Malaysia Pulse delivers breaking news, politics, business, sports and lifestyle coverage from Malaysia and Southeast Asia — trusted, timely and independent.
Police in Kedah have arrested a 33-year-old woman after a widely-shared video showed her damaging a vehicle with a vegetable knife in Taman Kemuning. The incident has renewed discussions about mental health support in Malaysia.
Four people have been charged in Shah Alam Sessions Court for submitting false applications to the Perkeso Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, which provides employment and skills development assistance to workers affected by economic disruptions.
An 18-year-old Chinese girl who lost her last living relative as she entered university has declined further donations, requesting support be directed to others facing greater hardship instead.
The Malaysian government has greenlit 92 mosque construction initiatives nationwide totalling RM160.82 million, with over half completed. The programme prioritises areas with growing Muslim populations and addresses welfare needs in urban communities.
The Penang Port Commission has renewed its pledge to distribute development gains equitably, distributing aid to 185 vulnerable individuals across Penang as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations.
Malaysia's upper house has endorsed the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, creating a new regulatory body that brings together government agencies, private firms, NGOs and academics to standardize professional practice and protect public welfare.
Indonesia's Constitutional Court has ruled that President Prabowo Subianto's free nutritious meal programme must no longer draw funding from the education budget, citing constitutional violations. The decision takes effect in 2028.
Vietnam has unveiled an ambitious child protection initiative spanning 2026–2030, targeting child abuse prevention, combating exploitative labour, and strengthening institutional safeguards across government sectors.
Kota Bharu authorities have detained three Thai nationals as part of a crackdown on sympathy-selling operations near automated teller machines, with investigations suggesting the activity was designed to solicit donations rather than conduct legitimate commerce.
Malaysia's sixth National Baitulmal Convention convened in Terengganu this week, bringing together over 400 stakeholders to explore how Islamic social finance institutions can leverage digital technology and innovative financial instruments to drive economic growth within Muslim communities.
Malaysia's Minister for Religious Affairs has called for Baitulmal institutions to evolve beyond traditional aid distribution, embracing digital innovation and Islamic social finance to create sustainable economic opportunities and combat poverty more effectively.
Selangor has rolled out a comprehensive child protection advocacy programme targeting its 1.8 million young residents. The initiative responds to nearly 2,400 cases recorded in the first six months of 2024, involving welfare concerns, criminal conduct, and behavioural issues.
Malaysia's Department of Social Welfare has launched the MADANI Adopted Village Programme in Penang's Kampung Sungai Setar Besar with RM600,000 funding. The initiative combines physical infrastructure upgrades with vocational training and education programmes to address socio-economic gaps.
The Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam Foundation is rolling out a food bank initiative in Melaka to support 2,000 underprivileged families over the next year, beginning with 200 households in the first phase.
Indonesia's free meals programme faces fresh turmoil as the National Nutrition Agency chief resigns citing health reasons. Her departure marks the second leadership upheaval in six weeks for President Prabowo's flagship initiative.
The Malaysian government is channelling RM10 million this year into the Special Fishermen Housing Project, a nationwide initiative to improve living standards among low-income fishing communities. Most states are progressing with construction work.
Malaysia's Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has launched the KasihnITa programme in Sarawak, bringing together government agencies to provide single mothers with financial management training, legal guidance, and welfare assistance.
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his administration to conduct comprehensive reviews of two major flagship programmes—the free school meals initiative and the Red and White cooperative scheme—signalling potential operational changes amid mounting public criticism and fiscal concerns.
Malaysia's Finance Ministry is examining a proposal to exempt elderly care centres from the 8% Sales and Service Tax, responding to concerns that the levy burdens families already struggling with rising costs of aged care services.
The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, formally establishing social work as a regulated profession in Malaysia. The legislation creates the Malaysian Social Work Profession Council to oversee practitioners and set professional standards.
Malaysia's Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah and Singapore First Lady Jane Ittogi visited the Bangi Autism Service Centre, part of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's state visit, strengthening bilateral ties on social services.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has donated RM2,000 to a 52-year-old gravedigger in Kuala Terengganu who is battling mouth cancer and requires urgent surgery. The government is also enrolling him in e-Kasih assistance.
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Parliament sits today to address 1MDB debt recovery, renewable energy capacity targets, and welfare provisions for vulnerable groups, with ministers expected to provide updates on financial accountability and energy transition progress.
Malaysian experts are calling for a comprehensive strategy to tackle rising out-of-wedlock pregnancies among teenagers, emphasizing the need for coordinated action between government agencies, educational institutions, families, and community organizations.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has highlighted the expansion and improved efficiency of government cash assistance programmes under the Madani reform initiative, with qualifying families receiving payments of up to RM1,800.