MP: Govt quotation for solar street lights 5 times over market price
When debating the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in Parliament yesterday, Sng suggested that the project to establish solar street lights in rural Sabah and Sarawak would be more cost-effective if conducted through independently run community initiatives (gotong-royong) instead of being directly administered by the ministry.
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New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Inquest into Zara Qairina's death must be expedited as questions mount, says MP
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to hold an inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, an opposition MP told the Dewan Rakyat. Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Star) said the inquest was necessary to identify those responsible, as the cause of her death and the identity of the perpetrators remained unanswered nearly a month after the incident. "Zara is not only the child of her parents, but the child of all Malaysians who want justice for her still unanswered death," he said during his debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat. Afnan also proposed the appointment of full-time hostel wardens who are not schoolteachers, safety audits at schools with a high incidence of bullying, installation of CCTV cameras, the drafting of anti-bullying legislation, and the immediate formation of a special cabinet committee on bullying. The fifth measure, he said, was to create an online complaint platform that could be accessed by schools, police, and other relevant agencies. "What exactly happened? "Who are the perpetrators being protected?" he asked, adding that the issue had undermined public trust in schools, which should instead inspire confidence. He said that national development and economic progress would be meaningless if moral values among those responsible for carrying out such plans continued to deteriorate. Yesterday, the Inspector-General of Police Secretariat's Corporate Communications Unit confirmed that a task force comprising federal police CID personnel has taken over the investigation into Zara's death. Zara, a Form One student of a secondary school in Papar, Sabah, was reported to have fallen from the third floor of a dormitory. She was found unconscious in a drain on July 16 and later died while receiving treatment at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (HQE) in Kota Kinabalu. On July 31, Sabah police chief Datuk Jauteh Dikun said that the possibility of bullying as a factor had not been ruled out. On Saturday, Zara's grave was exhumed in preparation for a post-mortem. On Sunday, the post-mortem was conducted at HQE, lasting about eight hours from 11am to 7.30pm.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Bursa Malaysia settles higher thanks to morning rally
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended higher, building on its morning gains despite easing in the afternoon session. At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was up 0.30 per cent, or 4.66 points, to 1,567.90 from Monday's close of 1,563.24. Market breadth was positive, with 513 gainers outpacing 477 losers, while 507 counters were unchanged. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said the morning rally briefly lifted the index to 1,572.42 points. This was driven by optimism after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day extension to the suspension of higher tariffs on Chinese goods, extending the reprieve into early November. "In our view, investors are beginning to see the market as less disorderly, with a measure of improved policy clarity following incremental progress in US trade negotiations. "However, momentum moderated after the midday break, with the index paring earlier gains but still finishing above its opening level. "The six-day winning streak reflects renewed investor interest in Malaysian equities, supported by the fiscal and policy impetus from the 13th Malaysia Plan and the recent reduction in US tariffs from 25 per cent to 19 per cent," he said. Sedek noted that among FBM KLCI constituents, consumer and plantation stocks were the main drivers of the gains, while telecommunications counters trailed. He said 11 index components recorded gains of over one per cent in today's session, reflecting selective strength even though the broader index ended largely unchanged. "The softer afternoon tone was largely the result of profit-taking, as market participants locked in gains after a strong run that had already delivered meaningful returns," he added.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Imagine Zara as your own child, MP says in urging M'sians to reflect on rising bullying trend
KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition lawmaker has asked Malaysians to view the unresolved death of Sabah schoolgirl Zara Qairina Mahathir as if she were their own child, emphasising the urgent need to address a disturbing trend of bullying. Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) said the nation should seek justice for Zara Qairina's untimely passing, which remains unanswered nearly a month later. "We should not look at it as a case of someone else's child, but our own. "Only then will we be accountable in tackling the disturbing trend of bullying and other social issues plaguing our nation. "There should also be an immediate inquest to identify those responsible," he said when debating the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 12). Afnan Hamimi urged the government and society to ponder what kind of human talent they want to nurture for the nation in the coming decades. "Lately, the increasing visibility of various social issues like free sexual behaviour and LGBT issues has become an alarming concern on social media. "What's worse (is) the troubling trend of bullying that has escalated to life-threatening levels," he said. He also criticised those who brazenly record and disseminate their harmful actions online. "What kind of society are we nurturing when individuals shamelessly record and share their harmful deeds? "Our children are learning from viral trends and digital media, rather than traditional values and education," he added. Expressing concern for future generations, Afnan Hamimi noted that while the current generation might withstand these challenges, the next may not be as resilient. "What use is economic progress if our moral fabric continues to deteriorate? "We need serious reflection on our societal values alongside economic growth," he added. Zara Qairina, 13, was found unconscious at her school dormitory block in Papar on July 16 and declared dead the following day. The incident was initially classified as sudden death by police, but later developments led to the investigation being reopened, with allegations of bullying arising.
