Penyelenggaraan cerun tidak dijalankan sejak 2013
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14 Julai 2020
PUTRAJAYA - Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) didapati tidak menjalankan pemeriksaan penyelenggaraan rutin terhadap cerun sejak tahun 2013.
Perkara itu didedahkan oleh Ketua Audit Negara, Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid pada sidang akhbar berkenaan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (LKAN) bagi Tahun 2018 Siri 3 hari ini.
Menurutnya, peruntukan belanja bagi menguruskan kerja pembaikan cerun berjumlah RM205.56 juta.
"Bagi kerja pencegahan cerun, peruntukan disalurkan di bawah Inisiatif Pembiayaan Swasta II berjumlah RM40 juta bermula tahun 2018," katanya.
Bagaimanapun beliau berkata, perbelanjaan kerja pencegahan cerun adalah sekitar 32 peratus berbanding peruntukan yang diterima.
"Kerja pembaikan dan pencegahan cerun amat penting dilakukan untuk mengurangkan kadar kerosakan harta awam, kerugian ekonomi, menjamin keselamatan pengguna jalan raya dan risiko kehilangan nyawa.
Read more: Penyelenggaraan cerun tidak dijalankan sejak 2013
Expired food used in cooked food supply programme in boarding schools, reveals audit
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Tuesday, 14 Jul 2020 l 4:32 PM MYT
PUTRAJAYA: Dry ingredients used in the cooked food supply (BMB) programme in some boarding schools had expired for as long as 427 days, the third series of the Auditor-General's Report 2018 found.
The report said that in a physical audit done from February to March 2019, it found that 28 dry ingredients in 13 out of 42 school samples had no expiration dates and had food that had expired, ranging from one to 427 days.
"This is because there was no inspection done by the contractor or the dormitory supervisor on the expired stocks and the stock production methods used by the contractors that did not use the ‘First In First Out’ (FIFO) concept.
"This can cause food poisoning among the students," stated the report which was released on Tuesday (July 14).
The report noted that the audit involved the evaluation of the BMB programme from 2016 to 2018, covering two main audit areas which are its performance and programme management.
Read more: Expired food used in cooked food supply programme in boarding schools, reveals audit
Be careful of syndicate seeking tax payment — IRB
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July 11, 2020 16:29 pm +08
KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has advised the public to be wary of fraudulent tactics by syndicates to get taxpayers to make payments for outstanding sales and service tax (SST) through false letters using the IRB's name and logo.
In a statement today, the IRB said such false letters contained personal details of victims, including banking information and the amount of outstanding payment to be made, and signed by an IRB office, which were forged.
According to the IRB, false IRB letters can be easily identified because SST particulars are handled by another agency and not under the IRB.
“The IRB views seriously the matter and the public are advised to be careful, with every call, email or dubious letter that they received, by verifying the matter with the IRB.
Read more: Be careful of syndicate seeking tax payment — IRB
Chicken price will not exceed RM9 per kg by August, says deputy minister
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Sunday, 12 Jul 2020 04:33 PM MYT
MELAKA, July 12 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) today gave the assurance that the retail price of chicken nationwide will not exceed RM9 per kg by August.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Rosol Wahid, said this upon assurance given by industry players during a meeting with the ministry recently following the surge in the chicken price during the movement control order (MCO) period.
However, checks conducted by MDTCA until early this month found some traders selling the chicken for between RM8.20 to RM8.69 per kg, he told reporters after the Walkabout Price Monitoring Programme at the Historic Melaka City Council Public Market, here today.
Previously, it was viralled that in Terengganu, the price of chicken had gone up to RM10.50 per kg.
Two days ago, MDTC confirmed that there was an increase of between 10 sen and RM1.50 per kg for chicken during the period June 4 to 19.
Rosol said MDTCA would continue to monitor the prices of essential goods, especially ahead of the Aidiladha celebration at the end of this month.
Read more: Chicken price will not exceed RM9 per kg by August, says deputy minister
Fear of public transport driving up used-car sales, say dealer
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July 12, 2020 7:00 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: Used-car dealers are smiling again as sales are going up after the three-month Covid-19 lockdown – and many buyers are those who have decided to ditch public transport.
Tony Khor, president of the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia, said most buyers no longer feel comfortable using public transport.
“Our customers say they prefer to drive their own cars after Covid-19. They feel safer,” he told FMT.
He said used-car dealers did not expect this trend and had been bracing themselves for hard times.
But a recent government announcement of 100% sales tax exemption until Dec 31 on locally made cars and 50% for imported cars had led to an increase in sales.
Demand was rising for Japanese cars of about five years in age and those that are below RM30,000. The highest number of sales were in Perak, Johor and Kedah: most of the customers had formerly used express bus to travel interstate.
Read more: Fear of public transport driving up used-car sales, say dealer
Do you know about the Rule of 78 imposed on early settlement of loans?
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Sunday, 12 Jul 2020 l 10:00 AM MYT
I write to highlight something very important to consumers, especially hire purchase borrowers. I recently underwent an unpleasant experience when I looked into early settlement of such a loan from a local bank.
The silver lining of the experience is that I managed to gain knowledge on how perhaps we have been duped by the financial industry without our knowledge. This new “wisdom” that I gained is about the “Rule of 78”.
In 2014, a letter from a consumer organisation published by The Star pointed out that the Rule of 78 practiced by the banking industry for small loans is recognised as unfair practice – “it has been abolished in the United Kingdom since 2005” ("Stop using Rule of 78 for loans, banks urged").
I am surprised that an issue as important as this to borrowers and consumers was then allowed to disappear from the public’s radar without action by the authorities.
This matter impacted me pertaining to a hire purchase transaction I entered into in 2013. I bought a car as a gift for my sister. Being an existing customer of the bank and finding it convenient, I was persuaded to take a hire purchase loan from it.
Read more: Do you know about the Rule of 78 imposed on early settlement of loans?
Press Release: Air Selangor should increase its water reserve margin - NGO
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KUALA LUMPUR, July 10
Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) should increase its water reserve margin for at least three days during the upcoming upgrading works to avoid water supply disruption which is expected to affect 420,000 user accounts.
Malaysian Water Forum (MWF) president Saral James Maniam, in calling for proactive action, said Air Selangor should also consider continual improvement planning ideas to be implemented.
“Stop burdening consumers and businesses from time to time. It is time to improve and learn from countries such as Singapore where consumers hardly face any water disruptions due to maintenance or upgrading of facilities by the authorities,” she said in a statement today.
According to Air Selangor, the Selangor River Treatment Plant (LRA) Phase 3 (LRA SSP3) upgrading works from July 14 to 17 were needed to replace several major pipelines to improve the water supply system and plant operation’s efficiency.
Read more: Press Release: Air Selangor should increase its water reserve margin - NGO
KPDNHEP sahkan kenaikan harga ayam
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10 Julai 2020
PUTRAJAYA - Harga ayam naik antara 10 sen dan RM1.50 dalam tempoh antara 4 Jun hingga 19 Jun lepas berdasarkan maklum balas diberikan peniaga, kata Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP).
Pengarah Penguat Kuasa KPDNHEP, Datuk Iskandar Halim Sulaiman berkata, maklumat itu diperoleh susulan notis dikeluarkan KPDNHEP di bawah Seksyen 21 Akta Kawalan Harga dan Antipencatutan 2011 kepada 310 peniaga ekoran rungutan orang awam yang mendakwa berlakunya kenaikan harga ayam di peringkat peruncit.
"Berdasarkan data analisis terdapat 27 peruncit menjual ayam pada harga satu kilogram antara RM9.50 dan RM10, 26 peruncit menjual pada harga antara RM9 dan RM9.40 dan 58 peruncit menjual pada harga di bawah RM9," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.
Menurutnya, kenaikan harga ayam di peringkat pemborong berlaku antara 30 sen dan RM1.10, dengan harga ayam di peringkat pemborong adalah antara RM6.50 dan RM8.50, manakala di peringkat peladang pula antara RM5.70 dan RM6.
Press Release: Water Disruption once more, when this will end?
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10 July 2020
Four-days has been scheduled for upgrading works of Selangor River Treatment Plant (LRA) Phase 3 (LRA SSP3) will affect 420,000 account holders in 290 areas in Petaling, Klang, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Langat.
Consumers will experience scheduled water supply disruptions from July 14 to July 17 when several major pipelines are replaced to improve the system and plant operation's efficiency.
Even though Air Selangor has committed to mobilizing 91 water tankers to all critical premises such as hospitals and dialysis centres and will activate eight local service centres (PKS) and provide six public water pipes from July 16 to 17, to help affected customers, will this include and be sufficient for all domestic consumers.
Many staying in high rise building, vulnerable consumers such as people with special needs and the elderly will be burdened by the water supply disruption. Water disruption that lasts up to 4 days will actually disrupt the daily life of the Consumers.
Many Consumers are already burdened with financial issues after the MCO, and this is compounded by the burden of water disruption not one day but up to 4 days.
Read more: Press Release: Water Disruption once more, when this will end?
Malaysia’s poverty line goes up to RM2,208
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July 10, 2020 3:21 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s poverty line has been revised to RM2,208 from RM980, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) said.
The poverty line, based on the basic requirements for a household to live healthily and actively, is according to 2019 methodology, the department said.
Previously, it was calculated according to the 2005 methodology, which benchmarked poverty at RM980.
Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the revision was in accordance with current needs that emphasise optimal food intake and quality non-food basic requirements.
In the department’s Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey Report and Household Expenditure Survey Report 2019 released today, it said the incidence of absolute poverty improved from 7.6% in 2016 to 5.6% in 2019, and hardcore poverty was at 0.4% in 2019 compared to 0.6% in 2016.
The Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality or wealth inequality within a nation, increased by 0.008 index points from 0.399 in 2016 to 0.407 in 2019, which showed that the household income gap is widening, it said.
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