I AM writing to urge the Petaling Jaya City Council and other municipal councils across Malaysia to halt the practice of capturing stray dogs that are already being cared for under the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) programme in Petaling Jaya and beyond. This approach is not only ineffective but is also disheartening for many local rescuers and caregivers who have devoted their time, energy and personal resources to building a more compassionate and sustainable environment for people and ..

THE cry echoes up and down New York Citys crowded streets. Out of nowhere has emerged a malevolent Muslim candidate for mayor named Zohran Mamdani. He is 33-years-old and born in Uganda a country that was also home to the late Idi Amin. To many horrified New Yorkers, it looks as if he may win. Jewish old- timers on the Upper West Side and Wall Street are having apoplexy, muttering about the Holocaust. President Donald Trump, a fellow New Yorker, calls Zohran a communist lunatic. Zohrans ..

MY sisters and I used to fantasise about receiving an unexpected inheritance from some long-lost wealthy relative. We would picture ourselves in black mourning attire pillbox hats, gloved hands, dabbing tears with lace handkerchiefs while a stern-faced lawyer read aloud the terms of our windfall. The reality, of course, proved far less cinematic. This childhood fantasy resurfaced recently during a conversation about getting my affairs in order before an upcoming flight. When a friend ..

Q: My husband recently lost his job and I am still working, so we are not destitute but it is tough on the whole family. Is there anything I should prioritise while he looks for a new position? Focus on the Family Malaysia: You have an important role in helping your spouse deal with the uncertainties ahead. So you have to stay calm and focused to the best of your ability, which can be a bit of a tightrope. If your husband is unemployed for weeks and months, it can feel like the search for a new ..

THE Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) strongly supports the call to allow refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia to work formally under a well- regulated and safeguarded framework. Malaysia currently hosts over 185,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the majority of whom are of working age and physically able to contribute to the workforce. At present, refugees and asylum seekers face legal and practical barriers to formal employment, despite having the skills, willingness and potential to ..

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for our eminent Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Che Mat as she concludes her mandated term with unwavering dedication, dignified decorum and distinguished service. Appointed in May 2019, Tengku Maimun served as Malaysias chief justice for six years and two months, leaving behind a legacy of integrity and judicial excellence. Her tenure was especially notable as she had the rare distinction of serving under four different prime ministers an experience unmatched by ..

EVERY time I take the LRT, I notice the same thing: no platform doors just an open gap between passengers and the train tracks. It only takes one wrong step, one moment of distraction or one accidental push in a crowded station and that unguarded space can mean the difference between life and death. The sad reality is that most of us treat it like it is no big deal. We talk about how the authorities should do more and they absolutely should. We need better infrastructure, we need platform ..

AS a mother, a human resource professional of over two decades and an Indian woman who has journeyed through corporate Malaysia and grassroots community work, I write this with a heavy heart. The passing of Tan Sri Dr M. Thambirajah has left a void so profound, I ask myself: Who do we turn to now? Growing up in Malaysia, especially as part of the Indian community, meant growing up hearing his name spoken with reverence, admiration and a sense of safety. His presence was constant in books, on ..

HAVE you ever said something in the heat of the moment and later thought, why did I do that, it is not like me at all? Most of us have whether it is snapping unexpectedly, shutting down when we wanted to speak up or feeling deeply hurt by a seemingly harmless comment. It often feels like someone else took over a different version of ourselves. And in many ways, that is exactly what happened. We are not singular, fixed beings. We carry within us multiple selves inner personalities shaped by ..

AS the cost of living continues to rise in Malaysia, driven in part by the Sales and Service Tax (SST), more families will find it harder to put nutritious food on the table. While SST may not apply to all food products, its indirect effect through higher transport, service and business operation costs will push up prices of most food items, including fresh vegetables, fruits and basic groceries. Notably, tropical fruits like bananas, pineapples and rambutans will be taxed at 5%, along with ..

IT is commendable that Malaysia has taken a major step towards educational equality by awarding scholarships and guaranteeing matriculation placement to all students regardless of race or background who achieve grades of A, A+ or A- in 10 subjects in the SPM examination. This significant move towards levelling the playing field for all students comes at a crucial time in Malaysias effort to reverse the brain drain as many of our brightest minds continue to pursue opportunities at foreign ..

THE latest Western media coverage has been agog with the Trump administrations use of hard power. This follows the bombing of Irans nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan despite the fact that Iran has never tested a nuclear device, has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran had not made a final decision to build one. The US intervention has been regarded as illegal, unnecessary and foolish by progressive Americans. However, it ..

A TOTAL of 5,272 youths aged 34 and under have been declared bankrupt between 2020 and 2025, accounting for 14.94% of all bankruptcy cases in the country. According to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, 5,189 of them were between the ages of 25 and 34 while 83 were under 25. Based on these statistics, the growing accessibility of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services is concerning as it could further increase bankruptcy among young adults, especially if they are not properly educated about its ..

THE recent incidents from a near-miss during a solo dive off Tioman to the tragic boat capsize off Pulau Perhentian underscore a critical need for heightened safety in Malaysias tourism sector. These incidents, primarily impacting marine recreation, are symptomatic of a broader issue that extends across land-based resorts, transport and all adventure activities. Last weekend, I returned from a three-day, two-night church retreat at a beautiful resort. While the serene environment promised ..

EATING out has become an expensive affair. Yet, many Malaysians eat out, especially students and working adults. These groups of people are forced to eat out because they do not have the time or means to cook. Families who frequent eateries are now opting to eat out only on special occasions like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and special events. With food costs increasing, even cooking at home is getting costly. However, there are many ways to cut food cost. We can buy foodstuff such as ..

HUMANS are an incredible species, having achieved extraordinary feats, especially in the past century. We reached space just six decades after the first powered flight. Todays smartphone has thousands of times more computational power than the machine that sent a man to the moon. With techniques dating back to the 10th century, we eventually eradicated smallpox. Measles vaccination accounts for 60% of lives saved and over the past 50 years, vaccines for 14 diseases have cut infant deaths by 40% ..

SO you want a holiday, huh? But not just any holiday. No. You dont want the usual makan-makan, tidur (sleeping at) hotel, selfie depan (in front of) the Petronas towers. You want something edgy, something spooky, something to make your ancestors raise their eyebrows and ask: Anak ni tak cukup kasih sayang ke (This child does not have enough love?). Well congrats, sayang, you have just booked yourself on a Dark Tourism Malaysia Tour brought to you by poor life choices and haunted regrets. First ..

WHEN we think of healthcare, doctors and nurses often come to mind. However, there is another group of professionals working tirelessly behind the scenes, the allied health professionals (AHP). These experts play a pivotal role in delivering patient-centred care, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive services, from diagnosis to recovery and rehabilitation. Who Are AHP? AHP encompass a wide range of specialists such as medical laboratory scientist, physiotherapists, radiographers, ..

ON June 17, the United States Senate passed the Genius Act short for Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins with a decisive 68 to 30 bipartisan vote. Once passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law by President Donald Trump, this legislation will establish a federal framework to regulate USD-pegged stablecoins like USDC. This is a landmark moment, not just for the US but for the entire world. Countries like Malaysia, which operate on principles of ..

IT began, again, with a tweet. Donald Trump, from his digital podium, declared that Iran and Israel had come to him asking for peace and that he was promising a future of love, peace and prosperity. The post went viral. Commentators scrambled. Headlines reframed. But beneath the performance lay the more troubling reality: real peace is nowhere in sight and never was. Just hours after this so-called peace overture, Israel unleashed another wave of airstrikes. Yet, we already know Israels ..

FROM Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo, violence against children in conflict zones reached unprecedented levels in 2024, according to a United Nations (UN) annual report recently. In 2024, violence against children in armed conflict reached unprecedented levels, with a staggering 25% surge in the number of grave violations in comparison with 2023, according to a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The report verified 41,370 grave violations against children in 2024, ..

PEOPLE call them big companies or even giants Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Meta and Netflix and these names literally dominate our digital world. They have become so woven into our daily lives that we often forget just how much we rely on them. At the touch of our fingertips, we send messages, stream videos, search for answers, shop and socialise. The phrase theres an app for that came from their inventions. In many ways, these companies have built the modern digital landscape. Thanks to ..

IT is difficult to discern exactly what the big stuff was that prompted President Donald Trump to leave the G7 summit and return to Washington a day early. While he did not provide specific details, he did advise the nine million residents of Tehran to immediately evacuate their homes causing mass panic. Any lingering hopes that the president was returning to the White House to work full time on a ceasefirewere dashed when Trump dismissed suggestions to that effect made by the president of ..

AFTER spending an evening watching comedy clips featuring Ellen DeGeneres, the late Robin Williams and local talents like Douglas Lim and Jason Leong, I found myself sighing with contentment and giggling at the memories. This simple pleasure made me reflect on the saying, laughter is the best medicine. As it turns out, researchers worldwide are discovering that this simple human response holds remarkable healing power. Far from being just a form of entertainment, scientific evidence shows that ..

PUBLIC transport is meant to make life easier. Buses, in particular, should offer a safe and affordable way to get around. But do bus drivers truly understand the responsibility they carry? Recently, I had a harrowing experience on my way to the MRT station from home. While waiting by the roadside for a RapidKL bus, I signalled for the driver to stop but he nearly hit me and an elderly woman who was also waiting to board. As the bus approached the stop, the driver swerved dangerously close to ..

Q: MY elderly mother still lives independently but it is becoming clear that she will soon need help managing her finances and other important matters. My siblings and I want to start preparing for this transition. What steps would you recommend to ensure everything is handled smoothly? Focus on the Family Malaysia: You are wise to begin thinking about this now while your mother is still able to participate in planning for her future. First, make sure she is comfortable sharing personal ..

EACH year, thousands of students across Malaysia receive their UPU placement results, marking a milestone that is often met with a complex mix of emotions. For some, there is excitement and relief. For others, there is confusion, doubt or even quiet disappointment. What makes this period particularly difficult is the pressure to feel certain about ones course, ones future and ones direction in life. As a lecturer working with foundation students, I often hear the same concern voiced in ..

As Malaysias economy navigates an uncertain global environment, domestic consumption continues to stand out as a reliable driver of growth. In the first quarter of 2025, private consumption remained buoyant, supported by stable employment conditions, real wage growth, and subdued inflation. With Bank Negara Malaysia holding its policy rate steady, and with the improved market sentiment, the domestic consumption outlook is underpinned by both macroeconomic stability and sustained consumer ..

MUTZIG, FRANCE: First stop on my annual visit to Frances mighty Maginot Line forts is this lovely Alsatian town. Mutzig was built by the Germans 1893-1916 to defend against enemy approaches to the important city of Strasbourg. It was and remains the largest modern fortress in Europe. The vast fortress, which covers over 800 acres, was never attacked during World War I by the Germans or French. But as Europes first important fortress made of concrete and fully electrified, it was eagerly ..

THE East-West Highway is a marvel of its era, serving to block off communist insurgency in the thick jungles and to shorten the distance between the northern east and west coast states. While it has served the nation for over four decades, the highway also has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous roads to drive on due to the hilly terrain, eerie darkness at night and frequent encounters with wildlife. The government has made efforts to improve safety along the highway but serious ..

THERES something comforting about going with the flow. It makes life easier, decisions quicker and approval more likely. But every now and then, something deep within us stirs, a quiet nudge asking: Is this really the way I want to live? In todays fast-moving world, many of us are doing our best. We recycle. We post awareness messages. We support sustainability when we can. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we find ourselves caught in the wave of whats trending rather than whats ..

WHAT if the future of our education is no longer confined within classroom walls but embedded in the seamless scroll of a mobile screen? Once perceived merely as a platform for dance routines and viral entertainment, TikTok has evolved into an emergent space for digital learning. With billions of views under educational hashtags and creators simplifying complex subjects into concise, one-minute content, the platform is redefining how knowledge is delivered and consumed in real time. In both ..

THE official statements from the United States and China that emerged from their trade talks in London recently were notable for the absence of direct mention to the rare earths issue which appears increasingly the subject of most concern to the Trump administration in what is turning out to be a protracted negotiation process. It was left to President Donald Trump to articulate this in his social media platform where he provided his assessment of the two-day marathon discussions designed, in ..

DATA centres are extremely resource intensive. According to the International Energy Agency (2025), electricity consumption by data centres was estimated to be 1.5% of global electricity usage in 2024 amounting to 415 terawatt hours (TWh). However, experts suggest that electricity consumption in accelerated servers primarily used for artificial intelligence (AI) purposes could grow by 30% annually. While 1.5% of global electricity consumption may seem insignificant, it is important to note ..

THE alarm bells have been ringing for years. From the concerned voices of the public and dedicated NGOs to internal discussions within enforcement agencies, theres a shared understanding: commercial vehicle safety on our roads remains a critical issue. Weve seen countless articles, heard numerous opinions and watched authorities report on their efforts. Yet, the question that haunts us is not if the problem exists, but why it remains so stubbornly difficult to address. Its a situation that ..

LET us get one thing straight being Malaysian these days feels like being stuck in a game of Survivor: Inflation Edition. You wake up, stretch, brush your teeth, check your phone and bam! Another notification that something else is going to cost more. First it was eggs. Then American goods. Now, insurance premiums are climbing too. Whats next? Even this makcik is cringing in dread! Ah, the humble egg. Or, as every Malaysian mother affectionately calls it, makanan penyelamat hujung bulan the ..

I took a sophomore philosophy course in formal logic from a professor who was an enthusiastic admirer of Socrates, as all are. He did not give many formal lectures. We could read the assigned texts just as well and at a time or place of our choosing, as was his excuse. As such, his class was lively with discussions and rebuttals as well as questions and answers. One of his early exercises was to pretend that we were facing a real-life decision. Should I buy a new car or fix the present one? Or ..

THE adoption of hybrid workplaces has changed the practice and performance of leadership as well as teamwork. This is particularly true when it comes to considering the effects of various leadership styles on performance. Within this emerging framework, leadership is not limited to a fixed area as it now involves remote work, self-governance and digital mediation. Leadership styles of empowering, democratic, autocratic and laissez-faire are said to not only affect motivation at personal and ..

IN recent years, the concept of a circular economy has captured the imagination of policymakers, businesses and environmentalists worldwide. It promises a world where products are designed to last, materials are reused and waste is minimised a refreshing alternative to the extractive, waste-heavy systems that have dominated for decades. But while much of the conversation revolves around high-tech recycling innovations and sophisticated industrial systems, there lies a compelling, often ..

FATHERS Day often invites us to reflect on the men who shaped us. As a 46-year-old researcher, a professional in the world of science and academia, my life has been a tapestry woven with precision and unpredictability. I come from a large family 10 siblings, each with our own stories but all sharing the same foundation: a father who is, in many ways, the archetype of the old Malay tradition but carries with him a progressive wisdom. He is a man of few words his presence steady but understated ..