Cops probing alleged assault of man in Banting
SHAH ALAM: Authorities are investigating a man’s allegations that he was beaten by individuals believed to be police officers at a house in Kampung Sungai Ingat, Banting, near here, last month. Kuala Langat Deputy Police chief DSP Mohd Sufian Amin said the department received a report on the incident from the victim’s mother on Nov 18. "According to the report, the complainant’s son was slapped several times by the police officers in an attempt to unearth evidence. The complainant’s father also informed that he witnessed the incident as it occurred,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 23). Mohd Sufian said the case was being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 11:00 UTC
King returns to Malaysia after special visit to UAE
JOHOR BARU: His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, departed for home on Wedneday (Dec 24) after completing a two-day special visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to a post on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's Facebook page, His Majesty's arrival at the Senai International Airport at 9.20am was welcomed by Johor State Secretary Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman, Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani, and Comptroller of the Royal Household of Johor Colonel (Retd) Datuk Mohamed Perang Musa. Sultan Ibrahim's special visit to the UAE was at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan. His Majesty's discussions with Sheikh Mohamed explored various opportunities for cooperation between Malaysia and the UAE in the fields of defence, investment and food security.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:57 UTC
FAM lodges police report over alleged forgery in heritage player issue
PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have lodged a police report over allegations of document forgery involving seven mixed heritage players. It said this was in line with the recommendation of the Independent Investigation Committee (IIC) chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif. "FAM are committed to fully cooperate with the police and respects the ongoing legal process. "This step reflects FAM's commitment to integrity, transparency and governance reforms in safeguarding the interests of national football," it said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 24).
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:54 UTC
Albert Tei wants police to release CCTV footage of MACC raid
PETALING JAYA: Businessman Albert Tei is calling for CCTV footage of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raid on his house to be released. Tei said he was called to the Sepang police headquarters to provide a statement over his claim that MACC officers pointed a firearm at him and his family during a raid at his house on Nov 28. He said the police had recorded statements from all MACC officers involved in the operation, obtained CCTV footage and mobile phone recordings, and had handed them over to the forensic unit for analysis. Tei's lawyer Zaid Malek said MACC officers detained his client at his house, claiming they forced their way in, handcuffed Tei and denied him access to legal counsel despite Zaid identifying himself as such. On Dec 4, Tei pleaded not guilty to four counts of graft under Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:50 UTC
Pharmora lifts stake in Apex Healthcare to 91.65% in now unconditional takeover bid
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 24): Apex Healthcare Bhd (KL:AHEALTH) announced on Wednesday that Pharmora Investment Holdings Pte Ltd has raised its effective stake in the company to 91.65% after the takeover bid turned unconditional on Dec 22. According to bourse filings on Wednesday, Pharmora secured 659.05 million shares, representing a 91.22% stake in Apex Healthcare as of Dec 22. It subsequently purchased another 3.08 million shares from the open market on Dec 23, raising its effective stake to 91.65%. On Dec 16, Pharmora and the parties acting in concert collectively held 88.02% of Apex Healthcare’s equity, falling short of the compulsory takeover threshold of 90%. The offerers do not intend to maintain Apex Healthcare’s listing status.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 24, 2025 10:42 UTC
MACC opens new investigation involving former minister
KUALA LUMPUR: A former minister who served in the federal Cabinet before the Covid-19 era is now under the radar of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The matter was confirmed by chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki when contacted on Wednesday (Dec 24), who said a new investigation paper has been opened involving the individual. "Yes, I confirm that the investigation is underway and several important individuals will be called to assist in the investigation," he said briefly. It is understood that the former leader has previously been charged in court on several corruption-related charges. Earlier, the media reported that the individual involved was under the radar of the MACC investigation following allegations of embezzlement while serving in a ministry involving the transfer of a high-value piece of government land to a prominent property developer.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:40 UTC
Singer Kylie Minogue beats Wham! and Mariah Carey for UK Christmas No.1
Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue has scored her first Christmas No.1 single on the UK charts with Xmas. Her 2025 song beat English pop duo Wham!’s Last Christmas (1984), at No.2, and American singer Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You (1994), at No.3. Xmas, an upbeat dance-pop tune, is found in the reissue of Kylie Christmas, Minogue’s first holiday album originally released in 2015. “Being Christmas No.1 really is the most wonderful gift.”The 57-year-old is now the first woman to secure UK No.1 singles in four different decades. She did not top the UK charts in the 2010s.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:30 UTC
Man finds snake in toilet
KOTA KINABALU: A man in need of a toilet break had to hold on to his intentions when he saw a huge python inside the toilet bowl in a salon in Labuan. He was taken aback when he flipped open the toilet cover to find the reptile curled up inside at around 10am yesterday. “Luckily the snake did not attack me,” he said. A day earlier, Civil Defence officials also responded to a snake call at Taman Indah Jaya, Sandakan. The 4m-long snake was slithering outside the house after dusk, where a resident saw it and immediately called 999 for help.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:29 UTC
King, UAE President reinforce bilateral ties
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia's courtesy visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (Dec 23), reinforces bilateral ties and mutual respect between the two countries. The King said the hour-long meeting at Qasr Al Bahr Palace in Abu Dhabi also paved the way for a more strategic, forward-looking Malaysia-UAE partnership. His Majesty also said the one-on-one meeting with Sheikh Mohamed covered cooperation in economic, investment, and food security matters. "We also discussed various matters, including efforts to strengthen Malaysia-UAE defence cooperation," the King said in a post on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's Facebook. Sultan Ibrahim's courtesy visit to Sheikh Mohamed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, is part of a special UAE visit at the President's invitation, which began on Tuesday.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:18 UTC
Woman-in-bag murder: Negri cops identify victim
On Dec 19, the police said doctors were unable to establish the cause of the victim's death as her remains were too decomposed. It was reported that the victim had been unreachable since Dec 8. The case is being probed under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. On Monday (Dec 22), state deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Muhammad Idzam Jaafar said police believe a dispute over money led to the woman's murder. He said preliminary investigations indicated that the victim and the main suspect got into an argument after she allegedly asked him for money, and this ended with him strangling her.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:14 UTC
Import-heavy sectors to gain from stronger ringgit
Domestically-oriented and import-intensive industries like the consumer, automotive, aviation, construction and healthcare sectors stand to benefit the most from a stronger ringgit as it lowers the cost of imported goods, raw materials and intermediate inputs, helping to ease cost pressures and potentially support margins or consumption volumes. “For the automotive sector, a stronger ringgit lowers costs as manufacturers import a significant amount of components and, in some cases, fully built vehicles from overseas. Neoh said, to a lesser extent, the healthcare sector is also poised to gain from a firmer ringgit, though the impact may be mixed. Hospital operators could also be affected as a stronger ringgit might make it less attractive for foreign patients to seek treatment in Malaysia”, he said. “Many construction companies rely on imported raw materials, hence a stronger ringgit helps reduce material costs, which in turn supports margins for the sector,” he said.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:05 UTC
Teen avenges uncle’s death 18 years later
Compiled by TEH ATHIRA YUSOF, C.ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHANA TEENAGER in India allegedly avenged his uncle’s death after 18 years by shooting dead the man responsible, Makkal Osai reported. He later appealed the verdict and was released on bail in 2017. Recently, Imran was reportedly at a friend’s shop in a local market when a teenager approached on a motorcycle and shot him multiple times. Authorities said the man killed in 2007 was the teenager’s uncle, and the boy allegedly carried out the attack to avenge his death. (The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies).
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 10:04 UTC
Saudi venture capital firms bet on M&A as listings get tougher
(Dec 24): Saudi Arabian venture capital firms expect more mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the startup space, as stock market weakness and higher valuation scrutiny make initial public offerings (IPOs) less appealing. Investors want exposure to fast-growing companies, but without the volatility that comes with public markets, said Abdullah Altamami, founder and chief executive officer of Merak Capital. Venture firms have backed companies across sectors including gaming, fintech, cybersecurity, tourism and fashion. The Saudi benchmark index is among the worst performers in emerging markets, and while IPO proceeds have held steady at around US$4 billion, several recent listings have struggled. Meanwhile, the Middle East became the leading M&A destination across emerging venture markets in the first nine months of the year, with 26 deals, according to data platform Magnitt.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 24, 2025 10:02 UTC
INTERACTIVE: Malaysians go on spending spree with credit cards in December
PETALING JAYA: ‘Tis the season for Malaysians to tap their credit cards, with expenses shooting to its highest in December. Malaysians spent an average of RM16.62bil in December over the past six years using their credit cards – more than the average RM13.93bil in other months. In this month, Malaysians use their credit cards about 16% more frequently than other months. “Avoid paying only the minimum on credit cards, as this can drag the debt into the new year. “Credit cards should be used thoughtfully rather than impulsively, with close attention paid to repayment timelines and interest charges.
Source:The Star
December 24, 2025 09:35 UTC
Myanmar junta's shift from battlefield to ballots faces long odds
The battle-hardened Tatmadaw has long dominated politics in Myanmar, which won independence from Britain in 1948, with a string of military chiefs running the country with an iron grip. "The military is incapable of anything but cosmetic change that will not threaten their core interests of central control," said David Mathieson, an independent Myanmar analyst. "While it is likely that a national leader will emerge from the military-aligned USDP, we have to wait and see if that leader will be Min Aung Hlaing," he said. The junta insists that the polls have popular support, denying that they are being conducted with coercion, force or suppression. "The election is being conducted for the people of Myanmar, not for the international community," junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told reporters this month, according to state-run media.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 24, 2025 09:31 UTC