Ringgit closes slightly lower vs US$ after hitting fresh six-month high
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit ended marginally lower against the US dollar due to mild profit-taking after the local currency breached a fresh six-month high earlier today. At 6 pm, the ringgit eased to 4.6680/4710 versus the greenback from yesterday’s closing of 4.6625/6660. "It is normal for the currency to stay at the prevailing level after rising significantly against the US dollar,” he told Bernama. Prior to today, the ringgit had hit a new six-month high every day since Friday last week. Mohd Afzanizam said that recent reports by foreign institutions have further lent support for the positive ringgit trajectory.
Source:The Star
July 19, 2024 04:41 UTC
Malaysia’s top F&B event highlights food tech trends and sustainability
In its 23rd edition, MIFB 2024 will once again feature diverse exhibitor participation and global attendance. “With key segments in food tech and services, logistics, private labelling, packaging, and processing, you can explore the latest in food tech innovations, solutions and services in one place. MIFB continues on its sustainability journey by partnering once again with KLCC to support waste initiatives such as zero food waste and event waste management. New processes will be implemented for participants and attendees, to address the effective recycling of both food waste and booth material waste. Organised by Constellar, MIFB 2024 is endorsed by the Malaysia External TradeDevelopment Corporation (Matrade).
Source:The Star
July 18, 2024 11:20 UTC
Green investment strategy expected to boost Malaysian economy
Malaysian Investment, Trade and Industry Minister. (Photo: api.nst.com.my)Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The Malaysian Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) supports the implementation of the Green Investment Strategy to attract green investment to the country and catalyse sustainable socio-economic development, Minister Zafrul Abdul Aziz said on July 17. The implementation of the strategy will result to a more effective, orderly and systematic transition in Malaysia. Among the main targets are to attract almost eight times the amount of investment to Malaysia to achieve the objectives outlined in NIMP 2030 and NETR, ensure investment in seven low-carbon primary core, take advantage of foreign direct investment in green technology sector and improving the green investment ecosystem, he added. He said the objectives would be able to stimulate socio-economic growth in green industry, as well as creating new jobs and development skills in the green industry./.
Source:New Strait Times
July 17, 2024 21:08 UTC
Climbers advised not to feel short-changed if they can't summit Mount Kinabalu due to bad weather
KOTA KINABALU: Climbers should not feel that they did not get their money’s worth if they fail to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu due to bad weather. “You paid for the view, the adventure and the climb and you were accompanied by trained mountain guides. “Climbers also evaded disaster or accidents when they were told that the summit was closed due to bad weather,” he added. An update on the cancellation was posted at the Mount Kinabalu Facebook page, resulting in a string of mixed reactions. Those who want to get real-time updates and Mount Kinabalu climb permit bookings, can log on to http://www.MountKinabalu.com among many other platforms.
Source:The Star
July 17, 2024 20:47 UTC
Govt approves diesel subsidies for over 88,000 companies and 249,000 vehicles
KUALA LUMPUR: As of July 14 this year, 88,183 companies involving 249,091 public and commercial vehicles were approved to receive diesel subsidies under the Subsidised Diesel Control System 2.0, the Dewan Rakyat was told. The ministry was responding to Datuk Siti Amina Aching (PN-Beaufort), who asked about the latest number of companies and vehicles registered under Subsidised Diesel Control System 2.0. “Through this programme, the government bears the cost of diesel subsidy, which is given to qualified vehicles, and the government expects savings of up to RM4bil a year,” said the ministry. Subsidies are continued for traders using diesel-powered commercial vehicles and for public transportation. Eligible transport companies can apply for the targeted subsidies through http://mysubsidi.kpdn.gov.my.
Source:The Star
July 17, 2024 05:25 UTC
Nearly 40,000 new voters in electoral roll
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 39,019 Malaysians aged 18 and above were automatically registered as new voters in the Supplementary Electoral Roll for May 2024. Election Commission (EC) secretary Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak said the electoral roll also contained 6,547 registered voters who had changed constituencies and 1,710 voters who had changed their status or category of voter. He said the electoral roll was gazetted yesterday and is now open for review for 30 days until Aug 13. Ikmalrudin also called on Malaysian citizens aged 18 to check the electoral roll. “If they find that their names are not listed in the electoral roll, they can make a claim by filing in Form C through the online app at https://myspr.spr.gov.my or visit the state EC office concerned,” he said.
Source:The Star
July 16, 2024 12:09 UTC
Ex-women’s doubles shuttler Ang set to fulfil Olympic dream in a different capacity
Living a relatively low-profile life away from the sports scene, Li Peng’s legal career reached great heights that saw her establish her own legal firm. Been there, done that: Ang Li Peng (right) and Lim Pek Siah posing with their 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medals in the women’s doubles. But despite her success, Li Peng never lost sight of her passion for sports, particularly the Olympic movement. Li Peng will be making her Olympic debut in Paris, albeit in a different role compared to her time as a shuttler. “Safeguarding athletes was something I didn’t know much about before, but now I can return to the sporting world in this capacity,” she said.
Source:The Star
June 30, 2024 10:07 UTC
Scalding stats
MOST Malaysians are quite aware about the importance of preserving the environment and the need for sustainability. We’re familiar with climate change but oblivious to how it affects our daily lives. That indifference is about to dramatically change, though. Unpredictable heavy rain and almost neverending heatwaves are now battering us daily, along with an increasing frequency of droughts and floods.
Source:The Star
June 30, 2024 09:27 UTC
Govt allocates RM10mil for seafarers to improve knowledge, skills
GEORGE TOWN: The government, through the Skill Development Fund Corporation (PTPK), is allocating RM10mil this year for seafarers to improve their knowledge and skills, says Anthony Loke Siew Fook (pic). The Transport Minister said this reflected the government's commitment to improve the skills of seafarers and recognise their sacrifices to the country’s economy. "Interested seafarers can apply through the Malaysian Maritime Professional Association (IKMAL) to benefit from the initiative," he told reporters after opening the Seafarer's Day and Lighthouse Carnival at Straits Quay here on Saturday (June 29). Also present were the Malaysian Marine Department director-general Capt Mohamad Halim Ahmed and Transport Ministry secretary-general Dr Nor Fuad Abdul Hamid. "In our country, not many people are involved in the seafaring profession, with only around 11,000 who are active.
Source:The Star
June 29, 2024 17:48 UTC
Living with Covid-19: Health Ministry to release new SOP
NILAI: The Health Ministry will soon release details of revised standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to COVID-19 as the country transitions to living with the pandemic. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the revised SOPs would cover the home surveillance order (HSO), the use of face masks, and the declaration of local areas of infection. "As soon as we have the implementation date, the Director General of Health will release the details to the public. "Consistently for the last decade, one in two Malaysian adults has been overweight, while one in six adults has diabetes. "It is to deal with excessive sugar intake through the War on Sugar initiative that will be launched soon," he said.
Source:The Star
June 29, 2024 17:47 UTC
Repeated sales of controlled fuel strictly prohibited
KANGAR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) will strictly enforce the order to prohibit repeated sales of diesel and RON95 petrol in an effort to curb smuggling of the fuel to deal with fuel subsidy leakages. KPDN enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said a letter has been sent to all petrol station operators in Perlis regarding the prohibition of the repeated sale of fuel on the same day which will take effect immediately as practised in Kelantan, Bernama reported. “This directive applies to all 39 petrol stations and retail licence holders of diesel and all petrol grades for Perlis,” he told reporters after handing over the Supply Controller’s directive to 39 petrol station owners here yesterday. Azman said that if it is found that the operators of the gas stations are in default and colluding with the party who misappropriated the fuel, they will be subjected to licence suspension or cancellation. He said KPDN officers will also be at petrol stations which are hotspots besides monitoring closed-circuit cameras (CCTV) for reinspection to detect if there is any activity of misappropriation of the subsidised fuel.
Source:The Star
June 29, 2024 03:21 UTC
Kedah DOE issues suspension order against Sg Petani factory
ALOR SETAR: The Department of Environment (DOE) Kedah branch has suspended the operations of a factory in Sungai Petani on suspicion of conducting illegal e-waste recovery activities. "The factory's actions have the potential to cause environmental pollution, including the illegal disposal of scheduled waste, air pollution, and water pollution. Action has been taken against the factory under Section 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974,” she said in a statement on Thursday (June 27). "The case will be investigated under Sections 18(1), 34A(1), and 34B(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Additionally, the Immigration Department has arrested a woman and nine men, from China and Bangladesh, for various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/1963.
Source:The Star
June 27, 2024 17:51 UTC
Don’t feed the rat infestation
PETALING JAYA: The main contributing factor to rat breeding is abundant food waste, a public health expert has pointed out. However, he said Tokyo, New York, London and Singapore practised very good food waste management and rats were hardly seen on the surface. ALSO READ : Beware of water activities as deadly disease lurks“The rats have to scavenge for food in underground sewage systems over there. These include dogs, cattle, sheep, pigs and horses, but the most important one associated with human infection is the brown rat (rattus norvegicus), he said. ALSO READ : The unseen threat of rat infestation“The risk of contamination increases with increase of reservoir hosts.
Source:The Star
June 27, 2024 17:39 UTC
HTVB to benefit from growing demand for steel
PETALING JAYA: Things are looking good for steel company Hiap Teck Venture Bhd (HTVB) as various factors are in play to boost its earnings ahead. Hong Leong Investment Bank Research (HLIB Research), which is maintaining its “buy” call on HTVB with a higher target price of RM0.52, said the company’s brighter earnings prospects are supported by various factors. “We understand that ESSB’s new blast furnace has achieved capacity utilisation of more than 95% (from around 80% in early April). The expanded capacity will boost ESSB’s contribution to HTVB. Through its subsidiaries, HTVB imports, exports and deals in steel products, metal hardware and building materials.
Source:The Star
June 26, 2024 15:57 UTC
Malaysia urged to improve productivity to increase competitiveness: scholar
The 2024 World Competitiveness Report (WCR) by the International Institute of Management Development, a Swiss business school, placed Malaysia as the 34th most competitive nation. (Photo: nst.com.my)Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – To improve Malaysia’s competitiveness, the country must double down on efforts to improve productivity, the essence of competitiveness, said scholar John Antony Xavier. The 2024 World Competitiveness Report (WCR) by the International Institute of Management Development, a Swiss business school, placed Malaysia as the 34th most competitive nation, down seven places from the last year's edition. Meanwhile, Singapore has ranked as the world’s most competitive economy, surpassing Switzerland in second place, and Denmark in the third spot. Innovation buttresses productivity improvement and competitiveness, he added./.
Source:New Strait Times
June 25, 2024 18:52 UTC