Today's top Malaysian news, sport and lifestyle.
The proposed MARA Bill 2026, to be tabled before year-end, dedicates 80 per cent of its provisions to corporate governance reforms. Key changes include reducing the chairman's powers, separating board and management functions, and establishing mandatory oversight committees.
Malaysia's Housing Ministry will draft three new housing laws and amend one existing act by 2035, establishing stronger protections for property owners and tenants while modernizing oversight of Malaysia's nearly three million strata units.
Malaysia's transport ministry plans to table legislation increasing fines for railway cable theft to RM100,000. Deputy minister Hasbi Habibollah confirmed the amendment will be presented in the next parliamentary session.
South Korea's historic dog meat industry faces extinction after landmark legislation bans breeding, slaughter, and sale of dogs for consumption from February 2027. Most farms have already closed, leaving restaurants and vendors struggling to adapt.
Malaysia's Dewan Negara concluded its 10-day session by passing 12 bills, including landmark legislation on cybercrimes and road transport. The Upper House also debated motions on cross-border e-commerce threats and auxiliary police voting rights.
The Malaysian government is pushing through legislative changes to penalize railway cable theft more severely, with fines reaching RM100,000 per offence—a dramatic increase from the current RM1,000 limit—as losses across national rail networks exceed RM50 million.
Malaysia's government is consulting stakeholders on proposed amendments to the Tabung Haji Act 1995, following Royal Commission recommendations to improve the pilgrimage fund board's governance and management.
Malaysia's Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is reviewing the Child Act 2001 based on 159 recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, aiming to strengthen protections and align with global standards.
Malaysia's Dewan Negara has passed the Cyber Security Bill 2026, a comprehensive law to address mounting cyber threats. The legislation features eight parts and 61 clauses, replacing the 27-year-old Computer Crimes Act 1997.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia is intensifying preparations to roll out the Statistics Bill 2026, which passed Parliament this week. The overhaul replaces decades-old legislation with contemporary data governance standards aligned with UN guidelines.
Malaysia's Cabinet has approved in-principle amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 that would allow courts to impose compensation orders on road offenders, alongside existing penalties. The move aims to hold drivers accountable for victim welfare.
Malaysia's Parliament has concluded a 16-day sitting that saw the passage of 13 bills ranging from road transport to cybercrime legislation. The session also featured ministerial briefings and debates on human rights matters.
Malaysia's parliament has passed the Statistics Bill 2026, replacing six-decade-old legislation to create a modern legal framework for data collection and governance aligned with international standards.
The Dewan Rakyat has passed the MCMC Amendment Bill 2026, elevating the communications regulator's contract approval limit from RM5 million to RM50 million and requiring political neutrality for its chairman to strengthen institutional independence.
The Malaysian Association of Social Workers has welcomed the tabling of the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, describing it as a landmark step that will formally recognise the profession and align Malaysia with international standards.
The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026, imposing significantly higher penalties on rice industry offences. Fines for individuals rise to RM250,000 while companies face up to RM1 million in penalties, marking the first increase since 1994.
Malaysia's Parliament advanced legislation on competition law and rice industry regulation during its third sitting week, while debating human rights, healthcare digitalisation and the 1MDB debt burden totalling RM51.4 billion.
Malaysia's parliamentary health committee has proposed comprehensive reforms to the organ transplant system, including a new law to replace the 50-year-old Human Tissues Act 1974 and integration of donor registration with MySejahtera.