KUALA LUMPUR: Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir has urged for calm over an alleged incident involving a copy of the Quran at a university, as authorities investigate the matter. “I would like to urge all parties to stay calm as this issue is being addressed. He said the university concerned had lodged a police report immediately after the incident surfaced. The university also filed a report right away, and appropriate steps have been taken. The alleged incident came to public attention following a post on Threads depicting an individual’s foot on a Quran, prompting outrage.

KOTA TINGGI: A 35-year-old Rohingya man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court here with murdering his pregnant wife and causing the death of their unborn child two weeks ago. According to the charge sheet, he is accused of murdering Fazanah Eskar, 34, at a house along Jalan Haji Mustafa in Kampung Makam here at about 3am on Feb 13. In the same court, the accused, who works as a barber, also faced a second charge of committing an act that caused the death of his wife’s full-term unborn baby. After indicating that he understood the charges and possible penalties, the accused broke down and apologised. Magistrate Nurkhalida Farhana fixed March 18 for an interpreter to ensure that the accused fully understands the charges before any further decision is made.

(Feb 25): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese evacuated his official residence in Canberra for a few hours on Tuesday evening following a bomb scare connected to a religious group that’s banned in China, according to a report in the national broadcaster ABC. A series of threats directed towards Albanese were emailed to members of the “Shen Yun” dance troupe in February, according to a newspaper connected to the Falun Gong religious group, which runs the dance company. The messages threatened violence against Albanese and other “high officials” if the dance troupe didn’t call off the performances planned for this year in Australia. The threats were forwarded to Australian police on Tuesday by people related to Shen Yun, according to the Epoch Times. Falun Gong is banned in China, with the government in Beijing calling it a cult.

(Feb 25): Lynas Rare Earths Ltd has overtaken Australian blue-chip stalwart Qantas Airways Ltd by market capitalisation, as concerns about China’s dominance of critical minerals lift the miner’s stock. Both companies are set to report annual results on Thursday (Feb 26), with net income estimates for the airline of A$1.03 billion (RM2.85 million) set to dwarf the A$112 million forecast for Lynas. However, the miner’s shares have surged more than a third this year — compared with a tepid 2% rise for Qantas — to make it the more valuable company. Lynas produces a small volume, by mining standards, of rare earths used in electric vehicle motors, smartphones and defence technology from a mine in Western Australia, which it refines in Malaysia. “Lynas is quite different from your typical mining company,” Reg Spencer, a metals and mining analyst at Canaccord Genuity Australia Ltd, said by telephone.

KUALA LUMPUR: Trading on Bursa Malaysia is expected to remain cautious on Wednesday as investors have their eyes peeled for corporate earnings, with the heavyweight banks yet to release their results. A deluge of earnings results is expected to offer trading leads over the remaining three days of the fourth-quarter reporting season. On the external front, Apex Securities said global markets remained cautious as investors focused on upcoming earnings from Nvidia, a barometer of future AI demand. Stocks that saw selling pressure after disappointing results included PETRONAS Gas falling 40 sen to RM18.20 and Gas Malaysia shedding 17 sen to RM4.58. Pharmaniaga was flat at 30 sen and Advance Synergy slid 0.5 sen to eight sen.

GEORGE TOWN: Two outfalls in Batu Ferringhi jutting 120m out to sea have prevented beach erosion at this spot and led to significant beach growth. A recent visit showed that the stretch of beach has even expanded past the end of one of the outfalls, much to the delight of beach goers. When beach erosion became visible in 2021, the two outfalls had the unintended effect of ­protecting that stretch of the beach. “The surf hitting Batu Ferringhi during spring tide last year were recorded at over 50cm higher than in the past. “This is important because many stakeholders mistakenly believe that Batu Ferringhi’s beach erosion is caused by reclamation works near Persiaran Gurney, over 10km to the east.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 25): UOA Development Bhd (KL:UOADEV) posted a 50.3% jump in fourth-quarter net profit, lifted by a sizeable revaluation surplus on its investment properties, despite weaker revenue from slower progress billings. For the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2025 (4QFY2025), net profit rose to RM192.76 million from RM128.21 million a year earlier. A revaluation surplus of RM169.2 million was booked on investment properties, sharply higher than RM44.24 million a year ago. For the full year, net profit surged 65% to RM474.04 million from RM287.3 million, while revenue climbed 23.6% to RM674.29 million from RM545.7 million, a bourse filing showed. New property sales totalled RM672.9 million, driven by Bamboo Hills Residences, Duo Tower, Aster Hill, and Laurel Residence.

“Our songkok tinggi, songkok lojong and songkok rata are the bestsellers so far. Ricayanti said even non-Muslims take the opportunity to buy songkok during Ramadan as there are more designs on display. She said those who want specially stitched songkok, such as with hand-stitched seams lined with cotton to absorb sweat, will have to wait longer to get their headgear. “If they want slight adjustments made such as having ventilation holes, then we have the expertise to do it on the spot,” she said. She said customers are often spoilt for choice as there are newer designs available during Ramadan.

Visitors rediscover ancient clan traditions at annual festivalGEORGE Town’s heritage enclave was transformed into a living stage of culture and tradition during Penang Miaohui 2026. A specially choreographed dance number celebrating the local ‘rotiman’, performed during the opening ceremony of the event. Complementing these were 16 street stages that hosted high pole lion dance displays, swirling dragon dances, Chinese orchestral music and folk dance routines. “Year after year, I see the same strong spirit and dedication from local clans and associations, whose efforts ensure our traditions remain alive on the streets of George Town. It is organised by the Penang Chinese Clan Council in collaboration with the Penang Cultural Inheritors Society.

THE recent tuberculosis (TB) cluster in Kota Tinggi, Johor and the reported 10% increase in TB notifications nationwide compared to the same period last year have raised understandable public concern. It is important to clarify that TB was never eliminated in Malaysia. We remain an intermediate-burden country like many in our region. An increase in reported cases, especially after active screening of a cluster, does not automatically mean the disease is spreading uncontrollably.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 25): TeamStar Bhd (KL:TEAMSTR) said it plans to focus on executing its expansion plans despite softer market sentiment linked to a stronger ringgit and weaker US dollar, after its muted debut on the ACE Market on Wednesday. TeamStar chief financial officer Tan Jian Wei attributed the flat opening price to overall subdued market sentiment in Malaysia, influenced by broader uncertainties involving the US and China. Subsequent stores will open gradually in other states from 2027 to 2028, including Sabah and Sarawak, says Jian Wei. In addition to new outlet openings, TeamStar plans to upgrade selected stores to include showroom concepts featuring mock-ups of kitchens and living spaces to attract interior designers and end-consumers. For the financial year ended Dec 31, 2024, TeamStar posted a net profit of RM16.85 million with revenue of RM130.22 million.

KEPALA BATAS: It takes RM750, four to five hours and one person stirring constantly to produce a single pot of bubur lambuk at Masjid Al-Imam As-Syafie here. At this month-old mosque, the Ramadan porridge is not funded with a fixed budget but through donations. “When contributions reached RM750, that covers one pot,” said bubur lambuk maker Azhar Samsudin, 72. The rice goes in later and must be stirred without pause. “When the rice goes in, someone has to keep stirring.

PETALING JAYA: Business operators are adopting e-wallets and QR-based systems in response to shifting consumer habits and broader digitalisation. Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Mohamed Mosin Abdul Razak said the trend has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic. “Yes, we are certainly seeing more restaurants adopt cashless payment methods such as e-wallets and QR-based systems especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. SME Association of Malaysia president Dr Chin Chee Seong said most SMEs and micro enterprises are open to cashless systems. “While cashless payments are growing, SMEs still accept cash payments but it is more minimised now,” he said.

“Our nation is back bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before,” Trump said Tuesday at his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. “We’re going to do better and better and better. But more broadly, Trump is expected to use the evening’s platform to take a victory lap rather than offer a course correction. Four justices attended Tuesday’s address — Chief Justice John Roberts and justices Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Despite its pomp and formality, the State of the Union still offers a stage for Trump to speak to voters directly.

SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Department has detained a Muslim woman for allegedly insulting Islam and disrespecting the month of Ramadan during a live broadcast on social media. Its director Datuk Mohd Asri Abdullah said preliminary investigations revealed that the 27-year-old woman was seen consuming food and drinks during a live session with her followers on her TikTok account. She allegedly committed the act around 6.45pm on Feb 22. "We detained the woman yesterday (Feb 24) to further probe the matter under Section 50 of the Syariah Criminal (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 1992," he said in a statement. Mohd Asri advised the people particularly Muslims to respect religious sensitivities especially during Ramadan.