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Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Dismissal of motion to review Premier, Cabinet's travel expenses a ‘planned charade', says Chong
Chong says what the Speaker did earlier today has undermined the function of the DUN on providing an oversight on the Executives. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 28): Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen is unhappy that a motion submitted by him at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) was dismissed by Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar. In a statement, he said what the Speaker did earlier today has undermined the function of the DUN on providing an oversight on the Executives. 'The main reason it has come to such is because of the overpowering 80-2 majority the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) enjoys in the DUN sitting. If such unbalanced government to opposition ratio continues, more extravagance and wastage of public funds will be kept from public eyes and swept under the carpet,' said the Democratic Action Party Sarawak chairman. He was referring to the motion seeking review of the Speaker's decision to disallow the question by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong on the detailed expenses of the Premier and Cabinet ministers official overseas trips. Asfia had cited multiple procedural and substantive breaches under the DUN's Standing Orders in dismissing the motion. Chong was also unhappy that Asfia allowed Wilfred Yap (GPS-Kota Sentosa) to speak on the motion without even allowing him, the mover of the motion, to start debate on it. He described this as a 'planned charade'. 'He (Asfia) seems to have subscribed to the claim by ADUN for Kota Sentosa that I should go and ask the Prime Minister on the expenses of the Prime Minister and federal Cabinet ministers' official oversea trips. For the information of the Speaker and the ADUN for Kota Sentosa, information of the expenses of the Prime Minister and the federal ministers' official trip has been made public in a parliament answer. 'If the federal government can reply such a question in Parliament, there is no justification why the state government cannot reply such a question in DUN. The Speaker's reliance on foreign investment to justify the huge oversea trips expenditure of the state ministers is misplaced,' he said. He pointed out in the supplementary supply bill for 2025, it was mentioned the Premier's office alone needed RM100 million as its 'rental for air-chartered service'. He said that figure does not even include the expenses for official oversea trips of the other 10 ministers and 26 deputy ministers. 'Last year, the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Public Health alone, sought additional RM3 million for overseas trips. 'Even taking the Premier's office's RM100 million rental of air-chartered expenditure alone without counting the overseas trips of other ministries, it is still too extravagant given that the whole of the federal cabinet's oversea trips in 2024 was only RM44 million,' he said. Chong was referring to the ruling by Asfia on May 26 in dismissing a question by Yong concerning the overseas travel expenses. Asfia had stated that the costs involved were merely a 'pittance' and 'trivial' compared to the billions in foreign investments the state has successfully attracted. 'If we compare the foreign investment, the country attracted a total RM378.5 billion while Sarawak attracted RM14.12 billion – 3.7 per cent of the country's FDI. In contrast, the RM100 million is more than double the RM44 million spent by the whole federal cabinet on oversea trips,' he said.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- The Sun
Terengganu KPDN seizes over 15,000 litres of diesel in Merang
BANDAR PERMAISURI: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Terengganu branch seized 15,455 litres of diesel, valued at RM44,819.50, during an operation at a construction site in Merang near here yesterday. Its director Mohd Mufsi Lat said the seizure was made during an Ops Tiris 3.0 raid involving four KPDN enforcement officers at around 10 am. 'The raid was the result of two weeks of intelligence gathering. During the inspection, our team discovered a storage tank (skid tank) containing approximately 15,455 litres of diesel, believed to be intended for use with a generator set,' he said in a statement today. He said further inspection revealed that the company involved had failed to produce any permit or letter of authorisation from the Supply Controller to store diesel at the site. Mohd Mufsi added that an investigation paper has been opened, and the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. 'KPDN will also take action against the supplier that provided the diesel to the company, under the same law. 'We would like to issue a stern warning to all relevant parties that the ministry will not hesitate to take firm action against any individual or entity found to be misappropriating controlled goods,' he said.
New Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
LPI Capital faces exposure from Putra Heights gas blast?
KUALA LUMPUR: LPI Capital Bhd's potential exposure to the Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion may be minimal due to an Excess of Loss (XOL) treaty, a research house said, The XOL ensures the reinsurer covers losses above the retention limit for properties and motor vehicles, according to Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd. Affin Hwang expects LPI Capital's claims and combined ratios to stabilise in the coming quarters. The research firm also noted that LPI Capital's net profit for the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25) was 3.3 per cent lower compared to the previous year. But this is in line with expectations, with weaker earnings mainly due to significantly higher claims in the insurer's fire and miscellaneous units. Affin Hwang maintained its "Hold" rating on the insurance company with a target price of RM14.20, on a cum-special dividend basis. This is is derived from a price to book value multiple target of 2.3 times on the 2025 book value per share of RM6.19. "We have factored in a lower target multiple on LPI due to the impact of lower subsequent earnings loss of annual investment income from PBB's dividends, leading to a flat net profit in 2026," it adds. Meanwhile, Kenanga Research said LPI Capital has yet to fully realise the synergistic benefits from its acquisition by Public Bank Bhd, despite making significant progress in its fire insurance segment. Kenanga Research said the company has formed a working committee to gradually implement cross-selling strategies, with the integration of agency and branch networks expected by financial year 2026 (FY26). LPI Capital received shareholder approval on April 29 for the sale of its 1.13 per cent stake in Public Bank. The company aims to distribute around 70 per cent of the proceeds as special dividends, while the remainder will be used to expand its investment portfolio. In the financial year 2024 (FY24), dividend income from Public Bank accounted for about RM44 million, or 12 per cent of total earnings. "We opine the disposal of LPI's shares in Public Bank would be from September 2025, after receiving the bank's first interim dividend for financial year 2025 (FY25), yet still ahead of the December 2025 disposal deadline," it said.
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Malaysia adopting advanced road barrier technologies to enhance safety
ARAU: Malaysia is adopting the latest road barrier technologies from developed countries to improve and ensure the safety of its road users. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the ministry was closely monitoring global advancements in road materials and technology, particularly from Europe, and assessing their suitability for local use. "We are always looking for ways to improve the performance and quality of materials used in our road infrastructure," he said on a working visit to Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Pauh Putra campus here today. He added that while Malaysia was keen to adopt new technologies, any materials introduced must first be evaluated based on local conditions, such as weather and road structure. "When new materials enter the market, we take samples and test them to see if they are suitable for our climate. Malaysia experiences heavy rainfall, prolonged heat and has challenging terrain in certain areas," he said. During the same visit, Nanta said construction of UniMAP's multipurpose hall was progressing well, with the RM12.6 million facility now 80 per cent completed. It is expected to be fully operational by July. The hall would provide a dedicated space for examinations, convocations and other major events — functions that previously required rented venues. The project involved the main hall structure as well as supporting facilities, including an electrical substation, waste management unit, pump house, fire tank base and chiller room. The minister also visited two other major developments on campus. UniMAP's new mosque and Islamic centre is 58 per cent completed and expected to be ready by August. The RM32.7 million complex will support both religious and community activities. Work is also ongoing on the university's new School of Engineering building, a RM71.6 million project that began in December last year. It is scheduled for completion by October 2026. Separately, Nanta inspected a road upgrade project connecting Kampung Chuping Bawah Bukit to Guar Musang and Panggas in Padang Besar. The RM44 million project, which spanned three kilometres, included a new bridge, street lighting, utility relocation and land acquisition. It is 93 per cent complete and on track to be finished by July. Keywords: Europe News Technology Malaysia Nst Road Safety Alexander Nanta Linggi Unimap Pauh Putra Related Articles Nation Mar 28, 2025 @ 3:19am Nanta: Overloaded heavy vehicles main cause of road damage Nation Apr 20, 2025 @ 9:14am Govt seeking more allocations for road maintenance not just for Sabah, but whole country, says Nanta Nation Apr 6, 2025 @ 10:46pm AI road monitoring system to tackle pothole safety Nation Apr 13, 2025 @ 9:24am Works Ministry to help assess SMK Lahat's safety after fire
Malay Mail
30-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Decades of dominance: PAP set to win big, but younger voters want more voice
SINGAPORE, April 30 — Singapore's dominant People's Action Party is widely expected to sweep eight or nine out of every 10 seats in the May 3 general election as it typically does, making it one of the world's longest-reigning ruling parties in a democracy. The PAP has run Singapore since 1959, before independence, overseeing a transformation of the city-state into a financial hub of six million people with foreign investment, good governance and public services that have made it the envy of its Southeast Asian neighbours. The PAP's longevity relies on continuity and stability, with voters consistently sticking with the party they know and ignoring under-funded opposition parties that remain an unknown quantity to many. 'Opposition parties claimed that the playing field is somewhat uneven because they typically face a resource gap, less media exposure, and do not have strong grassroots support,' said former PAP lawmaker Zainal Sapari. 'The main handicap is the voters' psychology as many are still cautious about voting for the opposition because they associate the PAP with security and success. It takes time to shift those perceptions.' The expectation that the PAP will retain power, despite a growing unhappiness with its governance, contrasts with how incumbents in many democracies have fallen out of favour since the COVID pandemic, which was followed by a sharp jump in inflation and the cost of living. Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's coalition lost power in 2024 after ruling for all but four years since its founding in 1955, and only Paraguay's Colorado Party, in power since 1947, has ruled a democracy longer than the PAP. A factor in the PAP's ability to maintain its unbroken rule, analysts say, is a responsiveness to concerns over immigration, transport, housing prices and supply bubbles, while maintaining giveaways during hard times to keep discontent at bay. In 2011, the PAP had its worst election performance on record as it faced anger over housing prices, immigration and crowded trains. It won 60.1% of the popular vote - a landslide win in any democracy but was seen by the PAP as a wake-up call. Then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong apologised and reined in home prices and immigration, and built more train lines. Housing and the cost of living in Singapore, among the world's most expensive cities, are again election issues as the economic outlook deteriorates due to U.S. tariffs, with the government warning of a possible recession. Media, political system Others argue the PAP's dominance relies on the political system being to its advantage, with more than half of electoral wards being multi-member constituencies of up to five seats, for which opposition parties struggle to recruit candidates. Steep candidate deposits of S$13,500 (RM44,609) are also an obstacle. Political scientist Chong Ja Ian said the PAP has a close relationship with state institutions and recruits candidates from those bodies, which opposition parties have difficulty doing. 'It also has robust management of the press. Critics argue that the PAP's dominance enables it to shape laws and electoral rules, including electoral boundaries, to its advantage,' he said. Though a PAP defeat is highly unlikely, seat gains for the opposition in this election have the potential to alter the dynamic of Singapore politics in the years ahead, according to some analysts, and create a path towards greater plurality. Opposition progress in recent elections, albeit small, has been widely interpreted as signs of disenchantment with the PAP monopoly and a hankering among some Singaporeans, particularly younger voters, for more diverse politics, alternative voices and more robust debate. 'If things don't change and cost of living and housing issues don't get solved by the end of the term, in five years, I think people will lose confidence and may seek alternatives,' former PAP lawmaker Inderjit Singh said. — Reuters
