KUALA LUMPUR - The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has announced the appointment of four senior Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) officers, including Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS) chief executive Lieutenant General Datuk Seri Muhammad Huzaimi Sabri, as the new MAF Headquarters Chief of Staff.According to a Mindef statement today, on Jan 18, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, consented to the appointments of the senior officers to fill several key MAF positions after ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) holistic rehabilitation approach to combating terrorism has proven effective, said Deputy Inspector- General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.He said this was proven through an operation in 2003 with the return of 13 Malaysian teenagers linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group from Pakistan.In a Facebook post, he explained that although there was a request for the teenagers, aged 16 to 25, to be handed over to the United States for ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The medical team and specialist doctors overseeing the treatment of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad are pleased with the progress of his recovery following 14 days of hospitalisation at the National Heart Institute (IJN).Dr Mahathirs press secretary, Sufi Yusoff, said the centenarian is still undergoing non-surgical physiotherapy treatment. However, he added that the recovery process is expected to take quite some time."Dr Mahathir and his family are deeply grateful ..

PUTRAJAYA - The early admission of six-year-old children into Year One will be implemented flexibly, as it is not mandatory and will only involve parents and pupils who are ready, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.She said parents needed to assess their childrens readiness before school registration, while the Education Ministry (MOE) would conduct diagnostic assessments to identify the basic educational level and specific needs of each pupil."This is important because if a child is not ..

PUTRAJAYA - The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) will fully take over the pre- university education system involving Form Six and matriculation programmes starting this year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.He said the move will officially place both groups of students under the higher education category."Starting this year, the Higher Education Ministry will take over the entire pre-university education system - Form Six and matriculation."So Form Six and matriculation students are ..

PUTRAJAYA - General education subjects covering issues of the Federal Constitution and Malaysian history will be included in the curriculum of all public and private universities starting this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.He said the subjects will be taught fully in Malay and will be made compulsory for all Malaysian students in higher education institutions."At the tertiary level, we do not make Bahasa Melayu and History compulsory, but starting this year, we will ..

PUTRAJAYA - The Court of Appeal here today reduced the quantum of damages awarded to the family of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu from RM5 million to RM1.4 million in a civil suit over her death in 2006.The unanimous decision was made by Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Hashim Hamzah, together with Court of Appeal Judges Datuk Azman Abdullah and K. Muniandy.Justice Muniandy, in reading out the decision, said in the present case, the global sum of RM5 million was awarded primarily on a ..

ALOR GAJAH A student from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Pagoh, Johor, experienced a terrifying ordeal after his motorcycle was rammed by a wild boar at Padang Keladi on Sunday.The 19-year-old victim was reportedly travelling back to campus from his family home in Kampung Pulau, Durian Tunggal, when the collision occurred.The incident left the student with significant facial injuries, including broken teeth and damaged gums.The victims brother-in-law shared the ordeal in a Facebook ..

PUTRAJAYA Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the implementation of the Standard Four Learning Assessment starting this year.He said the assessment will involve five core subjects: Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics, Science and History.Beginning this year, the Standard Four assessment will be implemented and administered by the Malaysian Examinations Board, he said when delivering his speech at the launch of the Malaysia Education Plan (RPM) and the Malaysia Higher ..

PUTRAJAYA Beginning next year, preschool education will start at the age of five, while entry into Year One will be at the age of six.The announcement was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his speech at the launch of the National Education Blueprint 20262035 here today.Anwar said, however, that the change will not be made compulsory for parents.MORE TO FOLLOW

JOHOR BAHRU - A dog that suddenly crossed the road is believed to have caused an accident involving three cars, a motorcycle and a house along Jalan Permas 1, Permas Jaya, on Monday afternoon.Johor Bahru South district police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the incident occurred at about 4.10pm and involved a local man working as an e-hailing driver.He said the 26-year- old, who was driving a Honda City from Pasir Gudang towards Taman Bukit, lost control of the vehicle while ..

PUCHONG - A 13-year-old boy was successfully rescued in a fire involving a unit at Sri Pulai Apartment here on Tuesday.Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division Assistant Director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said they received an emergency call about the incident at 6.59am.Eight officers and personnel with a fire engine from the Puchong Fire and Rescue Station (BBP), with assistance from BBP Cyberjaya, rushed to the scene, which is about 4.8 kilometres away, he said in a ..

KUALA LUMPUR - Two men were killed after falling from the Setiawangsa-Pantai Expressway (SPE) near Jalan Empat off Jalan Chan Sow Lin here last night, when their trailer lorry crashed into a road barrier.In a statement, the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Control Centre (PGO) said it received an emergency call regarding the incident at 8.55pm and dispatched nine personnel and one fire engine from the Pudu Fire and Rescue Station to the scene."Operations commander Nur ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The Madani government today began disbursing payments for Phase 1 of the 2026 Rahmah Cash Aid (STR), benefiting five million recipients.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the payments would cover 3.7 million households and 1.3 million elderly individuals without spouses, with each recipient receiving between RM100 and RM500, depending on their eligibility."The improvements to STR, now integrated with the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme, ensure that eligible ..

ALOR SETAR - Three passenger ferries stationed at a shipyard in Bukit Malut near Langkawi were destroyed in a fire that broke out last night.Langkawi Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Zone 4 chief Mohd Zamri Abd Ghani said the department received an emergency call about the incident at 9.46pm and arrived at the scene 17 minutes later."The fire at the dock involved six ferries, two of which were 80 per cent destroyed and drifted about 50 metres into the sea. One ferry was five per cent damaged, ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has identified a member of IJM Corporation Bhds top management who holds a Tan Sri title, along with a company adviser, as persons of interest in its probe into allegations of a RM2.5 billion money laundering scheme.An internal source said the commission is currently gathering more information related to the allegations against the company before opening a formal investigation."The investigation team is in the process of collecting ..

KUALA BERANG - A cake factory worker lost RM166,000 after falling victim to an online investment scam recently.Hulu Terengganu police chief Supt Sharudin Abdul Wahab said the 43-year-old woman met a man on social networking app Litmatch on Jan 15.He said the suspect persuaded her to join an investment scheme he claimed could yield quick and high returns."Convinced, she sold her jewellery andinherited property and also withdrew her savings before making 16 online transactions worth RM166,000 ..

KUALA LUMPUR - The Defence Ministry (Mindef) has lodged a police report following an alleged leak of information involving the names and strategic postings of senior officers in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).Its Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, said that Mindef is also conducting an internal investigation, following the public disclosure of the information, even though the decision to fill the highest military posts has yet to receive the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, ..

SHAH ALAM - Datuk Seri Najib Razaks defamation suit against former attorney- general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas and GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd over statements relating to the murder of a Mongolian woman published in a book titled My Story: Justice in the Wilderness, was settled amicably at the High Court here today.The settlement was recorded before Judge Datuk Khadijah Idris after counsel for both parties informed the court that an amicable settlement had been reached.Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad ..

KLUANG A mans alleged attempt to meet his former wife ends with both being detained in a khalwat enforcement operation by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) at a hotel here on Sunday.JAINJ said a team of enforcement officers arrived at the premises at 1.15am and knocked on the hotel room door, which was only opened after six to seven minutes despite the air-conditioning being switched on.The door was eventually opened by a man wearing long trousers and a T-shirt, and an inspection ..

PETALING JAYA - Rapid On-Demand (ROD) will adopt a fixed fare of RM2 starting Feb 1, marking the end of its RM1 promotional phase and the transition to a permanent pricing model.Head of Planning and Strategy at Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, Sharul Azwa Abd Rani, said the revised fare will apply to holders of My50, Rapid Kota, Rapid Kembara and Rapid Keluarga passes."The current fare will end together with the Proof of Concept (POC) period. Starting Feb 1, the fixed fare will take effect," she said ..

KUALA LUMPUR - Rapper Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, pleaded not guilty at the Magistrates Court here today to an additional charge of possessing Sildenafil, a prescription medication known for treating erectile dysfunction, at a hotel last year.Namewee, 43, was accused of possessing 0.78 grammes of the medication at the premises on Jalan Conlay here at about 4.30 pm on Oct 22, 2025.The charge was framed under Section 9(1) of the Poisons Act 1952 and is punishable under Section 32(2) ..

JASIN - Data from the Malaysian Insolvency Department (MDI) reveals that Selangor records the highest incidence of bankruptcy in the country, with a significant proportion of cases involving civil servants, particularly teachers.Director-General Datuk Ishak Bakri said the pattern stems from substantial personal loan liabilities, reflecting that salaried employees are disproportionately vulnerable to insolvency.This finding is supported by the department's state-level data and financial literacy ..

PUTRAJAYA - An immigration officer has been confirmed to be involved in carrying out "flying passport" activity at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on June 2 last year, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) said today.EAIC in a statement said the officer concerned had been found to have keyed in a passengers entry details into Malaysia, including the passport information, into the Malaysian Immigration Integrated Management System (MyIMMs) without the ..

MELAKA - The Melaka state government has announced a special holiday for all state and federal civil servants in the state on 1 Ramadan, which is expected to fall on Feb 19.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said this was in appreciation of the tireless service of all civil servants in Melaka who worked hard to implement various programmes last year."Some even have husbands complaining in the comments, saying, "I feel sorry for you, my wife has to work even on weekends"! I understand... I ..

SHAH ALAM A non-governmental organisation has urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to intensify efforts to disseminate information on scammers modus operandi, which are difficult for victims to detect due to the criminals deceptive tactics.Jalinan Sahabat Nusantara (Jasanusa) president Samsudin Awang said immediate action must be taken because every moment of delay in protecting the public allows criminals to create new methods.Ultimately, we will no longer be ..

KUALA LUMPUR - Haj savings are best viewed not as a last-minute financial goal, but as a long-term journey that blends financial discipline with spiritual preparation.Seen this way, economists say that haj savings also make for a New Year resolution that is practical, measurable and achievable.Prof Datuk Dr Nik Maheran Nik Muhammad, a professor of entrepreneurship and business at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, said haj planning should be grounded in life-cycle financial planning that prioritises ..

SHAH ALAM - Using a pen as her medium, artist Yuslinda Yusof has captured Malaysias transformation from the pre-colonial era to the modern nation it is today, in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026.Yuslinda, better known by her pen name Roselin, 49, said the artwork, titled Malaysiaku: Bermulanya Di Sini, is arranged as a visual narrative to be read from bottom to top - beginning with life before independence, followed by the colonial era, independence, and finally modern ..

MELAKA - The owner of a so-called gay-friendly hotel in Melaka has apologised and admitted there was negligence in the management of the premises.The Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) had taken the owners statement on this matter on Thursday, said its council president Datuk Sapiah Haron.She said the owner of the premises had issued an apology and acknowledged that the promotional material on the hotels website was uploaded due to the managements negligence.The hotel has also taken ..

KUALA LUMPUR Malaysian actress Nadia Kesuma, who was reported missing after arriving at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah last Thursday, has left the airport.Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the Malaysian Consulate in Jeddah had verified through local immigration records that Nadia, whose full name is Nadiah Kasumawati Abdul Karim, exited the airport shortly after her arrival in Saudi Arabia.We have been in contact with the police and immigration authorities. ..

KUALA LUMPUR Escalating tensions between the United States (US) and Iran could trigger a regional conflict with catastrophic global consequences, potentially even leading to a third world war, Malaysia has warned.Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that the use of trade and economic pressure as a political weapon has destabilised global equilibrium.He described such actions as a "new form of colonialism" that threatens international peace and economic stability.We regret that free ..

NIBONG TEBAL -A man believed to be the owner of a car wash was shot dead by unknown assailants in front of the premises along Jalan Besar in Permatang Keling here last night.Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said police received information on the incident at 10.40 pm."The victim was a local man in his 30s and initial investigations found that he was shot several times in the body and legs by an unidentified suspect, he said in a statement today.He said witnesses at the ..

DUNGUN - Around 1,300 residents of Kampung Durian Mentangau, near here are on edge after a sun bear has been roaming the village for the past two weeks.The bear has even ventured onto the grounds of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Durian Mentangau in search of food.Kampung Durian Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK), deputy chairman Mazlan Mansor expressed concern over the increasing danger to residents."Were especially worried at night when the bear is spotted near homes," he told ..

SARIKEI - A contractor lost about RM460,00 after falling victim to a non- existent investment scheme.Sarikei police chief Supt Aswandy Anis said the contractor, in his 50s, lodged a police report yesterday after realising that he had been deceived and that the case isbeing investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.Aswandy said the victim came across an investment-linked advertisement on Facebook that promised lucrative returns within a short period."After clicking on a link, he was taken ..

PUTRAJAYA - Actress Nadia Kesumas disappearance at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Thursday has been reported to the Saudi police, said Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Syed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman."We are awaiting the outcome of the investigation by the Saudi police, he told Bernama today.Earlier, KLIA Police chief ACP M. Ravi said the disappearance had been classified as a missing persons case and the police report, lodged by a family member at the KLIA Police ..

KUCHING - Two men were killed after being crushed by a 10-tonne lorry loaded with stones while repairing the vehicles brakes along Jalan Mambong, Siburan, today.According to a statement from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre (PGO), a distress call regarding the incident was received at 2pm."The incident occurred when the two victims (the lorry driver and attendant) were repairing the lorrys brakes at a quarry road before being crushed and trapped underneath the ..

SHAH ALAM - Actress known for her roles in Gerak Khas and the film Syaitan Munafik, Nadia Kesuma, has been reported missing after she could not be traced upon arriving at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah last night.Nadia, who travelled to Jeddah for an umrah before continuing her journey to London and Paris, did not check in for her connecting flight to London as scheduled.Her close friend, actress and Gagasan Transformasi Anak Seni (GTAS) president Anne Abdullah said Nadia had ..

JOHOR BAHRU - A doctor was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today on four charges, including the murder of his wife and son.Chia Tong Hong, 34, nodded his head after the murder charges were read out to him in separate magistrates courts.Both the charges were framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides the death sentence, or imprisonment for a term of 40 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, if convicted.However, no plea was recorded for both charges as murder cases ..

SEREMBAN - An unemployed woman pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of neglecting her 10-year-old son, while her boyfriend was charged with causing hurt to the boy.Dayang Nurshida, 30, was charged with neglecting the boy in a manner likely to cause him physical harm at an apartment in Jalan Desa Palma, Nilai, between September 2025 and January this year.The charge, framed under Section 31 (1) (A) of the Child Act 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM50,000 or ..

PETALING JAYA - The Magistrates Court here was today told that the teenage boy charged with the murder of a 16-year-old female schoolmate in a secondary school toilet in Bandar Utama is fit to stand trial.Lawyer Kitson Foong, representing the 15-year-old boy, said the report prepared by a psychiatrist from Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, found that his client was capable of understanding the court proceedings."The boy is fit to be brought to court for trial and can defend himself," he ..