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By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI   PETALING JAYA: Voter turnout in Melaka’s state elections has ranged from a low of 65.5% in 1982 to a high of 87.5% in 2013. With the state heading to the polls on Nov 14, the question is how many voters will turn out this time. This will be the second time Melaka holds its state election separately from a general election. The first was in 2021, when turnout was 65.85%.  That was much lower than the 84.52% recorded in 2018, when the state voted alongside the 14th General Election (GE14). Analysts differ on what the turnout will be this time. Prof Dr Azmi Hassan of the National Council of Professors expects a turnout of up to 70%, while Ilham Centre’s Hisommudin Bakar said between 60% and 65% was a reasonable target. >ALSO READ: Festive break unlikely to deter Melaka voters   What do YOU think the turnout will be? Take our poll below and make your guess. What voter turnout do you expect in ...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Separate state elections have become the new political reality in Malaysia, and the trend is likely here to stay, say analysts. Political analyst Prof Dr Azizuddin Sani said state elections are increasingly being held separately from parliamentary elections. The trend is a departure from the previous norm, when most states held their polls in sync with a general election. Azizuddin said the 12th General Election (GE12) in 2008 led to significant political changes, particularly the change of government in several states. This development gave state administrations greater incentive to call for elections separately from general elections. "There's an element of strategy among political parties. They believe they have a better chance of winning state elections if they are held separately from the general election," he said. The trend has become more pronounced following GE15 in 202...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The upcoming Melaka election will be the 10th state polls since the 15th General Election (GE15), the most ever held between any two parliamentary elections. The previous record was four state elections, between GE14 (2018) and GE15 (2022), and between GE6 (1982) and GE7 (1986), according to an analysis of previous election dates. The trend shows that state elections are increasingly being held separately from parliamentary polls. For most voters, it means that going to the ballot box twice to choose a Member of Parliament and State Assemblyman has become a new political reality (see related story). The current surge in separate state polls came about after the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat in October 2022 to pave the way for GE15. Only three states decided to dissolve their assemblies alongside Parliament, namely Pahang, Perlis and Perak. Ten others did not follow suit. They include Sabah, Sarawak, Mel...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's increasingly fragmented political landscape is making separate state elections a new reality, with state governments charting their own course instead of going to the polls alongside the Federal Government. Political analyst Prof Dr Azizuddin Sani said the trend reflected a departure from the previous practice, when state and federal elections were more closely aligned under a dominant political party. He said the political changes since 2008, particularly the change of government in several states, had given state administrations greater incentive to hold elections separately from general elections. "There's an element of strategy among political parties. They believe they have a better chance of winning state elections if they are held separately from the general election," he said. Azizuddin said the trend had become more pronounced following the 15th General Election (GE15) in November 2022, which resulted in a hung P...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: With Melaka set to go to the polls on Nov 14, Malaysia will have held 10 state elections since the 15th General Election (GE15). This is the highest number of state election events recorded in any period between general elections, according to an analysis of election data. Since GE15 on Nov 19, 2022, Malaysia has held nine state election events and 13 by-elections as at Aug 1 this year.  Melaka's upcoming election will bring the number of state election events to 10. The figure stands out against previous periods.  The nine state election events since GE15 comprised six state elections held simultaneously on Aug 12, 2023, followed by Sabah's state election in 2025 and the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections this year. The six states that went to the polls in 2023 were Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. Negri Sembilan stands out for having held two state election...

By NARMATHA RAJA PETALING JAYA: Haze hotspots in Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Sumatra have surged to their highest level in a decade, with 37,628 detected as of Oct 11, following a sharp increase over the past 45 days. The last recorded high was in 2015, when the two regions registered a combined 58,106 hotspots. According to data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), the latest tally represents a 140% increase from the 15,652 hotspots recorded between Jan 1 and Aug 27. Kalimantan accounted for 29,306 or about 78% of the combined total, while Sumatra recorded 8,322 hotspots. Kalimantan’s tally more than doubled (140%), rising from 12,212 as of Aug 27 to 29,306 by Oct 11.  Sumatra’s count also climbed by 142%, from 3,440 to 8,322 over the same period. In just 45 days, the two regions recorded an additional 21,976 hotspots with Kalimantan accounting for 17,094 and Sumatra for 4,882. Kalimantan’s 2026 tally has also s...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Soaring oil prices have led to a sharp rise in subsidies that the government has had to bear to keep petrol pump prices steady for Malaysians. Since the start of this year, the price of unsubsidised RON95 petrol has gone up by 76.6% from RM2.56 to RM4.52 as at Oct 1. Ahead of the tabling of Budget 2027 on Friday (Oct 9), we take a closer look at how the surge in global oil prices has affected - and may continue to affect – Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill.   Steep climb since the Iran conflict The government launched the Budi Madani RON95 (BUDI95) programme in September last year as part of its move to transition from blanket subsidies to targeted subsidies. Under the initiative, eligible Malaysians currently qualify for 300 litres of subsidised RON95 petrol each month at RM1.99 per litre. The start of the Middle East conflict in late February then triggered a sharp spike in global oil prices.   A gro...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill could approach RM50bil in a prolonged oil-price shock scenario, according to an economist. Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) research associate Dr Mikhail Rosli estimated Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill could cost between RM45bil and RM50bil next year if Brent crude prices remain above US$100 per barrel. He said the estimate would be broadly in line with the KRI’s Beyond The Pump report which estimated fuel subsidies will cost around RM48 billion per year when the crude oil prices exceed US$100 per barrel and remain at that level. However, he stressed that this remained a “tail scenario” rather than the most likely outcome. “This remains an unlikely scenario, as the US Energy Information Administration’s base case projects Brent crude to average US$74 per barrel in 2027, while the World Bank forecasts US$70 and the IMF’s severe scenario at between US$110 and US$125,” he said. The wa...

Sub-head: Ahead of Budget 2027, which is due to be tabled on Oct 9, we look back at how allocations are spread between ministries. By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Education, Finance and Health are the top three ministries when it comes to budget allocations. An analysis of Budgets tabled between 2016 and 2026 shows these three ministries consistently in the top three, receiving about half of all ministerial allocations each year. In Budget 2026, for instance, the three ministries received a total of RM159.7bil or 52% of the RM306.9bil allocated to the country’s 28 ministries.   From 2016 to 2026, the top spot in terms of allocations often changed hands between the Education and Finance ministries. The Education Ministry held the top spot from 2016 to 2018, reclaiming it in 2020 and 2021, and returned to the top spot in 2025 and 2026. The Finance Ministry topped the list in 2019 and agains from 2022 and 2024. The Health Ministry remain...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Ahead of Budget 2027, which is due to be tabled on Oct 9, The Star looks back at a decade of federal expenditure. An analysis of 11 budget tablings between 2016 and 2026 shows that the Education Ministry, Finance Ministry, and Health Ministry have remained among the three largest recipients of federal allocations. The crown for the highest-funded portfolio, however, has changed hands between the Education and Finance ministries over the years. The Education Ministry held the top spot from 2016 to 2018 before reclaiming it in 2020 and 2021, and again in 2025 and 2026. The Finance Ministry, meanwhile, rose to the top in 2019 and dominated the rankings from 2022 to 2024. The Health Ministry, meanwhile, remained at number three spot throughout all 11 years. At the other end of the ranking, the bottom three positions were more frequently, with the National Unity, Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development, and P...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has retained its position as the Asia-Pacific region’s most connected airport, ahead of major hubs in Seoul, Tokyo and Singapore. KLIA also maintained its fourth-place global ranking in the OAG Megahubs 2026 report, ranking behind Istanbul Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Amsterdam Airport. According to the report, AirAsia remained the dominant carrier at KLIA, accounting for 34% of all flights at the airport. The airport has increased the number of destinations it serves from 151 to 154, while overall capacity grew 6.9%. This was the highest growth among its Southeast Asian peers, apart from Hanoi’s airport, which recorded an 11.8% increase. KLIA also topped the Low-Cost Megahubs index, offering almost 15,000 possible low-cost connections to and from 154 destinations. Seoul’s Incheon International Airport ranked sixth globally, followed by Tokyo’s Haneda Ai...

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By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Almost 15,000 hotspots were detected in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra between January and August this year, according to data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC). As of Aug 28, of 14,964 hotspots detected across the two regions, 11,697 were in Kalimantan, accounting for 78.1% of the combined total. Meanwhile, Sumatra recorded 3,267 hotspots.  Most of Kalimantan’s hotspot activity occurred in July and August, rising from 1,339 detections in July to 9,334 in August. Together, the two months accounted for 10,673 hotspots, or 91.2% of Kalimantan’s January-to-August total. The 9,334 hotspots recorded in August alone were 72.7% higher than the 5,406 detected in Kalimantan in the whole of 2025. Sumatra also recorded its highest monthly hotspot count of the year in August, with 1,596 detections. However, the increase in Sumatra was less pronounced, with August accounting for 48.9% of...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are increasingly turning to hybrid cars, with registrations surging nearly 30,000 units in the first seven months of the year. According to figures from data.gov.my, a total of 29,769 hybrid cars were registered between January and July, up by 78.9% from 16,643 during the same period last year. The growth outpaced the overall car market, which grew 3.6% from 472,492 registrations to 489,340. Fully electric vehicle (EV) registrations also surged 94.1% year-on-year to 38,675 from 19,935 during January to July last year. As a result, hybrids accounted for 6.1% of all car registrations this year, up from 3.5% share last year. The increase also accelerated as the year progressed. Hybrid registrations rose 47.7% year-on-year in March, 117.8% in April, 89.4% in May, 172.8% in June and 127% in July. In July alone, 5,622 hybrid cars were registered, more than double the 2,476 hybrid registrations re...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Releasing an unwanted exotic pet into a river, lake or natural area may seem like an easy solution, but it could create a new environmental threat by allowing invasive species to spread. The Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) unit under the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) said members of the public should never release unwanted exotic pets or non-native species into the environment.  MyBIS said some released species may survive, reproduce and spread beyond their original locations, potentially competing with native wildlife for food and habitat, and disrupting local ecosystems. Instead, owners who are no longer able to care for exotic pets should seek guidance from the relevant authorities or responsible agencies on proper surrender or disposal options. For terrestrial wildlife and exotic animals, members of the public can contact the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (P...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: At least 12 invasive alien species identified by Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) are believed to have entered the country through human activities, including the ornamental pet trade, aquarium hobby and recreational fishing, say experts. However, experts said the actual number could be higher as invasive fish may also enter through activities such as aquaculture, fisheries and intentional releases. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) fish ecology and diseases expert Prof Dr Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai said invasive fish species were able to establish themselves because of their biological characteristics, which gave them an advantage over native species. He said carnivorous species such as Asian redtail catfish, Amazon redtail catfish, peacock bass, and African catfish could threaten native fish populations by preying on them. “These species can occupy the top of the food chain in areas where they are rel...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: A fish bought to clean an aquarium or a turtle kept as a childhood pet may seem harmless, but some species introduced through the pet or hobby trade have ended up threatening Malaysia’s natural ecosystems. The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES), through its Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) unit, said the pet and hobby trade is among the most common pathways for invasive alien species (IAS) to enter the country. MyBIS said species are often imported because they are popular among enthusiasts and easily available through physical pet shops or online platforms. However, some may escape captivity, be released into the wild or establish populations beyond their intended environments, creating ecological problems. “Such activities can sometimes lead to unintended consequences when the introduced species become established in the environment and spread beyond their intended...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Star readers correctly predicted that Spain would win the FIFA World Cup 2026, with nearly six in 10 backing La Roja to lift football's biggest prize in a reader poll conducted ahead of the final. The poll, launched on July 17 after the semi-finals, asked readers to choose between Spain and defending champion Argentina. Of the 1,867 votes cast, Spain emerged as the clear favourite with 1,082 votes, or 58%, while Argentina received 785 votes (42%). The poll drew responses from readers in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, and Australia. Spain went on to justify readers’ confidence by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final to claim their second FIFA World Cup title. La Roja's triumph capped a remarkable knockout run in which they eliminated Portugal in the Round of 16, Belgium in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals before overcoming Argentina on football's biggest stage. Arg...

Summary: Vote now: Who will make the World Cup final?   By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI (STARPLUS LOGO) PETALING JAYA: The Star readers correctly picked three of the four World Cup semi-finalists, backing Argentina, France and Spain in a reader poll. The Star ran the poll on July 4, before the Round of 16 began, asking fans which teams they expected to advance to the semi-finals. The poll garnered 2,612 votes from readers in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Argentina topped the poll with 554 votes, followed by France (548), Spain (407) and Brazil (295).   Three of those four picks made it through: Argentina, France and Spain all booked their semi-final spots. Brazil was the only top-four pick to fall short, exiting in the Round of 16. England, which reached the semi-finals, was the fifth-most popular pick in the poll, receiving 258 votes.   Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals, with the other three semi-finalists also winning thei...

Sub-head: Argentina tops reader poll, fancied Brazil falls By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI (STARPLUS logo/WORLD CUP logo/QR Code/Bar chart graphic) PETALING JAYA: The Star readers correctly picked three of the four World Cup semi-finalists, backing Argentina, France and Spain in a reader poll. The Star ran the poll on July 4, before the Round of 16 began, asking fans which teams they expected to advance to the semi-finals. The poll garnered 2,612 votes from readers in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Argentina topped the poll with 554 votes, followed by France (548), Spain (407) and Brazil (295). Three of those four picks made it through: Argentina, France and Spain all booked their semi-final spots. Brazil was the only top-four pick to fall short, exiting in the Round of 16. England, which reached the semi-finals, was the fifth-most popular pick in the poll, receiving 258 votes. Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals, with the other three semi-...