Malaysia news this week, Tuanku Muhriz's rebuke, Najib's failed 1MDB stay and haze closures

Malaysia's week from Monday 12 to Saturday 17 October 2026 was dominated by three stories: a ruler's public rebuke of a Menteri Besar, a court refusing to delay a former prime minister's 1MDB sentence, and haze that closed schools in several states. Here is what happened, with links to every saksama post from the week.

The week's biggest story

Negeri Sembilan's Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz, rebuked Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim in public after Friday prayers in Kuala Pilah on 16 October, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) and Malay Mail. The constitutional crisis began in April and has seen the ruler revoke the appointments of all 10 exco members. Our explainer is Tuanku Muhriz rebukes Negeri Sembilan MB, the crisis explained, and the exco side is in Loke, No reason to delay new Negeri Sembilan excos.

Other stories that mattered

• Najib's 1MDB sentence. On 14 October the High Court dismissed Najib Razak's application to stay his 15-year jail term and RM11.38 billion fine, according to Malay Mail. The 15-year term is scheduled to start in August 2028, and he can ask the Court of Appeal for a fresh stay. See Najib fails to stay 15-year jail term and RM11.38 billion fine in 1MDB case.
• Haze and schools. The Education Ministry went back to the National Haze Action Plan, under which schools close when the API passes 200, then closed schools in eight Selangor districts on 16 October and postponed the next week's UASA, according to FMT. Johor announced on 17 October that its schools stay closed until 23 October. Start with School closures in haze, KPM goes back to the API 200 rule, what applies now.
• Melaka polls. With the election on 14 November, PKR confirmed nine seats and Pakatan Harapan will name its candidates on 24 October. See PKR confirms nine Melaka seats, Pakatan to name candidates on 24 October.
• Nik Nazmi. Bersama suspended Nik Nazmi for three months from 20 October after he confirmed being detained by Jais over an alleged khalwat case, according to FMT. Mais denies a frame-up. See Bersama suspends Nik Nazmi for three months, Mais denies Jais framed him.

Every post from the week

News

• Genting shares fall 17% to lowest since 2007 after RM1.25 billion rights issue. Genting Bhd shares fell as much as 17% on Monday to their lowest since April 2007, after the group proposed its first rights issue to cut debt.
• Malaysia's palm oil stocks hit a record 3.51 million tonnes in September. Malaysia's palm oil stocks rose 24.54 per cent to 3.51 million tonnes in September, the highest ever recorded, as output jumped and exports fell.
• Banks agree in principle to a loan moratorium for families of 54 Malaysians missing in Nepal. Banks agreed in principle to pause loan repayments for the 54 Malaysians still missing after the Nepal floods, and will contact families by 16 October.
• Government aims to register 26,000 refugees by end-2027, DPP only for those who arrived before March 2023. The Home Ministry aims to register 6,000 refugees this year and 20,000 next under the Refugee Registration Document. Post-March 2023 arrivals are excluded.
• Workers laid off over the RM2,000 minimum wage can claim EIS allowance for up to six months. Workers who lose jobs as firms restructure after the RM2,000 minimum wage can claim the EIS Job Search Allowance for up to six months, the minister says.
• MACC and police to investigate MyEG and Zetrix AI over RM314 million in JPJ revenue. MACC got a complaint on 7 October over RM314 million in JPJ revenue MyEG and Zetrix AI did not hand over. The background, and how to renew road tax now.
• Police open two probes into claim a senior MACC officer took RM350,000. Police opened two investigation papers into a claim that a senior MACC officer took a RM350,000 bribe in 2017. MACC closed the case in 2018. What we know.
• Saifuddin, marrying a Malay does not change a foreigner's ethnicity or confer Bumiputera status. A foreigner who marries a Malay does not change ethnicity or automatically qualify for Bumiputera status, the Home Minister says. Children can choose.
• 202,829 new-generation MyKads issued, and old cards still work for STR. 202,829 new-generation MyKads have been issued since 17 September. Holders of old cards need not rush to replace them, the JPN director-general says.
• Johari, Malaysia's chip exports still free of US tariffs, EU trade deal targeted for June 2027. Malaysia's chip exports to the US remain free of tariffs, and Malaysia aims to sign its free trade agreement with the EU by June 2027, Johari says.
• RON97 and unsubsidised RON95 fall 5 sen, diesel down 10 sen from 15 October. RON97 falls to RM5.10, unsubsidised RON95 to RM4.62 and diesel to RM5.17 a litre from 15 to 21 October. BUDI95 stays at RM1.99.
• Schools in eight Selangor districts close on Friday 16 October because of haze, UASA postponed. Schools in eight Selangor districts closed on Friday 16 October because of haze, and the next week's UASA was postponed.
• PeKa B40 becomes PeKa Sihat as Cabinet approves changes to ease clinic crowding. PeKa B40 is being renamed PeKa Sihat after the Cabinet agreed to changes. The Health Ministry will use clinics already in the scheme to ease crowding.

Current issues

• Pisa 2025 maths score of 397 puts SPM grading under question in the Dewan Rakyat. Wee Ka Siong asks why students shine in SPM but lag in Pisa. Wong Kah Woh says SPM grading is fair and the two tests serve different purposes.
• School closures in haze, KPM goes back to the API 200 rule, what applies now. KPM is back to the National Haze Action Plan: schools close when the API exceeds 200, outdoor activities stop above 100. What applies to your child today.
• Haze masks: MOH advises N95, and says three-ply masks give only limited protection. MOH advises N95 masks if you must go outside when the API passes 100. Three-ply masks give only limited protection. Here is the ministry's other advice.
• Tuanku Muhriz rebukes Negeri Sembilan MB, the crisis explained. Tuanku Muhriz publicly rebuked Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim in Kuala Pilah on 16 October. How the Negeri Sembilan crisis got here, and what is unresolved.

Politics

• Bar's challenge to Zahid NFA on hold until Federal Court rules. The High Court set 14 June 2027 for case management while the Federal Court hears appeals by the AGC and Ahmad Zahid in the Yayasan Akalbudi dispute.
• One story from every party, Melaka polls take centre stage. PAS and BN are close to a Melaka polls deal while the Negeri Sembilan exco crisis drags on. Here is one story from each Malaysian political party. The same morning's party-by-party stories:
  • PSM wants a fixed procedure to act on audit report findings. PSM wants a standard procedure after every Auditor-General's Report so its findings are investigated and acted on, not forgotten after the headlines.
  • GRS targets more than 15 Sabah parliamentary seats in GE16. GRS is aiming for more than 15 of Sabah's 25 parliamentary seats at GE16, says Armizan Mohd Ali. The GRS convention is in Kudat on 18 October.
  • Wee Ka Siong says BN should bring back GST if it wins GE16. MCA president Wee Ka Siong says BN should reintroduce GST if it wins GE16, calling it a coalition priority under the Agenda Malaysia Biru.
  • Mat Sabu tells Melaka voters to learn from Negeri Sembilan crisis. Mat Sabu urged Melaka voters to back PH on 14 November, pointing to the Negeri Sembilan crisis he says BN started in April.
  • Bersatu's 11 Selangor reps to sign CSA-style pact with state. Bersatu's Selangor assemblymen will sign a CSA-style pact with the state government before the state budget is tabled, says Amirudin Shari.
  • Sarawak Budget 2027 tabled, assembly may be dissolved in November. GPS tabled a RM14.845 billion Sarawak Budget 2027 on 12 October at the assembly's last sitting, which Abdul Karim says may be dissolved in November.
  • PKR eyes eight to nine seats in Melaka state election. PKR wants to contest eight to nine seats in the Melaka election, including Machap, Ayer Keroh and Rembia.
  • Hamzah, Don't burden Petronas, TNB and KWAP with political decisions. Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin told the government not to burden Petronas, TNB and KWAP with political decisions in the Budget 2027 debate.
  • MIC to campaign across Melaka despite contesting one seat. MIC will campaign throughout Melaka for BN in the 14 November election even though it is contesting only one seat, president Vigneswaran says.
  • Azalina, The Prime Minister is not the Public Prosecutor. UMNO information chief Azalina Othman Said says prosecutorial independence cannot be compromised, replying to Jelutong MP RSN Rayer.
  • Shafie and Leiking returned unopposed as Warisan's top two. Shafie Apdal and Darell Leiking were returned unopposed as Warisan president and deputy. The party's AGM is in Sandakan on 24 and 25 October.
  • PN gets leave to challenge RoS suspension, activities stay frozen. The High Court let PN challenge the RoS order suspending its activities but refused an interim stay. Gerakan's secretary-general is an applicant.
  • PAS-BN talks for Melaka polls at final stage. PAS's cooperation talks with BN for the Melaka election are at the final stage, says Annuar Musa. UMNO says 90% of the seat talks are done.
  • Loke, No reason to delay new Negeri Sembilan excos. Loke says the Negeri Sembilan government has no reason to delay naming new excos, after the appointments of all 10 exco members were revoked.
• Najib fails to stay 15-year jail term and RM11.38 billion fine in 1MDB case. The High Court dismissed Najib Razak's bid to stay his 15-year 1MDB jail term and RM11.38 billion fine. The sentence is due to start in August 2028.
• PKR confirms nine Melaka seats, Pakatan to name candidates on 24 October. PKR will contest nine seats in the Melaka election under PH, says Fuziah Salleh. Anwar will announce PH's candidates on 24 October at Hang Jebat Stadium.
• Bersama suspends Nik Nazmi for three months, Mais denies Jais framed him. Bersama suspends Nik Nazmi for three months from 20 October after he admitted a Jais khalwat case. Mais denies a frame-up; Amirudin denies a PKR plot.

Tech

• Free AI subscriptions 2027 including ChatGPT, who qualifies and how to apply. Budget 2027 adds 100,000 free AI subscriptions for young people, now including ChatGPT. The current AI Untuk Rakyat rules, and what hasn't been announced.
• AI in Budget 2027, sovereign AI cloud, RM30 million via MDEC and a scam-checking app. A sovereign AI cloud, RM30 million via MDEC for 4,000 MSMEs, an AI scam checker and 100,000 free AI subscriptions. All the budget's AI and digital moves.
• Apple Welcome Home event on 13 October, Malaysia time and what to expect. Apple's Welcome Home event on Tuesday 13 October was due to start at about 9pm Malaysia time, with a smart home hub expected.
• Passport-size foldables, iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 compared. Folded, the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 are about the size of a Malaysian passport. Real dimensions, Malaysian prices from RM7,299 and which suits you.
• Vibe-coded clones of Photoshop and Word are free on GitHub. Free open-source rebuilds of Photoshop, six other Adobe apps, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, crediting Claude Opus 5.5. What you get, and why it's alpha.
• Superpowers 7.0 rebuilds brainstorming, a year after the skills framework launched. Superpowers, the open-source skills framework for Claude Code and other agents, shipped 7.0 on 10 October with rebuilt brainstorming and Windows fixes.
• What DevDay 2026 changed for OpenAI Codex users. DevDay brought cloud Codex, a voice CLI, code review in the ChatGPT app and a US$500 Pro plan. What each plan gets, plus a 29 October change for Pro 200.
• Claude Code now brings your claude.ai skills to the terminal. Skills you create or enable at claude.ai now download into Claude Code when you sign in with the same account. How it works, its limits and how to stop it.

Faith

• Ustaz Khalid Basalamah's message this week, Prophet Ayyub's patience and halal income. Ustaz Khalid Basalamah's talks from 5 to 12 October 2026, from Prophet Ayyub's patience to cheating in trade and his advice on halal wealth.
• Mufti Menk's reminders this week, helping others and praying for one another. Mufti Menk's clips from 6 to 12 October 2026, from helping others for Allah's sake to praying for other Muslims' hearts to soften, not for their ruin.

Coming up

• Monday 19 to Friday 23 October: Johor schools stay closed because of the haze.
• Tuesday 20 October: Nik Nazmi's three-month suspension from Bersama begins.
• Saturday 24 October: Pakatan Harapan names its Melaka candidates, and Warisan holds its AGM in Sandakan on 24 and 25 October.
• Saturday 14 November: Melaka state election.

Sources

• Free Malaysia Today, Go away, I don't want to see you, Tuanku Muhriz rebukes Negeri Sembilan MB, 16 October 2026
• Malay Mail, 1MDB trial: Judge rejects Najib's bid to stay prison sentence, says his medical issues not special circumstances, 14 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, Haze forces schools in 8 Selangor districts to close tomorrow, 15 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today (Bernama), Johor schools to remain closed for another week, 17 October 2026
• FMT, Bersama suspends Nik Nazmi for 3 months, 17 October 2026