13/04/2026

MONDAY | APR 13, 2026

FOLLOW

ON INSTAGRAM

2

Malaysian Paper

@thesundaily @t

Selangor Sultan advises haj pilgrims to spend prudently SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has called on prospective haj pilgrims to spend prudently in the Holy Land amid the ongoing global economic uncertainties. maintain discipline while in the Holy Land and to uphold the good name of Selangor and Malaysia by complying with the regulations set by the Saudi Arabian government.

“Pilgrims are also advised to avoid getting involved in any form of protest or demonstration.” Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, who was also present at the event, reminded pilgrims to remain vigilant and comply with all instructions set by TH following geopolitical developments in the West Asian region. “The Malaysian government and TH will continue to monitor the current situation and work closely with the Saudi authorities to ensure that the safety and welfare of Malaysian pilgrims are always safeguarded.” On the haj course, Zulkifli said it is being held in stages nationwide from April 3, and focuses not only on worship but also discipline, time management and compliance with regulations throughout the stay in the Holy Land. More than 8,000 pilgrims from Selangor are expected to perform the haj in stages from April 18 to May 20.

“I would like to remind pilgrims of the need to take care of their health, avoid wastefulness, control their spending and practise thrift, especially in light of the current global economic volatility. “Focus on fulfilling the obligatory acts of worship and reduce shopping and spending while in the Holy Land.” He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Selangor State-Level Premier Haj Course for the 2026 pilgrimage season held yesterday. The event, attended by more than 5,900 participants, took place at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque. Sultan Sharafuddin also advised prospective pilgrims to make full use of the facilities provided by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) to ensure a smooth haj pilgrimage, Bernama reported. His Royal Highness reminded pilgrims not to use unknown or unverified agencies, as this could expose them to fraud and deception. Sultan Sharafuddin urged them to

Sultan Sharafuddin, accompanied by Selangor Islamic Affairs and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah, presenting a souvenir to a prospective pilgrim at the event in Shah Alam yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Govt studying proposals to expand diesel subsidy

Proactive steps help nation face energy crisis GEORGE TOWN: Despite the government’s unpopular decision to implement targeted fuel subsidies last year, the move is now seen as helping Malaysia become more resilient in facing the challenges of the global energy crisis, said Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim. He said the armed conflicts currently affecting several regions of the world have a direct impact on open economies such as Malaysia, which rely on international trade and the tourism sector. “Today, the world is not just facing economic wars or wars of words but also real conflicts involving the use of weapons, drones and bombs that are creating an unstable situation on a global scale. “Although the people in the country may not feel the direct impact, the reality is that this situation affects the economy, including the tourism sector and supply chains,” he said at the Penang DAP Aidilfitri Open House on Saturday. Sim, who is also Penang DAP chairman, said in this situation, the government needs to make difficult decisions to ensure that the country’s resources are distributed more effectively. “Malaysians can still enjoy RON95 at RM1.99 per litre while around 400,000 commercial vehicles receive diesel subsidies, and only pay about RM2.15 per litre. “This shows that decisions that may not be popular at first actually bring significant benefits in the long run.” He said the government is also focusing on the welfare of SMEs to ensure that they remain resilient in challenging economic conditions. Sim said the ministry has introduced financing schemes such as the People’s Business Ramadan Financing Scheme and Festive Business People’s Fund to help small traders obtain capital. “So far, RM35 million had been approved to assist more than 5,000 Ramadan bazaar traders nationwide, including over RM3.3 million allocated to around 400 traders in Penang.” – Bernama

o A‘ mong measures being considered are targeted subsidies, fleet cards for groups previously not eligible for facility, including farmers’

fuel prices has surged from about RM700 million to RM6 billion, Bernama reported. “This increase reflects the government’s strong commitment to ensuring that the people are not severely affected by rising global oil prices. At the same time, we need to assess our current financial capacity.” He added that subsidy rationalisation measures, expenditure savings and enforcement efforts to curb leakage have so far enabled the country to absorb the impact of rising global oil prices. “If costs continue to rise, I do not think it is appropriate for us to remain in the current position. Instead, we need to make adjustments and shift in line with current economic developments.”

SUNGAI PETANI: The government is conducting a comprehensive study of proposals to expand the diesel subsidy scheme to ensure that more affected groups, including farmers, benefit from the initiative. Political secretary to the Finance minister, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, said the government listens to grievances from groups affected by rising diesel prices and is identifying ways to assist them. He said among the measures under consideration are targeted subsidies similar to those implemented under the Budi Madani RON95 (Budi95) programme as well as expanding the use of fleet cards to KOTA KINABALU: The government will ensure that negotiations between Putrajaya and Sabah on the review and payment of the 40% special grant to the state runs smoothly. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said he is acting as a coordinator to ensure that the engagement between the Finance Ministry and the state government is conducted effectively. He said this is in line with his responsibility to coordinate the MA63 Technical Committee and the MA63 Main Committee to ensure that the negotiations between the federal and state governments run smoothly.

other groups who were previously not eligible for the facility, including farmers. “The government is comprehensively examining the entire matter to ensure that no party is left behind,” he said after attending an Aidilfitri open house in Gurun on Saturday. He said the successful implementation of the Budi95 programme serves as a key reference in formulating a new approach to expanding the diesel subsidy scheme with emphasis on a more efficient, simple and seamless rollout. Muhammad Kamil said the government is also taking into account current fiscal challenges as expenditure to cushion rising “The governments have asked for a little delay so that we can study the data because we have to find data from 1974 until now. So, the Finance Ministry and the state government have asked for some time. “I, as the minister responsible for coordinating between the federation and the state, give a commitment to the people of Sabah that I will ensure that this process runs smoothly,” he said after attending the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency Aidilfitri celebration on Saturday. On Oct 17 last year, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the federal government had acted unlawfully and beyond its constitutional

On ferry services to Langkawi that have also been affected, he said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry, which will evaluate any proposal for improvement, including the implications for the tourism sector on the resort island. Negotiations on Sabah special grant to continue, says minister

powers when it failed to fulfil Sabah’s right to 40% of federal revenue collected from the state from 1974 to 2021. However, on April 6, the Court of Appeal allowed the federal government’s application to stay the High Court order regarding the review of the assessment and payment of the Sabah special grant. Mustapha, who is also Sepanggar MP, said he would hold a meeting with Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun in the near future to discuss the matter further. He said the postponement of the review would give both parties space and time to study the data. – Bernama