Latest news with #PetalingJaya
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Najib's prosecutors must answer for delay in evidence, says Rafizi
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said from his experience studying and exposing the scandal, the misappropriation of money involving SRC International Sdn Bhd has a clear money trail. PETALING JAYA : Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli today called on the prosecutors in Najib Razak's RM27 million money laundering case to explain why it was taking them so long to prepare the necessary evidence. In a statement, the Pandan MP said Malaysians did not want to see the case end merely because of the prosecutors' failure to prepare evidence, given its connection with the SRC International Sdn Bhd scandal. 'I do not understand why the prosecution took so long (since 2019) to prepare the documents necessary for the case. 'From my experience studying and exposing the 1MDB and SRC scandal before this, the misappropriation (of money) involving SRC has a clear money trail,' he said. Earlier in the High Court, Najib was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in the case involving SRC. Justice K Muniandy said there was nothing to show that the prosecution would be able to proceed with the case for the time being, or proceed within a reasonable time. He also said that in the six years since the case was brought against Najib in 2019, it had seen no pursuit of witness testimony, only a plethora of postponements, indicating that the prosecution was not ready. 'Once the accused is charged in court, the charge cannot be hanging over his head for an indeterminate or indefinite period. That would be harsh and illegal,' he said. The decision followed a submission last week by Najib's counsel Shafee Abdullah that it was unfair for his client to wait indefinitely for a fixed trial date, as the prosecution was unable to provide a timeline to gather the exhibits used in the previous SRC trial. Rafizi said he respected Najib's right to request a DNAA, but urged the prosecution to confirm that the Attorney-General's Chambers would refile charges against the former prime minister as soon as possible. 'As an MP, I will follow developments in this case closely to ensure that it does not slip from the public eye,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
No reason to hike sugar price, finance ministry tells MSM Malaysia
MSM Malaysia is one of two sugar refineries in the country, the other being Central Sugars Refinery Sdn Bhd. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The finance ministry has urged sugar manufacturer and refinery MSM Malaysia to refrain from hiking the price of white sugar once the revised sales and service tax (SST) takes effect next month. The ministry said that MSM Malaysia was eligible to apply for tax exemptions for raw sugar and was benefitting from monthly incentives from the government to ensure stable supply and prices. 'Refiners and manufacturers of sugar in Malaysia can seek exemption on their upstream costs. This is provided for under Item 1, Column (2), Schedule B of the Sales Tax (Persons Exempted from Payment of Tax) Order. 'Therefore, there should not be any increase in price for refined sugar,' it said in a statement today. MSM Malaysia is one of two sugar refineries in the country, the other being Central Sugars Refinery Sdn Bhd. The ministry also reiterated that white sugar would remain untaxed in the new SST scheme as it falls under the category of essential goods, to avoid inflating the cost of living for the majority. Yesterday, MSM Malaysia's group CEO Syed Feizal Syed Mohammad said that the new 5% SST on raw sugar was expected to put pressure on input costs and push up refined sugar prices for industrial buyers. He said MSM was seeking clarification from the government regarding the new tax scheme, which kicks in on July 1, The Edge Malaysia reported.
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Reforms not mere rhetoric to unity govt, says PMO
The Prime Minister's Office said the unity government remains open to feedback and sees it as a chance for further improvements. PETALING JAYA : The Prime Minister's Office has dismissed claims that the government's reform agenda has stalled, saying they are actively under way and not just mere rhetoric. Senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah said the government views every criticism as an opportunity for improvement and that its current achievements are a reflection of this approach. 'The government's reform agenda is proceeding consistently – not just in a day, not merely through statements, but through structured action,' he said in a broadcast on Facebook this afternoon. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly defended the pace of reforms under his administration, saying that meaningful change takes time and requires consensus from other coalition partners. Earlier this month, the likes of former minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Subang MP Wong Chen had expressed concern over the lack of reforms. Tunku Nashrul also said recent economic indicators were proof of investors' confidence in the government's reform agenda. 'Malaysia successfully recorded RM89.8 billion in approved investments in the first quarter of 2025 – an increase of 3.7% compared to last year, despite a challenging global landscape. 'These investments are expected to generate 1,600 new projects nationwide and create more than 33,000 jobs.' He also said in the microelectronics and semiconductor sectors, Malaysia secured RM4.6 billion in potential investments and RM507 million in potential exports following its participation in Semicon Southeast Asia 2025. 'All these announcements are proof of investors' confidence in our reform policies,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Just 1% of Account 2 funds will be used in voluntary insurance scheme
The government is considering allowing contributors to use their EPF Account 2 to pay for their health insurance premiums. PETALING JAYA : The proposal to allow contributors to use their EPF Account 2 to pay for their health insurance premiums would only involve 1% of the funds in the account, says health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. Dzulkefly reiterated that the proposed scheme would be voluntary and not mandatory for all EPF members, Bernama reported. 'Through this approach, the government hopes to expand access to faster, higher-quality private healthcare without increasing the financial burden on the people. 'It doesn't come out of their pockets. Only about 1% of their EPF Account 2 would be used to pay for insurance. This is the best way,' he was quoted as saying. Yesterday, Dzulkefly said Putrajaya was considering the proposal which would benefit 16 million EPF members. He said 32% of the total healthcare costs in Malaysia were paid out-of-pocket by patients without insurance protection. Funds saved in EPF Account 2 are accessible for education, healthcare, housing, and a partial withdrawal at age 50. For health withdrawals, they are limited to treatment costs for illnesses approved by EPF, the purchase of healthcare equipment, and fertility treatments. Bank Negara Malaysia previously called on insurers and takaful operators to review their repricing strategies for more 'reasonable implementation' after reports of a 40% to 70% hike in medical insurance premiums this year. Insurers and takaful providers said the increased premiums were 'unavoidable' in light of rising claims and medical inflation.
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Ikhlas deregistered 3 years ago, RoS confirms
RoS director-general Zulfikar Ahmad said Ikhlas was deregistered on Nov 24, 2022 under the Societies Act 1966. (RoS pic) PETALING JAYA : Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (Ikhlas), an NGO advocating for small-time entrepreneurs, was deregistered three years ago, the Registrar of Societies (RoS) has confirmed. RoS director-general Zulfikar Ahmad said Ikhlas, which had listed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its patron, was deregistered on Nov 24, 2022 under the Societies Act 1966 for failing to submit annual financial statements, Scoop reported. According to the portal, the NGO was led by Ridzuan Abdullah, who is also a secretariat of NGO Gabungan Ikhlas Malaysia. Gabungan Ikhlas Malaysia was reported to have issued statements in early January on the addendum linked to Najib Razak, the country's sixth prime minister. Ridzuan however declined to comment or confirm the deregistration of Ikhlas when contacted by Scoop. Two years ago, it was reported that Ridzuan had been charged with 12 counts of filing fraudulent claims with the Social Security Organisation to obtain incentives from the Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 Programme, totalling RM378,000. He was alleged to have submitted documents with inaccurate salary information, indicating that the employees listed had not actually been paid those amounts. The charges were framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
