Current Affairs

The government has confirmed that a standardised minimum wage for the private sector of RM1,050 a month, or RM 5.05 an hour, will be implemented nationwide from January 2019.

However, due to current financial constraints, the government has said it will not be providing any subsidies to employers -- despite the promise in their manifesto to bear 50% of any increase in minimum wage.

Ali Salman, CEO of the think tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) shares his take on the policy announcement.

Professor Dr Faisal Hazis shares his views on the recent decision by the Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik to accept the post of president of International Islamic University (IIUM).


The move by the Minister has drawn flak from both sides of the political divide with both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan parties are urging him to reject his new appointment. They are claiming his appointment contradicts his commitment to liberate universities from political interference.


Meanwhile, Maszlee’s special adviser in the ministry -Wan Saiful Wan Jan - has said that Maszlee’s appointment was made by the Sultan of Pahang. Does this leave no wiggle room for Dr Maszlee?


We ask Dr Faisal this and more.


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Recently, Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed said that Malaysia would ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Part­nership or CPTPP.

Firdaos outlines the trade agreement's likely implications for Malaysia.

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Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran recently announced that his ministry is involved in discussions for a comprehensive review of the Employment Act 1955. We speak with Dr. Jashpal Kaur Bhatt, a former lecturer in the Faculty of Law with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to share her insights into the employment reforms needed.  

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Last Saturday, about a hundred Umno supporters turned up in support of PAS during the nomination for the Seri Setia by-election, even though Umno is sitting out that contest. And in the Sungai Kandis by-elections earlier this month, PAS made way for the BN candidate there. In light of this, Adib Zalkapli, Senior Associate at the government affairs consultancy Vriens and Partners Malaysia, discusses the dynamics of the PAS-UMNO cooperation. 

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Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is currently in China for an official visit from 17 to 21 August 2018. The visit is particularly special as Dr Mahathir is returning to China as Prime Minister after a 17-year gap. We discuss the anticipated outcomes of the visit in light of the new government's stance on infrastructure megaprojects involving Chinese contractors and the current geopolitical climate.

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The first phase of the Suri Incentive programme kicks off today, whereby the government contributes RM40 monthly to over 350,000 housewives registered under the eKasih database, as long as the members save a minimum of RM5 monthly.

Ren Chong shares his thoughts on the "i-Suri" programme, and assesses the Pakatan Harapan government's progress in championing women's welfare.

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It was revealed recently that 80% of childminders in registered nurseries have no minimum qualifications.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah recently said that about 80% or 13,700 child-minders working in registered nurseries still do not meet the minimum qualification of the Permata Early Childhood Care and Education course.

We speak to James about this and ask him what can parents do in light of this recent revelation?

Typically, if a centre is registered, most parents assume they have checked all the important boxes, but James cautions that it may not be the case for all.

He also shares with us the findings from the audits he does on the safety procedures and child protection safeguards in childcare centres.

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This has not been a good week for Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

On Wednesday, the former UMNO president was slapped with additional charges in court for money laundering. This followed on the heels of Umno’s defeat over the weekend in the Sg. Kandis by-elections.

Now there have been a series of remarks from different Umno party leaders, seemingly distancing themselves from Najib Razak,and blaming his presence on the stump for the loss of Sungai Kandis.

Is support for Najib Razak within UMNO party ranks wearing thin and what does this mean for the party?

Bridget Welsh, Professor of Political Science at John Cabot University in Rome shares her insights.

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Yesterday, protesters gathered outside the Penang state legislative assembly to voice objections over the Penang Transport Master Plan -- including mega projects proposed under the plan. The Penang Forum, a coalition of NGO groups, is demanding that the state government to conduct an independent review of the P.T.M.P.

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