SNAPSHOT | Nearly 1.5k Myanmar nationals to be repatriated Sept 29; Malacca polls likely before November: CM

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

9pm

Refugee management

• The Home Ministry announced that the first phase of the voluntary repatriation programme for 5,000 eligible Myanmar nationals, involving 1,476 individuals, will be carried out on Sept 29.

  In a statement today, it said this will be done using two warships and a hospital ship belonging to the Myanmar Navy.

  The ministry said 4,008 individuals, mainly ethnic Rohingya, would enter the Refugee Registration Document Programme, while another 5,000 would undergo phased voluntary repatriation to Myanmar.

  It said that as of Aug 15, 10,388 Myanmar nationals were being held at immigration detention depots, although the government stressed that not all of them were refugees.

Malacca polls

• Malacca Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh today hinted that the state polls could be held before November.

  

  He said this is to prevent any disruption to the SPM examination, which is usually held at the end of the year.

  According to the New Straits Times, Rauf told government agencies and departments at an event in Alor Gajah that this could be their last gathering together before the election.

READ MORE: PN chair hints at Malacca polls in 2 months, Hadi says seat talks with BN ongoing

Crime

• An unidentified body has been discovered in an aircraft at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.

  

  Bernama reported that the body was found at 6.55am by an engineering staffer upon opening the wheel compartment of the aircraft, which had arrived from Tokyo at 6.30am.

  The police forensic unit’s investigation found that the victim was in their 20s and had been dead for more than 72 hours.

Previously at 6pm | Court hears Shamsul's bid to stay graft case Sept 3; fire and rescue personnel missing in Nepal

2pm | MB's aide: S'gor open to work with any party; Harapan, BN to decide on ties for Malacca before Sept 16

9am | PM orders student critics to be freed; Fadhli accuses Harapan of 'sakau' culture

Myanmar: Why Rohingya refugees can't return

Bar seeks details, safeguards after govt says Myanmar ready to accept 5k refugees

Malaysia won't repatriate Myanmar refugees if lives at risk - minister

COMMENT | Are the Rohingya making it hard for us to be sympathetic?

Malacca Bersatu signals willingness to work with Harapan amid BN-PN talks

SNAPSHOT | Harapan mulling new coalition structure, says Fahmi; Malacca polls: Amirudin meets Anwar