KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Muslims in Malaysia will celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha on Wednesday, May 27, corresponding to 10 Zulhijjah 1447 Hijrah.

The announcement was made by Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal assistant secretary Muhammad Affendi Jalaludin during a ‘live’ broadcast on national television tonight.

“In fulfilment of the command of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and with the consent of the Rulers, I, on behalf of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal of Malaysia, hereby declare that 1 Zulhijjah 1447 Hijrah falls on May 18.

“Accordingly, Hari Raya Aidiladha for all states throughout Malaysia is fixed on Wednesday, May 27, 2026,” he said.

The sighting of the Zulhijjah crescent moon for this year was carried out this evening at 29 locations nationwide.

PETALING JAYA, May 17 — PWN Kuala Lumpur has relaunched with an exclusive leadership exchange, drawing more than 70 senior women leaders, corporate executives and entrepreneurs.

The event marked the local chapter’s return as part of the global Professional Women’s Network, which spans 30 city networks across 27 countries.

PWN Kuala Lumpur president and global leadership advisor Jasmin Peters welcomed guests and introduced board members, before outlining member benefits and partnership opportunities.

The highlight of the day was a fireside chat titled “Wired to Lead: Hormones, Health & High Performance”, featuring obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Shilpa Nambiar and transformation coach Caleen Chua, and moderated by Peters.

Founded in Paris in 1996, PWN Global today connects more than 3,500 members worldwide through mentoring, coaching and over 600 annual events.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm warning for states across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, cautioning residents to brace for heavy rain, strong winds and lightning until 7.00pm.

The warning, issued at 4.10pm, covers an extensive stretch of the country, affecting communities from the northern state of Perlis all the way south to Johor, as well as major areas in both East Malaysian states.

In Peninsular Malaysia, the affected states include Perlis, several districts in Kedah — namely Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena and Padang Terap — as well as districts in Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor.

The warning covers densely populated and economically significant areas, including parts of the Klang Valley such as Gombak, Hulu Selangor and Hulu Langat.

In Sarawak, the alert extends across Kuching, Serian, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang, while in Sabah, residents in the Interior, West Coast, Tawau, parts of Sandakan and the Kudat division have also been placed on notice.

MetMalaysia said the warning was triggered by conditions indicating thunderstorms with rainfall intensity exceeding 20 millimetres per hour, either already occurring or expected to persist for more than one hour.

The department reminded the public that thunderstorm warnings are short-term advisories, valid for no more than six hours from the time of issuance.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to remain indoors where possible, avoid open fields and tall trees, and stay away from flooded roads and waterways.

Motorists are urged to exercise caution, reduce speed and switch on headlights in conditions of poor visibility.

SINGAPORE, May 17 — Singapore condominium management bodies are increasingly using the threat of forced property sales against residents who fail to pay maintenance fees, with one luxury apartment recently auctioned off over arrears of about S$61,000 (RM213,000).

In a recent case reported today by The Straits Times, a four-bedroom unit at the Parkshore condominium in Tanjong Rhu was sold at auction in September 2025 after its owners failed to clear unpaid maintenance and sinking fund contributions owed to the estate’s management corporation strata title (MCST).

According to the Singapore newspaper, the 2,325 sq ft freehold apartment was eventually sold for around S$4 million (RM13.97 million), nearly 15 per cent below its opening auction price.

Under Singapore law, MCSTs can force the sale of condominium units to recover unpaid fees, although lawyers and property managers say such cases remain uncommon and are usually treated as a last resort.

The Straits Times reported that it found at least one notice of intended sale was published every month over the past year involving condo owners who allegedly owed between S$9,450 (RM33,000) and S$55,798 (RM195,000).

Lawyers said most cases do not end in an actual sale because owners often settle their debts once legal proceedings begin or banks intervene to avoid losing the property.

Still, industry players said the process itself has become an increasingly effective pressure tactic.

Lawyer Kok Yee Keong said many owners start negotiating instalment plans once they see MCSTs taking concrete steps towards forcing a sale.

Property managers said arrears are not widespread, with fewer than five per cent of owners typically behind on payments across most estates.

They added that unpaid fees became more common during the Covid-19 pandemic but are now mostly concentrated among a small number of units.

The forced sale process typically begins after condo residents approve legal action through a formal resolution at a general meeting.

If debts remain unpaid six weeks after a public notice is issued, the MCST can appoint valuers and auctioneers to sell the property.

Lawyers said the biggest challenge is often locating owners before the case reaches auction stage.

Auction firms added that such units are usually sold at discounted prices because buyers often cannot inspect the property and may not know whether it is still occupied.

 

TAIPEI, May 17 — What began as a minor public indecency case has transformed into Taiwan's most unexpected viral phenomenon, as residents have turned a park surveillance camera into an interactive public spectacle using posters, creative performances, and grassroots humor.

According to the Taipei Times, the incident unfolded on May 15 at Yangmingshan National Park’s Qingtiangang area, when a couple was captured on a park-operated 4K livestream camera engaging in sexual activity. 

The couple, unaware of the park’s 24-hour monitoring system linked to YouTube, became the subject of an unintended broadcast that quickly went viral across Taiwanese social media. 

The Shilin Police Precinct identified the suspect, a 23-year-old man, and plans to summon him on public indecency charges, which carry a potential penalty of up to one year in prison and a NT$9,000 (RM1,127) fine.

The Yangmingshan National Park Administration Office promptly removed the footage and warned against redistribution, which would violate the Criminal Code and the Social Order Maintenance Act.

Instead of widespread outrage, Taiwanese netizens responded with sharp wit. Posts flooded social media with humorous commentary about the "national-level cameraman" and jokes questioning whether the couple had mistaken the 4K zoom lens for part of their "audience." 

On the popular forum PTT, users joked that the livestream had set a "new benchmark for Taiwanese tourism promotion," while others quipped, "They didn't just leave evidence—they gave the authorities 4K receipts."

The creative response quickly moved from online jokes to real-world action.

By the night of May 15, dozens of citizens had gathered at Qingtiangang, turning the site into an impromptu stage. According to Liberty Times, on the evening of May 15 and into the early hours of May 16, crowds flocked to the scene. Some donned dinosaur costumes and playfully mimicked the couple's actions, while others brought spinning tops and staged competitions in front of the camera. By early morning on May 16, the livestream was still drawing over 5,000 viewers, with netizens commenting, "This is the best mental state ever," and "They've single-handedly revived Qingtiangang's tourism industry single-handedly."

A newlywed couple even arrived in wedding attire, recreating the controversial pose while waving cheerfully at the camera. The park administration briefly removed the "evidence table" to discourage further imitation, but visitors reportedly moved it back to continue their creative photo sessions.

You can check out the infamous table as well as the antics of passerbys in the livestream below:

 

 

BANGKOK, May 17 — The bus driver and freight train driver behind yesterday’s deadly level crossing collision have been charged with reckless driving causing death, The Bangkok Post reported today.

The charges were brought against Sayomporn Suankul, 46, who was driving bus 206, and Lapit Thongboon, 56, who was operating freight train 2126 on the Laem Chabang–Bang Sue route.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the crash occurred when barrier arms could not be lowered because vehicles had stopped on the level crossing, a violation of road rules prohibiting stopping within five metres of rail crossings.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was reported questioning why railway staff had not warned the train driver about the traffic obstruction ahead, after a site visit yesterday.

The collision took place at 3.41pm at a level crossing on Asok–Din Daeng Road in Huai Khwang district when the freight train struck a passenger bus stuck in a queue on the tracks.

The impact triggered a fire that killed eight people and injured 32 others, while several vehicles were also damaged.

The wreckage was cleared and rail and road services resumed later that night, with flowers laid at the site in memory of the victims.

 

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Chinese actress and producer Fan Bingbing has wrapped up her five-day promotional tour across Malaysia for the movie Mother Bhumi leaving behind a trail of emotional fan encounters and a heartfelt ode to the country’s cuisine.

The tour, which kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, took Fan and her team through Johor Bahru, Melaka, Penang, and Kedah—five states in as many days. In a social media post shared upon the tour’s conclusion, Fan wrote:

“5 days, 5 states, countless memories

The movie tour Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru, Melaka, Penang, Kedah and beyond, many fans came all the way from China for Mother Bhumi 地母, and some even followed the entire journey across Malaysia while discovering each city along the way.

Before everyone returned home, I had to share one more thing I deeply love about Malaysia — the local food

Hope everyone brought home more than just memories of the film, but also memories of Malaysia’s warmth and flavours.”

The post was accompanied by a series of snapshots of a big spread of local food at the restaurant White n Black Kampong Heritage.

Fan won Best Actress for her role in Mother Bhumi at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards last year. 

 

 

SINGAPORE, May 17 — Singapore police have obtained footage of a fabricated Zoom video conference used in a scam impersonating senior government officials, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. 

The police released a video on Facebook yesterday, and an alert on how it detected signs of deepfake technology in the bogus Singapore government Zoom call, highlighting one case in which the victim lost at least S$4.9 million (RM17.15 million) to scammers pitching funding assistance related to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

The police said victims were first contacted via WhatsApp by scammers posing as a Cabinet secretary, then invited to join a Zoom call featuring deepfake versions of Singapore officials and foreign representatives. 

A separate scammer, posing as a lawyer, would later follow up to pressure victims into transferring funds.

In its assessment of the footage, police said several technical indicators exposed the manipulation. 

Speech did not synchronise with lip movements, suggesting pre-recorded video with layered fake audio, while the call appeared to be broadcast from a single account rather than individual participants. 

Investigators also noted a distorted background and a partially obscured Zoom logo that did not align with the foreground, consistent with AI-generated fabrication.

Police said scammers are increasingly targeting business professionals with prior government-linked interactions, and urged the public to remain vigilant in virtual communications.