Powering down to keep the lights on

 

Sigh of relief: Habsah showing her electricity bill at her house in Gertak Sanggul. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

Many using less electricity as new tariffs loom

PETALING JAYA: Many consumers are taking steps to manage their electricity bills with the implementation of the new tariff structure by the government.

For example, many homeowners are considering having solar photo­voltaic (PV) systems installed on their roofs, while others are looking at the “Time of Use” scheme, which offers lower rates during off-peak hours, now defined as starting from 10pm to 2pm on weekdays, and the entire day on weekends.

Under the new tariff announced by the Energy Commission, domes­tic consumers using less than 1,000kWh (kilowatt-hours) per month will also continue to enjoy subsidies, effective yesterday.

ALSO READ: Brace for price hikes across the board, consumers told

In Johor Baru, sales operations executive Ereena Karen Lim Abdullah, 47, and her husband are thinking about rooftop PV.

“My husband and I are thinking of installing solar panels, but we are unsure whether it is possible to do so at our apartment,” she said, adding that she would raise the matter with the building management soon.

“I used to pay around RM100 for electricity monthly but it had crept up to RM150 even though it is just me and my husband living in our apartment without much changes to our routine.”

ALSO READ: ‘We may have no choice but to hike prices’

Events planning manager Evelyn Lee, 34, said she was hoping to apply for the newly expanded Time of Use (ToU) tariff as soon as possible since it matches her lifestyle.

“My husband and I are seldom at home during the day, so it’s perfect for us since we are typically home only by 10pm.

“We also like to spend our weekends at home together, just relaxing with our dogs with the air conditioning on, so it makes sense,” said Lee, who lives in Puchong.

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In Seremban, Tong Sim Old Folks Home secretary Jessie Chan said they had already been cutting back usage before the new tariffs.

“The 18 elderly and special needs folks at the centre have been told to cut down (on their use), resulting in our monthly bill going down slightly from the over RM400 previously,” she said.

Ramesh Patel, who runs the Vivekananda Home in Rembau, has also told the children under his care to start conserving.

“We went from switching on four lights throughout the night previously, to only one now to further reduce the monthly bill which totals about RM800.”

Retiree N. Manimaran from Perak said he would start consolidating his chores.

“We now do the laundry only once every two days, while clothes are ironed once per week. I’m also cutting down the hours the air conditioner is on from six to four,” said the 67-year-old.

Father-of-four Wan Fahmi Ahmad said getting his household to change their habits would be difficult as they do not know how the new tariff structure would affect their bill.

“We are used to using around 1,500kWh to 2,000kWh, and paying over RM1,000 every month, so convincing them will be hard, especially if our bill increases only by a small amount,” the 51-year old pilot said.

Wan Fahmi, who lives in Putrajaya, added that he would consider the ToU scheme if his bill spiked significantly.

Likewise, Halimatul Abdul Adib, 42, is also adopting a wait-and-see stance.

“I don’t think I will see any significant rise in my bill, though I will wait for a few billing cycles so I can make a better comparison before doing anything.”

In George Town, pensioner Habsah Sulaiman, 70, said the new tariff helped her family.

“I usually use under 300kWh a month or an average of RM150, so it is good that the government is keeping the subsidy,” said Habsah, who lives with her son and his family, including three children.

Technician Kevin Wang, 26, said while the new tariff would support efforts to reduce carbon emissions, affordability remains a key concern.

“I am all for a greener future. But any transition must be gradual, especially for middle-income families like mine.

“The government or utility providers can introduce targeted rebates or energy-efficiency incen­­tives to ease the impact.”

The Light Hotel general manager Raj Kumar said it was too early to predict whether the new tariff would impact room rates.

“We are also actively exploring cost-saving measures such as solar PV,” he said, while stressing the importance of finding a balanced solution that protects both consumers and businesses.

“It is a tough time for everyone, and we do not believe in simply passing every cost to the customer,” Raj said.

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• Brace for price hikes across the board, consumers told
• ‘We may have no choice but to hike prices’

Of AI, calculators and learning maths

 

WHILE teaching mathematics in two countries, Malaysia and China, I have noticed that the way students master this subject is deeply influenced by their own educational culture and assessment systems.

Scientific calculators and artificial intelligence (AI) are now part and parcel of the learning process. However, the students’ approaches to using these tools are still firmly rooted in the foundational values shaped by their respective systems.

In Malaysia, the use of scientific calculators is a standard practice among students at the upper secondary level.

Students are allowed to use them for mathematics and additional mathematics papers in the SPM exams, especially for questions involving trigonometry, logarithms or statistical calculations.

They do speed up calculations and minimise errors, but overly relying on them can sometimes lead to weaker mastery of basic computational skills and reduced understanding of the core mathematical concepts.

Teaching foundation students at Xi’an International University in China under the Universiti Malaya (UM) offshore programme revealed a very different learning system.

Many students there had never used scientific calculators before.

As they were preparing to pursue their undergraduate studies at UM, I made them use the calculators during lectures and assessments.

They were hesitant at first, but I could see their excitement when they tried to use the device.

Nevertheless, most of them continued to solve problems, such as multiplication, square roots and trigonometric expressions, manually and did so with remarkable speed and precision.

This comfort with manual computation stemmed from their early training and a system that actively reinforces such skills.

One of the main reasons for this is China’s national university entrance exam, Gaokao. Known for its intensity and competitiveness, Gaokao strictly prohibits the use of calculators in the mathematics paper. This policy is intentional; it aims to assess a student’s genuine computational skills, ensure fairness across all regions and backgrounds, and encourage deep mastery of mathematical principles without relying on technology. As a result, Chinese students are trained from young to memorise formulas and solve problems manually.

The outcome is a generation of students who possess strong fundamental skills and a high level of confidence when tackling complex problems using logical and structured steps.

Despite these systemic differences, global developments continue to impact both countries. Students in Malaysia and China are now turning to Ai-powered apps such as CHATGPT, Deepseek, Symbolab, and Photomath, and are becoming increasingly dependent on Ai-generated solutions without fully engaging with the problem-solving process.

To address this, I apply a simple yet effective approach in my classroom. Students are required to answer the questions using their own reasoning first before they are allowed to check or verify their answers using AI.

This approach trains them to think critically, assess their own solutions, and compare them with the output provided by AI tools. It also builds confidence in their conceptual understanding.

What I find most encouraging is how students respond when their answers differ from the Ai-generated ones. On several occasions, I have heard them say confidently, “I think my answer is correct. The AI is wrong.” To me, this is a clear indicator of authentic learning.

These students are not simply replicating solutions; they have internalised the logic, are able to explain their reasoning, and are not afraid to challenge the authority of a machine when they believe in their own understanding.

I fully support the integration of AI as a learning tool, but I also believe that solving problems manually and conceptual mastery of the subject – in this case mathematics – must remain the foundation of education.

Technology should enhance students’ learning but not replace their ability to think.

FATIN NABILA ABD LATIFF Senior lecturer Mathematics Division Centre for Foundation Studies in Science Universiti Malaya

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New bank tax backlash, Financial access at risk: Fomca

 

Govt urged to revise service tax on industry to not burden public

While basic banking services are exempt from the 8% service tax starting July 1, trade and consumer groups are unhappy that it has been imposed on other fee-based transactions. They warn of added burden on firms and customers.

Ahead of the implementation of service tax on financial services on July 1, groups have voiced concerns, saying that this is likely to drive up costs for businesses and the regular people.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) vice-president Datuk Indrani Thuraisingham said ordinary Malaysians would be the most impacted by the 8% service tax on fee-based financial services.

Indrani said the small charges may seem as a trivial amount but it is a huge sum when multiplied by the millions of transactions.

“When Malaysian banks are riding on massive profits and control trillions in assets, why should struggling consumers be asked to chip in more.

“This is taxing basic financial access, not luxury,” said Indrani.

Indrani called on Bank Negara Malaysia and the Finance Ministry to immediately review this new ruling.

“The principle of consumer fairness must be upheld,” said Indrani, adding that banks should absorb part of this tax, especially on low value and high-volume services.

Indrani also said consumer groups should be given the space to scrutinise every fee schedule so that banks should be held accountable and thereby prevent opportunistic fee hikes disguised as tax adjustments.

“If this goes ahead unchecked, the government can expect deeper financial exclusion, rising household debt and widening inequality,” she said.

Fomca secretary-general Saravanan Thambirajah said the announcement by Putrajaya raises concerns for everyday consumers on how this would affect their financial service experience.

“In real terms, this tax means that consumers will see higher charges for many common services offered by banks.

“Even services used by small businesses and self-employed individuals such as overdraft facilities, bank guarantees and remittance services are likely to be affected,” said Saravanan.

Saravanan also said there is a concern that this move would set a precedent for banks to gradually increase fees under the guise of tax compliance.

“Once consumers grow accustomed to higher charges, more subtle fee revisions should be introduced over time,” said Saravanan.

SME Association of Malaysia national president Chin Chee Seong said as the 8% service tax rate predominantly affects commission-based financial services, SMES are likely to see an increase in cost of doing business.

Chin said businesses are already bracing for the SST on commercial rental and leasing services, barring which rental costs have already increased by 20%-30% from a year ago.

“On top of that, they will also be dealing with the mandatory 2% Employees Provident Fund contribution for foreign workers and the restructuring of electricity tariff.

“The cost of doing business is getting higher and higher. It will definitely affect our cashflow. It doesn’t look good for the industry and the economy,” Chin said.

“If all of these are coming together, how are we going to plan our next few months especially as we have passed the midterm. It is going to be tougher for us to do business,” Chin added.

Chin said there has to be more clarity on certain aspects of the tax system for instance on the RM500,000 threshold on taxable financial services.

“Items such as luxurious items, (imported) fruits, I think that is clear cut and they can go ahead. But when it comes to financial services such as leasing and rental, I think that should be deferred first,” he said.

“The government should understand that we are not against their policies but these policies must be more considerate of the difficulties of doing business. The cost of doing business is high while consumer spending is low,” Chin said.

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• Basic banking, ATM and e-wallet spared
• Expanded SST will not affect basic services, say banking associations
• Banks assure public basic services unaffected by new service tax

Public Bank ordered to pay RM90mil in damages to NFC for confidentiality breach, account leak

 

The Federal Court has ordered Public Bank to pay RM30 million each in equitable, exemplary, and aggravated damages to National Feedlot Corporation and three others for disclosing its accounts to the public.

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has ordered Public Bank Bhd to pay RM90mil in damages to Natio­nal Feedlot Corporation ( Corp), its chairman Datuk Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and three sub­sidiary companies for breaching confidentiality by leaking bank account information.

A three-judge panel, chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Hasnah Mohammed, made the decision on the quantum of dama­ges here yesterday.

The court ordered the bank to pay RM30mil for equitable ­damages, RM30mil for aggravated dama­ges and another RM30mil for exemplary damages.

It also imposed a 2% interest on the total, beginning yesterday, until the amount is paid off.

Other judges on the bench were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli and Federal Court judge Justice Abu Bakar Jais.

On May 26, the same panel ­dismissed Public Bank’s appeal in the lawsuit filed by Corp and four others.

The panel unanimously dis­miss­ed the bank’s appeal to ­overturn the Court of Appeal’s August 2023 decision on grounds that common law was not ­applicable in the case.

It ordered Public Bank to pay RM300,000 in costs to Corp and others.

Regarding a cross-appeal by Corp and others against the Court of Appeal’s award of RM10,000 in nominal damages, the court allowed the appeal but deferred the decision on the ­damages’ quantum until Wednesday.

On Aug 30, 2023, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by Mohamad Salleh and its subsi­diaries against Public Bank for breaching contract confiden­­tia­lity.

The appellate court found a serious misappreciation of evi­den­ce, warranting appellate inter­vention, and ordered Public Bank to pay RM500,000 in costs.

The lawsuit, filed on May 22, 2012, alleged the bank breached confidentiality by allowing ­banking transaction details to be revealed by then PKR vice-­president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, who recently resigned as Eco­nomy Minister.

They claimed the breach caused irreparable loss and damage to their business reputation under the Banking and Financial Insti­tu­tions Act.

On July 29, 2019, the High Court dismissed the lawsuit against the bank.

When met by the media later, Mohamad Salleh thanked his legal team.

“My family and I... my wife and children, we went through ­several hardships over the years.

“For 13 years. We are grateful to God,” he said.

Source link https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/06/18/bank-ordered-to-pay-rm90mil-to-nfcorp-for-breach-of-confidentiality

Public Bank diperintah bayar ganti rugi RM90 juta kepada ...

Berita Harian

https://www.bharian.com.my › kes

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3 days ago — Selain NFCorp, Public Bank perlu bayar ganti rugi kepada Mohamad Salleh (kiri), National Meat and Livestock Corporation Sdn Bhd, Agroscience .

Be prepared to face hotter days

 

Experts warn of wet-bulb temperatures for those vulnerable to heatstroke 

Preparing for Extreme Heat

Tips on how to stay safe in hot weather

 As global warming ratchets up, Malaysians should prepare to face hotter and muggier days during the dry spell brought about by the annual Southwest Monsoon, say weather experts.

Along with this, it is also time to pay attention to not just dry-bulb readings provided by the typical thermometer but also wet-bulb temperatures (WBT), which scientists say are important to those who are vulnerable to heatstrokes or related ailments.

WBT is an indication of how much the air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into it and is usually measured using a thermometer with the bulb covered by a wet membrane, with higher WBT signalling an increased risk for the vulnerable.

WBT and high humidity are often missed during reporting on heatwaves, even though they play a huge role in how a person experiences heat.

Academy of Sciences Malaysia’s fellow Dr Fredolin Tangang said while the Southwest Monsoon season is usually marked by hot and dry weather, global warming could be contributing to even hotter conditions.

“According to the latest observation, the first quarter of 2025 was the second warmest year compared to the corresponding period in 2024, which was the warmest year on record.

“This despite La Nina being active during the first quarter of this year,” he said when contacted.

The APEC Climate Center in (South) Korea, he said, indicated that the surface air temperature over the Indo-pacific region is 80% above normal during the current monsoon period this year.

“Also, the sea surface temperature (SST) was forecasted to be above normal.

“High SST could drive higher relative humidity, and this increases the WBT and also the heat index, creating favourable conditions for heatstrokes,” he said.

Fredolin suggested that the relevant authorities should provide an early warning system to the public to be alert for excessive heat and humidity.

“More public announcements of the danger of heatstroke and how to avoid getting one should be regularly broadcast, while the public should not take lightly the extreme conditions that heighten the risk for heatstrokes,” he said.

A 2023 paper published by researchers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia raised concerns about the future emergence of urban areas as hotspots for heat stress, particularly in peninsular Malaysia.

Their study showed a notable increase in the mean temperature over the peninsula, surpassing the global average, which could lead to a substantial increase in WBT, especially in dense urban regions.

According to National Antarctica Research Centre climatologist Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah, there is a high chance the Asean region will see above-normal temperatures between June and August, based on several predictive models.

“The inter-monsoon period typically transitions into the Southwest Monsoon over the Asean region in June and will continue throughout the outlook period,” he said, while advising the people to minimise their exposure to the blistering sun as much as possible.

Meteorological Department’s (Metmalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the main cause for current hot and humid weather is the Southwest Monsoon that began on May 10, with the phenomenon expected to continue until September.

“This monsoon typically brings dry weather to most parts of the country.

“However, thunderstorms and heavy rain may still occur from time to time,” he said.

Mohd Hisham added that the extended absence of rain over several days could result in searing conditions similar to what happened earlier this month.

On June 2, Metmalaysia issued a Level 1 heat advisory in six areas in the peninsula which experienced maximum daily temperatures of between 35°C and 37°C for three consecutive days.

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Decades later, Mahathir still stuck in a dilemma of his own

 

It’s okay to call for unity but to wantonly resort to make use of race and religion for political relevance is not healthy for a multi-ethnic country.

For young Malaysians unfamiliar with the nation’s political history, here’s a recap of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s obsession with his version of Malay supremacy.

In 1970, a year after the May 13 racial riots that followed huge electoral losses for the ruling Umno-led Alliance, Mahathir authored “The Malay Dilemma”, essentially his manifesto outlining his political and racial beliefs.

It examines and analyses the make-up of the Malays and the problem of racial harmony in Malaysia. The book claims that the tolerant and non-confrontational nature of the Malays led them to fall under the dominion of others, and that the government must correct Malaysian Chinese hegemony in business.

The book was banned by the then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, who felt that it threatened racial harmony. As soon as Mahathir became prime minister in his first term in 1981, he lifted the ban. 

Many times, Mahathir has labelled all non-Malays as “pendatang” (immigrants) despite most having been born and bred here, many for at least three generations. He has been unapologetic about this term, insisting that he is correct historically.

In his latest bid at wantonly promoting Malay supremacy, he is attempting to bring together all the Malay parties, including his former rivals Bersatu and PAS, while inviting Umno members to join too.

His approach appears to be rooted in a perception of threats to Malay identity and interests, which he argues necessitates a collective response from the Malay population.

Honestly, there is nothing wrong in any party trying to unite a community. It’s not just the Malays, others do it subtly too. Groups in Sabah and Sarawak are also known to use such divisive tactics for political reasons.

However, to premise his arguments on a narrative of vulnerability, suggesting that the community faces challenges from other ethnic groups, is tantamount to falsehood, in my opinion.

He has sensationalised his concerns about the erosion of Malay rights and the position of the Malay language when there is no such threat whatsoever. He knows hitting the primordial sentiments of Malays will hit the right chord.

Figures on Malays in power

Claims of erosion of Malay and Bumiputera rights is an utterly reckless claim if one cares to look deeply into who’s in charge in the public sector. This is vital because these are the people who formulate government policies and implement them.

A check with the government’s latest list of secretaries-general and directors-general will show some shocking figures – well, shocking to those who claim that Malays and Bumiputeras are losing their position. The list actually makes Mahathir’s assertions laughable.

Of the 43 top-most government officers — namely the chief secretary to the government and secretaries-general — only three are non-Malays.

Of the 107 directors-general and those of their equivalent ranks, only four are non-Malay. If you take the deputies into account, only about 5% of this total are non-Malay.

The heads of security forces and the police, their deputies and senior officers are mostly, if not all, Malays or Bumiputera. The head of the judiciary and the majority of judges are Malays or Bumiputera too.

None of the vice-chancellors in public universities are non-Malays. Government scholarships, jobs and placements in public universities stick to the quota system, although it’s not a written policy. But most Malaysians accept this reality.

Constitutional rights

The special rights of the Malays and Bumiputera are securely entrenched in the Federal Constitution, and it’s safe to say it will never ever be erased until the majority of Malays decide that they don’t need it anymore.

Claims that the DAP is trying to remove their special privileges and dilute the political power of the Malays is all hogwash. The DAP leaders themselves are seen as being more compromising these days.

All they appear to want is to remain in power to ensure there is non-Malay representation in the government. They know better not to rock the boat.

As for Islam and the royalty, they are not only untouchable, but no sane Malaysian wants to even go near these subjects. Besides the constitutional safeguards, there is enough fear among Malaysians to keep their distance.

No one in their right senses would ever want to rock this boat as they know the serious consequences that they will have to face.

The data on population growth also shows that the percentage of Malays and Bumiputera will reach a super majority in a few decades. When it reaches that stage, political battles will mainly involve Malay parties. Non-Malays will be an insignificant minority.

To argue that it’s all right for the Malays and Bumiputera to dominate the government since the Chinese control the private sector is akin to comparing apples with oranges.

The private sector generates revenue from private investment and pays taxes to help run the government. The government is mainly funded by taxpayers. They must coexist for the betterment of the nation. It is not a competition.

Election strategy

Most know that the perceived threats to the Malay community raised by Mahathir and his ilk are exaggerated or politically constructed to rally support ahead of the next general election, due by February 2028. Their goal is to bring down Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan.

Mahathir is leveraging on ethnic solidarity in an attempt to regain influence after previous electoral setbacks, including losing his deposit in Langkawi in the 2022 elections.

Mahathir is reckless in taking this approach, as such tactics can exacerbate ethnic tensions in a country that is inherently multi-ethnic, with all citizens enjoying enshrined constitutional rights pertaining to race and religion.

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

Source link https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2025/06/09/decades-later-mahathir-still-stuck-in-a-dilemma-of-his-own

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