JOHOR BARU: Ramadan bazaar traders are all set to welcome customers, with many preparing weeks ahead to ensure ample supplies throughout the fasting month. “So I stocked up about two weeks before the festival to ensure I had enough supplies to keep making kuih for Ramadan while shops are closed. ALSO READ: ‘Fasting meets character building’Wan Noraidah, who will operate her stall at the Taman Dahlia Ramadan bazaar, said she was glad to have prepared early. “At least now I do not have to compete with other Ramadan traders for the ingredients, which I believe will be in high demand during the fasting month.”Feeding the people: (From left) Wan Noraidah, Mohd hairi and sharifah Faizah. Meanwhile, Mohd Hairi Salim, 62, said he had decided to get dry ingredients such as rice and spices earlier.

The vehicle that plunged into a ravine in Kota Belud. KOTA KINABALU: Eight people were injured in two separate accidents in Sabah within the past 24 hours. Kota Belud fire station chief Elgie Bakuk said road users who saw the accident rushed to their aid while waiting for help to arrive. Tuaran fire station chief Kurong Ak Beki said they received a distress call at around 3.25am. He said three people in one car were hurt, while the 45-year-old driver from the other vehicle escaped without injuries.

Besides investing in digital literacy, she said such an approach would involve designing platforms with safety in mind, strengthening accountability and supporting parents and caregivers. Selvakumar said that “teen accounts”, with restricted visibility, supervision and built-in safety measures, could serve as an alternative to a total ban. He cited the recent ban in Australia as an example, which led to spikes in downloads of obscure platforms lacking safety features. Last November, the Cabinet approved raising the minimum age for social media accounts to 16, with implementation expected by mid-2026. The move comes as part of wider efforts to tackle cyberbullying, exploitation and exposure to harmful content under the Online Safety Act, which comes into effect in July.

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians must not be trapped in prolonged disputes, as such divisions would only weaken efforts to build a peaceful and resilient nation, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. While acknowledging his own shortcomings, the Prime Minister stressed that constant quarrels would undermine national harmony. "The country will not be peaceful if we are constantly fighting,” he said during the Ihya Ramadan event held at the Home Ministry on Thursday (Feb 19). “Many things have happened over the past two to three weeks – issues involving the MACC, claims that temples cannot be demolished, and some saying mosques should be treated the same. He also cautioned against the spread of misinformation and emotionally driven reactions not grounded in facts, emphasising that nation-building is not the responsibility of a single group.

Following a continuous downpour on Monday, floods struck several areas, including Kampung Manjoi, Kampung Tengku Hussein, and Buntong. “The flood started suddenly at about 6pm, with the water level rising rapidly. Everything was swept away by the floodwater,” she said. All the fish, meat and everything were swept away. “We still need to clean up the house,” she said, adding that it was the worst flood she has ever experienced.

KUALA LUMPUR: A suspect who vandalised a dozen ATMs in Jinjang has been arrested by the police. Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Basri Sagoni said that the police were notified on Feb 16 by a complainant stating that four ATMs at a bank in Jinjang Selatan had their screens smashed. On Feb 17, the police received four additional reports of vandalism at two more banks in Jinjang Selatan and two in Jinjang Utara. “The modus operandi involved the suspect entering the area, and then smashing the ATM screen using an object believed to be a stone, and then fleeing the scene. “With the arrest of the suspect, the police have successfully solved five reported cases of ATM screen vandalism,” he said.

Anwar: Zodiac year can help spur national and economic progressKUALA LUMPUR: The Year of the Horse signals strength and energy that can help spur economic growth and national development, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “The horse represents swiftness, strength and power, thus we hope Malaysia’s economic performance will exceed even further,” said the Prime Minister at MCA’s Chinese New Year celebration, here at Wisma MCA on Tuesday. Dr Wee also called for unity and an end to political divisions, saying the festive period should be a time for togetherness rather than partisanship. Dr Wee added, the attendance of former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin reflected longstanding ties and friendships that transcend political affiliations. — FAIHAN GHANI/The StarPresent at the event were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Han Soon, MIC vice-president Datuk T. Murugiah and Khairy.

Compiled by DIVYA THERESA RAVI and TAN SIN CHOWA 10-YEAR-OLD girl from Hebei province, China, has turned her red packet savings into a tidy profit after investing in gold three years ago, Sin Chew Daily reported. Gold was priced at 460 yuan (about RM260) per gram at the time. According to the daily, a woman surnamed Bai shared on social media that her daughter began purchasing gold at the age of seven. The girl opted to buy gold, as she did not want her parents to keep her red packet money and feared misplacing the cash herself. Bai quipped that her daughter has a sharper investment instinct than she does, adding that she regrets not buying more gold at the time.

PETALING JAYA: The spotlight will be on men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao (pic) at the German Open next week as he looks to prove he truly deserves his status as Malaysia’s No. “Previously, I was in recovery, and now I am continuing my training, and everything is going well as we build up to the All-England,” said Jun Hao. Jun Hao will have the chance to silence his critics in Mulheim when he faces world No. Should he clear the first hurdle, Jun Hao is likely to face another Taiwanese Lee Chia-hao. The tournament also gives Jun Hao a chance to restore confidence in Malaysia’s men’s singles following Lee Zii Jia’s withdrawal.

Suspect’s brother heard incident unfold from his bedroomKUANTAN: A witness to the tragic incident where a family of five were killed in a house in Cherating Damai has claimed that he heard an argument before the alleged murders unfolded. But, at the time of the incident, only six family members were home. Murder probe: Five members of a family were found dead at a house in Lorong Cherating Damai. ACP Ashari said the bodies of the five family members were claimed by relatives yesterday after post-mortem examinations were completed. “The bodies have been released to family members for burial in Cherating,” ACP Ashari said when contacted.

(Feb 19): Australian governments are spending at an “unsustainable” pace and public debt is set to rise further, leaving the economy more vulnerable to future shocks, a report by the e61 Institute and McKinnon found. “There is no imminent debt crisis, but with renewed pressures ahead like an ageing population and slow productivity growth Australia’s fiscal options are narrowing,” Brennan’s team said in the report released Thursday. While the RBA cited excess demand running up against supply constraints for its decision, former Governor Philip Lowe also this week criticised the government’s spending trajectory and sluggish productivity growth. However, its gross debt position has deteriorated to 13th among 38 countries in 2023 highlighted in the report, from 3rd in 2007. A mid-year fiscal update in December showed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government is facing deep budget deficits across its forecast horizon through fiscal 2029.

PETALING JAYA: Naan, chapati, spicy curries and teh tarik are set to become Datuk Misbun Sidek’s regular fare when he breaks fast in Thiruthangal, Tamil Nadu, during Ramadan beginning today. The holy month, which follows closely after the Chinese New Year period, will not slow the 66-year-old down as he will continue to put in long hours at the Hatsun Badminton Centre, about 70km from Madurai. Known for his no-nonsense approach, Misbun has already increased the training volume at the centre – without complaints from the players. The demanding routine has left some players battling cramps and changing multiple sweat-soaked shirts, yet attendance and enthusiasm remain high. They have good physique for badminton.”Listen up: Datuk Misbun Sidek stands tall as he gives instructions to the Hatsun Badminton Centre players.

It seems that there is an increasing trend in autism cases. Apparently, over the past 20 years in the United States, autism cases have increased about 300%. Recently, the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) criteria and definition has been broadened. This meant that many more patients who were not previously considered autistic and diagnosed with different disorders, were now considered to be under the large “autism” spectrum. They replaced specific diagnoses with a single broad term: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

WASHINGTON (Feb 19): Indonesian and US companies on Wednesday signed trade and investment deals valued at more than US$7 billion a day ahead of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's meeting with US President Donald Trump to sign a final trade deal, the US-Asean Business Council said. It added that Indonesia will buy one million tons of wheat this year and up to five million tons by 2030. Not all of the deals were given price tags, and these included Indonesian purchases of US lumber and furniture products. In remarks to the dinner, Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer did not mention the final tariff rate for Indonesia, but said the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the two democracies "will mean more trade — bilateral trade. It'll mean deeper, more comprehensive economic, investment and trade ties."

KUANTAN: A private sector employee lost more than RM600,000 after being duped by a bogus stock investment scheme promoted on social media. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said that on Nov 3 last year, the victim, a 57-year-old man, is believed to have contacted the suspect via WhatsApp after seeing a stock investment advertisement promising lucrative returns. "The suspect offered a stock investment scheme with a guaranteed profit of 30 per cent within one month, with a minimum capital of RM10,000. To convince the victim, the suspect instructed him to download an investment application," he said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 19). Scam victims are also advised to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 for prompt assistance," he said.