Outgoing US ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D Kagan said the bilateral ties is now more dynamic and candid. “I’m very proud of the fact that the US-Malaysia relationship is much better now than it was in December 2023, when I arrived. He cited Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship and the visit by the US President Donald Trump in October 2025 as major milestones during his tenure as ambassador. “Any visit by a President is a very big deal for an ambassador,” he said, describing the visit as recognition of Malaysia’s importance within Asean. “It’s been a tremendous privilege to be able to represent the United States here,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 12): Plastic powder manufacturer Polymer Link Holdings Bhd (KL:POLYMER) is targeting growth in Australia following the leasing of a new warehouse facility there. Group financial controller Jun Low said the new warehouse in Brisbane is expected to commence operations within one to two weeks. Group senior vice-president Kevin Koh said the facility will enable the company to serve smaller rotomoulders that were previously unable to take full container shipments. “The previous customer in Poland was introduced to us by a brand owner expanding into the European market. He added that the European market is technically driven, which aligns well with the company’s research and development-focused approach.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 12): The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Bill will require AI developers and users to manage legal and ethical risks, including potential copyright violations from using unlicensed or unauthorised training data. Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong (Gabungan Parti Sarawak-Hulu Rajang) said the Bill introduces risk assessments, transparency requirements, audits, and compliance measures to help authorities identify and act against AI systems that may infringe intellectual property (IP) rights. He was responding to a question from Suhaizan Kaiat (Pakatan Harapan-Pulai) on how the AI Governance Bill will address copyright and intellectual property issues arising from AI systems trained using copyrighted data, such as text, images, audio and video. He explained that the bill adds an extra layer of governance, ensuring AI development, including training models with copyrighted data, is responsible, transparent, and legally compliant, balancing innovation with copyright and IP protection. “Substantive enforcement of copyright and IP remains under existing laws, administered by the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).

(Feb 12): China finalised import tariffs on some dairy products from the European Union at as much as 12% following an anti-subsidy investigation, lower than preliminary rates outlined late last year. Other food products — including pork and brandy — were also affected. The final rates on dairy were set at between 7.4% and 11.7%, the ministry said. That compares to initial duties, collected in the form of deposits, of as much as 43% that Beijing had announced in December. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have travelled to China in recent months as part of a diplomatic reset.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economy is expected to maintain solid momentum in the fourth quarter of 2025, with growth likely to meet or exceed the advance estimate of 5.7 per cent, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said. The official gross domestic product (GDP) figures will be released by the Statistics Department tomorrow. Amir Hamzah said the advance estimate issued late last year pointed to stronger-than-expected performance. "When the Statistics Department released its advance estimate, it said fourth-quarter growth was 5.7 per cent. "God willing, when the actual figures are released tomorrow, they may come in better than expected."

(Feb 12): Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled a budget he said would help the city-state thrive as it faces a “more dangerous” world, marked by technological challenges and globalisation on the retreat. We cannot wait for conditions to turn more favorable, nor can we fall back on strategies designed for a previous era,” Wong said in his annual budget speech in parliament. “Every Singaporean who is willing to adapt and learn will continue to secure a good job and make a good living here in Singapore,” he said. Wong said Thursday that the government aims for the high end of a 2%-3% economic growth range over the next decade. Singapore is also on track to becoming a “super-aged” society this year, where 21% of its population are aged 65 and above.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 12): Melati Ehsan Group announced long-term lifestyle partnerships with integrated café hétam and Anytime Fitness for its Khaya Residences in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Khaya Residences is part of a bigger master plan that includes the Grade A, GBI Gold-certified Menara TNB Bangsar (TNB Gold Tower). The 53-storey residential tower comprises 795 units with built-ups ranging from 630 to 1,321 sq ft. It offers over 50 facilities including a 50-metre infinity pool, sky gyms, rooftop gardens, herb gardens, children’s play areas, pickleball courts and dining pavilions with private jacuzzis. In a press statement issued on Thursday, Melati Ehsan Group director Loo Yeok Bee said market responses to the project have been encouraging.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 12): MBSB Research expects fourth quarter (4Q) gross domestic product (GDP) growth to come in at 5.9%, above advance estimates. The upward revision, it said in its note, is mainly due to higher growth from stronger domestic spending and investment activities in addition to faster expansion in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Malaysia is set to announce the 4Q GDP numbers tomorrow on Feb 13, 2026. Manufacturing growth is expected to match the earlier estimate of 6%, while construction and mining growth could be slower due to weaker construction activity and natural gas output. MBSB Research said while exports have improved, higher imports limit the net contribution to growth.

NIBONG TEBAL (Feb 12): The Ministry of Education (MOE) has taken swift action in line with the advice and guidelines of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to manage any potential risk of tuberculosis (TB) transmission in schools. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that monitoring and case management are carried out immediately to safeguard the well-being of students, teachers, and school staff. She added that the current situation is under control thanks to close cooperation between the MOE and MOH at federal, state, and district levels. Fadhlina emphasised that the MOE adopts a preventive approach and maintains continuous preparedness in managing health issues in schools. Earlier, she launched the distribution of 145,000 Farm Fresh Grow UHT milk packs free of charge to preschool students across Penang.

Deputy National Unity Minister Yuneswaran Ramaraj said to members of parliament that content filtering does not fall under the jurisdiction of the National Unity Ministry through the National Library. NSTP file picKUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry visits depositories every week to review and filter content published in books, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy National Unity Minister Yuneswaran Ramaraj said to members of parliament that content filtering does not fall under the jurisdiction of the National Unity Ministry through the National Library. "With regard to the content, we usually do not receive the full manuscript of the book. "Upon receiving a complaint, the Home Ministry will also verify with the library whether the submitted document is authentic," he said.

WHAT was meant to be a joyful wedding became a farewell when the mother of the bride’s wish to wear white at the ceremony turned into a final sign of separation, Sinar Harian reported. On the day of Nurul Hazwani Alias’ wedding, her mother Jewayah Tajally, 70, who was battling with pancreatic cancer, passed away in her sleep. But my mother said she just wanted to wear white,” she said. Nurul Hazwani said at that moment, she did not think her mother’s choice to wear white had a much deeper meaning. Its district officer Abdul Rahim Khairuddin said the snake was handed over to the Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department.

PETALING JAYA: Each person in Malaysia produces an average of 12.2kg of electronic waste (e-waste), the third highest in Asean. The figure is also well above the global average of 7.8kg, according to data from the Global E-waste Monitor 2024, published by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. ALSO READ : Free pick-up services could boost e-waste recycling participationEngineer Termizi Muhamad, 33, said he sorts his used electrical and electronic items before sending them to recycling centres or mall kiosks. “More collection facilities should be set up closer to residential communities and private companies should be encouraged to allocate space for e-waste collection in housing area. To help the public properly dispose of e-waste, the Department of Environment e-waste portal lists registered e-waste collection centres and authorised points at https://ewaste.doe.gov.my/index.php/about/list-of-collectors.

Authorities have uncovered a growing number of uninsured luxury vehicles on Malaysian roads, raising concerns over public safety and accountability. In Penang alone, the state Road Transport Department (JPJ) said that it impounded 73 luxury vehicles worth more than RM10mil last year. One case involved a Rolls-Royce with an annual road tax of RM54,000, while others included 23 BMWs, a Porsche Taycan and a Lotus Eletre S models. While luxury cars draw attention, motorcycles account for the highest number of vehicles with lapsed road tax and insurance. Criminologist Datuk P. Sundramoorthy said the seizure of the Bentley with road tax and insurance lapsed since 2018 was far from an isolated case.

GEORGE TOWN: Sweet, sticky glutinous rice cakes (nian gao) are must-haves as offerings to Zhao Jun (Kitchen God) as it is believed that only then will he report good things about a household to the Jade Emperor. For many in the Chinese community, they believe that the deity has a “direct line” to the ruler of heaven. “We offer food in the form of nian gao, mandarin oranges, candied melon and Chinese tea,” she said when met at her house in Air Itam. Teh said these offerings do not include meat or cooked food other than the nian gao. “This year in particular, I am praying for my family’s health and career success, and favou­rable weather in the new year,” said the traditional Chinese ­medi­cine practitioner.

KOTA KINABALU: The dismembered body of a woman was found at a dump site in Indah Permai near here early Thursday (Feb 12). Workers clearing rubbish found the body at around 7am and lodged a police report. Meanwhile, Sinar Harian reports that the body had been chopped into pieces before being stuffed into black garbage bags. Police are on site, investigating the matter. MORE TO COME