Yet inevitability is not strategy, and Asia’s economic rise has not produced commensurate strategic autonomy. Nowhere is this clearer than in Asean’s strategic predicament. Consequentially, Asean is increasingly urged to anchor itself more firmly in BRICS, or, alternatively, to revive the logic of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The contemporary international system increasingly resembles the one that gave rise to the NAM: weaponised finance, sanctions as diplomacy, fractured trade regimes and information warfare. Asean’s strategic value lies in being indispensable, not aligned.

PETALING JAYA: A five-year-old boy has died after choking on a rambutan seed at a house in Kemaman, Terengganu on Monday (Jan 19). Kemaman OCPD Superintendent Mohd Razi Rosli said the incident occurred at 1.30pm, at a house in Felda Neram 1. “The victim's sister had peeled the rambutan fruit before giving it to the victim and they ate it together. "While eating, the victim's voice suddenly became hoarse, believed to be due to the rambutan seed he had eaten getting stuck in his throat," he quoted as saying to Sinar Harian on Tuesday (Jan 20). "The autopsy results found that the cause of death was confirmed to be due to choking and the doctor also confirmed that there was a rambutan seed in the victim's throat," he said.

DESPITE recent economic figures indicating positive growth, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin questioned whether they truly translated into improvements in the lives of ordinary Malaysians. He claimed that many are struggling with the rising cost of living, with salaries barely able to last the entire month. Hamzah also noted that while the official unemployment rate stands at 3.1%, he claimed that in reality, nearly two million Malaysians are currently underemployed. Hamzah recounted his recent visit to a village in Sembulan, Sabah, where many of the residents were living in impoverished conditions. “Foreign investors don’t make emotional decisions.

DEWAN Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau had to stamp her authority in the House to quell a heated shouting match linked to the whereabouts of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s son-in-law. The incident was triggered when Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) asked about the whereabouts of Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, fugitive businessman Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan, who is wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for alleged criminal breach of trust. He raised the matter when debating the royal address, questioning whether Muh­yi­d­din’s recent overseas trip, which included a stopover, was related to a meeting with his son-in-law. This drew flak from the opposition bench, who accused Khoo of making baseless accusations, with several MPs demanding a retraction from the backbencher. Khoo responded, saying that he had merely asked Muhyiddin to inform the MACC if he knew of Muhammad Adlan’s whereabouts.

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has granted an audience to Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) chairman Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar at Istana Negara on Tuesday (Jan 20). He also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, integrity and the effectiveness of enforcement systems in the public sector. He also proposed that findings and recommendations arising from investigations referred by the Ombudsman be utilised by disciplinary authorities for further action. Through this role, EAIC is actively formulating improvement measures related to complaint mechanisms, investigations, disciplinary action and accountability among enforcement agencies, in keeping with the broader agenda to strengthen public sector integrity. EAIC expressed confidence that closer cooperation between oversight bodies such as Ombudsman Malaysia and enforcement agencies would help build a stronger governance ecosystem, enhance public confidence and support the government’s continued efforts to improve Malaysia’s CPI score.

KUALA LUMPUR: The disbursement of Phase 1 of the 2026 Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) to five million recipients has begun. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the payment, which started yesterday, would cover 3.7 million households and 1.3 million elderly individuals without spouses, with each recipient getting between RM100 and RM500, depending on eligibility. He said STR was intended as quarterly financial aid to provide relief during peak periods such as festive seasons, while Sara offers stable monthly support for essential living expenses. “I hope this aid will be fully utilised by the recipients,” he added, Bernama reported. Anwar emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring that every citizen lives with dignity, with no one left behind amid the rising cost of living.

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly ­appointed Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim has outlined his ABCD pillars to strengthen the competitiveness of local ­businesses. Sim said A would be on increasing business productivity, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), by improving worker skills, addressing labour needs, and using technology like automation and digitalisation. Pillar B is to simplify procedures, speed up approvals and promote online systems to reduce bureaucratic barriers to business growth, he said. As for pillar C, he explained that this is to ensure local businesses can access capital to seize investment opportunities and meet international demand, especially in challenging global economic conditions. “I’m confident that the consistent implementation of the ABCD strategy would drive significant changes in the country’s business landscape,” he said during a Concorde Club event here.

This is not a high-stakes examination,” she said after the launch of the National Education Plan 2026-2035 yesterday. Her ministry, she said, would help these schools implement the national school curriculum. She said the new National Education Plan 2026-2035, encompassing all levels from preschool to university, outlines a comprehensive learning journey. The plan is made up of two main blueprints – the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint 2026-2035 and the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026-2035. The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026-2035, she said, also tackles “unfinished business” from the last education blueprint.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry has announced the appointment of four senior Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) officers, including Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS) chief executive Lieutenant General Datuk Seri Muhammad Huzaimi Sabri, as the new MAF Headquarters Chief of Staff. According to a statement Tuesday (Jan 20), on Jan 18, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, consented to the appointments of the senior officers to fill several key MAF positions after considering the recommendations of the 632nd Armed Forces Council (MAT) meeting held on Jan 7. "In addition, Army Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Datuk Tengku Muhammad Fauzi Tengku Ibrahim has been appointed as Commander of the Joint Forces, while Major General Datuk Mohamad Suria Mohamad Saad has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed as the new Deputy Commander of the Army. "Lieutenant General Datuk Zahani Zainal Abidin (RMAF) has been appointed as MiDAS chief executive, with all the appointments effective from Jan 1," the statement said. The Ministry stressed that integrity, accountability and clean governance were the core pillars of MAF leadership and the national defence ecosystem.

Children will enrol in pre-school at the age of five and enter Year One when they are six, starting from 2027. Anwar said the changes mark the return of a matrix system aimed at strengthening early academic foundations and identifying learning gaps before pupils transition to secondary school. “In 2027, parents may choose to enter their children into Year One at six or seven years old,” he said. “At five, children will enter pre-school, and at six, Year One,” he said. The evil practice of bullying destroys the identity and culture of schools,” he added.

KUANTAN: The Pahang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has secured a remand order for a female police officer who holds the rank of Inspector and her younger brother for allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes totalling about RM30,000. A MACC source said the five-day remand order until Jan 24 was issued by Magistrate Mohd Fauzan Mohd Suhari following an application by the commission at the Kuantan Magistrate's Court here on Tuesday (Jan 20) against the suspects for allegedly receiving the bribe for the release of an individual involved in a drug-related crime. The source said the suspects were detained at about 4.30pm and 9pm on Monday (Jan 19) when they appeared to give their respective statements at the Pahang MACC office here and initial investigations revealed that both suspects are believed to have conspired in committing the act between 2021 and 2025. "Both suspects are believed to have received bribes ranging from RM1,000 to RM7,000 per month, that was deposited into the male suspect's personal bank account," the source added. Meanwhile, Pahang MACC director Mohd Shukor Mahmud confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.

KUALA LUMPUR: An online gambling syndicate catering to foreigners, was dismantled with the arrest of 19 foreigners in an operation in the city. "We inspected 31 foreign men and two local men. In addition, two local men and one local woman were issued notices to report to the Immigration Department to assist in further investigations, he said. Zakaria said investigations revealed that the online gambling syndicate targeted foreign nationals as its main clientele. All gambling activities were concealed within rented houses and small business premises to evade detection by enforcement authorities, he said.

PETALING JAYA: A new rule will be trialled by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) at this week’s Indonesian Masters at Istora Senayan in Jakarta, with the introduction of the Time Clock System. Under the Time Clock System, players will have 25 seconds between rallies to speed up matches and ensure consistency. The receiver also has 25 seconds to get ready but once the server is set, the rally must start with no delays allowed. Shuttle changes and court mopping must be coordinated with the umpire, requested immediately, and completed within 25 seconds. The BWF introduced this new rule after players raised concerns that umpires were enforcing delays inconsistently.

KUALA LUMPUR: The judiciary has set up a Special Corruption High Court to hear corruption cases and appeals from Special Corruption Sessions Courts, initially at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. In a statement on Tuesday (Jan 20), the Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office said the move was approved by the Chief Judge of Malaya (Datuk Hashim Hamzah) and the Chief Justice (Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh), in line with the decree of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, during the opening of the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament on Monday (Jan 19). His Majesty had stressed the need for experienced judges and a dedicated pathway to ensure corruption cases are resolved quickly. The statement said the initiative reflects the judiciary's commitment to integrity and to handling corruption cases efficiently, transparently and effectively. Currently, 14 Special Corruption Sessions Courts operate nationwide, aiming to resolve each case within a year of registration.

PASIR MAS: Thai police are seeking the cooperation of local authorities to obtain further information on a Malaysian woman, believed to be a drug dealer, who is suspected of fleeing to Thailand, following the seizure of marijuana worth RM1.82mil by Malaysian police early this month. Speaking to the Malaysian media on Tuesday (Jan 20) through a local translator, he said Thai police had requested additional information from their Malaysian counterparts to assist in the investigations and efforts to locate the suspect. "Preliminary information indicates that the woman is believed to hold dual citizenship. Searches were conducted around Sungai Golok town, but to date, we have not received any new information or succeeded in tracing her,” he said. It was reported that the Malaysian police crippled a drug trafficking syndicate in Kelantan with the arrest of three local men and the seizure of 52kg of marijuana flowers worth RM1.82mil in two raids in Kuala Krai on Jan 3.