'Sue state dept for UMS water woes,' students tell VC in meet
The call was made during a meeting between rally organiser Suara Mahasiswa Sabah and UMS's vice-chancellor Kasim Mansur at the university campus today.
'Our initial discussion immediately touched on...
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Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
RM100 aid welcome, but inaccessible for many in rural Sarawak, say reps
Gerawat says the initiative, credited directly to recipients' MyKad and usable only at authorised supermarkets or mini markets, does not take into account the unique challenges faced by rural communities. MIRI (July 25): While the federal government's latest RM100 cash aid under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiative has been lauded as a timely relief for many Malaysians, elected representatives from rural Sarawak have raised concerns that the current rollout mechanism risks leaving out communities in the interior. Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala said the initiative, credited directly to recipients' MyKad and usable only at authorised supermarkets or mini markets, does not take into account the unique challenges faced by rural communities. 'Assistance that helps reduce the people's burden is always appreciated. However, for those in the interior without access to approved outlets, this RM100 becomes inaccessible, unless they travel to town, often spending more than RM100 just to get there. 'This defeats the very purpose of the aid,' he told The Borneo Post when contacted for comments on the aid distribution. To address the issue, Gerawat suggested expanding the Jualan Rahmah programme to remote communities and allowing the RM100 credit to be used there. He also proposed extending the validity of the aid to one year, to give rural recipients sufficient time to utilise it. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced several Madani appreciation measures, including the RM100 Sara assistance, a freeze on toll rate hikes for 10 highways, and a reduced RON95 fuel price of RM1.99 per litre. However, Telang Usan assemblyman Dato Dennis Ngau noted that many of the measures appear to be more applicable to urban populations, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia. 'The only direct benefit for our rural folks is the RM100. But how can they use it if they have no access to the outlets, or if they don't have a MyKad?' he questioned. Dennis pointed out that some villagers in longhouses still do not possess identity cards, due to a combination of remoteness and logistical hurdles. 'It's not that they don't want to apply. Some were born and raised deep in the interior, and getting to the nearest JPN (National Registration Department) office, even during mobile outreach visits, is a journey full of challenges.' He added that fuel price reduction, toll freezes, and even EPF-related announcements hold little relevance in the rural belts of Sarawak, where roads remain limited and fuel prices are already higher due to transport costs. 'The delivery system needs to reflect the realities in Sarawak's interior,' Dennis stressed. Both leaders agreed that while the Unity Government's intentions are noble, a 'one-size-fits-all' approach risks further marginalising those living far from urban centres, unless a more inclusive distribution mechanism is adopted, one that reflects the unique needs of rural Sarawak. Their concerns are grounded in personal experience: Gerawat hails from Pa' Lungan, a remote village in the Bario highlands near the Malaysian-Indonesian border, while Dennis is from Long Bedian, deep in central Baram region. Dennis Ngau gerawat gala rural Sara aid
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PM: Not easy to reduce price of petrol even by six sen
JITRA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar said it is not easy for the government to reduce the price of RON95 fuel even by six sen as it has to take into account the wider financial implications to the country. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said as a result, he needed several days to assess and study in detail before eventually announcing it to the public on Wednesday. "We reduced the price of petrol to RM1.99. Yes, countries like Thailand and Singapore had done so earlier, but ours is even lower. This is for all Malaysians. "It's okay if you're not grateful or you disagree with it, but it's not easy. That's why we needed several days to make the calculations, so do not trivialise this. They say it's just six sen, but they're not listening to the explanation," he said. Anwar was speaking at the National Anti-Drugs 2025 celebration at Dataran Darulaman here today, which was attended by around 6,000 people. The prime minister said some quarters had also questioned why the government did not offer subsidies to foreigners. He said this was because they do not pay tax to the government. "I find it odd when the Opposition asks why we are burdening foreigners, as they contribute to the country too. I struggle to think of any country in the world where foreigners are accorded the same treatment as citizens," he said. Anwar said some also questioned the one-off RM100 aid under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme to all Malaysians aged 18 and above. "The RM100 is an additional allocation from the initial RM13 billion to RM15 billion. Husbands and wives will each get RM100, and if they have children who are above 18, they get it too," he said. At the same time, Anwar said the deferment of the toll hike also meant that the government would assume financial implications of up to RM500 million. "Based on the agreement, toll rates must go up this year. I didn't make that agreement. The ones (administrations) before did that. "If the government does not want to (increase the toll rates), then it must pay. But this government does not want to burden the people. If you don't feel like saying thank you, at the very least don't condemn me," he said.
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Political stability brings real gains': Azalina hails govt policies for driving economic growth, people-first aid
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — The MADANI Government's success in achieving political stability has been the main driver enabling comprehensive policies that directly benefit the people, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said this stability had allowed the government not only to attain commendable economic growth but also to translate that growth into tangible assistance and support for the people. 'This has been made possible following the implementation of MADANI policies and programmes aimed at good and principled governance,' she said in a statement uploaded to her Facebook account here today. As such, she called on all parties to maintain this strong unity and cohesion, focusing on strengthening the nation for the sake of the country's and the people's wellbeing. The minister was commenting on the various 'Appreciation for the People' initiatives announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday, which she said reflected the government's ongoing commitment to developing efforts and initiatives that prioritise the people. Earlier, Azalina also attended the weekly Cabinet Meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya. The meeting was also attended by both Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, members of the Cabinet, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. On Wednesday, Anwar announced several initiatives as a gesture of the government's appreciation to the people, including a one-off RM100 cash assistance via MyKad under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme and the postponement of toll rate hikes for 10 highways. Anwar also announced that the price of RON95 fuel would be reduced to RM1.99 per litre following the fuel subsidy rationalisation plan, as well as the declaration of an additional public holiday on Sept 15 in conjunction with this year's Malaysia Day celebration. — Bernama
