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NST Leader: Ensure Gig Workers Bill delivers
NST Leader: Ensure Gig Workers Bill delivers

New Straits Times

time8 hours ago

  • Business
  • New Straits Times

NST Leader: Ensure Gig Workers Bill delivers

THERE is finally some clarity about the long awaited Gig Workers Bill after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in August or September. But several concerns about this future economy have to be sorted out. Chiefly, the bill has to balance worker protection with business viability and sustainability. The bill is designed to safeguard the gig economy and create a social protection framework for the 1.12 million Malaysians working in the sector. The bill is also meant to provide equitable protection that builds a fair, inclusive and resilient future. Zahid has touted the bill as a world's first and that the International Labour Organisation was keen to learn from Malaysia's experience. However, despite its importance, industry players are adopting a "wait-and-see" attitude. The gig economy is a major economic contributor and a source of employment to youngsters. A key question about the bill is on whether it addresses career advancements. The bill also has place in the Education Ministry's effort to stem Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia absenteeism, as more students are forfeiting the examination to become riders and drivers for quick and easy money. The Department of Statistics Malaysia conducted a study in 2022 and found that the majority of p-hailing riders are aged between 15 and 30 and earn about RM2,500 a month. Major industry players maintained that the bill offered little clarity because no regulatory impact assessment has been done. Over the years of deliberations, the industry hasn't seen dispute resolution, deactivation compensation and wage requirement resolved. It's clear that more industry consultations and inclusivity is needed in the bill's drafting, especially discussions with platforms, gig workers, academics and experts. There are other worries: will there be spikes in operational costs, more entry barriers, disruptions in business models and higher consumer costs? Gig worker associations are uneasy with excessive regulations that may stifle innovation, discourage platform investment, reduce job opportunities and harm economic benefits. They are asking: Will the bill clearly define gig workers, provide practical mechanisms for dispute resolution, income protection and social security? This is why there have been multiple postponements to the bill's tabling. Nevertheless, the bill is a global pioneering legal framework for gig workers, espousing a fair, inclusive and resilient future economy.

Zahid: Govt will rebuild all homes lost in Bagan Pasir Laut blaze
Zahid: Govt will rebuild all homes lost in Bagan Pasir Laut blaze

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • New Straits Times

Zahid: Govt will rebuild all homes lost in Bagan Pasir Laut blaze

BAGAN DATUK: The government will rebuild all 21 houses that were destroyed in a fire in Bagan Pasir Laut, Hutan Melintang, on Saturday. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he had instructed various federal and state agencies to fast-track the reconstruction of the affected homes, despite several challenges. The rural and regional development minister said a joint committee had been formed between his ministry and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department for this purpose. "Both the federal and state governments will find ways to address the issues faced by the victims, and we will resolve them by rebuilding the homes. "I have already discussed this with the ministry's secretary-general and the state ICU director, and they have set up a joint committee to expedite the process. I've requested that land leveling works be completed within a month. "I've also requested that funding be allocated for the standard construction of these homes, based on the land size indicated in the land grants or Temporary Occupation License (TOL) approval letters," he said. Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk member of parliament, was speaking to reporters after presenting welfare aid to the fire victims at the settlement today. Each affected family received RM10,000 in aid, comprising RM3,000 from the ICU and the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), RM3,000 as Zahid's personal contribution, and RM4,000 from Tantrayana Buddhist Federation Chen Foh Chong Malaysia. Zahid said the Bagan Pasir Laut village, located within the Bagan Datuk parliamentary constituency, was established about 140 years ago. The land in the area is TOL land, and there are a total of 149 houses in the area. "The available allocation is approximately RM86,000 for each house. But I believe that with the donations collected, families may want to add extensions or make improvements, and we will leave that up to each family. "The ministry, Nadma, state government, Perak Land and Mines Office, Welfare Department, and other agencies have coordinated efforts to ensure that TOL ownership rights are handed over to the head of each affected family, house, and shop. "As for the temple, an individual who is a friend of mine has promised to provide assistance for its reconstruction. I've already delivered part of that donation today," he said. On Saturday, an early morning fire destroyed 21 houses, a restaurant, and a temple in Bagan Pasir Laut. Firefighting efforts were hampered by low water pressure from fire hydrants and the risk of electrical arcing from still-active power cables.

Malaysia takes lead on Asean's regional cybersecurity plan
Malaysia takes lead on Asean's regional cybersecurity plan

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • New Straits Times

Malaysia takes lead on Asean's regional cybersecurity plan

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is leading the development of the Asean Cyber Security Cooperation Strategy 2026-2030, which will be presented at the upcoming Asean Summit. The roadmap aims to bolster collective resilience in a rapidly digitising region. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia, As Asean chair, has placed cybersecurity at the heart of the regional agenda, reinforcing its leadership in global cybersecurity engagement. However, Zahid said, Asean countries differ in how they define, investigate, and prosecute cybercrimes, a gap that continues to widen as technology evolves, allowing cybercriminals to exploit cross-border inconsistencies. "To address this, I urge that the Asean Cyber Security Cooperation Strategy 2026–2030 include a dedicated focus on enabling real-time collaboration among member states, particularly in incident response, digital forensics, secure data exchange, and policy harmonisation. "These mechanisms must uphold the principles of confidentiality, sovereignty, and mutual trust, which are essential in managing sensitive and transboundary cybersecurity threats," he said in his speech at the Cyber Defence and Security Exhibition and Conference here today. Also present was Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir. Zahid said Malaysia's National Cyber Coordination and Command Centre recorded 4,626 cybersecurity incidents in 2024 - a 43 per cent increase from the previous year. In just the first half of 2025, he said 294 incidents were reported, including 133 involving entities under the National Critical Information Infrastructure. "These figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen national cyber hygiene and awareness. "As threats become more sophisticated, readiness and responsible digital behaviour are no longer optional — they are our first line of defence," he said. Zahid said Malaysia is committed to advancing its cybersecurity, especially as the threat landscape evolves rapidly. Citing the Cisco 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, he said 93 per cent of organisations reported facing AI-driven attacks in the past year, yet only 51 per cent of employees understand these threats. "Building on this, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) continues to play a vital role in producing industry-ready talent and advancing social mobility in the cybersecurity sector. "Malaysia's TVET ecosystem must now evolve into a globally recognised, high-skilled talent pipeline that drives real economic impact. "A focused upskilling initiative, led by the National Cyber Security Agency, should serve as a key enabler in this transformation," he said.

Anwar begins working visits to Italy, France and Brazil from Tuesday
Anwar begins working visits to Italy, France and Brazil from Tuesday

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • New Straits Times

Anwar begins working visits to Italy, France and Brazil from Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will undertake a series of visits to three countries – Italy, France, and Brazil – beginning July 1. This series of visits by the Prime Minister, beginning with a three-day working visit to Italy starting today, is part of Malaysia's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation at the global level. Malaysia's Ambassador to Italy, Datuk Zahid Rastam, noted that the Prime Minister's inaugural visit to Italy is being undertaken at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "This visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy across a wide range of sectors. It also reflects the government's commitment to exploring new initiatives in trade and investment, as well as cooperation in defence, energy, and agro-commodities," he told reporters in Malaysia via Google Meet from Rome on Monday. According to Wisma Putra, the Prime Minister will attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a partner country in the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Zahid stated that during the visit to Italy, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by five Cabinet ministers: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Also part of the delegation is Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. According to Zahid, the Prime Minister will also be accompanied by relevant senior government officials and a corporate delegation comprising representatives from 13 Malaysian companies across various sectors. He said the Prime Minister and his delegation are expected to arrive at Fiumicino Airport in Rome at approximately 7.50pm today, and that he is scheduled to host an engagement session with the Malaysian diaspora in Italy later that evening. Meanwhile, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra), the Prime Minister is scheduled to officiate the "Malaysia–Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable" on July 2, which will be attended by industry leaders to discuss potential collaboration in bilateral trade and investment. The roundtable meeting will involve more than 50 companies, associations, and industry representatives from both Malaysia and Italy. On the same day, the Prime Minister will hold meetings with Imam Yahya Pallavicini, Vice President of the Comunita Religiosa Islamica Italiana (COREIS), and Abdellah Redouane, Secretary-General of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy and the Mosque of Rome. According to Zahid, on Thursday, July 3, the Prime Minister will be interviewed by Rai News 24, a leading and influential television news network in Italy. In the interview, the Prime Minister is expected to speak on bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy, trade and investment matters, as well as Malaysia's role as Chair of Asean 2025, he said. He further said that at midday on July 3, Anwar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Meloni at Chigi Palace. According to the Wisma Putra statement, the meeting provides an opportunity for both leaders to assess the progress of Malaysia–Italy relations and explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in economic, defence technology, and energy fields. Both sides are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the Asean–Italy Development Partnership, Asean–European Union Dialogue Relations, and the situation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister will also outline Malaysia's priorities for its Asean Chairmanship in 2025, as well as Asean's efforts in addressing regional and global challenges. Zahid noted that the Prime Minister's visit to Italy is highly significant, reflecting the close ties between the two countries. During the visit, both leaders will reaffirm their countries' commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through more comprehensive cooperation. Zahid added that the visit would provide the mandate and momentum to elevate Malaysia–Italy bilateral relations towards a more strategic partnership in the future. He said the visit as a whole will serve as a platform for the Prime Minister to articulate Malaysia's foreign policy, particularly the country's stance on regional and global issues on the international stage, while also highlighting Malaysia's current Asean Chairmanship. The Wisma Putra statement noted that the longstanding bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy remain strong and mutually beneficial, underpinned by sustained growth in trade and investment, as well as deepening people-to-people connectivity. It also stated that in 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Italy rose by 2 per cent to RM14.61 billion (US$3.18 billion) compared to 2023. For the period of January to May 2025, total trade continued to show a positive performance, rising by 3.3 per cent to RM6.50 billion (US$1.48 billion) compared to the same period in 2024. Italy is Malaysia's fifth-largest trading partner among European Union countries and the third-largest importer of Malaysian palm oil from the bloc in 2024, according to the statement. The Prime Minister will depart for France to undertake an official visit on July 3 and 4, following the conclusion of his visit to Italy. - BERNAMA

Prime Minister Anwar embarks on three-nation visit starting Tuesday
Prime Minister Anwar embarks on three-nation visit starting Tuesday

Malaysian Reserve

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Malaysian Reserve

Prime Minister Anwar embarks on three-nation visit starting Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (picture) will undertake a series of visits to three countries – Italy, France, and Brazil – beginning July 1. This series of visits by the Prime Minister, beginning with a three-day official visit to Italy starting Tuesday, forms part of Malaysia's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation at the global level. Malaysia's Ambassador to Italy, Datuk Zahid Rastam, noted that the Prime Minister's inaugural visit to Italy is being undertaken at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. 'This visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy across a wide range of sectors. It also reflects the government's commitment to exploring new initiatives in trade and investment, as well as cooperation in the fields of defence, energy, and agro-commodities,' he told reporters in Malaysia via Google Meet from Rome on Monday. According to Wisma Putra, the Prime Minister will attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a partner country in the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Zahid stated that during the official visit to Italy, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by five Cabinet ministers: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Also part of the delegation is Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. According to Zahid, the Prime Minister will also be accompanied by relevant senior government officials and a corporate delegation comprising representatives from 13 Malaysian companies across various sectors. He said the Prime Minister and his delegation are expected to arrive at Fiumicino Airport in Rome at approximately 7.50 pm on Tuesday, July 1, and that he is scheduled to host an engagement session with the Malaysian diaspora in Italy later that evening. On Wednesday, July 2, the Prime Minister will participate in a roundtable meeting with leading figures from Italian and Malaysian industries, in an event jointly organised by the governments of Malaysia and Italy known as the Malaysia–Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable, he said. He added that the roundtable meeting will involve more than 50 companies, associations, and industry representatives from both Malaysia and Italy. On the same day, the Prime Minister will hold meetings with Imam Yahya Pallavicini, Vice President of the Comunita Religiosa Islamica Italiana (COREIS), and Abdellah Redouane, Secretary-General of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy and the Mosque of Rome. According to Zahid, on Thursday, July 3, the Prime Minister will be interviewed by Rai News 24, a leading and influential television news network in Italy. In the interview, the Prime Minister is expected to speak on bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy, trade and investment matters, as well as Malaysia's role as Chair of ASEAN 2025, he said. He further said that at midday on July 3, Anwar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi. During the meeting, both sides will discuss a range of issues encompassing bilateral cooperation in economic sectors such as trade and investment, as well as collaboration in defence, renewable energy and the environment, agro-commodities, and the digital sector. Zahid added that the discussions will also cover people-to-people cooperation, including education, cultural exchanges, the tourism sector, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, such as the situation in the Middle East. He noted that the Prime Minister's visit to Italy is highly significant in reflecting the close ties between the two countries. During the visit, both leaders will reaffirm their countries' commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through more comprehensive cooperation. Accoarding to Zahid, the visit would provide the mandate and momentum to elevate Malaysia–Italy bilateral relations towards a more strategic partnership in the future. He said the visit as a whole will serve as a platform for the Prime Minister to articulate Malaysia's foreign policy, particularly the country's stands on regional and global issues on the international stage, while also highlighting Malaysia's current ASEAN Chairmanship. Zahid highlighted that in 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Italy amounted to RM14.61 billion, with Malaysian exports to Italy valued at RM6.71 billion and imports from Italy totalling RM7.89 billion. Overall, Italy is Malaysia's fifth-largest trading partner among European countries. — BERNAMA

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