High-five to new passport, 10-year Malaysian passport introduced at RM350

  PETALING JAYA: Frequent Malaysian travellers have largely welcomed the government’s new 10-year passport, describing it as a more convenient and cost-­effective alternative to the ­current five-year passport.

Data processing manager Atikah Razak, 33, who travels overseas three to five times a year, said the new system offers better long-term value.

“I think RM350 for 10 years is reasonable. It works out to RM35 per year, which is affordable ­considering a passport is an important travel document,” she said.

The change, she added, would minimise the hassle of renewals and help ease congestion at Immigration Department offices.

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Tham Jo Yee, 30, also prefers the 10-year passport as it reduces the need for frequent renewals.

“Perhaps a 10-year passport makes more sense because many people tend to forget to renew their passports. Most of the time, they only check the expiry date when they are planning to travel,” she said.

The longer validity period, she said, could reduce last-minute problems caused by expired passports, especially for occasional travellers.

The Fees (Passports and Visas) (Amendment) Order 2026, which came into force on June 3, extends the validity of Malaysian passports to 10 years.

The gazette however did not state when the new 10-year Malaysian passport will be made available to the public.

Malaysians will be charged a fee of RM350 while senior citizens aged 60 and above will be charged RM175 for the 10-year passport.

Meanwhile, registered persons with disabilities aged 18 and above who hold an OKU card are entitled to a passport free of charge.

The gazette also states that Immigration Department officers and staff are entitled to 10-year passports at no charge.

Previously, Malaysian passports were issued with a five-year validity period at RM200 for adults and RM100 for senior citizens, while persons with disabilities were exempted from fees.

Dubai-based aviation engineer Rashidie Noridin, 34, described the RM350 fee as “cheap” when broken down annually.

“This new policy is better as it is in line with passport systems in several developed countries like the US, Singapore and the UK,” he said, adding that the 10-year expiry gives travellers more flexibility in planning their trips.

Banker Mohd Asri Bin Hishamuddin, 36, said the longer validity period improves efficiency for frequent travellers.

“It offers better value compared to renewing a five-year passport twice,” he said.

Mohd Asri added that passport validity often affects travel planning due to the minimum six-month validity requirement imposed by many countries.

Flight attendant Mahani Ishak, 27, said the 10-year option is particularly useful for those in the aviation industry, where valid travel documents are critical to operations.

She added that passport validity plays an important role in her job, as expired passports or insufficient remaining validity can directly affect flight assignments.

“If a passport has expired, it may lead to crew being offloaded from flights due to incomplete documentation.

“It helps reduce the need for frequent renewals, especially for those of us who are constantly travelling for work,” she said.

The amendment also introduces a fee structure for replacing lost or damaged 10-year passports.

For those aged 18 to 59, replacement fees are set at RM550 for the first replacement, RM850 for the second, and RM1,350 for the third and subsequent replacements.

Senior citizens will be charged RM375 for the first replacement, RM675 for the second, and RM1,175 for the third and subsequent replacements.

Eligible OKU cardholders and Immigration Department staff will be required to pay RM200 for a first replacement, RM500 for a second, and RM1,000 for a third and subsequent replacements.

Meanwhile, for the five-year passport, replacement fees range from RM400 to RM1,200 for those aged 13 to 59 years, and RM300 to RM1,100 for senior citizens depending on replacement frequency.

Registered persons with disabilities aged 18 and above who hold an OKU card are charged RM200, RM500 and RM1,000 for the first, second, and third and subsequent replacements, respectively.

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10-year Malaysian passport introduced at RM350

Lower your high blood pressure in just 11 minutes

 USM researchers find that a simple hand exercise could help decrease high blood pressure

This isometric handgrip workout can be done anywhere and at any time, making it a useful adjunct intervention to help manage hypertension. — Pexels

A simple hand-squeezing exercise that takes just 11 minutes may offer Malaysians an easy and affordable way to lower blood pressure without gym memberships, expensive equipment or strenuous workouts.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Cancer Centre researchers have discovered that a short session of isometric handgrip exercise significantly reduced blood pressure among participants with hypertension.

The study, published in the International Journal of Isokinetics and Exercise Science, involved 56 sedentary Malay men aged between 20 and 59 years old, with different resting blood pressure levels: normal, pre-hypertension, and Stage 1 and Stage 2 hypertension.

The researchers first measured each participant’s maximum handgrip strength using a hand dynamometer.

Participants were then instructed to perform four sets of two-minute handgrip contractions at 30% of their maximum strength, alternating hands  h one-minute rest intervals tween sets.

One hour after completing the session, the researchers observed significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as mean arterial pressure.

Participants with Stage 1 hypertension experienced the greatest reduction in systolic blood pressure, recording an average decrease of 6.3mmHg after just one session.

Meanwhile, participants with Stage 2 hypertension showed the largest reduction in diastolic blood pressure.

This suggests that individuals with higher blood pressure may benefit the most from the intervention.

The researchers stressed that even modest reductions in blood pressure could produce major long-term health benefits.

Previous evidence shows that lowering blood pressure by just 2mmHg may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke-related deaths.

Unlike jogging or aerobic exercise, isometric handgrip exercise involves sustained muscle contraction without major joint movement.

The researchers believe these repeated contractions may help improve blood vessel function and vascular regulation, although more studies are still needed to fully understand the underlying physiological mechanisms.

Because the exercise requires minimal movement and no equipment, the researchers believe it may be especially useful for busy working adults, elderly individuals and people who struggle to maintain conventional exercise routines.

While the exercise method was originally developed and tested in Western populations, the team successfully demonstrated that the same approach could also benefit Malaysians, particularly within the Malay population.

Lead researcher Associate Prof Dr Hazwani Ahmad Yusof said local validation is important because ethnic, genetic and lifestyle differences may influence how people respond to exercise interventions.

“Most previous studies on isometric handgrip exercise were conducted in Western populations.

“Our findings provide important early evidence that this simple intervention may also benefit the Malaysian population,” she said.

Despite the encouraging findings, the researchers emphasised that this exercise should not replace prescribed medication or professional medical treatment.

Instead, it should be viewed as a complementary lifestyle strategy that may support cardiovascular health alongside proper medical care.

The research team is now calling for larger and longer-term studies involving more diverse Malaysian populations, including women and older adults, to determine whether regular handgrip exercise can produce sustained long-term cardiovascular benefits.

Source:

https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2026/06/04/lower-your-high-blood-pressure-in-just-11-minutes

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When will Japan apologize to its Asian victims? China's delegate confronts Japanese defense minister at Shangri-La Dialogue

 

Shen Zhixiong, a senior colonel from the National Defense University and member of China's delegation to the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), raised a pointed question to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday morning.

The fifth plenary session of the SLD was held on Friday morning, during which Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi delivered a speech and mentioned "neo-militarism." In the interactive session, Shen said he was pleased that Koizumi had mentioned "new militarism" in his remarks. Shen pointed out that recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the Australian War Memorial and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. However, victimized countries in Asia have not received any apologies or expressions of remorse from Japanese government.

China believes that genuine legal reconciliation must be based on reflection on history that treats all victim nations equally, Shen said. 

"Whether the Japanese government is prepared to respond in an equally serious and unequivocal manner to the concerns of China, South Korea, and victimized nations of Southeast Asia regarding the history of the Second World War, thereby creating the conditions for mutual trust and regional security," Shen asked.

In response to Shen's question, Koizumi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he appeared uneasy, lowering his head to look at the printed materials in his hands for a few seconds. Then he said that responding to the Chinese representative's question was "the difficult part." Then, he did not answer the question head-on.

Koizumi argued that Japan's defense policy and the defense build-up are not based on the idea of identifying any specific country or region as a threat or having a military confrontation. He then shifted the blame, claiming that China continues to increase its defense spending at the higher level and is rapidly expanding its military capabilities across a wide range of areas without sufficient transparency. China's external approach and military activities are matters of serious concern for Japan and the international community.

Later, he said that "Japan believes it is essential to have persistent, candid dialogue and communication without turning out, turning our eyes away from concrete and difficult issues precisely because challenges exist."

"Japan's refusal to apologize and its lack of profound reflection have angered people in Asian countries that suffered under Japanese militarism, as Japan's Asian neighbors were among those most severely affected," Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Moreover, Japan has been vigorously developing offensive military capabilities, once again causing neighboring countries to feel the threat of a resurgence of Japanese militarism in recent years, Zhang added.

Zhang noted that Japan fundamentally lacks the sincerity to engage in dialogue with China and also lacks the political foundation for holding talks with China's defense minister. 

Koizumi's remarks are insincere and amount to nothing more than wishful thinking, he added.

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Land tax rates cut

1 –15, 2026 BULETIN MUTIARA Story by K.H. Ong Pix by Law Suun Ting L ANDOWNERS in Penang will benefit from the state government’s newly announced revision to the 2026 Land Tax mechanism. 

“Under the revision, First Grade land without planning approval, as well as land with Nil category and unspecified land use conditions (NIL), will be reclassified as 'Building Use' for tax purposes,” Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said at a press conference in Komtar recently.

 He added that the move is aimed at reducing the financial burden on landowners, particularly those with commercial and industrial land that did not obtain proper planning approval. 

Under the new mechanism, he said urban land will be taxed at RM0.70 per sq metre, and rural land at RM0.50 per sq metre, compared with the previously proposed RM3.25 per sq metre for commercial or industry. 

“However, landowners in this category will no longer be eligible for the existing 50 per cent rebate, as they are already enjoying a significant reduction in land tax rates,” he said. 

Also present were Penang Land and Mines director Datuk Dr Faizal Kamarudin and Northeast district officer Isma Suhaimi Shariff. 

Chow said the adjustment was a refinement of the 2026 land tax review, designed to help landowners while ensuring a fair and people-centric approach. 

He also urged landowners to proactively develop their land through proper legal channels to support Penang’s growth and development. 

“As of 31 March 2026, the state’s District Land Offices received 4,001 appeals and feedback submissions,” Chow said.

 “Of these, 2,885 involved significant increases in land taxes, including First Grade land deeds, rural-to-urban reclassifications, durian agricultural land, hillside properties, and rate adjustments. The remaining 1,116 cases involved technical issues like buildings spanning multiple lots, financial difficulties, abandoned projects, non-profit organisations, and idle land.” 

Currently, 3,043 cases are being actively processed by District Land Offices and the Penang Land and Mines Office. 

At the press conference, Chow also announced several tax relief measures and incentives (see accompanying infographic).

 Chow noted that these measures have been widely accepted by stakeholders and stressed the importance of following proper planning procedures for future land development. 

As of March 31, 2026, over 163,000 landowners, representing more than 54% of active taxpayers in 2025, had completed their land tax payments. 

Chow urged landowners to submit any remaining appeals to the District Land Offices before the April 30 deadline, although late submissions will still be considered on a case-bycase basis. 

The revised mechanism, he said, reflects careful deliberation by the State Executive Council (Exco), taking into account feedback from landowners, comparisons with other states, and the need to mitigate the impact of tax rate increases while promoting development in Penang. 

On April 3, Chow visited the Northeast District payment counter at Komtar to see its operations. 

During his visit, he reiterated that all schools across the state need to pay a nominal RM50 rate per lot, and advised respective schools to check their tax bills via the PgLand portal and make payment either online or at counters statewide.

The following day, Chow handed over the revised land tax bills to SRJK(C) Sin Ya and SMJK(C) Jit Sin in Seberang Perai in a symbolic handover during his visit. 

Chow said the visit was aimed at delivering the revised bills following the state government’s earlier decision to grant a nominal land tax rate to 398 schools statewide, covering about 522 land lots in total

. He reiterated that the RM50 rate applies regardless of land ownership, including cases where school land is held by companies or trustees, ensuring all schools benefit from the latest land tax review. 

Source:

May 1 –15, 2026

Buletin Mutiara

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Govt urged to expedite Residential Tenancy Act

 Expedite Residential Tenancy Act to protect homeowners, says group

T

he National House Rental Association has urged the government to expedite the enactment and implementation of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) to protect innocent homeowners from being penalised for illegal activities carried out by their tenants. FILE PIC

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has to expedite the enactment and implementation of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) to safeguard the rights and interests of homeowners and tenants, says the National House Rental Association (NHRA).

Its president Prakash P. Kali­vanan said the move is necessary amid growing public concern over the misuse of rented residential properties for illegal activities such as bitcoin mining operations, prostitution, harbouring illegal immigrants, storing stolen goods, loansharking activities and other unlawful conduct.

He said that under existing laws, homeowners could face investigation or possible legal action if authorities determine that they had knowledge of the illegal activities or failed to take reasonable steps to prevent such activities from taking place on their property.

“As president of NHRA, I would like to emphasise that the majority of homeowners rent out their properties in good faith and are often unaware of the activities carried out by irresponsible tenants.

“Many property owners are ordinary Malaysians who rely on rental income as part of their financial commitments and should not be unfairly victimised due to the actions of tenants acting without their knowledge,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Prakash said NHRA strongly believes that Malaysia urgently requires a comprehensive RTA to provide proper legal protection and clearer guidelines for both homeowners and tenants.

“Such legislation would help regulate the residential rental market more effectively by outlining the rights, responsibilities and obligations of all parties involved,” he said, Bernama reported.

He said the introduction of a comprehensive RTA is necessary to create a balanced, transparent and legally protected rental ecosystem in Malaysia, while helping to reduce disputes, improve accountability and provide clearer enforcement mechanisms involving tenancy-related issues.

At the same time, Prakash said homeowners must exercise reasonable responsibility and diligence when renting out their properties, including taking precautionary measures to protect themselves from potential legal complications.

He said among the measures suggested were preparing proper written tenancy agreements, conducting tenant verification and background checks, carrying out periodic inspections of rented premises and maintaining proper documentation related to tenancy arrangements.

“NHRA believes that responsible homeowners should not be held accountable for criminal acts committed without their knowledge or consent.

“However, both landlords and tenants must play their part in ensuring that rented residential properties are used lawfully and responsibly,” Prakash added.

Ills of having no will, Never too late to write a will

 

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Ignorance, cultural attitudes cause many to overlook estate planning

by ALLISON LAI

The total amount in frozen inheritance assets and unclaimed money has surged past the Rm100bil mark, with possessions of the deceased not distributed smoothly due to a lack of estate planning. As for uncollected funds, amounts range from small sums up to thousands of ringgit and more.

KUALA LUMPUR: Frozen inheritance assets has reached a staggering RM90bil, with experts attributing this to a lack of estate planning among Malaysians.

According to official statistics, the frozen assets include properties, shares, investments, and other capital belonging to deceased persons that cannot be distributed yet due to unresolved legal or administrative matters.

And if this does not pose a big enough headache, there is also the total in unclaimed money which stands at RM13bil.

ALSO READ: Planning ahead will save family the stress

The Accountant-General’s Department listed unclaimed money to include salaries, dormant bank accounts, insurance payouts, and deposits yet to be claimed by the rightful individuals; amounts range from several ringgit up to thousands of ringgit and more.

While frozen inheritance assets involve the estates of the deceased, unclaimed money can also entail living individuals.

Financial Planning Association of Malaysia general manager Alice Wong said many younger professionals and middle-income earners in the country still believe that estate planning is only necessary for the wealthy or elderly.

With such a mindset, many do not consider writing a will, she said.

“The reality is, if you have assets and dependants and a wish for how things should be handled after you are gone, a will is relevant,” she said in a recent interview.

Wong said cultural attitudes also play a role, as many families remain uncomfortable discussing death and inheritance matters.

She said many mistakenly believe that assets will automatically go to the “right people”.

“If you die without a will, your estate is distributed according to the Distribution Act for non-Muslims, which follows a fixed legal formula that may have nothing to do with what you actually want,” Wong pointed out.

She said another common misconception is that a will alone will allow families immediate access to assets.

“In practice, assets are often frozen upon death, and the will still needs to go through the courts to obtain a Grant of Probate before anything can be distributed,” she said.

A Grant of Probate is a court document that gives an executor – usually a trusted family member, friend or named lawyer – the authority to manage and distribute a deceased person’s estate according to the will.

Wong said some people also wrongly assume verbal promises or informal notes to be sufficient

“Spoken instructions and casual, unwitnessed writings carry no legal weight and are one of the biggest causes of family disputes after someone passes away,” she said.

Wong advised Malaysians to start with a legally valid will, review their Employees Provi-dent Fund and insurance or takaful nominations regularly, and keep proper records of assets and liabilities.

“Estate planning does not have to be overwhelming. Getting proper guidance early can save your family a great deal of stress and complications down the road,” she said.

Lawyer Joshua Kong said a common legal problem families face when someone dies without proper estate planning is disagreements over how inherited properties should be handled.

“The root of the problem is that a property suddenly has multiple new legal owners after the death, and these new owners disagree on whether it should be sold, or for how much,” he said.

Kong said a properly considered and drafted will could potentially prevent years of legal disputes among surviving family members.

“A will can dictate how the deceased’s properties are to be dealt with, including how it should be sold and who gets the proceeds of the sale,” he said.

If there is no will, Kong said distribution of assets for non- Muslims will instead follow the Distribution Act, which determines how an estate is divided among surviving family members.

He said disputes involving inherited properties could become increasingly complicated over time, especially when beneficiaries themselves die and their shares are transferred to the next generation of heirs.

“Those next of kin may have different ideas on how to deal with the property, and the cycle continues,” he said.

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