It’s Sunday, 18 October, and these are the updates for you.
Firstly, flash floods have affected parts of Perak, Penang and the Klang Valley following heavy rain and thunderstorms, forcing around 80 people to evacuate to temporary relief centres in Perak and Penang.
In Perak, about 56 residents from the Larut, Matang and Selama district were moved to five temporary relief centres.
In Penang, eight houses in Kubang Semang, Permatang Pauh, were inundated, with floodwaters reaching knee level. Fire and rescue personnel evacuated 24 people from eight families to a relief centre in Penanti.
Authorities said water levels in the affected areas of Penang were receding.
Meanwhile, flash floods were also reported in several parts of the Klang Valley, including Shah Alam, USJ, Sunway, Ara Damansara, Summit and areas near Subang Airport.
The flooding followed a thunderstorm that disrupted traffic and raised concerns among residents in affected urban areas.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and have advised the public to avoid flooded roads and follow instructions from emergency personnel.
Secondly, the Selangor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is investigating seven petrol stations following complaints that RON95 petrol allegedly contaminated with water had damaged motorists’ vehicles.
The ministry received 10 official complaints involving the seven premises, with motorists reporting unusual engine noises, jerking, loss of power and vehicles failing to start.
In some cases, inspections at vehicle service centres reportedly found water contamination in fuel tanks and damage to engines.
Enforcement officers have seized 27 samples of RON95 petrol from the affected stations and sent them to the Chemistry Department for laboratory analysis.
Initial inspections found that all seven stations held valid licences. However, investigations are continuing to determine whether any offences were committed.
Similar complaints were reported earlier this month in northern states, including Penang, Kedah and Perak, prompting authorities to inspect petrol stations and collect fuel samples for testing.
Initial inspections at one petrol station in each of the three states found no evidence of water contamination in the RON95 storage tanks examined.
The ministry has reminded petrol station operators to maintain their storage tanks properly and ensure the fuel supplied to consumers meets the required standards.
Motorists who suspect they have been affected are advised to retain their petrol receipts and vehicle inspection reports when lodging complaints with the authorities.
Laboratory findings are expected to help establish whether contamination occurred and determine its possible source.
Thirdly, Parti Bersama Malaysia has suspended its co-founder, former minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, from all official party activities for three months following his admission that he was among two people detained by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, or JAIS, in Petaling Jaya.
The suspension takes effect on 20 October and runs until 19 January next year.
Nik Nazmi confirmed that he was detained on 15 October in connection with an investigation into a suspected khalwat offence under Selangor’s Syariah criminal law.
He said he had been discussing a project with several friends before continuing the discussion at a studio in Petaling Jaya, where he and a woman were present when religious enforcement officers arrived.
Nik Nazmi acknowledged that the situation reflected poor judgement and apologised to his wife, family and party members. He also said he would cooperate with any legal proceedings.
Separately, PKR vice-president and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has denied allegations that PKR arranged the incident to trap or discredit a political rival.
Amirudin said the party had never discussed or organised such an operation, either publicly or privately.
The allegations have circulated on social media following the detention, but Amirudin rejected claims that PKR was involved.
The case remains under investigation, while the party suspension is a separate disciplinary decision from any legal proceedings.
Fourthly, schools and other educational institutions across Johor will remain closed until 23 October as authorities monitor worsening air quality and an increase in respiratory illnesses.
The state government announced a further five-day extension, covering the period from 19 to 23 October.
The decision follows concerns over persistent haze and air pollution, with officials taking into account wind patterns, weather forecasts and the latest health assessments.
Johor recorded 30,648 cases of asthma and upper respiratory tract infections during October, with weekly cases increasing by 20.7 per cent.
Authorities are particularly concerned about prolonged exposure to polluted air among children and other vulnerable groups.
Home-based teaching and learning will continue during the closure, while arrangements for examinations and assessments will be coordinated with the relevant education authorities.
Limited exceptions may be considered for students who need to sit for certain examinations or assessments, subject to strict health precautions and approval from the relevant authorities.
The extended closure is intended to reduce students’ exposure to unhealthy air while officials assess whether conditions are safe enough for schools to reopen.
Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department has launched an internal investigation into allegations of irregularities in the issuance of special passes at its Jalan Duta office.
Department director Datuk Hamsha Injau said the Integrity Division would investigate the allegations and determine whether any rules or laws had been breached.
The investigation follows an investigative report alleging that a syndicate was exploiting the special-pass system to help foreign nationals extend their stay in Malaysia.
Special passes are intended for foreign nationals facing emergencies or urgent circumstances. However, the report alleged that some applications were being handled through unauthorised intermediaries.
The alleged process involved intermediaries collecting passports and sending applicants’ photographs to immigration officers through messaging applications for preliminary verification.
The Immigration Department has not confirmed the allegations but said appropriate action would be taken if evidence of misconduct is found.
Members of the public have also been advised to deal directly with the department through official channels and avoid unauthorised agents.
The investigation is expected to establish whether the alleged practices took place and whether any officers or intermediaries were involved.
Moving to Penang, the state has begun introducing electric buses into its public transport network, with the first 15 vehicles officially launched by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
The buses began operating on Saturday as part of a wider plan to introduce 75 electric buses for Rapid Penang by March next year.
The initial fleet consists of 14 compact buses measuring 8.25 metres and one standard 12-metre bus.
The shorter vehicles are intended to navigate Penang’s narrower roads and more densely populated areas more easily.
The rollout forms part of a RM200 million procurement involving 250 electric buses for Rapid Penang and Rapid KL. Of these, 75 are allocated to Penang, while the remaining 175 will serve the Klang Valley.
The buses are being introduced in stages to ensure charging facilities, maintenance arrangements and other operational requirements are ready.
They also feature driver-assistance technology and external warning sounds designed to alert pedestrians and other road users, particularly because electric buses operate more quietly at low speeds.
Loke said the transition would help reduce carbon emissions and support a more environmentally friendly public transport system.
The introduction of electric buses also comes as Penang prepares for future rail connectivity, with Rapid Penang expected to play an important role in improving first- and last-mile connections for commuters.
And now, moving on to sports, Malaysia’s Low Zi Yu and Genevie Lim have made history by winning the girls’ doubles title at the 2026 World Junior Badminton Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
The second-seeded Malaysian pair defeated Japan’s Nijika Kamata and Shizuku Kashio in a three-game final to claim the title.
The victory ends Malaysia’s 34-year wait for a world junior girls’ doubles title in an event that has been contested since 1992 and traditionally dominated by Chinese pairs.
Zi Yu and Genevie reached the final after defeating China’s Shi Si Chen and Xiang Yu Jin in straight games in the semi-finals.
Their championship win marks a significant milestone for Malaysia’s junior badminton programme, giving the country its first champions in the event.
The achievement is particularly notable for Zi Yu, who had reached the world junior final in the previous two editions with different partners but was unable to secure the title.
This time, partnering Genevie, she finally claimed the gold medal and helped Malaysia make history on the world stage.
Finally, hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets of Bangkok to challenge the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, accusing the institutions of promoting policies that could worsen poverty and place additional pressure on ordinary people.
The demonstrations took place as finance ministers, central bank governors and other policymakers gathered in the Thai capital for the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, held from 12 to 18 October.
Protesters called for greater economic justice, debt relief and stronger protection for farmers, workers and local communities.
They also criticised policies they believe could push governments to cut public spending, subsidies and social support at a time when many households are already struggling with rising living costs and debt.
Some demonstrators carried banners and used symbolic displays to highlight concerns about inequality, environmental damage and the influence of major financial institutions over developing economies.
Organisers called on the IMF and World Bank to prioritise climate financing and tax reforms that benefit lower-income communities, rather than relying heavily on spending cuts that could affect essential public services.
The protests come amid wider concerns about high government debt, expensive energy and the economic effects of geopolitical conflicts.
The IMF and World Bank meetings are intended to address global growth, financial stability and development challenges. However, the demonstrations highlight growing disagreement over who should bear the cost of economic adjustment.
For many protesters, the central issue is whether policies designed to stabilise economies will also protect the livelihoods of the people most affected.
And that’s your catch-up with Newsenz for today.
Stay informed, stay ahead.