Former PM Ismail Sabri admitted to IJN, charge deferred to Aug 27 KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN). He will be present in court to face charges on Aug 27. Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, counsel for Ismail Sabri, said the member of parliament for Bera will be undergoing a medical procedure to place a pacemaker after Friday prayers. At this moment, please pray for a speedy recovery on his behalf. The focus is on ..

Former PM Ismail Sabri to face asset declaration charge today PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be brought to the Sessions Court to face charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act today. The Bera member of parliament will be brought before Judge Suzana Hussin at 9am, according to records listed in the court system. It is learned that the charges against Ismail Sabri are related to his asset declaration. Prior to this, Ismail Sabri ..

TITI: As DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook shows up to express gratitude to voters despite his defeat, many greet him with tears. For the past 13 years since winning the seat in 2013, many locals have been used to Loke as the state assemblyman and they are disappointed that he has lost the Chennah state seat to MCA's Siow Kong Choon by 688 votes. As he walked the main street of Titi to thank the villagers for supporting him, women and senior citizens were seen weeping openly while men were ..

Editor Kuik's Treat: Liew Kee Sin on life, family, and putting heart into what matters most Every day is a good day when you are in the company of friends, rain or shine. A dining table, a few home-cooked dishes, and a cup of tea can open peoples hearts far more easily than any broadcasting studio. _Editor Kuik__'s Treat_ is not a typical celebrity interview, nor is it a corporate dialogue. It is an unscripted, warm conversation around a dining, sponsored by Eco World. Datuk Kuik Cheng Kang, ..

Record low gap between births and deaths in Singapore poses demographic challenge SINGAPORE: The gap between the number of births and deaths in Singapore has shrunk to its smallest in almost a century. In 2025, just 3,365 more babies were born than the number of people who died, according to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2025 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on July 27. The figure is a steep drop from a decade ago, when there were 22,323 more births than ..

Teluk Intan store closes for a day to cleanse shopping carts after dog incident TELUK INTAN**:** A department store here closed for a day to carry out ritual cleansing after a customer placed her dog inside a shopping cart. A Malay woman photographed the shopper with her dog inside the cart and posted it on social media, where the image quickly went viral. After consulting the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, the store decided to voluntarily close today to undergo a ..

Cross-region survey: Credible media and official sources lead public trust in Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Taiwan KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese populations in Malaysia, Singapore, China and Taiwan place highest level of trust in news reported by credible media with clear sources, according to a cross-region survey on public perception in the AI-era. The respondents also indicated high level of trust in official information released by professional research institutions and government bodies. In ..

Loke Siew Fook resigns as Negeri Sembilan DAP chief after party loses Chennah and Repah KUALA LUMPUR**:** DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook announced that he is stepping down as Negeri Sembilan DAP chief, a post he has held for 22 years, to take responsibility for the party's failure to retain the Chennah and Repah state seats. "I take full responsibility for the defeat in the two state seats of Chennah and Repah," he said. Loke said he would remain DAP secretary-general and focus on leading ..

Former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddins parliamentary service centre remains open to serve public, says aide PORT DICKSON: Former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Haruns parliamentary service centre remains open to serve the public, says Datuk Kenny Chiew, special officer to Aminudin. Aminuddin expressed his gratitude to all supporters and emphasised that he respected voters choice. As the member of parliament of Port Dickson, he is dedicated to serve the public. Chiew ..

MCA wins two state seats in Negeri Sembilan after 13 years SEREMBAN: The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) has achieved a breakthrough in the Negeri Sembilan state election, winning the Chennah and Repah seats to mark its return after 13 years. First-timer Siow Kong Choon, 38, unseated DAP secretary-general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook with a 688-vote majority in the Chennah state seat. Meanwhile, in Repah, Koh Kim Swee defeated DAP incumbent S. Veerapan, who had held the ..

DAP Sec-Gen Loke Siew Fook may quit as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman Chennah: DAP Secretary-General Loke Siew Fook announced that he will consider resigning as the Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman to take responsibility for the election outcome. He would raise this during the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting for CEC to decide. Loke made the anouncement after the release of unofficial election results where he lost the Chennah seat to MCAs Siow Kong Choon by less than 1,000 votes. This is ..

Environmental professor urges regional solutions for transboundary air pollution in Southeast Asia MANILA: The Southeast Asia environment is in a highly vulnerable context as it faces multiple hazards, with countries in the region being disproportionately affected by the invisible yet severe impacts of climate-exacerbated air pollution. Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health (CCEH) Director, Prof. Steve Yim, discussed the relationship between climate change, air pollution, and ..

Young people turn to taxi driving in Japans major cities TOKYO: While the aging of taxi drivers has long been a concern, now there are signs that the workforce is getting younger, mainly in major cities. Over the past year, the average age of tax drivers has dropped by more than three years, or by about five years in Osaka Prefecture and four years in Tokyo. Labuor shortages following a post-pandemic recovery in demand have led to improved working conditions for drivers, attracting young people ..

Will lightning strike twice? Lim Kit Siangs car plate sparks lottery buzz in Bahau BAHAU: Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang is undoubtedly one of DAPs heaviest political icons, but during a recent visit here, his towering presence shared the spotlight with memories of an eight-year-old windfall tied to his cars license plate. The 85-year-old party veteran received a rockstar welcome in Bahau on Thursday while campaigning alongside Pakatan Harapan candidate Teo Kok Seong who faces Barisan Nasionals Chong ..

Kajang: Business owners offer RM1,000 reward to trace serial dog poisoner KAJANG**:** Business owners in the Sungai Chua Industrial Area have joined forces to offer a RM1,000 reward to capture a serial dog poisoner, following the deaths of about 50 stray dogs over three consecutive weeks. Appealing to the public for leads, the local merchants also plan to distribute flyers to all factory operators in the industrial area, urging workers and employers not to harm stray animals. Most of the ..

Durian or pineapple? Public poll to decide fruit to represent Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is proposing a nationwide survey by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to gather public view on the choice for national fruit. This will provide the government with a reference basis before deciding which fruit to take the title, says Chan Foong Hin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food. Currently, Malaysia does not have an officially recognised ..

Negeri Sembilan state election: As the decisive swing force, where will the 130,000 Indian votes go? The Negeri Sembilan state election depends not only on the political inclinations of Malay and Chinese voters, but also heavily on Indian voters. The voter turnout of the Indian community could serve as the final piece of the puzzle in deciding victory or defeat in mixed constituencies. For Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN), capturing fence-sitters has become the central ..

How will Korean conglomerate SK Groups chairman Chey Tae-won pay his RM2.63 billion divorce bill? SEOUL: SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-wons nearly RM2.8 billion (1 trillion won) divorce case has shifted investor attention to SK Group shares as markets assess how he will finance the record settlement while maintaining his grip on the energy-to-chip conglomerate. The Seoul High Court on Friday ordered Chey to pay 944 billion won (RM2.63 billion) to his former wife Roh Soh-yeong in the countrys ..

Serial dog poisoning incidents leave about 50 dogs dead in Sungai Chua Industrial Area Petaling Jaya: Serial dog poisoning incidents have occurred at the Sungai Chua Industrial Area in Kajang, with about 50 dogs believed to have died after consuming poisoned food. An animal lover wrote in the Facebook group that the dogs killed were not neglected strays. Most were dogs kept by factories in the industrial area, where they had been fed and cared for by business operators for years as guards of ..

Vincent Tans success formula: effort and persistence matter more than talent or degrees Kuala Lumpur: Berjaya Corporation founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan's secret to success is pursuing ambitious dreams without giving up. Persistence matters far more than talent or academic qualifications. As long as young people work relentlessly toward their goals and stay the course, they will have the opportunity to create their own success, said Tan. Invited to speak at the 130th anniversary celebration of ..

The battle of Chennah: DAP Sec-Gen Loke defends his turf against MCAs bid to make a comeback If you were to ask which state seat is most worth watching in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, I would say it isnt Lobak, nor is it Temiangit is Chennah. This contest is no longer merely about winning or losing a single state seat. It has evolved into a critical battle that touches on political symbolism, leadership prestige, party morale, and the broader trajectory of the entire state ..

Dong Zong: UEC graduates left in the dark as public university application details remain unannounced KUALA LUMPUR: UEC graduates from Chinese independent schools are still in the dark about applying to specific courses at public universities. Despite the Ministry of Higher Education announced that UEC graduates and religious school graduates can apply for specific courses at public universities starting June 30, details of the application remain nowhere to be seen. Dong Zong Executive Director ..

Melaka Pakatan Harapan to challenge appointed assemblymen amendment in court MELAKA**:** Melaka Pakatan Harapan (PH) will take the state constitutional amendment regarding appointed assemblymen to court to determine whether the motion violates the state constitution. Melaka DAP Chairman Khoo Poay Tiong stated that after consulting several constitutional experts, their legal opinions indicate that the amendment passed by the state assembly could be unconstitutional. Khoo expressed hope that ..

How influx of cheap goods from China is threatening SMEs in ASEAN Through e-commerce app from China, one can buy almost everythingfrom clothes, shoes, and storage organisers to kitchen racks and electric scooters are delivered to doorstep at ultra-low prices, often with free shipping. Have you found yourself happily adding items to your cart and shopping non-stop? While consumers are thrilled, local business owners across Southeast Asia are far from smiling. Many are pleading: "We can't take ..

8123: The magic code behind DAP's campaign strategy The Democratic Action Party (DAP) once again proved its mastery of political publicity. Last Sunday, the party placed advertisements featuring just four numbers 8123 in Chinese newspapers, instantly capturing the attention of the Chinese voters in Negeri Sembilan. Whether in coffee shops or on street corners, wherever there were Chinese Malaysians, conversations seemed to revolve around these four digits. Throughout the day, people speculated ..

Hong Kong screen legend Patrick Tse, fourth brother, passes away at 89 Hong Kong: Legendary Hong Kong movie star Patrick Tse, or Sei Gor (fourth brother) in Cantonese, has passed away at the age of 89. According to Hong Kong media reports, his son, Nicholas Tse who was in Qingdao, China, preparing for Evolution Nic Live Concert on July 25 and 26, rushed back to Hong Kong to handle his fathers funeral. Nicholas confirmed his father's passing on Instagram: "It is with deep regret that I announce ..

PETALING JAYA: The kidney is now the highest on the wanted list of organs, with 10,000 renal failure patients waiting for transplants. National Transplant Centre (NTC) director Dr Mohd Syafiq Ismail Azman, who disclosed this, said the problem was being compounded by the low organ procurement rate from deceased donors. Those in need of kidney transplants typically have to wait between 10 and 13 years, he said. The wait could drag on for years to come, based on the grim statistics of the Health ..

MCA has never signed any agreement with PAS, says MCA president Wee Ka Siong SEREMBAN: MCA has never signed any political agreement with PAS, says MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong. MCA is also not seeking to establish a new political alliance, he said. Instead, Wee is urging voters who are concerned with PAS gaining influence to help MCA win more seats so that it can act as a counterbalance to the Islamic party. Wee stressed that cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan ..

Alipay+ transactions in Malaysia surge 90% in a year, surpass RM800 million in 2025 KUALA LUMPUR: Transaction volumes by foreign tourists using the Alipay+ ecosystem for QR code payments in Malaysia surged by 89.6%, jumping from RM435 million in 2024 to RM824 million in 2025. According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the total number of transactions also grew by 60.4%, rising from 6.6 million transactions in 2024 to 10.5 million in 2025. This strong growth momentum extended into the first ..

Federal government has no plan to close down pig farms, says Chan Foong Hin KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government has never intended to close down pig farms or ban the pig farming industry, says Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Chan Foong Hin. However, he said pig farms must comply with environmental pollution laws and regulations. State governments would have their regulations since land use rights fall under the jurisdiction of respective state governments. The Department ..

Traditional Chinese tea ritual embraces World Cup flavour JIANGSU: A unique scene has unfolded in Yangzhou in East Chinas Jiangsu province over the past month during the World Cup, which is heading toward its thrilling finale. Normally serene teahouses, filled with the aroma of freshly steamed delicacies, are now abuzz with the cheers and occasional tears of soccer fans watching the early-morning matches. Unlike previous tournaments, when late- night games often came with barbecue and beer, the ..

Only 19.4% of Malaysian Chinese attend Chinese independent schools, 13.3% enrolled in private institutions, says Fadhlina KUALA LUMPUR: Out of 387,406 Chinese students, only 19.4 % or 75,144 of them are enrolled in Chinese independent schools while 67.3% or 260,099 of them are vernacular Chinese secondary school students known as SMJK under the Ministry of Education. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said 51,563 or 13.3% of them are studying in private educational institutions. She said this in ..

Except for Adly Zahari, four DAP assemblymen are in opposition bloc in state assembly MELAKA: Four Democratic Action Party (DAP) assemblymen are now seated at the opposition bloc in the state assembly today, except for Adly Zahari, who is from Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and the state chairman for Pakatan Harapan (PH). The four - Allex Seah Shoo Chin (DAP-Kesidang), Low Chee Leong (DAP-Kota Laksamana), Leng Chau Yen (DAP-Banda Hilir) and Kerk Chee Yee (DAP- Ayer Keroh) quit the state government ..

SJK(C) Sam Chai launches solar project; set to save RM380,000 over 20 years IPOH: SJK(C) Sam Chai has become the country's first semi government-aided Chinese primary school to adopt a zero-capital expenditure solar power system, a move expected to slash its monthly electricity bills by RM1,500 to RM1,700. The Net Energy Metering (NEM 3.0) project, executed in partnership with GSPARX Sdn Bhda wholly-owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)is projected to save the school roughly ..

Melaka Pakatan Harapan exits Unity Government Four DAP and one Amanah assemblymen quit MELAKA: Four assemblymen from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and one from Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) have exited the Melaka Unity Government following the passage of a constitutional amendment allowing for nominated state assemblymen. The four DAP lawmakersAllex Seah (Kesidang), Leng Chau Yen (Bandar Hilir), Low Chee Leong (Kota Laksamana), and Kerk Chee Yee (Ayer Keroh)have collectively resigned from ..

Don't rush for General Elections, focus on rebuilding strength first, Barisan Nasional urged PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno should capitalise on Johor election victory by reinforcing organisational structures instead of rushing into a General Election (GE), analysts say. Universiti Malaya political analyst Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi noted that Umno currently boasts one of the country's most competitive grassroots machineries and local leadership structures. "This victory is a ..

Johor polls: Voter turnout reaches 63.13 % by 4pm, surpassing 54.92% in 2022 Johor Bahru: Voter turnout for the state election reached 63.13% as of 4pm, surpassing the final turnout of 54.92% recorded in the 2022 state election by 8.21 percentage points. A total of 1,693,625 out of 2,682,642 registered voters had cast their ballots by 4pm. Polling for the Johor state election will close at 6pm. With voters arriving at polling stations during the final hours, the final turnout rate is expected ..

PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad celebrates his 101st birthday today, receiving a wave of well-wishes from leaders and members of the public. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim posted a message on Facebook, wishing the former premier a happy birthday and praying for his continued good health and blessings. Dr Mahathirs eldest daughter, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, also took to Facebook to mark the milestone, affectionately writing, "101 is the new 70. Happy ..

ByLu Wei Hoong and Lok Jian Wen / The Straits Times / ANN What has Chinas hit movie Dear You got to do with Malaysias upcoming Johor state elections? ByLu Wei Hoong and Lok Jian Wen / The Straits Times / ANN KUALA LUMPUR The film Dear You has moved many moviegoers and become the top-grossing Chinese- language movie in Malaysia in 2026, with box office takings of at least RM15 million (S$4.8 million). Political parties are now seeking to capitalise on its popularity to win the support of Chinese ..

10-year tax exempt status restored for TAR Education Foundation PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has decided to restore the tax-exemption for Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) from three years to 10 years. Furthermore, all types of income earned by the foundation will once again enjoy tax exemption. The condition set earlier stated that tax exemption was only limited to donations. Minister of Communication Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced in a statement after the Cabinet ..