Inside BTS economics: Will the multibillion-dollar purple power last? SEOUL: When the first chords echoed across Gwanghwamun Square and a sea of purple light sticks pulsed in unison, thousands of fans in attendance and millions more watching online across the globe roared their affection at BTS highly anticipated comeback concert last Saturday To the casual observer, it was a spectacular display of pop culture dominance. To economists, the gathering at Gwanghwamun was a live demonstration of a ..

ACCCIM proposes RM1 per litre cap on petrol subsidy KUALA LUMPUR : The Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM) Socio- Economic Research Centre (SERC) has proposed that if international oil prices continue to rise, the government should set a cap on petrol subsidies at a maximum of RM1 per litre, with consumers bearing the remaining costs. In recent weeks, petrol prices have climbed steadily. While RON95 under the Budi Madani RON95 subsidy programme remains at RM1.99 ..

Live pigs are RM200 cheaper now, pork sellers urged to pass savings to consumers Putrajaya : Live pigs are cheaper now following the announcement of RM200 per 100kg drop in the ex-farm price in Peninsular Malaysia by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the new ex-farm price takes effect immediately in Peninsular Malaysia. He urged pork sellers to show empathy by revising the prices lower so that consumers get to enjoy cheaper pork. In a ..

Penang-based campaign aims to dispel myths about social workers Launched in conjunction with World Social Work Day, the Myths vs Facts about Social Workers campaign by Womens Center for Change (WCC) Penang and its mainland support center Pusat Perkhidmatan Wanita (PPW) sets out to do something simple but necessary: correct what Malaysians think they know about social workers, and reveal why social workers deserve recognitionand protection. People often think we just give advice, shares one of ..

Indonesian children fear losing learning, entertainment under social media ban JAKARTA: Kalam, an 11-year-old from Bekasi, West Java, usually spends one to two hours on weekends playing with his friends on Roblox, a popular sandbox platform for all ages, where he enjoys adventure and car racing games. But as of Saturday, he and some 70 million Indonesians under 16 will lose access to Roblox and seven other platforms, as the government restricts child users access to digital applications deemed ..

Paper industry giant Lim Guan Teik passes away at 91 PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Lim Guan Teik, the founder of Muda Holdings and a pioneering figure in Malaysias paper industry, passed away on Monday night at the age of 91. A prominent leader within the business community, Lim served as the president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) from 1998 to 2003. Born in 1935 in a small village along the Muda River in Kedah, Lim was a graduate of Nanyang ..

Kulai missing urns: Families reject compensation offer KULAI: Most families affected by the missing urn cases at Perpetual Memorial Park here have rejected the managements offer of two new double-urn niches under construction as compensation. A second round of one-on-one session between the affected families and the memorial park management was held Sunday, after the first meetings on March 15. No agreement was reached in the first meeting between the families and the memorial park management. ..

South Korea expresses regret over Japans approval of history textbooks, urges rectification SEOUL: South Koreas Education Ministry on Tuesday denounced a Japanese government panels approval of high school textbooks containing what Seoul described as historical distortions. The Republic of Koreas Ministry of Education expresses its deep regret over the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technologys decision to pass textbooks which claim territorial sovereignty over the ..

PENANG: Qingming, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese observance where families pay respects to their ancestors by visiting cemeteries. In recent years, the practice has increasingly been extended to pets, as more people regard them as part of the family. A growing range of pet-specific joss paper offeringssuch as snacks, pet houses and toyshas emerged, allowing families not only to honour their ancestors but also to remember beloved pets that once accompanied them. A ..

MICs decision to remain in BN reflects political maturity, says Zambry PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)s decision to remain in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition reflects loyalty and political maturity, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, the secretary-general of BN. He said the decision made by MIC central working committee in a meeting on Thursday did not only reflect its current political stance but also trace back to the deep historical ties formed during the Alliance era ..

MICs decision to remain in BN reflects political maturity, says Zambry PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)s decision to remain in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition reflects loyalty and political maturity, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, the secretary-general of BN. He said the decision made by MIC central working committee in a meeting on Thursday did not only reflect its current political stance but also trace back to the deep historical ties formed during the Alliance era ..

Harish Rana, first Indian granted passive euthanasia, dies after 13 years in coma NEW DELHI: After 13 years of silence and suffering, Harish Ranas long journey has come to an end on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. A resident of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Rana, who became the first Indian granted permission for passive euthanasia, breathed his last at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where he was shifted for the process of withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. The ..

Four urns recovered in Nilai; police do not rule out insider involvement 1. Xiao En Memorial Park in Nilai, where 30 urns were reported missing. (file photo) SEREMBAN: Police recovered four missing urns in Nilai and do not rule out insider involvement in urn thefts. Nilai police confirmed that 10 witnesses gave statements to the police where four missing urns were recovered. More than 50 cremation urns in three memorial parks Perpetual Memorial Park in Kulai, Xiao En Memorial Park in Nilai and ..

From wuxia games to AI-powered microdramas: China sharpens its soft power playbook BEIJING: In _Where Winds Mee_t, a Chinese-developed martial arts, or _wuxia_, video game launched in November 2025, players are not limited to scripted dialogue. They can also engage in free-form conversations powered by AI with non-player characters. The artificial intelligence chat feature in the game offers a glimpse into how China aims to leverage its growing prowess in innovation and technology to make its ..

Tang Ah Chai: Chinese independent school history textbooks draw on global standards, not just China or Taiwan The history textbooks used in Chinese independent schools do not cover only Chinese or Taiwanese history they also include Malaysian history, drawing on both the old national school curriculum (KBSM) and the current KSSM framework. Veteran historian Tang Ah Chai said it was a misconception that Chinese independent school students learn only the history of China or Taiwan. Equally ..

Fruit prices set to rise as fertiliser supplies dry up amid Middle East conflict PETALING JAYA: The impact of the Middle East conflict is increasingly being felt closer to home. Shipping disruptions caused by the conflict see farmers buying more expensive chemical fertilisers for fruit cultivation, said Koh Lai Ann, president of Federation of Malaysia Fruit Farmers Association. As a result, local consumers may soon be forced to pay more for fruit as production shrinks significantly. He said the ..

Are Malaysian students learning the same history? A closer look at textbooks in national schools and Chinese independent schools A pass in the SPM History Paper is listed as one of the requirements for Chinese independent school graduates with Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to apply to public universities. How different is the history taught in Chinese independent school compared to national school? Sin Chew Daily spoke to veteran historian Tang Ah Chai, former Associate Professor Dr ..

An early visit to cemeteries for Qing Ming prayers to avoid crowd, traffic congestion and long holidays KULAI: Some Chinese are performing Qing Ming prayers visiting cemeteries to pay their respect to ancestors in advance to avoid the crowd, traffic congestion and long holidays. Traditionally, Chinese families perform Qing Ming prayers, also known as tomb-sweeping day within 10 days before or after the actual day, which falls on April 5 this year. However, some opt to perform the prayers much ..

Urn theft may be linked to Cambodian scam syndicates, says Nirvana Group PETALING JAYA: The four urns missing from Nirvana Memorial Park are likely to be linked to Cambodian scam syndicates. In a statement issued, Nirvana Group has confirmed four urns were stolen from its memorial park in Semenyih and that all four have been recovered. Nirvana Group said the case is believed to be linked to scam groups operating in Cambodia. The group expressed its apologies for the emotional distress and ..

Oversupply from imports pushes local vegetable prices down to 30 sen per kg IPOH : Oversupply from imports has intensified competition for locally grown vegetables. Coupled with peak harvest season, the glut has driven wholesale purchase prices down to as low as 30 sen per kilogramme. Datuk Chai Kok Lim, chairman of the Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association said that due to competition from imports and oversupply, prices of vegetable grown in highland have dropped sharply, leaving ..

Asia News Network and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung open fellowship for young journalists The program invites young journalists not older than 35 years and residing in Indonesia or Malaysia to submit their applications no later than March 31, 2026. Successful candidates will be responsible for coordinating ways to establish the Malay news network and will work with ANN senior editors in a virtual newsroom on content focused on people and happenings in Asia. The fellowship program is expected to ..

Innovative courses enrich seniors lives in Shanghai SHANGHAI: Shanghai University for The Senior officially launched its 2026 spring semester on Monday with a vibrant opening ceremony, featuring a live online broadcast, choir performances of the school anthem, and the handover of class monitor duties. A range of demand-oriented innovative courses, upgraded school networks and optimized teaching staffs have infused new vitality into senior education across Shanghai. This semester, the university ..

Ransom demanded after 30 urns go missing from Xiao En Memorial Park NILAI: Another case of missing urns taking place at Xiao En Memorial Park in Nilai. The theft, which occurred on February 25, was accompanied by demanded ransom. Sources said a memorial park manager was informed by his colleague that a WhatsApp message was received on the day the urns storing ashes of the deceased after cremation went missing. An unidentified individual sent the message from Cambodia claiming that several urns ..

20 crew members from Thai cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz return safely to Thailand BANGKOK**:**20 Thai crew members of the Mayuree Naree arrived safely in Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday (March 16) at 6am after receiving coordinated assistance from the Thai and Omani governments following the attack in the Strait of Hormuz. They were welcomed and assisted by officials from the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while senior executives from Precious ..

Selangor govt plans to visit Perak pig farms in search of win-win formula TELUK INTAN: Selangor state government has not given up its plan on searching for a win-win solution to resolve pig farming issues in the state, said Selangor exco Dato Ng Suee Lim. Selangor state government plans to visit the pig farms in Perak, said Ng in a fund-raising dinner organized by Teluk Intan DAP Sunday night. Prior to Selangor Sultans statement that His Royal Highness did not consent to have pig farming in ..

Gold price triples in 10 years, driving younger generation to buy Gold, once considered an old-fashioned asset favored by older generations, has quietly won over the hearts of young people. As gold prices have tripled over the past decade, m

Malaysians buying more gold to hedge against economic and geopolitical risks KUALA LUMPUR: In times of turmoil, Malaysians buy gold. Amid an uncertain economic outlook and ongoing global geopolitical tensions, investment demand for gold across Southeast Asia has risen sharply and Malaysians are snapping it up at a remarkable pace. In 2025, Malaysian demand for gold bars and coins surged 37% year-on-year to 10.3 tonnes, ranking fourth in the region. Data shows Thailand remains Southeast Asia's ..

Restaurant uses CCTV and reservation records to return lost gold bracelet to tearful owner KEPONG: Honesty and persistence paid off for a Thai restaurant in Menjalara after a staff member found a gold bracelet left behind by a customer, and the restaurant owner went the extra mile to track down its rightful owner. The bracelet turned out to be a cherished heirloom left by the patron's mother-in-law, making its return all the more meaningful. Yellow Spoon Thai Cuisine owner Soo Wai Yee said a ..

40 years in journalism: Veteran editor Kuik Cheng Kang urges media to foster inclusivity, not chase traffic KUALA LUMPUR: After a 40-year journalism career witnessing social change, Media Chinese International Limited Group Editor-in- Chief Dato Kuik Cheng Kang has launched his new book Kuiks Time in Chinese and the English edition A Kuik Cup of Tea. The book compiles columns written by him in recent years in Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, China Press and Guang Ming Daily under Media Chinese ..

KULAI: Four families have lodged police reports over missing urns at Perpetual Memorial Park, where 22 urns are believed to have been stolen. Kulai OCPD Asst Comm Tan Seng Lee confirmed that four police reports had been lodged as of Tuesday. The police are investigating the motive behind the theft of the urns, said Tan. A 37-year-old self-employed man told _Sin Chew Daily_ that his fathers urn was among those missing. He said he had not received any phone calls or messages regarding the missing ..

The need to read: Why Jakartans are going back to bookstores JAKARTA: I like reading books. I probably should read more than I do, but what I love even more is visiting bookstores. Its relaxing, almost meditative. Theres something about being surrounded by walls of books, perusing a collection of genres, discovering new authors. Its not always about finishing the book. Its about the possibility of it. Not only that, but its also about unplugging, reading from real pages instead of a screen. ..

Fancy being a culture architect? In Malaysia, unique job titles are a sign of market shifts PETALING JAYA: Job titles these days have become increasingly unique, even playful and may raise eyebrows. But they reflect how job scopes are evolving beyond traditional labels. Job titles, for instance, have evolved so much that Malaysians are hired for work such as planet healer, low-carbon inspiration engineer, or culture architect. Take for example, a post last year on LinkedIn when someone observed ..

MANILA: Just when the Philippine economy was starting to gain some growth momentum after being laid low by the flood control corruption scandal in the second half of last year, it is facing another potential body blow if the latest crisis in the Middle East escalates further and takes longer to be resolved. Over the weekend, the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran, which immediately retaliated by firing missiles and drones across the Middle East, including Qatar, Bahrain, ..

JOHOR BAHRU: In a show of religious tolerance and goodwill, Chingay parade organizers delayed the start of the procession by 20 minutes to 7.20 pm, while devotees observed silence when passing three mosques out of respect for Muslims performing prayers after breaking fast. An estimated 300,000 people turned out for the annual Chingay Festival, where five deities were brought out from temples to tour the city and bless its people. Performances and chanting fell silent as the procession passed ..

Malaysian diver's organ donation gives five Chinese patients a new lease of life FUZHOU: A Malaysian diving instructor declared brain-dead after an accident while holidaying in China gave five patients a new lease of life through organ donation, in a case that made history in Fujian province. Jack, 34, from Kuala Lumpur, became the first foreign national to make a cross- border organ donation in Fujian, donating his liver, kidneys, and corneas to five recipients. Jack and his girlfriend were ..

Ill do my job or someone else will take it: Why many Asians are staying put in the Gulf amid war BENGALURU/NEW DELHI/JAKARTA/MANILA: Millions of Asians working in the Gulf region are trapped amid the drone and missile strikes from the US, Israel and Iran, which have so far killed at least 10 Asian migrant workers and injured dozens of others. Many say they are feeling safe but are anxious about the increasing hostilities, but others who want to leave are hesitant about losing their jobs, which ..

BN should contest Johor, Melaka polls alone, discuss cooperation after, says Wee Ka Siong KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) should contest the Johor and Melaka state elections under its own banner with the goal of winning more state seats, says MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong. MCA can then form a government with any party that shares similar values and principles. We must never hand over parliamentary or state seats without a fight, he said. Speaking at the 77th Anniversary celebration ..

Another 30 tonnes of rubbish pile up after massive clean-up last July Johor Bharu: The rubbish house in Taman Sentosa has once again accumulated about 30 tonnes of various waste since clean-up operations were temporarily halted during the festive season. When authorities arrived to carry out another clean-up on Mac 5, the 70-year-old homeowner, a retired teacher, lost his temper. Police officers were present to control the situation. A massive clean-up to clear the garbage accumulated for 20 ..

Bangladeshi extradited from Malaysia to Alaska over international child sexual exploitation charges KUALA LUMPUR : A 28-year-old Bangladeshi national facing several child sexual exploitation charges is escorted by FBI from Malaysia to stand trial in Alaska, United States. Zobaidul Amin, once a foreign student studying medicine in Malaysia, was extradited to Alaska with collaboration from the enforcement agency in Malaysia on Mac 4. He was charged in U.S in 2022 for alleged abuse and ..