Winter wonderlands that you can visit across Malaysia
Snow World at Resorts World Genting (Pahang)Last year also brought another good news to chionophiles (lovers of snow), especially those who have long waited for the return of Snow World at Resorts World Genting. It operates on a pay-per-play basis, so this means entry to the winter wonderland will count as additional charge. — Antarctic Snow World Penang/FacebookAntarctic Snow World (Penang)When you think of Penang, it being icy cool is not the perception you’ll likely have. Snow World Banda Hilir (Melaka)Melaka is another state that holds its tourism campaign, Visit Melaka 2026, alongside the nationwide Visit Malaysia 2026. Snow World Melaka Mall (Melaka)The other snow attraction, Snow World Melaka Mall, opened in March 2025.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 06:01 UTC
Woman, 69, loses over RM410,000 in phone scam
KUCHING: A 69-year-old woman here lost RM415,464 after falling victim to a phone scam by a caller impersonating a police officer. Kuching police chief Asst Comm Alexson Naga Chabu said the woman received a phone call on Sept 17 last year from the suspect, who alleged that a criminal case existed in her name. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property. ACP Alexson advised the public not to panic and to immediately end suspicious phone calls to avoid being scammed. "Suspicious phone and bank account numbers can be checked at the Semak Mule portal," he said.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 05:09 UTC
Japan tourist arrivals rise to record in December despite China drop
TOKYO (Jan 20): Tourists to Japan hit a record high for the month of December despite the number of visitors from China plunging 45% due to diplomatic tensions between the two Asian neighbours. Tourists from China fell to about 330,000 people in December, making up less than 10% of the 3.6 million visitors to Japan for the month. In the year to end-November, mainland Chinese tourists had made up the largest cohort of visitors to Japan, accounting for around a quarter of the total. For all of 2025, tourist numbers to Japan hit a record 42.7 million people, exceeding 40 million for the first time, Japan's tourism minister, Yasushi Kaneko, told a press conference. Total spending by inbound tourists reached ¥9.5 trillion (US$60 billion or RM240 billion) over the year, also a record high.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 20, 2026 03:53 UTC
Birth rate falls to lowest on record
BIRTH rates fell last year to its lowest level on record, official data showed, as its population shrank for a fourth year running despite authorities’ efforts to curb the decline. There were just 7.92 million births recorded last year, Chinese officials said yesterday, a rate of 5.63 births per thousand people. It marks the lowest birth rate since records by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) began in 1949 – the year leader Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China. China’s birth rate had declined consistently over the last decade, despite the end of the restrictive “one-child policy”, until a slight uptick in 2024 when 6.77 births were recorded per thousand. The previous low was in 2023, when China recorded 9.02 million births – a rate of 6.39 per 1,000 people.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 03:33 UTC
Foreign patients lower costs for locals
GEORGE TOWN: Foreigners are still flocking to Penang for medical treatment, and local patients are enjoying the benefits. The foreign patients have led to improved use of facilities and equipment, thus lowering costs and allowing hospitals to offer services at lower rates to local patients. However, he said China is rising as a competitor as hospitals there are also targeting the same foreign patients. On concerns that foreign patients could reduce access for locals, Phua said locals were not being pushed aside and waiting times had not been significantly affected. Foreign patients, he said, typically stayed in Penang for several days and were less sensitive to waiting times, unlike locals.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 03:16 UTC
Indonesian rupiah drops to record on central bank autonomy woes
The rupiah slipped 0.3% to 16,988 per dollar on Tuesday, surpassing a record low from April when it fell below levels seen during the Asian Financial Crisis. Bank Indonesia last week said it was in the market to ensure that the rupiah moves in line with fundamental values. President Prabowo Subianto’s move on Monday to nominate his nephew for a Bank Indonesia deputy governor position has sparked jitters among investors about potential erosion of central bank independence. A cooling domestic economy may force the central bank to resume easing to support growth, risking further pressure on the rupiah. Bank Indonesia is set to announce its first interest-rate decision of the year on Wednesday with all analysts in a Bloomberg survey expecting a hold.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 20, 2026 03:13 UTC
Home Ministry pledges commitment to royal decree on national security
The ministry said it would intensify efforts and take firm measures to ensure national security, public order and racial harmony remain safeguarded. "This would be pursued through several key focus areas, beginning with combating violent crime and issues related to the three R - religion, race and royalty. The ministry added that it remains committed to addressing serious crime and violent threats effectively to preserve harmony among Malaysia’s multiracial society. In addition, the Home Ministry welcomed the call for the swift introduction of laws related to national security and external threats, saying improvements to the legal framework were crucial to safeguarding national sovereignty amid an increasingly challenging geopolitical landscape. "We urge Malaysians to act as the 'eyes and ears' of the Govt by reporting any form of crime or security threats.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 03:00 UTC
Ancestral home in Kelantan on the brink of collapse
Compiled by C. ARUNO, BENJAMIN LEE and R. ARAVINTHANFROM rotten floorboards to leaky roofs, the ancestral home of a family in Temangan, Kelantan, which housed three generations for nearly 40 years, is on the brink of collapse, reported Harian Metro. Zainuddin Che Nik, 45, said their once-beloved home was now not only in a state of disrepair but also posing serious potential safety risks for his family. “Many parts of the walls also have holes where venomous animals such as cobras enter occasionally, especially at night, causing me to worry about our safety. “During storms and heavy rain, the roof in the kitchen area also leaks,” he said. He also has to care for his bedridden mother, who suffered from a stroke in the past and has diabetes, high blood pressure, as well as vision and hearing problems.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 02:56 UTC
Faisal’s magic saves Selangor
PETALING JAYA: Selangor mounted a strong fightback led by captain Faisal Halim to beat Kelantan the Real Warriors 2-1 in the Malaysia Cup round of 16 first-leg match at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru. Faisal scored his first goal in the 61st minute when he capitalised on a defensive melee to beat Bulgarian goalkeeper Damyan Damyanov with a stinging finish. The return-leg will be held at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Jan 23. Selangor coach Kim Pan-gon was happy with the win but also realised some things need to be fixed before their next match. In Petaling Jaya, we will have a better game," said the South Korean.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 02:55 UTC
Online safety can’t be done ‘in one shot’
This cannot be done in one shot,” he said in an interview on Bernama TV’s World programme titled “Online Safety in Focus: Understanding Malaysia’s ONSA 2025” yesterday. In balancing regulation with freedom of speech, Selvakumar stressed the need for transparency and independent oversight, proposing an independent online safety body involving civil society and academic experts. “We need to have an online safety Appeal Tribunal. This gives both our users and platforms a fair opportunity to challenge decisions.”While the government has created an Online Safety Committee under the Online Safety Act to provide strategic guidance on online safety issues, Selvakumar said there remains a need to strengthen independent oversight mechanisms, mainly in ensuring transparency and fair avenues for appeal involving users and platforms. We want to work with them.”On cross-border digital crimes, Selvakumar noted that regional coordination was critical given the borderless nature of online platforms.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 02:47 UTC
EC: 47% turnout in Kinabatangan by-election at 10am
KINABATANGAN (Jan 20): As of 10am on Tuesday, 80 police personnel, representing 47.09% of those eligible, have cast their votes in the early voting process for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election. In the Lamag state by-election, 34 police personnel, or 47.34%, have also cast their votes. The Election Commission (EC) reported that out of the 196 eligible police personnel, 189 are voting in person, while seven have opted for postal voting. Early voting is being held at the Kinabatangan District Police Headquarters, which opened at 8am and will close at 5pm on Tuesday. The Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency covers three state seats: Sukau, Lamag, and Kuamut, with a total of 48,722 registered voters.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 20, 2026 02:38 UTC
'I do not want to reconcile with my family', says Brooklyn Peltz Beckham
LONDON: Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, son of the British celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham, said he did not want to reconcile with his parents after a family rift he described in a lengthy post on social media on Monday (Jan 19). The 26-year-old said that his parents have been controlling narratives in the press about his family and tried to "ruin" his relationship with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham. Brooklyn married Nicola, an American actress and the daughter of billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz and former model Claudia Heffner Peltz, in 2022. Spokespeople for David and Victoria Beckham did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment on their son's statements. "My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn't stopped," Brooklyn Peltz Beckham said.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 02:38 UTC
Fans joke that singer Will Pan can be Jay Chou’s coach after winning tennis trophy
Was Taiwanese-American singer Will Pan being modest when he said Mandopop star Jay Chou could be his tennis coach? Pan, 45, said on social media on Jan 17 that he has emerged as the singles champion at the 1st Annual Taipei Tennis Cup. The singer, who is also known as Wilber Pan, posted on Instagram a photo of himself holding aloft the trophy on a tennis court and a selfie capturing a close-up of the trophy. On Jan 18, the day Chou turned 47, the Australian Open wished him happy birthday in a social media post that included the clip. The 1.74m-tall artiste even disclosed on social media in July 2022 that his weight had reached an all-time high of 93kg in May that year.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 02:33 UTC
Five million to receive STR starting today, says PM Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR: Phase 1 of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) for 2026 will be rolled out from Tuesday (Jan 20) to five million recipients, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. "As I announced in my New Year message this year, the Madani Govt began disbursing the Phase 1 of the STR payments today (Jan 20). "A total of five million recipients - comprising 3.7 million households and 1.3 million single senior citizens will receive between RM100 and RM500, according to their respective eligibility. Anwar said STR is provided as additional assistance on a quarterly basis to provide financial help during peak times of expenditure such as festive seasons, while SARA functions as stable monthly basic support. "I hope that this assistance can be fully utilised by the recipients," he said.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 02:17 UTC
King decrees Bahasa Malaysia gets priority
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, decreed that the national language, Bahasa Malaysia, must continue to be given priority. Sultan Ibrahim said that any education system in Malaysia seeking recognition must include Bahasa Melayu and Malaysian History. “If there are quarters that cannot accept Bahasa Melayu, it is best for them not to live in Malaysia,” His Majesty said. Sultan Ibrahim said the national education system must be strengthened as the foundation for nation-building, national identity and the country’s future. On Dec 12, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said any calls for recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate and other languages must take into account the fact that Bahasa Malaysia is the country’s national language.
Source:The Star
January 20, 2026 02:14 UTC