PUTRAJAYA - The government will not allow places of worship to be built illegally or in violation of regulations, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He said local authorities are empowered to take action, including clearing places of worship constructed on land to which they have no legal right.Anwar said Malaysia is governed by the Constitution, and the construction of places of worship is subject to the rule of law."Some say Anwar allows all places of worship. I say all are allowed ..

PUTRAJAYA - TheSumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) For All cash assistance, involving an allocation of RM2.2 billion, will be disbursed from today, benefiting over 22 million eligible adult Malaysian citizens.The Finance Ministry (MoF) said that 22 million MyKad holders will receive the one-off RM100 assistance, and it can be used until Dec 31, 2026."SARA For All programme enables households to receive multiple aid depending on the number of eligible adults."For example, families comprising husband, ..

IPOH - Driven by a sincere and noble desire to support those facing financial hardship - especially students struggling with dwindling daily budgets toward the end of the month - a non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as the Kinta Kindheartedness Club has introduced a heartwarming free food initiative titled "Tak Yah Bayor!!! Ambik Je."The programmes advisor and director, Azlan Muhammad Shukri, shared that while the club has been running similar outreach efforts since 2015, their focus was ..

SHAH ALAM - The decomposed bodies of a woman and a man were found in a house in U13, Setia Alam, yesterday.Shah Alam police chief ACP Ramsay Embol said the bodies were discovered by a male relative of one of the victims after he went to check on them at a rented house belonging to his younger sibling.He said initial investigations with the Selangor police contingent headquarters forensic team found the house shut, with no vehicles in the compound and the front grille door unlocked."Both bodies ..

NIBONG TEBAL - The Ministry of Education (MOE) is making full preparations to handle the admission of six-year-olds into Year One from next year, in anticipation of the encouraging response from parents.Its minister, Fadhlina Sideka, said that online registration will open on Feb 15, and based on the early feedback, the ministry is expecting a significant surge in pupil intake, especially in urban areas."As mentioned in Parliament recently, our preparations are at the highest level, although we ..

PASIR MAS I am not a disobedient child. My father is senile, prone to anger and often throws things around.That was the response of Abdullah Ismail, 59, the son of elderly man Ismail Che Noh, 79, better known as Pak Mail, whose case recently went viral on social media.Abdullah, an only child, said he was deeply hurt and saddened after being labelled an unfilial son following the circulation of videos involving his father.I did not neglect my father. He has been suffering from senility for ..

PASIR MAS A man who suffered a stroke two years ago has been living alone while bedridden at his home in Kampung Bunut Susu here.Samsudin Mohamed, 60, has been living by himself for the past three years following his divorce from his wife.The former welder is said to have four children aged between seven and 25, all of whom are living with his former wife.Samsudin drew public attention after a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Pertubuhan Jejak Jalanan, led by Abe Hae, whose real name is ..

NIBONG TEBAL - The Education Ministry (MOE) is concerned about the welfare, health and safety of students, teachers and all school staff in dealing with the hot weather or any unexpected weather conditions, especially in the northern states.Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that, as such, all school administrators have been given the autonomy to make decisions in handling school activities and operations during hot weather conditions, especially in terms of wearing sports attire in place ..

MELAKA - Police arrested a 50-year-old man after he allegedly chased a young woman with a knife at a supermarket here on Saturday night.Melaka Tengah police chief ACP Christopher Patit said the incident occurred around 9.30pm when the 21-year-old victim was with her younger sister at the supermarket car park and was suddenly approached by the suspect."The woman became suspicious and frightened and immediately ran into the supermarket after the man allegedly chased her."She claimed that she did ..

KUALA LUMPUR - IJM Corporation Bhd non-executive chairman Tan Sri Krishnan Tan says he has fully cooperated with authorities and will continue to do so in relation to the investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).In a statement yesterday, he said that he is not involved in the day- to-day operations and management of the company."I have fully cooperated with the authorities and will continue to do so. I have full confidence in the enforcement process and the laws of the ..

KUALA LUMPUR - Police have identified that a child's act to accidentally open the rear door of a moving car as the cause of a six-vehicle collision along Jalan Tun Razak here last Friday.Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief ACP Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the incident, which occurred at about 6.15pm, involved four cars and two motorcycles travelling from the Kampung Pandan Roundabout towards the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC).He said preliminary investigations ..

PETALING JAYA - A furniture factory along Jalan 20/1, Sea Park here was razed on Sunday, sending thick smoke over the area and attracting the attention of residents in nearby areas.Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said no casualties were reported.He said they received a call at 1.22pm and dispatched a fire engine from the Damansara Fire and Rescue Station, which arrived at the scene six minutes later."The fire involved a furniture factory ..

GEORGE TOWN A forest fire covering an estimated 0.4 hectares at the foothills of Penang Hill along Jalan Air Itam on Sunday was successfully brought under control by the Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), with no injuries reported.Penang JBPM Assistant Director of Firefighting and Rescue Operations, John Sagun Francis said the department received an emergency call at 3.41pm and fire engines from the Paya Terubong Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene within five minutes.He said ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The residence of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Muhyiddin Yassin has again come under the spotlight following a special meeting held on Sunday night.Among those present were Bersatu secretary-general Mohamed Azmin Ali and vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.However, members of the media were not allowed to enter the gated and guarded residence of the Pagoh MP.It is understood that the gathering was also held in conjunction with welcoming the arrival of ..

KUALA LUMPUR - While many teachers opt for postings closer to urban conveniences, one educator has found deep fulfilment serving in a school located in an Orang Asli settlement deep in the interior of Gua Musang, Kelantan.Hasmadi Ghazali, 48, reported for duty at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Balar in Pos Balar earlier this month, bringing to an end nearly 11 years of a long-distance marriage with his wife Norsiah Along, 50, a Temiar Orang Asli who lives in the settlement with their four children.Pos ..

SHAH ALAM - Since childhood, whenever he had the chance to accompany his father - an aircraft technician with Airod Sdn Bhd - to work, Bhuvanraj Rajasingams gaze would be fixed on the aircraft taking off from the runway.The roar of the engines and the sight of the aircraft gradually shrinking as it pierced the blue sky sparked a quiet ambition within him - to one day become a pilot and take to the skies himself.However, the journey to the cockpit was far from smooth, as Bhuvanraj had to ..

KUALA LUMPUR - In 2025, three major English dictionary publishers chose three different Words of the Year, but all tell the same story about life online.Oxford University Press picked rage bait, content engineered to trigger anger for clicks.The Cambridge Dictionary chose parasocial, the one-sided bonds people feel with celebrities, fictional characters, or even artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.Merriam-Webster crowned slop, describing the rise of low-quality digital content produced in ..

PUTRAJAYA - As the new year begins, many people take the opportunity to reassess their financial standing, reorganise their budgets and set resolutions aimed at achieving better financial health throughout the year.However, for most families, budgeting often remains little more than a plan on paper when the realities of life set in and financial commitments continue to rise, especially for households with young or school-going children, putting more strain on their cash flow.This situation has ..

KUALA LUMPUR - Quietly, a growing number of young Malaysians are being forced to shoulder debts left behind by their parents, whether in the form of personal loans, vehicle hire-purchase agreements or other unpaid borrowings.Many who have only just entered the workforce now find themselves spending a large portion of their income to settle their parents financial commitments. In some cases, parents are no longer able to work due to ill health; in others, they have been retrenched, retired on ..

IPOH - A house in Taman Bersatu, Simpang Pulai, which has been cleaned six times since 2016, once again drew attention when the Ipoh City Council (MBI) was forced to step in to carry out an integrated operation to clear the accumulated garbage.Ipoh Mayor Datuk Zamakhshari Hanipah said in a statement that the operation was conducted following repeated complaints from locals regarding the uncontrolled accumulation of recyclable materials and rubbish, which had adversely affected the well-being ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The reopening of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (BSAS) on Monday not only restored one of the nations most iconic heritage landmarks, but also rekindled cherished memories for a former employee who once worked within its historic walls more than four decades ago.For M. Saraswathy, 64, every corner of the building tells a story of her early working life as a court interpreter in the 1980s - memories she still recounts with pride."I worked as a court interpreter with Tan Sri V.C. ..

KUALA LUMPUR - Banks that fail to properly conduct or document Minimum Due Diligence (MDD) face serious consequences, as Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) can issue directives for remedial action, impose administrative monetary penalties, restrict certain business activities, or increase supervisory oversight, says legal expert Datuk J. Shamesh.He said under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, MDD refers to simplified customer due diligence (CDD) that a ..

MELAKA - A special passport known as 'The Guardian Of Jonker Walk' has received an encouraging response, with more than 4,000 copies sold since its introduction in June last year in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the iconic tourism destination.Jonker Walk Committee chairman, Datuk Gan Tian Loo, said the passport not only features a map of the area but also includes information and historical details on participating business premises and nearby tourist attractions.He said visitors can ..

KUCHING - Struggling with chronic eczema, an Iban woman from Kampung Melugu, Sri Aman, turned her personal battle into a mission, building a successful business that has taken her natural-based skincare products to international markets.Sulie Lungkan Abell, 37, founder of Sluvi, a social enterprise skincare brand launched in 2018, said it also helps raise the incomes of Sarawaks local farming communities.She explained that the name Sluvi holds special significance: "Slu represents the founders ..

KUANTAN - In her pursuit of books from her favourite genre, Aisyah Mohammad is willing to travel long distances to attend book sales. Recently, she drove nearly 100 kilometres to Kerteh, Terengganu, to buy physical books of her choice, even though they are now readily available in digital form.The 31-year-old private-sector employee told Bernama she is happy to attend book sales anywhere, even across state borders, as long as she can acquire the titles she wants to add to her home library.A fan ..

SHAH ALAM - Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (Bank Islam) appoints Raja Datin Paduka Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz as its new Group chief executive officer (CEO), effective April 1, 2026.Raja Teh Maimunah succeeds Datuk Mohd Muazzam Mohamed, who retired early in December 2025 after more than a decade of leading the bank.Under Muazzams leadership, Bank Islam strengthened its position as Malaysias pioneering Islamic bank while navigating an increasingly complex digital financial landscape.Bank Islam ..

PUTRAJAYA - It was a touching moment for Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, who received accolades and tributes from a senior federal counsel, lawyers, as well as from the Chief Justice ahead of her retirement later this month.Shortly after court proceedings concluded, senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan, who spoke on behalf of the Attorney Generals Chambers (AGC), expressed gratitude to Justice Nallini for her contribution to the law and wished her good health and happiness ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) dismantled three drug distribution syndicates and seized various drugs, worth RM208.25 million, in several raids conducted from Jan 30 to Feb 3 in the Klang Valley.Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said they also managed to arrest the leaders of all three syndicates, together with nine members.He said that in the first operation conducted on Jan 30, his team successfully arrested three ..

TANAH MERAH - "We were officially husband and wife for only two days."This was the heartfelt expression of Irfan Syabil Ibrahim, 23, a security guard from Pekan, Pahang, after he and his wife, the late Nur Ain Izayu Rosli, 28, were involved in a road accident just two days after their wedding.The eldest of four siblings said their solemnisation ceremony was held on Jan 31 and the tragic accident that claimed his wifes life occurred on Feb 2 at around 10am."At that time, my wife and I were on ..

PUTRAJAYA - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested the chairman of IJM Corporation Berhad in connection with an investigation involving corporate governance issues, procurement processes, financial transactions and overseas asset ownership estimated to be worth about RM2.5 billion.According to a source, the male suspect, believed to be in his 70s, was detained at about 7pm on Thursday at the MACC headquarters here after a search was conducted at his residence."MACC carried ..

KUCHING - The Kuching High Court today granted five Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) subsidiaries leave to seek judicial review over RM120 million in penalties imposed under Sarawaks gas distribution law.Judicial Commissioner Dean Wayne Daly ruled that the applicants had raised an arguable case and the issues should be heard in a substantive hearing.The court, however, did not grant a stay on the imposition of the financial penalties.The applicants - Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, Malaysia LNG Sdn ..

PUTRAJAYA - The Federal Court today dismissed a leave application by former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong to review the decision of the previous panel of the Federal Court that upheld his conviction and sentence for the rape of his domestic helper seven years ago.A three-member Federal Court panel led by Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hashim Hamzah, in a unanimous decision, said this application failed to meet the high threshold required under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal ..

GEORGE TOWN - An Indonesian cement truck driver was killed after being pinned inside the vehicle, which overturned at a construction site near the Penang Hospital, here today.Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director John Sagun Francis said they received a call at 11.29 am and dispatched 13 personnel and three fire engines from the Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Station to the scene.He said the driver is believed to have lost control of the cement truck, causing it to ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) has suspended three senior management officers following reports by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Auditor-General, and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).In a statement today, HRD Corp said the action was taken based on findings and recommendations concerning the management of unused levies, the acquisition of Menara Ikhlas and the corporations equity investments."The matter also includes recent findings on the ..

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been allowed to stay overnight at his home after completing a month of treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN).However, his press secretary, Sufi Yusoff, said Dr Mahathir must return to IJN during the day to continue treatment and be monitored by the medical team.For the past two days, Dr Mahathir has been granted home leave to his residence at The Mines, he said in a statement on Friday.He added that the IJN medical team ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The decision on whether to extend the contract to host the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), to be held at the end of this year, will be known soon.SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the paperwork for the MotoGP contract renewal in the country has been presented to the Youth and Sports Ministry and is awaiting tabling at the Cabinet."Insya-Allah, we should get news (on the contract extension for the hosting of ..

KUANTAN - A taxi driver was killed while four others were injured in a three- vehicle collision at KM143 of Jalan Kuantan-Segamat in Rompin yesterday.Rompin police chiefSupt Sharif Shai Sharif Mondoi said that in the 11.20 pm accident, 60-year-oldAbdul Rahman Yusoff, who was driving a Perodua Alza car, suffered severe head injuries and died while receiving treatment at the Muadzam Shah Hospital in Rompin.He said the victim's wife, son and granddaughter, aged between 14 and 58, suffered injuries ..

SHAH ALAM - The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) is leaving it to the authorities to investigate the issue of Bank Pertanian Malaysia Bhds (Agrobank) losses of more than RM200 million due to online fraud.Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the matter falls fully under the jurisdiction of the Royal Malaysia Police and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)."We leave it 100 per cent to them to investigate. I cannot provide further comments, he told reporters after officiating the Madani ..

BANTING - A three-year-old boy was found charred after becoming trapped in a fire that destroyed three houses along Jalan Nuri, Kampung Seri Cheeding here early Friday morning.Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division Assistant Director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said his department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 2.44am.Seventeen officers and firefighters, along with fire engines from the Teluk Panglima Garang Fire and Rescue Station, with assistance from ..

KOTA BHARU - A teenage boy was found drowned after he was believed to have fallen into a river in Kampung Rabbana, Kuala Long, Jeli, on Feb 6.Operations Commander, Senior Fire Officer II Hasmin Nasrun Abd Rahman said the Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 7.04pm and 10 fire and rescue personnel were deployed to the scene, before confirming that the boy had drowned."The victim, Putera Aniq Fitri Zulkarnain Mohd Nordin, 14, was believed to have gone to the river with two ..