Little India’s landmarks buried in banners
ILLEGAL banners placed on decorative arches at Brickfields’ Little India have turned the cultural landmarks into advertising spaces. Some banners were also tied to lamp posts designed in the style of the traditional Indian oil lamps. Alagarsamy questions the inaction over the unlawful banners hung around Little India. Checks showed that some of the bunting were also promotions for events outside Kuala Lumpur, including Perak. Such advertisements fall under the Advertisement By-laws (Federal Territory) 1982 and the Vandalism By-laws (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) 1991.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 02:34 UTC
Cops arrested over crypto theft
PETALING JAYA: Twelve policemen have been arrested following investigations into the alleged extortion of foreigners. It is believed that they were arrested after they were involved in the theft of around RM200,000 in cryptocurrency during a supposed raid in Kajang, where the suspects were told to transfer the funds to be released. “Immediate action was then taken, leading to the arrest of 12 policemen to assist in investigations. “We will not compromise on any wrongdoing from officers and personnel involved in criminal matters. “The public is urged to give space to the police to complete investigations and not speculate on the matter,” he said.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 02:30 UTC
Positive start for Roslin in Egypt role despite Cup miss
1 singles player Roslin Hashim has already tasted success with Egypt despite being in charge for less than three months. Roslin, who took over the Egyptian badminton squad in December, admitted that their bid to qualify for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals fell short at the All-Africa Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, from Feb 9-12. “Egypt did not qualify for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals because only the champions earn the slot. Unlike Asia and Europe, which are allocated four slots each to the world team meet, Africa is granted only one berth, reserved for the champions. “Winning the men’s singles title was big.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 02:14 UTC
Soaring high on three decades of friendship
SINCE its inception over three decades ago, Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival has evolved into much more than a mere spectator event for the thousands who attend. Yao sees Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival as a place to reunite with friends he has made over 15 years of visits. A kite lover for over three decades, Lau considers the Pasir Gudang event a highlight of his calendar. Newbies Kassler (right) and Nagy now ensnared by the magic of a kite festival. “This is the first ever kite festival I have attended and it turns out to be a lot more fun than I had anticipated.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 02:07 UTC
INTERACTIVE: A peek into the balik kampung exodus
PETALING JAYA: Drive times from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru stretched to more than five hours at the peak of the Chinese New Year and Ramadan balik kampung exodus, according to checks on Google Maps. The KL-Penang stretch took nearly five hours, while KL-Kota Baru via the East Coast Expressway (ECE) took seven hours and 33 minutes. Motorists who departed at 10pm instead of 10am saved between 45 minutes and nearly two hours, depending on the route. The KL–Johor Baru stretch saw the greatest fluctuation. The KL–Kota Baru leg via the ECE peaked at seven hours and 33 minutes on Saturday morning, while the Central Spine Road route hit six hours and 53 minutes during the same period.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 02:05 UTC
Opposition leader Hamzah-led bloc to reveal ‘new home’ next week — report
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 20): Malaysia’s Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is expected to announce a new political platform next week, alongside 16 Members of Parliament from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), according to a report by Utusan Malaysia. Citing Bersatu MP for Padang Rengas, Azahari Hassan, the report said Hamzah and several lawmakers will be joining what has been described as a “new home” or alternative political party. “Based on the information I have received, God willing, it will be announced next week,” Azahari was quoted as saying. Hamzah, who is also MP for Larut, was expelled from Bersatu on Feb 14 for allegedly breaching the party constitution. According to the report, Yunus said Hamzah had hinted at the identity of the party but has yet to publicly disclose its name.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 20, 2026 02:02 UTC
The hidden struggle of M’sian women stranded in Lombok
According to Kosmo, many of these women share a similar trajectory – falling into financial ruin after marrying local men in Lombok and finding themselves trapped by the high costs of returning home. Norida’s own journey began nearly two decades ago when she moved to Lombok with her then two-year-old daughter, Nur Fateen Akmadiana. Though she returned with her daughter – now 20 – her son remains in Lombok. “I am happy to celebrate Ramadan in my hometown with my family after living so long in Lombok,” she said. > Newly divorced actor Kamal Adli conceded that living alone was not easy as he missed his sahur this year, Harian Metro online reported.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:54 UTC
Geopolitics across time and space
WITH mere days between completing my two-week trip across five cities in India and then travelling to Germany, my train of thought was interrupted. I was just scratching the surface of how India’s huge diversity – of language, culture, religion, caste, class and ethnicity – is managed and tempered (or sometimes fomented) by state institutions and civil society.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:25 UTC
From dawn to dusk, then a dinner rush
Prized catch: Marwardi Hendry is drawing crowds at the Satok Ramadan bazaar with his grilled terubuk, a seasonal favourite among Kuching folk during the fasting month. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The StarFeast for the senses: The Presint 3 Ramadan bazaar in Putrajaya, which hosts over 200 stalls, began to be flooded with visitors from as early as 4pm. — BernamaSEREMBAN, 19 Feb -- Peniaga Muhd Mirza Hairunnizam tekun menyiapkan pesanan pelanggan untuk berbuka puasa pada hari pertama Ramadan di Bazar Ramadan Paroi, hari ini. --fotoBERNAMA (2026) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARAEndless variety: A wide array of traditional and modern kuih on display at the Satok Ramadan bazaar in Kuching, Sarawak. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:16 UTC
Wall St ends down as private equity stocks sink
Apple dipped 1.4%, weighing more than any other stock on the S&P 500. The S&P 500 declined 0.28% to end the session at 6,861.89 points. Minutes from the US Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting released on Wednesday showed policymakers remained split about the policy path later this year. Declining stocks outnumbered rising ones within the S&P 500 by a 1.5-to-one ratio. The S&P 500 posted 27 new highs and 6 new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 62 new highs and 146 new lows.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:14 UTC
Crude oil’s current Iran premium assumes no supply disruption
THE premium currently built into the crude oil price over tensions between the United States and Iran fluctuates according to the daily headlines, but there is an underlying assumption that everything will turn out fine. There is some debate as to the dollar number of the current risk premium, but the consensus range is around US$7 to US$10 a barrel. ScenariosThe crude market is therefore currently priced for one of two scenarios. The second is that there is no deal and Trump decides to use the forces currently being built up in the Middle East to attack Iran. While still the least likely outcome of the current tensions, the possibility of a severe escalation and sustained disruptions to crude supply is probably higher than the oil market believes.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:10 UTC
Washed ashore, but still dangerous
— ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The StarIt was previously reported that the Portuguese man-of-war, locally known as ubur-ubur api, had washed ashore at several beaches in Terengganu, including Pantai Pandak in Cendering and Pantai Paka in Dungun. Prof Mazlan warned that jellyfish washed ashore remain dangerous even when they appear dead. Their tentacles contain microscopic stinging cells, known as nematocysts, which can continue injecting venom after the animal is detached or dead. Vinegar may help with box jellyfish stings, but it can worsen stings from other species. Beach visitors are urged to wear footwear, avoid handling stranded jellyfish and seek prompt medical attention if they are stung.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:10 UTC
Land tax hikes explained
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow provided these real-life examples to explain why many landowners are seeing their land tax rise by “a thousandfold” this year. “The fact is, those new land tax rates are what all landowners pay for industrial, residential, commercial and agricultural land. First Grade land in Penang is a premier, freehold and legally flexible land title restricted to Penang and Melaka under the National Land Code (Penang and Malacca Titles) Act 1963. The advantage of First Grade land, Chow explained, was that owners were free to use the land for various purposes without restrictions stated on the title. The state, he explained, had adopted a “current use” policy in determining land tax rates.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:10 UTC
Saffron robes on a path of peace
THE roads were slick with ice, the ground was caked with hardened snow, and the stiff winds made an already brutally cold day in the Virginia suburbs feel below zero. Yet people came out by the hundreds. A group of Buddhist monks who had walked all the way from Texas stopped at a Ramada Inn in Triangle, Virginia, about 60km from Washington, their final destination. They were swarmed by crowds, just as they had been at nearly every stop along their journey.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:10 UTC
Kites reclaim the Lahore sky
FOR months, a relentless shroud of toxic smog weighed on Lahore, a seemingly endless grey that reduced it to one of the world’s most polluted cities. But as winter gave way to sunnier days, the skies over the city in eastern Pakistan turned cloudless over the weekend and morphed into a glittering tapestry of kites.
Source:The Star
February 20, 2026 01:05 UTC