Latest news with #SAPA
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah SMEs told to register with Companies Commission of Malaysia
Published on: Friday, August 08, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 08, 2025 By: Nikko Fabian Text Size: Tan said the association suggests facilitating this transition through initiatives such as mobile registration units and user-friendly digital platforms, potentially including fee waivers to ease the burden on businesses. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Association of Professional Accountants (Sapa) said absence of local SMEs registration with SSM leaves them effectively invisible within the national economic landscape. Hence, Sabah's small and medium enterprises are urged to register with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to unlock significant economic opportunities and achieve parity with their Peninsular Malaysian counterparts. Advertisement SAPA Predident Datuk Tan Kok Liang in making the call highlighted the current disadvantage faced by Sabah businesses operating solely under municipal licenses. Following a recent meeting with SSM Sabah Director Mohd Arif Bin Hamzah, Tan emphasized the critical need for alignment with the national business registration framework. 'The current system relying on municipal licenses, hinders access to vital federal funding, limits market expansion, and undermines business credibility on a national scale,' Tan stressed adding, 'absence of SSM registration leaves Sabah SMEs effectively invisible within the national economic landscape.' He pointed to the stark contrast between the over 9.49 million businesses registered with SSM in Peninsular Malaysia and the lack of comparable official records in Sabah. Advertisement This disparity, he argued, creates a significant competitive disadvantage. According to Tan, SAPA's proposal focuses on a pragmatic dual-registration model, allowing SMEs to maintain compliance with local regulations while simultaneously gaining the benefits of SSM registration. This includes access to federal grants and financing, enhanced legal protection, and eligibility for government tenders, he emphasized. Tan said the association suggests facilitating this transition through initiatives such as mobile registration units and user-friendly digital platforms, potentially including fee waivers to ease the burden on businesses. 'This isn't about sacrificing Sabah's autonomy; it's about leveling the playing field…By embracing national registration, Sabah SMEs can unlock their full potential and contribute significantly to the state's economic growth,' he further explained. In addition, Tan ssid SAPA's initiative underscores a crucial step towards empowering Sabah's entrepreneurial spirit and integrating its vibrant SME sector into the national economy. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
eNCA
3 days ago
- Health
- eNCA
Poultry producers struggle without insurance
JOHANNESBURG - As South Africa struggles with outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu, it appears the rollout of vaccines is moving slowly. READ: Avian influenza | Brazil bird flu outbreak sparks fear of ban To address this, the FairPlay Movement is hosting a webinar. The discussion will focus on the sluggish vaccine progress, its impact on food security, and the reasons for the delays. A small pilot project, South Africa's first bird flu vaccine trial, is at the heart of the conversation. It's currently being conducted on just one chicken farm. SAPA CEO Izaak Breitenback, and Francois Baird, founder of the Fairplay movement discussed this with eNCA.
IOL News
15-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
South Africa launches mass vaccination programme for poultry against avian influenza
The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) and agriculture associations have welcomed the department of Agriculture's decision to roll out the first ever mass vaccination of poultry in the country in order to protect the local flock from avian influenza. Image: File The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) and agriculture associations have welcomed the department of Agriculture's decision to roll out the first ever mass vaccination of poultry in the country in order to protect the local flock from avian influenza. SAPA also confirmed that despite concerns about a salmonella outbreak in the United States, eggs in South Africa remain safe to consume. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen last week said that their vaccination team, comprised of poultry specialist vets from the University of Pretoria, along with the Agricultural Research Council, has received a list of farms to be vaccinated from the poultry industry and is prioritising high-risk areas and commercial flocks to contain the virus and prevent further culling. 'We have secured vaccine supply, ensured cold chain capacity, and are building in traceability and reporting mechanisms as part of a wider preparedness strategy.' In a statement, SAPA said that they were pleased that Deputy Director-General for Agricultural Production, Biosecurity, and Natural Resources Management, Dipepeneneng Serage, confirmed at the AVI Africa conference that the government will proceed with the vaccination strategy against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Serage highlighted the department's commitment to ensuring that farming can continue safely and sustainably. 'My job is to bring science and legislation together and allow farmers to farm without risking anyone's health, while positioning South Africa as a net exporter of food.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ SAPA said that the government's HPAI vaccination strategy is a controlled, science-based approach that will focus on four key pillars: Controlled Use of Vaccines – Only vaccines registered in South Africa will be used. Sales and distribution will be strictly controlled, and farmers must register and comply with biosecurity and surveillance protocols. Biosecurity – Enhanced on-farm practices will remain critical to preventing disease spread. Traceability – All vaccinated flocks must be trackable to maintain export integrity and health transparency. Surveillance – Ongoing monitoring will ensure early detection and effective management of any outbreaks. Serage said that South Africa is ready to begin vaccinations immediately. 'Three H5 vaccines have been officially registered for use, with an H7 vaccine currently under development. One farm is already under evaluation for compliance and may be the first to begin vaccinations under the new framework. 'We have the data, we know which farms we're starting with — now we have to start.' SAPA said that this move represents a major step forward for biosecurity in South Africa's poultry industry and signals the government's determination to protect both public health and the country's agricultural economy. Francois Rossouw, the CEO of Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), said that vaccination is a big deal for the poultry industry. 'It can really help cut down on outbreaks, which means less stress and losses for farmers. This is a great way to keep the virus in check, especially in areas where it's a big risk. It'll help protect both big farms and smaller ones.' Rossouw added that by reducing HPAI cases, we can keep production steady and make sure there's enough supply. 'That's key for food security and farmers' livelihoods. I know there are trade concerns with vaccination, but it's all about finding a balance. We need to keep our birds healthy while also chatting with our trade partners about it. It's crucial that vaccination comes with good monitoring and biosecurity measures. We want to make sure everything's managed well. This vaccination move should be part of a bigger strategy to handle avian flu. Ongoing research and teamwork with everyone involved will be super important.' In a separate statement, Dr. Abongile Balarane, CEO: South African Poultry Association (Egg Organisation), said that they take note of the circulating social media posts on Salmonella cases in California in the United States of America. 'We confirm that there are no current Salmonella cases in South Africa that have caused people to be hospitalised. We further confirm that there are currently no confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird flu) in poultry in South Africa. It is therefore safe to consume eggs and poultry meat.' Balarane added that any cases of Salmonella and Avian influenza in South Africa will be officially reported by the National Department of Health together with the National Department of Agriculture. 'To our knowledge, there are no present Salmonella and Avian influenza cases that have spread to humans in South Africa.
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Recipe of the day: Egg baked mushroom medley traybake
A hearty vegetarian tray bake that's ready in minutes This simple tray bake is perfect when you want a quick and tasty meal. It's made with a mix of mushrooms, garlic, herbs and eggs baked in large Portobello mushrooms. Serve it hot with toasted French bread to soak up the delicious juices – great for breakfast, lunch or dinner! ALSO READ: Recipe of the day: Beef chilli bowl to beat the cold Egg baked mushroom medley tray bake Ingredients 650g mixed mushrooms 30ml (2 tbsp) olive oil 2 cloves garlic, grated 6-8 sage leaves 1 tsp (5ml) mixed dried herbs 4 large Portobello mushrooms 4 large eggs 150ml cream Seasoning, to taste French bread to serve Method Preheat oven to 200°C. Use a large baking tray. Place mixed mushrooms, olive oil, garlic, a few sage leaves and dried herbs into the baking tray. Place the Portobello mushrooms stalk side up on top, season with salt and black pepper. Bake until mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and gently twist the stalk out of the Portobello mushrooms, return stalks to the pan. Gently crack an egg into each Portobello mushroom, pour over the cream. Return baking tray to oven and cook until the egg white is no longer clear and yolk is cooked to your liking, about 3-5 minutes. Garnish with torn sage leaves. Serve immediately with toasted French bread to soak up all the juices. *This recipe was sourced from The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) Egg baked mushroom medley traybake Author: Ingredients Scale 1x 2x 3x 650g mixed mushrooms 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil 2 cloves garlic, grated 6 – 8 sage leaves 1 tsp (5ml) mixed dried herbs 4 large Portobello mushrooms 4 large eggs 150 ml cream Seasoning, to taste French bread, to serve Instructions Preheat oven to 200°C. Use a large baking tray. Place mixed mushrooms, olive oil, garlic, a few sage leaves and dried herbs into the baking tray. Place the Portobello mushrooms stalk side up on top, season with salt and black pepper. Bake until mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and gently twist the stalk out of the Portobello mushrooms, return stalks to the pan. Gently crack an egg into each Portabello mushroom, pour over the cream. Return baking tray to oven and cook until the egg white is no longer clear, and yolk is cooked to your liking, about 3- 5 minutes. Garnish with torn sage leaves. Serve immediately with toasted French bread to soak up all the juices. NOW READ: Recipe of the day: Lemon and herb marinated lamb chops
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Reintroduce flat-rate GST in Sabah, urges accountants association
KOTA KINABALU: The government is being urged to consider reintroducing a simplified Goods and Services Tax (GST). This proposal arises from concerns that the upcoming expansion of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) could burden businesses and consumers, especially in Sabah. The Sabah Association of Professional Accountants (SAPA) suggested a flat-rate GST set at 3% to offer a fairer, more transparent, and efficient taxation model that could ease administrative burdens and reduce cost layering across industries. "We believe a modern GST system, with basic exemptions and simplicity, would better serve Malaysia's fiscal goals while protecting the vulnerable," stated SAPA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang on Thursday (June 12). SAPA expressed concern that the SST expansion, effective July 1, could disproportionately impact Sabah's fragile economy. The inclusion of construction services and commercial property leases under SST could lead to higher project and rental costs, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. "In Sabah, infrastructure gaps and higher logistics costs already affect businesses. Adding tax pressure in areas like construction and shoplot rentals will further discourage investment and growth," said Tan. He noted that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), considered the backbone of the state's economy, risk bearing the brunt of these changes, with higher costs likely passed down to tenants and consumers. Tan acknowledged positive elements in SST, welcoming exemptions such as residential property rentals, basic goods like rice and medicines, and the exclusion of private healthcare for Malaysian citizens. "These are thoughtful measures that protect lower- and middle-income groups from unnecessary financial strain," said Tan, adding that such exemptions demonstrate the government's effort to balance revenue and social protection. The association argues GST offers advantages over SST, including input tax credits that avoid cascading costs, better audit trails, and stronger alignment with international tax standards, crucial for boosting investor confidence. Tan said a simplified GST system could be tailored to Malaysia's needs and implemented without affecting essential goods and services. "A well-designed GST would be more equitable and sustainable in the long term, likely less burdensome to consumers than the current dual-rate SST," he said. SAPA also raised concerns about mandatory e-invoicing, noting many businesses, NGOs, and religious institutions in Sabah may lack the technical capacity or infrastructure to comply. Tan mentioned that a reintroduced GST would incorporate invoice tracking, making a parallel e-invoicing system redundant for compliance purposes. The group urged policymakers to adopt a more inclusive and consultative approach in tax reform discussions, especially considering regional disparities between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. "We are ready to work with the government through technical consultations to ensure Sabah's unique economic circumstances are properly represented," Tan said.
