Japan's first woman PM tipped for thumping election win
TOKYO: Japan votes in snap elections Sunday (Feb 8) with polls pointing to a resounding win for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's conservatives after a honeymoon start for the country's first woman leader. This followed a string of calamitous elections for the once-mighty Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), leaving it short of a majority in both houses of parliament. The new Centrist Reform Alliance of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and the LDP's previous partner Komeito could lose half their current 167 seats. China has never ruled democratic Taiwan, but Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out force to annex it. Last month, Japan's two remaining pandas -- animals long used by Beijing as diplomatic tools -- were even returned to China.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 08:00 UTC
![[UPDATED] Anwar credits clean governance for ringgit's recent strength](https://newssummedup.com/images/no_photo.png)
[UPDATED] Anwar credits clean governance for ringgit's recent strength
The ringgit’s recent strength reflects improved and clean governance under the Madani administration, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.-NSTP FILE PIC. KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit's recent strength reflects improved and clean governance under the Madani administration, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. These are encouraging signs, reflecting disciplined fiscal management and a renewed seriousness in governance. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg. "That trust is being rebuilt because this Madani government has taken a clear, principled and uncompromising stand on governance.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 07:44 UTC
Heartbreak for Samantha Ee as hubby dies
THE husband of Samantha Ee, former member of the all-girl pop group Four Golden Princess, has passed away, China Press reported. Datuk Tai Fah Chong, 78, died on Feb 3 and is survived by Ee, 35, and three of their children. It was reported that Tai pursued Ee while she was studying in Japan. Tai eventually won Ee over and they got hitched in June 2019. In his latest video, Tang Sie Luk, 23, apologised to the public and to Malaysia before kneeling on a mattress and bowing three times.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:43 UTC
LRT3 Shah Alam Line expected to begin operations by June, says Loke
PETALING JAYA: The long-awaited LRT3 Shah Alam Line is expected to begin operations by June at the latest, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. While asset owner Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has set a conservative timeline for June, Loke expressed confidence that the line could be ready as early as April. ALSO READ: Safety first: Shah Alam LRT line will only open once all safety standards are met, says PrasaranaLoke explained that whenever a fault occurs, the test must be reset to zero, regardless of how many kilometres had already been completed. Spanning 37.8km, the LRT3 line connects Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Johan Setia in Klang. Once operational, it is expected to serve a population of two million people in the western corridor of the Klang Valley.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:41 UTC
China Unicom awarded Malaysia Digital status
China Unicom Operations (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has been awarded Malaysia Digital (MD) status by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). KUALA LUMPUR: China Unicom Operations (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has been awarded Malaysia Digital (MD) status by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), marking its expansion beyond traditional telecommunications services. In a joint statement today, the company said the MD status supports its move into higher-value digital services, including artificial intelligence (AI) and data-related offerings, in line with Malaysia's digital economy agenda. Its planned offerings include video analytics services, smart citizen applications and intelligent energy monitoring systems. Commenting on the award, MDEC chief executive officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil said the MD status reflects Malaysia's continued push to strengthen high-value digital infrastructure to support AI-driven growth.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 07:38 UTC
Govt subsidises RM100 for every My50 pass monthly, says Loke
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 50% of public transport users in the Klang Valley have taken the digital option for the My50 pass, says Anthony Loke. The Transport Minister also said that the government subsidises RM100 per month for every public transport user who uses the My50 pass, which comes up to RM1,200 per commuter annually. Loke added that users' journeys on public transport would be recorded so that they could track how much they were paying for public transport. We encourage them to make as many trips as possible so that public transport becomes their main mode of transport," said Loke. "This also raises user awareness that using public transport can reduce their personal burden and lower their transportation costs," said Chee.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:28 UTC
Federal Court sets Feb 10 for decision on prosecution’s appeal against Isa Samad’s acquittal
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has fixed Feb 10 to deliver its decision on the prosecution’s appeal to reinstate nine corruption charges against former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad. A three-judge panel, chaired by Justice Nordin Hassan, set the date after hearing submissions from parties here on Thursday. The prosecution is appealing to set aside the Court of Appeal's decision, citing 24 grounds to support its contention that the Court of Appeal erred in law and fact when it acquitted Mohd Isa of all charges. On March 6, 2024, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously set aside the conviction as well as a six-year imprisonment and RM15.45mil fine imposed on Mohd Isa by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Feb 3, 2021. Mohd Isa was charged in 2018 with nine counts of dishonestly receiving RM3.09mil in bribes from Ikhwan Zaidel, then a director of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, via his former special officer, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:24 UTC
Malaysia hammer Myanmar 5-0 at Asian Team Championships
PETALING JAYA: The national men’s team lived up to expectations by sweeping past Myanmar 5-0 in their Group D match of the Asian Team Championships in Qingdao, China, on Wednesday (Jan 4). However, Malaysia’s opening singles player Justin Hoh was made to work hard before edging past Hein Htut 21-18, 21-19. Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri capped Malaysia’s emphatic victory by securing the fifth point with a 21-9, 21-7 win over Phyo Thurain-Lal Zuidika. The win also confirmed Malaysia’s place in the quarter-finals after Myanmar had earlier lost to Indonesia in the opening Group D match. Malaysia will face Indonesia on Thursday (Jan 5) to determine the Group D winners.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:10 UTC
Singaporean actor Chen Xi posts birthday tribute to father Edmund Chen amid court case
Singaporean actor and artist Chen Xi took to social media on Feb 4 to mark the double birthdays of his father, former actor Edmund Chen, and his grandfather. “Today and yesterday were my grandad’s and my dad’s birthdays – yes, consecutive days,” Chen Xi, 34, wrote on Instagram. Referring to his father’s recent legal troubles, Chen Xi wrote: “It’s been quite a period recently, but through everything, both of you’ve remained the pillars of our family. Happy birthday to the Chen gentlemen.”In the comments section, Edmund Chen wrote “Happy birthday, dad”, while his wife, 64-year-old local actress Xiang Yun, left three heart emojis. Chen Xi married his Japanese girlfriend, who is known only as Mami, in July 2025.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:09 UTC
Oil prices climb 3% as market awaits US-Iran talks
NEW YORK: Oil prices surged about 3% on Wednesday after a media report suggested planned talks between the United States and Iran on Friday could collapse. The US rejected Iran's request to change the location of talks planned for Friday, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two US officials. "If a hot war is seen in Iran, this could put Iran's 3.4 million b/d of supply at risk. The US and Iran were due to hold talks in Oman on Friday, according to a regional official. US crude oil inventories fell by 3.5 million barrels to 420.3 million barrels last week, as oil output slid to the lowest level since November 2024, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 489,000-barrel rise.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:05 UTC
Malaysia equities set for 2026 gains amid stronger ringgit, foreign inflows
Malaysia’s equity market is expected to make further gains this year, supported by a healthy domestic economy, positive corporate earnings, and pent-up foreign fund inflows. NSTP/RAIHANA MANSORKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's equity market is expected to make further gains this year, supported by a healthy domestic economy, positive corporate earnings, and pent-up foreign fund inflows. The stronger ringgit has already attracted RM1 billion in foreign fund inflows after three months of outflows, the firm said. "Local equity price momentum is expected to be supported by a stronger ringgit, positive fund flows, and moderation of external concerns," said MBSB Research. On market targets, MBSB Research revised FBM KLCI 2026 target to 1,850 points from 1,750, FBM Emas Shariah to 13,200 points from 13,000 and FBM 70 to 19,100 points from 18,800, reflecting both stronger ringgit and expected earnings growth.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 07:03 UTC
This Hamilton woman isn’t hiding her schizophrenia. Here’s what she wants you to know, with psychotic disorders hitting earlier ages
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Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 07:01 UTC
Govt announces RM80mil festive financing for small traders
KUALA LUMPUR: Two special financing programmes worth RM80mil have been introduced to boost Bumiputera and Chinese micro-businesses during upcoming festive seasons. The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry announced the People’s Ramadan Business Financing Scheme (Barakat) and the Special Financing Programme for Chinese-Owned Micro Enterprises (Berkat). Sim noted that this scheme is expected to benefit small traders in the food, clothing, and daily necessities sectors ahead of Aidilfitri. Meanwhile, the Berkat programme also offers financing of up to RM30,000 at a 3% profit rate per annum for each individual. The minister added that financing for the Berkat programme will be channelled through the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) platform CapBay.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 06:47 UTC
#SHOWBIZ: Welcoming his first child, Redza Rosli reflects on family, faith and duty
Redza has expressed deep gratitude following the arrival of his first child recently. INSTAGRAM/REDZAROSLIKUALA LUMPUR: Actor Redza Rosli has expressed deep gratitude following the arrival of his first child, describing the newborn as both a blessing and a profound responsibility that has transformed his world. Though new to the world of parenting, the actor is determined to balance his flourishing career with his growing family commitments. "My duty is not only towards my wife and child but also to my family, especially my parents. Redza's wife, Bella Hanna, safely gave birth to their son, Muhammad Aydrean Raess, on Jan 13.
Source:New Strait Times
February 05, 2026 06:32 UTC
Kedah MACC nabs two in RM600,000 graft probe
PETALING JAYA: Two people, one of them a freelance preacher, have been arrested in Kedah by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for alleged abuse of power involving fundraising payments. Sources said that the suspects were involved in a RM600,000 exchange involving funds raised for an educational and religious outreach institution. They said the suspects, a man and a woman in their 30s, were arrested on Wednesday (Feb 4) after presenting themselves at the Sungai Petani MACC office. Investigations by the Kedah MACC and the MACC Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Division have been ongoing since October, the source added. Kedah MACC director Datuk Nazli Rasyid Sulong, when contacted on Thursday (Feb 5), confirmed the arrest and said the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.
Source:The Star
February 05, 2026 06:29 UTC