Author: The Star
Malaysia’s Johor state will be transitioning to a Saturday-Sunday weekend starting from January 1, 2025, as announced by the regent, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. Currently, the state observes a Friday-Saturday weekend, but this change comes after consultation with the Johor Islamic Religious Council and with the approval of Sultan Ibrahim, Malaysia’s king. The decision was made after discussions with Johor’s chief minister and the Johor mufti to ensure a smooth transition. Tunku Ismail emphasized the importance of allowing Muslim workers enough time to perform Friday prayers amidst the schedule change. Construction work seen on the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System…
Suicide rates in Malaysia have seen a drastic increase, with 4,440 Malaysians taking their own lives since 2019, as reported by the country’s deputy prime minister. Men in Malaysia were four times more likely to die by suicide than women, with a sharp rise in cases since 2021. The statistics revealed a distressing trend with 609 cases in 2019, escalating to 1,087 cases in the following year. The top demographic affected were men, particularly in the Chinese community. Malaysia’s National Mental Health Crisis Line, HEAL Line 15555, received over 48,900 calls from October 2022 to June this year, showing a…
Fans of Bruno Mars are divided over his upcoming concert in Malaysia, with some calling for a boycott due to his silence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mars, who is set to perform at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, has faced criticism for not condemning the Israeli government’s actions. One fan, 24, believes Mars should speak out against the atrocities in Palestine, while mental health therapist Alia Alias, 35, has decided to skip the concert in support of the boycott. However, university student Matt feels the show should go on as Mars has not shown explicit support for Israel. Boycott, Divestment,…
The state government of Johor has launched a new initiative this year called Johor Bersih@Sungai to tackle river pollution. Led by Ling Tian Soon, the programme involves all 10 districts of Johor, focusing on cleaning up polluted rivers like Sungai Skudai. Ling emphasized the importance of stopping the dumping of garbage into rivers and raising public awareness about environmental conservation. “There must be a stop to the dumping of garbage into the rivers” – Ling Tian Soon, Johor health and environment committee chair Borneo pygmy elephants drink water from a river in Malaysia’s Sabah state. There are about 120 to…