KUALA LUMPUR: Some 20 Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers are believed to be involved in immoral activities dubbed “yeye culture”. According to RMAF chief Jeneral Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris, initial investigations by the air force on Jan 6 revealed that 20 officers were involved. “Such immoral culture is not the norm for the air force,” he said in a statement yesterday. Muhamad Norazlan said the RMAF views the infringement on the order, directive and rules seriously. Since last week, claims have been circulating on social media alleging that immoral activities were taking place in military camps involving outsiders and military officers.

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry is making the “small voices” of teachers, pupils and school communities the main pillar of education reform, and the basis for developing the New Education Curriculum, says Fadhlina Sidek. The Education Minister said school reform is a medium for translating these quiet voices into meaningful action, to ensure that every education initiative does not remain merely discourse on paper. In line with this approach, she said the New Education Curriculum will be implemented in stages starting this year, with the 2026 Preschool Curriculum as the first step. On inclusive education, she said 200 new Special Education classes will be opened in phases, in addition to the expansion of the K11 Comprehensive Special Model School Programme and the operation of the Special Education Malaysia Sports School in Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan. Fadhlina called on the entire education ecosystem — including teachers, administrators, parents and the corporate sector — to share the responsibility of building the future of the nation’s education.

Indulgent as such eating may sound, those who are fond of berries can rest easy knowing that a diet enriched with them likely means better long-term heart health. Rodriguez-Mateos and colleagues said that flavonoids and phenolic acids, which are forms of polyphenols, are of particular benefit. “These plant compounds are widely available in everyday foods, making this a practical strategy for most people,” said Yong Li, also of KCL. — FreepikThe market for berries is set to grow as their health benefits become as widely known and appreciated as their taste. “Global blueberry demand is gaining momentum, led by North America and Europe,” according to food industry researchers at Rabobank.

SHAH ALAM: A traffic operation targeting mat rempit led to the arrest of 10 people. Selangor deputy police chief Deputy Comm Mohd Zaini Abu Hassan said that the operation was conducted near Persiaran Elmina early Sunday (Jan 11) morning. He said that seven men and three women aged 17 to 26, including students were nabbed. He also urged parents to always monitor their children's movements to prevent them from participating in such activities. A further five people were detained by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) after they tested positive for drugs, including for methaphatemines.

The infrastructure measures were implemented within a 500m radius of the school entrance, including a raised crosswalk, narrowed road space, rumble strips, sidewalks for pedestrians and traffic lights. A key driver of the initiative, the Works Ministry narrowed travel lanes to 3.3m, encouraging drivers to slow down and be more cautious while in the school zone. The combined efforts resulted in a 21% decrease in average vehicle speeds, from 62km/h to 49km/h, according to a press release. The efforts stemmed from a collaboration between the Works Ministry and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, with support from local non-governmental organisation Commute Initiatives. SJK (T) Ladang Gadong was selected by the Works Ministry to test this speed reduction intervention, a new approach that reduces speed through design by reexamining the National Standard Drawing for School Streets.

Students who have completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia examinations, or a diploma programme, are invited to apply for the Rinwood Awards scholarship programme to study at Curtin University Malaysia in Miri, Sarawak. Designed to ease financial barriers and empower high-achieving students, particularly those from underprivileged and B40 backgrounds, the Rinwood Awards recognise both academic excellence and financial need. Hii said the programme reflects Rinwood Pelita Plantation’s long-term investment in Sarawak’s future. “We are honoured to partner with Curtin Malaysia in nurturing the next generation of Sarawakian leaders,” he said. Congratulating the recipients, Curtin Malaysia student recruitment and conversion manager Samson Philip said they have all shown exceptional determination and resilience.

SHAH ALAM: A pedestrian was killed after he was struck by a car when he was believed to have suddenly crossed into the middle of the road at KM9.4 of the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) here. Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Ramsay Embol said the incident occurred at about 11.15pm on Friday (Jan 10), involving a man believed to be between 50 and 60 years old. “Initial investigations found that the pedestrian suddenly crossed the road and was in the second rightmost lane after the Elite Expressway interchange from Klang towards Damansara when he was hit by a car travelling straight along the lane. ACP Ramsay said the identity of the deceased has yet to be ascertained, and efforts to identify the victim were ongoing. Members of the public or witnesses with information related to the incident are urged to assist investigations by contacting the investigating officer from the Shah Alam police Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, Insp Muhammad Najib Abdul Rahman, at 019-775 7354.

PETALING JAYA: Local food manufacturers are facing mounting cost pressures as recurring year-end shipping delays force earlier ordering and push ­logistics expenses higher, says the Malaysian Food Manufacturers Association. At the same time, Ding said cheaper products from China, coupled with more Chinese companies setting up operations in Malaysia, have intensified competition for local manufacturers. Meanwhile, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said there have been no delays in the supply of mandarin oranges, and festive goods are arriving on schedule. Ameer said the supply for ­mandarin oranges has arrived, while supplies for Hari Raya Aidilfitri are also coming in, with the fasting month less than two months away. He added that easing tariff war concerns and a stronger ringgit, hovering near RM4.05 against the US dollar, were further positive developments.

WITH the new academic session starting this week, some 100 students transitioning to secondary education will begin their journey armed with greater self-confidence. These students from underserved communities were recently recognised in a special ceremony for their efforts in improving their academic results in Year Six. As part of the 2025 Impian Gigih Dermasiswa programme, the students received 12 weeks of additional tutorial classes from June to October, coupled with free premium access to digital learning tools. “We’re encouraged to see organisations championing early education, and we hope education continues to be a national focus – ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” he said. At the concluding ceremony held on Nov 29, the students received back-to-school kits, helping alleviate the financial burden on their families as they prepared for the year ahead.

KUALA LUMPUR: Effective Jan 16, Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd will restructure selected bus routes in the Klang Valley to provide better service. The company announced that in the first phase, 16 MRT feeder routes and three standard Rapid KL routes will be fully converted to the Rapid KL On-Demand service, due to low daily passenger numbers. "These routes represent seven per cent of the 281 total bus routes operated by Rapid KL, including MRT and LRT feeder services," the company said in a statement on Sunday (Jan 11). He assured passengers that access remains uninterrupted through the Rapid KL On-Demand service, which can be booked via the dedicated Rapid On-Demand app (available on Google Play and Apple App Store). For inquiries or assistance, the public can contact the Rapid KL hotline at 03-7885 2585 or email suggest@rapidkl.com.my.

Today, the Malaysian housing market appears steady on the surface but the reality beneath is far more uneven. Growing up, the older generation often advised their children to secure at least one property as a hedge against inflation. Back then, choices were limited and the idea of hotspot developments was far less prominent. For many, owning a home was straightforward: a stable job and a modest property provided a path to long-term security.

JOHOR BARU: Foreigners are advised to use the new National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) while going through immigration at a main checkpoint here following a system failure involving its autogates, says the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS). AKPS said, besides NIIse, foreigners could also use the manual counters to clear immigration. AKPS, in a statement on Facebook, said that the eGates at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) were experiencing technical problems involving those holding foreign passports. The worst affected was at BSI where foreigners were forced to wait for more than one hour to clear immigration. Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in the Second Link has 12 autogates.

By the time a cough becomes impossible to ignore, the window for the most effective treatment may already be closing. In Malaysia, lung cancer statistics tell a sobering story. In 2017–2021, the proportion of cases diagnosed at late stages (Stages 3 and 4) rose compared with 2012–2016, increasing from 93.5% to 95.4% for men and from 92.3% to 94.3% for women. “Most of the time, lung cancer does not have any significant symptoms, but rather, general, non-specific symptoms like malaise and tiredness. Detecting the cancer early actually outweighs whatever radiation you’re exposed to from the scans,” said Dr Soo.

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HULU SELANGOR: An express bus ferrying 42 passengers was involved in an accident at KM1.0 of the North–South Expressway (PLUS) southbound here on Sunday (Jan 11). “Eight personnel, including officers, from the Rawang fire and rescue station were dispatched to the scene, some 21km away. “The fire engine arrived at 5.51am and found that the accident involved an express bus and a lorry,” he said Sunday. Ahmad Mukhlis said five victims were trapped — four bus passengers and the lorry driver. “The bus was carrying 42 passengers, including two drivers, with 38 passengers managing to get out safely,” he said.