'Rubbish!': PN MP disputes Nga's claim of 20 tonnes of trash after 'Turun' rally
Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) questioned the accuracy of the figure during Question Time, saying it did not...
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New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Over 160,000 BNPL users have RM121.8mil in outstanding debt
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 168,967 'Buy Now Pay Later' (BNPL) account holders, or 2.6 per cent of the total 6.5 million users, had outstanding balances as at June 30, 2025, said Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying. She said the outstanding BNPL loan balance for the same period stood at RM3.8 billion, representing 0.2 per cent of Malaysia's total household debt. However, the amount of BNPL debt that was unpaid or overdue remained manageable, amounting to RM121.8 million or 3.2 per cent of the total BNPL loan balance, she said during a question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. She was responding to a question from Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) regarding the current status of BNPL debt in the country and the government's efforts to mitigate the risk of excessive indebtedness. Citing a 2024 study by the Consumer Credit Oversight Board Task Force involving 21,000 active BNPL account holders, Lim said BNPL users generally exhibited good financial discipline. "They also repaid BNPL loans with a low default rate. According to the study, approximately 88 per cent made all payments on time, 12 per cent made late but full payments, and fewer than 0.5 per cent were unable to repay in full," she said. In response to a supplementary question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), Lim said the Consumer Credit Commission (CCC), which will be established under the Consumer Credit Act 2025, will adopt a risk-based and proportionate supervisory approach for credit consumers. She said supervision would be carried out through periodic inspections and ongoing monitoring, the same methods used by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia. "The CCC's supervisory approach will prioritise the protection of credit consumers, focusing on fair treatment, transparency, and the development of a responsible credit market. "This will be supported by a regulatory framework that includes licensing and conduct standards under the Consumer Credit Act, empowering the CCC to supervise credit providers and credit service providers, and to take appropriate enforcement action," she added.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Khir Toyo backing PN won't help coalition retake Selangor, say analysts
An analyst said the influence of former menteris besar Khir Toyo and Azmin Ali (centre), along with former Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar, is still not strong enough to help PN reclaim the state. PETALING JAYA : By joining Bersatu, former Selangor menteri besar Khir Toyo may help Perikatan Nasional (PN) strengthen its position in Malay-majority areas – but it is unlikely to be enough for the coalition to reclaim control of the state, say analysts. Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Khir teaming up with two other political heavyweights in Selangor, former menteri besar Azmin Ali and former state Umno chief Noh Omar, would certainly give PN a boost. Awang Azman Pawi. However, he noted that the trio's influence is largely confined to Malay-majority constituencies and would do little to sway support from non-Malay voters. 'The current state government remains strong in mixed and urban seats. The Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance has the advantage in urban areas such as Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, and Serdang. 'As long as support from non-Malay and young voters remain with the unity government, it will be difficult for this PN trio to retake the entire state,' he told FMT. 'That said, PH-BN must remain cautious. They shouldn't be too quick to dismiss these seasoned political figures as irrelevant.' According to Awang Azman, the true strength of the trio depends on how well they can unify grassroots party machinery, present a fresh narrative, and overcome the public's negative perception, especially in light of Khir's previous conviction. Khir, a former three-term assemblyman, was sentenced to a year in prison in 2015 for abuse of power over the purchase of land and a bungalow and was released on parole after serving six months. Awang Azman said Khir's entry into Bersatu could also help reconcile the long-standing rivalry between factions that had previously supported Khir and Noh. 'This signals their willingness to put old Umno rivalries behind them in pursuit of a larger political goal – defeating PH-BN in Selangor. 'They realise that political survival demands compromise. In this context, the ambition to retake Selangor takes precedence over personal grudges,' he said, referring to the rivalry between Khir and Noh over the menteri besar's post during the 13th general election in 2013. Meanwhile, Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara believes Khir is unlikely to spark any political upset in the next election, as he is widely viewed as politically irrelevant and still tainted by his past conviction for abuse of power. Ariff Aizuddin Azlan. He said Selangor voters are looking for a fresh leader with strong, innovative ideas and the ability to inspire a sense of change that resonates with the public. 'To win Selangor, PN needs a more substantial narrative. 'The coalition must offer a new formula, such as good governance and shared economic prosperity regardless of race or religion,' he said.
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Over 10,000 Bumiputera engineering graduates in 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 10,000 Bumiputera engineering graduates were produced by public universities last year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said a total of 10,342 Bumiputera students graduated with first degrees in engineering in 2024, compared with 10,274 in 2023. In the field of architecture, 3,781 Bumiputera graduates were recorded in 2024, up from 3,327 the previous year. "The ministry always prioritises the production of professional graduates in strategic sectors such as engineering, architecture, education, law and accountancy, in line with national development goals," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN–Indera Mahkota). On professional certification, Mustapha said titles such as Ir. (Professional Engineer) and Ar. (Professional Architect) are overseen by their respective regulatory bodies, the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM). "These certifications are optional and pursued individually through professional training, industrial assessments, examinations and qualifying periods following graduation," he said. As of 2024, 16,223 Bumiputera engineers held the Ir. title, out of 35,760 certified professionals nationwide. In 2023, there were 15,668 Bumiputera engineers among 34,384 professionals, he said. For the field of architecture, LAM data showed 1,056 Bumiputera professionals out of 2,062 certified architects this year. In 2023, there were 1,036 Bumiputera professionals out of 2,545. He said Bumiputera professionals are also represented in various high-impact fields, including medicine, dentistry, law, accountancy, pharmacy, chemistry, actuarial science, quantity surveying, psychology, digital technology, education, nursing, counselling, and occupational safety and health.
