Watching this spectacle results in goosebumps for many, as the players sing their respective anthems, standing tall, with pride in their faces, having reached the pinnacle of world football. Adding insult to injury, FAM was also fined a little more than RM50,000. The seven players were suspended for 12 months and fined RM10,000 each, while FAM was fined an additional RM1.8 million. Perhaps FAM can learn a thing or two from the lesser, often-overlooked sepak takraw association and its officials. We should learn from our mistakes and bounce back from this embarrassing episode, which has raised questions about our pride as a nation and what we stand for.

THE country has introduced “Brunei Identiti Digital” (Brunei ID), a national digital identity system that serves as an electronic form of personal identification for individuals, marking a key milestone in Brunei’s digital transformation journey, reported Xinhua. Brunei’s Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening national digital gov­ernance while facilitating secu­re, convenient and user- friend­ly access to the government’s digital services. Brunei ID enables Brunei citizens and residents to verify their digital identity when accessing the government’s online services through a single login mechanism supported by biometric authentication. Developed based on robust secu­rity and privacy principles, biometric authentication is carried out locally on the user’s devi­ce, while personal data is protected in accordance with government-established security and data protection requirements. Other government digital servi­ces will be integrated in phases to ensure an orderly implementation that is aligned with government, security and data protection requirements, in line with the national public service digital transformation and the national digital economy framework.

Hundreds of inmates walked free after the junta announced annual independence day pardons, just a week after the start of an election that international monitors have denounced as sham. The military grabbed power in a 2021 coup that triggered civil war, pitting pro-democracy rebels against junta forces, with thousands of activists since arrested. A dozen buses full of released prisoners exited Yangon’s Insein prison yesterday morning, with some waving to crowds of well-wishers. In total, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing pardoned 6,134 imprisoned Myanmar nationals, the National Defence and Security Council said, adding 52 foreign prisoners would also be released and deported. The junta has said turnout in the first phase exceeded 50% of eligible voters, below the 2020 participation rate of around 70%.

SEREMBAN: The frustration of long traffic jams is one of the main reasons behind the misuse of emergency lanes on highways. "During the school holiday period, we launched an operation targeting the misuse of emergency lanes, from Dec 20 to Jan 11. As of yesterday (Jan 5), 325 notices were issued to road users who violated Regulation 53(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959. He added that last year, 2,288 cases of emergency lane misuse were recorded, clearly indicating that awareness and compliance with the regulation need to be improved. The public can report traffic law violations through the MyJPJ app (e-Aduan) or by emailing aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my to help make enforcement more effective.

Under the original plan, only those with annual revenue below RM150,000 were to be exempted. In response, the government raised the exemption threshold to cover companies with annual revenue under RM1 million. Currently, only taxpayers with annual revenue exceeding RM5 million are required to comply with e-invoicing. Reduced service tax rate: For existing SMEs, the service tax rate on rental will be cut to 6% from 8%. "At this stage, I can only reduce it to 6%, which results in an annual revenue loss of nearly half a billion ringgit.

Food distributor Guan Huat Seng Holdings Bhd is seeking to raise RM30 million at an issue price of 25 sen per share, valuing the group at about RM118 million upon its planned listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. The group's initial public offering (IPO) comprises the issuance of 120 million new shares, alongside an offer for sale of 21 million existing shares, bringing its enlarged share capital to 473.5 million shares, according to its prospectus. Of the new shares, 23.8 million shares are allocated to the Malaysian public via balloting, while 14 million shares are reserved for eligible directors, employees and contributors. A further 82.2 million shares will be placed out to selected investors and government-approved Bumiputera investors, while the offer for sale of 21 million shares will also be undertaken via private placement. Guan Huat Seng is primarily involved in the distributive trade of food and beverage products, including shelf-stable and frozen seafood, flavouring products, dried foods, snacks and general groceries.

PETALING JAYA: For professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia, survival without surgery was not just a choice, but a risk worth taking after a difficult injury-hit year. The shuttler, who is currently preparing for the Malaysian Open starting tomorrow, said a specialist doctor had previously recommended surgery for his back injury. “Luckily, I didn’t have to undergo surgery, although there was a doctor who suggested it,” said the former All-England champion. “There was a doctor who recommended surgery, but to be honest, it was never part of my plan. Zii Jia admitted that his decision to forego surgery and focus on rehabilitation was not an easy one, as he faced numerous challenges during that period.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (seven from left) together with members of his administration during a working visit to the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) in Penang this morning. - NSTP/AUDREY DERMAWANGEORGE TOWN: The new shopping centre at Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) will complement the area's mixed-use development, supporting business and tourism without creating a retail glut. Ling said concerns over an oversupply of shopping malls often depend on location and planning, but the PWCC development serves a specific complementary role. It has a clear purpose in supporting the mixed-use environment and the activities generated by the convention centre," he added. The shopping mall, office spaces and hotel are scheduled for completion by mid-year, enhancing the overall functionality and appeal of the waterfront precinct.

Separately, the market is also watching Chinese demand for fuel oil, a possible alternative to Venezuelan crude. Trump said at a press conference on Saturday that the sanctions on the country’s oil industry would remain in place. US sanctions on state producer Petroleos de Venezuela SA saw most nations — apart from China — shun the country’s oil, although Chevron Corp was allowed to keep operating in Venezuela. Chinese oil majors Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corp also have legacy claims to develop Venezuelan oil reserves, Morgan Stanley said in a note that cited Wood Mackenzie Ltd. However, Trump’s pledge that US companies would rebuild the country’s oil industry raises major doubts over whether the Chinese firms will have any role to play.

Dignity in mental health care is not a favour, a reward for good behaviour, or a kindness bestowed by mental health professionals. Yet, despite growing awareness and policy commitments, dignity remains one of the most neglected elements of mental health care in practice. The Mental Health Act 2001 – the backbone of mental health legislation in Malaysia – focuses heavily on admission, detention and treatment. Dignity is everyone’s responsibilityUpholding dignity in mental health care cannot be the sole responsibility of psychiatrists or hospitals. The establishment of a Mental Health Commission in Malaysia, or at least a designated Mental Health Commissioner within Suhakam, could provide strategic direction, monitor human rights compliance and give mental health a visible voice at the highest policy level.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the rollout and adoption of 5G (fifth-generation mobile technology) is expected to remain a significant overhang for Malaysia’s mobile telecommunications sector. STR/HAZREEN MOHAMADKUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the rollout and adoption of 5G (fifth-generation mobile technology) is expected to remain a significant overhang for Malaysia's mobile telecommunications sector. We expect 5G uncertainty to remain an overhang for the mobile telcos," said the firm. "We note further manifestation of merger synergies could serve to offset the impact of DNB losses," Maybank IB said. We have not yet incorporated mobile telcos' impending equity accounting of DNB's losses into our forecasts, pending further guidance on prevailing losses run rate," it added.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia are entering what the Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (Samenta) describes as a “survival zone” in 2026, as the cumulative cost of regulatory compliance reaches a breaking point. KUALA LUMPUR: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia are entering what the Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (Samenta) describes as a "survival zone" in 2026, as the cumulative cost of regulatory compliance reaches a breaking point. He added that unless repealed or postponed, SMEs will have to grapple with a surge of new regulations that took effect on Jan 1, 2026. "For SMEs to survive beyond 2026, the gap between government policies and the realities on the ground must be closed. "Samenta urges the government to act as a strategic partner in this transition, ensuring that compliance becomes a catalyst for competitiveness rather than a barrier to business survival," Ng said.

BANGKOK (Jan 5): Thailand's central bank estimated that the economy grew 2.2% in 2025, but said momentum was expected to moderate in 2026 and 2027, according to the minutes from its latest policy meeting published on Monday. The committee said monetary policy could be more accommodative as the economy showed clearer signs of slowdown, amid heightened risks. It said headline inflation was expected to remain subdued, largely due to supply-side factors. Policymakers were also concerned about the baht's appreciation and its impact on exporters, especially small and medium-sized firms, and warned that the economy continued to face prolonged cyclical pressures, structural challenges and uncertainties.

Kijal assemblyman Datuk Razali Idris has been fined RM2,000, or in default, three months’ jail after being found guilty of making remarks against the judiciary and claiming it was “under the control” of the government three years ago. — SCREENGRAB FROM SOCIALC MEDIAKUALA LUMPUR: Kijal assemblyman Datuk Razali Idris has been fined RM2,000, or in default three months jail after being found guilty of making seditious remarks against the judiciary institution's court decisions and claiming it was "under the control" of the government three years ago. The court ruled that Razali, who is also Terengganu state executive councillor, failed to raise reasonable doubt in his defence against the prosecution. He said the video of Razali making the seditious remarks was deleted not long after it was posted on social media. Also on the legal team were lawyers Mohd Radzlan Jalaludin, Mohd Sahrilnizam Mohd Amin, Hasshahari Johari Mawi, Mohd Tajuddin Abd Razak and Muhammad Ridhwan Jalaludin.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Daniel Ma (pictured) has been appointed managing director of Nawawi Tie, effective Jan 1, 2026, succeeding Eddy Wong, who served in the role since 2012. Ma joined Nawawi Tie in 2012 as associate director and head of valuation, where he led the department through a period of significant expansion in corporate and bank mortgage valuations, according to a press statement issued Monday. In his new role, Ma will provide strategic leadership at the firm’s headquarters, oversee its Johor and Penang offices, and lead further expansion across Malaysia. “I am grateful for the trust the management has placed in me to lead Nawawi Tie into its next chapter. During Wong’s tenure, the company expanded its market presence with the opening of offices in Penang in 2021 and Johor in 2024.