JOHOR BAHRU (Feb 28): The government will examine the impact on the country’s economy following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. The minister said that, from an economic standpoint, there are several key issues to examine, including Malaysia’s direct relationship with Iran and the geopolitical tensions affecting the global economy. “Of course, one important angle to be assessed is the production of oil and gas, as Iran is a major regional and global producer. “In addition, we need to see effects on the global economic supply chain,” he said after the Seorang Sekampit Beras Campaign at the Sri Stulang People’s Housing Project here on Saturday. Commenting on the possibility of rising global oil and gas prices, he said the matter depends on market mechanisms and the decisions of major oil producers.

SHAH ALAM: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF), one of the largest shareholders of IJM Corp Bhd, has yet to decide on whether to accept Sunway Bhd’s voluntary takeover offer for the construction group. He said the fund would decide whether to accept the offer after receiving the circular. On Jan 12, Sunway proposed a conditional voluntary takeover offer to acquire all 3.51 billion shares in IJM Corp at RM3.15 per share. The group said that, assuming full acceptance of the proposed offer and no adjustments to the offer price, the total consideration will be approximately RM11bil, to be satisfied via a combination of cash and the issuance of new ordinary shares in Sunway. Sunway said the proposed offer is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2026.

KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit eight states until 6 pm on Saturday (Feb 28). In a statement, the Malaysian Meteorology Department (MetMalaysia) said the weather warning covers Perlis, Kedah (Langkawi and Kubang Pasu), Pahang (Cameron Highlands), and Selangor (Kuala Selangor, Gombak, and Petaling). The same forecast has also been issued for Negeri Sembilan, covering Seremban, Kuala Pilah and Rembau, as well as Johor (Kluang, Mersing and Kota Tinggi). In Sarawak, the affected areas include Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman (Lubok Antu), Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah (Matu) and Kapit (Song). Over in Sabah, the warning covers the West Coast (Ranau), Tawau (Tawau and Semporna) and Sandakan (Tongod).

PUTRAJAYA: Individual and non-individual taxpayers can submit their Income Tax Return Form (BN) for the 2025 Year Remuneration and Year of Assessment starting tomorrow (March 1), according to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). Taxpayers and employers can access this service directly through the MyTax portal https://mytax.hasil.gov.my or via the official LHDN portal https://www.hasil.gov.my > MyTax > ezHasil Services > e-Filing. "Tax agents are encouraged to use the Tax Agent e-filing System (TAeF) platform, which can be accessed through the MyTax portal," according to the statement. To ensure the smooth process of submitting BN through e-filing, LHDN said taxpayers must ensure they have the relevant role in MyTax. "As a guide for e-Form submission, taxpayers can refer to the BN Filing Programme for the Year 2026, which can be accessed and downloaded through the official LHDN portal," said the statement.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor has emerged as the state with the highest number of bankruptcies among civil servants, with teachers identified as a particularly vulnerable group. According to the Insolvency Department, 85 teachers in the state were declared bankrupt over the last five years. The scale of the issue extends beyond educators; between 2021 and 2025, a total of 687 civil servants in Selangor were declared insolvent. National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Fouzi Singon said teachers are often targeted for scams or peer-pressured into bad investments. Licensed financial planner Gunaseelan Kannan said many teachers belong to the “sandwich generation”, supporting both ageing parents and growing children simultaneously.

KUALA LUMPUR: Following recent developments in the Middle East region, the Malaysian Embassy in Doha, Qatar, has advised Malaysians in Qatar to remain alert and closely monitor the situation. In a statement issued on Saturday, the embassy urged Malaysians in Qatar to obtain information only from verified sources, including official announcements by the Qatari authorities and the Malaysian Embassy." Avoid spreading unverified information,” the statement posted on the embassy’s Facebook page said. Malaysians requiring consular assistance may contact the Malaysian Embassy via +974 3374 6733 (for emergencies only) or by email at mwdoha@kln.gov.my"Malaysians who have yet to register with the embassy may do so through the e-Consular system at the following link: https://ekonsular.kin.gov.my/login,” it added. Earlier, Anadolu Ajansi reported that Israel’s defence minister said Tel Aviv had launched a strike against Iran.- Bernama

SHAH ALAM: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared a dividend rate of 6.15% for conventional savings for 2025, with the total payout amounting to RM67.1bil. Meanwhile, the dividend rate for Syariah savings was 6.15% with the payout totaling to RM12.5bil. Both the conventional and syariah savings recorded lower dividends than the previous year. For 2024, EPF declared a dividend rate of 6.3% for conventional savings with a total payout amounting to RM63.05bil, as well as a 6.3% dividend for syariah savings, with a payout amounting to RM10.19bil. For syariah savings, it recorded dividends of 6.4% in 2017, 5.9% (2018), 5% (2019), 4.9% (2020), 5.65% (2021), 4.75% (2022) and 5.4%(2023).

A RECENT report on the sharp decline of flying foxes and fruit bats in Sabah is cause for concern. Flying foxes are among nature’s most effective pollinators and seed dispersers. As they forage over long distances nightly, they transfer pollen from flower to flower and disperse seeds far from parent trees through their droppings or discarded fruit.

Neil Sedaka , the hit-making singer-songwriter whose boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock ‘n' roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s, has died. Sedaka, whose hits included Breaking Up Is Hard to Do and Laugher in the Rain, died Friday at age 86. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement. He has a street there named in his honour, Neil Sedaka Way. Sedaka loved songwriting and never quit, but he craved performing.

PUTRAJAYA: A complacent or lackadaisical attitude must be eradicated, stressed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. His reminder was directed at the commission’s senior leadership in the Public Service Premier Posts (JUSA) C grade, who are participating in the Premier Transformational Leadership Development Programme (PTLDP) JUSA C Series 5 No. He urged them to stay prepared in facing increasingly challenging responsibilities and not to take management aspects lightly. “When faced with a crisis situation, the principle of ‘no delay’ is paramount,” he said at the event held at the MACC headquarters here on Friday (Feb 27). Azam said leadership should not rest solely on theory but must be translated into the ability to solve problems, build confidence, make firm decisions and prioritise outcomes.

MELAKA: Three secondary school students were killed and another was seriously injured in a collision involving three motorcycles at Jalan Paya Tambak here. Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit said the victims died on the spot due to multiple head and bodily injuries in the 4am accident on Saturday (Feb 28). He said an 18-year-old unemployed youth was seriously injured and is currently receiving treatment at Hospital Melaka. He identified the deceased as 16-year-old Muhammad Azmi Abdul Rahim, a student of SMK Bukit Katil; his pillion rider, 16-year-old Nur Khairiah Mat Mazlin, who studied at SMK Air Molek; and 15-year-old Muhammar Adiff Farihin Mohd Anuar, also a student of SMK Bukit Katil. "The weather was fine at the time of the incident," he said, adding that investigations are ongoing.

DUBAI (Feb 28): Global airlines suspended flights across the Middle East on Saturday after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the region into a renewed military confrontation. Flight maps showed the airspace over Iran virtually empty as Israel said it struck Iran and the US military initiated a series of strikes against targets in the country. The Russian Ministry of Transport said on Saturday that Russian air carriers had suspended flights to Iran and Israel. Iberia also cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, while Wizz Air suspended flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with immediate effect until the same date, it said. Only one flight to Tel Aviv had been scheduled for Saturday.

KUANTAN: The remand order against a higher education institution (IPT) student suspected of uploading content touching on issues related to religion, race and royal institutions (3R) on social media has been extended for another three days. "The police also seized a copy of the Quran believed to have been used by the student,” he said when contacted. On Friday (Feb 27), Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the investigation paper has been completed and referred to the DPP for further action. On Feb 25, a Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) student was detained to assist in investigations for allegedly insulting Islam on social media. Prior to that, an image showing an adult male’s foot stepping on the Quran, along with a screenshot of a social media post allegedly by the UMPSA student, had gone viral online.

(Feb 28): Opec+ will consider the option of a larger supply increase when key members meet on Sunday, after Israel launched airstrikes on targets in Iran, according to a delegate. The group led by Saudi Arabia and Russia was expected to resume modest production increases from April after a three month supply freeze, several delegates said earlier this week. In recent days, Riyadh and some other producers — including Iran — accelerated oil exports. Saudi Arabia, de facto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, temporarily surged supply last year amid the US bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities. While Iran sounded upbeat about the trajectory of the talks, US Trump said on Friday he wasn’t happy with how they were unfolding.

SHAH ALAM: There were two factors contributing to the lower dividend payments for this year, says Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) chief executive officer Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn. ALSO READ: EPF investment assets grew 12.8% to RM1.409 trillion in 2025The EPF declared a dividend rate of 6.15% for conventional savings for 2025, with the total payout amounting to RM67.1bil. Meanwhile, the dividend rate for syariah savings was 6.15% with the payout totaling to RM12.5bil. ALSO READ: EPF to launch i-Legasi for parents to share savings with childrenBoth the conventional and syariah savings recorded lower dividends than the previous year. For 2024, EPF declared a dividend rate of 6.3% for conventional savings with a total payout amounting to RM63.05bil, as well as a 6.3% dividend for syariah savings, with a payout amounting to RM10.19bil.