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by HIDAYATH HISHAM

THE government is reviewing 10 subsidiary instruments under the Online Safety Act 2024 (Act 866) for comprehensive and effective implementation.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (picture) said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is conducting the study, covering aspects of licensing, content regulation and responsibilities of digital platform and online gaming providers.

“The government is currently reviewing 10 subsidiary instruments under the Online Safety Act that will apply to social media platforms, online games and digital service providers,” he said during the winding-up of the 2026 Supply Bill debate at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said the development of these instruments is crucial to outline enforcement mechanisms, regulatory procedures and user protection measures — particularly to safeguard children from inappropriate or AI-manipulated content.

Fahmi said all digital platform operators, including online gaming companies, must comply with local laws and obtain licences before the Act is fully enforced.

“There are parties lobbying to be exempted from certain instruments, but the government’s view is that all platforms and companies, including big tech firms, must be subject to the same rules,” he said.

He said the MCMC is in the final stages of preparing the draft instruments, expected to be completed by the end of next year, ahead of the Act’s phased implementation from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026.

Fahmi added that the move reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening digital safety, improving online content governance and protecting children from exploitation and cyber threats.

“The government’s approach is not merely to impose bans, but to ensure a safer and more responsible digital ecosystem governed by clear laws,” he said.

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PUTRAJAYA — The Court of Appeal today upheld the acquittal of a former Felda senior officer on two counts of abetment in a criminal breach of trust case involving Felda funds of more than RM47 million.

A three-member bench led by Justice Datuk Azmi Ariffin unanimously dismissed the prosecution’s appeal to reinstate the Sessions Court’s decision to convict Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, 65, for the offence.

The panel, which also comprised Justices Datuk Noorin Badaruddin and Datuk Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid, ruled that there was no reason to disturb the High Court’s decision that acquitted and discharged the former Felda director-general.

Justice Azmi, in delivering the court’s decision, said the prosecution’s appeal did not have merit and the appellate court concurred with the findings of the High Court.

“There is no reason for us to interfere with the decision and findings of the High Court,” he said, affirming the High Court’s decision that had set aside the Sessions Court’s verdict.

Faizoull was previously charged in the Sessions Court with two counts of abetting Felda’s former deputy director-general (Strategic Resources) Muhammad Sufi Mahbub (now deceased) in committing criminal breach of trust involving RM47.63 million.

Muhammad Sufi was accused of dishonestly disposing of and approving payments of RM25,999,000 and RM21,626,500  without the approval of Felda’s Board of Directors or its Tender Committee.

The alleged offences took place at Wisma Felda building, Jalan Perumahan Gurney, between Jan 13 and July 23, 2014.

On June 8, 2018, the Sessions Court convicted both men, sentencing Muhammad Sufi to five years’ imprisonment on each count and Faizoull to two years’ jail on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.

However, on Sept 22, 2022, the High Court allowed Faizoull’s appeal, setting aside his conviction and ordering his acquittal and discharge.

As for Muhammad Sufi, the High Court struck out both his appeal and the prosecution’s cross-appeal on the sentence after his death during the appeal proceedings. Muhammad Sufi was 58 years old then.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Mohd Radzi Shah Ab Razak and Elyza Amira Habeeb Rahman, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, appeared for the prosecution while Faizoull was represented by a legal team led by Datuk Sukri Mohamed. — BERNAMA

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by HIDAYATH HISHAM

THE government is reviewing a new diesel subsidy mechanism for e-hailing and taxi (p-hailing) drivers to ensure that aid is channelled in a targeted and transparent manner.

Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the subsidy allocations differ between the two categories — with an additional 300 litres per month for e-hailing drivers and 1,400 litres per month for taxi drivers — and the new mechanism will streamline the distribution of this assistance.

“This measure is introduced to prevent leakages and ensure that no group is left out from receiving the subsidy,” she told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Lim was replying to a question from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN–Kuala Krai) who asked regarding the matter.

She said the new mechanism would also strengthen the verification process, including usage records and eligibility checks, to ensure that the subsidy reaches only the intended recipients.

The deputy minister also said the ministry is expected to announce the official mechanism this week, after completing detailed studies and finalising all procedures.

She said the initiative is part of the BUDI or Individual Diesel Subsidy Assistance system, which aims to make subsidy distribution fairer, more effective and more beneficial to the targeted groups, including e-hailing and taxi drivers.

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PUTRAJAYA — Malaysia is home to 9.03 million children under the age of 18, representing 26.4 per cent of the total population of 34.23 million, according to the Children Statistics 2025 released by the Department of Statistics (DOSM) today.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said of these, 4.66 million are boys and 4.37 million are girls, with children under five years of age totalling 2.31 million.

“Putrajaya recorded the highest percentage of children under 18 (39.9 per cent), followed by Kelantan (33.5 per cent) and Terengganu (32.9 per cent). 

“Selangor recorded the highest number of children at 1.81 million, while Labuan recorded the lowest at 0.03 million,” he said in a statement today.

In terms of health, infant immunisation coverage declined in 2024 across all five major immunisations, where coverage for polio; diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) [DTP]; Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) and Hepatitis B each fell by 6.1 percentage points, while Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) declined by 0.3 percentage points. 

He said the number of registered Child Care Centres (TASKA) increased by 1.4 per cent to 3,198 in 2024. 

“Johor recorded the highest growth at 29.4 per cent, while Putrajaya experienced the largest decrease at 21.0 per cent. 

“Government and government-aided school enrolment declined by 0.2 per cent, with a 3.0 per cent drop at the upper secondary level. Private school enrolment also decreased by 0.3 per cent, primarily due to a 3.4 per cent decline in kindergarten enrolment,” he added.

The number of children in need of care and protection rose by 12.7 per cent to 9,624 cases in 2024.

Of these, girls accounted for 6,031 cases, while boys saw a sharper increase of 15.2 per cent as compared to 11.3 per cent among girls.

On the other hand, he said the number of children involved in crime decreased by 4.2 per cent to 2,627 cases. 

“Bumiputera children made up the majority at 82.2 per cent, followed by Chinese (9.0 per cent), Indians (4.9 per cent) and others (4.1 per cent). — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — The RM145.5 million criminal breach of trust (CBT) case involving Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd director Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed in connection with the MEX II Highway project has been transferred from the Shah Alam Sessions Court to the Sessions Court here for a joint trial.

Judge Suzana Hussin agreed to the case transfer after Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the court that the prosecution had obtained the required approval.

“On Sept 8, the accused faced four CBT charges in this court. During today’s mention, the prosecution applied for another CBT case filed on Sept 24 in Shah Alam to be transferred here to be jointly tried,” Ahmad Akram said.

Defence counsel Datuk Jasbeer Singh, representing Abu Sahid, did not object to the application.

During today’s proceedings, the charges were read out again to Abu Sahid, who maintained his not guilty plea. 

The court maintained the existing bail amount of RM1.5 million with one surety and set Jan 8, 2026, for case mention.

For the five CBT charges, Abu Sahid, as the director of Maju Holdings and entrusted with control over the company’s funds, is accused of dishonestly misusing over RM458.5 million held in bank accounts in Taman Tunku and Taman Serdang Perdana, here, between May 3, 2016, and Oct 21, 2019.

The charges are framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.

Abu Sahid also faces 10 counts of transferring proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM116,449,536.12 from his bank account to five individuals and four construction companies.

For another three money laundering charges, he is accused of disposing of RM22,802,612.86 in illicit funds withdrawn via 15 cheques from the same bank account between May 4, 2016, and Sept 19, 2018.

The offences fall under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), which provides for a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the amount involved, upon conviction. — BERNAMA

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