1,618.01FBM KLCI · Mon 12 Oct close · +9.56 (+0.59%) · The Star, FMT

DailyDrop.

—USD/MYR · Mon 12 Oct close not confirmed from two sources

FBM KLCI1,618.01▲0.59%10/12USD/MYR—S&P 5007,811.54▲0.59%10/9WTI$91.85▲0.39%10/9Gold$4,216.30▲1.43%10/9

Haze returned to 22 areas of Malaysia on Monday, with Johor the worst hit (Malay Mail, Straits Times); Free Malaysia Today counted 23 at a different hour. The New Straits Times reported the highest API reading at Kota Tinggi, 170, on Monday morning. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said schools cannot close for days as the haze fluctuates (NST), and CNA reported her defending day-by-day decisions. The Johor education department said its daily closure notices are routine updates that do not clash with the state haze order (Malay Mail). The Straits Times reported on Monday afternoon that schools in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya would close on Tuesday; DailyDrop saw that list in that outlet’s headline only. An Indonesian official’s “we send oxygen when there’s no smoke” remark drew mockery (Malay Mail, SCMP), and the Straits Times said President Prabowo ordered tougher action on the fires.

Closures hit parents’ work and children’s learning, and the day-to-day pattern makes planning hard. The cross-border argument decides how quickly the fires, and so the smoke, are brought under control.

Check the notice from your state education department each evening. On unhealthy days keep children indoors and use a mask rated for fine particles outdoors. Firefly had cancelled Subang–Seletar flights to 13 October (Straits Times).

The minister says closing schools for days at a time is not workable when air quality swings from hour to hour.

Parents and some commentators say district-by-district, day-by-day notices are confusing and late.

The 22 and 23 area counts come from different hours and are not a contradiction. DailyDrop could not read the ministry’s own Tuesday notice, so treat the four-district list as one outlet’s report and verify it locally.

New Straits Times, Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today, Straits Times, CNA, SCMP, Antara, SAYS (9–12 Oct 2026)

Haze rebounds in 22 areas as Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya schools close again on Tuesday

Nation · HazePress ✓ 5 outlets · Tuesday closure list from one outlet’s headline only

Haze rebounds in 22 areas as Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya schools close again on Tuesday

Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta traded words over who should do more about the fires, while the education minister defended deciding school closures day by day.

Haze returned to 22 areas of Malaysia on Monday, with Johor the worst hit, Malay Mail and the Straits Times reported; Free Malaysia Today counted 23 areas at a different hour. The New Straits Times said Kota Tinggi in Johor recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading, 170, on Monday morning, which falls in the unhealthy band of 101 to 200. The readings rose just as schools in several states were due to reopen after the weekend. By Monday afternoon the Straits Times reported that schools in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya would close again on Tuesday 13 October. DailyDrop saw that list in that outlet’s headline only, so parents should check the notice from their state education department before leaving home.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said schools cannot be shut for days at a time while the haze fluctuates, the NST reported, and CNA reported her defending decisions taken day by day. The Johor education department said its daily closure notices are routine updates that do not conflict with the state haze order, Malay Mail reported. Under the ministry’s rule, reported by SAYS on 9 October, schools in areas with an API above 180 must close. The row centres on fires in Indonesia, and Indonesian officials have pushed back on criticism from Malaysia and Singapore: an official’s remark that “we send oxygen when there’s no smoke” was reported by Malay Mail, and the South China Morning Post said Malaysians mocked it. The Straits Times reported that President Prabowo ordered tougher action on the fires and that foreign offers of help had not been discussed; an Antara headline said Malaysia’s offer was still being discussed. Singapore, where air was also unhealthy, rolled out haze subsidies, the SCMP reported.

Open story and DailyDrop view

By the numbers

22areas with unhealthy air on Monday (Malay Mail, Straits Times); FMT counted 23

170highest API reading, at Kota Tinggi, Monday morning (NST)

180API level above which the ministry says schools must close (SAYS, 9 Oct)

Markets · BursaPress ✓ 3 outlets · size of the fall differs by outlet

Genting shares slump to 2007 lows after a rights issue plan, even as the KLCI edges up

Genting Berhad shares fell sharply on Monday, three days after the group proposed a rights issue to raise about RM1.25 billion, to repay debt and add working capital. Under a rights issue a company offers new shares to existing shareholders, usually at a discount, so the share count rises. The Edge’s headline put the fall at 17% to 2007 lows, the Business Times called it the biggest drop since 1998, and BusinessToday listed Genting among the day’s biggest Bursa losers. The Star’s market wrap carried different percentages for Genting Berhad and Genting Malaysia, and DailyDrop could not reconcile them, so no single figure is given here. The filing said the issue price would be set at a 25% to 30% discount to the theoretical ex-rights price, and major shareholders have promised to take up their share.

Open story and DailyDrop view

Word of the day

Rights issueMarkets

An offer of new shares to current shareholders, usually at a discount to the market price. Those who do not take part see their stake diluted.

Inside

Chery Malaysia recalls two Omoda 5 variants after sales suspensionMalaysiakini said the recall of variants C and H followed a suspension by the Road Transport Department; the Straits Times linked the suspension to a viral incident.Business · ✓ 2 outlets

Girl, 5, killed in six-vehicle crash on Jalan Kuching; police trace the driverThe NST said a BYD Seal rear-ended a Perodua Bezza; the NST and FMT reported that police located the driver.Nation · ✓ 2 outlets

AirAsia reportedly in talks with the government on funding supportA Reuters exclusive citing sources, carried by the Straits Times and Bangkok Post. Neither side had confirmed it in anything DailyDrop saw.Business · one original report

Trump defends Russian diesel deal as senators from both parties objectHe said he “made the right choice” (CNBC, Reuters); the NST reported senators calling it illegal; Germany’s Merz said it is out of the question for Europe (DW).World · ✓ 4 outlets

Pope Leo to enter hospital today for surgery on a lung noduleThe Vatican said he would be hospitalised on Tuesday; the NST described the nodule as early-stage.World · ✓ 4 outlets

World · Middle EastPress ✓ 6 outlets · the weekend toll is not repeated here

Airlines cancel Riyadh flights for weeks and Malaysia tells umrah pilgrims to postpone after the airport attacks

The aftermath of the Houthi strikes on Riyadh’s airport shaped travel plans on Monday. CNA reported that the airport extended its suspension of flights, and Reuters said airlines cancelled services to Saudi Arabia. The NST reported that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned American airlines over Saudi flights, the Inquirer said Philippine Airlines cancelled Riyadh flights until 29 November, and CNBC reported that Delta delayed the debut of its Saudi service until March. The NST reported one person dead and 11 wounded in the Sunday attack, and an Indian national died, the embassy said. AP reported that the Saudis were investigating how air defences failed to stop the attack.

For Malaysians, CNA and the Straits Times reported that the government urged citizens to postpone umrah trips; DailyDrop saw those two headlines but not the full advisory, so it does not describe the wording. Indonesia called for vigilance, CNA said, and Indonesian outlets reported pilgrim groups delaying departures. Separately, DW published a fact-check saying viral videos were falsely linked to the Riyadh attacks. Bloomberg reported that the Saudis said new missiles were intercepted.

Open story and DailyDrop view

Politics · Budget 2027Press ✓ 4 outlets · analyst views attributed

Budget 2027 debate opens in the Dewan Rakyat as analysts weigh the cost of the RM2,000 minimum wage

The Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, began debating Budget 2027 on Monday, with the gap in access to healthcare among the day’s topics, Malay Mail reported. The NST carried a report that the RM69 billion education allocation is meant to close an infrastructure gap and lift welfare, and another saying plantation earnings face a 7% hit from the RM2,000 minimum wage. Another NST report said emoluments and pensions drive higher government operating spending. The Health Ministry approved 400 more ambulances, the NST reported.

Markets leaned positive. The NST and FMT reported that the ringgit opened higher on the Budget’s pledge of fiscal discipline, and FMT said Bursa opened higher on budget sentiment. The SCMP wrote that the Budget tackles graft but that critics ask whether it is too late. The Malaysian Dental Association urged that contract dentists not be left behind (Malay Mail). DailyDrop did not find an opposition reply in the reports it saw.

Open story and DailyDrop view

Markets · Closemarket data · Monday U.S. close comes after this edition

KLCI closes 0.59% higher on bank buying while Genting sinks; Wall Street’s Monday close is still to come

The FBM KLCI closed at 1,618.01 on Monday, up 9.56 points or 0.59% from Friday’s 1,608.45, according to The Star and Free Malaysia Today, helped by bargain-hunting in banking shares and optimism over Budget 2027. Decliners outnumbered gainers 778 to 344, The Star reported, with Genting among the heaviest losers. The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar (NST, FMT), but DailyDrop could not confirm its Monday closing rate from two sources, so the ringgit ear shows a dash.

Monday’s U.S. session was still trading when this edition was written and closes after it, so the latest completed Wall Street figures are Friday’s: the S&P 500 rose 0.59% to 7,811.54, the Nasdaq Composite 0.64% to 27,366.17 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.83% to 51,654.95. WTI crude settled on Friday at US$91.85 (+0.39%) and gold at US$4,216.3 (+1.43%). During Monday’s U.S. session a market-data feed showed WTI near US$93.7, about 2% higher; that is an intraday quote, not a close. The NST reported oil climbing in Asian trade on the Middle East conflict and tanker attacks, and Reuters said the dollar stayed near an 18-month high. DailyDrop will not forecast the direction.

Open story and DailyDrop view

By the numbers

1,618.01FBM KLCI close on Monday, +0.59%

7,811.54S&P 500 close on Friday 9 Oct, +0.59%

US$91.85WTI settle on Friday 9 Oct, +0.39%

In brief

King Abdullah II of Jordan begins a two-day state visit marking six decades of tiesMalay Mail
Special Branch officer files fresh report with new evidence over alleged assault by border control chief ShuhailyMalay Mail, NST
Najib’s 1MDB case and Na’imah among key court proceedings this weekNST
Palace confirms Negeri Sembilan’s Muhriz will skip the rulers’ council amid throne tussleStraits Times
Semantan Estate files fresh suit seeking sale of RM13 billion Duta Enclave land or compensationMalay Mail, FMT
Health Ministry approves 400 additional ambulancesNST
North Korea fires projectile toward the sea off its east coast, Seoul saysFMT, AP
Hall and Woodford win the Nobel memorial prize in economicsAP, Reuters

Seven minutes every morning, one page — see About

Unverified — what we cannot confirm

“Russia has agreed to the energy ceasefire.” Trump’s claim. Kyiv says Russian strikes on energy sites continued (Reuters, AP), and Reuters reported the Kremlin rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea and wants an overall peace deal.

“The government will fund AirAsia.” A Reuters exclusive citing unnamed sources says talks are under way. DailyDrop saw no statement from the government or the airline.

“Viral videos show the Riyadh airport attacks.” DW’s fact-check says some of the videos circulating are falsely linked to the attacks.

Influencer watch

Volodymyr Zelensky Telegram · 10/12Said Ukraine is ready for real solutions and de-escalation steps after its negotiators’ meetings in the US.
Volodymyr Zelensky Telegram · 10/12Said Ukraine is preparing for important talks with the EU and had discussed key positions and financial needs.

Statements as posted, not fact-checked.

What to watch

Today, Tue 13 OctSchools in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya closed, per the Straits Times (check your notice); Budget debate continues in the Dewan Rakyat; King Abdullah II’s state visit ends; Pope Leo enters hospital; Monday’s U.S. close lands after this edition.This week, 13–18 OctNajib’s 1MDB case and other court proceedings, NST said; whether the Riyadh airport reopens.LaterPakatan’s Melaka candidates on 18 October and the Budget debate to 22 October, as reported in earlier editions and not re-checked here.For readersCheck your school’s closure notice, and confirm any umrah or Saudi travel with your airline and Wisma Putra.

Glossary · dotted words — economic, legal, political and science terms explained in context. The list grows every day.

INSIDEHaze rebounds in 22 areas as Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya schools close again on TuesdayNation · HazeGenting shares slump to 2007 lows after a rights issue plan, even as the KLCI edges upMarkets · BursaAirlines cancel Riyadh flights for weeks and Malaysia tells umrah pilgrims to postpone after the airport attacksWorld · Middle EastBudget 2027 debate opens in the Dewan Rakyat as analysts weigh the cost of the RM2,000 minimum wagePolitics · Budget 2027KLCI closes 0.59% higher on bank buying while Genting sinks; Wall Street’s Monday close is still to comeMarkets · Close