Defusing the PMN-2 dispute between Cambodia and Thailand: Why the GBC Must Move Fast — Phar Kim Beng

The Cambodia-Thailand border ceasefire is threatened by landmine deployment, specifically the PMN-2 anti-personnel mines. This violates the Ottawa Treaty, which Cambodia ratified. The General Border Committee (GBC) faces a critical test in maintaining peace and upholding the July 28, 2025 ceasefire agreement. The PMN-2 mine's devastating impact and indiscriminate nature pose a significant danger, especially to civilians. The GBC needs to act swiftly to address this issue and prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Malaysia’s construction sector cements 12.9pc Q2 growth with RM43.9b in projects, says DOSM

Malaysia's construction sector grew by 12.9% in Q2 2025, reaching RM43.9 billion in value of work done. Growth was driven by special trade activities (22.2%), non-residential buildings (16.2%), and residential buildings (13.9%). Civil engineering also saw a 7.5% increase. The private sector contributed 64.2% (RM28.2 billion) to the total value, maintaining double-digit growth at 19.3%.

Govt launches tougher laws, mobile courts to tackle child sexual crimes and protect victims

The Malaysian government is strengthening its efforts to protect children from sexual crimes by amending the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), expanding special criminal courts, and providing training for legal officers. Key amendments to Act 792 include replacing "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material", criminalizing live-streaming of sexual crimes and sextortion, and mandating victim compensation. The Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866) further bolsters online safety by requiring platforms to remove child sexual abuse content. 81 Special Courts for Sexual Crimes Against Children and mobile courts are now available nationwide to improve access to justice. Specialized training for legal professionals is also being conducted to enhance the handling of child-related cases.

Lelaki Myanmar dituduh ‘ambil nyawa’ rakan senegara

A 59-year-old Myanmar national, Aye Thun, was charged in a Sungai Petani Magistrate's Court with murdering a fellow countryman at a construction site workers' quarters last month. The accused, a construction worker, understood the charge but no plea was recorded. The alleged murder of the victim, known as Thambi @ Mian Bia, took place on July 20th. The case is being prosecuted under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty. No bail was granted and the case is set for mention on October 5th.

Four Malaysians held as Singapore seizes heroin, meth worth RM1.55m in island-wide raids

Four Malaysians were among 79 individuals arrested in Singapore during an island-wide drug operation from August 4-8. Authorities seized over S$470,000 worth of drugs, including heroin, 'Ice', cannabis, Ecstasy, Erimin-5, and GHB. One Malaysian was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint smuggling drugs in biscuit packages. Others were arrested in Jurong West, Henderson Road, and Tampines. Seized items included 2,033g of heroin and 731g of 'Ice' from the checkpoint arrest, and another 1,421g of heroin and 62g of 'Ice' from a hotel room.

4 sekeluarga maut lepas sertai Himpunan Pemilik Kereta Honda

Four family members, including two young children, died in a car crash in Gua Musang, Kelantan. They were returning from a Honda car owners' gathering in Sepang when their Honda Civic collided with a trailer. The victims were identified as Muhammad Faiz (32), his sister Nor Aina Imra (21), and his two sons, Muhammad Aryan Fattah (5) and Muhammad Ayden Fattah (4). The family had contacted their mother just 30 minutes before the accident.

DOSM: Malaysia’s unemployment rate steady at 3pc amid continued job growth

Malaysia's unemployment rate held steady at 3.0% in June 2025, with the number of unemployed individuals decreasing to 518,700. The labor force grew to 17.43 million, and the labor force participation rate remained at 70.8%. This positive trend continued from Q2 2025, which saw employment rise to 16.85 million and unemployment fall to 520,900. The government expects the labor market to remain stable due to domestic demand, increased productivity, and strategic investments, despite challenges like talent migration and global trade tensions.

Lantik veteran ATM jadi warden asrama kekang gejala buli

A Malaysian Member of Parliament has proposed appointing retired Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans as wardens in boarding schools to address bullying. The MP argued that veterans' discipline and experience make them suitable for managing student behavior. This suggestion comes as MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) is already shortlisting former military and police officers as full-time wardens for selected MARA Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) as a pilot project to curb bullying and strengthen discipline.

Hantaran berunsur jahat, bekas pembantu Ahli Parlimen ditahan

A former parliamentary aide was arrested in Pasir Mas, Kelantan for allegedly uploading a malicious video on Facebook implicating an individual without consent. The Ampang Jaya district police chief stated the video, posted on July 30th, contained harmful content and exposed the complainant to threats, leading to online harassment and impacting their mental well-being and reputation. Police seized two mobile phones and are investigating the case under multiple sections of the Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act.

VCI Global to launch QuantGold encryption platform at Asean AI Summit 2025 in Malaysia

VCI Global will launch QuantGold Data, a military-grade encryption platform, at the Asean AI Summit Malaysia 2025. The platform aims to bolster data sovereignty in the region by enabling local data deployment and control, reducing reliance on foreign tech giants. QuantGold's encryption and air-gapped model enhance security against cyber threats and allow for data monetization without revealing raw information. This initiative addresses the growing concern of AI-powered cybercrimes, estimated to have caused over US$9.5 trillion in global damages in 2024.

[VIDEO] ‘Saya tidur ‘bus stop’ semata untuk tahu kes Zara Qairina’

Sabahans showed overwhelming support for the late Zara Qairina, whose case has deeply moved social media users. Food delivery riders even slept at the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital bus station in Kota Kinabalu to follow the case updates. They also displayed posters of Zara with #Justice4Zara on their delivery bags. One rider, whose daughter is almost the same age as Zara, expressed his trauma and concern about sending his child to boarding school. Zara's body was exhumed for a second autopsy and reburied. Another rider emphasized their shared humanity as parents, prompting them to advocate for justice. Many online commenters praised the riders' extraordinary support.

Guru KAFA, takmir, imam tidak tertakluk gaji minimum RM1,700

Payments to Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) teachers, takmir teachers, and imams are allowances, not fixed salaries. Currently, 34,284 KAFA teachers receive RM1,100 monthly, while 47,052 takmir teachers are paid RM100 per class. Imams receive a monthly allowance of RM850. While acknowledging the minimum wage increase to RM1,700, the government clarifies these payments are allowances and subject to review for potential increases based on national financial capabilities. There are no plans for EPF and SOCSO contributions for takmir teachers as they don't meet the employee definition under the EPF Act 1991.

Takut kena tindakan, dua selebriti cepat-cepat perbaharui cukai jalan

Two Malaysian celebrities quickly renewed their road tax and insurance after media exposure of their failure to do so. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) confirmed the renewals and thanked the media for raising awareness. One vehicle's road tax was overdue by a year, the other by almost two. JPJ emphasized that they will not compromise on enforcement, regardless of any attempts to evade the law.

Kuching residents brace for overnight water supply disruption from Aug 13 amid pipeline repairs

Kuching residents in several areas including Matang, Petra Jaya, and Bako will experience low water pressure or supply disruption from 9pm, August 13 to 8am, August 14 due to pipeline repairs. This follows a burst pipe incident on August 6 along Jalan Matang–Batu Kawa, which was successfully repaired. However, further work is required on a larger, 1100mm diameter main, necessitating the temporary disruption. Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd (SWSB) is working to minimize disruption and has pre-fabricated necessary fittings.

Earlier keys for singles? Singapore reviews public housing age limit and income cap in bid to meet demand

Singapore is considering lowering the age limit for single Build-to-Order (BTO) flat applicants and raising the income cap for families and couples. National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat stated that the changes depend on housing supply and will be announced later. Strong demand, driven by young people's desire for homeownership, fuels this consideration. The government also aims to increase BTO flat eligibility for those exceeding the current S$14,000 income ceiling. To meet demand, HDB has ramped up construction, with plans to launch more flats than initially projected in the coming years.

Soybean diplomacy: Trump tells China to boost US bean imports fourfold

Former US President Donald Trump expressed hope that China would quadruple its soybean orders from the US, suggesting it as a way to reduce China's trade deficit. A trade truce between the two countries is nearing expiration. China, a major soybean importer, primarily sources from Brazil and the US. While increased US soybean purchases were part of a previous trade deal, China fell short of its targets. Experts doubt China would quadruple its imports, and it's unclear if this is a condition for extending the truce.

China tourist arrivals to Malaysia hit 1.8 million in first five months of 2025, says deputy minister

Hardware shop owner released on bail over upside-down Jalur Gemilang in Kepala Batas

South China Sea slip-up: Chinese vessels collide in pursuit of Philippines patrol

Anwar: Malaysia-Senegal trade hit RM1.37 billion last year as nations deepen ties in haj, waqf and halal industry