Latest from Free Malaysia Today
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
4,352 medical officers to receive permanent offer letters by Aug 18
The health ministry said all candidates who accept the offer will begin reporting for duty in phases from Oct 2 at the ministry's facilities nationwide. PUTRAJAYA : A total of 4,352 candidates for Grade UD10 medical officer positions will receive offer letters for permanent appointments by Aug 18. In a statement, the health ministry said that all candidates who accept the offer will begin reporting for duty in phases from Oct 2 at the ministry's facilities nationwide. 'Permanent appointments must be implemented in stages as they involve officers from various contract cohorts and take into account their seniority and welfare,' the statement read. The ministry also said it held engagement sessions with the finance ministry, public services commission, and public services department to ensure the appointment process proceeds smoothly. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the efficient and orderly implementation of these appointments. It said this initiative aligns with the ministry's efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system by ensuring that critical positions are filled in an organised and balanced manner based on current service needs. On July 23, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government would expedite the hiring of 4,352 healthcare personnel, including contract doctors, to meet the shortage in the public healthcare sector.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Set up help desks at hospitals to guide elderly, disabled, says group
The Penang Hindu Association said senior citizens and the disabled often struggle to find their way inside government hospitals. PETALING JAYA : The Penang Hindu Association (PHA) has called for the health ministry to set up help desks at government hospitals and clinics to assist senior citizens and persons with disabilities in navigating the public healthcare system. While praising the ministry and hospital staff for providing excellent services to the general public, specifically to senior citizens, PHA president P Murugiah said many elderly patients still struggle to find their way inside hospitals. 'In a typical hospital scenario, the consultation room, the x-ray room, the dressing room, the pharmacy and other related medical care rooms are not necessarily situated side by side. Some could even be on a different floor. 'This often causes confusion, especially among the elderly and the physically challenged, who need to move from one place to another while seeking treatment,' he said in a statement today. Murugiah proposed that hospitals set up help desk counters at the main entrances, staffed with trained 'patient navigators'. 'The suggested 'patient navigators' should be individuals trained to guide the patients through the hospital's healthcare systems, ensuring the elderly and the invalid can access the appropriate sections efficiently,' he said, adding that these navigators could reduce confusion and waiting times. Murugiah added that customer service is just as important as medical care, and expressed hope that the health ministry would consider the proposal as part of efforts to support Malaysia's ageing population. Malaysia is projected to become an ageing nation by 2030, with senior citizens making up 15% of the population.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt considering raising tobacco tax
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the proposal to increase the tobacco tax was in line with the government's commitment to public health and fiscal reform. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA : The government is considering a proposal to increase the tobacco tax, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the proposal aligns with the government's commitment to public health and fiscal reform, particularly given the long-standing moratorium on tobacco tax hikes. Malaysia's tobacco tax currently accounts for 58.6% of retail prices. The country has no formal mechanism for periodic adjustments or revaluation of the rate, which was last increased in September 2014. 'I agree with the spirit of that proposal. I myself not only do not smoke, but also fully support anti-smoking campaigns,' he said in response to questions on whether the government may revise the tax in Budget 2026. According to the parliamentary calendar, Budget 2026 is scheduled to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 10. Anwar was speaking after attending a Budget 2026 engagement session here today. Last week, when announcing the 13th Malaysia Plan, Anwar said the government would broaden its 'pro-health' tax beyond sugary products to also cover tobacco, vapes and alcohol. He said the expanded tax framework aims not only to increase revenue, but more critically, to encourage behavioural change and curb the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs, commonly associated with unhealthy lifestyles, include heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Anwar said healthcare remains a key government priority, noting that the public system is under growing strain from medical inflation, the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and an ageing population.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysian semiconductor exports remain exempt from US tariffs, says Tengku Zafrul
Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said his ministry is working closely with BNM to assess the full impact of the US's 100% tariff on semiconductor chips and its effect on various supply chains in Malaysia. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz says Malaysian semiconductor exports to the US are exempted from the 100% tariff announced by US president Donald Trump yesterday. Malaysia is the world's sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, and Tengku Zafrul today said the tariff would have 'serious implications' for major exporting countries like Malaysia. 'As of now, Malaysian semiconductor exports to the US remain exempt from these retaliatory tariffs,' he told the Dewan Rakyat. 'However, this exemption is subject to review and could change at any time depending on the US administration's policy direction. Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng earlier asked Tengku Zafrul to clarify what concessions Malaysia had made in exchange for the 19% US tariff, as well as its impact on the economy and cost of living. He also inquired about the government's plans to cushion potential price increases and expressed concern over Trump's proposal to impose a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors unless companies invest in the US. Lim also asked whether Malaysia's current exemptions could be at risk. In an event at a hotel here earlier today, Tengku Zafrul said his ministry is working closely with Bank Negara Malaysia to assess the full impact of the tariff and its effect on various supply chains. He also said about 65% of Malaysia's semiconductor exports to the US come from American companies operating in Malaysia. Malaysia is the world's sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, with electrical and electronics (E&E) exports surpassing RM600 billion last year. On Monday, Tengku Zafrul told the Dewan Rakyat that semiconductor products were exempted from the 19% tariff imposed on goods from Malaysia. However, he said the US government was investigating whether extensive reliance on foreign imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors poses a national security threat. He noted today that 60% of Malaysia's exports to the US are in the E&E sector, and within that, 68% are semiconductors. Of that 68%, 65% are exported by American companies operating in Malaysia. Tengku Zafrul also called for more clarity on the tariffs after noting that the US government has yet to officially announce the mechanism for implementing them. He added that Putrajaya is actively engaging with American companies operating in Malaysia, especially under the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, to understand the implications of Trump's latest announcement. Yesterday, Trump said the 100% tariff on semiconductor imports would not apply to companies that were already producing semiconductor chips in the US or had plans to do so. 'American firms such as Intel and Texas Instruments have major operations in Malaysia and supply chains involving thousands of local SMEs, and around 7,000 local suppliers supporting 70,000 workers,' he said. 'These firms also have factories in the US, but we are seeking clarification from US authorities about whether 'investing in the US' means new investments … or whether existing facilities count. 'We need clearer answers to protect our supply chain ecosystem and to avoid disruptions.'
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Apex court to rule next week on Najib's house arrest case
Former prime minister Najib Razak wants the government to enforce a royal decree allowing him to serve the remainder of his SRC International jail sentence under house arrest. PUTRAJAYA : The Federal Court will rule on Aug 13 whether the attorney-general (AG) may appeal against leave granted to Najib Razak to pursue judicial review proceedings aimed at enforcing a former king's house arrest decree. Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan confirmed the matter when contacted today. On July 9, a three-member bench chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim adjourned the decision after hearing submissions from Shamsul and Najib's lawyer Shafee Abdullah. Also on the panel hearing the leave application were Justices Zabariah Yusof and Hanipah Farikullah. The AG is appealing to set aside a majority 2-1 Court of Appeal ruling handed down on Jan 6 that allowed Najib to adduce new evidence and granted the former prime minister leave to initiate a judicial review. Najib wants the government to implement an addendum order dated Jan 29, 2024, issued by the then king Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest. Najib got wind of the addendum order soon after the Federal Territories Pardons Board announced in early February last year that the jail sentence in the SRC International case had been halved to six years and the fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. Najib sought leave for judicial review last April, relying on affidavits filed by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, based on what they claimed to have read on Tengku Zafrul Aziz's mobile phone. The application was rejected by the High Court in July last year. Najib appealed, and his son, Nizar, filed an affidavit just before the Court of Appeal hearing to support his father's application to adduce fresh evidence, which the appellate court allowed. Nizar claimed the comptroller of the Sultan of Pahang's royal household, Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman, had confirmed the existence of the addendum order and verified its authenticity. On July 2, AG Dusuki Mokhtar had conceded that the addendum order existed but said he was disputing its genuineness and validity. In reply, Shafee said the merits of the case would have been heard in the High Court had the AG admitted the existence of the addendum. He said even at the Court of Appeal, the AG did not confirm its existence but finally made a concession in the Federal Court.
