Sarawak deputy premier wins defamation suit
KUCHING: The High Court has ordered Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen to pay RM500,000 in damages and costs to Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian over defamatory remarks involving Covid-19 food relief funds in 2020. In his ruling yesterday, Justice Alwi Abdul Wahab allowed Dr Sim’s claim that Chong’s Facebook posts on the matter were maliciously published and calculated to injure his reputation. He also found that Chong had failed to establish his defence and dismissed his counterclaim that Dr Sim’s related press statements were defamatory. Consequently, the court awarded RM350,000 in general and aggravated damages for defamation, RM50,000 in general damages for malicious falsehood and RM100,000 in total costs to Dr Sim. After the ruling, Dr Sim said justice had been done.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:13 UTC
Namewee freed of drug use charge
KUALA LUMPUR: Rapper Namewee was freed from a charge of using dangerous drugs but continues to face a charge of having ecstasy pills. Magistrate S. Arunjothy acquitted him after deputy public prosecutor Amritpreet Kaur Randhawa informed the court that the pathology results were negative and the prosecution had withdrawn the charge. “The court acquits and discharges the accused from the charge and the bail money (RM2,000) is returned,” said Arunjothy. Earlier, lawyer Joshua Tay representing Namewee said that since the pathology report was negative, there was no prospect of prosecuting the accused and his client should be discharged and acquitted of the charge, Bernama reported. However, the man still faces a charge of possessing drugs suspected to be ecstasy weighing approximately 5.12 grammes in a hotel room at Jalan Conlay here, at 4.30 pm, Oct 22.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:13 UTC
MyAduan Johor to include more councils by Q2 2026
JOHOR plans to expand its integrated complaint system to three other councils by the second quarter of 2026, says state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor. The housing and local government committee chairman said the system MyAduan Johor was in its second testing phase under Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) and had received close to 10,000 complaints in four months. Mohd Jafni said the second testing phase of the system, which began early this month, involved all 24 zones under MBJB. Mohd Jafni says existing systems like Sispaa will later be integrated into the MyAduan Johor system. Mohd Jafni said MyAduan Johor enabled two-way communication, allowing the public to be informed in real time about the progress of their complaints.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:11 UTC
Multi-storey carpark to address parking shortage
PLANS are in the pipeline to address severe parking woes especially in Taman Perling and Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Baru, caused by Singapore-bound Malaysian workers. Iskandar Puteri mayor Hasrin Kamal Hashim said land acquisition process for a multi-storey carpark at Taman Bukit Indah was completed. However, Hasrin said it was premature to announce the actual cost of the multi-storey carpark building located next to Granada Hotel in Taman Bukit Indah. “Upon completion, hopefully the issue of them hogging the parking spaces at the commercial areas of Taman Bukit Indah will be solved,” said Hasrin. “The temporary place, located at the carpark next to the Perling market and Dataran Niaga@Jalan Camar will start operating from Jan 1,” he said.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:11 UTC
Critical need for CPR training
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Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:11 UTC
Personal shopper duped by fake payment screencaps
JOHOR BARU: A personal shopper claimed to have lost thousands of ringgit after discovering payment receipts made by a regular customer were falsified. “After receiving screencaps of conversations shared by the social media user, I became concerned and immediately reviewed my own transaction records,” said the 28-year-old. Upon checking her bank statements, Nur Aisyah discovered that several proof-of-payment screencaps sent by the customer for past purchases were allegedly fake. “Many people assume online sellers are protected, but in reality, personal shoppers take on significant financial risk,” she said. Meanwhile, Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said personal shoppers or traders who believe they have been cheated are encouraged to lodge complaints with relevant authorities.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:10 UTC
Cancer survivor fulfils dream of motherhood
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite being diagnosed with cancer, Juliana Razid did not give up on her dream of having children. “At that time, I was only 34 years old and had no family history of cancer. Juliana, who was a civil servant stationed overseas at the time, took medical leave and underwent surgery at the National Cancer Institute in January 2017. “Because I acted quickly, the doctor said chemotherapy was not mandatory as the cancer cells had been removed and had not spread. Throughout the pregnancy, Juliana chose to keep the news private, sharing it only within a small circle, while also strictly adhering to the prescribed treatment plan.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:10 UTC
Yeoh: Judge me by my work, not my ethnicity
PUTRAJAYA: Hannah Yeoh has dismissed criticism of her appointment as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), saying that she should be judged on her work rather than her ethnicity. “Race or skin colour has never defined or limited my work. Yeoh was responding to criticism by PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan on her appointment. Takiyuddin had said in a statement last week that the centralisation of strategic administration of cities, local government, housing and local authorities in the hands of leaders from one party and ethnicity can raise major, legitimate and unavoidable questions regarding issues of imbalance and excessive centralisation of power, as well as the true direction of national governance. But on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Yeoh’s appointment, along with that of Datuk Lo Su Fui as her deputy, will not undermine the Malay agenda in the Federal Territories.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:05 UTC
Thailand and Cambodia set to discuss resumption of ceasefire
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Cambodia senior defence officials are scheduled to hold talks tomorrow to discuss the implementation and verification of a ceasefire, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. This was the outcome of the special Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on the current situation between the two countries held yesterday. In reading the Asean chairman’s statement, Mohamad said the Asean Foreign Ministers welcomed discussions on a resumption of the ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities. All the Asean Foreign Ministers, including Thailand and Cambodia’s, attended the meeting, with the exception of Myanmar officials who joined in virtually. Urgent updates: Mohamad delivering the keynote address at the special AMM in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:05 UTC
Residents’ needs top agenda
NEW Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has committed her administration to making the capital more liveable by revitalising basic services and putting residents first. “We want to focus less on events and go back to improving basic services to ensure that taxpayers’ basic needs are met. Yeoh envisions a Federal Territories that is “clean in form and substance”. “Heavy rain and recent landslides have raised concerns among city residents, with property damage reminiscent of the major 2021 flood. She pledged to keep abreast of Kuala Lumpur issues by working closely with relevant agencies.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:05 UTC
Landslide fears rock Ampang Jaya municipality
Alarmed by hillslope projects in their neighbourhoods, residents and stakeholders repeatedly voiced objections about the matter to elected representatives and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ). The local council is actively monitoring more than 370 vulnerable sites using tools such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) mapping and early warning systems. MPAJ carried out an audit of roadside traders in the Ampang Jaya municipality. The local council must now seek a High Court order to proceed, as the landowner Highland Properties Sdn Bhd has been wound up. The local council emphasised that enforcement remained necessary for operators who failed to meet basic hygiene, cleanliness or safety standards.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 09:00 UTC
Customs foils RM3mil e-waste smuggling attempt in Ops Demeter
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Customs Department has thwarted an attempt to smuggle electronic waste (e-waste) worth more than RM3.06mil during a special operation dubbed Ops Demeter, at North Port, Port Klang, on Oct 8. Its director, Mohamad Azhar Ahmad Paharazi, said inspections of 25 containers uncovered 556,800kg of e-waste believed to have been imported without permits. He said the syndicate had falsely declared the shipment as "ABS plastic" in the manifest to evade detection by customs authorities. However, the containers were transited through a neighbouring country and shipped back to Port Klang on Aug 25 by a shipping agent. Mohamad Azhar said e-waste imports require approval from the Director-General of Environment under Item 54, Part I, Third Schedule of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 08:58 UTC
Slingshot game revives childhood – and community spirit
PASIR MAS: Who would have thought that the slingshot game, which was once synonymous with childhood, has now become a bridge to strengthen community unity in Kampung Lanchang, Rantau Panjang here. A resident, Haszalie Ahmad, 31, said the idea for organising the competition arose spontaneously when more and more residents showed interest in the traditional game. “At first, it was just a fun game to fill their free time. He said the slingshot competition at a distance of 10m not only tested skills, but also created a friendly atmosphere as villagers supported each other, while joking around. “Although there are no strict rules and the prizes are modest, this game is fun and can unite the residents.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 08:55 UTC
NGO calls for speedy probe of viral animal neglect case
ALSO READ: Almost 2,000 reports lodged over viral animal neglect case, says DVS"The owner of a dachshund, one of the dead animals, had placed her pet there since July because her apartment did not allow pets. She also confirmed that numerous police reports on the matter had been filed after the incident went viral on social media. ALSO READ: DVS corrects legal reference in Damansara Damai animal neglect case"We hope that the police will investigate, alongside the Veterinary Services Department (DVS). Previously, the DVS said it had received a total of 1,920 complaints over alleged animal neglect at the veterinary clinic. During an inspection of the premises, DVS said it discovered the carcasses of a cat and a dog in separate cages.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 08:54 UTC
Student facing charges for ‘lending’ friend her bank account
JOHOR BARU: A 19-year-old university student may face criminal charges after allowing a close friend to use her bank account for what she initially believed was a harmless transfer. The young woman from Tangkak had agreed to help her female friend, who claimed her own bank account was facing problems, said MCA Youth national education consultative committee chairman Ong Chee Siang, who recounted the case. “The incident happened in September last year when the teenager’s friend asked for RM900 to be transferred into her bank account, before instructing her to withdraw the money and pass it back,” he said. Ong said there had been similar cases in Johor, with many bank account holders unknowingly becoming entangled in scams. People, he said, should not allow their friends, relatives or others to use their bank accounts, particularly when the source of funds or the recipients are unknown.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 08:46 UTC