Latest news with #Amendment
The Star
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
LPG subsidy to stay, leakages to be probed
THE government will not withdraw the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. He said the ministry's task was to address LPG leakages through misappropriation and smuggling. 'We remain committed to providing LPG cylinder subsidies to the public. Fundamentally, this subsidy is for consumer use, a subsidy for the people's kitchens,' he told Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) who sought clarification on whether the government would withdraw the subsidy. Although the subsidy is primarily for household consumers, Armizan said it also benefits micro and small businesses, particularly in the food and beverage sector. 'For this reason, the food and beverage sector must ensure that prices remain reasonable for the public,' he added. He said that the legal aspects specifically concerning the use of LPG by small traders will be detailed in amendments to the Control of Supplies Regulations (Import Prohibition) 2021. The Control of Supplies Regulations (Amendment) 2021 limits the ownership and use of subsidised LPG exceeding 42kg at any one time without a scheduled controlled goods permit.
The Star
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Cybercrime issues, cost of living and tnb bills among focus of Parliament today
KUALA LUMPUR: Cybercrime issues, cost of living, and changes to the Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) electricity bill structure are among the matters that will be raised in Parliament on Wednesday (July 23). According to the Order of Business on the Parliament portal, Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) will ask the Home Minister about the number of cybercrime cases reported throughout 2024 as well as the ministry's steps to improve the level of digital security of the people, during the question-and-answer session. Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) will ask the Finance Minister about the government's strategy to reduce the burden of the people's cost of living following the country's total debt now reaching RM1.5 trillion, in addition to the World Bank's announcement that Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2025 will fall to 3.9% and the country's situation facing reciprocal tariffs from the United States. Also expected to attract attention will be the question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) who will seek an explanation from the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister on the changes to the TNB electricity bill structure which no longer uses tiered rates for domestic consumers. He also will want to know whether the new mechanism would ensure cost fairness, energy efficiency, and maintain concentrated subsidies for the B40 and M40 groups. In addition, Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) will also pose a question to the Minister of Communications on whether social media such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Xiaohongshu which publish advertisements about various scams and fraudulent investment schemes are held accountable to the victims of scams and fraudulent schemes through the said platforms. After the question-and-answer session, the session will continue with the tabling of the Offenders Compulsory Attendance (Amendment) Bill 2025 and Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2025, respectively for first reading. The Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament is scheduled to last 24 days, and among the focus is the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan on July 31. - Bernama
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Assembly passes 5 bills, Sita temple ordinance
Patna: Amid commotion, the state assembly passed by voice vote five bills and an amendment ordinance — for constitution of a trust for the management of the reconstructed Ma Janaki temple at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district — on Tuesday. The speaker went through the motions of getting the bills passed swiftly, since no one from the opposition moved the amendments to the bills listed against their names. Health minister Mangal Pandey, as in charge of the law department, moved the Bihar Hindu Religious Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, for its conversion into an Act. Earlier, the govt, by an ordinance, had decided to constitute a new trust to manage the Janaki temple, being reconstructed with new facilities and infrastructure, spread over 65 acres. The five bills passed by the House are Bihar Municipality (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at giving more autonomy to the chief counsellors and their deputies in municipalities; Bihar Special Survey and Settlement (Amendment) Bill, 2025, having bearing on conducting land surveys in revenue villages in designated urban bodies; Bihar Agriculture Land (Development of Land for Non-agricultural Purposes) (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Bihar Underground Pipeline (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and Bihar Goods and Services Tax (First Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The Star
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
File police, MACC reports over alleged threats, Kula tells Sabah graft whistleblower
KUALA LUMPUR: File a report with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), government tells Sabah graft whistleblower. Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said that the Madani government will not compromise with any intimidation. 'This matter has been raised by several MPs. This is a very serious allegation and completely unacceptable,' he said when winding up the debates on the Whistleblower Act (Amendment) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (July 22). He added that any whistleblower who comes forward with information about any misconduct must not be silenced or threatened by any party. "Especially not by the authorities themselves. I would like to advise the individual named Albert Tei to immediately file a report with the police and the MACC complaints committee under Section 15 of the MACC Act 2009, naming the MACC officer involved in the allegation. 'I guarantee that the Madani government will not compromise with any intimidation if the allegation is true,' he said. Previously, Tei — who exposed a graft allegation in Sabah — allegedly was told by an MACC officer not to appear in public to avoid any problems.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt eyes streamlined agencies to bolster plastic waste import controls
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is mulling an overhaul of the country's plastic waste import system, including streamlining the roles of four key agencies to enhance coordination, accountability and enforcement. This will involve the Department of Environment (DoE), Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corp (SWCorp), Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, and Customs Department. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who helms the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, said the proposed initiative aimed to strengthen enforcement mechanisms in addressing the transboundary movement of plastic waste. "We take the issue of unauthorised and uncontrolled transboundary movement of plastic waste very seriously. "It is often seen as a form of waste colonisation," he told the Dewan Rakyat today. Johari said overlapping jurisdictions among the agencies had hindered enforcement efforts. "We have four different bodies with different mandates. "If we want effective enforcement, all four must sit at the same table; that is my suggestion to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry," he said, responding to questions from Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Perikatan Nasional–Kubang Kerian) on the government's position regarding plastic waste imports enforcement. Johari said enforcement should go beyond port inspections and include strict monitoring of recycling facilities. "If we track activities at the processing plants, we can determine whether the waste is being handled by licensed operators or otherwise," he said. Johari said only 10-20 per cent of imported plastic waste is properly processed, while the remaining 80 per cent ends up in landfills. To address this, he said the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry would require all plastic recycling companies to register with the ministry and renew their licences annually. He said beginning July 1, new standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been enforced under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order (Amendment) 2002. All plastic waste imports must be approved by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and obtain a Certificate of Approval issued by Sirim. "With the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry's involvement, we want all companies to register with the ministry. "We will scrutinise their financial reports, sales data, export destinations and waste handling practices," he said. Johari said that Malaysia, as a signatory to the Basel Convention, is bound by its provisions on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, including the 2021 amendment which mandates Prior Informed Consent before any cross-border shipment of plastic waste.
