31/01/2026

SATURDAY | JAN 31, 2026

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Sarawak state elections this year, says GPS sec-gen

The legal framework also includes the Malay Reservation Enactments in the relevant states, covering provisions related to the declaration and revocation of MRL, ownership restrictions and prohibitions on the holding of interests by non-Malays. The National Land Code 1965 (Act 828) also regulates general land administration, including the registration of land titles and interests, as well as approvals at the National Land Council meetings, particularly in relation to the coordination of land policies and the compilation of MRL data at the federal level. Special edition for Ramadan, Aidilfitri train services KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) has announced the Ramadan 2026 edition of Railway to See Malaysia (RTSM) special excursion train service for the KL Sentral– Tumpat–KL Sentral route, as well as the Ekspres Lambaian Aidilfitri (ELA) service for the East Coast and Northern routes this year. In a statement, KTMB said tickets for the services area are on sale since yesterday to help the public plan their journeys earlier during the month of Ramadan, making it easier to prepare for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. “The special service (Ramadan Edition) will operate for four days – on Feb 20 and March 6 for the KL Sentral–Tumpat route as well as Feb 22 and March 8 for the Tumpat–KL Sentral route. “A total of 1,584 tickets will be offered, including sleeper coaches for this service,” the statement said. For the ELA service on the East Coast route, the train will operate on March 18 for the KL Sentral–Tumpat route and on March 22 for the Tumpat–KL Sentral route, with a total of 792 tickets offered, including sleeper coaches. The statement said the services will offer superior sleeper coaches with 120 berths per journey, in addition to Premier Class and Superior Class seating coaches, to provide passengers with more comfortable and flexible travel options. One-way fares are offered from as low as RM80 for the Superior Class, while fares for Superior Class sleeper berths are RM90 (upper berth) and RM95 (lower berth), with Premier Class fares set at RM95. The RTSM Ramadan 2026 edition train service and the East Coast edition ELA service will stop at 17 stations, including KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kajang, Seremban, Pulau Sebang, Gemas, Bahau, Mentakab, Jerantut, Kuala Lipis, Gua Musang, Dabong, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas, Wakaf Bharu and Tumpat. The Northern edition ELA service involving the KL Sentral–Padang Besar–KL Sentral route will operate four services, with 1,200 tickets offered for Superior Class seating coaches at a one-way fare of RM70. The special train will operate on March 17 and March 22 for the KL Sentral–Padang Besar route, as well as on March 18 and March 23 for the Padang Besar–KL Sentral route. The train will stop at 12 stations, namely KL Sentral, Sungai Buloh, Tanjung Malim, Kampar, Batu Gajah, Ipoh, Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Sungai Petani, Alor Setar, Arau and Padang Besar. KTMB Group CEO Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri, in the same statement, said the provision of special train service during the festive season was part of KTMB’s commitment to supporting national mobility. “By encouraging the public to use rail transport, we can help reduce road congestion.” KTMB encourages the public to plan their journeys early and obtain tickets via cashless methods through the KTMB Mobile application, kiosk machines, ticket counters, at www.ktmb.com.my or KTMB Call Centre at 03 97791200 or visiting its official media channels for further enquiries. – Bernama

o Nanta declines to give further hints, saying only Premier Abang Jo can announce polls date

ROSE president Geoffrey Tang had then said the Election Commission (EC) must give top priority to redelineating these urban constituencies so that the voters will be better represented. “Sarawak has constituencies such as Senadin state seat in Miri where the number of voters have reached the 73,430 mark. “There are at least 21 state constituencies with voters population exceeding 23,000 each,” he said in a press statement. Among state constituencies identified by ROSE as having registered a surge in voters are Pantai Damai, Tupong, Samariang, Pending, Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang, Batu Kawah, Mambong, Muara Tuang (all in southern Sarawak), Stakan, Tarat, Repok, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Pelawan, Nangka (in central Sarawak), Tanjung Batu, Pujut, Senadin, Piasau and Lambir (in northern Sarawak). Tang said the redelineation of electoral boundaries must reflect the need to give seats with extremely high voter population better representation. “The EC must carry out redelineation in Sarawak based on these data so the exercise will be transparent and reflect the ground realities that voters in these key constituencies need better representation in the State Legislative Assembly so that their needs can be better taken care of,” he said.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Sarawak DAP is in high preparation mode for the state elections as party leaders believe it will be held in the coming months. State DAP women chief Violet Yong, who is the state representative for Pending, said there are reasons to believe that Abang Johari will announce the state polls in the fourth quarter of this year. “Very likely, the state elections will be in October or November. We must get ready now. We in Sarawak only have two opposition seats in the state assembly. “The ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak have 80 seats. That is very unhealthy for check and balance of the ruling governance. “Sarawak DAP must win more seats so that we can be effective voice in checking on the ruling government,” she said during a party event at the Sarawak DAP headquarters in Kuching. Late last year, it was reported that the number of individuals eligible to vote in the coming Sarawak state elections have doubled in major urban constituencies in southern, central and northern Sarawak. Civil society Rise of Social Efforts Sarawak (ROSE) had compiled data showing such mega increase in voting population in state capital Kuching City, oil and gas capital Miri City and the two biggest towns of Sibu as well as Bintulu.

Ű BY JOSEPH PETER newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUCHING: The Sarawak state elections will be held this year, said ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. Nanta, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu secretary-general, said the five-year state assembly term will expire in December this year as the last state polls was held on Dec 18, 2021. “The next state elections will definitely be this year. As for which month, I will not give any hint. “Only the premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg) can announce that decision,” he said during a talk show programme with BFM radio here on Thursday. Nanta is confident the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak will retain power after the next polls. Online bidding for ‘FH’ series starts tomorrow PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (RTD) will open online bidding for the special registration number “FH” series for five days starting tomorrow in conjunction with Federal Territory Day 2026. RTD Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the public can bid for the special plates “FH 1 to FH 9999” via the JPJeBid system. He said the online bidding will close at 10pm on Feb 5, and the bid results will be announced within 24 hours. “The introduction of the ‘FH’ series is significant as a symbolic commemoration of the establishment of the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, while recognising the role and contributions of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan in national development,” he said after the launch of the special series here yesterday. Also present was Putrajaya Corporation president Datuk Mohd Sakeri Abdul Kadir. Aedy Fadly said minimum bid prices under JPJeBid are set at RM20,000 for prime

Aedy Fadly (right) showing the special ‘FH’ number plate series at the press conference yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

existing terms and conditions under the JPJeBid system, adding that successful bidders must register the number on a vehicle within 12 months from the date the official bid approval letter is issued. – Bernama

numbers, RM5,000 for premium numbers, RM2,500 for attractive numbers, RM500 for popular numbers and RM300 for running numbers. He said the bidding process is subject to

Peninsula Malay reserve land area increases to 4.95mil hectares KUALA LUMPUR: The total area of Malay reserve land (MRL) in Peninsular Malaysia increased to 4.95 million hectares in 2024, up from 4.82 million hectares in 2020. The reply was submitted in response to a question by Datuk Ahmad Amzad

In addition, Negeri Sembilan recorded 224,483.22ha, Selangor 164,743.96ha, Perlis 33,554.48ha, Kuala Lumpur 1,004.00ha, while Terengganu involved an area of 2,378.89ha, with Malay holdings in the state amounting to 401,129ha, Bernama reported. According to the ministry, the management and protection of MRL are governed by several key legal frameworks, including Article 89 of the Federal Constitution, which provides special protection for MRL and requires the replacement of land of equivalent value should any revocation occur.

Mohamed@Hashim (PN-Kuala Terengganu) regarding the latest breakdown of MRL area by state, including changes over the past five years as well as government measures to ensure the continuous preservation and protection of MRL status. Based on data from state authorities, the ministry said Kelantan recorded the largest MRL area at 1.36 million hectares, followed by Perak at 953,212.43ha, Kedah at 809,142.22ha, Johor at 561,802.60ha and Pahang at 444,074.90ha.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry said the net increase amounted to 135,063.46ha over a five-year period. “The total area of MRL in Peninsular Malaysia excludes Penang and Malacca, which do not have a Malay Reservation Enactment (MRE),” the ministry said in a written reply published on Parliament’s official website.