Latest News from Focus Malaysia
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- General
- Focus Malaysia
Heartwarming video goes viral celebrating the contribution of foreign workers
GRATITUDE goes a long way towards making the world go round. Although employees are paid for their work, it is also their contributions which makes the existence of a corporation or a business entity possible. Recently, a viral video warmed the hearts of the online community, where an employer could be seen sending off his foreign staff members at the airport with affection. According to netizen @mynewshub who made the video post, these Bangladeshi workers had been working on the employer's farm for the past 18 years. Safe to say, the video has become some sort of promotional material for Bangladeshi workers with the overwhelming praises in the comment section. '18 tahun pekerja Bangladesh berkhidmat setia bersama menjaga kebun. Tanpa mereka, kebun takkan sampai ke tahap ini. Hari ini tiba masa berpisah, mereka terpaksa pulang ke tanah air. Terima kasih atas segala jasa, takkan pernahlupa.' — MYNEWSHUB (@mynewshub) April 29, 2025 Netizen @DrKhairulAnwar claimed that among the many foreigners, tourists or workers, the Bangladeshis are the best. @hoelywtr chipped in to say that those from Bangladesh and Pakistan usually do not find trouble. Even if there are trouble makers, they are rare. 'The problematic ones are the Indonesians and Rohingyas, but not all,' he added. Another netizen said the good ones are very good. He claimed these were the ones usually found in the prayer hall and mosques. 'This is bittersweet. In their sadness, they must be excited to return to their country and meet their family members,' he said. But of course there are always the critics. Netizen @readergo1 pointed out that the employer can then take the young Malays instead to work as they are likely able to last longer than 20 years. However, @muthapailek claimed the Bangladeshi staff are 'tip top' while the Malays like 'vape sekejap,' also known as break time for vaping. One netizen further reminisced about a time when he had to carry a delivery machine which was about 200kg up the stairs to the first floor. Help came in the form of the Bangladeshi workers nearby the construction site, who did not ask for any form of payment after help was rendered. Also, @tqfrthmmr said the people were being too racist towards Bangladesh. Apparently he sent his car to a car wash and several moments later, returned to find a RM50 bill on the chair. @tqfrthmmr said it was under the chair the whole time and he never noticed it. The car wash worker could gave stolen it but placed the money on the chair instead. Perhaps, haters of foreign workers can take some time to watch this video and reflect on their current stance regarding immigration. The conclusion to this viral video is a sweet one too, with @azamkl pointing out that loyalty is not born from skin colour or the language spoken, but the heart which chooses to be together. —May 1, 2025 Main image: @mynewshub (X)
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- General
- Focus Malaysia
The barbaric approach of culling by the Negri Sembilan state govt must halt
THE Negri Sembilan legislative assembly has recently come together to agree to cull stray dogs in predominantly Malay residential areas in the state. After all, the nuisance and safety concerns posed by these wandering creatures have become a daily talking point among the residents. In a gathering that had the air of a family meeting, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun expressed the shared woes of the community, lamenting how the stray dogs had disrupted the peaceful rhythm of life. Religious views Now, let us take a moment to reflect on how various beliefs regard our furry friends and what their absence could mean: Christianity Christian texts offer mixed opinions on dogs. While some verses describe them as scavengers, others display a gentle kindness towards all living beings. Take St Roch, for instance—abandoned and unwell, he found solace in the company of a dog, symbolising loyalty and divine care. One might say that dogs serve as humble reminders of God's love and compassion. Without them, we risk losing sight of our duty to care for the less fortunate among us. Islam In Islam, dogs are often seen as ritually impure, but certainly not malevolent. The Qur'an beautifully recounts the tale of the People of the Cave, where a dog remained ever vigilant at their entrance, a symbol of unwavering loyalty. Islamic tradition advocates kindness to all creatures, and to harm them unjustly is to stray from the path of righteousness. The loss of dogs, then, may indicate a troubling shift away from our divine mandate to show compassion. Hinduism In Hindu belief, dogs are closely associated with Bhairava, a fearsome avatar of Lord Shiva. They serve as loyal companions, as shown in the Mahabharata, where the noble king Yudhishthira refuses to enter heaven without his devoted dog. Dogs are embodiments of loyalty and duty. Their absence might signify a decline in our moral fabric, a notion that leaves one pondering. Buddhism Buddhism teaches that all sentient beings, including dogs, can achieve enlightenment. Compassion towards all, especially dogs, is fundamental to Buddhist ethics. Dogs mirror our capacity for love and connection; their disappearance would suggest a troubling karmic imbalance and a drifting away from the path of empathy. Bahá'í Faith While dogs are not deemed spiritually 'clean' for rituals, Bahá'í teachings emphasise kindness and justice towards animals. 'Abdu'l-Bahá advocated for compassion and warned against causing suffering. The absence of dogs might reflect humanity's growing detachment from the spiritual qualities that should guide our lives. Indigenous and animist traditions Many Indigenous cultures cherish dogs as spirit guides and loyal protectors, considering them as part of the family. They help navigate the spiritual realms, maintaining harmony between humans, animals, and the Earth. A loss of dogs could indicate a disruption in this cosmic bond. Suggestion of alternative approaches Now, as we turn to the practical matter of managing our stray dog population in Malaysia, it's clear we need a thoughtful approach that respects cultural and environmental nuances. Here's a handy little plan to consider: First, let's enhance sterilisation and vaccination efforts—those ABC programmes—by fostering partnerships with local NGOs like PAWS Malaysia and SPCA Selangor for mass sterilisation initiatives. In the Klang Valley, we can already see success with Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage programmes and mobile vet clinics. In the more remote areas, let's establish low-cost mobile clinics that venture into rural regions, ensuring all dogs receive mandatory rabies vaccinations. Across the nation, places like Perlis, Kedah, and Sarawak have begun to embrace these methods. It's also important to set up designated feeding zones for strays and reinforce waste management at these spots, steering clear of mosques and schools. Educating the public on feeding-neutering-vaccination strategies will help us control the stray population without causing distress. Moreover, let's launch national adoption campaigns, rallying influencers and communities to embrace the mantra #AdoptDontShop, with incentives like tax breaks for pet adopters, just as Turkey has done. But let's not forget: the old kill shelters should close their doors for good! Instead, we could transform government pounds into nurturing rehabilitation centres equipped with trained staff who understand animal behaviour—now wouldn't that be a sight for sore eyes? Legal measures need a sound overhaul too. It's high time for stricter pet ownership laws, along with mandatory microchipping to ensure owners commit to caring for their adopted dogs. Those who abandon their pets could face heavier fines under the Animal Welfare Act of 2015. And let's banish inhumane culling from our practices for good. Awareness is crucial. The Education Ministry can weave animal welfare into school programs and utilise modern platforms like TikTok for timely public service announcements—imagine catchy 'Jangan Tangkap Anjing Liar' posters lighting up the streets and WhatsApp messages! Lastly, gathering data on stray dogs through a national database will help us understand their movements better, perhaps even mapping their territory like a treasure hunt for compassion. Collaborating with religious bodies to find humane relocation methods could align us with cultural sensitivities, ensuring we address the concerns of the community while showing compassion. In a nutshell, let's adopt strategies from successful initiatives worldwide rather than resorting to the easy, albeit cruel, way out. There's a kinder path forward for all of God's creatures, and it's up to us to choose it. – May 1, 2025 KT Maran is a Focus Malaysia viewer. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Pexels/Edgar Daniel Hernández Cervantes
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
'In the end, the Malays will live by the side of the jungle,' says Mahathir
ARE the Malays really losing ground? Recently, a yet to be retired Tun Dr Mahathir penned on his X account a brief chronological order of the Malay conquest, outlining the territory they had gained in the ancient past and has begun to lose as they drew into the contemporary period. According to Mahathir, the Malay race has lost four states to Thailand, namely Pattani, Yala, Setoi and Singgora. Also, they lost the Riau island to Indonesia and Singapore to the immigrants from China. 𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗛 𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗨 Melayu meneroka Semenanjung Tanah Melayu. iktiraf Semenanjung Tanah Melayu sebagai milik orang Melayu. Tanah Melayu bermula dari Segenting Kra hingga ke Pulau Riau. 4. Sekarang Semenanjung Tanah Melayu sudah merosot… — Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) April 29, 2025 He concluded his post with the chilling remark that the Malays will live at the side of the jungle as the process of selling land by the Malays continues. 'What is the meaning of Independence if the country is owned by someone else,' said Mahathir. Netizens by the droves, however, were unimpressed by his bleak rhetoric. For starters, @Arriyaan said Mahathir was among the best prime ministers in developing the nation. But he felt that it was wrong for him to gain support by using race and religion. 'Focus on upgrading the economy of the country to reduce the burden on the people,' he stated. Another netizen said the struggles for the country must be parallel with the constitution and the agreement towards the establishment of Malaysia. 'Each of us must respect the rights of the natives and the natives must also respect the rights of all citizens regardless of race. This guarantees the peace and well-being of the people and the country,' she said. On the other hand, @Nastro75 said the Malays will not disappear, citing the fact that there are Malays in the places where Mahathir claimed has been taken over by Thailand, for example Pattani. @Nastro75 added that Mahathir should rest and enjoy life with his family. There is no need to worry about the country which is being governed by a new leader. Some others were not so kind. @RubyAhmad13 said he was trying to incite the Malays who are lazy to read. The picture comments are also hard hitting: The winning comment, perhaps, goes to @ThaneindraN who said, 'Many Malays in Langkawi have caused me to lose my deposit in the PRU15.' 'Is this your only modal? You should learn from it. Pak Lah is gone, so increase your acts of worship. The Malays have already rejected you, old man,' said @Nazril_Iznil. To add salt to the wound, @tjerealjoker asked Grok the artificial intelligence if it was true that the Malays will live at the side of the jungle. This was the comprehensive reply from Grok: Netizen @klk0631 further pointed out that if people were to follow the principles of Mahathir, then Europe should belong to the Mongolians, and within the two decades of him being the prime minister of Malaysia, the peninsula had been lost to the migrants from India. —May 1, 2025 Main image: Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad (Facebook)
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Trump blames ‘economic disaster' on Biden
During his remarks on 'Investing in America,' President Donald Trump continued to blame former President Joe Biden for the market and economy shrinking.
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- General
- Focus Malaysia
Labour Day in the digital age: Should we still be celebrating the 9-to-5?
EVERY year, as Labour Day rolls around, we pause to honour the contributions of workers and reflect on the struggles that shaped today's workplace. It's a tradition built on the fight for fair hours, safe working conditions, and the right to a decent living—victories earned by generations before us. But here's a question worth asking in 2025: in a world where our jobs follow us home, to our phones, and even into our weekends, what exactly are we celebrating? More importantly, is the 9-to-5 work model still something worth preserving? The simple answer is no—and it's a reality many young workers, particularly those from Gen Z, are quietly but firmly reshaping. For decades, the standard workday was seen as the gold standard of employment. Eight hours a day, five days a week. Anything outside those hours was either a luxury or a hustle. But the digital age blurred those neat boundaries. Technology promised us efficiency, yet it tethered us to our jobs like never before. The office might close at five, but the emails, Slack notifications, and Teams pings keep rolling in long after dinner. And while some workers have long accepted this as the price of modern employment, Gen Z—those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s—aren't buying it. Raised on the internet and entering adulthood in the aftermath of a global pandemic, this generation sees the 9-to-5 not as a sacred institution but as a system in desperate need of rethinking. It's not laziness, it's life Let's get one thing straight: Gen Z's pushback against rigid work hours isn't a rejection of hard work. It's a rejection of outdated structures that fail to account for how people actually live and work today. Flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful output have replaced time-clock punching as the new measures of productivity. This generation values balance, mental health, and personal growth alongside career ambition. They've seen firsthand how burnout devastates morale and how performative busyness often masks inefficiency. So instead of chasing overtime for its own sake, many young professionals prefer roles where they're judged by the quality of their work—not by how many hours they log or how often they stay late. The pandemic cracked open conversations about remote work, hybrid models, and the value of asynchronous schedules. It turns out you don't always need to be in an office from 9 to 5 to get things done. In fact, many employees, across all generations, reported increased productivity and job satisfaction when given the freedom to structure their workday around when they're at their best. Gen Z didn't start this conversation, but they are refusing to let it die quietly. They are asking tough, necessary questions, like 'Why should creative, knowledge-based work be confined to fixed hours?', 'Why should success be measured by desk time rather than outcomes?', 'And if technology allows for smarter, faster, more collaborative work—why are we still clinging to models designed for factory floors in the 1920s?' Now, this isn't a rebellion for the sake of it. It's an opportunity for companies to evolve. Forward-thinking organisations are already experimenting with four-day workweeks, results-only work environments (ROWE), and outcome-based KPIs. And unsurprisingly, they're seeing gains not just in employee wellbeing, but in innovation, retention, and business performance. The truth is, whether leaders like it or not, the traditional 9-to-5 is becoming less relevant — and clinging to it risks alienating not just Gen Z, but the broader workforce craving a healthier relationship with work. Labor Day should evolve too If Labor Day was once about fighting for the eight-hour day, perhaps its modern meaning should expand to fighting for autonomy, dignity, and balance in a digital world. It should honour not just the right to work, but the right to rest, disconnect, and be valued for contribution rather than availability. In 2025, maybe what we should be celebrating isn't the 9-to-5 itself, but the courage to question it. Because here's the thing: work will always matter. It shapes our societies, identities, and futures. But how we work—and how we value one another in that process—is long overdue for a rethink. And if Gen Z has taught us anything, it's that old models aren't sacred, and better ones are possible. And really—isn't that the kind of labour movement worth cheering for? – May 1, 2025 The author is CEO and Founder of HESA Healthcare Recruitment Agency and serves on the Industrial Advisory Panel for the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universiti Malaya. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: HRM Asia
