Nanta said the majority of accidents in smart lanes are not due to road design but human error. “This includes speeding in smart lanes, changing lanes dangerously without providing any signal indicator and using the smart lane outside of its operation hours,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Jan 21). Smart lanes refer to the activation of emergency lanes to ease traffic congestion during peak travel periods. Among other measures include the use of portable variable messaging systems to inform users on smart lane activation hours. He said that while smart lanes reduce travel time, there is no compromise on road safety standards.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): The government aims to help more than 100,000 individuals acquire their first homes this year through the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP). To support the target, the total financing guarantee ceiling under SJKP was increased by RM10 billion in 2025. This brings the cumulative guarantee value since the scheme’s inception in 2008 to RM40 billion. As at Sept 30, 2025, SJKP had approved RM23.17 billion in housing loan guarantees, enabling 97,180 individuals to purchase homes. SJKP provides financing guarantees of up to RM500,000 for first-home purchases, covering new, subsale and auctioned properties.

Compiled by OON JUN-YANG, C.ARUNO AND R.ARAVINTANA FIVE-FOOT-TALL statue of Thiruvalluvar, initially intended for a Tamil school in Negri Sembilan, was given to a temple after permission to place it at the school was denied, Makkal Osai reported. Majlis Gabungan Persatuan India Negeri Sembilan chairman Datuk R. Kanagaraja revealed this during the official unveiling of the statue at the Sri Arumachaleswarar Sivan Temple in Thivy Jaya. No reasons were given by the authorities for not allowing the statue to be placed at the intended Tamil school, resulting in it being given to the temple, he said. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to build a Tamil school on a 0.8ha plot gazetted in the area, with land matters and fees currently being finalised. “Once these processes are completed, work on the school building will commence,” Kanagaraja said.

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will intensify investigations into premises involved in the illegal importation of electronic waste (e-waste) into the country. He said the companies involved were believed to be owned by foreign nationals and were importing electronic waste, plastic and paper for recycling purposes. To address the issue, a Special Task Force Meeting on E-Waste Enforcement has been established, comprising 12 agencies including the MACC, Waste Reception Control Agency, Royal Malaysia Police, Department of Environment, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry. The meeting will examine specific laws related to e-waste and implement more effective enforcement measures to ensure smuggling activities are eradicated at their roots. The MACC said it viewed the matter seriously and warned authorities involved to immediately halt the importation of e-waste.

KOTA KINABALU: Two Filipino fishermen were detained for using lamps underwater to attract fish, an illegal means to trawl, along the coasts of Tanjung Melanim near here. The men, aged 19 and 54, were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) during a patrol operation around 4pm on Sunday. Sabah MMEA director First Admiral Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali said the use of such lamps on the seabeds could destroy the marine ecosystem. “Using lamps underwater can attract fish and other marine species on an uncontrolled scale, resulting in an imbalance in the marine ecosystem,” he said, adding that this could affect ongoing conservation and rehabilitation works. “On board, we found the two crew members with suspicious documentation and discovered the illegal fishing method used,” he added.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will mandate a minimum of 30 per cent local content in all defence procurements and end original equipment manufacturer involvement in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the move was part of a sweeping push to build a self-reliant national defence industry under the newly launched National Defence Industry Policy (DIPN). He said all MRO activities would be carried out by local companies, except during warranty periods, adding that contracts would be terminated if firms failed to innovate, increase local content levels or reduce costs. Among the key reforms outlined, aside from setting a minimum local content requirement of 30 per cent for each defence procurement, are revised terms on technology transfer. Alongside the launch of the DIPN, Khaled also introduced the Defence Industry Portal, which provides a platform for ICP applications, R&D grants and technology offerings related to the defence sector.

(Jan 21): Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is facing new accusations of plunder and graft from a civil group, amid growing signs that the nation’s politics is headed into a new bout of internecine feuding. Wednesday’s filing comes days after an impeachment complaint was made against Duterte’s rival, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He was accused of wrongdoing for, among other things, allowing the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, the father of the current vice president. While Marcos and Sara Duterte ran on a joint ticket in 2022, their relationship has deteriorated. Last year, an impeachment complaint against the vice president collapsed after being ruled as unconstitutional.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said these incidents involved only a small number of individuals and should not overshadow those who continue to carry out their duties with professionalism in the Defence Ministry, the Home Ministry, and enforcement agencies. NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAHKUALA LUMPUR: The recent misconduct and corruption cases involving the defence sector must not be allowed to define or discredit the integrity of the wider body of personnel serving in the force, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. "These cases must not be seen as representing the entire body of personnel, whether in the Defence Ministry, the Home Ministry or enforcement agencies," he said at the launch of the National Defence Industry Policy at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre today. He said the vast majority of personnel remain committed to safeguarding national security and maintaining operational preparedness, which form the backbone of public confidence and economic stability. "Malaysia's ability to record strong economic performance and attract investor confidence is closely linked to the tireless work of the armed forces, police, border agencies and enforcement personnel, who ensure a safe and stable environment," he said.

MELBOURNE (Jan 21): Government policies around floor prices for rare earths have improved the function of the market and helped lift prices to sustainable levels, Amanda Lacaze, the chief executive officer of Lynas Rare Earths, said on Wednesday. Prices should reflect costsThe floor price policy discussions are the most important talks Lynas is having with governments, she said. They are crucial for the company to sell rare earths at a level competitive with its lower-cost Chinese rivals. The average selling price for Lynas' product range was A$85.60 (US$57.69 or RM233.78) per kg during the quarter, higher than A$49.20 per kg a year ago. Lynas posted sales revenue of A$201.9 million for the quarter ended Dec 31, compared with A$141.2 million a year ago.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): Malaysia will clarify and redefine key terms before finalising the ratification of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States, amid concerns over sovereignty and national interests. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said earlier discussions on the deal focused mainly on economic aspects but lacked clear definitions, particularly regarding sovereignty and national interests. These are the issues we need to define clearly,” Johari told the Dewan Rakyat during oral questions on Wednesday. However, the agreement has faced criticism, particularly from right-wing groups, who argued it could undermine Malaysia’s economic sovereignty. Johari stressed that the issue is economic rather than political, but added that any trade discussions would not come at the expense of Malaysia’s sovereignty.

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) has been hospitalised since Jan 19 and will be on medical leave for a week, the Dewan Rakyat was informed. According to Dr Wee, he is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital due to a lung infection. “I was admitted on Jan 19 and am now receiving close monitoring and treatment, which is estimated to last about a week,” said Dr Wee in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 21)Dr Wee said he has informed Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul regarding his absence. He has been admitted to the hospital for one week since Jan 19. The current Parliament meeting will take place from Jan 19 to March 3.

The KLCI, meanwhile, has delivered single-digit gains and Bursa Malaysia continues to see more delistings than new entrants. Of the approximately 1,050 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia, almost three-quarters have zero analyst coverage, based on data from Refinitiv I/B/E/S. The Securities Commission Malaysia lists 850 shariah-compliant securities on Bursa Malaysia, approximately 80% of all listings. Research coverage follows liquidity. Research coverage generates positive externalities beyond the private returns to brokerages and fund managers.

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, received the credentials of 12 new foreign envoys to Malaysia in a ceremony at Istana Negara. The heads of mission were Dr Sandor Sipos (Hungary), Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury (Bangladesh), Abdoul Aziz Loum (Senegal), Jehad Fouad Mabrouk Alqedra (Palestine), Peter Spisiak (Slovak Republic), Maher Kheir (Lebanon), Diego Pelufo Acosta Y. Lara (Uruguay), Osamah Dakhel R. Al-Ahmadi (Saudi Arabia), Raden Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo (Indonesia), Marc Abensour (France), Ibrahim Bileh Doualeh (Djibouti) and Luiz Manuel de Magalhaes de Albuquerque Veloso (Portugal). Also there were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Wisma Putra secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin.

However, checks found that the vehicles were sold to foreigners without proper ownership transfer,” he told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur JPJ headquarters yesterday. “As a result, the registered ­owners remain fully responsible and will also be subjected to enforcement action under existing laws,” Hamidi added. The foreign drivers came from various countries including Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Myanmar. “Several foreign drivers ­attempted to flee during the ­operation but were successfully detained and brought to Kuala Lumpur JPJ for further action,” he added. “The decline is likely due to ­sustained enforcement and ­cooperation with other agencies, but Kuala Lumpur JPJ will continue operations from time to time to address this issue,” he said.

"To preserve the supply of single-family homes for American families and increase the paths to homeownership, it is the policy of my Administration that large institutional investors should not buy single-family homes that could otherwise be purchased by families," Trump said in the order. Trump's order on Tuesday directs his administration to promote home sales to individual buyers, restrict federal programmes from facilitating sales of single-family homes to Wall Street investors, and review acquisitions by large investors. The order instructs federal agencies to allow individuals and other non-institutional investors to buy foreclosed properties ahead of investors. The White House will also prepare legislative recommendations to codify policies to prevent large institutional investors from acquiring single-family homes. By June 2022, institutional investors owned around 450,000 homes, or about 3%, of all single-family rental homes nationally, according to a 2024 study by the Government Accountability Office.