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Malaysia expands Sara programme: Monthly payments from Jan 9, one-off RM100 on Feb 9
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): Government cash assistance programme payment for eligible Malaysians will start from Jan 9, with the one-off RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) for all Malaysians to be credited on Feb 9, 2026. Monthly Sara payments are an extra payment for recipients of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), a government aid programme for low- and middle-income groups to help them manage the rising cost of living. Eligibility for Sara is automatic, based on approved STR data for the poor and hardcore poor groups (eKasih). The target for small shops participating in the Sara programme will be increased to 10,000 by the end of 2026, compared with over 3,000 at the end of 2025, complementing existing supermarket branches. Last year, 96% of recipients used the one-off Sara payment, totalling nearly RM2.1 billion.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 06:09 UTC
Gold, dollar rise on Venezuela as AI fuels stocks
(Jan 05): Gold and the dollar rose after the ouster of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro fanned geopolitical risk. Growth assets remained in demand, with technology stocks driving gains in equities. Spot gold advanced more than 2% to climb above US$4,430 (RM18,056.68) an ounce while silver jumped 4%. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.7%, with chip stocks such as Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Micron Technology Inc gaining more than 3% in premarket trading. AI “absolutely stays the most dominant factor in the markets right now”, Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets, told Bloomberg TV.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 05:59 UTC
Aaron Kwok's wife Moka Fang shares rare shot with their newborn while welcoming 2026
He, 36, and Chan, 40, surprised fans in October 2025 when they announced on Chinese social media platform Weibo that they had welcomed their first child, a son. His popularity rose after he co-starred in Chinese romance drama Love’s Ambition (2025) with Chinese actress Zhao Lusi. Meanwhile, Hong Kong superstar Aaron Kwok’s wife Moka Fang took to social media to post a video of her carrying their third daughter. Kwok, 60, recently starred in the Hong Kong crime thriller Under Current (2025). He announced on social media in October 2025 that they have welcomed their third daughter, Cheryl.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 05:41 UTC
100Plus boost energises Pearly-Thinaah's drive to topple China pair
KUALA LUMPUR: Women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are fired up to chase down China’s world No. 2 Pearly-Thinaah enjoyed a fine 2025 and were rewarded with RM50,000 cash incentive from 100Plus on Monday (Jan 5) after capturing gold in the Thailand SEA Games last month. 1,” said Pearly after a training session at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil ahead of the Malaysian Open which starts on Tuesday (Jan 6). “Being consistent is harder than reaching the top in the first place, so we need to maintain our form.”To date, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty have been the only Malaysian women’s doubles pair to ever reach world No. A good performance in the Malaysian Open though will help the former narrow the gap and that’s exactly what the pair are aiming for.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 05:39 UTC
Bitcoin advances to three-week high as stocks, silver rise
(Jan 5): Bitcoin rose to a three-week high and broke through a closely watched technical level as digital assets started to catch up with gains in stocks and precious metals. Bitcoin’s advance came as gold, silver and equities gained after the ouster of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. Political uncertainty fanned by Maduro’s capture by US forces late last week has failed to dent investor appetite for riskier assets like technology stocks, while driving fresh gains in gold and silver. Bitcoin has in the past been touted as a haven in times of turmoil, while at other times it has moved more in line with stocks and other risk assets. The token tumbled 24% in the fourth quarter, a sharp break with gold and silver prices.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 05:39 UTC
TURKEYS OF THE YEAR: The embarrassing FAM fiasco
Watching this spectacle results in goosebumps for many, as the players sing their respective anthems, standing tall, with pride in their faces, having reached the pinnacle of world football. Adding insult to injury, FAM was also fined a little more than RM50,000. The seven players were suspended for 12 months and fined RM10,000 each, while FAM was fined an additional RM1.8 million. Perhaps FAM can learn a thing or two from the lesser, often-overlooked sepak takraw association and its officials. We should learn from our mistakes and bounce back from this embarrassing episode, which has raised questions about our pride as a nation and what we stand for.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 05:34 UTC
Govt rolls out national digital identity system
THE country has introduced “Brunei Identiti Digital” (Brunei ID), a national digital identity system that serves as an electronic form of personal identification for individuals, marking a key milestone in Brunei’s digital transformation journey, reported Xinhua. Brunei’s Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening national digital governance while facilitating secure, convenient and user- friendly access to the government’s digital services. Brunei ID enables Brunei citizens and residents to verify their digital identity when accessing the government’s online services through a single login mechanism supported by biometric authentication. Developed based on robust security and privacy principles, biometric authentication is carried out locally on the user’s device, while personal data is protected in accordance with government-established security and data protection requirements. Other government digital services will be integrated in phases to ensure an orderly implementation that is aligned with government, security and data protection requirements, in line with the national public service digital transformation and the national digital economy framework.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 05:31 UTC
Hundreds released by junta
Hundreds of inmates walked free after the junta announced annual independence day pardons, just a week after the start of an election that international monitors have denounced as sham. The military grabbed power in a 2021 coup that triggered civil war, pitting pro-democracy rebels against junta forces, with thousands of activists since arrested. A dozen buses full of released prisoners exited Yangon’s Insein prison yesterday morning, with some waving to crowds of well-wishers. In total, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing pardoned 6,134 imprisoned Myanmar nationals, the National Defence and Security Council said, adding 52 foreign prisoners would also be released and deported. The junta has said turnout in the first phase exceeded 50% of eligible voters, below the 2020 participation rate of around 70%.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 05:26 UTC
JPJ: Traffic jam frustration leads to emergency lane misuse
SEREMBAN: The frustration of long traffic jams is one of the main reasons behind the misuse of emergency lanes on highways. "During the school holiday period, we launched an operation targeting the misuse of emergency lanes, from Dec 20 to Jan 11. As of yesterday (Jan 5), 325 notices were issued to road users who violated Regulation 53(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959. He added that last year, 2,288 cases of emergency lane misuse were recorded, clearly indicating that awareness and compliance with the regulation need to be improved. The public can report traffic law violations through the MyJPJ app (e-Aduan) or by emailing aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my to help make enforcement more effective.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 05:25 UTC
E-invoicing: Govt grants businesses with up to RM5 mil turnover another year to comply
Under the original plan, only those with annual revenue below RM150,000 were to be exempted. In response, the government raised the exemption threshold to cover companies with annual revenue under RM1 million. Currently, only taxpayers with annual revenue exceeding RM5 million are required to comply with e-invoicing. Reduced service tax rate: For existing SMEs, the service tax rate on rental will be cut to 6% from 8%. "At this stage, I can only reduce it to 6%, which results in an annual revenue loss of nearly half a billion ringgit.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 05:23 UTC
Guan Huat Seng sets IPO at 25 sen, seeks RM30mil
Food distributor Guan Huat Seng Holdings Bhd is seeking to raise RM30 million at an issue price of 25 sen per share, valuing the group at about RM118 million upon its planned listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. The group's initial public offering (IPO) comprises the issuance of 120 million new shares, alongside an offer for sale of 21 million existing shares, bringing its enlarged share capital to 473.5 million shares, according to its prospectus. Of the new shares, 23.8 million shares are allocated to the Malaysian public via balloting, while 14 million shares are reserved for eligible directors, employees and contributors. A further 82.2 million shares will be placed out to selected investors and government-approved Bumiputera investors, while the offer for sale of 21 million shares will also be undertaken via private placement. Guan Huat Seng is primarily involved in the distributive trade of food and beverage products, including shelf-stable and frozen seafood, flavouring products, dried foods, snacks and general groceries.
Source:New Strait Times
January 05, 2026 05:23 UTC
Survival without surgery
PETALING JAYA: For professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia, survival without surgery was not just a choice, but a risk worth taking after a difficult injury-hit year. The shuttler, who is currently preparing for the Malaysian Open starting tomorrow, said a specialist doctor had previously recommended surgery for his back injury. “Luckily, I didn’t have to undergo surgery, although there was a doctor who suggested it,” said the former All-England champion. “There was a doctor who recommended surgery, but to be honest, it was never part of my plan. Zii Jia admitted that his decision to forego surgery and focus on rehabilitation was not an easy one, as he faced numerous challenges during that period.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 05:20 UTC
New Penang waterfront mall to boost business events and tourism
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (seven from left) together with members of his administration during a working visit to the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) in Penang this morning. - NSTP/AUDREY DERMAWANGEORGE TOWN: The new shopping centre at Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) will complement the area's mixed-use development, supporting business and tourism without creating a retail glut. Ling said concerns over an oversupply of shopping malls often depend on location and planning, but the PWCC development serves a specific complementary role. It has a clear purpose in supporting the mixed-use environment and the activities generated by the convention centre," he added. The shopping mall, office spaces and hotel are scheduled for completion by mid-year, enhancing the overall functionality and appeal of the waterfront precinct.
Source:New Strait Times
January 05, 2026 05:12 UTC
Blow to China from loss of Venezuela oil blunted by hoard at sea
Separately, the market is also watching Chinese demand for fuel oil, a possible alternative to Venezuelan crude. Trump said at a press conference on Saturday that the sanctions on the country’s oil industry would remain in place. US sanctions on state producer Petroleos de Venezuela SA saw most nations — apart from China — shun the country’s oil, although Chevron Corp was allowed to keep operating in Venezuela. Chinese oil majors Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corp also have legacy claims to develop Venezuelan oil reserves, Morgan Stanley said in a note that cited Wood Mackenzie Ltd. However, Trump’s pledge that US companies would rebuild the country’s oil industry raises major doubts over whether the Chinese firms will have any role to play.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 05, 2026 05:09 UTC
Preserving dignity in mental health care
Dignity in mental health care is not a favour, a reward for good behaviour, or a kindness bestowed by mental health professionals. Yet, despite growing awareness and policy commitments, dignity remains one of the most neglected elements of mental health care in practice. The Mental Health Act 2001 – the backbone of mental health legislation in Malaysia – focuses heavily on admission, detention and treatment. Dignity is everyone’s responsibilityUpholding dignity in mental health care cannot be the sole responsibility of psychiatrists or hospitals. The establishment of a Mental Health Commission in Malaysia, or at least a designated Mental Health Commissioner within Suhakam, could provide strategic direction, monitor human rights compliance and give mental health a visible voice at the highest policy level.
Source:The Star
January 05, 2026 05:05 UTC