Chow Kon Yeow: Penang to respond only after Kedah submits formal lease payment claim

Chow Kon Yeow: Penang to respond only after Kedah submits formal lease payment claim



Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this was not the first time Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had spoken about pursuing a revision of Penang’s lease payment rates. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that Penang awaits formal submission from Kedah regarding lease payment claims before making a response.
• Although Kedah's Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has indicated a desire to revise these payments, Penang has yet to receive any formal demand or legal correspondence on the matter.
• The ongoing dispute pertains to annual payments made by the federal government to Kedah since 2018.
• Kedah seeks to increase these from RM10 million to RM100 million, citing obligations under Article 167 of the Federal Constitution related to Penang's historical cession agreements.

By Opalyn Mok
First Published: Wednesday, 29 Jul 2026 2:05 PM MYT


GEORGE TOWN, July 29 — Penang will continue to wait for Kedah to formally submit its claim over the state’s lease payments before responding, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.


He said this was not the first time Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had spoken about pursuing a revision of Penang’s lease payment rates.


“I don’t think this is the first time we have had to answer this,” Chow told a press conference at his office in Komtar today.


“My answer remains the same. We are waiting. That’s all,” he added.


Asked whether the issue could strain relations between Penang and Kedah if the claim proceeds, Chow said it was premature to comment as Penang had yet to receive any formal demand.

“Our view has always been that, in the first place, we do not know what exactly the claim is,” he said.


“For me, it is premature to comment. So we will wait and see what they intend to claim, and we will respond after it is submitted to the court or to the Penang state government,” he added.

Sanusi reportedly said Kedah had finalised all the necessary legal documents after a comprehensive review by the state’s research and legal teams, with the findings endorsed by the State Executive Council.

He said the state was “only waiting for the right time to proceed.”

The renewed push follows a decree by the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, on July 5 calling on the federal government to review Penang’s lease payments in line with current values, saying the existing rates were far below their proper value.

The dispute centres on the annual payment made by the federal government to Kedah under arrangements dating back to the cession of Penang in 1786.

The federal government has paid Kedah an annual honorarium of RM10 million on Penang’s behalf since 2018, but Kedah is seeking an increase to RM100 million a year.

Sanusi has maintained that the payment obligation falls under Article 167 of the Federal Constitution, which governs the Federation’s obligations arising from pre-independence treaties.

Earlier this month, Chow said the matter was one for the federal government, noting that the payments do not come from Penang’s coffers and that the state had not held any discussions with Kedah on the issue.

He also said at the time that Penang had not received any legal correspondence from Kedah despite Sanusi’s earlier indication that a legal team had been assembled.

***

PAS as an incompetent government always asks for hand-outs - so who to beg from when it assumes federal government-ship?

And what if Thailand demands annual honorariums each from Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu?

 

Iran war live: US, Saudi forces attack Iraq; IRGC fires missiles at Jordan

By Zaid Sabah, Edna Mohamed, Heba Habib and Mariamne Everett

Published On 29 Jul 202629 Jul 2026

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• United States and Saudi forces have launched attacks on Iran-aligned groups in Iraq in retaliation for “30 IRGC-directed” drone attacks in the past 30 days, including on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities.
• Iran claims an attack on a US base in Jordan, with the Jordanian army saying it shot down five missiles at dawn.
• Tehran has rejected Oman’s proposal to split transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz, instead calling for full control of the inbound corridor and partial control of the outbound corridor.
• US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held “positive and productive” talks, the White House says.

• 3m ago

  (07:35 GMT)

  Pakistan urges US, Iran parties to uphold MoU

  Pakistan’s envoy to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and urged all sides to “uphold their commitments” under the memorandum of understanding signed last month.

  Addressing the UN Security Council, Ahmad also condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and on commercial shipping, saying Pakistan was “deeply concerned over attempts to drag” the kingdom into the wider conflict, and voiced support for Saudi security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

  He went on to express Pakistan’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, saying “lasting peace in the Middle East will remain elusive as long as” Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory continues.
• 12m ago

  (07:26 GMT)

  

  Attack on PMF a ‘significant infringement of Iraqi sovereignty’

  By Jack Hewson

  Reporting from Baghdad, Iraq

  So far, there’s only been a statement of what has occurred today at 3:20am: A strike on the 30th brigade of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

  Twenty people have reportedly been killed during that strike, which is obviously a major incident for the PMF. The group is legally part of Iraq’s state forces. So this is a significant infringement of Iraqi sovereignty.

  There’s been no statement from Baghdad so far. Right now we know Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has had an emergency meeting with his cabinet to establish what they’re going to do and what statement they’re going to put out later today.

• 27m ago

  (07:10 GMT)

  

  US-Saudi air strikes kill at least 20 Iraqi fighters

  Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) says US-Saudi attacks have killed at least 20 of its fighters and wounded 32 others in strikes across seven provinces.

  The PMF said the casualty toll was preliminary and could rise with field assessments under way.

  The attacks hit PMF positions in the provinces of Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala and Diyala, the state-sanctioned umbrella group of mostly Shia militias said in a statement.

  The strikes also caused varying degrees of damage to buildings, vehicles and military equipment.

  

  Members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces in Diyala province [Iraqi Prime Minister’s Media Office/Reuters]
• 38m ago

  (07:00 GMT)

  Israeli forces arrest 12 Palestinians in West Bank as settler attacks continue

  Israeli forces have continued raids in the occupied West Bank overnight, arresting at least 10 people from the villages of Burin, Madama, Asira al-Qibliya, and Tal, south of Nablus, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.

  It said Israeli forces also arrested two Palestinians from the towns of Far’un, south of Tulkarem, and Saida, north of Tulkarem, and stormed the town of Tuqu’, southeast of Bethlehem, and raided people’s homes.

  Meanwhile, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians after storming the Ras al-Ahmar area, southeast of Tubas, and also set fire to a vehicle in the village of Abu Njeim, south of Bethlehem.
• 53m ago

  (06:45 GMT)

  WATCH: US, Saudi Arabia carry out strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq

  The US and Saudi Arabia say they’ve carried out coordinated strikes against Iranian-backed groups in Iraq.

  In a statement, Riyadh said the strikes were “in response ⁠to recent drone attacks” targeting Saudi oil sites.

  Watch below:

  

  2:09

  US, Saudi Arabia carry out strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq
• 1h ago

  (06:35 GMT)

  

  Iraq calls emergency meeting after US-Saudi air attacks

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has called an emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security today following the deadly US-Saudi attacks on the country overnight.

  Al-Zaidi’s office said a “detailed statement regarding the events and decisions taken” will be released following the meeting.

Tok Mat warns UNHCR: Cooperate on refugee screening in Malaysia or face exit

Tok Mat warns UNHCR: Cooperate on refugee screening in Malaysia or face exit



Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan speaks during a community gathering at Kampung Pedas Tengah in Rembau on July 23, 2026. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan suggests reevaluating the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) presence in the country due to insufficient cooperation in refugee management.
• He stresses that stringent screening processes are necessary, criticizing the current system that allows asylum seekers to apply online and collect refugee cards upon arrival, thereby bypassing security checks.
• Opposing views highlight that UNHCR's role is vital due to Malaysia's lack of a national refugee management system, and argue that closing the UNHCR office would not resolve existing refugee issues but would instead impose hefty financial burdens on the state.
• The debate underscores the complexity of managing approximately 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, with significant numbers from Myanmar, including many children, challenging both humanitarian and security dynamics.

First Published: Wednesday, 29 Jul 2026 8:59 AM MYT


SEREMBAN, July 29 — Malaysia should review the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) formal presence in the country if the agency continues to resist cooperation on refugee management, said Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The foreign minister warned that stringent screening must be a prerequisite before any UNHCR refugee cards are issued, arguing that the current lack of coordination has turned Malaysia into a “magnet” for asylum seekers, NST reported.


“If they are unwilling to cooperate, then it is time for us to reconsider UNHCR’s presence in the country. That is my view, so that we are not continually burdened,” Mohamad said after inspecting early voting for the Negri Sembilan election at the Sendayan Air Base yesterday.


The minister highlighted a critical flaw in the current process: the ability of applicants to submit requests online while still in Myanmar and simply collect their cards upon arrival in Malaysia.


He argued that this bypasses proper security screening and leaves the country vulnerable.


“We must have an international agreement specifying what they can and cannot do. At the moment, there appears to be nothing. They do not have a standard operating procedure,” he added, stressing that the Home Ministry is now tightening its oversight to ensure every applicant is thoroughly vetted before approval.

However, this hardline stance has sparked a debate over the systemic vacuum that UNHCR currently fills.


Wan Mimi Zarina Wan Azmin, a former UNHCR head of education and current CEO of Muslim Aid Malaysia, argued that the agency’s presence is merely an interim measure because Malaysia lacks its own refugee management system.

“UNHCR is in the country because Malaysia does not have a system to handle and manage refugees. If Malaysia had its own system, UNHCR would not need to be here,” Mimi said.

She cautioned that shuttering the office would not solve the crisis, as refugees already within the country would remain. Furthermore, she pointed out the immense financial burden the state would inherit, estimating that a national registration and documentation system could cost tens of millions of ringgit annually.

“The question is, who will take over the cost and responsibility? At the moment, taxpayers are not involved because it is supported through UN funding,” Mimi noted.

Drawing a parallel to the arrival of Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s, she argued that Malaysia has had five decades to perfect a national framework. She urged the government to stop framing the issue as a binary choice between protecting citizens and protecting refugees.

The stakes are significant. According to UNHCR data, Malaysia hosted approximately 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers as of February. The vast majority — 193,824 — are from Myanmar, including 126,144 Rohingya. The remaining 21,776 hail from over 50 countries, including Syria, Afghanistan, and Palestine.

Of this population, 64,680 are children under the age of 18, adding a complex humanitarian layer to the security concerns raised by the government.

People trapped, injured after blast triggers floor collapse at Kumamoto mall following powerful 7.1 quake in Japan

People trapped, injured after blast triggers floor collapse at Kumamoto mall following powerful 7.1 quake in Japan



The exterior wall of a shop is seen collapsed in an earthquake, in Kumamoto City July 28, 2026. An explosion struck a large shopping centre in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, today, leaving multiple people trapped and injured. — Jiji Press/AFP pic


Summary

• An explosion at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, caused significant structural damage and left several individuals trapped and injured.
• The incident, which followed a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the region, led to the partial collapse of the mall's second floor.
• Firefighters are actively conducting rescue operations, with injured persons being transported to hospitals, though details regarding the number and severity of injuries remain undisclosed.
• The cause of the explosion, which involved a loud sound and smoke, is currently under investigation.

First Published: Tuesday, 28 Jul 2026 7:52 PM MYT
Last Modified: Tuesday, 28 Jul 2026 8:07 PM MYT


TOKYO, July 28 — An explosion struck a large shopping centre in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, today, leaving multiple people trapped and injured, Xinhua reported, citing public broadcaster NHK.

According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, information received from the local fire department indicated that part of Aeon Mall Kumamoto’s second floor had collapsed, with numerous people believed to be trapped inside.


Firefighters were working to assess the situation and carry out rescue operations, the report said.


The agency also said that injured people had been transported to hospitals, although the number and severity of the injuries had not yet been disclosed.


Police and fire authorities said they received multiple emergency calls at around 6pm local time reporting an explosion-like sound and white smoke rising from Aeon Mall Kumamoto.


Aerial footage filmed by an NHK helicopter at around 6.20pm showed severe damage to the structure. Sections of the building’s exterior wall had peeled away, exposing steel framework, while part of the roof appeared to have collapsed. A large hole was also visible on the rooftop.

The explosion occurred after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture earlier in the day. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Kashima Town is believed to have experienced shaking of at least lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, although the exact level has yet to be confirmed.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. — Bernama-Xinhua

Not so fast, S-Wh***

EC denies PN leading in Negeri Sembilan early votes


Commission says the votes cast by police officers and military personnel as well as their spouses will only be counted on Aug 1

A total of 22,339 early voters, including police officers, cast their ballots for the Negeri Sembilan polls, whether physically or by post.

PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) has denied claims that Perikatan Nasional (PN) is leading in the early votes cast for the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan election.

The commission said the votes cast by police officers and military personnel as well as their spouses yesterday would only be counted from 5pm this Saturday, after polling ends.

It said a viral infographic claiming PN was leading in the early votes was false, Bernama reported.


“Avoid spreading or believing any false information as it affects the smooth running of the election process,” the EC added.

A total of 22,339 early voters cast their ballots for the Negeri Sembilan polls, whether physically or by post.


This Saturday, a total of 867,151 ordinary voters in Negeri Sembilan will elect 36 new assemblymen.

Cops investigating Jempol MP for ceramah remarks

Cops investigating Jempol MP for ceramah remarks


The investigation follows reports filed by DAP leaders against Shamsulkahar Deli over remarks allegedly linking the party to an image deemed insulting to the Sultan of Selangor

Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said a report was received on Sunday from a 55-year-old complainant who saw a video clip of Shamsulkahar Deli’s speech during a ceramah. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Police have opened an investigation paper on Jempol MP Shamsulkahar Deli over remarks he made while campaigning in Seremban Jaya for the Negeri Sembilan election.

In a statement, Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said police received a report on Sunday from a 55-year-old complainant who saw a video clip of Shamsulkahar’s speech during a ceramah.

Alzafny said the case is being investigated for making statements intended to cause public fear or alarm, the improper use of network services, and promoting ill will and hostility during the election campaign.


Yesterday, several DAP leaders, including Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, lodged a police report against Shamsulkahar over his remarks allegedly linking the party to an image deemed insulting to the Sultan of Selangor.

Rayer said the Umno MP allegedly referred to the edited image of a pig in royal attire, which is believed to have targeted Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, before asking why DAP had dared to do such a thing.


He said Shamsulkahar’s remarks gave the audience the false impression that DAP was responsible for producing the image.

Rayer accused Shamsulkahar of making defamatory and malicious remarks against the party and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

Alzafny said the investigation paper on the Umno MP was one of three opened yesterday after police received nine reports on the matter.

He said an investigation paper was also opened on a party candidate claiming to have received information that an unidentified person was allegedly planning to distribute money as bribes to loyal supporters.

***

Tangkap lokup pukul hentam pancung 👍😁😁😁

Shafie sentenced to 5 weeks’ jail for contempt, execution stayed

Shafie sentenced to 5 weeks’ jail for contempt, execution stayed


Warisan president is convicted of contempt of court over remarks made in relation to the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death

Warisan president Shafie Apdal was granted a stay of execution of the jail sentence pending his appeal to the High Court against the conviction.

PETALING JAYA: The Kota Kinabalu sessions court has sentenced Warisan president Shafie Apdal to five weeks in prison for contempt of court over remarks made in relation to the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death.

However, judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan granted Shafie a stay of execution of the sentence pending the Semporna MP’s appeal to the High Court against the conviction.

On Oct 23 last year, the attorney-general obtained leave to commence proceedings against Shafie, who is also a former Sabah chief minister.


Zara, 13, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17 last year, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar.

MORE TO COME

Israeli strike destroys Gaza mosque, displacement tents, leaving hundreds homeless

Israeli strike destroys Gaza mosque, displacement tents, leaving hundreds homeless



Palestinians run for cover as smoke and fire rise during an Israeli strike on the the Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Gaza City on July 28, 2026. — AFP pic


Summary

• On July 29, an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza City obliterated the Al-Muttaqin Mosque and tents sheltering displaced Palestinians, resulting in extensive damage to nearby residences and leaving hundreds homeless, according to Anadolu Ajansi.
• The strike further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the area, following previous Israeli attacks that had already displaced numerous families.
• Despite a ceasefire, Israel's ongoing military offensive has significantly impacted the region, with Palestinian authorities reporting over 73,000 deaths and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure.

First Published: Wednesday, 29 Jul 2026 9:59 AM MYT


GAZA CITY, July 29 — An Israeli airstrike destroyed a mosque and tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza City on Tuesday, leaving hundreds homeless, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

An Anadolu correspondent said Israeli fighter jets struck the Al-Muttaqin Mosque, located near the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in central Gaza City, completely destroying the building.


The strike also destroyed tents housing displaced families and caused extensive damage to nearby homes and civilian property.


According to the correspondent, hundreds of Palestinians were left homeless following the attack amid widespread destruction in the area.


The destroyed tents had been sheltering families displaced after Israeli attacks destroyed their homes, forcing them to live in harsh conditions with limited access to basic necessities.


The YMCA in Gaza is a Christian community institution that provides youth, sports, social and humanitarian services to residents of the enclave regardless of religion.

The attack comes as Israel continues its daily attacks in the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025.


On July 2, Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs said Israeli attacks had completely destroyed 1,050 mosques and partially damaged 191 others out of the 1,275 mosques that existed in the enclave before the war.

Since Israel launched its military offensive on Gaza on October 8, 2023, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 174,000 wounded, while around 90 per cent of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, according to Palestinian authorities. — Bernama-Anadolu