News@9: Today's top headlines - June 3, 2025
Here are today's biggest stories.
Assets frozen
MACC has obtained a court order to freeze more than RM750 million in assets belonging to Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid in London, potentially linked to offences under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001.
The Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia has called for the postponement of the RON95 subsidy rationalisation until two critical issues are resolved.
Journalists should serve as a bridge to help the public understand the ethical implications and appropriateness of using emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
The MCMC will work closely with Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said on a proposal to make it mandatory for parents to monitor their children's online activities.
That's it for News@9.
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Court reserves judgment in Tommy Thomas's appeal to recuse judge
Former attorney-general Tommy Thomas's lawyer argued that High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain was biased and had shown prejudgment when she dismissed his client's application to strike out the suit. PUTRAJAYA : The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in former attorney-general Tommy Thomas's appeal to disqualify a High Court judge from hearing a malicious prosecution lawsuit filed by former minister Shahrir Samad. The three-member bench, led by Justice Supang Lian and comprising Justices Faizah Jamaludin and Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin, said it would consider both written and oral submissions. A case management has been scheduled for June 12 to fix a date for the decision. Thomas's lawyer Alan Adrian Gomez argued that High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain was biased and had shown prejudgment when she dismissed his client's application to strike out the suit. He claimed the judge relied on Thomas's memoir, My Story: Justice in the Wilderness, to suggest that Thomas had pressured the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate Shahrir. 'Thomas will not be accorded a fair trial as there is a breach of natural justice,' he added. 'Thomas only asked MACC investigators to complete the probe expeditiously,' Gomez said, adding that while Thomas approved Shahrir's prosecution, it was his successor, Idrus Harun, who decided to proceed with the trial. Gomez also took issue with the judge's remark in her judgment that Thomas, before becoming attorney-general in June 2018, had helped topple the Barisan Nasional government. 'BN was voted out in the 14th general election,' he said. In response, Shahrir's lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin argued that the recusal bid was baseless and made only after the strike-out application failed. He said a judge cannot be disqualified simply for making adverse rulings and noted that judges routinely dismiss strike-out applications but still go on to hear the full case if the plaintiff had an arguable case. He said the judge, in this case, wanted the trial to proceed as there was a prima facie case for malicious prosecution. 'The trial should proceed so that the truth can be tested through cross-examination,' Firoz said. He also highlighted that an MACC officer testified in Shahrir's money laundering trial that the investigation was incomplete when charges were filed. On Jan 5, 2023, High Court judge Jamil Hussin acquitted Shahrir of failing to declare RM1 million received from former prime minister Najib Razak to the tax authorities after the prosecution decided not to continue the case. Thomas filed the recusal application on Aug 26, 2023, alleging that Roz Mawar made baseless findings inconsistent with the lawsuit and evidence. Shahrir opposed the application, arguing that dissatisfaction with a ruling was not grounds for recusal. On July 3 last year, the judge dismissed Thomas's attempt to strike out the lawsuit. Shahrir, a former Johor Bahru MP, filed the suit in December 2022, naming Thomas, former MACC chief Latheefa Koya, MACC and the government as defendants. The suit centres on a RM1 million cheque from Najib, said to be intended for housing project restoration in Larkin, Johor. Thomas, who was attorney-general from June 2018 to February 2020, denies any abuse of power and says prosecution decisions were made only after reviewing investigation papers from relevant agencies. He resigned in February 2020, while Shahrir's trial began in July 2022.
Free Malaysia Today
35 minutes ago
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MCMC keeping an eye on sale of vape products online, says Fahmi
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said MCMC is expected to prepare a report on online vape sales, which his ministry will then bring to the Cabinet for further discussion. PUTRAJAYA : The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will monitor the sale of vape products online, particularly on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, says Fahmi Fadzil. The communications minister said the issue of vape sales and usage, which have been increasingly restricted by several states, was raised at today's Cabinet meeting. 'The health minister will study the matter. I will also instruct MCMC to look into the sale of these products online. 'We have found many such products being sold on Facebook and WhatsApp,' Fahmi, who is the government spokesman, told a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting. While a complete ban on vape sales nationwide has been suggested, Fahmi said that would fall under the jurisdiction of the health ministry. 'This has to be referred to the health ministry. But the communications ministry is monitoring the sale of e-cigarettes using social media through MCMC,' he said. Fahmi said MCMC is expected to prepare a report on the matter, which the communications ministry will then bring to the Cabinet for further discussion.
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35 minutes ago
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MACC seizes Ilham Tower again
Ilham Tower belongs to former finance minister, the late Daim Zainuddin, and his family. (Website pic) PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized the 274m-tall Ilham Tower, located in the Kuala Lumpur city centre. This is the anti-graft agency's second time seizing the tower, after making a similar seizure on Dec 21, 2023. In a statement, MACC said it received authorisation from the deputy public prosecutor to seize the tower on Jalan Binjai today. The tower, which belongs to the late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and his family, was seized two years ago under Section 38(1) of the MACC Act, which deals with the seizure of immovable property. The anti-graft agency previously said it could seize the tower for up to 18 months pending investigations. MACC said today's seizure was made under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla). It said the authorisation for seizure was granted after the deputy public prosecutor was satisfied that it was related to an offence under Section 4(1) of Amla for structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements. 'Accordingly, it was ordered that the Ilham Tower building be seized by an MACC investigating officer. 'All dealings involving the transfer of ownership of the said immovable property are now prohibited. Failure to comply with this notice constitutes an offence under Amla,' MACC said. Last month, the graft busters opened eight new investigation papers into 'high-value' assets linked to Daim and his family members after receiving new information from overseas. Earlier this week, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted MACC a court order to freeze 132 million pounds (RM758.2 million) worth of assets in London belonging to Naimah Khalid, the widow of Daim, and her family. The assets reportedly included two commercial buildings, five luxury residences and one bank account. Naimah plans to challenge the court order, which was granted ex parte, contending that the assets were lawfully acquired.
