Latest news with #PeninsularMalaysia
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Electricity tariffs to be reviewed monthly under new fuel adjustment system, says Fadillah
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — The Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA), the new adjustment mechanism for electricity tariffs in Peninsular Malaysia, is aimed at ensuring tariff reviews are more transparent and in line with the global fuel market reality, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said that through this new mechanism, electricity tariffs will be adjusted monthly compared to only every six months under the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) system. 'For domestic users consuming below 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, they are exempted from the AFA, while those consuming more than 600 kWh will be charged for the energy resources, whether gas or coal. 'For August, due to the drop in fuel costs from Aug 1 to 31, a rebate of 1.545 sen per kWh will be given for the power supply. (The review) is done monthly -- no longer every six months -- which means it is more accurate and transparent based on real-time,' he said during the Minister's Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today. He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Abdul Khalib Abdullah (PN-Rompin) who asked whether the government plans to consider a more flexible and transparent tariff review in the future. Fadillah said the latest tariff review also involves a change in approach from customer categorisation based on economic sectors to by voltage usage. Therefore, he said, the government encourages those who consume higher amounts of energy to switch to renewable energy, including through solar photovoltaic installation, aimed at helping them save costs and reduce overall energy consumption. Answering Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari's (PH-Sungai Petani) query regarding the objectives of the new electricity tariff schedule in achieving the energy transition agenda and long-term sustainability, Fadillah said it is an improvement to the previous structure based on four main principles. These include transparent tariff setting, tariff structure that reflects actual supply costs, fair and equitable cost distribution to all consumers, and minimal impact on domestic users in terms of bill variance. 'This new structure includes energy charges, capacity charges, network charges, and retail charges for each user category compared to the old structure which only had energy charge and minimum charge components. 'In this regard, the new structure is more transparent and exposes users to the costs that must be paid to obtain electricity supply,' he said. On June 20, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, through the Energy Commission, announced a revised electricity tariff schedule for Peninsular Malaysia effective from July 1, 2025. — Bernama
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Save the Malayan Tiger' campaign gains momentum with RM2.1m in donations, says acting natural resources minister
SHAH ALAM, July 26 — Contributions to the 'Save the Malayan Tiger' campaign have reached RM2.1 million since its launch in 2021, says acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. He said the donations were made possible through cooperation with various strategic partners, including the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), to raise funds and awareness on the importance of Malayan tiger conservation. 'So far, FAM has contributed about RM200,000 to the Save the Malayan Tiger Campaign Fund through proceeds from football match ticket sales. Once again, I would like to thank FAM,' he said here today. Also present were Peninsular Malaysia Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim and FAM president Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub. Johari, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said this in a speech delivered by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii when officiating the national-level Global Tiger Day celebration, held annually on July 29. Meanwhile, Johari said the Cabinet had, on June 16, 2021, agreed to implement extraordinary strategic actions for Malayan tiger conservation over a 10-year period from 2021 to 2030. He said these actions encompassed three approaches: intensifying efforts to halt population decline, improving governance and implementation effectiveness in conservation, and strengthening initiatives to ensure the long-term survival of the Malayan tiger. 'Monitoring conducted by Perhilitan with support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has shown a rise in the Malayan tiger population. 'This is a positive indicator of the success of ongoing efforts, including habitat conservation through international accreditation and recognition schemes,' he said. In addition, Johari said Malaysia was currently working to secure 'Conservation Assured Tiger Standards' accreditation for Taman Negara in Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, as well as Endau Rompin National Park. He added that Perhilitan was also pursuing Asean Heritage Park (AHP) recognition for the Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Lawyers to debate two resolutions on judiciary at Bar EGM
The quorum for the EGM, to be held at Matrade Hall, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah at 10am on Saturday, is set at 500 members. KUALA LUMPUR : The Malaysian Bar will convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) this Saturday to debate two key motions concerning judicial independence in the country. One, titled 'Judicial Independence', will be tabled by Bar Council chairman Ezri Abdul Wahab. The second, 'Motion to hold the prime minister accountable for having allowed for the undermining of public confidence in the judiciary,' will be jointly proposed by lawyers Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and Surendra Ananth, with support from four others. A third motion, 'Implementing a Fair Rate of Minimum Remuneration for Pupils' — put forward by lawyers Goh Cia Yee and Vince Tan — has garnered widespread support, seconded by 190 lawyers. Bar secretary Murshidah Mustafa circulated the motions to more than 24,000 lawyers practicing in Peninsular Malaysia. The quorum for the EGM, to be held at Matrade Hall, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah at 10am, is set at 500 members. This meeting follows significant developments in recent months. On March 15, the Bar unanimously passed two amended resolutions reaffirming its stance against any interference in the judiciary by the executive, legislature, or other unauthorised individuals. On July 1, Ezri called for the EGM, amid concerns over the lack of clarity surrounding the retirement of chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who was set to reach the mandatory retirement age of 66. On July 14, a large group of lawyers gathered outside the Palace of Justice for a march in defence of the judiciary's integrity. Ezri then submitted a memorandum to Zamri Misman, the legal affairs department's director-general, who received it on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office. The memorandum called for the appointment of judicial leaders with demonstrable integrity and a track record of quality judgments, and for judicial vacancies to be filled swiftly to prevent delays in case hearings. Last Friday, the Chief Registrar's office announced that Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, 62, will be appointed Malaysia's new chief justice, succeeding Tengku Maimun. The announcement also said that Justice Abu Bakar Jais, 63, will head the Court of Appeal, while Justice Azizah Nawawi, 63, is set to become Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. The statement added that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had, based on the prime minister's advice and after consulting the Conference of Rulers, consented to the appointments, in accordance with Article 122B of the Federal Constitution. All three judges will be sworn in and presented with their letters of appointment at Istana Negara on July 28.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Human Resources Ministry launches legal aid initiative for industrial court cases
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — The Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma) has launched a Legal Aid initiative for parties with cases before the Industrial Court of Malaysia. In a statement today, Kesuma said the initiative is a collaboration between the Industrial Court, Malaysian Bar, Sabah Law Society, and the Advocates Association of Sarawak. The measure was officially announced by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim during the Industrial Court appreciation dinner held at a hotel last night. 'In Peninsular Malaysia, eligible parties may obtain this legal assistance through the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre,' the statement read. It stated that the eligibility for the service is based on a Means Test, which takes into account income and financial commitments such as housing loans, monthly rent and cost of living. Kesuma clarified that no legal fees will be charged, and applicants are only required to bear direct expenses such as lawyers' transportation, photocopying and statutory declarations, as the Industrial Court will not impose any filing fee. Applicants must provide proof of residence, salary slips, utility bills and confirmation letters. Monthly household income, after expenses, must not exceed RM1,000 for married couples and RM800 for single applicants. In addition, asset limits apply: total property value must not exceed RM75,000, with specific caps of RM4,500 for motorcycles, RM15,000 for cars and other assets and RM5,000 in savings. 'The management reserves the right to evaluate applications on a case-by-case basis,' the ministry stated. In Sabah and Sarawak, the service is offered through the Sabah Law Society and the Advocates Association of Sarawak, respectively, subject to their eligibility criteria. 'This initiative reflects the Industrial Court's ongoing commitment to ensuring greater, more inclusive access to justice, particularly for workers and employers in need,' Kesuma said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
22-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Human Resources Ministry opens two probes into Johor bus company following driver strike over salary cuts and excessive overtime
PUTRAJAYA, July 22 — The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) has opened two investigation papers against a transport company following a bus driver strike at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) in Johor Bahru on Sunday. In a statement today, the ministry said that initial findings by the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) have found that the strike is linked to unresolved worker grievances, including unexplained salary deductions, the abrupt removal of special duty allowances, as well as unpaid overtime claims. 'Many drivers were reluctant to lodge formal complaints due to fear of retaliation. To avoid a repeat of the incident, JTKSM conducted early-morning checks at the premises today and found no further disruptions,' the ministry said. KESUMA also revealed that the company had previously violated the Employment (Overtime) Regulations 1980 by recording over 104 hours of overtime in a single month during operations conducted on July 17. The same operation saw KESUMA inspect 32 companies, resulting in 34 investigation papers, with 30 under the Employment Act 1955 and four under the Employees' Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446). The ministry reminded employers to comply with all provisions of the Employment Act, particularly those related to lawful salary deductions. Violations can result in fines of up to RM50,000 per offence. It noted that Human Resources Minister Steven Sim has instructed strict enforcement without compromise against companies failing to comply with labour laws. Workers facing issues such as wage deductions, unpaid overtime or mistreatment are encouraged to file complaints with JTKSM via the hotline at 03-8886 5192/5937 or email [email protected]. — Bernama
