From Klang to Korea: Lingling becomes Malaysia’s first K-pop idol

Who would’ve guessed that a future K-pop sensation was quietly honing her star power in Klang, Selangor? Today, Alicia Wong Lingling is striding boldly onto the global stage – ready to take her place among the industry’s rising elite. At just 19, the K-pop idol known as Lingling to her fans is making waves as Malaysia’s first...

Flash floods hit several areas in S’gor after early morning downpour, no evacuations reported, says Bomba

SHAH ALAM: Several areas in Selangor were affected by flash floods following heavy rainfall since early Wednesday (April 23) morning. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the affected areas were in Sungai Buloh, Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya. According to him, 86 homes were impacted, however, no evacuations have been reported. In...

Bursa Malaysia rallies as talk of tariffs ‘de-escalation’ lifts global outlook

KUALA LUMPUR: Suggestion from a top US policymaker that the trade conflict between the US and China was not sustainable and will "de-escalate" helped buoy global market sentiment on Wednesday. At the starting bell, Malaysia's benchmark index leapt 11.11 points to 1,497.36, tracking Wall Street's overnight surge as remarks from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent raised...

Vietnam, Malaysia and two other Asean countries hit with US duties ranging from 169 to 3,404% on solar exports

HANOI: The US has officially imposed steep tariffs on solar energy products imported from four South-East Asian countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. The tariffs unveiled on April 21 vary widely depending on the company and country, but were broadly higher than the preliminary duties announced late last year. According to the US Department of Commerce,...

Ayer Kuning polls: 90.4% early voter turnout as of noon, says EC

TAPAH: A total of 90.4% of early voter turnout was recorded in the Ayer Kuning state by-election as of noon Tuesday, according to the Election Commission (EC). The early voting process on Tuesday (April 22) involved only two polling centres, namely at the General Operations Force (GOF) 3rd Battalion Camp’s Dewan Rekreasi Pegawai Kanan, in Bidor and...

Heavyweights shown exit

PETALING JAYA: Big changes are afoot in PKR, with a clear signal from the party’s grassroots that some leaders are not performing despite holding national-level posts. Several leaders who are ministers and deputy ministers were shown the door in a series of upsets in the recent round of divisional elections, a reflection of the members’ unhappiness. It...

Ringgit opens higher, traders eye key RM4.36 support

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- The ringgit extended its gains against the US dollar at the opening on Tuesday, with the local note poised to test its immediate support level at RM4.36. At 8 am, the local currency strengthened to 4.3550/3840 against the greenback, from Monday's close of 4.3670/3735. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd...

Mazu’s legacy unites cultures through time

MELAKA: The Mazu Exhibition Hall at the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum in Bandar Hilir marks the historic city’s maritime history and its deep-rooted cultural ties with China, says state MCA Chairman Datuk Wira Lim Ban Hong. "The establishment of this exhibition hall enriches the state’s cultural landscape and marks another important step in Malaysia-China cultural relations,”...

US finalises tariffs on Malaysian, Southeast Asian solar imports

U.S. trade officials finalized steep tariff levels on most solar cells from Southeast Asia, a key step toward wrapping up a year-old trade case in which American manufacturers accused Chinese companies of flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods. The case was brought last year by Korea's Hanwha Qcells , Arizona-based First Solar Inc and several...

Big, bold, stinky: The Rafflesia flower is a rotting spectacle in the highlands

You spot it on RM10 notes – a crimson marvel the size of a truck tyre. This is the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, a botanical oddity as infamous as it is rare. Nicknamed the stinking corpse lily, its Indonesian moniker bunga bangkai (carcass flower) hints at its olfactory punch. But whether you’re hit by a wave of...