BUKIT JALIL: After several heartbreaks, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn finally clinched his first Super 1000 title yesterday, conquering the Malaysian Open at last. I knew if we had long rallies, it would have been very tough for me to win," said Kunlavut. Nothing was sweeter for Kunlavut than receiving his trophy and prize from his idol, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei. Ironically, Chong Wei had held a meal session with Kunlavut just before the start of the Malaysia Open. “I might ask him (Chong Wei) for a bak kut teh session again.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim watches the final of the Malaysia Open 2026 at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil - NSTP/ASWADI ALIASKUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed pride in the nation's men's doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik for finishing second at the Malaysia Open today. "Although luck was not on our side, all Malaysians, including myself, are proud of the fighting spirit displayed by Aaron-Wooi Yik in their battle against South Korean doubles pair Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae. 2 Malaysians fell 21-15, 12-21, 21-18 to South Korea's world No. The prime minister also presented the medals to the duo after the 66-minute match at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. Anwar watched the match alongside the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the minister and the BAM president.

Initial investigations revealed that the lorry’s left rear tyre burst and came off, falling from the flyover before hitting the roof of a black Proton Satria Neo and causing damage to the vehicle - VIRAL IMAGESSEPANG: A car was struck by a tyre that came off a tipper lorry on Jalan Kajang-Puchong, South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), here last night. District police chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman said police received a report on the incident at around 8pm. The lorry was travelling from Kajang to Puchong, Selangor, and no injuries were reported, he said. Initial investigations revealed that the lorry's left rear tyre burst and came off, falling from the flyover before hitting the roof of a black Proton Satria Neo and causing damage to the vehicle, he said in a statement today. He said the case was being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for careless and inconsiderate driving.

“Managers may lack the skills to mentor or motivate juniors, which hinders skill acquisition.”He also cited social media as a driving force behind normalising job changes. Online professional networ­king platforms are readily available, while various social media platforms can influence perceptions of “career hacks” and alternative paths. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn and TikTok, he said, have further normalised job switching by making salaries, opportunities and career paths highly visible, raising expectations of what employers should offer. At the same time, Raj Kumar cautioned young workers against moving on too quickly. Economist and policy specialist Dr Geoffrey Williams said the tendency for young workers to resign can be due to either end-of-year bonuses or a lack of them.

KUALA LUMPUR/PATTANI (Bernama): The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that there have been no reports of Malaysians directly affected by the attacks in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani in southern Thailand in the early hours of Sunday. In a media advisory, the ministry advised Malaysians residing in or travelling to the affected areas to remain vigilant and avoid areas with a heightened security presence. Malaysians are also advised to comply with instructions issued by local authorities and stay informed through official channelsThe ministry, also known as Wisma Putra, encouraged Malaysians in the region to register their presence to facilitate timely communication and assistance, if required. It said that Malaysians requiring consular assistance can contact the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla at +(66) 74 316 274 or +(66) 81 990 1930. Alternatively, they can reach out via additional lines at +(66) 74 324 004 or +(66) 74 312 353, or via email at mwsongkhla@kln.gov.my.

National Association of Human Resources Malaysia president Zarina Ismail said the government should take the matter seriously. - NSTP FILE PICKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia could suffer income losses equivalent to 0.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year due to the outflow of 60,000 skilled Malaysians, experts said. "A simple calculation estimates the immediate income loss at about 0.4 per cent of GDP each year," he said. She said the government should also take a tough stance on enforcement, particularly to ensure skilled workers receive the promised minimum wages. "There needs to be strict enforcement to ensure skilled workers are paid the wages promised, in order to curb further worker migration.

Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June, in which the US joined Israel in launching airstrikes. The flow of information from Iran has been hampered by an internet blackout imposed by the authorities since Thursday. A senior US intelligence official on Saturday described the situation in Iran as an "endurance game". In an interview with the Economist published on Friday, Netanyahu said there would be horrible consequences for Iran if it were to attack Israel. Alluding to the protests, he said: “Everything else, I think we should see what is happening inside Iran."

"The loss of experienced workers will weaken the ability of local industries to expand, innovate, and compete at the regional and global levels. "If push factors such as wage differentials, limited career pathways, less flexible employment structures, and skills mismatches with industry needs persist, Malaysia risks being perceived as a less attractive labour market for local talent and the diaspora. "MEF believes that talent is not only seeking better pay, but also a work environment that supports long-term development and work-life balance," he said. In the long term, MEF stressed the importance of aligning the education and training system with the real needs of industry. Malaysia, he said, is also attracting foreigners due to its balance of modernity, cultural values, religious freedom, lifestyle flexibility, and social stability.

It’s not rankings that we should avoid, but the pitfalls associated with them. Concerns, if any, about rankings should be directed at governance and leadership decisions within universities, Universiti Putra Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ismi Arif Ismail opines. He stressed the need to strengthen integrity-based data governance to ensure that all submitted information accurately reflects actual performance. Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman echoed the view that rankings should serve accountability rather than prestige alone, particularly for publicly funded institutions. “In a climate of tightening resources, rising risks and increasing public scrutiny, universities must demonstrate that they remain worthy of continued investment.

KOTA TINGGI: Two months after the Sungai Johor pollution incident, about 150 fishermen, including those from Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang, remain in distress as their livelihoods have yet to recover. The fishermen complained of declining catches and income, and voiced deep concern over the condition of Sungai Sayong Pinang near their village, which has become increasingly shallow. He said the situation has forced local fishermen to alter their fishing routes, travelling between two main rivers - Sungai Linggiu and upstream areas - which take between two and three hours to reach, while waiting for Sungai Sayong Pinang to recover. It was claimed that the company appeared to have abandoned its responsibility after failing to address compensation claims submitted by the affected fishermen. The pollution incident along Sungai Johor in Kota Tinggi, in October last year, was the worst recorded involving water supply sources in Johor, affecting more than 292,000 consumer accounts across Kota Tinggi, Johor Bahru, Pontian, Gelang Patah and Kulai.

JOHOR BARU: The eGate system disruption at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) has yet to be resolved, but border control operations continue as usual with limited impact on foreign passport holders. "The public is informed that the eGate system disruption is still recurring and the operational status remains unchanged, involving foreign passport holders only. Foreign passport holders may use the eGates at locations such as the Incoming Bus Hall involving eGates 19, 20, 21 and 22, and the Outgoing Bus Hall (eGates 5, 6, 7 and 8). "The Malaysian Immigration Department, together with AKPS, are still actively carrying out repair works and continuous monitoring to address this issue," the post said. As a measure to reduce congestion, AKPS advised foreign visitors to download the National Integrated Immigration System (MyNIISe) application to use the QR counters as well as the manual counters provided.

Oceania Cruises is switching to adults-only travel. The luxury cruise line from the United States has announced that, with immediate effect, bookings can no longer be made for guests under the age of 18. The company, part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, says the decision was based on guest feedback. The cruise line primarily caters to older couples, and its eight-ship fleet has so far offered no dedicated programmes or facilities for minors. Virgin Voyages restricts all four of its ships to adult guests, while Viking Ocean Cruises bars under-18 passengers across its 15 ocean vessels.

1 An Se-young can now hold her head high after placing herself alongside some of the sport’s greatest names by successfully defending the Malaysian Open title for a third consecutive time. Se-young overcame China’s Wang Zhiyi 21-15, 24-22, once again denying Zhiyi the chance to avenge her defeat to the Korean in last year’s Malaysian Open final. Cool lady: South Korea An Se-young begins the year with another title to show she's still the best.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The StarAs the Malaysian Open champion, Se-young pocketed US$101,500 (RM415,490) in prize money, while runner up Zhiyi received US$49,300 (RM201,809). Previously, Taiwanese legend Tai Tzu-ying achieved a hattrick at the Malaysian Open from 2017-2019. However, no one has managed to surpass the record set by Malaysia's Cecilia Samuel, who won the Malaysian Open an unprecedented six consecutive times from 1950 to 1955.

BALIK PULAU: Two seven-year-old children, a boy and a girl, nearly drowned before being found unconscious in the swimming pool of a condominium in Bayan Baru on Saturday (Jan 10) morning, Sinar Harian reports. He said a review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage found that the man’s younger sister had taken both victims to the swimming pool at around 8.30am. “The CCTV footage shows both victims walking from the children’s pool to the adult pool before they were found unconscious by members of the public,” he said. He added that the man was expected to leave Penang on Jan 11 after staying at the condominium for a family holiday. “The public, especially parents and guardians, are advised to always monitor children’s movements when they are in swimming pool areas to prevent undesirable incidents,” he said.

The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) recently directed higher education institutions to embed values-based education (VBE) in the curriculum, presenting the opportunity for educators, policymakers, industry leaders and students to work together in building an ecosystem that can shape Malaysia’s future. VBE in this context focuses on the need to embed universal values such as respect, integrity and accountability as part of every student’s learning journey. These values are not abstract ideals but rather, practical competencies that guide students on transitioning into their careers, engaging socially and contributing towards nation-building. Integrating VBE into higher education curriculum, however, cannot be an act of adding more content to an already comprehensive syllabus. Values can be integrated into existing courses through practical approaches such as case studies, ethical scenarios and reflective tasks.