THE Bersatu supreme council meeting of May 11, during which party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz were to be sacked, was called off at the last minute apparently because its legality was in question.

In a Facebook post, lawyer Mohamad Haniff Khatri Abdull...

Politics and Policy: No easy solution for Bersatu’s leadership impasse 

NOW that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s bid to table a vote of no confidence against the prime minister has been allowed, the big question is, will this pave the way for the 95-year-old leader to be prime minister for the third time?

But that is pre-empting the parliamentary process and assu...

Politics and Policy: Showdown at Parliament Hill

NEVER mind that Kedah and Kelantan have finally agreed to adhere to the federal government’s decision on the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

Legal experts say state governments must comply with Putrajaya’s directive because they are required to by federal law. What matters is...

Politics and Policy: When Putrajaya says yes and states say no 

THIS is not about whether Malaysia should allow the Rohingya to stay or turn them away. A lot has been said about the issue and the debate is still raging.

We are asking why this upsurge of anti-Rohingya sentiment has suddenly surfaced amid the Covid-19 crisis. Even the authorities, inc...

Politics and Policy: When even the minister is perplexed  

HERE’S a bit of cheer amid the gloom. According to recent reports, Malaysia has been ranked 101st globally in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Malaysia registered the biggest rise among 180 countries, improving by 22 places, according to t...

Politics and Policy: Covid-19 and other risks for press freedom

IT is already Ramadan. Muslims the world over are facing a Ramadan like no other because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A few days before the holy month began, US President Donald Trump was accused of stoking Islamophobia after he raised questions about social distancing in mosques in the US...

Politics and Policy: The danger of spreading accusations

AS the health minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba must be at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19, not at the forefront of the controversies in which he has been embroiled.

It is also not helping Adham’s cause that his deputy, Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, has been found flouting th...

Politics and Policy: The blame game must stop 

IN a previous article published in The Edge (Issue 1311, March 23), I wrote briefly about my Facebook posts which disappeared and then reappeared. The article was about how important it was for the government to coordinate its actions before announcing a directive on the Movement Control Order (M...

Politics and Policy: Don’t mistake fair reporting for fake news

IN previous articles, I wrote that the prime minister’s approval ratings were at a high point.

A couple of days ago, a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme council member texted me to ask, “How did you determine the PM’s approval rating?”

My conclusion was drawn no...

Politics and Policy: Beyond the PM’s approval ratings  

EARLIER this month, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob went on record to say that it is the responsibility of foreign embassies to look after their citizens who are in Malaysia.

He said the embassies would have to liaise with the respective district disast...

Politics and Policy: In troubled times, a chance to practise fairness

WASHINGTON (April 16): US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday warned that the US intends to hit Iran with new sanctions in coming days over its unprecedented attack on Israel, and these actions could seek to reduce Iran’s capacity to export oil.

US to hit Iran with new sanctions in ‘coming days’, Yellen says

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The Unity Secretariat meeting, held on Tuesday night, discussed preparations to strengthen machinery and the working mechanism of parties within the Unity Government, in preparation for next month’s Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

Saifuddin Nasution: Unity Secretariat discussed machinery preps for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

WASHINGTON (April 16): Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone strike on Israel is unlikely to prompt dramatic sanctions action on Iran’s oil exports from the Biden administration due to worries about boosting oil prices and angering top buyer China, said analysts.

Biden unlikely to cut Iran’s oil lifeline after Israel attack

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday:

MyEG, HeiTech Padu, Apex Healthcare, Globetronics Technology, Kossan Rubber, Tomei, GDEX, Serba Dinamik, Alpha IVF and Comfort Gloves

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The 14-year-old daughter of Lahad Datu police chief ACP Dzulbaharin Ismail was found dead in a pool of blood, in a room at her home in Taman Tabanak, Lahad Datu on Tuesday.

Teen daughter of Lahad Datu police chief found dead in pool of blood

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) plays an instrumental investment facilitator role in removing obstacles for prospective investors, said Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

Zafrul: Mida a vital instrument to remove obstacles for prospective investors

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (April 16): The Dow Jones Industrial Average outshone its peers on Tuesday, following upbeat results from health insurer UnitedHealth, while higher Treasury yields and conflict in the Middle East kept investors on edge.

Dow up on UnitedHealth boost; higher bond yields, Mideast tensions cap gains

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Comfort Gloves Bhd said two subsidiaries of the group have commenced legal action over an additional tax demand totalling RM99.3 million by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Comfort Gloves’ units go to court over RM99 mil additional tax demand

Tesla Inc shares extended their decline for 2024, pushing the electric-vehicle (EV) maker’s market valuation below US$500 billion (RM2.40 trillion), as a round of job cuts this week further soured sentiment around the company.

Tesla’s value declines below US$500b as risks pile up

Federal Reserve (Fed) vice chair Philip Jefferson said he expects inflation to continue to moderate, with interest rates at their current level, but persistent price pressures would warrant holding borrowing costs high for longer.

Fed’s vice chair sees steady rate helping to push down inflation

Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).

Analysts positive on pilot green power exports to Singapore; name Tenaga, YTLP as top picks

Outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) player Globetronics Technology Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with two prospective clients interested in leveraging advanced packaging technology.

Globetronics in final talks with two potential customers for advanced packaging

The Ministry of Transport clarified on Tuesday that the higher contract value of RM190.01 million awarded to HeiTech Padu Bhd for Road Transport Department (JPJ) services was only due to a longer extended contract duration.

Loke: Higher contract value awarded to HeiTech Padu due to longer extended duration

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry has no objection to MMC Corp Bhd divesting a stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, including to foreign entities, as long as it does not contravene the government's policy that requires 51% ownership of major national assets to remain with local companies.

Loke says MMC Port free to sell stake to foreign firms, but govt has to be notified of shareholding changes

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is unleashing a barrage of trade restrictions against China as she seeks to follow through on a pledge to make the EU a more relevant political player on the global stage.

EU goes on China trade offensive after getting ‘played’ 

Gold is set to reach US$3,000 (RM14,381.71) an ounce over the next six to 18 months on increasing investor inflows amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will eventually cut interest rates, Citigroup Inc said, adding to a roll call of Wall Street banks that have raised forecasts.

Gold seen hitting US$3,000 at Citi as investor inflows juice rally

Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd said it had been granted an extension of time until May 15 by Bursa Malaysia to submit its regularisation plan.

Bursa grants Serba Dinamik second extension of time until May 15 to submit regularisation plan

ISKANDAR PUTERI (April 16): The Johor government wants to develop a multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru to address traffic congestion in the city.

MB: Multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit system planned to overcome Johor Bahru congestion

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) will draw up a comprehensive semiconductor strategic plan to ensure that Malaysia continues to be the chosen investment destination for this strategic industry, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar: Miti to draw up comprehensive semiconductor strategic plan

HSBC Holdings plc has started a new round of job cuts at its Asia investment bank amid a slump in dealmaking across the region, according to people familiar with the matter.

The London-based lender cut around a dozen bankers across its investment banking division in Asia on Tuesday, one of the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.&nbsp;

HSBC slashes a dozen investment bankers in Asia on deals slump

Workers in Singapore can now ask for four-day work weeks, more work-from-home days and staggered work timings starting from Dec 1, underscoring the global trend of governments and companies relaxing office arrangements in order to retain talent.

Singapore orders all employers to consider employees’ flexi-time requests

Bursa Malaysia ended lower for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, tracking the weak global sentiment due to the Middle East conflict, said an analyst. &nbsp;

Bursa closes lower, tracking weak global sentiment

Most central banks across Asia are likely to begin cutting interest rates later in the year — if at all, according to economists at Morgan Stanley, as the Federal Reserve delays its own policy easing.

Morgan Stanley sees US Fed cut delay pushing back easing in Asia

Tesla's global job cuts include reducing staff in the US&nbsp;and China, the automakers' two biggest markets, across sales, tech, and engineering, five sources briefed on the matter said.

Chief executive officer Elon Musk on Monday told staff in an&nbsp;internal memo&nbsp;seen by Reuters that the company is laying off more than 10% of its global workforce, as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles.

Tesla's global job cuts include leading markets US, China

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Malaysian airlines will be hurt by higher fuel costs, even as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are not expected to dent ticket sales, analysts said.

Local airlines may feel heat from rising oil prices as Middle East tensions simmer — analysts

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) on Tuesday failed to transfer its case concerning its US$6.59 billion (RM31.58 billion) suit against its former president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and former Treasury secretary general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah from the Civil High Court to the Commercial High Court.

1MDB fails to transfer suit against Arul Kanda and Irwan to another court

MIDF Research expects crude palm oil (CPO) prices to moderate in the second quarter of 2024 (2Q2024), yet predicts a month-on-month (m-o-m) increase of 4.6%&nbsp;to RM4,410.5 per tonne in April due to&nbsp;mild El&nbsp;Niño events.&nbsp;

MIDF sees CPO price moderation in 2Q

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has registered the proposed construction of a new highway alignment that will connect Tanjung Malim to Lumut.

Confirming the matter, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the construction of the highway is necessary&nbsp;to facilitate export logistics services through the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) when the High Technology Automotive Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim begins operation.

Perak proposes new highway between Tanjung Malim and Lumut

The Sarawak government has welcomed the appointment of Lawrence Wong as Singapore's next&nbsp;prime minister, while also expressing interest in studying further the republic's approach to assisting its low-income sector.

Mohsin Abdullah

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