Nurul Ashikin Mabahwi, a Kuala Lumpur native and Pejuanita Muda chief, declined two offers to work as a researcher in Japan to pursue a political career in Malaysia. Motivated by the country's political instability and a desire to contribute to national leadership, she joined Pejuang, led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Her expertise in disaster risk management and commitment to governance are seen as assets in her political journey. The article highlights her decision to prioritize political engagement over a potential career abroad.

The Health and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministries of Malaysia have set a ceiling price for two Covid-19 vaccines available for private purchase at healthcare facilities. The maximum wholesale and retail prices for Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines have been announced, with enforcement by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency starting January 15 under the Price Control And Anti-Profiteering Act. The prices exclude service charges, and facilities must display prices for transparency. Violations can result in significant fines or imprisonment.

Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi responded to accusations that the party is exploiting people's suffering for political gain by advocating for additional withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). He emphasized that their request reflects the people's needs, not political maneuvering. Zahid, along with former Prime Minister Najib Razak, is advocating for another round of EPF withdrawals following three government-approved schemes since 2020. He suggested that Umno's influence in government would facilitate such decisions, framing it as a lesson for the future.

Health experts in Malaysia predict that the Ministry of Health will report between 3,000 to 5,000 new Covid-19 cases daily for the foreseeable future. They caution about a potential Omicron wave and stress the importance of adhering to standard operating procedures and getting booster shots.

A total of 948 patients were hospitalized for Covid-19 in Malaysia, a decrease from the previous day. The hospital utilization rate was 63.3%, with 28.3% attributed to Covid-19. Kelantan had the highest hospitalization rate at 83.4%. The Health Ministry reported 3,683 new infections, with Selangor logging the highest number of new cases at 962. There were 41,682 active Covid-19 cases, with 288 in intensive care and 162 on ventilators.

Malaysia recorded 3,997 new Covid-19 infections, an increase from the previous day's count of 3,683 cases, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 2,754,513. The breakdown of cases by state will be available on the CovidNow website after midnight. A total of 948 patients were hospitalised for Covid-19, with the overall hospital bed utilisation rate at 63.3%, of which 28.3% were related to Covid-19.

Covid-19 hospital admissions in Malaysia increased to 971, with the Klang Valley reporting the highest daily admissions. The overall hospital bed utilisation rate was 65%, with Malacca having the highest at 83.3%. The Health Ministry reported 2,897 new infections, with Selangor logging the highest number. There were 42,357 active Covid-19 cases, with 302 in ICU and 169 on ventilators.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil has questioned the authorization for the conversion of six land plots in Kuala Lumpur, designated for flood retention ponds, for development. He refuted claims that the approvals occurred during Pakatan Harapan's administration.

The Health Ministry reported 23 new Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total fatalities to 31,392. All 23 deaths were classified as backlog cases, with four being dead on arrival. Johor and Terengganu reported the highest fatalities at four each, while several other states also reported new deaths. The national average was 11 deaths per million people, with Terengganu having the highest at 31 deaths per million.

Parent-teacher associations and education groups have praised the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to dismiss a suit challenging the legality of vernacular schools in Malaysia. The court ruled that these schools, which use mother tongues like Chinese and Tamil, are constitutional. Advocates argue that multilingual education reflects Malaysia's diversity and should be maintained, while the focus should be on improving national schools. Critics of vernacular schools had claimed they violate the Federal Constitution, but the court found these schools are not required to use Malay as the medium of instruction. The ruling has been celebrated by supporters as a step towards unity and educational progress.