SHAH ALAM: The defamation suit filed by former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, against influencer Ramzi Kamil was amicably settled at the High Court here last Thursday (Feb 5). Mohd Na’im filed the suit on Dec 23, 2025, over allegedly defamatory statements published on Ramzi’s Facebook page on Nov 23 and 25, 2025, concerning the vaccination of Haj and Umrah pilgrims. Based on the consent judgment obtained by the media today, both parties reached an amicable settlement and resolved the matter out of court. According to the consent judgment, Ramzi expressed regret and issued an apology for the inappropriate use of defamatory words and expressions that had given a negative impression of Mohd Na’im. Lawyers Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, Muhammad Aslam Akberdin and Ahmad Redza Akberdin represented Mohd Naim, while lawyer Nur Fazrin Ahmad represented Ramzi.

JOHOR BARU: Twenty illegal immigrant workers were detained while carrying out renovation work at a commercial premises in Taman Mount Austin near here. Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said they were arrested in an operation codenamed Ops Kutip on Thursday (Feb 5) at 3pm. “They tried to escape during the raid, but our men managed to apprehend them,” Mohd Darus said in a statement onSaturday (Feb 7). Mohd Rusdi said the illegal immigrants had committed offences under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155). “All of them are being placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot here to assist with the investigation,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul (pic) has encouraged Members of Parliament to take up refugee-related issues in the august House. He also added that he would provide them with the space to discuss such issues in Parliament. Johari said the symposium was crucial because it brought together experts to share their views and raise MPs' awareness of the importance of the refugee issue. The symposium was jointly organised by the Parliament and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Aside from MPs, Johari said the masses must also be made aware of the plight of refugees in Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: Racial slogans have long been used to deceive Malaysians while billions were siphoned off in the background, but the era of hiding corruption behind ethnic loyalty must end, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister made these remarks in his speech at the Selangor PKR Convention here on Saturday (Feb 7). Anwar said such figures were now uneasy not because they were misunderstood, but because they feared accountability under a government anchored in justice and principles. He stressed that corruption and abuse of power have long been challenges since independence. “This is the government that has done the most to resolve hardcore poverty, regardless of race,” he added.

PETALING JAYA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed from New Delhi for his two day official visit to Malaysia. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is slated to welcome him. Modi's last official visit to Malaysia was in November 2015 but he made a brief stopover here on May 31,2018. In 2025, total trade between Malaysia and India reached RM79.49 bil (USD18.59 bil). Malaysia’s total exports to India amounted to RM52.30 bil (USD12.24 bil) and total imports amounted RM27.19 bil (USD6.35 bil).

The Malaysian Society of Transplantation has called for greater efforts to increase public awareness of organ transplants, as well as measures to ensure more doctors qualify as transplant surgeons. He added that greater public education is needed to challenge the stigma surrounding organ transplantation. ALSO READ: A long-term fix for organ transplantsHe also highlighted that ­concerns, including religious beliefs, were an obstacle to organ donation. “Every year, during National Organ Donation Awareness Week, booklets are produced explaining organ donations in Islam, as well as its ethics. “In 1970, the National Fatwa Committee of Malaysia permitted organ donation and transplantation.

THE nation will switch the world’s largest nuclear power plant back on next week, after a glitch with an alarm forced the suspension of its first restart since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Takeyuki Inagaki, the head of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant run by Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), told a press conference yesterday that they planned “to start up the reactor on Feb 9”. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world’s biggest nuclear power plant by potential capacity, although just one reactor of seven will restart. The facility had been offline since Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011. Around 60% of residents oppose the restart, while 37% support it, according to a survey conducted by Niigata prefecture in September.

PETALING JAYA: Police have disallowed a planned rally by the Gerakan Anti Rumah Anutan Haram (Garah) scheduled for Saturday (Feb 7) at the Sogo shopping complex here, citing concerns over public safety and security. ALSO READ: Rally against 'illegal' temples still on, says controversial preacherHowever, Comm Fadil said police later received written objections on Feb 6 from the owners of Sogo Shopping Complex, Pertama Complex, Harissons and several nearby premises, who raised concerns about customer safety during the proposed rally. Based on security considerations and intelligence gathered, Comm Fadil said police determined that the assembly could pose a risk to public safety and therefore decided not to allow it to proceed. He advised the public not to attend the rally and warned that firm action would be taken against any party attempting to cause disorder or disrupt public security. “Police will ensure that public safety and well-being remain the top priority,” he said.

AMPANG Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) has again dismissed claims that a development project is in the works on a slope in Taman Sering Ukay in Ukay Perdana, Selangor. Ongoing slope stabilisation work in Taman Sering Ukay in Ukay Perdana. — Courtesy photo“MPAJ has only issued appro­val for slope stabilisation works aimed at strengthening soil integrity,” it said. They also held a meeting with Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail who gave her assurance that no development project was being planned there. Former Taman Sering Ukay Residents Association chairman Brig-Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohd Arshad Raji said he was fed up with uncertainty surrounding the ongoing works.

Jason Statham is back in action in Shelter, but the British actor says his latest thriller is powered by his character’s emotional arc. “We’re unravelling a mystery in a way that creates empathy, creates emotional bond, so that when you hit the action, you’re not just watching it, you’re participating, and you’re rooting for your heroes,” he said. A former stuntman, Waugh wanted to place viewers “inside the action” and shoot on real locations. My main man Guy Ritchie, he started my career almost 30 years ago, so I owe him a lot. He’s a very special person in my life and I’ve got a lot of love for the man,” said Statham.

After she was diagnosed with cancer in her early 50s, she said a medical insurance premium proposed by an agent was beyond her means. ALSO READ: Fine print needs to pass real test, say policy experts“I have been living in fear of old age with no medical insurance. The government’s Base MHIT is really a saviour with at least some basic coverage for my old age,” she said. As such, she said the promise of a base plan that includes pre-existing conditions offers a ray of hope. Jeyaraj said if the government’s Base MHIT plan can be designed comprehensively, medical insurance coverage will take on a whole new direction.

He said the Works Ministry would announce highway toll discounts for the Chinese New Year holidays. The decision was among several matters discussed at the Cabinet meeting yesterday, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “A total of 16 items will be placed under price control through the Chinese New Year Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme 2026. “This is intended to ensure price stability and protect consumers from unreasonable price hikes during the festive period. On another matter, Fahmi said the Cabinet also discussed the Federal Court’s decision in a case brought by activist Heidy Quah.

IPOH: The Perak Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has seized 529 units of counterfeit mobile phones worth about RM150,800 in a raid at a business premises here. Its state director, Datuk Kamalludin Ismail, said the raid was conducted on Thursday (Feb 5) at 11.50am, following a complaint and information provided by the trademark owner, who alleged that the premises were selling branded mobile phones suspected to be counterfeit. “Inspection at the premises revealed a total of 529 mobile phones suspected of bearing registered trademarks without authorisation,” he said in a statement on Friday (Feb 6). Kamalludin added that representatives from the trademark company conducted a preliminary verification of the items and found that the premises are suspected of committing an offence under the Trademarks Act 2019. “If convicted, corporate entities can be fined up to RM15,000 for each item bearing the unauthorised trademark for the first offence and up to RM30,000 per item for subsequent offences.

Our journey into venture capital and deep-tech investment offers valuable insights into how public sector involvement can catalyse genuine technological advancement. By investing in a dedicated semiconductor fund, the public sector forces a necessary shift up the value chain. Learning by doing: Policy innovation through direct involvementPerhaps the most underappreciated benefit of public sector venture investment is what it teaches policymakers. Moreover, the public sector gains early exposure to innovations that may eventually benefit government services, from healthcare to public administration. Public sector investment, thoughtfully deployed, can be the catalyst that transforms aspiration into achievement.

(Feb 7): South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb, which mistakenly distributed more than US$40 billion (RM157.86 billion) worth of bitcoin on Friday, said it will reimburse customers who made losses when they sold their holdings in a panic during a brief but sharp selloff on its platform. The error led to the distribution of 620,000 bitcoin to 695 users at 7pm local time Friday, a mistake that was identified within 20 minutes, the exchange said. “An abnormal amount of bitcoin was mistakenly distributed to some users,” the exchange said in a statement. Bithumb started halting trading and withdrawals for the credited accounts at 7.35pm and fully blocked it by 7.40pm, it said. Earlier in the session, it came close to falling below US$60,000 for the first time since October 2024.