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New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Opposition MP warns of 'debt trap' among civil servants
KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP has called on the government to address the rising debt among civil servants, with some middle-income individuals reportedly being approved for loans worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit. Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) said the matter required urgent attention as it could drive civil servants into long-term debt traps. In a supplementary question to Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, Latiff said the issue could also affect household financial stability. "Although you said the trend is still under control, if this happens to civil servants, it could open the door to corruption. With their current income, they will no longer be able to bear multiple loan repayments. "If it happens to the general public, there is concern they could fall prey to unlicensed moneylenders and loan sharks," he said. Latiff also asked whether the government planned to replace or stop personal financing in favour of purpose-specific financing to prevent the debt trap among civil servants from worsening. Lim, who is also the Tanjong MP, said household debt levels must be viewed holistically, taking into account household financial assets, which are significantly higher. "At the macro level, total household debt as of March 2025 stood at RM1.65 trillion, equivalent to 84.3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This shows little change compared with the end of 2024. "Therefore, household debt levels must be seen in a holistic manner, particularly considering that household financial assets are much higher, amounting to RM3.45 trillion in the same period. "In aggregate, household financial assets remain 2.1 times higher than debts, thus providing a strong financial buffer for households," she said. Commenting on the control of financial loans among civil servants, she said approvals given by financial institutions in the country were subject to the responsible financing practice policy document issued by Bank Negara Malaysia, in effect since 2012. Through this policy, she said, the government ensured household finances remained manageable in line with repayment capacity. "In general, financial institutions assess a borrower's capacity by taking into account a minimum net disposable income as well as the debt service ratio (DSR). As at the end of 2024, data showed the DSR was at a prudent level of 34 per cent. "There are also specific control measures for civil servants through Regulation 13 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, which stipulates that an officer must not be in serious debt, with net monthly salary not falling below 40 per cent," she said.
NZ Herald
09-08-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
NZ receives 1500 refugees each year but Hawke's Bay doesn't settle any. Why?
The closest settlement locations are Palmerston North and Masterton, and the newest locations to welcome refugee families include Blenheim, Timaru, Ashburton, Levin and Masterton. 'Quota refugees are settled in locations throughout New Zealand based on community links and access to services to help support their settlement and employment opportunities,' an Immigration NZ spokeswoman said. 'We work with refugees to ensure that their allocated settlement region is one that meets their needs and has the capacity to support them. 'New Zealand has a long and proud history of helping people whose lives are at risk and are forced to flee their country.' Multicultural Association Hawke's Bay president Rizwaana Latiff said multiple Afghan and Iraqi refugees now live in the region, particularly around Napier, and refugees were free to move here once they had been settled in other locations like Palmerston North. She said while it would be great to see refugees sent to Hawke's Bay directly to live, the reality was support, funding and volunteers had to be in place first. 'At the moment, I would love us to be a resettlement spot, but we can't just say we want to when we don't have the resources to be able to welcome them.' She said refugees need assistance with housing, language learning, finding jobs, transport, navigating where and how to access services, and on top of that they 'have an added layer in that they have been traumatised'. 'If I had a magic wand, that is what I would love to do, welcome them,' she said. 'These refugees have lived for years in shacks. 'To even have a one-bedroom house would be ideal for them if they had power and running water and food. 'But we also need to look at the flipside of the reality of what is happening in Hawke's Bay.' She said Hawke's Bay has a big housing shortage and things like jobs all needed to be taken into account. She said one thing people can do to help prepare the region to potentially become a settlement location in future was volunteer, and support the migrant population. She said there was a shortage of volunteers in Hawke's Bay for things like teaching English or helping migrants learn to drive. 'A lot of people don't realise the value that migrants bring, not just economically but culturally as well,' Latiff, who is running for Hastings District Council, said. 'It brings the world to us. It helps our children grow up with open minds.' New Zealand's quota of 1500 people will be reviewed again in 2028. If you would like to volunteer email president@ Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke's Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.
![[UPDATED] DoE deploys drones to monitor open burning](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FDRONEDOE_NSTfield_image_socialmedia.var_1753951176.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
31-07-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] DoE deploys drones to monitor open burning
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment (DoE) has conducted 4,247 ground patrols and 859 drone flights this year to monitor open burning activities nationwide. DoE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said these statistics, recorded up to July this year, are part of the department's ongoing enforcement efforts. "So far, the department has issued 58 directive notices, initiated 27 court actions, and imposed 59 compounds on offenders involved in open burning," he said during an engagement session today. "Air pollution and haze remain key concerns due to their serious health implications. The DoE continuously monitors the Air Pollutant Index (API) at 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, operating 24 hours a day via the Environmental Data Centre (EDC) in Putrajaya," he added. Also present was DoE Air Division director Nor Aziah Jaafar. Latiff said Malaysia continues to work closely with neighbouring countries under the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to coordinate preventive and mitigation actions regarding land and forest fires in the region. "Through this platform, Malaysia has put forward several proposals and initiatives to neighbouring countries to curb open burning activities that cause transboundary haze," he said. He added that domestically, various immediate actions are being taken, including strict enforcement of environmental laws, hotspot monitoring, firefighting operations in collaboration with relevant agencies, and the delegation of authority to 13 other government agencies. He said these agencies were officially gazetted on July 7, with enforcement beginning the following day. "This strategic initiative enhances field enforcement capacity, especially in tackling open burning, a major contributor to haze conditions. With the delegation of authority, quicker and more coordinated responses can now be carried out by multiple agencies," he said. Latiff said to strengthen preparedness and ensure coordinated responses, the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have also been activated since Feb 26 to streamline government agency efforts in handling open burning and haze situations. "Additionally, joint patrols and monitoring efforts are being carried out with strategic partners such as the Civil Defence Force and other enforcement bodies at both state and district levels," he said. He urged the public not to engage in open burning and to report any suspicious activities to the DoE via its toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-2727.
