Explainer: The RM10k fine against Harith Iskander, Cecelia Yap without going to court & why the case is far from over
Popular Malaysian comedian Harith Iskander has been in hot water for the past 2 months or so, following a Facebook post he made regarding the viral issue of a ‘Halal’ ham and cheese sandwich found sold in a local convenience store.
Harith was deemed to have made an alleged offensive comment involving the religion of Islam in the post after sarcastically saying that “his faith was shaken” after seeing a menu advertising “Ham Sap Coffee” as it contained the word “ham”.
Here's what the law says about who will exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong while His Majesty is absent
The King of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, recently left for medical treatment abroad, as confirmed by Istana Negara on 7 February 2025.
In the statement issued on 7 February, which was posted on Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was accompanied by his sons, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim.
Can the Prime Minister appoint a Minister for Non-Muslim Religious Affairs? Here's what the Constitution say
A recent proposal by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Raub Chow Yu Hui in the Dewan Rakyat sparked controversy and received backlash from lawmakers and the public alike. Debating the Royal Address on 12 February in Parliament, Chow proposed for a second minister to be appointed for religious affairs, which is specific to non-Islamic religious affairs, essentially splitting the religious affairs portfolio under the Prime Minister’s Department.
For reference, currently, Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar is the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), a position that has been part of the Cabinet in Malaysia for decades. There has never been a Ministerial portfolio specifically designated to oversee non-Islamic religious affairs in Malaysia, with matters related to interfaith relations at the federal level currently under the purview of the National Unity Ministry.
Malaysians selected for PLKN 3.0 but fail to show up can face up to 6 months in jail, an RM3,000 fine or both
After a 7-year hiatus, the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) is back. However, compared to its two previous iterations, there’s now a tweaked format, with the Ministry of Defence aptly calling the new one PLKN 3.0.
This time around, PLKN 3.0 implements a training module that integrates 70% Basic Military Training, which equips trainees with basic military skills, national security policy, basic well-being of Malaysia MADANI and leadership skills. 30% of Statehood Components. Meanwhile, the other 30% involve Statehood Components, which include elements of identity, patriotism and strengthening unity.
PLKN 3.0 is being implemented in three series at two camps this year, with PLKN 3.0 Series 1/2025 currently ongoing at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Kuala Lumpur since 12 January and will end on 25 February. This series is the only one conducted on a voluntary basis.
Meanwhile, PLKN 3.0 Series 2/2025 will be carried out from 11 May to 2 June, and PLKN 3.0 Series 3/2025 will be from 7 September to 21 October 2025.
Boss forced you to use annual leave on CNY or other public holidays? Why this is illegal & how to report them
Malaysia is well-known globally as a multiracial and multicultural country with diverse cultures, languages, religions and festivities. The sheer number of public holidays in a year for religious and cultural celebrations is a testament to this, with the most recent being the Chinese New Year.
One of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture, Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, dates back some 3,500 years, with many unique traditions associated with it depending on the region. For example, the “Yee Sang” ceremony actually originated in Malaysia and is not performed in mainland China.
Do you need a permit to hold a rally? Things to know about the right to peaceful assembly in Malaysia
Over the past 4 months or so, public rallies or assemblies have been a matter of debate among Malaysians thanks to several noteworthy rallies that made national headlines. Back in October, a public gathering near the vicinity of Menara Condong in Teluk Intan, Perak, sparked controversy as its participants were seen waving flags of the People’s Republic of China, which sparked a counter-rally not approved by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) afterwards by Malaysians who gathered and waved the Jalur Gemilang.
Meanwhile, a planned rally in support of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on 6 January in front of the Palace of Justice, Putrajaya, was scrapped by UMNO. However, as Daily Express reported, several NGOs held their own gathering in solidarity with Najib, despite PDRM not giving the green light.
Do you need to declare CNY Angpows to LHDN? Are red packets from your employer taxable? Here's all you need to know
Chinese New Year (CNY), also known as the Lunar New Year, is one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture, dating back a staggering 3,500 years. Given that Chinese Malaysians are the second-largest ethnic group in our country, it is one of the many major festive celebrations observed in this beloved multicultural country we call home.
As we enter into the Year of the Snake this CNY2025, one ubiquitous tradition for all CNY celebrations is the giving of ‘Angpows’ or red packets stuffed with money. Generally, it is customary for married adults to present angpows to children, teenagers and unmarried adults.
Ordered to pay Lim Guan Eng RM1.35 million for defamation by the High Court, what's next for Muhyiddin in the case?
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin faced some legal troubles again recently, but instead of criminal charges, the former Prime Minister was at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to hear the verdict on a defamation suit brought forth against him by his former Pakatan Harapan (PH) Cabinet member Lim Guan Eng.
In the judgement by High Court Judicial Commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain on 8 November 2024, Muhyiddin was ordered to pay RM1.35 million in damages to Lim for defaming the Bagan Member of Parliament (MP) over the revocation of Albukhary Foundation tax exemption.
“Having no driving licence or road tax is irrelevant" - The landmark case that changed road accident claims in Malaysia
Have you ever heard someone saying to you that in a road accident, the party without a valid driving licence, road tax or insurance coverage will automatically be liable in a motor vehicle accident claim? It is unknown where this understanding came from, but it’s something many Malaysians believed in up until today.
In actuality, this can’t be further from the truth. Well, at least, it hasn’t been for the past two years or so thanks to a ruling by the Court of Appeal on 16 June 2022.
A landmark decision which essentially changed how liability is considered when calculating damages in negligence suits in our country, read on to learn more.
The obscure law that can land M'sians up to 5-year jail, RM50k fine or both, simply for not having their IC with them
Over the past 3 years or so, there have been many viral news stories about Malaysians who ended up getting fined and even jailed simply for failing to produce their identification card (IC) when asked to do so by the relevant authorities.
In February this year, a 27-year-old Sarawakian was jailed for a month by the Magistrate’s Court after he failed to pay a fine of RM2,000 for failure to produce his MyKad to police officers at Jalan Temple in Sibu, Sarawak on 25 January 2024.
Employers in Malaysia who don't adhere to new RM1.7k minimum wage face up to RM10k fine, except for these exemptions
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled Budget 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat on 18 October 2024, which included many bold new policies such as subsidy cuts for the yet-to-be-defined “T15” group, a new 2 per cent tax for dividend income over RM100,000 and increased excise duty on sugary drinks.
Besides that, one new policy change that may have the biggest impact has got to be the increase of minimum wage in Malaysia from RM1,500 to RM1,700 starting 1 February 2025. While some praised the move as something long overdue for workers’ welfare, others saw the change as the start of a domino effect that would increase the prices of goods and services in our country.
The foreigners who waved China flags at viral Teluk Intan parade can face up to 6 months in jail and RM10,000 fine
A parade held near the vicinity of the Menara Condong in Teluk Intan, Perak, sparked controversy after videos circulated online depicting its participants waving flags of the People’s Republic of China.
According to a report by Sinar Harian, the parade was revealed to be the World Guan Gong celebration organised by the Persatuan Kebudayaan Guan Gong, which has since issued a public apology for the incident. In the statement, the association clarified that the China flags were waved by Chinese nationals and not Malaysians. Moreover, they stressed that the act was never part of the parade.
What is sub judice, and is Najib’s apology over the 1MDB fiasco considered sub judice to his corruption trial?
Jailed former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made headline news recently after he released a statement showing regret over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and how it had affected Malaysians.
In a press conference by his son, Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib, at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on 24 October, he read out his father’s statement, which included how Najib had much reflection over 26 months in prison following his conviction in the SRC International case and how it pained him to know that the 1MDB debacle took place when he was Finance Minister and Finance Minister.
As outrage spurs over Besut council's killing of 'Kopi', can local councils legally use firearms to cull stray dogs?
The killing of a stray dog in Besut, Terengganu, made national headlines recently and provoked the anger of many Malaysians, especially animal welfare activists, who have since made their voices heard on the matter. This is after the stray dog, known affectionately as ‘Kopi’, was shot by an enforcement officer of the Besut District Council (MDB) using a firearm.
Following the incident, a Change.org petition on the incident to demand accountability was launched by Malaysians, garnering over 22,000 signatures as of the time of writing. Not only that, a coalition of animal rights groups also filed a civil suit against MDB for action to be taken against the local council.
No more automatic citizenship for children of PRs & other constitutional amendments to Malaysia’s citizenship laws
The tabling of Budget 2025 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat on 18 October somewhat overshadowed a historic constitutional amendment which drastically changed Malaysia’s citizenship laws just a day prior.
As with any other amendments to the Federal Constitution, The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 required the support of at least two-thirds of Members of Parliament (MP) in the Dewan Rakyat, or 148 out of 222 MPs.
ETS passenger who caused a 2-hour delay by deliberately pulling on the emergency brake may face up to 20 years in jail
The passengers of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Electric Train Service ES9052 from KL Sentral to Ipoh, Perak, recently found themselves in an emergency situation after the train was suddenly disrupted mid-way due to the mischievous action of one of its passengers.
In an incident that took place on 12 October at around 11.25pm, the aforementioned mischievous passenger, seemingly without good reason, intentionally pulled on the train’s emergency brake. According to Malay Mail, the bizarre action was captured on the ETS train’s closed-circuit television (CCTV). Furthermore, due to the mischief, the train reached its destination almost 2 hours late.
Can controversial law SOSMA be used against GISBH members for arrest without warrant & detention for up to 28 days?
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) recently unearthed shocking revelations involving the Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holdings (GISBH) organisation which enraged Malaysians. These include allegations of sexual and physical abuse of children at their welfare homes, human trafficking, promoting Islamic deviancy and more.
In one of PDRM’s latest updates on the investigations into the organisation, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain revealed that hundreds of GISBH members have been arrested for various offences. Out of the total, 127 individuals have been released on bail after their remand period ended, while another 24 individuals’ remands have been extended for 4 days under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, with PDRM advising them to approach the police if they require any welfare support.
Road users in Malaysia can get up to 6 months in jail or RM2,000 fine if their vehicle horns have more than 1 tone
If you’ve used the expressway in Malaysia or live in an area frequented by trucks or tour buses, then you’ve probably encountered heavy vehicles with melodic horns ‘singing’ to popular songs. Reception to this trend is rather divisive, as while some may find it to be hilarious and a welcoming entertainment during traffic jams, others see it more as a nuisance on the road.
However, one thing’s for certain is that having melodic horns on a vehicle is actually illegal in our country. In fact, having vehicle horns that are more than one tone in Malaysia can theoretically land you up to 6 months in jail or an RM2,000 fine!
The legal 'loophole' allowing a vape company to sponsor Terengganu RXZ motorcycle gathering attended by state MB
A massive gathering of over 40,000 motorcycle enthusiasts took place in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu recently and made headlines nationwide thanks to the colourful participants and their antics. However, the event, “RXZ Members 6.0”, did cause a few controversies.
These include traffic offences made by the participants, which yielded some 89 summonses, and sadly, the deaths of 3 participants who were involved in road accidents following the event.
Suspect behind video of Jalur Gemilang being taken down & replaced with Sabah, Sarawak flags may face up to 3-year jail
A viral video provoked the ire of Malaysians recently, showing a group of individuals overseas taking down the Malaysian flag, Jalur Gemilang, and replacing it with the flags of Sabah and Sarawak, believed to promote the separation of the 2 East Malaysian territories from our country.
According to a statement by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, a preliminary investigation found that the incident took place in Melbourne, Australia, on Malaysia Day earlier this month, supposedly as a symbol of the end of Malaysia’s ‘colonisation’ of Sabah and Sarawak and making them republics.
Here’s why over 61 years after Malaysia’s formation, English is still legally Sarawak’s official language
Malaysia recently observed its 67th Merdeka Day and 61st Malaysia Day, two proud celebrations commemorating the unique history of this beloved country we call home. Renowned globally for our cultural diversity and multiracial, multi-religious harmony, this is perfectly exemplified by the East Malaysian territory of Sarawak.
Comprising more than 40 sub-ethnic groups and at least 45 different languages and dialects, Sarawak is home to one of the most diverse diasporas in Malaysia. Moreover, another unique thing about Sarawak is that over 61 years after Malaysia’s independence, it is the only territory in our country that still legally has English as one of its official languages.
The Cyber Security Act 2024 is now enforced but what exactly is it & how will it impact Malaysians?
The Cyber Security Bill 2024 was tabled in Parliament by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo on 25 March 2024 and has since been passed by the Legislative body and accordingly, being made into law following the Government Gazette on 26 June. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as the minister responsible for cyber security, had set the date for the Cyber Security Act 2024 to come into force on 26 August after obtaining the Royal Assent from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia on 18 June.
Public display of a country flag other than the Jalur Gemilang is illegal & punishable with up to 6-month jail in Malaysia
In Southeast Asia, August is noteworthy as 3 nations in the region celebrate their Independence Day during this month, namely Singapore (August 9), Indonesia (August 17) and of course, our beloved country, Malaysia (August 31).
Recently, amidst the National Day celebration in Singapore, controversy erupted in the Republic after a video went viral on TikTok, depicting how an HDB flat block in Singapre’s Yishun Central displayed the Malaysian flag alongside a sea of Singaporean flags.
Teresa Kok may face up to 2-year jail, RM50k fine & lose her MP seat for alleged offensive remarks on Halal certificates
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Seputeh Teresa Kok found herself in controversy recently after she expressed concern about a proposal considered by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) to make Halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that didn’t serve pork and alcohol.
In a statement, Teresa said that the proposal would increase the burden on businesses, including thousands of Malay restaurant operators, obstruct consumers’ choices and is against our country’s multicultural spirit. Furthermore, the Seputeh MP claimed that such a move would cause a negative reaction in the country and embarrass Malaysia internationally, turning the country into mockery overseas.
You can be arrested without a warrant & face up to 1-month jail if you don't stand up for 'Negaraku'
The Malaysian national anthem, ‘Negaraku’, has quite a unique history behind it, as its tune was originally used as the state anthem of Perak. The rabbit hole goes even deeper as the tune had its roots in the popular Indonesian song ‘Terang Bulan’, which itself was an adaption of the song ‘La Rosalie’ by 19th-century French songwriter Pierre-Jean de Béranger.
Furthermore, a worldwide competition was held to compose the national anthem, with all 514 entries received being rejected due to the competition committee deeming all of them not suitable. It was only after the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman suggested that the committee choose the Perak state anthem to be used as the basis of the national anthem that ‘Negaraku’ was created.
KL sinkhole: The controversial law giving DBKL 'legal immunity' from being sued by the victim’s family
The colourful and bustling street of Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur turned into a place of tragedy recently after a sinkhole suddenly appeared while a woman was walking there, burying her deep underground.
After an intense 9-day search and rescue (SAR) operation, the victim, identified as 48-year-old Indian national Vijayaletchumi, was still not found and on 31 August, it was announced that the operation had been called off, with efforts now shifting into a ‘search and recovery’ phase instead.
Moreover, de facto Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa also said that the Cabinet would be discussing potentially giving compensation to the victim’s family, who have since returned to India on 1 September after performing the final rites for the victim on the incident site.
Here’s why Nasi Kandar chain Thaqwa ended up having to pay a whopping RM221k to Astro for copyright infringement
Popular Nasi Kandar restaurant chain Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd had to shell out a whopping RM221,773.20 to Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad subsidiary Measat Broadcast Systems Sdn Bhd recently following a consent judgment by the Kuala Lumpur High Court for breaching subscription agreements on unauthorised use of Astro’s pay-TV broadcasts at multiple locations.
In a statement by Astro, the company revealed that Thaqwa only had subscriptions for 2 specific premises but used them in 8 of its other restaurants through the use of Astro’s smart cards, decoder boxes and other equipment to access and display Astro content. Furthermore, as part of the settlement, Thaqwa also agreed to use their Astro subscription solely at the authorised locations and to respect Astro’s copyright and intellectual property rights.
M’sian homeowner who tampered with TNB wiring to charge his Tesla for ‘free’ may face up to 2-year jail & RM50,000 fine
A viral video caused a stir recently, showing a tampered electricity wiring setup at a residential home preventing the electricity consumption of a Tesla electric vehicle (EV) charger from being detected by the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) meter.
In the video, recorded at a residential home at an undisclosed location in Peninsular Malaysia, a TNB personnel can be seen examining the tampered wiring and questioning an individual, believed to be the homeowner, about the matter. The staff explained to the individual that the Tesla charger ‘bypassed’ the TNB meter, leading to losses for the electricity supplier.
However, the individual pled ignorance and claimed that the tampered wiring was made by the technician who installed the Tesla charger.
Parents of the 13y/o ‘Mat Rempits’ who died while illegal racing may face up to 20-year jail, RM20k fine or both
A fatal road accident at Jalan Elmina Business Park in Sungai Buloh, Selangor made headlines recently after 2 teenage boys, both aged around 13 years old died in a motorcycle crash while doing dangerous stunts on their motorcycles at around 11.20pm on 14 August.
In a statement by the Sungai Buloh District Police Chief Superintendent Mohd Hafiz Mohammad Nor, both underage riders died at the scene after colliding head-on with each other. Since news of the incident broke, many were outraged by the incident, especially given the young age of both deceased.
Accordingly, many have called for the parents or guardians of both victims to be held accountable as they should’ve kept an eye on the deceased minors and stopped them from underage riding of motorcycles and engaging in the so-called ‘Mat Rempit’ activities. Indeed, even Mohd Hafiz asserted that action may be taken against the parents for the incident.
Allegedly making seditious remarks against the Pahang Sultan, Muhyiddin may face up to 3-year jail & lose his Pagoh seat
Former Prime Minister and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been in hot water for his remarks during a ceramah or public rally during the campaigning period of the recently-concluded Nenggiri by-election which touched upon religion, royalty and race (3R).
This is after a viral video showed Muhyiddin claiming he had the support of 115 MPs after the 15th General Election (GE15) but was not invited to form the federal government. He then asked the crowd who the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was during that time.
The 14y/o girl who impersonated a doctor at Serdang Hospital may face 3-year jail, but can minors be charged for a crime?
A rather peculiar case caught the attention of Malaysians recently after a 14-year-old girl was apprehended by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) at the lobby of Hospital Sultan Idris Shah in Serdang, Selangor for impersonating a medical doctor.
According to a statement by the Sepang District Police Chief Wan Kamarul Azran bin Yusof, the girl had allegedly disguised herself as a medical officer and even managed to enter an operation theatre to “help perform surgery”.
