28 January 2026 KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Tourism Malaysia and Batik Air, describing it as a strategic move to strengthen air connectivity and support sustainable tourism growth ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026. Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Tiong King Sing, said the collaboration would enhance destination connectivity, intensify joint promotional efforts and

28 January 2026 KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Food & Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) 2026 returns with a revitalised national focus, positioning Malaysia’s food and beverage sector as a cohesive domestic ecosystem primed for growth, supported by robust international participation. Under the theme "Future-Ready F&B: Powering the Next Wave," MIFB 2026 builds on 25 years of industry experience to serve as a trade-first platform that empowers Malaysian businesses. Alongsid

28 January 2026 KUALA LUMPUR: HitPay, a leading payment platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), today announced the launch of Borderless QR. This proprietary software solution bridges the gap between Southeast Asian merchants and the region’s rapidly expanding tourism economy, which is projected to reach USD 39.52 billion in 2026. The launch follows a landmark 2025 for HitPay, during which the platform achieved twice-yearly transaction growth and delivered ove

28 January 2026 PENAMPANG: Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), a natural, low-calorie sweetener from the sunflower family, is gaining recognition in Malaysia. Native to Paraguay, it has been used for centuries to sweeten drinks and thrives in various environments across South America. Its sweet compounds, steviol glycosides, are many times sweeter than sugar but contain minimal calories. In recent decades, stevia has spread to countries in the Pacific Rim, where it is cultivated for

27 January 2026 KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed grave concern over the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, warning that the situation risks tipping into open conflict if restraint is not urgently exercised. In a statement today, Anwar said the growing concentration of military assets and increasingly absolutist public rhetoric have narrowed the space for restraint at precisely the moment when it is most needed. “Any conf

27 January 2026 KUALA LUMPUR: The re-establishment of a ministerial portfolio dedicated specifically to Sabah and Sarawak, following the recent Madani Cabinet reshuffle, is expected to have a positive impact on the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Putatan Member of Parliament Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya said the move has been highly anticipated, particularly in relation to longstanding issues concerning the execution of MA63. He expressed hope that the Prime

27 January 2026 DAVOS, Switzerland: At the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Dr. Giovanni Caforio, Chairman of Novartis, announced a groundbreaking partnership. The Novartis Foundation, the Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam, and EVYD Technology will collaboratively implement an AI-powered national programme aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease, under the global initiative known as CARDIO4Cities. Built upon Brunei’s existing health platform, this p

27 January 2026 KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Government has been urged to review and refine the distribution of national petroleum revenues with Sabah in line with the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974), as provided for under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Tenom Member of Parliament Riduan Rubin said Sabah currently receives a five per cent royalty from petroleum revenues under the provisions of the PDA 1974, but the amount does not reflect the state’s significant co