The Mahkota by-election in Johor saw Barisan Nasional retain its state seat with an overwhelming majority. First-time candidate Syed Hussein Syed garnered over 27,000 votes, accounting for approximately 79% of the valid votes, while his rival, Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, received just over 7,000 votes. Despite efforts to engage voters, particularly those in Singapore, reports indicated many were unaware of the by-election. We delve into the results with political analyst Adib Zalkapli.

Other stories we covered today:

· New Smoking Regulations to Start Tomorrow: Malaysia's Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act, known as Act 852, will be enforced starting tomorrow. Among other things, the Act aims to protect minors by banning the sale, use and possession of e-cigarettes for those under 18, while also imposing stricter regulations on smoking zones and packaging. We spoke to Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, for his insights.

· Concerns Over Drugged Out Heavy Vehicle Drivers: In light of two fatal accidents involving lorry drivers who tested positive for methamphetamine, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced plans to intensify screenings for heavy vehicle drivers. We hear some insights on the shortcomings on the industry which lead to drug abuse from Wan Agil Wan Hassan, a transport consultant and Founder of Agil & Partners.

· Crackdown on Illegal Veggie Farms in Cameron Highlands: The Pahang Forestry Department has destroyed 17 hectares of illegal vegetable farms encroaching on four protected forests in Cameron Highlands. Local farmers violated the National Forestry Act by cultivating vegetables on these protected lands. We hear from Meenakshi Raman, president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, about the impact of these illegal activities on the environment.

· Looking Towards Melaka's Vehicle-Free Zone: Melaka's successful implementation of a Vehicle-Free Zone in Bandar Hilir has garnered recognition as a potential model for other Malaysian cities. Launched in 2023, this initiative aims to alleviate traffic congestion and promote environmental sustainability by closing off the town center to vehicles for 54 hours each weekend. We hear from Shuhana Shamsuddin, President of Pereka Bandar, and Fazley Fadzil, a public transport and urban planning activist, on the initiative’s benefits.

Image Credit: Barisan Nasional, Facebook