All posts tagged: Malaysia

Johor extends school closures to Oct 16 as haze worsens

Johor extends school closures to Oct 16 as haze worsens

Published by Sam Flores

Naqib stressed that academic assessments and examinations scheduled during the closure would be postponed and rescheduled in accordance with the Johor Education Department and relevant education authorities. “Home-based teaching and learning will continue where appropriate to ensure that students’ learning is not disrupted,” he said. As of 9am on Sunday, 15 areas in Malaysia had air quality considered “unhealthy”. Of these, eight were in Johor. Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index (API) classifies air quality as “unhealthy” from 101 to 200, “very unhealthy” from 201 to 300, and “hazardous” above 300.  Naqib added that the Johor state government would continue monitoring air quality in cooperation with relevant agencies. “Any further decisions regarding the reopening of educational institutions will be announced through official channels after considering the latest air quality developments and health and safety assessments.”  Source link

Malaysia says Myanmar to take back 5,000 Rohingya refugees

Malaysia says Myanmar to take back 5,000 Rohingya refugees

Published by Sam Flores

KUALA LUMPUR: Myanmar has agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur said on Wednesday (Jul 29), in a rare repatriation push announced days after Malaysian authorities had detained dozens of refugees. Malaysia hosts more than 215,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UN refugee agency, including more than 126,000 members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority, making them the country’s largest refugee community. “People ask why we do not simply send them back. Send them where? Myanmar had refused to accept them before,” Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during a visit to a town east of the capital, according to local media. “Now, because of our good relations with Myanmar, they have agreed to take back 5,000 from Malaysia,” media outlets including the daily New Straits Times quoted Anwar as saying. His remarks come days after Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya refugees outside a UN refugee agency facility in Kuala Lumpur. A Rohingya rights group in Malaysia said the group sought shelter after they were threatened with eviction from an …

Johor and Melaka could get up to 40% less rainfall during Northeast Monsoon due to El Nino: MetMalaysia

Johor and Melaka could get up to 40% less rainfall during Northeast Monsoon due to El Nino: MetMalaysia

Published by Sam Flores

MetMalaysia’s Deputy Director-General of Operations Ambun Dindang told local broadcaster Berita RTM early this month that previous strong El Nino episodes coincided with some of the country’s highest recorded temperatures, including 40.1°C in Chuping, Perlis in April 1998 and 39.3°C in Batu Embun, Perak in 2016.  Malaysia saw strong El Nino episodes recorded in 1997 to 1998 and 2015 to 2016, according to MetMalaysia’s National Climate Centre Director Ahmad Fairudz Jamaluddin. During the super El Nino phenomenon in 2015, more than 250 schools in northern Peninsular Malaysia had to be temporarily closed due to extreme daily temperatures exceeding 37°C, said Ahmad Fairudz. Water level at Johor’s Linggiu Reservoir that provides water to Singapore also fell to about 54.5 per cent, the lowest in its 20-year history then.  Hisham cautioned that reduced rainfall and rising temperatures could affect agricultural and livestock production, lower water levels in reservoirs and dams and increase the risk of forest fires and transboundary haze. To mitigate the impact of dry weather, Hisham said that MetMalaysia is providing technical advice to support cloud-seeding operations aimed …

Man killed by buffalo during Eid al-Adha sacrificial ritual in Malaysia

Man killed by buffalo during Eid al-Adha sacrificial ritual in Malaysia

Published by Sam Flores

A man has died and another was injured after being gored by buffaloes during Eid al-Adha sacrificial rituals in the Malaysian state of Johor, police said. The first incident occurred at around 10am on Wednesday when a 45-year-old man was gored by a buffalo intended for sacrifice and rushed to Hospital Sultanah Aminah, where he died that evening. A post-mortem found the cause of death was vascular injuries to his left leg. Eid al-Adha, also known as Hari Raya Aidiladha in Malaysia, is one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar. It marks the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, and is observed with prayers and the ritual slaughter of livestock, including cattle, sheep and goats. The first incident in Malaysia took place in Kampung Tenang, a village in Ulu Tiram, a suburb of Johor Bahru. In a separate incident the same afternoon, another 45-year-old man suffered a fractured rib after being attacked by a buffalo in a nearby area. He is receiving treatment at …

Malaysia Showcases Recovered 1MDB Artworks, From Picasso to Miró

Malaysia Showcases Recovered 1MDB Artworks, From Picasso to Miró

Published by José Betancourt

Four artworks recovered from the 1MDB scandal have gone on public view in Malaysia for the first time, offering a modest but pointed reminder of one of the largest financial frauds in modern history. The works—by Picasso, Miró, Balthus and Maurice Utrillo—were unveiled Wednesday at the headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya, according to the South China Morning Post. They had been repatriated from New York last month after being traced through Sotheby’s and shipped back to Malaysia on April 14.  Source link

To sack or not: PM Anwar and PKR’s dilemma on fierce critic Rafizi

To sack or not: PM Anwar and PKR’s dilemma on fierce critic Rafizi

Published by Sam Flores

PKR UNLIKELY TO SACK RAFIZI Analysts believe PKR is unlikely to take severe disciplinary action against Rafizi in the immediate term.  This is because the party is likely wary of legal loopholes that could allow him to remain an MP, said Syaza Shukri, a political scientist at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). If Rafizi quits PKR, he would need to vacate his seat but if the party sacks him, he may remain as an MP, based on what happened to opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) members, she noted. Under Malaysia’s Anti-Hopping Law, MPs must vacate their seats if they resign from their party or join another party.  After six Bersatu MPs switched allegiance to the government in 2023, they were sacked by the party.   However, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul ruled in July 2024 that the MPs were not required to vacate their seats. He said the anti-hopping law was not triggered, because the members were expelled and did not resign of their own accord.   Syaza did not believe that Rafizi having …

JB food guide: Railway-themed briyani and seafront treats in Stulang Laut

JB food guide: Railway-themed briyani and seafront treats in Stulang Laut

Published by Sam Flores

We choose to rest our bursting bellies in Jom Cha’s tranquil, cow-themed garden, looking out at the Singapore skyline. With a final thanks to Vimala for welcoming me aboard the day’s itinerary of recommendations, my mind returned to Railway Briyani Station. The theme might suggest a gimmick, but the quality of the menu delivers a substance that more than matches the style. Though it only opened 20 months ago, it has already cemented itself as a favourite in the community. “They love the environment because they feel like they are in Chennai once they enter. All of our ingredients – tea, coffee powder, spices, everything – come from Chennai,” Dineshraj said. “And I travel there regularly to visit relatives and my grandmother.” A fittingly delicious tribute to family and the importance of staying connected to one’s roots. So next time you’re in the area, choo-choo-choose Railway Briyani Station for a one-of-a-kind JB dining experience. Railway Briyani Station is located at Vantage Bay Lot 6376 & 9236, Jalan Ibrahim Sultan, Stulang Laut, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia. It’s open from 11am to 8pm, closed …