The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is aiming to recover about RM10 billion this year from losses caused by misappropriation and leakages through the Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF), said its Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. Pic by Sharifah Mahsinah AbdullahKOTA BARU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is aiming to recover about RM10 billion this year from losses caused by misappropriation and leakages through the Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF), said its Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. To achieve the target, Azam said all enforcement agencies must intensify efforts to trace and recover funds that had been lost. He added that between 2023 and 2024, a total of RM15.5 billion had already been recovered through MATF operations involving cases of misappropriation and leakages. "MACC understands that enforcement agencies cannot monitor activities at all times, and in some cases, they may lack sufficient assets.

ArcelorMittal “and the Industrial Development Corporation are engaged in advanced discussions to find a sustainable solution based on a non-binding term sheet regarding a potential transaction,” the steelmaker’s local unit, ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd, or AMSA, said in a stock exchange statement on Thursday. Late last year, discussions between the parties fell apart without a deal after ArcelorMittal rejected an informal proposal of about 8.5 billion South African rand (RM2.11 billion), which would have included the repayment of seven billion rand in debt to the South African unit’s parent. They, and another person involved in the talks, declined to say what ArcelorMittal is being offered. AMSA has now closed the two steel mills and an iron ore mine. The IDC sees its mills as crucial to the nation’s industrial sector.

Public complaints should be viewed as reflections of government effectiveness rather than disruptions to administration, says Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. MANIMARANIPOH: Public complaints should be viewed as reflections of government effectiveness rather than disruptions to administration, says Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. Saarani revealed that more than 19,000 complaints were lodged through the Public Complaint Management System (Sispaa) in 2025. He noted that recurring complaints, particularly regarding local authority services such as road maintenance, cleanliness, and pest control, signal areas requiring systemic improvement. "First, response time to public complaints must be shortened and standardised.

SEREMBAN: A 22-year-old man claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to a charge of raping a 15-year-old girl. He was charged with committing the offence near a petrol station along Jalan Sg Gadut around 11.35pm on Dec 9, 2023. Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi then told the court the prosecution was offering the accused bail of RM15,000 with one surety. He told the court he worked as a helper at an eatery and also had to provide for his three younger siblings. Judge Surita then set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and allowed the other applications by the prosecution.

Did you know that 2016 was the year that Lonely Planet introduced its Best of Asia list? A move worth the effort, as Ipoh ultimately was ranked sixth by Lonely Planet out of the 10 best destinations to visit in Asia in 2016. Melaka’s Jonker Street – an area famed for its heritage buildings, similar to Ipoh – has noticeably fewer trendy cafes in 2016. The Mamee Jonker House, by Melaka’s homegrown food brand Mamee, was only a year old by then. If you have photos of the abovementioned places, or even other tourist attractions in Malaysia, you can share with us via email at star2travel@thestar.com.my.

(Jan 22): Billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi’s Gulf Development Pcl, Thailand’s largest power producer, is deepening its expansion into artificial intelligence (AI) with an agreement with Alphabet Inc’s Google to jointly explore business opportunities. Gulf Edge Co, Gulf Development’s unit, signed a strategic framework agreement with Google to provide AI infrastructure services, according to a Thai exchange filing. The partnership aims to support Gulf Development’s transition into an AI-native technology company, it said. The accord comes as Google carries out plans invest US$1 billion (RM4.04 billion) in Thai data centres. Sarath, who is Gulf Development’s CEO, has a net worth of US$13.2 billion and is the country’s second richest person, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): The electrical and electronics (E&E) sector, especially semiconductors, will continue to be among the key sectors for potential investments this year, according to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said this in reference to the new investment plan, noting that Mida has been focusing on diversification of industries for a long time. Zafrul said the goal for the entire ecosystem is to integrate local companies into the global value chain. Commenting on estimates of investment value from the various sectors, Zafrul said there is no target yet as Mida’s management is still finalising the details. For a certain sector, we cannot just look at the numbers, but we have to look at the right spillover too,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sekijang MP Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has been appointed the new Government Backbenchers Club (BBC) chairman. The announcement was made in Parliament on Thursday (Jan 22) and also in the Unity Government BBC WhatsApp group that involves backbencher MPs. "With confirmation and approval of the Prime Minister, it is hereby announced that Zaliha, the Sekijang MP, has been elected and appointed as the new BBC chairman to replace Paya Besar MP Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who was appointed as a member of the administration. Dr Zaliha was dropped as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) during the Cabinet reshuffle in December, which also saw Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar replaced as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs). Her predecessor, Shahar, was made Deputy Economy Minister.

(Jan 22): Emerging Asian stocks raced towards record highs on Thursday after US President Donald Trump softened his stance on EU tariff threats and ruled out seizing Greenland from an ally by force, reviving appetite for riskier assets. The MSCI gauge of Asian emerging stocks surged 1%, with equities in South Korea and Taiwan rising to all-time highs. A broader index of equities in Asia outside of Japan touched a record high. In Davos, Trump pulled back on tariff threats against European Union members and ruled out using force to acquire Greenland, easing investor concerns globally. "It's a tentative uplift in Asia's risk sentiment following President Trump's walk-back on Greenland tariff threats, which helped global equities rally and eased immediate geopolitical risk," said Glenn Yin, director of research at ACCM.

IPOH: An 80-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing the death of a police corporal in an accident at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah here on Wednesday (Jan 21). Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the woman was arrested at the district police station on the same day. The driver, travelling from Lengkok Harimau, is alleged to have made an illegal right turn onto Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah before colliding with the motorcycle. ACP Abang Zainal Abidin said a post-mortem on the victim was conducted at about 8.30pm on Wednesday at about 8.30pm. The section deals with causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

(Jan 21): South Korea isn’t delaying the first planned US$20 billion (RM80.95 billion) tranche of its US investment commitments as part of a trade deal framework, Finance Minister Koo Yun Cheol said, adding that the time-consuming process to select projects is underway even though it’s unlikely to be completed in the first half of the year. “It’s not that we are delaying US$20 billion investment,” Koo told Bloomberg News in a phone interview on Thursday. Koo said Thursday that the promised money would not be spent all at once given the usual procedures to select and implement projects. “It’s about 28 to 30 trillion won, and even for domestic projects, it’s hard to spend that much all at once,” the minister said. President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday the country’s beleaguered currency may strengthen and stabilise around the 1,400-per-dollar level within the next two months, adding that the weakness was not unique to South Korea.

BENTONG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is undertaking a working visit to Pahang on Thursday (Jan 22), with his first event being attending a State Development Briefing at the District and Land Office here. Anwar arrived at 10.05am and was welcomed by state secretary Datuk Seri Nazri Abu Bakar, the state government’s top leadership and department heads. Also present were Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. After the briefing, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, is scheduled to attend a gathering with the Chinese community at the main hall of SJKC Perting, before proceeding to a gathering with Maahad representatives from across Bentong at Masjid Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah here. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to attend a gathering with students of Sekolah Agama Rakyat Kelas Al-Quran and Fardu Ain (Kafa) at Kafa Saidatina Aisyah in Taman Harmoni here, before concluding his visit at the Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) in Karak.

KUALA LUMPUR: Well-wishes have been pouring in following Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong’s hospitalisation for a lung infection. "I am truly touched by all your thoughtful messages and well wishes," the Ayer Hitam MP said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan 22). The post was accompanied by a photo of a smiling Dr Wee and his wife Datin Seri Jessica Lim. The MCA president also inserted an image with the words: "Keep calm, I’ll be back soon" in the comments section of the post. On Wednesday (Jan 21), Dr Wee announced that he had been in hospital since Monday (Jan 10) and would be on medical leave for a week because of a lung infection.

KUALA LUMPUR: The third wife of former army chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan has claimed trial at the Sessions Court to four counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM77,000. Salwani Anuar @ Kamaruddin, 27, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad on Thursday (Jan 22). She faces a maximum 15 years in prison and a fine of no less than five times the amount of illegal proceeds, or RM5mil, whichever is higher, upon conviction. Her husband was charged earlier in the same court complex with four counts of money laundering involving RM2.1mil. Salwani is expected to face another charge at the Jertih Sessions Court in Terengganu on Monday (Jan 26).

PETALING JAYA: The country has the potential and expertise to ensure the success of the National Defence Industry Policy (DIPN), as long as the framework is based on integrity and transparency, say defence experts. The experts said the two main councils – the Defence Industry Council and the Defence, Science and Technology Advisory Council – will play big roles in DIPN’s success. As such, those appointed to the councils must be competent in the defence industry, said Prof Dr Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia. “We need to produce more defence experts in the engineering faculties, cyber industry and the artificial intelligence sectors. Defence analyst Zaki Salleh said a roadmap was needed to provide a timeframe to develop our defence industry.