Latest news with #SIRIM
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Johor drafting measures to tackle rising food, transport and housing costs
KULAI, July 18 — The Johor government is formulating mitigation measures to address rising food, transportation and housing costs, particularly in Johor Bahru. State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said a discussion on the matter was held today with the relevant state executive councillors. The meeting also touched on efforts to improve public transportation services and expand the Muafakat Johor bus network, while seeking ways to ease the people's financial burden. 'We take note of public concerns raised during on-the-ground engagement and through social media. The people of Johor are worried about what's to come, given the state's rapid economic growth. 'So, how do we ensure that people can benefit from this growth, so that everyone, especially the younger generation, chooses to remain in Johor and has access to promising career prospects? These are some of the challenges we must address,' he told a press conference after attending the Sirim Silaturasa 2025 event at the SIRIM Johor office here today. He was commenting on a recent statement by Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who said that Johor Bahru's cost of living had surpassed that of several other major Malaysian cities. Lee said that supply and demand are among the factors contributing to the rising costs, in addition to the state's rapid economic growth. 'On housing, we've received feedback that rental rates are quite high. As announced by the Menteri Besar, we will accelerate the construction of affordable housing. 'Initially, we aimed to build 30,000 units by 2030, but the Menteri Besar has raised the target to 100,000 units by that time. We are now making plans to meet this target,' he said. Lee said Onn Hafiz is expected to announce initiatives addressing these concerns in the upcoming Johor Budget 2026, scheduled in November. — Bernama
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Johor drafting measures to tackle rising food, transport and housing costs
KULAI: The Johor government is formulating mitigation measures to address rising food, transportation and housing costs, particularly in Johor Bahru. State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said a discussion on the matter was held today with the relevant state executive councillors. The meeting also touched on efforts to improve public transportation services and expand the Muafakat Johor bus network, while seeking ways to ease the people's financial burden. 'We take note of public concerns raised during on-the-ground engagement and through social media. The people of Johor are worried about what's to come, given the state's rapid economic growth. 'So, how do we ensure that people can benefit from this growth, so that everyone, especially the younger generation, chooses to remain in Johor and has access to promising career prospects? These are some of the challenges we must address,' he told a press conference after attending the SIRIM Silaturasa 2025 event at the SIRIM Johor office here today. He was commenting on a recent statement by Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who said that Johor Bahru's cost of living had surpassed that of several other major Malaysian cities. Lee said that supply and demand are among the factors contributing to the rising costs, in addition to the state's rapid economic growth. 'On housing, we've received feedback that rental rates are quite high. As announced by the Menteri Besar, we will accelerate the construction of affordable housing. 'Initially, we aimed to build 30,000 units by 2030, but the Menteri Besar has raised the target to 100,000 units by that time. We are now making plans to meet this target,' he said. Lee said Onn Hafiz is expected to announce initiatives addressing these concerns in the upcoming Johor Budget 2026, scheduled in November. - Bernama
Barnama
18-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Over 20,000 Companies Use Sirim's Testing, Expertise Every Year
KULAI, July 18 (Bernama) -- It is estimated that more than 20,000 companies use SIRIM's testing and expertise each year, said SIRIM Berhad president and group chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad. He said this included the manufacturing, plastics, road construction and apparel sectors. "We have the expertise and facilities to conduct testing and verification at SIRIM, apart from that, we also collaborate with all government agencies involved. ''This is to ensure that what is used by the industries, including in terms of construction and so on, is safe for use," he said at the 2025 SIRIM Silaturasa event at SIRIM Johor here today. Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han was also present. Ahmad Sabirin, who was asked to comment on industries that utilised SIRIM's expertise, also said that SIRIM had an artificial intelligence (AI) centre, which, among other things, provided training and guidance to industry players through a programme sponsored by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). "Through this programme, we are targeting industries that use AI under the Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) ecosystem. "So, we want to ensure that this year, 40 companies will receive guidance and next year the government is targeting around 3,000 companies over three years, with the companies targeted to become mentors to smaller firms,'' he said. He said that the initiative, which was supported by the government, would ensure that Malaysia continued to progress in line with the rapid development of technology.
Borneo Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Association, DBKK discuss collaborative solutions for plastic waste management
Liaw (third right) presenting a memento to Sabin. Other MPMA members present are Ang (left), Hiew (second right) and Law (right). KOTA KINABALU (July 18): Members of the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association, Sabah Branch (MPMA Sabah), led by chairman Liaw Hen Kong, paid a courtesy call on Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah on July 16 to explore solutions and seek collaborations on plastics wastes management. On the way forward for MPMA which has about 800 members across Peninsular and East Malaysia, Liaw shared that MPMA both at the headquarters and branch levels advocated and adopted plastics circularity. MPMA is stepping up recycling efforts and hosting campaigns to spread the importance of recycling to the consumers including the young population on regular basis. Through responsible use of plastics by consumers such as Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3Rs), our environment will be rid of plastics wastes. Consumers are inconvenienced by the single-use plastics ban. Despite ban on certain single-use plastics, the Department of Statistics recorded annual national exports of plastics products rose over the years at RM11.94 billion in 2014 and RM17.34 billion last year. This is evidence that plastics is essential, efficient and economical. However, plastics pollution is a challenge that the industry, the authorities and consumers collectively need to address and overcome. Liaw welcomed the initiative by Sabin to have regular engagements with the plastics industry to learn and keep abreast of the latest developments and future plans of both the plastics industry and City Hall. On the solution to solid waste management by City Hall, the mayor shared his plan to use incinerator and has proposed that the plastics industry consider this initiative to reducing not just plastics waste but municipal solid waste as well. Other topics discussed were single-use plastics, paper straws, tetra packs, common misconceptions about plastics and recycled plastic products (Standard: SIRIM ECO 018 2024, AMD. 1:2024) Liaw also invited Sabin to attend an upcoming event of MPMA Sabah, which is the plastics talk, themed 'Plastics Action – A Greener Future' in August. Other MPMA Sabah members present were Datuk Alan Ang of Uniang Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd (advisor), Kelvin Hiew of HKT Furniture Sdn Bhd (welfare officer) and Law Yit Chean of Borneo Flexible Packaging Sdn Bhd (member).
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
MACC probes firm for suspected milk powder tender price manipulation
KUALA LUMPUR: A company supplying milk powder is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for suspected manipulation of tender prices by between 10 and 50 per cent depending on the zone, apart from monopolising the market in supply contracts to a government department. According to sources, the company, owned by a married couple with their sons as the main shareholders, is believed to have been involved in supplying products worth RM120 million that did not meet the standards of the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM). 'The focus of the investigation is on tax issues, corruption and monopoly practices in the supply of milk powder tenders to a government department. 'The investigation is also looking into the ownership of the company, including the network of other distributors that play a role in the milk powder supply chain,' according to the source. Sources said so far 75 accounts have been frozen involving 24 individual accounts and 51 company accounts with a total value of RM174.6 million. 'Various documents involving the milk powder supply contract and financial documents were also seized, including mobile phones and laptops to enable further investigations to be carried out,' he said. Sources said so far 10 witnesses have been called to give statements to MACC, while another son of the couple who own the company is expected to appear at the MACC office next Tuesday or Wednesday. 'There have been no new arrests so far, but investigations are still continuing, including against the management of a government department that are directly involved in the milk powder supply contract,' he said. The media yesterday reported that three family members suspected of being the mastermind behind a milk supply tender monopoly for a government department over the past two decades were arrested under Op White here, last Tuesday. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki reportedly said the family was suspected of being the mastermind behind a RM120 million milk powder supply cartel involving a government department. He said all the premises raided were suspected of storing all documents related to milk powder supply contracts since 2019 following MACC's investigation into two owners and a director of a milk powder supplier company that is believed to not meet SIRIM's standards. The investigation is being conducted under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009 in addition to identifying criminal elements under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA). – Bernama
