There’s something special about Chinese New Year. Unlike most other major festivals in the country, it is one that transcends religion.

As we enter the new year, an old scourge – corruption – seems to be hogging the news. Corruption in any form cannot be condoned, especially when it can cost lives.

THE new year is almost upon us, and it’s a welcome new year. After all, the one that is just ending gave us little reason to celebrate.

THERE’S this strange place in India where thousands go every day – the Karni Mata temple in Rajasthan. It’s a temple dedicated to, of all things, rats.

AS a kid, one of my favourite series on television was Fantasy Island. The little guy, Tattoo, would shout, “The plane, the plane!” as the aircraft carrying visitors comes in to land on the island.

TODAY, Nov 16, has long been a special one for me. It’s the day my brother died.

With billions being spent on Budget 2025, it is important that the money reaches the people, and is not siphoned off by the corrupt and kept in ‘safe houses’.

The nation has turned 61, and it is ‘ageing’. But from the looks of it, it is not getting better with age. Instead, we seem to be on a downhill slope.

IT’S time to talk about football. Even the Prime Minister is doing so. He says he loves two football teams – Manchester United and obviously the national team to whom he has just given RM15mil.

I WAS a rookie reporter when I was called to the now-condemned Pekeliling Flats in Kuala Lumpur – on the eve of Deepavali.

HERE’S a geography trivia question. Where exactly is St Lucia?

IT is the Feast of St Anne, a weekend when Christians in Penang flock to the church – now a minor basilica – in Bukit Mertajam.