It’s Friday, October 9, and these are the updates for you.

Firstly, worsening haze has forced schools to close across several states.

As of 7pm yesterday, 36 monitoring stations recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index, or API, readings.

Segamat in Johor recorded the highest reading at 190, followed by Seremban in Negeri Sembilan at 189. Rompin in Pahang and Johan Setia in Selangor both recorded 178, while Putrajaya reached 175.

In Kuala Lumpur, Batu Muda recorded an API of 171 and Cheras 170.

Penang was also affected. At 9am yesterday, Seberang Perai recorded an API of 156, Minden 155 and Seberang Jaya 153.

School closures cover Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, as well as Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Rompin district in Pahang.

Secondly, Budget 2027 will be tabled in Parliament at 3.30pm today.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to outline the government’s spending priorities, including financial assistance, economic growth and development.

With households continuing to face rising living costs, attention is on measures to ease the cost of food, housing, transport and healthcare.

Economists are also watching for details on targeted assistance, tax measures and subsidy policies, as the government balances household support with efforts to manage public finances.

Thirdly, the Federal Court has allowed Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the Attorney-General to appeal in the legal dispute over Zahid’s Yayasan Akalbudi case.

Zahid previously faced 47 charges involving alleged criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering linked to the foundation’s funds.

In September 2023, he was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, or DNAA, after prosecutors discontinued the proceedings to review the case.

A DNAA means the accused has not been formally acquitted, and charges may be brought again. However, the original charges are not automatically revived.

The Malaysian Bar challenged the prosecution’s decision. Although the High Court initially rejected its application, the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling in May, allowing the challenge to proceed at the High Court.

Zahid and the Attorney-General then sought permission to appeal to the Federal Court. On Thursday, the court granted them leave, citing constitutional questions of public importance.

The dispute centres on the Attorney-General’s constitutional power to decide whether to prosecute a case, and whether that decision can be challenged through judicial review.

The latest ruling does not reopen Zahid’s 47 charges or determine his guilt or innocence. The Federal Court will instead consider the legal questions surrounding the challenge to the prosecution’s decision.

Fourthly, Malaysia’s National Service Training Programme will expand to Sarawak in July 2028.

Defence Minister Khaled Nordin said the first intake will have 300 places. Of these, 60 per cent will be allocated to Sarawakian youths, 30 per cent to participants from Sabah, and the remaining 10 per cent to youths from Kuala Lumpur.

The programme, known as PLKN 3.0, is the latest version of Malaysia’s national service initiative, which has been introduced, suspended and revived several times.

The original programme, PLKN 1.0, began in 2004 to promote discipline, patriotism and national unity through residential training. It was suspended in 2015, revived with changes in 2016 as PLKN 2.0, and scrapped again in 2018 following a change of government.

The government announced its return in June 2024 under the new PLKN 3.0 format. A pilot intake began in January 2025, with volunteers undergoing 45 days of training at Rejimen 515 Askar Wataniah in Kuala Lumpur.

Unlike earlier versions, the revamped programme makes greater use of existing government facilities, including military camps and selected educational institutions. Training combines physical activities and military-style exercises with civic education and lessons on patriotism and national unity.

Preparations for the Sarawak intake are still underway, including efforts to secure the required land.

Fifthly, the Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link is now expected to begin passenger operations in February 2027.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Malaysia and Singapore had agreed on the new timeline as construction of the Malaysian and Singaporean components enters its final stage.

Physical construction is expected to be completed by December 31 this year. However, passenger services cannot begin until integrated systems testing, independent safety assessments and regulatory approvals are completed.

The RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore, with the journey between the stations expected to take around six minutes.

The system is designed to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, helping ease congestion at the existing land crossings.

Passengers will also be able to clear immigration and customs at the respective terminals before boarding, reducing the need to go through conventional road checkpoints.

February 2027 remains the target for passenger services, subject to testing, safety certification and regulatory requirements.

Sixthly, moving to Penang, an auction for a six-acre parcel of land beside Gurney Bay has reportedly ended without a single bid.

The freehold site was offered at a reserve price of RM313.6 million, equivalent to RM1,200 per square foot.

According to The Edge, the auction agent waited an hour on Wednesday before closing the process without receiving any bids, citing sources familiar with the auction.

The land sale was intended to help fund the Ayer Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass, a project estimated to cost around RM850 million.

The bypass was reported to be 92.46 per cent complete at the end of August, with completion targeted for April 2027.

The failed auction raises questions about how the remaining work will be financed. However, it does not automatically mean the project will be delayed, as the outcome will depend on alternative funding arrangements and any further action by the state.

And now, moving on to sports and business.

The Bahrain Grand Prix held at Sepang is estimated to have generated RM345 million in economic spillovers for Malaysian small businesses.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim said the event attracted around 261,000 spectators, with nearly half travelling from overseas.

Hotels, restaurants, retailers and transport operators were among the businesses expected to benefit from the influx of visitors.

The RM345 million figure represents an estimate of wider economic activity, rather than additional profits earned directly by businesses. Nevertheless, it highlights the potential benefits of hosting major international sporting events, particularly for tourism-related industries.

Finally, the United States has opened direct talks with Myanmar’s military-installed leadership, marking a shift in Washington’s approach since the 2021 military coup.

According to Reuters, US officials have begun engaging directly with Myanmar’s leadership after years of efforts to isolate the military government.

Initial discussions reportedly focused on tackling scam centres targeting Americans, with talks potentially expanding to other interests, including Myanmar’s rare-earth mineral deposits.

A senior US State Department intelligence official reportedly met Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing in September. Min Aung Hlaing remains under US sanctions.

The engagement signals that Washington is exploring cooperation on specific security and economic issues, despite continued concerns over military rule and human rights in Myanmar.

The move comes as some regional governments also pursue direct engagement with the country’s leadership. Malaysia has hosted Min Aung Hlaing, drawing criticism over the military government’s role in Myanmar’s ongoing crisis.

Whether the talks will lead to concrete action remains unclear, with wider political and human rights concerns still unresolved.

That’s the latest from Newsenz.

Stay informed. Stay ahead.