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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
National health insurance scheme could raise RM6b yearly, says Galen Centre chief
KUALA LUMPUR: A National Health and Social Insurance scheme could generate RM6 billion annually if implemented at a similar contribution rate as Perkeso deductions, said Galen Centre chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib. On an episode of the 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast, Azrul said the proposed fund may not be enough to supplant existing allocations but could serve as a supplement. "The RM6 billion will enable us to finance the things we say we cannot afford: better salaries for specialists, improved pay for nurses and doctors, modernisation of poor facilities, and the ability to attract overseas talent to work in Malaysia," he said. Touting the immediate revenue amount as a game-changer, Azrul weighed it against the revenue expected from the Rakan KKM initiative, which he estimates to be around RM50 million annually. While acknowledging Rakan KKM as a good effort that could positively disrupt the healthcare system, he said pilot projects inevitably come with "ups and downs" and that the most important lesson was to adapt and find alternatives if they fail. The Rakan KKM initiative, which Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad recently described as a game-changer, allows specialists to offer paid elective services at selected public hospitals, with proceeds reinvested to upgrade facilities and expand capacity.
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
I won't reject offer to join government if there's ‘clear purpose', says Khairy Jamaluddin
Published on: Thursday, August 07, 2025 Published on: Thu, Aug 07, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Khairy Jamaluddin served as youth and sports minister under Najib Razak, science, technology and innovation minister under Muhyiddin Yassin, and health minister under Ismail Sabri Yaakob. PETALING JAYA: Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin says he is open to rejoining the government, but only if the role allows him to serve with clear purpose and impact. Appearing on the 'Apa Cerita?' podcast, Khairy said he was currently enjoying his post-political career, but the idea of serving the country remains close to his heart. Advertisement 'I am actually having fun now. Last week I was a DJ, then boxing, the commercial value is also high,' he said. 'If I can help and add value, I will consider it. Because one of the things I was told by my mom was that public service is above all else. National service above all else.' When asked whether he would accept a position if offered by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Khairy said he would be open to that conversation, but only if it was about making a real impact. 'If it's just to give me a position for the sake of giving a position, then no need. I have always said yes to the call of duty,' he said. Advertisement Khairy, a former Umno Youth chief and three-term Rembau MP, was sacked from Umno in January 2023 for alleged breaches of party discipline. He previously served as youth and sports minister under Najib Razak, science, technology and innovation minister under Muhyiddin Yassin, and later as health minister under Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Since leaving politics, Khairy has pivoted to media and business. He co-hosts the 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast with Shahril Hamdan, is a presenter on Hot FM, and has taken on several speaking and business engagements. * 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
New Straits Times
26-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
'Taxing cloud providers not good idea'
KUALA LUMPUR: Any plan to impose a levy on cloud service providers (CSPs) will be counterproductive, says a top industry executive. Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) national president Datuk William Ng said SMEs face the brunt of increased costs that slow their cloud adoption, while providers may curb investment - a dynamic that threatens Malaysia's ambition to be a digital investment hub. In most other markets, NG said, universal service levies remain focused on telecom operators rather than application-layer services, as expanding them into cloud services will likely have adverse impact on growth, competition and gross domestic product. "We're already seeing escalating costs from cloud service providers. Some global providers have increased their fees by 15 per cent to as much as 250 per cent over the past three years. "Since migration between platforms is rarely straightforward, SMEs affected by these price hikes often have little choice but to absorb the extra cost," he told Business Times today. Ng was commenting on Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan's statements suggesting that a six per cent levy on CSPs under the universal service provision (USP) fund is in the offing. In the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Khairy and Shahril said the prospect may increase operational costs for SMEs and weaken Malaysia's attractiveness as a key destination for digital investment. Ng said a more balanced approach would be to register and regulate the CSPs and to apply the same anti-profiteering rules that our SMEs are already subject to. "However, that would require a fundamental rethink of the USP framework itself. Penalising providers while also taxing their growth is unrealistic," he added. Meanwhile, Khairy and Shahril raised concerns that the levy, if implemented, would have knock-on effects across the digital economy ecosystem. Khairy warned that the levy could drive up costs for consumers and businesses, potentially hindering digital adoption. "Six per cent of the revenue is not small. It's a substantial amount. So naturally, CSPs will pass on that cost to their customers. "Among them are e-commerce platforms serving SMEs and businesses that rely on the cloud to boost productivity. Those custimers will, in turn, pass the cost down to consumers," he said. Shahril pointed out that over 90 per cent of businesses in Malaysia are SMEs, many of which are still struggling to embrace digital technologies. The additional cost, he added, would further hinder cloud adoption which is a key component in SME digitalisation. "One of the key challenges for SMEs is achieving digitalisation, given the barriers they already face. "Adding further costs due to the USP, which are likely to be passed on, will only deepen resistance to adopting cloud solutions, a critical component of their digital transformation journey. "So this really raises concerns about how such a move negatively impacts one of the very economic development models that have been actively promoting," he added. Khairy noted that no other Southeast Asian country imposes such a levy on CSPs. He warned that global tech giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft and Google may view Malaysia as less competitive compared to Singapore, which does not impose any CSP-specific taxation. "I'm sure these companies have already raised the matter with US trade representatives," said Khairy, proposing that the government delay the implementation of the levy by a year to allow time for further discussions with foreign investors. Khairy said the USP fund was originally imposed on telecommunications companies (telcos) like Maxis Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd to fund basic infrastructure development, such as communication towers in rural areas. However, he argued that the same logic does not apply to CSPs which operate under a different business model. "I'm just trying to understand this. Telcos are required to provide widespread services to everyone because we aim for universal coverage. But not everyone needs a cloud service provider. So it doesn't quite make sense to equate CSPs with the USP obligation," he said. Khairy expressed concern that the levy may be based on the assumption that CSPs must "give back" due to their high consumption of electricity and water – even if those resources come from renewable sources. But if that's the case, he argued, the mechanism should be a separate environmental or resource levy instead of the USP fund. Khairy and Shahril said the government must clarify the true rationale behind the levy. They suggested postponing its implementation to allow stakeholder engagement and dialogue with industry players and foreign investors. "We're not rejecting it outright. But there should be clear justification, and no rush.
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malaysia's Umno may welcome back ousted members on appeal, to boost Malay votes; draws mixed views
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The reinstatement of former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein has sparked heated discussion among its members. – The possible comeback of ousted Umno leaders to the party's fold – should they submit an appeal – has garnered split reactions within the once-dominant force, which has been trying to lift waning support from Malay voters and secure its chances in the next general election. In particular, the reinstatement of former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein who was suspended in January 2023 for allegedly backing a rival candidate for prime minister after Umno suffered its heaviest political defeat in the 2022 election, has sparked heated discussion among its members. Others who could return to the fold include former information chief Shahril Hamdan and former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who were suspended and expelled from the party, respectively, after GE15 . The duo, including Datuk Seri Hishammuddin, 63, continue to wield significant influence among the Malay community. In what could be perceived as a tentative effort to extend an olive branch, the Umno supreme council – the party's top policymaking body – said on June 30 that it might consider appeals from party members who were suspended for six years, naming Mr Hishammuddin and Mr Shahril among those who fell under this category, according to party newsletter Umno Online . The rumour mill is also swirling with speculation that the trio may return to Umno, as the party seeks to regain its footing and counter the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional's (PN) growing influence among ethnic Malay voters. Umno currently holds 26 parliamentary seats and 109 state assembly seats – significantly fewer than PN's 68 MPs and 208 state representatives, who dominate the Malay heartland. Currently , in the 31-member Cabinet, Umno holds six ministerial positions, followed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) with five ministers. PKR anchors Malaysia's multi-coalition government that has been in power for 2½ years, helmed by Datuk Seri Anwar who is also Finance Minister. Some within Umno believe that the ousted trio's return could help the party win over swing voters, particularly Malay urbanites. Umno Youth grassroot s leader from Kuala Lumpur, Mohammad Rajaie Abdul Halim, 30, supports the party's attempt to welcome back this exiled group. He told The Straits Times: 'They are well-educated, experienced and influential, especially on Keluar Sekejap podcast. Their return could help us secure up to 50 parliamentary seats in the next general election which must be held by February 2028. 'Otherwise, Umno risks being seen as a dinosaur party that sidelines its younger generation.' Mr Khairy, 49, who was the former Umno Youth chief, and Mr Shahril, 39, currently co-host the popular weekly political podcast Keluar Sekejap. It has over 375,000 YouTube subscribers as of July 3, following their departure from Umno in January 2023. Mr Khairy, whose name continues to be bandied about as a potential future prime minister candidate, has also been in talks to rejoin Umno at the end of 2025, according to a source privy to the situation. 'So, I will wait if one day... by mutual agreement, the Umno Supreme Council accepts back expelled members,' he had told the Malay-language daily Sinar Harian in May . Mr Hishammuddin is the grandson of Umno's first president Dato Onn Jaafar. He held several senior ministerial portfolios – defence, home affairs and education – prior to his suspension. On June 21, more than 450 delegates in Umno Sembrong division in Johor – where Mr Hishammuddin has been an MP since 2004 – passed a motion during a division meeting to reinstate his party membership. His current suspension is set to last until 2029. But the motion hit a snag as Mr Hishammuddin has yet to appeal his suspension from the party and has said he is unlikely to do so. 'Until today, I've not been officially and clearly told what exactly I did wrong... I was never called to provide an explanation or defend myself. I was not tried before the disciplinary committee,' he said in a video clip posted on Instagram on July 1, a day after the Umno supreme council meeting. Umno Sembrong chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Abdul Rashid, who had tabled the motion on behalf of the Sembrong delegates, hopes the party's supreme council will reinstate Mr Hishammuddin without requiring an appeal. 'He has strong support among voters, including the youth. Umno should leverage that strength,' Datuk Abdul Ghani told ST. Following Mr Hishammuddin's remarks, Umno president Zahid Hamidi said 'the issue (Hishammuddin's suspension) was not discussed' at the supreme council meeting. ' The matter is not that important.' A confidant of Datuk Seri Zahid said that Mr Hishammuddin still fails to acknowledge his central role in almost thwarting the Umno president's push for Mr Anwar to become PM following the 2022 electio n . Mr Hishammuddin, who was one of the 10 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs who signed a statutory declaration supporting rival party Perikatan Nasional (PN) chief Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, was labelled a 'traitor' by the party. Umno is the leading party in the BN coalition, which supports the current Anwar-led unity government. 'Every Umno member knows about his betrayal of the party. Mr Hishammuddin wants to return now because he sees the current government gradually stabilising. Are we supposed to roll out the red carpet to welcome him back?' the confidant told ST on condition of anonymity. Defending Mr Hishammuddin, Umno grassroot s leader Bastien Onn said the former vice-president had eventually followed Mr Zahid's directive to withdraw support for PN and toed the Umno party line to back Mr Anwar as premier. 'He never left the party or joined PN. Given his past contributions, the party leadership should reinstate his membership, especially since the suspension was imposed without due process. Umno should not close its doors while other parties remain open for him ,' Johor-based Datuk Bastien, 47, told ST. Likewise, Mr Khairy, who played a key role during Malaysia's successful Covid-19 vaccine rollout, might also find the need to appeal to return to Umno a bitter pill to swallo w. 'It's been made clear both (Umno chief) Mr Zahid and Mr Khairy are amenable to the latter's return, but the question is on what terms and whether his expulsion will be wiped off the slate,' said another source close to the matter, who declined to be named due to the confidentiality of the discussions. Mr Khairy has yet to formally appeal his sacking from Umno. Meanwhile, ST has contacted Mr Shahril for comment. Still, it could be a matter of who blinks first. Professor Kartini Aboo Talib said that Umno's openness to the possibility of welcoming back the trio shows the party is willing to bury the hatchet, overlook old hurts and prioritise victory in the next general election. 'As the three are popular among voters, Umno is willing to 'lick its own spit.' However, requesting them to write an appeal is a bit too much, it is not going to happen,' the deputy director at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic Studies told ST. And while Mr Rajaie from Kuala Lumpur Umno Youth hopes that Mr Hishammuddin can return to Umno, he believes it is also important that the former minister goes through the formal appeal process established by the party in order for his membership to be reinstated. ' If he is sincere, he should apologise to all party members... As a former party leader, he knows the proper appeal process. After all, everyone makes mistakes – and everyone deserves a second chance,' he said.
The Star
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Singapore ruling party slams Opposition leader Pritam Singh's interview with Malaysian podcast
WP chief Pritam Singh (centre) recently participated in a session on Malaysian political podcast Keluar Sekejap, hosted by Khairy Jamaluddin (left) and Shahril Hamdan. - Photo: PRITAMSINGH76/INSTAGRAM SINGAPORE: Singapore's ruling party criticised the opposition leader after his interview with a Malaysian podcaster, saying his conduct "raises serious questions.' "Singapore's domestic affairs should be debated and decided by Singaporeans, within Singapore,' the ruling People's Action Party said in a statement on Thursday (July 3). "Politics should stop at the water's edge.' Pritam Singh, who leads the largest opposition Workers' Party, spoke on a political podcast hosted by former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and uploaded on June 24. In the podcast, Singh said he doesn't want to be prime minister, though his party should one day be a viable alternative to the ruling PAP. The PAP's criticism of the interview comes after Singapore's political leaders warned in the lead up to the May 3 election that foreign actors, including a political party in Malaysia, had tried to influence the outcome of the vote. "PAP leaders routinely give interviews and share their views on domestic matters to foreign media outlets,' the Workers' Party said in a statement. The ruling party is "opposing for the sake of opposing.' At a rally before the election, Singh said his team rejects any involvement of foreign elements in domestic politics, declaring that "Singapore is our business - nobody else's.' Singapore was expelled from a union with Malaysia in 1965 following deep political and economic differences as well as racial unrest. Since then, both nations have refrained from commenting on each other's politics and from using each other's media to influence public opinion, the PAP said. - Bloomberg
