Minimum wage not the entire story

Judging from the howls of protest from employers in Sabah in particular, the minimum wage culture will take much more time, expense and explanation before it can filter down through society and the business community. Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsudin Baradan has also been quoted as saying: “If I were to be born again, I will never agree to a minimum wage.”

The Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM), for one, is blowing hot and cold on the Minimum Wage Act and has predicted inflation and other dire consequences for workers, businesses and the economy. It claims that it was not consulted on the Act, a point which the Sabah MTUC disputes and cites FSM membership in the tripartite National Wage Consultative Council by way of proof.

Star dares Sabah CM to debate on 'colonialism'

KOTA KINABALU:  Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has stirred a hornet's nest by his statement in the local media on Tues on "the Opposition lying about the state being colonised by the Malaya-run Federal Government".

 

The State Reform Party (Star), for one, wants Musa to prove his allegations of the Opposition lying instead of "hiding beyond vague, sweeping and meaningless statements".

 

Reforming Malaysia: The Big Issues In The 13th General Elections

By Dr Kua Kia Soong of SUARAM

Watching the Prime Minister playing Santa Claus daily, it is evident the 13th general election is just round the corner. And yet the big reform issues that Malaysians want to be met by the political parties and independent candidates are still not being discussed in the mainstream or online media.

We all know that Bersih 3.0 has been an awesome success in bringing about the Malaysian Spring. The Anti-Lynas movement has been just as encouraging. But free and fair elections are supposed to be ensured BEFORE the 13^th general election and Lynas cannot be the only other issue in this election!

Star dares Sabah CM to debate on 'colonialism'

KOTA KINABALU:  Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has stirred a hornet's nest by his statement in the local media on Tues on "the Opposition lying about the state being colonised by the Malaya-run Federal Government".

 

The State Reform Party (Star), for one, wants Musa to prove his allegations of the Opposition lying instead of "hiding beyond vague, sweeping and meaningless statements".

 

The state cabinet holding meetings, the state government co-operating with the Federal Government or being pawned off with announcements of measly fund allocations by the latter "does not mask the reality that Sabah has been colonised", according to Star in a prepared press statement. "The evidence of internal colonization is all around us."

 

"We challenge him to a public debate on the topic: Is Sabah still a colony?" said Star deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun. "Demokrasi Sabah (Desah) the NGO can make the arrangements."

 

Sabah in dire need for wider triple-lane roads to connect KK to major towns

By Jalibin Paidi of STAR Ranau
RANAU :  The in-coming Federal Government must allocate more funds for a better and wider roads in Sabah, including all roads that connect the state capital Kota Kinabalu and the other major towns like Sandakan, Tawau, Keningau and Kudat.

Time and again we saw a mere landslip on our small double-lane roads would cripple traffic for days just like the one that happened very recently in Ranau. Virtually all traffic from Ranau, Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu to the state capital were halted for very long hours.

Star queries Beluran MP funds and useless Karnivel Siok in Telupid

By Pinus Gondili of STAR Beluran
TELUPID : Recently there was one "Karnivel Siok" organised for youths in Telupid by the office of Beluran's member of parliament and the sub-district State Youth and Sport Department.

The three-day carnival on Apr 27-29 was badly organised using public money, poorly attended and is now being questioned by the public and that a related police report had been lodged. I ask the Beluran MP to clarify on this issue as it involves peoples' money.

Nizar becomes uninvited guest at Umno ceramah

An Umno ceramah in Kampar, Perak last night witnessed an unusual twist when the main target of the Pakatan Rakyat bashing session - Nizar Jamaluddin - appeared and sat with several Umno leaders.

Nizar, the former Perak menteri besar and most recognisable face of Perak Pakatan, told Malaysiakini today that that the crowd looked rather astonished when he arrived.

Umno/BN’s ‘transformation’ will never affect us

By Joe Fernandez

Dear Datuk Idris, I just read your piece, "Why transformation may not be affecting you yet", carried in the local papers in Kota Kinabalu on Mon 7 May.

I have accepted your invite to write to you at idrisjala@pemandu.gov.my on the continuing debate.

I am also taking the liberty of sharing my thoughts here with all Malaysians just as you have done so in the local media.

Silent Killer

Tuan-tuan, Puan-puan, Datuk-datuk, Datin-datin dan Kapitan-kapitan yang saya hormati sakelian,

My ucapan-ucapan to all of us Dayak communities who lives in the rural areas and the urban, I being your Tan Sri Datuk would like to open the minds of all our Dayak what it mean by “Silent Killer”.

If there were a deadly disease raging through your body, wouldn't you want to know how to stop it? Unfortunately, more than 10 million Malaysian are walking around with a silent killer eating away at their health—and they have no idea they're even at risk. That Silent Killer is diabetes, the fastest-growing disease in history.

PSM’s Saras—the reluctant mother figure

TAIPING: Like some people in Tamil Nadu who see a mother figure in their chief minister, Malaysians who are familiar with the social and political work of M Sarasvathy would not hesitate to call her Amma—if only she would consent to it.

It’s not that the 59-year-old co-founder and current Deputy President of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) doesn’t feel a kinship with the public. She just hates being associated with J Jayalalithaa.