GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Penang detained two oil tankers suspected of transferring crude oil worth more than RM512mil in the state’s waters on Thursday (Jan 29). Penang Maritime director Maritime Capt Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli said a marine patrol boat received a report at 1am that two oil tankers, anchored 24 nautical miles west of Muka Head, were suspected of conducting oil transfer activities. Inspections at the location found both vessels moored together and suspected of engaging in ship-to-ship transfer activities. "The two vessels are believed to have carried out crude oil transfer activities involving 53 crew members comprising Chinese, Myanmar, Iranian, Pakistani and Indian nationals. "The value of the seized crude oil exceeded RM512mil, while the value of both oil tankers amounted to RM718mil,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 31).

Food allergies can trigger severe and sudden reactions, including hives, rashes, swelling, eczema, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, asthma and sinusitis. Because food allergy symptoms are not always obvious, they can put those affected at risk. An article Food Allergy – A Hidden Crisis (Jan 26) in The Star reports that in Malaysia, doctors say food allergies are no longer just a childhood "phase" or a mild rash after a meal. Photo: Siti Ameena Abdul KaiyumThis sentiment is echoed by digital marketing executive Siti Ameena Abdul Kaiyum, 29, who has lived with food allergies since she was four. "To mitigate it, I turned to homeopathic treatment to help calm my food allergies and prevent the blisters," she adds.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has conveyed Thaipusam greetings to all Hindus celebrating the festival. In a Facebook post, Anwar said Thaipusam symbolises 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 hoped 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.

MELAKA: The body of a man was found in a drain near a bus stop in the Ayer Keroh industrial area here on Friday (Jan 30). Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit said a youth discovered the body of the 64-year-old in a drain filled with 0.2m of water. “The victim is believed to have fallen into the drain from a height of 1.5m. A 19-year-old found the body when he was discarding rubbish at a bin near the scene. The man's body was sent to Melaka Hospital for a post-mortem, and the case has been classified as a sudden death.

PETALING JAYA: Women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei booked her spot in the Thailand Masters final after a hard fought win over fellow Malaysian Wong Ling Ching. The independent player showed great determination and spirit to come from behind to triumph 17-21, 21-17, 21-16 in 57 minutes at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday (Jan 31). It will be Jin Wei's fourth appearance in the final of an Open tournament. She also reached the finals of the 2016 Indonesia Masters, the 2017 Taiwan Open and the 2022 Vietnam Open but finished runners-up in all occasions. The two-time world junior champion Jin Wei will take on the winner of the match between Taiwan’s Huang Yu-hsun and India’s Devika Sihag for the title on Sunday (Feb 1).

Email your story to: heartandsoul@thestar.com.my with the subject "Heart and Soul". On Jan 9, 2026, fans of Tamil cinema phenomenon Joseph Vijay celebrated what felt like the final festival of a Thalapathy film. That night, 85,000 fans filled the stadium, glowing with blinking wristbands and raised phone torches, transforming the space into a sea of starlight. We heard his iconic opening line one last time – “En nenjil kudiyirukkum” (“The fans who reside in my heart”). On Jan 9, we didn’t honour you for one last time – we celebrated a legacy that never ends.

PETALING JAYA: Women's singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei has given her badminton career a huge lift after battling into the Thailand Masters final. Jin Wei, who celebrated her 26th birthday on Friday, also saw her world rankings slide to No. Jin Wei now has an opportunity to end her wait for an Open title but standing in her way is India's world No. Jin Wei's coach Nova was pleased with his charge for holding on until the end in an energy sapping match. I just told Jin Wei to hold on and focus on the last few points.

KLANG: The LRT3 Shah Alam line is on track to begin operations as early as March, following positive outcomes from ongoing test runs. “Another trainset from the same group is currently in the final phase of testing and is expected to get through the FFR test,” he said. Likewise, he said a batch of eight trains is also in its final testing phase and expected to be completed in stages by Monday. He said the FFR testing of the third batch of eight trainsets will commence soon after and is expected to be completed by Feb 28. “After the FFR is done, we want to start the trial run immediately on March 1.

Jin Wei eventually defeated the world No. 43 Ling Ching 17-21, 21-17, 21-16 in Bangkok to secure her maiden World Tour final spot. I think she (Ling Ching) is a much better player," Jin Wei, who turned 27 today told SNE Sports. While Ling Ching appeared comfortable early on, Jin Wei used her experience to outwit her younger opponent. Jin Wei, 26, is aiming to become the first Malaysian woman to win a Super 300 title, though her coach, Nova Armada, noted that physical recovery is a primary concern.

"This is not about coercion," he said, responding to questions after officiating the Jom Masuk Universiti Carnival 2026 here. Zambry said the government was instead focused on widening access to higher education while recognising Malaysia's diverse schooling systems, including international, religious and Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) streams. He added that discussions are ongoing between the Higher Education Ministry (MoHE), the Education Ministry (MoE) and regulators such as the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to ensure that school-leaving qualifications are aligned with university admission requirements. Zambry echoed that stance, saying the government's guiding principle remains expanding opportunities rather than restricting students' prospects. "What we want is to ensure every Malaysian has access to higher education, and that any policy is implemented carefully and fairly," he said.

"Ten security personnel were martyred while a few others were injured," and 58 militants were killed in clashes, said the official. The circumstances surrounding the family's death were not immediately clear, but Baloch separatists have previously targeted civilians believed to have collaborated with state agencies. A senior official in the city told AFP that militants had abducted the deputy commissioner of Nushki district. Last year, ethnic Baloch separatists attacked a train with 450 passengers on board, sparking a two-day siege during which dozens of people were killed. In August 2024, militants blew up bridges, stormed hotels and targeted security installations in assaults across the province that left dozens dead.

BALING: A woman suffered losses amounting to RM10,000 after her bag was stolen near a supermarket in Kupang on Thursday (Jan 29). Baling OCPD Supt Brandon Anak Richard Joe said the incident is believed to have occurred around 8.40am when the woman parked her grey Perodua Avanza at the supermarket to buy groceries. "After she finished shopping, the victim returned home and realised her bag was missing from the vehicle. Investigations revealed that the vehicle was parked approximately 15 meters from the supermarket’s front entrance. "The RM10,000 in cash was business proceeds the victim had brought along to be deposited into the bank," he added.

KOTA KINABALU: Electricity tariffs in Sabah and Labuan are set to increase by just over five sen per kWh on Sunday (Feb 1). Sabah Electricity said that the revision, carried out under the Incentive-Based Regulation (IBR) framework in line with the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, will raise the average basic tariff from 34.52 sen to 39.70 sen per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The review is the first in 12 years in Sabah since 2014 despite the escalating cost producing electricity. Sabah Electricity said that the move was necessary to address rising operating and maintenance costs, fund infrastructure investments and support the government's policy of gradually phasing out subsidies. For the second regulatory period the company said the actual average cost of electricity supply is estimated at 45.08 sen per kWh, higher than the approved revised tariff.

A diet rich in vegetables and probiotics could help slow the growth of low-risk prostate cancer, a new study suggests. Researchers found that specially-designed supplements and probiotics appeared to slow progression of an indicator of prostate cancer in the blood. Low-risk prostate cancer means that the cancer is slow to grow in the first place, with patients usually only being placed under active surveillance for management. The PSA test can indicate prostate conditions, including prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate. Slowing down the diseaseWriting in the European Urology Oncology journal, the authors said that they found a “significant slowing of progression in PSA” following dietary changes among men with low-risk prostate cancer.

Jin Wei deservedly became Malaysia's first women's singles shuttler to reach a World Tour Super 300 final, achieving the historic feat in Bangkok. The surgery, which removed part of her intestine, altered Jin Wei's life and career, with simply completing a full match once a major challenge. 68 dug deep, superbly surviving three-game battles in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals to reach her first Super 300 final. The Thailand Masters was Jin Wei's first tournament since the Super 300 Korea Masters in October, where she suffered a first-round exit. "I'm amazed by Jin Wei's fighting spirit," said Nova.