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Malaysiakini
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
'Focus on this one,' Loke says when quizzed over resignation call
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke deflected questions on whether his party's ministers will resign over the 'no further action' (NFA) granted in Teoh Beng Hock's case. 'Just focus on this one first. Today is the National Logistics Task Force (NLTF) meeting,' he said at a press conference after an event in Putrajaya today.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DA recommends keeping 15% tariff on imported rice
Workers at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Quezon City stack sacks of rice that arrived from Vietnam, June 27, 2018. GMA News file photo The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recommended retaining the 15% tariff on imported rice to help mitigate the effects of inflation in local prices. In a public briefing on Wednesday, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said that they aim on lowering the effects of inflation throughout the agricultural industry. 'Napakaimportante yan sa buong ekonomiya ng ating bansa, at masigurado din natin na maging tuloy-tuloy ang mga programa natin na mas mababang presyo ng bilihin di lamang ng bigas kundi iba pang agricultural commodities,' said de Mesa. (It is very important to the economy of the entire country, and we should ensure that our programs to lower the prices of commodities will continue, not just rice but other agricultural commodities.) He further said that the majority of every P100 that poor Filipino families spend were used to purchase rice. 'Mga 25% kasi ng bigas na kino-consume natin ay imported. So, kung mapapanatili natin na mababa ang taripa at 15%, mas masisigurado natin na yung pangkalahatang presyo ng bigas ay mas magiging matatag at hindi makakaapekto sa price spikes kung magkakaroon man. Yung inflation overall natin, mapapanatili nating mababa kung mananatiling mababa presyo ng bigas,' he added. (About 25% of the rice we consume is imported. So, if we keep the tariff low at 15%, we can better ensure that the overall price of rice will remain stable and won't affect any price spikes. We can keep or overall inflation lower if we keep the price of rice low.) DA said that they consider the price of rice in international markets, exchange rates, logistics costs from the port of origin, and productivity in the country when considering rice tariffs. 'Napakaimportante lalo na sa panahon ng lean months, ay masigurado natin na yung imported na bigas ay maganda ang presyuhan para di maapektuhan din yung presyo ng local na supply natin. Yung timing is really important to make sure natin na mapapanatili natin na matatag ang presyuhan ng bigas,' he said. (It is very important, especially in the lean months, that we ensure that the price of important rice will not affect the price of our local supply. The timing is really important to make sure that we keep rice pricing stable.) Assistance programs by the government, such as the implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice programs, continue regardless of the tariffs. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered the lowering of imported rice tariffs from 35% to 15% on June 20, 2024. The decision faced backlash from several farmers' groups, who filed a petition for certiorari to declare the lowering of tariffs 'unconstitutional' and nullify the order. In December 2024, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) also said that the lowered tariffs did not affect or lower the price of imported rice. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos says he can sustain P20 per kilo rice
KUALA LUMPUR - ''Watch me sustain it.'' This was the bold statement made by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. as regards his administration's P20 per kilo of rice. Speaking to Philippine reporters, Marcos said he was finally able to implement his campaign promise. He said he understands the sentiments of some of the public, saying that his project is only for optics. ''We'll talk in May of 2028, natuloy ba o hindi. We found a way. We found a way to do it. We found a way to do it. We could not do it before. Hindi kaya kasi hindi pa kaya ng sistema. Iba pa 'yung presyo ng bigas noon,'' he added. The President earlier explained why it took time for him to fulfill his campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice, noting that the government needs to provide assistance first to the local farmers, including the provision of machinery. The Department of Agriculture (DA) initially implemented the sale of rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas region. According to the DA, Marcos wants it to be implemented across the country in the long run. The second phase, which will commence in July, will be in the Mindanao region. The P20 per kilogram rice initiative under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program only allows members of vulnerable sectors—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents to buy NFA rice at P20 per kilogram. Rice sold in Kadiwa centers is subsidized by the government through the Food Terminal Inc. The DA is aiming to sustain the program until the end of Marcos' term in June 2028, potentially covering up to 15 million households, or approximately 60 million Filipinos. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
Malaysiakini
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Gerakan: Shame on Anwar and Harapan, apologise to Teoh's kin
After more than a decade of invoking Teoh Beng Hock's tragic death for political mileage, Gerakan president Dominic Lau has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Harapan coalition to issue a formal apology to Teoh's family. Lau expressed deep regret over the authorities' recent decision to classify the reopened investigation into the former DAP aide's 2009 death as 'No Further Action' (NFA), insisting that Harapan owes Teoh's loved ones - and all Malaysians - a clear and honest explanation.
Malaysiakini
7 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Haters gonna hate
Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today. Key Highlights Haters gonna hate - Azam Baki unfazed PKR's 'enduring friendships' and grounded chairs Teoh Beng Hock - NFA and broken promises Haters gonna hate - Azam Baki unfazed Azam Baki, whose tenure as MACC chief commissioner has been extended for a record third time, is under no illusion about his popularity or the lack thereof. But the 62-year-old graftbuster is not losing sleep over it. 'I know that people do not like me. This is a free country,' he said when asked about an upcoming protest against him. The protest, organised by Sekretariat Undur Azam Baki (Step Down Azam Baki Secretariat), aims to express public dissatisfaction over his continued leadership. That his reappointment comes under a prime minister and coalition who had previously been vocal critics has raised eyebrows, prompting speculation that Azam may have some political leverage over those in power. And the chorus of discontent even includes the prime minister's own daughter, who called the extension 'unwelcome'. HIGHLIGHTS PKR's 'enduring friendships' and grounded chairs As the PKR election enters its final stretch, deputy president hopeful Nurul Izzah Anwar praised Rafizi Ramli, assuring that their friendship remains strong despite the heated contest. To lighten the mood, party information chief Fahmi Fadzil quipped he was relieved the polls stayed free of flying chairs and broken ballot boxes - true to Nurul Izzah's 'peace' campaign. Sharing the stage with her, Fahmi couldn't resist a subtle jab at Rafizi's 'Hiruk' campaign, adding, 'My only regret is that at the central level, in the past week or two, it became a bit too 'noisy' (hiruk-pikuk).' Nurul Izzah, daughter of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, emphasised she is running on her own merit and not riding on her father's coattails. 'They call it nepotism, but I never used power. Every step I took was my own - on the streets, among the people, fighting for true justice,' she said. HIGHLIGHTS Teoh Beng Hock - NFA and broken promises The authorities have classified the police investigations into the death of former DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock as 'NFA' (No Further Action), much to the disappointment and anguish of his family. His sister Teoh Lee Lan said the outcome fails to reflect the promises previously made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Beng Hock's death in 2009, when being questioned overnight by the MACC, has been a significant point of contention and campaign rhetoric for Anwar and his coalition for more than a decade. Despite Anwar now serving as prime minister and Pakatan Harapan leading the government, his family questioned whether they remain 'trapped in the era of BN's rule'. 'The same MACC remains unaccountable. The same police force refuses to investigate the MACC. The same opaque conclusions are drawn, and the same murderers walk free. 'On Aug 1 last year, Anwar urged the Teoh family to trust the 'new police force' and the 'new system' under his administration. But what has this so-called 'new system' brought to the Teoh family? Only continued disappointment,' said Lee Lan. HIGHLIGHTS Views that matter In case you missed it Other news that matter
