Education Ministry to introduce new preschool curriculum with bilingual focus by 2026

PORT DICKSON: The Education Ministry will roll out a new preschool curriculum in 2026, emphasising a balanced use of 50% Malay and 50% English language. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that this initiative aims to enhance early childhood education through a bilingual approach while incorporating comprehensive educational strategies for preschools under the ministry, the Community Development...

14 teens, 91yo man among 61 held in Salak South gang initiation ceremony

KUALA LUMPUR: Fourteen teenagers, including students, were among 61 individuals detained in a raid on an initiation ceremony for a gang in Salak South, Sungai Besi. The raid on a shophouse was conducted by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers from Bukit Aman as well as the Kuala Lumpur and Cheras district police headquarters at about 11am...

Malaysian e-sports squad wins IESF World Championship 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Malaysia team has made history by defeating the Philippines 2-0 in the Grand Final of the IESF World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday (Nov 15). The Malaysian team comprised Selangor Red Giants players Muhd Qayyum Ariffin Mohd Suhairi (Yums), Muhd Haqqullah Ahmad Shahrul Zaman...

Edited clip of PM’s CNN interview gives wrong impression, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent interview with CNN has been edited and taken out of context to give the impression that the government recognises Israel's right to exist. Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said only one part of the Prime Minister's interview with the channel's Richard Quest was being shared on social media. "Until today, we...

Tributes pour in for late Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Saad

PETALING JAYA: Condolences and tributes are streaming in for the late Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Saad (pic), who passed away at the age of 78. The former Penang deputy chief minister passed away on Friday evening (Nov 15). Shortly after news of his demise, tributes and wishes were posted online by various leaders and citizens. Former prime minister...

Strong 3Q GDP puts Malaysia on track for 4.8 -5.3% growth in 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s strong economic performance in the third quarter (3Q) of 2024 reflects both business and consumer confidence in the Malaysian economy and the government’s economic management. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) in a statement today noted that the 5.3 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth recorded...

Thailand aims to legalise casinos next year in win for global players

BANGKOK (Bloomberg): Thailand is aiming to legalise casinos next year to draw foreign investments and collect more taxes, a potential win for global operators who have for long canvassing for the legislation to benefit from the country’s status as a tourism hot spot. The government is working to get a so-called "entertainment complex” bill, which will...

Indonesia’s Garuda names new CEO as its national carrier looks to fix finances, grow

JAKARTA (Bloomberg): Garuda Indonesia appointed Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan, a top manager at PT Lion Mentari Airlines, as its next chief executive officer as the Southeast Asian nation’s flagship carrier looks to turn a profit and expand its international network. Panjaitan was appointed to the post following Garuda’s extraordinary general meeting on Friday afternoon, according to a...

South Korean opposition leader leader gets suspended term for election violations, faces ban from presidential run

SEOUL (Bernama-Yonhap): A court on Friday sentenced opposition leader Lee Jae-myung to a suspended one-year prison term for lying during the previous presidential campaign when he was a candidate, a ruling that if upheld will strip him of his parliamentary seat and bar him from running in the next presidential election in 2027. Yonhap news agency...

Chinese and Philippine forces again avoid a clash in a fiercely disputed shoal under a rare deal

MANILA, Philippines (AP): The Philippine navy transported food and other supplies to a territorial ship outpost in a shoal in the South China Sea without any confrontation with Chinese forces guarding the disputed area, officials said Friday. The Philippine delivery of supplies and military personnel on Thursday to the Second Thomas Shoal was the third such...