ECRL achieves 91.7% progress, enters operational preparation phase
KUANTAN: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has recorded 91.7% construction progress as of January, with the focus now shifting to operational preparations, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said the arrival of Malaysia's first electric multiple-unit (EMU) trains and electric locomotives (E-Loco) marks a significant milestone for the RM50.27bil national infrastructure project. "With the receipt of the EMU and E-Loco, we will enter an important phase, which is train testing and commissioning. The 665-kilometre ECRL project has allocated 11 six-car EMU train sets for passenger services and 12 E-Locos for cargo. Each EMU train set can operate at speeds up to 160 km/h and accommodate up to 425 passengers in an all-economy-class configuration.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 13:46 UTC
Three-year-old girl killed, three injured in Jalan Ipoh-Lumut car crash
IPOH: A girl was killed while three others were injured after being involved in a road accident involving two vehicles in the Puncak Jelapang area along Jalan Ipoh-Lumut road on Tuesday afternoon (Feb 10). Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said that in the 3.55pm incident, the victim, Chong Zee Han, aged three, died, while Wong Mee Gee, 34, sustained facial injuries. "Initial investigations found that a police patrol car was travelling from Lumut towards Jelapang at the time of the incident. "A woman driving a compact car was in the opposite lane and is believed to have suddenly lost control, entering the opposite lane and colliding with the police car. ACP Abang Zainal Abidin said the victim, who was a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead while receiving treatment at 4.32 pm.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 13:44 UTC
Azam Baki to send letter of demand to Bloomberg over RM800,000 shares report
PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Azam Baki has instructed his lawyers to issue a letter of demand to Bloomberg over what he described as a “misleading” and “defamatory” report concerning his past share transactions in Velocity Capital Partner Bhd. “Tomorrow my lawyer will send it to Bloomberg, either in Malaysia or in the United States,” he said during a special media session on Wednesday (Feb 11). Azam accused the international news outlet of publishing a report without properly verifying the facts, particularly regarding the timeline of his share ownership and asset declarations. Azam maintained that the report had damaged both his personal reputation and that of the commission he heads. He stressed that the issue was not criminal in nature but rather concerned interpretations of administrative circulars on asset declarations.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 13:44 UTC
Two company directors claim trial in RM2.4mil bribery case
The money was allegedly given as inducement to help his company secure a subcontractor tender for the design, planning, supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, warranty and comprehensive maintenance of a security system. Meanwhile, Yong Chun Jiat, 37, was charged with six counts of giving cash bribes of RM100,000, RM96,000, RM154,000, RM150,000, RM150,000 and RM400,000, respectively, to the same man. The payments were allegedly made as an inducement to assist his company in obtaining a subcontractor tender for the design, planning, supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, Warranty and comprehensive maintenance of electrical low-voltage works (external LV package). The prosecution requested that bail be denied to the two accused but proposed that, if granted, it be set at RM500,000 each with one surety. The court fixed March 16 for the re-mention of the case.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 13:43 UTC
Unrelenting heat threatens northern padi harvest as dam levels drop
The heatwave across Kedah and Perlis is straining padi farmers, who are pressing on with field work, although they are certain the yields will fall with the heat. Based on the PublicInfoBanjir portal, water at Perlis’ Timah Tasoh Dam stood at 27.81m on Feb 9, just below its maximum of 29.10m, with storage at about 62.04%. For the first padi season expected in April, Pedu Dam storage was projected to recover to about 53.2% with support from monsoon transition rains. Mahfuz urged farmers to enrol in the Padi Planting Takaful Scheme, which provides compensation if crops are affected by disasters. As of yesterday, effective capacity stood at 87.06% at Air Itam Dam, 94.1% at Teluk Bahang Dam and 89.0% at the expanded Mengkuang Dam.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 13:42 UTC
Opec data indicate small 2Q surplus ahead of key Opec+ decision on resuming oil output hikes
LONDON (Feb 11): Opec on Wednesday forecast world oil demand from the Opec+ group will drop by 400,000 barrels per day in the second quarter, and published data indicating a small surplus in that quarter ahead of a key decision on whether to resume output increases. World demand for Opec+ crude will average 42.20 million bpd in the second quarter, Opec said in its monthly oil market report on its website, down from 42.60 million bpd in the first quarter. Opec said world oil demand was gaining support from air travel and road transport, as well as from a drop in the value of the US dollar against a basket of currencies. Weaker dollar helps"This decline has made dollar-priced commodities, including oil, cheaper for consumers and provided some additional support for global demand," Opec said in the report. Opec left unchanged its forecasts that world oil demand will rise by 1.34 million bpd in 2027 and by 1.38 million bpd this year.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 11, 2026 13:20 UTC
Dutch court orders Nexperia investigation, upholds decisions including Chinese CEO suspension
AMSTERDAM (Feb 11): A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered an investigation into mismanagement at chipmaker Nexperia BV and upheld an October decision to suspend former CEO Zhang Xuezheng, the founder of Nexperia's Chinese parent Wingtech, saying the company needs stability. "The situation at Nexperia primarily calls for stability so that Nexperia can restore its internal relationships, its production chain, and its delivery to customers. Geopolitical and legal fightsThe US, Dutch and Chinese governments all imposed and later retracted measures affecting Nexperia in 2025. After the initial Dutch intervention on Sept 30, the Enterprise Court issued preliminary rulings suspending Zhang and transferring control of Wingtech's shares to a Dutch lawyer. In October, relations broke down between the company's European arm, which produces wafers, and its Chinese arm, which packages and distributes them.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 11, 2026 13:10 UTC
Subang Jaya kicks off e-scooter trial
E-SCOOTERS are allowed to operate in Subang Jaya’s SS15 commercial area as part of a new “sandbox” trial. Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng said the implementation, from Jan 16, aimed to transform urban movement into a greener, more inclusive system. What started as a proposal by micromobility services operator Beam in late 2023 has evolved into a regulated reality for Subang Jaya. “If successful, this eco-friendly transport model will be expanded across Subang Jaya to foster a healthier, greener urban environment,” said Ng. “As a pilot project, community feedback will be vital in refining policies before the initiative is expanded across Subang Jaya,” he said.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 13:02 UTC
Factory worker charged with murdering his mother
ALOR SETAR: A factory worker has been charged in the Magistrate's Court here with the murder of his 52-year-old mother. The accused, Amirul Shafiq Shamshul Zahari, 29, nodded after the charge was read out before Magistrate Eliana Ismail. He is accused of murdering Zahrullail Basir, a bank executive, at a house in Taman Sultan Abdul Halim here between 3.15am and 8am on Feb 2. In the Feb 2 incident, police received a call at 8.45am from another son of the victim informing them of his mother's death. Amirul Shafiq, the victim's eldest son, was arrested at 8.34pm the same day on an express bus heading to Selangor.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 12:25 UTC
Two high-ranking government officers nabbed by MACC
PUTRAJAYA: A government director-general and a director have been detained by anti-graft authorities for alleged corruption. This is the latest swoop by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following recent crackdowns on graft involving government agencies, including the Department of Environment (DOE)MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the duo were detained on Wednesday (Feb 11). "They were detained when they presented themselves at the MACC headquarters to have their statements recorded," he told a special media session on Wednesday. MORE TO COME
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 12:25 UTC
New school curriculum to roll out in stages from 2027
KUALA LUMPUR: A new school curriculum will be introduced in stages starting next year to keep Malaysia’s education system dynamic and better prepare students for future challenges, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh. He said the first phase of the new curriculum’s implementation would involve Year One and Form One students in 2027, before being extended to Year Two and Form Two in 2028. “A curriculum is implemented for a set period, and once that period ends, we will introduce a new curriculum for schools,” he said. “Curriculum reviews will be conducted when necessary. In his question, Mohd Sany sought clarification on the government’s policy and initiatives for providing civic and political education at the secondary school level, to ensure students gain an early understanding of genuine political concepts before being exposed to partisan politics.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 12:25 UTC
MACC, UK fraud office probe IJM’s RM2.5bil overseas assets
PUTRAJAYA: Graft busters are working closely with Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in connection with the probe into IJM Corporation Bhd, involving financial transactions and overseas assets worth about RM2.5bil. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the SFO is also investigating the matter. Azam said that while both agencies have their respective areas of investigation, they will cooperate closely. "The process will take time, but we are optimistic about mutual benefits for both agencies," he added. Regarding the matter that Tan Sri Krishnan Tan is actually a non-executive chairman, Azam said the MACC will investigate whether he has committed any wrongdoing, such as abusing company funds.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 12:21 UTC
Perak teen admits he raped schoolmate
BATU GAJAH: A 15-year-old student has pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court here to raping his schoolmate. The boy entered the plea after the charge, under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, was read to him before Magistrate Azlin Zeti Zainal Abidin on Wednesday (Feb 11). The accused was alleged to have committed the offence against the 16-year-old girl in a house in Bota, Perak Tengah, at about noon on Dec 24. The charge carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and caning upon conviction. The court set bail at RM1,400 and fixed March 11 for sentencing pending a report from the Social Welfare Department.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 12:08 UTC
Hot Weather: Five areas in Kedah at alert level, says MetMalaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Five areas in Kedah are at the alert level (Level 1) of the hot weather situation in Peninsular Malaysia, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia). It said the affected areas are Pokok Sena, Pendang, Baling, Padang Terap and Kulim. "Alert level: Daily maximum temperature of 35-37 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days,” MetMalaysia said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Feb 11). For the latest information on the daily hot weather status, the public can refer to https://www.met.gov.my/iklim/status-cuaca-panas/.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 12:08 UTC
At 53, winning was about more than just the tiara
She reflects further: “Winning as a woman over 50 proves that our presence on the stage is about more than just ‘the walk’. “Dance is a dialogue between the soul and the stage,” Rani says thoughtfully. Most significantly, this newfound flexibility opened doors for her to return to her lifelong passions – yoga, dance, and eventually, the AMI International stage. Moving forwardPost-AMI International, Rani has no intention of simply “sitting pretty” with her crown. “Winning this title proves we can still be the lead characters in our own stories – full of ambition, beauty, and purpose.”A photo taken during the two-day pageant competition last month.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 12:06 UTC