JOHOR BARU: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has praised Johor for its continuous endeavour to upgrade heritage assets and strengthen the state’s tourism attractions. The Prime Minister said the efforts aligned with the aims of the Visit Johor 2026 (TMJ2026) campaign. Anwar arrived in Johor Baru on Sunday onboard the Electric Train Service 3 (ETS3) from the federal capital with his family members and also visited the Johor Zoo. He engaged with visitors at the Johor Zoo and received updates on the zoo’s recent advancements. Anwar expressed hope that the Johor Zoo would continue to be strengthened as a recreational, educational and heritage asset.

Besides the added convenience, the move is also a boon for small sundry traders in local communities. While the Sara programme lists 14 categories of approved goods for purchase, he said small grocers can adapt based on what is available in-store. As of Nov 23 last year, more than 3,000 small shops were involved out of 9,200 registered premises. On Jan 9, the Sara assistance began for five million household recipients and senior citizens without spouses, followed by 3.1 million single recipients on Jan 16. The one-off RM100 Sara assistance for all citizens aged 18 and above will begin on Feb 9.

Compiled by C. ARUNO and ARFA YUNUSA PASSENGER sparked alarm after he was seen cooking food on board the Electric Train Service (ETS) heading from Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur, reported China Press. Another passenger in the same coach immediately informed the conductor and reported the matter to staff at Kluang station. Others joked that entrepreneurial passengers could start cooking and selling food onboard train journeys in Malaysia. It was reported that Mayday debuted in 1999 and continues to be one of the best-selling rock bands in the Chinese-speaking world. They recently held their #5522 Live Tour show in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 31.

University hospitals lag on higher doctor allowancesPETALING JAYA: More than three months after the new on-call allowance rates officially took effect, doctors at several university hospitals are still waiting for the revised payments to be implemented. The Star learnt that Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM and Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah UPM have yet to implement the new rates. Another doctor at another hospital said the management had told him the matter needed to be raised at their meetings. “Therefore, the Higher Education Ministry should request an additional budget as well from the government to implement this new rate immediately,” added the spokesperson. The Star is waiting for the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, to comment on this case.

Police: ‘Sojul Gang’ made RM1.2mil bringing foreigners into country illegallyKUALA LUMPUR: A migrant smuggling syndicate known as the “Sojul Gang” has earned RM1.2mil despite only beginning their operations last month. It is learnt the syndicate provided services to bring in foreigners into the country via illegal routes. Immigration officers also seized two vehicles, several Bangladeshi passports, RM82,100 in cash and US$3,700 (RM14,593). Those detained have been placed at the Putrajaya Immigration depot for investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom), the Immigration Act 1959/63, Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Passport Act 1966. “We will continue to take action against any individual or syndicates involved in offences related to immigration, passport misuse and migrant smuggling,” Zakaria said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Having seven wetland areas recognised as Ramsar Sites reflects local communities’ and stakeholders’ strong commitment to conserving Malaysia’s wetland ecosystem, says Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (pic). Arthur said Sabah is also home to two Ramsar Sites, namely the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands and Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, which were designated in 2008 and 2016, respectively. As a testament to the country’s commitment to the conservation of wetlands, the minister said Malaysia acceded to the Convention on Wetlands, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1994. He added that the Ramsar Convention is the world’s oldest modern multilateral environmental agreement, established in 1971, with 172 contracting parties to date. As of 2025, worldwide authorities have designated a total of 2,546 wetlands of international importance, known as Ramsar Sites.

(Feb 3) : Asian stocks were headed for gains Tuesday after solid US factory data helped lift sentiment, supporting shares and Bitcoin while curbing losses in precious metals. Gold sank around 5% on Monday, paring a larger decline earlier in the session, while silver fell about 6%. Sustained growth would help provide reassurance that manufacturing is on the mend after languishing the past three years. In Asia, data set for release includes inflation in South Korea, building approvals in Australia and retail sales for Hong Kong. “This development is fundamentally positive for corporate earnings, benefiting both US stocks and global equities with exposure to US growth momentum,” he said.

(Feb 3) : Stocks climbed after solid factory data bolstered optimism about Corporate America while losses in gold and silver moderated after a dramatic rout. The S&P 500 closed near its all-time highs, with economically sensitive sectors leading the way as manufacturing activity expanded the most since 2022. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index rose to 52.6 from 47.9. “The surprisingly strong ISM Manufacturing survey this morning caused a selloff in Treasuries,” said Mark Streiber at FHN Financial. “The S&P 500 closed January with a modest 1.4% gain, which carries bullish implications for the rest of the year.

KUCHING: A six-year-old girl, who was reported missing and feared to have fallen into Sungai Daro on Sunday (Feb 1), was found drowned Monday (Feb 2). The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said the girl's body was discovered floating in a river near Kampung Lemang Pek at 4pm Monday. "The search and rescue (SAR) team, which discovered the body, then informed the police. The victim's body was brought ashore at the Kampong Panchor jetty before being taken to the hospital," it said in a statement Monday. According to the department, the victim had left by herself through the back gate of the house without either parent realising it.

A study by a Singapore government agency has found that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two showed brain development changes linked to slower decision-making and higher anxiety in adolescence, adding to concerns about early digital exposure. It tracked 168 children for more than a decade, and conducted brain scans on them at three time points. Heavier screen exposure among very young children was associated with "accelerated maturation of brain networks” responsible for vision and cognitive control, the study found. Those children with "altered brain networks” took longer to make decisions when they were 8.5, and also had higher anxiety symptoms at age 13, the study said. Singapore’s education ministry recently announced that it will curb the use of smartphones and smartwatches in secondary schools starting in January.

BANGKOK: A wild bull elephant killed a tourist in central Thailand's Khao Yai National Park on Monday (Feb 2), a park official said, the third fatality linked to the same animal. The 65-year-old Thai tourist from Lopburi province was out for a morning walk with his wife when he was trampled to death by an elephant named Oyewan, national park chief Chaiya Huayhongthong told AFP. Wild elephant numbers in Thailand rose from 334 in 2015 to almost 800 last year, prompting authorities to administer contraceptive vaccines to female animals in an effort to control their ballooning population. An elephant killed a Spanish tourist while she was bathing the animal at a sanctuary in southern Thailand in January last year. Another tourist was killed by an elephant at a national park in Loei province in northern Thailand in December 2024.

KUANTAN: The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has stressed that the power to grant royal pardons under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution must not be regarded as a political gift or an act of personal sympathy. Instead, Al-Sultan Abdullah said the power of pardon is a legitimate constitutional mechanism that serves as a final consideration in a justice system that is punitive in nature. "The granting of pardons and sentence reductions is also not exclusive to any individual, party or position. According to the post, the Sultan made the remarks when attending the 120th Meeting of the Pahang Council of Regency at a hotel here on Monday. The Sultan also expressed confidence that Malaysia would continue to remain a principled and firm nation, and prayed that the country, and Pahang in particular, would always be under Allah’s blessings.- Bernama

Lasting healthcare reform requires more than policies, budgets or political will. Just as Malaysians speak up for safer roads or stronger education, they must also champion a healthcare system that is equitable, modern and resilient. Reclaim the ‘public’ in public healthcareMalaysia’s public healthcare system is a national achievement that is built on equity, fairness and shared responsibility. Malaysia can build a world-class healthcare system that is preventive, inclusive, digitally-connected and resilient. This is the last in a five-part series on healthcare reform that was published weekly.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is proud of its seven wetland sites recognised internationally as Ramsar sites, says Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup. The recognised sites include Tasek Bera in Pahang, designated in 1994; Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup and Sungai Pulai in Johor, designated in 2003 and Kuching Wetlands National Park in Sarawak, designated in 2005. Arthur said Sabah has two Ramsar sites: the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands and the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, designated in 2008 and 2016, respectively. "Malaysia is fortunate to possess a rich and diverse wetland ecosystem covering more than 5.19 million hectares," he said in a Facebook post on Monday (Feb 2), in conjunction with World Wetlands Day. "As of 2025, a total of 2,546 wetlands of international importance, known as Ramsar sites, have been designated worldwide," he said.

JOHOR BARU: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was thankful after spending two days on a leisurely family visit in Johor, exploring the southern state's rich historical and cultural heritage. "Alhamdulillah, Johor (visit) completed," the Prime Minister said briefly when met by Bernama before departing from JB Sentral Station for Kuala Lumpur. The Prime Minister and his family arrived at JB Sentral at 3.27pm and were scheduled to depart on the Electric Train Service 3 (ETS3) service at 4pm. Upon arrival, the Prime Minister visited Johor Zoo with his grandchildren, interacted with visitors and received briefings on the zoo's latest developments. In a Facebook post, he praised the Johor state government's continuous efforts to upgrade heritage assets and strengthen tourism attractions in line with the Visit Johor 2026 (TMJ2026) aspirations.