KOTA KINABALU, June 7 — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is expected to decide on the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation's (Upko) application to join the coalition as a component party on June 18.

GRS secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said he is currently conducting engagement sessions with Upko leaders to gather the necessary information before preparing a paper for consideration at the coalition's Supreme Council meeting on that date.

“The GRS meeting is scheduled to take place on June 18 and an official decision is expected to be made then,” he told reporters after officiating the Ihsan Food Bank (i-FB) Initiative programme here today.

Armizan, who is also Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, described Upko's application as a positive development towards uniting Sabah-based parties under a common political platform.

He said a key condition for Upko's admission is its commitment to GRS’ four core principles: Sabah First, Sabah Forward, Sabah Prosper and Sabah United.

On May 29, Upko formally submitted its application to GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Sabah Chief Minister, through its president, Datuk Ewon Benedick.

GRS currently comprises five component parties: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Cinta Sabah. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) has been mobilised to monitor coastal areas in Sandakan, Sabah, as a precaution following a strong earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines, this morning.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the areas under monitoring include Taman Harmoni, Kampung Forest, Sim-Sim, the Sandakan town centre and Pasir Putih.

Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, said field monitoring has shown that the situation in the affected areas is safe and stable, with no unusual incidents so far.

“I am aware of the tremors experienced in several areas in Sabah, along with the early tsunami warning issued earlier by MetMalaysia (Malaysian Meteorological Department).

“Alhamdulillah, the warning has been lifted. Nevertheless, I urge the public, particularly in Sabah, to remain cautious and continue following the instructions of the authorities,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid conveyed his condolences and sympathy to the people of the Philippines affected by the disaster and prayed for strength for all victims and their families.

“Malaysia is always prepared to offer any assistance as a close friend and Asean partner,” he said.

He also cautioned the public against circulating false or unverified information that could cause panic and advised them to consult MetMalaysia’s official channels for the latest updates.

At least 15 people have been killed and 134 others injured after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Mindanao at 7.37am today. — Bernama 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm warning covering several states, with heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds expected until late this afternoon.

In a Facebook post at 2pm today, MetMalaysia said the weather system is expected to affect Perlis; Kedah (Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena and Padang Terap); Perak (Kuala Kangsar and Kinta); Kelantan (Jeli and Kuala Krai); Terengganu (Marang, Dungun and Kemaman); and Pahang (Cameron Highlands, Jerantut, Bentong and Kuantan).

It also said similar conditions are expected in Sarawak, covering Sibu (Selangau), Bintulu, Miri (Subis, Beluru, Miri and Marudi) and Limbang, as well as Sabah, including the Interior (Kuala Penyu, Beaufort and Tambunan), West Coast, Sandakan (Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan) and Kudat.

The Federal Territory of Labuan is also expected to be affected.

MetMalaysia said the alert remains in place until 5pm today.

It added that thunderstorms warnings are issued when there are signs of intense rainfall exceeding 20 mm per hour which are expected to persist for more than an hour, and are short-term alerts valid for up to six hours for each issuance.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — AirBorneo has confirmed ongoing flight disruptions across Sabah and Sarawak, with delays and cancellations expected to continue over the coming days due to concurrent aircraft maintenance and technical rectification works.

In a statement, the airline said the disruptions began on June 5 and have affected a number of its services in the region.

It said the situation was caused by a combination of unscheduled technical rectification on several aircraft, scheduled maintenance already underway, and operational and crew duty requirements.

“In every case, our decisions have been guided by a single priority: the safety of our passengers and crew,” the airline said.

AirBorneo said aircraft requiring technical attention had been withdrawn from service as a precaution until engineers were fully satisfied they were fit to fly.

It added that with several aircraft undergoing maintenance and technical checks at the same time, its operating fleet had been temporarily constrained.

“As a result, passengers should anticipate the possibility of further schedule changes, cancellations and delays over the coming days while our aircraft are progressively returned to service,” it said.

The airline urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport, adding that its teams were working around the clock to minimise disruption and re-accommodate affected travellers on the earliest available flights.

Affected passengers are being contacted directly and may also reach AirBorneo’s Customer Care team at +60-8253 7555 (international) or 1-300-22-1388 (local), or via its website for assistance and updates.

“We thank our passengers for their patience and understanding and remain committed to delivering safe and reliable connectivity across the region,” it said.

KOTA KINABALU, June 8 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah has yet to make any final decision on the logo it will use or the form of electoral cooperation it will pursue in the upcoming election, PH Sabah Information Chief Datuk Chan Foong Hin said today.

He said no discussions or final decision had been made so far by PH Sabah on the use of any logo or electoral cooperation arrangement.

“Any decision will only be announced through official channels at the appropriate time. It is inaccurate to conclude that PH Sabah has decided to contest using any particular logo,” he said in a statement. 

He made the statement following a report by a local newspaper yesterday claiming that PH Sabah may contest under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) logo in the upcoming election. 

According to him, the newsreport was inaccurate and he hoped that media practitioners, would refrain from making interpretations that pre-empt the ongoing discussions involving PH Sabah. 

He added that PH Sabah has always prioritised political stability, economic development and the welfare of the people, while at the same time not ruling out any possibility that can be mutually agreed upon in the interest of the state. — Bernama 

KOTA KINABALU, June 7 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah has restructured its leadership lineup as part of efforts to strengthen the coalition’s operations and prepare for the next general election (GE), its chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said.

Speaking at a press conference after the PH Sabah Annual General Meeting here on Sunday, Mustapha said the reshuffle was aimed at leveraging the experience of senior leaders while reinforcing the coalition’s organisational machinery.

“We have just concluded the 2025 PH Sabah Annual General Meeting, during which we discussed the restructuring of several key positions within the coalition. One of the reasons for the restructuring is that we want to make the best use of the experience of our senior leaders. We also need to strengthen the operations of PH as we prepare for the next General Election,” he said.

Mustapha, who is also PKR Sabah liaison chairman, will remain PH Sabah chairman, assisted by DAP Sabah chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe and Amanah Sabah chairman Datuk Lahirul Latigu as deputy chairmen.

The meeting also agreed to appoint former senior civil servant Datuk Ruji Ubi as PH Sabah secretary, while Datuk Chan Foong Hin will continue to oversee information affairs as information chief.

Irwan Shah Mustapa of Amanah was named treasurer, while Zaidi Jatil remains youth chief, Datuk Jannie Lasimbang women’s chief and Datuk Peto Galim election director.

Mustapha said Ruji’s vast administrative experience would be an asset to the coalition.

“As we all know, Datuk Ruji is a former secretary-general in several ministries and we hope he can help strengthen PH Sabah from the operational aspect,” he said.

Although the next General Election may only be due next year, Mustapha said the coalition could not afford to be complacent given the evolving political landscape.

“We have only recently recovered from the state election and have had enough time to rest and regroup. From today’s discussions, I can see that the spirit and enthusiasm have returned and we must be ready for the next General Election,” he said.

On his own political future, Mustapha said he would defend the Sepanggar parliamentary seat if given the mandate by the party leadership.

“If the President and the party leadership continue to place their trust in me, I will defend the Sepanggar parliamentary seat. I believe Datuk Chan (Kota Kinabalu MP) will do the same. PH Sabah will defend the seats it won the the last general election,” he said.

Asked whether PH Sabah component parties would contest under their respective party logos in the coming GE, Mustapha said discussions were ongoing and they will take into account the latest developments before making any decision.

Mustapha also downplayed the impact of recent defections involving PKR leaders in Sabah, saying only two divisional chiefs had left the party so far.

“Based on our records, including those discussed at the PKR State Leadership Council meeting this morning, only the Tuaran and Semporna division chiefs, together with several committee members, have left the party,” he said.

He stressed that the departures had not affected the operations of either division.

When asked whether he expected more PKR members in Sabah to leave and join a new political party, Mustapha said the initial exodus was unlikely to be repeated on a larger scale.

“We cannot underestimate the possibility, but based on the first wave, only two divisional leaders have left the party,” he said. — The Borneo Post pic

KOTA KINABALU, June 7 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) plans to strengthen the Ihsan Food Bank (i-FB) programme this year through the development of a comprehensive action plan aimed at enhancing its implementation nationwide.

Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the initiative would serve as a guide for all stakeholders involved in carrying out the programme more effectively and systematically.

“We intend to strengthen the i-FB programme so that we can develop and publish an action plan that will serve as a reference for all parties involved in implementing the initiative,” he told reporters after officiating the Ihsan Food Bank (i-FB) Initiative Programme here today.

Armizan said the action plan would help align the direction and objectives of the programme while improving coordination among participating organisations and agencies.

He also called on the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and related institutions to participate in the initiative, either as food contributors or as partners in distribution efforts and the identification of target groups.

According to him, the involvement of various stakeholders would help create a more conducive ecosystem for the programme and ensure its objectives are achieved in a more organised and effective manner.

“The i-FB initiative emphasises the values of kindness and compassion by encouraging society to work together in caring for communities, particularly vulnerable and underserved groups.

“This initiative combines three main objectives...caring for the community, protecting the environment and rescuing surplus food that remains safe for consumption,” he said.

On the programme’s implementation, Armizan said QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd was among the ministry’s earliest strategic partners in strengthening the initiative through the i-FB@KFC project.

The project currently involves 10 KFC restaurants in Sabah working in collaboration with 10 NGOs to distribute surplus food to those in need.

Armizan said the i-FB@KFC initiative would be expanded nationwide in phases, with the participation of more restaurants, NGOs and related institutions to enhance food rescue efforts and provide greater assistance to vulnerable communities.

He added that the expansion reflects the government’s commitment to reducing food waste while strengthening food security support for those most in need. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 16 — Malaysia’s domestic tourism sector continued its upward trajectory in 2025, with total domestic visitor expenditure rising 13.6 per cent to RM121.3 billion from RM106.7 billion in 2024, according to the Domestic Tourism Survey 2025 released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the increase was driven by higher spending among both tourists and excursionists, which grew 14.6 per cent and 12.2 per cent, respectively.

Tourists remained the largest contributors to domestic tourism spending, accounting for 59.5 per cent of total visitor expenditure.

The stronger spending trend coincided with an increase in domestic travel activity, with the number of domestic visitors rising 11.5 per cent to 290.1 million in 2025 compared with 260.1 million in the previous year.

The average length of stay also edged up to 2.56 nights from 2.49 nights in the preceding year.

“The increase reflects a stronger propensity among travellers to participate in domestic tourism activities and spend longer periods at destinations within the country,” Mohd Uzir said in a statement.

He attributed the sector’s strong performance to heightened travel demand during major festive and holiday periods, including Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Christmas and school holidays.

State-level tourism campaigns held under various Tahun Melawat Negeri initiatives also helped stimulate interstate travel and tourism spending.

In addition, cultural and tourism events such as the Kaamatan Festival in Sabah and Gawai Dayak celebrations in Sarawak contributed to increased visitor movements and tourism-related economic activities.

Large-scale concerts, festivals, exhibitions and sporting tournaments further encouraged domestic travel, while Malaysia’s hosting of several ASEAN meetings and related programmes boosted business and event-related travel nationwide.

In terms of travel patterns, land transport remained the preferred mode of travel, accounting for 97.5 per cent of domestic trips in 2025.

For accommodation, staying with relatives and friends continued to be the most popular choice, representing 56.2 per cent of tourists.

However, the use of paid accommodation increased to 43.8 per cent in 2025 from 39.6 per cent a year earlier, with hotels remaining the leading option at 23.1 per cent.

At the state level, Selangor remained the country’s most visited destination with 36.4 million visitors, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 35.1 million visitors and Perak with 23.6 million.

Mohd Uzir said the growth in visitor arrivals, spending and length of stay showed that domestic tourism continued to play an important role in supporting economic growth and local development. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds are expected to hit five states until 7pm today.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) in a statement said that the situation is expected to occur in Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Kampar, Hilir Perak and Batang Padang in Perak; Cameron Highlands in Pahang; and Johor (Kluang, Mersing, Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru).

The same warning was also issued in Sarawak, involving Kuching (Lundu), Sarikei, Sibu (Kanowit and Selangau), Mukah (Tanjung Manis and Daro), Bintulu (Tatau), Miri (Beluru, Miri and Marudi) and Limbang (Limbang).

In Sabah, it involves the Interior (Keningau and Tambunan) as well as the West Coast and Kudat (Kota Marudu and Kudat). — Bernama 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit five states until 3pm today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

It said that the areas involved are Perlis, Penang, and Kedah (Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, Yan, Pendang and Kuala Muda).

“Similar weather conditions are also expected in Sarawak, involving Sibu (Sibu and Selangau) and Mukah (Tanjung Manis and Daro),” MetMalaysia said in a statement.

It added that in Sabah, the affected areas include the interior (Sipitang, Tenom, Beaufort, Keningau and Tambunan) and the west coast (Papar and Penampang). — Bernama