Rightways to Success: Malaysia

Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts

Monday 17 July 2023

Malaysia’s secularism based on Constitution, Alliance Memorandum, its secularism shoudn't be open to misinterpretation

Malaysia's secularism based on Constitution, Alliance ...

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s secularism is evidenced in the Federal Constitution and the Alliance Memorandum 1956, says MCA.

It said MCA, as a member of the Alliance Coalition, played a significant role in shaping the Alliance Memorandum submitted to the Reid Constitutional Commission on Sept 27, 1956.

“The memorandum explicitly stated that ‘the religion of Malaya shall be Islam... and shall not imply that the state is not a secular state’,” it said in a statement on Tuesday (July 11).

MCA also emphasised that Islam and the position of Malay Rulers as heads of Islam in their states are protected by the Federal Constitution.

“Article 4 of the Federal Constitution establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, thereby protecting the position of Islam and the Malay Rulers,” it said.

MCA said it unequivocally takes the position that Malaysia is a democratic and secular state with Islam as the official religion - a position that the country has not changed in the last seven decades.

Explaining, MCA said that a secular state is one where the source of law is secular.

“In Malaysia, religious authorities derive their source of authority from secular laws enacted by the Malaysian Parliament.

“Islam is enshrined in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, which is itself a secular document and forms the foundation of our nation.

“This is unlike a theocratic state like Saudi Arabia, where religious laws and scriptures are the primary source of legislation, rather than the Constitution, Parliament, or the Court,” it added.

MCA said secularism can take different forms, and it is not unusual for secular nations, such as the United Kingdom, to integrate religion into their systems.

“This can be observed through the presence of their state church led by the monarchy, a characteristic that mirrors Malaysia's approach,” it said.

The Barisan Nasional component party said their statement was necessitated by instances where leaders from different political parties often conflate Malaysia's secularism with the notion of "complete separation of state and religion".

“It is our earnest hope that political leaders exercise greater responsibility when discussing Malaysia's legal and constitutional nature to avoid any misinterpretation of their words.

“The resulting confusion could cause unnecessary anxiety among the public and undermine international confidence in Malaysia,” it added. Source link

Malaysia can’t be a totally secular state, says PM

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s secularism is evidenced in the Federal Constitution and the Alliance Memorandum 1956, says MCA.

As one of the founding members of the Alliance (the precursor to Barisan Nasional), MCA played a significant role in shaping the Alliance Memorandum submitted to the Reid Constitutional Commission on Sept 27, 1956.

According to the National Archives, the commission was formed on March 21, 1956, to review and recommend the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya in preparation for Malaya’s independence on Aug 31, 1957.

“The memorandum explicitly stated that the religion of Malaya shall be Islam ... and shall not imply that the state is not a secular state,” it said in a statement yesterday.

MCA also emphasised that Islam and the position of Malay rulers as heads of Islam in their states are protected by the Federal Constitution.

“Article 4 of the Federal Constitution establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, thereby protecting the position of Islam and the Malay Rulers,” it added.

MCA also unequivocally took the position that Malaysia is a democratic and secular state with Islam as the official religion, adding that it did not change its position on this in the last seven decades.

MCA also said that a secular state is one where the source of law is secular.

“In Malaysia, religious authorities derive their source of authority from secular laws enacted by the Malaysian Parliament.

“Islam is enshrined in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, which is itself a secular document and forms the foundation of our nation.

“This is unlike a theocratic state like Saudi Arabia, where religious laws and scriptures are the primary source of legislation, rather than the Constitution, Parliament or the Court,” it added.

MCA said secularism can take different forms, and it is not unusual for secular nations, such as the United Kingdom, to integrate religion into their systems.

“This can be observed through the presence of their state church led by the monarchy, a characteristic that mirrors Malaysia’s approach,” it said.

The Barisan Nasional component party said their statement was necessitated by instances where leaders from different political parties often conflate Malaysia’s secularism with the notion of “complete separation of state and religion”.

“It is our earnest hope that political leaders exercise greater responsibility when discussing Malaysia’s legal and constitutional nature to avoid any misinterpretation. The resulting confusion could cause unnecessary anxiety among the public and undermine international confidence in Malaysia,” it added.

Source link

Related posts

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the son of an Indian migrated from low caste Kerala, has crippled Malays

Monday 3 July 2023

KLIA, a corruption gateway?

-NSTP file pic, for illustration purpose only.

'Entry fee' claim sparks probe

MACC to probe Tiong's allegation of corruption at KLIA

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki responds to a claim by tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing of alleged corruption involving ...

If Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is right, something is very rotten with the Immigration officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Tiong said he was there to attend to a complaint lodged by a Chinese tourist that some Immigration officers were allegedly demanding money to either free tourists from detention or to get them through a special lane into Malaysia.

It is not clear if the Chinese tourist was asked to pay any money, but she is said to have been fed only once in the 15 hours she was detained. If this is true, it is an abuse of power that must not be tolerated. Even a prisoner gets fed at regular intervals.

These are tourists who will take these unpleasant stories home to be told and retold about Malaysia, which is "cruel" to foreigners.

Somewhere in the ugly narratives will be lodged the tale of Malaysia being a land where money can buy almost anything. And it starts at Malaysia's main gateway, the KLIA.

Here is the scale of graft fees, not printed in any permanent form, of course, but to be passed from one tourist to another. An oral tradition of sorts to keep the greedy officers fed. Anything from up to RM3,000 to RM15,000.

If a tourist wants to get out of detention, the "fee" is up to RM3,000. If a speedy passage is needed, the tourist needs to cough up RM15,000, RM3,000 for a "special lane" and RM12,000 for visa-processing costs.

It appears that Tiong was armed for the surprise visit. He brought along his team of integrity officers, whose purpose is not clear. He may have done better by going there with the director-general of the Immigration Department.

A slip he may regret, now that he is being accused of demanding the release of the Chinese tourist, an accusation he is denying vehemently. This is a developing story, of which the nation will hear more.

Be that as it may, corruption among some Immigration officers is regularly featured in the media. Occasionally, Parliament gets to hear about the misconducts or crimes committed by Immigration officers at the gateways to Malaysia.

On June 21, the Dewan Negara, the upper house of Parliament, was told that 136 Immigration officers were found guilty between 2020 and last year: 112 cases were for misconduct and 24 were for convictions by court.

Not a number to be proudly paraded given that it is just to do with the processing of foreigners' entry into the country. Add them all, and it will be a national embarrassment.

How these wayward officers manage to get appointed, or worse, stay in service until they are caught is a question the D-G of the Immigration Department must answer.

The chief secretary to the government may have to revisit the selection, retention and reward systems of public offices to weed out the corrupt and corruptible.

There should be no place for them in public service, not just the Immigration Department.

Tiong has a colourful phrase for the "forever" malaise at the Immigration Department: culture of corruption. Expect this phrase to have a prominent place in the report that Tiong has promised to submit to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Source link

'Full probe into tourist incident' | The Star

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/03/full-probe-into-tourist-incident?dmplayersource=share-link

Tiong: I stepped in to help

Tiong: I had to step in personally over KLIA incident

MACC to investigate corruption allegations, says Azam Baki

MACC to probe alleged corrupt practices of immigration ...

'Solve visa issues to attract students here' | The Star

Related posts

MACC going after foreign agent in ruckus, who received RM18,000 bring in the Chinese national through KLIA

MACC hunt agent who 'assists' Chinese tourists held up by Immigration ‘Man charged Chinese visitor RM18k’ KUALA LUMPUR: Graft...

Thursday 25 May 2023

The Bankrupting of America

US debt ceiling impasse and a default’s impact on Malaysia remains a concern

US debt issue may affect global demand

PETALING JAYA: With the United States currently being embroiled in a debate as to whether it should raise its debt ceiling before the June 1 deadline, concerns over the impact on Malaysia of the world’s largest economy defaulting on its borrowings were understandably raised among certain quarters.

This is all the more relevant when one considers the fact that the United States is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, with World’s Top Exports reporting that Singapore, China, the United States, Japan and Hong Kong contributing to more than half of Malaysia’s export revenue – 51.8% to be exact – in 2022.

The website also revealed that the United States accounted for US$38bil (RM173.5bil) or 10.8% of Malaysia’s export income in 2021, again behind only Singapore at 15% and China 13.6%.

Thus, it is not difficult to understand the oft-used adage, “When the US sneezes, the world catches a cold”, including of course, Malaysia.

Chief economist for HSBC Global Research Frederic Neumann had remarked on Monday that should the debt ceiling issue be drawn out of proportion, it could lead to a depression of US growth, and adversely impact Malaysian exports stateside, possibly even reducing global demand because of an increase in financial uncertainty.

The current debt ceiling is known to be at US$31.4 trillion (RM143.4 trillion), and reports from yesterday indicated that a resolution could be imminent.

Shedding more light on the matter, Centre for Market Education chief executive Dr Carmelo Ferlito said the debt ceiling can be raised again, but only if it can be voted through the House of Representatives, which has a Republican majority.

“The Republicans are trying to use the deadline to pressure President Joe Biden to agree to spending cuts.

“On April 26, the House approved a bill to raise the debt limit by US$1.5 trillion (RM6.85 trillion), but only on the condition that spending would be cut to 2022 levels and then capped at 1% growth per year,” he told StarBiz.

A simple analogy to illustrate the ceiling standoff is the case of a parent providing a teenage child with a credit card.

If the teenager exceeds the spending limit, and asks the parent for an extension of credit, it is only natural for the parent to go over the spending habits of the child before deciding to provide more credit, which has to be repaid.

If the ceiling is not raised and the US officially defaults, Ferlito said the consequences for other economies – including Malaysia – should be looked at more in the light of a general financial turmoil that the default could cause rather than the more immediate link with American bonds that firms or governments may have.

“We do not see direct repercussions on Malaysia; rather, we foresee indirect effects in case of (a US) default, coming from a global financial turmoil,

He explained: “We do not see direct repercussions on Malaysia; rather, we foresee indirect effects in case of (a US) default, coming from a global financial turmoil.

“If there is a default, which is doubtful, there will be a financial shock and the entity of such a shock will determine how much it would impact Malaysia.”

He elaborated that a potential default and its effect on an exporting country like Malaysia can be seen as two separate phenomena, a sovereign debt default; and the business relationship between private entities.

Ferlito added: “Even if the US defaults, private companies can still transact independently from the scale of the mutual business relationship. What we have to fear more are the indirect consequences.”

Economists at Coface Services South Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd, Bernard Aw and Eve Barre, believe a breach in the debt ceiling would result in outlay cuts currently funded with borrowing while the US dollar would weaken, elevating yields.

“Such a default would also have an impact on global financial markets, which rely on the dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency and as a safe asset.

“For Asian exporters, a weakening of the dollar against their currencies would dampen their competitiveness, including for Malaysia as the United States represents its third-largest export market up to 2022,” they told StarBiz.

Although acknowledging that a negative impact on the US economy from reducing public spending would depend on the extent of those cuts, they pointed out that if an agreement leads to deep spending decreases, economic growth for the United States could be slower than the already sluggish 1.2% that Coface is forecasting for 2023.

Aw and Barre opined: “This would have a direct impact on Malaysia by reducing US demand for Malaysian goods but also on foreign investment.

“In 2021, the United States was the first source of foreign direct investment flows to Malaysia, accounting for roughly a third of the total.”

On the flipside, they projected that sharp cuts in US public spending are unlikely to be approved by the Senate, as it is controlled by the Democrats.

Meanwhile, approaching the problem from an investment perspective, chief investment officer for Tradeview Capital, Nixon Wong, echoed the economic view that a US default would have global ripple effects, including on the FBM KLCI.

“A default on US federal debt would disrupt imports of electronics and manufactured goods from Chinese factories to the United States, resulting in slower growth of orders in the entire supply chain that includes Malaysia.

“Reduced spending in the United States would lead to slower aggregate demand and import growth globally,” he said.

The effect could likely be seen on export-oriented companies on the local bourse, he said, including manufacturers of electrical and electronic and rubber products, as well as in the producers of metal, optical and scientific equipment.

He added that although Malaysia’s trade volume with the United States may be smaller compared to China, the repercussions from reduced US spending would still impact Malaysia’s exports, whether directly or indirectly.

History has shown that American political leaders have always managed to raise the debt limit before it becomes a crisis, and it is likely that this pattern will continue, Wong said.

“While there are debates and partisan divisions in Congress, it is expected that Republicans will seek spending cuts before supporting the raising of the debt ceiling.

“After all, the main agenda is to prevent a catastrophic event or severe fallout in the United States and global financial markets,” he observed.

By KEITH HIEW

Source link

US urged against passing risks to world amid growing chance of a US default

A Chinese official on Tuesday warned of the significant spillover effect of US domestic policies and urged Washington to avoid passing on domestic risks to the rest of the world just to protect its own interests. The comment came after US leaders failed to reach a deal on the debt ceiling issue, with the deadline to avert the first-ever default approaching rapidly.

Related posts:

Will US debt ceiling deadlock push capital to yuan market?

Should we be worried about debt?

US the biggest obstructer of global recovery in 2023, Ballooning US debt a ticking time bomb for world economy

Washington’s unsustainable deficit hangs over global economy

The strong dollar should not become a sharp blade to cut the world, THE NEED FOR BRETTON WOODS III

Global de-dollarisation fast underway; US Printed More Money in One Month Than in Two Centuries, US$ is fast becoming Banana Currency

Saturday 20 May 2023

Starting salaries are higher now

Having what it takes: Among the criteria that recruiters look at before hiring were if prospective employees were willing to take up the challenges and go the extra mile to execute and deliver their work. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Content/Images/job_vacancies_19052023.jpg

GEORGE TOWN: Starting salaries for fresh graduates entering the job market has risen by about 30% compared with before the pandemic due to lifestyle and high cost of living, say recruiters and human resource practitioners.

In Penang’s hotel and tourism industries, starting salaries for fresh graduates now are at RM2,500 onwards while in the manufacturing sector, the starting salary for engineers can be RM4,000 and as much as RM5,000.

Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chairman Tony Goh said the higher salary is due to the supply and demand in the tourism industry and taking into account the current higher cost of living.

“For us now, salaries are definitely higher compared with before the pandemic. We don’t expect them (new graduates) to work with a basic salary of RM1,300 to RM1,500 like before.

“The second thing is, people must be able to sustain the lifestyle they need while working with us, hence the need for higher basic salaries,” he said.

He said the minimum wage rule imposed by the government last year contributed to the generally higher salaries for all other positions now.

He said new graduates who are eligible and qualified would be paid a basic salary of around RM2,500, excluding allowances.

Since May 1 last year, employers with five or more workers were required by the Minimum Wages Order 2022 to increase the minimum wage to RM1,500.

Goh said among the careers sought by new graduates in the hotel and tourism industries are receptionists, executives, sales coordinators and administration executives.

In an exclusive report yesterday, The Star revealed that industry research showed that fresh graduates’ salaries ranged from about RM2,600 to almost RM2,900 in the Klang Valley and Johor Baru, while it was about RM2,400 in Melaka.Leaders of business NGOs interviewed opined that fresh graduates should manage their starting salary expectations, on top of reviewing their life goals.

But a check in Penang’s manufacturing sector showed that graduates with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) capabilities might enjoy a much better starting point.

Factories can pay fresh graduates as much as RM5,000 if they are involved in the design and development of integrated circuits, said Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association’s Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai.

“Generally, any STEM graduate working in Penang’s factories can expect a starting pay of about RM3,500,” he said.

He urged parents to help their children develop a passion for STEM to give them a good starting point after getting their first degree.

Pentamaster Corporation Berhad group executive chairman Chuah Choon Bin said the median salary for STEM graduates in Penang now is about RM4,000, and this is due to the surge in foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Penang last year.

“Because of the high FDI, there is a lot of competition for manpower, so multinational companies increase the offered pay to attract skilled workers and fresh graduates,” he said.

Chuah, however, said this year, the hiring wave is down a bit due to the slowing global consumer market, the trade war and the war between Russia and Ukraine.

He said some companies have started slashing down their workforce by implementing voluntary separation schemes and shortening operating hours to cut costs.

Chuah said he expects the slowdown to continue until the end of the year, depending on the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war and how intense the trade war between the United States and China would be.

Human resource specialist Azimah Aziz said that normally starting salaries are based on job scope and the candidate’s experience.

“For example, for the starting salary of a research assistant in aquaculture, the basic pay starts from RM2,900 for a fresh graduate,” she said.

She said among the criteria that recruiters look at before hiring were if prospective employees were willing to take up the challenges and go the extra mile to execute and deliver their work.

Source link

Fresh grads want too much

thestar.com.my/news/nation/20

Employers unable to meet fresh grads' high salary expectations

We want liveable wages, not merely high salaries’

Related News

More doing higher studies for brighter prospects

... if you have a Master’s degree, it sets you apart from others and your employability may be higher for a managerial position in the industry, compared with someone who does not possess such a qualification...

‘Flaws in starting salary proposal’

Related posts:

IC designer Oppstar focuses on talent, IPO offers good value for money

Oppstar soars 225% on ACE Market debut, makes sterling debut on ACE Market

Reference:

Fresh grads earning higher starting salaries now know their market value: HR expert | THE BIG STORY

Saturday 15 April 2023

Regulating short-term stays in Penang, such as Airbnb Hosts, homestays

Stating it clearly: A banner is hung at the entrance stating the ban on short-term homestays at one of the apartments in Gelugor, Penang.ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Residential property investors hoping to make a killing from the short-term stay business are likely to find it an uphill task with the new regulations in place.

State local government, housing, town and country planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said other residents would now need to give their consent to units being used for short-term stays.

“I do not think it will be easy for one to gain approval from all other residents in a high-rise building. Even then, there are limitations.

“They will need to have a general meeting and seek approval.”

Jagdeep said the Penang government has two guidelines for short-term stays – one for high-rises and the other for landed properties.

“Both guidelines were approved by the state executive council on March 8 and will now be enforced.

“We have received many complaints regarding short-term stays. Such practices disrupt the lives of other residents,” he said.

“We formulated these guidelines not to deny property owners the right to rent them out, but to regulate short-term stays.”

Jagdeep said that for stratified projects classified as residential, one must first obtain approval from the joint management body (JMB) or management corporation (MC) through an AGM, on top of complying with other terms in the guidelines.

“Serviced apartments classified as being in a commercial zone must comply as well.

“If approval is given (for the residential or commercial properties), the short-term stay must not be for more than three days per reservation.

“On top of that, each unit must not be booked for more than 180 days in a year,” he added.

Jagdeep said many residential high-rise buildings had put up banners clearly stating that short-term stays are not allowed.

“It is clear that it will be difficult for people to convince many JMBs or MCs to allow them to use their units in that way,” he said.

Jagdeep said hotels in Penang are well equipped to cater to the needs of tourists.

“We must be fair to the people and the tourism sector,” he said.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) national vice-president Datuk Khoo Boo Lim said the guidelines would help hotels.

“We are not able to stop them from operating but with rules in place, there will be no abuse.

“They will need to follow guidelines and only those who comply will be allowed to operate.

“This will definitely help hotels as the number of short-term stay units will drop,” he said.

However, the Asia Travel Technology Industry Association (Attia) urged the state government to reconsider its decision to enforce the new guidelines.

It said the new guidelines are “untested, disproportionate, and complicated”.

“The Penang Government should have considered co-regulation and self-regulation approaches, such as voluntary code-of-conduct style frameworks, which have successfully reduced noise and nuisance issues in short-term stay homes without imposing onerous requirements,” the association said in a recent statement.

Attia said most short-term stay hosts are individuals and not companies, and such individuals could be “pushed out from participating in the lucrative sharing economy”.

The association said short-term stays complement hotels by catering to “price-sensitive digital nomads and youth travellers”, and also families wanting to rent a whole house for their holidays.

Attia is an NGO representing global businesses dealing in travel and tourism in Asia Pacific, including online room and flight booking portals.

Source link

Related posts:

1 day ago — SINGAPORE, April 14 (Bernama) -- Singapore has been in the middle of another COVID-19 infection wave for the past month, said the republic's ...

Sowing the seeds to Success:

Pages

Share This

Monday 17 July 2023

Malaysia's secularism based on Constitution, Alliance ...

Monday 3 July 2023

MACC to investigate corruption allegations, says Azam Baki

MACC to probe alleged corrupt practices of immigration ...

'Solve visa issues to attract students here' | The Star

Thursday 25 May 2023

US debt issue may affect global demand

Saturday 20 May 2023

Fresh grads earning higher starting salaries now know their market value: HR expert | THE BIG STORY

Saturday 15 April 2023