SEGAMAT in Johor was jolted by a small earthquake recently, a rare occurrence that most Malaysians of our generation have never felt – the last Johor tremor was reported 83 years ago.

WHEN the Jalur Gemilang was slowly raised during the 2025 BWF World Championships podium ceremony in Paris, I could see on the TV screen our triumphant mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei fighting hard to hold back tears while softly singing "Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku," on the podium.

NOT many politicians in the country have publicly commented on the flames of anger that broke out in Indonesia but all of them have been closely watching events across the Straits of Malacca.

Graduates forced to move out for better prospects.

IT'S an age-old argument in this country. Are our vernacular schools good? Or is the national school system still the best?

A RECENT report in a news portal that at least 10 ex-national athletes never received their RM5,000 prize money after being named Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year between 1966 and 1982 has exposed the ills of the Malaysian sporting scene.

OUR national shuttlers did the country proud on our 68th National Day.

MALAYSIA'S debt debate remains trapped in numbers: 64% of GDP, RM1.304 trillion, the statutory ceiling. Yet ceilings are political constructs, often gamed by guarantees and off-budget tricks (see "Debt, Deceit and Delay" by EMIR Research). The more vital question is not how high the ceiling sits, but how strong the floor is. What real fiscal space does Malaysia have once interest costs, rollover obligations, and household burdens are counted? And, crucially, what do we gain in return for every ringgit borrowed?

THE government, as well as all Members of Parliament, must start listening.

WE were spared. Sadly, not so for Afghanistan. The several mini earthquakes that occurred last week in Johor were nothing compared to what happened in Afghanistan on Sunday.

THE last time Liverpool had a midfielder wearing the No. 8 shirt who could play in everyposition, excelled at rightback, and had a habit of scoring crucial goals in big games was Steven Gerrard.

THEY say sport has the power to unite people, and that could not be more true.