CAP cadang guna platform teknologi atasi ketirisan minyak masak subsidi

 

Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang, Mohideen Abdul Kader berkata pendekatan lebih fokus perlu diambil pihak berkuasa dalam menangani isu penyeludupan minyak masak bersubsidi.

PETALING JAYA: 

Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) mencadangkan kerajaan menggunakan platform sedia ada seperti MyKad, MySejahtera atau e-dompet untuk mengatasi masalah ketirisan minyak masak peket bersubsidi di pasaran.

Presidennya, Mohideen Abdul Kader berkata dengan penggunaan teknologi seperti itu ia dapat memastikan hanya individu yang layak sahaja boleh membeli minyak masak tersebut.

“Alternatif lain, CAP juga mengesyorkan memperkenalkan kad pengenalan khas bagi tujuan pembelian minyak masak peket,” katanya kepada FMT.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai masalah ketirisan minyak masak peket yang semakin meningkat.

Kerajaan sebelum ini pernah mempertimbangkan penggunaan sistem kad pengenalan khas bagi pembelian barang bersubsidi selain ada cadangan supaya subsidi itu dimansuhkan dan digantikan bantuan kewangan.

Terdahulu, Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup, Armizan Mohd Ali berkata kementeriannya akan terus mempergiat operasi penguatkuasaan bagi mengekang ketirisan minyak masak peket bersubsidi, sebelum mekanisme kaedah pembeliannya diperkenal.

Dalam pada itu, Mohideen berkata antara punca kekurangan minyak masak bersubsidi adalah penyeludupan bahan itu ke negara jiran.

Katanya, pendekatan lebih fokus perlu diambil pihak berkuasa dalam menangani isu penyeludupan ini supaya subsidi yang dikhaskan untuk rakyat tidak dilencong ke negara jiran.

“Penyeludupan minyak masak bersubsidi ke negara jiran semakin meningkat hingga menjejaskan rakyat, khususnya golongan miskin dan kumpulan B40 yang bergelut untuk mendapatkan bekalan,” katanya. - FMT

Even sweatshop workers in Bangladesh have shorter shifts, says health think tank

 

Galen Centre’s CEO Azrul Khalib said that regardless of whether there is compensation, no one should be working 18-hour shifts. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has slammed a proposed shift system for public healthcare workers, which intends to limit their working hours to 18 consecutive hours.

The health think tank’s CEO, Azrul Khalib, said that regardless of whether there is compensation, no one should be working 18-hour shifts.

“It’s inhumane, unsafe for the worker, and very likely will lead to patient harm. It is also exploitative,” Azrul said in a post on X.

He said that even garment sweatshop workers in Bangladesh clock in 14 to 16 hours a day.

“Are we a sweatshop?” he asked.

The proposed system, called “Waktu Bekerja Berlainan” or WBB, limits doctors and dentists in the public health service to 18 consecutive work hours, lower than the current 24 to 33 hours straight from on-call duties.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Medical Association raised concerns over the proposal, warning that it might strain the already overburdened public healthcare system.

MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the income of public medical officers and specialists would be affected under this system, as on-call allowances would only apply to those on call during weekends and public holidays.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh also raised concerns over the WBB today, warning that its implementation may chase away the few doctors remaining in public service.

He said even for security guards who work 12 hours, eight of these hours are considered their base hours with the remaining considered as overtime.

Earlier today, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said he has not been briefed on, or given his approval to the proposed shift system. Thus, he said, it remained only a “recommendation” that is still being fine-tuned. - FMT

Deleted WhatsApp texts between complainant, Ebit Lew irretrievable, says witness

 

Preacher Ebit Lew faces 11 charges of outraging the modesty of a woman in her 40s by sending her lewd messages and images via WhatsApp between March and June 2021. (Bernama pic)

TENOM: 

A witness in the sexual harassment trial involving Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew told the magistrates’ court here today the WhatsApp messages exchanged between the complainant and the preacher had been deleted and could not be retrieved.

Cybersecurity Malaysia’s responsive technology and services division chief Zabri Adil Talib, 45, testified that he conducted an analysis on two SIM cards belonging to the complainant and one belonging to Lew, using specialised software.

“The deleted messages could not be retrieved from any of the numbers. If WhatsApp messages have been deleted, they cannot be recovered due to current technological limitations,” the 15th witness said, in response to a question from deputy public prosecutor Rasyidah Murni Adzmi.

He said the analysis was carried out on three numbers following a request from investigating officer Noor Asyikin Shamsuri, who sought to trace deleted conversations within the WhatsApp application.

Zabri, who confirmed the digital forensic report for the case, said the examination was confined to the complainant’s mobile phone, as Lew’s device did not have the WhatsApp application installed.

He said the complainant’s device could only reveal the volume of WhatsApp calls, along with a record of communications and interactions with the preacher.

Lew, 39, is facing 11 charges, including outraging the modesty of a woman in her 40s by sending obscenities to her phone via WhatsApp between March and June 2021.

He is charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine, or both upon conviction.

The trial before magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani continues on March 11. - FMT

Are public hospitals sweatshops, asks NGO

 

The NGO Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy raised a question today over the purported Waktu Bekerja Berlainan (WBB) system for shift works in seven hospitals.

Taking to X, its CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib asked if public hospitals are sweatshops.

“Working 18-hour shifts is exploitative and inhumane and unsafe for the worker.

“In the case of healthcare workers, it could lead to harm for the patient.

"Garment workers in Bangladesh work in sweatshops 14-16 hours a day. Are we (public hospitals) a sweatshop?" Azrul (above) said.

Regardless whether there is compensation, no one shld be working 18-hour shifts.

It is inhumane, unsafe for the worker, and very likely will lead to patient harm. It is also exploitative.

Garment workers in Bangladesh work in sweatshops 14-16 hrs a day.

Are we a sweatshop?

— Azrul Mohd Khalib (@azrulmohdkhalib) January 16, 2025

Earlier today, Free Malaysia Today reported Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad as saying that he had not been briefed of nor given his approval for the WBB, which starts on Feb 1.

The system is still being refined, he said, adding that he did not know how it leaked.

“We will definitely have to go through stringent engagement sessions with healthcare experts, specialists, and heads of departments (before approving it)," he said.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Medical Association raised concerns over the WBB, saying it could burden the overstretched public healthcare system even further.

The move will also affect the income of medical officers and specialists as on-call allowances will be restricted, it said. - Mkini