Latest news with #MohdZaidiMdZabri
Barnama
26-06-2025
- Barnama
- One Crash Too Many: Why We Can't Wait For The Next Tragedy
26/06/2025 10:34 AM Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. By : Mohd Zaidi Md Zabri On June 9, fifteen Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students were killed and 33 others injured in a road accident involving a chartered bus near Km53 of the East–West Highway. They were on their way back to campus after the Aidiladha holidays. The crash shook the nation. For me, it struck even closer. By happenstance, Gerik is my mother's hometown. When I saw the images of the twisted bus, the bent guardrails, and the familiar hills in the background, I felt a chill of recognition. This wasn't just a tragic headline. It was personal. Notwithstanding my personal connection, the experience behind the tragedy is all too relatable for university and boarding school students across Malaysia. We've all taken those overnight buses. It was nerve-wracking to say the least. We've felt the driver speeding or overtaking on winding roads. We looked at each other, uneasy. Most of the time, we slept, or in my case, pretended to with my eyes shut, because I usually have trouble sleeping in a moving vehicle. It was easier not to see what was unfolding outside the window. But ultimately, we said nothing. The reason is simple. We were too young to speak up. And too scared of the consequences. Those who have experienced such journeys will know that the power distance between driver and passenger is real. Speaking up felt rude, even disrespectful. Worse, we feared being told to get off. And when you're young, broke, far from home, and without alternatives, silence often feels like the safer choice. Public outcry and official response This time, the silence didn't last. The crash triggered an outpouring of grief, anger and demands for accountability. On campuses, and across social media, the public made itself heard. On June 13, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) announced a key enforcement shift. From October 1, all express buses, tour buses, and heavy goods vehicles must pass inspections to verify the use of functioning speed limiters. I don't know about you, but for me, it begs a simple yet powerful question: why did it take a tragedy to enforce such a rule? What's truly mind boggling is that speed limiters were first proposed by then Transport Minister (now Tun) Ling Liong Sik about two decades ago. Three measures that could save lives While the government's response marks progress, systemic reform is still needed. The following three measures are essential if Malaysia is serious about preventing another tragedy. First, with speed limiters now mandated for all chartered and long-distance buses, the next step is to link them to a real-time GPS system and make the data public -much like how Flightradar24 transformed transparency in air travel. A similar system for long-distance buses could allow families, schools and passengers to monitor routes, speeds and delays in real time. This would not only build public trust but also create a culture of accountability where dangerous driving can no longer hide in the dark. In Rwanda, this exact policy of mandatory speed limiter led to a 60 pr cent reduction in accident rates and 70 per cent fewer road fatalities within a year of implementation. In Bangladesh, similar reforms cut road accidents by 40 per cent and fatalities by half. Malaysia must follow this example with full enforcement and no exceptions. Second, Malaysia must create a transparent driver registry that records traffic summonses, safety violations, and disciplinary actions. This database should be accessible to schools, universities, companies, and the public. In Australia, following the 2023 Hunter Valley crash, safety reforms now include visual seatbelt alerts and new design rules for passenger coaches. These came alongside growing calls for transparent driver safety records. Such tools help restore trust while holding repeat offenders accountable. Commercial drivers with repeated offences must be permanently disqualified from transporting passengers. Third, seatbelts must be compulsory for every seat, not just those in the front row. In the United States, federal law has required lap and shoulder belts in all new motorcoaches since 2016. Scotland made seatbelts mandatory on school transport under the Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Act 2017. Australia will require seatbelts on all new coaches from late 2026, with audio-visual reminders to ensure usage. To be fair, such a move would impose significant costs on operators. Western Australia addressed this by allocating AUD87 million (RM265.35 million) to retrofit all school buses. Malaysia should adopt a similar approach. Targeted grants or tax incentives can help offset retrofit costs and make compliance feasible. From an Islamic economics perspective, such public support promotes fairness, or 'adl, by ensuring operators are not unfairly burdened. It also serves maslahah, or public good, by protecting vulnerable passengers and supporting the welfare of the wider community. From silence to systemic change The Gerik crash is more than just another tragic headline. It is a sobering reminder of how fragile the lives of young passengers can be when systems fail them. It also exposes the quiet power imbalances that shape how public transport is experienced. When passengers feel too intimidated to question authority or too poor to risk confrontation; that is not just a cultural gap. It is a structural failing. When fear of speaking up outweighs fear of the road, the system is broken. Let this be the moment we fix it. Let Gerik be the last time silence rides with us. -- BERNAMA Dr Mohd Zaidi Md Zabri is the Interim Director at the Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation in Islamic Economics (i-RISE), ISRA Institute, INCEIF University. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of BERNAMA)
Barnama
18-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
SOCSO: Modest Contributions, Comprehensive Protection
M isfortune often strikes without warning and in today's increasingly challenging world, insurance protection is no longer a choice but a growing necessity for every family. Without insurance coverage, a family or individual may face financial pressure in the event of a disaster, particularly involving health or property. In Malaysia, aside from insurance offered by the private sector – which usually involves high monthly premium payments – the public can obtain similar protection from the Social Security Organisation (Socso). Socso, an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources, provides social security protection to Malaysian employees who, through small monthly contributions, are entitled to benefits such as accident compensation, medical treatment and disability allowance. It even provides assistance to those who lose their jobs. The organisation is also actively involved in rehabilitation, retraining and workforce employability programmes. Amid the shifting employment landscape, Socso is enhancing its role in protecting the security and well-being of the nation's workforce. DIFFERENT Sharing his views, INCEIF University Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation in Islamic Economics director (interim) Mohd Zaidi Md Zabri said making monthly contributions to Socso is mandatory for most workers. Comparing Socso with private insurance companies, he said the former is a non-profit-oriented organisation and provides protection to contributors under its Employment Injury Scheme, Invalidity Scheme and Employment Insurance. INCEIF University Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation in Islamic Economics director (interim) Mohd Zaidi Md Zabri. Private insurance schemes, by contrast, are optional and profit-driven, with insurers offering coverage plans based on premium payments made by policyholders. 'The benefits provided by private insurers depend on the type of policy taken. But Socso, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive protection package to contributors, regardless of their financial background,' Mohd Zaidi told Bernama. He added that the protection offered by Socso is inclusive as coverage is also extended to self-employed people including housewives and gig economy workers through its Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS). Under this scheme, self-employed individuals only need to pay RM70 per year, which is 30 percent of the total contribution of RM232.80, with the remaining 70 percent (RM162.80) funded by the government. The scheme allows the self-employed to enjoy social security protection at a very low cost, yet with comprehensive benefits in the event of an accident, disability or death while performing their work. 'The protection offered by Socso to the self-employed is not only affordable but also more comprehensive compared to most private insurance plans, which charge high premiums for equivalent protection,' Mohd Zaidi added. Since its introduction under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017, SKSPS has reportedly recorded over 500,000 active contributors as of May 2024. PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Faculty of Economics and Banking senior lecturer Dr Mohd Faisol Ibrahim said workers' contributions to Socso are based on the principle of justice, regardless of their backgrounds. He said its contribution system also ensures that lower-income groups receive appropriate benefits, unlike private insurers which tend to operate based on profit motives and commercial risk assessments. 'For example, high-risk individuals such as older people or those with a history of illness will be charged higher premiums or may be outright rejected by private insurers (deemed ineligible for coverage). 'In contrast, Socso offers protection to all contributors without discrimination and its services and products are delivered through the principles of risk-sharing, brotherhood and social solidarity,' he said. He added that in its nearly 54 years of operations, Socso has implemented many reforms to fulfill its objectives by assisting and easing the burden on contributors through basic yet comprehensive social protection schemes. 'Many reforms have been made by Socso since it was established (in 1971). Even with only a small contribution, the benefits received are still worthwhile compared to existing (private) insurance or takaful (a type of Islamic insurance) schemes. 'These reforms are timely and ensure the claims or benefits provide some relief to contributors, especially those who have lost their jobs or have become disabled (due to work-related accidents),' he said. TAKAFUL CONCEPT Elaborating on the matter, Mohd Faisol suggested that Socso reevaluate its strategies by viewing social protection not only from a micro perspective but also from a macro perspective that considers the reality of people's lives. SKSPS allows the self-employed to enjoy social security protection at a very low cost. He said although Socso is essentially an institution based on the concept of social insurance, it is time for the organisation to adopt more progressive and dynamic changes. Among the strategic approaches worth exploring, he said, is the introduction of takaful-based products and services that align with syariah principles. He explained that this move would not only make Socso more inclusive and responsive to the needs of different segments of society but could also position the agency as a new player in the country's takaful industry. 'Such an initiative can offer Muslim contributors the option of syariah-compliant protection plans, while others (non-Muslims) can either opt for takaful or remain with the conventional model,' he said. Mohd Faisol added that the development of the Islamic financial system in Malaysia also presents broad opportunities for Socso to maximise syariah-compliant investments, thereby benefiting from the ecosystem in planning its investment strategies. He said investments in Islamic financial instruments, including syariah-compliant real estate, can generate more stable returns and help grow the organisation's fund which, in turn, can assure contributors of better benefits and compensations in the future. 'The concept of 'insuring the people' should be expanded into a broader mission of 'ensuring the people's well-being',' he said. 'This approach will not only keep Socso relevant but also strong and more proactive in ensuring the overall welfare of the people.' SIMPLIFY PROCESS Mohd Faisol also urged Socso to simplify the claims process for contributors and speed up the approval timeline. He said although standard operating procedures are in place, the organisation can improve them to ease the burden on contributors seeking help in difficult times. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Faculty of Economics and Banking senior lecturer Dr Mohd Faisol Ibrahim He added that a straightforward claims process could encourage more individuals, especially the self-employed, to contribute to the agency for their own social safety net. 'In some cases, claims may be rejected due to various factors, including incomplete information, employers failing to make contributions or discrepancies in medical reports. 'This situation will certainly affect contributors, especially those in poor health or who have lost their jobs. Therefore, the system must be improved to ensure that the claims process is efficient, transparent and user-friendly,' he said. Meanwhile, a 45-year-old Socso contributor, who wished to be known as Wati, acknowledged there have been complaints about difficulties in making claims, including complex documentation processes, challenges in obtaining supporting documents and long waiting periods for approval. 'You can see on social media, for instance, people expressing frustration when their applications are rejected or not approved... perhaps because they don't know or understand how to submit a claim, so Socso itself needs to strengthen communication, including making regular announcements to the public. 'As for me, I'm truly grateful to have received compensation after being laid off in 2023… although it took a bit of time to complete the forms, I found it worthwhile. At the very least, I had some pocket money during the period I was unemployed,' said Wati, who received an allowance from Socso for six months after being laid off due to company downsizing. -- BERNAMA
