Latest news with #DavidOng
Daily Express
13 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
LDP cautions against new minimum wage hike
Published on: Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Published on: Wed, Aug 20, 2025 Text Size: Ong criticised comparisons between government-linked companies (GLCs) and private sector businesses, noting that some large corporations and GLCs have set entry-level salaries at RM3,000. Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party Vice President David Ong cautioned the Government against implementing another minimum wage increase soon after the recent adjustment to RM1,700, which took effect nationwide on Aug 1. He said businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), need more time to adapt to the current wage structure before facing additional financial pressures. Advertisement 'Less than a year after the last increase, talk of yet another hike is premature and risks placing unnecessary strain on businesses that are still adjusting,' he said in a statement. He criticised comparisons between government-linked companies (GLCs) and private sector businesses, noting that some large corporations and GLCs have set entry-level salaries at RM3,000. 'GLCs operate under very different conditions, with guaranteed contracts, subsidies or monopolies that protect their income streams. 'Most private businesses, especially SMEs, operate on thin margins and face direct market competition,' he said. He said SMEs comprise nearly 98 per cent of Malaysian businesses and employ almost half the country's workforce. Many are currently struggling with reduced consumer demand, rising operational costs and cash flow constraints due to global economic challenges. He said premature wage increases could lead to unintended consequences, including job cuts, hiring freezes or business closures, outcomes that would ultimately harm workers rather than protect them. 'We must ask, what new skills or productivity gains have workers acquired in less than a year that would justify another wage increase?' he said, emphasising that salary increases should correspond with improved productivity and skills development. Instead of rushing into another minimum wage hike, he suggested the Government should allow businesses more time to absorb the recent wage adjustment while focusing on reducing living costs through stricter price controls and anti-profiteering enforcement. He also called for enhanced support for SMEs through training programmes, digitalisation initiatives and productivity improvement schemes. 'Workers deserve fair pay and a decent standard of living, but wage hikes must be gradual, realistic and supported by policies that strengthen competitiveness,' 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
12-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
LDP: Give same urgency to healthcare bullying as Zara
Published on: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 12, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party Vice President David Ong has urged the government to treat workplace bullying in healthcare with the same urgency as the fight for justice for 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir. 'We must not let another tragic case be pushed aside,' Ong said, citing a Tawau Hospital doctor who was bullied so severely by senior colleagues that she fell into deep depression and suicidal thoughts. Advertisement 'Her story is a painful reminder that bullying is not just happening in school, it is destroying lives in our hospitals.' Between 2022 and March 2024, 355 bullying complaints were made through the Health Ministry's MyHelp channel. 'Only 10 were investigated, that's 2.8pc while only four were proven just 1.1pc. 'Even in physical assaults, punishment was often just a warning letter. This is not inefficiency, it looks like deliberate neglect," he stressed. He accused the ministry of protecting bullies instead of victims by transferring them or sending them abroad for training while silencing victims. 'Selective justice is corrupted justice. Every one of the 355 cases must be answered for. Every victim deserves justice. Every bully must face the consequences. 'We will not stop until workplace bullying in healthcare is wiped out and those responsible are held accountable whether it's for Zara, for the Tawau doctor, or for any victim of institutional abuse in Malaysia," 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
Borneo Post
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Borneo.TV must be a genuine platform for Sabah - LDP
David Ong KOTA KINABALU (July 6): Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) vice president David Ong has expressed both cautious optimism and critical concern following the launch of Sabah's new digital streaming platform aimed at promoting the State's culture and stories to a global audience. While acknowledging the strategic potential of Ong urged for deeper collaboration with the Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA) and the wider creative community to ensure a truly inclusive and transparent creative ecosystem. 'The combination of and SAFVA presents an unprecedented global opportunity for Sabah's identity and voice to shine on the world stage,' he stated in a press release on Sunday. 'However, the initiative must be more than a symbolic launch. The mechanism of implementation must be right, inclusive, and transparent to avoid redundancy and to build a strong foundation for long-term success.' Launched on July 1 and officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, enters the Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming era as a new platform operated by IB Media Consultant Work Sdn Bhd. With no direct government funding and the mission to broadcast 'Cerita Sabah di Mata Dunia' (Sabah Stories Through the Eyes of the World), is positioned to showcase Sabah's rich arts, culture and natural beauty to an international audience. The Liberal Democratic Party welcomes such innovation and acknowledges the value of giving Sabahans and indigenous communities a platform to tell their own stories. However, Ong warns that success depends not only on content but also on the ecosystem behind the scenes. 'Local content cannot thrive in isolation. The best stories come from a foundation of trust, respect and cooperation with those who have long nurtured Sabah's creative landscape,' he said. His remarks follow growing concerns raised by the SAFVA, whose president Chester Pang criticized the launch for failing to involve local creatives in meaningful consultation. SAFVA warned that without open channels of communication and clear content selection policies, risks alienating the very talents it seeks to promote. Artist and cultural advocate Atama Katama echoed these criticisms, raising deeper questions about representation, ownership and potential exploitation of indigenous narratives by external interests. 'These voices cannot be ignored,' Ong emphasized. 'No genuine cultural platform can succeed by marginalizing its own storytellers. The mechanism of collaboration — especially when it comes to content rights, selection criteria, and local engagement — must be reviewed and made public.' Looking forward, the LDP calls for the formation of a joint Sabah Creative Council comprising representatives from SAFVA, indigenous cultural leaders, and other key stakeholders. Such a council would act as a guiding body to ensure equitable participation, industry standards, and international promotion strategies are aligned with Sabah's long-term interests. 'The goal is clear — to elevate Sabah in the eyes of the world, but we must walk this path together, ensuring that every frame broadcasted reflects not just the beauty of Sabah, but the dignity and rightful involvement of Sabahans themselves.'
Free Malaysia Today
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Retrofitting' rule causing confusion, even within JPJ
From David Ong Serious road accidents like the UPSI bus crash have sent shockwaves throughout the nation, which undoubtedly creates pressure on transport minister Loke Siew Fook to strengthen policy and create counter-measures. To his credit, the minister has done exactly that. A number of actions have been taken since, including requiring seat belts in express and tour buses, and the introduction of speed limitation devices in buses and other commercial vehicles. These regulations will be enforced by the road transport department (JPJ). However, what happens when a government is prompted to react quickly? Details are overlooked. One detail has caught my eye and left industry players scratching their heads, namely the new JPJ buzzword: retrofitting. For those unfamiliar, in the context of JPJ's demands, retrofitting refers to the installation of a device that was not originally installed by the manufacturer. This is a requirement set out by JPJ for vehicles that lack seat belts and speed limiters from the manufacturer. That in itself should prompt any slightly mechanically inclined person to wonder: how does one retrofit a device on a vehicle that was not designed for the said device by the manufacturer? The issue at hand is that old buses, despite popular belief, are generally not equipped with seat belts for passengers. The same goes for speed limiters for all older commercial vehicles. Imagine a humble and inexpensive 'Kei' truck (think your 'kapcai' of trucks) used by noble farmers and labourers; why would those have speed limiters from the manufacturer? Furthermore, what makes JPJ believe anyone has the knowledge to retrofit speed limiters to these vehicles? These questions remain unanswered, though they have certainly been asked, and just as quickly shut down. In a recent demonstration by Scania of how speed limiters functioned, both JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli and the minister inquired about the retrofitting of speed limiters. Simply put, the responses by the demonstrators were of two types: one was that there are undoubtedly some vehicles unsuitable for retrofitting, and the other was, let's not talk about that. It sounds almost comedic that the top people in charge of implementing road safety regulations have to ask such crucial questions at an open demonstration and press conference like ordinary journalists. There was clearly a lapse in thorough planning here. The confusion seems to also spread to the journalists, with most choosing to use the Scania diagnostic device as the cover photo for their own articles on the enforcement of speed limiter devices. Industry players are still scrambling to figure out how to meet the enforcement deadline, given that there are no feasible solutions for the retrofitting of seat belts or speed limiters. Unfortunately, the retrofitting will most likely be amateurish and rushed in nature. That is not to say retrofitting is unnecessary. However, maybe it's time JPJ reconsider its safety roadmap and enforcement action plan to be more realistic given our current capabilities. Even our close neighbour Singapore needed years to trial and study retrofitting. David Ong is an FMT reader. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
The Curator ranks 78th on Asia's Best Bars 2025 list
The Curator Coffee and Cocktails has again made it on Asia's Best Bars 2025 list. The homegrown bar, located in Legazpi Village in Makati City, ranked 78th on this year's list, falling 45 spots from its 33rd ranking in 2024. The Curator is the lone Philippine bar on the extended 51-100 list. This is its tenth time to be included among Asia's Best Bars, having consecutively ranked since 2016. Founded by David Ong and Bernice Tiu, The Curator is a third-wave coffee shop that serves coffee during the day in the establishment's front space. By night, The Curator begins its cocktail service in the small bar behind the shop. As of writing, Asia's Best Bars has yet to reveal its Top 50 list for 2025. —Hermes Joy Tunac/CDC, GMA Integrated News
