Man charged with causing the deaths of three others by dangerous driving
KOTA TINGGI: A 32-year-old man has claimed trial to charges of causing the death of three men through dangerous driving. He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum penalty of a RM50,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment upon conviction. In the same court, Loo also pleaded not guilty to a charge under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possessing RM3,894 worth of untaxed cigarettes. Prosecuting officer Insp Nor Ayu Hidayah M Safri requested bail of RM10,000 for the offence under the Customs Act and RM5,000 for each offence under the Road Transport Act 1987. The judge set bail at RM15,000 with one surety for all the offences and fixed Feb 6 for next mention of the case and document submission.
Source:The Star
December 29, 2025 13:03 UTC
Bersatu takes Perlis’ helm with move seen as rebalancing of power
PETALING JAYA: The appointment of a Bersatu leader as Perlis Mentri Besar may help rebalance power within Perikatan Nasional but risks fuelling dissatisfaction among PAS grassroots, say analysts. Abu Bakar Hamzah, the Kuala Perlis assemblyman and Perlis Bersatu chief, was sworn in at Istana Arau yesterday after receiving the consent of the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail. His appointment marked the first time Bersatu is taking the helm of the state following the resignation of PAS’ Mohd Shukri Ramli on Thursday, citing health reasons. Prof Sivamurugan added that unresolved tensions between PAS and Bersatu could continue to erode unity, especially at the grassroots and state levels. “This shows PAS and Bersatu are slowly moving in different directions,” he said, adding that the Perlis crisis reflected miscalculations by PAS and shrewd political manoeuvring by Bersatu.
Source:The Star
December 29, 2025 12:47 UTC
Parking deal still not finalised in PJ
The privatisation of public parking emerged as the most contentious issue in Petaling Jaya. The SIP scheme proposed a centralised parking system with four local authorities – Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Subang Jaya City Council, Shah Alam City Council and Selayang Municipal Council – implementing it first, from Aug 1. Petaling Jaya is set to standardise its reserved parking system next year, with all business-allocated bays converted to 24-hour parking across the city. Still on parking, Petaling Jaya is set to standardise its reserved parking system next year, with all business-allocated bays converted to 24-hour across the city. Under the PJ Watch Programme, the city council is also monitoring illegal dumping from its headquarters in Menara MBPJ.
Source:The Star
December 29, 2025 12:46 UTC
Australia says Bondi review to check if terror attack could have been averted
SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday (Dec 29) an independent review into law enforcement agencies set up after the Bondi mass shooting will assess whether authorities could have taken additional steps to prevent the terror attack. Fifteen people were killed in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's famed Bondi Beach on Dec 14, shocking a country with strict gun laws and fuelling calls for tougher controls and stronger action against antisemitism. "Announcements made so far by the federal government in response to the Bondi massacre are not nearly enough... You owe us answers. And you owe Australians the truth," said a statement from the families of those involved in the mass shooting, according to media reports. We need to get on with any changes that are required," Albanese told reporters, while announcing the terms for the review into the attack.
Source:The Star
December 29, 2025 12:37 UTC
Nvidia takes US$5b stake in Intel under September agreement
(Dec 29): Nvidia has purchased Intel shares worth US$5 billion (RM20.3 billion), the American semiconductor firm said in a filing on Monday, carrying out a transaction announced in September. The leading AI chip designer said in September it would pay US$23.28 per share for Intel common stock, in a deal that is seen as a major financial lifeline for the chipmaker after years of missteps and capital intensive production capacity expansions drained its finances. The world's most valuable firm has bought over 214.7 million Intel shares at the price set out in the September agreement, in a private placement, according to Monday's filing. US antitrust agencies had cleared Nvidia's investment in Intel, according to a notice posted by the US Federal Trade Commission earlier in December. Nvidia shares were down 1.3% in pre-market trading while Intel stock was little changed.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 12:31 UTC
29 federal roads in Kelantan in need of urgent repairs
KOTA BARU: The Public Works Department (JKR) has identified 29 federal roads in nine Kelantan districts that require urgent maintenance. “There are seven roads in Gua Musang and six in Kota Baru that need maintenance,” he said. In the district of Kota Baru, six roads need urgent repairs – Jalan Pasir Puteh-Kota Bharu; Jalan Wakaf Che Yeh-Salor-Pasir Mas; Jalan Kota Bharu-Pengkalan Chepa; Jalan Gua Musang-Kota Bharu; Jalan Pantai Cahaya Bulan; and Jalan Sultan Ismail Petra. He said the other roads that needed immediate attention are Jalan Gua Musang-Kota Bharu, Jalan Machang-Jeli, Jalan Kota Bharu-Kuala Terengganu and Jalan Pintas Pasir Puteh. Also on the list are Jalan Kota Bharu-Rantau Panjang, Jalan Kota Bharu-Pengkalan Kubor, Jalan Panglima Bayu-Rantau Panjang, and Jalan Kubang Kerian-Bachok.
Source:The Star
December 29, 2025 12:05 UTC
Billionaire’s son to revive Dubai’s long vacant ‘Big Ben’ tower
(Dec 29): Despite surging demand for office space in Dubai, one tower on the edge of the city’s financial district has stood empty for about a decade. Abbas Sajwani, the 26-year-old son of billionaire developer Hussain Sajwani, bought the building last year for US$120 million (RM485.64 million). Despite its prime location, the tower had remained vacant after its previous owner fell behind on debt repayments to Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC. The tower, built around the time of the global financial crisis that upended Dubai’s property market, was beset by delays and disputes, leaving it unfinished for years. Once refurbishment is complete, the building — now rebranded as AHS Tower — will lose the clock-face design that earned it the “Big Ben” moniker.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 12:01 UTC
Crescendo pays special six sen dividend despite 31% drop in 3Q profit
For the quarter ended Oct 31, 2025 (3QFY2026), the group's net profit fell to RM70.3 million or 8.35 sen per share, compared to RM101.3 million, or 12.08 sen per share, in the previous year. The group declared a special single-tier dividend of six sen per share, payable on Feb 10, 2026. This raised its year-to-date payout to seven sen, as opposed to seven sen in the same period last year. This segment generated RM201.7 million in revenue and RM85.5 million in operating profit, accounting for over 78% of group revenue and 81% of operating profit. Net profit fell to RM93.70 million from RM523.72 million in the corresponding period last year, as revenue fell 66% to RM362.76 million from RM1.08 billion.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 12:01 UTC
Parties name PM candidates ahead of February election
Political parties in the country have registered their candidates for the next prime minister, marking the unofficial start of campaigning for the Feb 8 general election. The election is seen as primarily pitting Anutin’s conservative party against the progressive People’s Party, which under a different name and leadership won the highest number of House seats in the 2023 election. The populist Pheu Thai Party, backed by billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is another major contender. However, the People’s Party at the same time insisted on acting as an opposition party. The Pheu Thai party is fielding 46-year-old Yodchanan Wongsawat as its main candidate for prime minister.
Source:The Star
December 29, 2025 11:56 UTC
Valencia coach dies in boat accident
Fernando Martin, a coach with Valencia CF, has died along with three members of his family after their boat capsized, Spanish football clubs said. Valencia said in a statement yesterday that they were “deeply saddened by the passing of Fernando Martin, coach of Valencia CF Femenino B, and three of his children, in the tragic boat accident in Indonesia, as confirmed by local authorities”. Indonesian and Spanish authorities said on Saturday that Martin and three of his children were missing after the boat carrying 11 people sank in extreme weather on Friday in the Padar Island Strait. His wife and daughter, as well as four crew members and a tour guide, were rescued and safe, SAR said in a statement.
Source:The Star
December 29, 2025 11:53 UTC
AwanBiru Technology bags RM16.4 mil Higher Education Ministry contracts for Google AI tools
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 29): AwanBiru Technology Bhd (KL:AWANTEC) has secured two contracts worth RM16.42 million from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to provide Google artificial intelligence (AI) tools to public universities. AwanBiru Technology is the managed service provider for Google Cloud Malaysia. The contracts cover the provision of NotebookLM Enterprise and Gemini for Google Workspace to students, lecturers and administrators at public universities. AwanBiru Technology said the contracts have a tenure of 13 months, commencing on Jan 1, 2026 and expiring on Jan 31, 2027. The group added that the deployment of the AI tools is designed to enhance public universities’ existing Google Workspace for Education ecosystem by integrating advanced AI-driven learning and productivity features.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 11:41 UTC
Nepal's former rapper to run for PM in key vote after Gen Z protests
Rapper turned-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, known as Balen, a popular elected official, joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) or national independent party, led by a former TV host-turned politician Rabi Lamichhane on Sunday, party officials said. The election commission says nearly 19 million of Nepal’s 30 million people are eligible to vote in the elections. Balen was in the spotlight after the protests and was an undeclared leader of the youngsters who led the September protests. Some critics have questioned Balen's role during the protests, saying he rarely appeared in public and only addressed supporters on social media. Lamichhane formed the RSP ahead of the 2022 elections and is popular for his anti-corruption campaign as a TV host.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 07:35 UTC
China's Leapmotor targets annual sales of more than four million units in a decade
Leapmotor aims to sell one million cars in 2026, supported by a global expansion strategy in partnership with Stellantis, Zhu said in Hangzhou, where the company is based. With its best-selling C10 electric SUV priced from 142,800 yuan, Leapmotor has also been eroding the market share of industry leader BYD in terms of EVs priced under US$25,000. In contrast, BYD's domestic sales declined 5.1% to 3.1 million units during the same period. Separately, Leapmotor on Monday said it would issue 74.8 million shares to state-owned automaker FAW at 50.03 yuan a share. Neither FAW nor Stellantis, which invested in Leapmotor in 2023, intends to seek control of Leapmotor, said chief financial officer Li Tengfei.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 07:15 UTC
SoftBank agrees to buy DigitalBridge for US$4 bil
(Dec 29): SoftBank Group Corp agreed to acquire private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc in a deal valuing the data centre investor at US$4 billion (RM16.19 billion) including debt. The acquisition is part of SoftBank’s push to invest in the digital infrastructure fuelling the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. SoftBank’s billionaire founder, Masayoshi Son, aims to capitalise on soaring demand for digital infrastructure, driven by the AI boom. SoftBank has also held discussions with closely held Switch about a possible acquisition, which specialises in designing and operating energy-efficient data centres, Bloomberg reported this month, citing people familiar with the matter. In January, SoftBank announced the US$500 billion Stargate project, alongside OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, to build data centres in the US.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 07:05 UTC
Malaysia's auto sales to decline for second year in 2026, says CIMB Securities
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 29): Malaysia’s total industry vehicle (TIV) sales could decline for a second year in 2026, CIMB Securities said, on the back of potential hike in vehicle prices and excise duties in 2026. Sales could come in at 774,000 units in 2026, lower than the projected 790,000 this year, the research house said. Softer consumer sentiment amid inflationary pressures could also weigh on demand, it said in a sector note. CIMB, which is 'neutral' on the industry, said the projected slowdown in 2026 will be driven by the expiry of tax exemptions for fully imported electric vehicles (EVs) from January 2026. That said, TIV in the first 11 months of 2025 hit 727,834 units, down 1.2% from a year ago.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 29, 2025 07:05 UTC