KL-Singapore HSR may not be profitable due to small population, says expert - Nation
Urban agglomeration is defined as an extended city consisting of a core town and its suburbs linked by continuous and densely populated urban area. "The KL-SG HSR international line and the domestic line have a population density of 5,454 and 1,441 per sq m respectively," he said. Dr Kikuchi said, however, that the profit margin of the KL-SG HSR would likely be lower as it was planned to serve solely as passenger transport. He said the question now was whether the population density of the KL-SG HSR project was high enough to make a profit from solely operating for passenger traffic. Dr Kikuchi said the ease of access due to HSR would expand the urban agglomeration and allow cities where the HSR stops to interact with their suburbs and thus forming larger contiguous outgrowths.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 03:56 UTC
Man killed after falling onto tracks at Puchong LRT station - Nation
PETALING JAYA: A man died after he fell onto the tracks at the Puchong LRT station. The incident occurred at around 8am on Wednesday (Aug 1). Serdang OCPD Asst Comm Ismadi Borhan confirmed the incident. Police are still determining whether it was a suicide or an accident. The body was removed from the scene at around 10am and train services resumed as normal.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 03:33 UTC
Drastic change in weather wreaks havoc in northern Sarawak - Nation
MIRI: The weather in northern Sarawak changed dramatically over the past 24 hours from blazing heat to incessant downpour, resulting in flash floods in several parts of the state on Wednesday (Aug 1) morning. Heavy and incessant rain, which started at midnight, caused widespread havoc in several areas stretching from the Miri to Bintulu divisions. Housing and industrial estates were inundated by floodwaters measuring about 1.5m high. Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief said his teams have been deployed to monitor the situation and carry out relief operations. Numerous schools were also hit by flash floods while traffic in many areas came to a standstill due to flooded roads.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 02:37 UTC
China July manufacturing growth slowest in 8 months, export orders shrink - Business News
On July 6, both nations slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on $34 billion of each other's goods amid an escalating brawl that many investors and policy makers fear could harm investments and businesses in a hit to global growth. "In general, the survey signaled a weakening manufacturing trend as a grim export market dragged on the sector's performance. The risk to the outlook from the escalating trade frictions has prompted Beijing to switch to a more accommodative fiscal policy in a bid to boost growth in the second half of the year.On the cost front, price pressures faded some in July, the survey showed. Both input price and output price gains slowed, with some firms commenting that relatively subdued demand restricted pricing power. Input prices rose significantly faster than output prices, according to the survey, indicating margins of some downstream firms could be getting squeezed.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 01:52 UTC
China confident Malaysia will flourish under Dr M's leadership - Nation
PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): China is confident that Malaysia will continue to flourish and develop under the leadership of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said China's visiting Councillor of the State Council and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi. In addition, Wang Yi also described Dr Mahathir an old and good friend of the Chinese people. "He is friendly towards China and we dearly cherish the friendship that has been built with him (Dr Mahathir) over the years. He added during Dr Mahathir's visit, China and Malaysia leaders will also map out new blue print for mutually beneficial cooperation. On Dr Mahathir's visit to China, he said both leaders were confident that it would set a new milestone, and was looking forward to make the visit a successful one.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 01:52 UTC
Trump to propose 25% tariff on US$200b of Chinese imports - Business News
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration plans to propose slapping a 25-percent tariff on $200 billion of imported Chinese goods after initially setting them at 10 percent, a source familiar with the plan said on Tuesday.President Donald Trump's administration said on July 10 it would seek to impose the 10-percent tariffs on thousands of Chinese imports, ranging from food products and furniture to chemicals, steel and aluminum.While the tariffs would not be imposed until after a period of public comment, raising the proposed level to 25 percent could escalate the trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies.The source said the administration could announce the tougher proposal as early as Wednesday.In early July, the U.S. government imposed 25-percent tariffs on an initial $34 billion of Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated with matching tariffs on the same amount of U.S. exports to China.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 01:30 UTC
Right lane turn into Kesas at Kewajipan near Summit mall to be sealed off - Metro News
THE Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) will completely close the right turn lane onto the Shah Alam Highway (Kesas) interchange on Persiaran Kewajipan near Summit USJ mall from Aug 18. This means that motorists coming from SS13 will no longer be able to turn right into Kesas to head to Shah Alam and Klang. They must now turn left to Kesas (Kuala Lumpur bound) and take the U-turn just before the toll. This follows the previous closure where motorists from USJ were no longer allowed to turn right directly into Kesas to head towards Kuala Lumpur. “Closing the right turn lane means we will no longer need the traffic lights at the interchange as USJ bound traffic can now flow freely,” said council president Noraini Roslan at the MPSJ full board meeting.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 00:25 UTC
Delayed sewerage project angers residents - Metro News
JALAN Tanjung Sri Damansara residents in Petaling Jaya are angry over a pit that was dug for a sewerage project that never took off. Rainwater has now collected in the 6m-wide pit causing much inconvenience to the residents of Jalan Tanjung SD13/3. Bandar Sri Damansara, Jalan Tanjung Residents Association protem chairman Azam Abdul Aziz said the residents were also in the dark on the timeline of the sewerage project. They also called for a plot of land at Jalan Tanjung SD13/4 in the neighbourhood to be turned into a recreational park and for Jalan Tanjung SD3/3 to be not accessible to non-residents. Pua told the residents that area councillors, who were recently appointed, would work with the residents on the problems they faced.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 00:22 UTC
Inspired by dad to become a soldier - Nation
KOTA KINABALU: Gender was not a barrier for Second Lieutenant (Leftenan Muda) Norliana Mad Said (pic), 25, to enlist in the Malaysian Armed Forces and follow in her father’s footsteps. “My father was a soldier for 21 years before retiring as a corporal with the Fifth Squadron of the Royal Army Engineers Regiment at the Lok Kawi camp here. But most of all, I chose to become a soldier because I wanted to serve the nation and be like my father, who is my idol,” she said. Norliana is currently with the 507th Territorial Army Regiment based in Kota Kinabalu where she was born and raised. “They selflessly served the nation and lay down their lives for the country, regardless of where they came from,” he said.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 00:22 UTC
Developer in tie-up with two hotels - Metro News
PROPERTY developer S P Setia has announced that ONYX Hospitality Group is now the official hotel operator of two new Amari hotels, which will be ready in late 2020 and early 2021, respectively. Amari is a flagship brand of Onyx Hospitality Group with a long-standing heritage of more than 52 years, celebrating colours and rhythms of modern Asia and incorporating this into their designs, architecture, cuisines and services. At the press conference, Khor said it was a natural progression for the group as they expand from developing townships to integrated developments. “We are proud to establish a dual-property deal with S P Setia and look forward to having three of our core Onyx brands present across peninsular Malaysia,” said Martell. On promoting local cultures, Khor said, “Amari manifests a vision of contemporary Asia.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 00:22 UTC
‘Sex predator’ on leave – more victims step forward - Nation
PETALING JAYA: While the department head at a Klang Valley hospital, who allegedly sexually abused female housemen, has gone on indefinite leave, more victims have come forward to share their experiences. According to sources, the senior doctor was told to go on leave following media reports of his alleged sexual harassment of housemen. Since last Sunday Star’s front-page expose of the alleged sex predator’s acts, more victims, including housemen, have come forward to lodge complaints of sexual abuse that occurred in hospitals, said the Health Ministry. Speaking on condition of strict anonymity, former houseman Lara (not her real name) yesterday related her ordeal to The Star, saying that her ugly encounter with the department head only started in the second month of her posting. “The department head asked me to carry his stuff to his car.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 00:22 UTC
Mais seeks to up marriage age - Nation
PETALING JAYA: Selangor’s Islamic religious authorities have called for tighter restrictions to underage marriage and the legal marrying age for girls to be raised from 16 to 18. Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) said the decision to endorse the changes came after an in-depth discussion that was decreed by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. Besides the council, the talks also involved the Selangor Syariah Judiciary Department (Jakess), Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and various relevant people like health experts, academics and NGOs. Mais also said there are several procedural matters that will be improved to protect the interests of those who want to marry under the age of 18. It also sparked the campaign #pelajarbukanpengantin (#schoolnotspouse) to end child marriage.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 00:19 UTC
Education experts to give helpful tips on life overseas at fair - Nation
PETALING JAYA: Studying abroad may be one of the best ways for students to gain knowledge and learn independence. Those who wish to pursue higher qualifications in countries with a long history of education excellence should come to the Star Education Fair 2018, where experts will be sharing information on studying and working overseas. “Students tend to focus a lot on London, but many universities beyond London offer quality education at an affordable price. Catch Chew, Tan and Ho on the first day of the Star Education Fair 2018 this Saturday from 12.10pm to 1.20pm under the Education and Career Talks segment. The Star Education Fair will be held at Exhibition Halls 4 and 5 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 11am to 7pm this weekend.
Source:The Star
August 01, 2018 00:11 UTC
Sony posts record profit - Business News
The electronics firm posted profit of 195 billion yen (US$1.75bil) for April-June, up 23.7% from 157.6 billion yen a year prior. The result compared with the 145.23 billion yen average of eight analyst estimates compiled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. With the previous year’s one-time gain of 36.8 billion yen excluded, Sony logged even sharper first-quarter growth of 61%. Analysts said the game Marvel’s Spider-Man, to be launched in September on PlayStation 4, could further lift gaming profit. Sony lifted its annual profit outlook for the gaming business and semiconductor business by 60 billion yen and 20 billion yen, respectively.
Source:The Star
July 31, 2018 23:37 UTC
Customs D-G: People will soon have more money under SST - Nation
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are expected to have more money in their pockets under the Sales and Service Tax (SST) system than when they were paying the Goods and Services Tax (GST). A total of 6,400 goods will be subject to sales tax compared with 11,197 goods under GST, said Customs director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy. “If we look at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket of goods and services, under GST, 60% of the goods were taxed. He said the department estimated that 70,000 to 80,000 companies would be registered under the SST regime compared with 470,000 companies under the GST system. Customs has begun reaching out to businesses, including holding briefing sessions, to ensure a smooth transition from GST to SST.
Source:The Star
July 31, 2018 23:15 UTC