Latest news with #RM420
Barnama
19-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
New Housing Projects Need To Be Comprehensive, Complete With Schools
GENERAL BUTTERWORTH, July 19 (Bernama) -- Every new housing project must be planned comprehensively, complete with facilities such as schools, preschools and nurseries for the well-being of the people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He stressed that the government will not approve any housing project that does not meet these basic needs. "If you build a house but the school is far away, what do you do?" he said when speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony and Launch of SkyWorld Pearlmont Rumah Bakat MADANI project here today. Anwar said an integrated planning approach not only saves on transportation costs for residents but also improves safety and reduces the concerns of parents who have to send their children to schools far away. He also stated that the government is considering the development of schools vertically (vertical schools) in areas with limited land, with complete facilities such as fields, laboratories and others. Anwar stressed that the comprehensive implementation of the project by developers is better than the separate tender method which can cause delays. He also praised the Rumah Bakat MADANI project by SkyWorld for having unique elements, namely providing a 'central park' and a 'vertical school', in addition to being the first project in Malaysia to be built using 'prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC)' technology. PPVC technology uses a construction concept like "LEGO", where modular units are completely built in the factory including the installation of tiles, toilet fittings, electrical wiring, windows, doors and painting work before being sent to the site for installation. Each Rumah Bakat MADANI unit measures 900 square feet, has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and is sold at between RM225,000 to RM420,000 with freehold status.
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
CAAM to become statutory body, absorb Mavcom effective Aug 1
PUTRAJAYA: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) will transition into an independent statutory body effective Aug 1, with separate remuneration and exemption from the government. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the government has strengthened the regulatory structure and development of the national aviation industry by transitioning CAAM into a Statutory Body with Separated and Exempted Remuneration (BBDSB), and by rationalising CAAM and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom). He said this change will save the government between RM150 million and RM200 million annually and between RM1.5 billion and RM2 billion over the next 10 years. With this rationalisation, CAAM will take over the economic regulatory functions previously carried out by Mavcom, making CAAM the sole regulatory body for the aviation industry, encompassing technical, safety, and economic aspects. Loke noted that this decision by the government will grant CAAM autonomy and flexibility in financial governance, human resource management and the ability to make strategic decisions. Additionally, CAAM will have the capacity to plan and implement more efficient resource management strategies in line with international best practices. 'The estimated revenue for CAAM this year is about RM420 million. Previously, our annual revenue was only in the region of RM100 million to RM110 million. 'Given these figures, it is clear that CAAM could not survive on its own. That is why, until now, it has required an annual injection of at least RM150 million to RM200 million from the government to keep its operations running – and that is before accounting for the maintenance of our air traffic control towers, other facilities, or any development projects. 'Now, our estimated revenue for this year stands at RM400 million. We have already collected about RM150 million in just the first five months, exceeding the total revenue for the entire previous year. 'This strong performance has given us the confidence that CAAM will become financially independent and sustainable. This financial sustainability is also one of the critical conditions set by the Cabinet and the Public Service Department for granting CAAM its status as a BBDSD,' he told reporters in a briefing today. Loke said this initiative is part of the government's current reform agenda and policy direction to improve service delivery efficiency and to centralise government institutions with overlapping roles. Through this rationalisation, it establishes a solid foundation for CAAM to drive the growth of the aviation industry towards a progressive and sustainable future, supporting Malaysia's goal to become a regional aviation hub. This capability is also crucial for CAAM's efforts to retain and attract highly skilled talent in technical fields, especially qualified technical personnel who are critical in ensuring the safety and security of the national aviation industry. Loke said this sector requires a workforce that is not only qualified but also highly skilled and experienced, in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization. 'With this significant increase in revenue, CAAM will achieve financial independence and gain the capacity to offer more competitive remuneration, particularly for our technical personnel. This is a critical step forward, as our inability to compensate our qualified technical staff at market rates was a key factor in CAAM's previous downgrade from Category 1 to Category 2 by the US Federal Aviation Administration,' Loke said. The audit findings at that time made it clear that competitive salaries are essential for talent retention, he disclosed. 'Now, with improved financial standing, we are in a much stronger position to attract and retain top-tier technical talent. Our objective is not only to secure the best-qualified technical personnel but also to invest in the development of our air traffic controllers, enhancing their skills and operational efficiency. 'This approach aligns with our commitment to building a robust and sustainable workforce for the future of Malaysia's aviation industry,' the minister said. Loke assured all Mavcom employees that they will have the opportunity to transition into roles within CAAM following the merger. He emphasised that the restructuring process will be managed systematically and with complete transparency, in line with established governance principles. Additionally, a business continuity plan has been developed and will be shared with impacted staff through dedicated internal briefings. Currently, Mavcom employs 57 personnel, all of whom will be considered for positions at CAAM as part of the merger process.
New Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mavcom merger a turning point for CAAM's financial independence: Loke
PUTRAJAYA: The merger of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), which takes effect on Aug 1 2025, marks a major turning point for the former's financial independence and operational sustainability, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said. Loke said CAAM is projected to collect over RM420 million in revenue in 2025, almost four times higher than its annual revenue of RM100 million to RM110 million a year previously. "We (CAAM) has collected about RM150 million in the first five months of this year. That revenue has exceeded the revenue collected in the entire year in 2024. "That has given us the confidence that CAAM will be financially independent, financially sustainable," Loke said at a media briefing on Monday. The major revenue for CAAM comes from air navigation charges, which are imposed on any aircraft that uses the Malaysian airspace. The majority of the charges come from foreign airlines that fly through the local airspace to Singapore Changi Airport. Loke said the air navigation charges were reviewed and increased beginning Jan 1 2025. He added that the increase follows more than three decades of unchanged rates, which made Malaysia as one of the countries that had long been offering one of the region's lowest aviation services charges. "We have been giving very, very cheap services over the years, in terms of pricing, in terms of charges. We have never reviewed that for more than 30 years, since the 1980s. "We only review it for the past one or two years. In fact, this exercise started during my first term as the transport minister in 2019. "I was furious – why are these charges so low compared to our peers?" Loke asked. He added that other charges related to pilot licensing and other aviation activities have also been revised but contribute only marginally to CAAM's overall revenue. Previously, CAAM needed at least RM150 million to RM200 million financial injection from the government to keep operating. The amount does not include maintenance of the air traffic control towers, maintenance of other facilities as well as developments. The move also help the government to save some RM150 million to RM200 million a year, or at least RM1.5 billion to RM2 billion in the next 10 years, Loke said. He also said the current revenue performance provides strong justification for granting CAAM Statutory Body with Separated Remuneration and Autonomy (BBDSB) status that allows the aviation regulator greater flexibility in financial governance, human resource management and strategic planning. Loke said the reform offers CAAM the autonomy to manage resources efficiently, attract top talents and retain the current ones by offering attractive remuneration packages, and implement long-term development strategies. The merger will also see CAAM absorbing Mavcom's economic regulatory functions, making it the single aviation regulator in the country responsible for technical, safety and economic oversight. Loke said the move is part of the government's broader agenda to streamline overlapping functions within public institutions and improve service delivery. The legal framework enabling the merger was passed in Parliament through the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Dissolution) Bill 2024 and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (Amendment) Bill 2024. Both bills were approved by the Dewan Rakyat on June 26 2024, the Dewan Negara on July 30 2024, and received the consent of the King of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim on Sept 11 2024. The bills were gazetted on Sept 25 2024. The acts will come into force concurrently with the effective date of the merger, which is Aug 1 2025. Loke said all 57 Mavcom employees will be offered an employment with CAAM based on their skills and experience. He added that the transition will be guided by strong governance principles and supported by a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to ensure uninterrupted regulatory oversight.
Daily Express
23-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Malaysian Aviation Commission to be absorbed by Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia on August 1
Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 23, 2025 By: Minderjeet Kaur, FMT Text Size: Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said all 57 Mavcom staff would be offered positions in CAAM, based on their experience and qualifications. PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) will be dissolved and integrated into the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) from Aug 1, a rationalisation move to streamline regulatory oversight without incurring higher charges on air passengers. Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said all 57 Mavcom staff would be offered positions in CAAM, based on their experience and qualifications. 'We assure all stakeholders that this transition will be carried out in an orderly and smooth manner. Every staff member will be informed of their new role in due course,' he told a press conference at his ministry here. Loke said the merger would position CAAM as the sole regulatory authority for the aviation industry in Malaysia, covering technical, safety, and economic aspects. He added that this would not involve additional costs to passengers. Instead, he said the rationalisation would result in significant cost savings, which would be redirected to attract and retain qualified technical personnel, especially in critical areas like air traffic control and aviation safety. Advertisement He said most of this revenue would come from the air navigation charges imposed on airlines using Malaysian airspace, especially foreign carriers, since January this year. 'It will save the government RM150 million to RM200 million annually,' he said, adding that CAAM currently had a total of 1,430 employees. He also said that the government's decision to grant CAAM the status of a statutory body with separate emoluments would make the regulator financially independent. 'This is not just a merger. It's a fundamental step towards strengthening CAAM's position as a more competitive, resilient, and progressive regulator in line with international best practices.' Loke said CAAM's estimated revenue for 2025 was RM420 million, an increase from RM100 million to 110 million per annum previously. 'As of May this year alone, CAAM collected RM150 million, which is more than its total revenue for all of last year,' he added. Loke said these reforms were necessary following Malaysia's downgrade from Category 1 to Category 2 by the US Federal Aviation Administration, partly due to CAAM's inability to offer market-competitive salaries to technical staff. 'With this new financial model, we can offer better packages and retain top talent.' * 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
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PM Anwar tells states to resolve poverty and flood issues, praises Penang's housing initiative
SEBERANG PERAI, March 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged all states to prioritise resolving the people's issues. He said state governments should also address social issues such as poverty, floods and public housing while pushing for infrastructure development. 'If you ask me, aside from infrastructure development, I would say the priority is to solve the issue of extreme poverty and floods,' he said in his speech at the Madani state-level iftar event at Masjid Abu Ubaidah Ibni Al-Jarrah in Bandar Tasek Mutiara today. He then commended the Penang state government for its Madani affordable housing initiative, the largest housing project to date, which is expected to be launched this year. The initiative involves building nearly 38,000 residential units with a gross development value (GDV) of RM13 billion in Batu Kawan and Seberang Jaya. It will offer homes priced between RM300,000 and RM420,000, mainly targeting the B40 and M40 income groups. Meanwhile, Anwar also urged parents to cooperate and support the government's decision to implement changes to further push the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) agenda. He said starting next year, 70 per cent of admissions to Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) must be for the STEM stream. 'This decision may not be well received by some of you but this is necessary for us to meet industry demands for a highly skilled workforce, especially in advanced technology fields,' he said. He said even if there are objections to this, it will not be entertained. 'We will lose out if we give in. We have bought in Infineon, Nvidia, Arm Limited, Microsoft and Google into Malaysia, but we are still short of local talents to meet the industry's needs,' he said.
