He said that despite being a country of moderate strength, Malaysia has taken a clear and resolute stance on the Venezuela issue, guided by principle rather than power. Anwar was responding to Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) on Malaysia’s position regarding Venezuela, Greenland and ties with Iran following the United States’ imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on countries maintaining relations with Iran. The Prime Minister said Malaysia continues to maintain its relationship with the US despite criticism, but will speak out when actions violate international law. On Greenland, Anwar said Malaysia rejects any effort to seize another country and aligns with the European Union and Denmark in prioritising negotiations to resolve disputes. On Iran, Anwar said Malaysia continues to maintain diplomatic relations with the country while managing ties through prudence and international engagement, stressing that Malaysia upholds Iran’s rights and sovereignty as a matter of principle.

PUTRAJAYA: I am a product of a Chinese school, and I speak Bahasa Melayu well, says Nga Kor Ming. As Malaysians, we should be fluent in our national language. "We should not forget that we are also on the global stage and we should uplift Bahasa Melayu. He said that the Housing and Local Government Ministry ensures its staff are fluent not only in Bahasa Melayu but also in English. On Jan 19, Sultan Ibrahim said the national education system must be strengthened as the foundation for nation-building, national identity and the country’s future.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 20): General education subjects covering issues of the Federal Constitution and Malaysian history will be included in the curriculum of all public and private universities starting this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He said the subjects will be taught fully in Malay and will be made compulsory for all Malaysian students in higher education institutions. “It is unreasonable for Malaysian students to lack any understanding of their country’s Constitution and history...If we want to safeguard this nation, our children must master the basic knowledge of our Constitution and history,” he said. The new education blueprint launched on Tuesday reflects a comprehensive and phased alignment of national education policy, ensuring continuity in human capital development from the school level to higher education. The RPN is jointly led by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) through the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026-2035 and the Ministry of Education (MOE) through the Malaysian Education Blueprint (RPM) 2026-2035.

PETALING JAYA: Singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong is simply happy to be back on court, doing what he loves most after a long injury layoff. Right now, I just need to be more consistent," said Tze Yong. Tze Yong has been sidelined from competitive action for seven months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee. However, following surgery at the Aspetar Medical Centre in Doha in July and subsequent rehabilitation, he has returned to on court training, although not on a daily basis as before. But now, with this being my second injury, I understand it better," said Tze Yong.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Rehabilitation works for the Klang Valley Double Track Phase II (KVDT2) project, particularly for the Subang Jaya-Klang stretch, are expected to be completed by the end of March, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said the construction works had been accelerated by a drastic measure taken last year to close the entire KTM Komuter line, based on extensive data analysis. Services are then suspended until 4pm to allow construction works to continue. “The whole idea is to expedite the construction process so that the project can be completed sooner,” he added. Loke emphasised that police enforcement remains crucial, while rail operators will also implement additional measures to curb cable theft and minimise service disruptions.

PETALING JAYA: It was not due to illness but an internal issue that forced Malaysia’s top men’s singles player Leong Jun Hao to withdraw from this week’s Indonesian Masters. National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen revealed that Jun Hao had been struggling to perform at his best, not only on match days but also during training sessions. "That was the consideration, and it was a decision agreed with Jun Hao as well." Jun Hao was initially drawn to face South Korea’s Jeon Hyeok-jin in the first round of the Indonesian Masters, but the Korean player has also withdrawn. In Jun Hao’s absence, Malaysia will rely on Justin Hoh and Lee Zii Jia in the men’s singles.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 20): The Federal Court on Tuesday dismissed an application for leave to appeal by 50 retired Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel seeking to overturn a ruling on pension adjustments. A three-man bench comprising Court of Appeal president Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Federal Court judges Datuk Azimah Omar and Datuk Seri Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera made the ruling in a 2-1 majority decision. This prompted the retirees to seek leave to appeal in the Federal Court. The appellate court, in its ruling, held that the MAF retirees failed to prove that the respondents breached the provisions under the Federal Constitution. They claimed the government had failed to implement new pension adjustments for all MAF retirees who retired before Jan 1, 2013, causing a significant pension gap between the MAF retirees who retired before Jan 1, 2013 and those who retired after Jan 1, 2013.

(Jan 20): President Donald Trump said he will meet with several parties over his ambition to take control of Greenland during the upcoming World Economic Forum. “I agreed to a meeting of the various parties in Davos, Switzerland,” Trump said, without specifying who. “I don’t care about the Nobel Prize,” Trump said on Monday. “A very fine woman felt that I deserved it and really wanted me to have the Nobel Prize, and I appreciate that,” he added, referring to Machado. The Nobel Peace Prize isn’t decided by the Norwegian government but is awarded by an independent committee.

(Jan 20): Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, serving a one-year sentence in a Bangkok prison for corruption, may be eligible to be released on parole in May, raising the possibility that the influential politician may play a role in the country’s politics again. A committee consisting of justice, corrections and law enforcement officials must approve his parole, it said. “There is no discrimination or action taken outside the scope of the law.”Including Thaksin himself, the extended Shinawatra clan has provided four Thai premiers this century. He spent only a few hours in jail in 2023 before being moved to the hospital, citing illnesses, and was released on parole in 2024. Thaksin also previously submitted a petition seeking another royal pardon weeks after his imprisonment.

This was announced by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, before the commencement of the Ministers’ Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting Tuesday. The acts that were assented to are the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2025; Gig Workers Act 2025; Consumer Credit Act 2025; Supply Act 2026; Finance Act 2025; Measures for the Collection, Administration and Enforcement of Tax Act 2025; Private Agencies (Amendment) Act 2025 and the Anti-Bullying Act 2025. “In addition, His Majesty, in his statement yesterday, reminded members of their roles. Therefore, I once again urge all members to always comply with the standing orders of the Dewan Rakyat,” he said. Earlier, the Dewan Rakyat, for the first time, recited the Rukun Negara before the session began, with the pledge led by Dewan Rakyat Secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 20): The government will introduce a new approach to learning assessment in primary and secondary schools through the implementation of the Malaysia Learning Matrix, starting with the Year Four Learning Measurement in 2026 and the Form Three Learning Measurement in 2027, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said that at the primary school level, the Year Four Learning Measurement will be implemented from 2026, covering four core subjects: Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics and Science. The Form Three Learning Measurement will be introduced from 2027, covering five main subjects: Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics, Science and History. According to Anwar, both assessments will be centrally administered by the Examination Board as part of efforts to build a more comprehensive national education assessment system focused on students’ mastery of learning. The RPN is jointly led by MOHE through the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026-2035 and MOE through the Malaysian Education Blueprint (RPM) 2026-2035.

PUTRAJAYA: The Academic Bank Credits (ABC) platform will be introduced to students, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir. He said the ABC is a centralised digital depository that allows students to collect, store and redeem learning credits. "Through ABC, students are given full insight into their credit assets. This is in line with quadrant 2 in the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (MHEB) 2026-2035," he said during his new year's address on Tuesday (Jan 20). The National Education Plan 2026-2035 will be unveiled today at noon by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Chinese nationals working in Malaysia were left in shock after discovering each had owed between RM748,000 and RM842,000 in unpaid income tax, allegedly after their employer made false declarations about their salaries to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). “I never expected to owe so much tax in just one year. I believe that my employer misused a copy of my passport to create a Tax Identification Number and lied about my salary when filing income tax on my behalf, without my permission. “My monthly salary was RM10,000, but my employer reported it as RM1,759,915.41 from Nov 30, 2022 to Oct 31, 2023,” she said. Chen’s husband later discovered that the employer falsely told LHDN that Chen was receiving cash income from the company.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Malaysia's automotive sector total industry volume (TIV) reached an all-time high of 820,752 units in 2025, representing a record four-year growth streak. However, the Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) does not expect the momentum to continue, as it sees lower sales at 790,000 unit in 2026. TIV grew 0.5% year-on-year in 2025, initially rising from 508,883 units in 2021 to 721,177 in 2022 and subsequently to 799,821 in 2023. Following the end of the completely built-up (CBU) EV tax holiday at the end of December last year, MAA vice-president Alagasan Gadigaselam said the pricing adjustments may emerge once existing inventories are cleared. The tax incentives for the completely knocked down (CKD) locally-assembled EVs will remain until the end of 2027.

Snow World at Resorts World Genting (Pahang)Last year also brought another good news to chionophiles (lovers of snow), especially those who have long waited for the return of Snow World at Resorts World Genting. It operates on a pay-per-play basis, so this means entry to the winter wonderland will count as additional charge. — Antarctic Snow World Penang/FacebookAntarctic Snow World (Penang)When you think of Penang, it being icy cool is not the perception you’ll likely have. Snow World Banda Hilir (Melaka)Melaka is another state that holds its tourism campaign, Visit Melaka 2026, alongside the nationwide Visit Malaysia 2026. Snow World Melaka Mall (Melaka)The other snow attraction, Snow World Melaka Mall, opened in March 2025.