Latest news with #971
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers accused of 'deeply troubling' tactics in court battle with young activists: 'It's going to take us years to unwind what they're doing here'
Montana lawmakers are pushing a series of legislative changes that critics say will undercut a historic court ruling that favored youth plaintiffs in a climate case, Inside Climate News recently reported. The Held v. Montana ruling was seen as a major win for young climate advocates. However, since the verdict, legislators have introduced bills that would limit the state's obligation to consider climate pollution in decision-making. The Held decision found that Montana residents have a constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, including protection from climate harm. Yet in response, some state legislators are fast-tracking measures that restrict how state agencies evaluate the release of polluting gases. Lawmakers aim to block courts from enforcing certain constitutional provisions through legislation like House Bill (HB) 971 and others that amend the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). HB 971 says state agencies shouldn't factor in planet-warming gas pollution in environmental reviews, while the MEPA requires them to carefully assess the environmental impact of major projects before giving permits. These changes could reshape how Montana evaluates and responds to climate-related risks. Legal experts and environmental advocates argue that these bills could roll back key protections affirmed by the ruling and limit the ability of residents to hold the government accountable for decisions affecting the climate. The urgency and volume of the proposals suggest a deliberate effort to sideline the court's judgment and limit the legal avenues available to implement initiatives for climate protection. As Anne Hedges, executive director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, warned, "It's going to take us years to unwind what they're doing here. And they [Republican lawmakers] know it; to them, that's a win." The youth plaintiffs' legal team is closely watching legislative changes as they unfold while Republican lawmakers defend the measures as necessary to limit judicial overreach. As a Reddit user shared, "It's deeply troubling that Montana Republicans are trying to roll back climate action after a court recognized the state's constitutional duty to protect a clean environment. … They need to be held accountable." Do you think governments should ban gas stoves? Heck yes! Only in new buildings Only in restaurants Heck no! Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. For now, advocates say the best way forward is to stay informed, support pro-climate leaders, and back candidates who prioritize environmental protection. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Express
02-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah salaries so low, even RM2,000 is a hard no
Published on: Friday, May 02, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 02, 2025 Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Filepic by Bernama KOTA KINABALU: Despite national data showing wage growth, concerns have surfaced over low starting salaries for fresh graduates in Sabah, with some reportedly being offered just RM1,800 a month, The Sun reported. A Threads user recently went viral after revealing that companies here rejected salary negotiations as low as RM2,000, forcing graduates to settle for lower-paying protege roles. The Malaysian Employers Federation reported in its 2024 survey that the average monthly gross income for degree holders is RM2,971, making the RM1,800 starting salary in Sabah well below the national average. Meanwhile, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) confirmed that nearly 30 per cent of Malaysia's formal sector workers were still earning RM2,000 or less by the end of 2024. Although the median monthly wage rose to RM3,045, Sabah recorded one of the lowest at RM2,000, just above Kelantan (RM1,664) and Perlis (RM1,764). The wage gap remains stark, with Malaysia's top 10 per cent earning at least RM10,800—more than seven times the income of the bottom 10 per cent, who earned RM1,500 or less. This disparity, combined with the experiences of underpaid graduates in Sabah, has sparked debate online over wage equity and job value across Malaysia's states. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
'Just RM1,800 for new hires' - Woman laments how fresh grads in Sabah are being underpaid
In its 2024 salary survey, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) reported that degree holders in Malaysia earn an average basic salary of RM2,703, with a gross monthly income averaging RM2,971. However, a recent post by a user on Threads, @vfnvsvn, highlights a more troubling reality for fresh graduates in Sabah, where starting salaries can be as low as RM1,800. 'I was honestly in disbelief,' she wrote, after discovering that some companies in Kota Kinabalu were offering just RM1,800 to new hires. She shared that a friend with a degree and a year of work experience had attempted to negotiate a RM2,000 salary, but the request was rejected. 'In the end, she accepted a Protege position simply because it was the only offer that met the RM2,000 mark here in Sabah,' she explained. ALSO READ: 'Boycott companies paying below market wages' - M'sian frustrated by parties deeming RM3k starting salary as excessive Another friend, she added, even took up a Protege role twice just for the slightly better pay. 'It's honestly so sad,' @vfnvsvn wrote. 'Fresh grads in Sabah — even in KK — are being paid so little. It's just not worth the workload.' Malaysian netizens soon took to the comments section to share their own disheartening experiences of being offered shockingly low salaries in Sabah. 'I even did an audit at the biggest laundry company in Sandakan and was only paid RM600 to RM900. In the end, I got a job in KL that offered me RM6.5k as an entry-level salary. So tell me — how can Sabahans not want to leave Sabah?' questioned @theglacester. 'Meanwhile, I'm in Tawau. The basic salary I was offered is RM1,100 — and I'm a degree holder with six years of experience. The job title is rental assistant, but I also handle ad-hoc tasks as HR and my boss's PA. Back when I worked in the Peninsula as an operations executive, I was earning RM5,000. Honestly, I regret coming back here,' shared @edakalbu. 'Sad but true — that's why I'm job hunting in Penang,' added @brayondangelo.
