From gold to bargain, fans dive into durian frenzy as prices bottom out PETALING JAYA: A full bag of Musang King durians for just RM133! Durian stalls in Petaling Jayas SS2 are seeing a massive buying frenzy! With a bumper harvest season, the price of Musang King has dropped significantly. Most stalls at the popular SS2 durian hub have launched various promotions, drawing huge crowds of consumers eager to feast on the "King of Fruits." To attract customers, vendors have rolled out competitive ..

Najib must serve a minimum of four years in prison before seeking early conditional release, says lawyer KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak must serve a minimum of four years in prison before he qualifies for early conditional release according to Prisons Act 1995, says lawyer. Criminal lawyer Chris Kooi Wei Kit said Section 111 of the Prison Regulations clearly stipulates that the Commissioner General of Prisons will only consider a prisoner for conditional release once ..

Minecraft challenge breathes new life into Chinas rich cultural past DALIAN/LANZHOU: In the boundless, block-made universe of _Minecraft_, a popular sandbox video game, a poignant digital reconstruction has struck a deep chord across Chinese social media. A young gamer has meticulously re- created part of the destroyed Yuanmingyuan, or Old Summer Palace, a royal garden in Beijing and a symbol of Chinas century of humiliation, and has digitally repatriated the site by reuniting the looted 12 ..

As prisons overflow, South Korea moves to expand parole SEOUL: South Korea will increase the number of inmates released on parole from next year as part of efforts to ease chronic overcrowding in correctional facilities, the Ministry of Justice said Sunday. The ministry said it plans to parole about 1,340 inmates a month in 2026, a 30 percent increase from this year, adding that it will actively push ahead with broader application of parole. Officials stressed that the measure would be ..

Dancing yak mascots of Tibet become online sensation BEIJING/LHASA: At a riverside park in Lhasa, a group of yak mascots has recently become an online sensation, attracting millions of views for their lively dance routines and playful performances. The mascots are part of a riverside cultural tourism initiative and are inspired by Tibetan yak culture rooted in the traditional leather boat dance, _Xizang Daily_ reported. What sets them apart, however, is their contemporary approach. Their ..

Popularity of piggy banks showcased at Japanese banks museum TOKYO: Money boxes come in all shapes and sizes, but the pig is one of the most familiar shapes, as is indicated by the fact that they are commonly called piggy banks in English. Pig-shaped money boxes have been made all over the world. The joy of saving up with the jingle of coins, aiming for a full belly, seems universal across time and place. Some of the pig-shaped money boxes have wide- open eyes like anime characters, while others ..

Umno leaders hit out at Yeo Bee Yin over her "celebration" remark on no house arrest for Najib KUALA LUMPUR : A wave of criticism from UMNO top brass continues to mount against Puchong MP, Yeo Bee Yin over her celebration remark on no house arrest for Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Yeo wrote another reason to celebrate this year end on the news of no house arrest for Najib on her Facebook. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zamry Abdul Kadir, who is also Umno supreme council member, was the first to ..

Portuguese Settlement in Melaka glows with vibrant Christmas spirit MELAKA: Every December, the Portuguese Settlement, nestled along the coast of Ujong Pasir in Melaka, is filled with Christmas spirit. This year, residents have once again poured their hearts into decorating their homes and public spaces, dressing Malaysias only Portuguese Settlement in its finest festive attire. At the heart of the settlement square stands a magnificently decorated Christmas tree, adorned with colorful ..

The issue of halal kitchen should not be blown out of proportions, says Melaka Chief Minister MELAKA: The ban on Christmas decorations in halal kitchens should not be blown out of proportions, says Melaka Chief Minsiter Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh. Clarifying that the Melaka state government has not banned non- Muslims on religious celebrations, Ab Rauf said that only kitchens with halal certificates are not to have religious -themed decorations in order not to confuse Muslim consumers. The hotel ..

PUTRAJAYA: The setting up of the Gig Consultative Council and Gig Workers Tribunal are among the priorities for empowering the countrys employment ecosystem within the next two years, says Datuk Seri R. Ramanan. The Human Resources Minister said that these efforts, alongside drafting the National Human Resources Policy 2026-2035, will establish a fair, efficient and reality-focused governance and dispute resolution mechanism for handling the realities of gig work. He added that the Human ..

PETALING JAYA : On paper, earning RM7,000 a month as an assistant engineer should offer a comfortable life. But for Mohd Amir Izzuddin, it barely covers the essentials. With loans and credit card debts exceeding RM150,000, more than 85% of his income is swallowed up by repayments, leaving little room for savings or unexpected expenses. Not all of Mohd Amirs debts stem from poor decisions. Raised in a village, he grew up believing that a degree and hard work would be his ticket to a modestly ..

Messi event chaos: West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas quits NEW DELHI: West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas on Tuesday resigned from the post, taking moral responsibility for the chaos and vandalism at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata last week during Argentine football legend Lionel Messis GOAT India Tour event, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh said on Tuesday. In a social media post on X in Bangla, Ghosh said that Biswas wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ..

China-Japan tensions ripple into K-pop, as Japanese members sidelined from events in China SEOUL: Tensions between China and Japan also appear to be affecting Koreas K-pop industry, as events featuring groups with Japanese members are either canceled or revised. One such event was Le Sserafims meet- and-greet event for its single Spaghetti, scheduled for Sunday in Shanghai. The event was canceled due to an uncontrollable factor with no further details given. Two of the girl groups five ..

When tiger met lion: The different faces of lion dance in Singapore SINGAPORE: When tiger dancers from Hainan first arrived in Singapore, their craft was overshadowed by the more established and popular southern lion dance. To appeal to the masses, members of the Guang Wu Club, the last Hainanese martial arts organization in Singapore, created the Hainan lion dance, fusing elements of the traditional Hainanese tiger dance with the more familiar Foshan lion dance, said Raymond Foo, president of ..

Fly before the baby comes: Behind the babymoon craze in South Korea SEOUL: Pregnancy comes with a heavier belly, swollen legs, sore backs and hormonal mood swings. But for many mothers-to-be in South Korea, it also brings something else: the urge to splurge on an overseas vacation. These babymoons first gained popularity here more than a decade ago, as a final getaway for parents-to-be before the round-the-clock feedings and sleepless nights begin. The practice has since become a rite of ..

Worlds lowest birth rate? You may be surprised by these Korean womens struggles to have baby SEOUL: Just after midnight on a frigid Friday in February last year, Noh Hee-young and her husband loaded a tent into their car and began a long, silent drive. From Seouls Nowon-gu to Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the trip took nearly four hours. When they arrived at their destination, they instantly realized they were late: There was a long line of tents already. The couple set up their own tent ..

Tan Leong Soon, in his 60s, has been selling at the tricycle without a stall name for 37 years except for Monday or when he has important matters. The Chinese new villagers in Cheras 11th miles just refer the stall at the morning wet market as tricycle chicken rice stall. Tan told Sin Chew Daily reporter that when he first started the business, a pack of chicken rice cost 60 sen. Even now, with rising costs for goods, he is selling at RM4 a packet. He maintains the price at an affordable and ..

The vision school project, also known as Sekolah Wawasan, was tailored to create an environment for students of different ethnic groups to interact through various activities where two to three primary schools of different streams were grouped under a single campus sharing basic facilities such as field, hall and canteen. The original aim of the plan was to preserve mother- tongue education while allowing children of different communities to share space and daily life, thereby promoting ..

Knowing one more language is an advantage, civil servants learn Chinese to bridge the gap Lionel Daraup moved from a multilingual family into the world of Mandarin, while Dr A. Kalaikumar ventured from his childrens secret language into a broader cultural horizon. Their stories remind us that language is not a boundary of identity, but a way to draw closer to one another. In Malaysia, the more languages you know, the wider your path will be; the deeper your understanding, the shorter the ..

Multiple streams of income beyond a stable job? Yes, say Singapores Gen Zs SINGAPORE : Ms Kylie Lee is still a teenager but she is an old hand at side hustles, from trying to sell her designs online to being a fashion micro- influencer. The 18-year-old banking and finance student at Singapore Polytechnic stumbled upon Redbubble, a print-on-demand platform, during the Covid-19 period. The platform allows artists like herself to upload their designs, which can be printed on products like mugs, ..

Retiring at 60 a pipe dream for many Malaysians now? PETALING JAYA: Most Malaysians hope to retire comfortably by 60 but its far easier said than done. From balancing savings, supporting their childrens education, and caring for ageing parents, many are left wondering if their nest egg will be able to last their golden years. The cost of living remains among the biggest concerns. There remains some uncertainty about whether my current savings will support me if I live a long life, said ..

China brings back 1,178 telecom fraud suspects from Myanmar The suspects have been handed over in batches via Thailand under the escort of Chinese police since Dec 1, the ministry said in a statement on its official WeChat account. The transfer followed a ministerial meeting on Nov 14 involving China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, where participants agreed to deepen cooperation and launch coordinated crackdowns on cross-border telecom fraud. Police forces from China, Myanmar ..

PM Anwar will announce language policy, UEC recognition likely resolved in six months, says DAP sec-gen Loke KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be unveiling a new language policy which includes the Unified Examination Certificates (UEC) held by Chinese independent schools, says DAP Secretary-General Loke Siew Fook. Loke, who is also Transport Minister, said the DAP had on many occasions informed Anwar that the recognition of UEC receives close attention in the Chinese ..

Dr Wee: MCA backs Anwar for one term only, says Unity Government is not its permanent home KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has declared that the party supports Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister for current term and the Unity Government is not a permanent home for MCA. At its general assembly on Sunday, MCA also passed a resolution stating that it will not work with Democratic Action Party (DAP) in the next general election. If any Barisan Nasional (BN) component ..

Empowering Chinese mothers through family-friendly jobs WUHAN/BEIJING: When Yang Shixiu leaves a mushroom-sorting workshop in Nanzhang county, Hubei province, at 5 pm, she arrives home just in time to greet her 14-year-old son returning from school. For the first 14 years as a stay-at-home mother, Yang had no personal income. Today, she earns between 3,000 and 3,500 yuan (RM1,744 and RM2,035) a month at the workshop. But the job offers more than financial security her confidence has grown ..

Rescuer turned victim three Malaysians find humility in Hatyai floods ALOR SETAR: Three Malaysians Ang Xin Han, Yeoh Eng Chiat and Wong Hong Seong headed north to help rescue flood victims in Hatyai on Nov 23. Never did they expect to be confronted with flood waters as high as 3.35 metres and they could only stay in their hotel, watching the water level rise helplessly. We hear, we see and yet unable to save that is the most helpless pain for a rescuer, said Ang, who also speaks Thai. This ..

Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin expecting fourth child due March 2026 Puchong: Yeo Bee Yin, the Puchong member of parliament, is expecting her fourth child, due to arrive in March 2026. The 42-year-old MP from Democratic Action Party (DAP) who is also the deputy head of the women's wing, is expecting another baby boy. Married to IOI Properties Group Bhd chief executive officer Lee Yeow Seng in March 2019, Yeo is a mother to three boys. The former Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate ..

Chinese-style obituary and wake for an Indian deceased in Muar MUAR: An Indian deceased was laid to rest with Chinese funeral, as her family broke religious and cultural barriers by incorporating Chinese traditions in setting up a wake for three days. The obituary was written in Chinese, banners and wreaths with Chinese characters were also seen at the wake, reflecting Malaysias unique spirit of multicultural harmony. The deceased, K. Saratha, 87, who passed away on Dec 1, was Jeghanathan ..

Three male students expelled from Muar Chung Hwa High School over AI-generated inappropriate images of female classmates MUAR: Three male students of Muar Chung Hwa High School are expelled from the school for using artificial intelligence to create inappropriate images of female classmates which went viral online. Investigations conducted by the school showed that the three students in form two, form three and lower six used AI software to superimpose faces of several female students onto ..

DAPs support in Sabah drops from 78% to 27%, a major shift in overall sentiment among Chinese voters, says Khairy PETALING JAYA: DAP has faced an unprecedented voter swing in the 17th Sabah state election, with its support plummeting from 78% in the previous election to 27%, indicating that DAP is grappling with broader national-level political problems beyond local issues. When the swing is so drastic, it reflects a major shift in overall sentiment within the Chinese community, said Khairy ..

Push and pull for Southeast Asia as China counters Malaysias US trade deal with own pact KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia is seeking to pacify China by exploring a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the latter proposed in the wake of a controversial trade treaty Malaysia signed in October with the United States. But the conundrum lies in how this could be reconciled with the demands of the earlier deal with Washington, signed during President Donald Trumps visit to Malaysia, which requires the ..

PETALING JAYA : Malaysians may have to pay more for their greens if the monsoon season continues to bring persistent rainfall, says the Malaysian Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association. Its president Lim Ser Kwee said recent flooding in several countries, including Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia had begun to push up prices of vegetables. We import a large variety of vegetables from these three countries and the prices have increased recently due to the recent massive flooding there. Also ..

Chinese back Warisan over local ties, not DAP weakness SANDAKAN: Chinese voters who supported Parti Warisan emphasised that their decision was not due to poor performance by DAP, nor was it an act of punishment against the party. They were not worried that Chinese community interests would suffer if Warisan failed to form the state government. Sin Chew Daily conducted random interviews with several Chinese voters in Sandakan to understand their reasons for supporting Warisan. Some stressed that ..

Local students remain priority in Malaysias public university admissions KUALA LUMPUR: Local students will continue to be prioritised in admissions to all public universities, says Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. The Deputy Higher Education Minister stressed that the ministry would continue to closely monitor the intake of international students at public universities to ensure that Malaysians take precedence. As of Dec 31, 2024, a total of 180,024 students were enrolled in the countrys five research ..

Datuk Ben Chong Chen Bin is the sole Chinese state assemblyman in the new Sabah state government KUDAT: Datuk Ben Chong Chen Bin, the only Chinese state assemblyman in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, has urged the Chinese community to remain calm and not be disheartened. You still have me in the state government said Chong, 47, who vowed to serve the Sabah Chinese community. I will continue to assist the Chinese community. You are welcome to contact me for issues affecting the ..

Chinese voters wanted to teach DAP and PKR a lesson, unconcerned whether Warisan forms government SANDAKAN: The Chinese voters in Sabah merely wanted to give DAP and PKR a taste of their own medicine and they were not concerned whether Parti Warisan could form the state government. Dr Lee Kuok Tiung, associate professor from the Social Sciences and Humanities Department of Unviersiti Malaysia Sabah, said the Chinese voters had already chosen the candidates they wanted. In a democratic country, ..

ByAtlas Shao, Lu Wanqing, and Shadow Li / China Daily / ANN Good Samaritans rush to aid victims of Hong Kong residential block fire ByAtlas Shao, Lu Wanqing, and Shadow Li / China Daily / ANN HONG KONG : Hundreds and thousands of volunteers of different ages, occupations, and locations have flocked to the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, after the news of a deadly blaze, which engulfed seven residential blocks, gripped the hearts of people across and beyond Hong Kong. Since early Thursday morning, ..