It’s Thursday, 15 October, and these are the updates for you.
Firstly, former prime minister Najib Razak has failed in his bid to suspend an additional 15-year prison sentence linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB, scandal.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed his application to delay the execution of the sentence and suspend his RM11.38 billion fine, ruling that he had not established special circumstances to justify the request.
Najib was convicted of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds.
His additional 15-year sentence is scheduled to begin after he completes his current prison term in the SRC International case, which is expected to end in August 2028.
His lawyer has said Najib will file a fresh application at the Court of Appeal to challenge the latest decision.
For now, the additional sentence remains in place as his legal challenge continues.
Secondly, Malaysia has approved 27 data-centre projects with a combined estimated investment of RM225.97 billion as of July this year.
The Digital Ministry said 16 projects are located in Johor, 10 in Selangor and one in Negeri Sembilan.
Only one of the approved data centres has begun operating, while the remaining projects are still under construction.
The investments are expected to create 4,053 jobs, including more than 3,500 high-skilled positions in electrical and mechanical engineering, networking, cybersecurity, and data-centre operations and maintenance.
Malaysians are expected to fill about 89 per cent of these high-skilled roles.
The projects are also subject to a minimum local-content requirement of 30 per cent, with implementation monitored through regular reports to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.
The scale of these investments highlights Malaysia’s growing role in digital infrastructure, while the government seeks to ensure local workers and businesses benefit from the sector’s expansion.
Thirdly, Firefly has extended the cancellation of its flights between Subang and Singapore until 16 October due to worsening haze conditions.
The affected services operate between Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang and Seletar Airport in Singapore.
The extension covers six daily return services, as reduced visibility and deteriorating air quality continue to affect operations in Singapore.
The country’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index reached readings as high as 203 on Wednesday night, placing some areas in the very unhealthy category.
Firefly said affected passengers are being contacted and may be transferred to available Malaysia Airlines services between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, subject to seat availability.
Passengers who do not wish to take the alternative flights are eligible for a full refund, which will be credited to their original payment method within 30 working days.
Travellers scheduled to fly on this route should check directly with the airline for the latest flight status before heading to the airport.
Fourthly, the government says it has revived 1,726 troubled private housing projects involving nearly 200,000 housing units, with a combined gross development value of RM158 billion.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming told Parliament that the figures were recorded up to August this year.
Of the total, 147 projects involving 29,900 housing units have been upgraded from troubled to stable status.
Another 1,542 projects, involving more than 163,000 units, have been completed and issued Certificates of Completion and Compliance.
The remaining 37 abandoned projects have also been revived.
The task force responsible for addressing troubled and abandoned private housing projects was established in 2023 to protect homebuyers and help resolve developments left unfinished or facing serious delays.
For affected buyers, reviving a project can offer a clearer path towards receiving the homes they purchased, although progress and outcomes depend on each development.
Fifthly, a human rights group has warned against vigilantism after several Rohingya homes in Johor were firebombed.
The National Human Rights Society, known as Hakam, expressed concern over growing hostility towards refugees and the actions of members of the public acting as self-appointed enforcers.
Hakam president M. Ramachelvam said such actions undermine the rule of law, increase the risk of further violence and encourage collective blame against an entire community.
The incident has renewed concerns about xenophobia and hostility towards Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.
The group stressed that allegations of wrongdoing must be handled through lawful procedures rather than intimidation or violence against vulnerable communities.
It has called on authorities to protect those at risk and investigate the attack, while ensuring public concerns do not escalate into further violence.
Moving to Penang, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has requested a RM2 billion federal grant for the treatment and distribution infrastructure under the Perak–Penang Water Transfer Project.
Chow made the request while debating the 2027 Supply Bill in Parliament, saying federal support is important to securing Penang’s long-term water supply.
The overall project is estimated to cost RM3.5 billion. Of that amount, RM1.5 billion is allocated for developing raw water resources in Perak, while the remaining RM2 billion would fund water treatment and distribution infrastructure in Penang.
The proposed transfer scheme is intended to strengthen the state’s water security as demand grows alongside population and industrial development.
Chow also outlined Penang’s ambitions to establish the Penang Technology Financial Centre, or PTFC, to support technology-driven financial services and strengthen the state’s semiconductor and electrical and electronics industries.
The proposed centre is projected to contribute RM12.1 billion to Malaysia’s gross domestic product and support more than 71,000 jobs over 15 years.
The state government is seeking continued federal backing for both the water infrastructure project and the development of its technology-finance ecosystem.
And now, moving on to sports, the final list of events for the 2027 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia is expected to be confirmed by the end of October or early November.
Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Rashid Yaakub said around 492 events across 43 sports are currently planned, although the final programme has yet to be confirmed.
Organisers are completing the technical handbooks for each sport before determining the final number of events.
Between 7,000 and 8,000 athletes are expected to participate, with the final figure depending on entries submitted by participating countries.
The 2027 Games are scheduled to take place from 18 to 29 September, with events spread across four main clusters in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang and Johor.
Organisers are also planning to accommodate athletes and officials in hotels close to competition venues to simplify transport arrangements.
Finally, Russian strikes on Ukraine have left at least 600,000 people without electricity, despite US President Donald Trump’s claim that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian missile and drone attacks hit critical energy infrastructure in Kyiv, the surrounding region and the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
The overnight strikes reportedly killed at least three people and injured others in the capital, while damage to energy facilities triggered widespread power disruptions.
Trump had announced on Sunday that both sides had agreed to stop attacking energy infrastructure. However, Ukraine has reported further Russian strikes since that announcement, raising questions about whether the proposed truce is being observed.
Russia said its attacks targeted energy and communications facilities used by the Ukrainian military.
The latest strikes come as Ukraine faces growing pressure to protect its energy network ahead of winter, when electricity and heating become increasingly important for households and essential services.
The continued attacks highlight the uncertainty surrounding the proposed ceasefire and undermine hopes of a pause in strikes on critical infrastructure.
And that’s your morning brief for today.
Stay informed, stay ahead.