PUTRAJAYA, June 14 — Malaysia remains in a relatively strong position with sufficient supplies of fuel, food and essential medicines, thanks to early intervention and coordinated crisis management efforts, says Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser Nurhisham Hussein.

Nurhisham, who also heads the Secretariat of the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) Crisis Management Task Force, said the government’s immediate priority since the crisis began has been ensuring uninterrupted supplies of critical goods and services.

“The first priority is making sure we have enough supplies. As far as fuel is concerned, we have sufficient stocks until July, and we are already working on August. As for food, we have more than enough in all major categories, including rice, chicken, eggs, seafood, vegetables and fruits,” he said.

Nurhisham told Bernama this week after the conflict in West Asia entered its 100th day.

He said concerns over food security remain manageable at present, with any significant impact from global supply disruptions expected to materialise only much later.

“For products such as chicken and eggs, the production cycle is very fast, around 40 days, and we are still receiving adequate feed supplies at reasonable prices. So far, there are no major concerns on the supply side,” he added.

Energy, healthcare supplies remain secure

On the energy front, Nurhisham said Malaysia’s electricity generation capacity remains sufficient despite heightened global energy market volatility.

He noted that about one-third of Malaysia’s power generation comes from liquefied natural gas (LNG), much of which is domestically produced, while coal imports are secured through long-term contracts.

“Energy generation is not an issue for us at this moment. The challenge is managing demand, particularly as this year is expected to be a very hot year,” he said.

Nurhisham’s remarks come as MetMalaysia and global climate agencies warn of a possible El Niño event later this year, which could bring hotter and drier weather conditions.

MetMalaysia has said global climate models indicate a 62 per cent probability of El Niño developing between June and August 2026, while the World Meteorological Organisation estimates an 80 per cent likelihood of the phenomenon forming during the same period.

As for the healthcare sector, the economist said more than 70 per cent of medicines in the public health system currently have stock levels exceeding three months, while authorities are closely monitoring a small number of items with lower inventories.

“Most of the medicines categorised as critical have alternative treatments available. For medical devices, there are some consumables with relatively low stocks, but we have multiple suppliers and the situation remains under control,” he explained.

Nurhisham credited the Health Ministry’s rapid response, leveraging systems developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, for enabling authorities to quickly assess stock levels across both public and private healthcare sectors.

Government committed to development priorities

While acknowledging that the crisis has exerted pressure on certain sectors, particularly construction, Nurhisham said the overall impact on Malaysia’s economy has so far been limited.

He said that sectors such as construction had initially been affected by higher diesel prices and increased material costs, but conditions have gradually stabilised as prices eased in recent months.

Nurhisham also dismissed concerns that the crisis would lead to significant increases in government borrowing, stressing that Malaysia’s fiscal framework prohibits borrowing to finance subsidies.

“Subsidies must be funded through government revenue, not borrowing. Any increase in the fiscal deficit would largely reflect slower gross domestic product growth rather than higher borrowing,” he explained.

Despite additional fiscal pressures arising from fuel subsidies, Nurhisham ensured that the government remains committed to key development priorities.

Projects involving flood mitigation, water supply, electricity generation, roads, schools and hospitals will continue as planned.

“These projects cannot wait. The government’s development priorities remain unchanged because they are critical to the country’s long-term resilience and growth,” he said.

Conservation efforts key to managing crisis

Looking ahead, Nurhisham said managing demand and reducing wastage would be critical in ensuring Malaysia remains resilient should the crisis persist.

Measures being encouraged include work-from-home arrangements where practical, reducing government electricity consumption, limiting non-essential travel and exploring staggered school opening hours to ease traffic congestion and fuel use.

He also highlighted food wastage as a major area requiring urgent attention.

“We are throwing away huge amounts of food every year. If we can reduce wastage across the supply chain and at the household level, we can lower costs and make supplies go further,” he said.

Better prepared than 100 days ago

Reflecting on the first 100 days of the crisis, Nurhisham said the government is now in a significantly better position than during the initial stages, when information gaps created uncertainty among policymakers and industry players.

“Today, we have a much clearer picture. We have the mechanisms in place and industries now know where to source supplies, including domestic alternatives. We are in a much more comfortable position than we were two months ago,” he said.

He added that while the situation remains manageable, continued cooperation from businesses and consumers would be essential to ensure Malaysia can weather the crisis with minimal disruption to jobs, incomes and economic activity. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 19 — The Federal Court today struck out the prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal of a man on a charge of murdering bullying victim T. Nhaveen nine years ago.

A three-member Federal Court bench led by Datuk Nordin Hassan made the ruling after Deputy Public Prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai informed the court that the notice of appeal could not be served personally on S. Gopinaath, 35, who resides in Penang, because the respondent could not be located.

“This is the fifth time the prosecution has attempted to serve the notice of appeal. I seek further directions from the court,” said Allan.

Also sitting on the bench were Datuk Seri Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera and Datuk Azimah Omar.

The prosecution had appealed against the Court of Appeal’s decision on Jan 13, 2025, to acquit Gopinaath of murdering Nhaveen, who was 18 at the time, at a park along Jalan Bunga Raya between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017.

Gopinaath was charged in 2021, four years after the incident, while the prosecution’s seventh witness was testifying during the trial.

The Court of Appeal also ordered four men – J. Ragesuthan and S. Gokulan, both now aged 27, as well as two others who were juveniles at the time of the incident – to enter their defence on a murder charge after allowing the prosecution’s appeal against the Penang High Court’s decision on Oct 3, 2023, to discharge and acquit them.

The appellate court also remitted the case to the Penang High Court for the four men to enter their defence.

The four were further ordered to enter their defence on a charge of causing injury to Nhaveen’s friend, T. Previin, near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre along Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor, between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017.

Case management has been fixed for July 3 at the Penang High Court to set trial dates.

Nhaveen sustained serious injuries after being assaulted by a group of youths in an incident along Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor.

He was admitted to Penang Hospital but died six days later.

His friend, Previin, was also reportedly assaulted by the same group with motorcycle helmets but managed to escape and seek help. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 16 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has assured that medicine supplies in Malaysia remain stable and sufficient, although a small number of products continue to be closely monitored.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry tracks 702 medicine types covering 3,739 registered products through monthly reports submitted by registration holders.

“As of May 8, 2026, 505 medicine types, or 72 per cent, had stock levels exceeding 90 days and were classified as low risk.

“Another 79 types (11.3 per cent) were categorised as moderate risk with supplies lasting between 60 and 90 days, while 118 items (16.8 per cent) had stocks below 60 days and were considered high risk,” he told Bernama in a written reply today.

The moderate and high-risk categories include antibiotics, cancer drugs, vaccines, antidotes, psychiatric medicines and cardiovascular treatments.

“Of the 118 high-risk items, only 14 were deemed critical due to reliance on a single registration holder or delays of more than a month for incoming supplies,” he said.

These include Fluorouracil (cancer treatment), Methylene Blue (used in diagnostic procedures), Linezolid (an antibiotic) and Coal Tar Solution for psoriasis treatment. 

However, Dr Dzulkefly said checks with MOH facilities and concession companies found that 13 of the 14 critical medicines still have stock levels exceeding 90 days. The remaining item, Carbinoxamine Maleate/Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride, is not listed in the MOH Drug Formulary.

“This means medicine supplies for patients at MOH facilities remain sufficient and are not currently affected,” he said.

Additional shipments of critical medicines are scheduled to arrive between June and September, while the ministry continues to work closely with industry players, suppliers and healthcare facilities to address potential supply disruptions early.

On June 14, Prime Minister’s economic adviser Nurhisham Hussein said that over 70 per cent of public healthcare medicine supplies currently have stock levels exceeding three months, while most critical medications have alternative treatment options available. — Bernama 

PUTRAJAYA, June 8 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has recorded 1,095 charges and secured 563 convictions from 2,633 investigation papers opened since 2024, said Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman.

He said 583 of the investigation papers involved high-profile and public interest cases, reflecting the commission’s commitment to taking action regardless of rank or position.

Abd Halim said the MACC’s focus goes beyond prosecuting offenders, with equal emphasis placed on dismantling corruption networks through aggressive asset recovery measures.

“Based on records from the Legal and Prosecution Division up to April 2026, a total of 115 asset forfeiture applications were filed in court, compared with 179 applications for the whole of last year.

“During the period, the MACC seized assets worth RM16.49 million, froze assets amounting to RM425,464.60 and secured forfeitures totalling RM3.42 million. Compounds amounting to RM10.47 million were also collected,” he said in his inaugural address at the MACC Monthly Assembly here today.

Abd Halim stressed that he would not allow the people’s rights to be eroded by those driven by greed.

He said the MACC is also strengthening the capabilities of its officers to tackle increasingly complex financial crimes involving advanced technology, cross-border transactions and cryptocurrencies.

“We can no longer work using old methods. The use of advanced technology, stronger strategic intelligence, data analytics and cooperation with international agencies is essential to ensure we remain one step ahead of criminals,” he said.

Nearly a month into his tenure, Abd Halim introduced five key leadership principles: uncompromising integrity, fair enforcement, prevention over punishment, technology and transparency, and building public trust.

“My personal principle is simple: ‘If you dare to do it, dare to take responsibility for it.’ No one in this organisation should become a liability that tarnishes the image of the MACC, which is currently at its strongest,” he said. — Bernama 

PUTRAJAYA, June 6 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today officially launched the GITC TVET Placement Centre (GTPC), the nation’s first integrated national talent placement platform aimed at bridging the gap between industry and skilled talent.

The platform, launched in conjunction with the National TVET Day 2026 celebration here will serve as a structured ecosystem connecting students, graduates, institutions and industry to facilitate industrial training, apprenticeships and employment opportunities.

He said the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to positioning TVET as a primary pathway to quality employment, higher income, social mobility and national economic competitiveness.

“TVET is no longer a secondary pathway but the primary route to quality employment, better income, social mobility and national economic competitiveness,” he said in his speech at the launch ceremony held here today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, said National TVET Day now symbolises the central role of TVET in Malaysia’s development agenda.

However, he noted that several structural challenges remained, including the mismatch between training programmes and current industry technologies, low wage perceptions that continue to stigmatise TVET careers, as well as gaps in instructor quality and training facilities that affect graduate readiness.

He said the launch of TVET 2.0 earlier today marked a new phase in the country’s efforts to create a more responsive and industry-driven TVET ecosystem.

As part of this transformation, he called on industry players to assume greater responsibility in talent development by acting as co-investors through the provision of training opportunities, facilities, mentorship and employment pathways.

“Investment in TVET is not a cost. It is an investment in productivity, competitiveness and the future of our nation,” he said.

Through GTPC, he said, industry players can register talent requirements and offer industrial training placements, apprenticeships and jobs, while students and graduates can build professional profiles, showcase competencies and secure employment opportunities.

The platform also enables institutions to monitor student progress more effectively and strengthen collaboration with industry partners.

Ahmad Zahid said the initiative would support skills-based hiring practices by emphasising competencies, practical capabilities and lifelong learning rather than academic qualifications alone.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid also highlighted the role of the Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC) as a strategic bridge linking government agencies, industry players and educational institutions to better align talent supply with workforce demand.

He urged GITC to evolve beyond its coordination role and become a catalyst for systemic change, particularly in high-growth sectors such as aerospace, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, cybersecurity and robotics. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 17 — International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Rector Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar was named the National Tokoh Maal Hijrah at the national-level Maal Hijrah 1448H/2026 celebration at Putra Mosque here today.

At the same ceremony, renowned Islamic scholar from Morocco, Dr Ahmad Al-Raysuni, was honoured as the International Tokoh Maal Hijrah.

The awards were presented by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah. The recipients were presented with cash prizes, trophies and certificates of appreciation.

This year’s National Maal Hijrah celebration carried the theme “MADANI Dihayati, Ummah Diberkati”, reflecting efforts to strengthen values of compassion, unity and community well-being.

Also attending the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and his wife Datin Ruziah Mohd Tahir, as well as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 6 (Bernama) -- A total of 270 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) have recorded a graduate employability rate of 99.5 per cent, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said the impressive achievement demonstrated that MARA’s TVET institutions are at the forefront of advancing the nation’s TVET agenda, which has now entered the TVET 2.0 phase.

“I also greatly appreciate the private sector for being at the forefront of supporting TVET nationwide. They have not only introduced new training modules, but have also extended their support through the provision of equipment, machinery and other facilities for selected TVET institutions.

“They have embraced TVET 2.0 not only through the various contributions I mentioned earlier, but also by signing agreements with the National TVET Council and most TVET institutions across the country to ensure that all TVET students will be employed by the industry, with 100 per cent absorption into the workforce,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National TVET Council, in his welcoming remarks at the National TVET Day 2026 celebration here today.

The celebration was held at Dataran Putrajaya, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the launch of TVET 2.0.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the implementation of TVET 2.0 would place greater emphasis on emerging high-demand fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and renewable energy, while continuing to strengthen conventional sectors that remain in demand.

“In TVET 2.0, in addition to the priorities I have outlined, we have also sent instructors from selected TVET institutions abroad for training at no cost to the government. The programmes are fully funded by industry players overseas, enabling our instructors to acquire the latest knowledge and skills,” he said.

He added that industry players are also offering premium salaries to TVET graduates, with holders of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) receiving a minimum starting salary of RM2,500, above the current minimum wage.

The employability rate of TVET graduates nationwide rose to 98.7 per cent as of the end of May this year, compared with 95.1 per cent previously.

“This is an achievement we are grateful for. As I have often said, achieving success is difficult, but sustaining it is even more challenging. Our task and responsibility are not only to preserve this success, but to continue building on it and raising the bar even further,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said students from tahfiz institutions and pondok schools are now being given opportunities to pursue TVET programmes, including in aerospace engineering and maritime engineering, through courses offered by Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

“This will elevate the capabilities of tahfiz students, who have traditionally focused on the fields of syariah and usuluddin. Insya-Allah, within the next three to five years, while continuing to preserve their Quranic memorisation, we will also see them emerge as engineers, including in the aerospace sector,” he said.

He said the initiative is expected to produce more highly skilled professionals from among tahfiz students without compromising their grounding in religious studies.

Ahmad Zahid also said that seven universities within the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) provide pathways for TVET students to further their education up to master’s and doctoral levels.

He added that the government has allocated RM7.9 billion to the TVET sector under Budget 2026, the largest allocation ever provided to strengthen the implementation of TVET 2.0, including upskilling and reskilling programmes.

On the National TVET Day 2026 celebration, he said this year’s event was organised on a relatively large scale despite being conducted at a very low cost, reflecting efficient resource management and the government’s commitment to ensuring that high-impact programmes can continue without placing an undue burden on national expenditure.

Held under the theme ‘TVET Pilihan Utama Kerjaya’ (TVET: The Preferred Career Path), the three-day celebration, which runs until Sunday, from 9 am to 10 pm daily, brings together more than 107 agencies, institutions and industry players from nine key sectors on a single platform. These sectors include aerospace, electronics and digital technology, agriculture, transport and automotive, advanced manufacturing, services, rail, maritime and energy. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 8 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner, Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman, has required all agency personnel to submit or update their asset declarations within one month of receiving an official notification, which will be issued at a later date.

He said the directive was among the first measures introduced under his leadership to strengthen the agency’s integrity and rebuild public confidence in the MACC as an independent, professional and impartial institution.

“To spearhead efforts to build and maintain public trust, I am directing all MACC officers to submit their asset declarations within a month from the date the official notification is issued.

“In line with that commitment, I will personally be the first to undertake the asset declaration process, InsyaAllah,” he said during his first address at the MACC monthly gathering here today.

He also emphasised that the MACC would not yield to pressure from any source, whether public sentiment, media scrutiny or political influence.

“Justice and the rule of law, applied without exception or compromise, are principles we will uphold. Integrity must go beyond rhetoric and pledges; it must be demonstrated through confidential decision-making and fearless investigations,” he said.

He also cautioned MACC personnel against damaging the organisation’s reputation through any wrongdoing, saying that even a small act of misconduct can taint the integrity of the entire institution.

He also emphasised that MACC staff should embody two core values, namely strength and trustworthiness, as highlighted in Surah Al-Qasas (the 28th chapter of the Quran).

He said strength relates to capability and expertise in carrying out tasks, while trustworthiness embodies honesty, which is central to the public service ethos, adding that the combination of the two qualities will ensure that the MACC continues to be respected as a key pillar in safeguarding the nation’s integrity.

Abd Halim also urged MACC personnel to shun arrogance and ego in the course of their duties, stressing that their conduct is always under public scrutiny.

He further emphasised that justice cannot be compromised, and that genuine integrity is measured by the ability to resist interference or undue influence from vested interests. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 15 — The Economy Ministry expects Malaysia’s inflation rate to remain under control at between 1.5 and 2.5 per cent throughout this year despite pressure from the energy supply crisis and global geopolitical uncertainties.

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the government is committed to ensuring that inflation does not have a major shock effect on the economy and the people’s cost of living even though price pressures are expected to continue.

He said the country’s latest inflation rate was recorded at 1.9 per cent, much lower than the global inflation forecast of around 4.3 per cent.

“For 2026, our comfortable projection is for inflation to occur between 1.5 and 2.5 per cent. This is our target so that inflation movements remain within the scope that we can handle and do not have a significant impact on the people,” he told the media after the monthly gathering of the Economy Ministry here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the expected inflationary pressure in the second quarter of this year following the disruption of global energy supplies and its impact on the transportation and food sectors.

Akmal Nasrullah said the current inflationary pressure was due to the increase in costs related to oil supplies and input goods needed to maintain economic activity.

In this regard, he said the government is continuing various mitigation measures including the targeted distribution of fuel subsidies, control of logistics costs through the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS), as well as additional financing of RM5 billion through the Business Financing Guarantee Scheme (SJPP) and Bank Negara Malaysia facilities to help small businesses survive.

However, Akmal Nasrullah said inflationary pressures could increase if the global crisis continues.

“So far, we have managed to maintain inflation at around 1.9 per cent, but the pressure will continue to have an impact. That is why we continue to look at official data and the actual situation at the industry level so that intervention measures can be taken earlier,” he said. — Bernama 

PUTRAJAYA, June 15 — Media literacy among the public needs to be strengthened so that people are better equipped to critically evaluate information and identify misleading content amid the rapid evolution of the digital media landscape, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said.

She said the ability to distinguish between credible information and manipulated content has become increasingly important as society enters a new era driven by generative artificial intelligence (AI), which is reshaping the global media ecosystem.

“By 2030, Malaysia will need a media ecosystem that is more resilient, innovative and trusted,” she said in her keynote address at the industry dialogue themed “Balancing Virality and Responsibility: Journalism Amid Speed, Trust and Impact” here today.

Teo said efforts to strengthen media literacy should be complemented by greater training in AI, digital verification and information security to ensure Malaysian journalists are well prepared for future challenges.

She also called for closer collaboration among the media industry, universities and the government in talent development and research related to media transformation.

Teo noted that content is now produced on an unprecedented scale, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish between accurate information, misleading content and deliberately manipulated narratives.

“The major challenge in the attention economy is that algorithms do not necessarily reward the most accurate or beneficial content. In many cases, they prioritise content that triggers strong emotional reactions,” she said.

Despite growing pressure to deliver news rapidly across multiple platforms, Teo said the fundamental principles of journalism must remain unchanged, with facts needing to be checked, information verified and truth prioritised.

She said media organisations had traditionally competed to be the first to break a story, but the race had become far more demanding as news now travels in real time and audiences expect information to be available instantly.

“When an incident occurs, various versions of the story often circulate online before journalists have the opportunity to verify the facts. In such situations, media organisations face a difficult dilemma. If they are too slow, they risk being seen as lagging. If they are too fast, they risk making mistakes that could undermine their credibility,” she said.

Teo added that the future of the media would not be determined by virality alone, but by its ability to earn and sustain public trust.

“Trust is not built in a day. It is built when the media is willing to acknowledge mistakes and correct them openly. It is built when the media places the public interest above the pursuit of sensationalism,” she said.

She added that the media industry is complex and dynamic, and is best served through responsible self-regulation rather than excessive state intervention.

Teo said this understanding had guided the Madani Government’s efforts to establish the Malaysian Media Council (MMC), which was successfully formed in 2025 after years of discussions and advocacy by industry stakeholders.

On the council’s complaints mechanism, she said Phase Two was implemented on April 8 this year and had already shown encouraging progress, with 14 complaints involving issues such as reporting accuracy, the unauthorised use of images and matters affecting social harmony received in less than two months.

Of the total complaints received, 12 have been resolved, while the remaining cases are under review. — Bernama 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — The MADANI Government will continue to empower the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as a credible and respected institution in efforts to eradicate corruption without compromise, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that efforts to strengthen governance, integrity, and the country’s institutional reform agenda form the core of building a fairer, more transparent, and competitive Malaysia.

This was stated by him during a courtesy call from MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman in Putrajaya yesterday.

“I stressed that integrity is not merely a requirement in the public service, but a crucial foundation to guarantee public confidence, attract quality investments, and determine a more sustainable future for the nation.

“The MADANI Government will continue to empower the MACC as a credible and respected institution in efforts to eradicate corruption without compromise to ensure that the country’s prosperity can be enjoyed by both present and future generations,” he said via a Facebook post. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 16 — The Federal Court today ruled in favour of seven Orang Asli villagers by ordering that each receive RM20,000 in general damages following the destruction of their ancestral graves.

A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Nordin Hassan, Datuk Seri Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera and Datuk Lee Swee Seng unanimously allowed the villagers’ appeal and reinstated the earlier decision of the Kuantan High Court.

The ruling overturned the Court of Appeal’s October 2024 decision, which had favoured Agrobest (M) Sdn Bhd, a company involved in the prawn farming industry, and two of its employees.

Agrobest is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABSF International Group (M) Sdn Bhd and had entered into a 30-year lease agreement with the Pahang State Secretariat Corporation to develop sea prawn pond farming on the land concerned.

Delivering the unanimous judgment, Justice Lee said the High Court was “perfectly positioned” to assess the evidence and determine that the villagers had successfully established their connection to the grave sites and tombstones.

He said the destruction and desecration of the ancestral graves constituted an infringement of the villagers’ native proprietary rights, making them entitled to compensation as correctly determined by the High Court.

Justice Lee added that the High Court had properly evaluated oral testimony and rightly concluded that the villagers had proven their family connection to the burial sites that were desecrated.

He further said that Orang Asli communities retain the right to use and enjoy their ancestral lands unless those rights have been lawfully extinguished through compensation under the Land Acquisition Act 1960.

According to the court, the villagers had previously been directed by the Orang Asli Development Department (JKOA) to vacate and relocate from the area to make way for a large-scale prawn farming development without receiving compensation.

Despite relocating, the villagers continued returning annually to perform customary rituals at their ancestors’ graves.

The seven villagers, comprising Rosli Jedut, Atan Baro, Melah Hamid, Awang Bako, Esah Wir, Kasim Awang, and Majib Kasim, filed the lawsuit in 2019, alleging trespass and the destruction of graves at a burial site in Kampung Orang Asli Batu 20, Mukim Bebar, in Pahang’s Pekan district.

On July 11, 2023, the Kuantan High Court ruled that the villagers had successfully proven their claim against Agrobest and awarded each of them RM20,000 in general damages for the loss suffered as a result of the damage caused to the burial site.

The High Court also found that a backhoe contractor engaged by the company during excavation works had acted in a manner that failed to respect Orang Asli customs and traditions.

However, on October 22, 2024, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling, holding that the villagers lacked legal standing to bring the action after finding insufficient proof that they were descendants of those buried at the site.

In June last year, the Federal Court granted leave for the villagers to appeal the appellate court’s decision. The appeal was heard over two days on January 26 and June 8 this year.

At today’s proceedings, the villagers were represented by lawyers Steven Thiruneelakandan, Yogeswaran Subramaniam, Hon Kai Ping and Ananthan Nithya Moorthi, while Agrobest and its employees were represented by counsel Henry Ngok Heng Hui, Vernise Ng Si Hui and Wong Yung Hang. — Bernama