logo
PM rejects cruelty claims, cites increased aid to opposition states

PM rejects cruelty claims, cites increased aid to opposition states

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed claims of cruelty and discrimination, saying his government has increased allocations to opposition-led states.
For about four minutes, Anwar explained why calling the government "cruel" was unfair.
"Even though we are accused by some that we discriminate, that we are cruel... when we look at the numbers, the allocations for Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, and Kedah have increased. It's higher than when they were the government," he said.
Anwar added, "Do not say that we are cruel and do not provide (allocations), because the allocations have increased."
He was speaking while answering questions during Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday.
Anwar also said he had given RM1 billion to the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) for the first phase and had expedited the process to provide such allocations.
Anwar said the state government had withdrawn allocations for Sekolah Agama Rakyat in 2003, while the current federal government reinstated them in 2022.
In a jest, he said: "The cruel ones are those who cancelled the allocations — yet they're the ones being praised."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Malaysia condemns Israeli Zionist regime's Gaza takeover plan
Malaysia condemns Israeli Zionist regime's Gaza takeover plan

The Sun

time8 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Malaysia condemns Israeli Zionist regime's Gaza takeover plan

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has condemned the Israeli Zionist regime's decision to launch a full military takeover of Gaza. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry described the move as a calculated violation of international law. The ministry stated that this action aims to permanently occupy Palestinian lands, disregarding human rights and justice. 'After 22 months of relentless bombings and siege, this move threatens the two-state solution,' the ministry said. The statement warned that Israel's actions could end the peace process and deny Palestinians their right to self-determination. Malaysia urged all nations to reject Israel's apartheid policies and recognise Palestine based on pre-1967 borders. The country also called for East Jerusalem to be recognised as the capital of Palestine. Immediate actions must ensure a permanent ceasefire and Israeli forces' withdrawal from Gaza, the statement added. Malaysia demanded an end to the blockade on humanitarian aid and full UN membership for Palestine. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia's firm stance on defending Palestinian rights. He emphasised Malaysia's commitment through international advocacy and collaboration with global leaders. - Bernama

A lesson for housing developers
A lesson for housing developers

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

A lesson for housing developers

KUALA LUMPUR: The developer and contractor of a housing project were caught by surprise when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called them out during a groundbreaking ceremony and asked if a school was part of the plan. The developer of Residensi Aman Madani in Bandar Tasik Permaisuri, Danau Lumayan Sdn Bhd, and its turnkey contractor Pesona Metro Holdings Bhd were taken aback by the turn of events. The Prime Minister had stopped short midway into his speech and asked them if the housing project had preschools and a school in its vicinity. Anwar said parents should not have to travel far to send their children to school. 'We should not build houses without schools nearby. Projects should be monitored directly to ensure this concept is adhered to. If we want to be responsible leaders, we must act on the people's complaints,' he said. 'We must uphold integrity. Do not approve projects slowly just because we claim to be 'clean'. Being clean also means being efficient. Corruption and commissions must be eradicated,' the Prime Minister added. He said if there are no existing schools nearby, then there must be dedicated vertical schools (for the community). 'Next Monday, the developers, contractors, the Federal Territories Minister and project planners must brief me on where the schools and preschools are located. 'We need both primary and secondary schools. If there are no schools nearby, at least one block in the area must be allocated for educational purposes. 'A second block should be reserved until all conditions are met. 'If we want vertical schools, we must ensure proper facilities and planning,' said Anwar. The Prime Minister also noted that many urban parents earn between RM2,000 and RM3,000 a month. 'I've instructed that kindergartens be located within buildings. 'If not, this needs to be corrected by the city planners. 'The goal is to allow parents to work peacefully, knowing their children are safe nearby,' he said. Anwar also said he appreciated the city's efforts to build more stalls for small traders, as about 85% of residents buy from these small stalls. 'We shouldn't neglect them while building tall luxury towers. 'Let's not only beautify the city but also support everyday livelihoods,' he added. Residensi Aman Madani will provide 3,500 housing units, with each unit measuring 900sq ft in size and priced at RM300,000. The affordable housing project, with a gross development value of approximately RM1.01bil, will be known as Residensi Wilayah Aman Lumayan. The project, which comprises three phases, will be fully completed within five years. Also present at the event were Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the Prime Minister's wife. Dr Zaliha said unchecked urbanisation could lead to the 'hollowing out' of city centres where low-income residents are systematically pushed out due to market pressure, eroding the city's social character. 'Kuala Lumpur, with nearly two million people in an area of only 240sq km, has a density of over 8,100 people per square kilometre. 'Behind this rising number lies a growing spatial gap between the city centre and its residents. 'This spatial inequality forces key city workers – public servants, technicians, nurses, small traders and others – to live far from their workplaces, commuting two to three hours daily. 'This affects the cost of living, productivity and their family well-being,' she said. Dr Zaliha also said that with urban housing units being increasingly unaffordable to the middle and lower-income groups, there will be a lack of fair wealth distribution. 'Kuala Lumpur should no longer be a city exclusive to the affluent. 'In our push for affordable housing, I've stressed to the Federal Territories Department and Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) that all projects must meet quality standards, ensure access to utilities, healthcare and education, and include well-designed public spaces,' she added.

Do migrant workers deserve the same benefits as locals?
Do migrant workers deserve the same benefits as locals?

Malaysiakini

timean hour ago

  • Malaysiakini

Do migrant workers deserve the same benefits as locals?

YOURSAY | 'Dignity at work is not a privilege, it is a right for everyone.' Guan Eng: No need minimum wage, EPF for existing migrant workers IndigoGoat3056: Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng made a troubling statement in Parliament on Aug 6, asserting that there is no need to mandate the RM1,700 minimum wage or Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for existing migrant workers, arguing that Malaysia is not bound by certain International Labour Organisation conventions. He further cited Singapore's exclusion of Central Provident Fund contributions for migrant workers as justification. This is a deeply disappointing position. The DAP MP, in this case, is operating from a narrow capitalist mindset that clearly contradicts the spirit of the Federal Constitution, fundamental human rights principles, and the values of social justice. Lim's statement reflects an economic ideology that prioritises employer profits over fairness for all workers, particularly migrant workers, who are often among the most exploited. Legally, morally, and constitutionally, this reasoning is flawed. Malaysia's Federal Constitution, under Article 8, guarantees that 'all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law.' This does not limit protection to citizens. It includes all persons, including non-citizens. Migrant workers who are lawfully present and employed in Malaysia are entitled to this equal protection. Any policy that denies them basic rights, such as minimum wage or EPF, is discriminatory. The Court of Appeal in Tak Tek Seng further clarified that the right to life under Article 5 includes the right to livelihood. Denying migrant workers fair wages and social protection is a denial of that livelihood - and a denial of dignity. In Kathiravelu Ganesan v Kojasa Holdings Bhd, the Court of Appeal held that a migrant worker qualifies as a 'workman' under Malaysian labour law and can bring claims for unfair dismissal under Section 20(1) of the Industrial Relations Act 1967. If the law recognises their right to challenge unfair dismissal, it must also uphold their right to minimum standards of compensation and retirement protection. Article 6 prohibits all forms of forced labour, regardless of nationality. Paying migrant workers below the wage floor and denying EPF contributions - while demanding full output - amounts to economic exploitation, in breach of the Constitution. Furthermore, Article 10 allows migrant workers to be members of trade unions, affirming their recognised role in the national workforce. Article 155 also provides reciprocal rights for Commonwealth citizens - a reminder that migrant workers are not to be treated as second-class. The idea that existing migrant workers - many of whom have served this country for years - can be excluded from protections just because they were hired earlier is not justifiable. It rewards employers for locking in unfair contracts and punishes workers who have already contributed significantly to Malaysia's economy. Malaysia does not need to wait for international treaties to act justly. Our own Constitution, courts, and conscience demand it. Migrant workers deserve minimum wage, EPF contributions, and equal labour rights - regardless of when they were hired or where they came from. Dignity at work is not a privilege; it is a right for everyone. TMataz: Agree. The minimum wage ruling should apply only to Malaysian citizens. Applying the same ruling to migrants only distracts from the more urgent focus on alleviating the living wage of our fellow Malaysians. An average Singaporean's income is SG$6,000 a month. Sadly, the average income for Malaysians is RM6,000 a month. I believe Malaysia should strive for at least half of that figure, due to our Malaysian equivalent educational literacy and the lower cost of living, which is why the average Malaysian should be earning RM9,900 per month. To progressively push the employer to improve their business productivity and retool their operations to meet today's technological demands, and to be better able to alleviate their Malaysian employees' income. It's not fair to put unfair constraints on local businesses and to force them to pay unreasonably high wages for menial jobs done by migrants. Thus, if we remove migrants from the national minimum wage ruling, then we are able to fast-track wages for our Malaysian citizen workers to double the current minimum. If there is a need to placate international labour rules, just do a separate minimum wage requirement for migrants. Coward: Our ex-finance minister is not showing any knowledge of the market. Minimum wage and EPF contributions for migrant workers are not there to protect them. Both are there to prevent them from undercutting locals. If employers don't have to respect them, then they are cheaper than locals from the employer's viewpoint. When that's the case, who will they employ? In most countries where employers contribute to pension funds, they are required to give migrant workers what they would have contributed to the funds for locals if they didn't have to open the same pension fund account for migrant workers. The people of Selangor: Who came up with the idea of EPF and minimum wages for migrant workers? How will such a policy or ruling benefit our country? What is the purpose of it? Do we want to encourage more migrant workers to come here? What we see is more illegal workers coming here instead. We should suggest better policies for local workers instead of migrant workers; these policies will only burden our employers or businesses and increase our cost of living. BlueGecko7216: Without equal minimum wages for migrants, it will lead to an influx of migrant workers, which is detrimental to local workers. There will also be an improvement in productivity in general. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store