Suspected paedophile domestic helper arrested after two-year manhunt
With assistance from federal police in Matilda’s home country, Bukit Aman’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) tracked down and arrested the maid after an eight-hour operation recently. The breakthrough came by chance when a close friend of Matilda's spotted the suspect at a coffee shop in a shopping mall in Ampang. The suspect left the mall before police arrived, prompting Matilda's friend to follow a van transporting her and several others. After an eight-hour cat-and-mouse pursuit around town, the van stopped at a resort, where D11 officers moved in and arrested the suspect for questioning. Also read:Domestic helper, sexual predator: Expat claims 2-year-old son was sexually abused'A monster': Mother's horror after maid allegedly grooms two daughters
Source:New Strait Times
February 20, 2026 22:51 UTC
Anderson Cooper to exit CBS’s ’60 Minutes’ after nearly 20 years
Anderson Cooper is set to exit 60 Minutes after nearly two decades with the long-running CBS News programme. “Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the highlights of my career,” Cooper said in a statement on Feb 16. He added that he will continue his work at CNN, where he anchors Anderson Cooper 360° and co-hosts the annual New Year’s Eve special alongside Andy Cohen. Her tenure began in October, after Paramount Skydance purchased her news and opinion site, The Free Press, earlier this year. “60 Minutes will be here if he ever wants to return.”While the exact timing of his exit remains unclear, he is expected to finish the current broadcast season, which ends in May.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 22:06 UTC
Anwar seeks swift passage of Bill limiting PM to two terms
KUALA LANGAT: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for a Bill limiting the prime minister's tenure to two terms, or a maximum of 10 years, to be expedited and passed at the next parliamentary sitting. The Prime Minister said a decade is sufficient for any prime minister to implement reform agendas and key national policies before making way for new leadership. Asked whether the limit would apply to himself, Anwar stressed the law must begin with him. The proposal to cap the prime minister's tenure at two terms is widely seen as part of broader institutional reform efforts to strengthen democratic practices and governance. On another development, Anwar said he would receive Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for an informal meeting later in the evening.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 22:05 UTC
Azam Baki files defamation suit against news agency
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has filed a defamation lawsuit against news agency Bloomberg over the publication of an article he alleged was baseless, Sinar Harian reports. “Our client maintained that all the allegations were baseless and initiated these legal proceedings to defend his reputation,” the firm said in a statement. Previously, media reports said Azam was seeking RM100mil in damages, alleging that a Bloomberg report had harmed his reputation and professional standing. In its report, Bloomberg alleged that the MACC chief commissioner owned shares in a financial services company, based on corporate filings. However, Azam insisted that his shareholding, valued at RM800,000, in a financial services company was acquired transparently and in accordance with procedures.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 22:00 UTC
Handling non-public info properly
THE issue of disseminating non-public information via investment analysts’ reports – whether in written format, electronically, on social networks like WhatsApp, or even within Telegram chat groups – has recently come to the forefront. It is believed that regulators are concerned about this trend and are seeking to address the issue head-on, clarifying what an analyst can or cannot include in research reports and how information should be communicated.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 21:26 UTC
ROS refutes allegations of power abuse by MIPP
PUTRAJAYA: The Registrar of Societies Malaysia (ROS) stresses that it does not intervene in the internal affairs of any political party or registered organisation. In a statement Friday (Feb 20), ROS said that any internal disputes are the responsibility of the organisations themselves and should be resolved in accordance with their respective constitutions. "Accordingly, the ROS refutes allegations by the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) of misconduct regarding the department's decision on the organisation's internal issues. The ROS emphasised that any allegations of abuse of power or undue influence are unfounded and affirmed its willingness to fully cooperate with the authorities if required. However, Mohd Zulfikar was reported Friday as denying the allegations, saying that the ROS' actions were based on the results of investigations and the evidence submitted to the department.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 20:30 UTC
Malaysia looks forward to close cooperation with new Bangladesh leadership, says Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia looks forward to close cooperation with the new leadership of Bangladesh in strengthening and elevating bilateral relations to a higher level, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. I also took the opportunity to invite Prime Minister Tarique to make an official visit to Malaysia at a suitable time," he said. The Prime Minister also hoped that the friendly relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh would continue to be strengthened for the mutual benefit of both countries. Tarique, 60, who is the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman. He was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday (Feb 17) at the national parliament, Jatiya Sangsad, in Dhaka.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 18:12 UTC
Police inspector recharged with failing to arrest suspect under Arms Act
KUALA LUMPUR: A police inspector, who was previously freed from a charge of failing to arrest a suspect under the Arms Act, was recharged in a Magistrate's Court here Friday (Feb 20) on the same offence. Azlan Sudin, 46, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read before Magistrate Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim. Azlan's lawyer, Anasuha Atiqah Mat Saidi, requested that the court allow the same bail as previously granted, namely RM3,000 with one surety. "The accused has served in the police force for 25 years and supports a wife and three school-going children," she said. Magistrate Noorelynna Hanim allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM3,000 with one surety and set April 10 for document submission and the case mention.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 17:25 UTC
Reeling from tariff ruling, Trump lobs insults at Supreme Court
(Feb 21): President Donald Trump took the Supreme Court’s tariffs ruling personally, and he made it personal in response. On Friday he called the plaintiff who initiated the court challenge, a family-owned maker of educational toys, “sleaze bags”. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley Law School, said he could not “think of any president ever speaking of the Supreme Court or a decision in that way”. “I think President Trump would be wise to no longer call the justices somehow tools of foreign influence.”Trump and many, if not all, of the justices will come face-to-face on Tuesday when he delivers his State of the Union address. Asked on Friday whether the justices were still invited to his speech, Trump said: “Barely.”
Source:The Edge Markets
February 20, 2026 16:43 UTC
How will companies get refunds now that the US Supreme Court has rejected Trump's tariffs?
Importers filed suit at the US Court of International Trade to try to stop the process of determining final tariff payments while the Supreme Court was considering the case, but that court denied the request. The case will now go back to the Court of International Trade to sort through the refunds. More than 1,000 lawsuits have been filed by importers in the trade court seeking refunds, and a flood of new cases is likely. The Court of International Trade has overseen large-scale refunds before. The Court of International Trade oversaw a refund process involving more than 100,000 claimants that was managed by Judge Jane Restani, who remains on the court.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 20, 2026 16:38 UTC
UK expects continued favourable trade with US after Supreme Court ruling
In April last year, Trump announced "reciprocal" tariffs on goods imported from most US trading partners, including Britain, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The baseline tariff that Britain faced under the reciprocal tariffs was 10%. "We will work with the (US) Administration to understand how the ruling will affect tariffs for the UK and the rest of the world." The spokesperson said the government would support British businesses when further details are announced. It was also unclear how US businesses could reclaim import levies paid and whether British businesses would be entitled to a share of any rebate, Bain said.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 20, 2026 16:33 UTC
Police seek public help to locate Myanmar teen missing since Jan 31
IPOH: Police are seeking public assistance to locate a teenage girl who has been reported missing since Jan 31. Ipoh police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said that Kawsara Bibi Mohamad Noor, 13, is a Myanmar national. He added that the teenager's address is Jalan Menglembu Impiana 26, Taman Menglembu Impiana Adril, and that he has a slender build. "Anyone with information on her whereabouts can contact the case's assistant investigating officer, Sgt Rafidah Abdul Rashid, at 013-7312477 or the Bukit Merah Police Station at 05-3210925," he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 20).
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 16:04 UTC
Misbun: If you're scared of pain, then forget badminton
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian coaching legend Datuk Misbun Sidek has insisted that self-discipline and mental toughness are what separate ordinary athletes from true champions. Misbun also warned that many players understand exactly what they must do on court but fail to execute it because they fear the pain and pressure that comes with pushing their limits. "Many know they should attack or push harder, but they hold back because they are afraid of the pain. Misbun is currently working alongside India-based coach B. Rajinikanth in Tamil Nadu as part of efforts to develop world-class singles players. 1 ranking, including Chong Wei, Datuk Rashid Sidek and Roslin Hashim.
Source:New Strait Times
February 20, 2026 16:01 UTC
Anwar holds talks with Singapore PM Lawrence Wong
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in conjunction with Wong's special visit to Malaysia on Friday (Feb 20). The meeting took place at Seri Negara here, where Anwar also hosted a dinner in honour of Wong's visit. Prior to their four-eye meeting, both leaders toured several galleries at the historic landmark, including the Ruang Merdeka: Galeri Khazanah. Also present were Chief Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Shahrol Anuwar Sarman and High Commissioner of Singapore to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon. Singapore is also Malaysia's second-largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to RM402.35bil (US$93.97bil) in 2025, an increase of 1.5% compared with 2024.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 15:08 UTC
Over 350 landowners appeal Penang’s revised land tax, says Chow
GEORGE TOWN: State land administrators are currently reviewing more than 350 appeals from landowners seeking reductions following this year's land tax revision, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. "We have improved the basis for appeal to ensure landowners who are genuinely affected can seek further reductions," he said on Friday (Feb 20). Chow also addressed concerns that the state's land tax structure was inconsistent with the National Land Code, describing such claims as inaccurate. Earlier, it was reported that the non-governmental organisation Ratepayers Penang had urged the state government to standardise Penang's land tax rates in line with the National Land Code to ensure transparency and fairness, following concerns over the latest increase in land tax in the state. It added that land tax must be administered strictly within the legal framework and not based on discretion.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 15:07 UTC