NIBONG TEBAL: The closure of pig farms in Selangor will not significantly affect the country’s supply of pork, says Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin. He said the move would not have a major impact on the nation's pork self-sufficiency level (SSL), which currently stands at 65%. It was reported on Friday (Feb 13) that Selangor has ceased issuing new pig farming licences and is working to close existing farm sites in Tanjong Sepat. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the closure of these farms would be expedited in a joint effort with the state Veterinary Services Department. He said the decision was made during a recent state executive council meeting, in line with a decree by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, that pig farms should not operate in any district in the state.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sacked Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has declared his former leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as his “number one enemy”, saying that he is now a free man to continue his own political struggles. ALSO READ: Muhyiddin: I acted in good faith“And now my number one enemy is Tan Sri Muhyiddin,” he said yesterday after speaking at an event called “Reset” which was attended by Bersatu members and leaders from several party divisions. Hamzah, who is Larut MP, said he is now focused on his duty as Opposition Leader. Hear me out: Hamzah speaking to Bersatu members and leaders from several party divisions at the ‘Reset’ event in Kuala Lumpur. “What does that say for the support for Muhyiddin?” claimed Kiandee, who is Sabah Bersatu chief.

Son tells a story of alleged heartbreak that led to mum’s deathKOTA KINABALU: Two days after a woman was found chopped into seven pieces, her son went on a TikTok broadcast telling a story of broken love, money for separation, harassment and brutal murder. The man claimed that his mother, whose body parts were found by garbage collectors, had ended her engagement with her then fiance and married another man. His mother married another man last month. The suspect claimed the victim had used his money during the engagement but they did not get married,” he added. Jauteh said an axe was likely used in the murder.

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu is facing a significant leadership crisis following the resignation of associate wing chief Dr Chong Fat Full, who cited disappointment with party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Dr Chong resigned on Friday (Feb 13) following the sacking of deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and 16 others. ALSO READ: Bersatu axes Hamzah, supportersFormer Senate president Tan Sri Rais Yatim, who heads a committee in the party, also stepped down. Speaking to The Star, Dr Chong said one third of the associate wing members would follow his lead in resigning from the party. I built up the associate wing and one third of the members now have said they intend to leave.

KUANTAN: A married couple was killed after the car they were travelling in caught fire in a two-vehicle accident near Taman Tualang Indah petrol station in Temerloh near here, early Saturday (Feb 14) morning. Temerloh OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Nasyim Bahron said police received a call from a member of the public on the incident at about 12.55am. He said initial investigations found that the accident occurred when a car carrying the couple, aged 34 and 35 years old, respectively, from Kuala Lumpur heading towards Kuantan was hit from behind by a luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV). ACP Mohd Nasyim said post-mortem examinations on both victims will be conducted at the Forensic Unit of Hospital Temerloh Saturday, while the SUV driver has been remanded for four days until Feb 17 to assist in the investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing death.

ALOR SETAR: Quick-thinking and courageous action by a 12-year-old boy saved his friend from drowning at Pantai Pasir Hitam in Langkawi Saturday (Feb 14). I jumped into the water and pulled him to shore before performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)," he told Bernama when contacted Saturday night. "After that, my father sought help from a foreign tourist to carry my friend upside down to drain out the water. I am thankful that he and his friend are safe, and as a father, I am very proud of his bravery," he said. He said the 10-year-old victim, who was initially treated at Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi, has been transferred to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here for further medical treatment.

KUALA KANGSAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has advised Muslims in the country to make full use of Ramadan by striving to improve their personal conduct and character. So take advantage of Ramadan because (in Ramadan) every day, every night, at every moment, we are reminded to improve ourselves. Let’s challenge ourselves, ‘am I able (to become) better than I was before Ramadan this year?’” he said. Anwar said this in his speech at the Madani Outreach and Ihya’ Ramadan Programme with the Prime Minister at Arena Kampung Chuar, Kati in Padang Rengas near here, on Saturday (Feb 14). At Saturday's event, the Prime Minister also announced an allocation of RM2mil for the development of Masjid Al-Taufiqiah here.

PETALING JAYA: After being expelled from Bersatu, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is set to hold a briefing regarding the direction and political reset. Sinar Harian reported that the briefing also involved several MPs, division heads and state assemblymen from the party. It is understood that one of the main agendas was for Muhyiddin to provide an explanation regarding the party's political developments as Bersatu faces increasing attention. On Friday, the Bersatu disciplinary board announced the dismissal of 17 members, including deputy president Hamzah. The Larut MP was dismissed from party membership under Clause 22.5 of the Bersatu constitution because the Larut MP's actions violated Clause 9.1.4 of the Bersatu constitution.

KUALA LUMPUR: I am relieved to finally be out of Bersatu, says the recently expelled deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin. “I will not appeal, as I am now a free man and I need not listen to orders which I have to perform unwillingly in the party,” said Hamzah. “It is not Bersatu which decides who is the Opposition Leader, but it is the opposition MPs who decide that,” he added. On his future decision to join any other political party, Hamzah said that he has yet to decide. “What is past is in the past,” said Hamzah.

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of foreign nationals posing as doctors and offering unlicensed medical services from behind premises selling daily essentials was busted after the Immigration Department raided nine locations around Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin in Pudu on Friday (Feb 13) afternoon. Immigration deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli said 18 foreign nationals aged 24 to 51 were detained, including six posing as doctors serving the migrant community. He said checks found the premises were operating under the guise of legitimate businesses. Lokman Effendi said most clients were Bangladeshi nationals drawn by lower fees and easier communication, adding that inspections found the premises were supplying medicines that required specialist prescriptions. Lokman Effendi said initial investigations indicate the medicines were smuggled in by Bangladeshi visitors and sold for RM50 to RM100.

KOTA BARU: Illegal immigrant smuggling syndicates operating along the Malaysia-Thai border in Kelantan have been detected to have shifted their tactics, using the sea route and landing along the Kelantan River after security measures at the Golok River were tightened. General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the change was detected following intensified enforcement along the Golok River, which was previously the main route for clandestine crossings. “The syndicates no longer rely on the usual Sungai Golok route. They now use boats to transport illegal immigrants through tributaries of the Kelantan River, landing in less populated areas far from GOF posts,” he said when contacted by reporters on Saturday (Feb 14). He added that the PGA would continue to strengthen land and maritime patrols and step up intelligence operations to prevent syndicates from exploiting new routes.

BERLIN, Feb ⁠14 (Reuters) - Russia is ⁠suffering "crazy losses" in Ukraine, ‌tallying around 65,000 soldiers over the last two months, ​NATO Secretary General ⁠Mark Rutte ⁠said on Saturday at the ⁠Munich ‌Security Conference. Separately, he told ⁠a media roundtable that the ​NATO ‌alliance was strong enough ⁠that Russia ​would not currently try to attack it. "We ⁠will win every ​fight with Russia if they attack us now, ⁠and we have to make sure in two, four, six years ​that same ⁠is still the case," ​he said. (Reporting by ‌Jonathan Landay; Writing ​by Sarah MarshEditing by Tomasz Janowski)

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit is expected to trade firmer and remain around the 3.90 level against the US dollar next week, supported by the strong domestic economic growth momentum that continues to influence market sentiment. "The euphoria on strong growth will continue to shape traders’ sentiment next week, which will benefit the ringgit in the near term,” he told Bernama. Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (Kenanga IB) noted that the greenback weakness remained the primary driver of the ringgit gains. A sustained US dollar recovery would require firmer inflation and higher real yields,” it said in a note. On a week-on-week basis, the ringgit ended the week firmer against the US dollar to close at 3.9060/9115 compared with 3.9440/9525 last Friday.

PETALING JAYA: National mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto hopes a little extra preparation time will benefit Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei for their charge at the All-England next month. "We have spoken to the players and decided that we would head straight for the All-England." Tang Jie-Ee Wei did not go far at last year’s All-England at the Utilita Arena as the second seeds crashed out in the opening round after losing to Indonesia’s Rehan Kusharjanto-Gloria Widjaja. Nova hopes to see Tang Jie and Ee Wei go further this time. "We just don’t want a situation where we start well in the first round, then fall to a lower-ranked pair in the second round.

West Ham United's Crysencio Summerville (left) celebrates scoring their first goal with Ezra Mayers during Saturday’s FA Cup match against Burton Albion at Pirelli Stadium, Burton-on-Trent. - Action Images via Reuters PICLONDON: Ten-man West Ham edged into the FA Cup fifth round as Crysencio Summerville clinched a 1-0 win at third tier Burton on Saturday. They were under duress through Tyrese Shade's low strike, which forced a good stop from West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola. Soungoutou Magassa was denied by Collins but West Ham made the breakthrough five minutes into extra-time. West Ham substitute Potts was dismissed for a reckless lunge on Julian Larsson in the 101st minute.