Malaysian singer Ribbon Ooi puts family first this Chinese New Year
Despite her demanding schedule in the entertainment industry, singer and actress Ribbon Ooi continues to place family first whenever Chinese New Year comes around. We’re usually busy with work every day, so this is when we make the effort to go home. Celebrating the occasion with her parents and younger brother, 30-year-old Ooi said festivities at home are no longer as lively as they once were due to her parents’ health conditions. "I’m not much of a cook, so for our (Chinese New Year) reunion dinner every year, we usually order from a restaurant. Ooi is aiming to release at least four new singles this year in various languages, including Malay, English and Mandarin.
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 11:36 UTC
Hamzah sacked from Bersatu with immediate effect
PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has been sacked from Bersatu effective immediately. “(The dismissal is) due to the actions of Datuk Seri violating Clause 9.1.4 of the Bersatu constitution,” he added. Mohd Radzi said that Hamzah may submit an appeal to the party’s appeal board for consideration from the date of the notice. Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the party’s top leadership has been informed of the termination of Hamzah. A party source claimed that Hamzah is also expected to hold a press conference on Sunday (Feb 15).
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 11:26 UTC
Ex-cop charged with molesting woman in Singapore hotel
SINGAPORE: A station inspector with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) was in a hotel when he allegedly outraged a 25-year-old woman’s modesty. According to court documents, Mohamad Joppri Harpawi was in a hotel near Geylang Road when he allegedly kissed the woman’s lips at around 5.30am on March 17, 2014. Her identity cannot be disclosed due to a gag order to protect her identity. Joppri, 43, who resigned from the force in February 2025, was charged with one count of molestation on Feb 11, 2026. A police spokesperson added: “(Our) officers...are expected to uphold the law and maintain the highest standards of conduct and integrity.
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 11:25 UTC
i-City unveils world’s first AI Living
At i-City in the state capital of Selangor, this shift is taking physical form through AI Living, a residential tower designed to be the first of its kind globally. Lim shared that the AI Living tower is well-positioned to be the world’s first AI and robotics residential tower. AI Living treats intelligence as part of the building’s DNA, being conceived from the ground up as an AI- and robotics-native residential environment. “At AI Living, robotics are treated not as gadgets but as functional occupants within the residential ecosystem. In terms of the units at AI Living, I-Bhd is aiming for a price point that mirrors its Hill10 Residences above DoubleTree by Hilton at i-City.
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 11:21 UTC
Malay woman’s kuih bakul a CNY hit online
Sinar Harian reported that Rosidah Muda, 50, from Kampung Pelam, Kuala Telemong in Terengganu, makes the traditional delicacy for sale during the festive season. Rosidah first attempted to make kuih bakul in 2016, when she prepared it for her neighbours. The clerk makes kuih bakul as a side income and sells them for between RM10 and RM12 on online marketplaces. Besides kuih bakul, Rosidah also makes mooncakes and traditional Malay delicacies such as pulut dakap and ketupat. The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies).
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 10:51 UTC
Selangor couple wins RM23.53mil jackpot with family MyKad numbers
PETALING JAYA: A Selangor couple struck it big after winning the RM23.53mil Toto 4D Jackpot 1 in the Feb 7 draw. The winners, a 49-year-old marketing manager and a 66-year-old retiree, recently claimed their life-changing prize at the Sports Toto Malaysia Lottery headquarters. According to STM Lottery, the couple had been consistently betting on these specific numbers for several years. The numbers were inspired by the last four digits of their family members’ identification cards (MyKad). The younger winner shared that she typically handles the ticket purchases, while her partner is responsible for selecting and recording the numbers.
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 10:18 UTC
Two new private hospitals to boost Melaka’s medical tourism sector — Ab Rauf
MELAKA (Feb 13): Putra Specialist Hospital 2 and Brain and Spine Hospital, with a combined construction cost of RM678 million, are scheduled to be built on a 9.99-hectare site in Ayer Keroh. Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the two hospitals to be built in the area known as Kota Kesihatan (Health City) are expected to be ready by 2029, thereby driving the state’s health tourism. “The growth of Melaka’s health tourism is remarkable, with more than 10,000 visitors coming to the state, including from neighbouring countries across the Straits of Melaka, for medical treatment. “The two new private hospitals will bring Melaka’s total private hospitals to six, reflecting strong economic growth in the healthcare sector that the state can build on to extend specialised medical services to those who need them,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for the two projects, here on Friday. Ab Rauf added that Kota Kesihatan will include residences, hotels, and a business centre alongside the two private hospitals to support the project’s development.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 13, 2026 10:08 UTC
SoftBank’s PayPay gets closer to US IPO in milestone for Japan
(Feb 13): SoftBank Group Corp’s digital payments provider PayPay Corp has filed publicly for a US initial public offering (IPO), in what could be the biggest listing for a Japanese company on a US stock exchange. Representatives of PayPay and SoftBank’s telecom unit SoftBank Corp declined to comment on PayPay valuation. PayPay originated in 2018 as a joint venture with Vision Fund-backed Indian payments company Paytm. PayPay, which is majority-owned by SoftBank Group and SoftBank Corp, has been stepping up efforts to expand overseas ahead of the global offering. PayPay will continue to be a SoftBank Corp subsidiary following the IPO and the Japanese company doesn’t expect the listing to have any material impact on its consolidated earnings, according to an earlier statement.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 13, 2026 10:04 UTC
China takes aim at screen-heavy car dashboards in safety push
(Feb 13): China is taking aim at stripped-down, screen-dominated car interiors favoured by the likes of Tesla Inc and Xiaomi Corp, requiring that essential safety functions be controlled by physical switches or buttons. Beyond the dashboard, China’s government is codifying safety expectations for high-level driver-assistance technology. A mandatory standard for Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving systems stipulates that these vehicles must demonstrate a safety level at least equivalent to a “competent and attentive human driver”. At these levels of automation, the car can handle all driving tasks, though at Level 3 the driver must be ready to take control if alerted. The proposed regulations also introduce a “safety case” requirement, requiring manufacturers to provide structured, documented evidence that their systems can handle both daily driving and critical high-risk scenarios.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 13, 2026 09:53 UTC
Key winners from Singapore’s budget 2026
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday unveiled cash handouts for households and fresh support for workers, the elderly and small businesses in his budget speech. It had climbed above the 5,000 level for the first time ahead of the budget speech to a fresh record. Small businesses, banksA targeted 40% corporate tax rebate, capped at S$30,000 for year of assessment 2026 was announced in the budget. The measure may aid small businesses in managing business expenses and scale up, which could also stimulate small-business loan demand. “Banks in Singapore, including DBS Group Holdings Ltd, are set to see business activity pick up and asset quality improve on new government-support measures,” said Sarah Jane Mahmud, senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 13, 2026 09:48 UTC
Banks picked for Singapore-based data centre operator DayOne's US$5 bil US IPO — Bloomberg
(Feb 13): DayOne Data Centers Ltd has selected banks to help arrange a US initial public offering (IPO) that may raise about US$5 billion (RM19.5 billion), according to people familiar with the matter. The Singapore-based data centre operator has chosen JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley to work on the share sale, the people said, asking to not be identified because the information is private. DayOne, backed by Chinese data centre operator GDS Holdings Ltd, has been targeting a valuation as high as US$20 billion in a listing that may take place as soon as this year, people familiar with the matter have said. Last week, a KKR & Co-led group agreed to buy data centre operator STT GDC Pte Ltd for S$6.6 billion (US$5.2 billion or RM20.4 billion) in cash. Other investors in the company include Boyu Capital, Hillhouse Investment, SoftBank Vision Fund, Tekne Capital, Baupost Group and Citadel chief executive officer Ken Griffin.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 13, 2026 09:38 UTC
China's Great Wall Motor restarts its European grand tour with hybrids, gas-powered cars
GWM plans to set up a European factory to make 300,000 cars a year by 2030, requiring close to a hundredfold growth in sales. Meanwhile, GWM's sales in Europe fell 25.4% in 2024 and almost 30% in 2025 to just 3,500 cars. The chart shows the sales performance of several Chinese automakers in Europe going back to 2022, including BYD, Chery, Leapmotor and Great Wall Motor. BYD's sales across Europe more than tripled in 2025 to 187,657 vehicles from 50,912 cars in 2024, with plug-in hybrids among its top sellers. "With resources and technology capabilities, I don’t see why GWM can’t take on rivals in Europe if the company takes a consistent approach to the European market," he said.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 13, 2026 09:33 UTC
Driver claims trial over fatal six-vehicle crash in Melaka
The plea of the accused, Ng Chun Twan, was recorded before magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani on Friday (Feb 13). According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly drove a car in a dangerous manner, leading to an accident that caused the death of Mohd Shahrul Anuar Md Roby, 44. The offence was allegedly committed at the traffic light junction at Padang Jambu, Lebuh Ayer Keroh, in the Melaka Tengah district at about 1.30pm on Feb 10. A conviction may also result in disqualification from holding a driving licence for a period of not less than five years. Earlier, prosecuting officer Insp Nur Zaidah Muhamad Zailani proposed bail at RM20,000 with an additional condition that the accused surrender his driving licence to the court.
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 09:29 UTC
MACC sets its sights on 'main enablers' of graft
GENTING HIGHLANDS: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is shifting its focus to agents and middlemen believed to be the "main enablers" of corruption, as graft activities continue despite past arrests of enforcement personnel. MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said that while the commission concentrated on taking action against enforcement officers in recent years, corrupt practices were recurring. He said that repeated arrests involving officers from government agencies had not fully addressed the root cause of the problem. "We cannot keep arresting enforcement officers every day. Ahmad Khusairi questioned whether enforcement officers were truly the main cause of corruption in such cases, arguing that agents were often the real instigators.
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 09:20 UTC
M'sian TVBI star Rax Teh reflects on past medical condition that stalled his career
Teh first entered the music scene in 2009 after winning the local singing contest Pop Star: Idol Battle. Describing it as the darkest period of his life, Teh admitted he struggled with depression. Teh’s popularity soared in 2025 when he joined the third season of the TVB reality singing competition Midlife, Sing & Shine!, finishing in eighth place. Teh made waves in 2025 after participating in the third season of TVB's 'Midlife, Sing & Shine!' “It’s a song inspired by my journey since joining Midlife, Sing & Shine!,” he explained.
Source:The Star
February 13, 2026 09:16 UTC