(Jan 28): Vietnam and the European Union are expected to announce a comprehensive strategic partnership as European Council president Antonio Costa begins his official visit to the Southeast Asian nation on Thursday. An upgrade in relations between the EU and Vietnam to a comprehensive strategic partnership would “send a powerful signal in an unsettled world — that the EU and Vietnam are choosing long-term cooperation over short-term hedging,” Costa said in an editorial. “The geopolitical situation is quite critical,” Julien Guerrier, EU ambassador to Vietnam, told reporters in Hanoi on Monday. Vietnam and the EU have also established a Defence and Security Dialogue mechanism. Closer diplomatic ties “would provide a stronger platform to deepen cooperation in areas that matter most: green energy, advanced technologies, skills and security,” Costa wrote.

PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry is maintaining its target to commence operations of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in January 2027. Minister Anthony Loke said that before system testing and inspections begin, the ministry views operational readiness, not just track construction, as the most critical factor in rail projects before services can start. "Rail systems are not just about the tracks. Loke said that system integration testing is the most demanding phase of rail projects, as it ensures all components function reliably and in sync before full operations begin. According to earlier reports, the ECRL project, which spans Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, had achieved 89% overall completion as of October 2025.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that ministries and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) emphasise evaluating the effectiveness of high-impact initiatives under the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35). Chairing the first Bumiputera Economic Council (MEB) meeting of 2026 on Wednesday, he said that ministries and GLICs must also ensure that the implementation of planned initiatives does not overlap and is complementary. He said that in-depth, continuous analysis is crucial to avoid becoming complacent, such as merely listing initiatives that have been carried out, without assessing their actual impact and the areas for improvement that should be explored. He added that the MEB has comprehensively reviewed the progress of implementation and the high-impact initiatives under PuTERA35. “The meeting also took note of the current progress in the implementation of various initiatives by GLICs in supporting the Bumiputera economic empowerment agenda, particularly in the areas of property development, entrepreneurship, talent development, and social initiatives.

CIMB Niaga Syariah is slated to operate as a standalone business from May 2026, the people said. A potential IPO would likely come only after it builds a track record as a separate entity, including audited financials, one of them added. CIMB Niaga declined to comment, saying it is focused on strengthening core businesses and supporting inclusive growth across Indonesia. A listing would position CIMB Niaga Syariah as one of the country's few publicly traded pure shariah lenders, potentially drawing strong domestic institutional demand as the halal economy expands. CIMB Niaga, Indonesia's second-largest private lender, has been growing its shariah business.

KOTA KINABALU: A huge crocodile believed to have been lingering in a river in Merotai, Tawau, was captured on Wednesday morning (Jan 28). The five-metre-long male reptile was caught following an integrated operation between wildlife rangers and villagers at Kg Pangkalan Asli, shared Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS) president, who lives in Merotai. The crocodile was seen to be in a very healthy state, with its belly bulging, most likely from having eaten enough. It was learnt that villagers only noticed the crocodile recently when they went to the river to fish and carry out daily activities in the area. Liew said the crocodile was brought out of the village while wildlife rangers are tasked with further handling it, according to procedures.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): Many Malaysians may spend decades working yet still reach retirement without meaningful financial security, according to the latest report by the PNB Research Institute (PNBRI). The report warns that relying on traditional poverty-alleviation measures and subsidies is no longer sufficient as the country rapidly ages. The report shows that stagnant wages and income inequality make it hard for Malaysians to build wealth. About half of EPF contributors have less than RM10,000 in savings, enough for only three months of retirement. The second pillar is ownership – enabling broader access to productive assets, including savings schemes, co-investment funds for housing, and employee ownership programmes.

KUALA LUMPUR: Cooperation between the National Registration Department and the Finance Ministry is being strengthened to enable faster synchronisation of public data after MyKad replacements, says the Home Ministry. It said the issue was temporary and technical, caused by differences in data update cycles between agencies, and that it does not constitute a loss of MyKad data or a loss of eligibility for assistance for affected Malaysians. “The NRD supplies records of any MyKad data changes on a daily basis, which enables the Finance Ministry’s database to be updated no later than the next working day, ensuring the continuity and proper organisation of MyKad holders’ data. To resolve this, it said ongoing efforts to strengthen data synchronisation between the registration department and the Finance Ministry would ensure a smoother implementation of government assistance initiatives for the people. The Ministry was responding to a question from Jimmy Puah (Pakatan Harapan-Tebrau), who asked for an explanation of the issue of data loss for MyKasih and Budi95 data when Malaysians replace their identity cards.

The helicopter is equipped with a 1,590-litre Bambi Bucket for forest firefighting operations using the fire-bucket method. The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to dry and windy conditions, which caused thick smoke to drift into nearby residential areas around Taman Bayu Damai. Firefighting efforts were further hampered by limited water sources and difficult access to the affected area. As of Tuesday night, residential areas remained shrouded in thick white smoke, with a strong smell of burning. In Sector A, firefighters, together with the Civil Defence Force (APM), were divided into two teams to combat the fire in the residential areas using mechanical and portable pumps, along with water supplied from nearby fire hydrants.

PETALING JAYA: Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has received a significant boost after climbing to No. 79 in the latest world rankings. Based on the Badminton World Federation rankings update released on Tuesday (Jan 27), Zii Jia jumped 24 places after accumulating 22,440 points. Zii Jia is currently in Bangkok and will begin his Thailand Masters campaign against Julien Carraggi of Belgium in the first round on Wednesday (Jan 28). Letshanaa impressed at the Indonesian Masters last week, where she not only stunned world No.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing review of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States will focus on protecting the Malaysian people’s best interests, security, and economic security, says the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry. The Ministry said this would include safeguarding Malaysia’s economic interests and ensuring the continuity of trade with the United States, one of our biggest trading partners. The Ministry said that the assessment would also focus on preserving Malaysia’s neutral standing on the world stage. The Ministry was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) on the current state of the ART review and whether the Government will look to renegotiate any terms found to be unfair for Malaysia. The Ministry was also responding to similar questions from Datuk Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) and Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN–Pasir Mas) on the status of the ART review.

AN MP has questioned whether Indian leaders who support the opposition coalition, Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat, collectively accept the Rumah Ibadat Haram label, Makkal Osai reported. Jelutong MP RSN Rayer was referring to a speech by Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari in Parliament when he used the term described as “insulting” by many. The Malaysian Advancement Party, the Malaysian Indian People Party and the United for the Rights of Malaysians Party, which are in the opposition alliance, should clarify their stance, rather than pretending not to hear it, he said. Temples being built on empty lots without approval, owners or authorities threatening eviction, the community responding with emotions and the government eventually giving alternative land has become common, Rayer said, urging the government to make clear what is being done to resolve the issue.

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians can look forward to 24-hour Electric Train Service (ETS) train services during peak festive periods, starting this Chinese New Year, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. “During festive periods, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) usually kept spare sets as a precaution in case of breakdowns, so not all sets were deployed. “However, I have instructed KTMB that we must optimise our existing sets. He added that during festive and other public holidays, services will be increased when demand is high. “Ultimately, what we want is to increase capacity and frequency, optimise our assets, and allow more people to benefit by securing ETS tickets.”Meanwhile, the government was also providing subsidies for one-way domestic flight tickets on routes between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.

PETALING JAYA: Vigilance over health screenings at border entry points in Malaysia has been upped with the outbreak of the Nipah virus in India. First discovered in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Negri Sembilan, in 1998, the Nipah virus (Henipavirus nipahense) is a bat-borne virus that can cause infections in both humans and other animals, with high mortality rates (starting from 40%). In a statement yesterday, the Health Ministry (MOH) has given its assurance that border health control measures are constantly kept, following the Indian cases. “Any public health measures will be decided based on confirmed information and careful risk assessment, in line with national policies,” it said. The MOH also emphasised that public health preparedness at points of entry, including international airports, seaports and land border crossings, remains in accordance with established protocols.

(Jan 28): Thailand’s largest construction company, which is under investigation for its role in two deadly accidents, won investor approval to restructure its outstanding bonds. Italian-Thai Development pcl received bondholders’ consent to extend the maturity of five notes totalling 14.5 billion baht (RM1.83 billion) by three years, the company said in an exchange filing Wednesday (Jan 28). Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he wants the government to terminate Italian-Thai’s contracts for the projects where the crane accidents occurred. Italian-Thai, founded in 1958 by Chaijudh Karnasuta, a Thai national, and Italian Giorgio Berlingieri, has pushed back on such statements. A sustained sell-off in Italian-Thai’s stock has seen the firm’s market value shrink to about one billion baht from 12 billion baht in 2021.

Data centre projects typically have shorter tender and award cycles and relatively low competitive intensity, with only three to four recurring competitors bidding alongside ISF, the company noted. ISF is primarily involved in the supply and installation of piping systems for end-user premises, as well as water supply and sewer infrastructure piping. The group is also expanding into turnkey data centre water systems, such as water treatment plants, which increase its addressable revenue per project beyond standard piping works. Meanwhile, ISF maintains a tender book of about RM460 million, with roughly 60% concentrated in higher-growth and higher-margin data centre and industrial segments. At the latest price, ISF is valued at about 49.48 times earnings based on FY2024 net profit of RM9.64 million, on revenue of RM54.67 million.