ON Aug 28, 2024, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court convicted Swiss-Saudi Tarek Obaid and Swiss-British national Patrick Mahony for embezzling more than US$1.8 billion from 1MDB. Obaid swindled at least US$805 million and Mahony more than US$37 million, the court found.

They were both con...

1MDB update: 1MDB was only the first of many steps in Jho Low and Tarek Obaid’s plan to steal from Malaysia using PetroSaudi as a front

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The increase in the amount of Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) financial assistance to RM2,100 that was credited to eligible recipients on Tuesday, compared to RM1,200 last year, has been described as a "Syawal gift".

Sumbangan Asas Rahmah credited on April 1, recipients describe it as Syawal windfall

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The second day of the Aidilfitri celebration was disrupted by a gas pipeline fire on Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday, which damaged 190 homes.

Gas pipeline blaze: 190 houses, 159 vehicles damaged

(April 1): SoftBank Group Corp is seeking a loan of as much as US$16.5 billion (RM73.2 billion) to help fund artificial intelligence (AI) investments in the US, people familiar with the matter said, in what would be its largest-ever borrowing denominated solely in dollars.

SoftBank seeks record US$16.5b loan for AI growth in US — Bloomberg

SINGAPORE (April 1): RHB Singapore, part of Malaysia's fourth biggest bank group RHB Bank Bhd (KL:RHBBANK), said on Tuesday that it has appointed Goh Ken-Yi as its new chief executive officer effective immediately, according to a statement.

RHB Singapore appoints Goh Ken-Yi as CEO

SUBANG JAYA (April 1): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an immediate financial aid of RM5,000 to owners of homes that were completely destroyed as a result of the gas pipeline fire along Jalan Putra Harmoni Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday morning.

Gas pipeline blaze: Immediate financial aid for over 100 affected residents, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) has reopened the route from Seafield to Bandar Saujana Putra on the ELITE Highway, which was closed on Tuesday morning following a gas pipeline fire on Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Gas pipeline blaze: PLUS reopens Seafield to Bandar Saujana Putra route

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): Kuala Lumpur Tower concessionaire Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) said its unit LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd (LSHSM) has on Tuesday officially assumed the operation, management, and maintenance of the city’s landmark, which it said remains fully owned by the Malaysian government.

LSH unit assumes management of KL Tower for 20 years until end-March 2045

(April 1): OpenAI, the artificial intelligence (AI) company behind ChatGPT, said it has finalised a funding round that will bring in US$40 billion (RM177.4 billion) from SoftBank Group Corp and other investors at a US$300 billion valuation, including money raised.

OpenAI finalises US$40b funding at US$300b value

PUTRAJAYA (April 1): In what is being held as a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that company directors who are eligible for re-election, cannot be automatically retired without holding an annual general meeting (AGM), even if the directorship timeframe has lapsed.

Directors cannot be automatically retired without an AGM, Court of Appeal rules

HANOI (April 1): SpaceX is readying a ground station in Vietnam for Starlink satellites, and plans many more, two people with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, in a move that would herald its launch in the country and help authorities police internet traffic.

SpaceX eyes Starlink hub with multiple ground stations in Vietnam — Reuters

SUBANG JAYA (April 1): Gas Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:GASMSIA) wholly owned Gas Malaysia Distribution Sdn Bhd&nbsp;confirmed that their facilities were not involved in a fire incident that occurred in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, early Tuesday morning.

Fire incident in Putra Heights not related to Gas Malaysia facilities, company says

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has confirmed that a fire occurred at Petronas Gas Bhd’s&nbsp;main pipeline near Putra Heights, Puchong, Selangor, at 8.10am on Tuesday.

Petronas confirms fire incident at Petronas Gas main pipeline near Puchong

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has confirmed that a gas pipeline fire has occurred in Taman Puchong Perdana in&nbsp;Puchong, Selangor on Tuesday.

Massive gas pipeline fire in Puchong — Fire Dept

SUBANG JAYA (April 1): As of 10.35am on Tuesday, 25 victims of a fire caused by a burst gas pipeline at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights in&nbsp;Subang Jaya, Selangor&nbsp;were receiving initial treatment at a nearby temple.

Gas pipeline blaze: 25 receiving initial medical treatment as of 10.35am

SINGAPORE (April 1): Singapore-listed Capital World Ltd has asked the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to release the bank accounts of its subsidiary Capital City Property Sdn Bhd (CCP) that had been frozen to facilitate ongoing investigations, just over a week after it said three employees had been asked to assist investigations.

Singapore’s Capital World says MACC froze its unit CCP’s bank accounts to facilitate ongoing investigations

SUBANG JAYA (April 1): The tremor felt like an earthquake. That was what residents nearby said they felt&nbsp;when a gas pipeline burst, causing a massive fire at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor on Tuesday&nbsp;morning.

Gas pipeline blaze victims recount earthquake-like tremors

JOHOR Corp Bhd (JCorp) is believed to be finally ready to throw in the towel on its beleaguered QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd, which operates the KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in Malaysia.

Previously thriving, KFC has experienced a number of lean years, owing mainly to the ongoing war in ...

Sale of KFC back on the menu?

SUBANG JAYA (April 1): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an immediate financial aid of RM5,000 to owners of homes that were completely destroyed as a result of the gas pipeline fire along Jalan Putra Harmoni Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday morning.

PUTRAJAYA (April 1): In what is being held as a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that company directors who are eligible for re-election, cannot be automatically retired without holding an annual general meeting (AGM), even if the directorship timeframe has lapsed.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): Kuala Lumpur Tower concessionaire Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) said its unit LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd (LSHSM) has on Tuesday officially assumed the operation, management, and maintenance of the city’s landmark, which it said remains fully owned by the Malaysian government.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is evacuating residents living near the blaze caused by a burst gas pipeline at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights in&nbsp;Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Gas pipeline blaze: Fire Dept evacuating nearby residents

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): Electricity supply in the Subang Jaya area, Selangor, which was disrupted due to the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, has been fully restored.

Gas pipeline blaze: Power supply fully restored in Subang Jaya — TNB

SHAH ALAM (April 1): Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that 82 victims, including 12 injured, have been rescued in the gas pipeline blaze in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.&nbsp;

Gas pipeline blaze: 82, including 12 injured rescued — Selangor MB

ROME (March 31): An overnight fire at a Tesla dealership in Rome that destroyed 17 cars was an act of terrorism, the company's billionaire owner Elon Musk said on Monday.

Musk says 'terrorism' behind fire at Rome Tesla dealership

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the Selangor government and&nbsp;relevant agencies to provide appropriate assistance to those affected by Tuesday morning's gas pipeline blaze in Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights in Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Gas pipeline blaze: PM urges state govt, relevant agencies to provide assistance

(April 1): US President Donald Trump will announce his&nbsp;reciprocal tariff&nbsp;push on Wednesday, during an event at&nbsp;the White House Rose Garden, his top spokeswoman said.&nbsp;

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that the announcement would feature “cou...

Trump to unveil country-based tariffs on April 2 at White House Rose Garden

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The second day of the Aidilfitri celebration was disrupted by a gas pipeline fire on Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday, which damaged 190 homes.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has imposed a ban on drone flights in the vicinity of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Puchong, Selangor.

CAAM: No drones allowed in Putra Heights fire area

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The Department of Environment (DOE) will carry out air quality monitoring following Tuesday morning's gas pipeline fire at Jalan Putra Harmoni in&nbsp;Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Gas pipeline blaze: Environment Dept to monitor air quality

TOKYO (April 1): Asia's factory activity mostly weakened in March, as an intensifying US&nbsp;tariff war and slowing global demand hurt business sentiment, private sector surveys showed on Tuesday, darkening the outlook for the region's economy.

Comment by Ho Kay Tat