Latest news with #Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali
Malay Mail
23-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Domestic Trade Ministry to expand digital monitoring to ensure 60,000 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil reach target groups, says Armizan
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali today said the ministry is prioritising efforts to ensure the effective distribution of 60,000 metric tonnes of subsidised cooking oil each month reaches its intended recipients without leakage, before considering alternative subsidy mechanisms such as cash transfers under the SARA programme. He explained that the ministry began implementing its digital monitoring system in 2023 to track the movement of subsidised oil from packaging plants to retailers. However, the current system does not yet monitor purchases at the consumer level. 'To address this, KPDN will expand the system starting in 2025 through the rollout of eCOSS mobile application, currently being piloted under the Rahmah Sales Programme. 'This app will be integrated with data from the National Registration Department (JPN) to identify legitimate buyers and prevent purchases by ineligible groups, such as foreign nationals,' he said during the debate on the Auditor-General's Report in Parliament today. The ministry said the system will enable the government to collect detailed data on who is buying the subsidised oil, where it is being bought, and in what quantity, allowing for more accurate assessment of subsidy beneficiaries and better targeted policies. He said the government previously had no clear data on who was actually using the subsidised packet cooking oil, but with the eCOSS system and new mobile app, it will soon be able to identify subsidy recipients more accurately. In response to Pulai MP Suhaizan Kayat, the minister said that although 3.16 million households need only around 20,000 tonnes of cooking oil monthly, the 60,000-tonne allocation also covers small traders, restaurants, school canteens, hostels, and care centres. 'The original 2016 estimate of 40,000 metric tonnes, based on 1.5kg per capita, was later revised to 60,000 metric tonnes to accommodate these broader usage patterns. 'It was also noted that in 2022, even the then prime minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) acknowledged that enforcement should not be taken against small food vendors using subsidised oil,' he explained. This, he said, reflects how the programme has expanded beyond household use in practice. He then said KPDN remains committed to curbing leakage, preventing misuse and smuggling, and ensuring that subsidies reach the people who truly need them.
Malay Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
E-commerce law overhaul coming in 2026, Malaysia to regulate platform fees, foreign sellers
PUTRAJAYA, July 17 — A bill to strengthen the legal framework for e-commerce is expected to be tabled in Parliament during its first session next year, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. He said the ongoing review of e-commerce legislation commenced in April 2024 and is expected to conclude by August, involving engagement with stakeholders across the industry, among others. 'The review is necessary as the current legal framework lacks clear regulatory powers over electronic transactions, with the existing Electronic Commerce Act serving mainly as an enabling act. 'Enforcement currently depends on the Consumer Protection Act and related regulations, which were meant to be temporary. We need a comprehensive and fair framework accepted by all stakeholders to support e-commerce growth,' he told reporters after an engagement session today. Armizan said Malaysia's e-commerce sector recorded steady growth, with revenue rising from RM1.13 trillion in 2022 to RM1.22 trillion last year. He emphasised that new regulations must not hinder the sector's development, noting that once a mechanism is in place for local platforms, a similar approach will be considered for foreign-based operators. He added that, at present, the ministry has no authority to regulate or monitor foreign platforms without a physical presence in Malaysia, raising concerns over the influx of foreign products and tax inequality. Armizan also said that discussions are underway with countries such as China and Turkiye on a government-to-government (G2G) mechanism, particularly on regulating cross-border e-commerce and direct selling. Meanwhile, Armizan said consumer protection is a key focus in the ongoing review of the e-commerce legal framework, particularly on the use of automated decision-making (ADM) systems or algorithms that may contain manipulative elements. He said the ministry is also looking into growing concerns over recent increases in platform fees imposed by several e-commerce operators, noting that such fee hikes are business decisions made by the platforms themselves. 'In my view, the timing of their fee adjustments is not appropriate, especially since some had already revised their commission fees as recently as August last year,' he said. He added that while blocking such decisions entirely may not be realistic, the ministry is exploring a mechanism requiring platforms to consult with them or relevant agencies before making fee changes that affect users or sellers. To date, the review process has involved 23 engagement sessions, six roundtable discussions, four benchmarking visits abroad and over 300 respondents, with sessions in Sabah and Sarawak to follow. — Bernama
Malay Mail
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
GRS proposes two-term limit for Sabah CM, says needs supermajority to amend state Constitution
PAPAR, July 17 — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is reportedly proposing a two-term limit for the Chief Minister of Sabah as part of its upcoming election manifesto. According to a report in New Straits Times, GRS deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the proposal was agreed upon with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Plus coalition in December 2023. 'The reform would require an amendment to the State Constitution, which in turn needs a two-thirds majority support in the State Legislative Assembly,' he was quoted as saying. 'As such, GRS must secure a convincing victory exceeding the two-thirds threshold in the upcoming state election (PRN) to ensure this manifesto pledge can be realised in a future sitting of the assembly (DUN),' he reportedly added. The term-limit proposal falls under the 'Sabah United' pillar, one of four core themes in the manifesto, alongside 'Sabah First', 'Sabah Forward' and 'Sabah Prosper'. Armizan, who is also Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, reportedly said a special task force has been formed to draft the manifesto, which is still being finalised.
