Zahid outlines 3 goals if made PM: Economy, fair education, and national security PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister and Umno President, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has three goals if he becomes the Prime Ministerboosting the national economy, ensuring fair education and enhancing national security. He admitted that becoming prime minister is the ultimate ambition of every politician, and he is no exception. However, whether it ultimately becomes a reality is not for any individual to ..

SHIBADONG, HUNAN: Long Xianlan, 39, used to be known as Shibadong villages three ghostsdrunkard, beggar and lazybones. Today, with more than 300 beehives and a honey packaging workshop, he is the Bee Master. His story is now being told to young Lao farmers who see in him a reason to stop waiting and start working. I drank every day because poverty left me without hope, Long said in a recent interview, sitting on the porch of his two-story wooden house in Shibadong, Hunan province. Orphaned at a ..

ASEAN factories face closures and layoffs as war-driven cost shock spreads BANGKOK : Factories across Southeast Asia are beginning to close and cut jobs as war-driven increases in raw-material, energy and shipping costs squeeze manufacturers, exposing a widening divide between booming electronics exporters and struggling industries such as furniture, footwear, plastics and local manufacturing. While strong production in electronics has helped keep headline economic indicators looking relatively ..

Multi-cornered fights on the cards in Negeri Sembilan SEREMBAN: With the dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly, the unity coalition that contested the last state election will be no more and multi-cornered fights are expected in the coming polls. Following the formation of the unity government after the November 2022 general election, Negeri Sembilan held its state election in August 2023. Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) contested under the unity government framework, ..

Negeri Sembilan MB to announce dissolution of state assembly today SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun announces the state legislative assembly will be dissolved today. He said this in an urgent press conference held at his official residence at 11pm after obtaining the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir at 8.30pm last night. Aminuddin just met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Parti ..

Diesel subsidy quota cut 30-70%: Transportation, goods prices to rise PETALING JAYA: Following the government's revision of diesel subsidy quotasresulting in cuts between 30% and 70% for various types of lorriesoperators fear the move will drive up the prices of goods and increase the cost of living for the public. According to data provided by the Malaysia Trucking Federation (MTF) and industry operators, different vehicle types face varying degrees of reductions: For 26-wheel heavy trucks, ..

KANGAR: The state government maintains its decision of not renewing gaming licences, says its Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah. He said this in response to questions raised as the Court of Appeal ruled that the Kedah state government could not ban pool betting and lotteries on moral grounds. In a judgement released last week, the Court of Appeal ruled that the state government may regulate licensing based on premise-related foctors, including building conditions, safety compliance, sanitation, ..

SHENZHEN: Robots production in technology powerhouse Shenzhen is highly efficient and is of top quality. And, robots will soon be walking into hotelsas servants. Unveiled at a signing ceremony by Pudu Robotics and the Shenzhen-based culture and tourism industry development company, the project will deploy robots in every guest-serving role, such as greeting visitors, carrying luggage, handling visitors checking in, room services, delivering meals, cleaning, making security checks and even ..

Music concerts going gangbusters in Southeast Asia, countries vying to gain exclusivity in bringing in biggest star TOKYO: As the population of middle- income earners with spare money to throw around grows in Southeast Asia, the market for experience-based consumptionspending on special trips, cuisine and activities, rather than tangible goodsis growing. Among these experiences, the live entertainment market generates significant economic uplift through inbound tourism as visitors flock to ..

Dress my age? No thanks: Meet Singapores granfluencers redefining style on social media SINGAPORE: Fashion has long been obsessed with youth, but increasingly, some of the most inspiring dressers are older Singaporeans. Beyond cinema, silver-streaked Singaporeans styled with confidence, humour, attitude and presence have begun gaining traction on social media, notes local fashion content creator Kristian Lenardt. His TikTok videos under the handle @kristianlenardt, featuring himself styling ..

Not just a live-in helper: Indonesias new law changes how its domestic workers see their role JAKARTA: Ms Pani, 64, has worked as a live-in domestic worker for the same family for 44 years. A native of Boyolali, Central Java, she came to Jakarta as a teenager after her brother sent a letter saying someone was looking for a domestic worker. She never left. I decided to come because I heard that living in Jakarta was good, she told _The Straits Times._ Her employer, Ms Tokiko Latuharhary, 75, ..

Tourist surge chokes Cameron Highlands roads, vegetable trucks take seven hours to complete one-hour trip CAMERON HIGHLANDS: A holiday exodus to Cameron Highlands over the long weekend triggered a massive traffic jam where vegetable transport lorries take up to seven hours to reach their destinations. The gridlock, which stretched from the uphill routes at Simpang Pulai and Tapah to major roads within the highlands, left residents, traders and delivery operators stranded for hours as visitor ..

US and China heading toward inevitable peace, says Victor Gao **KUALA LUMPUR:** The United States and China are moving toward an "inevitable peace," according to Victor Gao Zhikai, Director of the China Institute for Energy Security and Vice President of the Centre for China and Globalization (CCG). Gao, who served as an English translator for Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping during historic meetings with prominent US statesmen such as Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and Henry Kissinger in the ..

Johor survey: UEC A1 students score only B grades in SPM Chinese paper KUALA LUMPUR A survey conducted in Johor reveals that more than half of Chinese independent school students who sat for the Chinese language paper in both the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and SPM 2025 scored a lower grade in the latter. Tan Tai Kim, chairman of the Johor United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong), said the results showed that over half of the 215 students in the survey performed worse ..

PMO advisor: Fuel consumption still rising despite WFH, likely due to weekend getaways KUALA LUMPUR: Despite government efforts to rationalise fuel subsidies and promote work-from-home (WFH) arrangements, government data shows a slight increase in petrol usage. This persistent trend in fuel consumption remains a cause for concern, according to Nurhisham Hussein, Senior Economic and Finance Advisor to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). The government is still investigating the root causes, he ..

Family of 78-year-old dementia patient donates her corneas PETALING JAYA: Her memory may have faded, but Wong Nyuk Ming is remembered as a loving mother who was always willing to help others, especially children. Wong's family consented to donating her corneas after the 78-year-old dementia patient passed away at Sungai Buloh Hospital on May 22. The hospital's organ and tissue donation unit shared on Facebook that despite her memory loss, Wong's warm personality remained unchanged. "Behind her ..

BEIJING: Durian prices are tumbling as booming imports, faster logistics and a wave of seasonal fruit make the tropical fruit increasingly affordable for consumers. Prices for some durian varieties have fallen 10 percent to 20 percent from a year earlier, according to wholesale market data and retailers. Durian that once sold for as much as 300 yuan (RM175) to 400 yuan (RM234) each can now be found for less than 100 yuan in some markets, fueling social media buzz around achieving durian ..

PMs political secretary Chan Ming Kai: Chinese voters should not vote to please themselves PETALING JAYA: Chinese Malaysians must understand local political rules and avoid approaching elections with a vote for personal satisfaction mentality as the election outcome may not only fail to produce the best result but the worst for them instead. Prime Ministers political secretary Chan Ming Kai said political parties are now facing a new challengehow to help the Chinese community understand the ..

Hong Kong overtakes Switzerland as top global cross-border wealth hub **HONG KONG** Hong Kong has overtaken Switzerland for the first time as the worlds largest cross-border wealth hub, US-based global management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group said. Cross-border wealth booked in Hong Kong rose 10.7 percent in 2025 to reach RM11.53 trillion ($2.9 trillion), driven by Chinese mainland capital inflows, strong initial public offering activity, and equity-market gains, according to BCG ..

Decline in A+ for SPM Chinese Paper: Eight Chinese education groups urge government to standardise assessment criteria KAJANG: The sharp plunge in A+ for SPM Chinese paper has led to Chinese education groups urging the Ministry of Education and Malaysian Examinations Syndicate to look into the matter. The United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), which convened the meeting with major Chinese education organisations, called on the Ministry of Education and the ..

One Malaysian dead, 20 feared trapped after collapse of building project in Philippines Angeles city **ANGELES** A Malaysian national died while more than 20 workers were feared trapped beneath the rubble after a nine-story building still under construction collapsed in Barangay Balibago here before dawn on Sunday. Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu, officer in charge of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), confirmed the fatality, saying the man was a PWD (person with ..

Malaysian Chinese students in national schools are new targets of Taiwan universities KUALA LUMPUR: Taiwan is expanding its student recruitment drive in Malaysia beyond Chinese independent school graduates to include students from national schools and vernacular schools (SMJKs). Lien Yu Ping, the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, said the expansion is to attract more Malaysians to study in Taiwan. In the past, the recruitment efforts had primarily targeted ..

Never too late to write a will: Frozen inheritance assets in Malaysia reaches staggering RM90b KUALA LUMPUR: Frozen inheritance assets has reached a staggering RM90 billion, with experts attributing this to a lack of estate planning among Malaysians. According to official statistics, the frozen assets include properties, shares, investments, and other capital belonging to deceased persons that cannot be distributed yet due to unresolved legal or administrative matters. And if this does not pose ..

KUALA LUMPUR: Elections may still be far away but the Pandan parliamentary seat is warming up after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli left PKR and resigned as Pandan member of parliament. Former Pandan MP Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat appeared at a Wesak event held in Pandan constituency while Datuk Leong Kok Wee, a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate who contested in Pandan twice, also attended the event on Sunday. Joining them was Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahims senior ..

Turning down millions for a shared vision : The story behind Rafizis Parti Bersama Malaysia takeover PENANG: Their very first meeting focused on matching visions rather than financial terms. This was what drove Tan Gin Theam, the founding president of Parti Bersama Malaysia (formerly known as the National Unity Party), to hand over the political party to Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, the former Deputy President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). In an exclusive telephone interview, Tan revealed that ..

Beyond chequebook diplomacy: Japan deepens economic security ties with ASEAN amid Iran war TOKYO: Going beyond mere chequebook diplomacy, Japan has been deepening its ties with Southeast Asia since the Iran war in what analysts describe as enlightened self-interest, aiming to help both itself and ASEAN weather the current global instability. One headline policy is the Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia), announced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on April 15 at a ..

Workers association launches RM300,000 ambulance fund to save lives of Malaysian commuters JOHOR BAHRU: An association has been formed to look into the welfare of Malaysian workers who commute daily to Singapore with the purchase of an ambulance as its first project. The aim is to provide immediate emergency responses to cross-border workers. Founding president Lew Chen Chi said ambulance acquisition had become the organisations top priority as a result of his frequent interactions with ..

Japan stops accepting new specified skilled workers in food service sector as foreigners nears 50,000 limit TOKYO: The Japanese government stopped accepting new foreigners working in the food service sector under the Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) program in mid-April in principle because the number of those allowed to work in the sector is expected to reach its limit of 50,000 as early as this month. Given the recent surge in the number of foreign workers with SSW type 1, a status of ..

Rafizi urges Chinese voters to move beyond only DAP mindset PETALING JAYA: Former minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, who has taken over Parti Bersama Malaysia, urges the Chinese community to move beyond the only DAP mindset. The Chinese is also urged to confront the potential dilemma brought by the decline of Chinese political representation over the next 20 to 30 years. He pointed out that the phenomenon of over 90% of non-Malay voters supporting the same political coalition for two decades is ..

Dating costs more, but young Koreans say its worth it SEOUL: Dating is becoming another cost pressure for young Koreans, but many say the financial burden is not enough to make them give up on romance. About 7 in 10 Koreans in their 20s and 30s said they felt dating involved a heavy financial burden, according to a survey by NRISE, operator of the social discovery app Wippy. The survey was conducted among 1,485 male and female Wippy users in that age group. Nearly half of respondents said the ..

The 'Three Kingdoms' of Malaysian politics: Liew Chin Tong outlines regional strongholds ahead of election battle PUTRAJAYA: Peninsular Malaysia is gradually forming a Three Kingdoms era dominated by three major political coalitions, where Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli can potentially emerge as a fourth force, further complicating the national political map. DAP strategic director Liew Chin Tong shared his analysis in an exclusive interview with _Sin Chew Daily_ on the latest political development. ..

Scam groups shift from Southeast Asia to Sri Lanka, over 1,000 held BANGKOK: Sri Lanka has arrested a rising number of suspected foreign scammers, prompting concern among authorities that the island could quickly become a hub for online crime after strict crackdowns in trouble spots such as Cambodia and Myanmar. Sri Lankan officials said some scam networks driven out of countries in Southeast Asia had set up new bases, increasingly moving operations to Sri Lanka, an attractive destination ..

Razman: PN can win Perak with 60% Malay votes, taking state power not difficult IPOH: Perikatan Nasional (PN) believes it stands a strong chance of taking over the Perak state government if it secures constituencies with at least 60% Malay voters, said Perak opposition leader Razman Zakaria. Razman, who is assemblymen for Gunung Semanngol, said PNs goal in the next general election is to defend its existing 26 state seats while capturing four more seats to form the state government. Razman said ..

"Rat-pocalypse" in Puchong : Shocking photo reveals 275 rats caught PUCHONG: A total of 275 rats were exterminated in a single day by the Subang Jaya City Council at Bandar Puteri 1 commercial area, Puchong on May 9. In a group photo, health officers from the city council posed with community volunteers and the massive numbers of dead rats lined up in neat rows on the pavement. Due to the sheer scale of the infestation captured in the photo, the photo shared on Facebook by Puchong TODAY quickly ..

Higher Education DG: SPM remains the baseline for public varsity entry; UEC still not fully recognised. PUTRAJAYA: A student holding a full Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificateincluding those from Chinese Independent High Schools (UEC holders) and religious schoolsis eligible to apply for diploma, matriculation, and foundation courses at public universities (IPTA). Higher Education Director-General Datuk Prof. Dr Azlinda Azman stressed that for students possessing both SPM and UEC ..

King of Malaysia receives Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing and Mother Bhumi team (JOHOR BAHRU: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, receives Chinese superstar Datuk Fan Bingbing and the Mother Bhumi team, a film which has just won several awards in the 62nd Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan. Also in the delegation are:Mother Bhumis producer Wong Kew Soon, film director Chong Keat Aun and Fans manager Jersey Chong, who is from Johor. Fan, who is also the Melaka Tourism Friendship Ambassador, ..

Japanese snack giant changes to black and white packaging as Iran war hit ink supplies TOKYO: Calbee, Inc. plans to change the packaging of flagship products, including Potato Chips, to black and white, it was learned Monday. The decision to decolorise is due to ongoing shortages of solvents and resins. The cause is a lack of naphtha, a key raw material for printing ink, as a consequence of the current situation in the Middle East. The company has notified retailers and other stakeholders of ..

Malacca Teochew Association recovers RM360,000 of outstanding study loans MALACCA: The Malacca Teochew Association has successfully recovered RM360,000 out of RM400,000 in outstanding study loans owed over the years, with slightly over RM30,000 still pending collection. Seet Jen Ping, the scholarship and study loan chairman of the association, said some of the unpaid loans have been outstanding for more than 10 years. He urged scholarship recipients to repay the loans as soon as possible. ..

From prison to kitchen: Tangkak food court owner offers parolees a second chance TANGKAK: Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is that society is willing to give them a chance to start over. We shouldn't write them off entirely because of their past, said Ong Chee Siang, the owner of Tangkak Food Court. Also a Tangkak district councillor, Ong has hired 14 parolees 12 Chinese and two indians under the Licensed Release of Prisoners Programme (PBSL). These individuals, referred to as "Prospeks" ..