It’s Tuesday, November 3, and these are the updates for you.
Let’s begin with national news.
Firstly, Pakatan Harapan has lodged a police report against a Barisan Nasional candidate in the upcoming Melaka state election over allegations of misusing government resources for campaigning.
The report was filed against BN’s Rim incumbent, Khaidirah Abu Zahar, following claims that government premises, council facilities and public resources were used during an event where contributions were distributed to residents in conjunction with Deepavali.
PKR Central Leadership Council member Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail alleged that the event was held at the Rim Japerun Complex, which she said should no longer be used for political programmes following the dissolution of the state assembly.
She also claimed that food baskets distributed during the event carried the Jasin Municipal Council, or MPJ, label, raising questions over whether the contributions were funded using public money.
PH said it had submitted photographs and video recordings to the police and would forward the evidence to the Election Commission for further investigation.
The coalition stressed that it did not object to residents receiving assistance, but said government facilities and resources should not be used to give any candidate an advantage during an election campaign.
Khaidirah is contesting the Rim seat against PH candidate Esma Eazreen Husin. The Melaka state election is scheduled for November 14, with early voting on November 10.
Secondly, French energy giant TotalEnergies has signed agreements to acquire a 30 per cent operated interest in two major offshore gas fields off the coast of Sarawak, in a deal involving PETRONAS Carigali and other partners.
The agreements cover the Lang Lebah and B14 gas fields, which are expected to be developed together as an integrated project.
According to TotalEnergies, the combined development could unlock more than 6.5 trillion cubic feet of gas resources, equivalent to more than one billion barrels of oil.
The project is expected to support production of around 10 billion cubic metres of gas annually, with supplies intended for Malaysia’s existing liquefied natural gas facilities.
Once the transaction is completed, TotalEnergies will hold a 30 per cent stake in both fields, alongside Thailand’s PTTEP with 25 per cent, Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company with 25 per cent, and PETRONAS Carigali with the remaining 20 per cent.
The agreements are still subject to regulatory approvals.
The acquisition marks another expansion of TotalEnergies’ presence in Malaysia’s gas sector, while the development could strengthen the country’s position as a regional supplier of liquefied natural gas, particularly as demand for gas continues to grow across Asia.
Thirdly, the Health Ministry is facing a nationwide shortage of 1,176 vehicle drivers, including personnel assigned to ambulance services, with the vacancies expected to remain until at least April next year.
According to figures reported by Berita Harian, the ministry had 8,863 General Service Assistant driving positions as of September 30, but only 7,687 were filled.
Peninsular Malaysia accounted for the largest share of vacancies, with 1,003 unfilled positions, followed by Sarawak with 92, Sabah with 73 and Labuan with eight.
The ministry attributed the shortage to delays in recruitment following a temporary suspension of hiring through the Public Services Commission in 2024, as the government prepared to implement the new Public Service Remuneration System.
The previous vehicle driver scheme was subsequently merged into the General Service Assistant scheme, requiring recruitment requirements to be reviewed, particularly for drivers responsible for operating ambulances.
The ministry expects the vacant positions to be filled in stages from April 2027, subject to the completion of the recruitment process.
The shortage comes as the government plans to procure 400 new ambulances for public hospitals under Budget 2027. However, the availability of trained drivers remains an important part of ensuring that additional vehicles can translate into improved emergency response services.
Fourthly, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani has criticised companies that continue to pay technical and vocational education and training, or TVET, graduates wages comparable to those of foreign workers, despite their qualifications.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate on Budget 2027, Johari said some companies were still offering technically trained local graduates the minimum monthly wage of RM1,700, without recognising their additional skills and qualifications.
He said this reflected a continued reliance on low-cost labour, with businesses reluctant to improve productivity through technology, innovation and a more skilled workforce.
Johari also highlighted the difference in living arrangements, saying some local technicians have to pay for their own accommodation even when their basic salaries are similar to those of migrant workers, who may receive employer-provided housing.
Malaysia has produced around 400,000 local TVET graduates as part of efforts to develop a skilled workforce and reduce reliance on foreign labour.
However, the minister’s remarks raise questions about whether employers are providing sufficient career and wage opportunities to attract young Malaysians into technical occupations.
The issue also highlights a wider challenge in the country’s skills development agenda: producing more qualified graduates will have limited impact if businesses continue to offer wages that do not reflect their training and capabilities.
Fifthly, Kuala Lumpur will receive RM55 million to build 22 kilometres of covered pedestrian walkways across the capital, with construction expected to begin in January next year.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Federal Territories Hannah Yeoh said the project would be implemented by Kuala Lumpur City Hall, with an allocation of approximately two kilometres of covered walkways for each parliamentary constituency.
The project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027.
The walkways are intended to connect residential areas with public facilities, commercial centres, bus stops, health clinics and places of worship, making it easier for residents to travel on foot, particularly during heavy rain and hot weather.
Yeoh also said an additional 20 kilometres of covered walkways would be built in the city centre to improve connections between public transport facilities and major destinations, including commercial buildings, office complexes and public parks.
The latest allocation builds on previous projects completed since 2023, which have delivered 4.35 kilometres of covered walkways across 29 locations.
The initiative forms part of a wider effort to improve pedestrian infrastructure and encourage greater use of public transport, although its impact will depend on how well the new routes connect with existing transport networks and everyday destinations.
Moving on to Penang.
Sixthly, the Penang government is considering a bridge as an alternative to the long-proposed undersea tunnel for its third link between the island and the mainland.
State Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state had approved a study to realign the proposed route and examine the feasibility of constructing a bridge instead.
The revised concept involves a northern alignment designed to accommodate the expansion of Penang Port while easing traffic congestion around Gurney Bay.
Zairil said the conceptual design was currently undergoing technical review before it could be submitted to the Penang Port Commission.
The proposed third link has been part of Penang’s long-term transport planning, with the undersea tunnel previously identified as one of the major infrastructure components connecting the island to Seberang Perai.
However, the latest development suggests the state is examining a different engineering approach, taking into account port operations, traffic movement and the feasibility of the proposed alignment.
No final decision has been announced on replacing the tunnel with a bridge. The technical assessment will be important in determining whether the revised proposal can address the transport needs of the state while accommodating future port development.
Let’s take a look at sports.
Former national tenpin bowler Shirley Chow has died at the age of 76, marking the loss of one of the figures who helped establish Malaysia’s presence in international bowling.
Shirley passed away in Ipoh on Monday following an illness.
She was named Malaysia’s Sportswoman of the Year in 1979, becoming the first bowler to receive the award, and went on to win an Asian Games gold medal.
One of the highlights of her career came at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, where she teamed up with Lydia Kwah and Datuk Shalin Zulkifli to win gold in the women’s trios event.
Beyond her achievements as an athlete, Shirley continued contributing to the sport after retirement, taking up coaching and helping develop younger generations of Malaysian bowlers.
Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress secretary-general Maradona Chok described her passing as a great loss to the bowling community, recognising her role in bringing the sport to greater prominence in the country.
Her contributions as both a competitor and coach leave a lasting legacy in Malaysian tenpin bowling.
And finally, in international news.
At least 24 people have been killed following a Russian bombing in southeastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian emergency services, with rescue teams continuing operations at the scene.
The attack struck a school in the village of Komyshuvakha, in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the building was being used to distribute humanitarian aid when it was hit.
He alleged that after the initial strike, Russian forces dropped nine additional bombs on a shelter where people had gathered.
Two emergency service workers were among those killed, while local authorities said 27 people were missing as rescue teams searched through the damaged building and surrounding rubble.
The attack came just one day after the expiry of a six-day local ceasefire that had enabled humanitarian aid deliveries and the evacuation of residents in parts of the region.
The latest bombing adds to the civilian toll of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, while raising further concerns over the safety of humanitarian operations in areas close to the front lines.
And those are your updates for today.
Stay informed, stay ahead with Newsenz.