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Daily Express
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
No maritime border change without Sabah's consent: Shafie
Published on: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Shafie said Sabah's claim over areas such as Sipadan and Ligitan had previously been upheld at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) based on strong legal and historical evidence, including British-era records and community presence on the islands. Kota Kinabalu: Any decision on maritime boundary changes, particularly involving the Ambalat Block, must go through the Sabah Legislative Assembly and cannot be decided unilaterally by the Chief Minister, says Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal. Raising the issue in Parliament on Tuesday, the Semporna MP reminded the Government that Sabah has historical, legal and constitutional rights that must be upheld, citing Article 2 of the Federal Constitution, which requires consent from the State Assembly for any border amendments. 'This is about trust in nation-building. The law must be enforced. The Chief Minister does not have the absolute power to agree on maritime boundary shifts, whether in Sulawesi or elsewhere,' he said. He stressed that while Sabah's legal team may be involved in negotiations with Indonesia, all decisions must be democratically approved by the State Assembly. Shafie said Sabah's claim over areas such as Sipadan and Ligitan had previously been upheld at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) based on strong legal and historical evidence, including British-era records and community presence on the islands. On the economic front, Shafie criticised the longstanding imbalance in petroleum revenue sharing, saying Sabah has only received five per cent oil royalties since the Petroleum Development Act 1974 came into force. 'During my time as Chief Minister, we imposed a sales tax — that's how the Government earned an additional RM2 billion to RM3 billion,' he said, adding that maritime development talks must also clarify what economic benefits Sabah would receive. 'Will there be jobs? Will upstream or downstream activities be offered to Sabahans? We don't want Sabahans questioning the returns while others benefit,' he said. He called on the Prime Minister to be transparent about what Sabah stands to gain from any negotiations involving maritime development with Indonesia. 'This country would not have been formed without Sabah and Sarawak. If this region contributes to Malaysian territory, then we must ensure Sabah is not sidelined,' he said. * 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
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Express
Sabah doctor shortage is serious: Warisan
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: 'There's a silent collapse happening in the system,' Dr Koh (left) said, referring to rising resignation rates, a growing population, and what appears to be insufficient Federal response to staffing needs. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's healthcare system is crippled by a severe doctor shortage, ageing facilities and geographic isolation. According to Health Ministry data as of April 2025, Sabah – home to 3.742 million – has only one doctor for every 795 people, nearly double the Health Ministry's target ratio of 1:400 and more than three times below the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of 1:225. Of the 9,356 doctors Sabah needs to meet the Health Ministry's minimum ratio, only 4,708 are currently serving in the State. And of these, just 2,522 are permanent medical officers. Advertisement Dr Istefan Koh, health advisor to Parti Warisan and a former doctor, said the data pointed to a worrying trend. 'There's a silent collapse happening in the system,' he said, referring to rising resignation rates, a growing population, and what appears to be insufficient Federal response to staffing needs. He noted that only 28pc of current medical officers in Sabah are local-born, further exacerbating the state's reliance on federal deployments that are often unpredictable or delayed. The turnover rate among medical officers in Sabah was 46pc in 2024, and had already reached 10.3pc by April this year, with most leaving due to contract expiration, transfers, or burnout. Koh said such instability places a heavier burden on the doctors who remain. In one instance, he claimed that a hospital in Semporna saw six out of 21 doctors leave within a month earlier this year. 'Imagine the weight they are carrying,' he said. 'Doctors are saying they want to quit – it's getting very bad in Sabah. What else can we do but wait for reinforcements?' He added that while the population continues to grow, medical staffing has not increased proportionally. In 2023, the ratio stood at 1:680, and it has since worsened. The data also highlights infrastructure constraints. Sabah has 24 hospitals, the majority over 50 years old, many serving remote areas. Distances between facilities can exceed 550km, with some patients travelling up to six hours one way just to access basic care. Nearly half of Sabahans live in rural or island areas, with many living in poverty, making access to specialist care even more difficult. Koh also pointed to facilities like the newly built Hospital Beluran, which remains underutilised due to staffing constraints, and Tawau Hospital, which he said has enough beds but not enough personnel to provide full services. He urged federal health authorities to accelerate promised reforms and provide immediate manpower support, particularly for rural Sabah.
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
100pc rental hike for Sandakan stalls draws ire
Published on: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 19, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Tan talking to an affected hawker. SANDAKAN: A 100pc rental hike for stalls at Sandakan's central market night wholesale section has sparked outrage among traders, with a local leader urging the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) to step in. Warisan Pekan Sandakan branch chief Stanley Tan Vui Chung said he received complaints from hawkers operating in the late-night to early-morning section, where monthly rental has reportedly surged from RM150 to RM300. Advertisement This prompted him to visit the site and speak to the hawkers, many of whom were unhappy with the sudden increase. 'Most of them are upset because they don't understand why the rent has doubled overnight,' he said, adding that the section is managed by a private company appointed by MPS. About 80 hawkers are affected. Tan said they were previously charged RM2 per night (RM60 monthly), which was later raised to RM5 (RM150), and is now set to increase to RM10 per night (RM300 monthly). 'What makes this absurd is that these stalls don't even have basic amenities. No electricity, no water, no canopy — just a bare lot,' he said. In comparison, stalls inside MPS-controlled markets only pay RM60 a month and are equipped with fans, lighting, water supply and proper structures. 'Outside hawkers have to bring their own tents, lights, fans and water — and still pay more. It's unfair,' he added. Tan hopes the private company will reconsider the hike and take responsibility for providing basic facilities, saying the current situation is unacceptable. Although the fee was imposed by a private company, Tan reminded that the area still falls under the Council's jurisdiction and oversight. 'I urge MPS to inspect the site, review the charges imposed by the company and ensure fairness. The people are already burdened by the rising cost of living,' he said. * 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
Daily Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sales Tax Amendment Bill passed
Published on: Wednesday, July 09, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 09, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Masidi assured that the Government had conducted extensive consultations with tax experts, including top lawyers in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah's Attorney-General, before finalising the proposed changes. Kota Kinabalu: The State Assembly passed the Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at strengthening the State's taxation framework and improving revenue governance. State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, in tabling the Bill, said the amendments were part of a broader effort to modernise the State's revenue system and make it more transparent, accountable and effective. He said the 37 proposed amendments were not just technical updates, but part of a holistic strategy to ensure Sabah's tax laws remained responsive and fair in today's dynamic economic environment. 'With the passing of this Bill, we hope to better manage state revenue while preserving trust and cooperation with taxpayers. We are not just waiting for taxes to be paid — we are actively tightening the system and protecting taxpayers' rights,' he said. Masidi assured that the Government had conducted extensive consultations with tax experts, including top lawyers in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah's Attorney-General, before finalising the proposed changes. 'I want to make it clear that there are no new taxes under this amendment. What we've done is bring clarity. The grey areas have now been clarified, benefiting both tax collectors and taxpayers,' he said. He added that under the revised law, the introduction of a tax appeals tribunal will give taxpayers more avenues to challenge decisions they deem unfair, making the system more transparent. 'Judicial review cannot be excluded from any law. It will always be there,' he said in response to concerns about attempts to restrict court oversight. During the debate, Nominated Assemblyman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee raised strong concerns over the clause seeking to limit judicial review, calling it constitutionally questionable and warning that it could face legal challenges. 'This law, even if passed, is standing on shaky ground,' Yong said, referring specifically to the restriction on judicial oversight. 'If we legislate badly today, we might end up in court tomorrow.' Kapayan Assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang also debated the Bill, saying she supported it in principle but cautioned against several provisions she said could disadvantage taxpayers, particularly those with limited resources. She pointed to Section 17, which requires taxpayers to pay first before filing a legal appeal, describing it as a 'pay first, argue later' principle that undermines the right to justice. Jannie also questioned the broadened definition of 'negligence' and the Government's expanded anti-avoidance powers, warning that these could penalise genuine business transactions and create long-term uncertainty. In addressing these concerns, Masidi stressed that the overall goal of the amendment was to ensure clarity and fairness. He said businesses would ultimately benefit from reduced compliance costs as they would now know precisely what is taxable. 'There is no overlap between federal and state taxation. These are separate jurisdictions,' he added. The Bill was passed by a voice vote following the debate. * 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
Daily Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah not ready to bid for oil block, says Masidi
Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Sabah did not participate in bidding for the Mutiara Cluster oil block as its state-owned firms, SMJ Energy and Sabah International Petroleum (SIP), lack the capital and expertise for large-scale exploration, said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. He told the State Assembly that the Mutiara PSC, recently awarded to Dialog Group Berhad, was part of an international bid and still in the exploration stage. Masidi assured that Sabah's interests remain protected under the Commercial Collaboration Agreement with Petronas, and hinted at future involvement by SMJ. In response to opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal's criticism over Sabah's exclusion, Masidi said the government prefers 'quiet but consistent' efforts over rhetoric. The Mutiara Cluster, off Sabah's east coast, comprises five marginal fields, with first gas expected before Q1 2029. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
