15/09/2026

TUESDAY | SEPT 15, 2026

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Former minister claims trial to RM860m charges o Court proceedings will be used to clear name and seek justice, says lawyer the matters that have been mentioned. We will wait for further developments.

55 still unreachable after disaster PETALING JAYA: Fifty-five Malaysians remain uncontactable following floods and landslides in Nepal and China, with efforts continuing to establish their status, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), which returned from Nepal yesterday, will brief the ministry on its deployment and the information gathered during the mission. SMART conducted searches in areas that were safely accessible and where operations were permitted by Nepalese authorities. Its mission involved ground searches and aerial surveillance using drones. The findings will be reviewed by Wisma Putra and relevant Malaysian agencies to determine the appropriate follow-up action. Wisma Putra stressed that the end of SMART’s field deployment did not mean efforts to trace the Malaysians had ceased or that their status had changed. “The 55 Malaysians remain recorded as uncontactable while the relevant processes to establish the status of each individual continue,” the ministry said. Nepalese authorities are continuing search, verification and identification operations following the disaster. As part of Malaysia’s support for Nepal’s disaster response, SMART trained local rescue personnel in drone operations and handed over nine drones to the Nepalese government through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Malaysia’s follow-up efforts will continue through its embassy in Kathmandu, which will obtain information directly from the authority and other relevant Nepalese authorities. The embassy will also remain in contact with hospitals and other agencies, and conduct further checks or visits where conditions are safe and approval is granted. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing will continue liaising with Chinese authorities over Malaysians affected by the disaster and any information that could help determine their status. – by theSun Team New deputy IGP appointed PUTRAJAYA: Bukit Aman Management Department director Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid has been appointed deputy inspector-general of police with effect from Sept 9. The Home Ministry announced the appointment yesterday. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to the appointment on the advice of the prime minister and the recommendation of the Police Force Commission, in accordance with Clauses (4) and (5) of Article 140 of the Federal Constitution. Abdul Aziz, 59, succeeds Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who retired in July after nearly 35 years in the police force. Bukit Aman Special Branch director Datuk Sri Ibrahim Darus had served as acting deputy IGP following Ayob Khan’s retirement. Born in Penaga, Penang, Abdul Aziz joined the Royal Malaysia Police on July 1, 1995, and had headed the Bukit Aman Management Department since Dec 16, 2024. His previous senior appointments included Special Branch deputy director II, Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy director, Penang deputy police chief and principal assistant director of the Special Integrated Investigation Team. – by theSun Team

source of income was his pension as a former minister and army general. The court set bail at RM300,000 with one surety and ordered Jamil Khir to surrender his passport and other relevant travel documents. His son posted bail. Hisyam said the defence would review the documents to be provided by the prosecution before deciding its next course of action. “In the next session, the prosecution will provide us with the documents provided for under the law. “We will study and scrutinise these documents carefully and prepare a strong defence for Datuk Seri.” Jamil Khir later said he would use the court proceedings to clear his name, describing the trial as the best avenue to seek justice. “I will defend myself in court over

“I will clear my name. This is the best place to obtain justice. I believe, Insya Allah , the court will deliver the best,” he said. The former Jerai MP added that the charges concerned TH’s arrangements to provide accommodation for haj pilgrims, a key component of pilgrimage management. He said his approach had been to secure hotel accommodation for longer periods to lock in better rates and reduce costs for pilgrims. Jamil Khir was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Sept 1 and remanded for seven days to assist investigations arising from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into TH’s management and governance.

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH

“I believe later everyone will see that he was charged under Section 403 merely because he was carrying out his duties as a minister. “We will defend him to the best of our ability. Insya Allah , we will prove that he is not guilty,” he said at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex. The prosecution sought bail of RM1 million, citing the sum involved and the high-profile nature of the case, and asked for Jamil Khir’s passport to be surrendered. Hisyam requested a lower amount, arguing that bail was intended only to ensure the accused’s attendance in court. He also said Jamil Khir’s sole

KUALA LUMPUR: Former minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom claimed trial yesterday to three charges of dishonestly causing Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) to part with RM860.3 million for a Saudi Arabian property company between 2015 and 2017. Jamil Khir, 65, who served as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs from 2009 to 2018, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Rosli Ahmad. The charges allege that he dishonestly caused TH to dispose of RM860,308,770.51 – equivalent to SAR766,062,237 – to Al-Rawda Real Estate Development and Projects Management Co Ltd. The first charge involves RM42.94 million allegedly disposed of on April 3, 2015; the second, RM288.17 million on Dec 14, 2016; and the third, RM529.19 million on Aug 17, 2017. The alleged offences took place at Jamil Khir’s office at the Prime Minister’s Department’s Religious Affairs Division in the Federal Government Administrative Centre and at the Putrajaya Islamic Complex. All three charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which provides for between six months and five years’ imprisonment, whipping and a fine upon conviction. His lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said the defence would challenge the charges and maintain that Jamil Khir had been acting in his capacity as a minister when the alleged transactions took place.

Jamil Khir (right) waving to the media at the Sessions Court. – BERNAMAPIC

Police may use AI for case papers PUTRAJAYA: Police could soon use artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare initial drafts of investigation papers, potentially helping officers process some of the 400,000 reports lodged by the public each month. he wanted agencies under the ministry to explore as they moved beyond setting policy direction towards integrating AI into their core duties. Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN

Saifuddin also said the Finance Ministry had agreed in principle to consider raising the RM8 hourly allowance for regular Rela members following a budget dialogue last week. Rela has between 135,000 and 140,000 members nationwide, of whom about 35,000 to 40,000 can be deployed to guard restricted areas, manage traffic and perform other duties. “At RM8 an hour, working eight hours a day for 24 days produces only RM1,536. It does not even reach the RM1,700 minimum wage,”he said. Saifuddin instructed the ministry’s secretary-general and management team to negotiate a reasonable new rate for implementation in the next financial year. He said immediately matching the RM12 to RM13 hourly rate offered by the private security industry could have substantial financial implications.

Rela Siswa-Siswi (Relasis) would receive an allowance for the first time since the volunteer unit was established in 2017. The students will receive RM8 an hour during training, with the initiative expected to cost about RM400,000. “There are about 1,300 of them now. At RM8 an hour, I do not think the financial implication will exceed RM500,000. It should be around RM400,000,”he said. Saifuddin instructed the Rela director-general to include the expenditure in the department’s next budget projection, although no commencement date was announced. Relasis members undergo structured training while studying but do not perform the same field duties as regular Rela personnel. “We hope this will provide strong encouragement for our students to join Relasis at universities.”

The ministry had spent three years laying the groundwork for AI adoption, while a survey found that 75% of its personnel were ready to embrace the technology, acquire the necessary skills and use it in their work. “We want AI applications that increase productivity and efficiency, speed up service delivery and produce savings. Ultimately, the impact must be felt by the public,” he said. The ministry also launched its AI Digital Human initiative, a public facing app designed to make interactions with the ministry simpler and more user-friendly. At the same assembly, Saifuddin announced that about 1,300 university students serving under

However, investigating officers would remain fully responsible for verifying the papers before submitting them to deputy public prosecutors, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail “What does using AI technology mean in preparing an investigation paper? It means producing its first draft. “However, before it is submitted to a deputy public prosecutor, the investigating officer, who holds the rank of inspector, remains responsible for carrying out the verification,” he said after the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly yesterday. This was among the practical uses