Explosions in Nilai: Suspect had knowledge, skills in making explosives, say cops
SEREMBAN: The suspect involved in the explosion in Desa Palma, Nilai near here, on Dec 22 is believed to have technical knowledge and special skills in making explosives. Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said this was based on the discovery of devices and equipment seized from the rented house of a man known as Yeoh Hock Sun, 62, including explosive devices, flammable cleaning agents and carbon as well as sulphur elements. "Investigations found that the suspect has knowledge in the field of chemistry and had worked in a pharmaceutical factory for three years, as well as knowledge in the field of information technology (IT). He said that an inspection of the man's house, which was suspected of being used as a laboratory, also found 31 more improvised explosive devices (IEDs), all of which were destroyed by the police. "The fragments used were nails and a folding knife that were finely shredded, so looking at the preparation we interpret that he had the knowledge to prepare a perfect explosive,” he said.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 10:05 UTC
Green debt sales hit record levels despite climate backlash
Global green bond and loan issuance has reached a record US$947 billion (RM3.83 trillion) so far this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. China had a record US$138 billion in green bond issuance, led by its biggest lenders. US green debt issuance fell 7% to US$163 billion this year and supranational bond sales declined by a similar amount. Sales of sustainability-linked debt slumped about 50% this year to US$165 billion amid greenwashing concerns, Bloomberg Intelligence data show. Overall, global sustainable debt volumes stood at about US$1.6 trillion this year, down more than 8% from 2024, the Bloomberg Intelligence data show.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 09:54 UTC
FBM KLCI breaks winning streak on profit-taking
KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI snapped its winning streak on profit-taking, ending the session slightly lower as selling pressure weighed on the broader market. The 30-stock closed 1.21 points, or 0.07%, lower at 1,677.10 after trading between an intraday high of 1,678.29 and a low of 1,670.83. Among the banks, Maybank fell six sen to RM10.40, Hong Leong Bank added 18 sen to RM22.42, RHB Bank rose six sen to RM7.80 and CIMB climbed four sen to RM8.15. Meanwhile, the ringgit was last quoted at 4.0463, up 0.02% against the US dollar, bringing its year-to-date gain to about 10%. Taiwan’s Taiex closed 0.65% higher at 28,556.02, while China’s CSI300 advanced 0.32% to 4,657.24 and the Shanghai Composite added 0.1% to 3,963.68.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:45 UTC
Miha in the spotlight as Lamag by-election speculation grows
KOTA KINABALU: Political parties are eyeing popular Kinabatangan youth activist Mohd Ismail Ayob, better known as Miha, as a potential candidate for the Lamag state seat by-election. When contacted, Miha said he was aware of speculation surrounding his name but stressed that no formal discussions had taken place. He said his focus remained on community work in Kinabatangan and Lamag, adding that any decision on contesting would depend on discussions with his family and supporters. Meanwhile, other sources within Sabah Umno said the party would need to take into account the views of local Kinabatangan Umno leaders before deciding whether to field an external candidate for Lamag. On the other hand, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Warisan have hinted that they may not field candidates in the by-election, although neither has confirmed its stance.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:44 UTC
Senior citizen and son die in blaze at Sentul PPR
KUALA LUMPUR: A senior citizen and her son were killed after a fire broke out at a People's Housing Project (PPR) in Sentul. The city's Fire and Rescue Department Operations Control Centre received an emergency call via the MERS NG999 system at 7.18am on Friday (Dec 26). "Firemen from the Sentul fire station, assisted by personnel from the Gombak station, were immediately dispatched to the scene. "Our personnel fully extinguished the blaze at 8.27am and conducted overhaul works," the department added. "Both were pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel," the department said, adding that the Fire Investigation Unit is looking into what caused the blaze.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:24 UTC
1MDB probe a fulfilment of MACC's duty to the country, says Azam
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was only carrying out its duty to the nation in the long-running 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) investigation, says its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. "Rather, it reflects the fulfilment of our responsibility and duty to the nation, carried out in accordance with the trust and mandate entrusted to us. He congratulated the MACC's investigating officers and the prosecution team following the conclusion of the 1MDB probe, which began in July 2015. Earlier, former prime minister Najib was found guilty of four abuse of power charges over the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds. Azam also applauded the team for remaining steadfast in meeting the rigorous legal standards required for the case to be brought before the courts.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 09:05 UTC
BofA employee charged with arranging drug gathering in Singapore
(Dec 26): An employee of Bank of America was charged in a Singapore state court for arranging a Christmas Eve gathering where controlled drugs were consumed. Shawn Loo Zhi Jian allegedly met with M Ravi, a former lawyer, to consume methamphetamine, according to a charge sheet on Friday. The charge sheet didn’t connect Loo to Ravi’s death. Loo is an assistant vice-president at the US bank in Singapore, according to his LinkedIn profile. Loo is out on bail of S$20,000 (US$15,575 or RM62,907) and is scheduled to be back in court on Jan 2.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 08:19 UTC
Surveyor charged with murdering mum and adopted sister
BUTTERWORTH: A surveyor has been charged with killing his mother and adopted sister in a house fire earlier this month. Daniel Quyyum, clad in a blue T-shirt, nodded that he understood the charges. On the second charge, he is alleged to have murdered a six-year-old girl in the same house at the same date and time. Daniel Quyyum was injured after part of the roof collapsed on him during the fire. When met outside the court, his father Kamalrolzlan Muhammad, 57, said he has yet to claim his ex-wife and adopted daughter's remains for burial pending DNA test results.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 07:42 UTC
Teacher duped out of RM140,000 by bogus Scam Response Centre officer
KUALA BERANG: A teacher has lost RM144,152 after being scammed by a man posing as an officer from the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) last month. He said the suspect instructed the victim to hand over her ATM card and PIN, purportedly for police investigations. "On Dec 4, the suspect contacted the victim again and told her to place the ATM card at a signboard behind a school. Supt Sharudin said the victim realised she had been scammed after discovering that RM144,152 from her savings was missing. Checks showed that five unauthorised withdrawals were made by unknown individuals between Dec 4 and 8.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 07:40 UTC
Kajang drug bust uncovers major scam call centre
KAJANG: A drug raid in the area resulted in an unexpected discovery: a scam call centre. Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the Dec 21 raid in Kajang uncovered a scam operation. "We believe the drug syndicate was also moonlighting as a scam syndicate," he told reporters at Semenyih police station on Friday (Dec 26). The suspects have since been handed over to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), he added. "The drug syndicate is really capitalising by running a scam syndicate as well," he added.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 07:35 UTC
Over RM1bil worth of drugs seized in Klang Valley
The raids, carried out on Dec 21, targeted remnants of the syndicate that was initially crippled in an earlier operation on Dec 16, during which drugs worth RM1.53bil were seized and six suspects detained. Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the latest operation was a follow-up to the earlier raid, codenamed Ops Gaharu. “We conducted the latest raids at Selesa Jaya Industrial Park in Seri Kembangan and an industrial area in Kepong on Dec 21. Comm Hussein said the drugs seized in the latest operation could have been supplied to as many as 20.7 million users. The syndicate used Malaysia as a processing hub before distributing the drugs to several overseas destinations, including Hong Kong and Australia,” he said.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 07:30 UTC
High Court: Umno not a ‘rookie’ political party, lack of ‘donation’ record raises questions
PUTRAJAYA (Dec 26): Despite former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's insistence that the funds in focus in his 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trials were political donations, the lack of official records made the claims dubious, the High Court said on Friday. Reading his judgment in the 1MDB -Tanore trial, judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah found that this portion of Najib's defence was not tenable as Umno — the party the ex-PM had led — "was not some fly-by-night rookie political institute". "The party, at the time was Malaysia's largest political party, having its roots established as far back as 1946. In this trial, Najib is accused of gratifying himself of RM2.27 billion of 1MDB funds, and faces four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges. The court had earlier broken for Friday prayers and resumed with the judge continuing to deliver his judgement at 3.15pm.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 26, 2025 07:23 UTC
Najib supporters deny being paid, insist their presence is voluntary
PUTRAJAYA: Supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who gathered outside the Palace of Justice on Friday (Dec 27), denied claims that they were paid to be there, insisting their presence was voluntary and driven by sincere support for Najib. The atmosphere outside the court turned lively as supporters chanted slogans such as “Hidup Bossku”, “Bebas Najib” and “1Malaysia”, while maintaining that they had come at their own expense. One supporter, Mohammad Rafie, 42, from Sabah, dismissed allegations that the crowd had been paid, saying their attendance was motivated by appreciation for Najib’s past leadership. These are the faces of loyal supporters who have stood by Datuk Seri Najib from the beginning,” he said. The decision is being delivered at the Palace of Justice by Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is now a Federal Court judge.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 06:50 UTC
10-year-old boy killed in motorcycle-lorry crash
KUALA KRAI: A 10-year-old boy was killed after the motorcycle he was riding with his uncle collided with a lorry at Jalan Kampung Chenis, Pahi, on Thursday (Dec 25). “The motorcycle collided with the right side of the lorry coming from the opposite direction. “The victim, who was the pillion rider, sustained head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while his uncle suffered minor injuries,” he said. The victim’s body was taken to the Forensic Unit of Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital for a post-mortem, and the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Members of the public with information regarding the accident are urged to contact the Kuala Krai district police headquarters or investigating officer Insp Nurhasmira Tajol at 09-9666222.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 06:50 UTC
High Court rejects Najib’s defence of Arab donations in 1MDB trial
PUTRAJAYA: The High Court has shot down Datuk Seri Najib Razak's defence of the Arab donation in the RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial, calling it “not meritorious”. He claimed that four donation letters from Arab leaders issued between Feb 1, 2011, and June 1, 2014, pledged donations of US$100mil, US$375mil, US$800mil, and UK£50mil, respectively. All these donation letters were addressed to Najib's residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur. “There was no evidence of any formal acknowledgement by the government or any political party to the purported donor, and for that matter, by the accused himself. “The alleged donation letters were addressed to the accused's private residence rather than to any official party address,” Justice Sequerah said.
Source:The Star
December 26, 2025 06:30 UTC