However, instead of breaking him down, it ignited his entrepreneurial spirit to start a small phone repair business from home in Kampung Chawas, Tanah Merah in Kelantan. When he lost his job at a smartphone repair shop in Johor Baru, Ismail found himself worrying about his future. With other job opportunities limited, he started offering phone repair services to family members and close acquaintances. A lack of a phone repair shop in the area gave Ismail the opportunity to leverage his expertise and today he repairs up to four smart devices per day. “I started small, but I have big dreams,” said Ismail.

(Jan 27): Google was handed a six-month European Union deadline to lift technical barriers to rival AI search assistants on Android and give key data to other search engine providers in the latest round of its Big Tech crackdown. EU watchdogs announced under the bloc’s flagship DMA they would review whether Google is in compliance with strict laws on making Android interoperable with competing AI software and also unlocking valuable search data — under fair terms — for rival search engines. While the announcement is a step shy of being a formal investigation, the EU aims to pressure Google to re-engineer its services to allow rival companies to access Android’s operating system and the company’s valuable search data. The wave of EU scrutiny risks adding to its €9.5 billion (RM44.64 billion) EU fines tally and worsening fraught relations with the Trump administration. Under Tuesday’s proceedings, the EU may later decide to launch a formal probe if Google doesn’t step into line.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 27): Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is still receiving treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN), was on Tuesday taken out for a short outing to a cafe at the Pavilion shopping mall in Bukit Damansara. His press secretary, Sufi Yusoff, said Mahathir was taken out by IJN medical officers to the cafe, accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and IJN chief executive officer Professor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, and spent 40 minutes there. Sufi said Mahathir was then taken back to IJN and has not yet been allowed to return home and will continue to receive treatment at IJN. He said visits are still limited to immediate family. The 100-year-old leader was admitted to IJN on Jan 6 after reportedly falling at his residence in The Mines, Seri Kembangan, near here and was confirmed to have suffered a fractured right hip.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 27): Digital wallet provider ShopeePay Malaysia Sdn Bhd has partnered with Eastspring Investments Bhd and iFast Capital Sdn Bhd to launch Money+, an in-app investment feature to make investing more accessible to Malaysians. The investment feature aims to give more Malaysians the opportunity to grow their wealth, particularly those who may find traditional investing inaccessible, said Alain Yee, CEO of ShopeePay. ShopeePay Malaysia CEO Alain Yee says 'we wanted to give our users added value for the funds in their ShopeePay e-wallet by offering an entry-level investment option that is both rewarding and simple to understand.' Through the Money+ feature, users can invest with a minimum amount of RM10. Inclusivity was a key priority in creating this investment feature, said Yap Siok Hoon, CEO of Eastsprings Investments Bhd.

A former lawyer and former Bersatu division chief has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to misappropriating over RM1 million from his clients’ trust accounts. FILE PICKUALA LUMPUR: A former lawyer and former Bersatu division chief has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to misappropriating over RM1 million from his clients' trust accounts. Former lawyer Firdaus Rizal Abdul Manan was sentenced to 18 years behind bars after the Teluk Intan Sessions Court ordered his prison terms for nine criminal breach of trust charges to run consecutively. The former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Teluk Intan division chief had initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty on Dec 22, 2025, for all charges. Meanwhile, lawyer Khesminkapil Singh Dhanoa, when contacted, said he would represent the accused at the High Court to appeal the sentencing.

ORCHID enthusiasts and nature lovers can head to Taman Anggerik Shah Alam in Section 14 where a spectacular array of blooms awaits. The 2ha garden features meandering walkways, a man-made stream and charming gazebos that lend a tranquil air to a space highlighting various species and genera of this fascinating and oftentimes mysterious flower. A fully equipped greenhouse meanwhile offers a closer look at some of the park’s more delicate orchids. Planned since 2000, the park forms part of the broader Taman Tasik Shah Alam development and complements the city’s drive towards sustainability and liveability. Whether you need a leisurely afternoon break or some great photo-worthy moments, a visit to this vibrant space may just be the ticket.

BENGALURU (Jan 27): South Korea's won recouped early losses on Tuesday, and stocks rose to a record high, as the country showed its commitment to implementing a trade deal with the US following fresh tariff threats. The won was largely flat at 1,444.9 per dollar after falling 0.6% earlier in the session. Higher tariffs can negatively affect non-tech exports such as autos and pharmaceuticals, but they should not have an impact on chip exports, which are currently the key driver of South Korea's exports," he said. In Indonesia, the rupiah recovered from early losses to trade flat at 16,770 per dollar. Singapore stocks rose more than 1% to log a fresh high.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 27): The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a continuous rain warning, at the alert level, for several areas in Sarawak and Sabah, effective from this Friday. MetMalaysia, in a statement, said continuous rain is expected in several districts in Sarawak, namely Bintulu, Miri and Limbang, from Jan 30 to 31. Similar weather conditions are also forecast for several districts in Sabah, involving Tawau (Kunak and Lahad Datu), Sandakan (Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan) and Kudat, from Jan 30 to Feb 1.

- NSTP/ AURIS FAQRURAZZITASEK GELUGOR: All Mara-linked vocational institutions, including Institut Kemahiran Mara (IKM), Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara (KKTM), and the Mara Japanese Industrial Institute (MJII), will now be known under a single brand — TVET Mara — with immediate effect. "The entry into TVET Mara is open to a wide pool of candidates, including GiatMara trainees, SPM school-leavers and graduates of vocational colleges under the Education Ministry. Zahid said Mara institutions currently record an overall employability rate of 98.7 per cent, with IKM achieving 100 per cent employability. "This target is achievable if we are committed, alongside public and private higher education institutions offering professional and academic programmes," he said. "National enrolment in TVET has jumped from around 120,000 to 439,000 students, reflecting growing public confidence in technical education," he said.

(Jan 27): Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that while a hypothetical US-China clash wouldn’t immediately mean Japan will take military action, Japan will respond within legal limits should the US be attacked during a joint operation. The comments are in line with previous remarks made by the prime minister but provide some detail on specific scenarios of a Taiwan contingency. Takaichi is now headed toward a snap election that she called in a bid to consolidate power in the more powerful lower house of parliament. So far, Japan’s response to China’s fury has been subdued. The extent of Japan’s response has been to correct inaccuracies in China’s claims.

(Jan 27): SK Hynix Inc shares jumped to an all-time high after local media said the company is the sole supplier of advanced memory for Microsoft Corp’s new artificial intelligence (AI) chip. SK Hynix is unable to confirm or disclose any customer-related information, a company spokesperson said in a text message. “We will probably see SK Hynix earnings meeting expectations again,” he added. Another positive tailwind came as Citigroup Inc hiked its price target for SK Hynix by 56% to a street-high 1,400,000 won (RM3,825.65). “The memory market is shifting toward semi-customisation, with memory customers required to sign a contract a year prior to actual product delivery,” analyst Peter Lee wrote in a note Monday.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 27): The Ministry of Health (MOH) is in constant contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant international counterparts to verify reports circulating on social media regarding Nipah virus infections reported in India. “Any further public health measures will be decided based on confirmed information and careful risk assessment, in line with national policies and established procedures,” the statement read. In the meantime, MOH said public health preparedness at points of entry, including international airports, seaports and land border crossings, remains consistently operational in accordance with established protocols. “MOH emphasises that border health control measures are continuously maintained and will be scaled up proportionately based on the evolving risk assessment and official epidemiological updates,” it added. According to WHO, Nipah virus disease is a zoonotic infection that can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, contaminated food, or directly from person to person.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 27): The median monthly wage of Malaysia's 7.06 million formal employees increased to RM2,864 in September 2025, up 4.3% from RM2,745 a year earlier, according to the Third Quarter 2025 Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector) Report released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on Tuesday. Wage data by age group showed employees aged 45 to 49 continued to record the highest median monthly wage at RM3,800 across all three months of the third quarter. According to DOSM, all economic sectors posted higher median wages during the quarter. It said that although representing just 0.6% of formal employment, the mining and quarrying sector continued to record the highest median monthly wage at RM6,600, up by 11.9% year-on-year, while the agriculture sector, comprising 1.8% of citizen formal employees, recorded the lowest median wage at RM2,245. “Furthermore, percentile analysis revealed that the bottom 10% of Malaysian formal employees received monthly wages of RM1,700 or less, while employees in the 90th percentile earned at least RM9,000 per month.

Gross domestic product is forecast to expand 2.2% in 2025, the ministry said Tuesday (Jan 27), cutting its earlier estimate of 2.4%. The ministry maintained its 2026 forecast of a 2% expansion, which is faster than the Bank of Thailand’s 1.5% growth estimate. Merchandise exports this year will likely increase by 1% compared with the forecast 12.7% growth in 2025. Growth in private consumption will likely slow to 2.5% from a forecast of 3.3% in 2025, according to estimates from the ministry. The finance ministry said GDP growth in the fourth quarter was likely at 1.8% from a year ago.

Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), established under the Engineers Registration Act 1967 (Act 138), is responsible for regulating, registering, and recognising professional engineers. “The pathway to recognition is clear, structured, and transparent through the Professional Assessment Examination (PAE). Nanta also announced that the government is reviewing amendments to the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Act 138) to strengthen BEM's enforcement capabilities. On the launch of the BEM Strategic Plan 2026–2030, Nanta said the plan sets the direction for the country’s engineering sector with four key pillars: talent, governance, recognition, and innovation. This plan aligns with the Works Ministry's Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, aiming to improve industry capabilities and competitiveness through human capital development.