Latest news with #C4
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Watchdogs call for Act to keep govt procurement in check
PETALING JAYA: A comprehensive Public Procurement Act with enforceable legal powers to address long-standing weaknesses in government procurement is urgently needed, say experts and watchdog groups. Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Raymon Ram (pic) said the Act must include transparency standards, independent oversight, legal sanctions for non-compliance, whistleblower protections and clear procurement dispute mechanisms. 'Simply consolidating current guidelines is inadequate; we need a law with teeth,' he said in a statement yesterday, following the release of the Auditor-General's Report 2/2025. Raymon also called for swift enforcement by all relevant agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police and others. 'All cases involving procurement fraud, abuse of power or negligence must be referred for investigation or prosecution. 'Any form of inaction sends the wrong signal to both the public and potential wrongdoers,' he said. TI-M also urged all implicated ministries, departments and agencies to publish clear corrective measures, including recovery of funds, disciplinary steps and procedural reforms, to restore public confidence and show institutional responsibility. Raymon also called for independent experts and third-party observers in all integrity pacts in high-risk procurements. 'The Auditor-General's Report must not be an annual ritual of regret,' he said, adding that 'it must serve as a catalyst for reform, one that rebuilds institutional integrity, ensures justice for wrongdoing and protects the interests of the rakyat.' On the Pre-Qualification (Pre-Q) system of procurement that was trialed and implemented by multiple ministries, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said C4 agreed with the findings of the Auditor-General's office, since the system was found to be inefficient and open to abuse, an open tender system should have been used instead to eliminate or at least reduce corruption risks. 'Based on the Auditor-General's Report in this instance, the goal of efficient procurements through the implementation of the Pre-Q system was hampered by the lack of a maximum period for second-stage invitation, causing them to be unnecessarily prolonged,' he said. The main issue that still needs to be addressed is that there is no legally binding baseline policy that sets the standard for all government procurements, he added. 'C4 Centre has long advocated for a Government Procurement Act that sets out minimum standards of adherence in terms of transparency, reporting and accountability at all stages of the procurement process, from advertising of tender until project implementation. 'We have seen that piecemeal reforms in specific areas of procurement does little to remedy the risks, and only shifts the flaws onto other aspects of the procurement process,' said Pushpan. Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim said Parliament and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) should also summon the relevant parties for open public hearings. 'We need to accelerate the implementation of the eSelfAudit system, as announced by the Auditor-General, to prevent arbitrary approvals,' he said. On the management of subsidised cooking oils, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah proposed an IC-linked purchase system. This, he said, would be similar to the approach used in the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme. 'By linking purchases to consumers' IC, the authorities will be able to prevent repeat purchases beyond the permitted limit, and ensure that subsidies reach genuine domestic consumers rather than being diverted to the commercial sector,' he noted. He said an improved digital tracking system was needed, allowing authorities to watch for abnormal purchase patterns or unusually high sales, in real time. Saravanan said the issue represented a misuse of taxpayer funds and directly affected low and middle-income households who were the intended beneficiaries of the subsidies. 'While the intention of subsidising cooking oil is to shield vulnerable groups from the rising cost of living, it does not serve the purpose if leakages occur. 'In fact, they worsen the burden on low-income households by creating artificial shortages and driving up prices,' he said, stressing the need to reassess the sustainability of blanket subsidies.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I test TVs for a living — these are the 5 best OLED TVs you can buy right now
I've been testing and reviewing TVs professionally for over a decade, and my pick for the best type of TV you can buy hasn't changed after all of those years: It's OLED. The list of reasons to love OLED TVs is long: perfect black levels, pixel-level dimming and ultra-wide viewing angles, just to name a few. OLED TVs tend to arrive with a boatload of extra features, too. My picks for the best OLED TVs you can buy are constantly shifting. Discounted OLED TVs often go out of stock, while new OLED TVs go on sale throughout the year. With that in mind, here's a snapshot of how I currently rank the five best OLED TVs, factoring in price, performance and availability. My name is Michael, and I've tested and tinkered with nearly every OLED TV released by a major brand since 2014. I'm also the happy owner of OLED TV myself, having taken the plunge a few years ago. I'm kicking things off with one of my favorite deals on a modestly sized OLED TV. The B4 is LG's entry-level OLED TV from 2024, and the 48-inch version is a Best Buy-exclusive. I love this TV, as it brings the many benefits of OLED TVs down to a price point that many will find to be reasonable. The B4 comes with a ton of upside for the price: It supports Dolby Vision, features an elegant design, and offers a full slate of four HDMI 2.1 ports that all support 4K gaming at 120Hz. You'll get slightly better upscaling as you move up LG's OLED lineup, but you can't beat the price of the B4 OLED. For that reason, in our LG B4 OLED review, we called the Editor's Choice TV for the value OLED TV of the year. Looking for an incredible OLED picture without the high price? The LG B4 is the perfect companion. It's not as bright as higher-end OLED TVs, but you still get to bask in the glory of OLED display technology. The C4 is LG's mid-range OLED for 2024, and it's nearly as good as its successor, the C5. It's bright enough for movies and shows to pop, and gamers are in good hands thanks to the C4's robust selection of gaming features. I loved this TV when I first got my hands on it last summer, but it's only gotten better now that its price has fallen significantly after a year on shelves. If newer OLED models are too pricey for what you're looking for, consider grabbing one of last year's top models. Looking for more info? Head on over to our full LG C4 review. The C4 is LG's flagship OLED TV from 2024. It's powered by LG's A9 processor and features a 120Hz panel, Dolby Vision/ HDR10/HLG support, built-in Amazon Alexa, four HDMI 2.1 ports and Apple AirPlay 2 support. The LG C5 is, pound for pound, the best OLED TV for most people right now. It's a brand-new model for 2025, and because of its mid-range status, it offers a satisfying blend of performance and value. You can read more about this five-star OLED in our LG C5 review, but here's the basic gist: You're getting incredible picture quality, a mountain of gaming features and an elegant design for less than what you'd spend on a top-shelf OLED TV. The LG C5 OLED has arrived and it's quickly earned its spot as our top-ranked TV in 2025. With the C5, you get tons of gaming features, including a 144Hz refresh rate built on four total HDMI 2.1 ports. LG's webOS platform also has a slew of free channels to dive into as well as cloud gaming platforms. Don't sleep on this deal. Sony's Bravia 8 II OLED combines the quantum dot enhancement of the brand's incredible QD-OLEDs with the naming convention of its 2024 OLED, the Bravia 8. The Bravia 8 II is all new for 2025, and while we haven't published our official review yet, I can tell you that the test results indicate that this is a very special TV. Its color production is among the best we've ever seen, and its highlight brightness will have HDR movies and games looking real enough to touch. Launched in mid-2025, the Sony Bravia 8 II takes up the mantle of Sony's top OLED from the Sony A95L OLED TV. The Bravia 8 II offers several upgrades, like increased contrast and improved motion handling. It also has some of the widest color coverage of any OLED TV. The Samsung S95F is one of the best OLED TVs ever made. It offers better picture quality than the LG C5 overall due to its use of color- and brightness-boosting quantum dots. It also comes with an overflowing toolbox of features (minus Dolby Vision support) and a matte screen — a design flourish that some folks will adore. Check out our Samsung S95F review for a full report. You'll pay top prices for this TV, but the quality speaks for itself. The Samsung S95F OLED TV is the top Samsung OLED in 2025, offering 165Hz refresh rate on one of Samsung's best upscaling processers. It also has Tizen OS, which is built with tons of free channels not to mention several cloud gaming services, and a full Gaming Hub for all your settings in one place. The S95F also has tons of AI baked into it, like an AI Sound Pro that boosts audio dramatically.
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Parliament must select a commission to process FOIA requests, say experts
PETALING JAYA: An independent information commission is key for the upcoming Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to become an effective tool to fight graft and keep governments accountable, say experts. Another critical aspect that needs to be in tandem with the tabling of the proposed Bill for the FOIA is amending several laws that deal with information, says the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ). This includes repealing the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and amending the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), the Whistleblower Protection Act, and Section 203(A) of the Penal Code, said CIJ programme officer Noel Dass. CIJ, which has advised the unity government on the Bill, also urged the administration to make the draft of the Bill public for further feedback once it is ready. 'We also hope that it would cover both federal and state level information or provide a template, so that the states can then adopt as a state enactment,' Dass said when contacted. Anti-graft watchdog C4 CEO Pushpan Murugiah said that the Act must also spur a mindset change among policymakers and the civil service not to treat all information they possess as a secret. 'The general principle is that all information held by public bodies belongs to the public and should therefore be open and accessible by default. 'Disclosure of information should not depend on the government's goodwill in individual cases. This is a right that should be accorded to everyone,' said Pushpan. The proposals of the NGOs came following Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement recently that the Bill for FOIA is expected to be tabled in the year-end meeting of Parliament this year. The Prime Minister added that amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act are also expected to be brought to Parliament. A key reform promised by Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition, the FOIA will allow anyone to request information from the government, subject to several limitations such as military and national security secrets. Supporters said the Act will allow the public to keep the government accountable and help fight graft as it can be used to access decisions on procurement and spending. However, Dass said for the Act to have actual bite, it must have an independent commission, whose members are chosen by Parliament to oversee the implementation of the law. 'The commission will also promote access to information and resolve disputes of access to information,' says Dass. This last role is significant, as the commission would be responsible for hearing appeals from individuals whose information requests have been denied, he added. 'The commission must have power to review decisions made by public authority and make binding decisions, submit an annual report to Parliament, and publish guidelines on minimum standards and best practices,' Dass said. C4's Pushpan said that access to information must only be restricted if its release could lead to legitimate harm. 'The law must clearly state narrowly-defined exemptions to disclosure, based on international standards of legitimacy, necessity and proportionality and subject to an overarching public interest test.' CIJ's Dass said that the Act should include a three-part test to determine whether any information should be restricted. This test includes firstly determining whether any restriction to information must be related to a legitimate aim as provided for in international law, such as for the health, safety and welfare of individuals, said Dass. Secondly, that the disclosure of the information must threaten to cause substantial harm to that aim. Lastly, that the harm to that aim must be greater than the public interest in having the information.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dictionary Corner queen Susie Dent to celebrate the joys of the English language on new tour
Ever wondered why a group of crows is called a murder… or why owls form a parliament? Does Gen-Z slang make you tear your hair out, and are our local dialects really dying out? Which orange came first, the colour or the fruit? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Countdown co-presenter, best-selling author, and Britain's best-loved wordsmith, Susie Dent aims to unravel these and many more mysteries of the English language when she brings her all-new tour Word Perfect to The Queen's Hall in Edinburgh on Saturday September 6. After more than three decades in Dictionary Corner, Susie will be sharing a brand-new collection of facts and stories from the wonderful world of words – reminding us just how unpredictable and utterly magical our mother tongue can be. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tickets are on sale NOW from or direct from venues. Susie Dent Speaking about her new tour, Susie said:'The English language will never stop surprising and delighting me: it is as wayward as it is majestic, while the dictionary is as full of magic, drama and adventure as you will find anywhere. 'I can't wait to walk down some more of its secret alleyways with the Word Perfect audiences, and to hear their own questions about our curious mother tongue!' Susie Dent: Word Perfectfollows Susie's 74-date tour The Secret Life Of Words which ran from 2018 to 2024. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster, best known as co-presenter and the 'queen of Dictionary Corner' on C4's Countdown and its sister comedy show 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. She was appointed an MBE in 2024, the same year her debut novel, Guilty by Definition, was published. Susie's new books, Words For Life, and The Roots We Share: 100 Words That Bring Us Together, will be released in the autumn. For more information about Susie Dent: Word Perfect visit
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dictionary Corner queen Susie Dent to celebrate the joys of the English language on new tour
Ever wondered why a group of crows is called a murder… or why owls form a parliament? Does Gen-Z slang make you tear your hair out, and are our local dialects really dying out? Which orange came first, the colour or the fruit? Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Countdown co-presenter, best-selling author, and Britain's best-loved wordsmith, Susie Dent aims to unravel these and many more mysteries of the English language when she brings her all-new tour Word Perfect to The Queen's Hall in Edinburgh on Saturday September 6. After more than three decades in Dictionary Corner, Susie will be sharing a brand-new collection of facts and stories from the wonderful world of words – reminding us just how unpredictable and utterly magical our mother tongue can be. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tickets are on sale NOW from or direct from venues. Susie Dent Speaking about her new tour, Susie said:'The English language will never stop surprising and delighting me: it is as wayward as it is majestic, while the dictionary is as full of magic, drama and adventure as you will find anywhere. 'I can't wait to walk down some more of its secret alleyways with the Word Perfect audiences, and to hear their own questions about our curious mother tongue!' Susie Dent: Word Perfect follows Susie's 74-date tour The Secret Life Of Words which ran from 2018 to 2024. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster, best known as co-presenter and the 'queen of Dictionary Corner' on C4's Countdown and its sister comedy show 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. She was appointed an MBE in 2024, the same year her debut novel, Guilty by Definition, was published. Susie's new books, Words For Life, and The Roots We Share: 100 Words That Bring Us Together, will be released in the autumn.
