PETALING JAYA: Former Free Malaysia Today (FMT) journalist Rex Tan was arrested at about 12.45am after being summoned to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters. The arrest followed a sensitive question alleged to contain racial elements that was raised during a public lecture in Kuala Lumpur. On Friday (Jan 16), media reports said Tan had resigned from FMT, a day after he apologised on Thursday (Jan 15) over the question he posed during the lecture, which sparked controversy. The Malaysian Media Council later condemned the doxxing, harassment and intimidation of journalists following the backlash against Tan. FMT subsequently issued an apology, stating that it had no prior knowledge of the journalist’s intention to raise the question and had not approved his comments.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police will look at all angles when investigating the explosion at HELP University in Bukit Damansara, including the possibility of negligence, says Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus. However, he said that police had to uncover any evidence indicating negligence. "Such incidents require authorities to examine all aspects, including for negligence. In the incident at around 11.40am on Monday (Jan 12), a man died and nine others were injured when an air conditioning compressor exploded. The deceased, Soo Yu Juan, 24, was a third-year mechanical engineering student at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).

KUALA TERENGGANU: A businessman lost over RM2.7mil after falling victim to a phone scam. The suspects, claiming to be officers from the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters in Selangor, instructed him to transfer RM2.7mil into his own bank accounts to resolve the matter. "To avoid legal action, the victim followed the instructions and deposited the money into five different bank accounts. The victim realised he had been scammed when he found that the funds had disappeared from all five accounts. He then lodged a police report here, and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman has taken full note of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's directive concerning procurement-related matters and will carry out all necessary actions in a professional, transparent and integrity-driven manner, says Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail. The Inspector-General of Police said the force remained fully committed to complying with all laws, policies and directives set by the government in relation to procurement processes. "Every procedure undertaken will strictly adhere to the principles of good governance to safeguard public interest and ensure accountability. “We will ensure that all processes are conducted in line with established governance standards to preserve public interest and maintain public confidence in the country’s security institutions,” he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 16). The IGP added that the police are committed to upholding transparency and integrity in the discharge of their duties, particularly on matters involving public funds and national security.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit rebounded to open slightly higher against the US dollar ahead of the release of Malaysia’s advance fourth quarter of 2025 (4Q 2025) gross domestic product (GDP) estimates later today. At 8 am, the local currency traded slightly higher at 4.0515/0600 against the dollar, compared with Thursday’s close of 4.0535/0595. At the opening, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies. The ringgit edged up versus the Singapore dollar to 3.1456/1524 from 3.1491/1540 and increased versus the Thai baht to 12.8967/9341 from 12.9096/9349 previously. It was flat vis-à-vis the Philippine peso at 6.81/6.83 and was little changed against the Indonesian rupiah to 239.7/240.4 from 239.9/240.3 at yesterday's close.

KUALA LUMPUR: Vestland Bhd ’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Vestland Resources Sdn Bhd has received contracts amounting to RM602mil from Sg Besi Construction Sdn Bhd and Mercu Majuniaga Sdn Bhd. It said the contract works will commence on Jan 16, 2026, and is expected to be completed on Jun 9, 2029. In a separate filing, the company said Vestland Resources received a letter of award from Mercu Majuniaga for the construction and completion of main building works for 108 units of three-storey semi-detached industrial factories, 48 units of one-storey terrace industrial factories, a six-storey workers’ hostel block and related facilities in Kajang, Selangor. It said the contract sum was RM312mil, and involves the design, approval, construction, completion, testing and commissioning of the main building works. The company said the contract works are expected to be completed within 24 months from the date of commencement, which will be notified by Mercu Majuniaga at a later date.

KUALA LUMPUR: All Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) procurement decisions linked to corruption are temporarily shelved pending full compliance with procurement procedures, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said the government, through the relevant ministries, will review and restructure all procurement processes to ensure transparency within the existing system. ALSO READ: MACC, Defence Ministry to tackle procurement leakages, corruption concerns"I thank Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin for his very clear statement on this matter. The Defence Ministry was previously reported to be planning a major overhaul of its anti-corruption plan this year, including a comprehensive review of tender and procurement processes in line with best governance practices. Elaborating, Anwar said MACC's firm and comprehensive action would ensure the public does not bear negative consequences, including risks to the country's economic progress.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia exceeded economic expectations last year, with the economy growing by an estimated 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The growth spike in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) resulted in Malaysia's overall economic growth reaching 4.9% in 2025, said the Prime Minister’s senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, who spoke on Anwar’s behalf. He said this exceeded the government’s official projected overall economic growth of between 4.0% and 4.8% for 2025. “Amid a challenging global environment, including external pressures on trade, the policy adjustment measures and economic reforms implemented by the government have helped maintain domestic economic stability and safeguard the interests of the people. Tunku Nashrul added that the government’s Madani Economy framework will continue to serve as the foundation of national economic management, with an emphasis on balanced, resilient growth centred on public well-being.

But for Selangor-based neurosurgeon Dr Moventhiran Ramakrishnan, it was simply part of growing up. From an early age, Dr Moventhiran knew education was his only way out of the poverty cycle. When I was 15, I worked part-time at a scrap metal factory, carrying heavy loads of metal. Dr Moventhiran now encourages students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, to go the extra mile in pursuing their dreams. Even a neurosurgeon needs a kick – Dr Moventhiran (left) relaxes by playing football in his free time.

(Jan 17): British Airways (BA) has paused operations to Bahrain amid tensions between the US and Iran that could reverberate across the Persian Gulf and affect countries with a US military presence. The British flag carrier halted flights to Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, through Jan 20, according to the airline’s website. A spokesperson for British Airways said that it had temporarily paused flights to the Gulf nation as a precautionary measure and that it would monitor the situation in the region. The UK carrier also paused operations to Bahrain in June before Iran fired missiles at a base in Qatar. Imperial Airways, a predecessor to BA, began service in 1932 that stopped in Bahrain en route to India when the kingdom was a British protectorate.

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said improvements have been made following complaints from players over unhealthy conditions at the ongoing Indian Open in New Delhi. Denmark's singles shuttlers Anders Antonsen and Mia Blichfeldt had raised concerns regarding the air pollution in Delhi and the dirty conditions in the warm up area at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. "Managing factors related largely to seasonal conditions, such as the haze and cold weather affecting the air quality and temperature inside the venue has posed challenges this week. "However, our assessments confirm that the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex represents a significant upgrade from KD Jadhav Stadium, offering improved infrastructure. We thank players and teams for their valuable input and reaffirm our commitment to continuous improvement in partnership with BAI," concluded the statement.

CG Esports players before facing South America side Black Sentence Esports (BSE) at the M7 World Championships in Jakarta. PIC FROM MOONTON GAMESKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian outfit CG Esports kept their M7 World Championships campaign alive with a 2-1 win over South America side Black Sentence Esports (BSE) in the Swiss Stage Round Four at the MPL Arena's XO Hall in Jakarta on Friday. The victory gave CG a lifeline after opening their Swiss Stage campaign with back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Selangor Red Giants and Aurora Gaming Turkiye. CG's versatile player Danial "Ciku" Fuad conceded that they went through a roller coaster match before securing the crucial win. "BSE are our scrim partners, more or less they know who we going to pick, ban, and the rotations," he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd said it has completed the disposal of AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd (AAAGL) and AirAsia Bhd (AAB) as part of its previously announced restructuring proposals. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Capital A said the AAAGL disposal was completed on Jan 16, 2026, following the settlement of the disposal consideration through the allotment and issuance of 2.31 billion consideration shares by AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) to Capital A and its entitled shareholders under the distribution. The disposal of AAB was also completed on the same day, with the consideration settled via a debt assumption, whereby AAX assumed RM3.8bil owed by Capital A to AAB. Capital A added that AAX has also allotted and issued 606.06 million placement shares under its private placement exercise on Jan 16. “The AAX placement shares and the consideration shares (including the distribution shares) will be listed and quoted on the Main Market of Bursa Securities on Jan 19,” it said.

“It’s back from the dead,” said Kim Forrest, chief investment officer at Bokeh Capital Partners and a long-time Intel shareholder. Intel reports its fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Jan 22 and investors will be looking for signs of progress. That said, the average analyst target of US$40.66 implies a 16% decline over the next 12 months. The next catalyst for Intel investors could be in next week’s results. So the key will likely be in the comments from Tan and other Intel executives about what they see on the horizon.

Many are flocking to get their hands on the delicious delicacy, especially during the current durian season with lower-than-usual prices. However, the love for durian may not be limited to just us humans, as a video has gone viral showing a tiger showing up at a durian orchard in Bukit Kinding, Chemor, Perak. So did Malaysia's king of the jungle really show up at an orchard growing the king of fruits, as seen on the video? VERDICT:TRUEAccording to Sinar Harian, the video was shared by a member of the Perak Malayan Tiger Conservation Unit (UKHM). In the video, a UKHM member can be heard urgently telling a member of the public to run to a nearby vehicle as the tiger slowly approaches.