KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): The registration of Year One students for the 2027 Academic Calendar Year will be conducted online from Feb 15 to March 31, 2026 through the Ministry of Education Integrated System (MOEIS). Education director general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the registration via https://idme.moe.gov.my will be open to children of Malaysian citizens in the six-year-old (5+) cohort, born between Jan 2 and Dec 31, 2021, and the seven-year-old (6+) cohort, born between Jan 2, 2020 and Jan 1, 2021. He said the move was in line with the government's decision to open opportunities for six-year-old children (5+) to enter Year One starting in 2027 on a voluntary basis and without the need to take a screening test. He said further information related to this matter can be found on the official MOE portal, State Education Department (JPN) or District Education Office (PPD) websites. On Jan 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when launching the National Education Plan (RPN) 2026-2035, announced that starting next year, six-year-old children can enrol in Year One, but this is not mandatory and is up to parents.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): The Counter Terrorism Division (E8) of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Special Branch has succeeded in foiling 26 attempted terrorist and militant attacks in the country between 2012 to 2024, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay. “During the period, the E8 Division also successfully detained 75 members of militant and terrorist groups who were planning to carry out attacks in Malaysia. According to him, all suspects charged under the Penal Code were convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to 25 years. Ayob Khan said among the violent attack plots successfully foiled by the E8 Division of the Special Branch were attempts to carry out attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting foreign embassies in Kuala Lumpur in 2012, as well as entertainment outlets in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in 2013. “We recognise human rights, but they must be balanced against security threats.

SEREMBAN: A two-year-old toddler is believed to have died of heat exhaustion after his mother left him in her car before reporting for work on Tuesday (Jan 27) morning. Seremban police chief Asst Comm Azahar Abdul Rahim said police received a call from a member of the public around 6.15pm regarding a toddler found unconscious in a car. "A preliminary probe found that the mother forgot to send her son to the babysitter around 8am and left him in her vehicle. "She only realised her son was still in the car when she finished work at 5pm," he said in a statement. ACP Azahar said doctors from Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital, who were dispatched to the scene, pronounced the victim dead.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 28): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has published a Public Inquiry Report on the commission's proposed Determination of Mandatory Standards for the Registration of Prepaid Public Cellular Service Users (Mandatory Standards), in accordance with Section 65 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998). MCMC said the report, which is now available at https://mcmc.gov.my/en/resources/reports/public-inquiry-report/public-inquiry-report-on-the-new-commission-determ, summarises all the feedback received and outlines MCMC's final assessment and policy stance on the proposed mandatory standards. The MCMC explained that the weaknesses of the current prepaid registration allow document forgery and identity theft, thus posing risks to consumer security, national security and the integrity of digital services. “The existing regulatory framework needs to be strengthened to address inconsistent registration practices and the existence of pre-activated SIM cards and fake registrations in the market,” the MCMC said. According to the MCMC, the proposed mandatory standard introduces a stricter regulatory framework, including a secure automated registration platform, biometric authentication and clear responsibilities for service providers and distributors.

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Police arrested a man who sprayed Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar ‌with a foul-smelling liquid in Minneapolis on Tuesday as she condemned the actions of U.S. ‌Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Minnesota. A security guard immediately grabbed the man and took him to the ground, according to a Reuters witness and video of the town hall ‍event. Omar defiantly took a few steps ⁠toward him, with her ‍hand raised, before he was subdued. "I learned at a young age, you don't give in to threats," Omar told the audience, after refusing to suspend the event. Trump has repeatedly targeted Omar in public remarks and social media posts, also taking aim at her Somali nationality.

CEBU CITY, Philippines (Jan 28): Maritime cooperation and efforts to conclude the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) within the 2026 timeline are expected to feature prominently at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat being held here. “The Philippines’ hosting of the AMM Retreat underscores its commitment to upholding Asean unity and centrality, ensuring a stable, integrated, inclusive, sustainable, and people-centred region. During the retreat, Asean Foreign Ministers will also review the outcomes of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits held in Kuala Lumpur in October last year, and exchange views on regional and global developments affecting the region. The AMM retreat, the first major ministerial meeting under the country’s Asean chairship for 2026, will be chaired by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Theresa P Lazaro and bring together Asean foreign ministers and senior officials from across the region. In another statement, the Asean Committee on Media Affairs and Strategic Communications said the situation in Myanmar will also be discussed by Asean foreign ministers during the retreat.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): The ringgit has staged a strong comeback, rising from around the 4.70 level against the US dollar a few years ago to the 3.90 level currently, making it one of Asia’s best-performing currencies, said World Bank lead economist for Malaysia Apurva Sanghi. At 4.15pm on Wednesday, the ringgit was traded at 3.9135 against the US dollar. He said Malaysia’s economy is performing well, underpinned by solid economic growth, low inflation, and rising real wages. “A strong ringgit is helping to bring down prices of imported food items such as onions, cabbage and rice,” he said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday. Apurva further said that early AI-era roles are already emerging, including AI trainers, data curators, and prompt engineers, while “human-touch” jobs such as elder care could see strong, rising returns.

(Jan 28): Hong Kong’s Exchange Fund reported a record investment gain of HK$331 billion (RM166.27 billion) in 2025, helped by rising global markets. The fund delivered an investment gain of 8%, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Hong Kong stock holdings and overseas equities posted a HK$108 billion increase. It earned HK$142 billion from bonds, HK$38 billion from foreign exchange and HK$42.4 billion on other investments. A drop in the US currency will also weaken the Hong Kong dollar, impacting the price of imports as well as the active cross-border consumption with neighbouring China.

Hong Kong stunt master Ken Law (centre) guides the cast on how he wants them to execute an action scene. According to Teh, the action in Black Ops differs significantly from what he performed in Blood Brothers, and is far more technically demanding. Hong Kong star Benjamin Yuen plays a gang member by the name of Prinze Chow in the film. “And in Black Ops, I’m surrounded by professional action stars like Sharnaaz and Aaron, as well as experienced Hong Kong crew members. “This collaboration is not just about producing a single film, but marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between the Hong Kong and Malaysian film industries.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): Northport (M) Bhd, a member of MMC Group, recorded a milestone year in 2025, reaching all-time highs across its cargo operations. The Port Klang-based operator announced on Wednesday that its annual container throughput reached 3.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), surpassing the previous record of 3.67 million TEUs set in 2024. The record performance extended to conventional cargo, where throughput hit a historic high of 12.9 million freight weight tonnes (FWT), beating the 12.69 million FWT handled in 2024. Northport is fully owned by MMC Port Holdings Bhd, which had secured regulatory approval in September last year to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. MMC Port has not officially commented on the report.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): A White Paper on the National Ageing Blueprint (NAB) 2025-2045 will be tabled in Parliament this year to ensure the country is prepared to face the aged nation status by 2048. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the White Paper aims to coordinate strategic adaptations at the federal, ministerial and state government levels, as well as to secure support from all stakeholders. He said the NAB outlines five key strategic thrusts, namely macroeconomics and fiscal policy, education, skills and workforce, lifelong health, social protection and long-term care. "The primary focus of the NAB has also been translated into specific strategies and initiatives under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to prepare the country for the challenges of an ageing population. He said engagement sessions with state governments were held during the drafting of the NAB to ensure understanding of national readiness and to strengthen grassroots-level preparations.

In a video circulating on social media, a motorcyclist was seen injured after a burger stall being transported by a lorry fell onto him and a car beside him at an intersection. ACP Abdul Malek said the victim received treatment at Taiping Hospital. "The lorry, driven by a 30-year-old man, was transporting the burger stall from Taiping towards Kamunting. "He then lost control of the vehicle, causing the stall to fall onto the motorcyclist and a car driven by a 34-year-old woman," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 27). ACP Abdul Malek said the lorry driver had also turned into a one-way street during the incident.

(Jan 28): SK Hynix Inc reported its strongest quarterly results to date, underscoring the depth of an artificial intelligence wave that’s triggered an unprecedented surge in memory demand. Operating profit more than doubled to 19.2 trillion won (RM53 billion) in the December quarter, beating the 16.7 trillion won average of analysts' estimates. Revenue climbed to 32.8 trillion won. Shares in SK Hynix, the leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory or HBM for Nvidia Corp’s AI accelerators, have roughly tripled since the start of September. The resulting supply shortfall in both DRAM and NAND is handing manufacturers like SK Hynix immense pricing power.

JOHOR BAHRU: Two men suffered burns to their faces and bodies in an explosion involving an air conditioning unit in a container at Tanjung Puteri Resort, Pasir Gudang, on Tuesday evening (Jan 27). The Johor Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre said it received a distress call at 4.51pm, and firefighters from the Pasir Gudang Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) were dispatched to the scene, arriving about 11 minutes later. Upon arrival, the team found that an explosion involving the container's air conditioning unit had occurred, and the fire had been extinguished with a dry powder fire extinguisher, it said. The two victims were then taken to the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) for further treatment.

Carney said Monday the quarterly GST credit sent to low and middle-income households will rise by 25% for a five-year period starting this year. An eligible family of four may receive about C$800 more in relief this year, while a single person could see roughly C$400, Carney said. “Canadians need a boost today and a bridge to tomorrow,” Carney said, arguing affordability remains his government’s central priority. Carney noted that Canada, the United States and Mexico are preparing for a formal review of the North American free trade pact. With about 70% of Canadian exports flowing to the United States, Carney said his government has responded by accelerating efforts to build domestic capacity and diversify trade ties.