KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Malaysian Parliament will organise the first All-Malaysia PAC Conference, beginning Thursday until Jan 24 here. PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the conference aimed, among others, to enhance the image of the PAC as a check and balance body on executive functions at both the federal and state levels. The Masjid Tanah MP said the conference also sought to understand the implementation methods of the PAC system in state legislative assemblies nationwide, in addition to providing benchmarks for more standardised PAC proceedings and meetings at both parliamentary and state levels. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul is scheduled to officiate the conference on Friday. The PAC expects the conference to produce practical resolutions and recommendations, align financial oversight approaches between the Federal Government and the states, and strengthen the effectiveness of the PAC’s role at all levels of administration.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry (Mindef) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity following a courtesy call by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki at Wisma Pertahanan on Wednesday (Jan 21). Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Azam's visit reflected a clear signal of shared commitment between the ministry and the MACC to strengthen integrity and governance. "It is in line with the need to bolster public confidence in the nation’s defence institutions," he said in a statement on Wednesday. He stressed that the ministry would extend its full cooperation to the MACC in all ongoing investigations related to corruption cases, in keeping with the principles of transparency, accountability and integrity. Mohamed Khaled said the MACC also expressed its agreement to offer advisory services to help enhance and improve procurement governance within the ministry and the Malaysian Armed Forces.

An index of contract signings decreased 9.3% to 71.8 last month, according to data released on Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). “The housing sector is not out of the woods yet,” NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement. While NAR adjusts the data for these patterns, the drop was still the largest for any December in data back to 2001. Pending-homes sales tend to be a leading indicator for previously owned homes, as houses typically go under contract a month or two before they’re sold. Wednesday’s report showed contract signings dropped in all four regions, including double-digit slides in three.

(Jan 21): Johnson & Johnson’s fourth-quarter (4Q) sales beat expectations, led by strong growth for several newer cancer treatments, while it issued higher-than-expected 2026 guidance. Sales are projected to be in a range of between US$100 billion (RM405.12 billion) and US$101 billion this year — above the average of analyst estimates. It expects growth despite a deal with the White House to give discounts on some of the company’s key drugs. J&J said 4Q earnings of US$2.46 a share excluding certain items were reduced by 10 cents due to the company’s US$3.05 billion deal to buy Halda Therapeutics. Sales growth was 7.1% excluding the impact of currency translation.

KUALA LUMPUR: As Lee Zii Jia broke his losing streak at the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta on Wednesday, his former coach, Wong Tat Meng, arrived in Malaysia for a short visit. Four months ago, I survived a serious accident. Tat Meng has been based in Sydney where he serves as the coaching and programmes director of the Roketto Badminton Club. He was greeted by close friend, Lim Joe Heang, a former physical conditioning coach for Zii Jia, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday. "Welcome home, coach Tat Meng.

Abuse of power and corruption continues despite the crackdown by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. No less than His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, is after you. Calling them traitors in his hard-hitting Royal Address at the opening of the current session of the 15th Parliament on Monday, Sultan Ibrahim told the august house that they "will continue to be pursued until they are found". Sultan Ibrahim has called on the people to become the eyes and ears and report any form of corruption and crime. It is unfortunate that those who are tasked with curbing corruption had to wait for a royal reprimand.

Chinatown could soon see more foot traffic and fewer cars, if a proposal to extend vehicle- free hours at two stretches of roads is accepted by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). Currently, the iconic shopping area’s pedestrian-­friendly zone along Jalan Petaling and Jalan Hang Lekir in Kuala Lumpur is vehicle-free from 6pm to 11pm to facilitate night market operations. However, Jalan Petaling stakeholders are suggesting that these hours be increased, from noon to 11pm daily. “The vehicle-free hours here started about three decades ago and has benefitted both shoppers and traders.”Ang: Limiting vehicle access will improve visitor experience. “What’s left is to increase the awning height of the 40 stalls located near the Jalan Petaling and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock junction.

IPOH: A businessman has been charged at the Magistrate's Court here for cheating a factory owner of about RM38,943. Lee Wooi Siong, 54, pleaded not guilty after the charge under Section 420 of the Penal Code was read before Mohd Harith Mohd Mazlan here on Wednesday (Jan 21). The offence was said to have occurred at a factory in the Bercham light industries area from Aug 28 to 30 between 10.28am and 12.38pm last year. While pleading for a lower bail, lawyer S. Vinesh said the accused is a divorcee but is supporting his child, aged 21. Mohd Harith set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and April 7 for mention and submission of documents.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s tourist arrivals have exceeded expectations, prompting the government to consider revising its targets under Visit Malaysia 2026 and intensifying global promotional efforts. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the original target for Visit Malaysia 2026 was 35.6 million arrivals. “This has created new challenges for us, but it also shows that promotion works,” he said after launching the strategic cooperation between Tourism Malaysia and Oriental Kopi for the “Rasa Malaysia” promotion in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 yesterday (Jan 21). To sustain the momentum, Tiong said the ministry has instructed Tourism Malaysia to step up worldwide promotional activities, focusing on high-spending markets such as China, Singapore, Asean countries and Europe. Tiong also said Malaysia is targeting second-tier cities in China by working closely with airlines to reduce transit times, which previously discouraged travellers.

KUALA LUMPUR: Derogatory remarks about the food of other races have no place in a multicultural Malaysia, says a government backbencher. Datuk Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) called for mutual respect, citing instances where pork was labelled as disgusting and foul-smelling. “Us Dayaks have never insulted the dishes of others, yet there are times we have been labelled as being uncivilised for eating pork. We must show mutual respect for the dishes served by other ethnic groups. Yet, we do not make negative comments on (such dishes),” he said when debating the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Jan 21).

For Zii Jia, the victory represented a crucial step in rebuilding belief, rather than a statement of form, at a time when his career has been at a crossroads. "The last time I won a match was probably more than a year ago (in March last year), so this victory means a lot to me," said Zii Jia in a post-match interview with Shuttletimes. While results deserted him for much of last season, Zii Jia said the support he received away from the court never wavered. For Zii Jia, gratitude now comes with responsibility. While he admitted hoping to rediscover his peak this year, Zii Jia stressed that patience remains central to his comeback.

A six-year-old boy sustained a leg injury after the motorcycle he was riding on with an adult skidded off the road along Jalan Kampung Pisang, Air Itam, this evening. - PIC COURTESY: JBPMGEORGE TOWN: A six-year-old boy sustained a leg injury after the motorcycle he was riding on with an adult skidded off the road along Jalan Kampung Pisang, Air Itam, this evening. "The accident involved a Yamaha LC135 motorcycle, which is believed to have lost control and veered onto the road shoulder. "The child's left leg became trapped in the motorcycle's sprocket, requiring urgent rescue work by firefighters," he said in a statement. According to him, the child sustained injuries to his left leg, while the rider suffered only minor injuries.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Malaysia’s trade with Asean recorded an increase of 1.7% to RM709.08 billion for the January to November 2025 period, accounting for 25.6% of Malaysia’s total global trade which amounted to RM2.775 trillion for the same period in 2024. “Meanwhile, imports declined 2.6% to RM290.30 billion, due to a significant drop in domestic demand for petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products, and transport equipment. The ministry was responding to a question from Tan Kok Wa (PH-Cheras) on the comparison between Malaysia’s trade with Asean and non-Asean partners, as well as the measures taken to strengthen intra-Asean trade. For 2024, Malaysia’s total trade with Asean increased 6.1 % compared with 2023, reaching RM765.03 billion, which represented 29 % of Malaysia’s total trade valued at RM2.879 trillion. In the same period, the value of Malaysia’s exports to Asean rose 4.1 % to RM438 billion, while imports from Asean increased 8.9 % to RM327.12 billion.

KUALA LUMPUR: Graft busters are focusing on governance weaknesses in the management of electronic waste (e-waste) following the implementation of Ops Nature, an operation carried out simultaneously by its Selangor and Negri Sembilan branches. "In addition to investigating offences related to corruption, we are also examining governance aspects to identify root causes and systemic weaknesses that have contributed to ongoing e-waste management issues. He added that preliminary issues identified include weaknesses in monitoring mechanisms and follow-up enforcement related to e-waste management. "However, he stressed that these findings can only be confirmed upon the completion of a comprehensive governance investigation," he said. Azmi said the MACC does not rule out the possibility of similar issues occurring in other states, adding that governance investigations could be expanded nationwide if necessary.

SIBU: The army has foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth more than RM517,000 out of the country after intercepting a lorry in Serikin near the Sarawak–Indonesia border on Tuesday (January 20). Initial field assessment revealed that the vehicle was moving from Kampung Sebobok towards the international border. The army said security control in the Serikin and Bau sectors has been tightened recently to detect and disrupt both inbound and outbound cross-border smuggling activities. The public has been urged to continue providing information on suspicious activities along illegal border routes in the interest of national security. Mohd Sofi said the successful operation resulted from the integrity and vigilance of army personnel in Sabah and Sarawak, urging them to remain united and serve with dedication to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.