Selangor records 65% drop in water source pollution cases
SHAH ALAM: Selangor has recorded a 65% drop in water source pollution emergency cases last year compared with 2024, reflecting the effectiveness of the Zero Discharge Policy (ZDP) in curbing pollution from industrial activities. “Since the implementation of the ZDP initiative under the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), no major water treatment plant shutdowns due to water source pollution were recorded, reducing the risk of supply disruptions to domestic users and the economic sector. She added that the policy’s implementation also resulted in a consistent downward trend, with only 28 water source pollution cases reported in 2025 compared with 80 cases in 2024, 76 cases in 2023, 71 cases in 2022 and 64 cases in 2021. “This 65% reduction proved that the ZDP was effective in reducing the risk of water source pollution and improving effluent management discipline among industries. Enforcement action would be taken if standard limits were not complied with to ensure water source quality was not compromised,” she said.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 14:51 UTC
Exercise Desert Tiger strengthens Malaysia-UAE defence cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR: The army's participation in Exercise Desert Tiger marks a significant step in enhancing the readiness, professionalism and capabilities of its personnel, while also strengthening bilateral defence cooperation between Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that 15 officers and 86 personnel from the 7th Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment have successfully completed the exercise in Ajman, UAE. "Well done and congratulations to all officers and personnel involved for their dedication, discipline and remarkable spirits throughout the 13-day bilateral exercise. "This exercise offers direct experience in conducting operations in built-up areas (OBUA) within a desert environment, while also serving as a platform to exchange doctrines and tactics, techniques and procedures with the UAE Army," he said in a Facebook post today.
Source:New Strait Times
February 14, 2026 13:50 UTC
Russia 'poisoned' Putin critic Navalny in prison with 'rare toxin'
(FILES) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny stands near law enforcement agents in a hallway of a business centre, which houses the office of his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), in Moscow on Dec 26, 2019. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)MUNICH: Five European countries including Britain, France and Germany accused Russia of "poisoning" opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison in 2024 using a "rare toxin", on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. "We know the Russian state now used this lethal toxin to target Navalny in fear of his opposition," the UK foreign office said in a statement alongside Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Germany, ahead of the second anniversary of the death of the staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Britain also said it had reported Russia to the world's chemical weapons watchdog.
Source:New Strait Times
February 14, 2026 13:37 UTC
PM: Ensure prompt implementation, early completion of 13MP development projects
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reminded all ministries and implementing agencies to ensure development projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) are carried out promptly and completed ahead of schedule. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said cost savings from these projects could be channelled to more urgent projects, especially in the health and education sectors. "I also stressed that the Federal Government and state governments must plan better and think more strategically about using suitable methods to resolve problems in development projects under the 13MP. Anwar said he was also grateful that the district had no "sick” projects. The Prime Minister also wants the information delivery strategy to be improved so that the government's success in carrying out projects for the people can be delivered more effectively.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 12:56 UTC
Nvidia CEO Huang won't attend India AI summit next week, company says
(Adds dropped letter in headline.) NEW DELHI, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will not be travelling to India next week for a India AI Impact Summit, which global technology industry and political leaders are likely to attend, the company said on Saturday. Huang was expected to be one of the biggest attractions at the summit, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. While Huang was due to address the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, the company's media agency in India, MSL, said in an email that he would not be traveling due to "unforseen circumstances." (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil and Aditya KalraEditing by Bernadette Baum)
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 12:48 UTC
New high for HK’s richest
The collective net worth of tycoons on the 2026 Forbes list of Hong Kong’s 50 Richest jumped 22% to an all time high of US$366bil (RM1.4 trillion) from US$301bil last year, according to Forbes Asia. Their combined US$34.9bil (RM136bil) net worth, shared with family, was inherited from their father Lee Shau Kee, who died last March at the age of 97. According to Forbes Asia, the list was compiled using information from individuals, analysts, government agencies, stock exchanges, databases, and other sources. The net worths were based on stock prices and exchange rates as of the close of markets on Jan 23, 2026. Real-time net worths on Forbes.com may reflect different valuations.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 12:43 UTC
National pig farming blueprint in the works, says deputy minister
NIBONG TEBAL: A national pig farming blueprint is in the works to provide industry players with comprehensive guidelines, says Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin. He said the ministry is formulating the plan to help tackle environmental and social issues related to the sector. It could lead to social issues, and in the worst-case scenario, race and religion issues," he said. "It is important for all other pig farmers and industry players to learn from Penang," he said. He added that Penang has provided a practical solution through biogas facilities, which enable farmers to properly manage waste and mitigate environmental impact.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 12:29 UTC
Inflation erodes real income gains despite wage hikes
PETALING JAYA: Despite steady increases in nominal wages over the past decade, Malaysians are finding their purchasing power squeezed as inflation continues to erode real income gains. According to the Statistics Department (DOSM), the median monthly wage in Malaysia rose from around RM2,000 in 2015 to RM2,864 last year. In contrast, inflation has fluctuated sharply, with spikes in 2017 and 2022 that outpaced wage growth and left households struggling to keep up. In 2017, inflation climbed to 3.7%, driven largely by rising fuel prices and global commodity costs. “The government’s RM200 top-up under the Progressive Wage Policy has already helped employers absorb part of the cost.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 12:10 UTC
PM: Probe won’t stop MACC
The special committee must be given the space to do its job thoroughly before any action is taken, he added. He was asked whether the MACC chief commissioner should go on leave. The investigation should not disturb the work of the MACC, especially when there are always efforts to derail the commission. He assured that the probe into Azam’s alleged misconduct would be fully transparent, with no one shielded from scrutiny. “We will leave it to the Chief Secretary to the Government and the special committee to look into it,” he said.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 12:01 UTC
Noh Omar quits as Bersatu supreme council member
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Noh Omar has resigned as a Bersatu supreme council member, effective Saturday (Feb 14). "The question is, why is the disciplinary board still taking disciplinary action against Bersatu members? What's the use of the council, the highest body, meeting, but its decisions are not respected by the disciplinary board? "When the supreme council had decided to postpone all disciplinary actions against the members involved, then disciplinary action should not have been taken against those who made statements before the supreme council meeting," he said. According to Noh, the supreme council had established a committee to strengthen the party, chaired by Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 11:45 UTC
Smashing Liek Hou gets early CNY cheer by winning ninth world title
PETALING JAYA: Para badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou clinched his ninth World Championship title after swiftly defeating Taiwan’s Fang Jen-yu in Manama, Bahrain on Saturday (Feb 14). Liek Hou did not face much challenge as he took only 28 minutes to beat Jen-yu 21-6, 21-11 to defend his men’s singles SU5 (upper body impairment) title at the Isa Sports City. The 37-year-old Liek Hou has won all except one World Championship he has entered in, which came at the 2019 edition in Basel, Switzerland, where he settled for bronze. Liek Hou is still not done in Bahrain as he will return to the court to compete in the men’s doubles SU5 category with partner Faris Ahmas Azri.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 11:32 UTC
Ministry drafting master plan for pig farming industry
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the plan will focus on sustainable development, particularly in managing animal waste to minimise environmental impact. - Bernama picNIBONG TEBAL: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is currently drafting a master plan for the pig farming industry to serve as a comprehensive guideline for industry players nationwide. Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the plan will focus on sustainable development, particularly in managing animal waste to minimise environmental impact. "I see the main issue in pig farming as environmental management. Previously, the media reported that the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, did not permit pig farming in the state, citing concerns over environmental pollution and public unease.
Source:New Strait Times
February 14, 2026 11:29 UTC
Chinese prayer lamps seized due to copyright infringement in Johor
JOHOR BARU: The Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has seized Chinese prayer lamps worth over RM56,700 due to suspected copyright infringement. Its director, Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said the operation was carried out around Batu Pahat and Johor Baru on Friday (Feb 13). “We raided three different locations such as a storage warehouse and a business premise in Batu Pahat and a business premises in Johor Baru that sells Chinese prayer paraphernalia. “Following further inspection and preliminary verification by the copyright owner, 818 units of prayer lamps were seized with an estimated total value of RM56,791.86,” she said, adding that the case is investigated under the Copyright Act 1987 for suspected copyright infringement. When asked whether both business premises had sourced their stock from the same warehouse, Lilis Saslinda said the matter is still under investigation.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 11:27 UTC
You are no Dr M, Kiandee tells Muhyiddin
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee has urged Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and step down. The Bersatu vice-president said that, unlike Muhyiddin, Dr Mahathir had the class to step down and make way for the Pagoh MP in 2020 after losing the majority support of Bersatu MPs. Removing Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and 16 others from the party, said Kiandee, was unbecoming of a party president who is trying to hold on to power despite losing grassroots' support. "However, what happened then (in 2020) did not mirror what happened yesterday (Feb 13) when Muhyiddin axed Larut MP Hamzah. He also took potshots at Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for supporting Muhyiddin.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2026 11:24 UTC
National security threats demand heightened police alertness
Ongoing threats such as militant activities, piracy, firearms smuggling and other cross-border crimes, particularly in Sabah waters, continue to challenge the nation’s sovereignty and security, necessitating a heightened state of readiness by the police. - File picLAHAD DATU: Ongoing threats such as militant activities, piracy, firearms smuggling and other cross-border crimes, particularly in Sabah waters, continue to challenge the nation's sovereignty and security, necessitating a heightened state of readiness by the police. "Today, 43 security personnel completed the Basic Sea Combat Course Series 1/2026. "This is not merely routine training, but a strategic and critical initiative by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to reinforce operational preparedness in safeguarding the country's waters, particularly in coastal areas and Sabah waters that face multifaceted security threats," he said at the closing ceremony of the course here today. He expressed hope that the knowledge and expertise gained would be fully utilised by the personnel in their respective units to ensure that the nation's security and sovereignty remain well protected.
Source:New Strait Times
February 14, 2026 11:19 UTC