Malaysia Smelting appoints two co-group CEOs
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd has appointed two co-group chief executive officers (CEO), effective today, following the retirement of its group CEO Datuk Dr Patrick Yong Mian Thong. In a statement yesterday, Malaysia Smelthing said Nicholas Chen Seong Lee and Lam Hoi Khong will assume the co-CEO roles as part of a new leadership structure introduced in conjunction with the planned succession. It said Yong retired yesterday, but will remain on the board and continue to support the group as an advisor, providing strategic guidance and oversight for new projects. Malaysia Smelthing said that under the new structure, Chen will oversee the group’s operations, corporate and institutional matters, while Lam will be responsible for finance, sales and marketing, commercial issues and governance-related functions. The company is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia and the Singapore Exchange, with core activities spanning tin mining and metal production.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 15:04 UTC
2026 tax return filing programme now available on LHDN portal
CYBERJAYA: The Income Tax Return filing programme for the year 2026 has been uploaded on the official Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) portal as a reference and guide for taxpayers submitting their returns this year. IRB, in a statement today, said that the documents can be accessed and downloaded at www.hasil.gov.my or via the direct link here. "To facilitate the reporting process, employers are encouraged to submit employees' remuneration and deduction details through e-C.P8D by Feb 25, 2026," LHDN said. "This initiative aims to streamline the e-Filing process starting March 1, 2026," it added.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 14:49 UTC
14 deviant teachings still active in Malaysia, says Deputy IGP
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 14 teachings that have been gazetted as deviant are still active in the country, with eight under monitoring by the authorities. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said a total of 154 deviant teachings have been gazetted from 1950 to the present. Of these, 114 deviant teachings have been identified and are being closely monitored by the police Special Branch. "Deviant teachings pose a threat to national security, in addition to issues of corruption involving public servants. "A total of 14 deviant teachings have been detected as still active, while eight are under the authorities' observation.
Source:New Strait Times
January 01, 2026 14:33 UTC
New year brings host of new rules in South Korea
Drivers who refuse testing may face up to five years in prison or fines of up to 20 million won (US$13,800). Those found to have been driving under the influence of an illegal substance now face harsher penalties, with the maximum prison sentence increasing from three to five years, and maximum fines rising from 10 million won to 20 million won. Expanded child care benefitsTo ease the burden of child care, monthly subsidies of 100,000 won, currently provided to children under age 8, are extended to children under age 9. To address gaps in child care, nighttime care hours at some child care centers will be extended. Starting Jan 5, a total of 360 child care centers, including community child care centers and “Together Care” centers, will participate in nighttime care programmes.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 14:17 UTC
Madani government vows harmony, economic growth as Malaysians welcome New Year
KUALA LUMPUR: The Madani government remains committed to ensuring that harmony in diversity continues to be the foundation of the nation's progress, while also strengthening the economy for the wellbeing of the people. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will move forward with full confidence alongside the people as they embrace new hopes this year. "This is the Madani government's commitment to Malaysia. In the same post, Anwar shared a one-minute, 47-second video showing him celebrating the New Year with Malaysians last night, which also served as the initial catalyst for the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign. The VM2026 campaign officially began with the Visit Malaysia 2026 Countdown Festival, a large-scale New Year's Eve celebration held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Source:New Strait Times
January 01, 2026 13:57 UTC
Over 9,000 summonses issued during year-end operations in Johor
JOHOR BARU: Over 9,000 summonses were issued, and 17 individuals were arrested for various offences during the year-end festive period following a statewide police operation in Johor. He said the traffic investigation and enforcement department conducted roadblocks from Dec 25 to Dec 31 to ease traffic congestion and ensure road safety. “As a result of the checks, 17 individuals aged 14 to 46 were arrested for various offences, while 9,356 summonses were issued for traffic offences,” he said. Comm Ab Rahaman said a total of 130 vehicles were also seized, comprising 126 motorcycles, two cars, one van, and one lorry. He added that a total of 1,681 officers and personnel were deployed across the Johor police contingent for the operations.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 13:41 UTC
Continuous rain alert for parts of Sarawak until Jan 3
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a continuous rain warning at the alert level for several areas in Sarawak until Saturday (Jan 3). MetMalaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 1) that the affected areas include Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei (Pakan, Sarikei and Meradong), Sibu (Sibu and Selangau), Mukah, Bintulu and Miri (Subis, Beluru, Miri and Marudi). He said the public can obtain the latest weather updates through MetMalaysia’s official website, the myCuaca mobile application and the department’s official social media platforms. Enquiries can also be made via the MetMalaysia hotline at 1-300-22-1638.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 13:22 UTC
Kedah PAS commissioner backs Sanusi as next PN chairman
PETALING JAYA: Kedah PAS commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yahaya supports the proposal for Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (pic) to replace Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Perikatan Nasional chairman. "I see that some parties are proposing that YAB Sanusi be the new Perikatan chairman. It is an interesting proposal, which I agree with," he wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan 1). Muhyiddin, the Bersatu President, resigned as Perikatan chairman earlier this week, along with Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (secretary-general and Selangor chairman), Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Perak), Mohamad Hanifah Abu Bakar (Negri Sembilan), Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal (Johor) and Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian (Sarawak). PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan recently said that the party was willing to take the helm of the coalition following Muhyiddin's resignation.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 13:19 UTC
Consultant loses almost RM700,000 to online investment scam
GEORGE TOWN: A consultant has lost RM690,500 to an online investment scam in November, says Penang police chief Comm Datuk Azizee Ismail. The victim, a woman aged 71, lodged a police report on Dec 29 about being scammed after she contacted the woman suspect via WhatsApp after seeing an advertisement about an investment scheme offering high returns on TikTok in mid-November, he added. "She was added to a WhatsApp group named QNTCX Invest and was promised 100 per cent profits in a short period based on the amount invested. The victim was attracted by the investment and was asked to download a ‘QNTCX’ app to register and invest. "The victim made 20 cash deposit transactions to four different company bank accounts from Nov 10 to Dec 23, 2005 totalling RM690,500,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 1).
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 13:10 UTC
China superalloy maker to invest RM900mil in Johor, says MB
JOHOR BARU: A Chinese manufacturer specialising in superalloys has stated its commitment to invest RM900mil in Johor, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. He said this followed the state delegation’s visit to Jiangsu Longda Superalloy Co Ltd in Shanghai on Dec 17. “During the meeting, Jiangsu Longda through its Malaysian subsidiary, Singda Superalloy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, stated its commitment to invest about RM900mil in Johor." Onn Hafiz said this is expected to create over 200 high-skilled job opportunities in the engineering and modern technology fields. Onn Hafiz said the delegation also discussed the formation of industrial supply chain clusters with strategic ecosystem partners.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 13:06 UTC
Russia accuses Ukraine of killing 24 people in New Year drone strike
MOSCOW (Jan 1): Russia accused Ukraine on Thursday of killing at least 24 people, including a child, in a drone strike on a hotel and cafe where civilians were seeing in the New Year in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of the region, first made the accusation about the strike in a statement. Russia's Foreign Ministry and senior Russian politicians later accused Ukraine of carrying out "a terrorist attack". Russia's Foreign Ministry said initial information indicated that 24 people, including one child, had been killed, and that 50 people had been injured, including six minors who were being treated in hospital. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Telegram that Ukraine's backers in the West were ultimately to blame.
Source:The Edge Markets
January 01, 2026 12:30 UTC
Bring on Online Safety Act, says Bukit Aman
KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman fully supports the government’s announcement on the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2025 (Onsa) given the spike in online crimes resulting in huge losses. "Online crime threats have become increasingly serious and have a direct impact on the well-being of society. "Malaysians suffered losses amounting to RM2.77bil due to online scam crimes between January 2023 and November last year,"During the same period, cases involving online child sexual exploitation showed a worrying rise, with 688 cases recorded from January 2021 to November 2025. In addition, cases related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) totalled 351 cases between January 2021 and October 2025," he said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 1). “This approach is in line with the commitment to protect the people and ensure they remain safe in the future cyber environment,” he added.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 12:30 UTC
Suspected space debris found on Pekan beach
PEKAN: An object suspected to be debris from space was discovered along the coastline of Kampung Tanjung, Nenasi, here last Tuesday (Dec 30). Pekan OCPD Supt Mohd Zaidi Mat Zin said the object was found by local residents at about 5pm, before the matter was reported to the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry. "Initial investigations found that the debris is believed to have fallen from space into the sea and was later washed ashore by currents to the coastal area in Nenasi,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 1). For safety purposes, the object was moved to the Nenasi Police Station for temporary storage before further investigations are carried out by the relevant ministries. Checks by Bernama at the police station found that police lines had been placed around the object, and the debris, believed to weigh several hundred kgs, was covered in barnacles, with some of its surfaces peeled off and damaged.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 12:25 UTC
[UPDATED] Around 40 killed, 100 injured in explosion in Swiss ski resort bar [WATCH]
Rescuers and fire-fighters work at the site of an explosion that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana. (Photo by MAXIME SCHMID / AFP)LENS, Switzerland: Around 40 people have been killed and 100 injured, most of them seriously, after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during a New Year's Eve party in the upmarket ski resort of Crans-Montana, Swiss officials said on Thursday. A fire broke out at 1.30 a.m. (0030 GMT) in a bar called "Le Constellation" in the resort in south-western Switzerland. "I cannot hide from you that we are all shaken by what happened overnight in Crans," Gisler told the press conference. Several people were killed and others injured when an explosion ripped through a bar in the luxury Alpine ski resort town of Crans Montana, Swiss police said early on Jan 1.
Source:New Strait Times
January 01, 2026 12:22 UTC
Jasrinderjit Singh is new Lagenda CEO
PETALING JAYA: Lagenda Properties Bhd has designated Jasrinderjit Singh Dhillon, 35, as the company’s chief executive officer, effective today. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the property group said Jasrinderjit has been appointed to the role to support Lagenda’s executive leadership and board of directors. Prior to the appointment, he served as the Lagenda’s head of investments, strategy and corporate relations. He joined Lagenda in 2018 and rapidly advanced through successive leadership roles within the company. “His progression within the group reflects the board’s confidence in his leadership capabilities, strategic judgement, and deep understanding of the group’s business and operating environment,” Lagenda said.
Source:The Star
January 01, 2026 11:59 UTC