13MP must address issue of commuting safety
To truly achieve the 13MP's dual goals, we must recognise that prioritising public safety and well-being is a fundamental challenge that serves as both a social and an economic imperative.
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New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Local councils owe SWCorp RM493mil in fees
KUALA LUMPUR: Local councils have yet to pay RM493 million owed to the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) for rubbish collection and street cleaning services already carried out. Ipoh Timur member of parliament Howard Lee said the arrears have built up over the years and are now affecting SWCorp's ability to pay its contractors. He told the Dewan Rakyat that the debts stem from a 2011 agreement, under which the federal government took over domestic waste management in several states. Under the deal, local councils were required to make annual payments into a federal fund managed by SWCorp. "Rubbish has been picked up, the streets cleaned, but the money never came," he said during the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan. States currently under the national waste management system include Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kedah and Perlis. Lee, who sits on SWCorp's board, urged the federal government to compel councils to raise their monthly repayments and begin clearing their debts. For councils unable to afford repayments, he proposed intervention by their respective state governments. He also suggested options such as soft loans, asset sales, or making full repayment part of their 2026 budgets. Lee said the federal government had already stepped in this year with RM8 million in grants to assist eight local councils with repayments. To ensure accountability, he called on the Housing and Local Government Ministry to impose penalties on councils that continue to default.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
ECRL project 86% complete, phase 1 to finish by December 2026
PUTRAJAYA: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has achieved 86.07 per cent completion as of July 2025. Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chairman Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar confirmed the project remains on schedule. Phase 1, stretching from Kota Bharu to Gombak Integrated Terminal, is expected to finish by December 2026. Operations for Phase 1 are set to begin in January 2027. Phase 2, extending from Gombak to Port Klang, is targeted for completion by December 2027. Full operations for the entire line are expected to commence in January 2028. Shamsul Azri expressed confidence that the project will bring economic benefits and convenience to Malaysians. He spoke at the launch of the RHB-MRL 360-Degree ESG Financing Ecosystem in Putrajaya. The ECRL project is being developed by MRL with financial backing from RHB Bank. The railway features 41 tunnels and 154 kilometres of elevated tracks. It includes 28 wildlife crossings to minimise environmental disruption. Once operational, the electrified network is projected to reduce CO₂ emissions by one million tonnes annually. In February 2024, MRL became the first Ministry of Finance company to secure green Islamic financing. The RM10.21 billion Sustainable and SDG Sukuk Programme is Malaysia's first government-guaranteed SDG sukuk. To date, RM7.4 billion has been raised through the sukuk for ECRL construction. The funds support development across Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor. MRL's collaboration with RHB reinforces ESG financing efforts for the project. RHB is a direct investor in MRL's SDG sukuk programme. Proceeds from the sukuk are reinvested into RHB's ESG Fixed Deposit Programme. This initiative is the first of its kind in Malaysia. The partnership aims to create an integrated ESG financial ecosystem. Shamsul Azri highlighted Malaysia's leadership in sustainable Islamic finance. He stressed that ESG principles must be prioritised in infrastructure projects. MRL, as a subsidiary of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated), upholds sustainability in national development. The project aligns with Malaysia MADANI's focus on balanced and sustainable growth. Key figures at the event included Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir.
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
LLRC slams Guan Eng over remarks on migrant worker wages, EPF
Lo says the comments could encourage employers to offer lower wages to foreign workers, potentially undermining the local job market. KUCHING (Aug 7): The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) has voiced concern over remarks by former finance minister Lim Guan Eng, who suggested Malaysia need not mandate minimum wage or Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for migrant workers. LLRC deputy president Andrew Lo said the comments could encourage employers to offer lower wages to foreign workers, potentially undermining the local job market. 'Such a statement is a betrayal of Malaysian workers. It seems that he (Lim) has no inkling of labour economics and continues to support employers' addiction to cheap labour and low wages,' he said in a statement today. Lo also pointed out that allowing exemptions from EPF contributions would widen wage disparities and risk suppressing local salaries further. Citing Malaysia's ratification of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 100 on equal pay, Lo argued that Lim's suggestion disregards international labour standards. Lim, who is Bagan MP, made the comments during a recent parliamentary debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan. According to MalaysiaKini, Lim argued that Malaysia is not legally obligated to enforce such measures for migrant workers already employed, and cited Singapore's policy of excluding Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions since 2003. Lo, however, dismissed the comparison, saying Singapore has no minimum wage framework, making it an inappropriate benchmark. Andrew Lo epf Lim Guan Eng migrant workers
