KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 1): The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) successfully brought home another member of the organised crime group, "Captain Praba" gang, who was extradited from Thailand, on Saturday (Jan 31). He said the suspect would be brought to court on Sunday to obtain a remand order for further investigation. Mohd Khalid said the latest arrest brings the total number of "Captain Praba" gang members who have been successfully arrested so far to 17. Previously, PDRM successfully brought back three individuals suspected of being members of the same gang from Mumbai, India. The "Captain Praba" gang, which is linked to various violent crime cases and armed robbery, is among the most wanted criminal groups by the authorities.

GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of devotees are set to converge at temples across Penang for Thaipusam with a hive of rituals and gatherings already taking place since early hours of the morning. In George Town, the golden chariot carrying the Vel of Lord Murugan and the silver chariot bearing the statue of Lord Murugan arrived at their respective destinations at about 3am on Sunday (Feb 1), marking the end of an almost 18-hour procession through the city. The golden chariot reached Arulmigu Sri Bala Thandayuthapani Temple at Waterfall Hilltop, while the silver chariot arrived at the Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple. The acts symbolise physical and spiritual sacrifice undertaken to seek blessings, fulfil vows or express gratitude to Lord Murugan, and are expected to continue throughout the day. Traffic was reported to be smooth in the early morning, but congestion is expected later as devotees and visitors continue to throng key festival locations.

PETALING JAYA: Over 1.2 million Malaysians are still living in poverty, says Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pic). Mustapha said no Malaysians were categorised as living in hardcore poverty. “The categorisation of poverty depends on household per capita income and is based on a calculation formula provided by the Economy Ministry. “Meanwhile, hardcore poverty status is determined based on the current Poverty Line Income, which is periodically revised to reflect changes in the cost of living, food prices, inflation rate and location-specific costs. Mustapha was responding to a question from Jeli MP Zahari Kechik on the current number of poor and hardcore poor households listed under eKasih and the government’s initiatives to eradicate hardcore poverty.

SEOUL (Feb 1): South Korea's exports rose in January for an eighth consecutive month and at the fastest pace in four and a half years, as demand for AI-servers continues to power the country's chip sales, government data showed on Sunday. Exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy, a bellwether for global trade, rose 33.9% in January to US$65.85 billion (RM259.58 billion), trade data showed, beating a median 29.9% increase tipped in a Reuters poll of economists. Of the country's 15 major export items, sales for 13 of them including chips, cars, petrochemical products, steel and computers increased. Destination-wise, exports to China logged the sharpest exports increase, jumping by 46.7% on-year in January. "Having said that, uncertainty in the trade environment has increased due to the US tariff policy and the spread of protectionism."

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 1): The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) on Sunday announced a reshuffle of portfolios among its deputy chief executive officers (TKPE), effective immediately, as part of a governance measure to strengthen the organisation’s integrity and effectiveness. In a statement, the IRB said TKPE (Compliance) Datuk Hisham Rusli has been reassigned to the TKPE (Policy) portfolio, while TKPE (Management) Datuk Khairul Halimin Abdul Halim has moved to TKPE (Special Branch). Meanwhile, Datuk Ahmad Khairuddin Abdullah, previously TKPE (Special Branch), has taken over the TKPE (Management) portfolio, and TKPE (Taxation Operations) Shaharudy Othman has been reassigned as TKPE (Compliance). According to the IRB, the appointments and portfolio changes are aimed at leadership development and ensuring organisational continuity and effectiveness through the sharing of expertise and fresh perspectives.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 31): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday conveyed Thaipusam greetings to all Hindus celebrating the festival. In a Facebook post, Anwar said Thaipusam is rich in meaning, symbolising sacrifice, reflection, spiritual strength and the value of patience. As such, he said the discipline and perseverance demonstrated throughout the observance of Thaipusam deserve respect and collective appreciation. In this regard, he hopes Thaipusam would bring peace of mind to all Hindu devotees, while continuing to nurture mutual respect and harmony within the country’s multiracial society. He also expressed hope that Thaipusam would be observed with gratitude and decorum, while upholding propriety and values that form the foundation of communal life.

KUALA LUMPUR: A recycling factory at Jalan Emas 1, Chan Sow Lin here, was 40 per cent damaged in a fire last night. The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department operations centre said in a statement that 33 firefighters and nine engines from the Bandar Tun Razak, Pudu and Hang Tuah fire and rescue stations rushed to the scene following a distress call received at 8.05pm. The fire at the factory was brought under control at 9.20pm before the operation ended at 12.08am. No victims were involved in the incident, it said.

“Within a year, we were blessed with a son,” he said when met at the festival yesterday. Since then, Prakash, who works as a logistics executive, said that he and his wife have made a vow to make the pilgrimage to Batu Caves annually. Arenth, who was accompanied by his 73-year-old aunt, Jaya, said they decided to make an overnight walk to Batu Caves this year as a form of devotion. The pair took their time walking to Batu Caves, stopping only at rest points where volunteers offered food and drinks. Jaya, who was unfazed by the long walk, said more relatives would be joining them in prayers later during the festival.

IT has been a good run for the ringgit. It continues to streng-then against the greenback, making it the best currency performer in the region. But the stronger ringgit is more than just a currency story, it is also a political one.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has detected and shut down an illegal base transceiver station in Genting Highlands, Pahang used for fraudulent purposes. The MCMC said the integrated operation with a telecommunications company was the result of continuous monitoring, technical intelligence and network analysis to identify communication service disruptions and the spread of fraudulent SMS (short message service). "On Jan 19, 2026, a MCMC team successfully detected two vehicles being used to carry out transmission activities of the fake base station. "An inspection confirmed the interception of telecommunications networks to send fraudulent SMS to victims, proving that this was planned," it said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 31). The MCMC said the equipment and control devices were seized for further investigation and the case is being investigated under Section 239(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and Regulation 16(1)(b) of the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000.

The resulting flood rose up to the second floor, trapping a Malaysian family of 15 inside a four-storey hotel, including an 80-year-old woman and a six-year-old girl. Coming to their aid were surprisingly familiar faces: fellow Malaysians serving as volunteer firefighters, who had joined the Thai authorities’ rescue operations. - Photo: Md Arif ZaidullahLittle-known volunteer firefighters step upLeong is a member of the Sungai Petani Volunteer Fire Association from the northern Malaysian state of Kedah, which belongs a little-known network of volunteer firefighters operating in Malaysia. Leong said that both the Thais and the Malaysian tourists were surprised to see Malaysian volunteer rescuers on the ground. An offroad vehicle from the Sungai Petani Volunteer Fire Association parked on a flooded street in Hat Yai, Thailand.

MELAKA: A total of 20 cases of open burning involving scrubland, grass and rubbish were recorded in Melaka within a 12-hour period from 6am on Saturday (Jan 31). Melaka Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohd Hafidzatullah Rashid said the incidents were attributed to hot and dry weather conditions, in addition to uncontrolled open burning and human activities. "The open burning incidents show an increasing trend involving public and residential areas. The fires ranged from small-scale incidents that were successfully extinguished in less than 30 minutes to large-scale fires covering up to 6.0ha, which required prolonged operations lasting more than six hours,” he said in a statement. All fires were fully brought under control by on-duty personnel, and no loss of life or injuries were reported.

The dogs hunt and harass wild animals and compete with them for limited resources. But in India – not just in Ladakh but across the country – free-ranging dogs have become a high-profile problem with few easy solutions. They often prey on livestock, but they also chase down wild animals like the Tibetan wild donkey, or kiang. Some research from Nepal, she added, suggests that free-ranging dogs could also be a food source for snow leopards and Himalayan wolves. “We need more nuanced and critical studies that look at all animals, including dogs, as part of the ecological system,” Rana said.

Wei Chong-Kai Wun have found the Indonesian duo a tough nut to crack, losing six of their seven meetings so far - including their latest clash in the quarter-finals of the Indonesian Masters last week. "I see that Sabar-Moh are more confident when facing Wei Chong-Kai Wun because of their superior head-to-head record while our pair are a bit anxious when they play against them," said Herry. The defeat to Sabar-Moh in Indonesia was Wei Chong-Kai Wun's third quarter-final exit in a row this year. "Wei Chong-Kai Wun's results so far this year have not been good enough. Wei Chong-Kai Wun will be looking to do better when they compete next in the German Open from Feb 24-March 1 in Mulheim followed by the prestigious All-England from March 3-8 in Birmingham.

SIBU: Authorities have been urged to seal or completely backfill all boreholes and drill holes at the Oya Kaul Festival Site in Mukah following the presence of flammable methane gas at the location. The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 31) that authorities must take these measures immediately if they intend to open the site to the public. “Officers conducted three gas level readings, which recorded Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) levels ranging from 90 per cent to 100 per cent, indicating a high-risk level. “The LEL readings remained at normal levels when authorities sealed the boreholes, but the readings increased when they opened the boreholes,” it said. The department said its Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Special Team recommended that no activities take place in the area until all boreholes or drill holes are fully sealed, to prevent any safety risks.