing further damage.

He said the Fire and Rescue Department received information about the incident last night but could not begin cutting the tree then due to safety concerns.

“At 11.30am today, eight firefighters started the tree-cutting work.

“The operation faced several challenges, including the tree’s location near electrical cables, the large size of its branches and narrow access to the area, which made it difficult for the fire engine to reach the site,” he said.

Reezal Merican, who is also the Bertam assemblyman, said immediate aid had been channelled to those affected by the storm, with RM400 for houses with severe damage and RM200 for minor damage.

He added that the state Social Welfare Department (JKM) would provide RM300 to each affected family, while the SPU District Office would assess the damage before channelling further assistance through the disaster relief fund. — Bernama

PASIR PUTEH, March 8 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle 16 Myanmar migrants, including five women, via a river route in Kota Bharu during an early morning operation on Friday.

Kelantan MMEA director, Maritime Captain Kamal Mohamad, said all were arrested at Sungai Kampung Kijang after a speedboat carrying them was spotted five nautical miles offshore.

He said MMEA teams conducting Ops Naga, Ops Damai, Ops Tirus, and Ops Khas Pagar Laut chased the boat after spotting suspicious activity.

“The boat escaped by speeding into a narrow, shallow river. Darkness made it hard for patrol boats to approach, so a land team was sent to intercept the group,” he said at a press conference today.

Kamal said the search led to the arrest of 16 individuals, aged 16 to 51, along the riverbank.

He said a 36-year-old local man was also arrested, suspected of transporting the migrants by land.

“Preliminary investigations found all the foreigners had worked in restaurants, eateries, and construction across the country before being smuggled by syndicates to a neighbouring nation.

“The migrants said they were charged RM3,500 each to return to Myanmar, while the land transporter earned RM250 per trip,” he added.

All suspects were taken to Kelantan Maritime Headquarters for further investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1959/63 for migrant smuggling and lacking valid travel documents. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — The trial of former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on charges of abuse of position involving bribes totalling RM232.5 million and receiving RM200 million in proceeds from illegal activities will begin tomorrow at the High Court, here.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the proceedings will commence at 9am before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin. 

“The trial will begin with the prosecution presenting an opening statement outlining the charges and evidence against the accused, and two witnesses are expected to testify tomorrow,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

On November 10 last year, Judge Noor Ruwena set 29 days to hear the case. They are March 9 to 11; April 13, 16, 28 and 29; May 25 and 26; July 6 to 10, 13 to 17 and 27 to 29 July, and continuing on August 17 to 21,  26 and 27, 2026.

The prosecution is expected to call 30 witnesses to testify.

On October 7 last year, the Attorney General’s Chambers dismissed Muhyiddin’s representation to drop seven charges against him.

Muhyiddin, 78, who was then prime minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president, was charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM232.5 million in relation to the Jana Wibawa Project from three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, as well as Datuk Azman Yusoff for the party.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and August 20, 2021.

The Pagoh MP was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law.

The section provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

He also faces three counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities totalling RM200 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into Bersatu’s Ambank and CIMB Bank accounts at the bank’s branches in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022.

The charge was made under Section 4(1)(b) read with Section 87(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same act and carries imprisonment for up to 15 years and is also liable to a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds from illegal activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction. — Bernama

MELBOURNE, March 8 — George Russell kept his cool to win a frantic season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday from Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli after a thrilling battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

The pole-sitting Briton took the chequered flag by 2.974secs in Melbourne with Leclerc third and Lewis Hamilton fourth in a race that tested Formula One’s new-look cars for the first time in competitive conditions.

World champion Lando Norris came fifth – 51 seconds adrift – in his McLaren with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a sensational sixth after starting from 20th following a crash in qualifying.

But there was disaster for home hero Oscar Piastri, who crashed on his out-lap to the grid and failed to start with major damage to his McLaren.

With the virtual safety car repeatedly brought out, pre-season favourite Russell stayed calm to clock a sixth Grand Prix win and his first since Singapore last year.

“Feeling incredible. It was a hell of a fight in the beginning,” said Russell. “We knew it was going to be challenging.

“I made a bad start and some really tight battles with Charles at the start. Just really glad to cross the finish line.”

Under new rules, half of every power unit now is a battery and drivers had to recharge while braking or by lifting off the throttle to avoid it draining.

The challenge of Melbourne’s 58-lap Albert Park circuit was its long sweeping straights, which deplete batteries, and relatively few twisty turns to brake and charge it up again.

Five cars failed to finish as they grappled with the changes, including Piastri, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

First-placed George Russell and second-placed Kimi Antonelli celebrate with the Mercedes team after the Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on March 8, 2026. — AFP pic

Strong pace

“Was not the best start we could have wished for, lost a lot of places and I had to recover,” said Italy’s Antonelli, who crashed heavily on Saturday and only just made qualifying after a major car rebuild.

“But overall was a good race, the pace was really strong especially at the end.”

In fine conditions, Haas’ Ollie Bearman was seventh and rookie Arvid Lindblad eighth in his Racing Bull. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.

“It was a very, very tricky race. None of us knew what to expect,” said Leclerc.

“It has been quite challenging. It looked like Mercedes had a bit more pace than us today.”

When the lights turned green Leclerc, on medium tyres, got a jump on Russell while Antonelli, who started second, slid down to seventh.

Hamilton also had a flying start for Ferrari and surged to third, ahead of Hadjar.

Russell immediately hit back, reclaiming the lead on lap two before Leclerc responded a lap later to go first again as they and Hamilton began pulling clear.

It morphed into a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle at the front, with the lead changing hands three times on lap eight as Russell and Leclerc fought for supremacy.

The virtual safety car came out on lap 12 when Hadjar’s car stopped with Russell and Antonelli pitting and coming back on hards.

Leclerc and Hamilton stayed out and when they resumed the Ferraris were 10 seconds clear of Russell, with Lindblad, Antonelli and Verstappen making up the top six.

The virtual safety car was again deployed when Bottas retired with Russell eight seconds behind the Scuderia when they got going again.

With his tyres starting to wear, Leclerc pitted on lap 26 but Hamilton stayed out and was passed by Russell before coming in.

Russell radioed that he thought a one-stop race was viable and he began pulling clear, with Antonelli second.

And there was no way back for the Ferraris, who were 15 seconds behind and barely made a dent in the Mercedes advantage in the second half of the race.

The season moves to China next weekend before Japan. Rounds four and five are scheduled for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia but are under threat given the war in Iran. — AFP

COLOMBO, March 8 — Sri Lanka discharged 22 Iranian crew from the hospital who were plucked from life rafts after their warship was sunk by a US submarine, officials said today

The crew had been treated at Karapitiya Hospital in the southern port city of Galle since Wednesday after the IRIS Dena was torpedoed just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

The attack on Dena was the first military strike far outside the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran a week ago.

Those discharged overnight had been taken to a beach resort in the same district, as Sri Lanka’s navy ended its search on Sunday for survivors from the vessel. Just over 60 people remain missing, according to an official Sri Lankan estimate.

“Another 10 are still undergoing treatment,” a medical officer at the hospital told AFP. He said the bodies of 84 Iranians retrieved from the Indian Ocean were also at the hospital.

Sri Lanka has denied claims that it was under pressure from Washington to stop the Iranians from returning home, saying Colombo would be guided solely by international law and its own domestic legislation.

The survivors from the Dena were being handled according to international humanitarian law, and the government had contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance, officials said.

The island is also providing safe haven for another 219 Iranian sailors from a second ship, the IRIS Bushehr, which was allowed to enter Sri Lankan waters after the Dena was sunk.

The crew from the Bushehr have been moved to a Sri Lanka Navy camp at Welisara, just north of the capital Colombo, and their vessel has been taken over by Sri Lanka’s navy.

Sri Lanka announced it was taking the Bushehr to the north-eastern port of Trincomalee, but an engine failure and other technical and administrative issues had delayed the movement, a navy spokesman said.

Pressure denied 

A US State Department spokesperson said the disposition of the Bushehr personnel and Iranian crew rescued at sea was up to Sri Lanka.

“The United States, of course, respects and recognises Sri Lanka’s sovereignty in the handling of this situation,” the spokesperson told AFP in Washington.

India, meanwhile, said Saturday that it had allowed a third Iranian warship, the IRIS Lavan, to dock in one of its ports on “humane” grounds after it too reported engine problems.

“I think it was the humane thing to do, and I think we were guided by that principle,” Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Saturday.

The three ships were part of a multinational naval exercise held by India before the war in the Middle East started last week.

The Lavan docked in the south-west Indian port of Kochi on Wednesday. “A lot of the people on board were young cadets. They have disembarked and are in a nearby facility,” Jaishankar said.

Sri Lankan authorities meanwhile reported an oil slick at another nearby beach resort and said about 50 workers and volunteers had been deployed for a clean-up, while boats were being sent to check for more pollution.

“We saw a thin oil patch at Hikkaduwa beach yesterday,” said Samantha Gunasekara, chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).

He added that parts of a damaged life raft, an barrel of lubricants and footwear had washed ashore, and officials were trying to establish if they were from the sunk Dena. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — A four-wheel-drive vehicle carrying two men suspected of cable theft crashed into a house in Baling, Kedah, early today while fleeing police during a cross-state chase that began in Perak.

Gerik district police chief Superintendent Abdul Samad Othman said police received a tip-off from the public at about 9.25pm yesterday about suspected cable theft activity in Kampung Star Kecil, Kerunai.

A patrol car unit from the Pengkalan Hulu district police headquarters later spotted the suspects’ Mitsubishi Triton at about 11.38pm near the Taman 1Malaysia junction.

“The MPV unit then pursued the vehicle before being joined by officers from the Gerik district police headquarters who assisted in the operation,” he said in a statement today.

The suspects fled along Jalan Gerik-Kupang before entering the Baling area in Kedah.

During the chase, one of the suspects threw several objects — including cutting tools, nails and cables — at the pursuing police vehicle in an apparent attempt to obstruct the operation.

At about 12.30am, the suspects’ vehicle lost control and crashed into a house in Kampung Parit Panjang.

The homeowner, who lives with his mother and younger sister, was not injured in the incident. The suspects fled the scene immediately after the crash.

Police later recovered 20 rolls of telecommunications cable, a Realme mobile phone, three cable cutters and a crowbar inside the vehicle, believed to have been used in the theft.

Abdul Samad said the vehicle used by the suspects had been rented, and efforts are ongoing to locate the two men.

The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft and Section 186 for obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duties.

SEOUL, March 8 — Actor Rowoon has been confirmed as the newest storyteller for the Defence Media Agency’s KFN Plus series That Day in the Military.

The announcement follows the removal of all videos featuring singer‑actor Cha Eun‑woo from the platform after tax evasion allegations.

According to the Hankook Ilbo, Rowoon, who is currently serving in the military, “has confirmed his appearance as a storyteller in That Day’s Military Story and is preparing for filming.”

The programme features celebrities on active duty narrating military history and profiles, with past appearances from Song Kang and NCT’s Taeyong. Cha Eun‑woo had joined the line‑up last year, appearing in four episodes before the content was taken down.

Rowoon enlisted as an active‑duty soldier on October 27, 2025, after a re‑examination cleared him for service. His agency FNC Entertainment later shared a photo of him in uniform captioned “Private Kim Seok‑woo”, his real name.

KANGAR, March 8 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) early yesterday morning seized nearly 16,500 e-cigarette devices worth over RM500,000 at the Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) jetty in Kuala Sanglang, believed to be destined for smuggling to a neighbouring country.

Kedah and Perlis Maritime director, First Admiral Romli Mustafa, explained that this seizure followed the interception of a lorry at 1.15 am, based on intelligence from the Kedah, Perlis, Kuala Perlis, and Kuala Kedah maritime zones.

“Checks revealed the vehicle, driven by a man with two local male workers aged 19 to 47, was carrying 56 brown boxes holding nearly 16,500 vape devices of various kinds.

“The devices are believed to have been intended for smuggling to a neighbouring country via a fiberglass boat waiting at the river mouth,” he said at a press conference at Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone today.

Romli said the lorry and the three men were taken to the Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone office, with the case investigated under Sections 135(1)(a) and (d) of the Customs Act 1967.

He said authorities will take a tough stance on smuggling, stepping up patrols and enforcement in national waters ahead of the festive season. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim congratulated national track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang for winning the gold medal in the keirin event at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup series in Perth, Australia, yesterday.

In a Facebook post today, Anwar expressed hope that the rider, nicknamed ‘The Pocket Rocketman’, would continue to excel and bring more success to the country in upcoming tournaments.

Mohd Azizulhasni delivered a powerful ride in the event to edge past Matthew Richardson of Great Britain at the finish line, clocking 9.862 seconds, while the bronze medal went to home rider Leigh Hoffman. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — The Court of Appeal will decide tomorrow on the government’s appeal against a High Court’s decision that allowed a judicial review regarding a pension increase for retirees based on their final salary according to the 2016 Public Services Department Circular, effective January 2022.

A three-member bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Judges Datuk Lim Chong Fong, Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli and Datuk Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid will deliver the verdict at 9am.

On September 9, 2025, the panel heard submissions from senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly @ Arwi, representing the government and the Public Service Department (PSD) director-general, while counsels Datuk Baljit Singh Sindhu and Datuk Abd Shukor Ahmad representing retired civil servant Aminah Ahmad.

Aminah, who retired as a civil servant with the Foreign Ministry, filed the judicial review application on January 12, 2024 in her capacity and on behalf of 56 retired members of the public service.

On January 16, 2025, High Court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh, when allowing the judicial review by Aminah, ordered the PSD director-general and the government to pay the arrears within three months from the date of the judgment (January 16).

However, on March 4, 2025, Judge Amarjeet allowed the government’s application to stay the payment of pension arrears to 531,976 pensioners amounting to RM1.7 billion, pending the disposal of its appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Aminah was seeking a mandamus order to compel the respondents to expedite the pension adjustments to the qualifying amount following the formula contained in Sections 3 and 6 of the Pensions Adjustment Act 1980 (PAA 1980) before amendments were made under Sections 3 and 7 of the Pensions Adjustment Act (Amendment) 2013 (PAA 2013).

She also sought an order for the respondents to pay the pension arrears within 14 days, in addition to a declaratory order stating that the failure to pay violates the Federal Constitution.

Under the old scheme, the retiree’s pension is revised based on the prevailing salary of incumbent civil servants in that grade. However, the 2013 amendment was introduced based on a flat rate of two per cent annual increment.

Aminah initially lost her case at the High Court in 2020. She then appealed to the Court of Appeal, which decided in her favour. The government and the PSD director-general obtained leave to appeal in 2023.

On June 27, 2023, the Federal Court affirmed the Court of Appeal’s decision that declared the amended pension null and void. The five-member bench also dismissed the appeal by the government and the PSD director-general to overturn the appellate court’s decision. — Bernama

KUCHING, March 8 — The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development will determine the appropriate next steps after investigations into three minors detained in Peninsular Malaysia over alleged online terrorism-related activities by the police are concluded.

Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said any intervention would depend on verified findings from the authorities.

She noted the case falls under the jurisdiction of laws governing children and must follow established legal procedures.

“We will look at what is being implemented by the police because they are detained under the Child Act 2001,” she said when met after the Program Shopping Raya Pekema Sarawak Bersama Anak-Anak Asnaf Dan Anak Yatim at a shopping mall here on Sunday.

Nancy said the ministry would review the outcome of police investigations before deciding whether counselling or other forms of assistance are necessary.

“We will look first before we say we want to provide counselling, because we have to know what exactly is the concern there,” she said.

She added that if counselling were to be provided, it would involve professionals trained in areas relevant to the alleged offences.

“If we want to send counsellors, they must be trained in the relevant field related to the alleged offences. So we will look into it.

“Indeed, we have various ways to help, but we have not yet seen what has been investigated and what the situation is,” she said.

Nancy stressed that any action must comply with the law, particularly as the detainees are under 18.

“What is certain is that the police must carry out their duties in accordance with the law. They have to abide by it because they are 18 and below. There are certain regulations that must be followed,” she said.

On whether the ministry would engage with the police, she said cooperation is part of standard procedure.

“Usually that is what will happen, where we will collaborate with the police and ask what they require. They have to advise us from the perspective of the case,” she said.

Nancy also said decisions would be based on confirmed information rather than media or social media reports.

“Even though we see it on social media and read it in the media, we still have to verify and find out what the actual offence is and how it was posted on social media. That must be addressed first before we act. We should not act arbitrarily,” she said.

When asked whether decisions, including custody arrangements, would depend on the investigation outcome, she confirmed that they would.

According to police, six men, including three minors aged between 16 and 21, were detained in raids conducted in February in the Klang Valley, Kedah, Johor and Terengganu in connection with suspected online extremist activities linked to the Islamic State.

Police said investigations include alleged involvement in extremist ideology, propaganda dissemination, recruitment activities and planning of attacks. Several items were seized during the operation.

The case is being investigated under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code and related security laws. Police said the operation was conducted in accordance with legal procedures, including provisions under the Child Act 2001 and international child protection standards.

Police have urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities and behavioural changes, noting that radicalisation can begin through digital platforms. Authorities said further action will depend on the progress and outcome of investigations. — The Borneo Post

MACHANG, March 8 — The Road Transport Department (RTD) will deploy high-specification drones to monitor road users in Kelantan during this year’s Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the drones are capable of recording and storing videos and images from long distances to identify individuals committing traffic offences. 

He said RTD personnel have undergone training and possess valid licences to operate the drones and the move is being implemented in Kelantan first before being expanded to other states.

“We will begin using these drones starting March 13 to monitor the public’s journey back to their hometowns, and motorists who commit offences can be penalised via Notice 114,” he said after the launch of the JPJvBID App and Sahur Stop programme at the Labok Enforcement Station here early today.

He explained that since amendments to the electronic summons bill have yet to be finalised, offenders will be issued Notice 114 to attend an interview session and shown evidence from the drone recordings. 

“If they fail to show up, then we issue a summons,” he said.

Meanwhile, RTD also launched the JPJvBID app for the online management of public auctions of seized and forfeited vehicles, as a strategic move to enhance transparency, efficiency, and integrity in vehicle disposal management.

RTD Selangor will conduct a pilot auction, featuring 30 vehicles comprising motorcycles, cars, and scrap vehicles. 

Physical vehicle inspections will no longer be permitted, and bidders must base their bids solely on images provided in the app.

The JPJvBID app will be available for download from March 10 via Play Store, Apple App Store, and Huawei App Gallery, using an existing MyJPJ ID or new registration on the RTD portal.

Bidding e-catalogues can be purchased from March 18 at RM50 per series, with the first auction session scheduled for April 1 to 5.

He expressed confidence that the initiative will strengthen integrity in seized vehicle management and improve service delivery efficiency. — Bernama

GEORGE TOWN, March 8 — Police have confirmed the arrest of an individual allegedly linked to threats against independent preacher Zamri Vinoth.

Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said a man in his 20s was detained in Bukit Mertajam early this morning.

He said police received a report from Zamri at the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters.

“The suspect is being held to assist with the investigation under Sections 506 and 427 of the Penal Code,” he told Bernama today.

Azizee said the investigation is ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the incident.

Yesterday, Zamri posted a 19-second Facebook video showing his vehicle being approached by a motorcycle with two men, followed by others, before colliding with it.

The incident is believed to be linked to the preacher’s remarks about a small house of worship near a hospital in the state. — Bernama

KOTA KINABALU, March 8 — The state government will not tolerate illegal cigarette sellers operating in areas under local authorities across Sabah, particularly those who behave aggressively or like gangsters.

State Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Fairuz Renddan said strict action would be taken to eradicate such activities and ensure they do not continue in any local council area.

“We will crack down, remove them all, and will not allow such gangster elements to set foot and sell their cigarettes that are clearly illegal in any local authority areas — not only in Sandakan, but throughout the state,” he said in a statement.

Fairuz said a recent incident in Sandakan was unacceptable, adding that the ministry would begin taking stronger enforcement measures to prevent such groups from continuing their illegal cigarette sales.

The statement follows a viral video circulating on TikTok, shared by the account ‘Sandakan Viral Kini’, which allegedly showed an enforcement officer injured after being assaulted by a group of men behaving aggressively.

The incident is believed to have occurred after the officer advised a cigarette seller not to sell cigarettes in the Batu 8 Market area in Sandakan at around 2.30pm on Thursday.

According to Fairuz, offences related to the sale of illegal and smuggled cigarettes fall under the jurisdiction of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.

However, he said the ministry would intensify its own efforts to curb such activities within areas under local councils.

“We want to remind all illegal cigarette sellers in local council areas throughout Sabah to stop immediately. Do not act smart or behave like gangsters when officers advise you.

“What you are doing is an offence and you should comply with the warning given. Instead, you acted as if you own the area and even assaulted an officer who was carrying out his duty.

“Do not repeat such incidents again. I remind you, do not attempt to repeat such actions,” he stressed.

Fairuz added that the ministry remains committed to ensuring safety and harmony in all local authority areas, and those who disturb public order will face appropriate action.

“Public spaces should be safe, harmonious and peaceful as people go about their daily routines as long as they do not violate any state or national laws.

“If there are individuals who are selfish, trying to act like heroes, claiming to be the ‘owners’ of an area, and worse still assaulting our officers on duty, we will not turn a blind eye or allow it to happen,” he said. — The Borneo Post

TEHRAN, March 8 — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Sunday that the country’s forces could fight an intense war for six months against the United States and Israel, which said it struck Tehran’s commanders at a seaside hotel in the heart of Beirut.

As the conflict spilled into its second week, the regional repercussions spiralled, with Saudi Arabia intercepting a wave of drones headed for targets including the diplomatic quarter in capital Riyadh and Kuwait saying an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport.

The strike on Kuwait’s aviation fuel storage compounded fears over energy supplies with the country’s national oil company also announcing a cut in crude production over threats to the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil and gas transit.

Tehran accused the US and Israel of striking an oil depot in the Iranian capital on Saturday, the first reported assault on the Islamic republic’s oil infrastructure as stock markets have slumped and crude prices surged.

The Israeli military said it struck “a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran” that were used “to operate military infrastructure”.

Israel’s military also launched a new wave of strikes “across Tehran” on Sunday, after carrying out a precision strike targeting “key commanders” in the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, at a hotel in an area of central Beirut popular with tourists.

Lebanon’s health ministry said the strike killed at least four people at the hotel, where an AFP photographer saw shattered windows and charred walls.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press on with the war against Iran “with all our force”, with a plan to eradicate the country’s leadership after joint US-Israeli raids killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week, sparking the regional conflict.

Despite the threat, the Revolutionary Guards said SundaOKy that the Islamic republic’s forces could wage an “intense war” for six months at the current speed of fighting.

Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran had so far used “first and second generation” missiles, but will use “advanced and less-used long-range missiles” in the coming days.

A US Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware on March 7, 2026. — Getty Images/AFP pic

‘Trapped’

The widening reach of the war and Iran’s ability to inflict damage and harm were underscored by US President Donald Trump attending the return of six American service members killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait last Sunday.

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani accused the Trump administration of seeking to replicate a scenario similar to Venezuela where it ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.

“Their perception was that it would be like Venezuela – they would strike, take control and it would be over – but now they are trapped,” he said in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on state TV on Saturday.

Iran’s hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei also warned Middle East neighbours which are “openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy” that “the heavy attacks on these targets will continue”.

Tehran had vowed to go after US assets in the region, and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Sunday all reported new attacks.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted more than a dozen drones while Qatar said Iran fired two cruise missiles and 10 ballistic missiles at the country on Saturday.

UAE forces were intercepting incoming missile and drones from Iran, the defence ministry said in a post on X.

On Saturday, video footage showed one projectile crashing at Dubai airport, while AFP journalists heard blasts in Iraq’s Baghdad and Erbil on Saturday evening.

Inside Iran, damage to infrastructure and residential areas is mounting as its people report growing anxiety and a heavy security presence.

“I don’t think anyone who hasn’t experienced war would understand it,” a 26-year-old teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Iran’s health ministry said Friday at least 926 civilians had been killed and around 6,000 wounded – figures AFP could not independently verify.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike targeted an area in Beirut’s southern suburbs on March 7, 2026. — AFP pic

Air supremacy

Israel launched strikes on a Hezbollah bastion in the southern suburbs of Beirut, after Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war this week when the militant group attacked Israel with rockets and drones in response to Khamenei’s death.

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 294 people have died in Israeli air strikes over the past week, prompting Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to warn of a looming “humanitarian disaster”.

The fresh Israeli strikes came after it launched some of its largest raids in Iran since the war began on Saturday, targeting a military academy, an underground command centre and missile storage sites.

Netanyahu said Israel had achieved almost total control of the skies over the Iranian capital.

Trump struck a similarly defiant tone, repeating the claim that Iran had been close to developing a nuclear weapon.

He also suggested US troops could eventually be needed to secure Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.

Separately, he blamed Iran for what the country’s authorities said was a deadly strike on an elementary school in Minab last Saturday that killed at least 150 people. Iran has blamed Washington for the strike.

Neither the US nor Israel has claimed responsibility for the attack and AFP could not independently verify the circumstances.

Israeli security forces and emergency personnel stand next to the wreckage of cars at a site struck by a projectile in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv on March 3, 2026. — AFP pic

No clear way out

Analysts warn there is still no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials say could last a month or longer.

Trump has suggested Iran’s economy could be rebuilt if a leader “acceptable” to Washington replaces the late supreme leader, which Tehran has rejected.

China and Russia have largely stayed on the sidelines despite close ties with Tehran.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said on Sunday that the war in the Middle East should “never have happened”.

“This is a war that should never have happened,” he told a press conference in Beijing, adding that “a strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle.” — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — An actress and her husband, who were previously detained over a land grant sale scam, are also being investigated in a separate case involving a fake state honour scheme that caused losses of about RM23,000.

Seremban district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azahar Abdul Rahim said police received a report on the case on December 18 last year.

“The report concerns a fraud scheme involving the offer of a non-existent Terengganu state honour, which resulted in losses amounting to RM23,120.

“The victim is a man who is also a retired government officer. He was allegedly offered assistance by a local man to obtain a Terengganu state honour carrying the title ‘Datuk’,” he said in a statement today.

Azahar said the victim is believed to have made six payments described as processing fees between January and November 2025, resulting in total losses of RM23,120.

“In this case, two individuals — a man and a woman — have been arrested to assist investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating,” he said.

He advised the public to be cautious and not to easily believe offers of state honours that do not exist, urging people to verify such claims with the relevant authorities before making any payments.

Media reports yesterday said the actress and her husband had their remand extended to facilitate questioning in another fraud case involving a different victim.

Earlier, the actress was arrested at a hideout in a tahfiz religious school in Hulu Langat last Wednesday.

Azahar previously said the arrest followed a police report lodged by a 56-year-old businessman, who claimed he had been cheated in a Selangor land grant lot sale, suffering losses of about RM1.5 million.

Earlier, it was also reported that a beauty product entrepreneur had claimed to be a victim of a scam allegedly involving the actress and her husband, with losses reaching hundreds of thousands of ringgit.

BEIJING, March 8 — China’s top diplomat condemned on Sunday the war in the Middle East and urged the United States to iron out its differences with Beijing.

Wang Yi told a press conference in the Chinese capital that the war, which was sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, “should never have happened”.

“A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle,” he told reporters.

He made the comments during China’s annual political gathering, known as the “Two Sessions”, which began this week.

The parallel meetings of China’s parliament and political consultative body are closely watched for signals as to Chinese leaders’ geopolitical strategy, as tensions with the United States and regional rivals persist and wars in the Middle East and Ukraine rage.

“This year is indeed a big year for Sino-US relations,” Wang said.

Ties between China and the United States have been strained since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, followed by a trade war that saw the two countries impose tit-for-tat tariffs on each other’s products.

Beijing has previously blasted US and Israeli military actions in Iran, with which it has diplomatic and trade ties, and condemned in particular the killing of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Wang told reporters on Sunday that China and the United States must “make careful preparations, create a suitable environment, manage existing differences, and eliminate unnecessary interference”.

He also maintained that China’s relations with Moscow, which have been criticised by Western countries as sustaining the war in Ukraine, remained “steadfast and unshakeable”.

“Amidst the turbulent and complex international environment, China-Russia relations remain steadfast and unshakable,” he said. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Voice370, the support group representing the next-of-kin of those on board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 urged the Malaysian government to extend its “No Find, No Fee” search agreement and to consider other capable deep-sea exploration companies under the same framework.

In a statement today, the group expressed its gratitude for the government’s decision in January last year to enter into a “No Find, No Fee” agreement with Ocean Infinity (OI) to undertake a renewed search in the southern Indian Ocean

“We were grateful to the Malaysian government for accepting this offer, and to OI for its willingness to undertake such an arduous mission without certainty of reward,” the statement said.

The statement said that, according to a search update provided to the Malaysian next-of-kin, the Transport Ministry informed families that OI has covered approximately 7,571 square kilometres (sq km) of its planned core search area under the current contract.

“A further 7.500 sq km surveyed prior to the formal signing of the contract. No significant discoveries were made before the vessel had to redeploy for other work,” the statement said.

Voice370 said that although the contract runs until this June, it appears unlikely that OI will be able to return soon to complete the remaining search areas due to the approaching winter months and deteriorating sea conditions.

“This is a “No Find, No Fee” search. The government pays nothing unless the aircraft is found. Any request by OI to extend the search contract should therefore be granted without hesitation.

“A simple addendum extending the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement would allow the search to continue without delay,” it said.

The group said it remains grateful to all who contributed expertise, time as well as resources to solve the mystery and deeply appreciates the outreach to families and the world, and will always be indebted to those who worked tirelessly in the search.

“Above all, we remember the 239 passengers and crew of MH370, whose absence continues to be felt every single day by the families and loved ones they left behind,” it said, adding that they will never give up the fight for answers.

The group also paid their tribute to Jacquita Gonzales, a dedicated member of Voice370 who passed away last April, describing her as a tireless advocate whose commitment to the search would never be forgotten.

Flight MH370 disappeared while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, in one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries. — Bernama

WASHINGTON, March 8 — An Ultimate Fighting Championship event to be staged on the White House’s South Lawn in June will he headlined by Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, the UFC announced Saturday.

The lightweight championship clash will top a bill of six fights set to take place on the US Flag Day holiday and the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump, who is an avowed UFC fan.

The June 14 event has been dubbed “UFC Freedom 250,” in reference to the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations this summer.

Topuria is one of the UFC’s top rated fighters and a double-weight champion who has won all 17 of his fights.

A former featherweight champion, he earned the lightweight belt last year by knocking out Brazil’s Charles Oliveira before temporarily stepping away from the sport for personal reasons.

Born in Germany to Georgian refugee parents, Topuria moved to Spain as a teenager, and has both Georgian and Spanish citizenship.

In Topuria’s UFC absence, Arizona native Gaethje won an interim lightweight title, but will now have a chance to capture the undisputed championship.

The 37-year-old American has a 27-5 record in UFC.

Trump has said a stadium for more than 100,000 people would be constructed in front of the White House for the fight, although organizers have since said the event is expected to host some 3,000 to 4,000 people at the heart of Washington DC.

Large screens to view the event are expected to be raised in other places near the White House for larger crowds to watch the show.

The event was originally announced for July 4, which is Independence Day in the US, before being moved to Trump’s birthday.

The Republican president has also unveiled plans for an IndyCar race on the streets of Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence.

UFC is the largest and most successful organization in the burgeoning world of MMA, a blend of martial arts disciplines like jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, boxing and wrestling.

Bouts take place in an eight-sided ring – dubbed “The Octagon” – bounded by a chainlink fence.

With few exceptions – such as eye-gouging – male and female fighters are allowed to employ almost any technique to attack their opponent.

The sport’s popularity with young men – a key demographic in the 2024 US election – and Trump’s long association with the UFC have made the president a regular fixture at some of its more high-profile events, where he is greeted like a rock star.

Its brutal nature and high injury rate mean the sport is controversial, with doctors decrying the potential for brain damage amongst fighters who are repeatedly hit in the head, though it has gained increasing mainstream acceptance in recent years. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — A dispute between two e-hailing drivers over a parking space at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has been settled amicably, police said, after the altercation — which briefly turned into a fistfight — went viral on social media.

According to Utusan Malaysia, KLIA district police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Ravi said the incident occurred at the E-Hailing Long Term Car Park (LTCP) at KLIA on March 4 and was recorded by a member of the public.

Police confirmed receiving a report regarding the incident.

“Preliminary investigations found that the incident involved two local men aged 50 and 34 who had a misunderstanding over a parking bay,” he said when contacted today by the national daily.

Ravi said both men have since had their statements recorded to assist in the investigation.

However, he said the two individuals later discussed the matter and agreed to resolve the dispute amicably.

“The complainant who lodged the police report also decided that he does not want the police to pursue further investigation into the case,” he said.

Ravi advised the public not to take matters into their own hands and urged them to report any disputes involving parking in public areas to the authorities.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — A Thai national was killed while two Malaysians were injured after the four-wheel-drive they were travelling in was rammed by an express bus at a traffic light junction near Kilometre 42 of Jalan Pekan–Kuantan early this morning.

According to Utusan Malaysia, Pekan district police chief Superintendent Mohd Zaidi Mat Zin said the incident was reported at about 2.53am, when a Mitsubishi Triton travelling from Pulau Serai towards Pekan had stopped at the traffic lights.

“Suddenly, an express bus carrying 24 passengers came from behind and crashed into the vehicle carrying the victims,” he said.

The victim, Hosneeamree, 24, a Thai national who was seated in the rear of the Mitsubishi Triton, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the four-wheel-drive, Muhammad Shafwan Abdullah Aziz, 29, a soldier, suffered abdominal injuries, while the front passenger, Mohamad Asri Mohamad Yusoff, 36, a labourer, sustained head injuries.

“The bus driver and all passengers on the express bus were not injured,” Mohd Zaidi said when contacted today.

He said the two injured victims were taken to Hospital Pekan for treatment, while the deceased was also sent to the same hospital for a post-mortem examination.

“Initial investigations found that the accident was believed to have been caused by negligence on the part of the bus driver,” he said.

He added that the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today paid tribute to women across the country in conjunction with International Women’s Day, describing them as the backbone of families, pillars of society and key drivers of the nation’s progress.

In a Facebook post marking the occasion, Anwar said the strength of families and communities often rests on the sacrifices and resilience of women.

“Women are the lifeblood of families, the pillars of society and key drivers of the nation’s progress,” he said.

He said behind strong families and harmonious communities lies the unwavering dedication of women who continue to give their love and support in pursuit of a better future.

“Behind strong families and a harmonious society lies the sacrifice, resilience and wisdom of women who tirelessly pour out their love for a better future,” he said.

The prime minister also expressed personal appreciation for the women in his own life, particularly his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their children.

“On a personal note, I deeply appreciate the sacrifices of the women in my own life, especially Azizah and our children, who have always been a source of strength, patience and support throughout this journey of struggle,” he said.

Anwar said the same strength can be seen in women across Malaysia — from mothers and daughters to educators, caregivers and community leaders — many of whom work quietly behind the scenes to support their families and society.

“Indeed, that same strength is reflected in millions of women across the country — mothers, wives, daughters, educators, caregivers and community leaders who quietly strive every day for their families and for the nation we love,” he said.

In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Anwar called on Malaysians to recognise women’s contributions and ensure they continue to be respected, empowered and given fair opportunities to contribute to the country’s development.

“You are the strength, the hope and the future of the nation,” he said.

MELBOURNE, March 8 — Home hero Oscar Piastri Sunday sensationally crashed on his way to the grid for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and is out of the race with major damage to his McLaren.

The Australian, who qualified fifth fastest, hit the kerb at Turn 4 and spun into the barriers.

“Oscar collided with the wall on the laps to grid. He’s okay,” McLaren said.

“Oscar’s car is being recovered from the track. Sadly he won’t start the Aus GP.”

No Australian driver has won their home race since Alan Jones in 1980, but that was a non-championship race before Australia was added to the F1 calendar in 1985. — AFP

JERLUN, March 8 — The government has approved an allocation of RM45.6 million for the development of a rice mill by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) as an initiative to help strengthen the country’s paddy and rice sector.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that the mill, which will be built in Megat Dewa, near here, reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring a more organised and competitive production chain.

“The new mill will ensure that the collection, processing and production of rice are carried out efficiently, increasing the value-added of paddy yields and providing greater benefits to farmers, particularly by reducing reliance on middlemen,” he said.

He said this at the presentation ceremony for the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP) contributions and a meeting with farmers’ leaders in the MADA area here last night.

Also present were Muda Agricultural Development Authority chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh and Agrobank group president and chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin.

Mohamad said that for 2026, MADA is targeting an average paddy yield of 6.1 tonnes per hectare through the modernisation of paddy field management, improvements to irrigation and drainage infrastructure, as well as the optimisation of agricultural input usage.

In line with this, the ministry is stepping up efforts to increase the country’s rice self-sufficiency rate (SSR) from 52.6 per cent nationwide and 58.3 per cent in Peninsular Malaysia to 70 per cent by 2030 to strengthen national food security.

“The ministry will also implement the 3M approach — build, upgrade and maintain — through the Agricultural Infrastructure Strengthening Master Plan 2026-2040, which will place special focus on the paddy subsector to address ageing infrastructure issues while strengthening production support systems,” he said.

He added that this year, his ministry will focus on maintaining irrigation and drainage systems in 14 rice bowl and 13 non-rice bowl areas, targeting works along 2,000 kilometres of irrigation canals, in addition to upgrading 1,346 km of agricultural roads to ensure smooth production and logistics in the agricultural sector.

“The overall direction this year is focused on ensuring that the country’s agriculture and agri-food sectors remain sovereign, resilient and capable of facing future uncertainties,” he said. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Police have urged parents to keep tabs on their children at night after a pre-dawn traffic operation in the capital netted mostly teenage riders.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement deputy chief Supt Suffian Abdullah said riders aged between 15 and 21 made up the largest group during the integrated operation, which ran from 8pm to 5am.

He said approximately 2,000 vehicles were inspected, resulting in 797 summonses being issued in the operation along Jalan Pahang, Jalan Genting Kelang and Jalan Semarak.

“Eighty motorcycles were also seized for suspected modification offences and for not meeting specified requirements,” he told reporters here early this morning.

Suffian said a 19-year-old boy was also detained for having a motorcycle registration number that did not meet specifications, while another rider fled the scene, leaving behind an extremely modified motorcycle.

He noted there were also cases of teenagers giving excuses to their parents about going out for sahur when they were actually involved in street gang activities.

“We urge parents or guardians to pay attention to their children, as some are giving false reasons to leave the house,” he said. — Bernama

KUCHING, March 8 — Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS)’s plan to contest several seats in the next Sarawak state election, including Beting Maro, should take into account fairness and balanced representation among the state’s diverse communities, said Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

The Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women’s Wing vice chief, said fairness must be considered in any discussion on electoral contests in Sarawak, given the state’s vast size and multi-ethnic composition.

“It would be good if it is even and fair. That is what I can say — fairness must be given to the constituencies because we have a very large state and must take into account the many ethnic groups and communities in Sarawak,” she told reporters after attending the ‘Program Shopping Raya Pekema Sarawak Bersama Anak-anak Asnaf dan Anak Yatim’ at a shopping mall here on Sunday.

Nancy was responding to questions on reports that Sarawak PAS has expressed interest in contesting several seats in the upcoming state election, including Beting Maro, and whether she had any views on PAS potentially contesting constituencies currently held by PBB.

She said the matter would be better addressed by PBB’s top leadership, as she did not have detailed information on PAS’ plans.

“The best people to answer this are still the PBB top leaders because I do not have much information about it,” she said.

Nancy also recalled that the late former chief minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud had emphasised the importance of balanced representation when allocating seats.

“When you distribute the seats, make sure everyone is represented equally. The same goes for the Malays, Iban and Bidayuh. Even within the Bidayuh community, there are groups such as Selako and others.

“What is important is ensuring that constituencies represent all communities. The Chinese community is the same because everyone needs representation,” she said.

Given Sarawak’s size — nearly comparable to Peninsular Malaysia — she stressed that fairness in representation is essential to ensure all communities are included in the political process.

According to reports, Sarawak PAS plans to contest at least four seats in the upcoming state election, including Beting Maro.

Its state commissioner Arifiriazul Paijo previously contested the seat in the 2021 state election but lost to Razaili Gapor of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) by 1,711 votes.

PAS currently holds no seats in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. In the 2021 election, the party contested only Beting Maro, while GPS secured 76 of the 82 seats in a landslide victory.

On Sarawak’s requests to the federal government, Nancy said the state is not asking for more than it rightfully deserves.

“We are not here to ask for too much. Some comments suggest that Sarawak is asking for more than it should. That is not the case.

“Sarawak is only asking for what we are entitled to, to facilitate administrative matters and to help the people. We have every right to make these requests so that they can be considered in a fair and just manner,” she said. — The Borneo Post

SEMPORNA, March 8 — Five houses, three shops, and a kindergarten were destroyed in a fire at Kampung Air here on Friday.

Semporna Fire and Rescue Station chief, PPgB Rastam Bin Keladi, said the department received a distress call reporting the fire at 3.43pm. 

Twelve firefighters from the Semporna Fire and Rescue Station were deployed in two fire engines and an EMRS vehicle.

The operation was reinforced by six firefighters from the Semporna Over-water Fire and Rescue Station and another six from the Kunak Fire and Rescue Station, both arriving with a fire engine and a boat.

Upon arrival, the operation commander confirmed that multiple houses and premises had been affected.

“Five non-permanent houses, a non-permanent grocery shop, a non-permanent food stall, a non-permanent bundle (second-hand clothes) shop, and a kindergarten (non-operating since 2017) were completely destroyed. The fire also caused about 10 per cent damage to a nearby house. The team conducted firefighting operations using two 600-feet streams and four sprouts, sourcing water from machinery and a nearby fire hydrant,” he said.

The fire was brought under control at 4.51pm, and 50 nearby houses were saved. No casualties were reported.

In Tongod, two Imam’s houses were destroyed in a separate fire at Kampung Entilibon early Friday morning, which also left three family members injured while trying to escape.

Kinabatangan Fire and Rescue Station chief Hairi Utoh said his team received the emergency call at 2.09am and arrived at 4.19am due to the station being 121km away.

The fire completely destroyed three houses, five vehicles, and three motorcycles, while a nearby mosque suffered heat damage. 

During the incident, Hujan Simbul, 53, and his wife Julia Ahmad, 53, sustained injuries to their neck and waist after jumping from their house to escape. Their son, Syahnizan, 20, suffered burns to the soles of his feet and face.

All three were taken by members of the public to the Entilibon Health Clinic for treatment. — Daily Express

SHAH ALAM, March 8 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, today witnessed the Selangor state flag-hoisting ceremony at the flagpole at Dataran Selangor (Selangor Square), a new landmark featuring Southeast Asia’s tallest flagpole, at 120 metres.

The arrival of His Royal Highness at 9 am was welcomed by the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah.

Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and Selangor State Secretary Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin were also present.

Sultan Sharafuddin decreed that the Jalur Gemilang be flown at the flagpole for 10 days during the annual National Day celebrations on Aug 31, as a symbol of patriotism and national unity between Selangor and other states in Malaysia.

The Ruler said that when he conceived the construction of the flagpole, he expressed hope that it would serve as a symbol of unity for the people of Selangor, while also fostering respect for the flag and strengthening the spirit of love for the state.

“I chose March 8, 2026, as the date for the inauguration of this flagpole, in conjunction with the birthday of my late father, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj.

“My late father was the most important figure in the development of Shah Alam, and in proclaiming it the capital of Selangor in 1978,” Sultan Sharafuddin said.

The hoisting of the 15 metre by 30 metre flag, weighing about 50 kilogrammes, was carried out by 40 personnel from the Royal Malaysian Navy, led by Petty Officer PWP Samsul Hashim.

At the same ceremony, Sultan Sharafuddin also witnessed the presentation of the Malaysia Book of Records certificate, recognising the tallest flagpole in South-east Asia to Ahmad Fadzli, representing the state government.

The flagpole at Dataran Selangor, located at Kelab Shah Alam, Section 13, Shah Alam, surpasses the record previously held by the Ibu Pertiwi Flagpole in Kuching, Sarawak, which stands at 99.4 metres, and had received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records in 2024.

The construction of the flagpole was inspired by and carried out following the decree of Sultan Sharafuddin on December 1, 2023, expressing his wish for a tall and iconic flagpole to be built as a landmark symbol of pride for Selangor in Shah Alam.

Dataran Selangor, which houses the landmark, adopts the Bunga Tanjung Kelopak Sembilan motif as a symbol of Selangor’s identity, representing its nine districts.

The project began on September 10, 2024 and was completed on March 7, 2026 — six days ahead of schedule — at a total cost of RM8.5 million. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Malaysian actor Sharath Nair is set to excite his fans as he makes his directorial debut, with his first project expected to be released next year.

Better known as Shabby, he said preparations for his first directing project are progressing smoothly.

“Almost all the groundwork has been completed. By the end of this year, I will make an official announcement and we are targeting a release sometime next year,” he said in an exclusive interview at Wisma Bernama recently.

Popular for his acting roles in Malaysia and his early involvement in the South Indian film industry, including Kollywood, the 31-year-old actor said his transition into directing has long been part of his creative aspirations.

“I have always believed that storytelling is not just about acting. Directing allows me to bring together ideas with performance, music, visuals and emotions into a complete vision,” he added.

Beyond expanding his own career, Shabby, who hails from Batu Caves, Selangor, said the project is also aimed at creating opportunities for young talents in the creative industry.

“This project is very close to my heart because I want to give opportunities to young people not only in acting, but also across various departments such as directing, music, production and technical work,” he said.

According to him, many young people possess strong ideas and creative energy but often lack a platform to showcase their abilities.

“Young people today have many ideas and fresh perspectives. Effective Idea People is intended to be a space where they can express those ideas and turn them into something meaningful,” said Shabby, who studied visual communication at Loyola College in Chennai, India.

He added that while artificial intelligence (AI) will be incorporated into the project, it will serve only as a supporting tool rather than replacing human creativity.

“AI is certainly useful and relevant in today’s filmmaking process, but it cannot replace human emotions and intuition. Human creativity is still essential to produce something that feels authentic and complete,” he said.

Shabby expressed hope that his directorial debut would not only entertain audiences but also inspire emerging talents to pursue careers in the creative industry with confidence.

“I want this project to have a positive impact and encourage young people to believe in their ideas and realise that there is space for them in this industry,” he added.

Since 2012, Shabby has been active in Malaysian cinema, first gaining recognition through short films before making his feature film debut in Kaliyugha (2013), directed by S.T. Bala.

He has since appeared in several productions, including Pulanaivu, directed by Shalini Balasundaram.

Shabby has also expanded his presence into Malay-language films, notably appearing in Telekinesis, directed by Syafiq Yusof, demonstrating his versatility across different cinematic landscapes. — Bernama

PONTIAN, March 8 — Umno’s Rumah Bangsa initiative does not impose any conditions because it is based on the concept of “forgive and forget” to strengthen unity in the party and the struggle of the Malay race.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the initiative is a noble idea as a unifying platform to strengthen the struggle of the party and the Malay race in Umno.

“We do not impose any conditions. No one needs to apologise to anyone. We want to forgive and forget. If we want to bring up, there are many things that can be brought up, but when we keep bringing up, in the end no one will want to come back,” he told Bernama here, last night.

Ahmad Maslan, who is also a Rumah Bangsa Committee member, explained that the decision to rejoin Umno depends entirely on the individual concerned since the party is now opening its doors wide to former members who were sacked, suspended or who have previously left the struggle.

“Whoever wants to come in, come in. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. We have stated that this approach is unconditional as mentioned by the Umno president,” he said.

Last Friday, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno had opened its doors wide to any former members who had been sacked and suspended to return to the party unconditionally.

Ahmad also recalled the event in 1996 when Parti Melayu Semangat 46 was dissolved by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and all its members were readmitted into Umno en bloc unconditionally.

Ahmad Maslan who is also the Pontian Member of Parliament, said the Rumah Bangsa initiative was in line with the spirit of Ramadan which emphasises the value of forgiveness for the sake of the greater struggle.

“Perhaps they (former members) have also realised their respective mistakes. So the thorns that were once sharp may now no longer be thorny. We want to forget everything that happened in order to strengthen the party’s struggle,” he said.

In KUALA LUMPUR, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin described the Rumah Bangsa initiative as an awareness that the party is not just a political movement, but rather the most important bulwark for the survival of the Malay race.

He said Umno is a ‘big house’ established to protect and develop the race and it does not belong to anyone personally, but rather is a home for the entire Malay race.

Mohamed Khaled said if Umno were to be replaced with another house, it would not be comparable as the party’s relationship with the Malays was too deep, like blood is thicker than water.

“Umno is a platform that connects colonialism with independence. It lifts a nation from poverty to a prosperous nation and glorifies Islam as a progressive religion.

“In all its good and bad, Umno remains a bulwark that protects and preserves the dignity of the nation,” he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar was reported to have expressed his intention to rejoin the party through the Rumah Bangsa initiative. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim congratulated the national men's hockey squad, The Speedy Tigers, for successfully securing their berth at the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.

In a Facebook post today, Anwar praised the team's achievement, attributing it to their relentless hard work, high discipline and extraordinary fighting spirit, both from the players and the coaching staff.

"However, I believe there is still room for The Speedy Tigers to refine their game and enhance their performance ahead of the World Cup stage," he said.

The prime minister concluded by rallying the nation, saying, "All Malaysians will certainly continue to provide you with their unwavering support and encouragement."

This celebration comes on the back of a dramatic turn of events. On Saturday, the national squad suffered a narrow 4-5 loss to Japan in the third-place playoff of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in Ismailia, Egypt.

Despite the defeat on the pitch, Malaysia is now poised to qualify based on the latest world rankings. The team’s current world number 15 position places them above Wales (16th) and Poland (20th), both of whom were competing in the third-place playoff of another qualifying round, effectively securing Malaysia's ticket to the global tournament. — Bernama