YESTERDAY, 132 schoolchildren and nine adults were mowed down by gunfire in a school in Peshawar, Pakistan. A day earlier, two hostages died as Australian police ended a siege at a Sydney chocolate shop.

The link between both? It was done by people who professed to be Muslims. It was no...

Islam needs heroes, not zeroes who kill in its name

TODAY forty years ago, an Universiti Malaya undergraduate named Hishamudin Rais quietly slipped out of the campus in Pantai and a police cordon to start a long trip to, eventually, self-exile in London.

The police was at the door of Malaysia's oldest university to arrest student leaders...

When did Malaysia shut its doors to a Malaysian?

IT might be a little, but not too late, to finally see some prominent Malays speak up against the national discourse on race and religion that has been going pear-shaped recently.

Twenty-five of them, retired top civil servants and personalities that helped take Malaysia to punch above ...

Finally, Malays standing up for rationality and discourse

IT must take a lot for any Malay ruler to strip someone of a royal award.

Today, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim learnt that the Seri Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (S.S.S.A.) award given by the Selangor palace in 1992 has been revoked. The royal award bestows the title "Datuk Seri" but of ...

Going beyond royal awards and titles

RECENTLY, I was walking in front of NU Sentral, the new mall in front of the KL Sentral transport hub in Brickfields. I had just arrived at the monora...

How I beat the taxi rogues at their game

THE Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) returned the Malay and Iban Bibles it seized unlawfully from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) to representatives from Christians in Sarawak recently but it did not issue an apology. – Pic courtesy of the Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office, December...

Turn the other cheek, lose sight of the future

GOING BACK on his word to scrap the Sedition Act, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is showing that for all his talk of transformation and moderation, he lacks the courage to stand up to his partymen and right-wing Malay groups in the country.

His promises are meaningless and his rh...

Najib’s ‘Great Transformation’, unplugged

IT IS a rare day when a Barisan Nasional (BN) leader speaks honestly, without fear or favour and hits all the right buttons. And how we crave for such leaders?

Not surprisingly, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem has grabbed headlines with the major spanking he gave enforcement...

Adenan speaks out against graft, now the need for action

SO MUCH has happened over the years that one is forgiven for forgetfulness about what went wrong or right in Malaysia.

Malaysians have seen a series of financial scandals, each that seem bigger than the previous one.

Right now, the focus is on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MD...

‘Tis the season of forgetfulness over financial scandals

There is no delicate way to put this: Malaysia is on a downward spiral, led down the dangerous path by overzealous religious authorities, misguided or plain stupid individuals and groups.

And perhaps more alarmingly, the government of the day is either allowing this implosion of a bless...

Malaysia’s road to perdition

HOW many ministers and special advisers does it take to run a country? – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 27, 2014.How many ministers and special advisers does it take to run a country? – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 27, 2014.“Plugging leakage is one of the measures that can sav...

The irony of a Putrajaya special adviser asking to plug leakage

CONTEXT, the Attorney-General Chambers said today, was the important ingredient to consider when deciding whether Datuk Ibrahim Ali committed sedition when he threatened to burn bibles that contained the word "Allah" last year.

"As decided by the court, before a statement is said to hav...

Speaking about context, what about other sedition cases?

TRUST Malaysians to be able to read between the lines when it comes to politics.

The days of just listening to propaganda or swallowing hook, line and sinker from some politicians are over. A case in point is the results of a recent Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections (...

UMcedel poll shows Malaysians know better despite political shenanigans

IF ONLY...

* Words count for something in Malaysia, then the cloud of pessimism that envelopes the country would long be gone.

But words have a hollow sound here, especially when they emanate from higher the political ladder.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak rig...

If only Putrajaya’s words ever come true

WASHINGTON (April 19): Donald Trump said on Thursday the survival of Ukraine is important to the United States, a shift in tone days before the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives is due to vote on a $61 billion aid package.

The former president did not endorse the package, and...

Donald Trump says Ukraine's survival is important to US

(April 19): The Indonesian government is working with central bank governor Perry Warjiyo to cushion the country’s economy from the rise in the US dollar, according to its finance minister.

“We work very closely with Governor Perry,” Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said in a Bloo...

Indonesian finance chief aims to shield economy from dollar rise

A trader accused of exploiting Mango Markets rules to steal US$110 million (RM526.2 million) from the exchange was convicted of fraud in the first US trial involving criminal charges tied to cryptocurrency manipulation.

Crypto trader convicted in US$110m Mango Markets fraud

The US on Thursday effectively stopped the United Nations from recognising a Palestinian state by casting a veto in the Security Council to deny the Palestinian Authority full membershipof the world body.

US stops UN from recognising a Palestinian state through membership

NEW YORK (April 19): US stocks vacillated on Thursday, swinging from red to green and back as investors contended with the push-pull of a strong economy and restrictive Federal Reserve policy.

Benchmark Treasury yields resumed their climb and gold added strength as ongoing turmoil in th...

Wall Street closes lower; gold climbs amid economic, geopolitical crosswinds

Chinese government-linked hackers have burrowed into US critical infrastructure and are waiting "for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow," FBI director Christopher Wray said on Thursday.

FBI says Chinese hackers preparing to attack US infrastructure

US stocks closed near the unchanged mark on Thursday, as investors sifted through the latest corporate earnings, while economic data and comments from Federal Reserve officials suggested the central bank was unlikely to cut interest rates in the near future.

Stocks end near flat as investors assess earnings, data

Atalanta progressed to the Europa League semi-finals despite losing 1-0 to Liverpool on Thursday as they triumphed 3-1 on aggregate to move one step closer to a first ever European final for the Serie A side.

Liverpool eliminated as Atalanta book Europa League semi-final place

LILLE (April 19): Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved two spot kicks and survived a bizarre red card incident as his side beat French club Lille on penalties to reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals on Thursday.

A chaotic match ended 3-3 on aggregate after Lille's 2-...

Martinez avoids red card, saves penalties to send Villa into semis

A Florida jury on Thursday concluded that Johnson & Johnson's baby powder talc product did not cause the ovarian cancer of a Florida woman who died in 2019.

J&J wins trial over Florida woman who claimed its baby powder caused her cancer

Malaysia’s current tallest building, the Merdeka 118 tower, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification in the LEED v2009 Core and Shell rating system, marking it as the first megatall building in the country to achieve it, according to a press statement on Thursday.&nbsp;

Merdeka 118 first megatall building in Malaysia to get LEED Platinum certification

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiT...

HeiTech Padu, Axiata, AmanahRaya REIT, AmFirst REIT, RHB Bank, 7-Eleven Malaysia, MBSB, Awantec, MAA Group, UMediC, Systech, Pansar, Auro, Kimlun and AWC

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): AwanBiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) said trading in its shares will be suspended from April 26, after the group failed to submit its regularisation plan to the regulators for approval within the stipulated timeframe.

Awantec faces trading suspension from April 26 after failing to submit regularisation plan

After spending over two years in court due to a suit from Empire Holdings Ltd, MAA Group Bhd, its major shareholder Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra and Turiya Bhd have been dropped as parties in the suit over MAA’s purchase of Turiya shares from a Bahrain-based bank. &nbsp;

MAA Group exits legal bout over 2021 Turiya share acquisition under settlement deal

Engineering services provider AWC Bhd has bagged two contracts worth a total of RM19.39 million for plumbing works at Hospital Kapar in Selangor and a data centre in Cyberjaya.

In a statement on Thursday, AWC said the Hospital Kapar job was awarded to its wholly-owned subsidiary Qudotech Sdn Bhd by the project's main contractor, IJM Corp Bhd's unit IJM Construction Sdn Bhd.

AWC secures plumbing jobs at Hospital Kapar and Cyberjaya data centre

High-impact projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and&nbsp;Special Financial Zone&nbsp;(SFZ) in Forest City can spur Johor’s economy to outpace that&nbsp;of other states in the next one to two years, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Special economic, financial zones can help Johor surpass other states economically, says Anwar

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has approved the transfer of UMediC Group Bhd’s listing status from the ACE Market to the Main Market, under the 'health care'&nbsp;sector.

Bursa approves UMediC’s transfer to Main Market

A former technician was brought before the Sessions Court again here on Thursday on a charge of posting offensive messages insulting Islam on his Facebook account in&nbsp;March, regarding the sale of stockings bearing the word 'Allah'.

'Allah' socks insults: Former technician brought before Sessions Court again

The developer of the&nbsp;Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) expressway will receive an official letter soon, notifying it of the cancellation of the construction project.

PJD Link developer to get official letter soon on cancellation, says Nanta

Swiss state prosecutors are seeking long prison terms for two men accused of embezzling US$1.8 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) — Saudi-Swiss businessman Tarek Obaid and his Swiss-British business partner Patrick Mahony, the AFP reported.

Swiss prosecutors seek long jail terms for duo in US$1.8bil 1MDB fraud — report

The allocations that the government has agreed to consider extending to elected representatives from the opposition are subject to terms and conditions, said DAP Parliament chief whip Nga Kor Ming.

Nga: Proposed allocations for opposition reps conditional

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd, known for its extensive network of convenience stores, declared on Thursday an interim dividend of 2.7 sen per share for its financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023), after posting a record high net profit.

7-Eleven declares 2.7 sen dividend for FY2023

(April 18):&nbsp;The world of chocolate is facing such immense cocoa shortages that the wild trading lured an unlikely player&nbsp;—&nbsp;Pierre Andurand, a hedge-fund manager best known for his bets on oil.&nbsp;

Why the world of chocolate is in crisis

FE Green Pet (M) Sdn Bhd’s new high-tech recycling factory is expected to make Melaka a green investment destination and complement the economic growth strategy in the state, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

He said with an investment totalling approximately RM958 million, the plant on 14 hectares of land is projected to be completed by 2Q 2025, creating almost 500 jobs.

RM958 mil high-tech recycling factory puts Melaka on green investors map — Ab Rauf

Kimlun Corporation Bhd has bagged a construction contract worth RM150 million for a serviced apartment development project in Johor Bahru.

In a bourse filing on Thursday, Kimlun said its wholly-owned subsidiary Kimlun Sdn Bhd received the award as the main contractor for the Aliva Mount Austin residential project from Astaka Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Singapore-listed Astaka Holdings Limited.

Kimlun bags RM150 mil contract for residential construction project in Johor

More than a year after it diversified into the sand dredging business, timber products manufacturer Auro Holdings Bhd (formerly known as NWP Holdings Bhd) is proposing to venture into the food and beverage (F&amp;B) business.

The proposed diversification is aimed at expanding its revenue stream and reducing its reliance on the wood-based and sand mining industries, said the loss-making company in a bourse filing on Thursday. &nbsp;

Auro forays into F&B business to cut dependence on wood-based and sand mining industries

The Penang government will wait&nbsp;for&nbsp;recommendations from the&nbsp;undersea tunnel project&nbsp;steering committee before making any decision&nbsp;regarding the implementation of the project, said&nbsp;Chief Minister&nbsp;Chow Kon Yeow.

Undersea tunnel: Penang to wait for steering committee's recommendations, says Chow

（吉隆坡18日讯）马建屋（Malaysia Building Society Bhd）建议在截至2023年12月31日财年（2023财年）派发每股3.5仙终期股息，总值2亿8778万令吉。

马建屋建议2023财年派息3.5仙

With 94% of Malaysian companies gearing up for an artificial intelligence (AI) driven future, National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) together with NVIDIA has launched an AI pilot sandbox programme.

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