Latest news with #Chin
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
2,923 Chin refugees left Zokhawthar till Wed: Champhai police officials
Aizawl: At least 2,923 out of 3,956 refugees from western Chin state of Myanmar adjacent to Mizoram have left the India-Myanmar border trade centre Zokhawthar village and returned to their respective villages till Wednesday, Champhai district police officials said, reports HC Vanlalruata. The officials said the refugees began returning to their homes from July 7. On Saturday, the maximum number of 2,319 refugees left Zokhawthar village and returned to Khawmawi, Rihkhawdar and nearby smaller villages. At least 48 refugees returned to Myanmar on Wednesday while 47 people returned on Tuesday, the officials said. Efforts are on to find peace between the two Chin armed groups, but end of hostilities between the groups is still eluding.
The Star
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Share resources among Asean to offset Trump's tariff, says Perantim
KUALA LUMPUR: A harmonisation of Asean medical device industry regulations will be the key to protecting the regional industry from Trump's tariffs, says the Malaysian Medical Device Manufacturers Association (Perantim). Perantim president Johari Abu Kasim said this was due to most Asean exporters already beginning to notice a slowdown in exports to the United States as uncertainties surrounding the tariffs continue. 'We must invest and promote innovation in healthcare as a region now or risk being left behind by the rest of the world. 'Raw materials are in abundance here but other Asean countries might not have the same, so there has to be a structure in place for us to share resources among Asean partners,' he said during the International Healthcare Week 2025 on Wednesday (July 16). He also suggested that Asean countries develop a reciprocal acceptance of market access and tax frameworks to enable easier integration. Perantim innovation advisor Roy Chin said that Trump's tariffs on other countries like China had also severely impacted healthcare device innovation in Asean directly. 'The tariffs have impacted the supply of circuit boards, sensors and power systems used in imaging, diagnostics and robotic systems from China. 'This has led to research and development delays due to sourcing shifts and the need to find and test for alternative suppliers,' he said during the same conference. To overcome this, Chin suggested that Asean medical device developers shift towards modular software-driven innovations that are not as susceptible to tariffs. He also called on industry players to invest in localised R&D hubs and also partake in co-development programmes with universities or startups in tariff-safe countries. 'This would shorten supply chains for prototype testing and speed up innovation without depending on tariff-prone imports from China." Chin added that Asean governments should work towards simplifying licensing requirements across the region, similar to those in the European Union. 'This can be done through the existing Asean Medical Device Directive to harmonise classification, registration and post-market surveillance of medical device products, as well as expediting customs between member states. 'We should also look to encourage co-development of domestic component ecosystems such as precision parts in the region by providing better tax incentives, free trade zones or even investment tax allowances,' he added.
Daily Express
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Emulate Sarawak's decision to retain the youth age: LDP
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 Text Size: Chin believes that Sabah, which shares similar socio-economic structures, rural challenges and cultural values with Sarawak, must assert its own rights to decide youth policies that reflect its people's realities — not simply follow top-down federal directives. Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Datuk Chin Shu Ying on Tuesday called on the State Government to emulate Sarawak's decision to retain the youth age definition at 40 years and to reject the Federal Government's move to lower it to 30 years starting Jan 1, 2026. Sarawak's Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has made it clear that Sarawak will not follow the federal redefinition. Advertisement Instead, it will maintain its current policy, recognising youths as individuals aged between 15 and 40 years old. This position by Sarawak not only reflects the State's constitutional autonomy over youth matters under the Concurrent List but also demonstrates a sound understanding of its own social, economic and developmental context. Chin believes that Sabah, which shares similar socio-economic structures, rural challenges and cultural values with Sarawak, must assert its own rights to decide youth policies that reflect its people's realities — not simply follow top-down federal directives. 'In Sabah, many individuals only begin to settle into their careers, complete their education, or start families in their early to mid-30s. 'For them, the ages between 30 and 40 are a critical phase of personal growth, leadership development and contribution to society. 'Hence, reducing the youth age limit to 30 would result in the exclusion of these individuals from youth-related opportunities, including funding schemes, leadership roles in youth organisations, training programmes and public engagement platforms,' he said in a statement. Chin said such exclusion would not only hinder their development but also destabilise many existing youth organisations in Sabah, especially in rural and indigenous communities where age-based mentorship and intergenerational continuity are essential. He emphasised that youth development is not simply about chronological age — it is about capacity building, empowerment and readiness. Prematurely capping this group's access to support and participation could stunt Sabah's long-term human capital growth, he added. Sarawak's implementation of a flexible model — where 70pc of youth leaders are between 18 and 40 years old, and 30pc may be older — offers a pragmatic and inclusive formula. Therefore, Chin said he believes Sabah should adopt a similar approach to balance renewal with continuity. 'Sabah has every constitutional right to chart its own course in youth affairs. The Federal Constitution provides states with concurrent authority on youth matters, and like Sarawak, Sabah should act in the best interests of its people. 'In indigenous and rural Sabahan societies, individuals aged 30 and above are still regarded as young, active and deeply involved in local leadership. Their roles are indispensable in preserving culture, guiding younger generations, and stabilizing community networks,' he said. Chin warned that blindly adopting a West Malaysia-centric model risks weakening the foundation of Sabah's community leadership and excluding a generation still in transition. 'Good governance must be rooted in local adaptability — not rigid standardisation. Therefore, I propose three key actions. First, the Sabah Government should publicly reaffirm its decision to retain the youth age limit at 40. 'Second, it should consider adopting a flexible leadership quota similar to Sarawak's. 'Third, it should initiate a consultation process involving youth organizations, indigenous groups, and experts to draft a Sabah-specific Youth Development Blueprint. 'The State Legislative Assembly should also table this issue for debate, allowing all stakeholders to present data, views, and on-the-ground experiences. Policy should not be formulated in isolation but with open, inclusive dialogue,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
LDP urges Sabah to retain youth age limit at 40, emulate Sarawak's stand
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has urged the Sabah State Government to reject the federal move to lower the youth age cap from 40 to 30 by 2026, calling instead to follow Sarawak's example of maintaining the current limit. LDP Secretary General Datuk Chin Shu Ying argued that Sabah's socio-economic realities mirror Sarawak's, where many individuals only begin establishing careers and families in their 30s. Advertisement Lowering the age would exclude them from vital youth programmes, leadership roles, and funding. He highlighted Sarawak's flexible youth leadership model where 70pc are aged 18–40 and 30pc can be older as an inclusive and practical approach Sabah should adopt. Chin also called on the Sabah Government to reaffirm the 40-year limit, initiate inclusive consultations to develop a Sabah-specific Youth Development Blueprint, and table the matter in the State Assembly. He warned that blindly following Peninsular-centric policies risks undermining rural and indigenous leadership traditions, stressing that youth development must reflect local realities not rigid age thresholds. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Sabah, S'wak gain voice, but autonomy push remains
PETALING JAYA: Although Sabah and Sarawak have gained increased representation in the federal government, analysts say ongoing discussions over administrative powers and jurisdictional responsibilities remain relevant, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, education and healthcare. University of Tasmania professor Dr James Chin noted that the inclusion of leaders from East Malaysia in senior federal roles marks a significant development in terms of political presence. 'For the first time in Malaysian history, we have a deputy prime minister from Sarawak,' he said, referring to Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. He added that four Sarawakian MPs currently hold full ministerial positions – Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Women, Family and Community Development), Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (Works), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Tourism) and Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (National Unity). In total, seven out of 28 full ministers are from East Malaysia, making up 25% of the Cabinet. Chin also pointed out that at the deputy minister level, representation is slightly higher, with six deputy ministers from Sarawak and seven from Sabah. However, he said despite this level of representation, there are continued calls from both states for greater decision-making authority in certain policy areas. 'In Sarawak, for example, there have been long-standing proposals for more local control over education and health services. These remain under federal jurisdiction,' he said. He explained that such arrangements reflect the broader framework of federal governance, where the central government maintains oversight over certain portfolios. 'Changes in governance structure typically require time and coordination among various agencies.' Chin also noted that political structures differ between the two states. In Sabah, the presence of multiple parties within the governing coalition can affect policy cohesion. 'There is currently no single party with enough seats to govern Sabah independently. This can influence the state's ability to negotiate or present unified proposals at the federal level,' he said. In Sarawak, the situation is more consolidated. Of the 82 seats in the state legislative assembly, 80 are held by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United Peoples' Party, Sarawak Peoples' Party and Progressive Democratic Party. The coalition left Barisan Nasional in 2018 and has since governed Sarawak on its own. Chin said this stability has contributed to more consistent policy positions and engagement with the federal government. He also remarked on public perceptions in Sabah, where federal-state relations are sometimes viewed through the lens of political alignment. Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research senior fellow prof Dr Azmi Hassan offered similar observations. He said that political representation from East Malaysia has improved, though there are distinctions between the two states. 'Sabah is still developing a stronger coalition identity, while Sarawak's GPS is more established and cohesive,' he said. Azmi added that East Malaysian parties will likely continue to play a significant role in federal politics, particularly in light of ongoing political fragmentation in Peninsular Malaysia, as seen during the last general election. He also expects the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to remain a point of interest in upcoming state elections, especially in Sabah, where it holds historical and emotional significance. 'While national issues remain important, MA63-related matters continue to be a key focus for many voters in East Malaysia,' he said. In a related update, Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said on Monday that the federal government is expected to make a decision on matters related to MA63 on Sept 12. This will follow further discussions in a technical committee involving both Sabah and Sarawak.
