PUTRAJAYA: The National Wages Consultative Council (Amendment) Act 2025 came into effect Friday (Aug 1), extending the current minimum wage to apprenticeship contract workers. In a statement, the Human Resources Ministry said Minister Steven Sim had set Aug 1, 2025, as the commencement date for the amendments. "Under the amendment, the current minimum wage now applies to apprenticeship contract...
JOHOR BARU: A farmer with permanent resident status has been charged at the Sessions Court here with smuggling six migrants into the country. The accused, Salim Ahmad, 61, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Siti Noraida Sulaiman on Friday (August 1). According to the charge sheet, Salim was said to have smuggled six...
PETALING JAYA: The reduction in the United States' reciprocal tariff rate from 25% to 19% on Malaysian goods is a significant achievement and displays Malaysia's thorough and methodical negotiating process and strong inter-agency coordination, says Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry said the reduced rate was a result of sustained...
KUALA LUMPUR: The following are the economic highlights of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) 2026-2030 which was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament today, with the theme "Melakar Semua Pembangunan” (Redesigning Development).” - Investments of RM611 billion required to successfully implement 13MP - Development allocation from the government is estimated at RM430 billion, with RM227 billion to be...
PETALING JAYA: About 95% of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) was developed during my time as economy minister, says Rafizi Ramli. In a statement issued on Thursday (July 31) while the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was tabling the 13MP, Rafizi thanked the staff of the Economy Ministry for having drafted the long-term plan for...
KUALA LUMPUR: Pro-health taxes will be expanded to cover tobacco, vape and alcohol products, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister stressed the need to handle health risks, stressing that it is not solely for tax revenue. “It is to encourage behavioural changes and curb the worrying rise of non-communicable diseases,” he said when tabling the...
KUALA LUMPUR: Immediate action will be taken to ensure that the aspirations of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) are made understandable to the rakyat, said Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The Communications Minister announced that a special virtual briefing session on the 13MP will be held on Thursday (July 31) night with all Madani community and National Information...
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong has pledged to thoroughly scrutinise every detail of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and invites public input on issues to raise during the upcoming parliamentary debate. Dr Wee is scheduled to take part in the Dewan Rakyat debate session next Tuesday (Aug 5), following the tabling of RMK13...
ISLAM QALA, Afghanistan: At the border with Iran, Fatima Rezaei distributes food and hygiene products to Afghans forced to return, unable to passively stand by as the deportation crisis grows. The 22-year-old is one of many Afghan volunteers rallying to help their compatriots, despite having little themselves. Since the beginning of the year, more than 1.6 million...
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s household financial assets remain robust, standing at 2.1 times more than total household debt, the Dewan Rakyat was told. This is despite debt levels reaching RM1.65 trillion, equivalent to 84.3% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), as at the end of March, said Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying. She added that while...
