Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said such violations were not minor administrative issues, but carried major risks to the national border control system if not addressed with strict action. "Based on records for 2025, disciplinary action has been taken against 92 immigration officers stationed at national entry and exit points for offences relating to irregular endorsements and immigration stamping. He also singled out identity theft and misusing border documents as key threats identified at entry points along the Malaysia-Thailand border. NIISe was designed with the capability to fully integrate with various international and national security databases, including those of Interpol, he said. With such integration, the Immigration Department can conduct security risk analyses comprehensively and effectively, reducing dependence on fully manual checks.

KUALA LUMPUR: A 25-year-old man dressed as Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King from the popular action role-playing game Black Myth: Wukong was spotted strolling through Bukit Bintang recently, drawing crowds and turning heads. The cosplayer, known as Hong Lei from Shaanxi, China, stands at 190cm and leads a group called the “Great Sage Heavens Group”. Clips of his walkabout in the bustling district have since gone viral on social media, sparking excitement among fans and netizens. User @yimochan613, wrote ‘wow, so cool, come to Penang, while @hehua7se commented, ‘it’s time to go to Sabah… Mountain’. Others expressed their enthusiasm for the character, with @mingzhou.yu commenting: ‘this isn’t good, I want to see Pigsy too and user @sforstephanieeee saying: it feels like we walked into his game world so cool’.

GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will undertake a one-day working visit to Penang and Sungai Petani, Kedah, on Saturday (Jan 24) to attend several official programmes, including the launch of the Guar Kepah Archaeological Gallery in Penaga near here. The working visit by Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, will begin with the official opening ceremony of the new Seberang Jaya Hospital building in Perai, which aims to enhance capacity and improve the quality of healthcare services for residents in Seberang Perai and surrounding areas. The former Permatang Pauh MP is scheduled to attend the official opening ceremony of the Madani Cultural Carnival and Kenduri Rakyat Penang 2026 in Permatang Pauh, before proceeding to officiate the opening of Masjid Jamek Kubang Ulu in Kubang Semang. In the afternoon, Anwar will attend the official opening ceremony of the Seberang Perai Aspire Centre and the Santuni Komuniti programme at the compound of the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) Tower, before officiating the opening of the Guar Kepah Archaeological Gallery, a key initiative of the Penang government that is expected to complement the archaeological tourism map of the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Anwar will conclude his working visit by attending the Closing Ceremony of the "Gema Pendekar Madani” Northern Zone 2026 Gathering and the Pendekar Utama Negara Dato’ Dr Raja Abdul Majid Cup open silat championship at Dewan Kenangan, Sungai Petani Municipal Council, Kedah, at 8.30pm.

WHILE investments are pouring into Malaysia, many young Malaysians are still finding it difficult to get decent jobs. Employers, meanwhile, have their own complaint list. They say Gen Y, better known as millennials (born 1981-1996), and Gen Z (born 1997-2012), are picky, quick to leave and difficult to retain.

BY now, most investors are familiar with the conditional voluntary take-over offer presented by Sunway Bhd on IJM Corp Bhd , valuing the latter at RM11.04bil or RM3.15 per share. The proposed consideration will be satisfied via the issuance of 1.759 billion new Sunway shares valued at RM5.65 per share, worth some RM9.937bil, plus RM1.104bil in cash.

BUTTERWORTH (Jan 24): The implementation of the Year Four assessments under the National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026-2035 aims to identify students' weaknesses in reading, writing, and arithmetic at an earlier stage, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said this approach is designed to enable remedial actions before students progress to secondary school, rather than waiting for Year Six assessments. He emphasised that the policy is intended to better prepare the education system to produce a knowledgeable, skilled, and competitive generation, including in digital technology and artificial intelligence. Anwar added that the government is providing free preschool facilities in schools to ensure all children receive a solid educational foundation. The prime minister emphasised that this inclusive approach is crucial to ensure the education system remains fair and provides opportunities for all, while remaining grounded in national identity.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 24): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened two investigation papers into the alleged misappropriation of nearly RM300 million in investment funds linked to an individual with the title Tan Sri. According to sources, the MACC arrested two individuals and conducted searches at five premises in Klang Valley on Wednesday and Thursday to assist in the probe. The Tan Sri involved is alleged to have used his position and influence to attract and influence the public to invest in the scheme. Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that the investigation is currently focusing on tracing the flow of the misappropriated funds for recovery. Media reports previously stated that MACC obtained a four-day remand order, effective on Friday, against the Tan Sri in question at the Putrajaya Court to facilitate further investigations.

LONDON (Jan 24): French food and beverage maker Danone said on Friday it was recalling specific baby formula batches in targeted markets, as a toxin contamination scare that started with Nestle products continued to spread. "Danone will withdraw from targeted markets a very limited number of specific batches of infant formula products," the company said in a statement. Cereulide had been detected in an infant formula ingredient called arachidonic acid oil that had been manufactured in China, it said. "The FSAI has been notified by Danone that none of the implicated products have been distributed in Ireland." French investigators are examining the deaths of two infants who had consumed baby formula products that were subject to a precautionary recall earlier this month, the French health ministry said on Friday.

PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia suffered a major setback after missing out on the All-England Championships in Birmingham from March 3–8, ending his run in the prestigious Super 1000 event for the first time since his 2020 debut. Zii Jia, now world No. Meanwhile, Zii Jia is not the only former champion to miss out on the All-England as Axelsen, who also triumphed in 2022, has withdrawn from the competition. The two-time Olympic and world champion has been struggling with fitness issues and is yet to make his competitive return this year. 30 Leong Jun Hao will be the sole representative in the men’s singles.

PETALING JAYA: The upward trend of the ringgit against the US dollar has prompted parents with children studying overseas to reassess their currency transfer strategies. Year-to-date, the ringgit has appreciated about 1.5%, supported by steady economic growth, a stable monetary policy stance and a softer US dollar. On Thursday, Bank Negara kept the overnight policy rate (OPR) unchanged at 2.75%, the level it was reduced to in July 2025, in line with market expectations. The central bank said that at the current OPR level, the Monetary Policy Committee considers the monetary policy stance to be appropriate and supportive of the economy, amid price stability. Kenanga Research said the ringgit was supported by a softer US dollar and Bank Negara’s decision to maintain its policy stance.

(Jan 24): A winter storm expected to be the largest of the season is already causing major disruptions across the US, with airlines cutting more than 2,300 flights Saturday and Amtrak cancelling some of its services. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will be one of the hardest hit with more than 60% of scheduled flights to and from the hub cancelled for Saturday, according to data from aviation analytics provider FlightAware. Other US airports expected to face major disruptions due to the storm include Dallas Love Field Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Airports serving the New York and Washington areas will also face delays and cancellations as the storm progresses into Sunday. Delta Air Lines Inc advised customers to expect additional cancellations ahead of the storm, in a post on its website.

DUBAI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - An ‌influential Iranian cleric warned on Friday that Iran may target ‌U.S.-linked investments in the region in retaliation for any U.S. ‌attack on the Islamic Republic, Iranian news agencies reported. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had an "armada" heading toward Iran but hoped he would ‍not have to use it, as he ‍renewed warnings to Tehran against ‌killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme. Separately, Iran's ‍top prosecutor Mohammad Movahedi denied that Iran had called off 800 executions of people arrested in recent nationwide protests, as Trump has said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Fox News last week "There is no plan for hanging at all" by Iran, when asked about the anti-government protests. Rights groups ​say thousands, including bystanders, were killed during the unrest, which represented the biggest challenge to Iran's clerical government since 2022.

KOTA BARU: Shortage in workforce, excessive workloads and the absence of round-the-clock CCTV surveillance have been identified as weaknesses enabling security breaches at national entry points, said the Immigration Department. Its director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said lack of officers would lead to heavier workload and this could compromise the effectiveness of operations at inspection counters. Beyond staffing, uninterrupted 24-hour CCTV monitoring has also been flagged as a critical mechanism for prevention, surveillance and quality control, especially at high-risk locations. The absence of such a system, he said, would undermine accountability and make it difficult to detect early signs of misconduct or procedural violations. “This measure supports our commitment to strengthening integrity, transparency and operational efficiency at our entry points.

PUTRAJAYA: The government has withdrawn the Urban Renewal Bill and will table an enhanced version in Parliament after further refinements, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The Communications Minister said the Cabinet had agreed in principle that there is a need for a comprehensive law to address urban housing issues, particularly those affecting the urban poor, in a fair and effective manner. However, he said the Cabinet decided that the existing Bill should be withdrawn to allow improvements, including amendments and additional provisions, before being reintroduced in an enhanced form. Fahmi said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming had also informed the Cabinet that a number of proposals had been received from Umno, which would be incorporated into the enhanced Bill. The Urban Renewal Bill was first introduced for its initial reading on Aug 21, 2025, with the second reading scheduled for Aug 28.

This means you can look forward to plenty of exciting activities and special events under Visit Selangor 2026. Chua Yee Ling, Tourism Selangor chief executive officer, said in a press statement that community-based tourism will continue to be a key pillar in the campaign. Head to the Tourism Selangor website (selangor.travel/calendar-of- events-2026) to start planning your itinerary. For example, you can explore Kampung Bandar, also in Kuala Langat, together with a community host who has been certified by Tourism Selangor through its Selangor Local Community Host programme. This park has been around since 1998 and features a total of five caves: Crystal Cave, Dog Cave, Shawl Cave, Gatal Cave and Fig Tree Cave.