Motorists might pay with lives for fuel price hike, says DAP MP

There may be a deadly cost to raising pump prices for RON95 petrol and diesel without serious effort to upgrade the country’s public transport system, a DAP lawmaker warned Putrajaya today.

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong highlighted how a previous increase had triggered road users to opt for more fuel-efficient modes of transportation to mitigate the price hike, but with deadly and unintended consequences.

“Research has shown that motorcycle fatalities shot up as a result of the March 2006 and June 2008 fuel hikes as the lower income group switched transport modes from cars to motorcycles,” Liew said in a press statement today.

“A new human disaster of more motorcycle fatalities is imminent, following the latest petrol price increase.”

Liew noted that even from Malaysia’s already high risk of road fatalities, two-wheelers faced several magnitudes more danger.

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Move to cushion fuel price hike

Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s Tuanku Jaafar power station in Port Dickson. The Energy Commission is considering implementing the Fuel Cost Pass-Through mechanism next year.

THE Energy Commission is studying ways to cushion the impact of future tariff hikes on consumers by implementing the Fuel Cost Pass-Through (FCPT) mechanism next year.

Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that FCPT was a mechanism under incentive-based regulations to encourage more efficient utility operations through a reward-and-penalty system.

"Once implemented, consumers will be subject to fuel market prices. The fluctuations in fuel prices will be reflected in the tariff prices billed to consumers.

"And if the prices drop, consumers will enjoy lower fuel market price.

"It is our hope that the FCPT, once implemented, will help cushion the tariff changes for consumption of 200kWh and above.



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Cost of hiring Indonesian maids upped to RM8,000, Govt announces

The Government has announced it will now cost RM8,000 to hire an Indonesian domestic helper.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who chaired the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Worker and Illegal Immigrants, said that the new rate was decided after considering all costs incurred in both countries.

"The RM8,000 was decided after considering the training cost of at least 200 hours, travel documentation, food and accommodation before being transferred to new employers, traveling costs, medical check-ups as well as payment to the respective governmental agencies from both countries," he said in Parliament on Monday.

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Riot: 400 companies postpone minimum wage implementation to start of 2014

Hoteliers and security service providers are among the 400 macro companies with six or more workers nationwide that have been given leeway to defer the implementation of the minimum wage until Dec 31 this year, Human Resource Minister Datuk Richard Riot said Saturday.

He said after Jan 1 next year, his ministry would not give any more exemption to any company that was required to pay the minimum wage of RM800 a month in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan and RM900 in the peninsula under the Minimum Wages Order 2012 for the private sector.

The latest application letter (for deferment) received was from a plantation company in Sarawak which would be referred to the National Wages Consultative Council for a decision, he told reporters after launching the state-level Pesta Birumuh 2013 and 1Malaysia Support For Housewives and Azam Kerja programmes here.

Micro companies are categorised as those with five workers and below.

He said there were a total of about 12.8 million workers in Malaysia at present, including 1.4 million civil servants and 1.5 million foreign workers.

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Proton may increase production of Saga SV prices starting from RM33,438.

National car maker Proton may increase production of the Saga SV from the current 2,000 units per month to cater to high demand for the car.

Proton Edar Chief Executive Officer Hisham Othman said 4,000 units have been pre-ordered following the launch of the new model a week ago.

"Currently, our production is enough to fulfil the number of bookings that we received, and we assure customers who make their bookings now that they can expect to get the car before Hari Raya.

"It's been a while since we received such a good response," he told a press conference here today.

He said of the total pre-orders, 65 per cent were for the CVT automatic transmission model, with the rest for the manual version.

"With 4,000 units of the Saga SV booked to date, and with the numbers increasing every day, this strengthens the Proton Saga's position as the consumer's preferred choice of entry-level

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Bus Companies not selling bus ticket until govern increase 30% price ticket

A late scramble for bus tickets is on the cards for those planning the balik kampung trip for the coming Hari Raya period unless express bus companies get their way.

The companies want to raise their fares by 30% and have chosen not to sell advance tickets for July and August until they get Government confirmation over an increase.

The move, if approved, will see a bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru costing about RM40 instead of the usual RM31.10 (Transnasional).

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) president Datuk Ashfar Ali said the bus companies had met Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) officials in late May seeking the increase.

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Carmakers refute Utusan’s price slash claim

Carmakers Volkswagen and Peugeot have both refuted claims of a price slash this year, as reported in Umno-backed broadsheet Utusan Malaysia three days ago as part of proof that the ruling coalition had fulfilled its election pledges.

Utusan had reported that Volkswagen, Peugeot, Honda and local marques Proton and Perodua had reduced the prices for 10 of their models by up to 11 per cent from January this year, presenting the list as proof that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government has fulfilled its pledge for lower car prices in its Election 2013 manifesto.

“Please be advised, the price on the image is incorrect. The Golf price has always been RM157,888 from the time of launch. Not RM169,888,” a representative from Volkswagen Malaysia commented on its Facebook page, referring to its sports hatchback model Golf.

A user had previously posted an image of Utusan’s report, which claimed that the Golf’s price has been slashed by 7.1 per cent from RM169,888 to RM157,888.

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Malaysia’s stock market rise points to a bubble

Malaysia’s stock market is at risk of becoming a bubble, as it goes through an unsustainable growth spurt fuelled by a global thirst for yield, said a report by international analysts the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) today.

Together with neighbours Thailand and Singapore, Malaysia’s debt-to-income ratio has reached between 120 to 130 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), a trend which has continued since 2011 after global outlook towards the region turned positive.

“Stagnation in industrialised nations means investors are turning to emerging economies in search of higher yield. ASEAN stock markets have ridden this wave of capital, sending stock prices skywards.

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GST implementation to add up to RM27b to Malaysia's income

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala says GST will provide extra funds for the government to spend on the well-being of Malaysians.

Malaysia will be able to rake in an additional income of up to RM27 billion if the proposed goods and services tax (GST) is implemented at seven per cent, similar to neighbouring Singapore.


Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the new taxation mechanism can guarantee additional revenue of RM20 billion to RM27 billion, at maturity.

"At maturity, is when, every Malaysians starts to contribute towards the GST. It must be implemented as soon as Malaysians are ready to accept the mechanism," he added.

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Car prices cannot be reduced abruptly

The prices of cars cannot be reduced abruptly as they will affect the overall car industry, said former chief executive officer of Proton Holdings Bhd, Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir.


Syed Zainal said several important factors had to be considered before the prices could be reduced.

"In my view, the reductions can be done but they must be studied thoroughly and various aspects have to be taken into consideration.

"Many stakeholders are involved because this not a small industry but a big one involving many investors," he said when met here today.

He said this when commenting on the government's efforts to reduce the car prices gradually and Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto calling for a quick cut.

Deluge of newborns creates demand for confinement ladies

Baby care: Lim Kim Moi (left) showing new mother Nancy Cheng how to change her baby’s diaper. Confinement ladies like Lim are few and far in between, especially in the Year of the Dragon.

The deluge of newborns by aspiring parents in the Year of the Dragon has created a demand for confinement ladies which has made them “precious commodities”.

Mothers across the country, especially in densely-populated cities like Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru, are finding it difficult to secure experienced confinement ladies or nannies even three to four months ahead of their delivery date.

“My sister-in-law in Johor Baru was searching high and low for a nanny since March and she only found one available in July,” said Elaine Wong, 32.

Wong, who had just welcomed her baby boy in March, had booked her confinement lady from Ipoh in November last year.

“She was very good, but she was already booked in July,” said Wong, who initially recommended the confinement lady to her sister-in-law.

RON95 petrol subsidy up 10sen in March; pump price remains at RM1.90

Global rise in oil prices has pushed up the subsidy for RON95 petrol by 10sen to RM1.03 per litre in March, said Domestic Trade and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Tuesday.

The pump price of RON95 will remain at RM1.90 per litre.

1 Care merely ‘upgrade’ of current healthcare system, says minister

1 Care merely ‘upgrade’ of current healthcare system, says minister
The health minister today denied 1 Care would force Malaysians to contribute 10 per cent of their salaries to finance the scheme

Putrajaya’s controversial 1 Care proposal is merely an “upgrade” of Malaysia’s current two-pronged healthcare system, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said today.

The health minister told reporters that any discussion of 1 Care was “premature”.

He repeatedly stressed that the matter is at a “discussion level” in what appears to be an attempt to allay the public’s alarm and fury following disclosures on the internet by prominent healthcare professionals, including those who were involved in talks with the government over 1 Care’s execution as far back as three years ago.

Health D-G: 1Care won't burden public

The Health Ministry has given an assurance that the 1Care 1Malaysia health concept would not burden the public with undue costs.

Director-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said discussions and consultations on the types of financial arrangement and implication to the Government, taxpayers and individuals were ongoing to propose an acceptable healthcare financing model.

"Thus, any assumption or conjecture on the mode of financial impact for the individual tax payer is very premature at this stage, as discussions are being held at the moment to ensure a positive and workable model," he said in a statement here Friday.

Sugar deal inked above market price as subsidy bill spikes

Malaysia signed a long-term sugar supply deal at a fixed price of US$26 (RM78.20) per hundred pounds last month despite global prices for the commodity hovering around US$23, resulting in a hike in the subsidy bill.

A Cabinet minister said today that the country would benefit if prices go up.

The market price for sugar is expected to remain soft for the next six months due to ample supply, according to most traders.

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister told reporters today that Putrajaya’s decision to raise the sugar subsidy and keep its RM2.30 per kilogramme peg is due to a three-year-long contract it signed in January 2012.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government had struck a deal, until 2014, to buy sugar at US$0.26 per pound.

He added that the contract would benefit Malaysians should market prices increase in the future.

13 items on Christmas price control list

This Christmas, 13 items will be placed under the festive season price control scheme from Friday to Dec 27.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the items included live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, imported turkey, tomatoes and capsicums.

Grade A, B and C chicken eggs, imported bone-in mutton, and imported bone-in mutton leg also made the list.

Ismail said the ministry had determined the maximum price based on numerous information such as the nationwide price monitoring from January to December, feedback from various government agencies including the Department of Veterinary Services and from discussions with suppliers.

AirAsia says KLIA2 cost spike due to lack of input

AirAsia today blamed Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for all the delays and additional costs to KLIA2, claiming they could be put down to the airport operator’s failure to set up a joint panel to decide on the new terminal’s ideal specifications.

“No joint action committee was set up to get all the right requirements from Day One,” AirAsia commercial director Jasmine Lee told reporters at the airline’s office here.

She pointed out this was despite then-Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s recommendation in November 2008 to set up the panel after meeting with both parties.

Without the joint committee, AirAsia had no direct control over the design and construction of the new low-cost carrier terminal as it could only make requests and suggestions to MAHB, Lee said.

AirAsia wants tenancy contract for KLIA2

File photo of an artist’s impression of KLIA2 when completed.

AirAsia says it wants a contract from Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for KLIA2 to ensure a minimum level of service from the airport operator and to avoid arbitrary airport charge hikes in future.

AirAsia commercial director Jasmine Lee said a service level agreement (SLA) would ensure MAHB was accountable for service quality at the new terminal and allow the airline to make more accurate cost projections.

She pointed out that there was no SLA in place at the current LCCT, just conditions of use.

UEM, EPF to waive Plus Expressway's RM2.6 bil compensation

UEM Group Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) have agreed to waive Plus Expressways Bhd's current outstanding compensation balance totalling RM2.9 billion from the government.

In a statement today, UEM said there will also be no compensation for the toll rate freeze until 2015 which will otherwise cost the government RM3.6 billion.

EPF and UEM Group have concluded the negotiation with the government on the proposed acquisition of assets and liabilities of PLUS Expressways and Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd.

Selangor implements RM1,500 minimum wage for GLC staff

The Selangor government announced the implementation of RM1,500 minimum wage for the employees of all wholly state-owned subsidiaries.

To start it off, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said, the state has allocated a RM10 million grant for companies whose financial standings are still unstable, in order to assist in the implementation of the minimum wage scheme.

The implementation of the minimum wage is part of the Selangor 2012 Budget themed "Selangorku: State's Revenue for the People" which was tabled at the state secretariat today.

At a press conference later, Abdul Khalid elaborated that implementation of a minimum wage will be supported by a higher workers' productivity level.

"We don't want to give give-aways. People need to earn their keep," he said.