KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign investors were net sellers of Asian equities for the week ended Jan 2, 2025, offloading US$1.05 billion (US$1=RM4.06) across the eight markets tracked by MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB). Meanwhile, Indonesia posted its 13th straight week of foreign inflows, with net inflows totalling US$124.4 million, while Vietnam recorded a second straight week of net foreign inflows, totalling US$61.8 million. In addition, foreign investors turned net sellers in Thailand, recording outflows of US$20.8 million after two consecutive weeks of inflows. "The top three sectors that recorded net foreign inflows were Telecommunication & Media (RM16.6 million), Industrial Products & Services (RM14.8 million), and Technology (RM8.1 million). "Meanwhile, the top three sectors that recorded net foreign outflows were Financial Services (RM482.8 million), Utilities (RM258.2 million), and Plantation (RM75.9 million),” it said.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 5): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday directed all ministries and government departments to expedite the shift to online processes as part of ongoing bureaucratic reforms. He said the digitalisation drive also applies to the Cabinet to save time, improve service quality and reduce administrative red tape that burdens the public. “I therefore urge all ministry secretaries general and directors general to ensure that all processes are conducted online, unless they are bound by legal requirements,” he said. Meanwhile, the prime minister stressed that the quality of public service delivery must be aligned with the implementation of the improved Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), as the people are entitled to faster and more efficient services. They expect that the quality of service must be more efficient and faster.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 5): The government has allocated RM800 million to provide a one-off early schooling aid (BAP) of RM150 to all students from Year One to Form Six this year. The Education Ministry had announced that the BAP distribution will begin at schools as early as Jan 11. In addition, he said the government had agreed to increase allocations for Chinese national-type schools (SJKCs) to RM80 million, up from RM50 million last year, and to allocate RM50 million for Tamil national-type schools (SJKTs). Previously, we provided RM50 million, and this year we have increased it to RM80 million for SJKCs. “Although the number of SJKTs is smaller, some of these Tamil schools are also in dilapidated condition, which is why we have allocated RM50 million,” he added.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the projects include rural roads, construction of quarters and repairs to dilapidated clinics. To speed up implementation, Anwar said the government had issued the general expenditure warrant for this year earlier than usual, in December 2025, compared with the previous practice of March or April. “The government has allocated RM2.4 billion for small projects involving G1 to G4 contractors, most of whom are Bumiputera contractors... He stressed that while major projects such as flood mitigation works, public housing, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and the Pan Borneo Highway were progressing according to schedule, greater urgency was needed for small projects. Anwar said that the Economy Ministry, Finance Ministry and Works Ministry must ensure small-scale issues are addressed promptly, stressing that three years is sufficient to see more effective implementation.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 5): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will continue to uphold and speak out for the sovereign rights of all nations, particularly those that were once colonised, in line with international law. He said Malaysia’s stance reflects its position as a developing nation that consistently respects the principles of international law and global order. Referring to his remarks on recent developments in Venezuela, Anwar said Malaysia, despite being a developing country, remains a free and sovereign nation guided by legal principles and international norms. He said the use of force against a sovereign nation to remove its head of government through external intervention was unjustifiable. Trump also announced that the US would administer Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” is secured.

US action in Venezuela clear violation of international law, says PMPETALING JAYA: Describing the military operation by the United States in Venezuela as a clear violation of international law, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. “President Maduro and his wife must be released without any undue delay. He said Malaysia commits to respect for international law and sovereignty as paramount to peaceful relations between states. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced that his country’s forces had bombed Venezuela and captured Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in a dramatic overnight military attack that followed months of rising tensions. “These are fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law,” it said.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Frozen food distributor Guan Huat Seng Holdings Bhd plans to expand its retail outlets in the Klang Valley and Johor following its ACE Market listing. Speaking to reporters on Monday after the prospectus launch, managing director Yeo Tien Ee said the group only currently operates one retail outlet in Melaka. Besides the opening of the new retail outlets, the group is also planning a new integrated complex in Melaka to be partially funded by its IPO proceeds. The revenue contribution from the domestic market was RM82.38 million (88.47%), while the international market contributed RM10.74 million (11.53%). For the financial year ended July 31, 2025, the group made a net profit of RM7.23 million on the back of RM93.11 million revenue.

- Pic courtesy: FB/SWCorp Negeri JohorJOHOR BARU: Three Singaporeans have been caught littering in the state capital since the start of the year, under the newly enforced anti-littering laws aimed at curbing irresponsible behaviour in public spaces. Community service may include cleaning drains, public toilets, public spaces, and grass-cutting duties. SWCorp chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said enforcement operations under Op Cegah were ongoing and not limited to festive seasons or special campaigns. It will be conducted continuously nationwide through sustained monitoring at the state and branch levels," he said during enforcement operations at Larkin Sentral, one of Johor Baru's busiest transport hubs. Khalid said enforcement efforts in Johor were aligned with the Johor Clean City Strategy 2025–2030, which aims to realise the vision of a "Clean Johor City 2030."

PETALING JAYA: A local man was shot dead in an incident at a restaurant in the Banting area on Sunday night (Jan 4). Kuala Langat OCPD Supt Mohd Akmalrizal Radzi said police received information about the shooting at about 10.05pm following a call to the MERS 999 emergency line. “The incident resulted in the death of a local man. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code and the motive is still under investigation,” he said in a statement on Monday (Jan 5)He urged anyone with information to come forward to the nearest police station or contact the operations room at 03-3187 2222 to assist in the investigation. The incident previously went viral on social media, showing a video of spent bullet casings and the victim lying at the scene.

PUTRAJAYA: The RM100 Bantuan Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) will be credited to all adult citizens aged 18 and above beginning Feb 9, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Meanwhile, Anwar said Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) monthly recipients will receive RM200 in their IC beginning Jan 9. For the first phase of STR payments, RM500 will be credited into the accounts of eligible Malaysians“Last year, 69% of Malaysians used STR, and that was nearly RM2.1bil,” he said. Anwar said the RM150 early schooling aid would be credited on Jan 13 to students up to Form Six. When tabling Budget 2026 in Oct last year, Anwar had said the early schooling aid would benefit 5.2 million pupils from Standard One to Form Five in government schools.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Government cash assistance programme payment for eligible Malaysians will start from Jan 9, with the one-off RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) for all Malaysians to be credited on Feb 9, 2026. Monthly Sara payments are an extra payment for recipients of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), a government aid programme for low- and middle-income groups to help them manage the rising cost of living. Eligibility for Sara is automatic, based on approved STR data for the poor and hardcore poor groups (eKasih). The target for small shops participating in the Sara programme will be increased to 10,000 by the end of 2026, compared with over 3,000 at the end of 2025, complementing existing supermarket branches. Last year, 96% of recipients used the one-off Sara payment, totalling nearly RM2.1 billion.

(Jan 05): Gold and the dollar rose after the ouster of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro fanned geopolitical risk. Growth assets remained in demand, with technology stocks driving gains in equities. Spot gold advanced more than 2% to climb above US$4,430 (RM18,056.68) an ounce while silver jumped 4%. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.7%, with chip stocks such as Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Micron Technology Inc gaining more than 3% in premarket trading. AI “absolutely stays the most dominant factor in the markets right now”, Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets, told Bloomberg TV.

He, 36, and Chan, 40, surprised fans in October 2025 when they announced on Chinese social media platform Weibo that they had welcomed their first child, a son. His popularity rose after he co-starred in Chinese romance drama Love’s Ambition (2025) with Chinese actress Zhao Lusi. Meanwhile, Hong Kong superstar Aaron Kwok’s wife Moka Fang took to social media to post a video of her carrying their third daughter. Kwok, 60, recently starred in the Hong Kong crime thriller Under Current (2025). He announced on social media in October 2025 that they have welcomed their third daughter, Cheryl.

KUALA LUMPUR: Women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are fired up to chase down China’s world No. 2 Pearly-Thinaah enjoyed a fine 2025 and were rewarded with RM50,000 cash incentive from 100Plus on Monday (Jan 5) after capturing gold in the Thailand SEA Games last month. 1,” said Pearly after a training session at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil ahead of the Malaysian Open which starts on Tuesday (Jan 6). “Being consistent is harder than reaching the top in the first place, so we need to maintain our form.”To date, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty have been the only Malaysian women’s doubles pair to ever reach world No. A good performance in the Malaysian Open though will help the former narrow the gap and that’s exactly what the pair are aiming for.

(Jan 5): Bitcoin rose to a three-week high and broke through a closely watched technical level as digital assets started to catch up with gains in stocks and precious metals. Bitcoin’s advance came as gold, silver and equities gained after the ouster of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. Political uncertainty fanned by Maduro’s capture by US forces late last week has failed to dent investor appetite for riskier assets like technology stocks, while driving fresh gains in gold and silver. Bitcoin has in the past been touted as a haven in times of turmoil, while at other times it has moved more in line with stocks and other risk assets. The token tumbled 24% in the fourth quarter, a sharp break with gold and silver prices.