Latest news with #Khairy
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#NSTviral: KJ triumphs in boxing debut against ex-world Muay Thai champion
KUALA LUMPUR: Hot FM radio presenter Khairy Jamaluddin's dream of stepping into a boxing ring came true when he defeated former world number one Muay Thai fighter Saiful Merican in a friendly match yesterday. The bout, held at ST Rosyam Mart in Jalan Kebun, was part of Hot FM's Clash of Champion event and drew a crowd of over 300 spectators. Khairy, affectionately known as KJ, said he was grateful to have claimed a memorable win over the 37-year-old mixed martial arts (MMA) star. "Since I was a child, I've always been passionate about boxing and grew up watching Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Mike Tyson. "I've always wanted to step into a boxing ring, and I never imagined I would get the opportunity today. "To face off against a highly respected martial artist like Saiful 'The Vampire' Merican — it's truly an honour," he said. The friendly match had reportedly been in the works since last year, but only materialised on Sunday. Khairy, who has known Saiful for some time, described sharing the ring with the Malaysian MMA athlete as a meaningful experience. "He gave me some room in the first two minutes, but when he punched — he really punched," he added with a smile. Khairy also expressed appreciation to everyone who made the match possible, including his coach and his son, Jibriel Ali Jamaluddin, who served as his cornerman. Aside from the headline bout, the event also featured a match between Hot FM's Bekfes presenter AG and Adli Goldenboy, which ended in a draw. Another crowd favourite was a friendly arm-wrestling match between presenter Fara Fauzana and singer Elizabeth Tan, with Tan emerging victorious.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- 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.
AsiaOne
26-06-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
WP wants to be 'insurance' for Singapore should PAP suffer 'major malfunction': Pritam in Malaysian podcast, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — The Workers' Party wants to get to a position where it is ready to step in and govern, should the ruling PAP suffer a "major malfunction", said Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh. "You want to be in a position where you can say: 'Look, we're ready because we've got these years of experience under our belt,'" he added. This would be a "great insurance for Singapore", said Singh, who has been party chief since 2018. "I'm not saying me and my colleagues today will be in that position, but we certainly want to put the party in that position," he added. Singh, who was making his first podcast appearance, was responding to a question by former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin on whether he could see a Singapore without the PAP at the helm. Khairy and former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan are hosts of popular Malaysian political podcast Keluar Sekejap, which translates to "out for a moment". [embed] In an almost two hour-long session uploaded to YouTube on June 24, Singh also said he would not want to be prime minister of Singapore. "I think my role is to normalise the idea of an opposition in Singapore," he said. He hopes to bring more like-minded people on board to achieve a "functioning and effective" parliamentary democracy. His comments — filmed during a family holiday to Malaysia — come about two months after the 2025 General Election held on May 3. In that outing, the WP held on to its 10 seats in Aljunied, Hougang and Sengkang. It also picked up two Non-Constituency MP seats for its Jalan Kayu and Tampines GRC candidates, following close fights in those constituencies. They form the WP's largest contingent in Parliament, after the party fielded 26 candidates in eight constituencies out of the 97 seats and 33 constituencies available. The podcast covered a wide range of topics, including Mr Singh's background and motivation to join politics, the party's strategy at the recent election, and its role in Singapore's political landscape. Throughout the podcast, Singh reiterated his view of WP's role as a check and balance to the ruling party, given the appetite of Singapore voters today. This came through in his response to comments referenced by Khairy, that suggested Singh's strategy in the general election showed a "lack of ambition" — for instance, by not contesting outside the "bunker" of Aljunied GRC where he has been since 2011. Khairy also asked if the party should pivot away from Singh's medium-term goal, set in 2019, of contesting and winning one-third of the seats in Parliament. The one-third goal is tied to Singapore's laws, which state that constitutional amendments require two-thirds majority support in the House. Singh said he has to understand what Singaporeans want and how they respond to language which reflects ambition. "I have to have a good finger on the pulse of Singaporeans... If that language is not in sync with their broad understanding of what they want out of politics in Singapore, then ambition can be a death knell for any politician in Singapore," he said. "If we accept that Singaporeans are pragmatic and there's no demand for a change of government, then going out there, flying a flag which says 'I'm your Prime Minister-in-waiting' is probably, with respect, an act of foolishness." The party's strategy is determined by its sense of the pulse of Singaporeans, Singh said. If the public has an appetite for something else, the party should be sensitive to it. "If not, it's a gamble and gambles don't work very well in Singapore politics," he added. But the party did have a "complete change" of strategy as compared with in 2020 — in Tampines and Punggol GRCs and Jalan Kayu SMC, in particular, where the party presented strong cases, said Singh, who did not elaborate on the change. Those three constituencies were the WP's closest losses. Singh said this sense of what Singaporeans want is also why much of the party's work is done at the margins — to bring the voices of people who fall between the cracks to Parliament — rather than to present a radically different vision of Singapore. He added that on a day-to-day level, Singapore is a decent place to live, thrive, grow and raise a family, "and that's not what we are trying to destroy". "But in spite of all that, there is a desire amongst many Singaporeans for political balance, and we know that, and we try and tap that." Shahril pointed to other opposition political parties in Singapore that appear to have a different view of the opposition's job, as they offer policy ideas that are "more radical than the WP's", which has sometimes been described as a half-step to the left. Singh acknowledged those views, but said that while everyone wants a successful Singapore, the question is how to get there. "Ultimately, one view will prevail, and I think that's the view that the public can relate to most naturally. And hence, in comparison to the other opposition parties, we present this particular vision for this moment in time," he said. If that view changes, the WP wants to be in a position to pivot very quickly. But the party cannot pivot or talk about change if it does not have a position in Parliament, he added. Shahril asked if WP had "missed the trick of trying to get into the emotional register" as opposed to being managerial and technocratic, by not raising issues of discontent among Singaporeans such as the cost of living. Singh said the party had talked about cost of living and housing during the election, but "the PAP didn't take the bait". The PAP ran a "very, very tight campaign" where there were no gaffes, and the strategy was not to talk about the pain points, he said. "The Singaporean voter is very sophisticated, and accordingly, we have to align our politics in a way which can ensure that the opposition continues to grow and thrive in the Singapore context," he added. Singh was also asked about how he dealt with his court case, where he was fined in February for lying to a parliamentary committee during its 2021 inquiry into former WP MP Raeesah Khan's conduct. He has appealed against his conviction and sentence. He said: "When your conscience is clear, and you do not agree with what has been done to you, there's a certain clarity of mind, clarity of thought, clarity of purpose, that keeps you focused on what you are in this for, and that really has been my lodestar." He pointed to a BBC report that said the case had almost no impact during the elections, adding that "without going into details, I did fairly respectably in my constituency". Singh was also asked how Singapore manages multiracialism and multiculturalism. The ruling government in Singapore takes this very seriously, said Singh. "I cannot think of any other way to manage a society with different races than telling all of them that all of you are important and everybody has a place at the table." While it is not perfect, the fundamental building block of any society is to respect one another, he said. Asked if he would do it any differently, he said: "I wouldn't, because I am passionately race neutral about things." This does not mean he ignores reality, but being race neutral is how he views Singapore and aspires the country to be, he added. Multiracialism is something Singapore continues to work at, and "as an opposition member, I want to be part of the solution in that", he said. Asked if there was data to show electoral support by ethnic groups, Singh said that as residential areas have a mix of people, "you can't really tell which community voted in which particular direction". Whether one is a member of the Singapore government or an opposition politician, the approach to race is that it is not something to be brought into the political realm — not something to score political points on, added Singh. [[nid:719134]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Daily Express
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Ranau woman files suit over Covid
Published on: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 12, 2025 Text Size: Khairy in his former capacity as Health Minister, a post he held from August 2021 to November 2022, as defendants in the suit. Kota Kinabalu: A businesswoman from Ranau has filed a civil suit against the Government and Khairy Jamaluddin, alleging she was wrongfully penalised for being unvaccinated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Naomi @ Neomi Francis filed the suit at the Sessions Court in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday. Advertisement This is believed to be the first known civil suit in Sabah relating to Covid-19 enforcement, raising questions over administrative overreach and alleged infringement of personal rights. The 59-year-old named the Ranau District Council, the Health Ministry and Khairy in his former capacity as Health Minister, a post he held from August 2021 to November 2022, as defendants in the suit. Francis, who operates a stall at the Ranau Central Market, claims she suffered financial losses, reputational harm and psychological trauma after being issued a compound notice on Dec 20, 2021. She said the compound notice was issued on grounds that she had continued to operate her business without receiving a Covid-19 vaccination. In her statement of claim, Francis said she felt compelled to receive the vaccine simply to keep her business afloat. 'I was pressured to obtain vaccination solely for the purpose of continuing my business operations,' she said, adding the ordeal caused her 'significant mental exhaustion, emotional distress and trauma'. The compound notice was later cancelled by the Health Ministry on Feb 17, 2023. In an official letter, the Ministry's chief enforcement officer acknowledged a technical error in the enforcement action and returned the case to the Sabah State Health Department for review. The Ranau District Council subsequently retracted the compound notice in a letter dated March 8, 2023. However, Francis said the damage had already been done. Her stall remained closed from September 2021 until March 2023. 'During this time, I lost income, loyal customers and the public's trust in my business,' she said in the court filing. She is now seeking specific damages for 18 months of lost earnings, along with general and exemplary damages, interest and legal costs. Francis is represented by Messrs Priskila Akwila Advocates. The court has fixed the hearing for July 14, 2025. Khairy is now a media personality and co-host of the Keluar Sekejap podcast. * 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
The Star
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Sabah woman sues KJ, govt over wrongful Covid-19 enforcement
KOTA KINABALU: A businesswoman from Ranau has filed a civil suit against the government and Khairy Jamaluddin, alleging she was wrongfully penalised for being unvaccinated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Naomi @ Neomi Francis filed the suit at the Sessions Court in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday (June 11). This is believed to be the first known civil suit in Sabah relating to Covid-19 enforcement, raising questions over administrative overreach and alleged infringement of personal rights. The 59-year-old named the Ranau District Council, the Health Ministry and Khairy in his former capacity as health minister, a post he held from August 2021 to November 2022, as defendants in the suit. Francis, who operates a stall at the Ranau Central Market, claims she suffered financial losses, reputational harm and psychological trauma after being issued a compound notice on Dec 20, 2021. She said the compound notice was issued on grounds that she had continued to operate her business without receiving a Covid-19 vaccination. In her statement of claim, Francis said she felt compelled to receive the vaccine simply to keep her business afloat. 'I was pressured to obtain vaccination solely for the purpose of continuing my business operations,' she said, adding that the ordeal caused her 'significant mental exhaustion, emotional distress and trauma'. The compound notice was later cancelled by the Health Ministry on Feb 17, 2023. In an official letter, the ministry's chief enforcement officer acknowledged a technical error in the enforcement action and returned the case to the Sabah State Health Department for review. The Ranau District Council subsequently retracted the compound notice in a letter dated March 8, 2023. However, Francis said the damage had already been done. Her stall remained closed from Sept 2021 until March 2023. 'During this time, I lost income, loyal customers, and the public's trust in my business,' she said in the court filing. She is now seeking specific damages for 18 months of lost earnings, along with general and exemplary damages, interest, and legal costs. Francis is represented by Messrs Priskila Akwila Advocates. The court has fixed the hearing for July 14, 2025. Khairy is now a media personality and co-host of the Keluar Sekejap podcast.
