Transport Minister Anthony Loke has directed the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the traffic police to set up roadblocks around Kota Bharu Airport this evening (25 April).

It is the second time in under three weeks that Loke has mobilised enforcement at the same location.

A poster circulating on social media advertised a “Konvoi & Lepak Mat Motor Bersama YB YB” — a motorcycle convoy and gathering with elected state assemblymen — organised jointly by the Government Backbenchers Club (BBC), and PAS Youth Kelantan.

The event was scheduled for between 5 pm and 7 pm, with the convoy route passing through Kota Lama, Kota Bharu Airport, the town centre and the area behind AEON Mall.

The tagline on the poster read: “marihh kito gegarkan kota lama” — loosely translated as “let’s shake up Kota Lama together.”

Fine print at the bottom added: “kawe bersama puok demo, mari kita sama sama konvoi, kita hadir dengan tertib dan hormat, bukan untuk rosakkan keadaan” which loosely translates to “I am with you, let’s convoy without causing trouble”.

A Facebook post by PAS’s Melor assemblyman, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, confirmed the convoy would depart from Masjid Muhammadi at 5 pm, routing through Kota Bharu Airport, the town centre, and a public recreational space before concluding at 7 pm — a slightly different endpoint from the poster’s advertised route.

No Exemptions, Not Even For YBs

Responding on Facebook, Loke described the convoy as highly irresponsible, citing the airport as a strategic security zone that must be protected at all times to ensure smooth passenger movement.

He raised two direct questions for the organisers.

Had they obtained approval from the relevant authorities, and if congestion caused passengers to miss their flights, would the organisers pay compensation?

He announced that all motorcycles entering the airport area would be inspected — including those ridden by elected assemblymen.

Any YB riding a motorcycle will not be exempt.

From Racing To Roadblocks

The backdrop to today’s intervention matters.

Kota Bharu Airport’s new terminal was fully opened on 5 March — less than two months ago.

The federal government spent nearly RM450 million upgrading the facility, which Loke has described as a catalyst for Kelantan’s socioeconomic development and tourism.

Within weeks of opening, the terminal’s departure bay had become a mat rempit racing circuit.

The activity had been ongoing since Ramadan before going viral on social media, with airport users beginning to film and post footage.

On 6 April, Loke announced that JPJ would conduct large-scale enforcement operations at the airport, with motorcycles confiscated on the spot for anyone caught racing at the departure bay.

He called the mat rempit behaviour not just embarrassing but an act of sabotage against the airport’s safety and the state’s economy.

@xtra_my Tular video memaparkan sekumpulan ‘mat rempit’ berkumpul dan melepak di kawasan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra, iaitu lapangan terbang baharu di Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Perkara itu mencetuskan persoalan dalam kalangan netizen memandangkan lokasi berkenaan merupakan pintu masuk utama udara ke negeri itu. #fyp #xtra #matrempit #lapanganterbang #kelantan ♬ original sound – XTRA

The Kota Lama Question

The convoy does not merely pass through Kota Lama — it starts there.

Dr Hafidzah Mustakim, the Amanah assemblywoman for Kota Lama and the sole female member of the Kelantan State Assembly, had recently criticised the state government over mat rempit and loitering at the new airport terminal.

Her presence in the Kelantan State Assembly itself is historically notable — she won the seat in 2023 with a majority of just 202 votes, becoming the first woman ever elected to Kota Lama, which was seen as a significant shift in voter sentiment in the PAS-governed state.

Liyana Marzuki, a lawyer, former Deputy Public Prosecutor and prominent social commentator, alleged that the convoy is an attempt to intimidate and pressure Dr Hafidzah in her own constituency.

“This really looks like they want to intimidate and pressure the one and only female YB in Kelantan,” she wrote, calling it “hate politics and gangster politics.”

Another social media user echoed the sentiment, writing that it was “funny when a YB’s criticism of a social issue is answered with a convoy, as if to intimidate whoever dares to speak up.”

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A video of two shirtless men shopping at a 7-Eleven outlet in Johor Bahru has gone viral on Threads, drawing hundreds of comments and highlighting tensions that go well beyond a convenience store dress code.

The post, uploaded by user @mansuzur4n_, showed two men without shirts browsing and paying at the counter inside what appears to be a 7-Eleven outlet.

The caption expressed frustration at the behaviour, questioning why they needed to remove their shirts to shop.

The video has since attracted significant public reaction — and the comments reveal several distinct conversations happening at once.

Multiple commenters identified the men as Chinese nationals — referred to in the comments as “Type C”.

One commenter stated they were from China, while another linked their presence to the ongoing data centre construction boom in Johor Bahru, noting that many contractors on those projects are brought in from China.

Neither the men’s identities nor their nationalities have been independently verified.

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Legal Theory Meets Social Media Fury

One commenter went further than expressing frustration — citing Section 294 of the Penal Code, which covers acts that are obscene or offensive in public spaces.

The commenter argued that 7-Eleven qualifies as a public space, that the majority of customers at such outlets are Muslim women, that Islam is Malaysia’s federal religion, and that all visitors to Malaysia — including foreigners — are bound by Malaysian law.

The provision carries a penalty of up to three months imprisonment, a fine, or both.

It is worth noting that no police report has been publicly confirmed in connection with this incident.

Why Film Instead Of Confront?

Several commenters questioned why the original poster chose to film rather than confront the men directly.

The poster responded that he did not feel safe approaching them alone, as there were two of them.

Some accepted this reasoning, others did not, with one saying directly: ” If you’re not going to say anything, there’s no point posting.

The exchange captures a tension familiar to anyone who has watched a social media pile-on: the gap between outrage online and action in person.

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READ MORE: [Watch] When Everyone Has A Smartphone, Cheating Has Nowhere To Hide — Especially On Threads

READ MORE: A Man Told Women Not To Run In Sports Bras, Malaysians Had A Lot To Say About That

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Malaysia has a new anti-corruption chief.

Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman, a former High Court judge, has been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), effective 13 May.

The 69-year-old replaces Tan Sri Azam Baki, whose contract ends on 12 May.

The appointment was approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, following a recommendation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It was made in accordance with subsection 5(1) of the MACC Act 2009.

The announcement was made by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar today (25 April).

“The government is confident that with his vast experience and high integrity, he will be able to strengthen governance, increase public confidence and intensify the anti-corruption agenda for the benefit of the nation”, Shamsul Azri said.

A Judge, Not An Insider

The most significant aspect of the appointment is where Abdul Halim comes from.

He is not a career MACC officer, not a former police chief or attorney general.

He is a judge — someone whose professional background is rooted in the application of law and the independence of the judiciary.

Appointing someone from outside the agency’s own ranks is a deliberate choice.

It signals an emphasis on legal credibility and institutional distance from the existing structure. It also means the incoming chief arrives without internal MACC allegiances to navigate.

Whether that translates into a meaningfully different approach to enforcement remains to be seen.

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Who Is Abdul Halim Aman?

Abdul Halim brings over four decades of experience in Malaysia’s judicial and legal services.

Born in Melaka in 1957, he graduated with a law degree from the University of Malaya in 1982, before later obtaining a Master of Laws from the University of Hull in 1996.

He spent nearly 22 years rising through the ranks in the legal and judicial system, holding roles ranging from magistrate and Sessions Court judge to senior federal counsel and deputy public prosecutor.

Over the years, he also held key positions, including Pahang State Legal Adviser and head of the Research Division at the Office of the Chief Justice.

In 2005, he was appointed a judicial commissioner, and in 2007, he became a High Court judge.

He went on to serve in courts across Malaysia, including in Penang, Johor Bahru, and Shah Alam, before retiring in March 2023 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.

The King’s Role

Sultan Ibrahim had indicated that he would personally be involved in selecting the new MACC chief — a level of royal engagement that underscored the importance placed on the position.

The palace’s view, as expressed in the King’s earlier remarks, was that the MACC chief’s role is critical in ensuring the commission continues to function effectively as the nation’s primary institution against corruption, abuse of power and misconduct.

It is a clean handover on paper.

In practice, the incoming chief inherits an agency in the middle of active investigations — including the high-profile freezing of Padini Holdings’ bank accounts under anti-money laundering legislation, disclosed just the evening before his appointment was announced.

The announcement comes as critics mobilise against the incumbent: a protest is scheduled this afternoon (25 April) at Dataran Merdeka.

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READ MORE: MACC Freezes Padini Bank Accounts Under Anti-Money Laundering Law — And The Company Isn’t Saying Much More

READ MORE: Azam Baki Calls For Clean Conduct At MACC Amid Unresolved Shareholding Allegations

READ MORE: MACC Supremo Azam Baki Won’t Be Renewed Come May, Government Sources Say

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Malaysian apparel retailer Padini Holdings Bhd disclosed on Friday evening (24 April) that several of its bank accounts, along with those of certain subsidiaries, have been frozen as part of an ongoing investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC).

The freezing order was issued under Section 44(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 — a specific legal instrument targeting suspected movement of illicit funds.

Beyond that, Padini said very little.

“The company is assisting in the ongoing investigation and will extend its full cooperation,” the retailer said in a Bursa Malaysia filing.

No details on the nature of the probe were disclosed.

The Freeze Reveals More Than Padini Intended

There are details in Padini’s disclosure that are worth examining; the first is the choice of legislation; MACC did not act under a general anti-corruption statute.

The Anti-Money Laundering Act is a specific tool — it is used when authorities suspect funds have been moved in ways that obscure their origin or nature.

Its use here points toward a financial trail, not a straightforward procurement or bribery investigation.

Subsidiaries are also frozen, indicating investigators are following a financial trail through the entire corporate structure, not just the parent company.

Padini also said the frozen accounts are “not actively used.”

The popular clothing brand stated that the affected accounts are not critical to daily operations and that the company retains access to other banking facilities.

Padini Says It’s Not A Big Deal, The Market Will Decide Monday

Padini’s board stated that the account freeze is not expected to have a material financial or operational impact on the group.

The company said it will engage with relevant authorities and provide further updates when there are material developments.

The disclosure was filed with Bursa Malaysia on Friday (24 April).

Major corporate announcements with the potential to move a stock are frequently timed this way — by Monday, the initial market reaction has had a weekend to settle.

That is not unique to Padini, but it is worth noting.

Trading resumes Monday, and what MACC finds — and when it chooses to say so — remains to be seen.

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Parts of this story have been sourced from The Edge.

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There is a cocktail competition running in Malaysia right now, and the prize is a plane ticket to the Netherlands — an actual two-day trip to Amsterdam in September, hosted by Lucas Bols.

The winner trains at the Bols Cocktail Academy, visits one of the world’s oldest spirits distilleries, attends exclusive masterclasses and networks with the best bartenders from 20 countries — all courtesy of Bols, distributed in Malaysia by Luen Heng, one of Malaysia’s leading suppliers of beverages, wines, beers and spirits.

The theme this year is Neon Nights, and Malaysia is one of those 20 countries.

Bols has been running themed competitions for a few years — Disco in 2024, Blue Disco in 2025, where over 1,000 bartenders across 20 countries reimagined 1970s classics using Bols Blue Curaçao.

This year, the brief gets broader: Neon Nights is built around colour, nostalgia, nightlife and low-unit drinking, with the era entirely the bartender’s choice — the 1990s, Y2K, the 2010s, whatever party moment feels most alive to them.

The only requirement is that the drink looks like it belongs under a neon light and tastes like it was made for a night worth remembering.

The Rules In Plain Language

Your cocktail must include at least 20ml of any Bols liqueur, must come in under one unit of alcohol and should use no more than seven ingredients.

Submit a recipe, a photo and a short description through Difford’s Guide’s cocktail builder tool.

The one-unit limit deserves a moment’s consideration, as it is not the same as low Alcohol By Volume (ABV), which is a percentage showing how much alcohol is in a drink.

A cocktail can be low in ABV but still deliver a strong hit if the pour is large enough.

A low-unit cocktail measures the actual amount of pure ethanol in the drink — here capped at 18ml, roughly equivalent to a standard single shot of spirits.

Liqueurs are naturally lower in ABV than base spirits, which makes them the practical backbone of a low-unit build.

The range you’re working with

The Bols portfolio available for this competition is wide.

On the liqueur side: Lychee, Strawberry, Watermelon, Coconut and Peach for the crowd-friendly end; Elderflower, Maraschino, Crème de Cassis, Kirsch and both white and brown Crème de Cacao for the more technically adventurous.

Passoã and Bols Blue Curaçao round out the list.

Beyond liqueurs, the available range includes the Galliano line — L’Autentico, Espresso and Vanilla — Vaccari Sambuca, Bols Genever, Damrak Gin and Bols Vodka.

Local portfolio ingredients are welcome for the rest of the recipe.

The possibilities, as the competition brief puts it, are as wide as the range itself.

Taste Matters, But So Does The Show

Both the online heat and the live final use the same four criteria, each with equal weighting: taste and aroma, originality, visual presentation, and how well the chosen Bols liqueur comes through in the drink.

That last criterion is worth taking seriously.

Dropping 20ml of Lychee into a drink and letting five other flavours bury it is not enough.

The judges want to taste the liqueur, understand why it was chosen and see what was done with it.

A Bols liqueur that disappears in the glass is a quarter of the score gone.

At the grand final on 20 July, entrants have eight minutes to make four serves and present to the jury.

From Kuala Lumpur To Amsterdam: Here’s How To Enter

The top ten finalists will be announced by 1 July, ahead of the Malaysia grand final on July 20.

But the online submission window is still open until 1 June; for bartenders who haven’t entered yet, there is still time.

Win the Malaysia final, and you’re on a plane to the Netherlands in September 2026 for Cocktail Fever — two days that include training at the Bols Cocktail Academy, a visit to the Lucas Bols distillery, masterclasses, seminars and networking with winners from across the globe.

A practical note for anyone already thinking ahead: Malaysian passport holders require a Schengen visa to enter the Netherlands, and visa costs and arrangements are the winner’s own responsibility.

Other than that — make something that looks like it belongs under a neon light, submit it before 1 June, and see where the night takes you.

READ MORE: The Penang Architect Who Swapped UK Blueprints For Malaysian Bartops

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If you run a small business in Malaysia and applied for the MSME Digital Grant Madani, you were told to expect your money in one to two weeks.

For more than 70 per cent of applicants, that hasn’t happened. Six months later, their money still hasn’t arrived.

The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) raised concerns about the delays. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo addressed the issue today (24 April) while launching Microsoft Elevate, a government AI skills programme.

Speaking in Putrajaya, he said the problem should be fixed by the end of April.

He said the Finance Ministry would handle it.

“The Finance Ministry has said that they will take steps to make sure that the matter is resolved, and we hope that can be done by the end of April,” he said.

Digital Grant Madani Stalls For Six Months While SMEs Wait

The MSME Digital Grant Madani was designed to help Malaysia’s smallest businesses go digital.

Qualifying companies can apply for a matching grant of up to 50 per cent of costs, capped at RM5,000, to adopt tools like e-invoicing systems, point-of-sale software and digital marketing platforms.

Applications are managed through Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN).

The money was supposed to arrive within one to two weeks of approval.

Instead, for more than 70 per cent of applicants, it has taken six months.

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Problem Known Internally, But It Took PM’s Council To Force Action

The problem was known internally before it became public.

BSN had written to the Finance Ministry about the disbursement issue.

Gobind confirmed this, though he did not say when the letter was sent.

The matter only surfaced publicly after it was raised at the National Economic Action Council (NEAC), chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

At that meeting, Gobind stated that “payments of all outstanding grants must be expedited.”

@paydibs Dapatkan Sehingga RM5,000 Geran Digital untuk Perniagaan Anda Mohon Geran Digital PMKS Madani 2025 dan nikmati pembiayaan kerajaan sebanyak 50% untuk solusi pembayaran pintar Paydibs termasuk terminal, sistem POS dan gerbang pembayaran dalam talian. Hubungi kami hari ini! #Paydibs #GeranPMKS #GeranDigitalMadani #TanpaTunai #Digitalisasi #BSN #MDEC #MCMC #MalaysiaMadani #FintechMalaysia ♬ Ambient Corporate Background01 – Milan Paloyannidis

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A group of animal welfare advocates has urged the government to bring back three Malaysian elephants — Dara, Amoi and Kelat — from Japan, citing concerns about their condition following their relocation last month.

Around 20 protesters, led by Sekretariat Bahana Kesetiaan Negara, staged a peaceful gathering outside the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry headquarters in Putrajaya, where they handed over a memorandum calling for the elephants’ return.

According to New Straits Times, the demonstration comes amid growing public pressure, including an online petition that has surpassed 100,000 signatures demanding that the animals be brought home.

Speaking on behalf of the group, social activist Kalai Vanar said ministry officials, including deputy secretary-general Datuk Mas Rizal Mohd Hilmi and Perhilitan deputy director-general (conservation) Datuk Fakhrul Hatta Musa, had received the memorandum.

He stressed that the group had no political agenda, adding that their concerns were purely centred on the animals’ welfare. He also claimed that Japan’s climate may not be suitable for the elephants and said they were informed the matter would be raised to the minister, who is expected to respond soon.

Kalai added that the group is seeking an official response within three days, reiterating their demand for the elephants’ return. He also alleged that one of the animals, Kelat, is currently injured.

The elephants were sent to Japan in March under a collaboration between Zoo Taiping & Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo in Osaka.

Previously, Perak state executive councillor Sandrea Ng clarified during a state assembly sitting that the transfer was not a sale, noting that ownership of the elephants remains with Zoo Taiping. She added that the move, which had been in the works since 2021, received approval from Perhilitan and complied with international and local conservation regulations, including CITES.

Despite these assurances, protesters questioned the rationale behind sending the elephants overseas.

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READ MORE: Elephants Adjusting To Tennoji Zoo But Kelat’s Tusk Had A Mishap

AEON CO. (M) BHD. or AEON is set to introduce AEON Mall KL Midtown, further strengthening its presence in Malaysia’s retail landscape. The mall, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year, will form part of KL Metropolis, a 75-acre mixed-use development in Kuala Lumpur city centre.

Offering approximately 367,000 square feet of Net Lettable Area (NLA), AEON Mall KL Midtown sits alongside office towers, residential and the Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur within the KL Midtown development. The project reflects the growing preference for mixed-use developments, enhancing convenience and accessibility for surrounding communities and businesses within the area.

Strategically positioned near the established Mont Kiara, Hartamas and Dutamas catchments, AEON Mall KL Midtown is expected to serve a well-established demographic comprising professionals, residents, expatriates and visitors. The presence of the five-star Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown in the same area further strengthens the location’s appeal. It complements the surrounding offices and residences, creating a well-supported catchment. Together, these components are expected to generate steady footfall driven by multiple demand sources.

The mall is planned with a balanced mix of retail, dining and lifestyle offerings designed to meet everyday needs while incorporating experiential elements that contribute to a more engaging setting. Complementing the overall concept is a 1.5-acre rooftop linear park, introducing open green space that enhances the appeal of the destination. The key anchor tenant will be the AEON supermarket, while other major tenants will be announced in the coming months as leasing progress continues to advance positively.

AEON Mall KL Midtown also benefits from strong accessibility via major highways, including the SPRINT Highway, DUKE, NKVE and Penchala Link, improving connectivity from key residential and commercial areas across the Klang Valley. Accessibility is expected to be further enhanced by the linked MRT3 station once it becomes operational, as well as a proposed link bridge connecting the project to the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), improving connectivity within the KL Metropolis development.

According to Tsugutoshi Seko, Managing Director of AEON, the project reflects AEON’s continued efforts to evolve its retail approach in line with changing market expectations and development trends.

“Consumers today increasingly value destinations where they can spend quality time, whether through dining, socialising or leisure activities. Beyond meeting retail needs, we aim to contribute positively to the surrounding community by creating spaces that support everyday convenience and encourage people to connect.

As our first mall within a project of this scale, it marks a meaningful step forward as we continue to refine how our malls create value for customers, partners and the communities around us.” 

AEON Mall KL Midtown is AEON’s 28th mall in Malaysia. The development is expected to enhance the retail offering within KL Metropolis, contributing to a more diverse mix of commercial and lifestyle options in Kuala Lumpur city centre.

Further details will be shared as the opening approaches. For updates, follow AEON Mall KL Midtown on Instagram.

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World Trade Organisation (WTO) recently reported that fertiliser supply disruptions from the geopolitical tension and Iran-US war posed a double threat to global food security through scarcity and high prices.

As global tensions reshape supply chains, Malaysia’s agriculture sector is also facing growing threat; fertiliser shortages.

From the ongoing Middle East conflict to export curbs from China, the cost and availability of fertiliser have become increasingly volatile. For Malaysian farmers, especially smallholders, the impact is immediate.  

During the launch of the National Food Security Policy 2030 (DKMN 2030) in January 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof emphasised the urgency of addressing these challenges.

He noted, “When input costs rise, it triggers a domino effect, leading to global food price inflation. This is the burden ultimately borne by the people. Our dependence on external supply chains makes us vulnerable to global economic shocks.” 

These vulnerabilities are now becoming increasingly evident within Malaysia’s fertiliser supply landscape. 

A Growing Crisis

According to news reports, Malaysia produces only about 39% of its fertiliser needs domestically, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. At the same time, China, which supplies a third of Malaysia’s imported fertilisers has tightened exports to protect its own food security.

Adding further pressure, disruptions in key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, which is a passage that carries one-third of global fertiliser trade, have driven up both costs and delivery times.

In Malaysia, the impact is already being felt. Local fertiliser producers have reportedly halted new orders as prices of some raw materials have surged by 100% to 150% within a matter of weeks.

For large-scale vegetable farmers, the risks are equally significant. Heavy reliance on imported fertilisers, particularly for fertigation systems, leaves them exposed to global supply disruptions. 

On-going tensions affecting key routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, along with China’s export curbs on inputs like urea, nitrogen and phosphates, are placing immediate pressure on both supply and production costs.

For smallholders however, the stakes are even higher. Operating on tighter margins, smaller land areas and lower output, they are far less able to absorb price shocks or supply disruptions. Consistent access to fertiliser is not just important, but critical for their survival.   

Smallholders Need A Different Solution

While larger players may have the scale and capital to absorb price fluctuations or secure bulk imports, smallholders often do not. This makes it critical to explore alternative, more efficient approaches to support them.

A pre-commercialisation research study conducted by the national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd, a company owned by Minister of Finance Incorporated (MKD) under the purview of Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) through its research arm, the Indah Water Research Centre (IWRC), offers a promising solution for agricultural applications. 

The study evaluated the bio effectiveness of IWK’s organic fertiliser, produced from biosolids derived from sewage treatment plants, on four landscape plants (Vinca, Marigold, Japanese Rose and Petunia) and four food crops (okra, mustard green, brinjal and sweet potato) under greenhouse conditions.

The trials demonstrated notable improvements in plant growth and soil quality, with the biosolids-based fertiliser supplying essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium required for healthy crop development.

Importantly, no heavy metals were detected in the plant tissues of the food crops, indicating that the fertiliser is safe for agricultural use.

In a separate field trial conducted at a coconut farm, trees affected by extreme heat had experienced severe stress, leaving them scorched and significantly impacted.

However, following the combined application of IWK’s organic fertiliser and IWK’s plant booster over a five-month period, the results were notable. The coconut trees gradually recovered, with the emergence of new fronds (leaves) and resumption of fruit production. 

Another field trial involving Napier grass, a fast-growing grass species and tropical multipurpose forage crop, was conducted using a combination of dried biosolids as fertiliser and IWK’s plant booster over a fifteen-month period.

The results demonstrated good vegetative growth and a notable enhance in biomass production, attributed to the essential nutrients supplied by the dried biosolids.

According to IWK’s Chief Executive Officer Narendran Maniam, “These solutions demonstrate how rich IWK’s organic fertilisers are that it can support smallholder recovery and improve crop resilience. In fact, in the coconut farm trial, IWK’s fertiliser was applied once every two weeks, which resulted in an estimated 68% reduction in fertiliser costs purchased from other vendors. This is a significant advantage for farmers operating under tight margins”. 

 “Rather than relying on higher volumes of conventional inputs, IWK’s organic fertiliser formulation focus on delivering nutrient-rich applications that maximise the effectiveness of each use,” added Narendran. 

For crops like coconut and napier grass, where soil health and long-term productivity are essential, these strategies can help reduce dependence on large quantities of imported fertiliser while sustaining yields.

“IWK’s organic fertiliser is designed to improve nutrient absorption and soil condition, enabling farmers to achieve comparable results with lower application volumes. In a market where availability is uncertain, this efficiency becomes critical,” he added.

IWK’s Organic Fertiliser: A Solution To The Growing Crisis

Derived from treated sewage sludge from domestic sewage treatment plants (STPs), IWK’s organic fertiliser contains about 7% of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) elements, making them an effective solution for restoring degraded soil and supplied essential nutrient required for plant growth. 

Beyond nutrient supply, its organic composition helps rebalance soil acidity often caused by prolonged use of chemical fertilisers, supporting healthier soil ecosystems and more sustainable crop production over time.

IWK’s organic fertiliser has undergone extensive analysis to ensure it contains no harmful heavy metals or pathogenic bacteria, ensuring it is safe for use.

A toxicology study for Acute Oral Toxicity Up-and Down Procedure (UDP) on rats by SIRIM also showed no negative effects, confirming its safety for use on crops without the risk of contamination.

In addition, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) has been developed to document its chemical composition, handling precautions and safety measures, ensuring compliance with environmental and health regulations.

Importantly, the product has also received national-level religious recognition. At the 126th meeting held from 25 – 27 February 2025, the Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) reviewed the use of biosolids from sewage treatment plants as a source for organic fertiliser. 

Following a thorough evaluation of research findings and technical evidence, the committee concluded that the use of biosolids-based organic fertilisers derived from sewage treatment plant is permissible (harus), provided they are proven to be safe and beneficial.

This position is further reinforced by the Pahang Islamic Religious Council, which issued a fatwa in 2025 permitting the use of biosolids produced through sewage treatment processes as materials for organic fertiliser production.

This builds on earlier approvals from Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Selangor in 2006, 2016 and 2024 respectively, reflecting growing recognition and acceptance.  

An Important Conversation On The Future

As global uncertainties continue, the conversation around food resilience is becoming increasingly urgent. Beyond supply concerns, there is a growing need to focus on long-term sustainability, particularly in strengthening local solutions that can better support Malaysia’s smallholders. 

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad recently stated that the government is looking to expand fertiliser imports through negotiations with existing and new supplier countries.

They will also work on activating alternative supply channels within the next three to six months, while ensuring prices remain competitive to minimise pressure. 

“Local solutions can play an important role to support this growing challenge. Currently IWK is able to produce up to 4-5 ton of organic fertilisers in a day, with the potential to scale further. IWK is also flexible in implementing fertiliser production facilities across four regions, Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Peninsula Malaysia, to reduce logistic costs and make it even cheaper for parties who are keen,” said Narendran. 

While IWK’s organic fertiliser is not yet positioned to meet the large-scale demands of major plantation players, the company offers a timely alternative for smallholders. This complements national efforts to diversify supply and build greater resilience within the agriculture sector.  

Narendran added, “The initiative for IWK’s organic fertilisers is clear. It supports soil conservation by reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and lowering long-term soil treatment costs. It also promotes environmental sustainability through the recycling of biosolids and reduced landfill disposal, while advancing a circular economy by creating value from sewage waste. One area that requires further attention is public acceptance of these recycled products.”

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Canadian rock band Simple Plan will be performing at Idea Live Arena, Kuala Lumpur, on 21 November 2026 as part of its ‘’The Bigger Than You Think’’ tour.

On Instagram, the band said they were excited to return to the region that has supported them for years. They’ll be meeting and performing for fans in Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hong Kong soon. The last time Simple Plan was in Asia was three years ago.

Additionally, Simple Plan is celebrating its 25^th anniversary and is making the tour special with their friend, Canadian singer-songwriter Lolo.

Pre-sale for Kuala Lumpur starts on 4 May at 11am, while general sales, including VIP tickets, start at 11am on 5 May.

Here are the rest of the tour dates if you plan to travel with the band:

22 November – Singapore, SG Indoor Stadium

25 November– Manila (PH), Araneta Coliseum

27 November– Jakarta (Indonesia), Tennis Indoor Senayan

28 November– Surabaya (Indonesia), Jatim Expo Surabaya

1 December– Hong Kong, AXA Wonderland

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Is Evanescence coming to KL?

Malaysian and Indonesian music fans are excited as billboards in various parts of Jakarta and KL are showing a fiery logo, believed to be the logo of American rock band Evanescence.

Kosmo’s entertainment section HibGlam posted a video on Threads of the logo on a billboard in Bukit Bintang, a hint that Evanescence might be coming to Malaysia as well!

For those who are curious, the logo is a stylised hourglass symbolising the continuous movement of time.

Evanescence previously performed in Kuala Lumpur on 23 February 2012 at KL Live.

So far, no official dates have been confirmed yet, so we’ll all have to keep an eye out for news.

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On the morning of 10 April, Philippine authorities raided what appeared to be an ordinary warehouse in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

By nightfall, they had uncovered something far more significant — an industrial-scale cigarette factory that investigators now believe was built specifically to supply Malaysia’s illegal tobacco market.

Four Chinese nationals and their Filipino contact were arrested, with over P1.1 billion (RM71.83 million) worth of counterfeit tobacco products and manufacturing equipment seized.

About 26.79 million cigarettes under multiple brands — including A380, Promax, M, SOHO, 9th Century, 9th Blend, United, Davidoff and Queen — along with production machinery, raw materials and packaging were all taken in for forensic analysis.

The five suspects are facing charges for falsification and use of falsified documents under Article 172 of the Philippines’ Revised Penal Code.

But the most alarming find wasn’t the cigarettes.

It was the stamps.

The Stamp Heist

Inside the facility, authorities found more than 10 million unused counterfeit excise stamps — fake versions of the official stamps required on every legally sold pack of cigarettes in Malaysia.

Those stamps are how the government collects the tobacco tax.

At Malaysia’s excise duty rate of 42 sen per stick, every cigarette that enters the market bearing a fake stamp is a stick the government never collects tax on.

Ten million stamps at 42 sen each, that’s potentially RM4.2 million in lost revenue from the stamps alone — before accounting for the full production capacity of the machines found on site, each capable of producing between 1.3 and 4.5 million cigarettes per day.

Investigators estimate the total potential tax exposure to Malaysia could reach up to RM100 million, though that figure remains subject to further investigation.

To be clear, this wasn’t a backroom operation; this was a factory with real industrial machinery, capable of sustained mass production, designed to look legitimate from the outside.

Philippine National Police chief General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. was direct about what the raid represented.

This is clear deception, not just against the government but against the people. We will go after those who think they can hide behind warehouses and illegal schemes.

Built For Malaysia

What makes this more than just a Philippine law enforcement story is who the factory was built to serve.

Packaging found at the site bore labels mimicking products for the Malaysian market, and Philippine authorities are also looking into possible links between the operation and two Malaysian-based companies, according to Philippine media reports.

No legal determination has been made against either company, and investigations remain ongoing across multiple countries.

Philippine media reports have described the syndicate as a “Malaysian corporate mafia.”

But the direction of the supply chain is not in question: Malaysia was the destination.

Malaysia’s Royal Customs Department had shared intelligence with the Philippine National Police prior to the raid, helping to track the syndicate’s movements — a detail that suggests Malaysian authorities had been watching this network for some time.

East Malaysia Is Already Drowning In It

The Cebu bust didn’t happen in a vacuum.

The NielsenIQ Illicit Cigarette Study 2025, commissioned by the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers, found that illegal cigarettes still account for 54.5 per cent of Malaysia’s total tobacco market — a marginal drop of 0.6 per cent from 2024, but still more than half of every cigarette smoked in the country.

In Sabah, 77.3 per cent of cigarettes sold in 2025 were identified as contraband, in Sarawak, 78.8 per cent.

Read that again: nearly eight in 10 cigarettes sold in both states are illegal.

That is not a smuggling problem at the margins. That is a parallel economy running openly alongside the legitimate one — and it has been for years.

The same study found that the use of counterfeit excise stamps increased by 1.7 percentage points nationally, with notable spikes in Johor, Penang, Melaka, Terengganu and Kelantan — suggesting the network is expanding its reach beyond East Malaysia into the peninsula.

One Factory Down, But The Network Is Still Running

Here is what investigators believe they are dealing with: a regionally organised supply chain that sources counterfeit stamps from production hubs, manufactures cigarettes across multiple locations in Southeast Asia, moves product through international logistics networks, and distributes through channels that end in Malaysia.

The syndicate is believed to operate through multiple corporate entities and business identities that change frequently — but the underlying logistics system remains consistent.

The names change, the shipments don’t stop.

Malaysian and Philippine authorities are now tracing financial flows, logistics networks and distribution channels connected to the Cebu operation.

One factory has been shut down, but the question investigators are sitting with is an uncomfortable one: was this a decisive blow to the network, or did they just find one node in a system that is still running?

For Malaysian taxpayers, the answer matters.

Every fake stamp that makes it to market is revenue that never reaches the national budget — money that would otherwise fund public services, infrastructure and the communities that need them most.

Parts of this story have been sourced from The Manila Times, Manila Standard, Journal News and Sinar Harian.

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Transport Minister Anthony Loke has revealed that the government lacks the budget to impose year-round price caps on domestic flights.

Despite spending over RM20 million annually to subsidise fares during major festivals, Loke says extending price controls is financially unfeasible.

His reasoning is straightforward: if you force airlines to charge less than it costs them to fly, they’ll just stop flying those routes or leave the business entirely.

That would be worse for regular people than paying high ticket prices, because then there’d be no flights at all.

“Airlines can choose not to fly,” Loke has argued, pointing out that airlines are businesses, not charities, and with fuel costs staying high worldwide, ticket prices have to go up sometimes.

Prices aren’t fixed either — they change depending on how many people want to fly, what time of year it is, and how close you are to your flight date.

The closer you are to the departure time, the higher the price tends to be.

@richard_riot_jaem

Pada 29 Februari lepas semasa membahaskan usul Titah Diraja di Dewan Rakyat, saya turut membangkitkan berhubung tiket kapal terbang ke Sarawak ang terlalu mahal dan tidak masuk akal setiap kali tiba musim perayaan. Saya amat berharap agar kementerian berkenaan dapat mencari jalan penyelesain sewajarnya agar ia tidak membebankan rakyat. Bayangkan kalau satu keluarga besar yang mahu pulang ke Sarawak untuk sambutan perayaan, berapa ribu kos yang terpaksa mereka keluarkan?

♬ original sound – Dato' Sri Richard Riot Jaem – user01309558789

The Holiday Exception — And Its Cost

This is not the first time Loke has defended against price caps.

As far back as 2022, Loke made similar arguments, saying that capping flight tickets would ‘adversely affect the airlines’ and that ‘no airline operator will want to operate if it’s a losing effort.’

His reasoning is consistent, but the government’s actions during holidays suggest price caps are possible — just not affordable year-round.

During major festivals — Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Gawai/Harvest Festival, Christmas, and others — the government does step in.

They cap how much airlines can charge, and pay the extra cost to make up the difference.

This costs over RM20 million a year; Loke admits the government cannot extend this year-round as it would place an unsustainable burden on public finances.

In other words, price caps are financially feasible during festivals — the government simply cannot afford to extend them throughout the year.

View on Threads

RM20 Million Is The Ceiling — And The Telling

For most of the year, travellers have no protection.

Book a flight in March? Full market price. August? Whatever the airline charges.

Only during major festival windows — and only for a limited period before each — does the government step in.

For city dwellers with alternatives (buses, cars, trains), this might be manageable.

But for people in Sabah and Sarawak with no other way to travel, it means absorbing whatever costs airlines set for the majority of the year.

The government’s admission that it cannot afford year-round caps raises a harder question: if RM20 million annually is too much for the national budget, what does that say about the priority given to transport accessibility for remote communities?

READ MORE: “Cheaper To Fly To London Than Sarawak” Netizens Outraged Over Expensive Airline Tickets On Christmas Holidays

Source: Sin Chew

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Huawei Malaysia unveiled MatePad Mini (2026), one of the world’s thinnest and lightest tablets yet, and the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2, designed around the concept of the ‘’Aesthetic of Speed.’’

The MatePad Mini measures just 5.2mm thin and weighs approximately 260g, more or less the weight of an ordinary apple.

Based on Huawei’s human-centric research, the Huawei MatePad Mini was designed to have a 16:10 ratio that echoes the classic feel of a printed book, ensuring a seamless and versatile experience across work, play, and reading, in both portrait and landscape modes.

The ultra-slim build is reinforced with a robust internal structure incorporating aerospace-grade high-strength materials, ensuring durability and resistance against daily wear and tear.

The MatePad Mini’s 8.8-inch Flexible OLED PaperMatte Display delivers an immersive and comfortable viewing experience. Together with the Huawei X-True Display eye protection capability, the flexible OLED screen eases eye strain when you read, stream a show, and work on the device. It supports a P3 wide colour gamut, 1800 nits of peak brightness, ultra-high 2.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, all within a 92% screen-to-body ratio.

Additionally, the MatePad Mini enables seamless multi-device collaboration, which allows users to transition effortlessly between devices while maintaining productivity across workflows.

With the Huawei M-Pencil Pro as part of the free gifts bundle, users can enjoy enhanced handwriting interaction, a unique Star Ring button for quick app launch, and new pinch rotation gestures to make stylus use more convenient.

What about the cameras? The slim tablet features a powerful 50MP main camera and 32MP front camera for exceptional image quality. The battery is long-lasting with a 6400mAh capacity and 66W Huawei SuperCharge capability.

Customers can purchase the Huawei MatePad Mini at RM2,199, and those who pre-order will receive complimentary gifts worth up to RM2,014. This includes an early bird voucher worth RM200, Huawei M-Pencil Pro, Huawei Folio Cover, PC Level WPS 3.0, 3 Years 1 Time Free Battery Replacement, 1-Year 2 Times Free PaperMatte Display Care, and a 1-Year Free APAC Warranty. Pre-order can be placed via any Huawei Experience Stores, the Huawei Official Website, Huawei Official Store on Shopee, Huawei Flagship Store on Lazada, and the Huawei Official TikTok Shop.

Huawei Watch GT Runner 2

The Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 is engineered for runners in mind. The smartwatch elevates performance through precision tracking, intelligent insights, and a lightweight design tailored for speed and endurance.

The smartwatch uses advanced GPS technology that tracks your location accurately, even in tricky spots like busy city streets or dense forests. It features a new 3D floating antenna design that combines different materials to pick up signals more efficiently, use less battery, and stay reliable in tough locations like tall buildings, tunnels, shaded paths, or bridges. It also has a smart X-DR positioning algorithm that keeps tracking your route smoothly, even if the signal drops.

A key highlight of the smartwatch is its Intelligent Marathon Mode, developed in collaboration with dsm-firmenich Running Team, including Eliud Kipchoge, which delivers end-to-end support for runners from personalised training plans and pre-race preparation to real-time pacing guidance and detailed post-run performance analysis.

The Intelligent Marathon Mode provides users with a more guided and personalised training experience. A user preparing for a marathon can use the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 to track their endurance levels, monitor pacing in real-time, and receive adaptive recommendations based on their performance.

During runs, the watch provides live feedback to help maintain optimal pace. It also provides post-run highlights so users can improve and train smarter.

The Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 is made from strong, aerospace-grade titanium alloy and weighs only 34.5g, so you barely feel it on your wrist. It’s also built tough, with a sturdy casing that’s resistant to sweat, rain, and everyday bumps, making it a dependable watch no matter where your run takes you.

Consumers can also purchase the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2, retailing at RM1,499, at any Huawei Experience Stores, the Huawei Official Website, Huawei Official Store on Shopee, Huawei Flagship Store on Lazada, as well as the Huawei Official TikTok Shop, and enjoy comprehensive health and fitness monitoring features.

For the latest updates or promotions regarding the launch, please visit the Huawei Official Website, the Huawei Official Facebook page, or Instagram.

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Two food companies based in Kuantan recently had their halal certificates revoked by the Halal Affairs Division of the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (MAIP).

JAIP made the announcement through a post on their official Facebook page, informing the public that GoodFood Industries Sdn Bhd and NKM (Kuantan) Sdn Bhd have been stripped of their halal status.

GoodFood Industries produces confectioneries such as chocolate beans, chocolate bars, chocolate crisps, candies, and popcorn.

NKM operates several nasi kukus outlets and food trucks in and around Kuantan under the brand name Nasi Kukus My Mama.

NKM issues statement explaining why they won’t continue their halal certificate

The Pahang Darul Makmur Facebook page posted a statement by NKM group of companies which addressed speculations around their halal certification being revoked, after the matter went viral on social media and WhatsApp groups.

“We’ve been made aware of postings being spread across multiple social media platforms as well as WhatsApp groups regarding the withdrawal of our halal certificate that is currently viral.

“We also found that some of the comments and information that were spread are inaccurate,” the food company said in its statement.

It said that it has decided not to renew its halal certification by MAIP, after taking in factors of economy as well as high cost commitments that are required in halal certification matters.

The company added that from an administration and standard operating procedures (SOP) standpoint, they would require a large team that specifically handled matters in halal certification.

NKM then reassured customers and the community that they are still fully committed to ensuring their products are one hundred percent halal.

In the statement, the company emphasised that:

1. The founder of the brand, management team, chefs, and front-of-house staff are all Muslim individuals.
2. Their products have been halal-certified and trusted since 2015, assuring customers that they can enjoy their food products without any doubts.
3. All their suppliers and raw ingredients, including fresh chicken, are from halal-certified sources and complies to halalan toyyiban (halal, safe, clean, and pure).
4. All 125 employees, including the founder, are Muslim.

Earlier this month, two Melaka food companies also had their halal certifications withdrawn.

The coffee and biscuit manufacturers were found in possession of boar bristle brushes that were used to clean equipment in their factories by the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM).

READ MORE: Tian Hup Seng, Heng Loong Products Recalled From Shelves Over Halal Cert Revocation

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The couple that was involved in a drink-driving accident on the MEX highway yesterday was supposed to be on a week-long holiday in Kuala Lumpur. It was their second time visiting Malaysia.

The deceased was identified as Muzahid Millad, 22, while his wife, Nafisa Tabassum Adiba, 23, a housewife, was being treated for a broken leg at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

The couple from Habiganj, Bangladesh, had been married for two years and had no children.

They had just landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday and was in an e-hailing ride when a crash caused by a drunk driver in another car, instantly killed Muzahid and injured his wife.

Back home, Muzahid is a well-known gaming content creator known as Advance Gaming. News of his death triggered an outpouring of grief and calls for justice across Bangladeshi social media.

The gaming community in Bangladesh circulated hashtags such as #JusticeForMuzahid, #JusticeForAdvanceGaming, #BangladeshDemandsJustice and #advancegaming.

Muzahid’s YouTube channel, Advance Gaming, has more than 777,000 subscribers. A post on the channel read, ‘’With deep sorrow, Advance Gaming, or Muzahid, passed away this morning (23 April) following an accident in Malaysia. Advance Gaming was a content creator who made many videos. If his words ever hurt anyone, may he be forgiven. Please pray for him and may Allah grant him paradise.’’

Uncle raises questions on drunk driving

Nafisa’s uncle, Mohibul Hasan, 50, a factory worker in Johor Baru, was informed of the incident early in the morning after a call from his niece’s mother in their hometown.

Mohibul said he hoped justice would be served and questioned why a drunk person was driving on the road.

I am asking this, but asking is of no use.

Mohibul Hasan, Nafisa’s uncle

He said he wants to see how Malaysian law will deal with the case.

Meanwhile, Muzahid’s cousin, known as Alamgir, said officials from the Bangladeshi High Commission had met him at the hospital, and he will be overseeing the funeral arrangements.

The family plans to bury Muzahid in their hometown in Bangladesh.

@nstonline #NSTTV ♬ original sound – NSTonline

What’s the status of the case?

The 31-year-old drunk driver, a military officer, has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing the fatal accident on MEX Highway yesterday morning.

The case is being investigated under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Upon conviction, the suspect faces up to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine up to RM100,000.

The crash occurred at 5.38am at KM1.9 on the stretch from Salak Selatan towards Jalan Tun Razak.

The drunk driver in a Ford Fiesta rammed head-on into the Perodua Alza the couple was travelling in.

The e-hailing driver sustained head injuries, while a 36-year-old female passenger in the Fiesta was also injured.

READ MORE: Fatal Drunk-Driving Accident On MEX Highway, Army Man Arrested

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The shelter’s operators, Noah’s Ark Ipoh Animal Welfare (NAI), have put the death toll higher, saying 20 cats and one dog perished in the blaze.

NAI is no ordinary shelter. The volunteer-run NGO holds the distinction of being the first dog and cat welfare organisation in West Malaysia to receive funding from Yayasan Hasanah — a recognition it sustained for nearly four years, from 2021 to 2025. The organisation pioneered adoption drives at Lotus Bercham and Petronas Sunway, initiatives credited with placing a significant number of stray animals into permanent homes.

According to Bernama, JBPM assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the department received an emergency call at 5.19pm, with a fire engine from the Simpang Pulai Fire and Rescue Station arriving on scene approximately 12 minutes later. The blaze engulfed a 15 by 15-metre Class B building used as a cat shelter, destroying roughly 80 per cent of the structure before being brought under control at 6.04pm. The operation concluded at 7pm.

Sabarodzi said approximately 50 cats had been housed at the shelter at the time of the fire. The cause of the blaze and the full extent of losses remain under investigation.

The building, which observers described as ageing and in poor condition, is believed to have been structurally deteriorated prior to the incident — though authorities have yet to determine whether this was a contributing factor.

Despite the chaos, NAI said it was deeply grateful for the community members who arrived on the ground to assist, as well as the wave of messages and calls it received in the aftermath.

Those wishing to support NAI’s recovery can reach the organisation via their Facebook page or Instagram.

The Rakyat Post has reached out to NAI for further comment. This story will be updated.

A local actress has gone viral after revealing that a group of robbers had been renting a unit directly across from her home, in a gated and guarded residential community she had long considered safe.

Sheila Rusly, known both as an actress and cooking celebrity, shared the news on Threads, saying she was unsettled by the discovery despite the robbers already having been arrested by police.

She had lived in the community for 12 years, and said she had always felt secure because the area had controlled entry points and regular security patrols — features typical of Malaysia’s gated and guarded housing schemes.

“I always thought this place was safe,” she said, adding that the revelation had shaken her confidence in her living environment.

It is unclear how Sheila learned of her neighbours’ identities, and she did not elaborate in her post.

View on Threads

The Stories Keep Coming: Drug Dealers And Fugitives

Her post quickly gained traction online, with many users sharing strikingly similar experiences of their own.

One commenter said their mother’s home, which had been peaceful for over a decade, was suddenly raided by police — the neighbours next door had been using the unit to sell drugs, entirely without the family’s knowledge.

Another said their neighbour turned out to be a fugitive.

Before his arrest, his wife had told residents he was travelling for work — and had even handed over a spare key to them.

Police showed up shortly after.

View on Threads

Safety Theatre Or Genuine Protection?

The incident has renewed questions about how much protection gated communities in Malaysia actually offer — and whether the appearance of security creates a false sense of comfort among residents.

While such developments are marketed on the promise of controlled access and professional security, critics point out that screening of tenants remains largely the responsibility of individual landlords, with little to no enforcement at the community level.

In this case, no questions have been publicly raised about who rented the unit to the group, or whether any due diligence was carried out.

The robbers have since been arrested, and the immediate threat has passed.

But for Sheila and many who responded to her post, the unease lingers.

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Two children aged 4 and 8 in Terengganu who were caught on camera abusing a cat will receive no punishment as the case has been classified NFA (no further action).

Terengganu Veterinary Services Department (DVS) director, Dr Anun Man, said the public prosecutor’s office reached this decision because the children are under 10 years old.

Under Section 82 of the Penal Code, children under 10 years of age have not reached the age of criminal liability.

According to the media statement, DVS had called upon the parents, grandparents, and the individual who recorded the animal abuse incident during the investigation.

Despite the NFA verdict, the veterinary department has reprimanded and advised the family to ensure there will be no repeat of the incident.

DVS emphasised that the care for animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility. All parents are advised to educate their children to care about animals.

Last month, the two children were filmed abusing a cat in Terengganu. One of them pulled a rope tied around the cat’s neck while the other kicked and hit the cat’s head with a slipper.

The case drew anger from the public, with many asking for the children to be appropriately punished. Despite the mother’s apology, some found it hard to forgive the children for what they had done.

READ MORE: Children Caught On Video Abusing Cat In Terengganu, Mom’s Apology Not Enough To Douse Rage

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Fans and collectors of the highly popular Japanese trading card game (TCG) Pokémon lined up along an entire shoplot block in Damansara Jaya to get their hands on a new major expansion the franchise just released since January this year.

PokeBK, a Pokémon card hunting service that sources cards from the U.S. shared videos of the crowd camping out since yesterday afternoon until this morning via Instagram Stories.

People brought folding chairs and had their dinners while waiting in line to snag the coveted Ascended Heroes expansion of the collectible card franchise.

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What is Ascended Heroes exactly?

The collection’s full name is Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Ascended Heroes. It features a record 295 cards, with 217 cards in the main set and 78 secret rare ones.

This set focuses on “Mega Evolution” cards, which is a mechanic in the game that temporarily boosts a Pokémon’s abilities beyond its normal evolution.

If you’re not a Pokémon TCG player or collector and scratching your head right now, Pokémon are cute creatures that “evolve” into bigger, stronger, and fiercer versions of themselves, and players use their collection to battle with other “trainers”.

Pokémon cards, depending on rarity, can fetch up to hundreds of dollars, which is another thing that makes the game attractive to many. You could actually make money off them if you know which to collect or if you come across rare ones at good deals.

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A post shared by ASL Hobbies (@aslhobbies)

In fact, late last year a Malaysian man who owned a massive Pokémon collection sold his entire stock for RM1.87 million, although valuation experts initially valued his collection at over RM2 million.

READ MORE: Malaysian Pokémon Collector “Catches ’Em All” — And Sells Big

The most expensive Pokémon card ever sold

While there are many high-value Pokémon cards out there in the market or in collectors’ hands right now, there are some cards that stand out among the rest.

The most expensive Pokémon card that was ever sold was a 1998 Japanese Promo Pikachu Illustrator, which sold for $16.492 million (RM65 million) in February 2026.

Owned by YouTuber Logan Paul, this PSA 10 Gem Mint graded card holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive trading card ever sold, celebrated for its extreme rarity (only about 40 exist) and unique artwork.

Other top-selling cards include:

• 1999 Charizard Base Set 1st Edition (PSA 10): Frequently sells for over $550,000+ due to its iconic status.
• Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed GX Promo (PSA 7): Sold for over $223,000 in 2025.
• 1998 Test Print Blastoise (PSA 6.5): Sold for $216,000

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The recent high-profile raid and seizure of assets in the case concerning alleged misappropriation of RM230 million in public donation funds is still raging on as authorities intensify their investigations.

So far, three individuals who are members of Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (IKRAM) were arrested by police for allegedly being involved in the case, and are under remand.

As part of the investigation, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen 33 bank accounts containing approximately RM120 million and siezed assets including 18 luxury vehicles from a “mansion-like property” in Rawang.

IKRAM is an Islamic non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on dakwah (outreach), tarbiah (education), and community welfare.

A member of IKRAM Hulu Selangor shares his perspective on the case

Professor Emeritus Dr. Mohd Nazari Ismail, who acknowledged himself as an ordinary member of Ikram Hulu Selangor (Ikram HS), has claimed that much of the information circulating online about the alleged misappropriation of funds case is inaccurate, stressing that the system in question was officially sanctioned.

In a Facebook past, Mohd Nazari, who is also a well-known activist, said he personally knows two of the individuals currently being remanded by the MACC.

Mohd Nazari explained that Majlis Agama Islam Perlis (MAIP) has a zakat payment scheme called `Taawun’. This allows zakat payers to ask for 60% of their zakat payment to be sent to a nominated NGO under the Fi Sabilillah category with 20% returned to them for redistribution to eligible recipients.

One of the NGOs that was nominated to receive the zakat money is Ikram HS.

Additionally, the NGO involved would later return 20% to the zakat payer to be redistributed to anyone (such as family members or friends) whom they consider eligible to receive zakat.

According to Mohd Nazari, who is also the Chairman of BDS Malaysia, the main individual being investigated is a member of Ikram HS and a facilitator for the scheme involving the NGO.

“He has worked hard over the past 20 years to encourage the public to pay zakat to MAIPs and has recommended that they nominate Ikram HS to receive 60%.

“It appears that he succeeded in convincing tens of thousands of Malaysians to do so, thereby generating more than RM2 billion to be channelled to MAIPs over a period of 20 years.”

Mohd Nazari, however, clarified that this is not an exact figure since he is not a member of the Ikram HS committee.

“But it is no surprise that many are interested in this scheme because they can get back 20% of their zakat payment to be distributed to relatives and friends who are poor and needy and eligible to receive zakat.”

He further claimed that as a result of the individual’s efforts, Ikram HS received hundreds of millions from MAIPs as a zakat recipient (asnaf) under the Fisabilillah category.

He also claimed that the individual received 6.25% from the funds received from MAIPs.

“As an Asnaf (zakat recipient), Ikram HS is free to use the funds received from MAIPs as appropriate. Among other things, it spends the funds on dakwah activities, organizing Islamic lectures, sponsoring courses for youth, building schools, opening grocery shops that sell at cost to the poor, and donating money to many charitable organizations.”

He further cliamed that Ikram Hulu Selangor gave the individual 6.25% of the funds received from MAIPs to encourage him to continue his remarkable efforts.

“That is how he became very wealthy. You can calculate yourself 6.25% of RM2 billion. It must be a lot, right? However, the most important thing is that it is halal according to the Mufti of Perlis.

“I repeat… the Mufti of Perlis and MAIPs both say that everything they are doing is halal and does not contradict Syariah. Ikram HS’s auditor says that everything complies with the law. In fact, Ikram HS appointed external auditors to audit their financial books,” he said.

Mohd Nazari claimed that the MACC was aware of this situation, perhaps because someone reported to them that the individual owned several luxury cars and large houses, and investigated Ikram HS two years ago. He alleged that the MACC never said that what the individual and Ikram HS were doing was against the law.

“So everyone thought everything was fine,” he said, adding that this why the arrests caught all of them at Ikram HS by surprise.

Perlis Mufti confirms NGO involved is a zakat recipient under asnaf “fisabilillah”

Earlier on 22 April, Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainol Abidin or Dr Maza explained that zakat management in Perlis does not involve the Perlis Mufti Department because zakat administration falls under the jurisdiction of MAIPs.

However, according to him, the NGO linked to the issue is a zakat recipient under the asnaf fisabilillah category based on the dakwah and educational activities carried out.

“The NGO in question is not an agent or representative of MAIPs to distribute or collect zakat; rather, they are recipients of zakat under the asnaf fisabilillah category,” he said.

Dr Maza added that based on information provided by MAIPs, the NGO received zakat upon recommendation by zakat contributors after their eligibility was assessed.

In fact, MAIPs would also continuously request activity reports from the organization.

However, he did not mention that his office had “approved as halal” everything done by the NGO as claimed by Mohd Nazari.

READ MORE: Luxury Cars Seized, Talk Of Mansion In Rawang — What’s The RM230 Million Case That Has Everyone Talking?

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A military officer was arrested today, suspected of driving under the influence and causing a fatal accident at KM1.9 on the Maju Expressway (MEX).

The 31-year-old was said to have entered the opposite lane before ramming head-on into a Perodua Alza driven by a 41-year-old e-hailing driver.

The Alza was carrying two Bangladeshi nationals, a 22-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The male passenger who sat in the middle of the backseat was confirmed dead at the scene due to severe head injuries. Meanwhile, the e-hailing driver sustained head injuries and the woman is receiving treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) for various injuries.

A 36-year-old female passenger in the Fiesta was also injured and is receiving treatment at the same hospital.

Kuala Lumpur traffic investigation and enforcement department head Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said a breathalyser test found the Fiesta driver’s blood alcohol level exceeded the allowed limit, while his urine test returned negative.

The case will be investigated under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Jalan Tun HS Lee traffic police headquarters at 03-20719999 or the nearest police station to assist in the investigation.

READ MORE: Malaysia’s DUI Problem: What Does The Data Say About Drink & Drug Driving?

UPDATE: Gamers Unite: Online Community Demands Justice For Bangladeshi YouTuber Killed By Drunk Driver In Malaysia

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Malaysia has been vocal in condemning human rights abuses abroad — but when it comes to its own citizens, refugees and foreign nationals on its soil, the record tells a different story, claims Amnesty International.

In its annual State of the World’s Human Rights report covering 144 countries, the rights group accused Malaysia of a pattern of double standards — outspoken on Palestinian rights and Israel’s actions in Gaza, yet silent or actively complicit when it comes to Rohingya deportations and the removal of Uyghur nationals at Beijing’s behest.

“Malaysia has been very supportive of the calls against Israel in the context of Gaza, but quiet — or the opposite of supportive — on Rohingya deportations or Uyghur deportations,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s interim co-regional director for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, at a press conference in London.

Her remarks came weeks after Malaysia detained and deported Uyghur American scholar Abdulhakim Idris on 30 March — a case that drew sharp criticism from rights groups and the Uyghur diaspora community.

The government has not publicly explained the basis for his removal.

Amnesty International Malaysia spokesperson Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan said the country stood at a critical crossroads — it could either demonstrate genuine leadership by upholding rights at home, or risk aligning itself with the very trends of repression it publicly opposes.

The Arrests Kept Coming, The Reforms Did Not

Amnesty pointed to two court rulings as evidence that restrictive laws are being entrenched rather than dismantled.

In March 2025, the High Court dismissed a challenge by the makers of the film Mentega Terbang to Section 298 of the Penal Code, which criminalises speech deemed offensive to religious sensitivities, and upheld the provision as constitutional.

A legal battle over Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) offered a brief reprieve when the Court of Appeal struck down the terms “offensive” and “annoy” — but in February 2026, the Federal Court reinstated them, restoring broad powers to prosecute online expression.

Arrests under the Sedition Act, the CMA and the Penal Code continued throughout the year, contributing to what Amnesty described as a climate of fear and self-censorship.

The double standard was on clearest display in October 2025, when peaceful demonstrators protested Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla — a move the Malaysian government itself had publicly criticised — only to be met with arrests, force, and at least one subsequent charge.

In Sabah, student activists were investigated and charged over anti-corruption protests in May 2025, and three more anti-corruption activists were arrested earlier this month.

Although a Federal Court ruling had previously declared a provision of the Peaceful Assembly Act unconstitutional, Amnesty said no substantive reform had followed for more than a year.

“Announcements of reform alone are not enough, as people are still being arrested, investigated, and intimidated for speaking out,” said Divya Shesshsan.

Boats Turned Away, Children Detained, Activists Missing

On refugees and migrants, Amnesty said Malaysia’s 2025 record was defined by pushbacks, arbitrary detention and opacity — Rohingya boats were turned away, immigration enforcement intensified, and by August, more than 20,000 people, including over 2,000 children, were held in detention facilities nationwide.

The criticism echoed concerns raised in 2024 by Lubna Sheikh Ghazali of Asylum Access Malaysia, who said the country “seems to have collective amnesia and is selective about who deserves protection.”

The report raised the case of activist Thuzar Maung, believed to have been abducted with her family in Malaysia and returned to Myanmar, and called on the government to reopen the investigation.

In a separate but significant legal finding, the High Court ruled the government and police responsible for the enforced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat — though Amnesty noted accountability remained incomplete.

A government-announced national refugee registration process for 2026 was acknowledged, but Amnesty said there has been little transparency on how it would protect asylum seekers or reform existing detention practices.

On the death penalty, Amnesty said momentum toward abolition has stalled — courts continue to hand down death sentences, including for drug offences, and a government-commissioned study has yet to produce a clear path forward.

Amnesty urged the government to amend the Peaceful Assembly Act, repeal laws criminalising expression, abolish the death penalty, and address systemic abuses in detention and law enforcement.

Divya Shesshsan’s closing charge was direct: “Human rights cannot be selective, and they cannot be postponed.”

READ MORE: Malaysians Accused Of Double Standards Over Palestine, Iran Support

READ MORE: [Watch] Pro-Palestine Advocate Labels Malaysians Who Don’t Support Palestine As “Zionists”

READ MORE: If I Were A Palestinian, What Would I Do?

READ MORE: Chinese Muslims Raise RM98K for Gaza, Minister Mat Sabu Tops Up To Make It RM100K

READ MORE: Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding Urged To Voice Support For Palestine As Part Of Malaysian Values

READ MORE: BDS Malaysia Condemns KLCC Security’s Treatment Of Pro-Palestine Protesters

READ MORE: Is Suria KLCC Really Anti-Palestine? Here’s What We Found Out

READ MORE: [Watch] Palestine Activist Tian Chua Ejected From Suria KLCC Over Wooden Stick, Mall Denies Political Motive

READ MORE: The Escape To Freedom: How Malaysia Became Uyghur Refugees’ Lifeline

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Recently, a three-year-old girl tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a main psychoactive compound found in cannabis.

According to reports, a 39-year-old social media influencer allegedly bought the sweets from a neighbouring country before storing them in a refrigerator at his mother’s house. His mother is also the caregiver of the child.

On 14 April, the child consumed the sweets and soon lost consciousness, and was rushed to the hospital.

Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the matter came to light after a medical officer at Hospital Melaka received the child in a semi-conscious state.

The victim’s mother informed medical officers that her daughter was earlier under the care of her mother-in-law at a home in Sungai Putat.

The child received respiratory assistance via a tube in the emergency and trauma department of the hospital. Fortunately, the child has since recovered and was allowed to return home.

The police said the sweets in question were not found during the police inspection. The suspect was arrested at about 9.30pm on 15 April.

Dzulkhairi said the suspect has no prior criminal record and tested negative for drugs in a urine test.

The case will be investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for child abuse. Upon conviction, the suspect could face up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both.

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A car that rear-ended a motorcycle at the traffic light junction near Phileo Damansara along the SPRINT highway this morning (23 April) sent a male rider and his female passenger crashing to the ground.

Dashcam footage of the incident has made its rounds on social media, showing how the entire accident unfolded.

However, instead of a flood of comments condemning the car driver, many were focused on what happened after the collision.

The motorcycle rider pulled off the most heroic stunt

Almost immediately after the motorcycle rider and his passenger went down, the young man popped back up on his feet and ran towards the woman, who was lying on the ground, ignoring the fact that they were still in the middle of the road.

Running on pure adrenaline and instincts, the brave and selfless act to get his passenger to safety was lauded by netizens in the comments section.

“Not him running to her without thinking of himself! What a man!” one Threads user commented.

“That abang immediately got up and went to save the akak! And what’s wrong with that Myvi?!” another person commented.

Although the exact cause of the accident is unclear, some speculated that the car driver was attempting to chase the yellow light before it turned red, while others thought that the motorcyclist was trying to make a right turn from the car’s left side while the car was going straight ahead.

View on Threads

The car driver did not run away, and helped the couple instead

The driver of the Myvi left a comment on the post, admitting that it was her who ran into the motorcycle from behind.

She said she sent them both to a clinic, and asked them to update her on their condition, among other things.

“I did not run away since my own car has a dashcam. Don’t worry, I also sent the woman home,” she said.

She admitted that it was her mistake when she didn’t notice the motorcyclist had signalled to the right, and she had no time to brake and slow down before hitting them.

“I’ve apologised to them a thousand times as it’s my first time running into someone. I’ve taken the both of them to a clinic for treatment,” she explained.

As of now, there’s no information about the couple’s injuries, but at least no lives were lost.

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It’s the last April weekend and here’s how to spend it well. Put down your phones, step outside, and be present!

Fatal Attraction Exhibit | Until 26 April | GMBB | 11am-8pm | Free public event

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If you haven’t yet discovered photographer Chien C. Lee’s breathtaking nature photography, the Fatal Attractions exhibit is your chance, but act fast because it closes on 26 April. The exhibit shows various types of pitcher plants from around the world and you can see it all up close and watch how other critters interact with the unique plant.

IMPRINT 2026 | Until 10 May 2026 | LRX Creative Hub | 11am-8pm | Free public event

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IMPRINT 2026 is an international art exhibition that celebrates cultural exchange, artistic dialogue, and the diversity of creative expressions across borders. The exhibition features works from Malaysia and abroad, bringing together artists and different narratives, and essentially reflecting unity through art.

Open Mic Night | 24 April | Swee Lee Lot 10 | 7pm | Free public event

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Swee Lee’s open mic night is going full punk. Left Ear Numbness headlines the chaos, with local bands bringing raw riffs and high-octane energy all night long. Since it’s going to be a packed intimate setting, remember to reserve your spot here.

Lepak Santai 2.0 | 24-26 April | Central Market | 10am-10pm | Free public event

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Lepak Santai 2.0 brings beachy vibes to the city with some interesting booths, live performances, and interactive zones. Expect refreshing tropical treats, fashionable clothes and accessories, handicraft items, and more.  

Jalan-Jalan Pop Up Market | 24-26 April | REXKL | 12pm-10pm | Free public event

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If you’re not an early riser, the Jalan-Jalan Pop Up Market is made just for you. You can find pre-loved items, clothes and accessories to revamp your wardrobe, and more.

Bake Gala 3.0 | 24 April-3 May 2026 | The Starhill | 10am-10pm | Free entry

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The Bake Gala is back with all things buttery. This is the Coachella for pastry lovers.

Comedy Mixtape Vol 43 | 25 April | Kedai KL | 9pm | Ticketed event

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Comedy Mixtape Vol 43 features fresh acts and a dynamic mix of new voices and seasoned comedians testing their latest material. To get tickets, WhatsApp 011 27206467 or head to the official website here. linktr.ee/havepun

Demon Pond screening | 25 April | GSC Mid Valley | 10.30am, 1.30pm | Free admission

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Catch a free screening of Demon Pond, presented by the Japan Foundation as part of the Weekend Japanese Film Show. The story starts in Echizen (Fukui prefecture), surrounded by the mountains of Mikuni Pass. A Dragon God is sealed in the pond, and the bell near the pond must be rung three times every day or the Dragon God will go on a wild rampage on the village nearby. Things are peaceful due to an attentive couple, but their lives soon fall apart when things take a turn. It’s free admission but remember to register your spot to avoid disappointments on CloudJoi here.

For All Seasons | 25-26 April | KLPAC | 8.30pm, 3pm | Ticketed event

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Andrea Sim leads the KLPAC String Orchestra on a sweeping musical voyage spanning three centuries, from the stately world of Purcell through Piazzolla’s fiery tango soul, and onward to Vivaldi’s enduring Four Seasons. Tickets run out fast so remember to get your tickets from CloudJoi here.

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A post on Threads sparked conversations about copyright issues within the food industry which questioned street food vendors who sell their products under an existing foreign brand’s identity.

The post claimed that Indonesians have spoken out about the unilateral use of a well-known food brand from their country by food vendors here in Malaysia.

“From the brand logo, font, packaging, and menu, everything uses the brand name without an official partnership with the brand.

“Instead of apologising or calling out fellow citizens who did this, many of them are instead mocking Indonesians and bringing up unrelated issues outside the context. Is this kind of thing actually allowed there, that so many people seem to misunderstand what the real issue is?” the Threads user said.

In the post, the user shared pictures of a food vendor selling a stuffed chicken roll under the name “Chikuro”.

Chikuro is an Indonesian brand selling Japanese-inspired fried chicken snacks and has over 80 outlets across their country.

A screenshot of a conversation between the Threads user and the Malaysian Chikuro seller revealed that the outlet is not an official branch of Chikuro, and they admitted that the brand’s official outlets only exist in Indonesia.

“If there is any use of a name or appearance that resembles the brand outside of official affiliations, it has been brought to the attention of our team and we will follow up with further action,” the seller said.

Based on the photos that were shared, the Chikuro in Malaysia does bear significant resemblance to the Chikuro in Indonesia, albeit with minor differences such as in font type.

There was some confusion about Chikuro as a food name

Some social media users pointed out confusion among others who think that Chikuro is the name of the food itself, when it’s actually the name of the brand.

Although this could have been a valid reason under different circumstances, many are still disagreeing with the seller because of the uncanny branding cues they seemingly “copied”.

Chikuro is so popular in Indonesia, there are personal shopping services for it

Chikuro is inspired by recent Japanese culinary trends, which is highly popular in Indonesia right now as they bring gourmet, Japanese-style street food to accessible locations such as local shopping malls.

In fact, they have the most outlets across major shopping malls in Bandung and Jakarta, making it easy to find there.

Its so popular that it sparked a phenomenon where personal shopper services (jastip) are bringing the snack here to Malaysia.

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Their menu items include the signature Long-Filled Chicken Roll that’s stuffed with melted cheese, and comes in medium, large, and super large sizes.

They also have beef variations of it (Gyuro), as well as bite-sized versions of the roll (Norimaki) available in chicken, beef, or fish fillings.

Check out Chikuro’s full menu HERE.

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A staff member at a shoes outlet in Puchong went viral this week after posting a detailed account of what she claimed were severe and ongoing hygiene failures at her workplace.

The allegations include rat droppings and rat urine on shoeboxes, cockroach infestations in the staff toilet, and an unpaid water bill at the outlet.

Her thread has since drawn over 144,000 views.

The employee, who shared on Threads, wrote that the store name “begins with S” — a reference widely understood by commenters to be Skechers.

Allegedly Told to “Just Wipe It”

In a follow-up post, the employee claimed she had reported the rat problem to management before going public.

She alleged that management’s response was to wipe down the affected shoeboxes.

When I told them there was rat urine on the shoeboxes, they told me to just wipe it. Euww.

She posted photographs which she claimed showed shoeboxes soiled by rats, alongside socks stored in an open cardboard box inside the stockroom.

In a later update, she alleged that the outlet had failed to pay its water bill despite being reminded.

The employee added that she had already resigned and was serving a one-month notice period.

Skechers Malaysia Responds

While the Threads user never mentioned the name of the company she works for, many speculated that it was a Skechers outlet in Puchong.

We reached out to Skechers Malaysia, and they informed us that the Puchong outlet at the centre of these allegations is operated by an authorised dealer — meaning day-to-day operations and maintenance are the responsibility of that dealer operator rather than Skechers Malaysia directly.

The Skechers Malaysia spokesperson said the brand is nonetheless treating the matter seriously.

All Skechers retail partners are required to meet our strict brand and operational standards at all times. We take this matter seriously and are working closely with the dealer to investigate the situation and address it with urgency. Any lapses identified will be rectified promptly to ensure standards are upheld.

The company added that it remains “committed to maintaining a clean, safe and comfortable environment for both our customers and retail staff across all Skechers stores.”

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KK Super Mart’s IPO filing has been widely reported.

The 996 stores, the 77.6% market share, the founder who started with a single shopfront in Kuchai Lama in 2001 — those numbers have made the rounds.

But the prospectus filed by KK Mart Retail Berhad runs to hundreds of pages.

Some of what sits deeper in the document tells a more complete story about what business investors are being asked to buy into.

View on Threads

Built On The Night Shift

One figure in the prospectus stands out beyond the store count; more than half of KK Super Mart’s sales — 50.6% — are generated between 10 pm and 10 am.

The majority of its stores operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

That single statistic says something about what the chain has become; it is not simply a convenience retailer competing with supermarkets on price or range.

It is, for a significant portion of its customers, the only shop open — serving late-night workers, shift employees, students, and anyone who needs something urgently after the rest of the retail sector has closed.

The company describes this as its “24-7 community proximity store format,” designed to serve residential communities in urban, suburban and rural areas.

In practice, it means KK Super Mart has built a customer base that is structurally difficult to displace.

Other new brands, such as FamilyMart, CU, and emart, are also expanding to round-the-clock operations, but with a limited number of stores.

A Homegrown Brand With Full Ownership

Unlike franchise-based convenience chains, KK Super Mart owns its brand outright.

There are no franchise fees, no franchisor standards to comply with, and no royalties paid to a foreign parent.

The company controls every aspect of its operations — store layout, product mix, pricing, and expansion pace.

According to the independent market research included in the prospectus, KK Super Mart is the fastest-growing convenience retailer in Malaysia by store count between 2022 and 2025, and holds the largest market share by revenue in the convenience mart sub-segment in 2025.

The convenience mart segment itself — distinct from larger convenience store chains such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart — grew at a compound annual rate of 20.9% between 2020 and 2025, and is projected to grow at 17.7% annually through to 2030.

The Numbers Behind The Expansion

KK Super Mart’s revenue grew from RM1.25 billion in the financial year ended June 2023 to RM1.57 billion in June 2025, a compound annual growth rate of 11.8%.

Gross profit margin expanded from 27.8% to 28.8% over the same period.

The company reported a profit after tax of RM97 million for the financial year ended June 2025, on a profit before tax margin of 8.4%, which the prospectus notes is the highest among selected grocery-based retailers in Malaysia benchmarked in the independent market report.

The average capital expenditure to open a new store is approximately RM250,000, excluding inventory.

The company says it achieves an average payback period of under two years for new stores.

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The IPO Structure

The listing involves the issuance of 210 million new shares under a public issue, and an offer for sale of 630 million existing shares by the two selling shareholders — K8 Resources, the founder’s holding vehicle, and Arus Sejahtera, a Cayman Islands-incorporated special purpose vehicle holding the investment of a Southeast Asian private equity fund.

The gross proceeds from the public issue will be used to fund new store openings, distribution centre expansion, digital and IT investment, and repayment of bank borrowings.

Following the listing, K8 Resources will hold approximately 73.85% of the enlarged share capital, assuming the overallotment option is not exercised.

Founder Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan holds 95% of K8 Resources.

The retail price per share has not been disclosed in the prospectus as filed.

The final retail price will be determined through a bookbuilding process and will be the lower of the retail and institutional prices.

Questions Investors Will Want Answered

The prospectus runs to hundreds of pages, and some of what it reveals deserves a second look.

For years, dozens of companies connected to the founder were doing business with KK Super Mart — as suppliers, landlords, and service providers — and at one point, between RM70 and RM95 million in annual customer payments were flowing through a payment gateway owned by a related party, arrangements that have mostly been unwound but show how closely the founder’s personal business interests and the company’s day-to-day operations were once tied together.

Revenue grew steadily, but the same-store sales picture tells a more complicated story — growth went from +23% to +2% to -2.7% over three years, with fewer transactions per store and smaller basket sizes each year, meaning the company is essentially papering over softening store performance by opening new ones.

Before listing, the founding shareholders paid themselves RM122.5 million in dividends in the last financial year on a profit of RM97 million, then took out another RM100 million in March 2026 — weeks before the IPO — which is legal and disclosed, but worth noting.

The compliance section is surprisingly frank, listing everything from foreign workers manning cash registers to fire certificate lapses to the Allah socks and Halal sandwich controversies, with the company saying it has since hired new senior management, introduced new systems, and tightened its processes.

The remediation story is plausible — but whether it reflects a genuine shift in how the business is run, or simply what needed to be said before a listing, is something investors will have to weigh for themselves.

KK Mart Retail Berhad’s prospectus has been filed with the Securities Commission (SC) Malaysia. The SC’s approval of the IPO should not be taken as an indication of the offering’s merits.

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It’s refreshing to see a brand lean into creativity and actually have fun with its content. Kanna Curry House has just done that with hilarious yet relatable videos.

The AI conversation has made its way into the restaurant industry too. In one of the videos, a staff member pretended to grumpily wait for AI to take over his job of cleaning, washing the dishes, and even making roti canai.

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The staff members were also aware of the global climate, what with the conflicts around the world, and indirectly assured everyone they would ‘’do what they love’’ aka making us food even while the world burns in the background.

What will they do when the world ends? They have a video for that, too! Just like most of us, they plan to have one last good and grand meal at the restaurant.

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A post shared by Kanna Curry House (@kannacurryhousekl)

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A post shared by Kanna Curry House (@kannacurryhousekl)

Perhaps the most relatable business-themed video is when the staff members pretended their marketing person was away for Raya.

Taking over the social media page for the day, they leaned into the chaos and admitted they had no idea what they were doing, but hoped their marketing person was proud of them.

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They’ve also tapped into popular social media trends, including a challenge where their boss promises them a holiday if their latest post hits 100k likes, and ending the clip with a cheeky plea for viewers to show some love.

Social media users played along and worked together to get one of the staff members, Sathish, his holiday wish.

Social media users took the time to follow up with the restaurant and make ”friendly threats” to make sure Sathish gets his off days. Even the job portal Jobstreet chimed in and told Sathish to look for them if he didn’t get his time off.

In response, Sathish made a video thanking them and shared that he had already booked his vacation tickets.

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A post shared by Kanna Curry House (@kannacurryhousekl)

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A post shared by Kanna Curry House (@kannacurryhousekl)

At the end of the day, Kanna Curry House inadvertently showed that content creation doesn’t have to feel like work.

Letting staff get creative and have fun in front of the camera is a great way to boost morale on long days, foster teamwork, and bring out personalities that audiences genuinely connect with.

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Eligible Malaysians who register themselves as a member of UMNO can now opt to have a Touch ‘n Go (TNG) facility integrated into their membership card.

According to a post on Facebook, UMNO Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, urged everyone who is eligible to register as UMNO members online via the official registration portal myUMNO.org and get a free membership card.

New members can get their membership card for free at the UMNO headquarters in World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur from 1 to 5 May, in conjunction with the organisation’s 80th anniversary.

However, those who choose a membership card with TNG will be charged a small fee.

“There’s an option to choose membership cards with Touch ‘N Go facilities, for a minimal fee. Registering as an UMNO member is now easier and quicker through the official portal,” he said.

What comes with being an UMNO member?

As an UMNO member, you’ll be allowed to join Mesyuarat Cawangan (branch-level meetings) to discuss and help shape party policy. These branches are considered the backbone of the party.

Besides that, you’ll also be able to join the party’s programmes, events and campaigns.

The membership also allows you to be part of its Pemuda (Youth), Wanita (Women’s), or Puteri (Women’s Youth) wings.

Depending on the specific wing (Wanita, Pemuda, Puteri) or branch, you may have the right to participate in or vote during party elections or meetings.

Nearly 4,000 signed up as soon as the online registration portal was launched

Nearly 4,000 new members were recorded after UMNO’s new online membership registration dashboard launched last Saturday (18 April), The Star reported.

Asyraf Wajdi said the party saw 3,716 new applications shortly after the system went live, with youths making up most of the registrants.

He described the process as “tiring but exciting,” noting that the rapid uptake reflects renewed interest among younger Malaysians in the party, adding that the digital initiative is part of Umno’s broader efforts to modernise its operations and improve accessibility for prospective members.

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