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It’s Sunday, 11 October, and these are the updates for you.
Firstly, former Barisan Nasional strategic communications deputy director Eric See-To was reportedly taken to Dang Wangi district police headquarters early this morning over a controversial social media comment linked to Budget 2027.
According to The Star, See-To was taken in at around 12.45am. The report linked the police action to a comment about wording used by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his Budget 2027 speech.
Separately, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, or MCMC, confirmed it was investigating an individual over content allegedly mocking a Quranic reference. The commission said it had recorded a statement and seized a mobile phone and an eSIM for examination but did not identify the individual.
However, Lim was subsequently named in a Facebook post by Hisyamuddin Ghazali, better known as Syam Ghaz, who heads the Department of Community Communications, or J-Kom.
The reported police action and the MCMC investigation have drawn attention to online comments surrounding the Prime Minister’s Budget 2027 speech.
Secondly, all schools and educational institutions in Johor will remain closed until Friday, 16 October, amid concerns over worsening haze.
The state government announced that the closures will run from Monday, 12 October, through Friday, 16 October.
Johor education committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said the decision was made in response to continuing air pollution and potential health risks to students and teachers.
The extension follows earlier school closures on Thursday and Friday as haze affected the state.
The situation is part of a wider regional haze episode linked to fires and dry conditions. Authorities are continuing to monitor air quality, while the public is advised to take precautions, particularly for children, older people and those with respiratory conditions.
Thirdly, Indonesia has welcomed offers of assistance from Malaysia and Singapore to tackle forest and peatland fires contributing to the regional haze.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Berton Panjaitan said ground personnel could be more useful than helicopters in some areas because thick smoke has severely restricted visibility.
However, he clarified that this was his personal assessment and not an official request for assistance.
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry has also expressed appreciation for the offers, but a formal acceptance and operational deployment arrangement had not been confirmed in the latest reports.
The development comes as haze continues to affect parts of Southeast Asia, with neighbouring countries facing pressure to protect public health and coordinate their response.
Any deployment will depend on further discussions and arrangements between the countries involved.
Fourthly, the Employees Provident Fund, or EPF, has welcomed Budget 2027’s planned minimum wage increase to RM2,000, alongside a proposal to automatically register Malaysians as EPF members when they turn 18.
The minimum wage is scheduled to rise from RM1,700 to RM2,000 a month from June 2027, although certain micro, small and medium enterprises will be exempt under the announced framework.
EPF said higher wages could strengthen workers’ retirement savings over time.
The fund also highlighted the continued i-Saraan Plus programme, under which eligible e-hailing and p-hailing workers can receive a government matching incentive of 20 per cent, subject to an annual cap of RM600.
Another measure is i-Emas, an optional monthly retirement withdrawal arrangement that allows members to retain their savings in the EPF and continue earning dividends.
The measures focus on retirement security for different groups, from young Malaysians entering the workforce to self-employed platform workers and retirees. Their impact will depend on the final implementation details and individual eligibility.
Fifthly, a 51-year-old lorry driver involved in a crash involving 12 vehicles in Alam Budiman, Shah Alam, has tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine in an initial urine screening.
The accident happened at a traffic-light junction on Friday afternoon, when the lorry collided with 11 other vehicles.
The driver reportedly claimed that the lorry had experienced brake problems.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the reported mechanical failure and the screening results.
The initial drug screening forms part of the investigation. Further findings will be needed to establish the circumstances of the crash.
Moving to Penang, the state has officially recognised seven intangible cultural heritage items and six heritage sites under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011.
Among the newly recognised cultural traditions is Penang Hokkien, reflecting the dialect’s place in the state’s identity and everyday life.
The other intangible heritage items are the Teong Guan Phor Thor Festival, Boria, Ghazal Parti, Penang Bangsawan, Silat Pelaga: Siku 12, and Penang Dondang Sayang.
Six sites have also been recognised. These include the Penang Hill funicular railway infrastructure, Loo Pun Hong Temple, Dato Koyah’s Tomb, Thai Pak Koong Temple, the Fooi Chew Association Building, and the Kwangtung and Tengchow No. 1 cemetery.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the recognition reflects the state’s commitment to preserving its cultural identity while continuing economic development.
The designation gives these traditions, buildings and sites formal recognition under state heritage law, strengthening efforts to preserve Penang’s cultural history for future generations.
And now, moving on to sports.
Malaysia has reached the final of the World Junior Badminton Championships mixed team event for the first time in nine years.
The Malaysian junior squad defeated Indonesia 2–0 in the semi-finals in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday.
The victory marks Malaysia’s return to the final for the first time since 2017.
Malaysia will now compete for the title, with the achievement offering a boost to the country’s junior badminton programme.
Finally, more than 2,000 protesters have been detained in India amid a crackdown on a planned demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Authorities also restricted access to parts of New Delhi ahead of the youth-led protest, organised over controversial revisions to the country’s electoral rolls.
Critics allege the changes could disproportionately benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The Election Commission and the ruling party have denied allegations of electoral manipulation.
Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the capital. Mobile internet services were suspended in some areas, while several metro stations were closed.
The dispute centres on revisions to voter lists and concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
The latest detentions highlight growing tensions over electoral administration in the world’s largest democracy, as opposition voices and protesters demand greater accountability from election authorities.
And that’s the latest from Newsenz.
Stay informed, stay ahead.