SHAH ALAM (Jan 2): Puspakom Sdn Bhd will revise the Vehicle Inspection Booking Processing Fee to RM5 from RM3.50 effective this Sunday, as part of efforts to enhance the vehicle inspection booking system to make it more stable, transparent and customer-friendly. The vehicle inspection service provider said the adjustment is in line with preparations to implement a new vehicle inspection booking system, which is currently in its final phase and includes automatic integration with the Road Transport Department’s mySIKAP portal, as well as improvements to create a more orderly refund process. “The fee adjustment is made in tandem with preparations to launch a new booking system featuring rebranding, improved interface and enhanced functions to elevate customer experience and booking efficiency,” Puspakom said in a statement on Friday. Puspakom also noted that the existing processing fee has not been reviewed since the online vehicle inspection booking system was introduced in 2017, and that the adjustment is necessary to ensure the system remains relevant to current automotive industry needs and user expectations. Full details of the new booking system will be announced next Monday.

The search and rescue operation for a teenage boy believed to have been attacked by a crocodile in Pulau Bruit, Daro, seven days ago was called off today. MUKAH: The search and rescue operation for a teenage boy believed to have been attacked by a crocodile in Pulau Bruit, Daro, seven days ago was called off today. The search was also hampered by heavy rain and rough river conditions. "Following discussions and mutual agreement among all agencies, the victim's family and villagers, the search and rescue operation was fully terminated at 4.10pm," the statement added. The Form Two student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Semop was reported missing last Friday after he was believed to have been attacked by a crocodile.

Verdict:FALSEWhatsApp does not send any links or messages warning users before blocking their accounts, according to an investigation by MyCheck Malaysia. The genuine WhatsApp website is whatsapp.com. Commenters confirmed it was a scam, with one revealing that their cousin's WhatsApp account had been hacked after clicking such a link. Users only discover their account has been blocked when they open WhatsApp and see the notification: "This account is not allowed to use WhatsApp". If users believe their account has been banned by mistake, they must tap "request a review" within the WhatsApp application itself.

PETALING JAYA: Injured men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong is inching closer to a return to full court training. Tze Yong underwent surgery last July in Doha to repair an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear on his right knee. Singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen is optimistic that the 25-year-old could return to full training soon provided he passes a few tests. "Tze Yong has been doing skills training for the past two to three months but has not returned to full training yet," said Jonassen. The injury was a huge blow to Tze Yong, who only returned to competitions in April after a one-year layoff following two back surgeries.

He said the names that come from PAS will need the green light from its partners in Perikatan and a consensus from the Perikatan supreme council. “I believe PAS will consider the option of Opposition chief Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin as the next Perikatan chairman. Hamzah will need his own party’s blessings and support if he were to be the chairman of Perikatan. “The intention to attract non-Malay voters to Perikatan may not succeed as well if PAS is at the forefront of Perikatan’s leadership,” he added. “In this context, Takiyuddin is seen as a candidate with the most potential and a realistic choice,” he said, referring to PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite stepping down as Perikatan Nasional chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stressed that Bersatu remains a principled, consistent and loyal partner in the coalition. The Bersatu president also called on party members to strengthen cooperation and unity, and to close all gaps within the party as the New Year begins. I stress and urge that all Bersatu members remain steadfast, disciplined and uphold a culture of mutual respect as well as resolve any differences maturely and privately in the interests of the party," he said. On Dec 30, Muhyiddin announced he would step down as Perikatan chairman effective Jan 1. Several Bersatu leaders also resigned from their Perikatan positions, including Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and Mohamad Hanifah.

JOHOR BARU: A housewife, together with an unemployed man, have been jointly charged at the Sessions Court here with allegedly attempting to murder her husband. Mother of two N. Egavalli, 46, and R. Kamala Sarna, 39, claimed trial in front of Sessions Judge Mohd Zamir Suhaimee here on Friday (Jan 2). According to the charge sheet, both were accused of allegedly attempting to murder Egavalli’s husband, G. Kumaresan, 48, by pressing a pillow over his face. Egavalli and Kamala Sarna allegedly committed the offence at a house along Jalan EJ 9/6 in Taman Ehsan here at around 9.30pm on Dec 22. Judge Mohd Zamir then set Feb 3 for next mention to hand over documents, and set bail at RM20,000 each for each of the two accused.

KUCHING: Sarawak's own airline AirBorneo took to the skies for its inaugural flights on Friday (Jan 2) after completing the acquisition of MASwings Sdn Bhd the previous day. The flights to Mukah and Tanjung Manis took off from Kuching International Airport at 8.25am and 8.45am with 54 and 15 passengers respectively, in ATR72-500 and Twin Otter aircraft bearing the AirBorneo livery. "For Sarawak, air connectivity is not a luxury, it is a necessity. AirBorneo cabin crew modelling their new uniforms at Kuching International Airport during the launch of the airline's inaugural flights on Friday (Jan 2). Lee said it was premature to say what aircraft AirBorneo will acquire for its future regional operations.

Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani took his midnight oath of office on a centuries-old Quran, marking the first time a mayor of New York City uses Islam’s holy text to be sworn in and underscoring a series of historic firsts for the city. It is part of the collection at the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. "It’s a small Quran, but it brings together elements of faith and identity in New York City history,” Abid said. Unlike ornate religious manuscripts associated with royalty or elites, the copy of the Quran that Mamdani will use is modest in design. Following the inauguration, the Quran will go on public display at the New York Public Library.

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore’s economy grew by 5.7 per cent on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis in the fourth quarter of 2025 (4Q 2025), extending the 4.3 per cent growth in the previous quarter, according to advance estimates from the republic’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally-adjusted basis, the economy grew by 1.9 per cent, easing from the 2.4 per cent expansion in the third quarter, MTI said in a statement today. For the full year of 2025, the economy expanded by 4.8 per cent, building on the 4.4 per cent growth in 2024. Output expansions in the biomedical and electronics clusters drove the sector’s growth. The information and communications, finance and insurance, and professional services sectors expanded by 4.2 per cent y-o-y in 4Q 2025, extending the 4.5 per cent growth in 3Q 2025.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim said the proposals, aimed at assisting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), were submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting today. - Bernama picPUTRAJAYA: Taxation measures, bureaucracy reduction and improved access to capital are among the proposed policies to be tabled at this Monday's cabinet meeting for consideration. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim said the proposals, aimed at assisting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), were submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting today. "The proposals involve cross-ministry cooperation and will be brought to the cabinet meeting this Monday," he said. In a Facebook post today, Sim thanked the prime minister for his trust and support.

CHINESE actress Datuk Fan Bingbing (pic) has finally received her trophy for Best Leading Actress one month after bagging it at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards 2025 for her role in the Malaysian film Mother Bhumi, reported China Press. "Before 2025 ends, I carried out my final duty for the year as a director by personally handing the Best Leading Actress trophy to its rightful recipient," Chong said on social media. He added that watching Fan holding the trophy made him recall the hard work she had put in to make the film a success. It was one of the Golden Horse Awards’ ­biggest winners, taking home three prizes, including for Best Cinematography and Best Original Film Song. The man, whose surname was Hou, claimed that his father had disciplined him harshly during his childhood.

KUANTAN: A temporary evacuation centre (PPS) was opened in the Raub district early on Friday (Jan 2) morning to accommodate victims affected by flooding following Sungai Ulu Atok overflowing its banks. The Raub District Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said that as of 10.22am, a total of 68 victims from 15 families had been evacuated to the PPS at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Ulu Atok, which has been operating since 6am. "All affected victims have been moved to the nearby PPS,” it said in a statement on Friday. It said the flooding occurred due to the overflow of Sungai Ulu Atok following continuous heavy rain in the area since Thursday (Jan 1). "The victims involved are residents who have been affected by floods for the first time in the 2025/2026 monsoon season,” it said.

PETALING JAYA: Several other individuals have been identified by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as people of interest in the ongoing corruption probe involving military contract tenders. In a statement on their official TikTok account, the MACC said that the main person, previously identified as a high-ranking military official, was still under investigation and was still being treated at the hospital. Initial investigations revealed that between 2023 and 2025, there were 158 military procurement projects valued at more than RM500,000 each, while another 4,521 projects were worth below RM500,000. Sources said that checks on these projects found that several companies repeatedly secured high-value contracts, leading to suspicions. The MACC also received a complaint and recorded a statement from activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, at its headquarters.

KUALA LUMPUR: Internet users in Malaysia can expect to see significant changes in online safety following the enforcement of the Online Safety Act, which took effect yesterday. The law establishes clearer obligations for service providers to safeguard the public, especially at-risk groups, from harmful online content. According to the MCMC, the Act applies to service providers licensed under the Communi­cations and Multimedia Act. These include Application Service Providers (ASPs), Content Application Service Providers (CASPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs), collectively referred to as Licensed Service Providers. “All regulatory responsibilities under the Online Safety Act are imposed on Licensed Service Pro­vi­ders.