KUALA LUMPUR: Derogatory remarks about the food of other races have no place in a multicultural Malaysia, says a government backbencher. Datuk Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) called for mutual respect, citing instances where pork was labelled as disgusting and foul-smelling. “Us Dayaks have never insulted the dishes of others, yet there are times we have been labelled as being uncivilised for eating pork. We must show mutual respect for the dishes served by other ethnic groups. Yet, we do not make negative comments on (such dishes),” he said when debating the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Jan 21).

For Zii Jia, the victory represented a crucial step in rebuilding belief, rather than a statement of form, at a time when his career has been at a crossroads. "The last time I won a match was probably more than a year ago (in March last year), so this victory means a lot to me," said Zii Jia in a post-match interview with Shuttletimes. While results deserted him for much of last season, Zii Jia said the support he received away from the court never wavered. For Zii Jia, gratitude now comes with responsibility. While he admitted hoping to rediscover his peak this year, Zii Jia stressed that patience remains central to his comeback.

A six-year-old boy sustained a leg injury after the motorcycle he was riding on with an adult skidded off the road along Jalan Kampung Pisang, Air Itam, this evening. - PIC COURTESY: JBPMGEORGE TOWN: A six-year-old boy sustained a leg injury after the motorcycle he was riding on with an adult skidded off the road along Jalan Kampung Pisang, Air Itam, this evening. "The accident involved a Yamaha LC135 motorcycle, which is believed to have lost control and veered onto the road shoulder. "The child's left leg became trapped in the motorcycle's sprocket, requiring urgent rescue work by firefighters," he said in a statement. According to him, the child sustained injuries to his left leg, while the rider suffered only minor injuries.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Malaysia’s trade with Asean recorded an increase of 1.7% to RM709.08 billion for the January to November 2025 period, accounting for 25.6% of Malaysia’s total global trade which amounted to RM2.775 trillion for the same period in 2024. “Meanwhile, imports declined 2.6% to RM290.30 billion, due to a significant drop in domestic demand for petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products, and transport equipment. The ministry was responding to a question from Tan Kok Wa (PH-Cheras) on the comparison between Malaysia’s trade with Asean and non-Asean partners, as well as the measures taken to strengthen intra-Asean trade. For 2024, Malaysia’s total trade with Asean increased 6.1 % compared with 2023, reaching RM765.03 billion, which represented 29 % of Malaysia’s total trade valued at RM2.879 trillion. In the same period, the value of Malaysia’s exports to Asean rose 4.1 % to RM438 billion, while imports from Asean increased 8.9 % to RM327.12 billion.

KUALA LUMPUR: Graft busters are focusing on governance weaknesses in the management of electronic waste (e-waste) following the implementation of Ops Nature, an operation carried out simultaneously by its Selangor and Negri Sembilan branches. "In addition to investigating offences related to corruption, we are also examining governance aspects to identify root causes and systemic weaknesses that have contributed to ongoing e-waste management issues. He added that preliminary issues identified include weaknesses in monitoring mechanisms and follow-up enforcement related to e-waste management. "However, he stressed that these findings can only be confirmed upon the completion of a comprehensive governance investigation," he said. Azmi said the MACC does not rule out the possibility of similar issues occurring in other states, adding that governance investigations could be expanded nationwide if necessary.

SIBU: The army has foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth more than RM517,000 out of the country after intercepting a lorry in Serikin near the Sarawak–Indonesia border on Tuesday (January 20). Initial field assessment revealed that the vehicle was moving from Kampung Sebobok towards the international border. The army said security control in the Serikin and Bau sectors has been tightened recently to detect and disrupt both inbound and outbound cross-border smuggling activities. The public has been urged to continue providing information on suspicious activities along illegal border routes in the interest of national security. Mohd Sofi said the successful operation resulted from the integrity and vigilance of army personnel in Sabah and Sarawak, urging them to remain united and serve with dedication to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.

A private university vice-chancellor pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here this afternoon to a charge of deceiving the institution’s former vice-chancellor over the appointment of a chief consultant involving a RM20,000 payment. KUALA LUMPUR: A private university vice-chancellor pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here this afternoon to a charge of deceiving the institution's former vice-chancellor over the appointment of a chief consultant involving a RM20,000 payment. According to Buletin Utama TV3, Professor Dr G. Jayakumar, 63, entered his plea before Sessions Court judge Elesabet Paya Wan. Jayakumar, who was then a senior lecturer, is alleged to have misled the former vice-chancellor into appointing a lecturer from another university as chief consultant for an academic programme, despite the appointment allegedly breaching the individual's employment contract. The court granted RM20,000 bail with one surety and set March 9 for mention.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, the operator of six rapid transit lines serving the Klang Valley, incurred a deficit of RM603 million in 2025, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said. “Total revenue of RM721.5 million comprised RM694.8 million in fare revenue and RM26.7 million in non-fare income,” Loke said in a written parliamentary reply on Wednesday. Rapid Rail is a wholly-owned unit of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, which manages and operates the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) networks, including the Kelana Jaya Line, Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line, MRT Kajang Line, MRT Putrajaya Line and the KL Monorail. Loke said Rapid Rail extended rail service hours 11 times in 2025 to support major events such as football matches and concerts. The move aims to strengthen deterrence, dismantle syndicates and safeguard the continuity and safety of public transport services, he said.

Whether it’s a bargain on home decor, designer shoes or a new purse, Conti, 60, said shopping makes her feel happy and alive. That’s because Conti has more than US$50,000 (RM203,950) in credit card debt, mostly because of her shopping habit. After spending US$800 (RM3,263) on Labubu dolls and US$500 (RM2,040) on Christmas decorations, Conti sought the help of a therapist. — Photos: ZACK WITTMAN/The New York Times To pump the brakes while shopping online, Erika Wasserman, a certified financial therapist in Florida, suggests using music. For Conti, spending is a way to deal with stress and sadness.

Consultant neurosurgeon Datuk Dr Kantha Rasalingam explains that neurosurgeons are trained to operate on the spine, brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. “For neurosurgeons, however, spine surgery is already part of their core training.”One key distinction between the specialities lies in surgical technique. According to Dr Kantha, neurosurgeons receive extensive training in microsurgery, which involves highly-precise procedures using specialised instruments and operating microscopes. In complex cases, such as long or multi-segment procedures, or surgeries involving the spinal cord or spinal cord compression, both specialists may operate together as a team. “Because we are trained to operate on the brain and spinal cord – two of the body’s most delicate structures – precision is one of our key strengths,” he says.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Members of Parliament on Wednesday debated the motion of thanks for the royal address, focusing on proposals for a two-term prime ministerial limit, empowerment of the Malay language, anti-corruption measures, and national education reforms. MPs also emphasised the need to strengthen the position of Malay as the national language, arguing its role must go beyond instruction to become a primary language of knowledge, administration and national sovereignty. Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) called for the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to be empowered as the mandatory language authority, with its presence expanded to the district level to act as both a regulator and guardian of the Malay language. Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed (PN-Kuala Terengganu) added that elevating the status of the language is not optional but an obligation aligned with national education policy. Embracing the national language and history is essential to forging a shared identity and unity.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in all investigations related to corruption cases currently being handled by the agency. “The visit reflects a clear signal of the shared commitment between the ministry and the MACC in efforts to strengthen integrity and governance, in line with the need to reinforce public confidence in defence institutions. Elaborating further, Mohamed Khaled said the MACC also expressed its agreement to offer advisory services to help strengthen and improve procurement governance at Mindef and the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). He stressed that the mutual understanding reached was crucial in fulfilling the ministry’s resolve to comprehensively combat corruption and abuse of power. “This is an ongoing effort to restore the trust of the people and the nation in the MAF through clean governance practices,” he said.

PETALING JAYA: After two years away from the sport, Indian women's singles shuttler Saina Nehwal has officially announced her retirement from badminton. 1 made the announcement during a podcast interview in India, explaining that long-standing injuries prevented her from returning to competitive action. Last year, Saina revealed that she was suffering from arthritis and complete cartilage wear in her knees. I entered the sport on my own terms and left on my own terms, so there was no need to announce it. She became the first Indian women’s singles player to reach world No.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): The fare structure for Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is expected to be finalised by the end of this year, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said. The fare structure is expected to be finalised by the end of this year,” Loke said in a written parliamentary reply to Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN–Setiu) on Wednesday. Shaharizukirnain had asked about the latest progress of the ECRL project and when the fare structure for passenger and cargo services would be finalised. On the project’s progress, Loke said the ECRL had reached 90.81% completion as at December 2025. He added that current works are focused on completing passenger stations and supporting buildings, as well as installing signalling, electrification and communications systems.

Singaporean singer Yang Guang Ke Le said that her parents had respected decision to work at 15 (INSTAGRAM/YANG GUANG KE LE)SINGAPORE: Singer Yang Guang Ke Le is a living testament to how the "school of life" can be rewarding in its own right. "I entered showbiz through getai, starting at age 13," Ke Le shared. "Events could end as late as 1am, meaning I'd only reach home by 2am, yet I had to catch the school bus at 5am," Ke Le explained. Eventually, I was only attending school twice a week, so I felt there was no point in continuing." When the 47-year-old Chen asked what her career might have looked like had she finished school, Ke Le admitted she was unsure.