It’s Monday, October 26, and these are the updates for you.
Let’s begin with national news.
Firstly, Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the coalition’s candidate line-up for the upcoming Melaka state election could still change following a protest by MCA.
Zahid said the issue would be discussed with component party leaders before nomination day on October 31.
The controversy emerged after MCA leaders walked out of BN’s candidate announcement ceremony on Saturday, following the allocation of several seats previously contested by the party to other parties.
Zahid acknowledged that MCA president Wee Ka Siong had been caught by surprise because the party had not been informed in advance about the announcement.
He said he had yet to sign the candidates’ endorsement letters and would leave further discussions to Melaka BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The Melaka state election is scheduled for November 14, with early voting on November 10.
The dispute highlights tensions within the coalition as its component parties negotiate their respective roles and seat allocations ahead of polling day.
Secondly, Perikatan Nasional is facing questions over its leadership and legal status after Bersatu questioned the legality of an emergency meeting of the coalition’s supreme council.
Bersatu secretary-general Mohamed Azmin Ali said the party was concerned about the legal implications of proceeding with the meeting while the coalition’s registration status remained subject to court proceedings.
The Registrar of Societies had cancelled PN’s registration, but the High Court subsequently granted a stay on the decision, allowing the coalition to continue its political activities while its legal challenge proceeds.
The government has appealed against that ruling.
Azmin argued that the legal position needed to be clarified before the coalition proceeded with further decisions. He also raised questions about Bersatu’s standing within PN, including whether its representatives would be allowed to attend, speak and vote at the meeting.
The dispute comes as PN prepares for the Melaka state election, adding uncertainty to the coalition’s internal arrangements ahead of nomination day.
Thirdly, Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail has ordered an immediate investigation by Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department into the death of a man in police custody.
The case involves 42-year-old Noorizwan Zulkefly, who died on October 1 after being taken from the Cheras district police headquarters to a hospital for treatment.
The directive follows the discovery of several unusual external injuries on his body, which the police chief said required further investigation.
A post-mortem reportedly found no injuries to the deceased’s internal organs, but the exact cause of death remains undetermined pending further laboratory results.
Khalid said the investigation must be conducted thoroughly and that the findings should be made known to the public.
The case has renewed attention on the handling of deaths in police custody and the importance of transparent investigations. However, the cause of death has yet to be officially established.
Fourthly, a school principal in Perak has been temporarily reassigned while authorities investigate allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a student.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the Perak State Education Department had been instructed to investigate the allegations.
The principal has been transferred temporarily to the Bagan Datuk District Education Office pending the outcome of the investigation.
The allegations circulated on social media and reportedly involved a female Form Three student at a government secondary school in Teluk Intan.
The claims have not been established, and the investigation is ongoing.
The Education Ministry’s action is intended to allow the matter to be investigated while the principal remains away from the school concerned.
Fifthly, Form Six students will receive a total of RM2,500 in living allowances beginning with the first semester of the 2027 academic year.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said payments would be made after registration for Form Six students had been completed.
The allowance will be distributed across the three semesters of study, with approximately RM800 allocated for each semester.
The initiative was announced under Budget 2027 and is expected to benefit around 90,000 students nationwide.
The allocation brings Form Six students in line with matriculation students who already receive a similar allowance.
The government says the assistance is intended to help ease students’ living expenses and support their continued education at pre-university level.
Moving on to Penang.
Sixthly, a 73-year-old doctor has died after being buried in a landslide at his home in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong.
The victim, Wong Kar Lin, was trapped beneath concrete rubble after the landslide struck a two-storey semi-detached house on Sunday morning.
Firefighters recovered his body at around 11.20am. His wife and mother-in-law, who were also at the house, managed to escape.
Following the incident, residents of six nearby houses were ordered to evacuate as a precaution against further ground movement.
Preliminary findings suggest that a leaking water channel and a clogged drain may have caused water to accumulate and trigger the landslide. However, further technical assessments are still required.
Authorities have also reported continued soil movement at the site and halted work in the affected area because of safety concerns.
In a separate incident on Sunday evening, another landslide near Leisure Bay Condominium along Jalan Tanjung Tokong in Tanjung Bungah buried two cars.
The Fire and Rescue Department said a BMW and a Honda City were badly damaged, but no casualties were reported.
The two incidents come amid heavy rain and flooding reported across parts of Penang. Residents in areas near slopes and other vulnerable locations should follow official safety instructions as authorities assess the risks.
Let’s take a look at sports.
Seventhly, Malaysia has ended a 22-year wait for the French Open men’s doubles title after Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun won an all-Malaysian final in Paris.
The pair defeated fellow Malaysians Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani to claim the championship at the 2026 French Open.
Wei Chong and Kai Wun recovered after losing the opening game to secure the victory, marking a significant achievement for the reunited partnership.
The last time Malaysia won the French Open men’s doubles title was in 2004, when Gan Teik Chai and Koo Kien Keat emerged as champions.
The latest triumph also gives Wei Chong and Kai Wun their first title since Wei Chong returned from a knee injury.
The all-Malaysian final guaranteed the country the men’s doubles crown, with both pairs producing strong performances to reach the deciding match.
And finally, in international news.
Indonesia has reduced its natural gas exports to Singapore, prompting the city-state to review its supply arrangements.
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority said the reduction amounts to around 17 billion British thermal units per day over an 18-day period.
However, authorities have stressed that the shortfall represents less than two per cent of Singapore’s daily gas demand for electricity generation.
Singapore’s Energy and Trade Minister Tan See Leng said the country had sufficient supplies to meet demand, including replacement gas from other sources such as liquefied natural gas.
Singapore’s gas importer is also expected to engage its Indonesian suppliers to determine whether the reduction constitutes a breach of existing commercial contracts and whether further action is warranted.
The development highlights Singapore’s reliance on regional energy supplies, as well as the importance of maintaining alternative sources to ensure electricity security.
And that’s your catch-up with Newsenz for today.
Stay informed, stay ahead.