KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed diagnostic screening test for children before entry into Year One Under the National Education Blueprint is off. The screening test, which was to begin with the 2027 school session, has been cancelled because it could have a psychological effect on children, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The National Education Blueprint 2026–2035, featuring the Malaysia Learning Matrix, was announced by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on Jan 20. “At the initial stage, the Education Ministry suggested postponing this plan by another year. Addressing school overcrowding, Anwar, who himself was Education minister from 1987 to 1990, acknowledged that congestion remains a challenge, particularly in urban areas.

KLANG: A 46-year-old man from Perak snuck out of the country to visit his pregnant second wife without his first wife’s knowledge. He landed in hot water when he was arrested while returning from Indonesia via an illegal route. The man, a lorry driver, who just arrived from Tanjung Balai in Indonesia, told officers he had travelled to Medan to visit his pregnant second wife. It was operated by a 36-year-old Myanmar skipper and had 26 Indonesian illegal migrants on board, specifically 17 men and nine women. There were 24 illegal migrants, comprising 19 men and five women aged between 22 and 64, and a three-month-old baby girl,” Abdul Muhaimin said.

OVERALL river water quality in Malaysia saw a dip in 2025 as the number of polluted rivers increased slightly, says the Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Ministry. Worryingly, the number of ri­vers with Class III or “moderate” water quality increased from 161 (24%) in 2024 to 171 (25%) in 2025. “The sectors contributing to the deterioration of river water quali­ty are not limited to the industrial sector alone. The ministry added that it has begun taking both immediate and long-term measures to counter this worrying trend of river pollution. It said it is also reviewing regulations for water pollution control and water quality standards as a long-term strategy.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian criminals detained at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India, are believed to be members of a criminal gang known as “Captain Praba”. The suspects, all in their 30s, were detained on Sunday after their identities were flagged under Interpol Red Notices following their deportation from Britain. “They were detained by airport authorities upon arrival and were not allowed to enter India or pass immigration control,” the source added. Besides having a following among gang members, the suspects are also believed to have enemies who harbour grudges against them over past crimes, raising concerns about potential security threats. Previously, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail had said that 17 gang members were nabbed in a massive operation codenamed “Ops Jack Sparrow” in September last year.

THE film The Voice of Hind Rajab continues to receive an enthusiastic response from Malaysians, recording 53,000 viewers after 17 days of screening since its release on Jan 8, Berita Harian reported. “We hope ticket sales this week will surpass 60,000 and if cinemas continue to have confidence in the support of Malaysians, it will not be impossible for us to reach 80,000 viewers,” said Zainal. An application for house repair assistance has been submitted, but no action has been taken so far. Rahimah receives RM600 in monthly financial support from the Welfare Department, while Aminah receives RM250. “The amount is only enough for our basic needs and daily food, but we cannot afford to repair the house,” Aminah said.

That dynamic is being closely monitored because Vietnamese banks are already operating with thin capital buffers to absorb potential losses. Standby letters of credit (SBLCs) — a promise to repay debt if the client borrower can’t — have been a popular way to make guarantees. Hidden risks from SBLCs may weaken loss-absorption buffers, especially as banks’ capital raising remains limited, said Phan Duy Hung, director-senior analyst at VIS Rating. A representative of Vietnam Banks Association declined to comment when asked about the risks of guarantees such as SBLCs. Vingroup considers “a range of funding sources, including SBLCs,” it said in reply to a query on the financing.

(Jan 28): Singapore’s central bank is expected to hold policy settings steady for a third straight review, though economists see scope for a hawkish pivot as inflation shows signs of gaining momentum. Nineteen out of 20 economists in a Bloomberg survey forecast the Monetary Authority of Singapore will maintain its policy settings Thursday. Nine of the 13 respondents expect a hawkish bias in the statement, with four predicting no change to the tone. Both gauges are projected to rise in 2026 from their low rates last year, the central bank said in a statement last week. He doesn’t expect the central bank to turn “outright hawkish” yet.

But is it actually illegal to drive barefoot in Malaysia? “Such rules do not apply to drivers of personal vehicles, but when operating commercial vehicles, drivers must wear shoes, not slippers," he said. “This is very clear, and all commercial vehicle drivers should know this,” he told The Star. For private vehicle drivers with a Competent Driver's Licence, there are no such restrictions. Safety experts and driving instructors generally advise against driving barefoot or in slippers.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three wanted criminals, who were arrested in Mumbai, India, last Sunday, are believed to have arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The trio, believed to be key members of the "Captain Praba" gang, were flown back to Malaysia on a commercial flight from Mumbai at around 1am local time under tight security escort by several Malaysian police officers. They were escorted from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport following their detention by Indian authorities. The suspects, believed to be in their 30s, were detained by Indian authorities at the Mumbai airport after turning violent upon arrival there last Sunday. The gang is believed to have been active since 2023, with a total membership of 33 individuals.

Jan 27 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the value of the dollar was "great", when asked whether he thought it had declined too much, adding to pressure on the greenback which hit a four-year low. A lower dollar can also benefit US exporters, though Trump said he was not seeking for its value to decline further. "No, I think it's great, the value of the dollar ... dollar's doing great," Trump said when asked by a reporter if he thought the value of the dollar had declined too much. “The administration wants a weaker dollar," said Eugene Epstein, head of trading and structured products at Moneycorp in New Jersey, adding that it also helped improve the trade deficit. Steve Sosnick, market strategist at Interactive Brokers, Greenwich, Connecticut, said that a weaker dollar "was a two-sided coin".

China Press reported that many of the cleaners are forced to wear GPS devices which the cleaning companies use to closely monitor their movements. They are reportedly liable to a fine if found to be taking unauthorised breaks, sparking a backlash among Internet users. The worker said he was required to wear a GPS tracking device and that he must follow a route his company had set. Many pointed out that proving attendance was no longer simply punching in and out, calling the practice of GPS tracking “inhumane”. When contacted, the Yuncheng city sanitation centre in Shaanxi said the tracker was used as a means to ensure worker safety.

Hisham, who crosses the ­border into Singapore numerous times a month for work, will need to appeal to have his STR assistance reinstated. “It was a tough decision for me to make a career switch from an engineer to a taxi driver, but I had to assume my father’s taxi loans after he passed away. As a Johor Baru-Singapore taxi driver operating from Larkin Sentral, Hisham said he crossed the border daily to ferry passengers. “People think being a cross-­border taxi driver is easy, but some months we barely scrape by,” he said. Pertubuhan Muafakat Pengusaha dan Pemandu Bas Negeri Johor deputy chairman Usman Haron said the process of appealing for their STR assistance to be reinstated added another ­hurdle.

PETALING JAYA: A diagnostic test to determine if a five-year-old child is ready to start primary school is not the problem. “Even if you remove this diagnostic test, the problem remains that not all six-year-olds will be ready to enter Year One next year. She also wanted to know how schools would cope with two different age groups, with two different development milestones, in the same classroom. Financial advisor Siti Afiqah Mansor, 31, said that without this diagnostic test, parents would not know if a child was really ready. National Teachers Service Union of Malaysia (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon, meanwhile, said it was a good decision to scrap the diagnostic test.

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei has brought his trademark discipline and meticulous planning into his new role at the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and just three months in, there are already signs of progress. Chong Wei said early planning was key and expressed satisfaction that singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen and doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky were aligned with his vision. “It’s rare for Malaysia to win three titles in a tournament, and I commend everyone for their hard work,” said Chong Wei. Chong Wei, who serves in his current role on a voluntary basis without pay, reiterated that his focus is on creating the right environment for success. “I hope our players can continue this good run,” added Chong Wei, who will now be focusing on the elite team’s preparation for the All-England in March.

IPOH: People here have been encouraged to plan their trips in advance due to the upcoming Thaipusam celebrations, during which several roads will be closed gradually. Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said several roads would be closed to allow the chariot and kavadi processions to be held from Jan 31 to Feb 3. The roads involved included Jalan Sungai Pari, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Lahat, Jalan Perhentian, Jalan Sultan Yussof, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Jalan Sultan Sultan Idris Shah, Jalan Raja Musa Aziz and Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar. "As for the kavadi procession from Buntong to Gunung Cheroh, it would start at 3pm on Jan 31 and end at 12am on Feb 1. "The alternative roads to the city centre include Jalan Kuala Kangsar, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Jalan Sultan Nazrin Shah, Jalan Raja Dihilir, Jalan CM Yusuff, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil and Jalan Dato Ahmad Said," he said.