Latest news with #theSun
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Rally sparks debate, not upheaval
PETALING JAYA: Analysts remain divided over the significance of the recent 'Turun Anwar' rally, held in the capital on Saturday to call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's resignation, particularly in light of the reported turnout. Independent political analyst Dr Lim Teck Ghee questioned the organisers' claim that 500,000 people attended, describing the figure as likely overstated. 'A turnout of 500,000 seems unlikely. A more reasonable estimate might be closer to 50,000,' he told theSun. Lim noted that while the crowd size was not insignificant, it may not be sufficient to bring about major political shifts. He also pointed out that the rally appeared to draw a predominantly Malay crowd, which he said reflected limited participation from other communities. 'Roughly 95% of attendees were Malays, suggesting the event was not broadly representative of the wider population and may have primarily involved PAS or Bersatu supporters,' he said. Lim also observed that most speakers did not outline clear policy alternatives, focusing instead on calls for the prime minister to step down. 'While the slogan 'Turun Anwar' may resonate with some, there was a lack of detailed proposals or solutions presented during the rally,' he added. Senior Fellow at the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research, Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, said the rally appeared designed to give the impression that Anwar had lost public support. 'In reality, this was not a people's rally, as it only drew one segment of society. The non-Malay presence was minimal, so it cannot be said to represent the rakyat as a whole,' he told theSun. Azmi added that while the opposition may be attempting to shape public perception, any change in leadership must follow due parliamentary process. 'Anwar retains the backing of the majority of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. I doubt the opposition will table a no-confidence vote, as they are aware they lack the numbers,' he said. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) political analyst Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib @ Khalid offered a different perspective, describing the rally's turnout as noteworthy. 'Based on drone footage, TikTok livestreams, and television coverage, the rally brought together thousands to express their protest. Many remained despite the rain, chanting loudly for Anwar to step down,' she said. Kartini added that from a democratic standpoint, the peaceful nature of the event underscored Malaysians' right to free speech and assembly. 'The rally was symbolic — a way for citizens to voice dissatisfaction directly to their leaders. Malaysians understand that elections are the appropriate channel to choose their government. It's highly unlikely the people would seek to forcefully remove a prime minister, as has happened elsewhere,' she said. Estimates suggest more than 30,000 people, many dressed in black, gathered at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday to call for Anwar's resignation. Among those who addressed the crowd were former prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Perikatan Nasional information chief Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau, and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor of PAS. In a WhatsApp response to theSun, Azmin Ali said the prime minister had yet to fulfil many of his reform pledges. 'Public confidence has diminished. While many promises were made, there has been a lack of meaningful delivery. His leadership appears increasingly uncertain,' he said.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Homeless lack potent support
KUALA LUMPUR: Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) has revealed that the homeless population in Kuala Lumpur includes individuals facing personal crises and systemic gaps, not just those with criminal or substance abuse issues. In an interview with theSun, KSK marketing director Justin Cheah said the homeless community is highly diverse. 'While some individuals struggle with drug addiction or mental health conditions, many others are elderly, chronically ill, physically disabled or abandoned by their families. 'Some are jobless due to economic hardship, while others are undocumented or have no next of kin.' He said these individuals often experience homelessness not by choice but as a result of broader social and economic failures. 'The public often links homelessness with laziness, drug abuse or crime. While these cases do exist, they are not the majority. 'Many of the homeless we serve are quietly enduring hardship, ashamed to ask for help, or simply waiting for someone to notice (them as humans),' he said, adding that he has observed a rise in urban poor since the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Families and individuals who were once employed in the informal sector but lost their livelihoods are now among those we assist. 'More women, senior citizens and young adults are appearing at our street aid distribution activities. 'Some cannot afford rental rooms anymore and are stuck in a cycle of precarious living.' Cheah also said many lack long-term support such as mental health services, identity documents, job retraining, referrals, rehabilitation centres and safe shelters. He added that stateless individuals or those without formal identification often face bureaucratic barriers when seeking aid. 'We urge the public to stop seeing the homeless as a 'problem to be removed.' Homelessness is a social symptom, not a crime. Raids and detentions do not (address) root causes. 'What we need are holistic interventions such as more low-barrier shelters like Pusat Transit Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur, transitional housing, mental health services and job placement, not punitive measures.' Meanwhile, KSK outreach team member Jien Howe said the organisation has seen an increase in elderly individuals seeking assistance. 'They require help with meals and assistance applying for Welfare Department aid, medical support and other necessities,' he said, adding that the trend is attributable to inflation and rising living costs. 'Many elderly people do not have a fixed income or sustainable savings. 'Some work odd jobs, such as cleaning or collecting recyclables, while others seek support from NGOs like KSK. 'Some live alone, and a monthly dry food ration is insufficient. Their consumption patterns differ from other adults, so they prefer receiving ready-to-eat meal sets,' Jien said. He added that poor decisions often lead to more severe outcomes for those in vulnerable conditions and called for greater public awareness on financial literacy, substance abuse and family budgeting. KSK has encountered individuals who were previously detained under the Destitute Persons Act and later returned to the streets. 'They shared that the centres assisted them with profiling, food, shelter, medical care and other necessary aid,' he said. He added that a few had returned to homelessness after the Welfare Department rehabilitation programmes due to persistent narcotics abuse, or being caught up in loan shark ties or failed stock tradings. KSK has operated for 17 years and has assisted 11,176 homeless persons throughout Malaysia. Jien encouraged more people, including authorities, to volunteer. 'By participating in these volunteer sessions, people would better understand how the authorities can improve their support for our most vulnerable friends,' he said. On July 23, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri told Parliament that 987 individuals categorised as 'Orang-orang Papa' were detained by the Social Welfare Department as of May under the Destitute Persons Act 1977. Since 2021, Kuala Lumpur has recorded the highest cumulative number with 1,742 cases, followed by Penang with 1,288 and Johor recording 1,199. In the same period, 5,068 of those documented were aged 18 to 59, with 2,018 aged 60 and above and 515 under 18.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Mirzan Mahathir's home burgled, RM1.8 mil valuables stolen
PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur residence of Tan Sri Mirzan Mahathir, eldest son of former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, was the target of a house-breaking on Wednesday. According to a detailed police report cited by theSun, the incident, which occurred around 5pm, was discovered by a Filipino helper who notified Mirzan's daughter, Khadijah, 29, about a cut padlock on the back door and a ransacked room. Upon checking her bedroom, Khadijah confirmed the break-in and noted the absence of several valuable items. Among the reported missing articles were a Cartier bangle, various gold rings and earrings, a pair of golden chopsticks, jade bangles, old passports, and foreign currencies. The total loss from the burglary is estimated at RM1.8 million, according to a police report. The property, an end-lot two-story bungalow situated on a 1.5-acre plot, reportedly has 24-hour security. Following the report, a five-member forensic team from IPK Kuala Lumpur conducted an examination, recovering three fingerprints from the bedroom. The cut Solex padlock has also been seized as evidence, and the fingerprints will be sent to Bukit Aman for further analysis. It is learnt, despite the presence of 16 CCTV cameras at the residence, the cameras only offer live viewing without recording capabilities. A K9 unit from Pulapol was also deployed to the scene. Authorities are currently investigating the incident under Section 457 of the Penal Code, which pertains to house-breaking.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Bear necessities: Preserving nature's farmers
WHEN Tourism Malaysia unveiled the sun bears Wira and Manja as mascots of Visit Malaysia 2026, many gushed over their cuteness that could rival pop culture favourites Paddington and Winnie the Pooh. The smallest and rarest of its kind, these bears have not always enjoyed the spotlight. Even so, their population have fallen victim to poachers, deforestation and industrialisation. The lack of education on sun bears is the crux of the issue as our ignorance contributed to the negligence of these creatures and the preservation of their habitat. To learn more about these gentle beasts, theSun sat down with wildlife biologist Dr Wong Siew Te, who has spent his life working to preserve the dwindling population of sun bears. Sun bear mission Wong started his mission 27 years ago when he was chosen to study wild sun bears' ecology in Sabah. What began as a scientific study turned into a passion project for the man affectionately known as Papa Bear. 'After knowing about sun bears, I started to care for them. During my study, I realised a lot of 'bad things' happen to them.' He shared that the bears' forest is being actively destroyed by human activities – not only that, but they are also poached to be kept as pets. 'In 2004, I did a survey of captive sun bears across Sabah, Sarawak and West Malaysia. And since I know about sun bears more than anybody else, it has to be me helping the government conserve them.' Heading the call, Wong knew in his heart that his destiny was to help the sun bears regain their place in nature amid their dwindling population. 'The only way to do it is to establish a conservation centre to help out with captive (ex-pet) sun bears, and conduct a series of conservation work to help this species.' At heart of the sun bear conservation efforts is creating awareness and educating the masses about these gentle beasts, Wong said. Nature's farmer He highlighted the ecological importance of sun bears to our environment, especially for seed dispersal – a process in which the plants/fruits' seeds are transported to new sites for germination. 'Sun bears are very 'important forest planters',' he said, adding that they also feed on termites (microcerotermes) that are notorious for attacking live trees, further emphasising their importance to the ecosystem. Wong dubbed them the 'forest doctors and engineers' as they help keep it healthy and are somewhat responsible for 'reshaping its infrastructure'. An indispensable key character of the Borneo ecosystem, he noted that sun bears, also known as honey bears, feed on honey produced by stingless bees who would build their hives on tree tops. They will climb up top and use their sharp teeth to rip the trees open to get honey – and then, the ripped tree will be repurposed as nests by many other animals, including hornbills, flying squirrels, owls, parrots and more. They also contribute to the soil nutrient cycle by digging for earthworms and termites, just like farmers ploughing fields before laying their crops. However, these nature farmers have fallen prey to industrialisation as deforestation slowly rips them off their habitat. Not only that, but Wong also said the increasing road kill cases pose a threat to the sun bears. But, poaching remains their main threat. Nature-based tourism Poverty is one of the reasons poaching is prevalent, said Wong. So, nature-based tourism not only helps the sun bears, but also the locals. 'In Sabah, we help the locals through nature-based tourism.' Wong explained when tourists come to visit nature, they inadvertently help create jobs and improve the locals' livelihood. He believes this alternative is a direct solution to poaching, which has, unfortunately, become a means of survival for the locals. 'Through nature-based tourism, we create an incentive for the local people to protect wildlife. 'For example, our centre is very dependent on nature-based tourists to help and support, generate revenues, (used) to run our operation.' Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016, the sun bears' vulnerable position means all hands on deck. And that includes coexisting with the sun bears. Wong said: 'Besides visiting their villages to do community outreach programmes and educate them, we also engage with them because we are an ecotourism hotspot.' He shared that the tokens in the souvenir shops are handicrafts from the local community, and every purchase by a tourist keeps the locals' economy alive. At the centre itself, he said, they have 42 full-time staff and himself, who is the only one from West Malaysia, as the rest are hired locally. On sun bears being the mascot of Visit Malaysia 2026, Wong expressed pride and urged us to be equally as proud to have a native species, scientifically known as Helarctos malayanus, representing our country. 'It will surely raise awareness,' he said, adding that this move will help grow the economy, which will evidently help the conservation of sun bears. But, Wong mentioned, good management is still essential for an ethical nature-based tourism, so the native flora and fauna do not get exploited. That said, this feat is not a one man show – hence, Yayasan Hasanah has been key in building the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, having featured in The Hasanah Report 2024, which highlights the impactful work of everyday Malaysians, Wong shared. This concomitantly aides nature-based tourism in Sabah as it raises awareness by investing in meaningful initiatives. Ensuring the future generation will still have forests to trek and flowers to smell, caring for our animals, key figures of the ecosystem, is our burden to bear. Let it not be that the only way our kids learn about animals is through screens and book pages.
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Economists laud RM100 aid as timely respite for households
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's latest cost-of-living relief plan is drawing praise from economists, who say the RM100 one-off cash handout – expected to inject RM2.2 billion directly into the domestic economy – could provide an immediate boost in spending and ease the burden on struggling households. Dr Mohamad Idham Md Razak, senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Puncak Alam, said the cash aid, which will be given to all Malaysians aged 18 and above, could act as a short-term economic stimulus, particularly for youths and low-income groups. 'With three adults in a household, that's RM300. It's a quick injection that could lift spending on retail, food and essentials and support small traders. 'But without follow-up measures such as job creation or sustainable financial aid, the effect may not last,' he told theSun. He said Anwar's broader cost-of-living package – including fuel subsidy adjustments, expanded food assistance and a freeze on toll hikes – signals the government's effort to tackle inflation and shield household income on several fronts. He highlighted the RM600 million boost for the Jualan Rahmah programme as one of the most strategic moves. 'By offering essential goods at discounted prices, this directly lowers household spending and helps cushion inflation.' Mohamad Idham also welcomed the toll hike postponement involving 10 highways, saying it would ease the burden on daily commuters and small business operators. 'This brings real relief, especially for those travelling long distances for work. It helps preserve consumer spending and dampens inflationary spillover. But ultimately, the government needs a more sustainable model for infrastructure financing.' On fuel subsidies, he said the government is on the right track. 'We welcome this, but the government should also explore targeted options, with added support for the M40 through tax breaks or tailored cash aid.' Economist Professor Geoffrey Williams described the cash handout a 'smart and meaningful' initiative that could serve as a test bed for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) framework. 'This is an unconditional, automatic cash transfer – no applications, no eligibility hurdles. That's the DNA of a UBI. 'If scaled up, it could evolve into monthly payments and pave the way for reforming the STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) and SARA (Sumbangan Asas Rahmah) schemes.' Williams suggested Malaysia could even lead globally in rolling out a nationwide UBI model. 'If developed properly, it could be a bold signature of Anwar's social policy legacy.' He added that the move is financially viable, especially with savings from the ongoing subsidy rationalisation drive and would generate a ripple effect in local economies. 'For the B40 and lower M40 groups, RM100 is significant. Most of it will be spent in neighbourhood shops and stalls – directly stimulating grassroots demand. It can help lift consumer spending in the second half of the year.' Williams acknowledged the public's scepticism, but urged Malaysians to view the move on its merits. 'This is a solid step forward. The government deserves credit for it.' The RM100 cash aid, set to be disbursed via MyKad from Aug 31, is expected to benefit over 22 million Malaysians. It complements existing food subsidies, fuel support and frozen toll rates under the government's multi-pronged strategy to ease living costs.
