KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 14): OGX Group Bhd, an IT infrastructure solutions provider, has appointed UOB Kay Hian (M) Sdn Bhd as underwriter for its upcoming ACE Market initial public offering (IPO), which will involve 150 million new shares or 20% of its enlarged share capital. Of the 150 million new shares, 37.5 million will be allocated to the Malaysian public, 18.75 million reserved for eligible persons, and 75 million placed out to selected investors. The remaining 18.75 million shares will be placed out to Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. Post-IPO, Ting Fong’s stake will be diluted to 35.7% from 51%, while Suan Loong’s shareholding will fall to 34.3% from 49%. UOB Kay Hian is the principal adviser, sponsor, underwriter and placement agent for the IPO.

KINABATANGAN: It is no easy task for any candidate campaigning for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, with the main obs­tacle being reaching voters living in villages scattered along the hilly terrain of the Crocker Range. Kampung Kuamut, in the upper reaches of Kinabatangan River, remains accessible only by boats which could take about six hours from Kinabatangan town. Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar also said the biggest challenge in reaching voters across polling districts is distance and logistics. “That is why I strongly support the realignment of the Kinaba­ta­ngan constituency, so representation can be more focused, more effective and fair to every community,” he said. Spanning an area roughly half the size of Pahang, the biodiversity-rich Kinabatangan constituency lacks proper roads and basic infrastructure such as electricity and piped water in many of its far-flung villages.

Travellers face a long wait in hot conditions at the Butterworth train station. The Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth, with the Penang Sentral transport hub in the background. Century of transitionThe Penang ferry service is one of Malaysia’s most historic links, dating back to 1894. Penang Sentral, first proposed in 2007, took 11 years to open due to land acquisition disputes. Adjacent to Penang Sentral is the Butterworth KTM station, serving ETS and Komuter services, with covered pedestrian links designed to facilitate transfers.

(Jan 14): Baidu Inc is considering upgrading its Hong Kong listing to primary status to gain more exposure to investors in mainland China and protect itself from potentially unfavourable US policies, according to people familiar with the matter. The technology company — with a market value of US$52 billion (RM210.47 billion) — trades on the Nasdaq and has a second listing in Hong Kong. That makes it more accessible to investors in Asia, but not in mainland China because it still isn’t eligible for the so-called stock connect. A primary listing would help Baidu qualify for cross-border trading, opening up investment flows from the mainland to Hong Kong. Upgrading the Hong Kong listing might offer a hedge against US sanction risk given the political sensitivity of the sector, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 14): Malaysian citizens who have used the National Integrated Immigration System (MyNIISe) application must register for MyDigital ID by Thursday, Jan 15, at the latest to continue using the service at the Sultan Iskandar Building and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex. The Home Ministry in a statement on Wednesday said new users of MyNIISe are required to register for MyDigital ID starting Thursday. "Existing users can still log in to MyNIISe using the existing method until the end of the MyNIISe trial period on Feb 28 for the purpose of registration and renewal of MyDigital ID," according to the statement. According to the ministry, MyDigital ID functions as a digital key to log in to the MyNIISe application with several key security benefits. As of Dec 30, MyNIISe had recorded 599,967 downloads with 287,258 registered users.

KUCHING: A husband and wife have been found dead with severe injuries in their home at Sri Aman, 192km from here, early Wednesday (Jan 14) morning. Sarawak police commissioner Comm Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said the Sri Aman police headquarters received information at 6.55am about the discovery of the couple inside the house at Taman Mutiara. He said a police team was immediately dispatched, along with medical officers from Hospital Sri Aman. He urged anyone with information on the case to contact investigating officer Asst Supt Kalang at 019-331 7785, the Sri Aman police district control centre, or the nearest police station. According to multiple Facebook posts on the incident, the victims were a primary school headmaster and his wife, who was a nurse.

(Jan 14): As President Vladimir Putin focuses his attentions on Russia’s war in Ukraine, his strategic allies around the world have been left feeling neglected — or worse. In Venezuela, officials now think their years-long security relationship with Moscow was a paper tiger. They’re not alone: From Damascus and Tehran to Havana, over the last 13 months authoritarian regimes which previously benefited from their close ties to the Kremlin have found Russian support lacking when it mattered most. The most potent symbol of Russia’s inattention may be that of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro languishing in a New York jail. However, Russian officials were angered by Trump proceeding with the operation to capture Maduro, according to people familiar with the matter.

(Jan 14): HSBC Holdings plc is gauging investor demand for a significant risk transfer (SRT) tied to a portfolio of about €2 billion (US$2.3 billion or RM9.5 billion) of investment-grade corporate loans. Banks use SRT as a way to insure loans against default, typically obtaining protection for between 5% and 15% of the loan value. HSBC is working on a potential SRT while finalising a US$14 billion takeover of Hang Seng Bank Ltd, the bank’s biggest acquisition in more than a decade. The purchase would reduce the lender’s common equity tier 1 ratio, a key metric of financial strength, by 125 basis points. Toronto-Dominion Bank, Erste Group Bank AG and BNP Paribas SA are among banks that are in discussions or have recently completed SRT transactions.

KUALA LUMPUR: A special-edition gold coin featuring Wira and Manja, the sun bear mascots of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), was launched on Wednesday (Jan 14) to support the national tourism campaign. The 24-karat coin was unveiled by Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Manoharan Periasamy at the SMS Deen Jewellers outlet along Jalan Masjid India here. “This is the type of strategic collaboration encouraged by the Prime Minister under the Visit Malaysia 2026 framework. We are proud to be given the opportunity to be part of this initiative and to support Visit Malaysia 2026,” he said. It is available at all SMS Deen Jewellers outlets nationwide on Wednesday (Jan 14), followed by the jeweller’s branches nationwide from Jan 19.

The plan unveiled on Jan 5 envisages retaining the Manila listing of its Philippine business. The international business accounted for 6,800 of Jollibee's 10,300 stores by the end of last year's third quarter, he told reporters. Shin said the spin-off would simplify the group's structure and improve transparency, allowing investors to assess the domestic and international businesses on a standalone basis. The US offers capital markets with a large investor base experienced in valuing global consumer and restaurant growth companies, Shin said. Jollibee operates across 33 countries with brands such as Jollibee, Chowking, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan.

KOTA KINABAKU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has put the implementation of the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s decision on Sabah’s 40% revenue share as a top priority, says Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said this was stated at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Jan 14). "The Prime Minister and the Federal Government are committed to upholding the rule of law," Mustapha said in a statement on Facebook. Mustapha’s statement followed questions by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) over the delay in the implementation of the High Court decision. The application for a judicial review of the state's revenue rights was filed by SLS.

KUCHING: The number of flood evacuees at temporary relief centres (PPS) in Sarawak on Wednesday (Jan 14) morning remained unchanged from last night, with 1,603 individuals from 498 families. The Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee reported that the evacuees are being housed across nine PPS in Serian, Sibu, Bintulu and Sebauh. "In Sibu, six evacuees are sheltered at Dewan SMK Bukit Assek. In Bintulu, 237 people are at the Bintulu Civic Centre, while in Sebauh, 150 are at Balairaya Sebauh and a further 186 are at Dewan Sri Kemena, SMK Sebauh,” the statement read. The latest flooding in Sarawak began on Dec 31 last year, when several areas around Kuching city were inundated following persistent heavy rain.

(Jan 14): China is investigating Trip.com Group Ltd, the country’s largest online travel agency, over alleged antitrust conduct, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation. The company is being investigated for allegedly “abusing” its dominant market position and engaging in monopolistic practices, it said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 14). While the agency didn’t disclose additional detail, China’s technology sector has faced heightened scrutiny from market regulators in recent years amid concerns about intensifying competition. Trip.com’s Hong Kong-listed shares dropped 6.5%. Founded in 1999 and listed on Nasdaq in 2003 and in Hong Kong in 2021, Trip.com currently operates a portfolio of brands, including Ctrip, Qunar, Trip.com and Skyscanner and bills itself as a one-stop travel platform.

There have already been concerns about Malaysia’s involvement in trade with Iran, especially given existing oil embargoes,” he said. “If such a tariff is enforced across the board, it would have an effect on Malaysia’s trade. Despite this, Dr Afzanizam cautioned that the broader impact could still be significant because the US remains Malaysia’s major trading partner. “The impact is not so much about Iran, but about our relationship with the United States,” he said. “Given that international sanctions have been imposed in Iran, I do not think any of our ports could host tankers carrying Iranian oil.

Initiative provides them exposure, interaction with nature and peopleFOR many children today, learning often begins with a screen. But for those who join Sunway Theme Parks’ Explorer Rangers programme, learning happens through wildlife encounters and hands-on experiences. Sunway Theme Parks chief executive officer Calvin Ho said: “It goes beyond introducing wildlife. “The programme seeks to nurture empathy, sustainability awareness and a broader understanding of global challenges from a young age. Explorer Rangers is part of Sunway Theme Parks’ broader commitment to community, education and sustainability under its environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework.