First day of Dewan Rakyat focuses on post-Asean foreign policy, cost of haj
According to the meeting Order Paper displayed on Parliament portal, Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) will raise a question about the future of Malaysia's foreign policy to the Foreign Minister during the oral question and answer session.
He wants to know how the policy could help Malaysia navigate the increasingly complex and dynamic Indo-Pacific geopolitical landscape.
The digitalisation of the country will also receive attention when Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) ask the Prime Minister to explain the progress of the implementation of the MYDigital initiative, especially regarding the registration of MyDigital ID, the integration of government systems with digital platforms, and its impact on the delivery of public services.
The issue of digital transformation will continue with a question from V. Sivakumar (PH-Batu Gajah) to the Digital Minister who wants to know the country's preparedness for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution including technology transfer strategies, local talent development, as well as the level of AI integration in governance and key economic sectors.
Datuk Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) will also ask the Prime Minister regarding the justification for the increase in the 2025 haj cost, the status of Tabung Haji investments and the amount of unused Malaysian haj quota for the years 2020 to 2025.
After the question and answer session, the sitting will continue with the tabling of the second reading of several bills including the Consumer Credit Act 2025 and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Members of Parliament are also expected to focus on the motion to debate the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) 2023 (Statute Paper 80 of 2025).
Apart from that, two other documents will also be tabled on the MPs' desks, namely the Auditor General's Report 2/2025 and the Suhakam Annual Report 2023.
The Dewan Rakyat session for the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament is scheduled to last for 24 days and among the highlights will be the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan on July 31. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 minutes ago
- The Star
Govt to ensure SST exemption for eligible construction projects
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has introduced proactive measures to fine-tune and implement targeted sales and service tax (SST) exemptions for eligible construction projects, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan ( pic ) said these exemptions include construction services related to residential buildings and public facilities such as places of worship, public toilets and recreational parks. 'The government recognises the importance of ensuring that the construction sector is not adversely affected by the implementation of SST. 'Therefore, we have taken steps to provide exemptions for specific categories of projects deemed eligible,' he said on Monday (Jul 28). Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis) asked about the types of construction projects that are exempt from SST, and the ministry's approach to ensure that ongoing developments are not disrupted. Ahmad said certain business-to-business (B2B) activities are subject to specific conditions. For example, while main contractors may be subject to SST, subcontractors involved in projects valued below RM1.5mil are exempt. Additionally, he said essential construction materials such as cement, gravel and sand remain zero-rated for sales tax as part of the government's effort to support the sector. He also said there are currently no plans to increase the SST threshold, which will remain unchanged. 'There have been no discussions to raise it to RM3mil,' he said. On project timelines, he stressed that the ministry does not tolerate delays. 'We do not like late work. After two or three extensions of time (EOT), the companies involved will be fined daily. 'Once they are penalised, they will not be awarded future projects,' he said.
The Star
7 minutes ago
- The Star
Stocks rise, euro firms after US-EU trade agreement
A woman walks past an electronic screen displaying the stock index prices of Asian countries outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan April 24, 2025. REUTERS/Issei Kato SINGAPORE: Global stocks rose and the euro firmed on Monday after a trade agreement between the United States and the EU lifted sentiment and provided some clarity in a week of key policy meetings by the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. The U.S. struck a framework trade agreement with the European Union, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods - half the threatened rate, a week after agreeing to a trade deal with Japan that lowered proposed tariffs on auto imports. Countries are scrambling to finalise trade deals ahead of an August 1 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, with talks between the U.S. and China set for Monday in Stockholm amid expectations of another 90-day extension to the truce between the world's top two economies. "A 15% tariff on European goods, forced purchases of U.S. energy and military equipment and zero tariff retaliation by Europe, that's not negotiation, that's the art of the deal," said Prashant Newnaha, senior Asia-Pacific rates strategist at TD Securities. "A big win for the U.S." S&P 500 futures rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq futures gained 0.5% while the euro firmed across the board, rising against the dollar, sterling and yen. European futures surged nearly 1%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.27%, just shy of the almost four-year high it touched last week. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.8% after hitting a one-year high last week. While the baseline 15% tariff will still be seen by many in Europe as too high, compared with Europe's initial hopes to secure a zero-for-zero tariff deal, it is better than the threatened 30% rate. The U.S.-EU deal provides clarity to companies and averts a bigger trade war between the two allies that account for almost a third of global trade. "A major tail-risk has now been defused," said Marc Velan, head of investments at Lucerne Asset Management in Singapore. "Markets are interpreting this as a sign of stability and predictability returning to trade policy," he added. "The China delay fits the same pattern: the administration is opting for controlled diplomacy over confrontation." China's blue-chip stocks rose 0.3% while the Hong Kong's Hang Seng index advanced 0.75%. The Australian dollar, often seen as a proxy for risk appetite, was at $0.657, hovering around the near eight-month peak scaled last week. FED, BOJ AWAIT In an action-packed week, investors will watch out for the monetary policy meetings from the Fed and the BOJ as well as the monthly U.S. employment report and earnings from megacap companies Apple, Microsoft and Amazon . While the Fed and the BOJ are expected to maintain rates, comments from the officials will be crucial for investors to gauge the interest rate path. The trade deal with Japan has opened the door for the BOJ to raise rates again this year. Meanwhile, the Fed is likely to be cautious on any rate cuts as officials seek more data to determine tariffs' impact on inflation before they ease rates further. But tensions between the White House and the central bank over monetary policy have increased, with Trump repeatedly lashing out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting rates. Two of the Fed Board's Trump appointees have articulated reasons for supporting a rate cut this month. "Inflation readings, particularly the PCE index, and the upcoming July jobs report will shape expectations beyond this meeting, with the next likely policy pivot now pushed out to September if inflation continues to ease," said Kieran Williams, head of Asia FX at InTouch Capital Markets. In commodities, oil prices rose after the U.S.-EU trade agreement. Brent crude futures and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude both rose 0.5%. Gold prices fell on Monday to their lowest in nearly two weeks on reduced appetite for safe havens. - Reuters
The Star
7 minutes ago
- The Star
Asean leaders renew call for Thailand, Cambodia to end hostilities
IPOH: Thailand and Cambodia have been urged to cease all hostilities and to settle any disputes peacefully. In a joint statement by Asean's Foreign Ministers, it said that the ongoing situation at the border between both countries was deeply concerning as it resulted in increasing number of casualties, destruction of properties and displacement of a large number of people. "We emphasise the need for both sides to exercise maximum restraint and undertake an immediate ceasefire, and refrain from taking any actions that may undermine it. "We further urge both sides to cease all hostilities, return to the negotiating table to restore peace and stability, and settle disputes and differences by peaceful means, based on the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia, the Asean Charter as well as the Charter of the United Nations, and in the spirit of Asean family, unity and good neighborliness," it said. "We remain supportive of the efforts of the Asean Chair in facilitating both sides to resume dialogue and end the fighting," it added.
