BINTULU: Two people, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed when a fire destroyed a two-storey workers’ quarters on Jalan Nyigu here in the early hours of Monday (Feb 2). The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 1.01am and rushed to the scene. The operations commander reported that the blaze had engulfed a non-permanent two-storey workers’ block with 28 rooms. "The structure was completely destroyed in the blaze," the department said in a statement on Monday. "Both were confirmed dead at the scene and later handed over to the police for further investigation," the statement added.

After appeals from Putrajaya Badminton Association (PJBA) president Datuk Seri Khairudin Samad and the parents of the players, Zafrul has overturned the national body’s decision and gave his approval for the players to compete. Zafrul though said that the decision was one-off and a special exemption would be given for the players to compete this time. “The rule regarding junior players representing their states was decided during the BAM council meeting on Oct 18 last year and has been in place since Nov 10, which is much earlier than the tournament. “Under this rule, junior players must represent the states that they are schooling in during competitions in accordance with the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) ruling. “I will also like to thank the Selangor Badminton Association (SBA) as they were willing to allow the players to compete despite not getting approval to do so.

KUALA LUMPUR: For many parents, Thaipusam is not only a time to fulfil personal vows but also an opportunity to introduce their young children to faith, culture and sacrifice. Teacher Thanaletchume Kitna­morti, 46, said this year marked the first time her five-year-old son carried a paal kudam up the steps of Batu Caves. Starting them young: (Top) Lenon (left) and Kalapana with their daughter on their first trip as a family to Batu Caves to celebrate Thaipusam. (Right) Thanaletchume’s five-year-old son (right) carried ‘paal kudam’ up the stairs for the first time, while her eldest son (left) has carried it a couple of times. “I carried the paal kudam while my wife carried our girl.

JOHOR BARU: After last year’s Red Beauty craze, a new mandarin orange contender has emerged this Chinese New Year. Cultivated in China, Yellow Beauty has been drawing attention for its sweeter taste, brighter skin and firmer texture, said fruit seller Yong Boon Sing. “Unlike Red Beauty, which has a jelly-like texture, Yellow Beauty oranges are firmer and juicier,” he said in an interview. Each box of Yellow Beauty costs RM48 while Sakura is priced at RM68, he said. “These premium varieties have been well received by corporate customers looking for festive gifts,” he said.

CAIRO/GAZA (Feb 2): Cut off from family or urgently requiring hospital care, Palestinians stranded on each side of Gaza's Rafah crossing waited with growing desperation for Monday's reopening of the border as a delayed part of October's ceasefire deal. Faten Hamed Abu Watfa, 43, has not seen her three children since she left Gaza nearly 10 months ago. Abu Watfa left Gaza City’s al‑Karama neighbourhood on April 5, 2024, hoping to stay away for no more than six to eight weeks while her mother‑in‑law received medical treatment. Instead, she became stranded in Egypt after the Rafah crossing closed. Dalia Abu Kashef, 28, died last week while waiting for her name to appear on the Rafah crossing list for a liver transplant.

GERIK: The government has allocated RM350mil to upgrade the East-West Highway (JRTB), specifically the section in Perak or route FT004 under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to make the route safer, more comfortable and resilient. "Out of the RM350mil, we will use RM170mil for 17 locations, with RM10mil per location to widen the roads into overtaking lanes. Meanwhile, Nanta said that around RM40mil has been allocated for maintenance work on the highway, covering the section in Perak throughout this year, as a step to improve the safety and comfort levels of road users. According to Nanta, the allocation involves the implementation of various maintenance works by the Public Works Department and concession companies, including road surface repairs, installation of safety facilities and lighting improvements. "Therefore, we have RM40mil or a bit more for maintenance work, which is indeed being carried out through the concession company here, namely Belati Wangsa Sdn Bhd," he also said.

TOKYO (Feb 2): Japan components manufacturer TDK said on Monday that it is being affected by Chinese export restrictions on rare earths and is taking steps to diversify its procurement sources. China last month banned exports of dual-use items that can be used for military purposes to Japan, with the items including rare earths, amid a diplomatic dispute. "Procurement of materials has reached an extremely difficult stage," TDK chief financial officer Tetsuji Yamanishi told an earnings briefing. The impact began last year, not in January, with the company maintaining production using stockpiled materials, Yamanishi said. The company is developing technology to produce magnets without rare earths or using them as little as possible, Yamanishi said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi congratulated national professional singles player Goh Jin Wei after she finished the 2026 Thailand Masters 2026 in second place on Sunday (Feb 1). He said that her achievement of getting to the finals was inspiring and made the country proud even though she had to eventually withdraw during the second game against Devika Sihag due to injury. "Congratulations Goh Jin Wei! May you have a speedy recovery and continue to achieve greater success at the international stage,” he posted on Facebook. Goh lost the first game 8-21 and was trailing 3-6 in the second game before she withdrew.

WHEN Datuk Izham Ismail was promoted to the top post in Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) in 2017, it was burdened with RM25.7bil in liabilities. Weighed by debt and aircraft leases, the parent company of national flag carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd, was bleeding cash, to the point of borrowing just to operate and pay salaries.

GEORGE TOWN: Two Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers were injured after gas-filled balloons they had seized exploded during the Thaipusam celebrations here. The officers had earlier confiscated the balloons from a trader along Jalan Kebun Bunga who had ignored council orders to stop selling them without a valid trading permit. The seized balloons and related equipment were brought to the council’s Licensing Department office in Lebuh Union for disposal. While releasing the gas from the balloons in the absence of members of the public, an explosion and fire occurred, injuring the officers. “The rear section of an MBPP vehicle was also damaged by fire, along with the seized equipment,” the statement said.

PETALING JAYA: As income tax filing season approaches and public attention has turned to the RM37,333 personal tax exemption threshold, taxpayers are calling for a broader overhaul of Malaysia’s personal tax relief system. Besides an increasingly complex web of deductions, they are of the view that relief levels are outdated and no longer reflect the real cost of living. Tax experts stressed that the tax-free income threshold should not be confused with the RM9,000 personal tax relief, as it is a technical outcome of Malaysia’s tax framework rather than a standalone policy measure. The tax-free income threshold has been in place since the year of assessment 2023 and is derived from Malaysia’s progressive tax rate structure, a RM9,000 personal relief and a RM400 tax rebate for chargeable income of RM35,000 or below, said Datin Christine Koh, managing director of Owen KLCA PLT. Koh said that several key reliefs, including the RM9,000 personal relief, have remained unchanged since 2010.

Conducted in December 2025, the survey found that 42.3% of respondents reported having overpaid corporate income tax. Although the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) stipulates under its client charter that tax refunds should be processed within 30 working days after submission, delays in corporate income tax refunds remain widespread. However, if we consider the government’s projected income tax revenue for 2025 of RM177.1bil, the RM4bil allocation accounts for only 2.3% of the total. According to statements issued by the IRB, a total of RM22.45bil in tax refunds was processed in 2025, involving 3.6 million taxpayers. That said, businesses themselves must also act responsibly when submitting their estimates, ensuring that accurate bank account details are provided to avoid refund delays.

SEPANG: Independent railway assessors have confirmed that the KL International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain system is operating as intended, with service disruptions since commissioning that are commonly encountered in the early operational phase of complex rail systems. The independent assessment identified two critical systems with a direct influence on train reliability, service availability, and recovery performance: the power supply system and the rolling stock. According to MAHB, the CAP has been implemented through coordinated workstreams covering inspection and rectification, system testing and validation and trial operations. "Inspection and rectification activities across the Aerotrain system have been completed, with the programme now at the final milestone to close out remaining rectification actions identified during system-wide inspections," it added. MAHB said it will continue to implement the remaining CAP measures in a coordinated and proportionate manner, supported by ongoing monitoring and independent oversight to further strengthen system reliability and ensure consistent Aerotrain operations at KLIA.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two men have been detained on suspicion of committing an act of unnatural sex inside a vehicle at Taman Intan Baiduri here. Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said the incident occurred at about 2am on Friday (Jan 30) when a crime prevention patrol team noticed a vehicle parked in suspicious circumstances. "Upon inspection, the patrol team found two men inside the vehicle. "They were believed to have behaved indecently in a public place," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 2). "During initial investigations, one of the suspects admitted to committing a sexual act on the other in the vehicle.

Dr Arravinnath carried his kavadi yesterday from the Sri Muniswarar Temple in Jalan Datuk Keramat to the Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Water­fall Hilltop Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga. Meanwhile, pilot-turned-businessman N. Ramnath, 37, who has taken a lifelong kavadi vow, carried a spiked, body-piercing kavadi, also known as a sellavu kavadi, this Thaipusam. He said the practice of carrying a kavadi requires weeks and sometimes months, of spiritual preparation. Ramnath has been carrying a kavadi since the age of 10 and intends to continue for as long as he is able. In recent years, he has also guided and supported others embarking on their kavadi journey.