Latest news with #RM3mil

The Star
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Star
Baling Sabo Dam expected to be completed ahead of schedule, says Saifuddin Nasution
BALING: The RM22.80mil Sabo Dam in Sungai Kupang near here is expected to be completed ahead of schedule, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The dam, which is currently at 62% progress as opposed to the scheduled 20%, will reduce the risk of debris flows that threaten the safety of the 5,000 residents in Baling Town, he added. "Contractors have given assurances that the project will be completed two months ahead of the original schedule, at the end of next year… it's rare that such a project develops at such a pace," he told reporters after visiting the project site in his capacity as Kedah state development action council joint chairman near here Saturday (June 28). He also shared that the flood mitigation plan in Baling district was at 12% development for Phase 1 and 3.68% for Phase 2 so far, with Phase 1, costing RM9.6mil, expected to be completed in November next year and Phase 2, costing RM118mil, expected to be completed in January 2029. The flood mitigation projects were of utmost importance to the people in Baling as they faced frequent flooding previously, he said. "In 2024, Baling was hit by 17 incidents of floods… in 2023 only 10 times… according to data from the Irrigation and Drainage Department," he said, pointing out that the flood mitigation plan was part of the Federal Government's efforts to tackle the flooding issue in the district. Saifuddin Nasution also visited the location where 17 replacement houses and facilities are being built for victims of the debris flow that hit Kampung Iboi on July 4, 2022. The project, costing RM3mil, is 95% complete, with only the preparation of utilities for the houses remaining, he added. "It is expected to be done by the third week of July and when it is settled, we will hand the houses to those affected," he said. - Bernama


The Star
8 hours ago
- General
- The Star
New Gothic-style St Peter's Church symbolises Sarawak's unity and harmony
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (centre) entering the new St Peter's Church in Kuching, accompanied by Archbishop Datuk Simon Poh (right) and rector Rev Vincent Chin. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star KUCHING: The newly opened Gothic-style St Peter's Church in Padungan stands as a testament to Sarawak's religious harmony and unity, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg. The Sarawak Premier highlighted the church's location in the city centre, close to other religious houses of worship, as a reflection of the region's spirit of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. "We are blessed to live in a land where mutual respect and peaceful coexistence are not mere aspirations but a way of life. "This church adds further beauty to that legacy and will undoubtedly be a tourism attraction in the years to come," he said at the church's opening ceremony on Saturday (June 28). His speech was read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah. Abang Johari praised the collaborative spirit that brought the church to fruition, with the Catholic community working alongside friends and supporters from various faiths and backgrounds. He noted that the completion of the church demonstrated the power of a united community working towards a shared purpose and collective goodwill. "This is not just a place for prayer and reflection, it is a symbol of vision, resilience and deep-rooted faith," he added. Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Datuk Simon Poh described St Peter's Church as more than just a building, but a landmark of harmony, friendship and goodwill. He noted the opening ceremony's diverse attendance, with people from different faiths contributing to peace and harmony. "So this church becomes a sign of our desire for harmony, contributing to society and building a better Sarawak as a model for other parts of Malaysia and the world. "Kuching is a city of unity and Sarawak the land of unity. This touches the hearts of many people who come from all walks of life, giving their support for the church building project," he told reporters. The RM38mil church began construction in late 2019 and was completed in December last year. It was funded by public donations and received RM3mil from the state Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) over three years, including RM1mil handed over during the opening ceremony. St Peter's rector Rev Vincent Chin explained that the building was inspired by the classical neo-Gothic style of the old St Joseph's Cathedral. "In designing this sacred space, we were guided by the principle of anchoring traditions and embracing change. The roof trusses carry the same design from our old church but constructed with modern steel instead of traditional wood," he said. With a seating capacity for 1,000 people, the church's Gothic features include pointed spires, flying buttresses, arches, and stained glass windows. Chin noted that the stained glass was made entirely on site by Italian master craftsmen and incorporated local Dayak designs. He also mentioned that the tiles were produced by a local factory, while the main door and cross were crafted by a local wood specialist, and fittings by local artisans. "This is truly a Sarawak-built church and we should be proud of it," he said.


The Star
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Delay expanded SST to next year amid global uncertainty, urges ACCCIM
PETALING JAYA: The government should reconsider implementing the expanded Sales and Services Tax (SST) next year to allow more time for preparation, says the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM). The group said adequate preparation is crucial for ensuring better compliance and smooth implementation. "Our concern is that multiple cost increases are coinciding with a challenging global and domestic economic environment. "This is exacerbated by the uncertainty surrounding trade tariffs policy and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, which together create significant economic headwinds. "The effects of rising costs, which have been felt in 2025, are expected to persist or influence the business and economic landscape in 2026," it said in a statement on Saturday (June 28). It added that the proposed postponement of the SST implementation was among the issues raised in a letter submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. "We have respectfully urged the government to defer the implementation of SST to January 2026, starting with 4% for the first two years. "We also asked that taxable services threshold registration be raised higher to RM3mil for rental or leasing services, and construction services, and the threshold of exemption from paying tax for SMEs tenants be raised higher to RM2mil annual sales. "We also proposed a longer exemption period of 36 months for non-reviewable and reviewable contracts to cover all project types due to the type of projects and project cycles," it said. ACCCIM also noted that while the higher SST threshold for rental and leasing services, as well as small and medium enterprise (SME) tenants, will ease compliance and financial burden, a further increase would be more suitable. "Higher threshold is better aligned with the definition of SMEs for the services and other sectors," it said. On the Finance Ministry's recent adjustments to fine-tune the SST framework, ACCCIM said it was a welcome move that they take cautiously. "We cautiously welcomed the government's announcement on the review of the expanded SST, taking into account ACCCIM's concerns and feedback. "This includes matters regarding the timing, spillover effects, scope of SST expansion, SST rate and the registration threshold of taxable services," it said. The revision includes the exemption of SST for selected fruits, higher threshold for rental and leasing services, financial services and the exemption of selected beauty services.


The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Funds converted to crypto
Cracking down on corruption: Azam (fourth from left) giving a press conference at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN PUTRAJAYA: Sukuk funds at the centre of an embezzlement probe involving a 'Tan Sri' were partly converted into digital currency, says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. He said investigations revealed the amount came up to about RM11mil. 'We detected these transfers from the sukuk funds into digital currency, amounting to roughly RM11mil. 'The money is also believed to have been used to cover expenses,' he told a press conference yesterday. When asked for details about the sukuk funds being used for gambling, Azam said he could not provide further details. 'It could have been used in casinos but I can't go into details because I myself don't play so I wouldn't know,' he said in jest. He said investigations should be completed within two months, with an outcome possibly even before that. Previously, it was reported that the MACC seized various assets including handbags, jewellery, luxury vehicles, watches, cash and a luxury residence, estimated at about RM32mil, believed to belong to a highway concessionaire with the title Tan Sri. Investigations also led to the seizure of premium alcoholic beverages valued at RM3mil, and that around RM20mil in sukuk funds were used for gambling. On another matter, Azam said they are investigating the possibility that parts of government-injected funds into Sapura Energy were misappropriated by a high-ranking official. He noted that they are examining assets owned by the official involved, including two homes valued at RM5.5mil. 'Investigations are ongoing into whether some RM12mil was misappropriated. We will focus on 2018, as during that time, Permodalan Nasional Berhad made an injection (of funds) into Sapura Energy,' he said. In a related case involving the same company, Azam said that investigations into alleged bribes of US$3.3mil received from a foreign-based company could take time due to foreign legal jurisdictions. Azam also said a non-governmental organisation in Melaka is under investigation for allegedly misusing RM26mil in public donations. Its group chairman, secretary, treasurer and finance manager have since been arrested. Azam said the money was contributed by the public for humanitarian relief efforts. 'The main suspect is the chairman, who has just been released from remand. Investigations are ongoing,' he said, adding that most of the funds were reportedly spent on personal expenditures and purchasing assets like land and buildings.


The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Burning of PM caricature 'desperate stunt' due to lacklustre turnout, says PKR division chief
KOTA KINABALU: The act of burning a caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the recent Suara Mahasiswa rally has been described as a desperate stunt to regain attention after a lacklustre turnout. Tuaran PKR division chief Razeef Rakimin condemned the act, calling it a misdirected and hazardous attempt to provoke. 'This was a desperate attempt to gain attention after the mobilisation failed. The demonstration on Saturday only drew about 50 to 80 people, and the burning of the caricature the next day was clearly a stunt aimed at the wrong target,' he said in a statement on Monday (June 23). The caricature, set alight during the second day of the 'Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0' protest organised by students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), was supposedly intended as a symbolic jab at the Prime Minister, labelling him a protector of corruption in Sabah. Razeef said that although the group had a right to protest — something he and Sabah PKR have supported from the beginning — their methods have become increasingly problematic. 'Since their first protest on water issues, and then Gempur Rasuah 1.0 and now 2.0, we have been consistent in defending the right to demonstrate. The police have also allowed their rallies as long as they follow the law,' he said. 'But their approach is off. Instead of mobilising the rakyat, they resort to mockery and extreme ridicule, which turns people off. Their antics come across as distasteful and even childish.' He said one incident during the Saturday rally saw participants roughing up another protester who held a placard demanding an investigation into the alleged RM1.5bil leak — a contradiction to the rally's anti-corruption message. 'Police managed to keep the peace despite provocation. One officer was even shouted at simply for asking to see an ID. It's within a police officer's rights to request identification, yet the demonstrators treated him disrespectfully,' he added. Razeef also questioned why the Prime Minister became the target, pointing out that Anwar had approved a RM3mil allocation to help resolve UMS's water woes after hearing students' complaints. 'The PM didn't pocket a single sen from that project. So why burn his caricature instead of targeting the actual individuals accused of corruption?' he asked. He further highlighted that the burning itself was poorly executed and dangerous. 'After two failed attempts, the banner still wouldn't burn. One participant nearly caught fire when another foolishly lit the petrol while it was still being poured. This was not about cleaning up after - they endangered public safety at Gaya Street, which had tourists and weekend visitors.' 'The public backlash has been strong, not because of their anti-corruption message, but because of the sheer recklessness and disrespect shown. Corruption isn't part of our culture, but neither is extremism and vandalism.' Police have said investigations are ongoing into the banner burning, which may fall under sedition or other related laws.