Plea to MOE: Student effort deserves recognition
COMMENT | Last week, a Malaysian student from SMK Convent Kajang bravely questioned why her achievement at an international event was not recognised by the government.
She asked why, after emerging as best delegate at a Model United Nations conference, she was not recognised under the Education Ministry's Psychometric Assessment and Assessment of Physical Activity Co-curriculum (PAJSK) co-curricular system.
Her voice sparked a national conversation. And as someone who has spent years organising youth development programmes across the country, I feel compelled to echo her concern...
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Focus Malaysia
an hour ago
- Focus Malaysia
Is America pulling a fast one on China threat?
THE United States and Malaysia are standing poles apart when it comes to dealing with China, as revealed in the recent Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore. When US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth took to the podium, he promptly portrayed China as a very dangerous enemy preparing to 'use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific (region).' 'The threat from China is real,' he told participants from 47 countries gathered at the annual security forum to debate some of the pressing security challenges in these increasingly turbulent times. Presumably, he is raising the red flag over a potential conflict with China should the communist behemoth invade tiny Taiwan that could ignite a wider regional or even a global conflagration. The Indo-Pacific region covers the whole of Asean including Australia, Fiji, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. But Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who also attended the forum, had a different take that is not exactly in line with the American political playbook. Essentially, he believes in promoting active non-alignment in foreign policy where all countries can pitch in to help 'shape a meaningful global order'. In other words, Malaysia, or Asean, will not side with anyone in a renewed Cold War. Being the Asean chair for this year, Anwar probably thinks he can steer the Asean ship of state away from the turbulent storms emanating from some hotspots around the world. But keeping-your-hands-off policy is unlikely to be effective as a diplomatic tool to calm tempers down because big powers will not listen to the likes of Anwar trying to broker a peace deal. These days the sounds of a world war are getting shriller and it appears the loudest noise is originating from China. America tells the nations in Southeast Asia and other countries the threat from that huge country is credible and hence, there is an urgent need to spend more on defence to meet the Chinese threat. Hegseth may be crying wolf but Asean must not dismiss his warning as just an American ploy to deliberately create trouble in order to pull the bloc away from Beijing and into the US orbit. Is the US pulling a fast one on the China threat? It is highly improbable that Washington wants to play a game of deception when the world knows that China is building up its military arsenal in a possible confrontation with the US over the contentious issue of Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. When Hegseth removed the sugar from the coat to expose the unpalatable fact about this looming threat, he must have said it based on solid information about China's rapid military build-up. Where did he obtain such irrefutable proof of this disturbing development? It must have come from US satellite images which clearly showed China's massive expansion in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands archipelago. Malaysia does not possess such technologically advanced 'spies in the skies' that can locate with pin-point accuracy any military activity in any country. Hence, it will be in the dark about what is secretly going on behind the Great Wall of China. But the US has sounded the alarm and Asean must sit up and prepare for a possible aggressive encounter with this giant northern neighbour. It would do well to remember that before Ukraine was invaded, the US, through satellite images, had warned its President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia was massing troops on the country's borders for an invasion. But Zelensky dismissed the information as an attempt by the West to create unnecessary panic and he paid a heavy price for ignoring the dire warning. Now, a similar pattern is unfolding with, this time, China as the belligerent. There is no escaping from the fact that this superpower is flexing its military might as seen through the eyes of the spies in the skies. Although it is important to maintain vibrant ties with China, it is also equally crucial not to overlook the danger the nuclear-armed country poses to the rest of the world. In the rush to yet another world war, no country can stay neutral or stay safe. All will be sucked into the maelstrom. The weaker ones will have to seek protection from one of the superpowers or band together to help themselves. The danger is real and we ignore it to our own peril. ‒ June 12, 2025 Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Reuters
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Asean's ambition of being world's fourth biggest economy by 2030 well within reach: Tengku Zafrul
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean's ambition to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030 is well within reach, provided the region sustains an annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate between 4% and 5%. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz highlighted the region's robust growth prospects at the official launch of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan today. 'Our economists have thoroughly analysed the growth projections for all Asean economies under current conditions, and we are confident that the targets are indeed achievable,' he said. Tengku Zafrul noted that the Asean Secretariat projects regional GDP growth at 4.7% for 2025, as presented at the latest Asean Economic Ministers' Meeting. 'But things are very dynamic. It depends on the global economic situation. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) will also produce their forecast of global growth,' he said, stressing the need for vigilance amid shifting external factors. Tengku Zafrul emphasised the AEC Strategic Plan's role in keeping Asean's policies current and responsive to evolving business needs and emerging challenges. 'As the first instalment of this long-term vision, the plan serves as a comprehensive roadmap that outlines a clear and actionable path forward,' he said. The plan has been carefully crafted to implement the economic aspects of the Asean Community Vision 2045, leveraging the region's vast opportunities and potential. A key pillar of the plan is the establishment of a forward-looking digital economic framework, which is expected to double Asean's digital economy to US$2 trillion (RM4.5 trillion) by 2030. The focus on digital transformation, alongside sustained economic integration and resilience, positions Asean to not only achieve its growth targets but also to strengthen its global influence. On the domestic front, Tengku Zafrul sees positive signals from foreign investors in Malaysia, with no indication of existing investors withdrawing their commitments despite ongoing global uncertainties. 'So far, no existing investors have expressed any intention to exit Malaysia. They remain committed to their investments, and no cancellations have been announced.' However, he observed that new investors are adopting a more cautious, 'wait and see' approach, influenced by heightened geopolitical tensions – particularly between the United States and China – and broader global volatility. Looking ahead, Tengku Zafrul said his trade negotiations in Washington on June 18 will focus on reducing tariffs on Malaysian exports. 'The negotiations are essentially to address the current tariff structure, where the US has imposed a 24% tariff on Malaysia. Our first goal is to bring that down.' The second objective is to identify key sectors where Malaysia believes tariffs should be reduced even below the 10% floor, targeting industries important to both Malaysian exporters and the US economy. In April, the US government announced new tariff measures affecting more than 60 countries, including Malaysia. The implementation of these tariffs has been paused for 90 days to allow room for negotiations.
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Reintroduce flat-rate GST in Sabah, urges accountants association
KOTA KINABALU: The government is being urged to consider reintroducing a simplified Goods and Services Tax (GST). This proposal arises from concerns that the upcoming expansion of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) could burden businesses and consumers, especially in Sabah. The Sabah Association of Professional Accountants (SAPA) suggested a flat-rate GST set at 3% to offer a fairer, more transparent, and efficient taxation model that could ease administrative burdens and reduce cost layering across industries. "We believe a modern GST system, with basic exemptions and simplicity, would better serve Malaysia's fiscal goals while protecting the vulnerable," stated SAPA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang on Thursday (June 12). SAPA expressed concern that the SST expansion, effective July 1, could disproportionately impact Sabah's fragile economy. The inclusion of construction services and commercial property leases under SST could lead to higher project and rental costs, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. "In Sabah, infrastructure gaps and higher logistics costs already affect businesses. Adding tax pressure in areas like construction and shoplot rentals will further discourage investment and growth," said Tan. He noted that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), considered the backbone of the state's economy, risk bearing the brunt of these changes, with higher costs likely passed down to tenants and consumers. Tan acknowledged positive elements in SST, welcoming exemptions such as residential property rentals, basic goods like rice and medicines, and the exclusion of private healthcare for Malaysian citizens. "These are thoughtful measures that protect lower- and middle-income groups from unnecessary financial strain," said Tan, adding that such exemptions demonstrate the government's effort to balance revenue and social protection. The association argues GST offers advantages over SST, including input tax credits that avoid cascading costs, better audit trails, and stronger alignment with international tax standards, crucial for boosting investor confidence. Tan said a simplified GST system could be tailored to Malaysia's needs and implemented without affecting essential goods and services. "A well-designed GST would be more equitable and sustainable in the long term, likely less burdensome to consumers than the current dual-rate SST," he said. SAPA also raised concerns about mandatory e-invoicing, noting many businesses, NGOs, and religious institutions in Sabah may lack the technical capacity or infrastructure to comply. Tan mentioned that a reintroduced GST would incorporate invoice tracking, making a parallel e-invoicing system redundant for compliance purposes. The group urged policymakers to adopt a more inclusive and consultative approach in tax reform discussions, especially considering regional disparities between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. "We are ready to work with the government through technical consultations to ensure Sabah's unique economic circumstances are properly represented," Tan said.
