Latest news with #Ideas
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
We didn't meet to back your protest, NGOs tell Hamzah
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin had claimed that several NGOs, including Bersih, had approached him expressing unhappiness with the current government. PETALING JAYA : Six NGOS have rejected the basis of the anti-Anwar Ibrahim rally set for tomorrow, after opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin used their names yesterday to justify the protest. Bersih, C4 Center, Ideas, Projek Sama, Pusat Komas, and Transparency International Malaysia said further political instability will kill off the institutional reforms they are calling for. 'Because no party wins forever, institutional reform benefits all parties in the long run and should be supported by all,' they said in a joint statement. 'On this basis, we reject any mid-term change of government through the back door, like the Sheraton Move that threw the country's politics into disarray in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Even if there is a change of government, the new administration may lack the clarity or commitment to implement institutional reform, or may be too fragile to undertake any meaningful change. 'We want to see the implementation of institutional reforms that will provide a level playing field for all parties in the 16th general election.' Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported Hamzah as claiming at a press conference that several NGOs had approached him expressing unhappiness with the current government. 'They are unhappy, and when they are not happy, then there is a motivation to 'turun' (join) the rally this Saturday. 'Many will be joining the rally, so do not be mad at us. The rakyat want to protest because many problems have been accumulating,' the Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman said. However, the NGOs said their meeting with Hamzah on July 1 had nothing to do with any political rally, and that they only sought to present their proposals on institutional reform and not to endorse any political campaign. They urged the opposition to play its role as 'effective competition' with the government to push for more institutional reforms. '(Reforms) require not only the determination of the Madani government, but also effective competition from the opposition, including the four states under PN, in terms of ideas and commitment, to the fullest extent of their power. 'It is only when all parties are racing to offer reforms can reform be driven and steered effectively,' they said.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Six top NGOs reject Hamzah's claim they back tomorrow's ‘Turun Anwar' rally
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — Six civil society organisations today rejected Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's bid to use a meeting with them to help justify the 'Turun Anwar' protest tomorrow. In a joint statement, Bersih, C4 Center, Ideas, Projek Sama, Pusat Komas and Transparency International Malaysia said their meeting with Hamzah on July 1 had nothing to do with any political rally. They said they had attended the meeting to present proposals on institutional reform and not to endorse any political campaign. 'We reject any mid-term change of government through the back door, like the Sheraton Move that threw the country's politics into disarray,' the said in the joint statement. The organisations expressed concern that their meeting was cited by Hamzah during a press conference in Parliament yesterday to indicate support for tomorrow's protest. They stressed that institutional reform must not be hijacked for political purposes or used to create instability. While affirming the right to assemble, they warned that lasting reforms would not be possible without political stability. The statement pointed out that all parties — either in government or opposition — stood to benefit from meaningful and long-term reform. They said any administration that gains power through undemocratic means would lack the clarity or strength to implement reforms. The groups then urged the Opposition to play a constructive role as a check and balance, rather than destabilise the political system. 'Opposition also is duty bound to the rakyat as check and balance for the betterment of the nation,' they said. They reaffirmed their commitment to pushing for reforms and pledged to continue engaging all political parties on the issue.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights: Coinbase Global, Galaxy Digital, BlackRock, IBIT, Robinhood, Interactive Brokers and Alphabet
Chicago, IL – July 15, 2025– Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Coinbase Global COIN, Galaxy Digital GLXY, BlackRock's BLK, iShares Bitcoin ETF IBIT, Robinhood HOOD, Interactive Brokers IBKR and Alphabet's GOOGL. "The hard-to-believe 'Great Paradox' in the stock market is: What seems too high and risky to the majority usually goes higher eventually, and what seems low and cheap usually goes lower."~William J. O'Neil Bitcoin was once called a "gambling token" and "rat poison squared" by legendary investor Warren Buffett, arguably the best investor of his time. However, by now, it has become impossible for Wall Street to deny the once obscure and first-of-its-kind cryptocurrency. A decade ago, Bitcoin traded at $286. Today, Bitcoin hit another all-time high of $123,000, marking a 430x increase over the past ten years and accruing an eye-popping 83% annualized return, far surpassing the next best asset class. Now, Bitcoin is one of the largest asset classes in the world. Below are five reasons the momentum is likely to continue into 2026, including: 1. Bitcoin: Digital Gold What differentiates Bitcoin from fiat currency and any other cryptocurrency is its scarcity and role as a store of value. Unlike fiat currency, which can be printed by central bankers out of thin air, there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoins in existence. Why is this important? As global central banks around the world print trillions of dollars and borrow money, fiat currencies like the dollar continue to lose value. As a result, investors gravitate towards Bitcoin and metals to fight this phenomenon. With the US passing another massive spending bill recently, there is no end in sight to this troubling trend in fiat. 2. Bitcoin ETFs Provide Wider Access Until recently, investors who wanted to buy Bitcoin had to have a separate crypto account through an exchange like Coinbase Global or Galaxy Digital. However,early last year, theUS Securities and Exchange Commission finally approved Bitcoin ETFs, allowing far more access to a larger group of investors. The launch of Bitcoin ETFs like BlackRock's, iShares Bitcoin ETF underscores the success. IBIT was the most successful ETF launch in history and is already the 20th largest ETF in the United States. In addition to the ETF approvals, traditional stock brokers like Robinhood and Interactive Brokers now offer a suite of crypto trading products. 3. Bitcoin Week Looms This week has been dubbed 'Crypto Week' by the Republicans. DC is slated to vote on the 'GENIUS Act,' which will provide a regulatory framework around stablecoins like Circle Group's USDC token. 'The CLARITY Act' will also aim to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. Crypto companies have had to deal with regulatory ambiguity from regulators for years. With a clear regulatory framework, more institutional investors are likely to flock to the digital asset industry. 4. Lack of Hype Around Bitcoin Though Bitcoin continues to print fresh all-time highs, you wouldn't know it by looking at Bitcoin interest on Alphabet's 'Google Trends.' Interest is at multi-year lows, presenting investors with a contrarian opportunity. 5. Bitcoin Fibs Suggest $150k Price Target Market technicians use Fibonacci levels as a tool to identify potential price targets. The Bitcoin fibs suggest that a price target of $150k by early 2026 is realistic. As market technicians now eye a $150k price target, Bitcoin's ongoing momentum suggests that its remarkable growth story is far from over, reminding investors that true opportunity often lies where the majority hesitates. Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double" From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BlackRock (BLK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Galaxy Digital Inc. (GLXY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Boston Globe
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
The ‘moral architecture' of religion, cracks and all
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Thank you for Libes's wonderful essay. Advertisement Jim Nicoletti Wellesley The following is an edited sampling of comments readers posted in response to Liza Libes's Ideas piece: C.S. Lewis 'was simply proposing a philosophy for how to live well,' Libes writes. I think the author of 'The Screwtape Letters' would disagree with this assessment. He had been, like Libes, a committed atheist. He became, very reluctantly, a convert to Christianity because he could not reason away the presence of God and the logic of the Gospel. (sideflare) I find that the progressive bent of tolerance for everything except intolerance often turns into overt discrimination against people with certain religious beliefs. This is not an easy issue, but to me it often makes progressives look downright hypocritical rather than open-minded like this author. (DPier) Advertisement I identify with the strong progressive social justice posture that the author articulates. While I think there is something to be learned from the tenets of many religious doctrines, I have come to witness that religious ideology and certainly religious fanaticism can impart more harm than good. I am far more drawn to spirituality — a notion not at all mentioned in the essay. The capacity to ask deep questions and nurture one's soul, pursued both in solitude and community, offers meaningful benefits. I find that religion, which many might argue is a form or spiritual learning, also creates division in society, undermining the sense of acceptance, unity, and love that many religions purport. In my view, religion defeats itself. Perhaps it simply tries too hard. (Melting glacier up ahead) True, religious fanaticism can do more harm than good, but let's take a look at what secular fanaticism has brought us. There are lots of examples around the world where religion and churches have been banned or severely restricted and things didn't turn out so well. The killing and suffering under secular regimes doesn't prove that religious societies are any better than secular ones, but I think it shows how we're all better off believing what we want and letting others do the same. The Founding Fathers got it right; there's a reason they made freedom of religion the very first part of the Constitution. (NicksterNH) Freedom of religion means I get to be free of yours. It is when others try to impose their beliefs on me or take the attitude that they are superior to me because of difference in beliefs that it becomes something abrasive and frustrating. (RiecaElex) Advertisement This discussion would make a little more sense to me if Christians hadn't made the polar opposite of Jesus our president — twice. They exposed themselves and their beliefs as fraudulent and showed me that they're just like everyone else out there — in it for themselves and what they want. (rickefoose) Christians come in many forms and beliefs. Some self-claimed Christians do evil in the name of God, but the United States has many good Christians who need to speak up more to show the love and acceptance of Jesus. (eastsight) We're waiting. (9.10.61) The former priest of our parish told us that the word bible is an acronym for basic instruction before leaving earth. Religion teaches people how to live a life with purpose and compassion. Man is corruptible. God is truth. (Saint George)
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Climate doomsday awaits Malaysia
WHAT is the level of governance efficiency in Malaysia? In a recent interview by theSun, young Malay voters expressed a strong preference for good governance and transparency, rejecting race-based policies. They emphasised the need to cut through bureaucratic red tape and believe that the work and performance of politicians are more important. Young non-Malay voters ought to hold similar opinions so that Malaysia can experience a rebirth. To assess governance efficiency, we must first define the purpose of governance. In its 1997 World Development Report, the World Bank listed the core functions of government as: providing public goods – especially health and education – protecting the environment, setting economic policies, redistributing wealth and coordinating private sector activities. What level of governance efficiency is needed to ensure that key functions are properly carried out? Work performance hinges on qualification, experience and suitability. But are these factors valued in Malaysia's political system? Regrettably, the answer is no. We practise adversarial politics, where one coalition is constantly seeking to overthrow the ruling coalition – either through general elections or by securing enough MPs to sign statutory declarations pledging support for the opposition. Such a system lacks a common purpose, with no collective effort to find the best solutions to pressing issues. Beyond that, there is often little genuine concern for the people's well-being as politicians tend to prioritise party agendas above all else. The main side-effect of adversarial politics is the sense of entitlement it creates. Parties in a winning coalition are given cabinet positions as rewards rather than based on merit, experience, qualification and suitability for the job. The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) has criticised this approach, saying that it sends a dangerous message – that public roles are political rewards rather than positions earned through merit and competence. All appointments should be handed out on merit, integrity and professional experience. The opposition coalition, primarily made up of PAS and Bersatu and in control of four northern Peninsular Malaysia states, should have taken the cue from Ideas. However, it did not – reflecting a shared belief that political appointments are entitlements rather than roles earned through merit. So it should come as no surprise that Malaysia, with its abundant natural resources, shows relatively poor governance compared with governments that select persons who have a record of service and competence. A plantation is not a healthy ecosystem as it lacks natural competition. If left untended for even a year, a plantation or rice field will quickly be overtaken by other plants to provide competition for the crop. Just as a crop loses its ability to thrive without competition, a group of people deprived of competition will remain perpetually weak. In all natural ecosystems, scientists have detected an underlying framework of cooperation that enables the ecosystem to prosper in its diversity. But animals in direct food-chain relationships and individual animals compete to build resilience for survival. A predator sharpens its hunting skills and in response, the prey sharpens its running skills. As the predator becomes faster, so does the prey. The Road Transport Ministry offers a classic example of duplicity. Recently, it praised itself for the voluminous increase in peak-hour ridership on MRT and LRT lines, yet it completely overlooked the worsening traffic congestion and gridlock on roads in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya. Five years ago, a coroner's court in London ruled – after reviewing extensive expert medical evidence – that a young girl living near Central London had died from pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease caused by toxic PM2.5 particles emitted by petrol-powered vehicles. Yet, the ministry has paid no attention to improving public bus services during peak hours and introducing electric buses to ply all routes. Local councils often lack efficiency, partly because bureaucratic appointments are influenced by political considerations. One major indicator of local governance inefficiency is the poor maintenance culture. Maintenance is the backbone of any modern society, ensuring the safety, reliability and longevity of infrastructure and public services. Road potholes are a major indicator of poor governance as they imperil lives. Repairs are often made only after untoward incidents occur or when new budget allocations are secured. Between 2000 and 2011, a total of 65,000 road traffic deaths were recorded. Potholes caused 15.4% of the accidents, resulting in over 1,000 deaths. Motorcyclists will often swerve to avoid these craters, causing collisions with nearby vehicles. This year, up to April, a total of 17,921 potholes were reported across all states. In April, a teenage motorcyclist lost his life after hitting a pothole on a rural road in Pahang. In March, two secondary school students died when their motorcycle struck a pothole, causing them to skid and fall. In January last year, a pregnant woman driving a car was killed after crashing into an electrical panel box on Pasir Gudang Highway. Even after potholes are repaired, council inspections to ensure quality work by contractors are often lacking. Last March, two brothers lost their lives in an accident caused by a pothole along Jalan-Sengkang Felda Inas-Bandar Tenggara. The pothole had started as a small hole before gradually expanding. Without strict monitoring and testing, roads can quickly become vulnerable to early damage. Too often, maintenance is reactive rather than proactive. There seems to be no preventive maintenance schedules. Even in some housing estates, the asphalt road surfaces, road shoulders and back alleys are often poorly maintained. In Ipoh – famously known as a food paradise – the entire stretch of Jalan Kompleks Sukan, starting from Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, is in a state of disrepair. Good performance can be achieved by fostering healthy competition. Limit the number of vacancies to 20% of the total number of candidates and create a competitive environment – only one in five will secure the job and they will compete accordingly. Subsequently, release another 20% of the vacancies and once again ensure intense competition. Continue with the third and fourth rounds, each offering an additional 20%, maintaining the same competitive process throughout. Open the final 20% of vacancies exclusively to non-Bumiputera candidates, maintaining the same level of competition. When jobs are treated as entitlements, underperformance in government is inevitable. To foster a culture of merit-based performance, a significant presence of non-Bumiputera talent in the workforce is essential. The government at all levels must be courageous in breaking the grip of near-total racial entitlement because diversity is always better than homogeneity. How does a lack of governmental efficiency affect climate action? If a nation struggles to run 100m, how can it expect to run 1,000? Climate therapy – a term we will use moving forward – is like a 1,000m race. Our lack of governmental efficiency and reluctance to embark on necessary reforms cause Malaysia to lose one more point in climate survival. Our final score is -10, which is rock bottom. Climate doomsday awaits Malaysia when global warming exceeds the tipping point of 1.5°C and hits 2°C. All Malaysians will perish except residents of Sabah and Sarawak, where the climate survival rating is notably higher. The next article will take a fresh look at the various negative factors giving Malaysia a climate survival score of -10. It will suggest a 'therapy' to pull Malaysia out of the hole.
