The driver of a Singapore-registered car has been arrested in Johor for allegedly pumping subsidised Malaysian petrol, triggering a wave of approval online from Malaysians as the government widens a border crackdown driven by rising fuel costs and fears of subsidy abuse amid a global energy shock.
The arrest comes after months of viral shaming posts showing Singapore-registered vehicles allegedly filling up with RON95 in neighbouring Johor, fuelling public anger over the abuse of a subsidy meant…
AI pessimism is a luxury the Global South cannot afford
No Ethiopian, Pakistani, Indian, Brazilian or other serious policymaker believes artificial intelligence will solve corruption or improve governance overnight. National policies such as Digital Ethiopia 2030, Pakistan’s National AI Policy 2025 or other initiatives in Chile, Argentina and Colombia consider AI as a means to enhance service delivery in healthcare, education, agriculture, taxation and disaster management, rather than as institutional reform.
These are practical applications….
Minister warns Malaysia will enter ‘critical period’ for fuel supply by June
Malaysia is expected to experience a critical moment with regards to fuel supply by June, according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
He said the government is implementing measures to address the global fuel shortage amid the Middle East conflict, including exploring alternative raw materials.
“June and July will be a very critical period in ensuring fuel supplies are available,” Akmal Nasrullah said after attending an event in Johor Bahru.
“It will be equally important to ensure…
Vaccine coverage gaps spur Bangladesh’s deadly measles outbreak
Rocking her baby to soothe his searing pain and gasping breaths, 18-year-old Rubia Akhtar Brishti recounts how her son nearly died in Bangladesh’s deadly measles outbreak.
“The boy had [a] high fever and found it hard to breathe,” Brishti said, wiping the fevered brow of one-year-old Minhaz, cradled in her arms. “His whole body had rashes.”
At least 143 people have died in the outbreak since March 15, the vast majority children, with more than 12,000 suspected cases – the worst in the South…
Thais celebrate new year despite fuel price shocks delaying travel
Soaring fuel prices are driving up costs for Thais travelling home for the holidays, but the chance to spend the new year with loved ones is a price worth paying, they say.
“There aren’t many opportunities to go home during festivals like this,” said 24-year-old army cadet Korawich Changpat at Bangkok’s Mo Chit Two bus station, despite his inflated fare back to central Chaiyaphum province.
“First of all, I’ll go see my mother. Looking this handsome in my uniform, I must go pay my respects to…
Malaysia’s Anwar on Singapore’s Hormuz stance: ‘that’s their affair’
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s independent foreign policy stance, saying that while the nation prioritises maintaining strong ties with its neighbours, it remains firm in its refusal to overlook the causes of current regional instability.
Responding to recent remarks by Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who stated that the republic would not negotiate for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Anwar said Malaysia’s diplomatic approach is guided…
DFSA proposes new operational resilience regime for DIFC firms
Proposals for a new operational resilience regime for financial services firms operating in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) will increase board accountability and regulatory scrutiny, experts have said.
HSE unveils plans to streamline UK RIDDOR requirements
Plans to reform workplace injury and incident reporting in the UK will help provide companies with much-needed clarity and cut down on overreporting, according to experts.
Implications of the proposed EU Digital Fairness Act for Irish businesses
Ireland and other member states will need to prepare ahead of new proposed EU rules expected to be published later this year that, if adopted, will require businesses to build in consumer protection at the design stage of all websites, apps and games.
Malaysian business lobby says working from home will hurt city profits, faces backlash
A Malaysian association has come under fire after warning that wider work-from-home arrangements would hurt urban businesses, with critics accusing it of prioritising city-centre takings over the government’s effort to cut fuel use across the country and rein in soaring subsidy costs.
The backlash comes days before Malaysia begins a phased work-from-home roll-out for eligible civil servants on April 15, part of a wider effort to cut fuel use and manage rising costs tied to disruptions caused by…