Latest news with #Lim
Daily Express
22 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Express
Palliative group visits 120 homes monthly
Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 Text Size: Liew (seated centre), flanked by Dr Jaswant (on her right) and Lim, with the rest of the delegation displaying the 'Simply The Best - A Tina Turner Tribute Show' promotional banner. Kota Kinabalu: The State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) will support the Palliative Care Association of Kota Kinabalu's (PCAKK) 26th Charity Concert & Dinner on Aug 8 at the Sabah International Convention Centre. 'I understand that the care services provided by the Association have touched the lives of over 5,200 patients and their families during their most challenging times,' said minister Datuk Christina Liew after meeting President Dato' Dr Jaswant Singh. Organising Chairman cum PCAKK Management Adviser Datuk Margaret Lim said the annual event is the main source of funding for the Association established in 1998. 'We need to raise the primary funds to support our Home Care and Daycare programmes for the benefit of those who require this essential service in our community,' she said. Lim said the one-hour performance dubbed 'Simply The Best - A Tina Turner Tribute Show' will feature the talented Rebecca O'Connor who is currently on a world tour as the iconic Tina Turner. 'We anticipate a 1500-strong appreciative audience.' The Association's Home Care Programme and Development, Dr Jaswant said is aimed at providing compassionate care and support to patients with life-limiting diseases, including incurable cancers and end-stage organ failures, and post-stroke patients, among others, in the last journey of their life. PCAKK has been working in collaboration with the Palliative Care Unit (PCU) at QEH 1, QEH Cardiology Unit, and Likas Women and Children's Hospital for over 20 years. 'Under the Home Care Programme, we see some 120 cases per month for pain control, counselling and carer support,' said Dr Jaswant, adding that some patients require more visits. Also present were PCAKK Vice-President Morna Chua, Assistant Honorary Secretary Shirley Ong, Committee Members Caroline Paxton and James Ngu, and Executive Secretary Benzie Richard. * 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
The Star
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
‘Bank account ordered by Lim'
It was used to channel bribes related to tunnel project, says key witness KUALA LUMPUR: A key prosecution witness told the court that he was directed by former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng to open a bank account specifically to facilitate payments related to the Penang undersea tunnel project. Businessman G. Gnanaraja said he set up Bumi Muhibah Capital Holding Sdn Bhd to channel alleged bribes to Lim in August 2017. The company maintained a CIMB bank account, over which Gnanaraja had exclusive control. 'Lim Guan Eng instructed me to set up and open this bank account. 'All requests regarding the company's setup and account were made while I was with Lim in a car en route to Publika on Aug 20, 2017,' he told the Sessions Court yesterday. Gnanaraja's testimony further detailed how he met businessman Datuk Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli, a former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB), in May 2017 to discuss setting up the company to facilitate payments to Lim. 'Datuk Zarul and I communicated about having me as the intermediary for bribe payments from him to Lim. 'He chose me as I was not affiliated with any opposition parties at the time,' he said. Gnanaraja, who is the 37th witness, and was charged in April 2019 at the Shah Alam Court with cheating Zarul Ahmad of RM19mil, recounted the events of Aug 18, 2017 at the Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya. He said he received two bags purportedly containing RM2mil from Zarul Ahmad. 'Datuk Zarul wanted to give me RM2mil in cash meant for Lim Guan Eng.' When he arrived at the hotel, he said Zarul Ahmad handed him two dark bags, stating '1M' as he placed them in Gnanaraja's car. Gnanaraja clarified that '1M' referred to RM1mil per bag. Upon returning to his residence, Gnanaraja said he meticulously checked the contents of the bags. 'I opened both bags in my study room to verify the cash inside, as informed by Datuk Zarul. 'My study room is always locked, and only I have the key. 'Inside the bags, I found numerous bundles of RM100 notes, confirming what I had been told,' he said. He noted that the bags remained untouched in his study room until Aug 20, 2017, when Zarul Ahmad called, requesting the delivery of one bag containing RM1mil to Lim in Kuala Lumpur. Gnanaraja detailed a subsequent event on Aug 20, 2017, where he allegedly transferred one of the bags containing RM1mil to Lim. 'I placed the bag in the back seat of Datuk Zarul's car and travelled with him to meet Lim Guan Eng near Hotel Wenworth. 'This was during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, where Lim Guan Eng joined us for a discussion on confidential financial arrangements. 'He was in his official chief minister attire, and I wore a batik shirt. 'He greeted us warmly and mentioned attending an official event at Publika but wanted to discuss confidential financial matters first,' he said. Gnanaraja added that it was his first time hearing of an individual named Datuk Ewein (the late Ewein Bhd founder and executive chairman Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng), whom Lim intended to introduce him to later. Ewe, a property developer, was due to be called as the 15th prosecution witness in this trial, but was found dead after a fall from a condominium in George Town, Penang, on Oct 5, 2021. He was involved in the trial as his company gave Zarul Ahmad money for a land-swap deal for a plot of state land, known as Lot 702, between 2013 and 2016 for the undersea tunnel project. Lim, 64, is facing an amended charge of using his position as then Penang chief minister to solicit RM3.3mil in bribes as an inducement to assist Zarul Ahmad in securing the undersea tunnel project worth RM6.34bil. Lim allegedly committed the offence at the Penang Chief Minister's Office, Level 28, Komtar, George Town, between January 2011 and August 2017. In the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10% profit from the company as gratification to secure the project. The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here, in March 2011. Lim, who is Bagan MP, faces two further charges of causing two plots of land worth RM208.8mil, belonging to the Penang government, to be disposed of to two companies linked to the project. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi continues on Aug 19.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
New law will regulate BNPL, instant loans, says ministry
KUALA LUMPUR: The new consumer credit law will protect Malaysians from financial risks stemming from uncontrolled credit use and unethical lending practices, said the Finance Ministry. The ministry said the legislation seeks to address challenges posed by the growing digital finance landscape, including hidden risks linked to instant loans and "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) schemes. On Monday, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Credit Consumer Bill 2025 after it was tabled for its second and third readings by Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying. The bill was debated by 23 lawmakers. "The bill will serve as the primary law regulating all credit-related businesses and services," said the ministry. "It will ensure fair conduct by credit providers, mandate transparency in charges and introduce professional guidelines for debt collection and dispute resolution." It added that consumers facing financial hardship would also have access to assistance and advice through authorised and registered channels. "For the first time, a Consumer Credit Commission will be established to regulate service providers previously operating without direct oversight, including leasing companies, factoring firms, debt collection agencies, and non-bank digital financing providers. "The commission will also streamline regulatory functions currently spread across multiple ministries and agencies under one roof, ensuring more uniform and efficient supervision of the credit industry." The ministry said the bill reflected the government's long-term commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive consumer credit ecosystem. Lim had said on Monday that the bill, once gazetted, would introduce integrated regulations in phases. These phases would take into account the industry's level of preparedness and the Consumer Credit Commission's growing capacity, which will be gradually strengthened. She added that the commission would also assume regulatory responsibilities in stages, starting with the currently unregulated credit providers, with full centralisation of oversight expected by 2031.
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Lim Guan Eng told businessman to open account for bribes, court hears
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng instructed a businessman to open a bank account to funnel bribes linked to the Penang Undersea Tunnel project, the Sessions Court heard today. G. Gnanaraja said the DAP chairman told him this during their first meeting while travelling inside Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli's car on Aug 20, 2017. CZCSB was the company awarded the RM6.34 billion Penang undersea tunnel project. The 42-year-old businessman said this while testifying as a key prosecution witness in Lim's corruption trial involving the construction of a major road and undersea tunnel project in Penang worth RM6.3 billion. Lim is also the Bagan Member of Parliament. Gnanaraja said he used his company, Bumi Muhibah Holding Sdn Bhd, as the vehicle to channel bribe payments to Lim. "The company was established on Aug 10, 2016, and registered under the names Aminah Madian and Mohd Rezal Jantan as directors. "Later, in August 2017, I intended to use this company as the vehicle for bribe payments to Lim. "This company has only one bank account, and I was the sole person authorised to withdraw money from it. "All the requests to set up the company and its account were made while I was with Lim in a car on the way to Publika on Aug 20, 2017. "Lim also had personally viewed the company's Form 49 during a visit to my house on Aug 29, the same year. "He wanted to see the document to gain personal confidence in the company's management and the preparation of its documents. "Form 49 contained details of the company's directors, managers, and secretary," he said while testifying before Judge Azura Alwi today. Gnanaraja said he was chosen to act as the middleman between Lim and Zarul because he was not affiliated with any opposition parties at the time. He recounted his first task as the middleman when he received RM2 million in cash from Zarul near Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya for the purpose of delivering it to Lim on Aug 18, 2017. He said Zarul had put two dark-coloured bags with hand straps and and placed them directly into the boot of his Bentley. Gnanaraja said he knew the bags contained cash because as Zarul placed the first bag, he said "1M," and repeated the same as he placed the second. By "1M", he understood that Zarul meant RM1 million. He said that on Aug 20, Zarul contacted him and said they needed to pick up Lim at the Wen Worth Hotel near Pudu. However, the trial was cut short after Gnanaraja began coughing severely and said he was feeling unwell. Lim is facing four charges of using his position as the then Penang chief minister to solicit gratification to help Zarul's company secure the undersea tunnel project. He was alleged to have sought 10 per cent of the profit to be made by the company from Zarul. He was also accused of receiving RM3.3 million for himself and causing two plots of land belonging to the state government to be disposed of to two companies linked to the undersea tunnel project. The trial is set to resume on Aug 19.
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MoF to enhance pre-qualified procurement method if reintroduced
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Finance (MoF) will conduct a thorough review of potential improvements if the Selected Pre-Qualified Open Tender Procurement Method (Selected Pre-Q Procurement) is reintroduced in the future. Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying stated that the enhancements must eliminate loopholes that could allow manipulation and ensure full transparency in every stage of the process. 'The Selected Pre-Q Procurement is a relaxation of the procurement method, an enhancement of the existing pre-qualification tender, enforced through the Ministry of Finance Treasury Circular with the aim of shortening the procurement period. Projects using this procurement method can be awarded immediately to the successful company,' she said during the debate on the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) 2/2025 in the Dewan Rakyat. Lim explained that the ministry would strengthen control mechanisms to prevent companies that do not meet criteria from being shortlisted in the first stage and later invited in the second stage. 'This is to prevent companies that do not meet the criteria from being shortlisted in the first stage and subsequently being invited in the second stage, should the Selected Pre-Q Procurement be reinstated in the future,' she added. The LKAN 2/2025 report, released on July 21, highlighted that the Selected Pre-Q Procurement in three ministries failed to expedite procurement due to manipulation and lack of transparency, with only certain companies approved for tenders. The method was in effect from March 15, 2023, to December 31, 2024. Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir clarified that the audit covered the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC), which managed procurement at the time. He noted issues such as non-compliance with first-stage criteria and repeated invitations to the same company for different projects. 'The selection method for company information sources or documents in the first-stage evaluation had been presented to and approved by the NRECC Procurement Board at the time,' he said. He added that a review showed 52 companies had passed the pre-qualification stage. – Bernama
