Taman Desa Aman RA granted leave to challenge DO
TAMAN Desa Aman residents in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, have been granted leave by the High Court to pursue a judicial review against a development order (DO) for an urban renewal project in their neighbourhood. The DO, issued by the Kuala Lumpur mayor, involves construction of two high-rise condominium towers, of 38 and 44 storeys, containing 700 new residential units. Desa Aman Residents Association (Rada) is seeking to quash the DO, contending that it contravenes Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 (KLSP 2020) and Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 (KLCP 2020). “Approving higher density would substantially increase the population density, potentially contributing to traffic congestion. The case management is set for Feb 12 at Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 09:07 UTC
Fire razes trophy-making factory in Bayan Lepas
GEORGE TOWN: A factory manufacturing plastic trophies and medals on Kampung Jawa Highway, Bayan Lepas Industrial Area near here, was destroyed in a fire Tuesday (Fab 3), but no casualties were reported. Penang Fire and Rescue Department deputy operations director John Sagun Francis said they received an emergency call at 9.10am and immediately rushed fire engines from the Bayan Baru Fire and Rescue Station to the scene. "When firemen arrived at the scene, the fire was already raging, involving a factory building with an estimated area of 232 square metres. "The fire also involved flammable materials including thinner, primer, hexane and colour pigments stored in the premises," he said in a statement. John Sagun said the fire was extinguished at 11.40am, and overhaul work was carried out to ensure there were no hazards in the affected area, with operations concluding at 12.26pm.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 09:07 UTC
Two locals nabbed in Kota Baru migrant smuggling crackdown
KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Immigration Department arrested two local men and five illegal immigrants in a crackdown on a migrant smuggling syndicate, carried out under Ops Serkap around Kota Bharu on Sunday and Monday (Jan 2). Its deputy director, Nik Akhtarulhaq Nik Abdul Rahman, said the five immigrants comprised two men and three women from Myanmar, aged 20 to 40. "The five immigrants are now being detained at the Tanah Merah Immigration Depot for further investigation under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said in a media statement on Tuesday (Feb 3). Nik Akhtarulhaq said the two local men arrested were believed to have acted as transporters in the smuggling network and were being investigated under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. He stressed that the department would not compromise with any party, particularly locals involved in smuggling activities or harbouring undocumented migrants, and urged the public to report any activities involving illegal immigrants to aid enforcement efforts in the state.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 08:55 UTC
Nintendo’s profit disappoints even as memory prices climb
(Feb 3): Nintendo Co’s profit rose a smaller-than-expected 23%, hurt by US tariffs on its flagship Switch 2 console and raising concerns about the impact of soaring memory chip prices on margins in 2026. Switch 2 sales came to 7.01 million units in the December quarter, compared with the 6.5 million average analysts’ estimate. But operating income was ¥155.21 billion (US$998.5 million or RM3.92 billion), missing estimates for ¥180.7 billion. Longer term, the Japanese company has to cope with surging memory prices that threaten the gadget’s already razor-thin margins. That’s resulting in rising memory prices that may also hurt software sales, Nintendo’s primary profit engine.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 08:40 UTC
China to deepen ties with four northern Malaysian states
CHINA sees strong potential to deepen industrial, technological and people-to-people collaboration with Penang, Kedah, Perak and Perlis as its next five-year development plan aligns closely with Malaysia’s own growth priorities. Chinese Consul-General in Penang Zhou Youbin said in an interview that China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which will run from this year, placed heavy emphasis on high-quality growth, technological self-reliance and emerging industries. Zhou: Chinese investment shifted to automated, tech intensive and environmentally friendly sectors. He said Chinese companies in sectors such as photovoltaics, electric vehicles and lithium batteries had in recent years expanded their presence in northern Malaysia. These clusters, he said, had attracted more upstream and downstream players, helping to build more complete industrial ecosystems and becoming key highlights of investment cooperation between the two sides.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 08:37 UTC
Coffee Break: Cheap ice cream, expensive dreams
RM2 ice cream. Suddenly, that cheap ice cream doesn’t feel so cheap. Yet, franchisees will tell you that cheap products do not necessarily translate into cheap operations. While cheap ice cream and beverages may sell fast, margins are slim, leaving volume to do most of the heavy lifting. Cheap ice cream and beverages are easy to enjoy.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 08:35 UTC
Local man believed to be agent for 'flying passport' syndicate nabbed in Johor
JOHOR BARU: The Johor Malaysian Immigration Department arrested a local man believed to be an agent for a “flying passport” syndicate in an operation codenamed Ops Serkap at a condominium in Taman Daya here on Jan 29. Its director, Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus, said the operation at 6.50pm was carried out based on intelligence gathered by the Enforcement Division over nearly two weeks. He said his team also seized nine foreign passports used to enter and exit the country. "It is believed the passports were used to obtain security stamps irregularly (illegally)," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 3). The public is advised not to hand over their passports to any party and to report any information regarding such activities immediately to the Immigration Department.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 08:28 UTC
China silver fund revaluation sparks 31% drop, investor pushback
The UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF will be valued based on prices in silver futures on major global markets instead of those listed at the Shanghai Futures Exchange, according to statements from UBS SDIC. The change, which came into effect on Monday (Feb 2), led to a record 31.5% drop in the product’s net asset value. Last month’s rally in precious metals came to a halt on Friday when spot silver prices plunged more than 25%. The LOF fund mainly invests in silver futures listed on the Shanghai bourse, which are bound by a 17% daily limit, while global futures markets have no price caps. The adjustment came as silver futures on the Comex tumbled 32.7% in the prior two sessions as a frenzied rally, partly fuelled by Chinese speculators, ground to a halt.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 03, 2026 08:25 UTC
Brand new look for trishaw riders
GEORGE TOWN: A team of elderly trishaw riders here will be looking dandy this Chinese New Year. “This is to show our appreciation for the sacrifices of the trishaw riders who have added colour to Penang’s streets for decades. One of the trishaw riders, Koah Ah Chin, 79, said he has been plying the trade for over 40 years. The riders had another thing to add to the cheer – each of them also received an angpow. “My trishaw is my room now, and I use the public washrooms nearby,” he said.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 08:15 UTC
Cleaners put in extra hours at Batu Caves
KUALA LUMPUR: Following Thaipusam, cleanup crews swung into action at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves. This is despite the efforts of non-governmental organisation Clean Thaipusam, which had placed cardboard bins for waste disposal outside the entrance to Batu Caves. Although Thaipusam has ended, visiting Batu Caves – a sacred site for Hindus – is considered a must for tourists visiting Malaysia. Indian nationals C. Vivek and Rakshitha Vivek said visiting Batu Caves and viewing the Lord Muruga statue was an eye-opening experience. German Muriel Kutschera said a visit to Batu Caves is a must for her and was excited to be at this beautiful holy site.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 08:05 UTC
MCBA to finalise staffing structure and expand workforce
Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) director-general, Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, said the Agency is set to finalise its staffing structure and service scheme by the early second quarter of this year. — BERNAMAPUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) is set to finalise its staffing structure and service scheme by the early second quarter of this year. Its director-general, Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, said the Public Service Department (PSD) is refining the service scheme and staffing plans before submitting them to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for approval. "The service scheme is being refined by PSD before submission to the prime minister for approval in the near future. Shuhaily said MCBA also needs the expertise of police in investigations, operations and prosecutions to strengthen the efficiency of its investigating officers.
Source:New Strait Times
February 03, 2026 06:53 UTC
Rare ‘split sea’ lures thousands to Pangkor
LUMUT: More than 3,000 visitors at Teluk Nipah beach near Pulau Pangkor were thrilled to experience the rare ‘split sea’ phenomenon, which allowed them to walk about 400m across a sandbank connecting the beach to Pulau Giam during extreme low tide. “While crossing the sandbank, visitors may encounter sea cucumbers, corals, squid, fish and other marine life. Swiss national Alf Zeigler, 64, said he was excited to experience the split sea phenomenon for the first time with his family amid a festive atmosphere. A teacher from Taiping, D. Syimala, 36, said she had long wanted to visit Teluk Nipah beach to experience the phenomenon. “I am very happy to be able to cross the split sea for the first time with my husband and relatives.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 06:23 UTC
QuickCheck: Did a fire break out near an Ampang hiking hotspot?
Did such an incident happen near Taman Tun Abdul Razak in Ampang as claimed? Verdict:TRUESelangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Officer Hamdan Hamzah said his department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 8.47pm on Monday (Feb 2). He said the fire broke out in a forested area estimated to cover 0.8 hectares on the summit of a hill near an apartment complex in Taman Tun Abdul Razak in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. Hamdan said four firefighters and a fire engine from the Ampang Fire and Rescue Station were deployed to the scene, reported Bernama. “The fire involved a forested area at the hilltop and personnel are on standby at the location as there is no access route to the fire site,” he said in a statement.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 06:15 UTC
FBM KLCI climbs as rebound picks up post holiday weekend
KUALA LUMPUR: Blue chips on Bursa Malaysia rose 0.8% after a long weekend, suggesting the buying momentum remained alive on the domestic market. The FBM KLCI climbed 15.21 points to 1,756.09 at the opening bell, extending a rebound as investors sought to reclaim a recent closing high set on Jan 27. Apex Research said the FBM KLCI is expected to trade range-bound in the near term given the mixed global markets as investors continue to assess US macro data and ongoing earnings releases. Nestle, meanwhile, rose RM1.40 to RM113.40, and IHH rose 14 sen to RM9.10. Over the broader markets, the most active shares were Hong Seng down 0.5 sen ot 0.5 sen, Zentech flat at 0.5 sne and Gamuda sliding nine sen to RM4.33.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 05:59 UTC
King grants audience to Minister in PM's Dept
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today granted an audience to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Dr Zulkifli Hasan. According to a post on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s Facebook page, during the audience held at Istana Negara here, His Majesty was briefed on Islamic religious matters, including the development of the ummah and initiatives to strengthen Islamic teachings at the federal level. Also present were the Director-General of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, and the Mufti of the Federal Territories, Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil.
Source:The Star
February 03, 2026 05:55 UTC