My Say: Mammals, dinosaurs and Malaysian public policy moving forward
As I read the book, and as I kept up with current events, I could not help but draw links between the two. Those that survived — our evolutionary ancestors tens of millions of years ago — did so because of a few key characteristics. The surviving mammals were typically small, could hide easily (especially below ground), had a varied diet, and lived over wide areas. Dinosaurs went extinct because they were too big, could not easily escape underground or underwater, and had highly specialised diets. And somewhere far back in time along the evolutionary line, these mammals had an ancestor that looked like a miniature deer.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 17, 2022 06:06 UTC
Targeted electricity subsidy to be implemented from Jan 1; domestic users and small businesses exempted from tariff hike
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 16): The government is implementing a targeted electricity subsidy which will see all domestic users continuing to enjoy the two sen per kWH rebate on their power tariff for the period between Jan 1 and June 30, 2023. Non-domestic users were charged 3.7 sen per kWh surcharge throughout 2022. "The actual cost of subsidy to maintain the current electricity tariff is RM14.91 billion. The minister said domestic users, farmers and animal breeders, and LV non-domestic users, will be exempted from the tariff hike after the latest adjustment on the electricity rates through the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) mechanism. The government will allocate RM8.74 billion in subsidy to ensure these users are not subjected to any tariff increase following the adjustment.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 17, 2022 01:48 UTC
US actress Scarlett Johansson says she was ‘groomed’ for ‘sexuality’-heavy roles: ‘I couldn’t get out of it’
Scarlett Johansson has a complicated relationship with her history of taking on roles that highlight her “desirability and sexuality”. Looking back, the 38-year-old actress said she “was kind of being groomed, in a way, to be this what you call a bombshell-type actor,” whether she liked it or not. Despite some perceived upsides, Johansson noted such a niche “burns bright and quick and then it’s done and you don’t have opportunity beyond that”. Ultimately, the actress – who has two Oscar nominations to her name – started “trying to carve a place in different projects and work in great ensembles”. The new remarks elaborate on those Johansson made in October during her appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast.
Source:The Star
December 16, 2022 15:32 UTC
Parties making unity govt official
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said while such an understanding already exists, it should be made official to ensure the administration will not be plagued by political uncertainty. “This coalition agreement is meant to be long term so that the government can ensure that its plans and policies run smoothly and can be fully implemented. The agreement will also ensure that lawmakers from unity government parties will support motions tabled by the government in the Dewan Rakyat. “There will be a signing ceremony involving all parties that have agreed to the formation of the unity government. GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun confirmed that he and coalition chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor would be attending the signing ceremony.
Source:The Star
December 16, 2022 12:08 UTC
SilTerra’s indirect shareholder seeks to block board appointments
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Dagang Nexchange Bhd — the parent company of SilTerra and DSSB — said the dispute arises from a clause in a shareholders agreement that concerns SilTerra’s board of directors. TTCL is seeking, among others, declarations that the MWR and any of the disputed board appointments are illegal, null, void, and/or unenforceable. Part of the action taken was to strengthen the SilTerra board by bringing in experienced subject matter experts into the board. We have the right to nominate directors as a majority shareholder pursuant to SilTerra’s Constitution. However, TTCL is not seeking any orders or relief to remove the new board members in the said originating summons."
Source:The Edge Markets
December 16, 2022 11:36 UTC
Insas gets SC greenlight for proposed RTO of SYF to list M&A Securities
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 15): The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has given the greenlight to Insas Bhd’s proposal to list its stockbroking arm M & A Securities Sdn Bhd via a reverse takeover of furniture maker SYF Resources Bhd. The SC approved the application in a letter dated Dec 14, according to SYF's bourse filing on Thursday. The SC also granted approval for the proposed exemption for Insas and its persons acting in concert from the obligation to undertake a mandatory take-over to acquire the remaining SYF shares not already owned by them upon completion of the proposed acquisition. SYF will be renamed M & A Equity Holdings Bhd once the RTO is completed, as the earlier proposed name, M&A Capital Bhd, was not approved by the Companies Commission of Malaysia. Read also: Insas to list M&A Securities via RTO of SYF Resources, valuing the stockbroker at 1.2 times book value
Source:The Edge Markets
December 16, 2022 03:48 UTC
Russia to double intercontinental missile tests in 2023 -commander
(Reuters) - Russia is to double the number of test launches of its intercontinental ballistic missiles to eight in 2023 from four in 2022, the commander of strategic rocket forces was quoted as saying on Friday. In remarks reported by Tass news agency, Karakayev said four launches had taken place this year and "confirmed the high reliability of the missile systems". Karakayev cited in particular the nuclear-capable Sarmat missile which underwent its first launch in April from Plesetsk in northern Russia, hitting a target on the Kamchatka peninsula 6,000 km (3,700 miles) away. In his remarks to Krasnaya Zvezda, Karakayev said the Sarmat would form the foundation of the silo-based missiles armoury. "In the current circumstances, the creation of such a missile system for Russia means the strengthening of its strategic security," he said.
Source:The Star
December 16, 2022 01:49 UTC
Comintel Corp unit wins building works contract worth RM170.7 mil
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 15): Comintel Corporation Bhd (Comcorp) said its wholly-owned subsidiary Total Package Work Sdn Bhd has accepted a letter of award from Butirjaya Maxim Development Sdn Bhd, worth RM170.7 million, on Thursday (Dec 15). In a filling with Bursa Malaysia, Comcorp said the contract involves the main building works of a proposed affordable housing project, comprising two blocks of 39 and 40 stories, with a total of 818 units in Kampung Kasipillay, Mukim Batu, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. The contract commences on Thursday and ends 28.5 months from the commencement date, which is around the second quarter of 2025. Comcorp said the contract is expected to provide an additional income stream for the group over the next three financial years from 2024 to 2026. The contract will not affect the company’s issued share capital but is expected to contribute positively to the earnings and net assets per share of the group.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 15, 2022 19:17 UTC
My Say: Take a breather from politics and watch the World Cup
Not only that, during the run-up to and now with the World Cup in Qatar, Fifa is continuing with a campaign on how it believes the power of football can bring the world together. The Football Unites the World campaign carries the message that the sport unites us in passion, love, peace, hope and joy too. As the World Cup now enters its final stages, I would prefer everything football — watching live matches, reading football magazines and listening to what football players and managers have to say. I said no, they don’t (buy) but intelligent people do.”Dani Alves, at 39, is the oldest player to appear for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar. But one day I met a man who had no feet.”It’s World Cup time.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 15, 2022 06:01 UTC
October 2022 supplementary electoral roll now open for review, says EC
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 14): The October 2022 Supplementary Electoral Roll (DPT BLN10/2022), which has been verified and gazetted, is open for review for 30 days from Wednesday (Dec 14) until Jan 12 next year. He said the roll also involves 39,077 registered voters who had changed election constituencies and 3,434 voters who had changed their status or voter category. The EC provides five review methods, namely via the EC portal at https://www.spr.gov.my or https://mysprsemak.spr.gov.my and the official portal of the state election offices at http://ppn.spr.gov.my. The EC urges citizens aged 18 and above and any registered voters who have applied for a change in constituencies or change of status to check their names on the supplementary electoral roll. “Form C and D can also be downloaded from the state election office’s portals at http://ppn.spr.gov.my and should be submitted to the state election director concerned during office hours on any working day during the review period of the (said) supplementary electoral roll,” he added.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 14, 2022 12:49 UTC
Nepali charged with murdering two countrymen in Seremban
SEREMBAN: A Nepali man has been charged at the Magistrate's Court here with murdering two of his compatriots earlier this month. For the first charge, he was accused of murdering Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, 35, at premises at the Oakland Commercial Centre. ALSO READ: Two Nepali men found bludgeoned to death in SerembanThakur was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. It was earlier reported that both the victims had suffered blunt trauma to the face after being bludgeoned with a hammer. The suspect, who was believed to have been under the influence of alcohol, was also found at the crime scene.
Source:The Star
December 14, 2022 10:43 UTC
Dr Zaliha: Free pads initiative to be expanded to strategic healthcare facilities if pilot successful
PETALING JAYA: The free sanitary pad initiative will be expanded to strategic healthcare facilities and to the public, if the initial effort pans out successfully, says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa (pic). Her statement came on the heels of criticisms of her initiative to make free sanitary pads available at the ministry, as part of efforts to address period poverty. "I take note of the confusion and I thank those who expressed their views on my statement on providing free sanitary pads at the Health Ministry’s headquarters," she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Dec 13) night. "I foresee that this initiative can be expanded to strategic healthcare facilities and involve members of the public, if the initiative is successful," she added. On Monday (Dec 12), Dr Zaliha announced that in an initial effort to address period poverty, the ministry would be providing free feminine hygiene products in its toilets before expanding the programme.
Source:The Star
December 13, 2022 21:25 UTC
My Say: ‘Opening’ the Taiwanese window for Malaysia’s industrial upgrading
Major foreign investors in Malaysia in the 1990s, Taiwanese businesses have rekindled their interest in the country over the past few years. Instead, the future trend of Taiwanese investments will be based on a two-pronged approach that serves to capture both China and the global markets separately. In the case of Malaysia, the renewed interest of Taiwanese investors has been evidential in recent statistics provided by Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida). With the reopening of borders in the post-pandemic period, more Taiwanese investments are expected to flow into Malaysia in the coming months. First, Malaysia should encourage local higher education institutions (HEIs) to establish high-impact vocational programmes with the Taiwanese investors on the local scene.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 13, 2022 20:27 UTC
Weather expert forecasts 'significant flooding' within next three days
PETALING JAYA: A weather expert has forecast that the nation will experience significant flooding within the next three days due to heavy monsoon rain triggered by the active La Nina and negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) phenomena. He also said the forecast from global models such as Nullschool.net predicted that heavy rain is expected until Tuesday (Dec 13) night. He said the La Nina and negative IOD phenomena acting in parallel have caused continuous rain in several states. "More heavy rain increases the potential for major floods to occur within these three days," he told Sinar Harian on Monday (Dec 12). However, he added that heavy rain in Sabah and Sarawak occurs in January and February, a month or so later than in the peninsula.
Source:The Star
December 13, 2022 05:31 UTC
King on six-day special visit to Doha
KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has left for Doha, Qatar on Tuesday (Dec 13) for a six-day special visit. Comptroller of the Istana Negara Royal Household Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the special visit is made at the personal invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in conjunction with the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022. "His Majesty is also scheduled to grant an audience to several Qatari leaders and attend a gathering with the Malaysian diaspora in Qatar during the special visit,” he said in a statement. Ahmad Fadil said Al-Sultan Abdullah is expected to return home on Dec 19. Sheikh Tamim’s personal invitation was conveyed by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani to Al-Sultan Abdullah during an audience at Istana Negara on Aug 12.
Source:The Star
December 13, 2022 05:02 UTC