Tuesday, 21 July 2026 Johor Bahru
B Berita Pulse

Malaysia's pulse on breaking news, politics and business.

NH
Political Correspondent

Nurul Huda

Nurul is the Political Correspondent at the publication, covering politics across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

864 articles published

Ahmad Zahid Pushes Democracy Education for Campus Leaders

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for Student Representative Councils at Malaysian universities to undertake specialised leadership and political courses, with the government offering to fund such initiatives.

· · 4 min read

Johor State Election Set for 172 Candidates Across 56 Seats

Malaysia's Election Commission has cleared all 172 candidates for Johor's 16th state election. Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan each field 56 candidates, with Perikatan Nasional, smaller parties, and independents making up the remainder across 56 seats.

· · 4 min read

Muhammad Faris Installed As 11th Undang Of Sungei Ujong

The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan has formally installed Muhammad Faris Johari as the 11th Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong, conferring on him the title Datuk Klana Petra during a traditional ceremony at Istana Besar Seri Menanti.

· · 4 min read

Peru and Malaysia Chart Course for Deeper Ties at 40-Year Mark

Peru and Malaysia are commemorating 40 years of diplomatic relations while pursuing expanded cooperation in agriculture, clean energy, and trade. The nations seek to leverage the CPTPP to deepen economic ties and explore new opportunities in food security and tropical forest conservation.

· · 5 min read

Azalina Pushes Continuity Message as Johor Voters Head to Polls

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has urged Johor voters to support Barisan Nasional candidates to maintain administrative continuity with the state government, arguing that coordination between local structures and the ruling coalition ensures effective service delivery.

· · 4 min read

Reform body urges parliament to vet public prosecutor picks

A Malaysian reform coalition has demanded that parliament gain formal authority to scrutinize Public Prosecutor nominees, arguing that separating the Attorney-General and prosecutor roles without parliamentary oversight would weaken institutional safeguards.

· · 3 min read

Puad Defends Resignation as Bold Move to Shake Umno Leadership

Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, a former Umno Supreme Council member, has dismissed allegations that his resignation resulted from his son's failure to secure a candidacy, instead characterizing his departure as a calculated move to galvanize party leadership.

· · 4 min read

Anwar Ibrahim tops latest popularity survey as Zahid trails peers

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has secured the highest approval rating in the latest Merdeka Centre survey, positioning him as Malaysia's most popular political leader. Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi recorded the lowest rating among senior government figures.

· · 4 min read

Anwar Leads Approval Ratings in Latest Merdeka Center Survey

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has secured the highest approval rating at 52% in a fresh Merdeka Center poll, positioning him ahead of prominent opposition and ruling coalition figures including Khairy Jamaluddin, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Rafizi Ramli.

· · 4 min read

Johor Election Candidates Selected on Merit, DAP's Nga Insists

DAP deputy national chairman Nga Kor Ming has defended Pakatan Harapan's candidate selection process for the upcoming Johor state election, stating that all nominees underwent thorough vetting and were chosen based on merit and community experience.

· · 4 min read

Malaysia Pursues Compensation for Cancelled Norwegian Missile Deal

Malaysia is pursuing compensation claims over the cancellation of a Naval Strike Missile contract with Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. The Defence and Foreign Ministries have notified the Norwegian government and requested its mediation in negotiations.

· · 3 min read

US Won't Fund Iran Reconstruction Initiative, Rubio Says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ruled out American government funding for any potential Iran reconstruction initiative, though discussions on the matter remain preliminary. The clarification comes as diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran advance.

· · 5 min read

PAS Signals Open Door for Bersatu Despite Coalition Tensions

PAS has reiterated its desire to keep Bersatu within the Perikatan Nasional coalition, even as the party leadership expresses concern over what it describes as Bersatu's confrontational stance toward the bloc's current direction and policy decisions.

· · 3 min read

Fahmi Welcomes New Leadership at Information Department

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has congratulated Erwin Khairul Ahmad on becoming the new director-general of the Information Department, with Wan Saidatul Shafina Mohd Amin appointed as deputy director-general for digital content.

· · 3 min read

Bangladesh PM Tarique Concludes Malaysia Visit, Heads to China

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has wrapped up a two-day official visit to Malaysia, departing for China. The visit saw both nations agree to pursue a fast-track free trade agreement and deepen cooperation in semiconductors, energy and the halal sector.

· · 4 min read

Malaysia Tabled Cybercrime Bill 2026 To Combat Digital Threats

Malaysia has tabled the Cybercrime Bill 2026 in parliament, replacing the 1997 Computer Crimes Act with updated protections against identity theft, ransomware, and AI-enabled attacks. The legislation includes penalties up to RM3 million for offences.

· · 5 min read

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman To Make Maiden Official Visit To Malaysia

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Malaysia on June 22 at the invitation of PM Anwar Ibrahim. The visit marks Rahman's first official bilateral trip since assuming office in February 2026, with both leaders expected to discuss trade, investment, and regional cooperation.

· · 4 min read

Amanah Backs Coalition Line on Puteri Wangsa Seat

Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil has indicated the party will accept Pakatan Harapan's decision regarding the Puteri Wangsa seat contest, prioritising coalition unity ahead of the Johor state election.

· · 4 min read

DAP Fields Four Candidates in Johor State Election Bid

The Democratic Action Party has announced four candidates for the July 11 Johor state election, including a fresh bid in the Malay-majority Tiram seat as part of Pakatan Harapan's strategy to secure all three seats under the Kulai parliamentary constituency.

· · 5 min read

PM Anwar Inaugurates HAWANA 2026 Journalists' Celebration in Penang

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has officially opened the HAWANA 2026 National Journalists' Day celebration in Penang, bringing together 1,000 media practitioners from Malaysia and across the region to discuss media integrity and journalism's role in society.

· · 4 min read

PM Anwar Endorses Nallini as Media Council Chair to Boost Public Trust

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has voiced strong support for the appointment of former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan as chairman of the Malaysian Media Council, believing her judicial background will enhance the body's credibility and public confidence.

· · 4 min read

DAP Fields Two Candidates in Tiram and Johor Jaya Seats

The Democratic Action Party has announced its candidates for two Johor state constituencies, selecting Nor Zulaila Ghani for Tiram and Lee Wern Yiing for Johor Jaya in what marks another phase of candidate nominations.

· · 3 min read

ASEAN, SCO Must Unite on Crime and Energy, Says PM Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged ASEAN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to pool resources in combating cross-border crime and advancing energy security, leveraging existing frameworks to tackle challenges that demand coordinated regional responses.

· · 4 min read

Tengku Zafrul Eyes Selangor Seat for GE16

Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, a key adviser to the prime minister, has formally proposed contesting a parliamentary seat in Selangor during Malaysia's forthcoming 16th General Election, marking a significant move in the nation's electoral calendar.

· · 4 min read

PKR to Challenge Muda in Johor's Puteri Wangsa Constituency

PKR has announced plans to contest the Puteri Wangsa state seat in the forthcoming Johor election, reversing an earlier agreement that ceded the constituency to coalition partner Muda. The move signals evolving dynamics within the Pakatan Harapan alliance.

· · 4 min read

MIC To Contest Four Seats In Johor State Election

The Malaysian Indian Congress has been allocated four seats for the Johor state election, with candidate nominations set for June 27 and polling scheduled for July 11. The party is launching a targeted campaign to strengthen support within the Indian community.

· · 5 min read

Bersatu's Faisal Attacks Samsuri Over PN Leadership Failings

Bersatu's Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz has publicly criticised Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar for what he describes as negligent leadership, alleging the coalition chief has conflated his PN role with his PAS position.

· · 3 min read

PM Anwar Arrives in Kazan for ASEAN-Russia Summit

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has landed in Kazan to attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, celebrating 35 years of bilateral relations. The gathering will focus on trade, energy, food security and people-to-people exchanges.

· · 4 min read