Dr George Lee is a consultant Urologist and Clinical Associate Professor whose professional interest is in men’s health. This column is a forum to help men debunk the myths and taboos on men’s issues that may be too “hard” to mention. You can send him questions at askdrg@thestar.com.my
He was responding to calls from industry players for the establishment of a dedicated Durian Board. “The ministry encourages the durian industry to form a unified national body because there are currently too many associations – representing farmers, manufacturers and others. The ministry also plans to step up engagement with durian players this year to support healthier industry development, he added. Durian Manufacturers Association president Eric Chan said the industry’s earlier call for a Durian Board was intended to create a platform to discuss the sector’s long-term direction. “What we need is a platform to discuss the vision and direction of the durian industry,” he said.
DUBAI (Feb 22): Iran and the United States have differing views over the scope and mechanism to lift sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday, adding that new talks were planned in early March. The official said Tehran could seriously consider a combination of exporting part of its highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile, diluting the purity of its HEU and a regional consortium for enriching uranium, but in return Iran's right to "peaceful nuclear enrichment" must be recognised. "The negotiations continue and the possibility of reaching an interim agreement exists," the official said. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday that he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days following nuclear talks with the United States this week, while US President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes. The senior official said Tehran will not hand over control of its oil and mineral resources but US companies can always participate as contractors in Iran’s oil and gas fields.
KUALA LUMPUR: Police recorded 100 love scam cases involving losses of RM3.5mil in January this year, an increase of 5 cases compared to January 2025. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the total losses, however, showed a 27% from the RM4.9mil recorded in January 2025. "Women continue to be the worst affected, accounting for 60 per cent of the total number of cases. A total of 72 per cent of all the victims are aged between 30 and 50," he said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 22). He advised the public to remain vigilant against such syndicates and to check the Semak Mule portal at https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my.
PONTIAN: A search and rescue (SAR) operation is being conducted at Sungai Parit Bugis here for a man who went missing while fishing with his son. Pontian OCPD Supt Hadzrat Hussien Mion Hussain said police received a report at 8.34am on Sunday (Feb 22). "The man is feared to have drowned while fishing with his son, who is about nine years old. Supt Hadzrat Hussien said the operation is being conducted in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force and the Marine Police. Earlier, a social media post about a boy who was found covered in mud at Jambatan Parit Bugis went viral.
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) arrested a 65-year-old man in Rawang on Saturday (Feb 21) for allegedly claiming to be a Prophet. Jasi director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said the suspect was detained together with three others, comprising two men and a woman, at the same premises. The man allegedly told his followers he had met Prophet Adam in person during the day and Prophet Muhammad in the form of light at night. The department also initiated action under Section 8 of the same enactment for allegedly declaring himself a Prophet and claiming knowledge beyond human comprehension. Mohd Shahzihan added that the arrest is expected to help resolve a complaint that went viral on Feb 9, alleging that the individual had claimed to be a Prophet and influenced his family.
KABUL, (Pakistan): Pakistan said Sunday (Feb 22) it launched multiple air strikes targeting militants in neighbouring Afghanistan, where the government reported children were among dozens of people killed and wounded. Islamabad said it hit seven sites along the border region targeting Afghanistan-based militant groups "in the aftermath of recent suicide bombing incidents in Pakistan". Afghanistan said the strikes hit Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, "martyring and wounding dozens of people, including women and children". The two countries have been locked in an increasingly bitter dispute since the Taliban authorities retook control of Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan said Sunday that despite repeated urging by Islamabad, the Taliban authorities have failed to act against militant groups using Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
IPOH (Feb 22): States that have not adopted the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) will enforce minor littering offences through their respective local authorities (PBT), Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said. He said Perak is among five states yet to adopt the Act, along with Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Selangor. In these states, enforcement will be carried out by the PBT, while in states adopting Act 672, action is taken by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp). “Enforcement is showing results and will be further strengthened,” he told reporters after attending the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall Chinese New Year celebration here on Sunday. Nga said initial enforcement has had a positive impact, with offenders expressing remorse and pledging not to reoffend.
ALSO READ: Special Corruption High Courts may be expanded nationwideThe Star broke a story on Wednesday about the appointment of Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin as the Special Corruption High Court judge. Currently, 14 Special Corruption Sessions Courts are operating nationwide, with the target of resolving each case within one year of registration. The Chief Justice said that there was no problem, thus far, at the Sessions Court level. The problem sometimes arises when the High Court is the court of first instance and the case is classified as a high-profile case, he added. But with the establishment of the Special Corruption High Court, the judge will only have to concentrate on corruption trials and appeals,” he explained.
KUALA TERENGGANU (Feb 22): The Terengganu Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Sunday arrested a member of the state executive council (exco) on suspicion of abusing his position by arranging employment for his two children at a state-linked company. Sources said the man, in his 60s, was arrested at around 11.15am at the Kemaman MACC office. “Initial investigations indicate that the alleged acts occurred in 2018 and 2020. “The suspect, who is a state assemblyman, is believed to have used his position as an exco and chairman of a company board to secure jobs for his two children at two state government subsidiaries,” the source said. Terengganu MACC director Hazrul Shazreen Abd Yazid confirmed the arrest and said the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, with charges expected to be filed soon.
KOTA KINABALU: Tawau became the latest district in Sabah to be declared a flood disaster zone, with 245 displaced victims from 55 families. This follows gradual flooding resulting from rainfall that hit parts of the district starting late Saturday (Feb 21). Pitas recorded the most displaced victims (2,210 people, 1,054 households), followed by Kota Marudu (1,929 victims, 781 families) and Paitan (847 people, 270 families). A total of 80 relief centres remain operational to house flood victims. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak affairs) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and Sugut assemblyman Datuk James Ratib are among the leaders monitoring the situation on the ground.
PETALING JAYA: Police have arrested a 22-year-old man believed to be involved in a series of vehicle break-ins around MRT stations in Kuala Lumpur, closing six such cases. Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Basri Sagoni said the suspect was detained at about 8.30pm in the Damansara area here on Saturday (Feb 21). He said the arrest followed a police report lodged by a 31-year-old woman at about 1pm on Tuesday (Feb 17). Checks revealed the suspect has six previous criminal offences and one drug offence on his record. "Investigations found that the suspect targeted parking areas at MRT stations and secluded locations, using ceramic fragments from a spark plug to shatter car windows before fleeing with valuables," ACP Basri said.
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is investigating an individual believed to have uploaded threatening, insulting and grossly offensive content against the Terengganu royal family via his X account. MCMC said the content touched on sensitivities surrounding the 3R elements of race, religion and royalty, while containing insults and threats that could potentially incite hatred, public tension and disrupt national harmony. MCMC stressed that it would not compromise on any misuse of social media involving threats, incitement of hatred or insults against the Royal Institution. It added that firm enforcement action would be taken in such cases regardless of the background of those involved. It also reminded the public not to misuse digital platforms to disseminate unlawful content.
KUALA LUMPUR: Police are hunting down three suspects believed to have hypnotised and cheated a retired civil servant, causing the 70-year-old woman to lose jewellery worth about RM10,000 at a shopping centre. “The suspects claimed they possessed a lottery ticket worth RM300,000 and sought the victim’s help to redeem it on the grounds that they did not have identification cards. However, he said the suspects demanded a RM30,000 deposit from the victim as a guarantee that she would not abscond while cashing the cheque. “As she did not have cash, the victim handed over a gold necklace and bracelet worth about RM10,000 as collateral to the suspects. “The victim was then taken to the Ampang Point Maybank branch to cash the cheque but once she was dropped off from the car, all the suspects fled,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: World junior silver medallist Low Zi Yu (pic) is hoping to earn her debut with the national women’s squad for the Uber Cup in Horsens, Denmark, in April. For the 16 year old, featuring in the prestigious women’s world team championship has long been a dream and she is determined not to let the opportunity slip should the coaching panel place their faith in her. Zi Yu and Noraqilah stunned Wang Tingge and Luo Yi 21-13, 21-18 in a spirited display. I now know how to adjust my own game,” said Zi Yu. Zi Yu is currently ranked world No.
