30/09/2026

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 30, 2026

5

First phase of Myanmar repatriation begins

Ex-PM to challenge charge of failure to declare assets KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will challenge the charge he faces over failure to declare assets, comprising RM14.7 million in cash, millions in foreign currencies and five gold bars. His lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad said the application would be filed once the defence receives and reviews all case documents. “There are several legal issues we will raise. We will certainly challenge the reasonableness and validity of the charges,“ he said after the case mention before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin. Earlier, DPP Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin told the court that the prosecution had handed over some case documents to the defence yesterday. She said five volumes had been submitted under Section 36 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, including seizure and asset declaration documents belonging to Ismail Sabri. “We request the court fix a mention date for the handover of the remaining documents and the witness list.“ Amer Hamzah confirmed receipt of the five volumes and requested that the balance be handed over before the next mention date. The court then fixed Dec 4 for case mention. Ismail Sabri, 66, is accused of failing to declare cash totalling RM14,772,150, SGD6,132,350 (RM19 million), USD1,461,400 (RM5 million), CHF3,000,000 (RM14 million), EUR12,164,150 (RM56 million), JPY363,000,000 (RM9 million), GBP50,250 (RM271,326), NZD44,600 (RM102,842), AED34,750,000 (RM38.6 million) and AUD352,850 (RM1 million). He is also accused of failing to declare five 1kg Petak Suisse Fine Gold bars, one 100g Petak Suisse Fine Silver bar and one 5g 999 Fine Gold coin. The assets were all listed in an MACC notice dated Jan 10, 2025. The offence is alleged to have been committed at MACC headquarters, No. 2, Lebuh Wawasan in Presint 7, Putrajaya on Feb 7, 2025. He is charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries up to five years’ jail and a maximum fine of RM100,000 upon conviction. – Bernama Man to face RM42m abuse of power suit PETALING JAYA: A former senior management officer of a corporation is expected to be charged in court tomorrow over alleged abuse of power involving payments of about RM42 million to several companies. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained the man, believed to be in his 50s, on Monday as part of its investigation into several issues linked to the losses suffered by UiTM Holdings Sdn Bhd in 2023. Preliminary investigations reportedly show that the alleged offence took place in 2017. The suspect is believed to have approved payments for operating expenses to companies in which he is said to have had an interest, the source added. MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, which covers abuse of position.

and logistics. “The repatriation programme is part of efforts to manage foreign nationals and immigration detainees in a more orderly manner. “It is being carried out voluntarily, safely and responsibly based on procedures agreed with the Myanmar government.” The group is being repatriated aboard UMS Moattama , UMS King Sin Phyu Shin and Myanmar navy hospital ship UMS Thanlwin . About 850 officers and personnel from several agencies, including the Immigration Department, navy, police, National Security Council, Foreign Ministry and Home Ministry, were involved in the operation. The Home Ministry said subsequent phases would proceed subject to the completion of identification, documentation and verification processes, as well as logistical readiness and operational coordination between Malaysia and Myanmar.

at 4am before the detainees were transported in 46 buses to the navy base. Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (Policy and Control) Datuk Makhzan Mahyuddin said vessels from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine Police and navy would escort the two Myanmar warships and hospital ship to the edge of Malaysian waters as a security measure. “The individuals were identified by the Myanmar government and their names submitted to Malaysia through a diplomatic note dated Aug 13. “Coordination was then carried out involving the Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, National Security Council and Defence Ministry, taking into account operational and logistical requirements.” He added that the Immigration Department acted as the lead operational agency, handling identity verification, documentation, inter-agency coordination, security

o Final health checks, identity verification and documentation began at 4am before detainees were transported to navy base

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Only RTM and Bernama were invited to cover the operation on-site, with a Home Ministry spokesperson saying coverage for the first phase was limited due to space constraints at the departure area. According to Bernama, the 1,476 comprised 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys and seven girls aged between eight and 60. They were drawn from 14 Immigration detention depots nationwide, with the largest groups coming from the Belantik depot in Kedah and Tanah Merah depot in Kelantan. Final health checks, identity verification and documentation began at Manjung District Stadium

PETALING Malaysia yesterday began the first phase of its voluntary repatriation programme involving 1,476 Myanmar nationals, with the group processed in Manjung, Perak before being transferred to the navy base in Lumut for departure by sea. In a statement yesterday, the Home Ministry said the group formed the first batch of 5,000 Myanmar nationals identified for phased repatriation following agreement by the Myanmar government to receive them and consent from the individuals involved to return voluntarily. JAYA:

Makhzan said vessels from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine Police and navy would escort the hospital ship to the edge of Malaysian waters as a security measure. – PIC COURTESY OF HOME MINISTRY two Myanmar warships and

Former CEO accused of deceiving board KUALA LUMPUR: Former Felda Investment Corporation (FIC) Sdn Bhd CEO Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with two counts of deceiving the FIC board of directors over the appointment of a company for a proposed commercial Development On Fe Lots In Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur”. He is alleged to have known that the company was only qualified to be appointed as Project Delivery Partner–Master Planner. The alleged deception led the FIC board to approve Synergy Promenade’s appointment as RM691.7 million. The Valuation and Property Services Department had initially estimated the market value of all the lots at RM180 million, and he is also alleged to have known that the department had never given Felda that initial estimate.

He is charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which carries up to five years’ jail, a fine, or both upon conviction. DPP Mohd Radzi Shah Ab Razak sought RM50,000 bail in one surety per charge, requiring the accused to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office monthly and surrender his passport to the court. The accused’s lawyer Mohd Shahrullah Khan Nawab Zadah requested bail at RM10,000 for each charge, citing his client’s financial difficulties and his full cooperation in the investigation. The court granted bail at RM60,000 bail in one surety for both charges, along with the additional conditions sought by the prosecution, and fixed Oct 29 for the submission of documents.

The deception purportedly induced the board to accept an offer from Synergy Promenade based on a minimum guaranteed return of RM500 million or 10% of gross development value, whichever was higher, a decision the board would not have made had it not been deceived. Mohd Zaid is accused of committing the offences at the Board Meeting Room, Level 50, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11 Persiaran KLCC on Jan 16 and April 29, 2014, Bernama reported.

development project and the market valuation of 24 parcels of Felda-owned land 12 years ago. Mohd Zaid, 55, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial after the charges were read out before judge Rosli Ahmad. According to the first charge, Mohd Zaid, in his capacity as CEO, is accused of deceiving the FIC board into believing that Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd was qualified to be appointed as Project Delivery Partner–Master Developer for the “Proposed Commercial

Project Delivery Partner–Master Developer for the project, an approval it would not have given had it not been misled. On the second charge, in his capacity as CEO, he is accused of deceiving the FIC board into believing that the market value of 24 Felda-owned lots slated for commercial development, as reported by Firdaus and Associates Property Professionals Sdn Bhd, was RM330.96 million, when he knew the actual reported figure was