(Jan 27): Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that while a hypothetical US-China clash wouldn’t immediately mean Japan will take military action, Japan will respond within legal limits should the US be attacked during a joint operation. The comments are in line with previous remarks made by the prime minister but provide some detail on specific scenarios of a Taiwan contingency. Takaichi is now headed toward a snap election that she called in a bid to consolidate power in the more powerful lower house of parliament. So far, Japan’s response to China’s fury has been subdued. The extent of Japan’s response has been to correct inaccuracies in China’s claims.

(Jan 27): SK Hynix Inc shares jumped to an all-time high after local media said the company is the sole supplier of advanced memory for Microsoft Corp’s new artificial intelligence (AI) chip. SK Hynix is unable to confirm or disclose any customer-related information, a company spokesperson said in a text message. “We will probably see SK Hynix earnings meeting expectations again,” he added. Another positive tailwind came as Citigroup Inc hiked its price target for SK Hynix by 56% to a street-high 1,400,000 won (RM3,825.65). “The memory market is shifting toward semi-customisation, with memory customers required to sign a contract a year prior to actual product delivery,” analyst Peter Lee wrote in a note Monday.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 27): The Ministry of Health (MOH) is in constant contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant international counterparts to verify reports circulating on social media regarding Nipah virus infections reported in India. “Any further public health measures will be decided based on confirmed information and careful risk assessment, in line with national policies and established procedures,” the statement read. In the meantime, MOH said public health preparedness at points of entry, including international airports, seaports and land border crossings, remains consistently operational in accordance with established protocols. “MOH emphasises that border health control measures are continuously maintained and will be scaled up proportionately based on the evolving risk assessment and official epidemiological updates,” it added. According to WHO, Nipah virus disease is a zoonotic infection that can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, contaminated food, or directly from person to person.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 27): The median monthly wage of Malaysia's 7.06 million formal employees increased to RM2,864 in September 2025, up 4.3% from RM2,745 a year earlier, according to the Third Quarter 2025 Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector) Report released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on Tuesday. Wage data by age group showed employees aged 45 to 49 continued to record the highest median monthly wage at RM3,800 across all three months of the third quarter. According to DOSM, all economic sectors posted higher median wages during the quarter. It said that although representing just 0.6% of formal employment, the mining and quarrying sector continued to record the highest median monthly wage at RM6,600, up by 11.9% year-on-year, while the agriculture sector, comprising 1.8% of citizen formal employees, recorded the lowest median wage at RM2,245. “Furthermore, percentile analysis revealed that the bottom 10% of Malaysian formal employees received monthly wages of RM1,700 or less, while employees in the 90th percentile earned at least RM9,000 per month.

Gross domestic product is forecast to expand 2.2% in 2025, the ministry said Tuesday (Jan 27), cutting its earlier estimate of 2.4%. The ministry maintained its 2026 forecast of a 2% expansion, which is faster than the Bank of Thailand’s 1.5% growth estimate. Merchandise exports this year will likely increase by 1% compared with the forecast 12.7% growth in 2025. Growth in private consumption will likely slow to 2.5% from a forecast of 3.3% in 2025, according to estimates from the ministry. The finance ministry said GDP growth in the fourth quarter was likely at 1.8% from a year ago.

Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), established under the Engineers Registration Act 1967 (Act 138), is responsible for regulating, registering, and recognising professional engineers. “The pathway to recognition is clear, structured, and transparent through the Professional Assessment Examination (PAE). Nanta also announced that the government is reviewing amendments to the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Act 138) to strengthen BEM's enforcement capabilities. On the launch of the BEM Strategic Plan 2026–2030, Nanta said the plan sets the direction for the country’s engineering sector with four key pillars: talent, governance, recognition, and innovation. This plan aligns with the Works Ministry's Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, aiming to improve industry capabilities and competitiveness through human capital development.

Many are embracing the slow travel trend, travelling “purposefully” and taking the time to immerse themselves into whatever situation or environment that surrounds them. No one knows exactly when the term “slow travel” was first coined. Muhammad Fahim says slow travel has transformed the way he travels and lives. “Slow travel has taught me to pause and appreciate being in the moment. For Ng, slow travel is about paying attention to the details, learning from the culture and letting a city reveal itself at its own pace.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 27): The government has been urged to fast-track prosecutions against all operators of the MBI Ponzi scheme, including proxies and uplines, and to maximise asset forfeiture to ensure compensation for both domestic and international victims. He also asked why the identities of key individuals, proxies, and upline operators of MBI in Malaysia have not been publicly disclosed. Malaysian police have so far arrested 23 people and offered compounds totalling RM339.5 million, of which RM131.5 million has been collected. On Tuesday, Ganabatirau questioned whether the Attorney General’s Chambers would pursue criminal charges against Teow’s children in addition to the forfeiture of their assets. He described the MBI Ponzi scheme as a test of the integrity of Malaysia’s justice system, noting that “delayed justice is denied justice”.

LABUAN (Jan 27): Rancha Power Sdn Bhd on Tuesday marked a major milestone in Labuan’s energy development with the groundbreaking of a new 120-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant, strengthening the island’s electricity capacity and ensuring a stable and reliable power supply. In a statement issued by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS), Fadillah said the project is important to safeguard Labuan’s electricity supply. “The Rancha power plant will ensure continuity of electricity supply and support Labuan’s future energy needs across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors,” it said. Meanwhile, Rancha Power chairman Abdul Aziz Othman said the establishment of the power plant represents a transformative step in strengthening Labuan’s energy resilience and supporting regional development. Rancha Power is a three-party joint venture involving PG Energia Sdn Bhd — a subsidiary of PETRONAS Gas Bhd, SEC Power Sdn Bhd — a unit of Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd, and Sustainable Power Sdn Bhd — a subsidiary of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd.

KUALA LUMPUR: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck the Java Sea at 9.20am on Tuesday (Jan 27). The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), in a statement, said that the quake was centred at coordinates 8.3 degrees south and 111.3 degrees east, at a depth of 118km. It added that the epicentre was located approximately 78km south of Madiun, Indonesia, and confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to Malaysia following the incident.

JOHOR BARU: Three Immigration Department officers have been charged over alleged involvement in "counter setting" activities involving entry and exit stamps for passports, as well as criminal breach of trust involving club funds. Asrof, meanwhile, was charged with three counts of agreeing to receive RM6,490 as inducement for the same purpose. Ruhaya, an assistant Immigration superintendent who served as treasurer of the Kelab Kebajikan Rekreasi Inovasi dan Sukan (K-K-R-I-S) at the Immigration Department’s Sultan Abu Bakar Complex in Tanjung Kupang, was charged with CBT involving RM61,300 in club funds. Judge Ahmad Kamal then set bail at RM8,000 for Shamsul and RM10,000 each for Asrof and Ruhaya, with one surety each, respectively. He also fixed Feb 27 for mention and submission of documents for Shamsul and Asrof, while Ruhaya’s case was set for March 11.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar has been sworn in as the new Kinabatangan Member of Parliament. The newly-elected MP stood tall as he took his oath of office before Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul on Tuesday (Jan 27). Naim replaces his late father Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who held the seat for six terms before passing away on Dec 5 at age 66. Representing Barisan Nasional, Naim secured a decisive majority of 14,214 votes to win the seat in a three-cornered fight in Saturday's (Jan 24) by-election. He polled 19,852 votes to beat Parti Warisan's Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman, who received 5,638 votes, and Independent candidate Goldam Hamid, who obtained 746 votes.

GEORGE TOWN: Starting primary school younger, effective 2027, may sound like a head start, but it could come at a cost. The Penang Education Institu­tion Operators Association (PPIPP) has warned that early entry into Year One risks placing undue stress on children and shaping their attitudes towards learning for years to come. “By bringing primary education forward, we risk losing this critical developmental stage. “Teachers would be managing classes made up of five-year-olds and six-year-olds in a primary school environment. “This would effectively shorten early childhood education by one year,” she said yesterday.

SOME members of the Indian community are demanding an explanation for a documentary on the life of the late MIC leader Tun S. Samy Vellu that was pulled from broadcast at the last minute, Malaysia Nanban reported. The documentary titled Legasi Tun S. Samy Vellu – Pemimpin Untuk Rakyat was set for broadcast on Jan 18 on RTM1 but was reportedly cancelled at the last minute without any announcement. Sivabalan claimed there has been no clarification from the national broadcaster and officials could not be contacted. The community has demanded an answer for the cancellation when many other leaders have been covered under the Tokoh Bangsawan series, he said. More than 150 followers responded to the post, with many calling for the documentary to be released for viewing.

MALAYSIANS who travel abroad more than eight times a month risk losing their eligibility for the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) in a move to ensure the assistance benefits those who genuinely reside in the country, Sin Chew Daily reported. They are deemed to have spent most of their time abroad and become ineligible for the assistance, according to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). Under LHDN guidelines, non-Malaysian citizens and Malaysians who reside overseas long-term, including in Singapore, are not eligible. Malaysians who previously lived abroad but have since returned must first report their status to the Foreign Ministry before their eligibility can be reassessed. A test revealed that his liver was not functioning properly, with alanine aminotransferase levels found to be 50 times above what was deemed normal.