Unlike the Paralympics which caters to athletes with physical disabilities, the Special Olympics is for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Malaysian Special Olympics contingent, Foo said, had shown remarkable achievements, evident by its performance at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany. Competitors giving it their all at the 2022 Special Olympics Selangor State Games. Although lacking the popularity of the regular Olympics and Paralympics, he said the Special Olympics was crucial in uplifting and supporting those with intellectual disabilities to realise their potential. Athletes competing in the bocce event at the 2022 Special Olympics Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, decreed that the national language Bahasa Malaysia must continue to be given priority. "If there are (efforts) to develop a new education system, it must then be done in line with the national education policy and Bahasa Melayu must be the main language as it is our national language," His Majesty said during his royal address at the opening of the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament on Monday (Jan 19). Sultan Ibrahim said any education system in Malaysia that seeks to be recognised must accept Bahasa Melayu and Malaysian History. "If there are quarters who cannot accept Bahasa Melayu, it is best for them to not live in Malaysia," His Majesty said. Emphasising the well-being of the people, His Majesty also decreed that attention must be given this year to education, housing, healthcare and public transport, as the implementation of the 13th Malaysia Plan will begin this year.

PETALING JAYA: A cockfighting den in Klang has been busted in a police raid. "We arrested 72 men aged between 20 and 70 who were found to be involved in gambling and cockfighting activities at the location," he said in a statement on Monday (Jan 19). Comm Shazeli said investigations found that the syndicate had been active for around six months and used the plantation as cover for their matches every Sunday. "Selangor police emphasise that efforts to combat illegal gambling will be intensified from time to time. "Those with any information on criminal activity are urged to come forward and report it to the police to safeguard the community's safety and well-being in this state," Comm Shazeli said.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): Reservoir Link Energy Bhd (KL:RL) has secured a contract from Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Ltd to provide third-party subsurface review and technical assurance services for the PM3 CAA carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. Under the contract, Reservoir Link will conduct an independent review of the CCS study, covering subsurface workflows and methodologies, data inputs and assumptions, static and dynamic modelling, as well as technical analysis and interpretation. Reservoir Link said the contract marks its first entry into the CCS segment, expanding its service offerings beyond its traditional oil and gas activities. “CCS is set to become a significant market in the years ahead, and by securing this project, Reservoir Link is well-positioned to capture future opportunities and create long-term value,” Reservoir Link executive deputy chairman Thien Chiet Chai said in the statement. Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Ltd is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd (KL:HIBISCS).

PUTRAJAYA: Weaknesses in the government’s procurement process are largely due to non-compliance with established procedures, despite the Finance Ministry having introduced flexibility to facilitate procurement matters, says Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar (pic). The Chief Secretary to the Government said the irregularities were not entirely due to shortcomings in the system, but also because Procurement Board Committee members and officers lack understanding of procurement procedures. “The Finance Ministry has provided considerable flexibility in the procurement process, but it is still imperative that every procurement procedure is strictly adhered to. What is crucial is that members of the board fully understand the procedures,” Shamsul Azri said, Bernama reported. Asked whether the issue was caused by weak oversight or shortcomings in standard operating procedures, he said it could be due to a combination of several factors.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has lodged a police report following an alleged leak of information involving the names and strategic postings of senior officers in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). He explained that any decision to appoint personnel to the highest positions in the Armed Forces must first be deliberated at the Armed Forces Council (MAT) level, which is responsible for submitting recommendations to His Majesty. He said the disclosure of the names, positions and movements of senior officers could pose security risks, as such sensitive information should not be made public. The move followed the circulation of speculative narratives and lists of senior Armed Forces officers linked to strategic postings and leadership matters, on various social media platforms. According to the ministry, such action could be investigated under several laws, including the Official Secrets Act 1972, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Armed Forces Act 1972, and the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has submitted its investigation file related to Ops Parasit and Ops Star on senior Malaysian Armed Forces officers to the public prosecutor for review and further directives. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the submission includes proposed charges for the prosecution’s evaluation. The referral follows last Thursday’s reports that 23 individuals, including two senior and four high-ranking armed forces officers, were detained by the MACC as part of the probe. Azam clarified that the arrests pertain to a corruption and abuse of power investigation focusing on the procurement and use of public funds. “The allegations involve the receipt of bribes from several companies linked to procurement contracts for the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT) and the Ministry of Defence,” he explained.

(Jan 19): The Indonesian rupiah teetered near record lows on Monday as fresh uncertainty from US President Donald Trump's threat of extra tariffs on European nations added to pressure from concerns over the country's widening fiscal deficit. That, alongside higher inflation and concerns over Bank Indonesia's autonomy continue to pressure the rupiah. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has nominated his nephew to join the central bank's board of governors, Reuters reported earlier on Monday, citing two sources. Shaun Lim, a currency strategist with Maybank, attributed the rupiah's weakness to rising domestic fiscal concerns, and global uncertainty, which would affect "vulnerable" currencies such as the rupiah. Elsewhere, the Philippine peso slid 0.1%, continuing to hover just above its record low of 59.524 a dollar.

A temporary cut to the sales tax on food is already included in a ruling bloc agreement that Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) signed with junior partner Japan Innovation Party. Currently Japan applies an 8% tax on most purchases of food and non-alcoholic beverages, compared with a standard consumption tax rate of 10%. On Friday, co-leader Yoshihiko Noda said his party would look to cut the sales tax while maintaining fiscal discipline and not issuing additional deficit bonds. If Japan’s giant pension fund could also be used to fund the sales tax cut by using some of its profits from managing overseas assets, the yen would be bought in the trillions each year, Okamoto added. Japan’s government bond yields jumped as reports on the food sales tax cut renewed fiscal concerns.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd (KL:ABMB) on Monday officially launched its new 24-floor office suite, Menara Alliance Bank, located along Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle. The move represents more than a change of address, symbolising Alliance Bank’s growth, sustainability ambitions and future-forward transformation under its Acceler8 2027 strategy, the bank said in a statement. Alliance Bank in 2023 announced the acquisition of the 24-storey office suite along Jalan Ampang, developed by a subsidiary of Oxley Holdings Ltd, for RM405.84 million. Alliance Bank group chief executive officer Kellee Kam“As we look ahead, our focus remains firmly on creating long-term value for our customers, our people and the communities we serve. The new Menara Alliance Bank truly represents our values and belief system to be a bank for all Malaysians, right here in the heart of the capital.

(Jan 19): Danantara, Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund, plans to raise 20 trillion rupiah (US$1.2 billion, or RM4.86 billion) in the first half via a fresh round of so-called patriot bonds, according to people familiar with the matter. During the previous round, Danantara issued five- and seven-year bonds with a coupon of around 2%. Although the first round initially targeted US$3.1 billion, ultimately US$3.6 billion was raised after some additional notes were sold, the people said. Selling patriot bonds to raise money was part of Danantara’s presentation to President Prabowo Subianto earlier this month. Tapping tycoons for a second round of patriot bonds is likely to add to the anxiety Indonesia’s wealthy are feeling, having already been unnerved by the administration’s crackdown on the affluent.

SHAH ALAM (Jan 19): Datuk Seri Najib Razak only wanted to clear his name and reputation in pursuing his defamation suit against former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas. On Monday, both Najib and Thomas, along with publisher GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd, recorded a consent judgement in the defamation suit, bringing the case to an end. Parties agreed to no order as to cost, and for Najib to withdraw the suit with no liberty to file afresh. As this should end all the rumours and coffeeshop talk [linking Najib to the murder]. "For many years, my client has been upset, because there's no evidence, but there were rumours that linked him to the murder," Shafee said.

(Jan 19): A large explosion at a steel plant in northern China killed at least two workers, injured dozens of others, and prompted the country’s emergencies ministry to send officials to the site. Two workers died, eight are missing, and a further 84 people were sent to hospital, China Central Television said in a website report on Monday. Shares of the company — a unit of state-owned Baotou Iron and Steel Group Co — sank by their daily limit of 10% before erasing some of the losses. Search and rescue teams are still at the site after the explosion at the plant. It ranked as China’s 16th-biggest steelmaker in 2024, producing 15 million tonnes, according to data from the World Steel Association.

(Jan 19): US President Donald Trump called a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) equities trading outpost in Texas “an UNBELIEVABLY BAD THING” for New York and a “big test” for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office earlier this month. “I can’t believe they would let this happen,” Trump said in a post on the Truth Social site issued late Sunday in the US. The NYSE said in February 2025 that it would reincorporate its NYSE Chicago operations in Texas and launch a fully electronic exchange in Dallas, pending regulatory filings. NYSE Texas opened for business in March, well before Mamdani became the mayor of New York. The president’s media venture, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp, was among the first companies to show its intention to list on the NYSE’s upstart site in Texas.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): Teladan Group Bhd (KL:TELADAN) has launched the Bukit Intan Commercial Centre in Seremban, marking its first project outside its home base of Melaka. According to a press release Monday (Jan 19), the freehold commercial development signals the group’s strategic expansion into higher-growth markets beyond its traditional footprint. Located within Greater Klang Valley, the development is accessible via the North-South Expressway and positioned to serve the growing commercial demand in Negeri Sembilan. Bukit Intan Commercial Centre is designed to accommodate a range of uses, including retail, food and beverage, services, and offices, catering to Seremban’s evolving urban landscape. “The launch of Bukit Intan Commercial Centre represents an important step for Teladan as we expand beyond Melaka for the first time,” said chief executive officer Allan Ngu.