Author - James Lim

Special committee says major reforms needed to Sosma detention powers

KUALA LUMPUR: A Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) has recommended a review of the 28-day detention period and the definitions of security offences, terrorism-related crimes and organised crime under the controversial Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Act 747). The committee made eight recommendations in its Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reforms report proposing amendments to...

Govt fine-tuning proposal to replace subsidies with MyKad-based social aid

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is reviewing a plan to phase out blanket subsidies in favour of MyKad-based social aid, says Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying. She said the immediate priority, however, was to ensure the smooth rollout of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme, which forms the foundation of the government’s shift towards targeted aid...

Federal Court reduces Yew Wei Liang’s jail term to 12 years

PUTRAJAYA: A former IT officer convicted of causing the death of bank officer Syed Muhammad Danial Syed Shakir in a road rage incident had his sentence reduced. The Federal Court cut Yew Wei Liang’s prison term from 16 years to 12 years after allowing his appeal on Wednesday (Dec 3). Yew, 47, sobbed in the dock upon...

Government reviewing use of disposable income to target aid, says Hanifah

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is reviewing a more refined way to identify target groups for aid, including using disposable income as a fairer benchmark. Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib (pic) said the proposal needs further study to ensure it is workable and effective. “For now, most assistance is determined using the Poverty Line Income, covering...

No Cabinet reshuffle but vacancies need to be filled, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hinted that a major Cabinet reshuffle is not on the cards, with only current vacancies set to be filled. Anwar explained that this is because the Cabinet only has about a year and a half or slightly more to serve. "So I don’t think a major reshuffle can...

Albert Tei’s wife Lee Pei Ree demands MACC issue seizure list, return items

PETALING JAYA: Lee Pei Rie, the wife of detained businessman Albert Tei, has demanded that the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission issue a full seizure inventory and return items taken during a raid. The demand letter is dated Sunday (Nov 30) and was sent by her lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal. Lee seeks a complete signed...

PM launches Perodua’s first EV with 445km range

KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua has launched its first battery electric vehicle - the QV-E - as part of plans to develop a sustainable EV ecosystem. At the launch, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was touched by the quick progress of the project. “I am very proud,” he said on Monday (Dec 1). “It is not just...

No need for special funds as opposition reps get the same allocation, MB tells Perak assembly

IPOH: The Perak government does not plan to allocate special funds for opposition assemblymen as the existing allocation of RM300,000 has already been provided to all constituencies, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. The Mentri Besar said that the allocations provided for in the budget are managed by several entities, such as the State Secretary’s Office, Perak...

STR recipients consistent in repaying PTPTN loans, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: National Higher Education Loan Fund (PTPTN) borrowers from families who receive Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) aid recorded the highest loan repayments as well as the highest outstanding amounts, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said that as of Oct 31, more than 900,000 borrowers from STR families have...

Melaka bachelor wins RM20.17mil in partial Toto 4D Jackpot

KUALA LUMPUR: A 61 year old bachelor from Melaka became a multi millionaire after a partial win of Toto 4D Jackpot 1 worth RM20.17mil. The retired oil palm estate supervisor won the amount from a total jackpot of RM20.32mil on November 23. “As a Toto fan for almost 30 years, I have dreamed of winning big but...