Banks will provide financing for the deal, and the buyout proposal is likely to be announced soon, they added. Hisamitsu confirmed the report, saying it is considering going private and planned to make an announcement on Tuesday, according to a company statement. Hisamitsu, known for its Salonpas pain-relief patches, joins a growing list of Japanese companies exiting the public market to shield themselves from growing regulatory and investor pressure to lift valuations and implement more oversight. Hisamitsu, which traces its origins to 1847 in the Saga prefecture in southwestern Japan, develops and sells prescription and drugstore products. Salonpas became the first-ever topical pain-relief patch approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2008.

(Jan 6): Monday’s US$61 billion (RM247 billion) issuance tally for the global dollar bond market showcases strong investor appetite for credit, one that will likely embolden issuers to boost supply early in the year. At least nine borrowers in Asia — including Japan’s Resona Bank Ltd and Agricultural Bank of China Ltd — were marketing notes in the US currency Tuesday. The previous day’s tally for global bond sales was the biggest since Jan 6, 2025, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Borrowers are locking in deals early, with investment‑grade credit spreads still near historic lows amid broadly solid corporate fundamentals. That’s expected to be driven by companies’ AI expansion projects, refinancing of looming maturities and acquisition financing.

That belief is why former men’s doubles national shuttler Koo Kien Keat admitted he was disappointed after missing out on a top coaching role with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). Kien Keat revealed that BAM had offered him an assistant coach position last year, but he turned it down as he was eyeing the men’s doubles head coach role. “BAM offered me a coaching role but I was not happy with the position,” said Kien Keat. 2014 champions Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah were the last homesters to be crowned champions in the men’s doubles. “Honestly, there’s a chance for a Malaysian pair to reach the final but winning the title will be difficult,” said Kien Keat.

A HYPERBOLIC health headline has gone viral with an enticing claim - that only two years of regular exercise may help make your heart 20 years younger. It sounds almost too good to be true, that a regular workout plan can reverse decades of ageing and possibly unhealthy habits. Can just two years of breaking a sweat really turn back the clock on your heart by 20 years? But doctors warn that this does not imply that the heart has truly become "20 years younger." In other words, the volunteers did not reverse 20 years of ageing, instead they regained some functional capacity that had been lost due to prolonged inactivity.

Compiled by OON JUN-YANG, CHOW HOW BAN and R. ARAVINTHANA YOUNG woman overcame frequent mockery over her physical appearance, using it as motivation to enter university and secure a job, Kosmo! She obtain a degree in information technology from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, and later started doing live broadcasts on TikTok. She did not expect the platform to become a new source of strength for her. Of course, there are also nasty comments, some mock me, saying I’m using a ‘filter’, but I just ignore them,” she said. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies).

Visiting these offbeat destinations allows you to connect with the local way of life and immerse yourself in experiences that feel more authentic and personal. Ganja is the second largest city in Azerbaijan, the transcontinental country straddling Western Asia and Eastern Europe. To make the trip even more worthwhile, pay a visit to the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, for a few days before making your way to Ganja via train (travel time: almost four hours). Experience local life by trying woodworking, pottery and other hands-on crafts that have been part of the community for generations. To reach Kiso Valley, fly from KL to Nagoya, then hop on a scenic train ride to the valley.

AS THE capital city enters 2026, MPs are calling for long-overdue governance reforms at Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), warning that poor oversight has triggered rampant overdevelopment and eroded public trust. Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan is asking about the necessity of a RM42mil contract to a company to operate and maintain a smart traffic light system. He further questioned why DBKL needed to have the smart traffic light system after awarding a deal for 5,000 artificial intelligence-powered closed- circuit TV (CCTV) cameras for the city in 2024. Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng suggested that DBKL make public the details of the smart traffic lights contract. “My wish for this year is to see the government buy back the Bohol pond land and restore it to its original state,” she said, adding that this was achievable.

PETALING JAYA: Individual taxpayers who have received Instal­ment Payment Notices (CP500) will not be subjected to penalties this year, says the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). It said this is to give individual taxpayers with income from employment and non-employment sources, such as rental, interest and royalties, time to properly comply with CP500 requirements for the 2026 Assess­ment Year (AY). “This measure is in line with the government’s decision to provide a transition period for these individual taxpayers. “As such, during this transition period, no penalties will be impo­sed even if taxpayers do not make CP500 instalment payments. However, these taxpayers are still advised to update their income reporting in the ITR for AY 2025 to avoid receiving CP500 instalment notices in the future.

PETALING JAYA: Tougher penalties and stricter enforcement are crucial to rein in Malaysia’s booming illegal scrap metal trade, say two former police top brass. Shanmugamoorthy said thefts targeting public infrastructure were often intricate and required technical skill, with foreign scrap collectors increasingly being involved. He also suggested better engagement with scrap metal traders’ associations and greater transparency in procurement tenders. Criminologist Datuk Seri A. Thaiveegan said to further regulate the scrap metal industry, closer monitoring could be adopted. “I believe many scrap metal operators are law-abiding and ethical.

(Jan 6): Hyundai Motor Co’s Boston Dynamics unit unveiled the latest iteration of a humanoid robot designed to work in the carmaker’s manufacturing plants starting in 2028, including at a factory in Savannah, Georgia. The Atlas humanoid robot features human-scale hands with tactile sensing and fully rotational joints capable of lifting up to 110 pounds (50kg) and operating in temperatures as low as -4F (-20C) and as high as 104F, it said. The announcement comes after executive chair Chung Euisun said in New Year remarks that his company needs to embrace cutting-edge AI technology to avoid falling behind competitors. Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng Inc last year showed off its Iron humanoid robot to great fanfare, and a surge in shares. Toyota Motor Corp also has an advanced robotics programme, which in 2024 paired with rival Hyundai to speed development of humanoid robots using AI.

CLIKC TO ENLARGEYesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will increase the allocation for Chinese vernacular schools from RM50mil to RM80mil. He also said they will increase the annual allocation for Tamil vernacular schools nationwide from RM30mil to RM50mil, beginning in 2026. “We acknowledge this as a positive and meaningful step toward strengthening Tamil vernacular education, which has contributed significantly to Malaysia’s multicultural identity for generations. “While we fully support all vernacular schools, Tamil schools face unique and urgent structural challenges that require additional attention,” he said. He added that based on data the association has compiled, over 100 Tamil schools nationwide are in critical condition and urgently require relocation due to various reasons.

PETALING JAYA: CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd has appointed Khairi Shahrin Arief Baki as chief executive officer (CEO) and Alan Inn Wei Loon as country head, following its leadership transition announced on Nov 25, 2025. In a statement, the brokerage said Khairi would lead its strategic businesses and local operations, while Alan would focus on regional and cross-border growth. As CGS MY’s new CEO, Khairi will continue to drive strategic and operational excellence in CGS MY with strong emphasis on regulatory stewardship and market expansion. “As highlighted in CGS MY’s Navigating Malaysia Report, we are entering 2026 on a solid footing, with our KLCI target set for 1,810. Alan, as country head, will lead growth across asset and wealth management, investment banking, private equity and cross-border opportunities, leveraging his extensive investment banking experience.

Compiled by OON JUN-YANG, CHOW HOW BAN and R. ARAVINTHANCHINA’S “King of Shoes” Wang Hai has severed ties with his son Wang Jun after a family feud over the control of their footwear manufacturing company turned ugly. Sin Chew Daily reported that the 84-year-old Wang Hai issued an open letter last Saturday saying that he and his son had ended their relationship due to irreconcilable differences. “Wang Jun claimed that he was oppressed by me for 20 years, had deep grudges against me and wants me to die. “Both Wang Jun and his wife Xu Ying are now American citizens but Double Star & Mingren is a Chinese national brand. The power struggle in the company has been ongoing for about a year after Wang Hai claimed that Wang Jun, Xu and their son Wang Zidong seized his post by “forging” the company seals.

Samenta president Datuk William Ng said that although the transition period was extended, the cost of getting ready for the e-invoicing implementation remains high. “However, we still welcome the announcement by the Prime Minister, which is a major relief for the majority of SMEs,” he said when contacted yesterday. The extended transition period gives us time to educate the workforce,” he said. He added that what had been extended was the penalty-free transition period for the duration of one year. SME Association of Malaysia president Chin Chee Seong said that extending the transition period without penalties by another year provides a buffer, but offers little practical relief.

This reform, however, must be reinforced by strong institutions, independent oversight bodies and safeguards against executive overreach, or it risks being merely symbolic. Universiti Sains Malaysia political sociologist Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said a fixed two-term limit would encourage clearer prioritisation, discipline and delivery of reforms within a defined timeframe. Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat said capping the prime minister’s tenure will limit power abuse, personality cult and dynastic politics. The reforms, he added, are also good for the opposition and every politician who is not the prime minister. Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said the two-term limit discourages the formation of crony networks and reduces the likelihood of the business-political nexus becoming too closely intertwined.