December 8, 2023


THE government has agreed to maintain the maximum retail price of bottled pure palm cooking oil to ease the people's burden and deal with the issue of price increases, said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).<\/p>\r\n
In a statement issued today, the ministry said the price of one kg bottled cooking oil remained at RM6.90, for the 2kg bottle at RM13.30, 3kg (RM19.60) and 5kg (RM30. 90) until a date to be announced later.<\/p>\r\n
The ministry said several proactive measures have been taken by the Madani government to help consumers from being affected by any issue of unreasonable price increases.<\/p>\r\n
\"They include maintaining the maximum retail price for bottled pure cooking oil through the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Determination of Maximum Price) Order (No. 13) 2023,\" it said.<\/p>\r\n
Parties found selling above the maximum price can take action under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, which provides a fine of up to RM100,000 or jail for not more than three years or both, while companies can be fined up to RM500,000, upon conviction. \u2013 Dec 8, 2023<\/p>","post_title":"KPDN: No change in retail price of bottled pure palm cooking","post_excerpt":"The government has agreed to maintain the maximum retail price of bottled pure palm cooking oil to ease the people's burden and deal with the issue of price increases, said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"kpdn-no-change-in-retail-price-of-bottled-pure-palm-cooking","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-12-08 11:45:22","post_modified_gmt":"2023-12-08 03:45:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/focusmalaysia.my\/?p=154991","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":154980,"post_author":"110","post_date":"2023-12-08 12:10:27","post_date_gmt":"2023-12-08 04:10:27","post_content":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fbq_V-7dxXg&ab_channel=AlJazeeraEnglish\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSpeaking at a news conference, Martin Griffiths says the term \u201chumanitarian operation\u201d cannot be used in Gaza because the pace of the Israeli military assault near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt has prevented a comprehensive aid response.","post_title":"UN aid chief: \u2018We do not have a humanitarian operation in southern Gaza\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"un-aid-chief-we-do-not-have-a-humanitarian-operation-in-southern-gaza","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-12-08 11:13:57","post_modified_gmt":"2023-12-08 03:13:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/focusmalaysia.my\/?p=154980","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":154975,"post_author":"91","post_date":"2023-12-08 11:18:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-12-08 03:18:26","post_content":"OF ALL my contemporaries, I least expected former Klang MP Charles Santiago to support the notion of the multiplicity of unions in the country.\r\n\r\nRecently, he said that the presence of multiple unions will lead to competition among unions for better wages and work conditions. The newly introduced amendment to the Trade Union Act of 1959 allows for multiplicity of trade unions in trades and industries.\r\n\r\nI wonder how Santiago being a person well-versed in the history of labour and trade union struggles endorse the formation of multiple unions. How on earth can the contest and conflict between multiple unions contribute to the rise in wages and benefits for the working class?\r\n\r\nThe limited Indonesian experience might not be applicable to the Malaysian situation. When in-house unions were introduced in the 1980s and beyond, I am sure Santiago did not welcome the idea.\r\n\r\nThe whole idea of the formation of in-house unions or company unions was basically to divide the general or trade unions. Both the Malaysian state and employers have acted in unison when it came to divide and weaken the trade union movement.\r\n\r\nIn the immediate aftermath of the World War II, colonial legislation such as the Trade Union Ordinance was introduced to disallow omnibus unions and instead encourage the formation of trade unions.\r\n\r\nTrade unions were further split after the formation of in-house of company unions. Now there is another nefarious attempt to introduce multiple unions in the industry.\r\n\r\nDiffering views<\/strong>\r\n\r\nCan Santiago confirm whether the passage from omnibus to trade and in-house or company unions in the course of the nation\u2019s history strengthened the labour movement in terms of better wages and benefits from employers?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSimilarly, I wonder how the latest introduction of multiple unions can increase the competition among unions for better bargaining power.\r\n\r\nI hope Santiago is not that naive to assume that competition and conflict between multiple unions can increase the bargaining power of workers. On the contrary, competition and conflict between unions will further divide and weaken the already fledgling labour movement.\r\n\r\nIt didn\u2019t occur to Santiago how or the manner weaker unions might be used by employers to subvert the stronger and the adversarial ones. It goes without saying that multiple unions will be something that might be embraced by the government and employers.\r\n\r\nThe last thing that the government and employees need is a strong labour movement. As far as employers are concerned, a good union is \u201cdead union\u201d. Labour laws in the country are meant not to keep peace between labour and capital but intended to subdue the labour or trade union movement.\r\n\r\nIt is indeed shocking that progressive leaders like Santiago doesn\u2019t see the real intentions behind the amendment to the Trade Union Act 1959. The intention is to further weaken and strangle the workers in the country.\r\n\r\n
Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar[\/caption]\r\n\r\nHuman Resources Minister V. Sivakumar spoke proudly about union membership having reached the target of one million. But he exposed his naivety by not realising that only slightly more than 6% of the labour force are organised in trade unions in the country.\r\n\r\nPerhaps Santiago wants to explain how multiplicity of unions can increase the union membership leading to better bargaining power.\u00a0I agree with the Coalition Against Multiplicity of Unions (CAMU) that the introduction of multiple unions in the industry is nothing but another sinister attempt the weaken the unions in general.\r\n\r\nThe unions in the country are weak but why is there a need to flog them further? Just because the amendment to the Trade Union Act 1959 might become a law to create multiple unions, there is no necessity to support it. \u2013 Dec 8, 2023\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nFormer DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.<\/em><\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia<\/em>.","post_title":"A rare instance of Ramasamy, Charles Santiago disagreeing on the boon\/bane of multiple union","post_excerpt":"Of all my contemporaries, I least expected former Klang MP Charles Santiago to support the notion of the multiplicity of unions in the country. ","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"a-rare-instance-of-ramasamy-charles-santiago-disagreeing-on-the-boon-bane-of-multiple-union","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-12-08 11:20:05","post_modified_gmt":"2023-12-08 03:20:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/focusmalaysia.my\/?p=154975","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":154974,"post_author":"110","post_date":"2023-12-08 11:11:35","post_date_gmt":"2023-12-08 03:11:35","post_content":"
<\/a> Hashim Jasin<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nHashim noted that UMNO's dissatisfaction was evident in its losses in six state elections and the recent Kemaman by-election. He pointed to a notable surge in PAS' majority in the Kemaman by-election, indicating a growing discontent among the electorate towards UMNO's alliance with DAP.\r\n\r\n\"If UMNO continues to behave this year, it is not impossible for the party to be 'buried' in GE16. We in PAS have never declared UMNO as an enemy, and they are welcome to work with us anytime, in the name of ummah <\/em>(Muslim community).<\/em>\"\r\n\r\nMoreover, Hashim proposed that UMNO consider collaborating with the Islamist party or the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, citing the importance of unity within the ummah.<\/em>\r\n\r\nHe also acknowledged that many UMNO leaders and supporters are hesitant to voice their dissent against Zahid, contributing to the party's current predicament.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile,\u00a0PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man recently expressed openness to rekindling ties with UMNO<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, provided such a decision is made through the PN platform, which includes the Bersatu.\r\n\r\nHowever, Zahid unequivocally rejected the idea, dismissing it as mere \"daydreaming\" and highlighting UMNO's unpreparedness to restore its alliance with PAS.\r\n\r\nFurthermore,\u00a0Hashim urged UMNO to reconsider its stance, claiming that PAS has never declared UMNO as an enemy.\r\n\r\nHe also stated that UMNO is welcome to collaborate with PAS in the name of ummah<\/em> unity and any details of cooperation can be worked out later.\r\n\r\n\"Every party in a coalition has their formula of facing elections. But ummah<\/em> unity remains the primary focus,\" added Hashim.\r\n\r\nHashim suggested that a united front between UMNO and PAS could potentially challenge DAP's strongholds and even secure 40 seats currently held by the latter. \u2013 Dec 8, 2023\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nMain photo credit:\u00a0<\/strong>Harakah Daily<\/em>","post_title":"UMNO faces electoral threat as dissent grows over DAP cooperation","post_excerpt":"UMNO confronts electoral peril as internal disagreement intensifies over its partnership with DAP. Dissent within the party poses a potential threat in upcoming elections.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"umno-faces-electoral-threat-as-dissent-grows-over-dap-cooperation","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-12-08 11:13:46","post_modified_gmt":"2023-12-08 03:13:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/focusmalaysia.my\/?p=154974","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":154968,"post_author":"91","post_date":"2023-12-08 10:08:28","post_date_gmt":"2023-12-08 02:08:28","post_content":"ACCORDING to Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, the action of five Bersatu MPs who recently declared their support for Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in exchange for development funds cannot be considered a form of corruption.\r\n\r\nHer reasoning is that such action can only be considered as bribery if Anwar had made such an offer in a bid to become the PM.\r\n\r\nBut since Anwar is already enjoying the support of 149 MPs and did not require the additional support of the five MPs, what the five Bersatu MPs did is not corruption.\u00a0I don\u2019t know about you but I find this definition to be bewildering and self-serving.\r\n\r\nGoing by Azalina\u2019s definition, if the government leader and the opposition leader did the exact same thing \u2013 which is to promise MPs on the other side of the aisle to switch their support to their side in return of receiving favours \u2013 only the opposition leader will be guilty of corruption because he is eyeing the PM post.\r\n\r\nThe leader of the government cannot be considered as guilty of corruption although he does the exact same thing simply because he is already the PM.\r\n\r\n
The five Bersatu MPs who pledged support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are (from left) Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) (Pic credit: Sinar Harian)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nStrange but true<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAgain going by Azalina\u2019s definition, corruption is not defined by the act itself but by the needs of those who participate in it.\r\n\r\nWhat this means is that if the five opposition MPs switched their support when Anwar only had the support of 107 MPs, then their action is deemed corruption because Anwar needs their support to become PM.\r\n\r\nBut since Anwar already has 149 MPs backing him and no longer need the five MPs' support, then what the five opposition MPs did will no longer be considered as corruption.\u00a0Going by this definition, I reckon the rich and the powerful are never corrupt. It\u2019s only the poor and the helpless that can be guilty of corruption.\r\n\r\nIf you give RM100 to the office peon to subvert the office\u2019s rules and the regulations, then that is corruption because the office peon \u2013 by virtue of not having a few hundred ringgit in his wallet \u2013 obviously took the RM100 you gave him out of need.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nBut if f you give RM1 mil to the head of the office to subvert the rules and regulations, this is not corruption because the head of the office already has RM1 mil in his\/her bank account, hence he\/she no longer needs your RM1 mil. Your RM1 mil to them can thus be considered a donation or a gift.\r\n\r\nWhat kind of definition is this?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThis \u201ccorruption is defined by the needs of the receiver as opposed to the act itself\u201d theory that Azalina advocates for \u2013 by the way \u2013 sounds eerily similar to the theory that now incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak applied when he took a few hundred million from a Saudi prince when he was in office.\r\n\r\nSince he also claimed that he did not need the money or used the money on himself, he thought that there was nothing wrong with him taking the money either.\r\n\r\nListening to Azalina and thinking of Najib made me wonder whether all politicians interpret terms like corruption or nepotism the same way.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nOther than their self-serving definition of corruption, Anwar also gave a similar defence when he was accused of nepotism after hiring his daughter to a high government post not too long ago.\r\n\r\nAccording to Anwar, using his powers to appoint his daughter to a high position in the government \u2013 although she does not possess the experience nor qualification to take on that job and despite her appointment by-passes many more qualified and experienced candidate \u2013 is not nepotism because his daughter is not taking any salary in her position.\r\n\r\nNote the similarity in argument between Azalina, Najib and Anwar here. They all seem to believe that corruption is not something that is defined by the act but by the self-assessment of those who participate in the act.\r\n\r\nAccording to their point of view, it doesn\u2019t matter if a Saudi Prince gives you hundreds of millions of ringgit for no reason or that five opposition MPs bizarrely decide to support the government leader while remaining in the opposition fold or if you get selected to a highly prestigious job without having any necessary experience or qualification.\r\n\r\nThis is so because the act itself doesn\u2019t make you corrupt. You are only corrupt if you feel that you have gained something from it. If you don\u2019t think that you have gained something from it \u2013 even if the act itself is indicating as clear as daylight that you did gain something from it \u2013 then it's not corrupt.\r\n\r\nIn other words, your self-assessment of your gains versus your needs is the final arbiter of whether you are corrupt or not. Does everybody in the country think like this or is this just a belief that is peculiar to the politicians? \u2013 Dec 8, 2023\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nNehru Sathiamoorthy is a roving tutor who loves politics, philosophy and psychology.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia<\/em>.","post_title":"A bizarre, self-serving definition of corruption by de-facto Law Minister Azalina","post_excerpt":"According to Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, the action of five Bersatu MPs who recently declared their support for Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in exchange for development funds cannot be considered a form of corruption.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"a-bizarre-self-serving-definition-of-corruption-by-de-facto-law-minister-azalina","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-12-08 10:08:28","post_modified_gmt":"2023-12-08 02:08:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/focusmalaysia.my\/?p=154968","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":154966,"post_author":"91","post_date":"2023-12-08 09:04:08","post_date_gmt":"2023-12-08 01:04:08","post_content":"BELOW are excerpts of viewpoints from two selected research houses on what investors can expect in the day ahead:\r\n\r\nInter-Pacific Research<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe FBM KLCI continues to lose ground, closing below the 1,445-support level yesterday with market conditions affected by Moody\u2019s downgrade of eight China banks on their lower credit worthiness.\r\n\r\nConditions were weak throughout the day but selling was relatively benign as the key index was able to largely hold its ground.\r\n\r\nStill, the broader market shares ended the session broadly lower with losers nearly doubled the number of gainers.\r\n\r\nWe see the near-term market conditions remaining frail and this points to another day of unsettled conditions on Bursa Malaysia that could see the key index end the week on another downbeat note.\r\n\r\nAs it is, the market\u2019s undertone is still dicey, unable to gain much traction amid the lack of catalyst with the corresponding buying interest being thin with most market players on a wait-and-see stance.\r\n\r\nThe overnight recovery on some key global indices is also unlikely to provide much impetus for the FBM KLCI. This could further leave the benchmark index to maintain its drifting trend for the time being.\r\n\r\nContinuing wariness could see the key index ending the week near or at the 1,440 support with the ensuing support pegged at 1,436 points. The immediate resistance is at 1,445 points, followed by the psychological 1,450 level.\r\n\r\nMalacca Securities Research<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe FBM KLCI continued to decline for the fourth session as profit taking activities persisted.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, the US stock markets ended on a positive note with a boost from Alphabet after it jumped more than 9% after launching a new generation of AI chips which will enable it to better against OpenAI and AMD.\r\n\r\nHowever, the non-farm payroll will be very crucial for the market to sustain another upward move as the narrative can switch easily from overheating to recession fears if the non-farm payroll declines significantly.\r\n\r\nOn the local front, we expect bargain hunting activities to emerge following the four-day losing streak. On the commodity markets, Brent crude prices continue to trade around US$74\/barrel as it lacks fresh catalyst to spur the positive trade.\r\n\r\nThe FBM KLCI drifted lower for the fourth session. The technical readings on the key index were negative with the MACD Histogram staying flattish around the 0 level while the RSI has dipped further below the 50 level.\r\n\r\nThe resistance is pegged around 1,460-1,465 while the support is at 1,430-1,440. \u2013 Dec 8, 2023","post_title":"What to expect on Bursa Malaysia this Friday","post_excerpt":"We see the near-term market conditions remaining frail and this points to another day of unsettled conditions on Bursa Malaysia that could see the key index end the week on another downbeat note. ","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"what-to-expect-on-bursa-malaysia-this-friday-105","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-12-08 18:45:27","post_modified_gmt":"2023-12-08 10:45:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/focusmalaysia.my\/?p=154966","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_22"};
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