Senior army officer remanded in Melaka bribery probe
MELAKA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a senior officer serving an army camp here over alleged bribery. A six-day remand order until Feb 2 was issued against the suspect by Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani following an application made by the MACC in Ayer Keroh here on Wednesday (Jan 28). The suspect, believed to be in his 40s, was detained at 12.15pm on Tuesday (Jan 27) when he turned up to give his statement at the state MACC headquarters in Alai here. A source said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect, who was the commanding officer of the camp, allegedly committed the offence around two years ago. Melaka MACC director Datuk Adi Supian Shafie confirmed the arrest when contacted, and said the case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 13:00 UTC
Rival bids for IJM to pile pressure on Sunway
“The company offered to pay IJM shareholders only 10% in cash, while the rest were via Sunway shares. Regardless, MBSB Research has recommended IJM shareholders to accept Sunway’s offer. MBSB Research said Sunway’s offer at RM3.15 per share valued IJM at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 21.1 times, based on estimates for the financial year 2027. “This offer price from Sunway is also close to the net tangible asset per share of IJM at RM3.17. “Sunway had also clarified that it would continue with the takeover offer,” according to MBSB Research.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 12:23 UTC
Zii Jia cruises into Thailand Masters second round
PETALING JAYA: Professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia cleared his first round hurdle at the Thailand Masters after defeating Belgium’s Julien Carraggi on Wednesday (Jan 28). It marked Zii Jia’s fourth consecutive tournament since returning from a back injury, and the 27-year-old delivered a solid performance to beat Carraggi 21-19, 21-11 in 29 minutes. Zii Jia is expected to face either India’s Mithun Manjunath or Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen in the second round. Also advancing were young men’s doubles pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing, who came through a tough all-Malaysian clash against Mohd Faiq Masnawi-Lok Hok Quan 12-21, 21-18, 21-15. Awaiting Aaron-Khai Xing in the second round are China’s Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 12:19 UTC
Hong Kong releases new gourmet guide for tourists and foodies
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched Taste Hong Kong, a new gourmet guide developed in collaboration with the Chinese Culinary Institute, to showcase the city’s diverse culinary culture. Hong Kong has long been recognised as one of the world’s leading food destinations, defined by contrasts where street-side eateries coexist alongside Michelin-starred restaurants. At the heart of Taste Hong Kong are the chefs themselves, many of whom lead some of Hong Kong’s most celebrated dining establishments. Notable contributors include chefs Adam Wong and Lee Man-sing, who shared personal selections shaped by their culinary roots and long-standing engagement with Hong Kong’s dining scene. Designed for both visitors and residents, Taste Hong Kong organises its 250 restaurant picks by neighbourhood, encouraging exploration beyond established dining districts and offering insight into the unique character of different areas.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 12:01 UTC
Laundromat's single parent initiative helps to narrow gender employment gap
A 2019 study by Khazanah Research Institute shows that Malaysian women spend far more time than men on unpaid care work, even while clocking similar hours in paid jobs. Its recently launched Single Parent Welfare Support programme offers monthly incentives of up to RM500 to high-performing single-parent employees. Understanding financial strainAs a single parent of a 10-year-old child, managing time and finances can often be a challenge, says Normah, one of the beneficiaries of the initiative.One of the recipients, Normah Kasim, a 47-year-old single mother from Kuala Lumpur, says that as a single parent of a 10-year-old child, managing time and finances is often a challenge. Data from UN Women reveals that women and girls do 16 billion hours of unpaid care work daily - powering families, communities, and economies. "Workplaces and communities need to recognise unpaid care labour, offer flexibility and provide meaningful support," Tan concludes.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 12:01 UTC
Selangor Sultan voices concern over culture of slander and allegations
SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has voiced concern over a culture of slander and the spread of allegations, particularly on social media, which run counter to Islamic teachings. His Royal Highness said such acts should not be taken lightly as they have the potential to undermine ukhuwah and weaken unity among Muslims. Sultan Sharafuddin also urged mosque and surau imams not only to deepen their religious knowledge but also to equip themselves to manage and administer mosques effectively. "Safeguard the good name of mosques and surau, and avoid any actions that could undermine the dignity and trust of the community. Meanwhile, the Sultan of Selangor expressed pride in the achievement of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, which welcomed more than 100,000 visitors last year.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 11:49 UTC
EU’s top diplomat says bloc must adapt defences to survive
Kallas warned that Europe was no longer a primary focus for the US. “This shift has been ongoing for a while — it’s structural, not temporary,” she said. These targets, or Nato’s “homework” of what military equipment and assets to procure, are currently given to countries individually and with a high level of classification, making it hard for EU countries to spot synergies and coordinate. The conversation on Europe’s defence took on a renewed sense of urgency after Trump threatened to hit European countries with extra tariffs because they opposed his move to annex Greenland. Kallas also said the EU should “operationalise” its own mutual-defence clause, which so far has never been invoked.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 28, 2026 11:40 UTC
GOF Tenggara brigade records over RM850mil in 2025 seizures
KOTA BARU: The Tenggara Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF) seized more than RM850mil of goods from various enforcement operations carried out last year. Tenggara Brigade GOF commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the success involved 2,479 cases recorded, with 2,372 arrests made during the period. He said among the largest seizures recorded were 12 cases related to solid waste and electronic waste (e-waste), involving seizures worth RM410.6mil and 10 arrests. According to him, the achievement reflected the high level of commitment and preparedness of Tenggara Brigade personnel in combating cross-border crime, smuggling and illegal activities that threaten national security. Ahmad Radzi said the 7th Battalion of GOF recorded the highest value of seizures at RM492mil from 768 cases involving 591 arrests, followed by the 8th Battalion and 9th Battalion, which recorded RM188.2mil and RM115.5mil respectively, while the Tenggara Brigade GOF headquarters recorded RM57.8mil.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 11:37 UTC
Anatomy of a cheating scandal: How snark and tea-spilling communities are calling out influencers
In contrast, snark communities centre on gossiping about the lives of celebrities. While criticism of influencers exists on every social media platform, snark communities often arise on Reddit as there are few other alternatives for discussion-oriented communities to form at scale. Some snark communities also form around specific individuals. Even niche creators on TikTok and YouTube can have their own dedicated snark communities. For snark communities, anything – and everything -– is fodder.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 11:34 UTC
Step up or step out, Anwar tells enforcement officers in fight against corruption
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is giving government enforcement officers one week to decide if they are ready to take on greater responsibility in the fight against corruption or they can request for a change in duties. The Prime Minister said it was unacceptable that enforcement officers still tolerate wrongdoing such as smuggling, bribing and gangsterism. "So I am giving one week… I will respect you if you choose lower responsibilities or positions. Anwar said it is important for all relevant enforcement agencies and departments to work as a team and ensure that the nation's borders are protected from smuggling. Anwar said it is unacceptable for enforcement officers to be so to be so accepting of wrongdoing.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 11:21 UTC
China’s Moonshot unveils AI model ahead of DeepSeek release
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd-backed Moonshot AI released an upgrade of its flagship model, heating up a domestic arms race ahead of an expected rollout by Chinese sensation DeepSeek. The model, known as K2.5, joins a flurry of upgrades rolled out over the past month, reflecting a rush by China’s biggest AI players to get in ahead of the next unveiling by DeepSeek, which has teased a major release in recent weeks. That comes after recent initial public offerings by Chinese AI rivals Zhipu and MiniMax Group Inc. collectively raised more than US$1bil (RM3.95bil) in Hong Kong. The next day, its fintech affiliate Ant Group Co. announced a spatial perception model for robots developed by Robbyant, a subsidiary. Moonshot was founded by former Tsinghua University professor Yang Zhilin, who had earlier stints working on AI projects at Meta Platforms Inc and Google.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 11:21 UTC
IGB, IGB Commercial REITs post strong 4Q property income on higher rentals
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): IGB Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:IGBREIT) and its sister trust, IGB Commercial REIT (KL:IGBCR) posted stronger net property income (NPI) for the fourth quarter (4Q), driven by higher rental income. IGB Commercial REIT declared a distribution of 95% of its distributable income, amounting to RM26.4 million or 1.10 sen per unit. IGB Commercial REIT’s full-year NPI grew 17.5% to RM153.32 million from RM130.53 million, as revenue rose 12.5% to RM259.87 million from RM230.99 million. Meanwhile, IGB Commercial REIT said its performance continues to be supported by effective leasing strategies, with portfolio occupancy at 92% during the quarter. AskEdge data shows IGB REIT has the highest price to earnings ratio among its peers at 29.5 times, followed by Pavilion REIT (KL:PAVREIT) at 20.8 times and IGB Commercial REIT coming in at 15.8 multiples.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 28, 2026 11:20 UTC
MACC nabs five more individuals to assist in navy crony company corruption probe
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested five more individuals to assist in investigations into the companies believed to be linked to the appointment of a crony company involving a senior Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officer. According to sources, those detained comprised company directors, managers and business owners believed to have links to a crony company of a senior RMN officer that had secured projects at the Lumut navy base. "The court allowed one of them to be remanded for three days until Jan 30, while four others were remanded until Jan 29,” he said. According to sources, the MACC Intelligence Division, through "Op Layar", also sealed two hotels owned by the senior officer, estimated to be worth RM2 million. Previously, the MACC arrested a company director and a senior RMN officer on suspicion of corruption related to the recommendation and appointment of a crony company to obtain quotation work at the officer’s workplace.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 28, 2026 11:15 UTC
Rayer praises caring nurse, urges Opposition to emulate her
KUALA LUMPUR: Penang nurse Nur Deena Nadzhiefa has been praised by an MP for embodying the qualities of a true Malaysian. Nur Deena recently received recognition from the Health Ministry for her empathetic care of a senior citizen that recently went viral. ALSO READ: Nurse receives Health Ministry recognition for viral act of kindness in Penang hospital"She did not want the patient to have difficulties with the food," Rayer said. Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said it was a serious matter involving the service of a nurse. Rayer then said the Opposition MPs should be proud of Nur Deena's act and emulate it.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 11:12 UTC
Home Ministry assures 1-year decision timeline for all 2025 citizenship applications
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has assured that all citizenship applications received this year will be decided within one year. It added that between 2022 and 2025, the ministry had assessed and decided on 52,444 applications, including backlogged cases. “Of this total, 34,423 applications were approved, while 18,021 applications were rejected. These decisions encompass applications submitted under various provisions of Part III of the Federal Constitution, including Article 15A, Article 15(2), Article 19, and Article 30,” it said. As at Dec 31 last year, there were 3,738 citizenship applications remaining for which a decision had yet to be made.
Source:The Star
January 28, 2026 11:09 UTC