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New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
SPM student gets licence after writing to PM
BUTTERWORTH: A student sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination received a free motorcycle licence after writing to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to seek help. Nurul Amani Zabani, 17 and her mother Asma Aziz, 51, were among 993 recipients at the MyLesen B2 Licence Presentation Ceremony for Penang, officiated by Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli at the PICCA Convention Centre. Nurul Amani, an underprivileged only child, had submitted the letter during Anwar's recent visit to Penang, citing financial struggles following her father's death. "My family is poor, my father has passed away, and it's just me and my mother now. With a motorcycle licence, I no longer feel afraid and can move about freely. Thank you for easing my family's burden. I'm also grateful to be able to get this licence together with my mother," she said. Asma, who works as a cleaner, said her husband died of diabetes six years ago. "When both of us received our licences together, we were truly grateful and moved," she said. Aedy said 15,000 individuals have benefitted from the MyLesen B2 programme nationwide, funded with an allocation of RM5.81 million.
Borneo Post
13 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Leaping ahead to continue leading with conviction
Incentivising private sector innovation, reforming procurement to favour innovative solutions, and enhancing funding mechanisms for techpreneurs will be crucial steps forward for Malaysia, says Tengku Zafrul. MALAYSIA'S remarkable 11-spot jump in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) – from 34th position in 2024 to 23rd in 2025 – is more than just a statistical victory. It is a powerful testament to the effective implementation of the Madani Government's economic reforms – including fiscal, industrial and social. For context, the WCR assesses the ability of economies to foster an environment that supports business competitiveness, productivity and economic growth, across four main categories: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. Malaysia's marked improvement in three out of four areas, especially the leap to fourth among 69 economies in economic performance, is no small feat. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) is especially pleased that our industrial reforms implemented under the New Industrial Masterplan 2030 have contributed to the jump in the rankings in terms of sub-factors such as domestic economy (+20); international trade (+11); international investment (+2); employment (+8); institutional framework (+11); business legislation (+4); productivity and efficiency (+19), and the labour market (+11). While there is still much room for improvement, this dramatic increase in the rankings is a strong validation that Malaysia's economy is on the right track and we are steadily regaining our competitive edge on the global stage. Reform engine: MITI's coordinating role This surge in competitiveness is not accidental. It is the result of intentional, coordinated, and at times, politically difficult reforms. It reflects a responsible governance approach under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Madani Economy Framework, and the deft execution by the relevant economic ministries and agencies including MITI, which has led the implementation of Malaysia's revamped trade, investment, and industrial strategies. MITI's agency, the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), has led the coordination work on improving the WCR sub-factors across various ministries and agencies. At the heart of this leap is a more aggressive posture on bureaucratic reform and investment facilitation. MITI's leadership of the National Competitiveness Council (JKDSN), together with the Ministry of Finance, has driven whole-of-government efforts to streamline investment approvals, reduce regulatory burdens, ease investors' journey and modernise economic policy frameworks. Moreover, the establishment of the Special Taskforce on Agency Reform (STAR) led by Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) – part of the wider Public Service Reform Agenda (2024-2030) and involving over 1,000 reform initiatives at federal and state levels – has helped dismantle bottlenecks that previously discouraged investors. The improvement in the international trade sub-factor – rising 11 spots to 6th globally – is also clear evidence of targeted policy outcomes under MITI's purview. This includes enhanced investment strategies by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), and improved trade promotion by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade). Our efforts in advancing regional agreements and accelerating participation in digital economy frameworks have also contributed to improvement in the rankings. Concurrently, in a world marked by rising protectionism, geopolitical realignments, and economic fragmentation, Malaysia's steady hand in policy continuity is increasingly appreciated by global investors. This competitiveness boost is also a strong endorsement of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 along with its supporting policies such as the National Semiconductor Strategy and Green Investment Strategy – all of which prioritise high-value industries such as semiconductors, green technology, and digital economy as future growth pillars. Their implementation has already created stronger linkages between industrial policy and talent development, innovation incentives and sustainability goals. Rankings, of course, are not policy goals in themselves, but they do matter. They serve as confidence benchmarks to global markets, foreign investors, and multilateral institutions. A leap of 11 positions makes Malaysia more attractive as a business destination, especially for multinationals seeking resilient and progressive emerging markets in Asia. It also reflects how our institutions – empowered with the political will, mandate and right leadership – are perfectly capable of executing coherent reform agendas for the nation. The road ahead: Maintain the momentum This milestone is cause for celebration, but not for complacency. If anything, the real work begins now. While economic performance and trade efficiency have improved, there remain areas where Malaysia still lags – particularly in innovation capability, workforce productivity, digital transformation, management practices and workforce attitudes. There may be a need to complement structural reforms with human capital upgrades and culture shifts. Global digital and green transitions will require Malaysia to not only adopt new technologies but also to nurture a new generation of skilled, future-ready workers. Here, too, MITI's role will be pivotal. The ministry will continue working closely with education and human resource agencies to ensure that industrial strategies are matched by robust talent development and pipelines. Initiatives like 'Academy in Industry' programme by MPC, K-Youth under Khazanah Nasional, and upskilling programmes under HRD Corp, must be scaled and better integrated into the national competitiveness agenda. To sustain and further elevate Malaysia's position, it is worthwhile to draw inspiration from international best practices. For instance, Denmark's emphasis on workforce adaptability and lifelong learning ensures that its economy remains resilient and responsive to technological shifts. Meanwhile, South Korea's aggressive investments in research and development (R&D) and innovation ecosystems have positioned it as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors. Malaysia should consider incorporating these elements such as agile regulatory sandboxes, performance based innovation grants, and a national work-integrated and lifelong learning agenda, as part of its next phase of competitiveness reforms. More importantly, Malaysia must shift from a primarily input-driven model to one rooted in productivity and innovation-led growth. This means significantly boosting investments in R&D, creating stronger linkages between academia and industry, and nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem. Malaysia should also emulate countries that rank highly in competitiveness, such as Switzerland, South Korea, and Sweden, who lead in patents, intellectual property, and cutting-edge innovation globally. We can try to achieve this in strategic sectors such as advanced electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, and biotechnology. Incentivising private sector innovation, reforming procurement to favour innovative solutions, and enhancing funding mechanisms for techpreneurs will be crucial steps forward. Innovation must be made the 'engine' of our long-term economic resilience and prosperity. It is imperative that we maintain this trajectory. The government has set a goal for Malaysia to be among the 'Top 12 Most Competitive Economies' by 2033. This is ambitious, but now, demonstrably achievable. It must be stressed that improved economic competitiveness means increased chances of attracting high impact investments which will create more job opportunities with higher wages. This latest ranking shows that Malaysia is not just playing catch-up, but also clearly positioning itself to lead especially in today's complex geo-economic landscape. Our message to the world has been clear and consistent: Malaysia is serious about economic reforms, open for business and ready for the challenges ahead. Ultimately, Malaysia's improved competitiveness is a function of political will and determined leadership. It shows what can be achieved when a government dares to reform and focus on making tough but necessary decisions for Malaysia's future prosperity. * Tengku Zafrul is Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Minister. IMD World Competitiveness Ranking Miti Tengku Zafrul
Barnama
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
AGC Rejects Claims Of 'Flawed Prosecution' After Najib's DNAA In Second SRC Case
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has dismissed as baseless allegations that it carried out a 'flawed prosecution' in the second SRC International Sdn Bhd case involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. In a statement, the AGC reiterated its firm commitment to upholding the rule of law and stated that it would continue to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Constitution with integrity, fairness and respect for the judicial process. However, the AGC acknowledged the decision by High Court Judge K Muniandy to grant Najib a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on three charges of money laundering involving RM27 million in funds from the company. 'The case was registered in the High Court on Feb 7, 2019, and scheduled for trial on five occasions: June 2020, July to August 2021, March to April 2022, September 2024 and April to May 2025. 'However, all trial dates were postponed due to the Movement Control Order caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, requests by the defence, or applications by the prosecution itself,' the statement read. According to the statement, the prosecution's requests for postponement were due to the ongoing trial of the first SRC case, which proceeded at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court until its completion on March 31, 2023. At the same time, the trial proceedings for the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case had also begun while the first SRC case was still ongoing. 'Both cases involved overlapping material documents required for the second SRC trial. 'As these documents were critical to the second SRC case, the prosecution had no choice but to wait until they were available, which was until the 1MDB trial proceedings were completed. 'It must be emphasised that the material documents are available but are currently being used as evidence in the ongoing 1MDB trial,' the AGC said.
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
'Inexcusable': AGC must answer for repeated DNAAs in high-profile corruption cases, says C4
PETALING JAYA: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) must be held accountable for its repeated failures in a number of high-profile court cases that have ended in a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), says the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4). It said the recent pattern of flawed prosecutions involving political figures that ended in a DNAA showcased a possible significant deep-rooted institutional incompetence within the prosecutorial office. 'These are not normal criminal cases; they implicate corruption involving some of the most powerful political figures in the country, and as such, should be treated with the highest priority. 'It is inexcusable that DNAAs keep being granted on the basis that the AGC had failed to adhere to basic procedures, which are part of any criminal prosecution. 'Not only were they simply not prepared for this case that has been in progress for 6 years, they did not even object to the DNAA,' it said in a press statement on Friday (June 20). This comes after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was granted a DNAA for three counts of money laundering involving RM27mil linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd by the High Court on Friday (June 20). C4 said Najib's newest DNAA joins a long list of recent similar failures by the AGC in court, including Najib and former treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah being granted a DNAA in the RM6.6bil criminal breach of trust case linked to payments to the International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) in November last year. Another recent high-profile case involved Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was granted a DNAA for all 47 graft charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds on Sept 4, 2023. C4 also questioned the lack of any attempts by the AGC to publicly address its repeated failures in high-profile court cases, adding that it was sowing public distrust in the government and judiciary. 'Why have there been no public attempts to remedy this or address these prosecutorial failures? 'This lack of accountability only serves to deepen public distrust, erode confidence in the rule of law, and reinforce the perception that justice in Malaysia is neither independent nor equal,' it added. It also called on the AGC to publicly commit to refiling the charges for all cases where political figures have received a DNAA as soon as possible.
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Daily Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Tun Musa attends prayer ceremony for 74th official birthday
Published on: Thursday, June 19, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 19, 2025 Text Size: Musa is greeted by attendees as he is accompanied by Hajiji and other dignitaries. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Governor Tun Musa Aman attended a tahlil, doa selamat and solat hajat ceremony in conjunction with his 74th official birthday celebration at the State Mosque on Thursday. The event was held to seek blessings and protection for the Head of State and continued prosperity for the people of Sabah. Advertisement Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was among the dignitaries present, offering prayers for Musa's well-being and the State's continued harmony. Tun Musa was accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin, and welcomed by state leaders including Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M. Yahya, and other senior officials. * 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
