Malaysia actively monitors potential public health emergencies, says Health Minister

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has been actively monitoring potential public health emergencies since August last year, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic), following reports of a new mpox strain discovered in China. The Health Minister assured the public that sentinel surveillance had been activated at all international entry points since August 2024, after the World Health...

Factory manager gets away from car moments before lorry crashes into it

MELAKA: A 36-year-old factory manager got out of harm's way moments before his luxury car burst into flames after a crash along KM199.7 of the North-South Expressway near Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza. Tan Hong Ta from Johor Baru was thankful that no fatalities occurred after a tanker lorry collided with the rear of his car in...

Sikh seller spices up laksa

SEREMBAN: A Cantonese-speaking Sikh is the man behind a well-known laksa dish here, enough to rival Penang’s famed asam laksa. He runs a stall named Singh Laksa, which offers the dish comprising curry powder, turmeric, coriander, curry leaves and lemongrass. Each bowl is served with homemade vegetarian sambal. Confused? Well, that’s the potpourri of Malaysian food. “We are...

Malaysians dismayed by UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation fees

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians reacted with dismay to the announcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for entry into the United Kingdom starting Wednesday (Jan 8). Many wondered if Malaysia should also impose such fees for travellers coming into the country, as other nations are also said to be considering a similar move. A Facebook user, who...

Man shot dead at Johor Baru restaurant while having lunch with friends

JOHOR BARU: A man was killed while eating with his friends at a restaurant on Jalan Setia 3/2, Taman Setia Indah, here. It is understood that the victim and his friends were having lunch in front of the restaurant at around 11.30am on Wednesday (Jan 8) before he was shot. According to a workshop worker who refused...

Mosque splendour to be featured in upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026 promo video, says Tiong

KUALA LUMPUR: Elements of mosque architecture will be included in a more comprehensive Visit Malaysia Year 2026 promotional video, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said the recently launched 41-second tourism promotional montage, which sparked controversy for not including mosque elements, was merely a brief and concise launch video. "This video...

Johor to collaborate with Qatar to boost state tourism sector, says MB

JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has announced efforts to strengthen the state's tourism sector through strategic collaboration with Qatar during a two-day working visit to the country. Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said that the visit, inspired by the vision of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, aimed to align with the state’s development...

Meta’s end to fact-checking will be felt, but not so much in Malaysia, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: Meta’s move to remove independent fact-checking on its platforms will have repercussions, but it will not be affecting Malaysia’s social media community anytime soon, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. "At the moment, I don’t see it affecting the Malaysian market, only the United States,” he said, referring to Meta’s initial implementation of the move over...

QuickCheck: Did a car crash into a petrol station in Ipoh?

Reports have surfaced about an unusual incident involving a car and a petrol station in Ipoh. It has been claimed that the car crashed through a glass wall at the petrol station, and the news has gone viral as people ask questions as to how such an incident could happen. Is it true that such an accident...

Asian economies must create own consumer markets, can’t rely on US forever, says Liew

KUALA LUMPUR: Asian economies cannot depend on the United States as its export destination of first and last resort “forever”, but instead it will have to create its own consumer markets, especially within Asean, says Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong. “These massive changes bring home a simple message: business as usual won’t...