KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): The investigation into the corruption scandal involving the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) includes a comprehensive review of the procedures and systems in the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), and is not limited to specific cases, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. He said the ongoing investigation also takes into account the possibility of weaknesses in systems, procedures and existing issues in the ministry, following the ongoing investigation into several top MAF officers. "In the procurement issue at Mindef, the matter of public concern is the issue of transparency and governance. Earlier on Tuesday, Azam attended and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the MACC and HELP University here. Commenting further, Azam said the investigation showed that the issue was not small-scale, based on the position and rank of the individuals involved.

Although such debt exceeds 120% of GDP, debt service costs are deemed manageable as long as interest rates remain low. Trump’s pressure on the Fed to cut interest rates has inadvertently undermined investor confidence and prompted “flights [from dollar assets] to safety”. If investors stop buying dollar assets or sell them to purchase non-dollar assets, de-dollarisation will gain momentum. Trump’s actions, especially threats of tariffs and sanctions, have elicited diverse reactions, often undermining dollar hegemony and accelerating de-dollarisation. But in 2025, confidence in dollar assets fell, prompting sell-offs and de-dollarisation.

KOTA KINABALU: Former senior Sabah STAR politician Phillip Among has been sentenced to a total of 43 months in prison and fined RM14,000 by the Magistrates Court after being found guilty of four counts of molesting a contestant during the 2021 State Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant. Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin issued the sentence after determining that the defence did not raise a reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case. Phillip, 53, who served as the Sabah STAR Parliamentary Coordinator for the Putatan Division, committed the offences while he was the technical head of the 2021 Unduk Ngadau competition, which took place during the state-level Pesta Kaamatan celebrations. In June 2021, police reports were filed against him by a contestant who alleged sexual assault during the pageant. The trial began in April 2022, with the court ordering him to present his defence on Dec 12, 2024.

(Jan 13): The Trump administration is close to a trade deal with Taiwan that would lower American tariffs on goods from the self-governed island and significantly expand Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) planned investment in chip production on US soil, according to people familiar with the matter. That level would put the Taiwan shipments on par with those from Japan and South Korea, which reached their own agreements last year. A signed pact would culminate months of talks between President Donald Trump’s team and the Taiwanese government, which has repeatedly said a deal was close. Trump would gain another investment pledge from a major overseas manufacturer, which he could tout as another win for his trade policy. Any agreement with Taipei risks provoking China, which claims the island as part of its territory — a view Taiwan rejects.

(Jan 13): Lynas Rare Earths Ltd chief executive officer Amanda Lacaze will step down after 12 years at the helm of one of the top performers on Australia’s benchmark stock index over the past year. Lacaze will leave the role at the end of the financial year through June, the company said in a statement Tuesday. Lynas’ shares initially shrugged off the move, rising as much as 3%, before paring some of that advance. Lynas shares have more than doubled over the past year as critical minerals became a focal point of geopolitical and trade tensions. Lynas is currently expanding its processing capacity of heavy rare earths at its Malaysian refinery to meet increasing demand for the metals.

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has issued a directive ensuring that the recent technical disruption at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) in Johor do not recur at any of the country’s entry points. Director-General of the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, said that this matter was conveyed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail during a coordination meeting regarding the incident on Monday (Jan 12). Following this, he has personally instructed every commander - including those at BSI and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) - to strictly monitor the entry systems at these gateways. "When a system breakdown occurs, my commanders must react quickly - meaning they must facilitate the entry or exit of as many travelers as possible. As of yesterday, the eGate system disruption at BSI had not yet fully recovered; however, border control operations continued as usual, with the impact limited to foreign passport holders.

KINABATANGAN: Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Lamag state seat has brushed off social media criticism labelling him a “frog” over party-hopping allegations, saying voters would ultimately judge leaders based on their willingness to work on the ground. Mohd Ismail was speaking after attending a community volleyball activity at Gelanggang Kampung Muhibbah here on Sunday (Jan 11) night, where he also pledged to prioritise the upgrading of sports facilities across Lamag. “Almost every village has a small sports court, like a volleyball court, but many of them are in dire condition. He said proper and accessible sports infrastructure could help promote healthier lifestyles, strengthen community bonds and provide positive outlets for youths. Mohd Ismail is facing Mazliwati Abdul Malek Chua of Parti Warisan in a straight fight for the Lamag seat, with polling day set for Jan 24.

PETALING JAYA: When a player’s career is at its lowest ebb, finding a coach willing to step in is never easy. That is why professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia is appreciative of Liew Daren’s return to the coaching role as he looks to revive his flagging career. Zii Jia faces an immediate challenge in the first round against Denmark’s world No. Now ranked 144 in the world, Zii Jia is banking on Daren to guide him back to the top. "I have confidence in him, and he was willing to take on this challenge," Zii Jia had stated.

"All Nato member states, including the US, have a common interest in the defence of Greenland," the island's coalition government said in a statement, adding that it can in no way accept a US takeover of Greenland. "As part of the Danish commonwealth, Greenland is a member of Nato and the defence of Greenland must therefore be through Nato," the government said. The European Union Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said earlier on Monday that any US military takeover of Greenland would be the end of Nato. Trump first floated the idea of a US takeover of Greenland in 2019 during his first term in office, although he faces opposition in Washington, including from within his own party. While Denmark has ruled Greenland for centuries, the territory has gradually been moving towards independence since 1979, a goal shared by all political parties elected to the island's Parliament.

Today's Market Minute* U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has threatened to indict Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over comments to Congress about a building renovation project, an action Powell called a "pretext" to gain more influence over interest rates Trump wants cut dramatically. * President Trump said on Sunday that he might block Exxon Mobil from investing in Venezuela after the oil major's CEO called the country "uninvestable" during a White House meeting last week. Powell pulls no punchesChair Powell revealed on Sunday that the Fed had received subpoenas last week related to remarks he made to Congress this past summer regarding cost overruns for a $2.5 billion building renovation project at the Fed's headquarters in Washington. European shares dipped early on Monday, though this may have been driven less by the U.S. Justice Department’s threats to Powell and more by Trump’s call on Friday for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%. The other major news of the weekend was the crackdown on the escalating protests in Iran against the clerical establishment.

It appears to have accelerated a long-brewing reversal in US heart failure deaths, with mortality climbing faster since 2020 after years of decline, new research shows. Heart failure has emerged as one of the clearest signals of the pandemic’s lasting impact on chronic disease. Unlike heart attacks or strokes, which are sudden events, heart failure reflects cumulative damage and is especially sensitive to gaps in routine care and long-term management. Nationally, age-adjusted heart failure death rates declined from 1999 through about 2011 before reversing course. If heart failure mortality continues to rise, it risks becoming a dominant driver of post-pandemic heart disease deaths, threatening to reverse decades of progress — especially for populations already bearing the highest burden of chronic illness.

Shares rose as much as 1.7% to US$334.04, translating to a market cap of US$4 trillion. The company recently overtook Apple Inc to become the second-largest firm, behind Nvidia Corp. Only Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft Corp have topped the US$4 trillion barrier, and Nvidia remains the lone company to ever crest US$5 trillion. In November, Bloomberg News reported that Apple was planning to pay Alphabet about US$1 billion a year for an AI Siri. The rapidly improving sentiment reflects of Alphabet is seen as having dominant positions across key areas of AI. Despite the swelling in valuation, Alphabet continues to trade at a slight discount to the overall Magnificent Seven Index.

BMW’s EV sales, by contrast, rose 3.6% to 442,072. The Audi owner did especially poorly on EVs in the country, with sales of its fully electric models there slumping 44%. BMW, whose China sales declined 12.5% in 2025, is betting that its newest EVs will help. Mercedes’ overall global car sales fell 9% to 1.8 million in 2025, making it one of the company’s weakest annual performances in years. Still, there are signs of momentum in Mercedes’ electric portfolio.

GEORGE TOWN: There is no plan to bring back the iconic Penang ferry for passenger services, says Anthony Loke. The Transport Minister said operating the old ferry service is technically challenging as it is difficult to source replacement parts and its incompatibility with the new ferry terminals. "In order for us to revive the old iconic ferry services, we need to build another terminal, which is not possible at this time," he told reporters after the inauguration of the Penang Floating Ferry Museum here on Monday (Jan 12). On profitability, Loke said the Penang ferry service is not intended to generate profits as fares are regulated by the government. He said ferry operations are part of a cross-subsidy model under the Penang Port privatisation plan, which also mandates public service obligations, including 12 days of free ferry service annually during public holidays and festive periods.

PUTRAJAYA: Border point commanders must take a hands-on approach in resolving issues affecting the country’s entry points instead of remaining office-bound, says Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain. He said the effective discharge of duties by AKPS commanders required them to be directly involved on the ground to identify and address operational problems. “I constantly remind my commanders that AKPS officers must not be involved in any abuse of power or corruption. This expectation applies not only to these three new commanders, but to all current and future AKPS entry-point commanders,” he added. The three new AKPS entry-point commanders sworn in at the ceremony were Mohd Shafie Zakaria (KLIA Terminal 1), Deputy Comm Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal (Port Klang) and Farah Azura Mohd Shargawi (Kuantan Port).