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It’s Thursday, October 29, and these are the updates for you.
Let’s begin with national news.
Firstly, MCA has ended its four-day standoff with Barisan Nasional and agreed to contest two seats in the upcoming Melaka state election.
MCA president Wee Ka Siong confirmed that the party would contest Machap Jaya and Kelebang following a second meeting with BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The dispute erupted after MCA leaders walked out of BN’s candidate announcement ceremony over dissatisfaction with the allocation of seats, which the party said had been decided without proper consultation.
The latest meeting appears to have resolved the immediate disagreement, with Wee saying both sides had reached a consensus and that MCA would cooperate with BN throughout the campaign.
He also said discussions had established a framework to address the party’s concerns about Chinese community representation in the state government.
The agreement allows BN to move forward with its election preparations, although the episode has highlighted the challenges of maintaining cooperation between coalition partners with competing demands.
Secondly, the removal of disputed traditional chiefs in Negeri Sembilan has been formally gazetted, marking a new development in the state’s ongoing customary leadership dispute.
The gazette notifications, dated October 23, formalise the removal of the former Undang of Sungei Ujong, Datuk Mubarak Dohak, and the former Undang of Jelebu, whose positions had been contested.
The documents were issued following decisions involving the state’s customary institutions and were verified by the secretary of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, the council responsible for matters involving the ruling chiefs.
The dispute has drawn attention because the Undang, or traditional chiefs, play an important role in Negeri Sembilan’s unique system of customary governance, including the process of selecting the state ruler.
The latest gazette formalises the decisions on paper, but questions surrounding the wider dispute and the authority of the parties involved remain significant.
Thirdly, the government plans to allow registered refugees to access formal employment under specific conditions through its Refugee Registration Document, or DPP, programme.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said valid DPP cardholders would be given conditional permission to work in approved sectors, although the government has not yet detailed which industries will be eligible.
The initiative is intended to reduce refugees’ reliance on informal employment, where they may face exploitation, while also helping Malaysia reduce its dependence on recruiting foreign workers from overseas.
The DPP programme was introduced this year to register and identify refugees and asylum seekers, allowing the government to manage their temporary presence while determining their status.
Registration does not grant citizenship or permanent residency. Refugees remain subject to screening, movement restrictions and other conditions imposed by the authorities.
The government says the system will also support decisions on eventual resettlement in third countries or repatriation when conditions allow.
The proposal could create a more regulated pathway for registered refugees to earn a living, but its effectiveness will depend on clear employment rules, proper screening and safeguards against workplace exploitation.
Fourthly, the government has put 24 new data centre applications on hold while it assesses whether Malaysia has enough water and electricity to support further expansion.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said authorities would prioritise 117 data centre projects that have already been approved before deciding whether to accept additional applications.
The existing projects represent approximately RM385.7 billion in investments and could require between 23,000 and 23,500 megawatts of electricity when fully operational.
Johari said state governments must first confirm that sufficient water is available, while Tenaga Nasional Berhad will be consulted on electricity supply and reserve capacity.
Where grid supply is insufficient, the government may consider alternatives such as renewable energy, battery storage and off-grid power generation.
The concern is that approving more data centres without adequate utilities could place additional pressure on existing supplies and affect other industries and consumers.
The decision to hold the applications therefore reflects a broader challenge: balancing investment in digital infrastructure with the country's capacity to provide reliable electricity and water.
Fifthly, the lawyer representing Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency chief Shuhaily Zain has questioned why an alleged assault dating back more than a decade has resurfaced now.
Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali was responding to claims by a former police officer who is seeking a review of a police report lodged in November 2015.
The former officer’s lawyer alleges that the incident occurred when Shuhaily was serving as Hilir Perak district police chief, and claims that the complainant subsequently faced difficulties in his career before being dismissed from the police force.
Rafique questioned the timing of the allegations but said the police and Attorney-General’s Chambers were free to investigate the report further.
The development comes after Shuhaily was charged last week over separate allegations involving two police officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in September. He has been charged with voluntarily causing hurt.
The 2015 allegation remains separate from the more recent case, and the claims must be assessed through the appropriate investigative and legal processes.
The key issue is whether the earlier report was properly handled and whether there are grounds for further action, regardless of when the allegations have resurfaced.
Moving on to Penang.
Sixthly, Penang’s largest immersive light and digital art exhibition opens today at The Waterfront Shoppes in Gelugor.
Called ELEMEN, the exhibition features more than 15 interactive spaces spread across approximately 7,700 square feet, combining responsive visuals, sound and lighting across five elemental themes: water, earth, space, air and fire.
Visitors can move through the different zones in a self-guided experience, with sensors allowing some of the installations to respond to movement and interaction.
The exhibition also incorporates local cultural and natural references, including imagery inspired by the sea, paddy fields and other Malaysian motifs.
Organisers say the experience is designed to combine digital art with environmental awareness, while offering visitors an interactive alternative to conventional exhibitions.
ELEMEN opens alongside the soft opening of The Waterfront Shoppes and is scheduled to run into early 2027.
Let’s take a look at sports.
Malaysian women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting have advanced to the second round of the Hylo Open in Saarbrücken, Germany.
The duo defeated England’s Abbygael Harris and Estelle van Leeuwen in straight games, winning 21-12 and 21-17 in 35 minutes.
They will next face Hong Kong’s eighth-seeded pair, Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam, as they continue their campaign at the Super 500 tournament.
However, Malaysia also suffered a setback in the men’s doubles, as Chia Weijie and Teo Ee Yi retired during their opening-round match against England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy.
The Malaysian pair lost the first game 14-21 and were trailing 7-11 in the second when they retired. The reason for their retirement was not immediately specified in the tournament report.
The Hylo Open provides another opportunity for Malaysian shuttlers to build momentum on the international circuit as the tournament progresses.
And finally, in international news.
Israel’s general election remains inconclusive, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing difficult negotiations to form the next government.
Early results showed Netanyahu’s Likud party leading as votes were counted, but neither his political bloc nor its main rival appeared to have secured the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
With the Knesset comprising 120 seats, the final balance will depend on the remaining votes and the positions taken by smaller parties.
Netanyahu is expected to remain caretaker prime minister while President Isaac Herzog considers which candidate is best placed to form a government.
The election is the first since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks and subsequent regional conflict, with security, leadership and the direction of the country among the issues shaping the political contest.
The lack of a clear majority could lead to prolonged coalition negotiations, with the possibility of further political uncertainty if no workable governing arrangement emerges.
For now, the exit polls and early figures point to a divided parliament, but the final outcome will depend on the official results and the negotiations that follow.
And that’s your catch-up with Newsenz for today.
Stay informed, stay ahead.