‘Rising public transport ridership a positive trend for M’sia’
PETALING JAYA: A surge in Prasarana’s rail and bus ridership suggests that public faith in the nation’s transport network is on the mend, said a leading transport expert. Describing the development as “worth cheering about”, Assoc Prof Law said it validates the effectiveness of recent operational improvements. ALSO READ : Shah Alam LRT line faces more delaysHowever, he warned that urban ridership growth this year was likely to be dampened owing to delays in the Shah Alam LRT line’s launch. Assoc Prof Law backed the government’s decision to prioritise safety and dismissed the idea of bypassing these checks to meet public expectations. “While double tracking serves longer-distance trips, the Shah Alam LRT line supports frequent urban travel.
Source:The Star
January 08, 2026 00:04 UTC
Baby saved from human sacrifice
A COUPLE in India adopted an infant from a poor family with the intention of performing a human sacrifice, Malaysia Nanban reported. Imran and his wife, who live in Bengaluru city in India’s southern Karnataka state, also reportedly prepared a fake certificate for the baby. A few nights ago, an anonymous caller tipped off a children’s emergency service about the couple’s plan to carry out a human sacrifice on the night of the full moon on Saturday. The one-year-old baby was rescued and the couple were arrested. During questioning, the couple had apparently said the human sacrifice was meant to unearth treasures.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 23:49 UTC
Oil settles down after Trump comments on Venezuela oil
Venezuela will be "turning over" between 30 million and 50 million barrels of "sanctioned oil" to the US, Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. The blockade was part of a US pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government that culminated in US forces capturing him over the weekend. Providing some support to prices, US crude stocks dropped by 3.8 million barrels to 419.1 million barrels in the week ended January 2, the Energy Information Administration said. Venezuela has been selling its flagship Merey crude grade at around US$22 per barrel below Brent for delivery at its ports. "That raises the expected price of oil over the medium term, especially if the Venezuelan regime survives," the BMI analysts said.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 23:34 UTC
King grants audience to new Plantation and Commodities Minister
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted an audience to the Plantation and Commodities Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, who was appointed to the post on Dec 16. According to a social media post on Wednesday (Jan 7), the meeting at Istana Bukit Tunku included a briefing on the ministry's plans and strategic direction. Also present was the ministry's Secretary-General, Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof. During the audience, His Majesty also shared views and advice, emphasising that all plans should be implemented with integrity, grounded in good governance and prioritising the interests of the people. Noraini, who is also the Member of Parliament for Parit Sulong, was appointed Plantation and Commodities Minister following a cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Dec 16, involving 28 ministers and deputy ministers.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 23:00 UTC
Seu Bock effect lifts Jun Hao out of first-round rut
Seu Bock, who has been strongly tipped to return as the senior men's singles coach in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), was seen guiding Jun Hao along with K. Yogendran against China's world No. A much happier Jun Hao said that Seu Bock's presence was key to his victory. "He used to guide me before and he's coaching me again in a match today (yesterday)," said Jun Hao. "For sure, it feels different as he has guided the senior men's singles players for so many years. Seu Bock was shifted from the senior men's singles to junior coach at the end of 2024.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 22:47 UTC
Global power and order will be tested in 2026, says PM Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia views 2026 as a critical year that will challenge long-standing assumptions about global power, order and responsibility, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says. Speaking at a public lecture titled "Power Shift: Strategic Choices For Malaysia And Türki̇ye" in Ankara on Wednesday (Jan 7), Anwar said the year ahead would be marked by significant uncertainty and strategic change at the global level. "This will test many settled assumptions about power, order and responsibility," he said, adding that his visit to Türkiye would be among the most consequential visits in 2026. Anwar stressed that countries positioned as middle powers could not afford to remain passive as global certainty continues to erode, nor wait for others to set the terms. But they will help determine whether smaller countries retain room to manoeuvre, and whether law still constrains power," he said.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 19:59 UTC
UK builders suffer longest downturn since global financial crisis
The S&P Global/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector came in at 40.1 in December, not much higher than its 5-1/2-year low of 39.4 in November. The drop extended the sector's downturn to 12 months, its longest unbroken run of contractions since the global financial crisis of 2007-09. Despite a lifting of budget-related uncertainty, delayed spending decisions were still cited as contributing to weak sales pipelines at the close of the year." While the downturn in civil engineering eased, it remained the weakest performing category in December. The residential building activity subindex dropped to 33.5, the weakest reading since May 2020 when lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic halted construction work.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 17:54 UTC
US says it needs to control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely to drive change
(Jan 7): The United States needs to control Venezuela's oil sales and revenue indefinitely to drive the changes it wants to see in the country, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday. "We need to have that leverage and that control of those oil sales to drive the changes that simply must happen in Venezuela," Wright said at the Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference in Miami. Wright added he was speaking to U.S. oil companies to learn what conditions would enable them to enter Venezuela to help boost production there. The agreement is a sign Venezuelan government officials are responding to Trump's demand that they open up to U.S. oil companies or risk more military intervention. "Instead of the oil being blockaded as it is right now, we're going to let the oil flow," Wright said at the conference.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 17:45 UTC
Anwar, Erdogan hold inaugural high-level strategic cooperation council meeting
ANKARA: Malaysia and Turkiye marked a historic milestone as the leaders of both countries jointly chaired the inaugural Malaysia-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) meeting on Wednesday (Jan 7), aimed at strengthening bilateral relations across multiple sectors. The strategic meeting was held in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's three-day official visit to Turkiye at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting took place after Anwar received an official welcoming ceremony by Erdogan at the Presidential Complex here. The HLSCC provides a structured and institutional framework to further elevate bilateral cooperation, reflecting the close and longstanding ties between Malaysia and Turkiye. The council also serves as a key platform for both countries to review bilateral cooperation, assess the progress of ongoing initiatives and explore new avenues of collaboration.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 17:20 UTC
Anwar, Erdogan hold inaugural High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting
ANKARA (Jan 8): Malaysia and Türkiye marked a historic milestone on Wednesday as the leaders of both countries jointly chaired the inaugural Malaysia-Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) meeting, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations across multiple sectors. The meeting took place after Anwar received an official welcoming ceremony by Erdogan at the Presidential Complex here. The HLSCC provides a structured and institutional framework to further elevate bilateral cooperation, reflecting the close and longstanding ties between Malaysia and Türkiye. The council also serves as a key platform for both countries to review bilateral cooperation, assess the progress of ongoing initiatives and explore new avenues of collaboration. Malaysia’s total trade with Türkiye from January to November 2025 amounted to RM21.2 billion (US$4.92 billion), with the republic continuing to be an important economic partner for Malaysia.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 17:00 UTC
Cambodia approves four tyre manufacturing investment projects in 2025
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s automotive tyre manufacturing and export sector continued to show strong momentum in 2025, with four related projects approved by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), representing a total capital investment of nearly US$780 million. The CDC stated, “Notably, the number of registered investment projects increased by 216 projects, or about 52 per cent, while total investment capital rose by approximately $3 billion, or about 45 per cent, compared to 2024 when the CDC registered 414 projects with a total investment of around $6.9 billion. In the tyre sector, the CDC approved four projects: one located in the ISI SEZ in Preah Sihanouk province, and three others in SEZs within Svay Rieng province. “With Cambodia’s current advantages, there is a clear opportunity for investors to open tyre manufacturing plants in the country,” he said. He noted that more major international investors are now showing interest in establishing tyre manufacturing plants.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 16:40 UTC
MOT announces phased review and modernisation of Malaysian maritime laws
PUTRAJAYA (Jan 7): Malaysia's Ministry of Transport (MOT) has announced a phased review and modernisation of the nation's maritime legislation, with the entire process scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. In a statement on Wednesday, the MOT reiterated its commitment to strengthening maritime governance and legal frameworks to enhance the global and domestic competitiveness of Malaysia's shipping and port sectors. The ministry confirmed that the inaugural session of the newly formed Malaysian Maritime Law Revision and Reform Committee (MLRRC) was held on Tuesday. The government established the MLRRC to update and reform national maritime laws, aligning them with international standards and facilitating smoother trade and transport, the statement explained. The meeting centred on a preliminary Inception Report prepared by a specialist consultancy firm appointed to support the committee's work.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 07, 2026 15:39 UTC
SMEs among main pillars to boost the people's economy, says King
PETALING JAYA: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, stresses that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are among the main pillars to boost the people’ economy. The matter was emphasised by His Majesty during an audience with Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Wednesday (Jan 7). “His Majesty agreed to be presented with a briefing on the ministry's plans, including strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises. “Sultan Ibrahim said that SMEs are among the pillars in efforts to improve the people's economy, in addition to playing an important role in creating job opportunities and generating household income,” the statement posted on His Majesty’s official Facebook page said. The post also included pictures of the meeting between His Majesty and Sim, who wore a dark suit and songkok.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 15:15 UTC
Anwar lauds formal cooperation between Isis Malaysia and Turkiye's Seta
KUALA LUMPUR: Turkiye-based think tank, the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (Seta) and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) Malaysia will establish a framework to further fortify bilateral ties, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister also praised the role of both institutes in shaping national policy discourse amid an increasingly complex global environment. "I am encouraged that Seta and Isis Malaysia will formalise their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed later today. Nevertheless, Anwar said both Malaysia and Turkiye have refused to treat this as inevitable or irreversible, while stressing that more needs to be done. "Both (Malaysia and Turkiye) have acted, delivering humanitarian assistance, mobilising diplomatic pressure and insisting that Israel be held accountable for violations of international law.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 15:09 UTC
Focus on the people, not polemic, says PKR Youth chief
IPOH: Focus on serving the people and strengthening the unity government, instead of causing political turmoil, says Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim. The PKR Youth chief said all parties in the unity government need to stop politicking and ensure there is political stability. "The country experienced economic instability following the Sheraton Move in 2020 due to political turmoil. "Let's learn from history – don't be egoistic, arrogant or haughty," said Muhammad Kamil, who is also the Finance Minister's political secretary. Muhammad Kamil also said there was no need for DAP and Umno youth wings to continue trading barbs.
Source:The Star
January 07, 2026 15:00 UTC