13/07/2026

MONDAY | JULY 13, 2026

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Final decision on Muar MP case today

o Federal Court to rule on appeal of prosecution against Syed Saddiq’s acquittal on charges involving criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering

maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping and a fine upon conviction, Bernama reported. He was also charged with misappropriating RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise under Section 403 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of between six months and five years, whipping and a fine. In addition, Syed Saddiq was charged with two counts of money laundering for allegedly transferring RM50,000 into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account. The money laundering charges are under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ jail and fine.

general had directed the prosecution to proceed with the appeal and would abide by the court’s decision. On June 25, 2025, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged the 33-year-old after allowing his appeal against the High Court’s Nov 9, 2023 conviction and sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a RM10 million fine. The Attorney-General’s Chambers filed its appeal to the Federal Court the following day. Syed Saddiq is accused of abetting Rafiq Hakim Razali, then Armada’s assistant treasurer, in committing criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million in Armada funds at CIMB Bank Berhad, KL Sentral, on March 6, 2020. The charge, framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code, carries a

KUALA LUMPUR: Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman will know his fate today when the Federal Court delivers its decision on the prosecution’s final appeal against his acquittal on four charges involving criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering linked to funds belonging to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s youth wing, Armada. A three-member Federal Court bench comprising Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais

by DPPs Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, while lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik represented Syed Saddiq In an unusual move during the hearing on Dec 12, Abu Bakar granted the prosecution one week to review its position after both parties had completed their submissions. However, on Dec 17, 2025, the Attorney-General’s Chambers informed the Federal Court Deputy Registrar by letter that the attorney

and Justices Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah is scheduled to deliver the judgment at 9am. The ruling was initially fixed for June 30 but was postponed after Justice Che Mohd Ruzima went on medical leave. The appeal was heard over two days, with both the prosecution and defence concluding their submissions before the three member panel on Dec 12, 2025. The prosecution was represented

7 Bills to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat for first reading

Move to better manage citizenship applications PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry will review the findings and recommendations submitted by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) together with relevant agencies, including the National Registration Department, the Immigration Department and police, to identify areas for improvement in the management of citizenship applications through naturalisation. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the review would focus on strengthening SOPs, documentation, coordination of work processes and governance mechanisms in line with public service best practices. It said continuous training would also be provided to officers and staff involved to ensure that they possess the necessary knowledge. “The Home Ministry wishes to emphasise that the power to consider citizenship applications is subject to the provisions of the Federal Constitution and is exercised with due caution, taking into account various factors, including public interest, national security and the facts of each case. “It will also extend full cooperation to any agency with the jurisdiction to conduct further investigations should there be matters requiring legal action.” It said citizenship applications under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution are processed through a comprehensive assessment of each application based on constitutional provisions, relevant laws and the interests of national security and sovereignty. “The ministry also obtains scrutiny and vetting from various related agencies according to their respective jurisdictions before any application is considered.” It added that it remains committed to strengthening the integrity, transparency and efficiency of its delivery to ensure that all citizenship-related matters are handled professionally and with accountability. “The ministry takes note of the EAIC report and consistently respects the check-and-balance function of institutions established under the law, and will examine every recommendation submitted to strengthen the ministry’s service delivery system and governance.” The EAIC Special Task Force recently submitted six recommendations to the ministry, including a review of the entire process and citizenship documents granted to seven naturalised Malaysian footballers. Another recommendation was for the ministry to establish guidelines of discretionary powers under the law, taking into account constitutional provisions that emphasise the period of residence in the country as a basis for citizenship. – Bernama

Ű BY THESUN TEAM newdesk@thesundaily.com

which proposes separating the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor. The Bill was previously referred to a bipartisan Parliamentary Special Select Committee for further scrutiny, and the Cabinet has since agreed to amendments, including a provision requiring public prosecutor candidates to be vetted by a select committee before their names are forwarded to the Judicial and Legal Service Commission for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consideration. As it involves changes to the Federal Constitution, the Bill will require two-thirds support in both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara to pass. The current session has already seen the Dewan Rakyat pass the Cybercrimes Bill 2026, aimed at strengthening enforcement against increasingly sophisticated online crime, as well as debate on amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 targeting illegal street racing.

Also on the order paper is the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s Social Work Profession Bill 2026, another long-delayed piece of legislation. Drafting on this Bill began back in 2010, and had at one point been expected to reach the Dewan Rakyat by 2024. Advocacy groups have said the repeated delays have hampered efforts to regulate the social work profession and build up the manpower needed to support the sector. Rounding out the list, the Communications Ministry is expected to table the Communications and Multimedia (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026. Monday’s sitting comes as the current meeting of the Dewan Rakyat, which runs until July 16, enters a busy final stretch. The same day is also set to see debates on the Constitution (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2026

PETALING JAYA: Seven Bills, including the long-awaited Freedom of Information Bill, are due for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today as the current parliamentary sitting heads into its final week. According to the order paper for the day, the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 is among four Bills falling under the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. The proposed legislation was originally one of Pakatan Harapan’s election pledges in 2018, with Penang and Selangor having already passed their own state-level freedom of information enactments in the interim. The same ministry is also set to table the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill 2026, along with two amendment Bills – the Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Courts of Judicature (Amendment) Bill 2026.

CURIOS GALORE ... Visitors browsing through vintage and locally crafted accessories during the MAA.KET pop-up event at Kongsi Kreatif, Old General Post Office at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad in Kuala Lumpur. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Former Mida DG dies, aged 86 KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) former director-general Datuk N. Sadasivan Pillay died yesterday morning after a brief illness. He was 86. The news was confirmed by a close family relative. He said Sadasivan is survived by his two

During his tenure, he led efforts to promote and facilitate domestic and foreign investment in Malaysia’s manufacturing and services sectors. Sadasivan was awarded the Bintang Kesatria Mangku Negara in 1979, the Johan Setia Mahkota in 1987 and the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak in 1988. – Bernama

sons, Deepak and Navin. Born in Ipoh on Feb 29, 1940, Sadasivan joined the then Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, now known as Mida, in 1968 as director of investment promotion. He became its deputy director-general in 1976 and director-general in 1984, serving until his retirement in 1995.