KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 16): The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Joint Chiefs Committee (JPP) takes a serious view of governance and abuse of power issues within the force, and is carrying out measures to overhaul, remedy and improve matters. The MAF Defence Strategic Intelligence and Communication Division Headquarters, in a statement, said these measures are being implemented specifically in matters related to governance management and administration in an organised, factual manner and in accordance with existing legal provisions. "This discussion reflects the unity of the Armed Forces' highest leadership, thus ensuring institutional stability, integrity of governance and the public's confidence in the country's security forces continue to be maintained. As for the country's law enforcement agencies, the JPP urges all stakeholders to emphasise the integrity of the MAF as the country's security team that shoulders the trust of defending the nation's sovereignty. "The MAF leadership is fully committed to cooperating with the authorities to ensure justice prevails, and to maintain the public's confidence in the MAF,” it added.

A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (Jan 16, 2026)This report is produced by the Baltic Exchange. The Baltic TCE for the round trip subsequently moved up to a little under US$7,000/day. The TC14 38kt US Gulf/UK-Continent voyage is currently at WS204 (+15 points) with the Baltic round trip TCE for the run now at US$24,400/day. The Baltic Exchange, on Monday, Jan 12, started a public trial of a new Suezmax route for 145,000 mt USG/UKC (TD33). Disclaimer:While reasonable care has been taken by the Baltic Exchange Information Services Limited (BEISL) and The Baltic Exchange (Asia) Pte.

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KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 16): Pimpinan Ehsan Bhd (KL:PEB) has secured a final extension to submit its regularisation plan following the submission of its written representations to Bursa Securities. “In the opinion of Bursa Securities, adequate time and opportunity had been accorded to Pimpinan Ehsan to regularise its condition since the first announcement on May 31, 2018,” the filing read. Pimpinan Ehsan, formerly TRIplc Bhd, has been working for several years to inject income-generating solar power assets through the acquisition of renewable energy group reNIKOLA Holdings Sdn Bhd. In addition to the share issuance, Pimpinan Ehsan will also undertake a private placement of 80 million new shares. Post the regularisation exercise, Pimpinan Ehsan has proposed to acquire reNIKOLA’s interest in a solar plant in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, for RM218 million and B.Grimm is to subscribe for new shares in the new-look Pimpinan Ehsan for RM214.5 million.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 16): Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said legal action taken in relation to the weaknesses in the implementation of certain projects should not lead to negative perceptions of ministries involved or the security forces. He said this was shared by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar on Thursday. On Thursday, Shamsul Azri said that 14 ministry secretaries-general would be summoned to explain why their ministries failed to meet physical project development targets last year. Without naming the ministries involved, he said expenditure on development projects by the ministries concerned stood at 87.91%, which is below the national average and warrants serious attention. According to Shamsul Azri, people-centric projects such as the construction and upgrading of roads, schools, clinics and hospitals continued, but implementation had been slow.

(Jan 16): China’s economy likely capped 2025 with its weakest quarterly growth in three years, exposing a lopsided reliance on exports over consumption that’s set to extend into coming months. “We expect China’s exports to remain resilient thanks to an accelerated global economy,” Macquarie Group economists including Larry Hu wrote in a note last week. “Macro policies will likely remain supportive to avoid a cliff, but are unlikely to become more expansionary,” the economists wrote in a report Tuesday. “Even with strong determination and sufficient resources, transforming China’s economy into one driven by consumption and services will take years,” they said. Citigroup economists including Yu Xiangrong expect only a “measured” policy expansion, given the strength of external demand and emerging industries.

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 16): The implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) continues to remain among the top agenda for the Madani government, said Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar. He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had assured that the government would continue to refine matters under MA63 that require resolution. The event was officiated by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Azizah Nawawi. Also present were Chief Justice of Malaysia Datuk Seri Wan Farid Wan Saleh, Court of Appeal president Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Hashim Hamzah. "The Madani government remains firmly committed to advancing the legitimate aspirations of Sabah and Sarawak, while ensuring that the unity and integrity of the Federation remain intact," he added.

KAPIT: An administrative assistant has been charged with 24 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM134,582. Juliza Sibat, 33, attached to a primary school in Sungai Sut, Baleh, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Sessions Court here on Friday (Jan 16). Juliza, who was unrepresented, was charged under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which provides for one to 14 years' jail and a possible fine if convicted. Sessions judge Musyiri Peet released her on RM18,000 bail with two sureties and fixed March 2 for case management. According to the facts of the case, the accused had, from July 14, 2023, to Jan 4, 2024, allegedly committed CBT by using RM134,582 belonging to the school for personal use.

She was charged with committing the offence at their apartment in Desa Palma in Nilai between September and January. ALSO READ: Negri cops nab mum, stepdad over alleged abuse of 10-year-old boyThe provision makes it a criminal offence for the ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment, or exposure of a child in a manner likely to cause the child physical or emotional injury. ALSO READ: Nilai child abuse suspects remanded until Jan 14She then fixed Feb 23 for next mention. Masran, who goes by only one name, was charged with committing the offence at their apartment at around 7am on Jan 6. She said the prosecution was offering the accused bail of RM3,000.

KUALA LUMPUR: A family board game session turned into a life-changing moment for an e-commerce entrepreneur, who won RM12.73mil in the Toto 4D (Star Toto 6/50) Jackpot 1 draw. According to STM Lottery Sdn Bhd, the man placed a standard RM1 bet on numbers picked by his young daughter while they were playing a board game. We could barely sleep that night, trying to convince ourselves that we had really won the jackpot," he said. "I will also invest some of it for long-term financial security to support my daughter's education. "I am very grateful to have won the jackpot, as it has made our life so much easier, and our future better," he said.

NEW DELHI (Jan 16): Air India and Singapore Airlines have agreed a cooperation framework that could allow the two flag carriers to increase routes, reduce overlap and more broadly enhance collaboration, they said on Friday. Described by the two airlines as a "commercial cooperation framework agreement", it follows an airspace ban by Pakistan announced last April that forced Air India to discontinue some routes to the US from India. The airlines said the agreement could include expanding both carriers’ corporate travel programmes, a source of high-yield revenue for airlines. Air India already has a codesharing agreement in 20 countries and territories with Singapore Airlines, which owns a 25% stake in the company. Air India chief executive officer Campbell Wilson said in a statement that the pact will take the airline's relationship with Singapore Airlines to the "next level".

BANGKOK (Jan 16): Thailand's Transport Ministry on Friday ordered a 15-day construction halt on 14 contracts involving Italian-Thai Development PCL as well as other large-scale projects overseen by the ministry, as it conducts safety inspections after two fatal crane accidents in two days. The halt to the 14 projects would allow expert teams to conduct detailed inspections to ensure safety standards were being met, said Chirapong Theppithuck, deputy permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry. The two projects are an elevated highway near Bangkok and the building of concrete structures for a stretch of an elevated high-speed rail line in the northeast that will connect Thailand with China through Laos. Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy is in the middle of a massive infrastructure boom, building highways and high-speed rail lines across the country and expanding its elevated rail network in Bangkok. The government last year said the whole high-speed rail line from Bangkok to Nong Khai at the border with Laos would be finished by 2030.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia's rally is alive and well after better-than-expected earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and major US banks helped to boost investor appetite for equities. The index picked up 2.47 points to 1,17.63 at the opening bell, representing a fresh seven-year high. Among the banking plays, Maybank rose six sen to RM11.16, RHB gained four sen to RM8.22 and AMMB added three sen to RM6.58. The rally comes ahead of Malaysia advance estimate of economic growth for the fourth quarter of 2025, which is scheduled for release later today. Other top actives included Velesto up 0.5 sen to 28 sen and NexG down two sen to 29.5 sen.

With just days to go before big banks reported results, Trump last Friday called on credit-card companies to cap interest rates at 10%, or roughly half the current average on outstanding balances, for one year. At the same time, some analysts doubted that the approval of a rate cap would find traction. “Our odds are less than 20% that credit card interest rates will be capped at 10% for any period of time,” Compass Point’s Ed Groshans wrote. US airlines are estimated to generate over US$30 billion per year from mileage sales to credit card partners, according to a note from Bernstein analysts led by Harshita Rawat. “A proposed cap on interest rates or the implementation of legislation such as the CCCA has profound implications for the airline investment thesis,” they said.

In line with the Malaysian Government’s festive travel initiatives, Malaysia Airlines and its sister airline Firefly are offering all-in one-way subsidised fares from Kuala Lumpur to selected destinations in Sabah and Sarawak. From Feb 13 to 16, during the Chinese New Year peak period, Malaysia Airlines will offer subsidised fares of up to RM569. The flight routes include Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan in Sabah, as well as Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu in Sarawak. Firefly’s subsidised fares of up to RM548 will include flights to KK, Tawau, Kuching and Sibu. Flights from KL to Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu are set at RM328 all-in one-way, while flights to KK, Tawau and Sandakan are set at RM398 all-in one-way.