A medical specialist suffered losses amounting to RM529,200 after falling victim to a non-existent cryptocurrency investment scam in September last year. - File picIPOH: A medical specialist suffered losses amounting to RM529,200 after falling victim to a non-existent cryptocurrency investment scam in September last year. "Preliminary police investigations revealed that in late September 2025, the victim received an investment link from an acquaintance on the TikTok application. "The victim suffered a further loss of RM209,200, bringing the total loss incurred to RM529,200. "The victim began to feel suspicious and lost trust in the legitimacy of the dealings, subsequently lodging a police report," he said.

IPOH: A 67-year-old medical practitioner has lost a total of RM529,200 in a cryptocurrency investment scam and then falling victim to a bogus "fund recovery" service. "Preliminary investigations found that in September 2025, the victim received a link for an investment via TikTok. "The victim contacted a man who claimed to be a lawyer and was instructed to make several payments. "As a result, the victim suffered further losses amounting to RM209,200, bringing his total losses to RM529,200," he said. Comm Noor Hisam advised the public to be more cautious and not to be easily deceived by investment offers or promises to recover losses on social media.

Malaysia is targeting 43 million international tourist arrivals in conjunction with VM2026. - NSTP/EIZAIRI SHAMSUDINEIZAIRI SHAMSUDINBAYAN LEPAS: Police will enhance security measures at tourist destinations nationwide as part of routine operations in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026), Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said. He said the deployment of additional personnel and tighter security controls at key locations, particularly tourist areas, was standard police practice during major national events, festive seasons and peak travel periods. "With Visit Malaysia Year, this is already part of our routine. Malaysia is targeting 43 million international tourist arrivals in conjunction with VM2026.

NIBONG TEBAL: Police have arrested 10 more individuals suspected of being involved in the case where a man died and two others were injured after being attacked by a group of masked men armed with sharp objects at a restaurant in Sungai Bakap here, last Tuesday (Dec 30). Penang police chief Comm Datuk Azizee Ismail said all the suspects were arrested in separate raids in Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) and Taiping, Perak on Friday (Jan 2), bringing the total number of arrests so far to 14, including four arrested within 48 hours of the incident. "All 14 suspects arrested, aged between 24 and 54, are believed to be members of a secret society active in Penang. "Of the total, 10 suspects have criminal and drug records," he said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 3). He said that based on intelligence, the police also raided several areas believed to be gathering places for members of the group to track down the remaining suspects involved in the incident.

SEREMBAN: The remand order for a man suspected of being involved in an explosion involving an improvised explosive device (IED) at Desa Palma, Nilai here has been extended for seven days from Sunday (Jan 4). Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said the remand order against the 62-year-old man, until Jan 10, was issued by Magistrate Sara Afiqah Zulkipli at Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital here after the initial remand period ended on Saturday (Jan 3). "The extension is to allow further investigations to be carried out under Sections 307 and Section 435 of the Penal Code and Section 4 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act,” he said in a statement here today. Previously, Alzafny said the suspect in the Desa Palma explosion on the morning of Dec 22 was arrested in the vicinity of Batang Benar, Nilai, at about 4.15pm on Dec 27, with burn injuries to his face, body, hands and legs. The suspect is believed to possess technical knowledge and specialised skills in the fabrication of explosive materials, based on the discovery of devices and equipment seized at his rented house.

The call was made at the Umno Youth special convention, attended by some 1,500 members. “This proposal will be brought to the supreme council and Umno general assembly to be passed as a resolution,” he said when addressing the delegates. Dr Akmal said Umno would be branded as cowardly if it remained silent without taking any action. “I am against anyone bringing down the government, as the priority remains the stability of the country,” said Dr Akmal. He said the study also revealed that 62% of Umno members have yet to accept the working relationship between Umno and DAP in the unity government.

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP): The Trump administration says that Venezuela's captured leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife will face "the full wrath of American justice" under drug and terrorism charges. Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted on X on Saturday (Jan 3) that Maduro and his wife –who were earlier removed from Venezuela by the US military, according to Washington – "will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts." Bondi recalled the Maduros face charges in New York federal court on existing "Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy" charges.

KUALA LUMPUR: Family members of those killed in the Durian Tunggal shooting have submitted a memorandum to Bukit Aman, urging for a transparent investigation into the case without interference. “Despite the fact that this case has been classified as a murder, not a single police officer has been remanded or arrested. He also called for all those directly involved, including the Melaka police chief, to be removed and transferred. Rajesh further alleged that the real scene of the crime was not in Durian Tunggal but along the North-South Expressway, and that if evidence was tampered with, all those involved must be charged as well. All suspects, allegedly members of the Durian Tunggal Gang, had reportedly been detected en route to commit robbery.

MORE than one month after the devastating floods and landslides triggered by tropical Cyclone Senyar last November, hundreds of thousands of people are still displaced in Indonesia’s westernmost province, Aceh. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humani-tarian Affairs in its Dec 29 report said, based on information compiled by Indonesian Humani-tarian Coordination Platform, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Aceh alone is 377,853.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) today issued a Continuous Rain Warning (Alert) amid forecasts of prolonged rainfall affecting several states beginning next week. In a statement, MetMalaysia said continuous rain is expected in Kelantan and Terengganu from Jan 5 to 8. The department added that prolonged rainfall is also forecast in several districts in Pahang, namely Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Jerantut, Maran, Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin, from Jan 6 to 8.

KINABATANGAN: Once political rivals, leaders who previously stood on opposing sides are now closing ranks under Barisan Nasional, framing unity as the central message ahead of the Lamag state by-election. Barisan’s Lamag candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob, popularly known as Miha, said past political differences have been set aside to allow all sides to work together towards a shared goal - development for Lamag and Kinabatangan. What matters now is that we share the same objective - to develop Lamag and Kinabatangan,” he said at a community gathering. Naim added that political unity should not be undermined by internal divisions, stressing that prolonged political fragmentation would only weaken the constituency. Nomination day has been set for Jan 10, early voting on Jan 20, and polling day on Jan 24.

Joey, a freelance graphic designer in the Lao capital Vientiane, described the past year as a whirlwind of deadlines, client meetings, and late-night projects. I didn't want to worry about traffic, road bumps, or driving, so I chose the China-Laos Railway for this trip." They chose the China-Laos Railway for its convenience and affordable tickets, allowing them to travel comfortably as a couple. The China-Laos Railway makes it so easy. Paopao and Nounoy agree that the China-Laos Railway has made travel easier, more enjoyable, and a part of the holiday experience itself.

Crans-Montana, Switzerland: Sparklers held under a foam-clad ceiling likely ignited a deadly blaze that killed 40 New Year's revellers in a Swiss ski bar, authorities said on Friday, but the bar owner insisted that all safety standards were followed. "Everything suggests that the fire started from sparklers or Bengal candles" waved high near the ceiling, the chief prosecutor of the Wallis region, Beatrice Pilloud, told a press conference. When the party-goers realised the danger they were in, chaos broke out, with videos showing them scrambling and screaming. The exact number of people who were at the bar when it went up in flames remains unclear. As authorities on Friday began moving bodies from the burned-out bar, locals described Crans-Montana as stunned.

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 3): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is investigating online harm on social media platform X and will summon its representatives to seek clarification over the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate harmful content. In a statement on Saturday, the MCMC said it views seriously public complaints involving the misuse of AI on X, particularly the manipulation of images of women and children to produce obscene, highly offensive and harmful material. The MCMC said it will also initiate investigations against X users suspected of breaching the CMA. Although X is currently not a licensed service provider, the MCMC stressed that the platform remains subject to Malaysia’s online safety standards and is responsible for preventing the dissemination of harmful content accessible in the country. The MCMC urged all platforms accessible in Malaysia to implement safeguards in line with local laws and online safety standards, particularly in relation to AI features, chatbots and image manipulation applications.

ISKANDAR Puteri City Council (MBIP) is Johor’s first local council and second in the country to join the Unesco Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). Iskandar Puteri mayor Hasrin Kamal Hashim said the city council was accepted as a GNLC member on Dec 4. “By joining the GNLC, we can gain expertise and create holistic, accessible and sustainable learning opportunities for everyone. In a separate matter, Hasrin Kamal said 70,000 people took part in the Iskandar Puteri Local Plan 2035 (RTIP2035) Draft. “RTIP2035 is a master plan that guides the future development of Iskandar Puteri until 2035,” said the mayor.