Nurul Izzah shares untold tale of USB drive creator's return to M'sia
Pua was born in Malaysia but made a name for himself in Taiwan, where he is based. He is a co-founder of Phison, a major player in the tech world.
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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
13MP must be about policies, not mega projects, says Rafizi
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said the government must break away from the traditional approach of approving high-cost infrastructure projects with questionable economic returns. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The government's focus in the 13th Malaysia Plan must shift from mega projects to long-term policy reforms aimed at making key structural changes, says former economy minister Rafizi Ramli. Rafizi (PH-Pandan) warned that Malaysia could fall into a cycle of short-term populism and political instability with frequent changes in government without introducing these policy shifts. Debating the 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat today, Rafizi said the government must break away from the traditional approach of approving high-cost infrastructure projects with questionable economic returns. 'I've repeated this many times. The 13MP cannot continue to be about approving mega projects like before. They must be grounded in policy frameworks. 'From these frameworks, we evaluate whether the regulations or education systems are future-proof. Every approval for a mega project must be based on implementability and business viability,' he said. Looking beyond the current development cycle, the PKR MP warned that Malaysia may face structural fiscal pressures in the coming years, particularly regarding taxation. 'In five, 10 or 15 years from now, the government will face the dilemma of having to raise taxes. Every time a government increases taxes, it will be punished and replaced (in general elections),' he said. He warned that this dynamic could trap the country in a populist cycle, where structural reforms are delayed in favour of populist policies for the sake of short-term political survival. 'It has already happened in many countries – in the UK, in European nations – and it will happen to Malaysia too, eventually,' he said. Last week, Bersatu's Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal described the 13MP as lacking any 'wow factor' and was simply business as usual. He said there were a lot of initiatives focusing on the Malay heartlands, including in Kelantan, but these were not game-changing.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Experts divided over Bangladesh Asean bloc bid
PETALING JAYA: Bangladesh's renewed bid to join Asean has divided opinion among Malaysian experts, with some warning of geopolitical fallout and others highlighting possible strategic and economic gains for Malaysia. The proposal re-emerged after a meeting in Dhaka last week between PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar and Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who appealed for Malaysia's support for the South Asian nation's entry into the 10-member regional bloc. But analysts remain split on the viability of the move and its implications for Asean unity and Malaysia's national interests. Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan questioned the logic of including Bangladesh, noting that it lies well outside Asean's traditional geographic boundary. 'Compared with Timor-Leste, which is within the Asean region, Bangladesh is quite distant.' Azmi said a similar proposal to admit Papua New Guinea, supported by Indonesia at last year's Asean Summit, failed to gain traction. 'If Papua New Guinea didn't get support from Asean members, then even less so for Bangladesh,' he said, adding that Dhaka's entry could stir geopolitical sensitivities involving both Pakistan and India. 'Among the 10 Asean member states, I doubt there would be much support for Bangladesh's inclusion. 'In contrast, Timor-Leste had strong backing from Malaysia and Thailand. For Bangladesh, I don't see any member likely to champion its entry.' On the other hand, International Islamic University Malaysia international law and relations expert Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Yazid Zul Kepli said Malaysia could stand to gain strategically from supporting Bangladesh's bid, particularly in trade, energy and maritime security. 'Economically, Malaysia could benefit from greater market access, increased investment flows and labour cooperation, given Bangladesh's large workforce and growing economy.' Still, Mohd Yazid acknowledged the geopolitical risks, particularly the risk of India gaining indirect influence within Asean, which could complicate the bloc's relationship with China. 'Malaysia should navigate this by framing Bangladesh as a neutral economic partner and emphasising shared development goals.' He added that closer Asean ties could lead to better protections for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia – one of the country's largest migrant groups – although any expansion must be approached with caution. 'Expanding Asean's size is not necessarily good. There should be in-depth analysis of the pros and cons.' Economist Prof Dr Geoffrey Williams offered a more critical perspective, warning that Asean is too fragmented to consider enlargement at this stage. 'Asean is not yet ready for expansion and inclusion of unstable new members,' he said, citing the unresolved tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Williams said Malaysia does not need Asean to deepen its ties with Bangladesh. 'Any economic benefits can be achieved through a free trade agreement with Bangladesh, covering the free movement of labour and capital and zero tariffs. Asean membership is not necessary.' He also dismissed the idea that the bloc would improve governance of regional labour migration. 'Improved labour mobility can happen if Malaysia removes the agency system and cuts corruption and vested interests.' Williams added that Asean's internal diversity – spanning absolute monarchies, military regimes and one communist one-party state – already presents significant obstacles to integration. 'Adding new countries will only make integration more difficult.' Asean has never yet admitted a country outside Southeast Asia. Timor-Leste remains the only non-member in the process of formal accession. Papua New Guinea, despite previous interest, has yet to garner sufficient support.
Malaysia Sun
3 days ago
- Malaysia Sun
Pakistan: Food inflation surges in Punjab province as price control fails to deliver
Islamabad [Pakistan], August 3 (ANI): Rising food prices across Pakistan's Punjab province have sparked widespread public frustration, with consumers consistently forced to pay well above the officially fixed rates for everyday essentials, The Express Tribune reported. According to The Express Tribune, despite the establishment of new price monitoring units, enforcement has proven largely ineffective, casting serious doubts over the Pakistan government's ability to control inflation. In recent days, the prices of essential vegetables and poultry products have remained well above government-sanctioned levels. Not a single vegetable was found selling below Rs 200 per kilogram in many local markets, highlighting a glaring disconnect between official rates and market realities, The Express Tribune reported. The continued disregard for price lists not only reflects regulatory failure but also raises concerns about the efficiency of the newly established departments, which critics say are increasing bureaucratic costs without producing results. According to The Express Tribune, in the poultry markets, the mismatch was particularly evident, with consumers reportedly paying between PKR 460 and PKR 480 for live chicken despite the official price being lowered by PKR 15 to PKR 374 to PKR 388 per kilogram. Similarly, chicken meat was officially set at PKR 562 per kilogram but was sold at PKR 570-640, while boneless chicken fetched as much as PKR 1,200 per kilogram. Vegetable prices were also far from the official figures. Premium potatoes, officially priced at PKR 80 to 85 per kilogram, were being sold for PKR 140-150. A-grade onions were listed at PKR 50-55 per kilogram but reached up to PKR 100 in the market. Tomatoes, fixed at PKR 82-90, were sold for as much as PKR 150, The Express Tribune reported. Garlic and ginger saw some of the worst price hikes. Garlic was selling for up to PKR 400 per kilogram, despite official rates of PKR 210 to PKR 260. Ginger prices climbed to PKR 600 to 700, compared to fixed rates of PKR 400 to PKR 460, The Express Tribune reported. Other vegetables, including cucumber at PKR 200/kg, brinjal at PKR 150/kg, bitter gourd at PKR, 220/kg and ladyfinger at PKR 240/kg, were also priced significantly higher than official rates. Fruit prices followed the same trend with apples, officially listed at PKR 145 to PKR 265 per kilogram, being sold for up to PKR 350, while bananas were priced PKR 50 to PKR 90 higher than official rates depending on quality, The Express Tribune reported. Even commonly consumed fruits like sweet melon, dates, and peaches became out of reach for middle-income households. Dates, for example, were officially priced at PKR 460 to PKR 490 per kilogram but were being sold for up to PKR 2,000. Despite widespread overcharging, newly established market inspection teams and price monitoring departments have been unable to enforce pricing regulations. Critics say these initiatives lack both the authority and the political resolve to hold violators accountable. As food inflation continues to squeeze household budgets--particularly for lower- and middle-income groups--public confidence in the government's economic policies and regulatory mechanisms is steadily declining, The Express Tribune reported. (ANI)
