SPRM perlu siasat kartel beras
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SHAH ALAM - Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) digesa untuk menyiasat Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) sekiranya syarikat berkenaan terlibat dalam penyelewengan pengurusan stok penimbal beras negara.
Setiausaha Agung Majlis Ekonomi Halal (MEH), Dr Helmi Ibrahim berkata, timbul kemusykilan kerana Bernas diberi tanggungjawab mewujudkan stok penimbal beras tetapi krisis tetap berlaku.
“Mereka diberi tanggungjawab mewujudkan stok penimbal beras. Jadi, simpanan yang ada sepatutnya mampu bertahan selama enam ke sembilan bulan untuk menampung permintaan sekiranya berlaku krisis.
“Tapi krisis ini baru saja berlaku jadi bagaimana tiba-tiba berlaku kehabisan stok (beras) dalam pasaran walaupun tiada darurat atau peperangan.
“Sekiranya betul ada kartel seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO, Dr Muhammad Akmal Salleh selain Bernas, maka perlu didedahkan siapa kartel tersebut,” ujarnya.
Dr Muhamad Akmal sebelum ini menggesa kerajaan mewujudkan semula Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara (LPN) bagi mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap pengkhianat beras dan melenyapkan isu kartel beras di negara ini.
Menurutnya, penubuhan LPN dilihat dapat menyelesaikan isu berkaitan padi dan beras sekali gus mengurangkan kelompangan yang berlaku.
‘Asean rice exporters must prioritise us’
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is expected to urge Asean’s main rice supplier nations to give priority to exporting the staple food to member countries at the 45th Asean Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF).
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chan Foong Hin said the matter would be raised during the AMAF, to be held here.
“Perhaps, at the bilateral sessions, we will raise it, just like how we want to further strengthen ties, so that priority is given to exporting rice to Asean countries.
“Discussions may be held with either Thailand or Vietnam,” he told reporters after representing Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu during the event’s launch yesterday, Bernama reported.
Commenting on the White Rice Integrated Operations, Chan said comprehensive inspections at all levels of the padi and rice industry chain would begin at any time.
On Tuesday, Mohamad, when launching the operation, said it would involve padi and rice regulatory bodies, the ministry, police, Customs Department, and Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Service Department.
Earlier in his remarks, Chan said the sustainability of agricultural and forestry sectors – vital to the livelihoods of millions of people in Asean – faces imminent threats from climate change, overfishing, unsustainable agricultural practices and food wastage.
TM launches cheaper broadband packages
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KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) has unveiled new Unifi broadband packages with significantly reduced prices.
The Unifi 100 megabits per second (Mbps) plan is now RM99 per month for a limited time only, on a par with its previous 30Mbps plan at RM89 per month – to ensure that more Malaysians can take advantage of higher Internet speeds at lower prices.
All eligible Unifi customers will get an automatic upgrade with no obligations and no service re-contract required.
This free speed upgrade will be rolled out to eligible Unifi customers in phases between now and January 2024.
Unifi executive vice-president Anand Vijayan said the new packages aim to improve customer satisfaction and enhance digital inclusivity among Malaysians, improving access to connectivity, including 5G technologies and digital opportunities that will power the nation's digital aspirations.
"As the country's only true quad-play convergence service provider, Unifi is pioneering industry growth through comprehensive fixed broadband, mobile, lifestyle services and business solutions.
Reduce subsidies in Budget 2024, say consumer groups
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PETALING JAYA: Consumer groups are calling on the government to use Budget 2024 to launch longer term strategies aimed at tackling the rising costs of living rather than simply making provision for subsidies.
Sukhdave Singh, the secretary-general of the Malaysia Consumers’ Movement, said subsidies cannot replace comprehensive policies, adding that there was need for the government to reassess its social benefit framework.
“The cost of essential goods continues to rise, impacted by global elements. Responding with subsidies is not a long-term solution.
“Subsidy is firefighting, but increasing supply is the real response. (The government must) invest in the agriculture sector while revisiting long-term policies,” he told FMT.
Sukhdave urged the government to consider adopting an autarkic policy aimed at achieving self-sustainability in food production, reducing the nation’s dependency on imports and lowering the import bill.
He also stressed that the healthcare sector needs special attention, noting that rising medical costs could lead to an increased reliance on public healthcare services, potentially overwhelming the system and causing its collapse.
Read more: Reduce subsidies in Budget 2024, say consumer groups
Kurangkan subsidi dalam Belanjawan 2024, kata kumpulan pengguna
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PETALING JAYA: Kumpulan pengguna menggesa kerajaan menggunakan Belanjawan 2024 sebagai pemacu strategi jangka panjang menangani peningkatan kos sara hidup, berbanding sekadar menyediakan peruntukan bagi subsidi semata-mata.
Setiausaha Agung Malaysia Consumer Movement, Sukhdave Singh, berkata subsidi tidak dapat menggantikan dasar menyeluruh, sambil menyatakan terdapat keperluan bagi kerajaan menilai semula kerangka manfaat sosial.
“Kos barang keperluan berterusan meningkat kesan elemen global. Bertindak balas dengan subsidi bukan penyelesaian jangka panjang.
“Subsidi seperti memadam kebakaran, namun tindak balas sebenar adalah meningkatkan bekalan. (Kerajaan mesti) melabur dalam sektor pertanian sambil kaji semula dasar jangka panjang,” katanya kepada FMT.
Sukhdave menyeru kerajaan pertimbang dasar autarkic bagi kemampanan sara diri dalam pengeluaran makanan, mengurangkan kebergantungan import dan menurunkan kos pengimportan.
Read more: Kurangkan subsidi dalam Belanjawan 2024, kata kumpulan pengguna
Beli minyak masak guna ID, Fomca bimbang pengguna ‘tanggung beban’
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PETALING JAYA: Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) bimbang cadangan memperkenalkan kad pengenalan khas bagi membeli minyak masak peket hanya akan meningkatkan kos operasi perniagaan yang akhirnya ditanggung pembeli.
Bercakap kepada FMT, Setiausaha Agungnya T Saravanan berkata pihaknya memahami dan menyokong usaha kerajaan untuk memastikan subsidi sampai kepada golongan sasar namun pada masa sama bimbang kaedah baharu itu mungkin menyebabkan kerenah birokrasi.
Menurutnya, kerumitan kepada pengguna dijangka membabitkan pendaftaran dan mungkin meningkatkan kos operasi perniagaan.
“Kerajaan harus menyediakan bantuan dan infrastruktur agar pelaksanaan kad ID tidak bebankan peniaga, jika melibatkan kos kepada perniagaan…mungkin dipindah kepada pengguna,” katanya yang meminta pihak terbabit menjelaskan lanjut kaedah pelaksanaannya.
Saravanan berkata, masalah sebenar harus diatasi kerajaan adalah memastikan bekalan minyak masak peket mencukupi di pasaran.
Read more: Beli minyak masak guna ID, Fomca bimbang pengguna ‘tanggung beban’
Only use trusted websites, says victim
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PETALING JAYA: A retired teacher has warned people to be extra cautious when purchasing things online and to only use trusted websites, after she was scammed while shopping for a sewing machine.
Relating her ordeal, the 67-year-old woman, who only wanted to be known as Beth, said she saw an advertisement on Instagram for the sale of a sewing machine of a well-known brand.
“The sewing machine usually costs over RM1,000 but the advertisement stated it was on sale for RM600.
“I spoke to my husband and both of us decided that it was a good offer, so I proceeded to make a payment. I was then taken to an unfamiliar website and I paid the RM600 for it,” she said when contacted recently.
She said the process looked legitimate and the website gave her a tracking number in order to check the delivery status.
“Over the next few days, the tracking number showed that the item was picked up by courier service and had passed through Customs checks.
Subsidy for imported white rice the right move to address price, supply issues, say Sabah consumers
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KOTA KINABALU: Consumer associations in Sabah see the Federal Government's decision to provide a subsidy of RM950 per metric tonne for imported white rice (BPI) to Sabah and Sarawak from Oct 5 as the right step in addressing the issue of rice prices and supply in the state.
Persatuan Pengguna Bijaksana Pantai Barat Sabah president David Chan, in welcoming the move, said it was also good news for consumers in the B40 group, as well as for those in the food business in Sabah as it will help to reduce their burden of the rising cost of living.
"Rice is a basic commodity for every household. The increase in the price of rice will also affect the overall cost of living. However, the public should not speculate on the shortage to avoid confusion," he told Bernama here Monday (Oct 2).
Earlier, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the subsidy would enable consumers to get BPI at a retail price of RM31 per 10kg, and that the action was taken because of the limited production of local white rice in Sabah and Sarawak.
Guna ID cetus pelbagai persoalan
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SHAH ALAM - Kaedah pembelian minyak masak peket bersubsidi menggunakan pengenalan diri (ID) khas yang bakal dilaksanakan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN) tahun depan disifatkan tidak komprehensif dan mengelirukan.
Penganalisis Ekonomi Universiti Kewangan Islam Global (INCEIF), Profesor Dr Baharom Abdul Hamid menyifatkan idea tersebut menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan selain sukar untuk dilaksanakan.
“Jadi siapa nak kawal di peringkat runcit? Apa yang menghalang pembeli menjual semula pada harga yang lebih tinggi?
“Apa had kelayakan untuk penggunaan ID ini nanti. Adakah mengikut pendapatan? Sekiranya gaji suami dalam golongan berpendapatan tinggi (T20), tapi suruh isteri yang suri rumah atau anak yang beli, macam mana pula,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian.
Sebelum ini Timbalan Menteri KPDN, Fuziah Salleh memberitahu kaedah pembelian minyak masak peket kepada kumpulan sasar yang bakal dilaksanakan pada 2024 akan menggunakan mekanisme ID dan telah disahkan layak.
Menantikan tindakan konkrit, bukan retorik
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ISU kos sara hidup rakyat Malaysia nampaknya masih hangat diperdebatkan ketika ini. Tidak dinafikan kenaikan harga barang menyebabkan rakyat ‘pening kepala’ apabila kuasa beli semakin mengecil disebabkan pendapatan diperoleh tidak berubah.
Kenyataan Ketua Pembangkang di Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin baru-baru sudah pasti menarik perhatian rakyat apabila beliau menggesa kerajaan supaya memperbaiki pendekatan dalam menangani isu kos hidup rakyat ketika ini.
Tolaklah soal politik, gesaan Ahli Parlimen Larut itu ada benarnya kerana peningkatan kos sara hidup berkait rapat dengan kualiti hidup.
Jangan ambil ringan kerana isu tersebut boleh memberi kesan kepada psikologi dan mental rakyat yang terkesan.
Namun, melihat daripada senario mutakhir ini, kerajaan sering kali membuat kenyataan yang seolah-olah memilih ‘jalan selamat’ dengan menolak isu tersebut kepada rakyat semula.
Hakikatnya, rakyat memilih kerajaan untuk mengurus serta menjaga kepentingan mereka. Jika demikian, apa gunanya rakyat ‘mengotorkan’ jari mereka dengan dakwat biru semasa pilihan raya, untuk apa?
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