The Visit Malaysia campaign will see a roll out of concerts, festivals and international sporting events over the coming months. (Right) An upgrade is in store for Malaysians’ identity cards to prevent forgery and enable digital verification. — File photo
Kickstarting 2026 is the Visit Malaysia campaign which will see a roll out of festivals, concerts and international sporting events in the coming months.
This year marks the campaign’s eighth series and will involve the participation of every state.
The set target is to focus on the international market with an aim to attract 47 million visitors and generate RM329bil in tourism receipts.
The official launch of this campaign will see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attending a lighting ceremony at Bintang Walk this month.
School Year
Heralding the start of the new year is the return of a January start for all national and government-aided schools, as announced by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek last October.
Following restrictions by the Covid-19 movement control order, the start of the school year was moved to March from 2022 till 2024.
The Education Ministry also plans to implement a student character development programme integrated within existing subjects in 2026.
This is not an additional subject and will be done during lessons where teachers will spend time talking about moral values.
There will be another round of RM100 cash aid under Sara for all Malaysians aged 18 and above.
Government Aid
Malaysians aged 18 and above will be able to look forward to another round of RM100 cash aid under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiative in mid-February.
The first round of Sara was given in conjunction with the National Day celebration on Aug 31 last year.
Just like the first round, this year’s cash aid will be channelled directly to the recipients’ MyKad or MyTentera, from which payment for designated basic necessities will be made.
An upgrade is in store for Malaysians’ identity cards to prevent forgery and enable digital verification. — File photo
IC Upgrade
New identity cards will be introduced by the National Registration Department starting June 2026.
According to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, this is for better security, to prevent forgery and for the enabling of digital verification.
The new feature will see the cards having a QR code so that digital verification can be done to confirm their authenticity.
Litterbugs and pet owners who do not pick up after their animals, may have to do up to 12 hours of community service.
Littering Penalty
Litterbugs and pet owners who do not pick up after their animals, may have to do up to 12 hours of community service within a six-month period.
Starting today, those found guilty of minor offences, like littering, will have to don green vests and clean public toilets and drains.
This is under the amended Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing law, enabling courts to impose community service orders in addition to fines for littering offences in public places.
Following the quest for a cleaner country, there will also be a nationwide requirement for all shopping centres to provide recycling facilities at their premises in order to get their business licence.
Enforcement will be done by the local authorities in support of the nation’s sustainable waste management drive.
Cash in Clunkers
In an effort to remove old cars from the road and potentially deal with the problem of abandoned cars, a “Cash for Clunkers” scheme was announced during Budget 2026.
Under this scheme, the government will offer matching grants of up to RM4,000 for cars that are more than 20 years old when their owners opt to buy new national cars.
This means that if either Proton or Perodua offers a buyer RM4,000 for a 20-year-old car, the government will match it with the same amount. This essentially translates to having as much as an RM8,000 rebate for buying a new national car.
The implementation date has yet to be announced but many are hoping for it to happen soon.
Malaysians never fail to show up in full force to support our national badminton squad.
Sporting Events
Badminton fans will surely look forward to the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals from April 24 to May 3 in Denmark.
Hopes are running high that our players will be able to end the three-decade drought since the Malaysian team’s victory in 1992.
Former national shuttler Datuk Rashid Sidek, who was part of the 1992 winning squad, expressed belief in our current crop of players.
“If we have two doubles and two singles players who are more or less equal, I think the team will be stable and can lift the Thomas Cup,” he said.
Competitive sailors and sailing fans from all over the world will descend on Langkawi for the Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2026, organised by the Malaysian Sailing Association, scheduled for Jan 19 to 24 at the Kuah Harbour.
Expected are teams from Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Britain.
Among the highly anticipated contenders is Dash, a Yamaha 36 skippered by Sophie A. Rahman, who will be representing the Royal Selangor Yacht Club.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is slated from June 11 to July 19, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
After that is the Commonwealth Games from July 23 to Aug 2 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Following this is the Asian Games to be held in Japan from Sept 19 to Oct 4.
It was announced that 4,600 athletes and officials would be housed in a luxury cruise liner docked at Kinjo Pier for this purpose.
Shipping containers placed about a 10-minute bus ride away will house another 2,400 people.
