Author - James Lim

Ismail Sabri on MC, MACC to record his statement on March 7

PETALING JAYA: The meeting between the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, which was scheduled for Wednesday (March 5), has been postponed. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, who confirmed this, said his officers would record Ismail Sabri's statement on March 7 instead. He said that the former prime minister...

Police record six statements over alleged teacher-pupil relationship

SHAH ALAM: Police have recorded statements from six individuals in its investigation into a teacher who allegedly had a "special relationship" with his 12-year-old pupil at a school in Dengkil, Sepang. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that the individuals included the suspect, the girl, the girl's father, two teachers and two students. He said...

Ringgit slightly higher against US dollar at the close

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed slightly higher against the US dollar on Tuesday as broader macro forces kept a floor under the domestic currency despite the US tariff barrage rattling global markets. At 6 pm, the ringgit rose slightly to 4.4635/4680 from 4.4640/4680 at Monday’s close. SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes noted the biggest factor supporting the ringgit was rising...

Fahmi criticises Opposition MPs’ refusal to vote on Constitution amendment

KUALA LUMPUR: Fahmi Fadzil has criticised opposition lawmakers for refusing to vote on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 at Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (March 4). The Communications Minister said the 57 MPs who abstained from voting on the Bill had showcased the Opposition’s apparent disinterest in separating the Parliament from political influence. “Their decision to not vote...

Japan foreign minister calls Russia entry ban ‘unacceptable’

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Tuesday (March 4) that Russia's entry ban on him and eight other Japanese citizens was "unacceptable". The comments came a day after Russia's foreign ministry banned Iwaya, the ambassador of Japan to Ukraine and seven other Japanese from entering the country in retaliation to Tokyo's sanctions. Iwaya told reporters...

Ex-Kenaf Trading Global CEO, wife and son face money-laundering charges involving over RM150mil

KUALA LUMPUR: The former chief executive officer (CEO) of Syarikat Kenaf Trading Global Sdn Bhd, his wife and son were charged at two Sessions Courts here on Tuesday (March 4) with 12 money laundering charges involving more than RM150mil. Jazman Shahar Abdollah, 53; his wife Mariam Zakaria, 49; and their son, Irfan Hadi, 28, pleaded not...

Teen in Singapore who sexually assaulted younger sister ordered to undergo reformative training

SINGAPORE: A teenager was ordered on Tuesday (March 4) to undergo reformative training for at least a year for sexually assaulting his younger sister on two separate occasions. The 19-year-old, who cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the victim’s identity, will be detained in a centre to observe a strict regimen that...

‘Gone down a lot’: why Chinese travellers are shunning US and Europe

BEIJING: Chinese tourists are increasingly turning away from traditional destinations such as the United States and Europe in favour of hotspots in the Middle East, South-East Asia and Latin America, according to foreign exchange firm Travelex. The company has seen a marked shift in the currency exchanges requested by its Chinese customers since 2019, with US...

Bursa Malaysia tumbles as over 1,000 stocks sink amid heavy selling

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia slumped on Tuesday under heavy selling pressure, with decliners overwhelming gainers by over seven to one, reflecting weak market sentiment following the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The FBM KLCI was down for the fourth straight day, tumbling 15.73 points, or 1%, to close at 1,555.66, slightly above its intraday...

Cops confirm Japanese woman killed in fall was influencer Ridzokumura’s wife

SHAH ALAM: Police have confirmed that the Japanese woman who died after falling from the fourth floor of a condominium in SS16, Subang Jaya last Friday was the wife of entrepreneur and social media influencer Abd Ridzuan Abdul Mutalib, better known as Ridzokumura. Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said initial investigations did not reveal any...