The company’s ‘Trunks of Hopes’ programme, carried out at the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah in Pahang showcased its environmental and sustainability efforts. KUALA LUMPUR: UMPSA Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), has carried out a programme to support an elephant conservation centre. The company's 'Trunks of Hopes' programme, carried out at the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah in Pahang showcased its environmental and sustainability efforts. The National Elephant Conservation Centre, established in 1989, plays a vital role in the rescue and relocation of Asian elephants displaced by habitat loss due to development. UMPSA Holdings sponsored 10 resting chairs to improve visitors' comfort at the elephant conservation centre.

PETALING JAYA: Former women’s singles shuttler Ho Yen Mei had a solid reason for turning down coaching offers from abroad – she wants to focus on nurturing the next generation of Malaysian shuttlers. Yen Mei, who retired in 2023, is now a coach at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA), dedicating her efforts to grassroots talent development. In the past, she received offers from clubs in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, China and Singapore, but Yen Mei is determined to contribute to Malaysia’s badminton future at home. “Some of the coaching directors and management are still around, and being here feels like home to me,” said Yen Mei. Besides coaching players at the grassroots level, Yen Mei is also equipping herself with scouting skills to identify new talent that can be developed.

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 12,437 summonses were issued for various offences while more than 20 individuals were detained during traffic operations conducted at over 240 locations nationwide beginning New Year’s Eve and stretched into the new year. He said the operation was conducted to ensure public safety, public order and smooth traffic flow in conjunction with New Year’s Eve celebrations. KL JSPT chief Asst Comm Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the motorcycle riders inspected were aged between 15 and 19. In Selangor, state police chief Comm Datuk Shazeli Kahar said 1,206 summonses were issued while seven individuals were detained. “Ampang Jaya district recorded the highest number with 199 summonses, followed by Shah Alam (161) and Petaling Jaya (156).

The national carmaker sold 14,655 units in December, bringing total group sales for the full year to 157,976 units. The national carmaker sold 14,655 units in December, bringing total group sales for the full year to 157,976 units. Parallel to this, it said the Proton e.Mas network has rapidly become the largest dedicated EV chain in the country. Beyond sales, Proton has also stepped up its sustainability efforts through the Proton Xchange Programme. Implemented in collaboration with Car Medic Sdn Bhd, the programme offers RM2,000 in overtrade support and a first-year road tax exemption for customers upgrading to a new Proton vehicle.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has identified additional individuals suspected of being involved in a corruption investigation linked to a senior military officer and several army procurement tender projects. NSTP FILE PICKUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has identified additional individuals suspected of being involved in corruption linked to a senior military officer and several army procurement tender projects. The MACC added that the main individual in the probe is still receiving medical treatment, and a full statement has not yet been recorded. Previously, the MACC conducted a search of a senior army officer's office at the Defence Ministry and his official residence. The same source said the officer was scheduled to give a statement at MACC headquarters but was instead rushed to hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit.

At 6pm, the local currency climbed to 4.0515/0560 versus the greenback from Wednesday’s close of 4.0580/0620. At 6pm, the local currency climbed to 4.0515/0560 versus the greenback from Wednesday's close of 4.0580/0620. Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd noted that the local currency was further supported by a weaker greenback amid expectations of more US interest rate cuts in 2026. At the close, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies. It eased versus the Thai baht to 12.8996/9201 from 12.8560/8756, and flat against the Philippine peso at 6.88/6.89 from 6.88/6.90 previously.

At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 10.35 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 1,669.76 from Wednesday’s close of 1,680.11. KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended the first trading day of 2026 on a softer note as investors locked in profits after the recent rally amid subdued trading, despite encouraging performance on most regional markets. At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 10.35 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 1,669.76 from Wednesday's close of 1,680.11. The benchmark index opened 4.91 points lower at 1,675.20 -- its intraday high -- and slipped to its day low of 1,666.17 during the afternoon session. Turnover improved to 2.08 billion units worth RM1.80 billion from 1.89 billion units worth RM1.94 billion on Wednesday.

KANGAR: Three assemblymen have filed a judicial review against the state assembly speaker, contesting the recent declaration that three seats are vacant. This led the Perlis state assembly speaker Rus'sele Eizan to announce that the seats must be vacated. "In this matter, we respect the speaker's views but believe the decision to declare the seats vacant is 'erroneous and beyond the rules'. "Consequently, we have filed a judicial review against the speaker as the first defendant and the Perlis state assembly as the second defendant, seeking the court to nullify the declaration," they said today. They said the judicial review was filed through lawyer Mohd Jamil Yaacob of Tetuan Srihana Mohamad & Partners.

HONG KONG (Jan 2): Hong Kong's anti-graft agency arrested 21 people on suspicion of corruption in relation to renovation work at two residential estates, it said on Friday. Hong Kong has stepped up a crackdown on corruption linked to building renovation following a fire in late November that ripped through seven high-rise towers and killed more than 160 people. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said in a statement it conducted enforcement operations last week against a triad-linked corruption syndicate associated with building renovation. The ICAC has always attached great importance to corruption in building maintenance," the statement said. The ICAC has arrested at least 11 people in a corruption probe into renovation work at Wang Fuk Court.

- NSTP FILE PICKUALA LUMPUR: There was a time when the Malaysia Open men's singles crown almost felt destined to stay at home. For Datuk Foo Kok Keong, those memories remain vivid. Since Chong Wei's last triumph in 2018, Malaysia have not only failed to win the men's singles title. Kok Keong, who's a member of the 1992 Thomas Cup winning squad, admits the contrast is hard to ignore. Yet Kok Keong believes the Malaysia Open environment should still ignite something deeper.

(Jan 2): Hiring of senior investment bankers jumped 60% across Asia Pacific in 2025 amid a pickup in deal flow, according to a survey by recruitment firm Maven Partnership. The country made up 16% of total managing director hires across Asia Pacific in 2025, according to the survey, up from 3% in the previous year. Southeast Asia made up 23% of total managing director hires in 2025, the survey showed. In Hong Kong, where there has been a boom in public offerings, hiring held steady by making up roughly a third of managing director hires. Maven Partnership is an executive search and recruitment firm with offices in New York, London, Dubai and Hong Kong.

BUKIT MERTAJAM (Jan 2): Penang is set to enforce a Community Service Order for public littering offences, starting July 1, 2026. The Community Service Order has come into effect since Thursday in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. In Penang, Selangor, Kelantan and Terengganu, which have not adopted Act 672, enforcement of the order is subject to approval by the respective state authorities. In a previous statement, KPKT said the order would be enforced in addition to existing fines, but could only be imposed on offenders after conviction by a court. Offenders may be required to undertake up to 12 hours of activities such as collecting waste, washing public areas, cutting grass or clearing cobwebs within six months of conviction.

KANGAR (Jan 2): Police have received a report regarding a Facebook post believed to contain defamatory elements and allegations against an individual linked to the Perlis royal institution. Arau district police chief Supt Ahmad Mohsin Md Rodi said the report was lodged on Thursday by a 39-year-old contractor after he came across the post on social media while at a restaurant in Arau at about 8.30pm on Wednesday. “Statements recorded revealed that the man had never previously seen such a post, although he had heard rumours related to the alleged slander and had ignored them until he personally read the post. Ahmad Mohsin said the contractor believed the post was directed at the Perlis royal institution and had requested police to investigate and act against the account owner for attempting to embarrass, undermine and shame the institution. “Checks through the integrated police reporting system (iPRS) found that there were two police reports, including one lodged in Kangar, which has been classified as referring to the original report made in Arau,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has reverted to an Asian training methodology after shuttlers struggled to adapt to the European philosophy he initially introduced. People may think we are still following the European training style, but actually we are not," Jonassen said at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara on Friday. Jonassen said the European approach also extends beyond the court, where players are challenged to confront "inner demons" to become all-round performers. Jonassen said he might combine Asian and European styles in the future to bring out the best in his shuttlers. With the Asian training approach back in place, Jun Hao will look to produce better results during the Malaysia Open at the Axiata Arena on Jan 6-11.

The benchmark palm oil contract for March delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange dropped 1.19 per cent to 4,002 ringgit (US$986.93) a tonne by the midday break. JAKARTA: Malaysian palm oil futures opened lower on Friday, their first trading session of 2026, as traders digested sluggish export data from cargo surveyors and awaited December production figures for further price guidance. Palm futures also declined following a selloff in Chicago soyoil futures on Wednesday, Bagani added, while waiting for full-month Malaysian palm oil production estimates. Indonesia has set its crude palm oil reference price at US$915.64 per ton for January, down from December's US$926.14 per tonne according to a Trade Ministry decree. Palm oil may break support at 4,044 ringgit per tonne, and fall into the 3,964 ringgit to 4,008 ringgit range.