General

We take a closer look at the new law passed yesterday, which allows the Finance Ministry to approve additional spending without Parliament's permission, as long as the Emergency is in force. First, we look at the usual procedures to seek approval for supplementary expenditure, and how the new law supplants the process. Then, we discuss the importance of debate to ensure accountability on the part of the government.

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The government has announced that the work from home orders for public sectors and industires under the Movement Control Order will be lifted starting today. As Covid-19 workplace clusters are still being reported, responses from employees have been mixed. Dhanya Nair tells us more.

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Perikatan Nasional has faced a lot of criticism on double standards over the breach of COVID-19 SOPs. But analysts speaking to The Malaysian Insight said that this might not play a significant role with voters. So what are the issues that matter when it comes to the election? We speak with James Chai for his views.

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Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are attractive buzzwords in healthcare today. The current hype is preceded by decades of work in using computer science and data analytics to provide solutions for medical research and healthcare. With our guests Prof Patrice Francois Boursier, Programme Director (Health Informatics & Analytics), International Medical University; and Dr Raymond Choy, Co-Founder & CEO, DOC2US, we look at the big questions in AI and digital health. We also explore what are the advancements that have improved healthcare, as well as the hurdles that remain in making AI and digital health a reality.

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When it comes to addressing the rakyat's needs, unequal parliamentary allocations between government and opposition MPs has been a sticking point for decades. But Bersih 2.0 and IDEAS have come up with ways to suggest that all MPs and ADUNs receive equal CDFs, or Constituency Development Funds. In fact, they’re suggesting that Parliament legislates this, and are pushing for ways to ensure that these funds are spent more transparently, and for lawmakers to be held more accountable. We speak with IDEAS' Sri Murniyati Yusuf and Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming to find the best way forward for allocating CDFs.

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Many of us have probably looked up our health symptoms online before, whether it's a mysterious rash or a cough that just won’t go away. But does it cause more harm than good?

Apple has confirmed the date of its second virtual iteration of the Worldwide Developer Conference, and have announced the expansion of its Independent Repair Provider programme to a long list of countries, including Malaysia.

The 30% work-from-home policy has been revoked starting April 1, leaving some people relieved and others concerned about the decision. While the government claims it has assessed the risk, many are wondering if this is the right time to gather in the office, just as more workplace clusters are emerging.

In a world where overall media and entertainment growth stands at a measly 4 percent, reports estimate the audiobook and podcast market to grow by 25 percent and 30 percent, respectively, this year.

According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Asia’s manufacturing sector is seeing recovery after a collapse in the first half of 2020. In just a year, the pandemic has pushed the industry over the technology tipping point and accelerated the pace of digital transformation by years. With up to USD627 billion worth of productivity gain at stake, Alex Teo, Managing Director and Vice President of Siemens Digital Industries Software in Southeast Asia, shares how the region is poised to capture these opportunities.