TMR

KUALA LUMPUR — The remains of Datuk Kamil Misuari, the husband of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, were taken to the National Mosque tonight for final respects and funeral prayers before being flown to Sarawak for burial.

The Office of the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, in a statement, said funeral arrangements began with the bathing of the remains at Ampang Hospital at 9 pm.

The remains were then brought to the National Mosque at 10 pm to allow family members and close friends to pay their final respects.

“The funeral prayers are scheduled to be held at 10.50 pm. Upon completion of the prayers, the remains will be taken to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 11.20 pm to be flown to Sarawak,” it said.

A Bernama check at the Forensic Department of Ampang Hospital found that family members and close friends of the deceased had gathered at the hospital, including Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

It is understood that the late Kamil had been admitted to the hospital since last Friday, before his condition deteriorated this afternoon.

Family members from Lahad Datu, Sabah, were also in the capital to pay their last respects to the deceased. –BERNAMA

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KAZAN — Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is optimistic that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a peace agreement between the United States (US) and Iran could pave the way towards ending the conflict and securing lasting peace in West Asia.

He expressed confidence over the positive developments in the negotiations, although a final agreement between the two countries must be reached within a maximum period of 60 days.

Anwar said his optimism was based on first-hand information from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has played a key mediating role in steering the timeline of the critical negotiations.

“The 60-day period is not long, so let us all pray… based on what the Prime Minister of Pakistan informed me, he has discussed the matter openly and in depth, and has been involved at every stage of the negotiations. Everything appears to be moving in a more positive direction.

“In my discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he also expressed a similar view and outlook,” he told a press conference after attending the 35th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit here on Thursday. 

While not ruling out any possibility given that the situation also involves the administration of US President Donald Trump, Anwar said there was, in general, growing confidence that the peace agreement would be successfully concluded this time.

At the same time, Anwar stressed that while the world welcomed the peace initiative, the international community must not lose sight of the worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding in nearby conflict zones.

“We must remind the world never to forget the suffering endured by the people of Gaza and Lebanon as a result of the continued atrocities committed by the Zionist Israeli regime,” he said.

Previously, the Foreign Ministry said Malaysia welcomed the announcement of the MoU between the US and Iran, describing it as an important step towards easing tensions in West Asia and laying the groundwork for a comprehensive and lasting settlement.

Wisma Putra also expressed appreciation to the governments of Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and other regional countries for their respective roles in supporting diplomatic efforts and dialogue between the two parties.

Anwar is in Kazan to attend the 35th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, which is being held over two days beginning yesterday.

Upon concluding his visit to Kazan, Anwar is scheduled to continue with a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan starting Thursday at the invitation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. –BERNAMA

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KAZAN – Malaysia rising to the 15th spot in the 2026 World Competitiveness Rankings by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) is proof that efforts to strengthen efficiency and improve execution continue to pay off, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking to the Malaysian media at the press conference following his two-day working visit to the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit here, Anwar said Malaysia continues to make progress in global competitiveness rankings.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to mention the report just released today, announced in Kuala Lumpur, that Malaysia’s competitiveness has climbed to 15th place.

“This is an increase of eight places from the previous year,” he said.

The prime minister said that the achievement shows the government’s focus on improving efficiency and commitment is on the right track.

Malaysia jumped eight places to 15th out of 70 economies in the International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking 2026.

Last year, Malaysia ranked 23rd out of 69 economies, up 11 places from 34th out of 67 in 2024.

The IMD ranking is based on four main pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.

According to the IMD, strengthening across all these pillars was the main factor driving Malaysia’s improved standing this year.

Malaysia ranks fourth globally for economic performance, while government efficiency rose 11 places to 14th. Business efficiency also jumped 16 places to 16th, and infrastructure improved two places to 33rd. –BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — Senior Political Adviser to the Prime Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, has proposed that he be given the opportunity to contest a seat in Selangor in the 16th General Election (GE16).

He said the proposal had been submitted to the PKR leadership for consideration and approval by the party’s president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I have put forward a proposal that, should there be an election, particularly the general election, I be given the opportunity to contest in Selangor, but no final decision has been made,” he said.

Tengku Zafrul said this when met by reporters after attending the Yayasan TZA Appreciation Ceremony here today.

The PKR Ampang division member said he did not personally have any preferred constituency in mind and would leave it to the party leadership to decide whether to field him in any parliamentary seat that becomes available.

“As a party member and a member of the Ampang division, I spend a great deal of time in Ampang, Pandan and several other areas where I have been asked to assist.

“In Pandan, there is a vacancy as there is currently no Member of Parliament, and I have also been asked to monitor developments in Ampang as the party’s representative,” he said.

On May 30 last year, Tengku Zafrul, who previously contested the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat under the Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket in the 15th General Election (GE15), announced his resignation from UMNO and subsequently joined PKR.

PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari later announced Tengku Zafrul’s appointment as the party’s monitoring officer for the Pandan and Ampang parliamentary constituencies, in line with the party’s move to designate Pandan as a special constituency under the supervision of Anwar.

Previously, former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli announced his departure from PKR and vacated the Pandan parliamentary seat.  –BERNAMA

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