The curtain will finally rise on the 2026 Johor state election tomorrow as aspiring candidates head to nomination centres across the state, marking the first electoral showdown since Malaysia’s post-2022 political realignment reshaped alliances at both the federal and state levels.

Even before nomination day, the campaign has already delivered its fair share of drama.

Barisan Nasional (BN), led by Umno, has been rocked by the resignation of former Johor Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi, whose exit sparked a public war of words with the party leadership over candidate selection and allegations involving Johor Umno.

READ MORE: Party Discipline First, Says Nur Jazlan In Swipe At Puad Zarkashi Over Johor BN Candidate Debate

READ MORE: Puad Zarkashi Quits Umno, Claims Johor Party Is Under Palace Influence

Adding to the intrigue was the return of former Endau assemblywoman Alwiyah Talib to Umno from Bersatu, before being swiftly named BN’s candidate for the seat.

With the battle lines almost drawn, TRP rounds up some of the key contests worth keeping an eye on.

READ MORE: Onn Hafiz Denies Palace Interference Claim, Police Report To Be Filed Against Puad

Machap: Can Onn Hafiz hold the fort?

Caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi will seek to retain Machap for BN in what is expected to be one of the coalition’s most closely watched contests.

The Johor BN chairman is likely to face Pakatan Harapan’s young candidate, Nor Hafiz Roslan.

In the 2022 state election, Onn Hafiz won the seat with a comfortable majority of 6,543 votes after securing 11,029 votes against PAS’ Azlisham Azahar, MUDA’s R. Sangaran and Pejuang’s Sharuddin Md Salleh.

Puteri Wangsa: Spotlight on Maszlee

Puteri Wangsa could emerge as one of the election’s marquee battles.

Former education minister Datuk Maszlee Malik, widely tipped as Pakatan Harapan’s Menteri Besar candidate should the coalition form the next Johor government, is expected to contest the seat.

He is set for a multi-cornered contest against MCA’s Teo Chia Ling for BN and MUDA’s Rashifa Aljunied.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Bersama — the party led by former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli — is also expected to field a candidate, with the announcement due later tonight.

Larkin: A familiar face returns

Another constituency to watch is Larkin.

Former Johor Speaker and Pulai MP Suhaizan Kayat of Amanah is expected to mount a strong challenge against caretaker Johor executive councillor Hairi Mad Shah, who won the seat in a six-cornered contest in 2022 with a majority of 6,178 votes.

Bersama is also expected to join the fray, potentially turning the contest into another multi-cornered battle.

The wild cards

Apart from the heavyweights, several candidates are attracting attention for different reasons.

Bersatu has nominated Abd Mutalib Abd Rahim to defend his Layang-Layang seat just days after he was dropped by BN, while PAS has fielded Mazlan Bujang in Kahang.

Mazlan, a former Umno and Bersatu leader, only recently joined PAS. Interestingly, he previously won the Puteri Wangsa seat in the 2018 general election before switching constituencies for this state poll.

The final list of candidates will only be confirmed once nominations close at 10am tomorrow.

Johoreans will head to the polls on July 11, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the country’s most closely watched state elections.

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This June, the Curve invites shoppers to discover the rich story behind Malaysia’s cocoa heritage at the Curve’s first Malaysia Choco Fest, taking place from 25 to 28 June 2026 at the Centre Court. Held in collaboration with industry partners: Lembaga Koko Malaysia (LKM), Cadbury Dairy Milk Malaysia, and Tourism Selangor, the celebration brings together chocolate enthusiasts, families, and the community for a memorable experience that explores the journey of cacao from bean to bar.

Going beyond a traditional festival, the Malaysia Choco Fest offers visitors an engaging and interactive platform to learn about Malaysia’s cocoa industry through product showcases and hands-on activities. With guidance from LKM experts, guests can uncover the fascinating science and craftsmanship behind cocoa cultivation and chocolate-making, gaining a deeper appreciation of the journey that transforms cocoa pods into one of the world’s most beloved treats.

The festival reflects the Curve’s continued commitment to creating meaningful lifestyle experiences that bring people together beyond shopping. Through a blend of education, entertainment, and discovery, the Malaysia Choco Fest provides families with an opportunity to connect and create lasting memories through a shared appreciation for chocolate.

“Chocolate has always been associated with moments of happiness and togetherness. This makes it the perfect way to bring the community together, giving children, parents, families, and friends a space to bond while discovering something new,” said Ms Elaine Liew, General Manager of the Curve. “The Malaysia Choco Fest is part of our effort to offer more meaningful experiences for our shoppers, where every visit becomes an opportunity to learn whilst creating memorable moments together,” she added.

At the heart of the Malaysia Choco Fest is the Chocolate Marketplace, featuring  20 curated chocolate exhibitors by LKM, and Cadbury Dairy Milk Malaysia. The marketplace offers visitors the opportunity to explore a diverse array of chocolate creations, products, and innovations. The festival will transform key areas of the Curve into immersive chocolate-themed experiences, with the Centre Court becoming the Choco Pavilion, The Street area reimagined as Choco Dessert Lane, and the Piazza transformed into the Choco Factory. Visitors can also discover dedicated zones such as the Artisan Zone, Kids’ Corner, Sampling Area, and Chocolate Exhibition, each thoughtfully designed to provide engaging experiences that celebrate the creativity, craftsmanship, and enjoyment of chocolate.

Throughout the four-day celebration, guests can look forward to an exciting line-up of chocolate-inspired activities, including interactive games, live chocolate demonstrations, and engaging experiences for all ages. Highlights include the Chocolate Fantasy Runway Challenge by Malaysia Association of Ethical Designers (MAEFD), offering visitors the chance to unleash their creativity.

Families can also enjoy special appearances by Professor Koko, while daily Golden Ticket giveaways will give shoppers the opportunity to win exciting prizes including a MacBook Neo, Instax Mini, microwave, fridge and many more. 

Adding an extra touch of sweetness, the Curve will also be giving away 100 exclusive goodie bags daily to registered shoppers throughout the four-day festival*), making every visit a chance to enjoy more delightful surprises.

With its blend of discovery, creativity, and community connection, the Malaysia Choco Fest invites visitors to experience chocolate beyond its taste by uncovering the heritage, craftsmanship, and stories behind every creation. Whether exploring the Chocolate Marketplace, participating in interactive activities, or enjoying quality time with loved ones, shoppers can expect to create unforgettable moments together at the Malaysia Choco Fest, where every bite tells a story and every experience leaves a lasting impression.

For more details on the Malaysia Choco Fest and upcoming events at the Curve, please visit the Curve, or stay connected on Facebook and Instagram.

*Terms & Conditions apply; while stocks last

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An X (formerly Twitter) user who goes by @koto_nooto00 posted on the platform a photo of a foreign family on a day out in Japan, with a caption in Japanese that sounds judgemental and xenophobic.

The photo, which shows a husband and wife along with their two children, was seemingly taken without their consent.

The caption wrote:

At a certain bus stop.
Out with the whole family in the middle of a weekday?
Don’t you have a job?
And there are two kids, too.
Are they here as dependents? Did you give birth in Japan just to claim the childbirth allowance?
And this isn’t even the city — it’s the countryside.
How depressing.

Other Japanese X users also left xenophobic and discriminatory comments.

“People who don’t fit in Japan. What are you even here for?” one individual commented.

“What on earth did you come here for, huh?” another X user said, adding a sick emoji at the end.

Most of the other comments made on the post, presumably made by Japanese citizens gave off anti-immigration sentiments, with many expressing disdain towards foreigners in their country.

However, there are those who came to defend the family in the photo, saying that they might be out on a weekday after a work shift, parental leave, or some other approved day off from work. They also highlighted that taking photos of strangers and posting them on social media is a violation of privacy.

とあるバス停

平日の昼間から家族でお出かけ？

仕事してないの？

しかも子供二人もおる

家族帯同？
日本で出産一時金もらって産んだの？

しかも、ここ田舎よ
この絶望感 pic.twitter.com/GBiRdKNMhQ

— 花音-kanon- (@koto_nooto00) June 22, 2026

Malaysians and Indonesians slam the post’s owner

The post seems to have drawn ire from Malaysians and Indonesians, seeing that the family in the photo appear to be Muslim.

In the quotes section, many X users criticised the post and the individual who posted it mercilessly.

“The Japanese mind cannot comprehend the idea of free time,” said one account.

“The concept of a father having leisure time with his family is bizarre to the Japanese it seems,” another X user said.

Some also questioned what the person who took the photo and posted it on social media was doing out on a weekday, implying hypocrisy.

the japanese mind cannot comprehend the idea of free time https://t.co/R509D6Arvy

— Spicy Dumpling (@SpicyDumpling02) June 23, 2026

Rising xenophobia in Japan

In the past year, there have been reports about rising xenophobia and discrimination in Japan.

Human Rights Watch, a non-profit watchdog group based in New York urged Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to promote new legislation prohibiting discrimination based on race ethnicity, or religion in its World Report 2026.

Meanwhile, an article published by Japanese news daily The Asahi Shimbun in October 2025 reported that anti-foreigner sentiments and politicians were on the rise as Japan faces a rapidly growing foreign population. The issue comes as Japan, a traditionally insular nation that values conformity and uniformity, sees a record surge of foreigners needed to bolster its shrinking and aging workforce.

Xenophobia has been a prominent issue in the Land of the Rising Sun since the immigration of Zainichi Koreans (Koreans who immigrated to Japan during World War II).

Far-right ultra-nationalist groups like the Zainichi Tokken o Yurusanai Shimin no Kai or Zaitokukai aggressively calls for an end to state welfare and alleged privileges afforded to Zainichi Koreans.

Far-right ultra-nationalist groups like the Zainichi Tokken o Yurusanai Shimin no Kai, or Zaitokukai, aggressively call for an end to state welfare and alleged privileges afforded to Zainichi Koreans.

On a side note, Japan’s tourism industry is one of the biggest contributors to its gross domestic product (GDP). In 2023, spending from tourists accounted for about nine percent of the country’s GDP.

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RTM’s flagship television channels will remain available on Astro after all, with the national broadcaster and pay-TV operator announcing a strengthened strategic partnership just days after rumours were circulating on social media that the earlier announced “split” is not happening.

READ MORE: Unconfirmed Post Claims RTM Channels To Stay On Astro, Internet Already Celebrating

In a joint statement on Friday, RTM and Astro said Malaysians will continue to enjoy TV1, TV2 and TV Okey across Astro, NJOI and Sooka.

The collaboration will also be expanded to include Berita RTM, Sukan+ and RTM’s network of radio stations, which will be rolled out to Astro customers in the near future.

The announcement reverses earlier expectations that RTM’s channels would no longer be carried on Astro from 1 July, following the expiry of the previous carriage agreement.

READ MORE: RTM Channels To Exit Astro After Nearly 30 Years Of Partnership

Both organisations said the enhanced collaboration is aimed at strengthening the development of local content, supporting Malaysia’s creative industry and ensuring high-quality public service content remains widely accessible across multiple broadcast platforms.

They said the evolving media landscape requires a more progressive and inclusive approach, with closer industry cooperation needed to keep pace with changing technology and audience viewing habits.

RTM and Astro added that expanding RTM’s presence on Astro’s platform would improve public access to trusted and relevant content while strengthening the delivery of information of national importance.

The two parties also said they share a common aspiration of building a sustainable, consumer-friendly media ecosystem that delivers quality content at reasonable costs.

They expressed confidence that the renewed partnership would benefit both organisations, strengthen Malaysia’s local media industry and provide greater access to quality, trusted and relevant content for viewers nationwide.

The renewed agreement is likely to come as welcome news for viewers, many of whom had expressed disappointment over the prospect of losing RTM’s free-to-air channels on Astro. With the expanded partnership now in place, audiences can continue accessing the national broadcaster’s television and radio services through a single platform, while both organisations look to deepen collaboration on local content and public service broadcasting.

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For many women, the right to decide what happens to their own bodies is often spoken of as a basic freedom. But in Malaysia, a new study suggests that for many, that freedom remains deeply constrained, not just by laws or institutions, but by expectations inside their own homes.

Bodily Autonomy in Malaysia, a major new report released in 2026 by SIS Forum (formerly Sisters in Islam), has put hard numbers to something many women in this country have long felt but rarely spoken about: the quiet, daily erosion of their right to make decisions about their own bodies.

The study is the first of its kind in Malaysia, and here’s what it found after surveying over 1,000 women nationwide. They spoke in depth with Indigenous communities, women with disabilities, young women, and LGBTQIA individuals, and found both sobering and hopeful stories.

On marital duty

When researchers asked women currently in a marriage or sexual relationship whether they could refuse sex with their partner, only 52% said yes. Another 37% said they could, but only sometimes. 6% said they could not refuse at all.

68% of respondents said they can’t turn down their husbands because “It’s their marital duty.” Religious beliefs came second at 59%, followed by fear of their partner’s anger at 14%.

The picture is even starker among Malay and Muslim women. Only 44% said they could refuse sex, compared to roughly three-quarters of Chinese and Indian women. Education and income differences made a significant difference too: women with secondary school qualifications or below, and those earning less than RM3,000 a month, reported far less ability to say no.

These numbers paint an uncomfortable picture for Malaysia. When benchmarked against the United Nations gender equality indicator that measures women’s decision-making power over healthcare, contraception, and sex, Malaysia scores just 45%. That’s below the global average of 55% and dramatically behind the East and Southeast Asia regional average of 76%. On sexual autonomy, the regional benchmark is 86%, while Malaysia is at 51%.

The healthcare gap no one talks about

68% of Malaysian women said they can access healthcare. This looks good on paper, but when dug deeper, some cracks began to show.

Only 47% women surveyed had ever used reproductive healthcare services such as Pap smears, prenatal care, fertility treatment, or menopause-related therapy. For students, the figure drops to just 13%, and for the unemployed 29%. Usage was lowest of all among women aged 18 to 24, and 55 and above.

When it comes to the use of contraception, only 44% of women reported ever needing it. 59% said it’s entirely their responsibility, while only 11% say their partner is the one who takes charge of it.

In Malaysia, therapeutic abortion is legal when a pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s physical or mental health. Most women do not know this. Fewer than half (45%) are aware that abortion is legal under certain circumstances. One in five believes it is entirely illegal. In Kelantan, 42% of women believe it is completely outlawed for Muslim women, and that’s nearly double the national rate.

The data is clear: Without awareness of their legal rights, these women cannot exercise them.

On women’s clothes

78% of women agree that people should be free to choose how they dress, while 54% say they can actually do so without judgment or restriction. Only 30% of students said they can dress without fearing negative consequences.

One in three women (31%) has experienced criticism, punishment, or restriction from family, community, school, employer, or the authorities because of what they wore.

Religious expectations are the most cited source of pressure (51%), and by 79% of women in Terengganu and 66% in Kelantan.

The experience is far more severe for LGBTQIA individuals. 81% reported experiencing criticism, punishment, and restriction due to their gender expression. A third experienced pressure to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, while 12% were forcibly subjected to therapy or institutionalisation without their consent.

On violence against women

Nearly half of all women surveyed (43%) have experienced at least one form of sexual harassment or violence. Younger women, aged 18 to 34, bear the brunt, reporting the highest rates across almost every category.

The most common:

• Inappropriate touching (24%)
• Unwanted sexual comments or gestures (21%)

The picture is starker online, with 41% of women reporting at least one form of online gender-based violence, such as:

• Unwanted sexual messages or images (33%)
• Cyberstalking (13%)
• Non-consensual sharing of images (9%) among them. Among LGBTIQA respondents, that figure jumps to 73%.

It’s not a surprise that 63% of women avoid sharing photos of themselves online because they fear harassment.

Most incidents go unreported; only 36% told any authority. The reasons are that they think it wasn’t serious enough (35%), fear of not being believed (33%), shame or stigma (32%). For LGBTQIA survivors, the rate falls to just 5%.

What schools fail to teach

Many Malaysians learned about their bodies from the internet. Only 63% of women said the internet was their primary source of information on reproductive health and bodily autonomy.

40% of women said the school provided no comprehensive sexuality education. If it was taught, it mostly focused on biology and moral guidance, with minimal attention to consent, relationships, or rights.

Meanwhile, 23% of women said teachers conducted period checks on them at school. The numbers rose to 31 to 36% among those aged 18 to 34. 14% experience pressure at school to wear the hijab.

However, there’s a hopeful part in all this data. When asked whether Malaysian schools should provide comprehensive sexuality education, 88% of women and 85% of men said yes.

More needs to be done so women get the help they need

Across all the topics surveyed, women in Sabah and Sarawak face the most severe healthcare access barriers. Indigenous women in remote areas have to walk for hours to reach clinics that are barely equipped for basic ailments. Some are pressured to undergo contraception or sterilisation without fully understanding the procedures.

Meanwhile, women with disabilities also encounter healthcare staff who grab and guide them without asking for consent. The staff also assume they’re incompetent and speak to the people accompanying the woman instead. Additionally, those who are deaf had to rely on private healthcare because government hospitals lack sign language interpreters.

It’s harder for LGBTQIA individuals because the barriers are compounded by criminalisation and stigma that make healthcare feel like a threat rather than a resource.

TLDR: Most women in Malaysia do not know their rights, and they cannot advocate for themselves fully without knowing.

The report also outlined recommendations to improve conditions for Malaysian women. The full report can be read here.

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She left Malaysia in the midst of a legal case.

Five years later, Nur Sajat (born Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman) says she has found peace — but is careful not to dress it up as a fairytale.

Speaking to Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Bahasa Melayu on the sidelines of an Eid al-Adha celebration in Melbourne, the Malaysian beauty entrepreneur and transgender public figure reflected on half a decade of life in Australia — a country she fled after a run in with authorities, and presumably pressure from society over her identity.

Life in Australia is calmer, more peaceful, better quality, she said.

Not as grand, not as wealthy as back home. But here, I have more freedom.

Nur Sajat, who initially settled in Sydney before relocating to Melbourne, now works in retail for a designer beauty brand — a quieter life compared to the business she once ran in Malaysia.

She said Melbourne’s larger Malaysian community made the move feel like the right one.

Criticism, Visas, and Politics

Despite the criticism she continues to receive from followers back home, she was measured.

Not everyone will like us or support us. What matters most is that we know what we are doing.

She was asked about complaints from Malaysians who claim that asylum seekers have made it harder for ordinary tourists to obtain Australian visas.

Her response was measured: Australia’s requirements haven’t become unreasonable, she said — the government simply wants proper supporting documents.

If you feel you can’t get in, maybe try again. Every country has its own laws, and we have to respect that.

She also sidestepped a separate question about Australia’s opposition leader, who had called for cuts to migrant intake — saying she lacked enough information to comment on domestic politics, but noted that Australia has long been known as a country that welcomes those in need of protection.

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From Court Summons To A New Life

Nur Sajat, who built a large following in Malaysia through her cosmetics brand Nur Sajat Beautician and social media presence, has lived in Australia since fleeing the country in early 2021 — shortly after being summoned to appear before the Syariah High Court.

She was briefly detained in Thailand over immigration issues before being granted asylum in Australia, where she has since legally changed her gender to female.

Now based in Melbourne, she closed with a message to fans and to Malaysians who have made the same journey.

There are many of us here who have migrated and built better lives. We never feel alone — the Malaysian spirit doesn’t disappear, no matter how far you go.

She then quoted an old Malay proverb: Hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri; which means even if it rains gold in a foreign land and hail at home, home is still where the heart is.

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Former Johor Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has defended his decision to quit Umno, questioning the party’s candidate selection process and asking why old figures were fielded in the upcoming Johor state election while his own son was denied the opportunity to contest.

Yesterday evening, Mohd Puad responded to Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who had claimed that Puad left the party out of dissatisfaction over his son’s omission as a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the upcoming Johor state election, rather than concerns that Johor Umno was no longer independent.

Asyraf Wajdi’s Facebook post initially included several screenshots purportedly showing conversations with Mohd Puad, in which the latter allegedly threatened to quit Umno if his son was not selected as a candidate. The screenshots has since been taken down.

Mohd Puad however insisted that it was the mechanism behind the selection process that ultimately drove him to leave the party.

“What choice did I have?” he asked.

In particular, Mohd Puad questioned who was responsible for selecting former Endau assemblywoman Alwiyah Talib and Senator Halim Sulaiman as BN candidates for Endau and Tiram respectively.

READ MORE: Party Discipline First, Says Nur Jazlan In Swipe At Puad Zarkashi Over Johor BN Candidate Debate

He pointed out that Alwiyah, 64, had only recently rejoined Umno after leaving Bersatu, yet was selected as BN’s candidate for Endau less than a month later.

“Who was behind that decision? Why sacrifice Johor Puteri Umno chief and Mersing Puteri chief for someone who has just returned? Was the Mersing Umno Youth chief also not qualified? Why reject younger candidates? Is Alwiyah really that exceptional?” he said.

Puad also questioned the replacement of former Tiram assemblyman Azizul Bachok with Halim, 64, claiming the move was an example of cronyism.

“Azizul is young and had only served one term as an assemblyman. At the last minute, he was dropped and replaced by Senator Halim Sulaiman. Isn’t that cronyism?” he asked.

Responding to criticism over his proposal to nominate his son as a candidate, Puad argued that there was nothing wrong with recommending a capable family member.

“Was it wrong for me to propose my son? Why has that become an issue?”

He also questioned why the daughter of Ledang Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Talib, Nadhirah Afiqah Abdul Rahim, was allowed to contest the Serom seat if recommending family members as candidates was supposedly unacceptable.

Puad was referring to Nadhirah Afiqah, who also serves as the Ledang Puteri Umno chief, arguing that there should not be different standards when it comes to candidate nominations.

Puad further claimed that many family members of Umno leaders at party headquarters had secured positions in government-linked companies (GLCs), saying he would reveal further details in a separate posting.

Puad yesterday announced his resignation from Umno, alleging that Johor Umno was no longer independent and was instead being controlled by the Johor palace.

READ MORE: Puad Zarkashi Quits Umno, Claims Johor Party Is Under Palace Influence

The allegation was swiftly rejected by Johor Umno liaison chief and caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who described Puad’s claims as a distortion of the constitutional process surrounding the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly and announced that Johor Umno would lodge a police report against him.

READ MORE: Onn Hafiz Denies Palace Interference Claim, Police Report To Be Filed Against Puad

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Ace Cafe Kuala Lumpur, a popular hangout for bikers and petrolheads, was allegedly robbed yesterday (25 June) by two individuals.

A source close to the establishment shared with TRP recorded CCTV footage of the male and female suspects wakling into the premises and taking valuables before leaving.

A laptop, iPad, audio amplifier, coffee scale and several keys to the cafe were among the items taken from the cafe.

“The cafe was already open, just that the chef went out to buy things. Another staff was upstairs. They entered the cafe while there was no one downstairs,” said the source.

It is understood that Ace Cafe KL has lodged a police report, and members of the motorcycle community as well as patrons of the cafe have shared the CCTV footage on social media to identify the culprits while urging the public to be on the lookout.

TRP has reached out to Ace Cafe KL for further details.

About Ace Cafe KL

The original Ace Cafe London, established in 1938 on London’s North Circular Road, became one of the world’s most famous gathering places for motorcyclists, café racers, classic car enthusiasts, and rock ‘n’ roll culture. It played a major role in the birth of the British café racer scene in the 1950s and 1960s.

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A post shared by Ace Cafe Kuala Lumpur (@acecafekualalumpur_official)

Ace Cafe Kuala Lumpur isn’t simply a themed café borrowing the name.

According to both the London and Kuala Lumpur official websites, It is recognised as one of the official Ace Cafe locations worldwide, alongside London and a handful of other international branches.

Its mission is to carry forward the same spirit of “motorcycles, cars and rock ‘n’ roll” while adapting it to Malaysia’s automotive community. The Kuala Lumpur venue also hosts regular car and motorcycle meets, much like the London original, making it a community hub rather than just a restaurant.

Address: No. 21, Ace Corner KL, Lot 359, Jalan Raja Abdullah, Kampung Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operating hours:
Monday to Wednesday – 3pm to 11pm
Thursday – 12pm to 11pm
Friday – 12pm to 2am
Saturday – 4pm to 12am
Sunday – Closed

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Buying a car used to be relatively straightforward. You picked one that fit your budget, suited your daily commute, and hopefully didn’t spend too much time at the workshop.

These days, that’s only part of the equation.

Increasingly, car brands aren’t just selling vehicles. They’re selling access to communities, lifestyle experiences, exclusive events, and a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the driver’s seat.

With activities like owner meetups, road trips, members-only experiences, and brand collaborations, car ownership nowadays feels more like a lifestyle.

The Rise Of Community-Driven Car Ownership 

Modern buyers crave experiences that align with their personal identities, a shift already seen in tech and fashion. So it’s not surprising to see the automotive industry also evolving, now with a focus on building long-term engagement that extends well beyond the initial purchase.

For OMODA, that strategy has taken shape through GEN-O.

Moving beyond the standard vehicle-centric owners’ club, GEN-O centres on a comprehensive lifestyle offering. The community prioritises culture, fashion, travel, and lifestyle, taking its cue from the brand’s name—where “O” signifies oxygen and “MODA” points to modern fashion.

The initiative also arrives as OMODA continues expanding its local portfolio, which currently includes the OMODA C9 and C9 PHEV, with the OMODA C7 set to join the lineup in the coming months.

This idea reflects how OMODA has been positioning itself since the beginning. 

While many automotive brands focus primarily on performance or practicality, OMODA has consistently leaned into themes of self-expression, design, and individuality.

In that context, GEN-O is more like an extension of the brand itself, with the goal of creating a community for people who identify with what the brand represents.

Launching A Lifestyle Ecosystem

To introduce the initiative, OMODA | JAECOO Malaysia hosted the official GEN-O launch in Kuala Lumpur on 20 June 2026, bringing together more than 250 guests and approximately 135 OMODA | JAECOO vehicles.

The event featured football-themed interactive activities, lifestyle experiences, and opportunities for members to connect. 

One of the highlights was the special appearance of AIMOGA, OMODA’s humanoid robot, which offered guests a glimpse into the brand’s vision for future intelligent mobility experiences.

Rather than serving as a traditional automotive showcase, the event reflected OMODA’s broader ambition to build an ecosystem where technology, lifestyle, and community intersect.

A Sneak Peek Of The New OMODA C7

In addition to the community-centric activities, guests received a first look at the soon-to-be-released OMODA C7. Slated for a Malaysian debut in the near future, the SUV upholds the brand’s commitment to striking aesthetics and a tech-forward philosophy.

The model features a distinctive shark-nose front fascia, sleek LED lighting elements, a body-coloured parametric grille, and an illuminated hexagonal lighting signature that reinforces its futuristic character.

More importantly, the C7 represents the next step in OMODA’s growing portfolio as it continues to attract a new generation of style-conscious drivers.

So, if you’re interested in seeing how OMODA plans to grow the GEN-O community, just follow OMODA | JAECOO Malaysia’s official channels for updates on upcoming events, collaborations, and member experiences.

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If you’ve ever bought a lottery ticket in Malaysia hoping to win big, chances are it was a Big Sweep.

Now, the country’s only sweepstakes lottery operator is refreshing its look — and sweetening the pot.

This month, Pan Malaysian Sweeps Sdn Bhd — the company behind Big Sweep — unveiled a new corporate logo, reviving the red horse emblem that once defined the brand.

The returning symbol is paired with green typography — red for passion and momentum, green for prosperity and growth.

Unlike number-forecast lotteries such as 4D or Toto, Big Sweep operates as a sweepstakes, meaning tickets are sold in limited quantities, and winners are drawn at random, with no numbers to pick.

It is the only operator of its kind licensed in Malaysia.

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A post shared by Big Sweep (@bigsweep.my)

Every Ticket A Step Toward Education

But buying a ticket does more than enter you into a draw.

Big Sweep channels all surplus profits from ticket sales into charitable causes — specifically the Yu Cai Foundation (YCF), an organisation founded in 2015 by the late tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan and the Usaha Tegas Group.

Launched in January 2015, the foundation provides scholarships, grants and educational assistance to underserved communities across Malaysia, regardless of race, religion or creed.

By 2026, the YCF has contributed more than RM27.5 million in educational sponsorships and scholarships, directly benefiting over 7,000 underserved students and teachers across Malaysia.

YCF also engages in numerous programs, including a National Public Speaking Bootcamp and other educational initiatives that reflect its commitment to community development.

Draws 4 to 6: Here’s What’s On The Table

Pan Malaysian Sweeps sums it up in its motto: “Play For Charity” — or in Mandarin, 大彩一张慈善一步 — every ticket, a step toward education.

The rebrand coincides with the announcement of Draws 4 to 6 for 2026, which will retain the RM2 million grand prize and the RM100,000 Scratch and Win Instant Prize.

The Zodiac Collection Prize, a special ongoing promotional campaign in which participants collect Zodiac tickets to win cash prizes, has also been increased to RM9,999.

Players must scratch the ‘Instant first prize’ area on their lottery tickets and collect specific Zodiac tickets, like the Anchor Zodiacs (e.g., Horse, Tiger), to qualify for cash prizes.

“The new logo is not merely a visual change, but also reflects our optimism, strength and aspirations to continue growing in the future,” said Big Sweep chief operating officer Sim Kok Soon.

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From the silk-weaving traditions of Tomioka to the deep blue world of diving, Seiko’s two newest releases are a testament to the art of watchmaking. Introducing the Seiko Presage Tomioka Silk and the Seiko Prospex x PADI 60th Anniversary Limited Edition — where history and craftsmanship meet on the wrist.

Seiko Presage Tomioka Silk

The Seiko Presage collection is renowned for showcasing Seiko’s mechanical watchmaking expertise alongside distinctive expressions of Japanese culture and artistry. Today, four new creations join the Presage Classic Series, each featuring a dial inspired by the beauty of Tomioka silk, a premium Japanese silk produced in the region surrounding the Tomioka Silk Mill in Gunma Prefecture, in the northern Kanto region of Japan.

Tomioka silk is made exclusively from locally produced cocoons and prized for its fine, uniform threads carefully crafted by skilled artisans. Distinguished by its smooth texture, subtle sheen, and elegant drape, it reflects Japan’s long standing tradition of sericulture and silk craftsmanship.

Established in 1872, the Tomioka Silk Mill thrived as the center of Japan’s silk industry and played a pivotal role in its development. In recognition of this historical significance, the “Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites” were registered in 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To safeguard and pass on the tradition of sericulture, along with Japan’s silk culture, the Tomioka Silk Promotion Organization was established in 2021. Its initiatives span the entire silk production process in Tomioka City, from cocoon cultivation to the development, manufacture, and sale of purely domestically produced silk products. Today, the Tomioka Silk Promotion Organization works to build on this historical background and promote Tomioka silk as a symbol of Japanese craftsmanship and cultural legacy.

Today, Seiko Presage celebrates the elegance and craftsmanship of Tomioka silk, capturing its beauty in four new creations, one of which is offered as a limited edition of 2,000.

A new dial pattern that captures the flowing, lustrous sheen of Tomioka silk

The limited-edition watch’s intricate dial pattern reflects the graceful drape and texture inherent in finely woven Tomioka silk. The refined luster and pristine whiteness of silk produced by a rare silkworm variety cultivated in Gunma Prefecture are captured on the dial, which is finished with a pearl-like coating that shimmers gracefully in the light and imparts a sophisticated radiance.

The Leather Working Group (LWG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to responsibly made, sustainable leather production. Seiko, a member of LWG, aims to increase its percentage of leather straps made with leather produced by LWG certified tanneries to over 90% in the future.

Three new creations with dials that channel Japanese art and culture

In addition to the limited-edition watch, three regular-production models join the Presage Classic Series. Featuring the same dial pattern inspired by Tomioka silk, each showcases a color used in traditional Japanese craft to highlight the natural tones created by silk’s beautiful luster: shironeri – an immaculate white born from the refining of silk threads; wakatake-iro – a fresh, vibrant green long favored in kimono dyeing; and sakura-iro – a soft pink evoking cherry blossoms that has been cherished since ancient times.

The creation with the sakura-iro dial comes with a leather strap in a deep brown color, inspired by the trunk of the cherry tree. As with the limited-edition watch, the strap is made with leather sourced from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries.

All four models are offered in a 38.0mm case, adding a new size variation to the Presage Classic Series. Drawing on the mechanical Caliber 6R51, the watches have a power reserve of approximately 72 hours, exemplifying Presage’s expertise in both design and high-quality mechanical watchmaking. The four watches will be available at the Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide from July 2026.

Supporting the Tomioka Silk Promotion Organization

Seiko Presage will support efforts to preserve and pass on the sericulture and silk industry of the Tomioka region by donating a portion of the proceeds from the Seiko Presage collection to the Tomioka Silk Promotion Organization.

Seiko Prospex x PADI 60th Anniversary Limited Edition

Seiko’s long history in diver’s watches reaches back to when the company created Japan’s first diver’s watch in 1965. The following year, in 1966, two American dive enthusiasts founded PADI® to raise training standards and expand access to diving education. Sixty years after its founding, PADI has grown to become the world’s largest diving organization. Operating in 183 countries worldwide with over 30 million certifications issued, PADI has greatly expanded the world of diving while actively promoting ocean conservation.

As PADI celebrates its 60th anniversary, the organization and Seiko also mark 10 years of partnership – advancing diver safety, exploration, and a shared commitment to ocean protection. For the past five years, Seiko Prospex has also supported the PADI AWARE Foundation, the conservation nonprofit founded by PADI, through its global marine debris initiatives as part of Prospex’s Save the Ocean activities.

Drew Richardson, president and CEO of PADI, commented: “What makes this partnership meaningful is our shared belief that those who explore the ocean must also help protect it.

Seiko understands that the future of diving depends on the health of the ocean. That long-term perspective has been the foundation of our partnership for the past decade.”

Drawing on this shared passion for ocean conservation, a new limited-edition Prospex diver’s watch celebrates six decades of PADI.

A dial inspired by PADI’s 60th anniversary logo

The design pays homage to the shared passion for underwater exploration and deep respect for the ocean that unites members of the diving community all around the world. Inspired by the colors of PADI’s 60th anniversary logo, the watch features a striking blue dial and is accented with touches of red at the 6 o’clock position and on the seconds hand. A globe motif derived from the logo stretches across the entire dial. On the unidirectional rotating bezel, a ceramic insert ensures exceptional scratch resistance while its vivid blue hue enhances the dial design.

A design long trusted by divers

The watch’s case features the iconic form of one of Seiko’s most famous diver’s watch designs. Characterized by its smooth, flowing silhouette and 4 o’clock crown position, it is a design beloved by generations of divers.

In addition to a robust stainless steel bracelet, the watch also comes with a strap made of high-strength silicone, printed with the words “Professional Association of Diving Instructors.” With its accordion design, the strap ensures comfort both when worn over a wetsuit and directly on the wrist.

The new diver’s watch will be available from July 2026 as a limited edition of 8,000 at the Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners worldwide.

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Parliament sittings are often fascinating to follow, offering Malaysians a front-row seat to democracy in action and a glimpse into how elected representatives from both sides of the political divide conduct themselves in the nation’s highest legislative chamber.

Besides watching proceedings live through Parliament’s official YouTube and Facebook channels, the public can also tune in via Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

But now, following debates and speeches in Parliament has become much easier.

Apart from listening to what your MP says, you can now scrutinise every word spoken in the Dewan Rakyat, Dewan Negara and even Special Chambers sessions — all from the comfort of your home.

All you need to do is visit the Parliament Hansard portal at hansard.parlimen.gov.my.

What is a Hansard?

Before diving in, it is worth understanding what a Hansard actually is.

A Hansard is the official, substantially verbatim transcript of parliamentary proceedings, debates and committee meetings.

In simpler terms, it is the written record of everything said by elected lawmakers and appointed senators during parliamentary proceedings.

The system serves as an important pillar of parliamentary accountability, allowing lawmakers’ statements, promises and arguments to be recorded for public scrutiny and future reference.

Whether you are a journalist fact-checking a speech, a researcher analysing policy debates, or simply a curious voter wondering what your elected representative has been saying in Parliament, the Hansard provides a reliable source of information.

Click, Search and Explore

Want to know what former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad frequently talked about during his time in Parliament?

Simply enter his name under the “Cari Siri Masa Ucapan Ahli Parlimen “ feature and discover the keywords, topics and issues that appeared most often throughout his parliamentary speeches.

Curious about who spent the most time telling other MPs to “sit down” during heated debates?

Just use the keyword search function, type in the phrase you’re looking for, and the system will show you who said it, when it was said, and how often it appeared in parliamentary proceedings.

In short, if a word has been uttered in Parliament, chances are the Hansard can help you find it. It’s part research tool, part political archive, and for political enthusiasts, a surprisingly entertaining rabbit hole to explore.

Users can search for specific keywords, phrases or topics and instantly find when they were mentioned, who said them and how frequently they appeared during parliamentary debates.

Want to know how often MPs discussed inflation, corruption, road conditions or even your constituency? A few clicks can reveal the answer.

In an era where political soundbites are often clipped, edited and shared across social media, the Hansard allows Malaysians to go straight to the source and examine exactly what was said — word for word.

And in a democracy, that’s a powerful tool.

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Malaysians aren’t exactly known for confrontation. So when the food disappoints, we do what we do best: leave a scathing Google review from the car, or in the case of banana leaf rice, quietly fold the leaf outwards and let it speak for itself.

But, what do you do when you don’t have a banana leaf to fold over?

Threads user Cherry (@cherryhalooo) was faced with this conundrum, but found a way to still get her message across. Using the leftover vegetables on her plate, she arranged them to spell “X DAP.”

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However, the message was received differently online because some initially thought she blamed the political party DAP, just like what our politicians do when things go wrong.

READ MORE: “Ini Semua Salah DAP” — Myth, Politics, Or Manufactured Narrative?

Cherry had a laugh when she found out what others thought and clarified she wanted to say the food was “tak sedap” (not tasty). She spelled it short because she didn’t have time to spell the whole sentence.

Funny responses ensue

In response, some netizens joined the bandwagon and went creative with their dishes after finishing their meals.

Thread users used leftover food to spell out that they didn’t want vegetables, described the taste of the food, or that the rice was hard. Some were nicer and spelled out “TQ,” short for thanks, while another person pointed out there was a worm in their food. Threads user @zahwa_rahman_ took it a step further and made a drawing using ketchup.

While it was all laughter and fun, a Threads user who identifies as a cook said they rather receive honest and direct feedback about their cooking so that they can improve the dishes.

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This week, there’s an exciting selection of happenings in different parts of the city. There are festivals and bazaars to check out, comedy shows to look forward to, and there’s always a party or two each night. And don’t forget, space rocks.

Malaysia Choco Fest 2026 | 25-28 June | The Curve | 10am-10pm | Free public event

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Dear chocolate lovers, the Malaysian Choco Fest is here and it’s every sweet tooth’s dream. Taste incredible brands, catch live chocolate demos, hit the dessert lane, and look out for the chocolate dress runway. Don’t forget to join the chocolate workshops too!

Heritage Colours Festival 2026 | 26-28 June | Stesen Keretapi KL | 10am-6pm | Free public event

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The Heritage Colours Festival 2026 is a celebration of the diverse cultures in Malaysia. Organised by Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), visitors get to participate in various interactive activities and enjoy live performances, including cultural performances. There’s also a market to browse local goodies.

Pesta Kita | 26-28 June | Central Market | 10am-11.30pm | Free public event

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This week, Pesta Kita highlights on local brands, artisans, and stories that make Malaysian talent something to be truly proud of. Savour delicious pastries, browse beautifully handcrafted products, immerse yourself in creative workshops, and enjoy a full day of live performances that bring the festivities to life.

Pameran Eksklusif Koleksi Batuan Angkasa | 26-30 June | Planetarium Negara | 9am-4.30pm | Free entry

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In conjunction with International World Asteroid Day, Planetarium Negara presents an exclusive exhibition of space rocks. If you’ve been curious about things floating in space, the exhibition has over 30 types of space rocks, each with its own unique features and rare properties. Entrance is free, so you can just rock up to the gallery.

DJ Pop Up | 27 June | REXKL | 8pm-11pm | Free public event

This Saturday, Food Fiction Hall gets a soundtrack. DJs Wavey and Kopi Peng are on the decks from 8pm to 11pm with good food, cold drinks, and vibes you don’t want to miss.

Comedy Mixtape Vol 51 | 27 June | Kedai KL | 9pm | Ticketed event

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It’s another week of laughter at Comedy Mixtape Vol 51. Bring along friends and vote for your favourite acts of the night. Get tickets from the official links here or send a WhatsApp message to the number in the post above.

People’s Market x Agro Bazaar | 27-28 June | Taman Warisan Pertanian Putrajaya | 8am-6pm | Free public event

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Get ready for a weekend full of food, fun, and local goodness! People’s Market x Agro Bazar takes over Taman Warisan Pertanian, Putrajaya with 120 stalls, more than 20 activities, creative workshops, traditional games, live entertainment, and even a bamboo fishing competition. Shop local, eat well, and make memories!

Mark these events in your calendar in advance

Maelstrom: Armis United | 10-12 July | The Nest, MAEPS Serdang | Ticketed event

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If you’ve been wishing to join a LARPing (Live Action Role-Play) event, this is your chance. In the story of Maelstrom, participants/LARPers play as citizens of Armis who must decide if they want to work together to take down a rising threat or go on their own separate ways. The event offers various passes with different levels of immersion. You can even choose to be an NPC. Don’t worry if you don’t have a costume because they have costumes and weapons for rent too. If you’re interested, remember to scan the QR code in the last slide to register and create your character.

DeStage PJ Comedy Fest 2026 | 29 July- 2 Aug | DeStage @ Jaya One | 3pm, 6.30pm, 8.30pm | Ticketed event

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DeStage PJ Comedy Fest 2026 is a multi-language, multi-genre comedy festival that brings together the country’s most exciting comedic voices under one roof for five electrifying nights. Festival director Joanne Kam of Kam Productions has curated a lineup of 29 comedians and 11 teen performers, each with their own comedy styles and flairs. The festival programme is suitable for all ages and will be spread across two stages simultaneously. There’ll be performances in English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil. For more information, head over to the official website here.

READ MORE: See A Sky Full Of Colours At The Kuantan International Kite Festival This 1 – 6 July

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For more than a century, Sealy has shaped the way the world sleeps, grounded in a deep understanding of what the body needs to truly rest and recover. Today, as quality sleep becomes increasingly essential in navigating modern lifestyles, Sealy Malaysia marks this milestone with “145 Years of Better Sleep”, a celebration of its legacy and renewed commitment to making better sleep more accessible to Malaysians.

Rooted in its philosophy of Sleep First Class, Sealy’s journey began in 1881 in Texas, where founder Daniel Haynes introduced a new way of building mattresses. What started as a simple innovation has since evolved into a global benchmark for quality, driven by ongoing research, orthopaedic expertise, and a deep focus on supporting how people rest and recover.

At the core of Sealy’s design approach is a fundamental principle: the body should rest in natural alignment, just as it does when standing. This thinking underpins the Sealy Posturepedic range, developed with patented support systems that adapt to body weight, relieve pressure points, and promote uninterrupted sleep.

Each mattress combines proprietary and most advanced coil systems, pressure-relieving layers, and cooling technologies to deliver a sleep experience that goes beyond comfort, supporting truly restorative rest.

A Milestone Product for a New Generation of Sleep

Marking this milestone, Sealy Malaysia introduces the Sealy Posturepedic Elevate 145th Anniversary Limited Edition, a mattress that brings together the brand’s most refined technologies into a single, thoughtfully designed model.

The anniversary edition reflects a balance of heritage and progression. It draws on decades of innovation to deliver enhanced support, adaptive comfort, and enduring durability while maintaining the elevated feel that defines Sealy’s premium offering. Designed for the expectations of today’s consumer, it offers both performance and accessibility, making high-quality sleep a more attainable everyday luxury.

Available at RM10,999 (King) and RM9,999 (Queen), the limited edition model represents a culmination of Sealy’s 145-year journey, distilled into a product that speaks to both legacy and modern relevance.

“For us, 145 years goes beyond heritage, it represents our commitment to evolving with the changing lifestyles and sleep needs of today’s consumers,” said Derek Yeoh, Country Manager of Sealy Malaysia. “As everyday life becomes more demanding, we want Malaysians to wake up feeling recharged and ready, supported by innovations that deliver truly restorative sleep.”

Bringing ‘Sleep First Class’ to Life

To mark the occasion, Sealy Malaysia will host a 5-day experiential roadshow from 24 to 28 June 2026 at The Starling Mall, Level G (near Rakuzen), inviting consumers to experience its innovations firsthand.

Visitors can:

• Explore Sealy’s superior support and technology through guided demonstrations
• Experience product trials and personalised consultations
• Discover the brand’s heritage and innovation journey
• Participate in activities and receive exclusive gifts

More than a showcase, the roadshow aims to create meaningful engagement, helping consumers better understand the importance of quality sleep while driving discovery across Sealy’s retail network.

A Continued Commitment to Better Sleep

As Sealy looks ahead, its focus remains unchanged to continuously innovate and deliver sleep solutions that support better living across generations.

Consumers can explore the full range of Sealy Posturepedic mattresses at Sealy Sleep Boutiques nationwide, authorised retailers, and online at the official website.

For more information, follow Sealy Malaysia on social media or visit the nearest showroom.

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Returning this August with a bold new experience, Heineken®’s biggest music event of the year evolves into Heineken House — a two-room takeover headlined by globally renowned Swedish DJ and producer Axwell.

The dual-room experience pairs energetic performances on the Star Arena mainstage with the more intimate Star Club, a second space designed around a 360-degree center-stage setup that places fans at the heart of the action.

The event brings Heineken’s global “Fans Have More Friends” platform to life through a music-led experience built on a simple belief: shared passions naturally bring people together. Whether through music, football or Formula 1, shared passions have a unique way of turning strangers into friends.

Across both spaces, Heineken House brings together a diverse mix of spatial sounds and experiences, creating opportunities for fans to meet new people, discover common interests and connect through the music they love. 

Alongside Axwell in the Star Arena main room will also feature regional and local acts including Blink, Dirty Signal, Mr. Yang, Viene and AnnJo. Headlining the Star Club will be Baby J and Tye Turner alongside Ashley Lau, Smooth Brain Girly, Mister Rodrigo and MJ. Heineken House will take place on 15 August at the XOX Arena, The Arch Galeries, Kuala Lumpur.  

MORE MUSIC, MORE CONNECTIONS, MORE REFRESHING EXPERIENCES

Bringing Heineken’s global ‘Fans Have More Friends’ platform to life locally, Heineken introduces Just Say Hei (Hei is pronounced “Hi”) — a simple social gesture designed to help fans connect naturally through shared passions. Built around the belief that shared passions and fandom bring people together, Just Say Hei turns a simple hello into the start of a new connection.

The idea is inspired by a simple insight: while Gen Z audiences are more connected than ever online, there is an opportunity to create more pathways for shared digital interests to translate into real-world connections, especially around experiences they are passionate about. By bringing like-minded individuals together, shared passions can become the catalyst for new conversations, connections, and friendships.    

START AS STRANGERS, ARRIVE AS FRIENDS

To help fans put Just Say Hei into action, Heineken introduces Heineken House Sessions, a series of immersive club takeovers designed as a social warm-up ahead of the Heineken® House finale.

Here, fans can meet and connect with fellow fans through music. More importantly, they can find the people they’ll experience Heineken House with — turning shared fandoms into real-world connections before the big night.

The Heineken House Sessions will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Malacca where entry is by invitation only. Visit @heinekenmy on Instagram, click the link in bio, and just comment “HEI” to secure your invitation to your preferred session:

• 20 June – Lane 23, TRX, Kuala Lumpur 
• 11 July – Ting Livehouse, Malacca
• 25 July – Tsin Livehouse, Penang

Sean O’Donnell, Marketing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, said Heineken House reflects the brand’s ‘Fans Have More Friends’ belief that shared passions and fandoms have a unique way of bringing people together. 

“Heineken House is built on a simple belief — that people have more in common than they realise. Just Say Hei is that first step; a simple, pressure-free way to turn shared interests into real-world connections through what people already enjoy.

“What makes Just Say Hei powerful is how it comes to life across the journey, from Heineken House Sessions to the finale — creating opportunities for people to meet, connect and enjoy memorable experiences together through shared passions. There’s also a playful nod in the name itself. ‘Hei’ forms the first three letters of the brand and captures the spirit of Heineken, turning a simple greeting, paired with a Heineken in hand, into an effortless way for people to connect through shared passions,” added Sean.

At the heart of the Heineken House experience, fans can look forward to additional Heineken moments designed to help them find and connect with each other through shared passions, with more details to be announced in the lead-up to the event.

These experiences will turn simple interactions into immediate moments of connection. No awkward introductions, no overthinking — just more ways for fans to discover shared passions, proving they are closer than they think.

Tickets to Heineken House are available via:

• Purchase of a ‘Heineken Music Pack’, which contains 16 x 320ml cans of Heineken and one (1) General Admission ticket, at major supermarkets, while stocks last. 
• Purchase participating Heineken® products and stand to win 2x VIP passes. 

Visit the official website here for more information on Heineken House, artist announcements, how to unlock passes or to know more about Heineken’s ‘Fans Have More Friends’ platform. 

All promotions, campaigns, and contests are subject to Terms and Conditions and available while stocks last. Images, if any, are for illustration purposes only. Heineken and all campaign events are strictly for non-Muslims aged 21 and above. We are committed to responsible consumption — when you drive, never drink. Please #EnjoyResponsibly.

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Badminton associations have long aimed to raise competition standards and improve player development, but high cost and availability access to technology has largely been limited to elite international tournaments. 

That changed last week at the AFFIN 100PLUS Junior Elite Tour Finals 2026, Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) flagship junior tournament, which concluded on Sunday after a full-six days deployment of the Reveal Lens Instant Review System (IRS). 

It is the world’s first, AI-powered review system for badminton, approved by the Badminton World Federation. 

Across badminton, including its continental confederations, efforts to expand access to officiating technology have grown, but deployment remains limited by cost and infrastructure constraints at lower levels of competition.

BAM’s decision to introduce it at junior level marks a tangible step in a different direction, with no domestic junior series in the region having done so before. 

The advanced technology system, developed by Malaysian sports technology firm Revealtek Sdn Bhd was deployed across two courts, allowing players to challenge line calls and receive AI-assisted decisions within seconds, displayed live inside the hall. Digital scoring, live streaming and court-side displays supported operations across all eight courts.

When a player challenges a line call, footage captured at 480 frames per second is reviewed and processed almost immediately. A decision is delivered within seconds and displayed in the hall. What previously risked becoming a prolonged dispute is resolved before tension has time to build, allowing play to resume almost instantly. 

Beyond officiating, the tournament also served as an early exposure platform for junior players to systems used at international level. Coaches were given access to match footage and performance data, while live streaming brought the action to fans beyond the venue.

Revealtek’s Chief Executive Officer, Nizam Mohamed said the company’s aim was to make tournament technology accessible, so that more events and players could benefit from it. 

“We are very grateful to BAM for the opportunity. What this week has shown is that world-class officiating technology is no longer out of reach, and we intend to keep it that way. Malaysia is now setting the standard for the region,” he added.

Since its debut earlier this year, Revealtek’s Reveal Lens Instant Review System has featured at several badminton tournaments, including the PETRONAS National Under-18 Badminton Championships 2026 in Selangor and the AFFIN 100PLUS Junior Elite Tour series. 

Following its domestic rollout, Nizam shared that the company is in discussions with several badminton continental confederations, with its next confirmed deployment at the Singapore International Challenge in August, its first international assignment outside Malaysia.

BAM officials said the rollout reflects a broader direction for Malaysian badminton. 

Its Secretary-General Datuk Kenny Goh said technology of this kind has a clear place in how players are developed and how tournaments are run, especially in supporting more consistent and transparent match decisions. 

Meanwhile, Deputy President Datuk V. Subramaniam added the implementation of the technology reflects the governing body’s long-term aspirations to strengthen the development of Malaysian badminton.

“We are pleased to bring these facilities to a junior event. It reflects the direction we want for Malaysian badminton and the standards we hope to set across our tournaments,” he explained.

Revealtek is targeting a September 2026 pilot for its Electronic Line Calls system, which aims to address the growing shortage of trained line judges at tournaments worldwide.

The company is also developing post-match analytics tools built on the same camera infrastructure already deployed at venues, expanding its role beyond officiating into player development and talent identification.

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Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, Eigen Ting had his future mapped out.

Pure science stream, strong grades, and a father who was an engineer.

The plan was accounting; it was sensible, stable, and — as he eventually admitted to himself — completely wrong for him.

“I realised I couldn’t do a sedentary lifestyle,” he said. “I’m not sitting there.”

So he enrolled in culinary school instead, and promptly became one of the worst students in his class.

I was performing very, very badly. I didn’t like it at all.

The subject that broke him was pastry.

Something as foundational as choux pastry — the dough behind éclairs and cream puffs — eluded him entirely.

His chef pulled him aside; why couldn’t he do what everyone else was doing?

The answer, it turned out, was that he didn’t yet understand why it worked.

The Moment Everything Changed

The shift came when Ting stopped trying to follow recipes and started treating the kitchen like a laboratory.

Pastry, he realised, was chemistry; ingredients reacted, and temperatures mattered.

There were reasons behind every step — and those reasons were exactly the kind of problem his science-trained brain was built to enjoy.

I started to realise it’s actually very interesting. There’s a lot more that needs to happen.

From that point, his trajectory became unusually deliberate; after graduating, he moved to Singapore — as many young Malaysian chefs did at the time, drawn by better pay and more international exposure.

He completed an internship at a five-star hotel, then secured a position at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

After that, Ting moved into large-scale production at TWG Tea, one of Singapore’s most recognised luxury brands, where he helped train the Malaysia team and got his first real look at how a commercial kitchen actually runs at scale.

Each stop was chosen with a specific gap in mind; hotel for foundations, fine dining for precision and production for volume – he was collecting contexts.

I strongly believe you can utilise more of your skill set because running a business encompasses so much.

Melbourne, A Visa, And A Lot Of Freedom

The move to Australia came through a sponsorship from a restaurant owner, whom Ting describes only as a well-known public figure.

Given unusual creative freedom to design his own dessert menu, he encountered something unexpected: seasons.

In Malaysia and Singapore, the same fruits are available year-round — in Melbourne, the menu had to change with what was actually growing.

It was disorienting at first, then liberating.

He runs Sucre du Jour with his fiancée, Josephin Tan — also Malaysian, and someone he met during their years working in Singapore.

There is something quietly poetic about that: two Malaysians who found each other in someone else’s city, then built something entirely their own in another.

The first year, we were struggling a lot. In our second year, we started to be a little bit more on our feet.

He began travelling — to Japan, France, across Asia — taking masterclasses with pastry champions and building a technical vocabulary no single kitchen could have given him.

Slowly, a personal style emerged: French technique as the foundation, but lighter, more delicate, less bound by European tradition.

Flavours that were familiar but not predictable.

In 2020, during the pandemic, he and his fiancée opened their first shop.

The Bakery That COVID Accidentally Helped

The timing looked terrible on paper.

Melbourne was entering what would become one of the world’s longest cumulative lockdown periods.

But Sucre du Jour — the name means “sugar of the day” in French — opened in Camberwell, with a simple setup and almost no branding.

It worked, partly because the timing was right and partly because the product was genuinely different.

People had discretionary income and nowhere to go; orders came in, and the business grew.

The lockdown actually helped our business a lot. We started with really minimal branding, minimal everything.

Five years later, Sucre du Jour has a second location in Melbourne’s CBD, at Shop 24, 250 Spencer Street, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.

The team is small — four full-time staff and a handful of part-timers — but the production is precise.

Everything is made in-house; celebration cakes are designed to be last-minute friendly, sent out with instructions so customers know exactly how to serve them.

The Bakery He Killed, And The Cake He’ll Never Change

Not everything survived; for a time, Sucre du Jour ran both a bakery and a celebration cake business.

The bakery side — bread and everyday items — was doing well commercially, but Ting found himself unhappy.

The product wasn’t making me happy going to work. There was a little bit of internal conflict.

He shut the bakery side down and doubled down on fine French pastry and celebration cakes.

It was a deliberate narrowing, and by his own account, the right call; two items have stayed on the menu since the beginning and will not be leaving.

The first is a lemon tart — built from whole lemons, using every part of the fruit across multiple preparations.

The second is a cereal-based dessert inspired by a trip to New York, where he encountered a version with cereal ice cream that struck him as genuinely playful.

He rebuilt it from scratch, incorporating a chocolate component the way a French pastry chef might, and the result became one of the bakery’s signatures.

Then there is the Mont Blanc — a French classic, traditionally made with chestnut cream.

Sucre du Jour has made a different version every year for six years, and this year’s is Japanese-influenced; previous versions have included black sesame and blueberry.

The chestnut version, done once, was inspired by a version he encountered from a celebrated chef whose interpretation he found extraordinary.

We tried to reinvent the whole thing. We enjoyed it. My team enjoyed making it.

A Loyalty That Outlasted the Address

Labour remains his biggest challenge — a problem he says is common across Melbourne’s hospitality industry, and one he believes will force food businesses to operate smarter in the years ahead.

He is already working on the systems and processes that would allow Sucre du Jour to scale, with a third location as a stated goal.

Someday, he hopes, that expansion might reach Malaysia — a homecoming of sorts, bringing back everything the years abroad have built.

But the part of the business he describes with the most warmth is simpler than that.

“They started as customers,” he said, of the regulars who have followed the bakery across locations and years.

Then they became our friends. Then we did their wedding cake. Then we did their baby shower.

He paused.

That’s the part that’s very rewarding.

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This article was produced following the Cool Escapes to Melbourne and Beyond familiarisation trip, organised by Visit Victoria, 24–29 June. All photographs were taken by the writer.

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By Anas Alam Faizli

Malaysia’s corporate landscape is not defined by a handful of large companies. It is defined by a system.

A system where government linked companies and government linked investment institutions collectively manage assets equivalent to more than 120% of the nation’s GDP. A system where they account for more than half of listed corporate assets, and play a dominant role in capital allocation across sectors ranging from energy to infrastructure to venture capital.

At that scale, this is no longer a question of participation.

It is a question of design.

Are Malaysia’s GLCs built to compete, or to support?

This is not a new question. Its roots can be traced back to the New Economic Policy, where state intervention was deliberately used to build Bumiputera participation in the economy while catalysing industrial development. From the outset, Malaysia did not choose a pure free market path, nor a fully state controlled model. It chose a hybrid.

Today, that hybrid has reached a scale that can no longer be ignored.

The numbers are striking. Government linked companies and government linked investment companies collectively manage assets equivalent to roughly 120% of Malaysia’s GDP, or close to RM2 trillion. They account for about 55% of total assets, 40% of revenues, and 42% of equity among listed companies on Bursa Malaysia. In market capitalisation terms, they represent more than a quarter of Bursa Malaysia’s total value.

In venture capital, they contributed 38.6% of total funding in 2023, making them the single largest source of early stage capital in the country. By comparison, in more mature markets such as the United States, government participation in venture funding is typically below 10%, with private capital dominating the ecosystem.

These are not marginal players.

They are the system.

To some, this raises a legitimate concern. Does such dominance crowd out private enterprise?

Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan has argued otherwise. In his view, the role of GLCs and GLICs is not to crowd out, but to crowd in. Through initiatives such as GEAR-uP’s RM120 billion commitment, and co investment platforms like Dana Impak, Jelawang Capital and Dana Perintis, institutional capital is used to de risk sectors where private capital alone has not yet reached scale.

There is merit in this argument.

In many parts of the economy, particularly infrastructure, healthcare and early stage innovation, private capital is often reluctant to enter without some form of risk sharing. Globally, infrastructure financing gaps are estimated at over USD1 trillion annually, illustrating why state participation remains necessary even in advanced economies.

But the tension remains real

GLCs operate with a dual mandate. They are expected to deliver commercial returns while simultaneously fulfilling national objectives, whether in the form of universal access, employment stability, or strategic capability building.

This duality is both their strength and their vulnerability.

Take Petronas. With revenues exceeding RM260 billion annually, total assets of over RM760 billion, and fiscal contributions surpassing RM70 billion, it represents roughly 15% to 20% of Malaysia’s GDP in annual revenue terms. It is not merely a corporation. It is a pillar of national stability. Similarly, Tenaga Nasional serves over 10 million customers nationwide, while Malaysia Airlines ensures national connectivity despite persistent financial challenges.

Yet from a market perspective, the concentration of more than half of corporate assets within a state linked ecosystem inevitably raises questions of competition, efficiency and capital allocation.

This is not unique to Malaysia

This debate echoes a long-standing tension between state direction and market forces. China offers perhaps the most pragmatic interpretation of this balance. Under Deng Xiaoping, the country moved away from rigid central planning toward a hybrid model often described as socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Deng’s famous observation that “it does not matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice” captured a simple but powerful idea. What matters is not ideology, but outcomes.

That pragmatism transformed China into the world’s second largest economy, now exceeding USD17 trillion in GDP. By 2023, Chinese state-owned enterprises occupied 97 positions in the Fortune Global 500 and received extensive state backing, including large scale financing and over RMB1 trillion annually in R&D investment.

This model has delivered scale and speed.

But it has also narrowed the space for private entrepreneurs in certain sectors.

At the other end lies the United States, where the government plays a minimal direct ownership role. The US economy, with GDP exceeding USD27 trillion, is driven primarily by private capital. Venture capital investment alone exceeded USD170 billion in 2023, almost entirely funded by private sources.

This model has produced world leading companies and technological breakthroughs.

But it also comes with trade-offs, including widening income inequality and underinvestment in public goods.

Europe offers yet another model. Many European economies operate under a social market system, where private enterprise drives growth but the state plays an active role in safeguarding social welfare and strategic sectors.

Countries such as Germany and France maintain state stakes in key industries including energy, transportation and finance. At the same time, strong regulatory frameworks ensure that even large state linked entities operate within defined boundaries. Public spending across European economies often exceeds 45% of GDP, reflecting a stronger welfare orientation.

This approach demonstrates that state participation and market efficiency are not mutually exclusive, provided governance is strong and roles are clearly defined.

For Malaysia, a small open economy with GDP of approximately RM1.8 trillion, the question is not which model to adopt wholesale, but how to calibrate the right balance.

Malaysia’s challenge is not the presence of GLCs

It is the clarity of their role.

Are they market competitors, or market makers?

Are they expected to maximise returns, or to fulfil developmental mandates?

Without clarity, the risk is not dominance, but diffusion. Capital is deployed, but not always optimally. Mandates overlap. Accountability becomes blurred.

An analogy may help illustrate this.

Malaysia’s GLC ecosystem today resembles a powerful engine running on multiple objectives. It has scale, capital and capability. But without precise calibration, energy is dissipated rather than directed.

The issue, therefore, is not size.

It is alignment.

Moving forward, Malaysia must define its own equilibrium.

This requires three shifts.

First, mandate clarity. Strategic entities such as Petronas or Tenaga Nasional may justifiably carry national mandates. Others operating in competitive sectors should be held to strict commercial discipline.

Second, governance strengthening. Boards must be composed of individuals with deep domain expertise. Performance metrics must be clearly defined and measurable.

Third, capital discipline. GLIC capital should increasingly be deployed as catalytic capital, not dominant capital. Even allocating 5% to 10% of Malaysia’s RM2 trillion capital base, equivalent to RM100 billion to RM200 billion, into co investment platforms could significantly crowd in private capital.

In parallel, Malaysia should gradually divest non strategic assets where private sector capability is sufficiently mature.

Ultimately, Malaysia does not need to choose between Beijing, Washington or Brussels.

But it cannot afford to drift between them.

We must decide, deliberately, what role our institutions are meant to play, and execute with clarity and discipline. Because at this scale, misalignment is not just inefficient. It is costly to the nation.

I have seen, across industries, how GLCs can catalyse growth where markets hesitate. I have also seen how unclear mandates can dilute impact and slow progress.

Malaysia has built institutions of significant strength. Few countries at our stage of development command this level of capital, capability and reach.

The question now is whether we will use it with precision.

If we get this right, GLCs and GLICs will not be a constraint to private enterprise. They will be its strongest enabler.

But if we get this wrong, we risk building a system that is large, but not effective. Active, but not aligned.

This is not just a question of governance.

It is a question of the kind of economy we want to build, and the kind of future we leave behind.

This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on 22 June, 2026 – 28 June, 2026

Anas Alam Faizli is a three time CEO and board member. He writes in his personal capacity and is the author of Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians. His hope is simple that future generations inherit a better Malaysia.

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Election season is usually when Malaysians flock online in search of the latest political developments, campaign updates and candidate announcements.

And in 2026, like almost everything else, much of that information hunt takes place on social media.

Which is why it came as a surprise when a simple search for “PRN” — the widely used Bahasa Melayu abbreviation for Pilihan Raya Negeri (state election) — appeared to trigger an unexpected response on Facebook.

Users attempting to search for “PRN” on the platform are greeted with a warning stating that the term may sometimes be associated with nudity or sexual activity, content that is not permitted on Facebook.

Naturally, curiosity got the better of us.

Proceeding with the search does not exactly produce a stream of sexually explicit content. Instead, users are presented with a mix of results, some of which are about the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state election matters.

The explanation is likely tied to how Meta’s automated moderation and search systems interpret abbreviations used across different languages and regions, where the same acronym may carry entirely different meanings outside Malaysia.

Unfortunately for politically curious Malaysians, it means one of the country’s most commonly used election-related abbreviations has inadvertently found itself caught in the platform’s content moderation net.

The timing is particularly amusing given that both the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections are entering a critical phase, with polling day are set for July 11 and Aug 1.

For now, users hoping to follow developments surrounding the state polls may have better luck typing out “Pilihan Raya Negeri”, “Johor PRN”, “Negeri Sembilan PRN” or related keywords instead.

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Johor Umno chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has denied allegations that the party is being controlled by the palace and announced that a police report will be lodged against former Johor Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi over the claim.

In an immediate statement following Mohd Puad’s allegation, Onn Hafiz firmly rejected the claim that he had informed the former Umno leader that the Johor palace had “directed” the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

“I categorically deny Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s claim that I informed him that the palace had instructed the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly,” he said.

Onn Hafiz explained that what he had conveyed was that the dissolution was carried out only after obtaining the consent of Tunku Mahkota Ismail, the Regent of Johor, in accordance with Article 23 of Part Two of the Laws of the Constitution of Johor 1895.

He stressed that a menteri besar cannot dissolve the state assembly at will, as the process must follow constitutional provisions and only takes effect after royal consent has been granted.

“I sought an audience and presented the matter. After receiving consent, I publicly announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly. Receiving royal consent is a constitutional process and does not in any way constitute receiving instructions or political interference,” he said.

The caretaker Johor Menteri Besar accused Puad of distorting a legitimate constitutional process to create the perception that the Johor royal institution was interfering in Umno Johor’s political affairs and decision-making.

While acknowledging Mohd Puad’s right to leave Umno and disagree with the party leadership, Onn Hafiz said such allegations were serious and could touch on sensitive 3R issues involving royalty, religion and race.

Onn Hafiz warned that the remarks could potentially affect public harmony and order.

“As such, Johor Umno will lodge a police report to enable the authorities to conduct investigations and take appropriate action.”

Onn Hafiz also called on all parties to respect the royal institution, uphold the Constitution and the Laws of the Constitution of Johor, and refrain from dragging the palace into political disputes.

The statement came just hours after Mohd Puad, who is also the former Rengit assemblyman, announced his resignation from Umno, claiming that Johor Umno was no longer independent and alleging that key decisions within the state chapter were being influenced by the palace.

READ MORE: Puad Zarkashi Quits Umno, Claims Johor Party Is Under Palace Influence

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On Monday, three women got a fright in their car in Melaka when a man attempted to push a snake into their vehicle.

Nik Hanis Allysa Abdullah, 21, was in the car with her friend and sibling when a man approached their parked vehicle in front of the Stadthuys Building with a snake in his hand.

They thought the man was playing around, but things turned serious when he let the snake in through the lowered window at the front passenger seat.

Nik Hanis said she doesn’t have a phobia of snakes, but found the man’s actions overboard and endangered everyone in the car.

The incident was recorded on video, during which the three women could be heard screaming when the snake entered the vehicle.

@hmetromy

Seorang gadis berdepan detik cemas apabila 'dihulurkan' seekor ular ke dalam keretanya oleh seorang lelaki ketika berada di kawasan Bangunan Stadthuys, Banda Hilir, pada Isnin lalu dan tular di media sosial.

♬ original sound – Harian Metro

A search for ”snake bro”

The Melaka City Council (MBMB) is aware of the incident and is hunting for the suspect known as ‘abang ular.’

City mayor Datuk Shadan Othman said they’re taking the case seriously because it concerns the public’s safety.

MBMB said any activities with animals are prohibited, even if the animals aren’t venomous or seen as harmless. Anyone caught breaking the law will be issued a compound.

MBMB added that it has never authorised any permits or licences for street artists to work with animals due to safety and hygiene concerns.

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A cat found in a Kelantan village with severe facial wounds and maggot infestation has been taken in for treatment after a public donation drive on Facebook raised more than RM3,800 in under three hours.

The cat, named Tam, was discovered in a kampung area in a weakened state — severely underweight, with its face described by rescuers as “hancur dan berulat,” destroyed and infested with maggots.

It was brought to MHI Animal Medical Centre in Bachok, Kelantan, where a veterinarian issued a treatment quotation of RM3,210 on Tuesday (23 June).

The bill covered 10 days of isolation ward care, blood tests, IV fluid therapy, wound dressing for what the clinic identified as sporotrichosis (a fungal infection that destroys soft tissue), sedation, surgery, daily medication and discharge care.

Rescuer Nur Hidayah Ramli posted Tam’s case on Dunia Kucing Malaysia, a Facebook community page, along with photographs and a donation QR code.

The Money Came Fast

The response was immediate; by 6:20 am on Wednesday (24 June), RM1,507 had been collected.

By 7:20 am, RM2,403 and by 8:50 am, RM2,963.

The drive closed shortly after, raising RM3,884 — enough to cover the full bill, with some left over.

Donation receipts posted in the comments showed contributions from across the country, ranging from RM5 to RM50, made through Maybank, Public Bank, BSN, Hong Leong Bank, TNG eWallet and other platforms.

As of Tuesday evening, Tam was described as quiet but responsive, able to eat independently if food was placed close to it.

Rescuers noted the cat may be unable to smell due to the damage to its nose.

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Former Johor Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has announced his immediate resignation from Umno, alleging that Johor Umno is no longer independent and is instead being controlled by the palace.

In a Facebook post today, Mohd Puad said he was leaving the party voluntarily and there was no need for Umno to take disciplinary action against him.

“Without hesitation, I announce my resignation from Umno with immediate effect today. This means Umno no longer needs to go through the trouble of expelling me,” his posting reads.

Mohd Puad added that his departure would allow him to express differing views freely without being accused of undermining the party from within.

Anticipating criticism that he was acting out of self-interest, Mohd Puad pointed out that he was leaving at a time when Umno was widely perceived to be in a strong position ahead of the Johor state election.

“Why would I leave when Umno is seen as strong enough to contest all 56 seats on its own? I am leaving while figures such as Khairy Jamaluddin, Hishammuddin Hussein and Noh Omar are returning after seeing the party regain strength. So who is acting out of self-interest — them or me?”

Mohd Puad claimed that his primary reason for quitting was his belief that Johor Umno had lost its autonomy in making key political decisions.

As evidence, he alleged that caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had informed him during a meeting in Saujana on June 21 that the palace had instructed the state government to dissolve the Johor Legislative Assembly on June 1.

“He told me that the palace had directed him to dissolve the Johor state assembly. There are many other examples showing that Onn Hafiz is merely following instructions. This has turned Johor Umno into a constrained political puppet,” he claimed.

Puad said he felt compelled to display what he described as “political courage” by speaking out before the situation became worse.

READ MORE: Onn Hafiz Denies Palace Interference Claim, Police Report To Be Filed Against Puad

He acknowledged that his decision would likely invite criticism and personal attacks, but insisted he was prepared to face the consequences.

“I do not want Umno to be led by political cowards, resulting in Barisan Nasional candidates being mocked as recycled, lacking youth aspirations and being mediocre.”

He also said that he is placing his trust in God as he embarked on the next chapter of his political journey.

READ MORE: Party Discipline First, Says Nur Jazlan In Swipe At Puad Zarkashi Over Johor BN Candidate Debate

Yesterday, Mohd Puad said that he would be making an important announcement this coming Saturday, during the Johor state election nomination day, after finding something is not right with the Johor Umno state chapter.

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Three decades after introducing a generation of Malaysians to their unmistakable brand of grunge-infused alternative rock, Butterfingers is heading back to the stage for a special reunion concert in Kuala Lumpur.

The band will perform Butterfingers: 1.2 Milligrams 30th Anniversary at Odeon KL Event Hall on 8 and 9 August 2026, with the concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of their debut album 1.2 Milligrams. The show follows overwhelming demand for the first performance announced for 8 August, giving fans another chance to relive the music that helped shape Malaysia’s rock scene. Tickets are now on sale through the concert’s official website.

Fans can expect a setlist packed with classics including Chrome, Royal Jelly, Nicc O’Tynne and other fan favourites from the band’s extensive catalogue.

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A band that changed Malaysian rock

Formed in Kuala Lumpur in 1993, Butterfingers emerged during the height of the global grunge movement, but quickly carved out a sound that was uniquely their own.

Fronted by Emmett Roslan alongside guitarist and principal songwriter Loque, bassist Kadak and drummer Loko, the band became one of Malaysia’s most influential English-language rock acts throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

Their debut album 1.2 Milligrams established Butterfingers as one of the country’s most exciting underground bands before they broke into the mainstream with Butter Worth Pushful and the critically acclaimed Transcendence in 1999.

Transcendence became the band’s biggest commercial success, earning Double Platinum status and producing what is arguably their signature song, The Chemistry (Between Us). Rather than staying within the grunge mould, Butterfingers continued to evolve musically with albums like Malayneum, before switching to Bahasa Malaysia releases with Selamat Tinggal Dunia and Kembali.

A legacy built on unforgettable live shows

Butterfingers officially bid farewell with a performance at the Sunburst Music Festival in 2009, bringing an end to one of the most influential chapters in Malaysian alternative music.

However, the band’s story didn’t end there.

They reunited in 2016 to headline Rockaway Festival, sharing the bill with international acts including Scorpions, Third Eye Blind and Taking Back Sunday, marking the return of one of the country’s most beloved rock bands after years apart.

In 2019, Butterfingers once again proved their enduring appeal when they sold out the Transcendence 20th Anniversary Concert at Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam. The concert drew thousands of fans eager to hear songs that had soundtracked their youth and cemented the band’s place in Malaysian music history.

More than just a reunion

This year’s concert is more than another reunion show.

For longtime fans, it’s a chance to celebrate the album that launched Butterfingers into the national spotlight and revisit the music that defined an era of Malaysian rock. For younger listeners who discovered the band through streaming platforms or older siblings’ playlists, it’s an opportunity to finally experience Butterfingers’ renowned live performance firsthand.

Thirty years after 1.2 Milligrams first hit record stores, Butterfingers continues to prove that great music never goes out of style and, this August, Odeon KL is set to become the meeting point for generations of fans singing those timeless anthems together once again.

So, don’t be a butterfinger and slip up the chance to get tickets to the Butterfingers 1.2MG 30th Anniversary concert.

Tickets are available on the concert’s official website at https://butterfingers12mg30.com/.

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Nu-metal icons Limp Bizkit are finally making their long-awaited Malaysian debut.

Concert organiser Hitman Live has announced that the American rock band will perform at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on 9 December, 2026, in what is being promoted as the band’s only Asia stop on the tour.

Tickets will go on sale on 30 June at noon via Hitman Live.

For a generation of rock and metal fans who grew up blasting tracks such as Break Stuff, Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle), My Way and Nookie, the announcement marks the end of a wait that has stretched more than two decades.

Led by frontman Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit emerged as one of the defining acts of the late 1990s and early 2000s nu-metal boom, selling millions of albums worldwide and becoming a staple of MTV-era rock culture.

Limp Bizkit’s arrival also comes amid a broader resurgence of interest in 1990s and 2000s rock and nu-metal.

Bands once considered relics of the CD era are finding themselves back in demand, with sold-out tours and festival headline slots across North America, Europe and Latin America.

Online discussions and fan communities frequently point to a new generation discovering the genre, while older fans embrace the nostalgia factor.

Malaysia has similarly seen a growing appetite for legacy rock acts.

Recent years have brought performances from international rock and metal heavyweights, while 2026 alone has seen a wave of announcements targeting fans who came of age during the genre’s peak.

One night only

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A post shared by Hitman Solutions (@hitmansolutions)

With the concert being billed as a one-stop Asia show, Malaysian fans may have a rare opportunity to catch one of the most recognisable bands of the nu-metal era without travelling overseas.

Whether you’re planning to relive your teenage years or finally experience the chaos of a live rendition of Break Stuff, 9 December is shaping up to be one of the biggest rock nights on Malaysia’s concert calendar this year.

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There will be no room for Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) two newest component parties — Parti Cinta Malaysia, which has since been rebranded as Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan), and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) — to contest in the upcoming Johor state election.

This is despite both parties having submitted lists of constituencies they hoped to contest in the state election.

According to PN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, seat negotiations for the elections involved only the coalition’s four original component parties.

“Seat negotiations only involve four parties,” Tuan Ibrahim told TRP in a brief response.

He was referring to PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), which make up PN’s founding coalition members.

Several Wawasan and Pejuang leaders contacted by TRP either remained tight-lipped or maintained that discussions were still ongoing, suggesting that both parties are still hopeful of contesting under PN’s banner in the upcoming Johor election.

Meanwhile, PN election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor confirmed that seat negotiations among the coalition’s component parties had been concluded, describing the discussions as smooth and harmonious.

In a somewhat surprising development, Bersatu is expected to contest a significant number of the 56 seats up for grabs in Johor, despite the party’s political ties with PAS — one of PN’s key components — having been formally severed by the Islamist party earlier this month.

“The largest share (of seats) will go to Bersatu. Every party submitted its proposed list based on its own confidence and assessment. We then evaluated the merits of each claim.

“The considerations include party machinery, voter support, experience of prospective candidates, incumbency and previous electoral performance.

“These are the factors that determine who should be considered for a particular seat. That chapter is closed. My mission of negotiating seat allocations is complete. Alhamdulillah,” Sanusi was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.

Both Pejuang and Wawasan are splinter parties of Bersatu that were admitted into PN following an emergency meeting of the coalition’s supreme council held at PAS headquarters on Monday night.

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Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi should respect the party’s decisions, which have given him various positions and privileges over the years, said senior Johor Umno leader Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

Nur Jazlan stressed that party members must remain aligned with collective decisions made by Umno, adding that internal discipline and respect for party leadership were essential, particularly when commenting on electoral strategy and candidate selection.

He also referred to Puad, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, and his suggestion that the party field candidates under the age of 50, noting that the principle had not been consistently applied in previous elections.

“In 2022 Johor state election, when he (Puad) offered himself as a candidate for the Rengit state seat at the age of 65, that recommendation was not something he himself applied to his own case,” Nur Jazlan told TRP when contacted.

Nur Jazlan, who is also a member of the Umno Supreme Council, said Puad should recognise that his current role and influence differ from his previous position within the Johor Umno leadership structure.

“When he was part of the Johor Umno liaison committee, his views carried more weight. We took his input seriously then,” he said.

However, Nur Jazlan added that Puad’s current positions at various levels of government meant he should exercise greater restraint and prioritise party unity in his public statements.

He added that Puad had benefited greatly from Umno throughout his political career and that it was now time for him to give back to the party, rather than create discord.

“Now he has served as an MP, a senator, and held several other roles. At this stage, he should appreciate what the party has given him and act accordingly.”

Nur Jazlan was referring to Puad’s statement today that he would be making an important announcement this coming Saturday, during the Johor state election nomination day, after finding something is not right with the Johor Umno state chapter.

Puad had previously said that he would not be seeking reelection due to his age and suggested that those who contested for BN in the upcoming election should be 50 years old and below.

However, his Facebook post today appeared to suggest that he may act against the Johor BN decision regarding the upcoming election.

The Johor state election is slated on July 11.

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When Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai attacked DAP over Selangor’s restrictions on non-Muslim houses of worship, the response had almost nothing to do with temples or churches.

It had everything to do with PAS.

Commenter after commenter bypassed the substance of his complaint entirely. Instead, they pointed to the same thing: Gerakan is a component party of Perikatan Nasional (PN) — the coalition that includes PAS, whose Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu government has spent years restricting betting outlets and lottery shops that serve non-Muslim communities.

“You sleep with PAS, and now you want to defend temples?” one commenter wrote.

The sentiment was repeated, in varying degrees of contempt, across the thread.

None of them disputed the facts Lau raised.

They just didn’t care who was raising them.

What The Complaint Was Actually About

The Selangor Community Facilities Planning Guidelines were passed by the state executive council on 7 November, 2025 — and then again on 12 November, five days later, by the same people.

The public found out six months later; the document spelling out the restrictions costs RM300 a copy.

Under the original guidelines, non-Muslim places of worship were barred from commercial zones — a direct problem for the hundreds of temples, churches and prayer halls that have operated out of shophouses for decades because there was nowhere else to go.

Non-Muslim worship buildings were also capped at 72 feet (roughly 21.9 metres) to maintain uniformity with nearby mosques.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said the rules conflicted with Articles 3, 8 and 11 of the Federal Constitution — covering the status of Islam, equality before the law, and freedom of religion.

No non-Muslim religious body was consulted during drafting. Representatives were only called in on 29 May — after public outrage had already erupted — and given two weeks to respond.

On Silence, And Staying Anyway

Lau directed his sharpest question at DAP Selangor chairman and State Special Committee for Non-Islamic Affairs (LIMAS) chairman Ng Sze Han: was he in the room when the executive council approved these guidelines in November? Did he raise an objection, or did he say nothing?

“Silence,” he wrote, “is also an answer.”

It was a pointed line — and not without irony; in August 2023, Lau himself was asked to leave a PN event in Penang by a PAS official.

He stayed in the coalition anyway, PAS leadership later apologised for the incident; Lau accepted, and carried on.

@mandatkini PAS halau Dominic Lau, Parti Gerakan #suararakyat #civilsociety #roadtopru16 #ubahmalaysia #selamatkanmalaysia ♬ original sound – Mandatkini

Then Selangor Quietly Fixed It

On 21 June — two days before Lau’s post — the state government had already revised the guidelines.

Following a third round of consultation with faith community representatives at Bangunan SSAAS in Shah Alam, Ng announced a series of changes that walked back the most contested rules.

The 72-foot height cap is gone, and non-Muslim worship buildings can now be constructed at any height, provided the design is in harmony with the surrounding area.

Commercial, industrial and institutional properties are now officially permitted as places of worship — a formal recognition of what has been the ground reality for decades.

Developers building new housing areas with at least 5,000 residents must now surrender a minimum of 1.5 acres of land for non-Muslim religious use, along with roads, water and electricity.

The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) called the revisions “more inclusive and fair.”

READ MORE: Selangor Drops Height Limit For Non-Muslim Houses Of Worship, Makes Developers Set Aside Land

READ MORE: Gerakan President’s “Turun Padang” Post Backfires Over AI Label On Photo

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Vivo Malaysia is excited to announce the grand opening of their Concept Store with Immersive Imaging Experience Zone at Sunway Velocity Mall happening on 27 June 2026. The all new-concept store offers customers an immersive space to explore the latest vivo smartphones, imaging innovations, and exclusive opening-day promotions. To make the grand opening celebration even more rewarding, visitors can enjoy a variety of exclusive promotions and activities on 27 June 2026, including complimentary treats, exciting giveaways and special offers available throughout the day.

Grand Opening Exclusives

• Customers who purchase a smartphone during the promotion period will enjoy exclusive gifts worth up to RM999+ with our BUY 1 FREE 5 offer, valid on 27 and 28 June 2026:
  • X300 Series: Bluetooth Headphones vivo Buds Air 3 + Smartwatch + Folding Cart + vivo Backpack + vivo Thermos Flask
  • V70 series: Bluetooth Headphones vivo Buds Air 3 + TV Sound Bar + vivo Thermos + vivo Cloud Bag
  • V70FE Series: Bluetooth Headphones vivo Buds Air 3 + Power Bank + vivo Thermos + vivo Cloud Bag
  • Y Series: Wireless Headphones + Power Bank
• Complimentary snacks such as cotton candy and popcorn for customers 
• Exclusive vivo mobile phone lanyard for customers who visit at 1:00 PM and participate in the Countdown Machine Game

Post, Share & Redeem a FREE Milk Tea!

The celebration extends online from 22 to 27 June 2026 through vivo’s opening promotion. Customers who share posts related to the grand opening event, can redeem a complimentary cup of milk tea at the store, terms & conditions apply, while stocks last.

Discover Next-Level Mobile Imaging with vivo X300 Series

Beyond the exciting grand opening celebrations, visitors will have the opportunity to join an exclusive vivo X300 Ultra & vivo X300 FE Product Sharing Session from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, hosted by renowned local photographer Alexio. During the session, attendees can gain firsthand insights into vivo’s latest imaging innovations, explore the flagship photography capabilities of the vivo X300 Series, and discover how the devices are redefining the mobile photography experience through cutting-edge camera technology and creative imaging features. Participants who sign up for the session will also stand a chance to win a vivo Exclusive Backpack through a special lucky draw, making the experience even more rewarding.

Exclusive Appearance and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Celebrate the official opening of the vivo Concept Store at Sunway Velocity Mall with a traditional lion dance performance and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 12:00 – 12:30 PM. Their presence highlights the significance of this grand opening and marks a key milestone in vivo’s retail journey.

Visitors can look forward to a vibrant and festive grand opening celebration featuring captivating live violin performances across two sessions:

• Session 1: 11.10AM-11.50AM
• Session 2: 1PM-2PM

The vivo Imaging Experience Store is located at Lot 3-101 & 3-102, Sunway Velocity Mall, Lingkaran SV, Sunway Velocity, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.

For more information and updates, visit vivo Malaysia’s official website or social media channels:

Official Website: https://www.vivo.com/my 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivoMalaysia/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivo_malaysia/

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