<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 23): The Sarawak assembly will be dissolved next Monday to enable the state election to be called, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a press conference at Satria Pertiwi Complex in Kuching on Friday, Johari said Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had given his consent, and that nomination day and polling day will be announced by the Election&nbsp;Commission.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The assembly held its final sitting on Oct 14, during which it passed the state budget for next year.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The last Sarawak election was held in December 2021, with Abang Johari's Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition winning a two-thirds majority of 76 seats in the 82-member legislature.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) won four seats and DAP took two.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In 2025, PSB&nbsp;merged en-bloc with the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) — one of the four component parties in GPS — enlarging the state government bloc to 80 seats.</p></div>


The Sarawak assembly will be dissolved next Monday to enable the state election to be called, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Sarawak assembly to dissolve next Monday, paving way for state polls 

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will field a mix of new faces with capable and experienced leaders for the upcoming Sarawak State Election, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The GPS chairman said the coalition’s final list of candidates will be determined during a special meeting before being officially announced to the public in the near future.

Sarawak polls: GPS to present a blend of new faces and experienced leaders — Abang Johari

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm, heavy rain and strong winds warning for several areas in 11 states and three Federal Territories until 6pm on Friday.

Thunderstorm, heavy rain expected all over Malaysia until 6pm

Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude touching a more than five-month high, after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.

Brent crude hits more than five-month high on concern over Middle East escalation

British consumers reined in their shopping in September as a warm start to the autumn hurt clothing sales and higher fuel prices ate into household budgets, while separate data showed confidence levels plunged in October.

UK retail sales fall as consumer confidence tumbles

Elon Musk has made a roughly US$1 billion (RM4.08 billion) investment in Skydance, CNBC reported on Thursday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Elon Musk invested about US$1 bil in merged Skydance, CNBC reports

Claude Monet's Iris was sold late on Thursday for €50 million (US$56.05 million or RM228.9 million), becoming the most expensive work of art sold at auction in France, Sotheby's said.

Claude Monet's 'Iris' becomes most expensive artwork sold at auction in France, Sotheby's says

PARIS/AMSTERDAM (Oct 23): Businesses, cultural events and museums planned to close at the weekend despite curbs on demonstrations as French President Emmanuel Macron seeks to restore order a week after nationwide protests turned violent.

French businesses, events to close with more weekend protests expected

(Oct 23): Nickel pulled back on Friday as traders awaited clearer signals from Chinese companies considering coordinated output cuts at their Indonesian operations.

Nickel retreats as traders await clarity on potential coordinated output cuts

CHENNAI/BENGALURU (Oct 23): Westlife Foodworld, which operates some McDonald's restaurants in India, posted a narrower quarterly loss on Friday, as discounted meals and limited-edition collectibles attracted consumers even as expenses soared.

McDonald's India operator Westlife quarterly loss narrows as promotions attract customers

Volvo Car AB’s chief executive officer said the market for Western-developed cars in China is disappearing fast, prompting the Swedish automaker to increase job cuts to some 6% of its workforce.

Chinese market is gone for Western automakers, says Volvo CEO

<p>A former company director, Datuk Seri Liew Kok Leong, has been charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT) of&nbsp;RM5.5 million funds belonging to a private limited entity. In addition, Liew was&nbsp;charged for&nbsp;money laundering.</p>


Former director charged with CBT for misappropriating RM5.5 mil of company funds

<p>Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, the former head of Malaysia’s stock exchange, will join Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd as its managing director and chief executive officer.</p>


Ex-Bursa chief Umar Swift to lead Hong Leong Investment Bank

<p>Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to announce the dissolution of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly on Friday afternoon, paving the way for a state election.</p>


Abang Johari expected to announce Sarawak assembly dissolution this afternoon

<p>Johor's booming data centre industry could consume more than 90% of the additional electricity generated in Peninsular Malaysia in the next five years, raising concerns over power supply and grid infrastructure constraints, according to a report by BMI, a Fitch Solutions company.</p>


Johor data centres could consume over 90% of peninsula's additional power generation by 2031 — BMI

<p>Foodie Media Bhd (KL:FOODIE) rose on Friday to extend a rebound from all-time lows thanks to a set of stronger-than-expected results at the social media content company.</p>


Foodie Media extends rebound from all-time lows after results beat

<p>The government does not rule out the possibility of completely banning the use of the Waze navigation application in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.</p>


PM says could ban Waze entirely once alternative apps available, admits TuJu's shortcomings

<p>SYDNEY (Oct 23): A sell-off in global tech shares lost some steam in Asia on Friday, after concerns over the enormous funding needs of AI hammered Wall Street and led to the biggest daily rally in Treasuries in more than three years.</p>


Tech sell-off slows in Asia as oil hits five-month high

<p>Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd plans to set up a new sukuk programme worth RM11.64 billion to support its capital expenditure requirements over the next decade.</p>


Malaysia’s state-owned water assets firm lines up RM11.64 bil sukuk

<p>Property developer KEB Bhd has priced its shares at 35 sen apiece for its ACE Market listing.</p>


Real estate developer KEB aims to raise nearly RM80 mil from ACE Market IPO

<p>PETRONAS has signed a joint-venture agreement with French energy giant TotalEnergies and Japanese trading firm Mitsui to develop carbon storage areas offshore Peninsular Malaysia.</p>


PETRONAS, TotalEnergies, Mitsui sign JV deal for carbon storage area

<p>Comfort Gloves Bhd (KL:COMFORT) said on Friday it has reached a settlement with the Inland Revenue Board, ending a court battle that lasted over two years.</p>


Comfort Gloves reaches settlement with Inland Revenue Board over tax bill

<p>Indonesian authorities seized 1.16 tonnes of ketamine on a Mongolian-flagged vessel from Malaysia in the waters of North Sumatra province earlier this week, the country's national police chief Suyudi Ario Seto said on Friday.</p>


Indonesia seizes 1.16 tonnes of ketamine on Mongolian-flagged vessel from Malaysia, police chief says

<p>Mi Technovation Bhd (KL:MI) will report “stellar” third-quarter results following robust guidance from its soon-to-be-listed semiconductor material unit, its most bullish analyst said.</p>


Mi Technovation’s most bullish analyst predicts ‘stellar’ 3Q

<p>Bestari Food Bhd has received approval from the securities regulator for its proposed listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.</p>


Bestari Food gets regulator’s nod, shariah status for Main Market listing

<p>The Trump administration is seeking to restrict American investment in Chinese biotechnology companies, potentially complicating financial ties at a time when US drugmakers are increasingly turning to China for new medicines.</p>


US proposes curbs on investment in Chinese biotech firms

<p>The Sarawak assembly will be dissolved next Monday to enable the state election to be called, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.</p>


<p>Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude touching a more than five-month high, after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.</p>


<p>BENGALURU (Oct 23): Gold eased on Friday, headed for its steepest weekly decline in over four months as elevated oil prices bolstered higher-for-longer interest rate expectations, while investors awaited next week's Federal Reserve policy meeting.</p>


Gold heads for steep weekly loss as oil prices fuel Fed rate concerns

<p>The 2% Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution rate payable by employers for non-Malaysian workers is relatively low, the Finance Ministry (MOF) said.</p>


MOF: 2% EPF contribution rate for foreign workers relatively low

<p>Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) and Citibank Bhd (Citi) have announced a US$75 million (RM306&nbsp;million) structured trade finance facility to improve working capital management, enhance liquidity and strengthen supply chain resilience to&nbsp;support MAG’s operational requirements across Asia.</p>
