PETALING JAYA: Perlis Mentri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has been told to back off following his proposal to reinstate three former state PAS assemblymen as independents. PAS information chief Fadhli Shaari said Abu Bakar should focus on governing the state properly and not interfere with other parties' affairs. "The three former PAS assemblymen had their memberships revoked for violating discipline which is clearly stated in the party's constitution, and PAS cannot tolerate disciplinary issues like this. "He needs to ensure that he is not the shortest-serving mentri besar in history," he said on his Facebook page on Sunday (Jan 25). "PAS assemblymen are not like Mentri Besar and our party is not like his party.

PETALING JAYA: The unauthorised dissemination of another person’s personal information, including home addresses, is illegal, Bukit Aman has reminded the public. In a statement, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said such acts, which may amount to doxxing, carry legal consequences. “The police emphasise that the act of spreading, disclosing or displaying a person’s personal information without consent – including residential address, telephone number, identification number and family details – is unlawful and unacceptable under any circumstances. “In this regard, the police remind the public not to engage in any form of dissemination of personal information and to practise ethics and responsibility when using digital platforms. He said such online doxxing and threats were unwarranted and “crossing the line”, adding that these actions only served to heighten tensions.

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Barisan’s victories in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag state by-election reflect the people’s confidence in leadership continuity and the stability expected for the constituencies. Ahmad Zahid also expressed his appreciation to the entire Barisan machinery and partners in the Sabah state government for their commitment and cooperation in ensuring the victories. Meanwhile, Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the victories of the Unity Government’s candidates reflects the people’s trust in leadership that is stable, principled and responsible. "These victories also symbolise unity in leadership, the maturity of political cooperation and the people’s confidence in stability and the direction of development in Sabah. The Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections were held following the death of the incumbent, Bung Moktar, 66, on Dec 5 last year.

Malaysian Mental Health Association president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj said the willingness to seek mental health support is often constrained by local cultural norms. “In our society, mental health issues are frequently associated with weakness, or even attributed to supernatural causes under certain cultural or religious beliefs. Dr Andrew added that improving mental health literacy requires active involvement from institutions and associations to reduce stigma and expand awareness. Mental health counselor Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan said awareness of the seriousness of mental health issues is often clouded by parental attitudes. Dr Wong added that more local resources are needed to guide families in managing mental health issues.

CYBERJAYA: Private preschool operators are seeking clear guidelines as new government policy shifts preschool age. “We support reform, but we need clear guidelines so schools know exactly what to do and how to prepare,” said Q-dees director Zee Zing Lee. Operators urgently needed clear, written guidelines to explain the changes to parents and staff, she said at an emergency industry meeting here yesterday. The meeting, which was attended by private preschool operators, came about following Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement last week that Malaysian children would begin pre-school at the age of five and enter Year One at six starting next year. GAINS Education Group founder Zaliza Alias said the policy shift appeared “half-baked” without a supporting national framework.

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah booked their spot in the Indonesian Masters final after beating homesters Apriyani Rahayu-Lanny Tria. Pearly-Thinaah were in fine form and only needed 32 minutes to secure a commanding 21-15, 21-9 win at Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Saturday (Jan 24). The world No. 2 pair have reached back-to-back finals in the tournament after finishing runners-up to South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong-Kong Hee-yong last year. Pearly-Thinaah will be out to go one better when they face Japan’s new pairing Arisa Igarashi-Miyu Takahashi for the title on Sunday (Jan 25).

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Two individuals have been arrested for kidnapping a man for ransom while another remains at large. Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan said a man and a woman, aged 26 and 36, were detained in the Permas Jaya area early on Jan 20. "The male suspect has a criminal record, including for drugs and both tested positive for methamphetamine. "Another male suspect, J. Satheswaran, 30, is still at large," he said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 24)ACP Kumarasan said a 30-year-old Indian national filed a report on Jan 19 saying his friend had been abducted. He said the case is being investigated under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping and Section 384 of the same Code for extortion.

For those who have lived or worked in Kuala Lumpur for some time, it is easy to assume one knows all there is to know about the bustling city. Yet in Secret Kuala Lumpur, author Lam Seng Fatt urges readers to pause and fully appreciate the city’s sights and sounds beyond the familiar. In 'Secret Kuala Lumpur', Lam urges readers to pause and fully appreciate the city’s sights and sounds beyond the familiar. Panggung Bandaraya DBKL (KL City Theatre) is the sole building featuring Kuala Lumpur’s colonial shield. Which of Kuala Lumpur’s lesser-known spots are among your favourites?

Recently, a video went viral on social media showing a man sitting cross-legged in the middle of a busy expressway, seemingly oblivious to the traffic around him. But did this bizarre incident really happen and cause a traffic jam? Verdict:TRUEA man was seen sitting cross-legged at KM290 of the North-South Expressway in an act that posed danger to himself and other road users. "The video showed a man sitting on the highway at KM290 of the North-South Expressway," he said in a statement. "The man, believed to be a lorry driver of unknown nationality, allegedly stopped his vehicle on the emergency lane before exiting and sitting cross-legged in the first lane of the highway without any apparent reason," he said.

PETALING JAYA: Road safety experts weighed in on the use of dashcams on e-hailing and commercial vehicles, pointing out how it could transform the investigations of accidents and the enforcement of traffic laws. “Empirical research generally shows that dashcams are very effective in capturing and recording accidents, although the level of deterrence against reckless driving shows varying results. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia traffic and road safety psychologist Prof Dr Rozmi Ismail echoed similar views and said the ­government should hold campaigns to encourage the use of dashcams in vehicles. “Apart from traffic accidents, it can help solve crimes and even provide information on wildlife straying from their habitat. “Motorcyclists especially, who comprise the highest number of traffic fatalities, should consider using dashcams, as they are highly vulnerable to accidents,” Rozmi said.

BUTTERWORTH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has refuted claims that Malaysia has handed over 5,207ha of land to Indonesia as compensation for three villages in the Nunukan area near the Sabah–Kalimantan border. He said negotiations with Indonesia on boundary measurements were still ongoing. “Malaysia and Indonesia are negotiating in a constructive and harmonious manner. On a separate matter, Anwar said peace and stability are the basic conditions for Malaysians to live well and prosper together. The Prime Minister said the government was focused on reforms aimed at improving people’s welfare and quality of life.

JOHOR BARU: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has departed for Saint Petersburg, Russia, for a special visit until Tuesday (Jan 27). This was shared in a post on the official Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on Sunday (Jan 25). 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 8.25 am on Sunday. The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, and Tunku Temenggong Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj, were present to bid farewell to Sultan Ibrahim.

“The lungs, kidneys and liver are usually affected first,” Dr Mohamed Ezani says. The doctors also soon discovered that his heart function was severely impaired. “In young patients, heart function can improve within three days to a week, while in older patients, it will take a longer time,” Dr Mohamed Ezani notes. “This case shows that not all hope is lost,” Dr Mohamed Ezani says. Over time, the team has refined its approach, carefully balancing the patient’s own heart function with mechanical support.

THE iconic raptor, the Javan hawk-eagle (nisaetus bartelsi), is facing mounting risks from habitat degradation that threatens its remaining populations, according to recent findings, as forest loss and land conversion continue across parts of Java. As a child, Dwi recalled frequently seeing the raptor circling above her village, an experience that left a lasting impression. Beyond habitat loss, the government’s decision to designate the Javan hawk-eagle as Indo­nesia’s national bird in 1993 has brought additional risks. To strengthen protection for the Javan hawk-eagle’s habitat, the Forestry Ministry is preparing seven new conservation areas across Java. “Designating conservation areas in Java is crucial to protect the Javan hawk-eagle’s habitat and support the species’ conservation,” Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki said.

The anticipated arrival of 47 million international tourists for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) is more than a tourism milestone. It is the catalyst for a fundamental structural shift in the Malaysian rental market. With a projected RM329bil in tourism spending, this massive injection will create a perfect storm for property investors, particularly those positioned in the high-yield short-term rental (STR) sector.