February 2023 - The Dewan

IN MALAYSIA

Lynas may lose licence if it fails to comply with conditions

The government may revoke Lynas’ licence if it fails to comply with conditions prohibiting the production of radioactive waste in Malaysia after July 1, says science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang.

Chang said while the government understood the importance of the rare earth industry and was committed to creating a business-friendly environment, no one has the right to “continuously produce radioactive waste” in Malaysia.

Putrajaya wants your feedback on its ministers, here’s how to do it

The purpose of the platform is to allow the federal administration to gauge public perception of the ministers’ performances 100 days into the formation of the unity government.

Those who are interested in providing feedback can visit this website and click on Survey on Minister.

Indian national awarded RM225,000 for illegal detention, abuse of power

A High Court in Seremban has awarded an Indian national RM225,000 in damages for unlawful detention and misfeasance in public office by an investigating officer when the nation was placed under Covid-19 lockdown three years ago.

Study use of PrEP for HIV to avoid spreading LGBT culture

The health ministry is being urged to reevaluate the use of the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine in the fight against HIV.

In the Parliament’s debate, Ahmad Yahya (PN-Pokok Sena) said the continued use of the medicine may lead to more people embracing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lifestyle.

TMJ officially appoints Khairy into JDT board and as Johor youth adviser

Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim has today agreed to appoint Khairy Jamaluddin as the state’s youth adviser and also into the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Football Club’s board of directors.

POLITICS

RoS to summon Umno Supreme Council over no-contest motion

The Registrar of Societies (RoS) will summon Umno Supreme Council members for their views on the no-contest motion for its top two posts, says Aizat Fikri Nasir who lodged a report with RoS over the matter.

Aizat said he was informed of RoS’ next course of action after meeting them yesterday.

Onn Hafiz rules out contesting for top leadership post in Umno polls

Umno’s Simpang Renggam vice-chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi will not vie for any leadership post in the coming party polls, saying he wants to focus on serving Johor as its menteri besar.

Instead, he said, he will only contest for the divisional chief’s post.

Anwar leaves for Turkey

IN MALAYSIA

PM Anwar Ibrahim leaves for Turkey to provide moral support

He will visit the disaster area where Malaysian search teams are on duty and meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The PM is accompanied by foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak affairs and special functions) Amrizan Mohd Ali.

The prime minister is expected to arrive in Gaziantep at 7.30am (local time) tomorrow to inspect the disaster site and meet with the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team before leaving for Ankara to hold a meeting with Erdogan.

Malaysia to cut subsidies to manage ballooning debt

Malaysia will tackle its rising debt levels through subsidy reduction and good governance instead of imposing new, broad-based consumption taxes, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The nation’s debts and liabilities stand at about RM1.5 trillion, or 82% of the gross domestic product, which includes 1MDB’s debt of RM18.2 billion. Anwar said the government has no plans to reintroduce the goods and services tax, which was abolished by the Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration in 2018.

MACC probes finances of former minister linked to Pandora Papers

A former minister was reportedly called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to provide a statement in relation to the Pandora Papers, which linked several prominent Malaysians to offshore tax havens.

The Pandora Papers refer to the millions of leaked documents put together by an international consortium of investigative journalists and made public in October 2021 that allegedly reveal offshore accounts of present and past leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, billionaires and prominent business people.

No decision yet on digital driving licences

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook says the ministry has yet to decide whether to permanently do away with physical driving licences, admitting that they cannot force people to go digital.

Loke also said that he was aware that not everyone would support the move to digitise driving licences, especially those in rural areas.

“We understand that. The internet is a problem. We don’t force people to go digital.”

Umno division leader pleads not guilty to misappropriating RM440,000

Azahari Shaari, Umno Shah Alam’s division leader faces two charges of misappropriating RM240,000 (RM120,000 each) from Persatuan Belia Bersatu Teguh Shah Alam by using funds allocated for the organisation’s Hari Raya Haji events in September 2017.

He is also alleged to have misappropriated RM200,000 from another organisation, Persatuan Belia Kampung Kuantan Utara, and used the funds to organise an event for orphans in the same month.