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Daily Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
RM45 million monthly savings since egg subsidy slashed, says minister
Published on: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 By: Mohamad Fadli, FMT Text Size: Agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said the supply of chicken eggs is currently stable and that prices remain reasonable. (Bernama pic) Kuala Lumpur: The government is estimated to have saved RM45 million a month following the reduction of egg subsidies which took effect on May 1, said agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu. He told the Dewan Rakyat that the subsidy cut would result in savings of up to RM135 million over a three-month period before the full termination of the subsidy on Aug 1. He was responding to a question from Sheikh Puzi Sheikh Ali (BN-Pekan) about the savings from the reduced subsidy spending and its impact on the egg market and overall cost of living. Mohamad, known as Mat Sabu, said the supply of chicken eggs was stable and that prices remained reasonable. In July alone, egg production is expected to reach 1.75 billion eggs, while domestic consumption is estimated at 1.06 billion, he said. 'This indicates a surplus of 0.69 billion eggs, some of which will be exported,' he added. Mohamad said that to ensure continued stability in egg supply and pricing, his ministry, together with the domestic trade and cost of living ministry, would closely monitor the situation. He added that the savings from the reduced subsidy spending would allow the government to redirect funds towards initiatives and programmes that provide direct benefits for the people. In April, the agriculture and food security ministry announced its decision to end the subsidy after industry players committed to ensuring a stable and sufficient egg supply, following the stabilisation of production costs. In June 2024, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government had decided to reduce the retail price of grade A, B and C eggs nationwide by three sen. This subsidy scheme involved an expenditure of RM100 million. The government initially planned to float egg prices in July 2023, but postponed the move due to concerns about potential price increases and the impact on consumers. * 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
- Daily Express
Cops forced me to admit I killed my son, Zayn Rayyan's mum tells court
Published on: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 By: Faisal Asyraf, FMT Text Size: Ismanira Abdul Manaf was charged last year with neglecting her son, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, in a manner likely to cause him physical harm. PETALING JAYA: The mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin told the sessions court today that police forced her to confess to the murder of her autistic son during the investigation into his death last year. Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 30, said she was pressured into admitting guilt when she was brought before a magistrate for a remand order. Under examination-in-chief by her lawyer Haresh Mahadevan, Ismanira claimed that officers coerced her into confessing before magistrate Zhafran Rahim Hamzah. 'I told the magistrate I was not willing to be there before him. The police forced and threatened me to admit to the murder. 'The magistrate recorded a not guilty plea,' she said in court today. She also claimed that during the 13-day remand period, police were unhappy with her answers despite her giving her full cooperation. 'They created a story saying that I found my son, then killed him. I denied it, but they weren't satisfied.' Ismanira claimed she was beaten and threatened by the officers who were unhappy with her denial during the interrogation, which allegedly took place at a safe house. She also alleged that while some officers had pressured her to confess, others were sympathetic. 'Some told me they knew I was innocent, but they had to follow orders. They asked me to be patient until the remand ended,' she said. Ismanira was ordered to enter her defence yesterday while her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, was acquitted of the same charge. Ismanira and Zaim were charged last year with neglecting Zayn in a manner likely to cause him physical harm. The offence allegedly occurred at PJU Damansara Damai between noon on Dec 5, 2023 – when the boy was said to have gone missing – and 9.55pm the following day, when his body was discovered in a stream near his home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai. The couple was also represented by Ramzani Idris and Lavanesh Haresh. Deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz, and Nur Sabrina Zubairi conducted the prosecution. * 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
- Business
- Daily Express
Businessmen in a fix over long delays in liquor licence approvals
Published on: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 By: Jimmy Goh Text Size: Several business owners claimed waiting months for their liquor licence applications to be processed by the relevant authorities, creating a cash flow crisis that threatens the viability of their ventures. - FMT pic for illustration only. Kota Kinabalu: Several entertainment outlets here are experiencing financial hardship as prolonged delays in their liquor license approvals prevent them from kick starting their operations, forcing many to pay rental costs for premises that remain unopened. Several business owners claimed waiting months for their liquor licence applications to be processed by the relevant authorities, creating a cash flow crisis that threatens the viability of their ventures. The delays have left entrepreneurs in a precarious position where they continue to incur overhead expenses without generating any revenue. 'We are paying rent every month for premises we cannot use,' said one affected business owner who requested anonymity. 'The financial pressure is mounting because we have all these ongoing costs but no income stream to offset them,' he said. Many expressed their respect for regulatory requirements and their desire to operate within the law by obtaining appropriate licenses before beginning sales. 'We want to do things the right way and get proper approval before we start selling. But the system is working against us when it takes so long to process applications that businesses risk closure before they even open,' said another businessman. Adding to their frustration, many applicants remain unclear about the exact approval process, questioning how many departments are involved in reviewing their applications. Some business owners suspect that delays may be caused by departments failing to attend scheduled meetings meant to deliberate on licensing matters. 'We do not even know how many departments need to sign off on our applications,' said one frustrated entrepreneur. 'Are all the relevant departments actually showing up to these meetings or are applications being delayed because someone is not at the table when decisions need to be made?' she 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
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt sticks to existing stray management policy but open to proposals
Presently captured strays are placed in shelters where they can be reclaimed by their owners, while unclaimed dogs are put up for adoption, says a government spokesman. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The government says it will maintain its longstanding trap-reclaim-rehome-dispose (TRRD) approach to managing stray dogs, while remaining open to alternative proposals. The housing and local government ministry said it viewed the TRRD framework as the most practical approach for now, balancing between safeguarding public safety and ensuring strays are treated humanely. 'We believe that the structured implementation of the existing TRRD method provides a practical system with potential to improve any shortcomings encountered,' a ministry spokesman told FMT. The spokesman said Putrajaya was open to suggestions but needed to exercise 'extreme caution' when considering alternative proposals. According to the spokesman, the ministry would first need to obtain feedback from other agencies and conduct a comprehensive study into the proposed measures—evaluating their efficacy, time and cost implications, practicality and social acceptance. Local governments are currently guided by a 2014 standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the ministry, which prescribes the use of the TRRD method for stray management. This involves capturing strays and placing them in shelters from where owners can reclaim their pets. Unclaimed dogs will then be put up for adoption, while the remaining may be put to sleep by a licensed veterinarian. Last November, housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming assured that euthanasia was only a 'last resort' measure under the TRRD approach. Nga Kor Ming. He said only strays that were sick or risked posing a nuisance or danger to the public would be put down. Nga also said the guidelines in force were in line with the Animal Welfare Act 2015, drawn up with input from the veterinary services department, local councils and animal welfare groups. NGOs can hold own trap-neuter-release programmes While it has not formally endorsed the trap-neuter-release (TNR) method mooted by several NGOs, the spokesman said the ministry was not opposed to its implementation—either by the NGOs independently or in collaboration with local councils—-provided it does not lead to complaints about public nuisance or pose safety and health concerns. 'If complaints are received, the local authority, veterinary department and other agencies will act in accordance with current SOPs,' the spokesman added. The ministry said it is presently finalising additional technical requirements to harmonise the implementation of the TRRD approach across local councils nationwide, with a greater emphasis on rehoming and reclaiming dogs wherever possible. The spokesman added that it would continue working with NGOs, veterinary professionals and the public to find practical and long-term solutions that protect both humans and animals. In April, the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) submitted a budget proposal for the implementation of a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return-manage method to stray management by local councils nationwide. The NGO proposed a nationwide sterilisation programme, supported by government-funded shelters in every district—where 'problematic' dogs would be housed, while others are neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their original locations.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
RON95 targeted subsidy rollout delayed
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: Nora Mahpar, FMT Text Size: The government said in June that it would implement the targeted RON95 subsidy in stages this year. Kuala Lumpur: The government has pushed back the deadline for the rollout of the RON95 targeted subsidies, initially fixed for the second half of this year. Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said more time was needed to fine-tune the mechanism to prevent leakage. Advertisement He also said that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim informed the MPs from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan of the matter when he met them recently. 'He wants to ensure that the majority of the public is not adversely impacted by current policies or those that have yet to be implemented. 'The mechanism is being fine-tuned, which is why there is a slight delay (in the rollout),' he said at a press conference. In June, finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan said the government would implement the targeted RON95 subsidy in stages this year but did not give any specifics. On July 1, Amir said the government was working on getting petrol station operators to upgrade their systems for the RON95 subsidy rationalisation scheme to ensure that there would be no queues at the pump. * 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
