MELAKA (Jan 26): Police have recorded statements from a number of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) officers in connection with the dissemination of information related to the MAF’s strategic posting matters on social media. Also present were Mindef secretary general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali; Army Chief Gen Datuk Azhan Md Othman; Army Western Field Commander Lt Gen Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman; and 3rd Division Commander Maj Gen Datuk Mohamad Suria Mohamad Saad. Mindef had previously stressed that it would not hesitate to take legal action against any party found to be disseminating confidential information related to the MAF strategic posting matters on social media. Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said that Mindef would consult the government on any procurement that, if frozen, could affect MAF operations, including procurement related to the welfare of officers, personnel and their families. We believe that matters involving welfare should, in some cases, continue,” he said.

SEOUL (Jan 26): US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby and South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back agreed during talks on Monday to deepen cooperation on Seoul's pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine, South Korea's defence ministry said. Colby is visiting Seoul on his first overseas trip in the post, which comes as Washington signals it expects South Korea to take a more leading role in deterring North Korea. The Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy released on Friday said that it expects a "more limited" US role in deterring North Korea, with South Korea taking the primary responsibility. Colby, the Pentagon's top defence and foreign policy official, said in a post on X on his arrival that South Korea is a "model ally" committed to increasing defence spending in line with US' regional strategy. South Korea hosts about 28,500 US troops and last year pledged to lift defence spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a move that Colby and other US officials have praised as strengthening Seoul's role in deterring North Korea.

(Jan 26): Asian mining stocks climbed with metals prices as investors rotated into hard assets, driven by a weakening dollar and growing unease over currencies, geopolitics and global fiscal risks. A group of materials producers led gains Monday (Jan 26) on MSCI Inc’s broadest index of Asia Pacific equities. Korea Zinc Co shares climbed as much as 14% in Seoul while Zhongjin Gold Corp’s jumped 10% in Shanghai. Mining stocks have climbed with metals on safe haven appeal as well as demand for copper and other materials required for the AI buildout, yet they remain relatively cheap. The MSCI Asia materials gauge trades at 14.6 times forward earnings estimates, compared with 15.4 times for the broader index.

They trust what they feel in their wallets, not what they read in reports on economic growth. For this category of Malaysians, economic survival is judged by one simple test: How much money is left at the end of the month? At its core, the People Economy measures and manages the economy based on how people live alongside traditional macro indicators. Placing the People Economy front and centre reconnects economic policy with daily human realities. Both policy and messaging must shift from programmes to outcomes, and must link GDP growth to broad-based impact.

While the initiative marks one step towards recovery since founder Shigenobu Nagamori stepped down from the board in December, a third-party probe into accounting issues is still underway and could reveal more details. Nagamori’s growth-at-all-costs approach is under scrutiny following a growing number of suspected cases of improper accounting, which have triggered filing delays, credit downgrades and the risk of delisting in Tokyo. Since June, Nidec repeatedly disclosed accounting issues that have spanned subsidiaries in Italy, Switzerland and China. The Tokyo Stock Exchange has put Nidec on notice for a potential delisting, unless it can erase concerns over corporate governance. A few months earlier, Nidec had launched a third-party committee to investigate the origin and breadth of the scandal.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): Former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has been named a new member of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). According to the minutes of the Dewan Rakyat Select Committee released on Monday, the appointment was made during a committee meeting held on Jan 22, which was chaired by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul. A first-term MP, Zaliha was appointed health minister by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after the formation of the unity government following the 2022 general election. The other was the then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs, Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. Separately, the Dewan Rakyat Select Committee has also agreed to appoint Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad as the new chairman of the Dewan Rakyat Select Committee on Finance and Economy.

AI-related products currently account for around 20% of MPI’s industrial revenue,” CGS said in a note on Monday (Jan 26). MPI has increased its AI server production lines from 17 to 28 to meet growing demand from key customers. With multiple AI server product generations in production, the risk of obsolescence is expected to be low over the next 12–18 months, it said. CGS sees higher-than-expected AI server demand, strong recovery in global automotive semiconductors and a stronger US dollar as potential upsides. Downside risks include weak global industrial demand, challenges integrating Thai operations and a weaker US dollar affecting earnings.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): The government will review the standard operating procedures (SOP) to improve licensing processes in Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) and Labuan over the next few months, said minister Hannah Yeoh. “I am committed to making business transactions easier in Kuala Lumpur. I am also committed to running the federal territories with more transparency and more cooperation from the private sector. In conjunction with FMC Kuala Lumpur & Selangor’s 58th anniversary, she also extended her congratulations and expressed her hope for closer collaboration in the future. "Happy 58th anniversary to FMC Kuala Lumpur & Selangor.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): RHB Investment Bank lifted Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd’s (KL:PMETAL) earnings forecast to account for its latest spot aluminium (LME) assumptions, amid a structurally weaker US dollar. RHB raised Press Metal’s FY2025-FY2027 forecasts by 5%, 17% and 18%, respectively, highlighting the multi-year high aluminium price and favourable aluminium-to-alumina cost ratio. RHB said that aluminium LME prices rose 17.5% in 2025 to US$2968 per tonne, and are expected to move further up to US$3100. RHB raised its aluminium LME assumptions from US$2700/tonne to US$2950/tonne forecasted in 2026, and US$1850/tonne in 2027. At press time on Monday, Press Metal’s shares were traded slightly higher at RM7.4, valuing the company at RM61.71 billion.

Side jobs, once associated with freelancers or those between jobs, have quietly become a defining feature of young adulthood in South Korea. As the number of young South Koreans taking on side jobs increases, so has the diversity in the side job market. Lost faith in traditional career laddersExperts say the trend also reflects a deeper shift in how young South Koreans view work and careers. The apparent lack of desire for more authority at work was found in a 2023 survey of young workers by job-search platform Job Korea. “Unlike past generations, young workers now know they can earn income outside the office through social media or e-commerce,” said Kim.

KUANTAN: The Public Service Commission (PSC) is targeting 30,000 civil servant appointments this year, compared to 25,000 appointments last year, says its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus. He said the target is in line with the need to replace retiring officers as well as the government’s efforts to ensure continuity of public service delivery. He said although applications recorded a decrease from 1.2 million in 2024 to around one million last year, Ahmad Jailani remained optimistic that the number of applications would increase again for 2026 and 2027. “We expect the number to be maintained at more than one million this year,” he said, Bernama reported. Dr Ahmad Jailani explained that the lower number of application was due to the implementation of new qualification requirements under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), which sets the minimum qualification at Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).

JOHOR BARU: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, departed for Saint Petersburg, Russia, for a special visit. This was shared in a post on the official Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. The King’s visit to Saint Petersburg is at the special invitation of President Vladimir Putin. The special aircraft carrying His Majesty took off from the Royal Hangar at Senai International Airport (LTAS) here at 8.25am yesterday. The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail and Tunku Temenggong Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj, were present to bid farewell to Sultan Ibrahim.

THIS year may be another record year for the automotive sector. The sector charted growth in total industry volumes (TIV) last year, despite initial expectations to the contrary.

While supporting efforts to enhan­ce road safety, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Opera­tors Association secretary-general Alvin Choong said older lorries may require major modifications to comply with the ruling. According to Choong, most commercial vehicle operators are in the dark on this, with little to no information given on the req­ui­rement. “For newer trucks, it can be easier to comply, but for older vehicles, it’s not that feasible in a short time frame,” he said when contacted. Law said collaboration and understanding between regulators and the business sector are crucial to ensure the effectiveness of road safety matters. Recently, the Road Transport Department announced the postponement of the implementation of a new brake parameter for lorries, called brake drag force, until March 1.

PETALING JAYA: More formal engagements are needed before the authorities roll out its new brake parameter inspections, says the Association of Malaysian Hau­l­iers (AMH). Mohd Azuan also said since the introduction of Puspakom inspections in Malaysia, the industry’s common approach to trailer drum brake adjustment has evolved around ensuring the braking system meets inspection requirements. “Most trailer drum brake systems do not provide a clear, stan­dardised indicator of the remaining brake lining/pad or drum condition. “As a result, operators have historically tended to adjust settings conservatively to avoid borderline results during inspection. Brake failure was listed as one of them, though it had more to do with grease contamination of brake linings, inconsistent brake lining material composition and excessive wear of the rear left brake drum.