21/01/2026

WEDNESDAY | JAN 21, 2026

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‘Urban Renewal Act subject to Cabinet approval’

S’pore to establish consulates in Sarawak, Sabah

KUCHING: Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon said Singapore will establish consulates in Sarawak and Sabah this year following approval from the Malaysian government last month. He said the approval prompted his visit to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to assess potential consulate locations, aiming to identify suitable sites for at least a temporary starting point. He was speaking to reporters after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg at the Satria Pertiwi Complex on Monday. He also said once suitable locations are identified, Singapore would seek formal clearance from the Foreign Affairs Ministry before deploying personnel to staff the missions. “We hope to get the consulates up and running by the middle of this year,” he said, adding that the move is aimed at strengthening ties between Singapore and East Malaysia, particularly in trade, investment and tourism. He said trade between Singapore and Sarawak has been growing steadily, underscoring the need for a permanent diplomatic presence to facilitate closer economic cooperation. Menon also cited rising tourism interest among Singaporeans, especially in destinations such as the Mulu Caves, as another factor driving the establishment of the consulates. “They know about some of the potential sites at Mulu Caves, but Sarawak has plenty more to offer. With consuls on the ground, we believe we could attract more visitors and promote tourism links between our two places.” On Dec 4, 2025, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong welcomed Malaysia’s formal approval for the establishment of the consulates in Sabah and Sarawak, describing it as an important step in strengthening people-to people ties. He said the consulates would enable Singapore to provide consular services to its citizens and further deepen an already strong bilateral relationship. – Bernama ‘Captured tiger has potential for breeding’ IPOH: A two-year-old male tiger captured in Bukit Kinding has the potential to be used as a breeding stock in an effort to conserve the species, scientifically known as panthera tigris jacksoni , from extinction. Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department director Yusoff Shariff said the predator named “Yob Kinding” is currently housed for monitoring and further treatment at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC) in Sungkai. “A male tiger usually reaches sexual maturity at the age of five. This is among the suitable age ranges for predatory animals to be used as breeding stock. “However, further processes or other indicators regarding the reproductive potential of Yob Kinding will be examined by the NWRC.“ On Jan 11, Yob Kinding, with an estimated weight of 75kg, was captured after entering a trap set by the department in a durian orchard in the Bukit Kinding area. A video before the capture was also widely shared on social media, showing the tense moments when members of the Malayan Tiger Conservation Unit in Perak encountered the predator while conducting monitoring operations at the location. Meanwhile, reviewing the latest developments of Yob Kinding, Yusoff said the tiger has been undergoing continuous treatment and monitoring since being transferred to NWRC in Sungkai on Jan 11. – Bernama

o Legislation to support sustainable, organised and inclusive development

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PUTRAJAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry is ever-ready to proceed with the second reading of the Urban Renewal Act (URA), subject to Cabinet approval. He added that efforts are ongoing to ensure alignment among Cabinet members, emphasising that decisions on the proposed legislation must be made collectively. “If the Cabinet agrees, my message is that (the ministry) is ready to proceed with the second reading of the URA because we believe this is crucial to the future of our urban development. “We will continue to strive to achieve consensus because what I want is harmony and alignment, so that we rely on the Cabinet’s collective decision,” he told reporters after the 2026 Ministerial Address yesterday. He also said the legislation is expected to support more sustainable, organised and inclusive urban development in the long term. Nga also highlighted that the ministry has allocated RM4 billion this year to enhance the wellbeing of the public through various infrastructure projects, including Taman Madani, food courts, public markets, solid waste management and other initiatives. He said this year’s mandate was highly successful, adding that execution would be the main focus in 2026, with the ministry committed to improving welfare through sustainable and inclusive development. “As of December 2025, (the ministry) has delivered 511,544 affordable housing units, surpassing its 12th Malaysia Plan target of 500,000 units.” He added that the ministry has also revived

Nga speaking at the Majlis Amanat YB Menteri event at the Housing and Local Government Ministry headquarters in Putrajaya. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

As a result, KTMB will add eight more ETS services from March 13 to March 29, covering the JB Sentral-KL Sentral-JB Sentral, KL Sentral Padang Besar-KL Sentral, KL Sentral-Ipoh-KL Sentral and KL Sentral-Butterworth-KL Sentral routes, with two trips per day for each route. “A total of 36,540 tickets will be available for this period, and sales will begin on March 1. This will bring the total number of ETS services for Aidilfitri to 52 trips per day.” – Bernama considering any potential future coordination of government services He said as part of its goal to improve the user experience, the ministry is exploring the potential of Agentic AI to enhance service efficiency. “This initiative aims to make the app function more intelligently and proactively, helping users access services more seamlessly and reducing the complexities of digital bureaucracy.” – Bernama units valued at RM500 million, specifically to help B40 households own affordable houses. “Additionally, facilities in Kampung Baru Cina have been developed to improve living conditions and community welfare, covering 868 projects. “In urban development, 216 Taman Madani parks have been built, with another 100 scheduled for completion this year.” He said the achievements reflect the ministry’s commitment to the rakyat and its focus on execution and delivery this year under the ABCDT framework: Amanah (trustworthy), Bersih (clean), Cekap (efficient), Disiplin (disciplined) and Teamwork. “(We are) the ministry closest to the hearts of the rakyat . Housing and urban development for the (public) is our mandate. “Their safety is our promise and their comfort is our guarantee,” he said, adding that 2026 presents countless opportunities to further enhance the nation’s urban and housing development.

1,333 stalled or “sick” private housing projects. He said of these, 104 projects previously classified as “sick” have been upgraded to smooth-running status, while 1,201 sick projects and 28 stalled projects have been fully restored, comprising 159,638 housing units with a gross development value of RM126.47 billion, directly benefiting the public. “The largest stalled project, Residensi Hektar Gombak, has also resumed construction, and about 2,400 homebuyers are expected to receive their keys next year.” Meanwhile, Nga said under the PR1MA programme, 32 of 34 previously stalled projects have been completed, with the remaining two nearly finished. The 34 projects, comprising 44,000 units, are expected to be ready in time for this year’s festive season, with the last project located in Bukit Katil, Malacca. He added that for this year, the ministry aims to deliver 6,545 Rumah Mesra Rakyat

Extra ETS trips for CNY, Aidilfitri celebrations: Loke KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad will operate additional Electric Train Service (ETS) trips in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year and Aidilfitri celebrations to accommodate an anticipated surge in passenger numbers. Besar-KL Sentral and JB Sentral-KL Sentral-JB Sentral routes, with two trips per day for each route. “A total of 26,460 tickets will be available for this period, bringing the total ETS services for Chinese New Year to 52 trips per day. “The sale of tickets for the additional services will begin on Jan 29.” have already been sold, with the remainder expected to sell out by February.

He said tickets for the Chinese New Year period are nearly sold out, and additional ETS services would operate from Feb 13 to Feb 22, covering the KL Sentral-Butterworth-KL Sentral, KL Sentral-Ipoh-KL Sentral, KL Sentral-Padang

He was speaking at a press conference on KTM Komuter services for Thaipusam 2026 at KL Sentral yesterday. On Aidilfitri, Loke said 44% of ETS tickets

MyGOV Malaysia app exceeds one million downloads PUTRAJAYA: The MyGOV Malaysia app, launched to unify the public service ecosystem, has seen remarkable success, exceeding one million downloads since its beta release on Feb 27, 2025. 38 services across 13 government agencies, with features for service verification and direct links to relevant government services. “This integration process is ongoing and phased, with priority given to high-impact and frequently-used services, such as applications and payments.”

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the achievement demonstrates public trust in the Madani government’s efforts to enhance public service delivery through a more organised, secure and user-friendly digital platform. He said MyGOV Malaysia currently provides

Gobind further clarified that MyGOV Malaysia does not replace existing government applications, but would continuously monitor usage patterns and public needs before