🇲🇾Week of October 19

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had encouraged the public to switch to TuJu, a Malaysian navigation app, as a replacement for Waze, after the government ordered civil servants to stop using Waze with immediate effect, citing its Israeli connection. The push has now produced a download figure: TuJu has recorded more than 700,000 downloads.12

Young Syefura has questioned whether TuJu is ready for the switch, the point carried by Harian Metro. Lim Guan Eng went further, calling TuJu a national embarrassment and criticising those who advised Anwar on the matter.34

The agencies behind the app say work is under way. LLM and PCSB are actively restoring and improving TuJu, and LLM is carrying out improvements as many users express disappointment with the application.25

Separately, 7.6 million Waze user records are alleged to have been sold on the dark web, a claim attributed to ClearPhish.6

Police detained a 16-year-old student after a teacher was injured in an attack at a school in Kuching. The teacher was hurt while trying to seize a sharp object the student was carrying, described in reports as an axe.123

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission took down video of the attack after the incident. Police confirmed the removal of the footage.423

Angkatan Muda Keadilan Sarawak called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the case. The wing's demand was carried by the state broadcaster's news portal.5

Schools in five states, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will operate as normal tomorrow as haze continues, while schools in Selangor also remain open. The Education Ministry extended the deadline for entering UASA marks, end-of-session examinations and PAJSK.1234

The decision drew criticism from Kosmo Online, which ran the headline "Tutup salah, buka salah, serba tidak kena" — closing is wrong, opening is wrong, nothing fits — over the handling of school operations during the haze.5

The haze stems from forest and land fires in Indonesia, with smoke drifting across the border; Singapore has issued notices to seven Indonesian companies identified as possible sources and said it would issue notices to three more.12

The smoke has spread as far as Indonesia's capital, and the haze has triggered the highest alert level in Southeast Asia.1

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said RM37.53 billion in assets linked to a "corporate mafia" have been seized, and that RM28 billion has gone toward paying 1MDB's debt. He also said RM4.3 billion in assets have been frozen and RM1 billion seized. Anwar traced the problem to a system that lacked transparency.123

The corporate mafia issue and alleged abuse of power at FELDA were listed among the focus items in the Dewan Rakyat. Anwar said the government never issued an order to delay the investigation into the Felda case.45

Anwar said the investigation report will be made public within three months. He also challenged anyone with evidence to come forward, saying it did not matter whether the person was Azam, Farhash or Victor Chin.67

Anwar criticised Rafizi Ramli and questioned why he did not speak up while he was a minister.8

Negeri Sembilan has been in the middle of an administration crisis that drew in both the state ruler and federal political parties. Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim met Tuanku Muhriz at Istana Hinggap Seremban during the crisis and afterwards avoided meeting the media. PKR Negeri Sembilan had demanded that Ismail Lasim explain a letter he sent to the Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja.123

Tuanku Nadzaruddin and the four Undang declared the Negeri Sembilan royal crisis finished after the Menteri Besar signed a proclamation. The statement was issued as a 17-page document by the Secretary of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU). The four Undang, whose position was among those questioned, rejected that statement.134

Attributed claim: An Undang said Ismail Lasim no longer needs to appear before Tuanku Muhriz. A separate account said the Menteri Besar and another figure were never ordered to appear before the ruler.25

Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim denied that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was involved in efforts to bring down Tuanku Muhriz. Ahmad Zahid separately called on Barisan Nasional assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan to put the welfare of the people first. A vehicle believed to be carrying Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was seen entering Istana Negeri Sembilan.67

Berita Harian cautioned against overstepping one's role in the affair. An account described Negeri Sembilan, the land of Perpatih custom, as shaken over 24 hours by a series of events in the royal crisis and the state's political and customary institutions.89

A Malaysian court has ordered UMNO politician Akmal Saleh to pay damages to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok after finding against him in her defamation suit. Reports put the award at RM300,000, and Akmal lost the case.1234

Akmal responded to the ruling by refusing to step back from politics. "Buatlah apa kamu nak buat, untuk saya berundur tidak sama sekali" — do what you want, I will not step down at all — he said, according to Sinar Harian.56

Attributed claim: Outlets differed on the size of the award. Malaysiakini, an oppositional outlet, reported that Kok won RM250,000 in compensation, while pro-government Astro Awani reported that Akmal must pay RM300,000.72

The case is a defamation suit brought by Kok against Akmal, and the court's order requires him to pay the damages to her.18

Indonesian police confirmed foreign involvement in 98 forest-fire cases, according to reports carried by Malaysian outlets on Monday. The fires have sent smoke across the border, and Singapore earlier sent notices to seven Indonesian companies as part of an investigation into cross-border haze affecting the island. Haze from forest fires in Kalimantan has spread as far as Indonesia's capital.123

Malaysia has offered a Bombardier aircraft to help put out the fires in Indonesia, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. Outside help must wait for Indonesia to declare a national disaster, and the government says it is still working to handle the crisis. The haze has triggered the highest alert level in Southeast Asia.435

A political analyst questioned where ASEAN's firmness is as the haze recurs, asking why the regional bloc has not acted more decisively. Forest fires and the resulting smog have prompted protests across Indonesia, with demonstrators disputing the forest-fire and haze issue. Four people died while fighting a forest fire at Bromo, trapped in the flames and thick smoke.61

Singapore has sent notices to seven Indonesian companies identified as possible sources of cross-border haze, opening an investigation into firms linked to forest and land fires blamed for smoke drifting over the island. The notices target companies suspected of ties to the fires rather than the fires themselves.12

Singapore said it will issue haze prevention notices to three more Indonesian companies, widening the list of firms facing scrutiny. The government also pledged stiffer legal action against companies tied to the haze.324

The haze has hit business in Singapore. Restaurant sales fell by as much as 70 percent, and street performers' income was also affected.5

Singapore separately pledged an additional S$30 million to strengthen ASEAN cybersecurity, a commitment announced the same week as the haze measures.6

The government is studying extending age verification and electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) checks to online gaming platforms, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is examining the expansion.12

The proposal follows concern about children being exploited and recruited online. Utusan Malaysia reported that militants recruited a 12-year-old using the gaming platform Roblox, and MalaysiaGazette reported that the ideology behind the recruitment is still active.34

Fahmi discussed social media misuse and the exploitation of children with Indonesia's Meutya in Bali, according to Bernama. The talks put the gaming and age-verification question alongside cross-border cooperation on child protection online.5

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will charge a starting fare of RM125 for the Gombak–Kota Bharu route, with one-way tickets advertised from RM60. The operator is targeting 1.4 million passengers a year from 2027.1234

Children, senior citizens, pensioners and persons with disabilities (OKU) will receive a 50 percent discount on ECRL fares.51

The fare announcement was carried by Sinar Harian, Berita Harian and Free Malaysia Today, while Amanz reported one-way tickets starting at RM60.12364