
Sabah to reform native court law, boost rural economy and food security
Published on: Thu, May 01, 2025 Text Size: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced that the Sabah Native Court Enactment 1992 will be replaced with a new version to streamline the court's structure and strengthen its role. The draft of the 2025 enactment is under review by relevant state departments before being presented to the State Cabinet and Legislative Assembly. Hajiji also highlighted Sabah's push to raise its food Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL), currently at just 22.8 percent. The government is reviving the Sabah Paddy and Rice Board and developing over 22,000 hectares of idle paddy land in six districts, aiming to reach 30 percent SSL by 2026 and 60 percent by 2030. Through the recently launched Rural Agricultural Economic Revolution Program (REPLB), the state aims to empower rural farmers and agropreneurs by increasing agricultural output, introducing modern technologies, and improving market access to ensure sustainable income. The Chief Minister also emphasized that the Kaamatan Festival reflects unity, gratitude, and inclusiveness, aligning with the values of Malaysia Madani. This year's theme, 'Kaamatan for All,' underscores the festival's role as a celebration for all Sabahans regardless of background. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Sabah assembly to be dissolved in mid-Sept?
KOTA KINABALU: With less than three months remaining before the automatic dissolution of the current five-year term of the Sabah assembly, political circles are anticipating that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor will call for elections by mid-September. Talk among the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) political circles is the possibility of Hajiji calling for the election on the second week of September or immediately after Malaysia Day on Sept 16. They anticipate the dissolution could happen after the main Malaysia Agreement 1963 Action and Implementation Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that is scheduled for Sept 12 in Kuala Lumpur. Sabah hopes to see positive progress in negotiations regarding the 40% federal revenue returns to the state. The state has worked out an interim 40% share formula for federal tax revenues returns as a temporary measure to be discussed at the meeting that will be attended by Hajiji and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Any positive outcomes during the meetings especially on the issue of Sabah's 40% claim would bolster electoral mood in favour of the ruling state government under GRS and Sabah Pakatan Harapan. "We have to see the meeting outcome. If it is positive, it will be good for both GRS and Pakatan who are now working on an electoral pact," a GRS leader, who declined to be named, said. Some political chatter does not discount the possibility of a dissolution in early September just after the Aug 31 National Day celebrations. The 16th Sabah Legislative Assembly automatically dissolves on Nov 11 to pave way for the 17th state election that should be held within 60 days of dissolution. Sabah Umno election director Jeffrey Nor Mohamed said that he believes GRS and Hajiji are waiting for the current issues, including the tragic death of Zara Qairina Mahathir and the ongoing corruption issues linked to the videos, to subside. "It is possible they will go for dissolution in the second week of September and probably an election in October," said Jeffrey, whose Sabah chapter of Barisan-Umno is against working with GRS, which is also part of the federal unity government. Opposition Parti Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman said that Warisan is already in election mode, actively engaging in all 73 state seats. "As far as we are concerned, its already election mode with less than three months to dissolution. It is up to Hajiji to decide the dissolution," he said.


Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Daily Express
Malaysian tycoon Ong Beng Seng spared jail after Singapore scandal
Published on: Friday, August 15, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 15, 2025 By: Bloomberg Text Size: Ong Beng Seng last week pleaded guilty to abetting former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran to obstruct the course of justice. (EPA Images pic) SINGAPORE: Convicted billionaire Ong Beng Seng will avoid jail in Singapore despite his involvement in a scandal that stunned a city-state known for being one of the world's least corrupt nations. The Malaysian tycoon, who gained international fame for bringing Formula One racing to Singapore, was granted the reprieve by a district judge at a sentencing hearing this afternoon. Ong will be fined S$30,000, the judge said, citing his dire medical condition. The 79-year-old last week pleaded guilty to one charge of abetting former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran to obstruct the course of justice. Prosecutors said Ong in 2023 helped to bill Iswaran for a S$5,700 business class ticket while authorities were investigating the matter. The ex-politician was jailed last year after obtaining gifts that included tickets to Singapore's Grand Prix, a luxury hotel stay and other valuable items while in public office. Ong's charge related to a 2022 trip to the Fifa World Cup quarterfinals in Doha, which he had invited Iswaran to. Under Singapore's Penal Code, Ong could have been imprisoned for up to seven years in addition to being fined. Prosecutors had earlier sought eight weeks' jail for him, but his defence had asked for a fine instead based on his medical conditions, which include advanced multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer that has compromised his immune system. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Ukraine targets Russian oil refinery, apartment block
KYIV: Ukrainian drones hit a Russian oil refinery and an apartment block in an overnight attack just hours before US President Donald Trump hosts his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for a high-stakes summit in Alaska. Kyiv has targeted Russia's oil depots and refineries in long-range drone attacks in what it calls retaliatory strikes for Moscow's nightly barrages of Ukrainian cities and its energy grid. The Ukrainian military said Friday it hit a large oil refinery in the central Russian city of Syzran, some 800 kilometres (500 miles) behind the front line. 'The Syzran oil refinery in the Samara region of Russia, one of the largest in the Rosneft system, was hit,' Ukraine's general staff said, referring to the network of facilities owned by Russian state-run energy giant Rosneft. It said the facility produced aviation fuel and supplied the Russian army. Unverified images on social media showed multiple fires and grey smoke billowing from the site at dawn on Friday. A separate Ukrainian drone strike on an apartment block in the Russian border region of Kursk killed one person and wounded 10 others, local Russian officials said. 'Unfortunately, a 45-year-old woman died on the spot,' Governor Alexander Khinshtein said in a video on Telegram, standing in front of a blown-out window. Russian attacks also continued, with Ukrainian officials in the frontline Kharkiv and Donetsk regions reporting six civilians killed in strikes over the last 24 hours. Ukraine has previously vowed to step-up its long-range strikes against Russia as Moscow launched record numbers of missiles and drones at Ukraine in June and July. The attack comes as Putin and Trump are to meet on Friday in Alaska with Trump pushing for an end to the Ukraine war, triggered by Russia's February 2022 invasion. Russia has advanced on the ground ahead of the talks and Trump has publicly mooted the idea of a territorial swap between the warring sides. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the Alaska summit, has ruled that out. Russia's army said Ukraine fired 53 drones overnight, while Ukraine's air force said Moscow launched 97 - AFP