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By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Rising urban temperatures in the Klang Valley are contributing to heavier downpours and flash floods, with experts pointing to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect as one of the factors intensifying storms. Experts say the interaction between urban heat, rapid development and climate change is intensifying thunderstorms over densely built-up areas, including the Klang Valley. Climatologist Professor Emeritus Fredolin Tangang from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said the UHI effect plays a contributing role but is not the sole factor behind the increasing frequency of heavy downpours in urban areas. “The answer is yes, but UHI is not the only factor,” he said, explaining that thunderstorms are more common during inter-monsoon periods in April to May and September to October, when weaker winds create favourable conditions for thunderstorms to develop. He said heat and moisture are key ingredients for thunderstorm formation and...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Some 2,069 tonnes of illegal e-waste worth RM151.6mil were seized in raids on illegal processing and recycling plants nationwide over the past year. A check and compilation of The Star reports from April 2025 to April 2026 found 37 reports related to the illegal e-waste trade, ranging from raids on unlicensed factories and seizures at ports to statements from enforcement agencies and ministries. Of the total reports, four involved raids and seizures at illegal e-waste processing or recycling plants, while seven were related to seizures of illegal e-waste shipments at ports. The raids on illegal processing facilities were conducted in several locations, including Ipoh, Bukit Tambun, Seremban and Gopeng. Among the largest seizures was an operation in Ipoh, Perak, in June last year, where authorities seized 1,500 bags of e-waste worth RM111mil, with each bag weighed between 850kg and 1,000kg. In March this ...

By DIVYA THERESA RAVI and SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysian coffee roasters may soon feel the pinch as rising prices in major coffee-producing countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia push up the cost of imported beans. Some seasoned coffee operators come forth to say coffee bean prices have risen, but are still managing despite the climate crisis.  Previously, The Star reported climate change in the top coffee-growing countries has caused stress to the plants, making them more susceptible to disease, reducing yields and leading to poorer beans.  With that, this could reduce the supply and quality of coffee and contribute to price increases worldwide. For specialty roaster Mohamed Helmi Ahmad Darki, who runs a cafe in Cheras, the impact is clear. “Last year, normal processed beans cost around RM35 per kilo, special processing around RM40,” said the 37-year-old.  “This year, normal coffee increased to RM45 to RM50, an...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: While electric cars continue to gain popularity in Malaysia, e-motorcycles struggle to keep up. Figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reveal a stark contrast: while electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 5.15% of the 870,327 cars registered last year, electric models made up just 1.53% of the 704,714 new motorcycles on the road. From 2015 to 2025, electric car adoption expanded at an average annual rate of 95%, rising from 55 units to 44,813. The adoption of e-motorcycles, however, grew at a slower pace of 45% annually, increasing from 262 units in 2015 to 10,781 units in 2025. The gap has continued into this year, with electric cars recording 14,591 registrations as of March 31 compared to just 2,764 e-motorcycles. The Star, in a 2024 report on the lukewarm response to e-motorcycles, quoted customers and industry experts citing limited range - typically around 100km - and low top speeds ...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: While electric cars continue to gain popularity in Malaysia, e-motorcycles struggle to keep up. Figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reveal a stark contrast: while electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 5.15% of the 870,327 cars registered last year, electric models made up just 1.53% of the 704,714 new motorcycles on the road. From 2015 to 2025, electric car adoption expanded at an average annual rate of 95%, rising from 55 units to 44,813. The adoption of e-motorcycles, however, grew at a slower pace of 45% annually, increasing from 262 units in 2015 to 10,781 units in 2025. The gap has continued into this year, with electric cars recording 14,591 registrations as of March 31 compared to just 2,764 e-motorcycles. The Star, in a 2024 report on the lukewarm response to e-motorcycles, quoted customers and industry experts citing limited range - typically around 100km - and low top speeds as some ...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru has become the third most popular line on the ETS network just three months after its launch, trailing only the KL–Ipoh and KL–Butterworth routes. ETS ridership figures from the data.gov.my portal shows that the KL Sentral to JB Sentral route recorded a total of 69,628 passengers between December 12, 2025, which was when the route was launched, and April 8, 2026.  KL Sentral to Ipoh was first with 122,406 passengers, followed by KL Sentral to Butterworth (86,090). Despite being a relatively new addition, the KL-JB Sentral route has quickly entered the top tier of ETS services. JB Sentral is the only southern destination among the 10 busiest ETS routes from KL Sentral, as the others are in the north. Daily ETS ridership data for the KL Sentral-JB Sentral route also points to a sharp upward trend since the service began operations.  The ...