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Jom Heboh returns with Ejen Ali stars at KL Base kick-off

Jom Heboh returns with Ejen Ali stars at KL Base kick-off

KUALA LUMPUR: Karnival Jom Heboh (KJH), the beloved roadshow-style carnival that has delighted Malaysians for over two decades, returns this year with five stops nationwide — kicking off on May 30 at KL Base, Kuala Lumpur.
The much-anticipated event will continue its tour across other states, including Penang, Johor, Kelantan, and Sarawak.
Adding to the excitement at KL Base will be a special appearance by cast members from the hit film Ejen Ali 2, which is currently screening in cinemas nationwide.
Media Prima Omnia (Direct Solutions) chief operating officer Datuk Mohd Efendi Omar said this year's KJH would offer a wide range of activities, with more than 200 booths set up to attract visitors.
He said that the programmes were curated to provide entertainment for the whole family, ensuring a fun-filled day for all attendees.
"This year's edition will feature over 200 booths showcasing a variety of brands, including products from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and agro-based businesses.
"Visitors can also look forward to attractions such as hot air balloon rides and food festivals, which will be part of the festivities at each location," he said during the KJH convoy flag-off ceremony held at Balai Berita Bangsar today.
The convoy, which includes members of the DRKnight Malaysia Motor Club, was flagged off by Media Prima Berhad (MPB) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Syed Hussian Aljunid.
Also present was MPB Group chief financial officer Rosli Sabarudin.
Mohd Efendi said that KJH remained committed to supporting and promoting local entrepreneurs, with many established and emerging SMEs participating to expand their brand visibility.
"KJH has always been a platform for local products to gain recognition. Many SME entrepreneurs are leveraging this opportunity to grow their businesses and connect with a broader audience," he said.
He also said that about 50 celebrities, including popular artistes, would be making appearances throughout the carnival.
Visitors will have the chance to meet them and enjoy live performances.
"This time, we're bringing in the beloved Queen of Rock, Ella, to entertain the crowd. Other artistes such as Khai Bahar and Shiha Zikir will also be performing at KJH," he said.

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Ratings, reviews and riddles: What's the deal with online reviews?
Ratings, reviews and riddles: What's the deal with online reviews?

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  • The Star

Ratings, reviews and riddles: What's the deal with online reviews?

One of the first things that online shoppers usually search for when looking to buy something is user reviews. Rows upon rows of stars, scores, and ratings that are meant to guide and inform each and every purchase can in reality turn out to be far less useful than hoped for these days. From Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) deputy ­president Azrul Zafri Azmi's ­perspective, reviews remain very relevant to Malaysian consumers, especially when it comes to things like ordering from e-commerce ­platforms or deciding on where to eat. According to him, studies have shown that 71% of Malaysians take reviews into account before making an online purchase. However, he says that there are still some clear underlying issues when it comes to online reviews in Malaysia. 'The challenge now is not access to reviews, but how authentic and reliable they are. 'Honestly, trust has dropped a bit in recent years. Some ­consumers have started to ­question reviews that sound too generic or too perfect. 'We're seeing more fake reviews, incentivised ones, and even copy-pasted feedback across listings. These trends make it harder for genuine reviews to stand out,' Azrul Zafri says. Tainted trust This rings true for KL-based auditor Lee Xien Wen, an avid online shopper who says he has encountered everything from irrelevant and unhelpful reviews to ones he suspects are outright fake. 'Some of the reviews would say things like, 'Looks pretty, ­haven't tried it yet', often repeated in ­different languages. 'It makes me think they're just trying to earn points or rewards, or could even be fake reviews generated by bots. 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'When users rate a product they haven't even tried, it defeats the whole purpose of helping other consumers make better choices,' he says. According to Azrul Zafri, those ­leaving such reviews may not fully understand the impact of what they are doing, which in the long run 'damages the ­system that all of us rely on – and genuine buyers end up getting misled', he adds. An April 2025 statement from the Mufti of Federal Territory's Office (FT Mufti) similarly states that leaving false reviews or ratings for products purchased on e-commerce platforms without using them or examining their quality is an act of deception, which is prohibited or 'haram'. The FT Mufti further states that any rewards obtained through disingenuous reviews are also considered 'haram' and should be left unused until their expiry. 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'Consumers who are concerned they may have bought products based on fake ratings and reviews can report such products to Shopee for our investigations. They may also raise a Return/Refund request to get a refund for their purchase,' the spokesperson says. Both platforms allow users to ­further indicate if specific reviews are 'helpful' to boost their visibility to others as well. While Azrul Zafri acknowledges the efforts being made by the ­platforms, he says that more can still be done. 'Platforms need better filters for fake or copy-paste reviews, and they should educate users more clearly on review ­ethics,' he adds. Fake reviews have become a ­significant concern across e-commerce platforms, especially overseas, according to various reports. Most recently, the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) obtained a formal commitment from Amazon earlier this month to address fake reviews and 'catalogue abuse', which is a practice where sellers repurpose existing product listings to sell ­unrelated or lower-quality items by misleading consumers, following a four-year probe. This commitment comes in the form of faster detection systems, prompt removal of fraudulent reviews, and imposing bans on offending sellers and reviewers. Travel planning and booking platform, TripAdvisor, similarly reported a slew of fake reviews on its website in 2024. Based on figures from the ­website's 'Transparency Report 2025', 8% of the 31.1 million reviews it received that year were fake. This includes manipulative reviews meant to 'boost' a location or business's reputation, vandalism from a competitor, promotions of unrelated services or agendas, and paid reviews. 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Resilience in the fields: A farmer's story of grit and growth
Resilience in the fields: A farmer's story of grit and growth

Malaysian Reserve

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Resilience in the fields: A farmer's story of grit and growth

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