Latest news with #MCA
The Star
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Dr Wee: Review expanded SST
PETALING JAYA: Apart from a longer list of goods taxable under the expanded Sales and Services Tax (SST), another major concern of the people is the tax on raw materials and machinery, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic). The MCA president said this will then set off a wave of price increases down the line, causing more pressure on the people. 'The SST brings a cascading effect because the raw materials and machinery will also be taxed after this. 'This silent inflation wave will surely be felt by all levels of society throughout the coming months,' said the Ayer Hitam MP in a Facebook video yesterday. He pointed out that back in 2018, more than 8,000 items were exempted from the SST. Under the expanded tax scheme set to take effect on July 1, the list has been significantly shrunk to only around 1,000 items, he said. He added that the expanded SST will not only apply to wellness and beauty-related services, it will also be applied to traditional products such as red dates, black fungus, dried longan and snow fungus. He stressed that many industries including rubber, plastics, medicine and oil palm, and the manufacturing sector have voiced their concerns about the expanded scheme as about 97% of goods in the market will be taxed. 'While we welcome the government's U-turn on the tax for imported fruits, it is not enough. 'The real issue and danger lies in the taxation of raw materials and industrial machinery,' he said. 'Politics aside, the people's welfare should be prioritised. It is better for the government to review the scheme or scrap it altogether,' he said, adding that the SST rate had already increased (from 6% to 8%) on March 1, last year. Dr Wee added that it was unfortunate that the expanded SST will start on July 1, the same day that the base electricity tariff and Port Klang tariffs are set to increase. 'The obvious solution for the government is still the GST, which is a fairer and more transparent taxation system. 'The main difference between both systems is that the GST taxes the end user – you use more, you pay more – while the SST taxes all levels of the supply chain and the end user has to pay a far higher price in the end,' he said. 'The GST ensures the stability and strength of the country while the SST will further burden the people and give businesses an excuse to raise prices,' he stressed. In announcing the expanded SST, the Finance Ministry said the measure is to strengthen the country's fiscal position by increasing revenue and broadening the tax base.
The Star
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
MCA launches new service centre in Johor
JOHOR BARU: MCA has launched a new service centre in Taman Perling to boost grassroots engagement and better serve local residents, particularly working adults who struggle to access assistance during regular hours. The centre, led by Nicol Tan Hiang Kee, who also serves on the Iskandar Puteri City Council, will operate by appointment to provide flexible support for community members seeking help with paperwork or local issues. The centre was launched by MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon (pic), who said the party's strength lies in its consistent service to the people, regardless of electoral outcomes. 'Serving the people has always been MCA's core principle. Whether we win or lose elections, our commitment remains unchanged,' he said during the event yesterday. Ling praised party leaders such as Johor MCA deputy Youth chief Chua Jian Boon and Tan herself for continuing to serve their communities even after contesting unsuccessfully in previous elections. He also noted that the new service centre reflects MCA's ongoing efforts to stay connected with the grassroots. 'Whether it's at coffeeshops, markets, or wherever the people are, it is easy to find representatives from MCA,' he added. Addressing recent public concerns, Ling said MCA would continue to speak up on issues such as the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax and the SPM grade distinctions. 'Some policies may have inadvertently affected certain groups. That is when representatives must speak up,' he said.
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
MCA launches new service centre in JB to boost grassroots engagement
JOHOR BARU: MCA has launched a new service centre in Taman Perling to boost grassroots engagement and better serve local residents, particularly working adults who struggle to access assistance during regular hours. The centre, led by Nicol Tan Hiang Kee, who also serves as an Iskandar Puteri City Council councillor, will operate by appointment to provide flexible support for community members seeking help with paperwork or local issues. The centre was launched by MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon, who said the party's strength lies in its consistent service to the people, regardless of electoral outcomes. 'Serving the people has always been MCA's core principle. Whether we win or lose elections, our commitment remains unchanged,' he said during the event on Friday (June 27). Ling praised party leaders such as Johor MCA deputy Youth chief Chua Jian Boon and Tan herself for continuing to serve their communities even after contesting unsuccessfully in previous elections. He also noted that the new service centre reflects MCA's ongoing efforts to stay connected with the grassroots. 'Whether it's at coffee shops, markets, or wherever the people are, it is easy to find representatives from MCA.' Addressing recent public concerns, Ling said MCA would continue to speak up on issues such as the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax and the SPM grade distinctions. "Some policies may have inadvertently affected certain groups. That is when representatives must speak up," he said.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
UM: No 'backdoor' entry in dual admission system
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya (UM) has dismissed allegations of inequality in its dual admissions process, saying that the data cited by MCA to question the meritocracy of the system was "misleading." UM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the figures presented by the MCA president concerning the increase in undergraduate enrolments via the UM Open Channel (Saluran Terbuka Universiti Awam, or Satu) from 2018 to 2022 failed to take into account the full context of the university's admissions framework. His response came in the wake of remarks made by Ayer Hitam member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong in a video posted on June 24. In the video, Wee called for the suspension of UM's Satu intake for the 2025/2026 session until the higher education ministry reviews its admissions mechanism, following claims of structural inequality. This was as Wee had launched a position paper by MCA on the matter, in which the party said the apparent selectiveness in UM's student admissions raised questions about meritocracy in the process. "In fact, the number of students admitted through the main channel (UPU) remains consistent every year and continues to meet intake projections set by the Higher Education Ministry," he said. "There has been no reduction in UPU quota or displacement of UPU candidates as a result of the alternative Satu route," he said. Noor Azuan said that UM uses two separate channels to admit students into its undergraduate programmes: UPU, which is managed by the Higher Education Ministry; and Satu, which offers an alternative route for qualified applicants with the ability to self-fund their studies. He said all admissions, whether via UPU or Satu, are merit-based, and that no shortcuts or backdoor entries are allowed. "Satu is not a backdoor, but an additional door. It expands opportunities and strengthens the system without closing the path for deserving students." He said the dual-channel approach was a strategic response to growing demand for limited placements in critical programmes such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. "UPU is highly competitive, and many excellent students are turned away due to limited capacity. Satu creates additional seats without affecting UPU quotas." He added that the initiative also aimed to curb the outflow of local talent overseas, noting that many Malaysian students had been forced to pursue costly medical studies abroad. "With Satu, they can now study in Malaysia, closer to their families and cultural roots, reducing brain drain and enhancing the supply of local talent." Noor Azuan also pointed out that the use of alternative admission pathways was in line with global practices, citing examples from the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia and the United States. On the recent fee hikes for students under the Satu channel, he said the adjustments were necessary to reflect the actual cost of providing high-quality medical education, particularly clinical training and the maintenance of teaching hospital facilities. "The revised fees apply only to Satu students and do not affect the government's subsidy for UPU students, who continue to enjoy up to 95 per cent tuition support." He acknowledged the financial concerns raised by some quarters but assured that no deserving student would be denied access to education due to financial hardship. "Scholarships, financial aid, and welfare assistance will continue to be made available and expanded." Noor Azuan said the university welcomed suggestions to expand UPU quotas for medical and other critical programmes, but said that such decisions must be approved by professional bodies such as the Malaysian Medical Council, Pharmacy Board and Dental Council. "UM remains open to engagement with these bodies to ensure national needs are met. The university is not just a centre of learning, but a place of hope for the future." He reaffirmed UM's commitment to transparency, meritocracy and social equity, adding that the university had no intention of engaging in polemics but felt compelled to correct public misconceptions.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
High public uni fees pricing out deserving students, says Dr Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing use of direct or open entry routes into public universities is raising concerns over high costs that are progressively pricing out deserving students from underprivileged and middle-income backgrounds. "We must re-evaluate this system when public universities begin to act commercially, deviating from their original noble goal of ensuring that bright students—especially those from low-income families—are allowed to succeed," said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong at a press conference here. The MCA president highlighted the growing trend of public universities offering courses through open channels at exorbitant tuition fees. "This issue extends beyond Universiti Malaya. Other universities like USM, UKM, UPM, UTM, and UUM are following similar practices. "The shift towards these open channels is concerning, as it prioritises financial capability over academic merit, undermining the foundational ethos of public education," he said. On Tuesday (June 24), Dr Wee highlighted the sharp increase in UM's medicine and other critical field degrees fees for the 2025/2026 intake under its direct admission channel, Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya (Satu), which rose by 67.1% to RM500,000 from RM299,200 the previous year. In contrast, students admitted through the UPUOnline channel, which is government-subsidised, pay only RM15,000 for the same programme. He questioned if this stark fee disparity discourages students from lower-income B40 and M40 groups. Dr Wee said that he received overwhelming feedback from parents who shared their distress after highlighting the UM case. "Many of their children applied through the UPUOnline system, only to receive an acceptance contingent upon paying up to RM300,000 via the open channel. "This financial burden is insurmountable for most families, turning what should be a joyous occasion into one of despair," he said. Dr Wee emphasised that public universities were funded by taxpayers, with the annual budget approved by Parliament specifically to cover the salaries of chancellors and staff, and to maintain the operational needs of these institutions. While acknowledging that the funding might not be sufficient for all developmental expenses, he said this should not come at the expense of deserving students who qualify through the UPUOnline system. According to a previous Parliamentary reply, Dr Wee said 19% to 40% of public university placements are now allocated through these open channels, revealing a systemic issue that undermines the foundational ethos of public education. "I firmly believe that UPUOnline should remain the main and utmost channel for enrolment in public universities. "This ensures admissions are based on merit rather than financial ability, thus promoting social mobility for underprivileged students to turn their lives around via quality and affordable education." He also warned that the current trajectory risks transforming the education system into an elitist one, where only financially privileged students can access quality education. Citing an example, Dr Wee said the total cost for completing a public university medical programme has soared from approximately RM300,000 to over RM500,000, surpassing fees at some local private universities. "Similar hikes of 20% to 30% have been seen in other professional courses like law, and this casts doubt on whether public universities still prioritise talent cultivation or have shifted towards a quasi-private model. "While direct admissions can be implemented, public universities should expand their intake rather than using slots meant for UPUOnline students," he said. Dr Wee called on the government to establish a royal commission of inquiry to review these practices guided by learned educationists, emphasising the need to uphold the role of public universities in fostering talent and offering upward mobility through education. "We cannot allow financial capability to replace academic merit in determining university admissions. The government should intervene immediately to prevent further inequality in higher education access," he said, adding that the open channel intake should be halted. "Our public universities should remain bastions of opportunity, where students are admitted based on their abilities and potential, not their financial standing. "I hope the government takes decisive action to stop this trend and safeguard the future of higher education in Malaysia. It should remain a public right rather than becoming a privilege," he added.
