Latest news with #Petaling Jaya
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Selangor govt must explain car park privatisation deal, says MCA
Selangor MCA deputy chairman Tan Gim Tuan said full transparency of the car park privatisation deal is needed to prevent any third party from making profits at the expense of ratepayers. PETALING JAYA : Selangor MCA has urged the state government to explain the proposed car park privatisation deal allegedly involving public land, warning that any decision made without public consultation would be irresponsible. Selangor MCA deputy chairman and urban affairs bureau head Tan Gim Tuan said any arrangement involving public land must be subject to public scrutiny. He urged the state government to explain the full terms of the deal, and how it will benefit the public. 'They must explain in detail whether such a deal exists, the terms and conditions, and how the deal benefits the people,' he said. According to state executive councillor Ng Suee Lim, the concession for a 'smart parking system' covering collections of parking fees and enforcement will involve local councils, state-owned Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd and a private company. Ng said enforcement would be carried out by local council officers, with Rantaian Mesra to act as a system coordinator. The private company, which has yet to be appointed, will handle the four local councils' daily parking operations. He said Rantaian Mesra and the other company are expected to invest around RM200 million to develop the infrastructure for the smart parking system. Tan said the principle of public consultation was officially introduced when Petaling Jaya was granted city status in 2006, and must now be applied consistently across Selangor. He pointed out that city councillors in Selangor are political appointees representing parties in the state government, and therefore have a responsibility to serve the interests of ratepayers and not just private entities. He also said full transparency is needed to prevent any third party from making profits at the expense of ratepayers. The four local councils involved in the first phase of the scheme are the Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, and Shah Alam city councils and the Selayang municipal council.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Why CKD continues to fly under the radar
CKD is a progressive condition in which the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste and excess fluids from the blood. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA : The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Malaysia surged from 9.07% in 2011 to 15.48% in 2018, signalling a worrying trend. Today, more than 50,000 Malaysians receive dialysis, according to the health ministry, which projects this number could exceed 100,000 by 2040 if early intervention continues to be elusive. Yet, many remain unaware they might be at risk: the slow, symptomless nature of CKD and lack of public awareness often lead to late diagnosis, after significant and irreversible kidney damage has set in. CKD is a progressive condition in which the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste and excess fluids from the blood. By the time patients experience symptoms like fatigue, bodily swelling, or changes in urination, significant and often irreversible damage has already occurred. 'CKD is a dangerous disease precisely because it hides in plain sight,' explained consultant nephrologist and physician Dr Chong Yip Boon. 'Left undetected, it can result in life-threatening complications such as cardiovascular disease, symptomatic anaemia, metabolic bone diseases, fluid overload and ultimately, irreversible renal failure and death. 'Its insidious onset and silent progressive nature make early detection both challenging and critical. Lack of public awareness and regular health screenings further increase the difficulty in its early diagnosis.' Dr Chong Yip Boon. One of the key reasons CKD is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages is the widespread lack of public awareness and regular checkups. Most individuals do not experience any discomfort or clear symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Even when signs appear, they are often misattributed to other, less serious conditions. The common mindset that 'feeling fine means being healthy' leads to delayed action, especially among high-risk individuals. 'The issue isn't that kidney tests aren't available. In fact, they are included in most health screening packages,' Chong noted. 'The problem is that people simply don't come in for checkups until it's too late.' Screening is especially important for high-risk groups: those with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, morbid obesity, kidney stones, gout, or a family history of kidney disease. Others include the elderly, frequent users of painkillers or over-the-counter medications, and those who self-medicate regularly. The health ministry projects that, without early intervention, the number of Malaysians who require dialysis could hit 100,000 by 2040. (Bernama pic) In some cases, early signs may be more visible than people realise. For example, abnormal bubbly or foamy urine can be an early indicator of protein loss – a possible sign of kidney damage. A simple urine test with a GP or specialist can determine whether symptoms are benign or related to CKD. Chong places emphasis on practical lifestyle steps to reduce the risk of kidney disease: drink at least 2 litres of water per day (if there are no underlying heart conditions); maintain a healthy and balanced diet; avoid overuse of painkillers, unprescribed supplements, and self-medication; exercise regularly and aim for sustainable weight reduction; avoid or limit smoking and alcohol consumption; schedule routine full-body screenings and checkups to have a more well-informed overview of one's health; manage existing underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease. 'Malaysians must begin to see kidney health as an essential part of general wellbeing, not something to think about only when symptoms appear,' Chong stressed. 'Routine screening, especially among at-risk individuals, can lead to early detection, delay disease progression, improve quality of life, and significantly reduce long-term healthcare costs.'
Free Malaysia Today
11-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Power rate hike will hit middle class, says DAP man
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng and DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng said the government should put the new power tariff rates on hold. PETALING JAYA : A DAP leader has criticised Tenaga Nasional Berhad's move to increase power tariffs, saying the decision showed the national utility company was disconnected from the current realities on the ground. Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng claimed that while the restructured tariffs meant the industrial and commercial sector would be paying higher rates, domestic users, especially those from the middle class, would also be impacted. He said the middle class did not receive full subsidies like the B40s and would not be able to bear the additional cost. 'Young families who have just bought homes, factory workers renting shared air-conditioned rooms, and small traders like tailors and hawkers are now faced with soaring monthly bills, even though their usage is for basic needs, not luxury,' he said in a statement. Lim, who is also the Kuala Lumpur DAP secretary, said the decision to revise the rates was ill-timed and misguided. He claimed that many consumers were caught by surprise when they were billed based on the new rates without proper explanation, while glitches plaguing TNB's mobile app compounded matters. 'This raises the question of whether TNB was truly prepared before rolling out such a major change,' he said. Under the new tariff scheme, effective from July 1 to the end of 2027, the base average tariff increased to 45.4 sen/kWh from 39.95 sen/kWh. The Energy Commission said, however, that some 23.6 million domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia would enjoy fairer electricity rates and, in turn, lower costs of living. TNB said consumers using less than 600 kWh a month were exempted from the new retail electricity tariffs. Lim also called for the government to put the new tariff rates on hold. Meanwhile, DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng said the power bill hike should be reviewed in light of new risks following the US's decision to impose a 25% reciprocal tariff on Malaysian goods. 'A freeze or a pause in the 14.2% hike in electricity tariffs for businesses is necessary to help Malaysians face the 25% reciprocal tariff imposed by the US,' he said in a statement. Separately, he welcomed Bank Negara Malaysia's reduction of interest rates, but said more was needed to protect companies and families. On July 9, the central bank reduced the overnight policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% from 3%, in view of global economic growth and consumer spending. 'Our economy could be further strengthened, businesses prosper and people's lives better if the government can pause or freeze all hikes in utility charges,' Guan Eng said. The former finance minister hoped the matter would be raised at a meeting between Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim and the coalition's MPs on Monday.
