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Showing posts with label Penang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Penang. Show all posts

Monday, July 21, 2025

A high target — can we meet it?

 Growth needed: The next five years will thus be crucial for Malaysia if it is to become a high-income nation. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

HERE’S the good news – the World Bank has declared Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Penang, Sarawak and Selangor to be high-income states. The bad news, though, is that Malaysia as a whole is not there yet.

This is the latest high-income data based on Gross National Income (GNI), which is the total amount of factor incomes earned by the residents of a country. The country’s GNI per capita of RM53,400 annually falls short of the high-income threshold of RM63,000.

Kudos to Sarawak as it has solidified its position since joining the high-income state ranks in 2023. It must be doing something right.

Three years ago, there were only three states – Penang, KL and Labuan – on the list but Sarawak joined two years ago and Selangor made the cut last year.

Now, there are a total of five high-income states (including federal territories) but the vast majority of states are below the threshold – and that’s not good as they exert a pull on the country as a whole as it bids to join the club.

The findings, however, do not come as a surprise. Malaysia remains caught in the middle-income trap.

We are too rich to compete with low-cost economies like Vietnam and Cambodia but we are just unable to stand alongside high-income nations like South Korea and Singapore.

South Korea, once poorer than Malaysia in the 1960s, is now a global tech powerhouse. It achieved this through strategic industrial policy, heavy investment in education and R&D, and a relentless focus on productivity.

Singapore, without natural resources, became a financial and innovation hub through clean governance, meritocracy, and human capital development.

Malaysia now finds itself outpaced by these countries that were once on equal or even lesser footing, and if we are not serious about moving up, we could soon be overtaken by Vietnam.

This is not just about achieving a statistical milestone. It’s about ensuring Malaysians enjoy better jobs, stronger public services, global competitiveness, and the ability to keep our brightest minds at home.


The next five years will thus be crucial for Malaysia. We can’t afford to miss the boat.

The upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), covering 2026-2030 and Budget 2026 need to address the issues that are holding us back from becoming a high-income country. If we don’t, we will lose out to more of our neighbours.

RMK13 and Budget 2026 may represent our last – and best – chance to break free and secure high-income status.

For a start, the plans must boldly tackle governance and institutional weaknesses. Policy inconsistency, bureaucratic inefficiency, and rent-seeking behaviour continue to erode investor confidence.

RMK13 must be reform-driven and bold. It cannot be business as usual. Certainly, we don’t need the plan to be tabled with poetic language. It’s the content that matters.

A high-income country needs not only a strong economy, but strong institutions. For one, the judiciary has to be protected and judges must be persons of integrity. Perception is important.

A strong political will is also essential and Malaysia certainly cannot keep changing prime ministers and governments.

We need to fund the future, not the past, and we cannot live like we did in the past, with heavy subsidies which have spoiled Malaysians.

Where RMK13 provides the vision, Budget 2026 must be the engine. Fiscal policy must be repurposed not just to spend, but to invest – in people, productivity, and innovation.

As the world moves rapidly toward a knowledge- and innovation-based economy, Malaysia is at a critical juncture.

We have to increase funding for TVET (technical and vocational education and training), with incentives tied to graduate employability. Among others, we need:

> STEM scholarships and national reskilling initiatives for workers displaced by automation.

> Tax incentives and matching grants for R&D, automation, and green technologies.

> Expanded digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to promote inclusive growth.

> A Malaysian Innovation Fund to support start-ups in Artificial Intelligence, biotech, and climate tech

Malaysia must address its productivity crisis. Growth can no longer rely on cheap labour or natural resources. We must transform our industrial base through digitalisation, automation, and a strong pivot towards advanced manufacturing and services.

This means supporting high-value sectors like semiconductors, electric vehicles, biotechnology, and green energy.

To make these a reality, we must overhaul our education system. Our youth are entering a job market that demands digital skills, creativity, and adaptability.

Are our tertiary institutes producing the right kind of graduates who are trained and marketable? Malaysia needs graduates with strong technical skills in in-demand fields like IT, engineering and healthcare.

Strong soft skills, adaptability and an entrepreneurial mindset certainly help. It will be even better if they have the ability to speak and write in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese.

With due respect, the teaching of the Laos and Cambodian languages in our schools can wait even though they may be just elective courses.

Within Asean, Malaysia has advantages over some member countries. Beside our language skills, we have an established legal system, and we have the British to thank for that.

Malaysia has a strong middle-class base as well as a sound political system. Our democratic system can be noisy at times but it’s often restrained.

Malaysia has enough lawyers and doctors and it doesn’t help that every year we produce students with a string of distinctions who believe they are entitled to places in the top universities in the country.

Are the distinctions secured by our SPM students even on par with the standards imposed by Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom?

RMK13 must prioritise TVET reform, industry-academia collaboration, and investments in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education from an early age.

We are still talking about STEM while China is already introducing AI modules – and at primary school level!

Third, the plan must put innovation and research at the heart of national strategy. Malaysia currently spends less than 1% of GDP on R&D. To become a creator – not just a user – of technology, this must rise to 2–3%, with strong government-industry-academia partnerships.

At the same time, Budget 2026 must address the brain drain by offering meaningful career paths and incentives for Malaysians abroad to return home – including tax relief, housing support, and leadership fast-tracks for top talent.

Expatriates with skills, and who have worked in Malaysia, surely deserve an easier track to be permanent residents.

Malaysia has the resources, the location, and the population to succeed – but seems to lack the political will and strategic coherence to execute bold reforms. We spend a great deal of time on inconsequential and unproductive political discourse, often on murky issues of race and religion.

Tomorrow’s investments in Malaysia are no longer about setting up factories, which outdated aging politicians still seem to think about when questioned about where foreign direct investments would go.

All is not lost, though. Attaining high-income status is not easy for any state or country. This year only one nation – Costa Rica – moved from upper middle income to high-income category.

But it is certainly not going to be easy for Malaysia. No one can predict what next year may bring given the uncertain and volatile economic outlook which doesn’t bode well for trading nations like Malaysia.

The World Bank high-income threshold is not fixed and it adjusts its measurement each year, so a lot depends on how Malaysia would compare with other nations but let’s not forget that even if we grow, other countries could compete harder and that could make the high-income goal even more distant.

Malaysians, especially the politicians, must understand this for the interest of the nation.

Look at the graph – the bottom three worst performing states are Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan, which speaks volumes. We can’t help these states if they prefer politicians who have promised them a ticket to heaven, while little is done for the here and now.

RMK13 and Budget 2026 can change that – if they are driven by vision, evidence, and courage.

For the country, the window to become a high-income nation is closing. We must act – boldly, intelligently, and urgently – before it shuts for good.

On the Beat | By Wong Chun Wai

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Penangites shocked as Myanmar quake shakes high-rise buildings

 

GEORGE TOWN: A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar sent shockwaves as far as Penang, causing tremors that rattled high-rise buildings and left many startled.

Office workers in skyscrapers described feeling sudden dizziness, with some even witnessing objects wobbling around them.

Buletin Mutiara writer M. Thanushalini, 38, was focusing on work on the 47th floor when she suddenly sensed her surroundings swaying.

"I was in the middle of typing an article when I unexpectedly experienced vertigo. At first, I thought I was feeling dizzy as it only lasted a few seconds, so I continued working.

"It was only later, after learning about the earthquake, that I connected the dots. In my eight years here, this is the first time I’ve felt tremors from an earthquake," she said on Friday (March 28).

Penang Economic Planning Unit assistant secretary Zeulqarnain Wahid, 33, also felt the unsettling tremors from his 26th-floor office.

"The Hari Raya decorative lights in our office began to sway, and I felt lightheaded. Several colleagues also mentioned feeling the same, and we realised it was unusual.

"Fortunately, there was no need for evacuation," he said.

Those working in Komtar, Penang's tallest building, also reported feeling the tremors shortly after the earthquake struck at 2.21pm.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the earthquake occurred approximately 55km southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar, at a depth of 57km.

No tsunami threats were detected in Malaysia following the quake.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Inspired to serve by the legacy of Sun Yat Sen, who shaped modern China

 

Shining Sun: Honouring Dr Sun at the 100th anniversary of his demise at the Sun Yat Sen Museum in George Town, Penang. (Below) Dr Yee sharing some of the stories he was told while growing up about Dr Sun, at the Sun Yat Sen Museum. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star


GEORGE TOWN: They are both medical doctors who share the same birthday on Nov 12.

And just like Father of Modern China the late Dr Sun Yat Sen, octogenarian Datuk Seri Dr Yee Thiam Sun had embarked on a path dedicating his life to serving the people.

At 81, Dr Yee continues to work from his clinic in Lebuh Carnavon treating patients and offering consultations at a discounted rate.

The buck does not stop there as the calm and humble Dr Yee also wears many other hats being a Scout leader, JCI (Junior Chamber International) leader, St John Ambulance of Malaysia, Penang commander, UN Youth leader, senior logistician who has been actively involved in humanitarian logistics movements, holding the title of Fellow of LogM (FLogM/Senior Logistician) and the position of honorary president of LogM.

He has also been mentoring and providing opportunities to leaders, especially young ones, through his involvement with Scouts, St John, JCI, SMJKs, SJKCs, and other organisations.

Dr Yee was a King’s Scout (1961) and has received many awards from various organisations, including the government, Scouts and St John.

Datuk Seri Dr Yee Thiam Sun sharing the stories he was told growing up about Dr Sun Yat Sen, during the gathering of the 100th anniversary of his demise at the Sun Yat Sen Museum in George Town, Penang. (March 8, 2025) — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star.Datuk Seri Dr Yee Thiam Sun sharing the stories he was told growing up about Dr Sun Yat Sen, during the gathering of the 100th anniversary of his demise at the Sun Yat Sen Museum in George Town, Penang. (March 8, 2025) — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star.

The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang had also conferred him the Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri (DGPN), which carries the title Datuk Seri.

Dr Yee recalled that his late grandfather had served as the Chinese political and revolutionary leader’s secretary while Dr Sun was in Penang.

“While growing up, my mother, whose birthday also fell on the same day as mine and Dr Sun’s, used to tell me about how Dr Sun had dedicated his life to serving and helping the people.

“Her stories had left a lasting impression on me and I too wanted to serve the people in some way or another.

“I adopted Dr Sun’s motto to serve the people by running a clinic and charging less so that people do not feel the pinch.

“To be able to do this, I decided to work on my own because if I worked for others, I would not be able to charge less,” he said when met at the memorial event held at the Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang in Armenian Street to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of Dr Sun.

Dr Yee also said that his maternal grandfather was an active supporter and spent most of his money on Dr Sun’s movement.

“My grandfather was a writer, and so he wrote for Dr Sun too,” he said.

Dr Yee added that despite his age, he wants to continue working to serve, just like his Dr Sun.

Businessman Dr Lawrence Khoo, in his 50s, said his grandfather was an ardent supporter of Dr Sun and had offered assistance in many ways.

“Dr Sun believed in education being of utmost importance and my grandfather as his supporter, started the Chung Ling High School and Penang Chinese Girls’ High School as well as Kwong Wah Yit Poh (a Chinese-language newspaper) here in Penang.

“We still follow his ideology that education is important and that women must be treated as equals.

“This has influenced me and I believe that we all need education and to be treated equally regardless of gender,” he said.

During the gathering, museum custodian Khoo Salma shared that a short video about how the Chinese community from other countries remember Dr Sun will be released on March 12, the actual death anniversary.

“Dr Sun was the towering figure of his time and the first provisional president of the China republic.

“He was a man with a vision who never gave up,” she said.

At the museum, Khoo said they share his (Dr Sun’s) story daily with visitors.

“This keeps his story alive.”

Born in 1866 in Guangdong province in China, Dr Sun studied medicine in Hong Kong and became a doctor.

He started his revolutionary career in 1894 and staged his first uprising in China a year later after forming Xing Zhong Hui in Honolulu.

He travelled around the world in search of support and came to Penang five times from 1906 to 1912.

Often called the “Father of Modern China”, Dr Sun played a key role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911.

He was the first provisional president when the Republic of China was established in 1912.

He passed away on March 12, 1925, after battling cancer.

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Sun Yat-sen at 100: The revolutionary who shaped modern China

Wednesday, March 12, marks 100 years since the death of Chinese revolutionary and politician Sun Yat-sen, the “Father of the Nation.”

Sun was a Chinese revolutionary leader and political philosopher, often referred to as the "Father of Modern China" for his pivotal role in overthrowing the Qing dynasty and establishing the Republic of China. Born on November 12, 1866, in Cuiheng Village, Guangdong Province, Sun received a Western-style education in Hawaii and later studied medicine in Hong Kong. His exposure to Western ideas and the decline of the Qing dynasty fueled his determination to reform China.

Sun founded the Revive China Society in 1894, advocating for the overthrow of the Qing and the establishment of a modern republic. His revolutionary efforts culminated in the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, which ended over 2,000 years of imperial rule. On January 1, 1912, Sun was inaugurated as the provisional president of the Republic of China, though he soon stepped aside to promote unity.


Sun's political philosophy, the Three Principles of the People (nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood), became the foundation of Chinese governance. Despite facing numerous challenges, including warlordism and foreign intervention, Sun remained committed to unifying China and modernizing its society. He reorganized the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, or KMT) and formed alliances with the Communist Party of China to strengthen the revolutionary movement.

Sun passed away on March 12, 1925, in Beijing, leaving behind a legacy of revolution and reform. His ideas continue to influence both Taiwan and mainland China, where he is revered as a unifying figure.

Sun Yat-sen expressed his support for Zionism in a letter sent to N.E.B. Ezra, 24 April 1920. (credit: Abraham Schwadron Autograph Collection/National Library of Israel)Enlrage image
Sun Yat-sen expressed his support for Zionism in a letter sent to N.E.B. Ezra, 24 April 1920. (credit: Abraham Schwadron Autograph Collection/National Library of Israel)

The Zionism letter

There was also a fascinating discovery back in 2021, when a letter written by Sun to a Shanghai Jew expressed support for the Zionist cause.

In the letter, dated April 24, 1920, Sun voiced his enthusiastic backing for Zionism, describing it as “one of the greatest  movements of the present time.” 


"[I] wish to assure you of my sympathy for this movement – which is one of the greatest movements of the present time," Yat-sen's letters reads. "All lovers of Democracy cannot help but support whole-heartedly and welcome with enthusiasm the movement to restore your wonderful and historic nation, which has contributed so much to the civilization of the world and which rightfully deserve [sic] an honorable place in the family of nations."

It was addressed to N.E.B. Ezra, a prominent writer, publisher, and the founder of the Shanghai Zionist Association. 

Sun is celebrated for his role in shaping modern Chinese history, and while his endorsement of Zionism has long been documented and the contents of the letter were previously known, the original signed copy has only recently been rediscovered, more than a century after it was written.


nternal records from the National Library indicate that the letter was in its collection since at least 1938, though it was never publicly cataloged or accessible to researchers until now. The exact path by which the letter arrived at the library remains unclear. 

“N.E.B. Ezra passed away in 1936. The letter’s arrival by 1938 suggests that Ezra himself may have donated it, or someone else sent it to the library after recognizing its historical importance,” National Library archivist Rachel Misrati stated at the time.

Sun and other Chinese leaders maintained warm relations with Jewish communities and figures, both locally and internationally. Many of these connections were forged during Sun’s years of exile before the Qing dynasty’s fall. A notable example is Morris “Two-Gun” Cohen, a Polish-born Jewish bodyguard and advisor to Sun, who was also a staunch Zionist.


Sun’s support for Zionism was not unique among national leaders of the time. Many prominent political figures expressed similar sentiments, driven by both ideological alignment and practical considerations - in 1946, Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh spent several days staying in the same hotel as David Ben-Gurion in Paris, where the two would often visit each other.

Legacy

Sun Yat-sen is still widely revered in Taiwan as the founding father of the Republic of China (ROC), though his legacy has evolved over time. His status remains prominent in official state narratives, but the way he is perceived has changed, particularly as Taiwanese identity has developed over the years. 

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of the mainland has also claimed Sun Yat-sen as part of its own revolutionary lineage, portraying him as an early forerunner of communism who opposed imperialism and laid the groundwork for modern China.


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Sunday, February 9, 2025

Recycling hoarder in a mountain of trouble

 


Man gets warning after 4,440kg of trash removed

GEORGE TOWN: For years, a senior citizen has been riding around the island on a motorcycle, collecting and sorting recyclable materials for a living.

But as his health began failing, he could not deal with it and ended up living with “mountainous” piles of recyclables in his house.

Following public complaints, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) visited the senior citizen’s home in Batu Maung.

It took six truckloads to clear 4,440kg of the waste piled high in the compound of his single-storey house.

More than 20 MBPP workers took five hours on Thursday to remove the rubbish.

Mammoth task: It took over 20 MBPP workers and six trucks to clear the rubbish from the house in Batu Maung. — Photo provided by MBPPMammoth task: It took over 20 MBPP workers and six trucks to clear the rubbish from the house in Batu Maung. — Photo provided by MBPP

And as per MBPP regulations, the senior citizen was left with a RM2,021.74 bill for the removal, transport and disposal of the waste.

In a statement, MBPP said it had to act because of complaints by those in the neighbourhood.

“The resident said he would sort through the recyclable waste to sell to recycling centres.

“But due to his deteriorating health, managing the accumulated waste became impossible yet the quantity increased daily,” said MBPP.

As it became a breeding ground for pests, MBPP said the Southwest District Health Department issued the senior citizen a notice under Section 8 of the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975 on Oct 7.

The senior citizen had been given a warning to stop collecting and sorting rubbish, and to clean up his house compound, failing which MBPP would take follow-up action.

In Penang, by-laws were enacted since 2016 to regulate those involved in waste segregation and the collection of recyclable materials.

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Penang to revise quit rent rates after decades-long freeze



Saturday, December 28, 2024

Waiver on quit rent penalties in Penang

If they pay between March 1 and May 31, they will get a 50% discount on the penalties.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the exco meeting last week decided on this move for all land and parcel owners.

Land owners are those who own houses and land, while parcel owners are usually in joint property like condominiums, apartments or townhouses.

“This is to recover RM40.1mil in unpaid quit rent involving 100,000 accounts.

“If these remain unpaid, property owners can lose their land or parcels,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

He added that the incentive aims to reduce the burden on land and parcel owners, with 107,908 accounts being late on payments and slapped with penalties. The waiver applies to all land and parcel owners, including those with penalty notices under Sections 6A and 11.

The Chief Minister said the incentive is only for lump-sum payment and not for instalments or settled overdue penalties.

Payments can be made at district land offices or online through the PgLAND web portal.

For details, land and parcel owners can contact the Penang Land and Mines office at 04-650 5844/5847/5849 or the district land office.

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