Latest news with #338
Focus Malaysia
4 days ago
- General
- Focus Malaysia
From ironed uniforms to flexible work: Bridging Malaysia's generational gap
I GREW up watching the hardest-working people I've ever known—my parents—build their lives with discipline, thrift, and remarkable resilience. They didn't talk much about sacrifice. They lived it. One of my fondest memories from childhood is the scent of spray starch on my father's army uniform, particularly his No. 3 work dress, a light olive-green ensemble worn for daily duties. Every morning, he'd iron it with military precision: sharp creases and clean lines. The scent of starch filled the air. It was oddly soothing. It signalled structure (pun intended, as my father served in the Royal Signal Regiment), responsibility, and a quiet pride in serving something bigger than oneself. Back then, hard work meant stability. Stability meant progress. That equation, however, doesn't carry the same weight today. When we overlook how the economic and social landscape has shifted, we risk misreading a fundamental change in values. We all grew up in different Malaysias My parents never asked for much. When my father retired from the military after 21 years, in a career he often summed up with quiet conviction as 'Mati hidup balik sekalipun, aku tetap jadi askar', he did so without much fanfare. They simply packed up their belongings, left the army quarters and returned to their hometown where they bought their first home—a modest single-storey terrace house paid for with his equally modest pension. Raising six children, they supplemented their income through long hours and hard labour. At the time, government pensions, community support, and frugality were enough to support a family of eight. But the Malaysia they lived in is no longer the one young people face today. Despite holding degrees and full-time jobs, many young Malaysians (the writer included) continue to struggle with home ownership, job security, and the rising cost of living. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the median household income in 2022 was RM6,338 per month, or roughly RM76,056 per year. Based on the global housing affordability benchmark, where a home should cost no more than three times the annual household income, a reasonably priced home in Malaysia should be around RM228,000. In contrast, data from the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) shows that the Malaysian House Price Index for the first quarter of 2025 stood at 225.3 points, with the average house price at RM486,070—more than double the affordable range. Behind these figures are personal struggles and difficult choices. These are not just economic pressures, they are deeply human. This isn't entitlement. It's adaptation. Different priorities, same worth The generation that built Malaysia's early economy placed immense value on order, loyalty, and seniority. In their time, these values aligned with a world where playing by the rules led to security. Today, that promise may no longer holds. Even those who follow the 'rules', i.e., get a degree, secure a job, work hard, may still find themselves struggling. As a result, today's generation places greater emphasis on mental health, work-life balance, and meaningful engagement. They speak openly about burnout and push back against outdated norms that equate long hours with dedication. They seek dignity, not just stability. Purpose, not just pay checks. This isn't a moral failing, but a reflection of a changing world. In Islamic economic principles, fairness ('adl), compassion (ihsan), and balance is key to a just society. When times change, justice requires systems to adapt. What some may view as a lack of resilience is often structural strain, not individual weakness. Shifting values don't signal decline: they reflect reality. From blame to building Malaysia is ageing. By 2030, 15% of our population will be over the age of 60. At the same time, younger generations i.e., Gen Z and Gen Alpha will dominate the workforce. Without mutual understanding, our social cohesion and economic vitality are at risk. Different generations have different concerns. In the workplace, older Malaysians value punctuality and tenure. Meanwhile, the younger ones seek autonomy and flexibility. National planning must evolve with the times. Our education, employment, and welfare systems need to reflect current realities, not just inherited assumptions. For instance, Malaysia could introduce a centralised 'portable benefits wallet' for gig workers, where contributions to retirement savings, healthcare, and social protection follow the worker—not the employer. This model, already being piloted in the US and parts of Europe, ensures that contract and gig workers are not left behind in an economy where job security is no longer guaranteed. Similarly, a Housing Start-Up Account for youth under 35, where the government matches a portion of savings—such as RM1 for every RM2 saved annually—could help first-time homebuyers overcome affordability barriers. This approach, inspired by Singapore's CPF model, would encourage long-term financial planning while making home ownership more attainable. These kinds of forward-looking policies recognise that fairness looks different across generations. And, therefore, so does respect. – June 3, 2025 Dr Mohd Zaidi Md Zabri is the Interim Director at the Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation for Islamic Economics (i-RISE), ISRA Institute, INCEIF University. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: The Borneo Post
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sugar tax: Government plans to extend levy to milkshakes
The sugar tax applied to fizzy drinks is set to be extended to milkshakes and other milk-based drinks under new government government is consulting on proposals to end the exemption from the tax for dairy-based drinks, as well as non-dairy substitutes such as oats or Rachel Reeves announced in her autumn budget last year that the government was considering widening the so-called sugar tax, known formally as the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), applies to manufacturers and was introduced by the Conservative government in April 2018 as a means to tackle obesity. On Monday, the Treasury also confirmed proposals to reduce the maximum amount of sugar allowed in drinks before they become subject to the levy from 5g to 4g per 203 pre-packed milk-based drinks on the market, which make up 93% of sales within the category, will be hit with the tax unless their sugar content is reduced in accordance with the proposals, government analysis exemption for milk-based drinks was included because of concerns about calcium consumption, particularly among Treasury said that young people only get 3.5% of their calcium intake from such drinks, meaning "it is also likely that the health benefits do not justify the harms from excess sugar"."By bringing milk-based drinks and milk substitute drinks into the SDIL, the government would introduce a tax incentive for manufacturers of these drinks to build on existing progress and further reduce sugar in their recipes," the Treasury government estimates that 89% of soft drinks sold in the UK are not subject to the tax because of widespread reformulation by manufacturers since it added that the levy had effectively created a "target" of just below the 5g threshold, and products had clustered below 5g as a government consultation will run from Monday until 21 SDIL has raised a total of £1.9 billion since its introduction in 2018, according to government statistics released last September. Revenue for HMRC for the 2023-24 financial year was £338 of the levy in recent years include the soft drinks industry, pubs and off licences. Some argue the levy disproportionately affects lower-income families and does little to tackle the latest plans, industry body the Food and Drink Federation said it welcomed the chance to share its views in the consultation. It said "significant progress" had already been made and "many years of investment in research and development" had reduced sugar in soft drinks by 46% in the last five years, with a 30% sugar reduction in pre-packed milk-based drinks in the last three added that food and drink manufacturers were facing a series of inflationary pressures and called on the government to "continue to create the right conditions for businesses to innovate and also be clear about their long-term goals to promote business confidence".
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Hot Money Monday: Overcooked? Maybe. But gold forecasts suggest this is still a good entry point
Gold hits a speed bump after a turbocharged run
 Miners overcooked, profit-takers hit the eject
 But experts say this is still a "attractive entry point" For more than two weeks, it felt like gold could do no wrong. Prices were punching through record highs, miners were minting it, and investors were high-fiving each other over their gains. But then Wednesday, April 23 rolled in like a rogue wave and absolutely knocked the wind out of the sails. After spot gold briefly kissed a record $US3,500 an ounce on Tuesday, it dropped back to around $US3,338 by Wednesday afternoon. ASX traders took the cue to cash out on their gold stock holdings, and the sell-off was brutal. Gold Spot Price as of April 24 10:00am AEDT: Inflated share prices? But there was more to the bloodbath than just a gold price hiccup. A lot of the ASX miners were already looking pretty inflated after a big couple of weeks. Take Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) – it has shot up almost 40% in just nine sessions. That kind of run-up doesn't leave much room for error. So when gold wobbled, plenty of investors rushed to lock in gains before the party turned into a hangover. Even solid quarterly results couldn't save them. Genesis Minerals (ASX:GMD), for instance, beat expectations with its March numbers – better grades, better recoveries, all the good stuff – but still got slapped with a downgrade from Macquarie. Genesis was already up by about 80% this year, and Macquarie analysts reckoned it had simply run too far, too fast. Time to cool the jets. Gold-friendly forecasts But zoom out for a second, and the picture is actually looking very gold-friendly. JPMorgan, not exactly known for its bold predictions, now reckons gold could blast past US$4,000/oz by mid-2026. JP is pinning it on rising recession risks, worsening US-China trade tensions, and a global economy that's starting to wobble under the weight of tariffs. Goldman Sachs is also in the gold bull camp. The bank reckons US$3,700 by year-end, and US$4,000 by mid 2026. 'We view the gold price rally as structurally supported and less exposed to sharp near-term liquidation risk,' said Lina Thomas at Goldman. 'Thus, we see current levels as a tactically attractive entry point.' UBS is tossing around similar numbers. If the wheels really fall off the global economy, UBS says US$4,500 isn't off the table. UBS strategist Joni Teves reckons there's still heaps of room for more investors to jump on the gold train, and says not that many have piled in just yet. Why all these bullish predictions? Well, there's a storm brewing, and uncertainty is thick in the air. And when things get hairy, gold tends to shine. Investors are running from other havens like the US dollar and bonds, and they're piling into bullion instead. You've also got central banks snapping up gold, with China leading the charge. China's big insurers are now allowed to stuff 1% of their assets into gold. That alone could add 255 tonnes of demand per year, analysts estimated. And Citi reckons the demand coming out of Asia is just getting started. 'We expect China gold import to rebound strongly over the coming months on the fresh import quota,' said Citi analyst, Kenny Hu. So, what's the play here for investors? Wednesday's carnage – yeah, it stung, no doubt about it. But it also might be opening the door for something bigger. Because while the sell-off shook out the froth, the underlying drivers for gold haven't changed, they've actually gotten stronger. Recession risk, central bank demand, geopolitical tension, it's all pointing in one direction. And that's the thing with gold. It's not always about today. It's about where the world's headed next.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brewers face the Diamondbacks leading series 1-0
Milwaukee Brewers (8-6, first in the NL Central) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (7-7, fourth in the NL West) Phoenix; Saturday, 8:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Chad Patrick (1-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 10 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Corbin Burnes (0-1, 5.79 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 11 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Diamondbacks -181, Brewers +151; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers meet the Arizona Diamondbacks leading the series 1-0. Arizona has a 7-7 record overall and a 4-4 record at home. Diamondbacks hitters have a collective .338 on-base percentage, the seventh-best percentage in the majors. Milwaukee has an 8-6 record overall and a 3-4 record in road games. The Brewers have a 3-0 record in games decided by one run. Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Naylor has five doubles, a home run and nine RBI for the Diamondbacks. Corbin Carroll is 13-for-40 with two doubles, a triple and five home runs over the last 10 games. Advertisement Jackson Chourio has six doubles, a triple and four home runs for the Brewers. Brice Turang is 15-for-43 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Diamondbacks: 5-5, .219 batting average, 4.24 ERA, even run differential Brewers: 8-2, .249 batting average, 2.37 ERA, outscored opponents by 33 runs INJURIES: Diamondbacks: Ketel Marte: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Ketel Marte: day-to-day (hamstring), Kendall Graveman: 15-Day IL (back), Blaze Alexander: 10-Day IL (oblique), Kevin Ginkel: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jordan Montgomery: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Walston: 60-Day IL (elbow) Brewers: Connor Thomas: 15-Day IL (elbow), Nestor Cortes Jr.: 15-Day IL (elbow), Aaron Civale: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Blake Perkins: 10-Day IL (shin), Tobias Myers: 15-Day IL (oblique), Brandon Woodruff: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Aaron Ashby: 15-Day IL (oblique), D.L. Hall: 60-Day IL (lat), Robert Gasser: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Brewers face the Diamondbacks leading series 1-0
Milwaukee Brewers (8-6, first in the NL Central) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (7-7, fourth in the NL West) Phoenix; Saturday, 8:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Chad Patrick (1-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 10 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Corbin Burnes (0-1, 5.79 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 11 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Diamondbacks -181, Brewers +151; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers meet the Arizona Diamondbacks leading the series 1-0. Arizona has a 7-7 record overall and a 4-4 record at home. Diamondbacks hitters have a collective .338 on-base percentage, the seventh-best percentage in the majors. Milwaukee has an 8-6 record overall and a 3-4 record in road games. The Brewers have a 3-0 record in games decided by one run. Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Naylor has five doubles, a home run and nine RBI for the Diamondbacks. Corbin Carroll is 13-for-40 with two doubles, a triple and five home runs over the last 10 games. Jackson Chourio has six doubles, a triple and four home runs for the Brewers. Brice Turang is 15-for-43 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Diamondbacks: 5-5, .219 batting average, 4.24 ERA, even run differential Brewers: 8-2, .249 batting average, 2.37 ERA, outscored opponents by 33 runs INJURIES: Diamondbacks: Ketel Marte: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Ketel Marte: day-to-day (hamstring), Kendall Graveman: 15-Day IL (back), Blaze Alexander: 10-Day IL (oblique), Kevin Ginkel: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jordan Montgomery: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Walston: 60-Day IL (elbow) Brewers: Connor Thomas: 15-Day IL (elbow), Nestor Cortes Jr.: 15-Day IL (elbow), Aaron Civale: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Blake Perkins: 10-Day IL (shin), Tobias Myers: 15-Day IL (oblique), Brandon Woodruff: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Aaron Ashby: 15-Day IL (oblique), D.L. Hall: 60-Day IL (lat), Robert Gasser: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
