18 babies, 10 children rescued from flooded childcare centre

Firefighters called to the centre in Johor Bahru found 5 teachers and a cook with the children. All were evacuated by boat.

A rescue team with some of the children who were evacuated from a flooded kindergarten and childcare centre. (JBPM pic)

JOHOR BAHRU:

 Eighteen babies and 10 children were among 34 people rescued from a childcare centre after they were trapped by flash floods this afternoon.

The fire and rescue department was called to the kindergarten and childcare centre in Kampung Mohd Amin here at about 4.30pm. It found five teachers and a cook with the children.

All were evacuated in rescue boats.

Firefighters in Kemas also rescued a five-month-old baby girl who was trapped due to floods at her caregiver’s house in Kampung Pasir. She was handed over to her mother. - FMT

730 pharmacists missed out for ‘lack of approved posts’

The heath ministry says a new round of applications for permanent positions will be opened next year.

The health ministry said all eligible contract pharmacists, including those previously on a reserve list, must submit fresh applications when the new intake is announced.

PETALING JAYA:

 The health ministry has explained that 730 government pharmacists could not be absorbed into permanent positions as promised due to the limited number of approved vacancies.

The ministry said it will open a new round of applications for permanent pharmacist positions next year, following the completion of the latest recruitment exercise involving only 600 permanent posts, Bernama reported.

“The ministry also confirms that the reserve status for candidates lapsed in October, in accordance with existing appointment procedures,” it said in a statement.

The ministry added that all eligible contract pharmacists, including those previously on a reserve list, must submit fresh applications when the new intake is announced.

“We remain committed to workforce planning that is transparent, merit-based, and aligned with service needs and approved staffing capacity,” the ministry said.

On Wednesday, Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran was reported saying that a total of 730 government pharmacists had been left in limbo as promises to absorb them into permanent positions were unfulfilled.

He said these pharmacists had been told by the ministry that their applications had expired and that they were no longer on the waiting list.

He lamented that the batch will have to join the queue again by submitting new applications for permanent positions, which will number several hundred.

Lingeshwaran, a former director of the Sungai Bakap Hospital in Penang, had urged the health ministry to address this pressing issue as the contracts of these pharmacists will expire in April and July next year. - FMT

Bring a jacket, says Teo after ride on new ETS service

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching said it is cold inside the ETS train which she took from Kulai to KL Sentral.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, who is deputy communications minister, said the new JB-KL service would encourage day trips. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching has described her experience on the new Johor Bahru–Kuala Lumpur ETS rail service as very satisfying.

The Kulai MP boarded the train at the Kulai station at 4.40pm and reached the KL Sentral station at 8.50pm.

“It was raining heavily. If I had driven from Kulai, it would probably have taken five to six hours. With the ETS, the trip took only three to four hours and was comfortable,” she told reporters.

Teo said features such as power sockets, a café, comfortable seating, and a pleasant cabin temperature made the long journey smooth for all passengers.

“I suggest passengers bring a jacket because it is cold. Other than that, it is comfortable and reliable,” she said.

She also said the service has the potential to boost tourism, especially for Visit Malaysia 2026, and helps the local economy by making inter-state travel faster and more comfortable.

Teo said the ETS service is likely to encourage more day trips between places such as Kuala Lumpur and Seremban, or Seremban and Segamat.

“Earlier on the train, I met an elderly couple from Kluang who took the ETS for a day trip to Johor Bahru. They paid about RM8 each because of the 50% senior citizen discount,” she added.

The railway has announced a special 30% discount for travel from today until Jan 11. - FMT

Malaysia to hold special Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting soon, says PM Anwar

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will convene a Special Meeting of Asean Foreign Ministers in the near future to assess the current situation and support measures to ease tensions in the region.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that as Asean Chairman, the meeting is also to strengthen Asean's collective role in maintaining regional peace.

He said this in a Facebook post after contacting his counterpart, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính to discuss current developments in the region as well as joint efforts to ensure continued peace and stability.

"In the meantime, I also express Malaysia's commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Vietnam in addressing the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing," he said.

Anwar said the cooperation includes coordination in enforcement, information sharing and preventive measures.

"I am confident that through continued dialogue and existing mechanisms, this issue can be resolved with prudence, calm and mutual respect," said Anwar.- Bernama

 

Dress code enforcement in police stations: Clear definition of ‘discretion’, ‘routine matters’ necessary

 

THE government’s decision to relax dress code requirements during emergencies as announced by Chief Secretary to the government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, is a necessary, expedient and a pragmatic step.

However, recent incidents including the case of a woman denied entry to the Jasin police headquarters over a skirt slightly above the knee highlight that the term “retain discretion to determine appropriate and respectful attire for routine matters” remains vague, inconsistently applied, and vulnerable to misuse.

For this reason, Wanita MCA urges the Home Ministry, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and the Chief Secretary to clearly define what “discretion” and “routine” mean, particularly at police stations and critical frontline agencies.

Dress code rules must never impede access to justice, emergency reporting, the safety of victims or halt crimes. Any delay in accepting police reports or initiating investigations can have serious consequences.

It may allow perpetrators valuable time to flee, give scammers the opportunity to disappear with or stash away looted funds, or complicate evidence collection. These are risks that the public should never bear because of subjective interpretations of attire.

It is also illogical, and deeply insensitive, to expect victims of physical assault, sexual violence, immolation attempts, or those who have been forcibly stripped, to “dress appropriately” before seeking help.

In many cases, forcing a victim to change clothing may destroy crucial forensic evidence, including the perpetrator’s DNA. Guidelines that ignore this reality will only embolden abusers, attackers, and predators.

Victims in distress need immediate assistance, protection, and empathy, and certainly not humiliation, judgement, or being turned away at the door.

We acknowledge that in predictable, non-urgent scenarios, for example, lodging a report after a foreseeable death at home due to old age or prolonged illness—it is reasonable to expect next-of-kin to observe standard attire guidelines.

But in crisis situations such as domestic violence, stalking, sudden assault, or when a victim is fleeing a dangerous environment, expecting them to “dress up” before approaching a police station is both unrealistic and unsafe.

Clear, unified, and public security-centred directives are urgently needed to ensure that no one is ever denied police assistance because of clothing. Justice and safety must always come before attire. 

Tee Hooi Ling is the Wanita MCA national deputy chairperson.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.

TNB bags 5th Brand Of The Year honour at the World Branding Forum

 

TENAGA Nasional Bhd’s continuous commitment to strengthening its brand presence in an ever-changing market was recognised as it received the prestigious Brand of the Year 2025–2026 award at the World Branding Awards held in Osaka, Japan, recently.

The ultimate global brand recognition was conferred on TNB as a testament to its standards of excellence in brand leadership in Malaysia’s energy sector.

The nation’s leading electricity utility is the only brand to receive the recognition under the Energy-Power awards category in Malaysia. It had won similar awards in 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

The World Branding Awards is organised by the World Branding Forum (WBF), a global non-profit organisation based in London, dedicated to advancing standards for the benefit of the branding community and consumers.

It recognises and celebrates some of the best global, regional and national brands for their work and achievements.

This year, an impressive 1,092 brands were nominated as consumer favourites, and fewer than 100 achieved the ultimate recognition of being named Brand of the Year.

Winners are judged through three streams comprising brand valuation, consumer market research and public voting.

This year’s edition saw more than 91,000 consumers across 66 countries cast their votes to honour the brands they trust and love most.

The recent honour accorded to TNB signifies the company’s strong dedication to going the extra mile to deliver superior value and service to the nation.

The award underscores the efforts and dedication of the 35,000-strong TNB workforce nationwide in delivering exceptional services and providing energy solutions to over 11 million customers in Malaysia. It also allows TNB to stay relevant, build trust and shape industry standards.

TNB expressed its appreciation to its customers and stakeholders for their continued support as it strengthens its customer-experience efforts and continues advancing together towards a more sustainable, reliable and customer-centric energy future.

Meanwhile, WBF global chairman Richard Rowles said that being named Brand of the Year served as an indicator of a brand’s achievement in gaining public trust, especially with 70 per cent of the vote driven by consumers.

Rowles said that when consumers vote for a brand, it is not just recognition; it is validation.

Public voting is the ultimate form of brand affirmation: it transforms perception into proof, marketing into meaning and presence into trust. The World Branding Awards go beyond celebrating success, spotlighting the unwavering effort, vision and emotional resonance behind it. — Focus Malaysia

Malay dog lover: “Muslims who complain pleasant dogs to local authorities are horrible people”

 

CANINES – whether pets or strays – can be a highly divisive issue in the local context. For many Malay-Muslims, there is a perception of dogs – apart from being unclean – as ferocious hounds of hell ready to rip into their flesh.

Though on the minority, there are Muslims who take the opposite view by treating these creatures as God’s creations, hence deserving of humans’ love and compassion.

This divergence in perspectives can be seen in a Facebook post by Ruzi Dzul who quite hilariously (and ingeniously) penned a ballad about a dog called Chin Chai.

The lyrics which were to be sung to the tune of Rod Stewart’s I Don’t Want To Talk About It warned Chin Chai of Malay folks who simply hated dogs and who would complain to the municipal authorities.

Even though Chin Chai was minding its own business and was fast asleep, it was taken away in the dead of the night by eight men.

The lyrics goes on to recount that a hefty compound of RM1,300 was required to secure Chin Chao’s release. Little wonder then that pet owners were willing to let their furry friends be put to sleep rather than pay the extortionate fine.

Carrying a message of hope, the ballad hoped that Chin Chai was still breathing – and if so – urged the canine to run and never to look back because there were plenty of devils chasing it down.

The Ballad of Chin Chai has generated 2.8K likes, 745 comments and 207 shares at time of writing, indicating the heartfelt lyrics resonated with many animal lovers.

One commenter conceded that it was understandable if the dog was a nuisance that was endangering others or was disturbing the peace with its barking. However, he had nothing but contempt for those who made an issue with an animal that disturbed no one.

Another commenter also had nothing good to say about Malay youth who came on motorcycles to kick at the stray dogs near his home. “Hateful behaviour” was the damning verdict.

Interestingly, there were many Muslim commenters who showed great compassion in hoping that no harm came to Chin Chai (whether fictional or not).

However, as mentioned, there are those who took the opposite view. Perhaps, the lyrics cut a bit too close to home for this commenter who accused the poster of being a bleeding-heart liberal who should take Chin Chai into her own home.

A near accident involving his son and the mauling of kittens were reasons proffered for this commenter’s view on stray dogs.

Another dark-hearted commenter sarcastically opined that it was great that the government was allowing more foreign workers from Vietnam to work here. He insinuated that their diet helps keep stray dog population at bay.

As can be seen, it remains a highly contentious issue. But the comments attached to the Ballad of Chin Chai post – by and large – preach compassion and understanding.

It is hoped better education will lead to more realization that “dogs are men’s best friend”. –  Focus Malaysia