Latest news with #RYuneswaran
Malaysiakini
11 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Rankings speak louder than false narratives, PKR MP shells opposition
PKR lawmaker R Yuneswaran has urged the opposition to stop peddling 'false narratives' about the goods and services tax (GST), sales and service tax (SST), and subsidy rationalisation efforts. To underscore that the Madani government is on the right track, the Segamat MP pointed to the International Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, which saw Malaysia rise 11 spots with a record high of RM378.5 billion in foreign direct investments.
Malaysiakini
4 days ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Rankings speak louder than false narratives, PKR MP shells opposition
PKR lawmaker R Yuneswaran has urged the opposition to stop peddling 'false narratives' about the goods and services tax (GST), sales and service tax (SST), and subsidy rationalisation efforts. To underscore that the Madani government is on the right track, the Segamat MP pointed to the International Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, which saw Malaysia rise 11 spots with a record high of RM378.5 billion in foreign direct investments.
Malay Mail
10-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
First vape, next cake? The slippery slope of selective bans — Sim Tian Hong
JUNE 10 — The recent calls for a nationwide vape ban have been hogging the headlines. Just recently, Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran urged the Federal government to impose a blanket ban, citing rising healthcare costs and increasing youth vaping rates. Meanwhile, states such as Selangor, Kelantan, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu have already moved ahead with bans of their own or are debating similar measures. These moves are driven by understandable public health concerns. No one is questioning the motivations behind such calls. After all, nothing is more important than public health. However, are we approaching this issue in a consistent and coherent way? If we are banning vape to protect public health, why are cigarettes — a product known to cause cancer, heart disease, and countless other illnesses — still legally sold and taxed? According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco use remains one of the most preventable causes of death in Malaysia. Yet, while vape is being banned or restricted in piecemeal fashion, cigarettes remain a fixture in convenience stores nationwide. The recent calls for a nationwide vape ban have been hogging the headlines. — Picture by Raymond Manuel This inconsistency becomes even more troubling when one considers the fragmented nature of the current policy response. Some states are imposing their own bans, others are not. The Federal government has yet to adopt a clear, unified stance. The result is a patchwork of differing rules across the country. This is bound to create confusion for the public, enforcement challenges for authorities, and opportunities for an illicit market to flourish. There is also the risk of setting a questionable policy precedent. If the principle is that we should ban products that can harm public health, where do we draw the line? Should we also move to ban junk food, sugary drinks, or alcohol, all of which contribute to non-communicable diseases and healthcare costs? I am not suggesting that we ignore the risks associated with vaping. But we should be wary of making selective, reactive policy decisions that are not grounded in a consistent framework. Rather than imposing outright bans in an uneven and fragmented way, there is a case for a more balanced and coherent approach. Stronger public education campaigns, tighter regulation of marketing and sales (especially to minors), and consistent enforcement across states may ultimately prove more effective than prohibition alone. Above all, public health policy should be seen as fair, rational, and consistent. A strategy that appears to single out certain products while ignoring others with well-documented harms, risks undermining public trust. It may also distract from the broader effort to build a healthier society. Public health must always come first. But in pursuing that goal, we should avoid the temptation to adopt inconsistent or populist measures that may generate headlines, but not necessarily better outcomes. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Free Malaysia Today
07-06-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Segamat MP urges nationwide vape ban
Segamat MP R Yuneswaran said existing control measures at the federal level are 'still weak' compared to state-level measures to stop vaping. PETALING JAYA : Segamat MP R Yuneswaran has urged the government to impose a total ban on the sale and distribution of vape products to safeguard public health and protect the youth from nicotine addiction. Citing 'alarming' data and mounting health concerns, Yuneswaran warned Putrajaya that inaction could lead to long-term health crises and an overwhelmed public healthcare system. Noting an increase in the rate of youth vaping and using e-cigarettes from 9.8% in 2017 to 14.9% in 2022, he said this not only signalled a growing nicotine addiction among the youth but would also bring severe health consequences. He said while several state governments had banned vape sales or were considering it, existing control measures at the federal level were 'still weak'. Yuneswaran also noted that the government had exempted nicotine liquids in vapes from the Poisons Act 1952, allowing the sale of nicotine-containing vape products without regulation. He said this decision had led to a rapid growth in the vape market, making it increasingly difficult to control, especially among the youth. 'Although Parliament recently passed the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, the 'Generational End Game' (GEG) clause which would have banned the sale of nicotine products to anyone born after 2007 was removed, missing a crucial opportunity to protect young people from addiction. 'Without such key provisions and comprehensive vape regulation, efforts to curb youth nicotine addiction will become more challenging. 'The government is urged not to prioritise short-term tax gains over public well-being. Instead, the future of the next generation must come first. Implement a total vape ban to ensure a healthier Malaysia, free from the dangers of vaping.' He added that vaping was not a safe alternative to smoking, noting 17 cases of vape-related lung injuries (Evali) were reported in 2023, and the country's first local vape-related death reported last June. Yuneswaran also warned of the steep economic consequences of treating Evali, which could cost up to RM150,000. He said by 2030, the government might have to spend RM369 million annually on vape-related treatment. 'This nearly offsets the government's projected vape tax revenue of RM500 million per year, showing that the economic benefits of the vape industry are far outweighed by the health costs borne by the government,' he said. 'The public health sector risks losing hundreds of millions of ringgit to treat vape-related complications – funds that could be better used for other urgent health needs.'
Free Malaysia Today
01-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Focus on coalition unity, says MP amid Tengku Zafrul poser
Segamat MP R Yuneswaran said he feared Umno-PKR ties would be hampered if Tengku Zafrul Aziz was accepted as a PKR member. PETALING JAYA : An MP from PKR has urged his party to focus on maintaining a united coalition government, as former Umno man Tengku Zafrul Aziz seeks to join PKR. Segamat MP R Yuneswaran said he acknowledged Tengku Zafrul's contributions to the nation and government, but warned that PKR's ties with Umno could be hampered if the investment, trade and industry minister becomes a party member. 'It's essential to consider the implications of the relationship between Umno and PKR. Currently, the focus should be on a unity government and establishing a united coalition, which is of utmost importance. 'Anything that can break the trust and stability (within the unity government), must be avoided,' he said in a post on X. Tengku Zafrul resigned from Umno on Friday and said he intends to join PKR, citing 'compatibility and suitability'. However, many Umno leaders have warned PKR against accepting the senator as a member, with a Kedah leader also calling for a review of Barisan Nasional's alliance with Pakatan Harapan if Tengku Zafrul successfully defects to PKR. However, PKR Youth chief Kamil Munim supported accepting Tengku Zafrul, saying it would boost support for the party. Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said no official discussion has been held on Tengku Zafrul's application to join PKR, adding that his Cabinet would be unaffected.
