Author - James Lim

Trump floats new tariffs on China, India to squeeze Russia

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump told European officials he’s willing to impose sweeping new tariffs on India and China to push President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table with Ukraine - but only if EU nations do so as well. Trump made the ask when he called into a meeting with senior US and EU officials in...

Gig Workers Bill allows early resolution of grievances and disputes, says lawyers’ group

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Law Society (SLS) has welcomed the passing of the Gig Workers Bill 2025, describing it as a landmark step in providing long-overdue legal protection to platform-based and freelance workers. SLS president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin said the Bill filled a longstanding gap in Malaysia’s employment laws by recognising gig workers as a...

PN seeks early lifting of Razman’s suspension from Perak assembly

IPOH: Perikatan Nasional is appealing for Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria's six-month suspension from the state assembly to be reduced. Acting state Opposition whip Zainol Fadzi Paharudin (PN-Sungai Manik) said a motion was submitted to the Speaker about an hour before the sitting on Tuesday (Sept 9) and hoped that it would be considered. "It was his...

PM hails Audit Dept successes, urges private sector support for good governance efforts

KUALA LUMPUR: Follow-up audits have successfully recovered RM159mil since last year, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the Madani government had implemented various reforms to ensure greater accountability and restore public confidence. "We also established a Serious Irregularities Commission to deal swiftly with critical breaches. "Since 2024, follow-up audits have already recovered and safeguarded RM159mil,"...

Robust governance, accountability essential to combat leakages, corruption, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Robust governance and strong accountability are essential to addressing long-standing issues such as financial leakages, mismanagement, and corruption, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the values of good governance and accountability must be promoted at all levels, especially among internal auditors, and that such values should not be seen as a...

Healthcare crisis hitting all income groups

PETALING JAYA: It is a big red flag if people in the country’s top income group – the T20 – are starting to use public hospitals because private insurance is just too expensive, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations. The federation’s senior manager Saral James Maniam said this is an indication how healthcare costs are...

JJ Lin donates his prized Martin D-45 acoustic guitar for charity

Singaporean musicians JJ Lin, Taufik Batisah, Benjamin Kheng, Shabir Sulthan and Awi Rafael have each signed and donated a guitar to Gift A Guitar, a charity initiative that seeks to provide underprivileged youth with the gift of music. The guitars will be auctioned, with proceeds going to The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. Lin, 44, who donated...

Loan scams: 11 plead guilty to criminal conspiracy, fined RM3,000 each

SEREMBAN: Eleven individuals were fined RM3,000 each in default six months' jail by a Magistrate's court here after they pleaded guilty to committing criminal conspiracy by inducing others to apply for nonexistent loans. They did not contest the charge after it was read to them separately before Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli on Monday (Sept 8). Willie Ngam...

National Planetarium’s blood moon event draws crowds, despite overcast skies

KUALA LUMPUR: Approximately 500 visitors flocked to the National Planetarium as early as 9pm last night for its Observation Programme to witness the total lunar eclipse, or 'blood moon'. Although the phenomenon was not fully visible due to overcast skies, the public still had the opportunity to view the penumbral lunar eclipse around 11.30pm. A penumbral eclipse occurs...

Maju Group director Abu Sahid charged with RM313mil CBT case

KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent businessman Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed of Maju Group has been charged at the Sessions Court with four counts of criminal breach of trust amounting to RM313mil linked to a proposed highway project. The 74-year-old company director was also slapped with 13 counts of money laundering - amounting to RM139mil - monies that...