RM350mil allocated to upgrade East-West Highway, says Nanta
GERIK: The government has allocated RM350mil to upgrade the East-West Highway (JRTB), specifically the section in Perak or route FT004 under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to make the route safer, more comfortable and resilient. "Out of the RM350mil, we will use RM170mil for 17 locations, with RM10mil per location to widen the roads into overtaking lanes. Meanwhile, Nanta said that around RM40mil has been allocated for maintenance work on the highway, covering the section in Perak throughout this year, as a step to improve the safety and comfort levels of road users. According to Nanta, the allocation involves the implementation of various maintenance works by the Public Works Department and concession companies, including road surface repairs, installation of safety facilities and lighting improvements. "Therefore, we have RM40mil or a bit more for maintenance work, which is indeed being carried out through the concession company here, namely Belati Wangsa Sdn Bhd," he also said.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 09:20 UTC
Japan's TDK says affected by China rare earth curbs
TOKYO (Feb 2): Japan components manufacturer TDK said on Monday that it is being affected by Chinese export restrictions on rare earths and is taking steps to diversify its procurement sources. China last month banned exports of dual-use items that can be used for military purposes to Japan, with the items including rare earths, amid a diplomatic dispute. "Procurement of materials has reached an extremely difficult stage," TDK chief financial officer Tetsuji Yamanishi told an earnings briefing. The impact began last year, not in January, with the company maintaining production using stockpiled materials, Yamanishi said. The company is developing technology to produce magnets without rare earths or using them as little as possible, Yamanishi said.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 02, 2026 09:08 UTC
Ahmad Zahid congratulates Goh Jin Wei
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi congratulated national professional singles player Goh Jin Wei after she finished the 2026 Thailand Masters 2026 in second place on Sunday (Feb 1). He said that her achievement of getting to the finals was inspiring and made the country proud even though she had to eventually withdraw during the second game against Devika Sihag due to injury. "Congratulations Goh Jin Wei! May you have a speedy recovery and continue to achieve greater success at the international stage,” he posted on Facebook. Goh lost the first game 8-21 and was trailing 3-6 in the second game before she withdrew.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 08:57 UTC
MAG ready to soar
WHEN Datuk Izham Ismail was promoted to the top post in Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) in 2017, it was burdened with RM25.7bil in liabilities. Weighed by debt and aircraft leases, the parent company of national flag carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd, was bleeding cash, to the point of borrowing just to operate and pay salaries.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 08:03 UTC
Two MBPP officers hurt in balloon explosion during Thaipusam
GEORGE TOWN: Two Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers were injured after gas-filled balloons they had seized exploded during the Thaipusam celebrations here. The officers had earlier confiscated the balloons from a trader along Jalan Kebun Bunga who had ignored council orders to stop selling them without a valid trading permit. The seized balloons and related equipment were brought to the council’s Licensing Department office in Lebuh Union for disposal. While releasing the gas from the balloons in the absence of members of the public, an explosion and fire occurred, injuring the officers. “The rear section of an MBPP vehicle was also damaged by fire, along with the seized equipment,” the statement said.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 07:25 UTC
‘Review personal tax relief system’
PETALING JAYA: As income tax filing season approaches and public attention has turned to the RM37,333 personal tax exemption threshold, taxpayers are calling for a broader overhaul of Malaysia’s personal tax relief system. Besides an increasingly complex web of deductions, they are of the view that relief levels are outdated and no longer reflect the real cost of living. Tax experts stressed that the tax-free income threshold should not be confused with the RM9,000 personal tax relief, as it is a technical outcome of Malaysia’s tax framework rather than a standalone policy measure. The tax-free income threshold has been in place since the year of assessment 2023 and is derived from Malaysia’s progressive tax rate structure, a RM9,000 personal relief and a RM400 tax rebate for chargeable income of RM35,000 or below, said Datin Christine Koh, managing director of Owen KLCA PLT. Koh said that several key reliefs, including the RM9,000 personal relief, have remained unchanged since 2010.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 07:23 UTC
Tax refund delays and cash-flow strain on SMEs
Conducted in December 2025, the survey found that 42.3% of respondents reported having overpaid corporate income tax. Although the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) stipulates under its client charter that tax refunds should be processed within 30 working days after submission, delays in corporate income tax refunds remain widespread. However, if we consider the government’s projected income tax revenue for 2025 of RM177.1bil, the RM4bil allocation accounts for only 2.3% of the total. According to statements issued by the IRB, a total of RM22.45bil in tax refunds was processed in 2025, involving 3.6 million taxpayers. That said, businesses themselves must also act responsibly when submitting their estimates, ensuring that accurate bank account details are provided to avoid refund delays.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 06:56 UTC
Independent assessment confirms KLIA Aerotrain system functioning as intended
SEPANG: Independent railway assessors have confirmed that the KL International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain system is operating as intended, with service disruptions since commissioning that are commonly encountered in the early operational phase of complex rail systems. The independent assessment identified two critical systems with a direct influence on train reliability, service availability, and recovery performance: the power supply system and the rolling stock. According to MAHB, the CAP has been implemented through coordinated workstreams covering inspection and rectification, system testing and validation and trial operations. "Inspection and rectification activities across the Aerotrain system have been completed, with the programme now at the final milestone to close out remaining rectification actions identified during system-wide inspections," it added. MAHB said it will continue to implement the remaining CAP measures in a coordinated and proportionate manner, supported by ongoing monitoring and independent oversight to further strengthen system reliability and ensure consistent Aerotrain operations at KLIA.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 06:54 UTC
Two men held over unnatural sex act in parked vehicle
KUALA LUMPUR: Two men have been detained on suspicion of committing an act of unnatural sex inside a vehicle at Taman Intan Baiduri here. Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said the incident occurred at about 2am on Friday (Jan 30) when a crime prevention patrol team noticed a vehicle parked in suspicious circumstances. "Upon inspection, the patrol team found two men inside the vehicle. "They were believed to have behaved indecently in a public place," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 2). "During initial investigations, one of the suspects admitted to committing a sexual act on the other in the vehicle.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 06:29 UTC
A young doctor’s eight-year journey of faith
Dr Arravinnath carried his kavadi yesterday from the Sri Muniswarar Temple in Jalan Datuk Keramat to the Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Waterfall Hilltop Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga. Meanwhile, pilot-turned-businessman N. Ramnath, 37, who has taken a lifelong kavadi vow, carried a spiked, body-piercing kavadi, also known as a sellavu kavadi, this Thaipusam. He said the practice of carrying a kavadi requires weeks and sometimes months, of spiritual preparation. Ramnath has been carrying a kavadi since the age of 10 and intends to continue for as long as he is able. In recent years, he has also guided and supported others embarking on their kavadi journey.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 06:16 UTC
PAS leader wants ceasefire with Bersatu so PN can 'continue our journey'
KUALA LUMPUR: After a month-long war of words between Bersatu and PAS over Perikatan Nasional leadership issues, a PAS leader has called for a ceasefire. He drew parallels between Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as Perikatan chairman on Jan 1 as "losing our bus driver". In December, Muhyiddin announced his resignation as chairman effective Jan 1, resulting in a back-and-forth between Bersatu and PAS. Muhyiddin recently said that Bersatu and PAS have agreed to do away with the post of Perikatan chairman – a claim which PAS leaders later rejected. ALSO READ: Perikatan extraordinary meeting called off to control the 'storm in the teacup', says Takiyuddin
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 06:12 UTC
Bollywood milks India nationalism for box-office success
NEW DELHI: A gripping Bollywood spy thriller set in Pakistan has become the highest-grossing Hindi film in India in just eight weeks and counting. Yet, making a Pakistan-bashing action film does not always guarantee commercial success. For instance, the 2025 Bollywood action drama War 2, with a Pakistan-linked terror network as the antagonist, failed to recoup its production costs estimated at around four billion rupees. Several BJP-led state governments have even offered support through tax incentives that lower cinema ticket prices for Bollywood films whose plot lines the party finds appealing, in recent years. Meanwhile, amid all this Bollywood chest-thumping war cinema, there are few films that spotlight the human cost of conflict.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 06:05 UTC
Penang housewife wins RM40.1mil Supreme Toto Jackpot
GEORGE TOWN: A 72-year-old housewife from Penang has become the latest multi-millionaire after winning the Supreme Toto 6/58 jackpot worth RM40.1mil with a Lucky Pick ticket. A loyal Toto player since the 1980s, the winner said she routinely visits her regular Toto outlet on draw days while doing her grocery shopping. On the day of the draw, she decided to buy a System 10 Lucky Pick ticket after noticing that the jackpot had swelled to RM40mil. As she carefully compared her ticket with the winning numbers – 19, 29, 32, 39, 40 and 54 – she realised she had hit the jackpot. In addition to the RM40,120,690.20 jackpot, her System 10 ticket also earned her an extra RM173,152 in System Play bonus winnings.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 05:51 UTC
Bad Bunny wins top Grammy prize ever for Spanish-language album
LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Bad Bunny, the Latino rap star whose forthcoming Super Bowl gig has ignited a culture wars controversy, won the top Grammy prize on Sunday, a first for a Spanish-language album, with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," a celebration of his Puerto Rican roots. RECOGNITION OF BAD BUNNY CARRIES POLITICAL OVERTONESGrammy recognition of Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, carried strong political overtones given his outspoken criticism of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump in cities across the country.The singer-producer skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal immigration agents would show up to arrest his fans. Bad Bunny openly supported Trump's Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Lady Gaga won Grammys for best pop vocal album with "Mayhem," and best dance-pop recording for "Abracadabra." Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 79, achieved EGOT status — one of the rarest honors in the entertainment industry — after winning his first Grammy award for best music film for "Music by John Williams," which he produced.
Source:The Star
February 02, 2026 05:50 UTC
Crypto investing as an exit asset: Save the evangelism
While the underlying motivations and outcomes remain the same, the form of these exit assets changes with prevailing technology and culture. The new generation of exit assets included Swiss banks, Caribbean structures as tax havens, and other secrecy jurisdictions. Crypto as an exit assetAgainst this backdrop, crypto assets can be said to be the latest reincarnation in this lineage — a modern digital exit asset. But exit assets are defensive — accumulated when trust collapses, policy credibility erodes or inflation threatens contractual claims. And if we were to learn from historical episodes, most people enter exit assets too late and leave them too slowly!
Source:The Edge Markets
February 02, 2026 05:02 UTC