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The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Negri's policy on strays needs a rethink
THE decision by Negri Sembilan state assembly, endorsed by all 36 assemblymen, sanctioning the culling of street dogs has sparked concern among animal rights advocates and concerned citizens. The voices of protest are louder than those in favour of the decision, and the state authorities ought to take heed of this. Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said his administration was left with no other option to address issues of disturbance and safety caused by the free-roaming canines. The decision, he said, had to be taken as the issue had been repeatedly raised and that gave an impression that his team was not doing anything to address it. Aminuddin promised that the stray dogs would only be euthanised if unclaimed from the pound after their capture. Animal welfare groups, however, want the authorities to consider other options to better manage the stray population. While acknowledging cases where aggressive animals pose risks to public safety, they said culling should not be an option. With no proper SOP in place, activists fear the state government's decision would give enforcement agencies free rein to cull all strays. They also claimed inconsistencies in Aminuddin's announcement as he had initially said only aggressive strays with a history of attacking the public would be put to sleep. Animal rights groups said the Negri Sembilan government should shelve the move while waiting for the outcome of proposals submitted to Housing and Local Government Ministry on managing the stray dog population. It should be noted that there are countries which have resorted to culling strays, particularly the animals that were known to have diseases such as rabies. On the other hand, there are also countries that completely prohibit the killing of street dogs and have adopted more humane measures such as spaying and neutering, sheltering them in pounds and promoting adoption. India, for example, has taken the fertility control route rather than culling, and its stray population has reduced. In North America, fertility control has had similar effectiveness over a 20-year period. These statistics, animal rights groups say, show that it is better to control than to kill. Animal welfare groups are asking that they be allowed to manage the issue via the trap-neuter-release (TNR) programme which they claim is the most effective method. They say it takes a minimum of five years for the programme to yield results and that non- governmental organisations should be given time to prove this. It is learned that the TNR programme in Seremban was only launched in 2023. The groups say they are also financially strained and depend heavily on public donations to cover expenses. For example Furrykids Safehaven, which houses some 2,000 strays in Rantau, claims it needs an average RM130,000 a month to run the shelter. More than half the expenses goes to buying 1,200 bags of kibbles − which cost some RM72,000 − for the dogs, followed by salaries for its 11 workers and veterinary bills, which come up to another RM50,000. Volunteers help catch strays for the TNR programme and feed them after they are released, at no cost to the state. To the people who have cared and continue to care for these voiceless animals, the decision by the authorities seems inhumane. We should perhaps take a page from other nations. The Netherlands, now virtually free of stray dogs, adopted a nationwide sterilisation programme in 1996. Homes were found for more than a million dogs without a single one being put to sleep. Another effective policy by the Dutch government was to impose heavy taxes on purchasing pets from stores, which eventually led people to adopt fur babies from shelters instead. Remember Kopi, the playful stray dog shot dead in Besut, Terengganu, during a culling operation? There are tens of thousands like Kopi all over Malaysia. A society is judged not by how it treats its strongest, but by how it cares for those who cannot fight back. The state government must return to the drawing board and come up with a policy that balances public health and safety with humane considerations. Surely, man's best friend deserves better.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Genting Q1 profit on track despite one-off charges
KUALA LUMPUR: Genting Plantations Bhd's core net profit of RM121 million in the first quarter (Q1) 2025 met expectations, accounting for 39 per cent and 38 per cent of CIMB Securities Research's and Bloomberg consensus full-year estimates, respectively. The research house considers this to be in line with expectations, as it expects weaker earnings in the coming quarters for Genting Plantation due to lower crude palm oil (CPO) prices and higher production costs. Reported net profit, however, the firm said, came in significantly lower at RM61 million, mainly due to RM72 million in impairment charges. "Of this, RM66 million was related to the provision for potential income loss from some parts of its Indonesian planted estates that have been demarcated as forest land by the Indonesian government under a recent regulation. "No dividend was declared in Q1 2025, in line with expectations," it said. Meanwhile, CIMB Securities said the negative surprise this quarter was a RM66 million impairment on Genting Plantation's Indonesian bearer plants, arising from the likely reclassification of some parts of its mature oil palm estates as forest land by the Indonesian government. The firm has maintained its Hold rating but lowered its target price to RM5.28 per share, applying a higher 20 per cent discount (from 15 per cent) to its sum-of-parts (SOP) valuation to reflect growing regulatory risks in Indonesia. "The higher discount reflects increasing regulatory risks in Indonesia, where 57 per cent of Genting Plantation's planted estates are located. "It also captures our earlier concerns about Genting Plantation's proposed RM676 million acquisition of two land parcels (totalling 152 ha) in Jakarta for property development — a segment in which the company has no prior track record in Indonesia, posing execution risks," it said. On a positive note, CIMB Securities said Genting Plantation recently completed the sale of 213.9 hectares of land in Mukim Paya Rumput, Melaka, to Scientex for RM333.8 million. The transaction, completed on 21 May, will allow Genting Plantation to recognise a one-off net gain of RM284.9 million, it added.
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak State Assembly approves two Supplementary Supply Bills
Tabled by Uggah, the Bills were the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill involving an allocation of RM153,769,197 and the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill for RM237,660,520. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 22): The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed two Supplementary Supply Bills involving a total of RM391,429,717 for additional expenditure that was not covered in previous allocations. The Bills, tabled by Deputy Premier and Second State Minister for Finance and New Economy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, were the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill involving an allocation of RM153,769,197 and the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill for RM237,660,520. According to Uggah, the Supplementary Supply (2024) is to meet the cost of various services incurred by various Ministries and Departments for which funds were not provided for or insufficiently provided for in the 2024 estimates. Meanwhile, he said the Supplementary Supply (2025) seeks additional expenditure, among others, a total sum of RM100,000,000 required by the Department of the Premier of Sarawak to cater for rental of air-chartered services due to increased activities. 'A total sum of RM72,264,000 is required by the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development to cater for a special Pocket Money Initiative at RM1,200 per Sarawakian student pursuing a diploma or bachelor's degree in higher education institutions throughout Malaysia. 'A total sum of RM62,271,138 is required by the following Ministries and Departments to cover payment for special monthly allowance, Bantuan Insentif Sara Hidup, to all Sarawak civil servants effective January 2025,' he added. – Bernama douglas uggah embas DUN Supplementary Supply Bills
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sarawak state assembly approves two supplementary supply bills
KUCHING: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed two Supplementary Supply Bills involving a total of RM391,429,717 for additional expenditure that was not covered in previous allocations. The bills, tabled by Sarawak Deputy Premier and Second Minister for Finance and New Economy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, were the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill involving an allocation of RM153,769,197 and the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill for RM237,660,520. According to Uggah, the Supplementary Supply (2024) is to meet the cost of various services incurred by various Ministries and Departments for which funds were not provided for or insufficiently provided for in the 2024 estimates. Meanwhile, he said the Supplementary Supply (2025) seeks additional expenditure, among others, a total sum of RM100,000,000 required by the Department of the Premier of Sarawak to cater for rental of air-chartered services due to increased activities. 'A total sum of RM72,264,000 is required by the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development to cater for a special Pocket Money Initiative at RM1,200 per Sarawakian student pursuing a Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in higher education institutions throughout Malaysia. 'A total sum of RM62,271,138 is required by the following Ministries and Departments to cover payment for special monthly allowance, Bantuan Insentif Sara Hidup, to all Sarawak Civil Servants effective January 2025,' he added.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ensuring agility of economy
Show of respect: Ramli (second from left) inspecting the guard of honour mounted by the Federal Reserve Unit of the police during the opening of the state assembly sitting. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star GEORGE TOWN: Newly-appointed Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib welcomes the state's various initiatives for sustainable and future economic progress. One such initiative is Penang Silicon Design @5km, a strategic move to bolster the integrated circuit (IC) design sector and accelerate the growth of the state's semiconductor ecosystem. Other key projects include Penang IC Design and Digital Park, Penang Chip Design Academy and Silicon Research and Incubation Space, aimed at creating high-value jobs and attracting investments from leading global technology companies. Ramli said the state's gross domestic product (GDP) of RM116bil was driven by two major sectors – services and manufacturing. 'The dependence on these high-impact sectors makes the state's economy more agile in facing external challenges and global uncertainties. 'Penang is proud to remain among the top-six major contributors to the 73% share of the national GDP. 'The state also recorded the highest GDP per capita at RM72,586. 'In 2023, Penang achieved 3.3% economic growth. 'On international trade, Penang recorded a trade volume of RM788.1bil in 2024, an increase of 11.6% compared with RM696.7bil in 2023,' he said before opening the state legislative assembly sitting yesterday. As the new head of state, Ramli expressed his appreciation for the state's commitment to strengthening Islam. He said Penang had invested RM6mil in the construction of two mosques – Masjid Papan Kampung Pertama and Masjid Bandar Cassia. 'Several other mosque projects are also in progress, including Masjid Sungai Kechil, Masjid Bandar Putra Bertam, Masjid Taman Sungai Dua Utama and Masjid Mengkuang Titi,' he said. Another notable development, Ramli said, is the KITAB Smart City Campus in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan. The project to be built on 7ha wakaf land will feature a mosque and Islamic centre, commercial hub, student dormitories and administrative and academic facilities of the Penang International College of Technology. Ramli also thanked the Federal Government for its continued support of major infrastructure projects that enhance connectivity and improve mobility for the people of Penang. He said two new Bills, namely Penang Water Supply Authority Bill 2025 and Penang Water Supply Bill 2025 will be tabled during the state assembly proceedings.
