PUTRAJAYA (Jan 1): The Ministry of Health (MOH) has refuted claims circulating on social media that health clinics are no longer accepting walk-in patients. The ministry said that while consultations are primarily by appointment, health clinics continue to accommodate walk-in patients, particularly in emergencies, for the elderly, and for those with limited access to technology. “Patients without an appointment will still be attended to, but will need to undergo the assessment (triage) process first,” the ministry said in a post on its official Facebook page on Thursday. According to the MOH, walk-in services will continue to ensure fair and equitable access to treatment for all segments of society. “MOH fully understands that access to technology varies for each individual,” the post said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Their Majesties, the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, and the Queen, Raja Zarith Sofiah, have graciously extended their New Year 2026 greetings to all Malaysians. In a post on the Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Their Majesties expressed their hopes that the new year would bring continuous peace and prosperity to the nation. Sultan Ibrahim also called upon the people to further strengthen unity and mutual respect, to foster harmony. "Their Majesties also pray that Malaysia will always be under the protection of Allah SWT and be blessed with enduring peace, progress and well-being," the post read.

The Health Ministry (MOH) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that health clinics are no longer accepting walk-in patients. - BERNAMA picPUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry (MOH) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that health clinics are no longer accepting walk-in patients. The ministry said that while consultations are primarily by appointment, health clinics continue to accommodate walk-in patients, particularly in emergencies, for the elderly, and for those with limited access to technology. According to MOH, walk-in services will continue to ensure fair and equitable access to treatment for all segments of society. "MOH fully understands that access to technology varies for each individual," the post added.

IPOH: A married couple in their late 60s escaped death after their car caught fire following a collision on the North–South Expressway near Ipoh on Thursday morning (Jan 1). He said the couple's car was involved in a collision with another vehicle before catching fire. The other vehicle involved had been towed away,” he said in a statement on Thursday. Shazlean said firemen from the Meru Raya station arrived at the scene at 8.28am and found the car about 80% engulfed in fire. A total of six firefighters and one Light Fire Rescue Tender (LFRT) were deployed in the operation.

PETALING JAYA: As the clock struck midnight, people across the globe erupted in celebration, marking the arrival of the New Year 2026 with an array of festivities. Major iconic landmarks served as the backdrop for dazzling fireworks displays, while each city added its own cultural flair. Whether through dance, music, or shared meals, the spirit of unity and hope was palpable as diverse groups came together to celebrate.

PETALING JAYA: The resignation of several Perikatan Nasional leaders in the past few days was not as considerable as expected, says PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari. He said several state-level leaders are remaining in their respective roles while waiting for the directive of the new Perikatan chairman. PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan recently said that the party has offered to take the helm of the coalition following Muhyiddin's resignation. "PAS hereby offers its willingness to lead Perikatan, to strengthen, organise and prepare for the state elections and the 16th General Election," he said in a statement. Perlis recently saw a leadership change after Mohd Shukri Ramli stepped down as mentri besar, citing health reasons.

GEORGE TOWN: Listing Baba Nyonya on birth certificates will boost Penang’s appeal as a cosmopolitan and culturally rich destination, according to the Penang Peranakan Baba Nyonya Association. “Chap Goh Meh was once celebrated mainly within the Baba Nyonya community. Under the Penang Peranakan Baba Nyonya Association and Straits Chinese Association, Tong said about 1,000 people in Penang are still actively pursuing Baba Nyonya cultural practices. “I grew up hearing about Baba and Nyonya culture but I never fully understood how unique it was until coming here. “Whether through heritage homes and museums, culinary tourism or cultural festivals, Baba Nyonya culture offers immense potential for sustainable tourism and creative entrepreneurship,” he said.

A large piece of suspected space debris was found washed ashore at Kampung Tanjung in Nenasi near here on Dec 30. - NSTP/FAZLI AHMADPEKAN: A large piece of suspected space debris was found washed ashore at Kampung Tanjung in Nenasi near here on Dec 30. The object, measuring about 4m by 3m, was discovered on the beach at the settlement, located about 92km from Kuantan. Zaidi said the object is believed to have fallen from space into the sea before being washed ashore at Nenasi beach. Checks at the Nenasi police station revealed that the partially damaged object, weighing several hundred kg, was transported from the shoreline to the station using a three-tonne lorry.

KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia ushers in the New Year 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Cabinet members have expressed renewed hopes and a firm commitment to continue strengthening public well-being and safeguarding national stability. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 2026 would mark a crucial phase in further strengthening reforms within the national healthcare system. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his ministry would continue to intensify reforms, improve efficiency and refine approaches grounded in humanitarian values, justice and integrity. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sim called for the tourism, arts and culture sectors to be further strengthened as drivers of economic growth and national unity, in tandem with Malaysia’s entry into Visit Malaysia 2026. Other ministers who also conveyed New Year messages via social media platforms included Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq posted double-digit gains this year, their third consecutive year in the green, a run last seen during 2019-2021. The S&P ⁠500 had also been on track for its eighth straight monthly gain until just before the closing bell, and ended up closing with a monthly loss for December. The S&P 500 lost 50.74 points, or 0.74%, to 6,845.50 points, while the Nasdaq ​Composite lost 177.09 points, or 0.76%, to 23,241.99. The communication services index emerged as the top performer on the S&P 500 this year, powered by a 65% jump in Alphabet. Storage-chip ⁠makers such as Micron Technology, Western Digital and Seagate outperformed their S&P 500 peers, having more than tripled in value in 2025.

The joy of a family picnic involving 15 relatives at Pantai Sura Tengah here turned into tragedy when a woman drowned, while her younger brother is feared dead after going missing while swimming earlier today. - Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue deptDUNGUN: The joy of a family picnic involving 15 relatives at Pantai Sura Tengah here turned into tragedy when a woman drowned, while her younger brother is feared dead after going missing while swimming earlier today. Her brother, Mohd Fazir Shafie, 37, has yet to be located. Shahrizal said the SAR operation for Mohd Fazir is ongoing, with a boat deployed and coastal searches being carried out with the assistance of the police and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force. "The incident happened when Nor Baizura was believed to have drowned while swimming, and Mohd Fazir attempted to rescue his sister.

A Palestinian man carries firewood amid the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. PIC BY AFPKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms the Zionist Israeli regime's decision to ban and suspend the operations of a large number of international humanitarian aid organisations in Gaza. The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) said the move is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and will further exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis following the regime's more than two-year war against the people of the Palestinian Territory. "The obstruction of humanitarian assistance constitutes collective punishment of civilians and undermines the neutrality and independence of humanitarian actors. "The Israeli regime is legally obliged under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza," it said in a statement today.

PADANG BESAR (Jan 1): The list of names proposed for the new Perlis State Executive Council (exco) will be presented to the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail next week, said Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah. He said the list of exco candidates consists only of four state assemblymen from Bersatu, as PAS Central had decided not to be part of the new exco lineup that will be formed. At a press conference on Tuesday, Abu Bakar said the appointment of the new Perlis exco could proceed with the minimum four members following PAS’ decision not to join the state administration under his leadership. On Wednesday, at a press conference, Perlis Speaker Rus’sele Eizan announced the withdrawal of his application to the Election Commission for by-elections to be held to fill the three casual vacancies. However, he said the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji seats will remain vacant until the next general election.

A survey showed that from the checkpoints, the Thai visitors either boarded rented vans or used public transportation to reach their destinations across the state. Most of the Thai visitors travelled with their families, while others came with friends, turning the short cross-border journey into a festive holiday outing. Many were seen heading to shopping complexes throughout Kelantan, especially in Kota Baru. Popular shopping destinations among Thai visitors included Aeon Mall and KB Mall, which were favoured for their wide variety of products and reasonable prices. Tourism Malaysia corporate communications division senior deputy director Chan Hon Mun said it has been a tradition for Thai visitors to shop at Malaysia's popular shopping complexes during long holidays, especially at Kelantan's shopping complexes.

ANKARA (Jan 1): A strong, magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Southeast Indian Ridge early Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Anadolu Ajansi reported. The first earthquake of 2026 occurred at 0153GMT at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles), triggering seismic activity in a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties as the epicentre was far from populated areas. The Southeast Indian Ridge is a major mid-ocean ridge, an underwater mountain range formed by tectonic plates slowly moving apart.