Latest news with #RM10mil
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
More than 100,000 social media posts removed by MCMC, majority linked to gambling, scams, says Teo
KULAI: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has taken down more than 100,000 social media posts that have been deemed harmful, says Teo Nie Ching. The Deputy Communications Minister said a total of 107,687 pieces of content have been removed by platform providers on the request of MCMC as of April 14 this year. 'From the amount, 57,669 were related to gambling while 30,427 were linked to scams. 'I take this opportunity to remind social media users not to fall for content that promotes 'too good to be true' or 'get rich quick' schemes,' she said after presenting incentives to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia high achievers here on Saturday (May 31). Separately, Teo also urged concert organisers to apply for a new initiative by her ministry called the Concert and Event in Malaysia (CEMI), which has an annual allocation of RM10mil. She said concerts with international artists could enjoy a 30% rebate on its actual Qualifying Malaysian Concert and Event Spend (QMCES) expenditure or a maximum of RM1.5mil. 'To qualify for this, the organiser must meet conditions such as having a minimum capacity of 15,000 attendees and hire 30% Malaysian manpower for the event. 'For events with local artists, organisers could enjoy 30% rebate of its actual QMCES or RM1mil if they meet the conditions for the incentive,' she said, adding that the conditions and application could be done online. Teo added that CEMI, managed by MyCreative Ventures with the support of the ministry, was to support the organisation of large-scale concerts and events in Malaysia. She said the incentive is open for application starting May 15 until July 10 for events taking place this year or next year.
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
Company, two directors charged with dumping hazardous waste in PD
SEREMBAN: A company and its two directors, including a former state Environment Department (DOE) deputy director, claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to a charge of illegally dumping hazardous wastes. Nature Energy Products Sdn Bhd and its directors S. Sivanathiran, 62, who was former state DOE deputy director, and Chan Kwai Soon, 47, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to them before Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam. Chan also represented the company. They were charged with dumping the waste (code SW322) on Lot 11224, in Jimah, Port Dickson at around 4.30pm on Oct 14, 2024. SW322 refers to "waste of non-halogenated organic solvents". This classification falls under the broader category of hazardous waste and requires specific handling and disposal procedures. The company and both directors were charged under Section 34B(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA) which prohibits the placement, deposit, or disposal of scheduled waste without the approval of the Director-General of Environment. Section 34B(1)(a) directly addresses the illegal disposal of scheduled wastes, which are hazardous materials designated by the government. Offenders can be jailed up to five years and fined between RM100,000 and RM10mil upon conviction. Deputy Public Prosecutor from the DOE Nurliyana R. Azmi then told the court the offence was non-bailable but left it to the court's discretion. She said in the event the court allowed bail, her team proposed an amount of RM50,000 for each director. She also asked the court to order the directors to surrender their passports and to not contact prosecution witnesses. Lawyer Ramzani Idris, who represented the accused, then asked the court to impose bail adding that the directors have been cooperative in the department's probe. Haresh Mahadevan, who assisted Ramzani, then got up to say that the directors should not be asked to surrender their passports as both were businessmen who travelled often. Sivanathiran, he added, was a retired government servant and was not a flight risk. He said if the court were to impose bail, an amount of RM5,000 was sufficient. Judge Mohamad Kamil then set bail at RM9,000 each for the directors and fixed July 3 for mention. He also ordered the duo to report to the nearest DOE office monthly until the case is disposed of and to stay away from prosecution witnesses.
The Star
27-05-2025
- The Star
Illegal e-waste recycling operations a growing concern, says Kedah DOE
ALOR SETAR: The illegal operation of facilities recycling electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) has become an increasingly pressing concern, despite recent amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 that impose stiffer penalties on offenders. Kedah Department of Environment (DOE) director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said several premises involved in the illegal processing and disposal of e-waste in the state have already been identified and action taken. "Some cases have resulted in convictions, while others are still being processed in court. Illegal e-waste operations generate substantial profits, which is why this activity continues to spread, even though the maximum penalty now reaches RM10mil,' she told reporters. Sharifah Zakiah was speaking to reporters after launching the Environmental Management and Compliance Seminar 2025, organised by the department in collaboration with the Kedah Environmental Club (Kasked). The event drew 430 participants, including exhibitors from industry players across the country. She noted that the amendments to the Environmental Quality Act, which came into force on July 7 last year, are aimed in part at curbing the illegal import and smuggling of e-waste into the country. "If violations are detected involving the import, storage, processing or disposal of e-waste, offenders now face fines of up to RM10mil, compared to RM500,000 previously, and mandatory jail sentences of up to five years,' she said. Sharifah Zakiah also stressed that poor management of industrial and domestic waste could contribute to serious environmental degradation, underscoring the importance of effective environmental governance and strict compliance with laws and regulations. She called for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to pollution control and urged the public to act as the 'eyes and ears' of enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious activities to facilitate prompt action. "This isn't just the government's responsibility. It requires the full involvement of all parties, including industry, the community, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions and individuals. "As development continues to strain environmental sustainability, the media also plays a key role in spreading awareness and encouraging a collective sense of responsibility,' she added. The two-day seminar, which concludes on Wednesday (May 28), includes presentations on legal compliance, industrial pollution management, environmental monitoring and community engagement in environmental protection.- Bernama
The Star
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Retirement review underway
Sim: Proposal to raise limit to 65 being studied by govt panel KLANG: The Human Resources Ministry is currently reviewing the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65, said Minister Steven Sim ( pic ). He said the matter is being examined by a special committee led by the ministry's deputy secretary-general (policy and international), Dr Mohd Shaharin Umar, as it involves labour laws that fall under the ministry's purview. He said the ministry will seek input and feedback from stakeholders – especially from the public sector, workers and employers – during the study to ensure compliance with international best practices. 'This committee will assess the suitability of raising the retirement age in Malaysia, as there are both pros and cons, along with certain challenges. However, within the ministry, labour market reforms includes reviewing all 28 existing labour laws. 'This is because some of these laws are outdated. We will look at ways to refine and harmonise them, and there are also (provisions) that we need to abolish or update,' Sim said after the central-level 2025 Union Affairs Development Grant (PHEKS) handover ceremony here yesterday. On Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65 is among the issues requiring attention and careful in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had previously proposed that the government consider raising the mandatory retirement age. Azalina, who made the suggestion in her personal capacity, said it would be a loss for individuals to retire at 60 when they are still energetic, productive, and capable of contributing to the the event, Sim said the government had allocated RM10mil this year, up from RM5.8mil in 2024, marking the highest amount in the history of PHEKS implementation, as reported by Bernama. He said the move reflected the ministry's efforts to further strengthen the trade union movement in Malaysia, with the assistance to be used for training and educational programmes aimed at equipping union members with skills in areas such as management and leadership. 'What we are introducing this year focuses on digitalisation, encouraging unions to transition to computer technology and digital systems' he said. Of the 1,049 assistance applications received, 551 were approved, amounting to RM7.15mil, including 138 applications for the central zone, which covers Selangor and the Federal Territory, worth RM2.1mil.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Kesuma studying proposal to raise retirement age, says Sim
KLANG: The Human Resources Ministry is currently reviewing the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65, said Minister Steven Sim. The matter was being examined by a special committee led by the ministry's deputy secretary-general (Policy and International) Mohd Shaharin Umar as it involved labour laws which fell under the ministry's purview. He said the study will seek input and feedback from stakeholders, especially the public sector, workers, and employers, to ensure compliance with international best practices. "This committee will look at the suitability of raising the retirement age as there are pros and cons, along with certain challenges. However, within the ministry, part of labour market reforms involves reviewing all 28 existing labour laws. "This is because some of these laws are outdated. We will look at ways to refine and harmonise them, and there are also provisions that we need to abolish or update," he said after the central zone 2025 Union Affairs Development Grant handover ceremony here on Friday (May 23). On Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65 was among the issues requiring attention and careful consideration. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had previously proposed that the government consider raising the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65. Azalina, who made the suggestion in her personal capacity, said it would be a loss for individuals to retire at 60 when they were still energetic, productive and capable of contributing to the workforce. Regarding Friday's event, Sim said the government had allocated RM10mil this year, up from RM5.8mil in 2024, marking the highest amount in the history of the grant. He said the move reflected the ministry's efforts to further strengthen the trade union movement in Malaysia, with the assistance to be used for training and educational programmes aimed at equipping union members with skills in areas such as management and leadership. "What we are introducing this year focuses on digitalisation, where we encourage unions to switch to computer technology and digitalisation," he said. Of the total 1,049 assistance applications received, 551 were approved, amounting to RM7.15mil, including 138 applications for the central zone level covering Selangor and the Federal Territory, worth RM2.1mil. - Bernama
