Latest news with #Chiew
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
No cut to household LPG subsidy, says Miri MP
MIRI (May 31): Miri MP Chiew Choon Man has moved to clarify growing public confusion over allegations that the federal government has abolished or reduced subsidies for household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders. In a statement, he dismissed claims circulating on social media as 'inaccurate and misleading', stressing that the LPG subsidy for domestic use remains fully intact. 'There has been no removal or reduction of the LPG subsidy. What the government is doing is tackling leakage and abuse in the system, particularly involving illegal commercial use and black-market activities,' he said. His remarks came in response to public concerns following the enforcement of Operasi Gas Memasak (Ops Gasak) by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), which began on May 1. Chiew cited KPDN Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who recently clarified that Ops Gasak is not a new policy but is instead based on the Supply Control Regulations (Amendment) 2021, in force since Oct 15, 2021. 'The operation targets the misuse of subsidised LPG in non-household sectors, especially illegal activities such as 'decanting', where gas is transferred from subsidised cylinders into non-subsidised ones for resale. 'The subsidy is intended for household kitchens, not for commercial or industrial profit,' he emphasised. Chiew also reassured the public that individuals using three or fewer 14kg cylinders (totalling up to 42kg) at any given time are not required to apply for a controlled goods permit under current regulations. He urged the public to rely on verified and official sources of information, and not to be swayed by viral content or unfounded speculation. 'I fully support the government's efforts to prevent subsidy leakage. Any abuse of the system ultimately harms those who truly need and deserve the assistance.'
India Today
7 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Apple exported 11.5 million iPhones from India to US in first 4 months of this year, export from China down
Apple exported a total of 13.2 million iPhones from China to the US between January and April 2025. In the same period, India shipped 11.5 million iPhones to the US, according to estimates. At first glance, China still appears to be leading, but a closer look reveals a different story. India has been catching up steadily month after month, and in April, it actually overtook China for the first time, exporting 3.3 million iPhones compared to China's 900,000 units. advertisementAccording to market analysis research by Omdia (formerly Canalys), via CNBC, in April alone, iPhone shipments from India to the US rose 76 per cent year-on-year to reach approximately 3 million units. This sharp rise coincided with a 76 per cent drop in shipments from China during the same month. 'This latest trade war with China, is the type of disturbance that Apple has long been trying to prepare itself for,' said Le Xuan Chiew, research manager at Omdia. The research combines customs records and channel data from Apple's started investing heavily in India's supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic, and those efforts appear to be paying off. Chiew added that the unusually high export numbers in March — 4.4 million from India — may have been due to the company stockpiling ahead of former US President Donald Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' on April Despite Trump's decision to exempt iPhones from these tariffs on April 11, Apple's India-focused production strategy remains unchanged. CEO Tim Cook, in early May, reaffirmed that most iPhones sold in the US would be manufactured in India moving iPhones imported from China face an additional 30 per cent duty under Trump-era tariffs, while the base tariff for countries like India is 10 per cent. However, analysts believe India still has a long way to go. 'India's manufacturing capacity isn't expected to grow fast enough to take the entirety of US demand. It's still too early,' Chiew said. He added that Apple had only recently started shipping the top-end iPhone 16 Pro models from India. Estimates suggest US iPhone demand sits around 20 million units per quarter, and India is not expected to meet that demand fully until at least Newman, CEO of research firm Futurum Group, pointed out that while the final assembly of iPhones is moving to India, a large part of the supply chain remains in China. 'It was actually a very low lift for them to migrate more and more of the final assembly from China to India,' he shift, however, hasn't gone unnoticed by the governments involved. Trump recently threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all iPhone imports, stating that they should be made in the US, 'not India, or any place else.' Meanwhile, China is reportedly trying to slow India's rise by limiting access to high-tech equipment and skilled labour needed for iPhone experts believe Apple will stay on its India path despite the challenges. 'Producing iPhones in the US is a fairy tale in our view, and Apple will continue to plough ahead on the India path. Cook will look to negotiate with Trump, but India is the focus and not changing,' said Dan Ives, global head of tech research at Wedbush In
CNBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
India's iPhone exports to the U.S. soared an estimated 76%. But Trump, Beijing won't make further growth easy
Shipments of iPhones from India to the U.S. rose 76% in April year on year, estimates from a technology market analyst firm shows. The surge comes as Apple accelerates its "made in India" plans, which analysts say will meet pushback from President Donald Trump and Beijing. The data from Canalys, now part of Omdia, showed that U.S. iPhones shipped from India in April reached roughly 3,000,000. That's a stark contrast to shipments from China over the same period, which fell about 76% from last year to just 900,000. According to Le Xuan Chiew, a research manager at Omdia, the April numbers show the aggressive measures Apple has taken to adapt to Washington's tariffs against China, where Apple manufactures most of its iPhones. "This latest trade war with China, is the type of disturbance that Apple has long been trying to prepare itself for," he said, adding that the country had first started investing heavily into supply chains in India during the Covid-19 pandemic. India also surpassed China in iPhone shipments to the United States in March, according to Omdia's estimates. The uptick came ahead of Trump's first iteration of "reciprocal tariffs" on April 2. The amount of shipments that month was unusually high and appeared to be the result of the company's stockpiling, according to Chiew. The Trump administration's decision to exempt iPhones and other consumer electronics from his reciprocal tariffs on April 11 did not reverse those trends, with Apple CEO Tim Cook in early may reiterating plans for most iPhone's sold in the U.S. to be manufactured in India. IPhones imported from China under Trump's current term tariffs still face an additional 30% of duties, while the baseline tariff rate is currently 10% for most other countries, including India and Vietnam. While the jump in India's iPhone shipments in March and April showed the adaptability of Apple's supply chains, that growth is expected to slow down for the rest of the year, according to Omdia's Chiew. "India's manufacturing capacity isn't expected to grow fast enough to take the entirety of U.S. demand. It's still too early," he said, noting that the company recently began shipments of Apple's most cutting-edge iPhone 16 Pro. Omdia estimates that U.S. iPhone demand is about 20 million a quarter, with India expected to be able to match that level only by 2026. Meanwhile, Daniel Newman, CEO of Futurum Group, noted that shipment numbers reflect final assembly, but are not representative of the entire supply chain and manufacturing process. "It was actually a very low lift for them to migrate more and more of the final assembly from China to India," he said, adding that a vast majority of the sub-assemblies are all still in China. Analysts said India's ability to expand its iPhone capacity could be curbed by protectionist measures from Washington and Beijing, which both have issues with Apple's reaction against tariffs. According to Newman, while this is the smart thing for Apple to do, it's also playing a "dangerous game" with Trump, as it doesn't meet the objectives of his administration's tariffs. On Friday, Trump threatened to slap a 25% tariff on all iPhone shipments in a social media post, reiterating that he expects iPhones sold in the U.S. to be manufactured and built domestically, "not India, or anyplace else." China, for its part, is not expected to make it easy for Apple to diversify out of the country, Newman said, adding that the company has served as trade leverage for Beijing. According to reports from local outlets in India, Beijing has tried to make it harder for India to access the high-tech machinery and talent from China needed to further support Apple's suppliers in India. Dan Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, told CNBC that Apple's India plans will pose some challenges regarding logistics, distribution and navigating complex supply chains in the country. However, India is nevertheless expected to remain a "life raft" for Apple under the tariff situation. "Producing iPhones in the U.S. is a fairy tale in our view and Apple will continue to plow ahead on the India path. Cook will look to negotiate with Trump but India is the focus and not changing."
Borneo Post
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Miri MP calls for nationwide digital infrastructure overhaul in schools
(From left) Dahlan, Alhadi, Chiew and Ko pose with one of the interactive smart boards donated to SMK Merbau. MIRI (May 17): A more comprehensive national approach to digital education is needed, as quality digital infrastructure in schools should no longer be viewed as a luxury but a basic necessity, said Miri MP Chiew Choon Man. He visited SMK Merbau recently to observe the implementation of a project under the People's Friendly Project (Projek Mesra Rakyat) for the Miri constituency. Through this initiative, he presented the school with two interactive smart boards and one multimedia projector. According to him, the new digital tools aimed to enhance the students' learning experiences and align classroom teaching with current technological advancements. 'These interactive smart boards, equipped with Android and Windows systems and 4K UHD displays, are not just tools – they are catalysts for a more interactive, visual, and effective learning process. They represent a strategic move toward the digital transformation of our schools,' he said. Chiew stressed that access to quality education must be equitable, regardless of whether students live in urban or rural areas. 'Our children deserve facilities that prepare them to compete globally, wherever they are,' he noted. He expressed hope that teachers would embrace the new technology to deliver more engaging and innovative lessons, while students use the tools as gateways to knowledge and creativity. However, he also acknowledged the challenges of meeting the digital needs in all schools, citing limited constituency funding. In view of this, he urged the federal government to implement a long-term, integrated plan to ensure that all schools – including those in rural areas – have access to essential digital infrastructure. 'Digital education is no longer optional. We must not allow the digital divide between urban and rural schools to widen. 'This gap undermines access to knowledge and denies students the opportunity to grow in an ecosystem comparable to that of developed nations,' he warned. Chiew said that he will bring the issue to Parliament, advocating for a national policy that places digitalisation of education on equal footing with current efforts to improve dilapidated schools. His proposal includes provisions for smart classrooms, high-speed internet, teacher training in digital pedagogy, and the alignment of digital content with the national curriculum. 'With a united effort and clear planning, I believe we can build an education system that is truly Madani – inclusive, progressive, and ready for the future,' he concluded. Present to welcome Chiew during his visit to SMK Merbau were Senior Assistant (Student Affairs) Dahlan Suliman, Senior Assistant (Co-curriculum) Alhadi Ekni, and Senior Assistant (Form 6) Ko Lee Fang. Chiew Choon Man digital education infrastructure lead schools
Daily Express
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Nature Coffee puts Sabah on the map at China's Smoke and Fire Coffee Festival
Published on: Friday, May 09, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 09, 2025 Text Size: Chiew presents a souvenir to Tongmeng Ancient Town Marketing Operations Director Li Bin, accompanied by Lee. KOTA KINABALU: Nature Coffee from Sabah made the country proud as it was the sole international brand invited to be featured in the Smoke and Fire Coffee Festival held in Tongmeng Ancient Town, Huojia County, Zhengzhou. The event, embracing the 'early coffee, late alcohol' lifestyle trend among China's youth, gathered over 40 coffee brands from cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu for tastings, sales, and workshops. Nature Coffee, co-founded by Sabah China Chamber of Commerce vice-president Chiew Heng Hock and vice-chairman Dick Lee, used the opportunity to showcase Sabah's unique Catimor variety and foster international collaboration across the coffee supply chain. Visitors were treated to the rich, complex aroma of Sabah-grown beans, with notes of popcorn, genmaicha, and grapefruit, offering both a sensory and cultural exchange experience. The festival coincided with the May Day holiday and featured concerts, traditional performances, local delicacies, and cultural crafts, creating a lively atmosphere that celebrated coffee and Chinese heritage. * 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
