KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas will pay a dividend of RM20bil to the government in 2026, guided by its affordability, says its president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz. "The board has just approved it and that is something that we can contend with, having evaluated more of our growth and reinvestment needs, also servicing borrowings and ensuring that there's enough proportion for in-shops," he told reporters during the Petronas Group financial results for the financial year of 2025 announcement here on Friday (Feb 27). For FY2025, Petronas's board has approved a dividend payment of RM32bil on the back of capital expenditure (capex) of RM41.6bil. "For capex, the guidance that we have over the next five years is on average RM45bil to RM50bil, depending on the phasing of projects as they come along," he said.

PETALING JAYA: Caught between ageing parents and growing children, many Malaysians in their late 30s and early 40s are discovering that peak earning years can also mean peak financial pressure. ALSO READ: So-called sandwich generation face growing financial strain“At one point, I was paying for my housing loan, car loan, two children’s school expenses and my parents’ medical bills. When his father required surgery three years ago, Faizal turned to a personal loan. “It started with one personal loan for medical costs. But you don’t realise how much it adds up until repayments start eating into your monthly cash flow,” he said.

PETALING JAYA: Wong Ling Ching’s giant-killing run came to an end at the German Open after she bowed out in the quarter-finals on Friday (Feb 27) in Mulheim. Ling Ching found world No. 37 Han Qianxi a tough nut to crack, going down 16-21, 13-21 in 39 minutes. Just a day earlier, she had produced a stunning upset by defeating world No. 8 Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand in the second round.

Compiled by FAZLEENA AZIZ, TAN SIN CHOW and R. ARAVINTHANA TAMIL music veteran artiste will receive RM2,000 monthly pension, thanks to the efforts and contributions of local artistes and community leaders, Makkal Osai reported. Iconic RTM announcer and award-winning newsreader V. Arumugam started the initiative to provide a monthly pension for renowned artiste N. Mariappan, 93, to ensure he is able to cover expenses in his old age. The effort has received support from retired RTM personnel and other well-wishers who helped raise the money for the pension fund. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.

Occasionally, the mascot waves at small children, prompting their parents to stop and take a group selfie. What they don’t know is: the person in the frog costume ­waving back is a kid himself. “How old are you?”“Nine,” answered the boy in the frog costume, with one hand on the black box filled with RM1 notes hung around his neck. This seems to be the latest trend – beggars “dressed up” in cute attire. So he resorted to wearing a brightly coloured frog costume to ask for money.

PETALING JAYA: Four children of the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin are being sought for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). In a media statement, the MACC identified them as Asnida Abdul Daim, Md Wira Dani Abdul Daim, Muhammed Amir Zainuddin Daim and Muhammed Amin Zainuddin Daim. : (From left) Asnida, Md Wira Dani, Muhammed Amir and Muhammed Amin, who are being called as part of an MACC probe. — Photo courtesy of MACC’s Facebook pageAsnida’s last known address is located in Country Heights, Kajang, Selangor. Members of the public may also contact the MACC hotline or the nearest MACC office.

SHAH ALAM: The Klang High Court on Friday (Feb 27) sentenced S. Davandrakumar, 33, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s three-year-old son in 2021. Judge Norliza Othman meted out the sentence after finding the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt at the end of the defence case. "The child was also immersed in water before being dragged to a room and beaten until death,” she said. Davandrakumar was charged with murdering the boy at a house in Taman Sentosa, Klang, between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm on Dec 24, 2021. In mitigation, lawyer Zamri Ibrahim stated that his client regretted his actions, promised not to repeat them, and requested a lighter sentence.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has appointed Datuk Shamsul Ahmad as its president and chief executive officer effective March 1, 2026, replacing Datuk Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan. The appointment is for a one-year term until Feb 28, 2027, with an option for a further one-year extension. The utility company said Shamsul’s tenure at TNB spans more than 37 years, during which he has held numerous key positions, particularly in the generation business. "In his current role as chief regulatory and stakeholder management officer, Shamsul has been instrumental in shaping Malaysia’s electricity supply industry regulatory framework. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan has completed his tenure on Feb 28, 2026 after serving as president and CEO since March 2024.

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was not ⁠happy with Iran and wants to make a deal with Tehran but warned ‌that "sometimes you have to" use military force. Trump, talking to reporters as he left the White House on a trip to Texas, said Iran was still unwilling to forswear nuclear weapons as demanded by the United States. Asked about the potential for use of force, Trump said the United States has the greatest military in the world. He did not specify with whom, but ⁠top U.S. defense ​officials were at the White House on Thursday for talks. "We want no nuclear weapons by Iran and they're not saying those golden words," Trump said.

CORPORATE bonds are exposed to abrupt downside as liquidity providers are increasingly replaced by liquidity takers. JPMorgan Chase and Co’s Jamie Dimon has warned of parallels to the era prior to the 2008 financial crisis. He’s not wrong to be concerned, as we will see, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at credit spreads, which are back near historic lows.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA marked its 77th anniversary on Friday (Feb 27) with a flag-raising ceremony at its headquarters here, reaffirming the party’s commitment to defend the rights and interests of Malaysians. Its president, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, led the ceremony in the morning, joined by central committee members, in conjunction with the party’s founding anniversary. Founded in 1949, MCA has traversed a 77-year journey through shifting political landscapes and defining moments, he said. “As we enter our 77th year, the political winds may change, yet our resolve to defend Malaysians’ rights and interests does not waver,” he said in a Facebook post. Dr Wee added that MCA's fundamental principle has never shifted, even as national politics take on various forms and configurations.

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia has contributed about 30 tonnes of dates and 25,000 copies of the Quran to Malaysia in conjunction with Ramadan 1447H, continuing its annual assistance to the country. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the donation is a reflection of the strong and harmonious ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Every year, they generously present dates to our country. Also present were Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Malaysia Osama Dakhil Al-Ahmadi and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) representative Raid Mohamad. Zulkifli added that the dates, including the Syukari variety, were produced in Saudi Arabia and are among the world’s finest.

WHAT do video production company The Dor Brothers and the mushrooming of medical kiosks in Shanghai have in common? Well, the former is a pioneer in artificial intelligence (AI) video production, having produced more than 300 AI-generated videos, generating more than 100 million views worldwide.

PETALING JAYA: Anyone found to be involved in an attempt to topple the government and disrupt the country’s stability must face the law, regardless of their status or background, says the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC). The AGC said this following a statement by Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail who confirmed that the police was investigating a report lodged about a plot to overthrow the government. “The AGC views this matter very seriously. The AGC stressed that any investigation must be done in a thorough and professional manner, free of any interference. “Any decision involving prosecution will be done independently and objectively based on facts, statements and legal considerations,” it added.

KOTA KINABALU: Over 6,000 people have sought shelter as Sabah’s flood situation remains critical on the third day in the state’s interior and southwestern districts. A total of 5,860 residents from 2,067 households remain affected in the flood affecting interior Tenom as well as Beaufort, Membakut, and Sipitang in the state’s south western coast. Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jafar has ordered his officers to inspect flood-affected areas in Tenom, Nabawan, Sook, Tongod, Sipitang, Beaufort and Pitas. In view of the flood situation in Beaufort, Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah said that it was crucial for the Finance Ministry to provide additional special emergency allocations. More than 5,000 people were evacuated to relief centres during the first wave, though the situation there has since improved.