Ringgit ends lower amid geopolitical uncertainty after Venezuela attack
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit ended lower against the greenback on Monday, as markets shifted toward safe-haven currencies amid rising geopolitical uncertainty after the US attack on Venezuela over the weekend, an analyst said. At 6 pm, the local currency fell to 4.0695/0745 versus the US dollar from Friday’s close of 4.0515/0560. As a result, emerging market currencies, including the ringgit, face short-term pressure despite stable domestic fundamentals," he told Bernama. At the close, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies. The local note traded lower against ASEAN peers.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 23:10 UTC
Bersatu urges Malaysia to raise US action against Venezuela at UN
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia must take action through international platforms, including the UN General Assembly, to hold the United States to account over its controversial military action against Venezuela, says Bersatu. Azmin added that, under customary international law, the use of armed force against a sovereign state without a lawful basis constitutes the crime of aggression. He said the Malaysian government should also strengthen Global South solidarity through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and enhance cross-regional cooperation, while lending support to international accountability mechanisms addressing violations of international law. “World peace cannot be upheld through violence, and international law cannot be enforced selectively, as state sovereignty is the right of every nation — not a privilege reserved for great powers,” he said. “Bersatu stands firmly with the global community in defending the sovereignty, dignity and right of the Venezuelan people to determine their own future, free from aggression and foreign coercion,” he added.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 21:55 UTC
Locals not good enough? Koo disappointed after missing out on BAM role
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national shuttler Koo Kien Keat has been left disappointed after missing out on a coaching role in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). "BAM offered me a coaching role but I was not happy with the position," said Kien Keat. On whether he will be interested in a permanent coaching role, Kien Keat replied: "No, I don’t have the heart to become a coach anymore. I can’t be committed to a full-time coaching role anymore. "Honestly, there’s a chance for a Malaysian pair to reach the final but winning the title will be difficult," said Kien Keat.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 17:53 UTC
Oil flotilla sails from Venezuela despite US blockade
Representatives of the White House, the US State Department, state-run Venezuelan oil company PDVSA and Venezuela's oil ministry did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Graphic: Stacked area chart showing Venezuelan oil exports by destination from January to November 2025. Chevron resumes exportsSeparately, US oil major Chevron resumed exports of Venezuelan oil to the US on Monday after a four-day pause, shipping data showed. Chevron is the only company authorised by Washington to export Venezuelan crude, exempted from both the embargo and sanctions. No Chevron tankers had sailed since Jan 1, before the US strike on Venezuela, according to the ship monitoring data.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 17:51 UTC
Baby boy found dumped at Batu Pahat R&R stop
BATU PAHAT: The body of an infant was found in a rubbish bin near a toilet at a R&R stop here. Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said police received information about the discovery of the victim at the Yong Peng R&R stop (northbound) at 3pm on Sunday (Jan 4). “Medical officers from the Yong Peng Health Clinic confirmed that a fully formed baby boy was found dead. “The baby was found with his umbilical cord still attached and wrapped in a piece of cloth inside a rubbish bin in the women’s toilet. “The body has been sent to Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail, Batu Pahat, for a post-mortem examination and further investigation,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 16:55 UTC
Father forgives driver in fatal Kuala Terengganu crash that killed UniSZA student
- NSTP/ZAID SALIMKUALA TERENGGANU: Mazli Yusoh, 51 has calmly accepted an apology from the family of the Honda Jazz driver involved in a crash that claimed the life of his daughter, Syakirah Hanan, 25, at midday today. "I have no problem forgiving because it was not his fault either," he said when met at the compound of the HSNZ Forensic Department here. The man, aged about 32 and from Kampung Bukit Cempaka, Kepong, here, was said to be travelling from Jalan Kemajuan to return to his village. The strong impact caused the victim to be trapped in her crushed car. It is understood that the man suffered serious injuries, including a fractured left arm and neck, and is still receiving treatment at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ).
Source:New Strait Times
January 05, 2026 15:35 UTC
US factory sector slumped to 14-month low as 2025 ended, ISM says
The Institute for Supply Management said on Monday its manufacturing PMI dropped to 47.9 in the final month of 2025 — the lowest since October 2024 — from 48.2 in November. Still, the PMI remained above 42.3, a level that ISM said over time was consistent with an expansion of the overall economy. The ISM survey's forward-looking new orders sub-index was little changed at 47.7 in December from November's 47.4, marking a fourth straight month of falling demand. Amid the soft demand environment, factory employment declined for an 11th straight month, the sector's longest hiring slump by ISM's measure in about five years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' gauge of US manufacturing employment dropped in November to the lowest since March 2022.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 15:10 UTC
Malaysia provides support for export businesses
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is stepping up efforts to support the global expansion of Malaysian exporters, with its 2026 roadmap outlining 203 high-impact trade development and promotion programmes. He added that MATRADE remains dedicated to fostering an ecosystem that drives inclusive and sustainable growth for the nation’s economy. In addition, MATRADE will pursue strategic collaborations by deepening public-private partnerships with prominent local and international entities to strengthen the trade and export ecosystem and facilitate global expansion for Malaysian companies, particularly MSMEs. The agency will also accelerate the national sustainability agenda by expanding the Greening of Export Supply Chain Programme to better prepare MSMEs and exporters for global environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance and disclosure requirements. During January - November last year, Malaysia’s exports to FTA markets accounted for approximately 67% of the Southeast Asian country’s total exports./.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 13:03 UTC
Army procurement probe: 26 companies being investigated, says MACC
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun an investigation into 26 companies suspected of involvement in the procurement of army projects. According to sources, the owners of all the companies are also being investigated, and the possibility of them being remanded to assist in the probe has not been ruled out. "MACC began investigating all 26 companies at about 11 am this morning, in several locations across the Klang Valley, Perak and Penang," the sources told Bernama on Monday (Jan 5). On Dec 23, MACC officers visited the Defence Ministry to examine projects implemented through the open tender procurement method, as well as procurement carried out under the Pusat Tanggungjawab (PTJ) Tentera Darat. On the following day (Dec 24), MACC summoned three individuals to record their statements in connection with the case.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 12:44 UTC
Farhash exits MMAG, resigns as chairman
KUALA LUMPUR: MMAG Holdings Bhd said Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador has ceased to be a substantial shareholder following the disposal of shares. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the integrated supply chain management provider said Farhash disposed of his entire 462 million ordinary shares at 18.9 sen apiece via a direct business transaction on Dec 31, 2025, resulting in the cessation of his substantial shareholding. Farhash emerged as a substantial shareholder of MMAG in March 2025 after acquiring a 20% stake in the group. In a separate filing, MMAG said Farhash, 44, has also resigned as its non-independent, non-executive chairman to pursue personal commitments. MMAG shares closed flat at seven sen, with 16.64 mil shares traded.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 12:10 UTC
Ringgit opens slightly lower as risk aversion lifts US$
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened slightly lower against the US dollar on Monday as global risk appetite turned more cautious, prompting investors to pare exposure to emerging-market assets. At 8 am, the local currency eased to 4.0580/0680 versus the greenback, compared with last Friday’s close of 4.0515/0560. At the open, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It depreciated against the Japanese yen to 2.5845/5911 from 2.5817/5848 last Friday, edged slightly lower versus the British pound to 5.4527/4662 from 5.4509/4569, and eased vis-à-vis the euro to 4.7499/7616 from 4.7488/7540. Meanwhile, the ringgit gained versus the Thai baht to 12.8662/9073 from 12.8996/9201, while it was flat vis-à-vis the Indonesian rupiah at 242.6/243.3 from 242.2/242.6 previously.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 12:05 UTC
Musician sues Will Smith for sexual harassment, wrongful termination
Will Smith (pic) and his company are facing allegations of sexual harassment by former America’s Got Talent contestant Brian King Joseph, who says he was subjected to “predatory behaviour” during the Oscar winner’s 2025 tour. The filing claims that Joseph joined the Fresh Prince alum’s tour for his Based On A True Story album. He insists tour management would have had “access” to the room because Joseph lost his luggage, which contained the room key. Joseph claims the Hitch star was “deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation” since their November 2024 meeting, after which they “began spending additional time alone” together ahead of the tour. Brian King Joseph appeared on five AGT episodes between 2018 and 2019.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 12:01 UTC
Pharmora succeeds in Apex Healthcare takeover offer, en route to delist
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Pharmora Investment Holdings Pte Ltd has succeeded in its takeover offer for Apex Healthcare Bhd (KL:AHEALTH) and is now en route to delist and privatise the pharmaceutical group. According to the notice, Bursa Securities will suspend Apex Healthcare shares from trading from Jan 13 while Pharmora and its joint ultimate offerors will take the requisite steps to delist Apex Healthcare. The offerors will also compulsorily acquire the remaining Apex Healthcare shares they do not already own. On Dec 30, 2025, their valid acceptances had crossed the 90% of offer shares threshold to compulsorily acquire remaining shares from dissenting shareholders. The RM2.64 apiece takeover offer was launched on Nov 28, 2025.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 12:00 UTC
Sunway buys land in Selangor, Penang for RM180mil
KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Bhd has acquired three land parcels in Selangor and Penang for RM179.8 million as part of efforts to replenish its development landbank and strengthen its future project pipeline. In Puchong, Selangor, Sunway, via its subsidiary Sunway Kiara Sdn Bhd, entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Glomac Al-Batha Sdn Bhd to acquire a 2.74-hectare leasehold parcel for RM97.3 million. Separately, Sunway, via its wholly owned unit Rich Worldclass Sdn Bhd, acquired a 0.45-hectare freehold parcel in USJ 1 for RM21 million. "The consolidation allows Sunway to plan a comprehensive, transit-oriented development thatenhances liveability, connectivity, and long-term community value,” it said. In George Town, Penang, Sunway, through its unit Sunway Bintang Sdn Bhd, acquired a 0.42-hectare freehold parcel along Jalan Pangkor for RM61.45 million.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 11:59 UTC
Arctic blast causes freezing weather and snow warnings in Europe
(Jan 5): A blast of Arctic air is spreading bitterly cold weather across much of Europe, boosting power demand and disrupting transport in some areas. The cold snap is also affecting other parts of northern Europe, as well as central areas and the Nordic region. Elsewhere, low temperatures in Munich should range from -10°C to -12°C for much of the week, according to government forecasters. Some weather models see cold weather returning again quickly. Still, European natural gas prices dropped Monday amid projections for milder weather and ample supply later this month and in early February.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 11:55 UTC