KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds affecting seven states and Kuala Lumpur until 9pm Saturday (March 7) night. In a statement Saturday, MetMalaysia said the affected states are Penang, parts of Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor and Sabah. In Kedah, the warning covers the districts of Kuala Muda, Sik, Baling, Kulim and Bandar Baharu, while in Perak it includes Kerian, Larut, Matang and Selama, Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Manjung, Kinta and Perak Tengah. Districts affected in Pahang are Jerantut, Bentong, Temerloh, Maran and Bera, while the alert also covers the entirety of Kuala Lumpur. In Selangor, the districts under the warning are Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Petaling, and in Sabah, Tawau and Semporna are included.

- NSTP file picKUALA LUMPUR: Were falsified documents used in the club registration of four naturalised players for the M-League? The Malaysian Football League organises the Super League, FA Cup, and Malaysia Cup. If a player's registration is illegal because it involves falsified documents, then that player is considered illegal in football terms." Pekan added that procedural factors could influence outcomes as it may depend on whether rival clubs formally challenge match results involving the players. FIFA has sanctioned FAM and the seven players for document falsification relating to national team eligibility.

Compiled by DIVYA THERESA RAVI, ALLISON LAI and R. ARAVINTHANTHE Indian cricket squad was trolled online after it reportedly delayed a training session due to a total lunar eclipse, Makkal Osai reported. The team, which was due to face England in the T20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday, was supposed to have a training session at 6pm on Tuesday, but it was delayed by an hour. It was later leaked that it was postponed to avoid the eclipse, which ended at 6.47pm in India. After the news leaked, fans began trolling team members for their superstitious beliefs. While nobody can say if the superstition was proven true, India beat England by seven runs to qualify for the final.

JOHOR BARU: Johor is pressing the SOS button for more doctors and nurses to address severe manpower shortage at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA). The Johor government recently submitted an appeal to the Health Ministry for more than 2,000 additional healthcare workers for HSA, he revealed. “Work on operating theatres are being planned carefully to avoid disrupting critical surgeries,” he added. He said the most challenging component involved the middle two floors of the block, where 12 operating theatres are located. “To avoid disruption, the state is applying to build three temporary operating theatres that can be used while several existing operating theatres are closed during renovation,” he added.

RECENT actions by the Madani Government raise serious concerns about the direction of governance, the commitment to reform, and the protection of civil liberties in Malaysia. Firstly, the arrest and detention of children under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) represents a deeply troubling development. Sosma was introduced as an extraordinary law meant to address serious security threats but gravely undermines human rights and rule of law.

C. Usha has given much to the nation. Both her husband and son died wearing the uniform. On International Women’s Day this year, it is only right we salute women like her. THE clothes, including the army uniform, are neatly folded, just as they would have been in camp. The military backpack stands by the side, next to the shiny boots, as if ready for action.

IPOH: More residents here are seeking cool reprieve from the hot weather by taking cold drinks and cooling treats. “Many people have been buying bitter herbal tea as it helps to cool the body and relieve heat. Tham said other drinks such as chrysanthemum sugarcane tea is also popular among customers looking to beat the heat. Salesman S. Siva, 32, said that he prefers drinking soya bean milk and chrysanthemum tea to cope with the hot weather. I believe it is one of the best ways to keep the body cool,” she said.

PUTRAJAYA: Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad has been appointed secretary-general of the Health Ministry, while Customs director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin has been appointed secretary-general of the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, effective March 9. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the appointments were among six transfers and new postings involving top management positions in the civil service. The Perlis state secretary post will be filled by Datuk Noor Azman Abdul Rahman, previously the divisional secretary of the Human Resources Division at the Health Ministry, Bernama reported. Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Amran Ahmad has been appointed as the Customs director-general. “The public service must be more transparent and uphold integrity in creating a sector that is more competitive and relevant to the times.

KUALA LUMPUR: Stronger checks and balances are needed to ensure transparency and boost public confidence in efforts to combat corruption, including greater parliamentary oversight of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Nurul Izzah said parliamentary oversight of the MACC should not be viewed as an attack on anti-corruption efforts, but rather as a step to strengthen integrity and transparency in fighting corruption. She said accountability must be comprehensive to ensure national institutions remain credible and continue to gain public trust. "Government institutions must always demonstrate that they serve the interests of all Malaysians and the nation, not just a select few. "Public trust in the government remains a key pillar in ensuring the successful implementation of policies and effective enforcement of laws," she said.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil hands over a Ramadan kit to visitors during a visit to the Safe Internet Campaign booth at IWK Eco Park, Pantai Dalam. NSTP/AZIAH AZMEEKUALA LUMPUR: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil attended the nationwide launch of the Safe Internet Campaign, Ramadan Edition, in Lembah Pantai as authorities took the annual digital safety drive beyond schools and into Ramadan bazaars across the country. He said the campaign was simultaneously activated at 19 locations nationwide, aiming to raise awareness among bazaar visitors about safe internet habits to protect themselves and their families. "If last year we focused on schools, this year we are going to the general public, including at Ramadan bazaars, to ensure this message reaches the grassroots level," he said at the Ramadan bazaar at IWK Eco Park here today. He also drew a distinction between children watching content on platforms such as YouTube and children opening their own accounts.

KUALA LUMPUR: Voters, especially the Chinese community, can no longer be deemed guaranteed supporters of any political party, said MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon. Taking the outcome of the Sabah state election last year as an example, Chong said Chinese voters would not hesitate to punish parties that failed to deliver on their promises. "Voters' support, especially Chinese votes, can no longer be seen as permanently belonging to any party. Chong acknowledged that while Chinese voters were dissatisfied with DAP, such dissatisfaction does not translate to support for MCA. "We must take the initiative, win back support vote by vote, and truly become a force that ultimately gains the trust and support of the Chinese community," he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said the audio recording of a conversation purportedly between him and Toh Puan Nai'mah Khalid that went viral on social media was generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The former economy minister, while dismissing claims that he was the person in the clip discussing a plot to topple the government with the widow of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, said any rational person would recognise that the audio was AI-generated. "Previously, there was an audio recording of (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim and (Datuk Seri) Hamzah Zainudin's wife. "What is even more interesting is that this recording of my conversation with the wife of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin. Rafizi, in an accompanying video, added that he does not answer calls or use WhatsApp because he believes the communications platforms may be monitored.

Even after the final verdict, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) has yet to offer a public apology to Malaysians. - NSTP/EIZAIRI SHAMSUDINKUALA LUMPUR: Even after the final verdict, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) has yet to offer a public apology to Malaysians. Critic Zack Rahim said: "CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) has said you were wrong. FIFA has sanctioned FAM and the seven players for document falsification relating to national team eligibility. FAM, which has been defensive in its appoach to the whole affair, has questioned the fairness of the CAS judgment.

ALOR STAR: The RM13.96 million multi-storey car park under construction at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah (HSB) here is expected to be completed by the end of next month, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the car park would help resolve the long-standing parking problems faced by patients, visitors and staff at the hospital. He said the ministry channelled RM6.93 million in development allocations to HSB from 2023 to 2025, involving 63 projects. He said the ministry has also added an invasive cardiology laboratory (ICL) at HSB worth RM22.5 million to reduce waiting times for heart patients requiring procedures at the hospital. "This is the second ICL at HSB and is expected to reduce waiting times for patients undergoing procedures at the hospital by up to 50 per cent.

A 29-year-old female trainee doctor was found dead in a hostel room at Hospital Sultan Ismail Petra (HSIP) here yesterday morning. - File picKUALA KRAI: A 29-year-old female trainee doctor was found dead in a hostel room at Hospital Sultan Ismail Petra (HSIP) here yesterday morning. Kuala Krai police chief Superintendent Mazlan Mamat said police were alerted to the incident by hospital authorities at 9.55am. Following the report, a team from the district Criminal Investigation Division and the Kuala Krai police station was dispatched to the scene to conduct an investigation. "Preliminary investigations at the hostel room found the victim lifeless.