New heart for busesAutomotive engineer Haidee Che Rizmin likened the retrofitting plan to giving old diesel buses “a new heart” by allowing them to operate at a performance level close to that of a new vehicle. Haidee likens the retrofitting plan to giving old diesel buses “a new heart”. “Electrifying old diesel buses is a strategic approach for Rapid Bus, as it is about 30% to 50% cheaper than acquiring new electric buses,” he said. Cheong noted that retrofitting diesel buses would offer immediate environmental and public health gains by eliminating tailpipe emissions. “While the upfront cost is more than a diesel bus, electric buses are cheaper to run and maintain in the long term,” it added.

Abdul Hadi’s son-in-law had gathered with several others in Sungai Kampung BaruKUALA LUMPUR: Sungai Buloh PAS chief Zaharudin Muhammad pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to a charge of participating in an unlawful assembly during a demolition operation at Kampung Sungai Baru last year. Zaharudin, who is the son-in-law of PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, is alleged to have committed the offence at Jalan Datuk Abdul Malik, Kampung Sungai Baru, on Sept 11, 2025. The charge framed under Section 145 of the Penal Code, provides for a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction. Magistrate Farah Nabihah Muhamad Dan granted bail of RM2,000 with two sureties and fixed the next mention for Feb 24. The operation was carried out following a court order related to the demolition of structures in the area.

With an increasing involvement of foreign scrap collectors cashing in on the rise in recent years, licensed local scrap metal operators are starting to feel the pinch. Arumugham said the association believes tighter regulation such as mandatory collector identity cards, seller verification and digital transaction logs would improve traceability and deter sale of stolen scrap metal. “Countries that have adopted this approach have seen rapid reductions in cable theft and infrastructure vandalism,” he noted. “If there are any metal items like bicycles or steel frames that are left unattended outside homes, they will grab it and speed off. “The foreigners can be seen going door to door buying scrap metal from residents, construction site workers and factory operators,” Rajan said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have identified and added 10 more companies linked to scams into the Commercial Crime Investigation Department’s (CCID) SemakMule database. Bukit Aman CCID director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the 10 companies had numerous police reports lodged against them within a one-month period till Dec 31. "The companies are CVC Grow Star Sdn Bhd, CVC Group Sdn Bhd, JMC M Trading Venture, JMC Asia Top Solution, KGI HK Sdn Bhd, Greenvale Trading Sdn Bhd, Titan Union Trading Sdn Bhd, Brightglobal Sdn Bhd, RXM IGlobal Solution and Apek Express Servicess (M) Sdn Bhd,” he said in a statement on Monday (Jan 5) night. He also advised the public to not be deceived by offers of ‘easy work’ of registering companies or businesses with the Companies’ Commission of Malaysia and opening bank accounts for third parties, as scammers would use these as cover for their illicit activities. The public are also urged to verify the names of suspicious companies and the number of bank accounts with the CCID SemakMule database, and if a warning is shown, that means that the company or bank account is linked to fraudulent activities.

The Covid-19 pandemic made one truth unmistakable: when a healthcare system falters, the consequences extend far beyond hospital walls. For decades, Malaysians have taken pride in a public healthcare system that is affordable, accessible and fair. A strained healthcare system is not merely a policy issue, it affects families, communities, productivity, social stability and national resilience. > Healthcare workforce reform is urgentTraining bottlenecks, uneven workloads, contract uncertainties and slow specialist pathways weaken morale and accelerate brain drain. This is the first in a five-part series on healthcare reform that will be published weekly.

Malaysia eyes stronger cooperation with US in agriculture, food sectorPUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has expressed its willingness to expand its strategic partnership with the United States in the agriculture and food security sectors, including the production of corn for animal feed, improving agriculture mechanisation and automation as well as developing round cabbage crops in low-lying areas. The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) said that its secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak (pic) expressed the ministry’s willingness while receiving a courtesy call from Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy to Malaysia David H. Gamble. He also welcomed US investments in Malaysia’s agriculture and food security sectors, including the development of technology such as Internet of Things, and improving seed varieties. “The courtesy call reflects both country’s continuous commitment to strengthen strategic relations in the agrofood sector, in line with Malaysia’s efforts to boost food security and improve the national agricultural value chain,” the ministry said. Agriculture trade between Malaysia and the United States exceeded RM14.68bil as of September 2025, including exports of Malaysia’s various ­agricultural products to the United States, such as coffee, cocoa, tea, spices and processed agricultural goods, while United States imports cover a variety of food products.

A STRETCH of road in Penang’s Pulau Tikus suburb has become a microcosm of the painful relationship between change and loss. This flashpoint centred on a 140m section of Jalan Burma, a narrow thoroughfare just over 9m across. High railings have been installed here along Jalan Burma in Pulau Tikus, Penang to prevent illegal parking. The shops along this narrow stretch of Jalan Burma face a similar conundrum. Built in the 1800s, Jalan Burma started out as little more than a trail.

The toppling of Maduro reverberated around the world and signaled President Donald Trump’s willingness to reconfigure the global order. The hearing began with US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein reading the charges against Maduro and his wife. Hellerstein read Maduro his legal rights, including that he has a right to a lawyer and a right to remain silent. Maduro “sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking”, the US alleges. Meanwhile in Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, who was vice president under Maduro, has been sworn in as acting president.

The drawbridge that has since become an iconic structure in Malaysia opened to the public in 2019 after five years of construction. In response, the Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) said while AMH respects the state government’s efforts to preserve iconic structures, a better balance needs to be drawn for real-world conditions. “The critical logistics and economic infrastructure should not be constrained by blanket restrictions that fail to reflect present-day industry realities. “Such decisions risk encouraging other authorities to adopt the same mindset: if a bridge or road cannot accommodate heavy vehicles, simply ban them. For example, the iconic London Tower Bridge, allows vehicles of up to 18 tonnes to pass, even though it was designed more than 140 years ago (in 1884).

PUTRAJAYA: A meeting of all political party leaders will be convened to discuss a Bill to cap the Prime Minister’s tenure at a maximum of 10 years or two full terms, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. “I have to meet all the party leaders so that we can get more than a two-thirds majority,” she told reporters. Azalina clarified that the Bill would not apply to the positions of chief minister or mentri besar. “On the proposed two-term limit for the prime minister, extensive studies have already been conducted,” she said. “The journey to reach this stage required extensive discussion and continuous refinement,” she said, expressing hope that 2026 would mark significant progress and achievements in legal and institutional reforms.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit ended lower against the greenback on Monday, as markets shifted toward safe-haven currencies amid rising geopolitical uncertainty after the US attack on Venezuela over the weekend, an analyst said. At 6 pm, the local currency fell to 4.0695/0745 versus the US dollar from Friday’s close of 4.0515/0560. As a result, emerging market currencies, including the ringgit, face short-term pressure despite stable domestic fundamentals," he told Bernama. At the close, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies. The local note traded lower against ASEAN peers.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia must take action through international platforms, including the UN General Assembly, to hold the United States to account over its controversial military action against Venezuela, says Bersatu. Azmin added that, under customary international law, the use of armed force against a sovereign state without a lawful basis constitutes the crime of aggression. He said the Malaysian government should also strengthen Global South solidarity through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and enhance cross-regional cooperation, while lending support to international accountability mechanisms addressing violations of international law. “World peace cannot be upheld through violence, and international law cannot be enforced selectively, as state sovereignty is the right of every nation — not a privilege reserved for great powers,” he said. “Bersatu stands firmly with the global community in defending the sovereignty, dignity and right of the Venezuelan people to determine their own future, free from aggression and foreign coercion,” he added.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former national shuttler Koo Kien Keat has been left disappointed after missing out on a coaching role in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). "BAM offered me a coaching role but I was not happy with the position," said Kien Keat. On whether he will be interested in a permanent coaching role, Kien Keat replied: "No, I don’t have the heart to become a coach anymore. I can’t be committed to a full-time coaching role anymore. "Honestly, there’s a chance for a Malaysian pair to reach the final but winning the title will be difficult," said Kien Keat.

Representatives of the White House, the US State Department, state-run Venezuelan oil company PDVSA and Venezuela's oil ministry did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Graphic: Stacked area chart showing Venezuelan oil exports by destination from January to November 2025. Chevron resumes exportsSeparately, US oil major Chevron resumed exports of Venezuelan oil to the US on Monday after a four-day pause, shipping data showed. Chevron is the only company authorised by Washington to export Venezuelan crude, exempted from both the embargo and sanctions. No Chevron tankers had sailed since Jan 1, before the US strike on Venezuela, according to the ship monitoring data.

BATU PAHAT: The body of an infant was found in a rubbish bin near a toilet at a R&R stop here. Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said police received information about the discovery of the victim at the Yong Peng R&R stop (northbound) at 3pm on Sunday (Jan 4). “Medical officers from the Yong Peng Health Clinic confirmed that a fully formed baby boy was found dead. “The baby was found with his umbilical cord still attached and wrapped in a piece of cloth inside a rubbish bin in the women’s toilet. “The body has been sent to Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail, Batu Pahat, for a post-mortem examination and further investigation,” he said in a statement on Monday.