Malaysia’s Dysfunctional Elites
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: In the realm of societal leadership, a dysfunctional elite emerges as a group entrusted with authority and influence, yet failing in their fundamental duties towards the wider community. These elites, whether in politics, business, or academia, exhibit telltale signs of a malaise that hampers their effectiveness and betrays their solemn responsibilities.
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Singapore’s Lee Declares Departure In Shock Announcement
HONG KONG, SAR: In a sudden announcement that rocked Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s office announced this morning that the 72-year-old Lee would step down on May 15 – in just a month – to be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, only the third leadership transition in the island republic since its independence in 1965. Two of the premiers have been members of the Lee family, one of the most enduring political dynasties in Asia.
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A Confident Marcos Returns to the White House
HONG KONG, SAR: Tomorrow, April 11, US President Joe Biden will host a tripartite summit in the White House with Fumio Kishida of Japan and Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines as guests. Announced at a time of escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the optics of the summit are as much about decline as they are about resurgence.
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Having Lost Its Way, Umno Could Be Toast In The Next Polls!
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Umno, supposedly the protector of ethnic Malay rights and interests since independence, is poised to lose Pahang, its political haven, at the next general election.
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Prabowo's New Fears and Hope
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Indonesia’s President elect Prabowo’s visit to Malaysia reflects a new strategic maneuver for both Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Jakarta will need Malaysia’s alignment of support and policies, as both share similar threat settings and challenges in facing renewed and intense pressure and overtures from both the West and Beijing.
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From Desperation To Determination: Indonesian Trafficking Survivors Demand Justice
NEW YORK, US: Working abroad can be a way for Indonesians to earn much more than they could at home, and provide for their families. However, for some the journey can turn into a nightmare, with long hours, wages withheld, and abuse. The UN is working closely with the government to help bring trafficked workers home.
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Without Special Scheme For Micro-Businesses, E-invoicing May Backfire
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: On 22 May 2023, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) announced that an electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) system will be implemented in stages starting from 2024. LHDN shared that a pilot implementation with selected companies will begin in April 2024, followed by mandatory implementation based on company’s annual revenue. The new scheme will target firms with revenues above RM 100 million per year from 1 August 2024, to be extended to firms with annual revenues above RM 25 million from 1 January 2025. Finally, from 1 August 2025 all firms will be subject to compulsory e-invoicing.
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Malaysia's Call To Preserve Mangroves: Leveraging Technology For Sustainable Conservation
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Amidst persistent floods and an ongoing climate crisis, one undeniable reality emerges: the fate of mangrove trees extends beyond environmental concerns; it represents a collective responsibility and a crucial lifeline for humanity. Take, for example, the recurring challenges posed by floods. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, in 2022, floods resulted in significant losses, amounting to a staggering 622.4 million ringgit. Notably, all 14 states in Malaysia faced flood-related issues in 2022, marking an increase from the 12 states affected the previous year.
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Russia Steps Up ASEAN Engagement As Multipolar World Emerges
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: As the collective West steps up its confrontational foreign policy against its perceived rivals, Russia is moving forward with a constructive agenda through greater engagement with its partners in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.
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“Do Not Cross The Red Line, Anwar Must Stop That From Happening”
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: WHERE is the red line? Listen, just because one uses God as the basis of one’s actions, that does not justify breaking the law or inciting hatred or asking people to boycott and destroy the business of the country. There must be limits to your anger.
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Stop The Burial Of Truth In The Case Of Amri Che Mat
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: We call upon your government to stop the attempts to bury the truth in the case of Amri Che Mat who was enforced disappeared on November 24, 2016, in Kangar, Perlis, seemingly targeted for being a Shia Muslim.
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Tax incentives – Boon or Bane?
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia:PMX DS Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has repeatedly highlighted the need to be prudent in government spending in order to reduce deficits. We are constantly reminded by the Finance Minister that he has inherited more than a trillion dollars of debt from previous administrations that his government has to pay back.
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Politicians Come And Go, But The Elite Are Permanent In Malaysia
BANGKOK, Thailand: Governments do change in Malaysia. Each incoming administration will have its own narratives and specific agendas. However, policies will be generally very similar, and based upon the same principles as the previous government. In and around the executive and administrative government is a network of elite people, who collectively yield massive power. The actors can be seen in GLCs, corporations, royal households, civil servants, the judiciary, police, and within the executive itself. This massive power is however, hidden due to its fragmentation, and unseen influence its membership carries.
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Politics In Malaysia – A Simple Philosophical Take
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The political discourse in Malaysia and the West is high on racism and radical nationalism and low on substance and quality.
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What A Prabowo Win Signals For US-Indonesia Relations
WASHINGTON, US: Soon after voting ended in the world’s fourth-largest country and third-largest democracy, Prabowo Subianto is claiming a knock-out blow winning more than half the vote and the necessary number of provinces to eliminate both his challengers.
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When Politicians Want To Go To Heaven
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: It was reported that UMNO’s sole assemblyman in Kelantan, Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim, voted along with the rest of the state legislature to support a motion to re-enact provisions of the Shariah criminal code that the Federal Court recently declared unconstitutional. In explaining the assembly’s puerile act of defiance of the highest court in the land, Syahbuddin said, “We want to go to heaven”.
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Is Malaysia Ready For A Global Recession?
BANGKOK, Thailand: With the latest World Bank’s forecast warning that most economies will grow much slower in 2024 and 2025, Malaysia must be very cautious as the local economy is directly exposed to global events.
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Malaysia Must Be Bold, Strategic in South China Sea
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia’s conventional and decades old approach to the South China Sea conflict in using quiet and backdoor diplomacy is once again in the limelight with the repeated incursions and grey zone operations by Beijing over the years, the latest on February 17 where the China Coast Guard 5403 vessel sailed off the coast of Malaysia. Most of these including the latest incident did not get much awareness and attention.
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Open Letter To Delegates Of The Bumiputra Economic Congress
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: I agree that the economic status of the Bumiputra community in Malaysia is still lagging compared to the non-Bumiputra community.
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Malaysian Children’s Hospice Klang Launch
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The registration of MAPPAC on 18th June 2018 has been the catalyst in setting the pace for the launch of the 1st Malaysian Children’s Hospice (MCH) Kuala Lumpur on June 17, 2023. The 2nd being MCH Sibu, Sarawak on Nov. 11, 2023.
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