Latest news with #PublicParticipation
IOL News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Chinese Consul General in Cape Town attends 80th Anniversary Commemoration
The Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town hosted a reception and photo exhibition at the Castle of Good Hope to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War with a reception and photo exhibition at the Castle of Good Hope. More than 100 guests were in attendance, including Cedric Frolick, House Chairperson for Committees, Oversight and Public Participation, and Guy Redman, Deputy Director-General of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. The venue, adorned with vibrant red décor, saw political, governmental, and business figures gather to honour history and strengthen present-day ties. In his address, Consul General You Wenze emphasised that China had served as the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, making an indelible contribution to victory. He reaffirmed China's longstanding commitment to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, underscoring its vision of building 'a community with a shared future for mankind'.
Malay Mail
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Selangor MB: Putra Heights gas blast probe transparent and independent, no state interference
CYBERJAYA, July 3 — The investigation into the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on April 1 was carried out independently and transparently without interference from the Selangor state government, said Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. He clarified that the state government had no direct involvement in the investigation and only participated as one of 212 witnesses in the probe. Amirudin said the current focus is for the Special Committee that was set up to review the report on the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire and propose recommendations to the state government. 'In reality, the investigation was conducted freely without any state government interference. So, if a party questions the process, it doesn't necessarily mean the report is inaccurate,' he said. He was speaking at a press conference after launching the Publicity and Public Participation Programme for the Draft Local Plan of the Sepang Municipal Council, Selangor 2035 (Replacement), here today. Amirudin said the full report of the gas pipeline fire investigation will be made available for public scrutiny once clearance is obtained from the responsible authorities. 'I will make the investigation report public after receiving authorisation, and then anyone can examine it and identify who was responsible — the report contains indications or explanations of that. 'We shouldn't assume there's been interference in every matter. Such perceptions must be supported with clear and scientific proof,' he said. He added that full authority had been given to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to carry out the investigation, including interviewing witnesses such as the developer, security guards, and excavator operators. '(At present), police investigations have not found any evidence of negligence or foul play,' he said. Previously, Amirudin had announced that Selangor would form a Special Committee to examine the report on the gas pipeline fire and draft long-term preventive measures, including new regulations, to ensure such incidents do not recur. Yesterday, the Kuala Sungai Baru Village Residents' Welfare Association (KKSB) expressed dissatisfaction over the 'No Further Action' (NFA) classification of the Putra Heights gas explosion incident and called for a review of the investigation. Police had classified the incident as NFA after criminal investigations found no elements of negligence or sabotage. The fire destroyed 81 homes with over 40 per cent structural damage, left 81 partially damaged, and affected 57 houses without burning them. Another 218 homes, including those in Kampung Tengah, Puchong, were unaffected. — Bernama
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Public invited to decide how MPs' pay should be set
Parliament's expenses watchdog wants around 20 members of the public to take part in a review of how it sets MPs' Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) says the "citizens' forum" will help shape pay and expenses policy from next year group will meet four times in September, and make recommendations alongside a wider online consultation expected to run until the review will also look at how the pay of British MPs compares to politicians in other basic salary is currently £93,904, following a 2.8% annual rise in April. The watchdog is legally mandated to review how it determines MPs' salaries and expenses following each general reviews have used online consultations to gather views, but this is the first time members of the public have been asked to participate directly in the is expected around 20 to 25 people will be recruited via a postal lottery of 10,000 addresses, with the aim of selecting a group that is broadly representative of the wider UK taking part will be asked to make recommendations to Ipsa's board as part of the review, which must conclude before April next says those taking part must be aged 18 or over, and do not need any prior knowledge, or an interest in politics. The move is the latest example of a British body using a co-called citizens' assembly model when making a decision, following its widespread use in has previously been employed by the Scottish government to discuss constitutional questions after Brexit. Westminster committees have used it to decide recommendations on climate change and social say the model can help make decisions more democratic, although critics have questioned the extent to which panels of volunteers are ever able to reflect wider views in the broader model had been tipped for wider government use after Sue Gray, Sir Keir Starmer's then chief of staff, said Labour would use it to decide contentious issues such as where houses should be built and how to reform the House of Gray entered Downing Street after the election but was replaced after three months, and those plans appear to have been shelved. Annual pay awards Ipsa was created in the wake of the 2009 expenses scandal to take on the task of setting MPs' pay, which was previously decided by MPs watchdog does not currently have a set formula for deciding MPs' annual salaries. Instead, it says it balances data on public sector pay against the economic context, and pay in the "wider working population".In recent years it has experimented with linking annual awards, which take effect each April, to average public sector pay figures published the previous it has not always stuck rigidly to using this 2023, it recommended a higher pay rise for MPs, arguing the official data had failed to capture cost of living bonuses awarded elsewhere in the public year, it recommended a lower rise, by linking its 2.8% rise to initial Treasury plans for the public sector, which have since been increased after the government accepted a series of recommendations from pay review bodies last a report published last year, Ipsa found that in 2023 British MPs were paid more than counterparts in countries including France and New they were paid less than equivalents in Ireland, Germany, Canada, Australia and the United States, the survey found. Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
