Local media report taken out of context in misleading posts about crude palm oil tax
The screenshot of a Facebook post by Malay-language newspaper Utusan Malaysia was shared on X on March 23, with the caption "The new Malaysia gets gifts everyday".
The Utusan Malaysia post reads: "Introduction of special tax on crude palm oil."
The X post includes a link to the newspaper's online report (archived link).
Similar posts about a purported new tax were also shared elsewhere on Facebook.
The claim surfaced as Malaysia experienced a shortage of bottled cooking oil, which authorities attributed to an increase in global crude palm oil prices and the government's price ceiling policy that made it difficult for manufacturers to cover operational costs (archived link).
However, Malaysia has no plans to tax local crude palm oil producers to tackle the shortage -- the posts have taken the Utusan Malaysia Facebook post out of context (archived link).
The original post includes a link to the report, published on March 23, which credits the proposal to the Malaysia National Consumer Foundation (YPNM), a consumer protection NGO (archived link).
"The issue of a shortage of cooking oil supply in the market that continues to plague the people can be tackled through the implementation of a special tax of 100 Malaysian ringgit ($23) for every metric ton of crude palm oil (CPO) to all local producers," reads the report.
"The President of the Malaysia National Consumer Foundation (YPNM), Datuk Dr Mohd Firdaus Abdullah, said Malaysia produces about 20 million metric tonnes of [palm] oil each year and if a 100 ringgit tax is imposed on each metric tonne, the government can earn two billion ringgit a year."
It does not include any responses from Malaysian authorities about the proposal.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance told AFP on April 16 that the government does not have plans to introduce new taxes in the future.
The ministry made a similar announcement in December 2024, stating it would focus on implementing tax measures announced in the 2025 budget (archived link). That statement remains valid, the spokesperson said.
Essential food items were exempted from sales taxes announced in the budget, though the government placed a tax on sugar to combat diabetes in the country (archived link).
As of April 21, 2025, there are no credible reports that the Malaysian government plans to impose taxes on crude palm oil.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua to discuss college athletics with President Trump
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua to discuss college athletics with President Trump Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey are reportedly meeting with President Donald Trump Sunday to discuss the future of college athletics. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, Bevacqua and Sankey are traveling to Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster to have a round with the 47th President, who is interested in discussing the college sports industry's future while on the course. This reported meeting comes at a time when the state of college athletics has never been more in flux. The House vs. NCAA settlement was finally finalized this past Friday evening, clearing a path for future revenue-sharing payments to be made directly to student-athletes for the very first time, further professionalizing college athletics. It allows for the establishment of an NIL Go Clearinghouse, which would have to approve NIL payments of more than $600 to student-athletes beginning this summer. Trump's interest in college athletics is nothing new. Previously he was working on a college sports commission that reportedly was going to be co-chaired by former Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Certainly there is never a dull day in the business of college athletics. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Scott Stricklin backs House v. NCAA ruling: 'Important step forward for college athletics'
Scott Stricklin backs House v. NCAA ruling: 'Important step forward for college athletics' Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin expressed full support for the future of athlete compensation following the final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, calling it a "new beginning" for college athletics. Stricklin released a statement Saturday, one day after U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the landmark antitrust settlement allowing schools to directly share revenue with student-athletes starting July 1. "The University of Florida Athletic Association welcomes the recent court ruling allowing schools to directly share revenue with student-athletes," Stricklin said. "This decision marks an important step forward for college athletics, and we remain committed to supporting Gator athletes on and off the field." Stricklin went on to say, "Beyond financial opportunities, the UAA will continue to provide world-class training, academic support, and career development to help our Gators succeed during their time at UF and well beyond." The ruling paves the way for Power Four programs to distribute as much as $20.5 million annually in revenue sharing, with most schools expected to follow a recommended formula: 75 percent to football players, 15 percent to men's basketball, 5 percent to women's basketball and 5 percent to other sports. Florida has yet to reveal its distribution strategy. The settlement also includes nearly $2.8 billion in backpay to athletes who competed between 2016 and 2025 and missed out on name, image and likeness (NIL) earnings under prior NCAA restrictions. NCAA president Charlie Baker, in a letter to stakeholders, called the ruling a chance to bring stability to a system that's long lacked clarity and cohesion. "Approving the agreement reached by the NCAA, the defendant conferences and student-athletes in the settlement opens a pathway to begin stabilizing college sports," Baker wrote. "This new framework that enables schools to provide direct financial benefits to student-athletes and establishes clear and specific rules to regulate third-party NIL agreements marks a huge step forward for college sports." Baker acknowledged the scale of the change, which will shift enforcement of many compensation rules from the NCAA to the conferences named in the settlement. He also warned that the system remains vulnerable without federal legislation, particularly as efforts continue to classify student-athletes as employees and as states compete with conflicting NIL laws. "Significant challenges remain," Baker wrote. "Only Congress can address these issues." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Russian Troops Advance Into Another Ukraine Region: Moscow
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russian soldiers have advanced into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, the Moscow's Defense Ministry has said. Why It Matters Moscow is pushing into new territory in a region which has remained under Ukrainian control throughout the conflict, while simultaneously blaming Ukraine for stalling peace negotiations. Russian control of the Dnipropetrovsk region, just west of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, would mean a threat to Kyiv from the southeast. What To Know The Russian Defense Ministry said in a post on Telegram on Sunday: "Units of the 90th Tank Division of the Center Forces Group have reached the western border of the Donetsk People's Republic and continue to develop the offensive in the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region." Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) maps do not yet show the invasion of the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to analysis by the independent Russia-language news channel Agency News. However, the maps show that the combat zone is located in close proximity to the region's border, according to OSINT project DeepState. Pro-Russian blogger Yuriy Podolyaka wrote about the announcement on Telegram, saying: "As they say in such cases, now officially…But in fact, we have already entered there on a fairly wide front." Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov was one of several who previously claimed that the Russian army had entered Dnipropetrovsk in May. Ukrainian authorities denied this at the time, calling the reports and photos circulating about it fake. Newsweek has contacted Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, via email, for comment. Kyiv recently released a map showing what it says are Russia's plans to seize half of Ukraine by the end of next year. The Ukrainian Presidential Office deputy head, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, made the claims, and they were followed by President Donald Trump warning that he would use further sanctions against Moscow if the war dragged on. The map presented by Kyiv shows territorial intentions far beyond the formal demands Moscow has made before it would agree to a ceasefire. Trump has warned of further sanctions on Russia if it drags out peace negotiations. A bipartisan sanctions bill in the U.S. seeks to impose a 500-percent levy on imports from countries that buy Russian oil and raw materials. In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service a fire burns following an attack by Russian drones in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on April 16, 2025. In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service a fire burns following an attack by Russian drones in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on April 16, 2025. AP What People Are Saying The Institute for the Study of War said in its Saturday report: "Any increased economic pressure against Russia—while a positive policy development—by itself is insufficient to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table or change Putin's theory of victory. The continuation of Western military aid to Ukraine remains pivotal to the execution of a pressure campaign against Russia that could force Putin to recalculate his theory of victory." Ukrainian Presidential Office Deputy Head Colonel Pavlo Palisa said Thursday: Russia's "plan for next year is to occupy the whole part of Ukraine which is situated on the left bank of the Dnieper River," and "occupy the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions to cut Ukraine's access to the Black Sea." President Donald Trump said about U.S. sanctions: "If I think Russia will not be making a deal or stopping the bloodshed…I'll use it if it's necessary." What Happens Next Ukraine's response to Russia's claims about the Dnipropetrovsk region is yet to be seen. Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker said on Wednesday that Trump had asked the Senate to postpone voting on the bill, which, if implemented, would impose measures that include:
