03/09/2026

THURSDAY | SEPT 3, 2026

FOLLOW

ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper

2

@thesundaily

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Myanmar detainees repatriation to proceed

‘No compromise on offensive content’ PUTRAJAYA: The government will not compromise on religious or racial sensitivities in drama and film content, including material streamed on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. He added that although OTT content was not currently subject to the same regulatory framework as conventional broadcasting, action could be taken if investigations found breaches of existing guidelines, regulations or provisions. “The government will also not hesitate to take appropriate action if assessment and investigations find that there has been a violation of any guidelines, regulations or provisions currently in force,” he said at a press conference yesterday. Fahmi had contacted the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) CEO over the controversy surrounding Madu atau Racun , which is streamed on iQIYI. He said the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia and Finas had been instructed to meet the production team and iQIYI representatives to seek an explanation about the content of the drama. Representatives from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) would also be attending the meeting. Fahmi said Finas had regulatory jurisdiction over filmmaking and film exhibition, including cinemas, while the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission regulated television broadcasting and communications. “At present, OTT streaming platforms are not yet fully subject to the licensing framework imposed on conventional broadcasting,” he said. The controversy intensified after several groups called for Madu atau Racun to be withdrawn over content they deemed offensive, including alleged depictions of same-sex relationships. Jakim director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the department had also lodged a report with MCMC, claiming the drama contained elements that contradicted religious and cultural values as well as human nature. “Jakim fully supports the firmness of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan, who rejected the screening of Madu atau Racun as it has caused public concern. “This firmness is warranted as the drama broadcast on the iQIYI platform contains elements that contradict religious and cultural values as well as human nature,” he said in a statement. – by Harith Kamal

Malaysians caught in floods in Nepal and Tibet have been located and taken to Kathmandu for repatriation, while 55 others remain unaccounted for. Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has provided the latest figures following the disaster that struck the region last week. “The Foreign Minister has informed us that there are 55 Malaysian citizens who are still unaccounted for, while 77 Malaysians have been located in Tibet and Nepal. “They have been taken to Kathmandu for the repatriation process... to be returned and brought back to Malaysia.” Fahmi added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had approved a US$1 million (RM4 million) contribution to support humanitarian relief efforts in Nepal. The floods, triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas on Aug 26, devastated parts of Nepal and neighbouring Tibet, destroying roads, bridges and other infrastructure and leaving thousands of people missing. More than 1,100 people have been killed in Nepal, while nearly 4,000 remain missing as rescue teams continue searching for survivors and recovering bodies from areas buried under mud PUTRAJAYA: The government has received an assurance that 1,476 Myanmar nationals due to be repatriated this month will be safe upon their return, despite a warning from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that the situation remains unsafe for refugees. Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the Foreign Ministry had informed the government that the first batch of repatriations would proceed as agreed with Myanmar authorities. “So far, Wisma Putra, particularly the Foreign Minister, has informed us that what has been agreed and understood with Myanmar is that 1,476 of the 5,000 agreed for return will be safe in Myanmar,” he said at a press conference yesterday. Fahmi was responding to concerns raised by UNHCR, which said on Tuesday it was not involved in Malaysia’s planned repatriation programme and warned that ongoing armed conflict and violence meant Myanmar remains unsafe for refugees to return. UNHCR said any return must be voluntary, based on an informed decision and carried out in conditions of safety and dignity.

o 1,476 individuals from list of 5,000 to be returned on Sept 29

The clarification follows remarks by Bangladesh’s junior minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, who was reported as saying Malaysia would recruit about 200,000 workers over six months, with recruitment expected to begin in phases. Malaysia has restricted the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers since 2024, while Dhaka has continued to seek greater access to the Malaysian labour market. Bangladesh remains one of Malaysia’s major sources of foreign labour, with its workers employed in sectors that include construction, manufacturing, plantation and services.

authorities, with returnees to be received by their home country. On a separate matter, Fahmi said Malaysia had not committed to recruiting 200,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next six months, dismissing a report that recruitment would begin in phases from the end of this month. He said he had contacted the Human Resources Ministry and was informed that the figure came from a junior Bangladeshi minister and did not represent an official decision by Dhaka. “It was made by someone, I understand, a junior minister. So, it does not represent an official decision of the Bangladesh government,” he said.

Fahmi 10,000 Myanmar refugees were being held at immigration detention depots. Of these, 5,000 had been screened by the Home Ministry, with their names subsequently forwarded to the Myanmar embassy. “Of that list, 1,476 have been agreed to be received by the Myanmar side,” he said. The first batch of 1,476 Myanmar nationals is scheduled to be repatriated on Sept 29 as part of the government’s planned programme involving 5,000 individuals. The government has previously maintained that the repatriation process involves screening and coordination with Myanmar said about

77 Malaysians arrive at Kathmandu, 55 others missing PUTRAJAYA: Seventy-seven

A man looking at a wall displaying photographs of missing people outside Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. – REUTERSPIC

Fahmi said the US$1 million contribution would support humanitarian efforts in Nepal as authorities continue rescue, recovery and relief operations. – by Harith Kamal

the floods struck. Malaysia was among more than 30 countries whose nationals were reported missing following the disaster, with up to 55 Malaysians initially listed as unaccounted for.

and debris. The disaster has also affected hundreds of foreign nationals, including tourists, pilgrims and workers who were in the mountainous border region when

Anwar urges US, Iran to return to diplomacy PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the US and Iran to halt further escalation and return immediately to diplomacy following the latest exchange of strikes between the two countries. In a statement yesterday, Anwar cautioned against economic measures that could worsen hardship for civilians and hinder diplomatic engagement, saying such actions risked exacerbating rather than resolving the crisis. “I urge the United States and Iran to halt further escalation and return immediately to diplomacy and the understandings reached in June. “This conflict can ultimately be

objective justifies exposing civilians to an expanding conflict,” he said. The latest escalation follows renewed US strikes on Iranian military targets, with Iran subsequently launching attacks on US-linked facilities in several countries in the region, including Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq. – by Qirana Nabilla Mohd Rashidi

Middle East into an even more destructive conflict. He said the party with the greatest capacity to influence the situation had a particular responsibility to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. “The sovereignty of other states cannot be cast aside. No military

resolved only through political and diplomatic means. The world must not be made to pay the price for a wider regional war,” he said. Anwar expressed grave concern over the renewed escalation, adding that the latest exchange of attacks, which had spread to other states in the region, could draw the wider