PETALING JAYA: Tax experts have cautioned that the decision to raise the e-invoicing threshold to a turnover of RM1mil annually should not be seen as a reason to delay digital transformation. He said many SMEs, even the smaller ones, are already making concerted efforts to digitalise their accounting and reporting processes. He noted that affordable digital tools are increasingly accessible, even for smaller businesses, making early preparation both feasible and prudent. However, Veerinderjeet warned that this is likely to evolve as e-invoicing becomes embedded across corporate procurement and reporting systems. Meanwhile, tax consultant Datin Christine Koh said digital readiness is now both affordable and practical, even for micro businesses.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 31): Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has advised parents to closely monitor their children’s use of digital devices and ensure technology is used wisely in the new year 2026. In his New Year video message shared on the Ministry of Communications’ Facebook page, Fahmi also reminded the public to stay alert to emerging scam tactics. As part of efforts to strengthen national cyber safety, 2026 will bring major regulatory changes. From Jan 1, all internet messaging and social media service providers with eight million or more users will be required to register as Application Service Providers Class [ASP(C)] Licence under the deeming provision of Section 46A of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The regulatory move aims to ensure large-scale platforms operate within a clear legal framework and shoulder explicit responsibility for user safety, particularly for children and families.

Compiled by KHOO JIAN TENG, C.ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHANA COUPLE never expected to find love in an unexpected place – at a cemetery. According to Kosmo!, Noorafizah Muhd Jalil, 40, said she never thought she would marry a second time after her husband’s death in 2018. Noorafizah said she would often visit her late husband’s grave where she met Ramlan Ramly, 58, at the cemetery in Tampin four years ago. State Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director John Sagun Francis said the fire broke out at 10.40pm on Monday. > Amid the bustle of Johor Baru’s morning market, a young man turned heads with a confident strut, Harian Metro reported.

The women are being investigated under the Immigration Act and the Immigration Regulations. Pic Credit: Immigration DepartmentJOHOR BARU: The Immigration Department has crippled a prostitution ring involving seven women from China who used WeChat and Telegram to solicit clients. The women, aged between 25 and 41, were detained during raids on several apartment units in Tanjung Puteri yesterday night. Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the raid followed public tip-offs and surveillance. "Investigations revealed the suspects used WeChat and Telegram to offer sexual services, charging between RM230 and RM400 per session.

PETALING JAYA: A special window for applications for 2025 foreign worker employment quotas will be open from Jan 19 to March 31 next year. The ministry also reminded employers to submit applications directly, without engaging agents or third parties, through the Foreign Workers Management One-Stop Centre. The ministry said the special window is expected to assist employers in submitting foreign worker employment applications in a more orderly manner. On Dec 24, the ministry announced that applications for the hiring of foreign workers in the services sector under the purview of KPDN were nearing the government-approved quota for this year. “As a result, applications for foreign worker employment quotas for the services sector overseen by KPDN submitted through the One Stop Centre for Foreign Worker Management will be closed earlier than scheduled, effective Dec 26.”

PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s preparations for the Malaysian Open have been hit by news that his coach Yeoh Kay Bin will be parting ways with the independent player. “Kay Bin has been a strong presence for the team especially for Zii Jia, who has had to deal with multiple injuries throughout the season. “However, he has agreed to be in Zii Jia’s corner for the upcoming Malaysian Open (Jan 6-11). “I have nothing but the utmost respect for coach Kay Bin, who has been through my side the past year,” said Zii Jia. Zii Jia’s world rankings dropped to No.

PETALING JAYA: Mercury Securities Group Bhd expects the services and manufacturing sectors to remain key drivers of growth in 2026, complemented by sustained activity in the construction and agriculture sectors. For its fourth quarter ended Oct 31, 2025, Mercury Securities’ net profit rose to RM3.86mil from RM3.52mil in the previous corresponding period, mainly due to higher revenue. For its financial year ended Oct 31, 2025, Mercury Securities’ net profit rose to RM14.62mil from RM14.04mil previously, while revenue increased to RM36.2mil from RM32.57mil. For 2026, Mercury Securities noted that Malaysia’s economy is projected to expand between 4% and 4.5%, supported by resilient domestic demand and a steady external sector. “In July 2025, the overnight policy rate was lowered from 3% to 2.75% as a pre-emptive measure to sustain steady growth, given moderate inflation prospects.

LONDON: UK shoppers’ spending on their debit and credit cards dropped in 2025 for the first time since the pandemic, according to Barclays data that nevertheless showed people still willing to treat themselves with small luxuries and experiences. The bank said the value of card spending fell 0.2% compared with 2024, a sharp slowdown from last year’s 1.6% growth. Subdued consumption and high levels of savings have been a major drag on the UK economy’s growth rate. A recovery in spending is seen as vital to achieving even the modest growth the budget watchdog has predicted over the coming years. The value of non-essential spending grew by a tepid 0.8%.

"We in the Gaza Strip are living in an endless nightmare," said Hanaa Abu Amra, a displaced woman in her thirties living in Gaza City. This picture shows shelters in a camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on December 30, 2025. In Gaza City, a teenager painted "2026" on his tent, while an AFP journalist observed a local artist sculpting the same in sand in Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza. We lived a difficult and harsh life, displaced from one city to another, under bombardment and in terror." Destroyed buildings after Israeli military operations in Gaza City, Nov 12, 2025.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 31): The retail prices of unsubsidised RON97 and RON95 petrol nationwide remain unchanged at RM3.16 and RM2.56 per litre respectively for the period from Jan 1 to Jan 7, 2026. In a statement Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said the retail price of subsidised RON95 petrol under Budi Madani RON95 (Budi95) also remains unchanged at RM1.99 per litre. MOF also said the retail price of diesel in Peninsular Malaysia remains at RM2.94 per litre, while prices in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan remain unchanged at RM2.15 per litre over the same period. According to the MOF, the prices were set based on weekly petroleum product prices under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM). The government, through MOF, will continue to monitor global oil price trends and take appropriate measures to ensure the welfare and well-being of the people are safeguarded.

SINGAPORE (Dec 31): Singapore's economy grew by a "stronger-than-expected" 4.8% in 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his New Year message on Wednesday. "But we must be realistic: sustaining this pace of growth will be challenging," he added. "Fractured trade and geopolitical tensions are not transient problems, but permanent features of a fragmented world." In November, the trade ministry raised its GDP growth forecast for 2025 to "around 4.0%" from a previous range of 1.5% to 2.5%. Preliminary estimates of fourth quarter growth will be released by the trade ministry on Friday morning.

BANGKOK: Thailand’s foreign tourist arrival numbers from Jan ‌1 to Dec 28, 2025 dropped 7.29% year-on-year ​to 32.6 million, the Tourism Ministry says. Malaysia was ‍the largest source ‍market ​with 4.48 million visitors, followed by China with 4.44 ‍million, ‍the ‌ministry said in a statement. Thailand saw a record of nearly 40 million visitors in 2019, before the pandemic.

(Dec 31): Chinese carmakers captured a record 12.8% of Europe’s electric-vehicle (EV) market in November, building on gains made this year despite the cost of European Union (EU) tariffs. Brands led by BYD Co and SAIC Motor Corp, along with newer entrants such as Chery Automobile Co and Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co, have redoubled efforts to crack the European market this year. Overcapacity in China has fed the export push, as manufacturers seek a release from relentless price wars in their domestic market. Through October, Leapmotor’s European EV sales had surged more than 4,000%, based on separate data from Jato Dynamics — growth bolstered by a joint venture with Stellantis NV, the parent of Peugeot, Fiat and Opel. Chery’s Omoda brand saw an 1,100% EV rise over the same time frame.

Suspended policewoman Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar, better known as ‘Inspector Sheila’, has gone viral again over a heated confrontation at an eatery. SCREENGRAB FROM SOCMEDKUALA LUMPUR: Suspended policewoman Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar, better known as 'Inspector Sheila', has gone viral again over a heated confrontation at an eatery. The viral video shows Sheila arguing with a woman, believed to be an employee of the restaurant. In the past, Sheila made headlines over several public spats. Sheila has been suspended from duty since June 23, 2023, in connection with several cases, including insulting a policeman and threatening an elderly woman.

PETALING JAYA: As Malaysians prepare to usher in 2026, filing income tax returns is once again on the to-do list for many. Another user, Hafiz G. Hassan, said he also received the CP500 notice despite only earning a monthly salary and filing annual tax declarations. Tax expert Datin Christine Koh said salaried employees who already have PCB deductions and are due for tax refunds do not need to make additional payments under CP500. “For individuals with only employment income and PCB deductions, the instalment amount can be revised to zero. On why some salaried individuals receive CP500 notices despite having no side income, Saravana Kumar said taxpayers should seek clarification directly from LHDN.