MCA SAYS JOB LOSSES HIT 42,000. GOMEN SERVANTS TO GO TO OFFICE ONLY THREE DAYS A WEEK.

 

WANITA MCA called gomen to establish employment task force 

following loss of 42,807 jobs nationwide

retrenchments have serious economic, social consequences

latest figures released by Human Resources Ministry 

Selangor, KL recorded highest unemployment figures in the country

42,807 lost their jobs, 40% or 17,485 retrenched, company closures or layoffs

concentration of unemployment in Klang Valley particularly concerning 

Klang Valley Malaysia’s primary economic and investment hub.

leads the nation in unemployment affects country’s economic backbone

40,000 job losses, tens of thousands of families facing financial hardship 

pressure on housing & vehicle loans, education expenses, daily living costs

June 26, 2026

MY COMMENTS:

Look at this:

• Civil servants allowed to work from home two days a week
• PSD says hybrid working arrangement 
• three mandatory office days and two work-from-home days weekly.
• Starting Aug 1, civil servants work from home two days a week 
• Cabinet approved hybrid working day scheme
• two days of remote work each week
• must be physically present in office Mondays, Fridays and another day
• monitoring system will be introduced to ensure integrity, performance 
• obtain approval for home or alternative remote working locations
• “Counter services will continue to operate as normal
• including security, defence, education, health and judiciary sectors

MY COMMENTS:

This is how I look at this. Two out of five days working from home equals 40% of working hours at home. This means we can actually reduce the Civil Service workforce by 40% and tell the remaining 60% to work five days a week. 

Or we keep the full complement of Civil Servants but get them to work 40% harder FIVE days a week. This will increase the productivity of the economy and help grow the GDP.

A friend of mine asked what if a Civil Servant decides to go to the islands and work from the beach? We already have Civil Servants working on Penang Island, Pulau Redang, Langkawi Island, Labuan Island etc. 

I have another question. If the Civil Servant can work from home does this mean the Civil Servant can have meetings with members of the public at his home? Or maybe at the coffeeshop near his home? 

Say the Ketua Pengarah is working from home and Dato Taukeh was scheduled to have a meeting with the Ketua Pengarah. 'Yes yes Dato, come over to my house. We can go to the coffeeshop near here for our meeting'. Is this scenario not possible?

If a Civil Servant takes annual leave on Monday and works from home Tuesday and Wednesday that is FIVE days away from the office. By just taking one day Annual Leave. Fantastic. 

The MCA says 42,000 people have lost their jobs. 
But the Civil Servants need only show up at the office THREE DAYS a week.
Banyak cantik. 
So many goodies.
I think the general elections are coming sooner than expected.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

I was no dictator in 1976 petroleum deal, says Harris Salleh

 The former Sabah chief minister denies he acted unilaterally in agreeing to the 5% royalty and the Petroleum Development Act.

Harris Salleh (left) said Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s accusation that he acted like a ‘dictator’ was a grave misrepresentation of constitutional facts and historical events.

PETALING JAYA:

Former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh has hit back at Joseph Pairin Kitingan, his political rival and later successor as chief minister, saying it was “wholly untrue and deeply irresponsible” for Pairin to say that he acted unilaterally in the signing of the Petroleum Development Act (PDA).

Harris said the law, which vests Sabah’s petroleum resources with Petronas, and the 5% royalty provided to the state, were matters of national interest that fell under federal jurisdiction, as provided by the Federal Constitution.

The legislation was thoroughly deliberated and passed at both the federal Cabinet and Parliament with the full participation of representatives from Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

He said Pairin was technically correct that the 5% payment was never discussed at the state Cabinet level, but only because the matter fell under federal jurisdiction.

“That fact does not in any way validate allegations of unilateralism or dictatorship,” the Daily Express reported him as saying today. “The Sabah Cabinet, by constitutional design, only serves to take note of Parliament’s final decisions on federal matters.

“The 5% is not a state-negotiated royalty in the traditional sense but rather an additional bonus, a practice commonly applied to resource-producing regions worldwide,” he said.

Harris, who was chief minister from June 1976 to April 1985, made his statement in response to comments by Pairin, who recently said that he and then state secretary Hamid Egoh were merely witnesses to the signing of the PDA, and were not involved in the decision-making process.

Harris said Pairin’s accusation that he acted like a “dictator” was a grave misrepresentation of constitutional facts and historical events. He said Pairin lacked first-hand knowledge of the events surrounding the oil agreement, was not directly involved in the political developments of the time and was absent from the relevant proceedings.

“At the material time, he was effectively in the political wilderness,” he said.

Harris also recounted the events leading to the signing of the agreement on the PDA, which was scheduled for June 6, 1976. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who had been named president of Petronas, arrived on June 5. A special dinner was held that night, and a luncheon gathering the next day.

He said that after the event, Sabah chief minister Fuad Stephens returned to Kota Kinabalu “while Razaleigh and I travelled to Kudat to inspect the cattle farming project on Banggi Island”.

Fuad died that afternoon in a plane crash that killed five state ministers and Fuad’s son in what has become known as the Double Six tragedy.

Harris, who was deputy president of Fuad’s Berjaya party, succeeded him as chief minister. However, he fell from power in 1985 when Pairin led his Parti Bersatu Sabah party to victory. - FMT

Psychiatrist describes genuine bond between Zara, her mother

 

Kota Kinabalu: A consultant psychiatrist told the Coroner’s Court that his psychiatric assessment found Noraidah Lamat genuinely loved her daughter, Zara Qairina Mahathir.

Dr Wong Haw Huo agreed with counsel Shahlan Jufri that, based on interviews with Noraidah and other evidence gathered during his assessment, there was a consistent pattern of care, involvement and guidance in the mother-daughter relationship.

He said the assessment drew on interviews, audio recordings, videos, house décor and written documents, which collectively demonstrated persistent care, frequent communication and shared daily experiences between Noraidah and Zara.

Wong said the evidence also reflected trust and emotional connection, adding that love could be expressed in different forms, including physical affection and emotional support.

He concluded that, from a clinical perspective, the evidence supported the view that there was a genuine bond and unconditional love between Noraidah and Zara. - dailyexpresssabah

Mother felt she was not doing enough for Zara, court hears

 

Kota Kinabalu: Zara Qairina Mahathir's mother told psychiatrists she felt she was "not doing good enough" and was sorry towards her daughter, the Coroner's Court heard on Friday.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo said Noraidah Lamat shared this during a psychiatric assessment conducted jointly with consultant psychiatrist Dr Aili Hanim Hashim, adding that she also regretted Zara attending the same boarding school where she had studied because she had encouraged her daughter to gain independence and make new friends as she had done.

Dr Wong said Noraidah's childhood was marked by her parents' separation, poverty and the loss of her father while she was pregnant with Zara, experiences which shaped her resilience, while she initially insisted she was "fine" throughout the assessment before breaking down during the final 10 minutes when discussing her daughter and repeatedly apologising and asking for permission to cry.

He also told the court that both Noraidah and Zara relied heavily on their religious faith as a coping mechanism, noting that religious and self-motivation books were found at their home, while a teacher had recalled Zara expressing a desire to become an ustazah, consistent with a diary entry in which she wrote that she hoped to become a badar one day to make her mother proud.

Dr Wong said Zara's thinking had been progressing positively but added that, despite this, other confounding factors during her final months at secondary school changed everything, while the inquest before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan resumes on July 13. - dailyexpresssabah

Who watches the AI? Why medical physicists matter in digital healthcare

 

ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) is increasingly helping doctors diagnose diseases, analyse medical images and support clinical decision-making.

As hospitals embrace digital transformation, AI-powered tools are expected to become a more common feature of healthcare delivery in Malaysia.

For patients, the benefits are clear. AI has the potential to improve efficiency, reduce waiting times and expand access to specialist expertise. Around the world, healthcare providers are investing heavily in these technologies.

However, an important question often receives far less attention: who ensures these systems remain safe after they are introduced into hospitals?

Unlike conventional medical equipment, AI systems do not always remain unchanged after deployment. Their performance can be influenced by software updates, new datasets, evolving clinical practices and changes in patient populations.

A CT scanner, for example, generally performs consistently once it has been tested and commissioned. AI systems are different. A model that performs well today may not necessarily perform in exactly the same way tomorrow.

This distinction matters more than many people realise.

Imagine an AI tool developed and trained using patient data from Europe or North America. It may perform well in those environments, but can we automatically assume it will work equally well for patients in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bharu, Kuching or rural Sabah?

Patient demographics, disease patterns, healthcare infrastructure and clinical workflows can differ significantly. What works well in one healthcare setting may require additional validation in another.

That is why AI safety cannot end with regulatory approval.

(Image: Unsplash/National Cancer Institute)

Many people assume that once a medical device receives approval, the job is done. Yet AI systems require ongoing monitoring to ensure they remain accurate, reliable and fair throughout their operational life.

This is where medical physicists may play an increasingly important role.

Although largely unknown to the public, medical physicists are already responsible for helping ensure the safe and effective use of technologies such as CT scanners, MRI systems, radiotherapy equipment and nuclear medicine devices.

Their work focuses on quality assurance, performance evaluation, risk management and patient safety.

Traditionally, their attention has been directed towards physical equipment. In the era of AI-enabled healthcare, their expertise is becoming equally relevant to algorithms.

When hospitals introduce AI tools to assist with medical imaging or clinical decision-making, important questions need to be asked.

Has the system been properly validated in the local environment? Does it perform equally well across different patient groups? Has its performance changed following a software update? Is patient data adequately protected?

These are not merely technical concerns. They are questions of safety, accountability and public trust.

Medical physicists already possess many of the competencies needed to address these challenges. Their experience in validation, quality assurance and risk assessment places them in a strong position to support the safe adoption of AI technologies within healthcare settings.

In the future, their responsibilities may expand further to include monitoring AI performance, identifying potential biases, supporting cybersecurity efforts and participating in hospital AI governance structures.

This does not mean AI should be viewed with suspicion. On the contrary, AI has enormous potential to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

However, powerful technologies require responsible oversight.

As Malaysia continues its journey towards a more digital healthcare system, success will depend not only on how quickly AI is adopted, but also on how effectively it is governed.

The true measure of healthcare AI will not be how intelligent it appears, but whether patients can trust it.

Building that trust requires more than sophisticated algorithms. It requires skilled professionals working behind the scenes to ensure that innovation remains safe, effective and centred on patient welfare.

In the years ahead, medical physicists may become some of the most important guardians of trustworthy healthcare in Malaysia. 

The author is Mohd Fadhullah Bin Abd Halim, a PhD student at the Universiti Malaya who specialises in the study of AI-enabled medical device governance.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.

Domestic tourism emerges as key driver of Malaysia’s travel recovery

 

DOMESTIC tourism continued its strong growth trajectory in 2025, reinforcing its role as a key pillar of Malaysia’s tourism industry alongside inbound travel.

According to official statistics, domestic tourism expenditure reached RM121.3 bil last year, a significant increase of 13.6% from RM106.7 bil in 2024. The total number of domestic visitors, comprising tourists and excursionists, rose to 290.1 million from 260.1 million a year earlier.

The figures demonstrate that Malaysians are travelling more frequently and spending more on leisure, recreation and other activities within the country.

This trend has provided an important boost to tourism-related businesses, including accommodation providers, retailers, restaurants and transport operators.

As in previous years, visiting relatives and friends remained the main reason for domestic travel, accounting for 35.6% of trips.

This was followed by shopping (24.6%), holiday and recreation (20.6%), events and sports activities (6.9%), and medical and wellness purposes (5.8%).

Shopping remained the largest contributor to domestic tourism spending, accounting for 36.9% of total expenditure.

Food and beverages represented 16.1%, while automotive fuel accounted for 13.5%. The availability of subsidised fuel has helped support road travel, making domestic trips more affordable for many Malaysians.

Domestic tourists, defined as visitors who stay at least one night away from home, also extended their average length of stay. The average increased to 2.56 nights in 2025 compared with 2.49 nights in 2024.

Although about 70% of domestic tourists continued to stay with relatives and friends, the number opting for paid accommodation has been increasing, providing additional support for hotels and other lodging operators.

Selangor recorded the highest number of domestic visitors at 36.4 million, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 35.1 million and Perak with 23.6 million. These figures include both interstate and intrastate travel, reflecting the popularity of local attractions and activities within each state.

However, when measured by the number of domestic tourists staying overnight, Pahang emerged as the most popular destination with 11 million visitors. It was followed by Selangor (10.6 million), Perak (10.4 million), Kuala Lumpur (10.1 million) and Johor (9.8 million).

Pahang’s strong performance was driven largely by the popularity of Genting Highlands, which also recorded the country’s highest hotel occupancy rate at 97%.

The positive momentum has continued into the first quarter of Visit Malaysia 2026. While Visit Malaysia campaigns are often associated with attracting international visitors, they also play an important role in stimulating domestic travel and encouraging Malaysians to explore destinations within their own country.

Domestic and inbound tourism are not competing sectors. Instead, they complement and reinforce one another.

Destinations that depend heavily on international visitors can become vulnerable during global disruptions, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, destinations that attract only local visitors may have less incentive to raise service standards and facilities to meet international expectations.

Malaysia’s tourism industry benefits from a healthy balance of both markets. The country offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget hotels and short-term rental accommodation (STRA) to luxury and ultra-luxury properties, catering to travellers across different income groups and travel preferences.

The growing patronage of both domestic and international visitors has helped sustain many tourism businesses and supported the recovery of the hospitality sector in the post-pandemic period.

Looking ahead, the outlook for both domestic and inbound tourism remains positive. Continued growth, however, will depend on global economic stability, regional security and the absence of major disruptions similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If these conditions remain favourable, domestic and international tourism can continue to grow together, strengthening Malaysia’s position as a leading travel destination in the region.

YS Chan is a tourism, transport and training consultant.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.

Private hospital billing: Time to end the wild west

 

THE Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recent findings on private healthcare billing have highlighted an uncomfortable question that affects millions of Malaysians: are patients with medical insurance being charged more than those who pay cash?

According to the PAC, some private hospitals charged higher rates to patients covered by guarantee letters (GLs) issued by insurers compared with cash-paying patients receiving similar treatment.

The findings have renewed concerns about transparency in private healthcare pricing and its impact on rising medical insurance premiums.

For many Malaysians, the issue is not abstract. Health insurance premiums have been increasing steadily in recent years, with insurers attributing the trend partly to rising healthcare costs.

Hospitals, meanwhile, point to growing operational expenses and increasing demand for healthcare services.

Caught in the middle are patients, who often have little visibility into how medical charges are determined.

Hospital bills can be difficult for ordinary consumers to understand. Charges are frequently itemised into numerous categories, ranging from consumable supplies and medical equipment to administrative and facility-related costs.

While many of these charges may be legitimate, the complexity of billing makes it difficult for patients to assess whether costs are reasonable.

The PAC’s findings also raised questions about mark-ups on certain medical supplies and procedures, highlighting the need for greater transparency throughout the healthcare ecosystem.

The broader issue is whether existing market mechanisms provide sufficient protection for patients.

Healthcare differs from most consumer purchases. Patients often seek treatment under stressful circumstances and may have limited ability to compare prices, negotiate costs or assess the necessity of recommended procedures.

This is why transparency should be the starting point for reform.

Private hospitals should be encouraged, or required, to publish standard charges for common procedures and services.

Consumers can compare hotel rooms, airline tickets and insurance policies online and therefore, access to healthcare pricing information should not be significantly more difficult.

Greater transparency would also benefit regulators. A national database containing anonymised billing information could help identify unusual pricing patterns, significant variations in charges and potential areas of concern.

Better data would allow policymakers to make more informed decisions and improve oversight of the sector.

Independent audits could also strengthen accountability by reviewing billing practices and evaluating whether procedures and tests are being utilised appropriately.

Such measures are common in many healthcare systems and help ensure that patient interests remain protected.

Patients themselves should be given stronger rights. Access to detailed itemised bills, clearer dispute resolution mechanisms and the ability to seek second opinions without unnecessary barriers would improve consumer confidence and encourage greater accountability.

Technology may also play a role. Advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence can help regulators identify unusual billing trends and pricing anomalies across large datasets, supporting more effective monitoring of healthcare costs.

At the same time, transparency should apply to all stakeholders. Insurers frequently cite rising healthcare costs as a factor behind premium increases, but greater disclosure regarding pricing methodologies and reimbursement arrangements would also contribute to a more informed public discussion.

None of this diminishes the important role played by private hospitals. They provide high-quality healthcare services, attract medical tourists and help ease pressure on the public healthcare system.

However, public confidence depends on trust. Patients should not feel that possessing a medical card automatically results in higher charges. Nor should they be left struggling to understand complex bills after receiving treatment.

The PAC has highlighted concerns that deserve serious attention. The challenge now is to move beyond identifying problems and focus on building a healthcare system that is transparent, accountable and fair to patients.

Healthcare should never feel like a guessing game. Patients deserve clarity, confidence and the assurance that they are being charged fairly, regardless of how they pay for their treatment. 

KT Maran is a Focus Malaysia viewer.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of 

- Focus Malaysia.