Latest news with #AZMANGHANI
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Amazing views await MPAJ night race runners
Hasrolnizam (sixth from left) with event sponsors during a press conference on AJNR 2025 held at Menara MPAJ. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star RUNNERS during the July 5 Geopark Ampang Jaya Night Run (AJNR) 2025 can look forward to nocturnal bird calls, moonlit landscapes and a night view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the run, which is divided into 5km and 12km categories, will take place around the well-lit roads of Taman Melawati. 'Participants will be able to experience varying trails, with some parts of the route flat and others hilly,' he said. 'The night scenery will also be different compared to the daytime. 'During the day, you will hear the sound of cars, but at night, you will hear the sound of birds, and see the surrounding fauna and flora in a different light.' Hasrolnizam said a highlight was an uphill run stretch, taking place in an area where the Bukit Tabur quartz ridge was the backdrop. There will also be illuminated views of the city skyline. 'At this run, runners will get to take in a combination of views from nature and urban development,' he said. The event is supported by 19 sponsors contributing via cash, time and volunteer hours. Close to 2,000 participants are expected to take part. Participants from 12 other countries such as Belarus, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore have also been confirmed. The AJNR is an annual event and is into its eighth series this year. The run will be flagged off at the MPAJ Convention Centre in Taman Melawati. For details, visit MPAJ's social media pages.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
MPAJ orders removal of e-cigarette, smoking product ads
Hasrolnizam (front row, fifth from right) with councillors celebrating MPAJ's 33rd anniversary after the full board meeting. —AZMAN GHANI/ The Star ENFORCEMENT against advertisements for smoking products including e-cigarettes will start in Ampang Jaya municipality, Selangor, next week. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said notices were sent out on June 6 to 126 e-cigarette businesses to remove product advertisements. 'The shops must remove all advertisements relating to smoking products including vape- related items on the premises, within 14 days of the notice. 'Enforcement action will be implemented if business owners fail to comply,' Hasrolnizam said during MPAJ's full board meeting. All local authorities in Selangor were instructed to take immediate action to seize and confiscate advertisements related to e-cigarette products. State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin had said that the decision was made during a coordination meeting which she chaired. 'This action is in line with provisions of Control of Tobacco Product for Public Health Act 2023 (Act 852), which explicitly prohibits any form of advertising, promotion and sponsorship related to electronic smoking products,' she said in a media statement on May 20. Hasrolnizam said while vape shops had been given licences to sell, they were not allowed to carry the word 'vape' on their signboards. 'We will revoke their business licences if they do not comply.' On the mushrooming of roadside coffee stalls in Taman Keramat, he said MPAJ had received complaints about this as a public nuisance issue, specifically in causing traffic chaos. 'Though we support the coffee culture, operators need to know that there must be an orderly way in handling their operations,' he said. Hasrolnizam said MPAJ Licensing and Entrepreneurial Development Department director Addy Hissham Elias was currently carrying out an inventory to assist these small businesses. 'Many coffee sellers are youths, and MPAJ is keen to help them look for suitable sites to do business without obstructing traffic,' he said. 'Most of the complaints are traffic-related as these coffee businesses are set up by the roadside and under trees.' Hasrolnizam also said that public complaints about Dataran Komuniti Dato Mokhtar Dahari in Kampung Pandan Dalam becoming a haunt for vagrants was being addressed by the Welfare Department. 'We asked the department for assistance and steps are being taken to address the issue,' he said. Meanwhile, he said MPAJ collected revenue of RM4.2mil between January and June 23 from parking fees, with the highest amounts from online payments (RM1.9mil) and reserved bays (RM2.1mil). On assessment tax collection, he disclosed that Menara ARC, Beverly Heights and Taman Kosas had the most number of defaulters. MPAJ Revenue Department, he said, had sent notices to 313 accounts for commercial and residential properties in these areas in a bid to recover arrears amounting to RM532,419.90. The full board meeting ended on a cheerful note as MPAJ celebrated its 33rd anniversary with a cake-cutting ceremony.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Rakuten Trade lowers FBM KLCI 2025 target to 1,630 amid earnings downgrade
Bursa Malaysia building in Bukit Kewangan, KL on October 29.—AZMAN GHANI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd has revised its year-end target for the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) to 1,630 from its earlier projection of 1,730, in line with the recent downgrades in corporate earnings, said its head of research Kenny Yee Shen Pin. He noted that foreign investors have yet to return to Malaysian equities, despite attractive valuations across Southeast Asian markets, further weighing on the overall market sentiment. "In view of the short-term stance among foreign funds, coupled with recent earnings downgrades, we have lowered our 2025 target for the FBM KLCI to the 1,630 level, based on a 16.0 times price-to-earnings ratio (PER) for the calendar year 2025 ' he said during a webinar today. He noted that at present, the FBM KLCI is trading at a PER of between 12 and 13 times, which remains below both its historical average and valuations of regional peers. He described foreign fund flows as "disappointing' after recording net outflows of RM4 billion in 2024, with the situation deteriorating further this year with net foreign outflows reaching RM11.2 billion so far. "This level (of foreign outflows) is quite perplexing, especially since Malaysia is quite steady both fundamentally and politically, yet we are seeing a diminishing foreign interest in the local market,' he said. He added that non-US-based funds are expected to gradually reduce their exposure to the US markets and shift their focus back to Asia, which could support a rebound in foreign fund inflows in the near term. Notwithstanding the massive foreign outflows, Yee highlighted that foreign shareholding in the local bourse surprising remains decent at 19.44 per cent as of June 2025. "We can only deduce that long-term foreign investors may be returning, while the majority of those who exited were short-term participants. For now, the Hong Kong market will still be their primary destination,' he said. Meanwhile, Yee projected that the US dollar will continue to weaken against the basket of major currencies, with the ringgit likely to strengthen to the 4.10-4.20 range by year-end, supported by the US recessionary concerns that could trigger interest rate cuts. "As many of you know, the US Dollar Index (DXY) has already dropped by 10 per cent year-to-date against major currencies. Hence, moving forward, many expect the dollar index to continue to weaken further --along the way, we may see the ringgit performing better against the US dollar,' he added. On domestic policy, Yee proposed that the government take a measured approach to the rationalisation of RON95 fuel subsidies, especially in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. "We may see only a partial rationalisation of RON95, depending on how high or how much crude oil prices go,' he suggested. As of this morning, the ringgit traded higher at 4.2490/2700 against the US dollar, while the FBM KLCI climbed 0.22 per cent to 1,504.79 at lunch break. - Bernama
The Star
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia's ties with United States and China not mutually exclusive, says US ambassador
Photo: AZMAN GHANI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: The United States sees Malaysia as a key partner even as South-East Asia navigates growing engagement with China, citing the country's focused and professional approach to advancing bilateral trade talks, says US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan ( pic ). He said Washington does not see growing ties with China as a threat to its own relationships in the region and that South-East Asian countries should not be forced to choose sides. "I would challenge the assertion that the region is moving closer to Beijing. "Countries in this region have long had strong ties with both the United States and China. We don't view those ties as mutually exclusive," he said during a press conference at his official residence here on Friday (June 13). Kagan was responding to a question about regional realignment in the wake of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Malaysia in April. He said the United States respects the sovereign decisions of its partners and recognises that countries may engage with multiple powers based on their national interests. He added that the United States remains a significant contributor to Malaysia's development, particularly through trade and investment. American companies, he said, continue to play a vital role in the local economy and exports to the United States remain crucial for Malaysia. Kagan also emphasised that Washington is committed to strengthening its bilateral relationship with Malaysia, especially through trade cooperation. "We believe that the key is to strengthen our bilateral relationship between the United States and Malaysia," he said. He then highlighted the US government's appreciation for Malaysia's conduct in recent trade discussions, describing the country's negotiating team as professional and well prepared. "I've been very impressed with the seriousness with which Malaysia has approached the trade negotiations with the United States. "These are tough issues but the professionalism of the negotiating team and the government's commitment to reaching an agreement that facilitates trade – including greater access to Malaysian markets for American products and services – is very impressive," he said. This comes as both countries continue working-level discussions to enhance market access and remove trade barriers. The broader US-Malaysia trade relationship has faced pressure since 2018, when President Donald Trump's first administration imposed sweeping tariffs on steel, aluminium and other imports under national security provisions. Those measures, which disrupted global supply chains and raised costs for exporters in the region, including Malaysia, have continued under his current term with further tariff actions. Nevertheless, Kagan expressed optimism about current efforts to rebuild momentum, adding that the two governments are approaching the process in good faith. "There's a lot we can do together. I'm confident the relationship is strong and that it can be made even stronger," he said. Kagan also voiced support for Malaysia's chairmanship of Asean in 2025, calling it an opportunity to promote inclusive and balanced regional growth.
The Star
12-06-2025
- The Star
Mayor: DBKL plans enforcement enhancements for 2026
Photo: AZMAN GHANI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Enforcement Department is set to implement several proposals to enhance enforcement actions in the coming year, says mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif ( pic ). She expressed hope that incidents like the "abang belon" episode would not deter officers from performing their duties effectively. In March, a video circulated showing DBKL officers confiscating balloons from a vendor on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman went viral. The incident attracted criticism from politicians who accused DBKL of being excessive in their actions. DBKL defended its officers, stating that the vendor had ignored previous warnings and continued trading. The vendor reportedly became aggressive, pushing officers after a third warning, leading to a police report being filed over injuries sustained during the altercation. 'I commend your firm and tactful enforcement against illegal hawkers, despite provocation and threats such as those seen in the 'abang belon' incident,' Maimunah said at the Parade for the Completion of the Basic Enforcement Officer Training Course 2025 this morning (June 12). This training course is compulsory for new officers under DBKL's enforcement service scheme. According to a statement, DBKL's Enforcement Department has issued over 621,000 notices for traffic offences, collecting RM2.79mil in fines as of April this year. Additionally, 19,000 notices for general offences have resulted in over RM1.56mil in fines collected.
