JOHOR BAHRU, The amendment to the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) which has been approved by the Cabinet is expected to be tabled in Parliament this November. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the amendment included heavier punishment with higher fines and longer imprisonment for offences involving river pollution. “We are looking from a legal point of view that the amendments to the law that have been approved (Cabinet), God willing will be brought to parliament at the end of the session in November. “We will study it so that there is clarity and from there

KOTA BHARU, Kelantan police raided three houses believed to be residences of the senior management families of GISB Holdings (GISBH) in Kampung Panji today. Bernama was present during the operation, from 6.30 am to 9 am, which was conducted by the Kelantan Police Headquarters in collaboration with the Kelantan Islamic Affairs Department. Police found about 30 individuals, including the second wife of a senior GISBH management member residing in the houses, along with more than 20 children. Authorities also seized various books and documents related to GISBH, which were buried along the riverbank, with some of the materials already burnt.

BEIJING, Malaysians residing in Beijing were filled with joy and excitement when given the special opportunity to meet His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia who is currently on his maiden state visit to China. The visit, from Sept 19 to 22, is at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. China Media Group (CMG) journalist Isa Zubir, 35, could not hide his enthusiasm when met by Bernama during a banquet with the Malaysian diaspora in China at a hotel here today. ‘I am extremely excited that Sultan Ibrahim has taken the time to meet Malaysians in this country. This is

KULAI, A total of 52 out of 107 telecommunications towers under phase one of the National Digital Network (JENDELA) programme in Johor have been in operation so far, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. She said the rest of the towers are expected to be operational by the end of this year at the latest, thus benefiting the people of the state to enjoy smoother internet coverage. “Instructions from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to contractors and also service providers are to at least start operating at the end of this year. “We ask them to follow

KULAI, The Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is actively monitoring social media content involving GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), including viral music videos that some quarters in the society have parodied. Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching said that the ministry will collaborate with the relevant agencies to investigate the parties responsible, should a request be made. “Among the actions that can be taken is to take down the post (parody),’ he said and advised the public to heed the advice of relevant authorities such as the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM) and the police. ‘If we receive

PUTRAJAYA, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar has been appointed the seventh rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) for a two-year term, effective from Sept 23, 2024, to Sept 22, 2026. In a statement today, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said Osman is a prominent Islamic thinker renowned for his leadership and scholarship in Islamic Philosophy and Civilisation. His influence has earned him international recognition, including being named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world in 2009. “The ministry is confident that Prof Emeritus Dr Osman will elevate IIUM’s status as a premier university