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WEEKLY FOCUS MONDAY Technology and social media

Redefining parenting Three parents share what it means to raise kids – P22

9 773141 151009

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Tech experts debate pros and cons of full transparency dashboards to track content takedowns. Social media told to end opaque moderation of CSAM

TUESDAY Family and parenting

WEDNESDAY Fashion and beauty

THURSDAY Home and living

FRIDAY Travel and leisure

SATURDAY Food and beverage

Malaysian Paper www.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPY

SCAN ME No. 9163 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195)

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p 23 Meta, Google resort to exploit kids’ screen time

p 24 Aqasha joins cast of Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical

p 25 Good Omens ‘ finale

feels rushed, lacks soul

Urban home gaps Homeownership now requires a monthly household income of RM10,000 to RM15,000 in major cities.

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SITE SCOURING ... Military personnel use a working dog to search for 17 missing people after a building under construction collapsed in Angeles City, the Philippines, leaving four dead. – AFPPIC

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Three dead, one critically hurt in offshore rig accident Lifeboat plunges 20m into sea during maintenance work; PM orders full probe into safety breach.

Listing broad price ranges without clear final costs could breach Consumer Protection Act, says Fomca Restaurants warned over hidden menu charges

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/thesun

Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Three dead, one injured in oil rig lifeboat accident

PETALING JAYA: A total of 7,057 workers in the country lost their jobs in April, up from 5,855 in March, according to the latest labour market data presented at the National Economic Action Council meeting. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the figure, while higher month-on month, remains part of a fluctuating trend when viewed against earlier months, with January recording 10,658 job losses and February 7,512 cases. “We will continue to pay PETALING JAYA: Petronas has confirmed that three of its contractor’s workers were killed and another left fighting for his life after a lifeboat plunged into the sea during maintenance work on the Sepat offshore platform in the Terengganu Kelantan waters on Saturday. In a post on X, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said a comprehensive investigation is underway to determine what caused the fatal accident. “The government views seriously the death of three contractor workers in an incident on the Sepat platform in the Terengganu-Kelantan waters yesterday.” Anwar said the government would continue strengthening workplace safety measures to protect workers nationwide. He also extended condolences to the victims’ families and prayed for the recovery of the sole survivor. “Condolences to the families of the victims and may they be granted strength and patience in facing this difficult test, and may those receiving treatment recover soon.” The incident occurred at about 12.50pm on Saturday when all four workers were aboard a lifeboat on the Sepat platform, believed to be descending to the lower section for maintenance work. Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the lifeboat is believed to have fallen after the rope or hook securing it detached mid-operation. Three workers were killed on impact or drowned while another was critically injured. The victims were identified as Ahmad Fiqri Zakaria, 38, from Batu Berendam, Malacca, Muhammad Faezuan Hakim Mohammad Bustamam, 28, from Kuantan, Pahang, and Nik Muhammad Hafifi Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Investigation underway to determine cause of tragedy at Petronas Sepat platform in Terengganu-Kelantan waters on Saturday The sole survivor, Mohd Taufik Mohd Ruslan, 37, from Banting, Selangor, is receiving treatment and is in critical condition at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, Kuala Terengganu. “Petronas extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased. The immediate priority of the company is to support the well-being of those affected,” said the company. It was reported that the pregnant wife of one of the victims had said she was left devastated after being told her husband had been involved in the offshore tragedy. Nur Khaeryna Dhania Azreen Khairil Azri, 28, said she was contacted at about 4pm by her husband’s employer who confirmed that Muhammad Faezuan was Asri Ab Majid, 38, from Bandar Indera Mahkota, Pahang. attention to this development because we understand that every number reported, even if presented statistically, represents a family that has lost its source of income. “The government will ensure that the Employment Insurance System or Career Protection under Socso functions quickly to assist those who need help.” On the cost of living, he said domestic food prices remain broadly stable, with weekly monitoring showing controlled movements for essential items between -2% and 3.6% for the period between May 18 and 21. The average prices of some key items such as chicken at RM9.57 per

Nur Khaeryna Dhania being consoled by a family member at the hospital yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

company in March.

forensics department. She said she rushed from Bukit Setongkol in Kuantan, Pahang with her mother and arrived at the hospital about three hours later. She said her husband had worked in the oil and gas sector since 2019 and had recently joined a new

involved but could not immediately provide full details of his condition. “The company was unable to give any further information about my husband’s condition at that time but only said he was involved in the incident,” she told Bernama at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital

‘B15 roll-out will not affect nation’s palm oil exports’ PUTRAJAYA: The roll-out of B15 biodiesel in Peninsular Malaysia starting June 1 is set to strengthen the country’s energy security without affecting palm oil export volume while helping to support the local palm oil industry and accelerate the national green agenda. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the increase in the biodiesel blend from B10 to B15 (15% palm oil-based biodiesel) has been carefully planned after taking into account the industry’s readiness, supply situation and existing infrastructure. She said the government had conducted a detailed analysis regarding the implementation, including the country’s palm oil supply capacity, to ensure that exports of the commodity would not be affected. “We produce about 20 million metric tonnes of palm oil annually and export around 16 million metric tonnes. This means there is a surplus of about four million metric tonnes for domestic use. “The implementation of B15 only requires about 0.8 million metric tonnes out of that amount, so it will not disrupt the country’s export volume,” she said during a media briefing on the B15 biodiesel implementation yesterday. – Bernama welcome our second child into this world. Only Allah SWT knows how devastated I feel.” He was due home on June 1. “I’m very sad because he had planned to accompany me during my confinement period after we

Malaysia records 7,057 job losses in April

driven, with a focus on maintaining supply security while managing cost pressures. He said the council had agreed that the ministry should continue mitigation efforts, particularly for critical and high-risk items, while any price adjustments must be strictly based on risk levels and actual need. “The government’s priority is clear. Ensure sufficient basic supply, manage price pressures, guarantee continuity of operations, protect employment and provide targeted assistance to those who truly need it.” – BY HARITH KAMAL posting steady growth in the first quarter of 2026. He said the sector expanded by 2.6% year-on-year, contributing RM24.4 billion or 5.6% to national GDP, driven by stronger output in palm oil which grew 5.5% and livestock by 8.7%. He added that the performance also reflects improving efficiency in the sector, with labour productivity rising 3.6% while productivity relative to GDP increased 2.5%. Akmal said the government would continue its efforts to strengthen productivity and resilience in the sector as part of broader strategies to support food security and export competitiveness.

monitoring through a dedicated task force, strengthened buffer stocks for high-risk medicines and diversified procurement sources through partnerships with countries including China, Japan and Uzbekistan. He added that it has also introduced a special access pathway to fast-track approval of critical medicines while encouraging greater development of the local medical device industry to reduce long-term import dependence. Akmal said policy responses would remain targeted and data kg and beef at RM38.45 per kg showed a 2% decline while mustard greens at RM7.08 per kg showed a 3.6% increase. Akmal said these figures are national averages and actual prices could differ by location, with some areas offering lower rates. “Therefore, the government will continue to monitor and strengthen enforcement. For consumers this is an opportunity to use the Price Catcher app.” He added that informed customers must compare prices so that they have the power to choose. Akmal said Malaysia’s agriculture and plantation sector continues to act as a key buffer for the economy,

Government acts to ensure fair medicine pricing PETALING JAYA: The government is working to strengthen transparency in medicine pricing to ensure that Malaysians are not exposed to unjustified price pressures. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the move was highlighted during a due to global disruptions and reliance on imported inputs. “Of the total recorded medicine items, 72% are at low risk, 11.3% at moderate risk and 16.8% at high risk requiring continuous monitoring and mitigation action.

“For medical devices, 81.7% are at low risk, 13.5% at moderate risk while 4.8% are at high risk, mainly due to dependence on imported raw materials and key components,” he said during an online briefing on the global supply situation yesterday. Akmal said the Health Ministry has expanded continuous

presentation by the Health Ministry at the National Economic Action Council meeting which reviewed the country’s medicine and medical device supply situation. He said Malaysia’s supply chain remains broadly stable although certain segments face higher risks

TUESDAY | MAY 26, 2026

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‘Households financially stretched to buy new homes’

factor but by the interaction between pricing, income, financing, land cost and market structure.” He added that interest rates only help at the edges by lowering monthly payments but cannot fix a situation where house prices are simply too high compared with what most households earn. “If these factors are ranked, the primary issue remains pricing relative to income. Financing exposes the gap while income growth determines how severe it becomes over time,” he said. – BY HARITH KAMAL PETALING JAYA: The Road Transport Department (RTD) has reversed course on its abrupt suspension of online vehicle ownership transfer services, agreeing to restore access immediately after Transport Minister Anthony Loke stepped in. He said the planned system maintenance has now been deferred to the upcoming long weekend. Loke said he had raised the matter directly with RTD director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, who revealed that the rationale behind the suspension was the detection of abuses of the online system that had resulted in financial liabilities for the department. While acknowledging those concerns, Loke made clear that system improvement works should not come at the expense of ordinary users. “The RTD has agreed to immediately reinstate the online services for such transactions, and any temporary suspension of the system for improvement works will only be carried out during this coming long weekend holiday,” he said in a post on his Facebook page yesterday. The long weekend in question includes Wesak Day on Sunday (May 31), followed by the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia and Hari Gawai on Monday (June 1) – a period during which reduced transaction volumes would minimise disruption to the public. The reversal comes a day after Aedy Fadly announced on Sunday that RTD’s digital vehicle ownership change service would be taken offline with immediate effect, covering all channels – the public portal, kiosks and authorised business partners MyEG and eAuto Sdn Bhd. The suspension had forced all individual and private company ownership transfer transactions to be handled in person at RTD counters. Under the initial directive, eAuto’s temporary ownership transfer channel was the sole exception permitted to continue operating as normal. That carve-out is now rendered moot following the reinstatement of the broader online system. Minister steps in to get online vehicle ownership transfer services restored Ű BY THE SUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o With RM10,000 to RM15,000 income needed monthly to own a house in major cities, even those who qualify for loans often not financially comfortable: Academic

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

household in a position to safely sustain homes priced between RM400,000 and RM570,000, depending on debt levels and living expenses. However, recent market data underscores a growing disconnect. The national average house price has climbed to RM502,922, while Kuala Lumpur averages RM819,848 and Selangor RM567,505, respectively. Muhammad Najib said this explains why many households appear “qualified on paper” but remain financially stretched in practice. “Even households earning around RM7,000 to RM8,000 monthly may still qualify for financing but ownership often becomes financially stretched once childcare, transport, maintenance fees, insurance, utilities and other daily expenses are factored in. “At a higher income level, households earning around RM10,000 a month are better positioned, with capacity to sustain homes priced between RM580,000 and RM700,000, making entry-level urban ownership more realistic.” He said in major cities where prices exceed RM800,000, buyers typically require combined household incomes of RM13,000 to RM16,000 or more to avoid financial strain. Muhammad Najib said this is reshaping Malaysia’s housing market into increasingly distinct income tiers. “Lower-income groups remain dependent on public and affordable housing schemes while middle income households increasingly face trade-offs between location, size and long-term debt commitments. “At the same time, upper-middle and high-income households, often dual-income professionals or families with financial support, dominate the open urban market.” He said the real issue is no longer

PETALING JAYA: Owning a typical urban home in Malaysia is increasingly drifting beyond the reach of ordinary earners, with households now needing about RM10,000 to RM15,000 a month to sustain ownership in major cities, according to a property economist. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Najib Razali, who specialises in property economics and finance, said the gap between incomes and house prices has widened to a point where even households that qualify for loans are often not financially comfortable once broader living costs are factored in. “Under current lending conditions, interest rates and household income levels, most Malaysians today can realistically afford only homes priced well below what is commonly available in major urban centres.” He said banks typically consider mortgage repayments sustainable only when they do not exceed 25% to 30% of gross household income for a 90% loan, repaid over 35 years, at an interest rate of around 4.5%. He added that under this framework, a household earning RM3,000 a month can only afford homes priced roughly between RM175,000 and RM210,000, effectively limiting access to low-cost or heavily subsidised housing. “Even at RM5,000 a month, buyers are generally confined to homes in the RM300,000 to RM350,000 range, still within the affordable housing segment rather than the open urban market. “The pressure becomes more visible when compared with national income data. Malaysia’s median household income stands at about RM7,017 while the urban median is around RM8,139.” Muhammad Najib said based on calculations, this places a typical

Muhammad Najib said under current lending conditions, interest rates and household income levels, most Malaysians today can realistically afford only homes priced well below what is commonly available in major urban centres. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

while Kuala Lumpur averages RM819,848 and Selangor RM567,505. At the same time, unsold completed homes have risen to 30,471 units, with another 72,384 still under construction, suggesting that some homes are too expensive for the market to fully absorb. He said this reflects a wider imbalance, where developers are building higher-priced homes while many buyers are stuck in lower and middle-income brackets. “Ultimately, Malaysia’s affordability challenge is not driven by a single what a median Malaysian household can safely afford under normal financing conditions.” Overall, Muhammad Najib’s assessment points to a structural imbalance in the housing market, driven less by supply constraints or weak growth, and more by a widening gap between urban property prices and household incomes. For many Malaysians, homeownership remains achievable on paper but increasingly difficult to sustain without financial strain.

just whether people can get a loan but whether their salaries are rising fast enough to keep up with rising house prices over time. “Malaysia’s economy grew 5.2% in 2025, and borrowing conditions remain supportive with the Overnight Policy Rate at 2.75%. “Property sales are also still strong, with more than 400,000 transactions recorded, showing that demand remains high even as affordability is getting tighter. “The national average house price of RM502,922 already exceeds

Property prices outpacing incomes of Malaysians PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s housing affordability problem is mainly due to a gap caused by home prices rising faster than incomes, said Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Najib Razali who specialises in property economics and finance. He said the problem for most rise together with property prices, affordability remains stable. “But when prices outpace wage growth, affordability deteriorates directly.” credit may improve loan eligibility but they do not make a RM700,000 home genuinely affordable for a household that can realistically sustain only a RM400,000 to RM500,000 mortgage.” He said government schemes such as loan guarantees, first-homebuyer incentives and affordable housing programmes help people get into the system but do not fix the price gap if cost of homes keep rising faster than salaries. Muhammad Najib said this forces many households to take on bigger loans, stretch repayments over longer periods, move further away from city centres, accept smaller homes or rely on family support. He said cheaper interest rates and easier loans could help but they do not solve the real problem. “Lower interest rates and easier Data from the Property Market Report 2025 shows that the national average house price is RM502,922 Malaysians is not just about getting a loan but whether they actually earn enough to comfortably afford homes. “The strongest relationship remains between house prices and household income. When incomes

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‘Vague pricing in eateries risks violating consumer law’

65% of Perlis padi cultivation zones ready for planting PUTRAJAYA: About 65% of padi cultivation areas under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) are now ready for the planting season, with farmers expected to begin sowing seeds after Aidiladha. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said water levels in padi fields and dams have improved following his visit to Perlis yesterday. “There is already water in the plots, and water levels at the dams have started to rise. I am confident they will be able to begin planting in the near future,” he said after launching the Kebuniti Agricultural Information Centre (Gardentopia), a rooftop community garden concept, yesterday. He was responding to a report that only 10% of about 56,000 padi farmers in Kedah, including in the Mada area, had begun planting, while the rest were delaying due to weather concerns. Mohamad said the caution among farmers was understandable due to unpredictable weather patterns that could affect yields. “Farmers want their crops to produce good yields. But I think there is sufficient water supply. “The weather conditions are difficult to predict. Sometimes rain is forecast in the morning, but it only comes at night. So we hope they will be able to start planting soon,” he said, adding that Mada was monitoring the situation. On rising operating costs, he said the government had taken note of the issue and continued to provide assistance, including for land preparation and agricultural inputs. Mohamad said Gardentopia reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening national food security through community participation, including civil servants and urban households. The initiative supports the Home Garden campaign under the slogan “Plant What We Eat, Eat What We Plant”, aimed at encouraging households to grow their own food. He said urban farming could help ease living costs and respond to global challenges, including food inflation, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty. Mohamad said Gardentopia also reflects the evolution of Malaysia’s agricultural development through six phases, beginning with the Buku Merah initiative in 1960, followed by Buku Hijau (1974), Bumi Hijau (2006), Pertanian Bandar (2014), Pembangunan Pertanian Komuniti (2021–2025), and the current phase, Pengukuhan dan Kemampanan Komuniti Pertanian (2026–2030), with an allocation of RM30 million. Located at Rooftop Podium 1, Wisma Tani, Gardentopia serves as a reference and training hub for edible garden farming, offering hands on learning and technical exposure for the public, especially in urban areas. – Bernama Chow said the biggest challenge ahead of the next general election was not merely the strength of political opponents, but also whether voters continued to believe Penang PH was capable of governing the state effectively. He added that Penang voters were mature enough to judge which political coalition had a proven track record in developing the state, attracting investments and employment opportunities, and maintaining political stability. “The people also know that Penang’s future cannot be gambled away through politics of hatred and division,” he said, while calling on party leaders and machinery to continue strengthening unity and the spirit of struggle within the coalition. He also said while Penang PH may not be able to control all external political factors, the coalition could ensure that it remained united, mature and focused on the public.

o Practice leaves diners vulnerable to unexpected charges, says Fomca

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Restaurants that display vague price ranges on menus without clearly stating the final cost may be misleading consumers and risking violations under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA 1999), the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) said. The consumer group added that the growing practice of listing dishes such as fish head curry at “RM20-RM35” without explaining how the final price is determined leaves diners vulnerable to unexpected charges and undermines transparency in the food and beverage industry. Fomca CEO Saravanan Thambirajah said consumers have the right to know exactly how much they would be paying before placing an order. “Consumers have the right to know the exact price of a product or service before making a purchasing decision.” He said displaying a broad price range without specifying the basis of pricing could potentially breach provisions under the CPA 1999 relating to false or misleading representations. His remarks follow complaints from customers who claimed some eateries listed menu items at fluctuating prices, causing confusion as diners were unable to determine the actual amount they would be charged. One customer complained that restaurants should display fixed prices instead of estimated price ranges that vary according to market conditions. Saravanan said menus that display a price range prevent consumers from accurately estimating the final cost before ordering. “This becomes problematic when the final amount differs significantly from what the consumer reasonably expected. “Transparency is a fundamental principle in consumer protection, and pricing information should be clear, specific and easily understood.” He described situations in which diners GEORGE TOWN: Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) has begun preparations for the 16th general election (GE16), with the formation of three new subcommittees focusing on election manifesto, communications and mobilisation. Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the new leadership lineup reflected the coalition’s continued commitment to strengthening cooperation among its component parties while continuing to champion the people’s agenda. “Meanwhile, we also emphasise that close cooperation among component parties – DAP, PKR and Amanah – will continue to be strengthened to ensure the continuity of effective administration and sustainable development for Penang as a whole.” Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Saravanan called for stronger enforcement and monitoring of menu transparency, and compliance with existing price display regulations. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

continue listening more closely and sincerely to the public in order to resolve issues and maintain long-term political stability in the state. “With reference to the 2023 Unity Manifesto, Penang is proud that out of the 50 manifesto promises made, only three have yet to be fully implemented.” “As for the 17 manifesto pledges currently being implemented, the leadership remains committed to ensuring they continue smoothly and are carried out effectively.” The new leadership lineup also saw Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid appointed as deputy chairman under PKR’s quota, replacing PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar. Other key appointments include Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil, who retained his deputy chairman post, while Lim Hui Ying remained secretary. enforcement and monitoring of menu transparency, and compliance with existing price display regulations. He said complaints involving unclear pricing, hidden charges and discrepancies between displayed and final prices continue to surface from time to time. “Many consumers may choose not to lodge formal complaints due to the relatively small amounts involved, although collectively these practices could significantly affect consumer trust and confidence.” He added that consumers encountering misleading or unclear pricing practices are advised to lodge complaints with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. Saravanan said without formal complaints, authorities may not fully understand the extent of the issue in the market. He also encouraged consumers to seek clarification before placing orders, photograph menus or displayed prices as evidence, request detailed receipts and report cases to the National Consumer Complaints Centre for assistance and advice. “Transparent pricing benefits both consumers and businesses because it builds trust and prevents disputes.”

“Penang PH is confident that the new leadership will continue strengthening the state’s political stability, championing public welfare and ensuring the continuity of the reform agenda that has been outlined.” DAP and PKR each hold 11 positions in the new PH Penang committee lineup, while Amanah holds eight positions. “Politics today is moving in a very dynamic environment. What happens at the national level could change within a short period and directly affect states, including Penang,” he said after the Penang PH annual general meeting on Saturday. Chow emphasised that under such circumstances, Penang PH must continue strengthening the coalition internally by preserving unity among component parties, improving organisational discipline and empowering grassroots machinery. He added that the coalition must also only discover the actual price after the food has been served as unfair and lacking informed consent. “Consumers should never be placed in a situation in which they only discover the actual cost after consuming the food, as they effectively lose the opportunity to make a proper choice or reject the purchase.” He added that such practices could place psychological pressure on diners, especially families or groups, to pay despite feeling uncomfortable or misled. While acknowledging that seafood and fresh produce prices often fluctuate according to market conditions, he emphasised that businesses cannot use this as justification for vague pricing practices. He urged restaurants to adopt clearer pricing methods, including listing prices according to weight or portion size, displaying “market price” together with the current daily selling price, verbally informing customers before confirming orders, and updating printed or digital menus regularly. “The key principle is that consumers must know the exact price before agreeing to purchase the item.” Saravanan also called for stronger

Penang PH gears up for GE16 with new subcommittees

TUESDAY | MAY 26, 2026

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More transparency needed to tackle child sexual abuse material

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Social media platforms should no longer be allowed to quietly police child sexual abuse material (CSAM) behind closed doors, digital consumer experts said, urging greater transparency through public child safety dashboards to show how such content is detected, removed and escalated. However, they emphasised that any public disclosures must remain anonymous and limited to broad trends to avoid exposing victims or helping offenders circumvent detection systems. Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association president Sirajuddin Jalil said the proposal is a “good idea” and could serve as a form of risk mitigation for cyber consumers, particularly as online threats involving children become

not be used to shift the responsibility from service providers to parents. It is merely to assist parents to monitor the website,” she told theSun . Noor Aziah, who served as Malaysia’s first Children’s Commissioner from 2019 to 2025, said the larger issue is whether Malaysia’s online safety framework and related code could be enforced effectively to ensure children were adequately protected online. She said platforms should prevent children below the age of 16 from registering or accessing accounts, investigate risky or dangerous online activity involving minors, remove harmful access points, and introduce special monitoring or warning systems for users aged between 16 and 18. – By Faiz Ruzman Communications and Multimedia Commission was finalising a safety code to curb CSAM under the Online Safety Act 2025, with implementation targeted for June. Citing police statistics, Teo said Malaysia recorded 152 CSAM cases last year, while 100 cases were reported this year as of the date of her statement, adding that the figures could be only “the tip of the iceberg”. Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia CEO Mediha Mahmood said public child-safety transparency dashboards are worth exploring, but cautioned against reducing the issue to simplistic public case counters. “For child safety, greater transparency is good in terms of us knowing whether platforms are detecting harmful content, whether they are acting quickly enough, how they are dealing with repeat offenders and whether they are escalating serious cases appropriately. “However, I would be cautious about immediately treating a full public dashboard as the starting point,” she told theSun . Mediha said a layered transparency model would be safer, with regulators receiving sufficient detail to assess compliance, law enforcement accessing case-level information where necessary, and the public being given only general, non-identifying data. “The important thing is to avoid two extremes. I understand we don’t want to be given vague corporate reporting that simply says platforms take safety seriously. “But we also should not require public disclosures that may expose victims, compromise investigations or worse, help offenders understand how detection systems work.”

do not see the takedown action. The people who submitted the report may see the action, but others do not.” He said platforms should publish visible moderation data, including the volume of CSAM-related content removed, whether takedowns were initiated proactively by platforms or through public reports, and how frequently such material was detected. He also said platform-specific disclosures would be more meaningful than broad official takedown figures, which often combine CSAM with political, racial, religious and other harmful content categories. “If the platform itself has accountability and responsibility towards protecting users, then it could show transparency in its process of removing content, especially CSAM-related content. “For example, it could show the number of such content items removed daily. The public could then use that as a process to increase awareness.” Sirajuddin said the CSAM threat landscape is evolving rapidly with artificial intelligence, as abusive material could now be generated without children directly sharing explicit content. “The major threat of CSAM is digital material or content, either shared by victims or created by perpetrators, or predators. “Does the perpetrator convince or groom children to give content? Or could the content simply be created using AI tools? That is the question.” On May 18, after officiating at the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day celebration and the Girls in ICT programme, Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said the Malaysian

o Public safety dashboards could boost social media platform accountability: Expert

increasingly complex. “The reality today is this: it is better to tell people than not to tell them. Every person has value, and when it touches family and children, the value becomes even bigger,” he told theSun . He added that public dashboards would strengthen platform

accountability, as most users are left in the dark about what happens after harmful content is reported. “There is logic. There is relevance. The dashboard proposal could be put forward so that the accountability of social media platforms becomes clearer. “When they take down content, we

Sirajuddin said platform-specific disclosures would be more meaningful than broad official takedown figures, which often combine CSAM with political, racial, religious and other harmful content categories. – AI-GENERATED IMAGE BY SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

‘Primary duty to prevent abuse must remain with operators’ PETALING JAYA: Child-rights experts have said any public dashboard tracking child sexual abuse material (CSAM) must not become a convenient way for social media platforms to shift responsibility onto parents while failing to make the internet safer for children. They said while greater on parents. “A public dashboard could help parents, but it must not make parents carry the burden alone. Parents should be able to see, in simple language, whether a platform is safe for children. Adib said any CSAM-related data released publicly must be handled with extreme care as every report carries risks of exposing victims. measured solely by how quickly abusive material was removed, but also by how effectively abuse was prevented in the first place. “Removing CSAM quickly is important, but it is not enough. Platforms must also stop abuse before it happens.

“The data must be handled very carefully because every case involves a real child. No dashboard should reveal anything that could identify a victim, such as names, images, usernames, locations or case details. “The data should only show broad trends, such as the number of reports, average removal time, action taken against repeat offenders and whether cases were referred to enforcement agencies. “The purpose is to make platforms accountable, not to expose victims or turn children’s suffering into statistics.” He added that platform accountability should not be

“For example, how fast the platform removes CSAM, how easy it is to report abuse, whether repeat offenders are blocked, and whether child accounts are protected by default. “However, the main responsibility must still be on the platform and the regulator, such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. “Parents need information, but they should not be expected to police the internet on their own.”

“This means they must detect grooming, sextortion, suspicious adult contact, repeat offenders and attempts to re-upload abusive material.” Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia legal scholar Prof Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal said a dashboard should only serve as an additional monitoring tool for parents and not dilute the obligations of service providers. “If there is a dashboard, it should

transparency could help parents make informed decisions about online safety, the primary duty to detect, remove and prevent abuse must remain firmly with platform operators and regulators. Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Children’s Commissioner Dr Mohd Al Adib Samuri said public dashboards on CSAM could improve accountability but cautioned against placing the burden of online policing

Malaysian killed in Philippine building collapse KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian died after being struck by falling debris following a building collapse in Angeles city, the Philippines on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the local bureau of fire protection. The victim, who had been staying at an apartment hotel near the building, was among four individuals confirmed dead in the incident, while 17 others remain missing. Three other victims were recovered from the rubble. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for the missing individuals,

Pampanga province. Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday confirmed that two Malaysians were affected by the incident, with one confirmed safe. It said it was currently ascertaining the status of the second Malaysian national. – Bernama

emergency response teams to support ongoing operations, Philippine News Agency reported. PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. yesterday said police would also assist in the investigation into the collapse of the nine-storey building, which is still under construction in

according to the authorities. As of Sunday, at least 26 individuals had been rescued, with 24 from the collapsed building and two from the apartment hotel, Xinhua reported. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated and deployed search and rescue personnel, and

TUESDAY | MAY 26, 2026

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M’sia’s drift scene shifts into high gear

o Once linked to underground street culture, controlled motorsport is being reshaped through regulated events, formal training and growing fan interest, says co-founder

KUALA first impression is unmistakable: a scene lifted from the 2006 American action film ‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,’ featuring cars drifting through tight spaces with precision and tyres screeching as engines reverberate against concrete walls. Yet unlike its cinematic counterpart, the atmosphere in the basement carpark of the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, is less tense, more measured. Every slide is controlled, every movement intentional – with the drift event taking place in an environment that is safe for both drivers and spectators. The 20 or so professional drifters who participated in Cargasm’s ‘Drift Underground’ three-day event last month desired the same thing: the perfect drift line and the roar of approval from the crowd. (Drifting is a driving technique where a driver intentionally causes the rear tyres to lose traction and slide, while steering and using the throttle to maintain vehicle control.) In Malaysia, drifting – long associated with underground street culture as well as reckless and dangerous driving – is gradually being reshaped in a more controlled, regulated and organised setting within the grassroots motorsport scene via drift platforms such as Cargasm, even to the extent of creating income opportunities for drivers. The recent Drift Underground is the third edition, the first two having taken place in 2024 and 2025, featuring organised drift runs, LUMPUR: The

ride-along and supporting activities, aimed at bringing the sport to a wider audience. The latest edition, however, is the first to be organised independently. Cargasm co-founder Chen Wing Hong, 30, better known as Wing in the drift circles, said the earlier two editions were held as part of a larger automotive showcase, where the drift segment was managed within a broader event framework. He noted that running it independently allows the organiser to assess its ability to draw crowds and sustain participation. Chen said future editions will likely adopt a mix of standalone and collaborative formats, depending on the outcomes, to “enable us to better understand our audience base and operational capacity outside of a larger event setting”. He added that besides the Klang Valley, grassroots drifting activity is also present in other parts of the country, including Penang, pointing to a wider but still niche community. He also said that Drift Underground – sanctioned by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), which governs motorsports in Malaysia is partly influenced by the movie ‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,’ which helped shape the global perception of drifting as an underground subculture. Speaking to Bernama about his journey into drifting, Chen said he had no background or connections in motorsports when he first entered the workforce. He worked as a freelance content creator in marketing and advertising, producing automotive videos as well as autonomous experiences

Chen said despite high costs and limited venues, grassroots drifters are pushing the sport into the mainstream. – BERNAMAPIC

image as a street-based activity, often shaped by viral footage of illegal drifting on public roads. Chen said content produced by Cargasm is deliberately curated to highlight drifting in controlled environments, rather than as an informal road activity. This, he said, is part of a broader effort to reinforce proper practices and shift public perception towards a safer and more structured form of the sport. He added that events are held in sanctioned settings, with approvals required from MAM and the police, a process that can take up to six months to complete. “If we want to make drifting more structured and more professional, we have to do it the right way.” Cargasm also operates Drift Academy, which offers comprehensive drift training programmes and personalised one on-one coaching sessions for beginners and advanced drivers.

“For every drift taxi (service), they get paid. Some of them (drivers) can make RM3,000, RM4,000 or even RM5,000 (at each event),” he said. The format also broadens access to the sport, allowing newcomers to experience drifting firsthand while supporting drivers financially. Responding to the turnout at their events, Chen said the first edition saw around 1,000 to 2,000 spectators. The number tripled the following year, with this year’s edition attracting more than 10,000 people, including visitors who flew in from Australia, the United States, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. “At the recent event, about 2,000 drift taxi tickets were sold, which is quite crazy for us because we never anticipated this volume. The drifters were very happy too as some of them made enough money from this one weekend to cover their costs.” Despite the positive developments, drifting continues to grapple with its

sensory meridian response food content before briefly venturing into fitness. The turning point came when he was introduced to drifting by a fellow enthusiast Beysshwen Dasnamurthy, 28, which motivated him to undergo formal instruction and eventually participate in drift events. Chen and Beysshwen went on to establish Cargasm in 2021, which has since evolved into a platform to organise drift events, as well as train drivers and foster community building. Chen is also currently looking at Drift Underground to function as a platform for economic activity. Each event cycle brings together not only drivers but also a broader automotive community, while creating income opportunities for participants. Chen said the drift taxi model, where spectators pay for ride-along experiences in the cars during an event, has become a key mechanism for drivers to earn an income.

TUESDAY | MAY 26, 2026

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Myanmar military targets rare earth zones

YANGON: Myanmar’s military has launched renewed offensives into several border regions, including a frontier area with critical rare earth deposits and other vital trade routes. New military chief Ye Win Oo, who took office in March after his predecessor stepped down to become president, is making an aggressive push to reclaim strategic border strongholds from ethnic armies. The military’s recent offensives have focused on Kachin State, a region rich in heavy rare-earth elements that abuts China, as well as Chin State on the Indian border o Offensive to regain control of key routes

Ganges shark found in Kalimantan JAKARTA: The critically endangered Ganges shark ( Glyphis gangeticus ), one of the world’s rarest freshwater shark species, has been found in North Kalimantan province. The discovery in the Sesayap River in Tana Tidung regency was announced by a research team from Hasanuddin University, James Cook University and Universitas Borneo Tarakan. Hasanuddin representative Prof Rohani Ambo Rappe described the finding as significant not only for species conservation but also for strengthening conservation efforts involving local communities. “This finding is not only about saving one species but also about how we build a conservation model that is fair, collaborative and acceptable to the community,” she said. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species is regarded as one of the world’s rarest sharks and can grow up to 1.8m in length. Rohani said 43 specimens were recorded in less than three weeks during field surveys, making the river one of the species’ most significant known habitats globally. She noted that the IUCN classifies the Ganges shark as critically endangered, with fewer than 10 recorded sightings across its historical range from Pakistan to Myanmar since 2000. Researcher Michael Grant from James Cook said the Sesayap River was designated an Important Shark and Ray Area in 2024, underscoring its importance as a nursery ground. The researchers also called for the establishment of a shark and ray research consortium in Kalimantan. – Bernama with the barrels of our guns.” Simultaneously, the military has launched an intensified offensive on the western front in Chin State, bordering India, which could disrupt a key cross-border logistics route that supports opposition groups inside Myanmar. Resistance fighters have undertaken strategic retreats from Falam and Tonzong towns in the state, as the military uses heavy aerial bombings to recover lost territory, said Chin National Front spokesperson Salai Van. The military has also launched an offensive to control the Myawaddy-Kawkareik highway near Thailand, a key trade route around which fighting has raged on since the Karen National Union ethnic army pushed into the border town of Myawaddy in 2024. – Reuters

President Min Aung Hlaing last month asked rebel groups to enter into peace talks within 100 days – a proposal that many ethnic armies immediately rejected. Myanmar’s conflict was sparked in 2021, when the military staged a coup. The takeover triggered a nationwide uprising that escalated into an armed resistance, with ethnic armies and rebel groups pushing the military out of several regions. The military is seeking to drive deeper into northern Kachin State, with an eye to retake mining belts along the Chinese border that produce roughly half of the world’s heavy rare earths. Naw Bu, spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army that took control of the area in October 2024, said: “We will welcome them

and a key trade corridor in Karen State, next to Thailand. At a meeting last week, Ye Win Oo told soldiers that the military had secured Falam town in Chin State and an arterial route between Mandalay and Myitkyina in Kachin State, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. “The military’s strategic rationale is that they need to regain control over the primary communication and trade routes in Myanmar,” said Myanmar analyst Sai Kyi Zin Soe. An official from Myanmar’s presidential office, reached via phone, declined to comment. Reuters could not independently verify details of military offensives and their early successes across parts of Myanmar, where media access remains restricted. The offensives come after

Rubio, wife tour Taj Mahal AGRA: Top US diplomat Marco Rubio flew to Agra yesterday and spent 45 minutes at the Taj Mahal with his wife Jeanette. “It’s one of the wonders of the world,” Rubio said of the Taj Mahal. “I think it’s important to show respect to the culture of the countries that you visit.” Under a blazing sun in 40ºC heat, Rubio removed the tie from his navy-blue suit, put his arm around Jeanette, who wore a flowing dress with elegant heels. The couple posed for pictures on the bench from where Princess Diana was photographed alone in an iconic 1992 shot. The US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, a high-octane former aide to President Donald Trump, smiled and eagerly joined some of the couple’s pictures. The normally teeming streets leading to the Taj Mahal were cleared for Rubio, with other tourists kept 100m away from him, although it was only a partial shut down unlike when Vice-President JD Vance visited. Rubio was not entirely away from Iranian influence at the Taj Mahal, whose domes and four-way charbagh gardens are influenced by Persian architecture. The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century on orders of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth. The excursion is unusual for Rubio, who in nearly a year and a half on the job has preferred short, business-like trips and rarely done events outside of government meetings. – AFP Rubio and Jeanette try out the bench Diana sat on in 1992. – AFPPIC

RAW POWER ... A farmer riding a cart pulled by two bulls during the traditional Karapan Sapi Brujul bull racing event in Probolinggo, East Java yesterday.– AFPPIC

Philippine building collapse toll hits four ANGELES CITY: The death toll rose to four yesterday in the collapse of a building under construction near the Philippine capital, with more than a dozen people still believed missing. Two workers pinned beneath the wreckage were found alive after the nine-storey structure gave way on Sunday, hitting a nearby hotel and killing a Malaysian guest. “The other one suffered a cardiac arrest. Doctors could not attend to him as he was still pinned down.” Crews pulled another corpse from the rubble yesterday, but it was not clear if the body belonged to a person listed among the missing. Due to the uncertainty, authorities said approximately 17 other people were still considered missing, mostly construction workers. uncertain,” 47-year-old Casilao said, crying as she recounted how she slept alone at a local government building on Sunday night.

September 2024 over violations of occupational safety standards. “Our labour inspectors had monitored poor working conditions, a violation that would put our workers at risk,” she told DZMM radio. The construction workers “lacked safety gear” like hardhats, boots, safety belts and lifelines, and worked under poor lighting and with no visible safety signs, she said. Construction resumed a month later after the building contractor complied with requirements, Panlilio said. Officials said up to 70 people were employed at the construction site, though most had gone home for the weekend. – AFP

Stephanie Batar and her mother Noby said they only learnt about the accident on social media from their home in nearby Bulacan province early yesterday and have been unable to contact her 64-year-old father who had been hired only weeks earlier at the job site on a six-month contract. “It’s very painful and we did not know what to do,” the daughter said. The cause of the collapse is not known. Regional labour department director Geraldine Panlilio said she had briefly shut the project down in

But the two workers trapped at the site in Angeles died despite rescue efforts. “The first of the two was pulled out alive, but unfortunately, his body gave out and he did not survive. Doctors could not resuscitate him,” said fire bureau spokeswoman Maria Leah Sajili.

Lea Casilao, girlfriend of a missing worker, said she had taken a bus from her northern Manila home to Angeles with rice and canned goods for her mate on Sunday, unaware of the pre dawn accident on the same day. “It’s very difficult, it is breaking my heart to wait for something