Malaysia has conducted ministerial-level meetings with China and Vietnam to address their island-building activities in the South China Sea. Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated the government urges these nations to avoid actions that could increase tensions. He explained that Malaysia employs a multi-pronged strategy, using both high-level dialogue and formal diplomatic protests to convey its concerns.
The minister described the situation as complex and sensitive, noting all actions are based on a comprehensive consideration of national interests to prevent escalation. Malaysia also continues to patrol and monitor the area through its Armed Forces and Maritime Enforcement Agency. Regionally, the country remains...
Malaysian authorities are investigating the use of oral contraceptives administered through artificial feed to manage the country's macaque population. Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani confirmed a three-year study, begun in 2021 by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and Universiti Putra Malaysia, is evaluating this humane wildlife control method.
Preliminary results suggest that contraceptive-laced feed is a potential alternative for population control. The minister stated that a more comprehensive follow-up study is planned for 2026 to fully assess the technique's effectiveness before any potential wider implementation. This initiative represents a search for...
Candidate Chan Foong Hin from Pakatan Harapan has pledged to provide free boat transportation for students commuting to schools on Pulau Gaya. He also defended a newly approved 260 million ringgit project to build a consolidated education complex on the island, stating it is essential for a community that has been historically overlooked.
Chan explained that the new complex would replace the current over-water schools, which are frequently damaged by storms and coastal erosion. He expressed dismay at criticisms over the project's cost, emphasizing that a government cannot deny students their right to access education and that the investment is justified. The initiative aims to create a safer learning environment and alleviate the...
The Kedah Fisheries Department has verified that box jellyfish are present in the waters surrounding Langkawi. Director Sukri Deris stated that the current population level is moderate and does not warrant a full stoppage of recreational activities, though he acknowledged the animals still pose a significant danger to swimmers and fishermen.
Sukri explained that seasonal monsoon transitions and shifting sea currents likely carried the species, which ranges from Australia to Southeast Asia, closer to the shoreline. He added that heavy rainfall washing nutrients into the sea could also be attracting the jellyfish by increasing food sources near the coast.
The department is committed to ongoing monitoring of the situation and to...
Non-governmental organizations assisting Kuala Lumpur's homeless population have expressed that the city's new centralized food distribution system fails to address more profound, systemic issues. Representatives from Pertiwi and Kechara Soup Kitchen stated that while they support improved coordination, longstanding challenges like insufficient shelter space and poorly located centers remain unaddressed. They noted that formal coordination with city authorities, DBKL, has already been in place for years.
Pertiwi's president, Laili Ismail, emphasized the need for more accessible shelters, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly. Justin Cheah of Kechara Soup Kitchen pointed out that current transit centers are inconvenient...
Residents of Borrowdale have filed a criminal complaint with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission against the acting director of Urban Planning for the City of Harare, Rejoice Mugocha. They allege she improperly issued a permit to the United Methodist Church Borrowdale Circuit for its premises at 9 Doveton Road. This action, they claim, defied a recent High Court judgment which had interdicted the church from operating at that residential location.
The court had ruled that the church failed to fulfill specific conditions from a 2017 permit, including obtaining necessary permissions from the Director of Health and the Chief Fire Officer. The residents' legal representatives, Kantor & Immerman, stated that Mugocha issued a temporary...
Authorities in Zimbabwe have arrested multiple individuals for the illegal possession and attempted sale of protected wildlife parts. In Harare, two men, Andrew Makusele and John Jelester, were detained for trying to sell a hyena nose. Separately, Abraham Chaukura and his son were arrested in Mutare for possessing two pangolins without a permit.
Other arrests involved Safirio Macben and Mira Nyandoro, who were caught with a leopard skin in Harare, and three individuals from Tsholotsho, Vesile Ngwenya, Future Moyo, and Mbongeni Sibanda, for possessing a python skin. A police spokesperson emphasized that protecting the nation's wildlife is a collective responsibility and warned the public against such illegal activities. All suspects...
Playwright Aaron Chiundura-Moyo reported that con artists are demanding a portion of the financial gift and vehicle he received from businessman Wicknell Chivayo. The 71-year-old author stated that individuals are falsely claiming they facilitated his receipt of a Toyota Fortuner and 50,000 US dollars. He expressed that these opportunists are now pressuring him for cash, a development he finds shocking and unethical.
Chiundura-Moyo explained his plans for the money, noting that he invested 40,000 dollars and will use the remainder for professional studio equipment. He described the gift as a significant honor after his five-decade career, acknowledging the severe impact of piracy on his industry. He also mentioned his strong familial...
Zanu PF's Harare Province convened its fifth interdistrict gathering at Epworth High School Grounds, drawing over 40,000 supporters and affiliate organizations from Zone 5 encompassing Epworth, Mabvuku, Hatfield and Waterfalls. Provincial chairman Godwills Masimirembwa indicated the assembly serves dual purposes of delivering conference outcomes to members while advancing recruitment efforts under the principle of comprehensive outreach across all communities and regions.
Senior party officials attending included Secretary for Education Charles Tawengwa, War Veterans Secretary Douglous Mahiya, Council of Elders member Idah Mashonganyika and Women's League External Affairs Secretary Betty Kaseke. Newly appointed Central Committee...
