Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Istana Negara will give a chance to political parties with representatives in the Dewan Rakyat to nominate candidates for the post of prime minister. 

A statement issued by the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said today.

“Istana Negara will contact the heads of political parties with representatives in the Dewan Rakyat to give them an opportunity to nominate names of Dewan Rakyat members for the post of prime minister,” it said.

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s interim Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad today announced a RM20 billion economic stimulus package aimed at reducing the impact of Covid-19 on the country’s economy.

From tax incentives to measures to put more money in the pockets of Malaysians, the three-pronged package has been tailored to assist companies and businesses affected by the spread of the virus, while ensuring continued national economic growth and quality investments.

SEPANG, Feb 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — A total of 66 individuals, comprising 46 Malaysian citizens and 20 of their non-citizen family members, who arrived from Wuhan, China this morning, are being housed at the monitoring centre at the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) in Nilai for the 14-day quarantine period.

They were among the Malaysians stranded in Wuhan, Hubei province, following the outbreak of COVID-19 since late December last year.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Public servants are strictly prohibited from attending or participating in political gatherings and making public statements, the Director-General of Public Services Datuk Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman cautioned today.

He said civil servants were also prohibited from distributing or transmitting fake news on social media or any other medium of communication.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Public Bank Bhd’s net profit saw a slight ease to RM5.51 billion for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2019 (FY19) from RM5.59 billion recorded in the previous year.

Revenue, however, rose to RM22.45 billion from RM22.04 billion previously.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, founder and chairman emeritus Tan Sri Dr Teh Hong Piow said 2019 was a year with strong headwinds and increased challenges as economic growth across developed and emerging countries had further moderated.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s king held unusual consultations with lawmakers for a second day Wednesday to resolve a political vacuum caused by the abrupt collapse of the ruling coalition and the resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The king’s role is largely ceremonial in Malaysia, but he appoints the person with majority support in Parliament as prime minister.

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah met with 83 lawmakers on Tuesday and is meeting the remaining 139 now to determine who they support as prime minister and if they want fresh elections.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Eight men including Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan were today acquitted and discharged on charges related to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist group.

Four separate high courts here ordered the release after a deputy public prosecutor informed that the Attorney General had instructed to discontinue proceedings against all the accused, in accordance with Section 254 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) — In an unprecedented move, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will conduct a one-to-one interview of all MPs today and tomorrow at Istana Negara, the palace announced today.

Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said His Majesty will interview each MP for two to three minutes. 

The palace announcement comes in the wake of political developments amid talk that there will be a realignment of the ruling coalition of parties.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s king on Monday accepted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s shocking resignation but reappointed him as interim leader following the collapse of the ruling alliance in a major political upheaval less than two years after its historic election victory.

The stunning turn of events comes amid plans by Mahathir’s supporters in his Bersatu party to team up with opposition parties to form a new government and thwart the transition of power to his named successor, Anwar Ibrahim.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Japan will provide full support for Malaysia’s Chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020 as it leads the APEC process of aiming at a new vision for the 21-member economies beyond 2020, said Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Hiroshi Oka.