Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by coyouth

how to get rid of stray puppies

coyouth — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:07:53 +0800

how to get rid of stray puppies near food production factory? call MBSA? will MBSA do it in a humane way?

is MyNIISe app compulsory?

coyouth — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:48:22 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...o-travel/204775

based on various news article, it's now compulsory for malaysians to use MyNIISe to travel overseas? using passport the traditional way is not enough?

Your Insurance Won't Pay When You Need It Most

coyouth — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:24:50 +0800

Malaysians trust private insurance to be a safety net until a cancer diagnosis exposes fine print, denied claims, and a broken system. Dato Dr. Ibrahim, oncologist and past president of the Malaysian Oncological Society, reveals how rising premiums, profit motives, and regulatory gray zones have left even the well-insured without care.. and why this crisis burdens both families and the nation.

[YOUTUBE]dJNx-AUowZQ[/YOUTUBE]

switching from unifi to maxis fibre

coyouth — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:11:11 +0800

do you need to change the whole fibre optic cable if from the telephone pole to your router if you choose to switch from unifi to maxis fibre? anyone has experience in this?

Investment-Linked Health Insurance

coyouth — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:58:00 +0800

https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2025/09/in...w-65-years-sim/

Investment-Linked Health Insurance Cut Coverage To Below 65 Years: Sim
By CodeBlue | 8 September 2025

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin says two policyholders, currently in their 40s, had bought investment-linked health insurance plans in 2018 with RM2.1mil coverage and riders until age 100, but now face cuts in coverage period until age 64 and 59 respectively.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin speaks at a press conference in Parliament on September 8, 2025. Photo from Sim's office.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin has targeted investment-linked health insurance plans, citing consumer complaints that their coverage period was cut to below 65 years.

The PKR lawmaker cited three complaints involving plans purchased in 2018. The first involved a 47-year-old man who bought a plan with RM2.1 million medical coverage and riders until age 100.

Despite staggered premium increases under Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) interim measures from RM4,000 to RM5,600 annually in five years, his coverage period was cut until age 64.

“When he complained to BNM and the insurance company, the insurer explained that the projection was merely a ‘sales illustration’ and even the most optimistic assumption at purchase (9 per cent returns for the first 20 years) could only sustain coverage until age 68,” Sim said in a statement today.

The second case involved a 45-year-old woman who also purchased a medical plan with RM2.1 million coverage and riders until age 100.

Her premium increases of 40 per cent were staggered (RM300 to RM420 annually over five years), but coverage was cut to age 59.

“Even after trying to negotiate a reduction in coverage to RM1 million, the insurer only lowered her premium by RM2.40. This forced the customer to accept unfair terms,” said Sim.

The third case involved a 59-year-old man who received notice that his new RM3,600 annual premium would only last two years. He was asked to top up drastically, paying RM8,580 (138 per cent increase) for coverage until age 81 or RM10,800 (200 per cent increase) until age 90.

Sim said these three cases showed insurers’ overly optimistic profit projections when selling investment-linked products.

“Many plans assume returns of up to 9 per cent annually for 20 consecutive years. In reality, actual returns were much lower than projected, leaving funds insufficient to cover protection costs. As a result, insurers drastically shortened coverage periods,” he explained.

“This means when policyholders retire in their 60s, when medical coverage is most needed, they are ‘abandoned’ by insurers.

“In fact, BNM issued a circular in July 2019 to regulate these investment-linked products. However, problems still affect policyholders who bought their plans before 2019. Therefore, I urge BNM to find solutions for pre-2019 cases.

“Under Section 155(b) of the Financial Services Act 2013 (FSA), Bank Negara must issue directives if a company conducts business in a way that harms the interests of depositors, policyholders, participants, consumers, creditors, or the public at large.”

The Pakatan Harapan MP warned that failure to resolve these issues could cause more T20 income earners to shift to public hospitals.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) director Dr Harikrishna KR Nair told Berita Harian in an interview that HKL, the country’s biggest hospital, was seeing a rise in T20 and VIP patients, who had shifted from private hospitals to HKL over the past 10 years when their treatment exceeded insurance coverage.

He attributed this to an increase in medicine prices.

Another reason for wealthier people shifting to HKL was to seek oncology services in the government hospital with robotic technology. HKL receives two million patients a year and has 2,300 beds.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad told reporters yesterday that rising health insurance premiums could be a reason why T20 income earners are increasingly seeking treatment in public hospitals.

first time got a call from AIA

coyouth — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:48:44 +0800

just to be informed of premium hike and the reason why they're doing it. probably forced by BNM to do such wayang.

paternity leave

coyouth — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:07:30 +0800

as per the Employment (Amendment) Act 2022, any of you had issues applying for paternity leave?

jalur gemilang

coyouth — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:34:58 +0800

i remember a few years back, there were so much repercussions when there's a mistake done on the jalur gemilang that even when it's national day, people just didn't bother to hang the flag anymore; just in case police came to lock them up for a mistake they did. i believe the sentiments are the same again this year. better to be safe than sorry right?

When Beauty and Kindness Attract Monsters

coyouth — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:56:12 +0800

[YOUTUBE]TbitdzWusq4[/YOUTUBE]

PAC Will Hold 5 More Closed-Door Proceedings

coyouth — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:28:22 +0800

https://ringgitplus.com/en/blog/medical-ins...hcare-cost.html

PAC Will Hold 5 More Closed-Door Proceedings On Rising Healthcare Cost
Althea
4th April 2025 - 2 min read

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold five more closed sessions this month to examine rising health insurance premiums, private hospital fees, and their impact on public health. Henceforth, a comprehensive report will be presented in Parliament in June.

PAC member Sim Tze Tzin told Bernama that since February, the committee has conducted two public hearings and 12 closed sessions with stakeholders, including the Finance Ministry, Health Ministry, and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). In total, 17 proceedings and two public hearings have been held to gather public feedback on rising medical costs.

“PAC will be calling several more stakeholders, including BNM (for the second time) and the Malaysian Medical Council after the festive season, aiming to improve recommendations,” Sim said.

Starting 1st May, private clinics and hospitals must display their prices as part of a healthcare pricing transparency policy. Minister of Health Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said this would help verify medication charges in insurance claims and prevent unjustified price hikes.

“In May, we will prepare a detailed and comprehensive report before presenting it to parliament in June. We hope this report can assist the government in formulating policies that benefit the people,” Sim continued.

Medical insurance premiums have surged 40–70% due to rising healthcare costs, drawing concern from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He has tasked BNM and the Health Ministry with reviewing these increases to ensure fairness.

In response, BNM announced four interim measures last December, including a three-year phased premium adjustment plan until 2026 and a one-year deferment of premium hikes for policyholders aged 60 and above.

IPO : Cuckoo International (MAL) Bhd

coyouth — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:09:24 +0800

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/749333

Cuckoo International (MAL) Bhd has launched Malaysia’s biggest initial public offering (IPO) in seven months to raise more than RM470 million.

The public issue of new shares at an indicative price of RM1.29 will raise almost RM185 million for Cuckoo International

gkent

coyouth — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:31:46 +0800

how's this company doing now ah? last time i heard during najib's time, they were doing quite well. now stock also drop so much already, but the company still steady?

Why the Self-Made Billionaire Is a Lie

coyouth — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:24:00 +0800

[fb]https://www.facebook.com/sunday.roast.media/videos/1814537209315743/?rdid=GsXa3mJlNXoEEEq9#[/fb]

Bribe allegation: This is my story

coyouth — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:26:56 +0800

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/736590

Bribe allegation: This is my story
B Nantha Kumar
Published: Mar 7, 2025 11:06 AM
⋅
From the outset, I want to make it absolutely clear that I did not solicit a bribe. For the record, I neither requested "RM100,000" nor negotiated the amount to settle for "RM20,000”.

This is my story.

On Feb 6, I received information about a “Fly” syndicate operating at KLIA. After conducting my investigation, I published my first report on Malaysiakini on Feb 19.

(The ‘Fly’ syndicate involves falsifying immigration’s exit and entry stamps for foreign workers without their physical presence.)

Despite a police report being lodged, the authorities failed to take firm action.

My second report on Feb 22 exposed the involvement of Pakistani agents in this syndicate. Before publishing, I contacted the two named agents for their comments. One denied involvement, while the other did not respond.

After the report was published, a senior officer from the Home Ministry and a state immigration director reached out to me for further information. I agreed to cooperate.

Based on my own research, I had strong grounds to believe that the state immigration director was not linked to any corrupt activities or syndicates.

On Feb 24, my source informed me that the Immigration Department’s intelligence director (which is not the same person mentioned above) was trying to contact me.

I personally went to the Immigration Department’s intelligence department in Putrajaya, left my contact number with an officer, and requested for the director to contact me.

However, I never received any response.

Contacted by agents

I would not have taken the trouble to share my information with these officers if my intention was to solicit bribes from the agents.

On Feb 26, one of the Pakistani agents mentioned in my article contacted me to deny his involvement, and I offered to publish a rebuttal. He claimed that another person had approached him offering to "settle" the matter. I made it clear to him that I had never asked anyone to speak on my behalf.

I later met the two Pakistani agents at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, which is registered under the name of a former high-ranking immigration officer.

During our meeting, they took me to a private room where one of the agents claimed that someone had asked for RM400,000 to "settle" the case with the police, MACC, Immigration Department and Malaysiakini.

They offered me RM50,000 and were prepared to pay me RM20,000 on the spot. I firmly refused and made it clear that I am not for sale.

After that meeting, I immediately went to the state immigration director’s office to discuss the case and compare our evidence. It was clear that these agents were involved in the syndicate, but the director was unable to take action due to a lack of financial transaction records as evidence.

He then asked me to engage with the agents again to help gather stronger evidence. I agreed to act as an “undercover agent” for him.

However, I did not inform my superiors in Malaysiakini about this arrangement because I was worried that they might stop me from proceeding because of the risks involved.

While my editors know me as someone willing to take risks, they have also advised me to be cautious, especially since I am dealing with syndicates that may go to great lengths to silence those who expose them.

I must confess that there were times when I undertook grave risks in pursuit of exposing these syndicates without informing my superiors.

The sting and the trap

I did this because I believe that as an investigative journalist, one must be prepared to take certain actions to uncover the truth. Previously, there were instances where editors rejected my suggestions, deeming them too risky.

On Feb 27, the same Pakistani agent mentioned in the article contacted me again, asking to settle the matter. I told him I was busy and would reach out later.

On Feb 28, I called him and arranged a meeting at the Concorde Hotel in Shah Alam. This was based on the understanding that I had with the state immigration director.

Before going, I informed the state immigration director that I was meeting one of the agents and would hand over any evidence to him. I also told him that if I were accused of anything, he needed to back me up. He assured me that he would.

I chose this hotel for two reasons. First, I was covering a news assignment at the same venue attended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

Second, the hotel is an open area with multiple CCTV cameras, which could provide crucial evidence if the Immigration Department takes action against these agents.

When we met, the agent asked me to delete the articles about him. (I must clarify that I do not have the authority to delete articles published in Malaysiakini.)

I refused and pretended to be interested in "working together" with him and tried to coax him to give me something that I could hand over as evidence.

Instead, he handed me an envelope, which I believed contained money, as a bribe. Surprised, I took it either way as evidence to be handed to the state immigration director.

Within seconds, more than a dozen MACC officers confronted me.

Since writing the first article on this new syndicate on Feb 19, I never contacted these agents to ask for a bribe. It was these agents who repeatedly offered to bribe me.

If I had wanted to profit out of this article, I could have contacted the “mastermind” before the initial story was published to ask for a hefty sum.

I could have also accepted the bribe offered to me at the restaurant when I met the agents. Furthermore, this meeting had taken place in a private room at the restaurant with no CCTV cameras.

Instead, I chose to meet them at a hotel filled with surveillance cameras, on a day when the prime minister was holding an event there. If I had any intention of accepting a bribe, I would not have selected such a high-profile location.

I have been exposing syndicates related to migrant workers for more than a year, never profiting from them. I have written numerous exclusive articles on these syndicates. Below are some of the articles.

'Big fish' in medical visa syndicate still swimming freely: Sources

'Fly' syndicate: Suspect names Tok Ayah, DK during probe, says source

EAIC summons 'Tok Ayah's' associate in visa fraud probe - source

Source: Junior officer in medical visa scandal found with RM1 mil assets

Senior immigration officer arrested in 'fly' syndicate probe - source

Visa scandal: Source says EAIC requests more details from immigration, cops

'Counter setting' syndicate still operating in KLIA – sources

Foreigner punched, yelled at in KLIA's 'not to land' area

Last October, I handed the names of three “big fish” alleged to be masterminding a medical visa and counter-setting syndicate to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in Parliament.

That month I was also invited to the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to share information about a medical visa syndicate. The agency is still investigating the medical visa syndicate, particularly in Johor.

Later in December, I was contacted by an MACC officer from the Strategic Communication Department to arrange a meeting. I agreed to the meeting at a restaurant in Putrajaya. A senior officer was also present at the meeting. I shared information about a foreign syndicate and the names of cartel members.

In an interview last November, my colleague S Vinothaa and I reflected on the hazards we faced while reporting, which prompted DAP MP RSN Rayer to call on the government to give us protection.

I was doing my job

Unfortunately, this time, the tables turned, and I was detained just as I was on the verge of exposing a bigger network.

I would like to put it on record that if the authorities had acted against the officer with the 12 foreign passports which I exposed on Feb 19, this syndicate would have been dismantled earlier, making it unnecessary for me to pursue the matter further with the hope of eradicating syndicates that are breaking the law together with the help of those entrusted with enforcing the law.

I deeply regret that this incident has also tarnished Malaysiakini’s reputation, which was never my intention. The last thing I wanted was to bring any harm to the organisation, for which I have the utmost respect.

I sincerely apologise to my colleagues for any distress this may have caused. At the same time, I would also like to thank Malaysiakini and all others for their support.

During my four-day remand, I was locked up alone in a cell for 15 hours each day, my only entertainment was to play with the mineral water bottle - as in the famous “bottle flip” challenge. Sleeping on the hard floor with only a thin yoga mat was physically punishing.

The incident had taken an immense toll on my wife and our two daughters as well.

But my conscience remains clear. I was arrested for doing my job.

Editor’s note: This is Nantha’s account of the events leading up to his arrest on March 1.

Malaysiakini will nevertheless investigate the truth of the matter and has set up an independent panel of experts to ensure a fair process. The findings of the inquiry will be made public, subject to legal guidance.

Malaysiakini recognises that since joining the news portal in 2018, Nantha has been an outstanding journalist, producing numerous exclusives that have made headlines. His fearless reporting on syndicates linked to migrant workers has been instrumental in exposing critical issues.

Malaysiakini remains steadfast in its commitment to journalistic integrity, transparency, and ethical reporting - principles that have guided us since our founding. We believe in accountability, fairness, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Pending the independent panel’s findings, Malaysiakini has suspended Nantha with full benefits.

Our inquiry will be thorough, just, and firmly aligned with the values we uphold.

e-invoice exemption

coyouth — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:01:24 +0800

these SMEs can still provide traditional invoices?

Analyst questions feasibility of Subang airport's

coyouth — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:55:49 +0800

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/747039

Analyst questions feasibility of Subang airport's expansion after AirAsia pulls out seven months in

KUALA LUMPUR (March 6): Singapore-based Sobie Aviation independent analyst and consultant Brendan Sobie has questioned the viability of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport's expansion plans after AirAsia on Thursday announced that it is opting out after seven months.

AirAsia has decided to relocate its domestic jet services from the Subang airport to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (klia2), effective April 7.

The low-cost carrier, which once pushed for jet operations in Subang, has decided to relocate to klia2 to optimise operations and improve the guest experience amid growing demand, it said in a statement.

AirAsia said the group closely assessed passenger trends and operational needs, and concluded that klia2 offers the best platform to enhance efficiency and service quality.

“While Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport has been convenient, especially for city-bound travellers, its redevelopment to support future growth will take time,” it said in the statement.

The Subang airport expansion plan aims to increase capacity to five million passengers annually in three to four years, and up to eight million by 2030.

“The SZB suspension [by AirAsia] highlights the challenges of Malaysia’s domestic market, which can be very competitive and price-sensitive. It also highlights the flaws in the policy behind SZB's jet reopening. The suspension is a bitter pill to swallow for both AirAsia and the government, but is sensible because the SZB domestic jet operation has so far been highly unprofitable,” Sobie said in a post on Linkedin earlier.

SZB is Subang airport’s three-letter identifier used by the International Air Transport Association.

Sobie has long questioned the jet strategy for Subang airport stating that its yields have so far been way below average yields on the same routes from KLIA.

He continues to push for a reversal of the planned expansion at Subang airport and the first phase of its jet operations reopening, with an eye to improve the overall market.

“Prior to Covid, Malaysia’s domestic market suffered from overcapacity and irrational competition. This is again a problem with yields now down significantly year-on-year. Yields on some routes are even below 2019 levels despite significantly higher costs,” Sobie said in his post.

He acknowledged though that any reversal is unlikely to happen, with Batik Air Malaysia and Firefly likely applying to snap up AirAsia’s four slot pairs for strategic reasons.

AirAsia’s departure from Subang airport leaves four airlines operating jets out of the airport: FireFly, Batik Air Malaysia, Transnusa, and Singapore’s Scoot Pte Ltd.

MACC chief: 'Too little' info hampering

coyouth — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:04:47 +0800

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/734426

MACC chief: 'Too little' info hampering probe into Sabah scandal
Published: Feb 13, 2025 2:56 PM
⋅

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki says the whistleblower in the ongoing Sabah corruption scandal has yet to surrender the videos and the recordings published by Malaysiakini are “terlalu sedikit”.

He says the MACC can only record statements from both sides and it is unfair to blame the Sabah government.

Azam assures that the investigation will be completed as soon as possible and stresses the need to have a strong pool of witnesses.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki has stated that the biggest challenge in investigating the alleged Sabah corruption scandal is the lack of sufficient information.

Emphasising that there is no political interference in the case, he said: “The person said to be the whistleblower is still unwilling to share the videos with us.”

“What has been published (in Malaysiakini) is ‘terlalu sedikit’ (too little),” he told Astro Awani.

Azam noted that the lack of information makes it difficult for MACC to conduct a thorough investigation.

“All we can do for now is record explanations from both sides. To me, it is not fair to blame the Sabah government and claim they did not follow the law,” he added.

In response to fresh allegations that there was an offer to settle the matter, Azam assured that investigations would be completed as soon as possible.

He also stressed the need for a substantial pool of witnesses to build a strong case.

“After the new issue (the alleged settlement offer) was reported, I instructed my officers to continue their investigations by summoning the relevant witnesses for questioning,” he added.

Videos, WhatsApp screenshots implicate leaders

Since November, Malaysiakini has published more than eight videos and a flood of WhatsApp screenshots related to the case.

The whistleblower, a businessperson, claimed that the videos captured discussions about bribes he offered to several assemblypersons in exchange for mineral exploration licences.

During the discussions, the assemblypersons, including those with senior portfolios, also implicated Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor in allegedly distributing licences as “gifts” in exchange for their support during the state’s 2022 political crisis.

Hajiji has dismissed the allegations as an attempt to tarnish his administration, suggesting that the whistleblower is collaborating with parties with vested interests.

On Feb 5, the whistleblower’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, revealed that his client still has more than half a dozen videos in his possession and additional screenshots of WhatsApp messages.

Previously, Azam’s predecessor, Latheefa Koya, said the videos published by Malaysiakini showed “clear evidence” of corruption and completely satisfied the definition of “gratification” under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.

M'sia Asean chairmanship

coyouth — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:14:15 +0800

https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/733573

COMMENT | M'sia Asean chairmanship off to a disappointing start

Bridget Welsh
Published: Feb 5, 2025 9:40 AM
⋅

COMMENT | There has been considerable hype around Malaysia taking over the chairmanship of Southeast Asian bloc Asean this year, with pundits focusing on the leadership and vision of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Early indications suggest that these expectations of Malaysia as the 2025 leader of Asean may be hard to fulfil.

One problem is that Malaysia’s chairmanship risks the potential of being too much about Anwar, and not enough about Asean.

For example, Anwar’s personal choice of ally and former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an Asean adviser did not go down well in a politically divided Thailand. Nor did it recognise that Thaksin’s interventions around the Myanmar crisis have not helped.

Another problem is having a viable plan to meet expectations, especially as attention will focus on the pressure points facing Asean.

This became apparent during the first meeting of Asean foreign ministers in Langkawi earlier this month.

A joint statement released after this meeting was a long and unfocused laundry list of tired reaffirmations related to a wide range of issues from Asean’s role in regional security and economic cooperation to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The communiqué spoke to broad ambitions but didn’t adequately highlight Asean’s priority action areas. Malaysia simultaneously seemed unprepared to engage the media on its plans as chair.

If Malaysia does not create a roadmap for its goals for Asean in 2025, it risks wasting a vital opportunity to strengthen the Southeast Asian bloc at a critical period of uncertainty in global geopolitics and opens itself to criticism.

First and foremost, the regional bloc needs to be prepared to respond to threats facing Southeast Asia’s economy.

The spectre of tariffs from the new Donald Trump administration in the United States has already unsettled many Southeast Asian nations.

Additionally, many of these countries run high trade deficits with the US, which may have put them on a Trump watch list.

Asean needs to maintain its regional centrality now more than ever because current geopolitical conditions are liable to foster individualistic behaviour by countries rather than cooperation.

These conditions will require Asean chair Malaysia to focus on fostering multilateral trade and collectively ameliorating potential economic disruptions.

‘Scam-running havens’

Another urgent issue that needs Anwar’s attention is transnational crime.

Asean has become the epicentre of a multibillion-dollar global scam economy.

Southeast Asia appears to still be in denial about how serious this problem is and the reasons it needs to be dealt with urgently.

Asean member-states Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos have become scam-running havens, even as criminal syndicates have victimised people through online pig butchering fraud and trafficked thousands through fake job offers.

These scam operations have had a knock-on effect as they have begun to negatively impact tourism to Southeast Asia, especially from China.

Social media is rife with Chinese citizens posting that they fear being abducted, especially if they visit Cambodia or Thailand.

If Asean does not push back against transnational criminals now, the bloc will find it much harder to do so later.

One only has to look at the power of the cartels in the Americas to see the consequences of a failure to act regionally.

The Myanmar question

In Langkawi, Malaysia’s response to the civil strife in Myanmar was perhaps the most concerning indicator of its chairmanship potentially not living up to the hype.

Malaysia’s leadership showed an inadequate understanding of the current conditions in Myanmar, which this week marks the fourth anniversary of the military coup that overthrew an elected government.

To make matters worse, Myanmar has also been badly hit by the Trump administration’s halt of humanitarian assistance, which will exacerbate an already serious crisis.

Asean’s joint statement after the Langkawi foreign ministers’ meeting called for “peace” and “inclusive elections” in Myanmar, belying realities on the ground.

Recent chairs of Asean have strengthened engagement with the military junta, even as it has lost territory and power.

Malaysia had foreshadowed that it might do the same when it reaffirmed the failed five-point consensus as its main reference of engagement. The move indicated a failure to acknowledge multiple sovereign stakes within Myanmar.

Asean member states’ governments have wrongly prioritised Myanmar’s military over other groups, notably the National Unity Government and ethnic armed groups that together control more than half the country.

Malaysia needs to adopt a more inclusive Myanmar strategy and publicly acknowledge and engage all the major stakeholders. A failure to do so puts lives at risk, and Malaysia’s reputation as well.

If there was promise in the Langkawi meeting it was related to Malaysia’s theme for 2025 – sustainability.

The year ahead offers potential for cooperation on carbon credits and the operationalisation of the much-needed Asean Centre for Climate Change.

Here, too, urgency is paramount as Southeast Asian nations continue to be highly vulnerable to damage from climate change.

Malaysia’s leadership of Asean will be successful if she puts the interests of the region’s people above those of its leaders and sets clear priorities on pressing issues with viable plans to achieve them.

This article was originally published in Benar News.

An independent researcher, Bridget Welsh is an honorary research associate at the Asia Research Institute of University of Nottingham Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and a Senior Associate Fellow of The Habibie Center. The views expressed here are her own and do not reflect the position of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, The Habibie Center or BenarNews.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

Ex-Bar chiefs: Past 3 govts did better in

coyouth — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:00:05 +0800

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/732532

Ex-Bar chiefs: Past 3 govts did better in upholding judicial independence
Published: Jan 23, 2025 12:06 PM
⋅

Former Malaysian Bar presidents say it is disappointing that govt is perceived to be falling short in upholding judicial independence compared to the previous three administrations.

They note Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's reference to external interference in the judicial appointment process during a recent speech.

The former Bar chiefs add that the independence of the courts is often the first casualty of authoritarianism and legal practitioners must protect its impartiality.

The Madani government is widely perceived to be falling short when it comes to upholding judicial independence, especially when compared to the previous three administrations, said nine former Malaysian Bar presidents.

"The pressures put on the judiciary in the last several years by external forces were clear to many of us, who know the signs only too well.

"It is widely perceived that the previous three governments valued and respected judicial independence more than the current government, which is extremely disappointing, to say the least," they said in a statement today.

The three previous governments were led by former premiers Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The statement was co-signed by former Bar presidents Zainur Zakaria, Mah Weng Kwai, Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari, Yeoh Yang Poh, Ambiga Sreenevasan, Ragunath Kesavan, Lim Chee Wee, Christopher Leong, and Steven Thiru.

This came after Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat recently spoke about interference in the judicial appointments process under the Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC) Act 2009.

In a speech during the Opening of the Legal Year on Jan 8, she said it was a serious matter that should be investigated.

Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat
The chief justice reminded Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to uphold judicial independence and cited his comments on the matter when he was opposition leader.

She noted how Anwar had said the proposed JAC Bill at the time was not enough to ensure judicial independence following the VK Lingam scandal, where a lawyer was alleged to have been involved in the appointment of judges.

While the Malaysian courts are internationally recognised for their independence, the nine former Bar presidents warned that the country would pay the price for any backsliding.

Judiciary first target

The nine pointed out that the judiciary is often the first target of an authoritarian government as the courts stand between the people and the state.

"In countries where authoritarianism thrives, the first casualty is often the independence of the judiciary.

"Why? Because they are the institution that stands between the people and any abuse of power by the state, thus holding them in check," they said.

They added that Tengku Maimun’s statement is a clarion call to protect judicial independence and the Federal Constitution that legal practitioners of the Malaysian Bar must respond to.

"We must heed her words, for they suggest we are perilously close to losing all that we have fought for in the last 35 years," they stressed.

e-invoice begins tomorrow

coyouth — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 14:21:41 +0800

heard from accounts staff comment e-invoice more fark up and leceh compared to GST.