JOHOR BARU: Social media users are lauding the action of a convoy escorting Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim for giving way to an ambulance here. Social media users praised Tunku Ismail, with some saying that the policeman – Kpl Mohamad Saifulliman – must have done what he did on the Crown Prince's orders. Others commended Tunku Ismail for prioritising the lives of others in an emergency. "This should be the way, lives should be given priority. The video clip was shared multiple times on Twitter, with some users tagging Tunku Ismail to thank him, and received a reply from the man himself.

This was after the US’ central bank announced its biggest interest rate increase in more than two decades to fight inflation. The US Federal Reserve (Fed) on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage points to a target rate range of between 0.75% and 1%. “It is well known that high household indebtedness may be destabilising to the economy in the event of an interest rate shock. Inflation risks seen to increaseMeanwhile, Goh noted that Malaysia’s inflation risks are still tilted to the upside, going by a recovering economy, prolonged supply chain bottlenecks, elevated commodity prices, and a higher national minimum wage. He also noted there is the risk that a low interest rate environment will cause domestic demand to strengthen too quickly and overshoot.

KUALA LUMPUR (May 5): Controversial Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd says it is looking into formulating a plan to regularise its financial condition. In a bourse filing on Thursday (May 5), Serba Dinamik said it has approximately eight months to submit its regularisation plan to Bursa Securities for approval. “The company will make the necessary announcement on the regularisation plan in accordance with the requirements under PN17,” it added. Serba Dinamik slipped into PN17 status in January, after its external auditor Nexia SSY PLT expressed a disclaimer of opinion over its audited financial statements for the 18-month financial period ended June 30, 2021. Trading in Serba Dinamik securities has been suspended since October last year.

GEORGE TOWN: The Health Ministry has been urged to set up a special committee of inquiry into the recent death of a houseman attached to Penang Hospital. He added that the Health Ministry should also review and revamp, if necessary, the existing management system especially involving the time period of assignment of doctors in medical facilities. On Wednesday (May 4), it was reported that junior doctors were allegedly being bullied and overworked. This is believed to be the second death involving a junior doctor in two years. Meanwhile, Alliance of Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the Health Ministry should conduct a thorough and independent investigation to determine the truth.

KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic is expected to increase along most major highways between Friday (May 6) and Sunday (May 8) as people make their way home after celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department has said that preparations have been made in anticipation of this. Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department principal assistant director (enforcement) Supt Dr Bakri Zainal Abidin said that on Wednesday (May 4), some 3,599,422 vehicles had been recorded using highways nationwide. He said the volume of traffic was expected to increase between Friday and Sunday as people started making their way home after the holidays. "Coordination will be done between Bukit Aman and the District Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Departments on these operations," he said.

KUALA LUMPUR (May 5): The recently announced digital banking licence winners are not seen as major threats and can co-exist with their conventional counterparts, according to analysts. Given the archaic banks’ bigger balance sheet, they have more budget headroom on an absolute monetary basis to spend and innovate versus digital banks,” Chan said. He also maintained his “overweight” call on the banking sector given that the digital banks are not expected to be major threats and can co-exist with their conventional counterparts. "We expect the venture to be positive for RHB Bank in the longer term when the digital bank turns profitable. “Our sector top picks are Hong Leong Bank Bhd (add; TP: RM21.80), RHB Bank (add; TP: RM7) and Public Bank Bhd (add; TP: RM5),” he added.

India -- which imports more than 85% of its oil -- is among the few remaining buyers of Russian crude, a key source of revenue for Vladimir Putin’s regime. Flows of Russian oil to India aren’t sanctioned, but tightening international restrictions in areas such as marine insurance and pressure on New Delhi from the U.S. are making the trade more difficult. India’s state refiners can take about 15 million barrels a month -- around 10% of overall imports -- if Russia agrees to the price demands and delivers the oil to India, the people said. Energy purchases from Russia remain minuscule in comparison to India’s total consumption, according to an official statement by India’s press office. While the sea trip from there to India would be quicker, there would likely be major costs and logistical hurdles in transporting the oil over land.

PETALING JAYA: The Bar Council will hold an emergency general meeting (EGM) to discuss the issue over recent allegations of judicial intimidation. Bar Council president Karen Cheah said the full details of the EGM will be finalised after the Hari Raya festive period. Cheah also said she is aware of the petition calling for the "Walk of Justice" by former Malaysian Bar presidents. Cheah said the Bar Council held another emergency meeting on April 29 to address allegations of judicial intimidation and it was collectively decided that an EGM will be called on an urgent basis according to the Legal Profession Act 1976. Earlier Wednesday (May 4), a petition by six former Malaysian Bar presidents - Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, Steven Thiru, Datuk Lim Chee Wee, Datuk Yeo Yang Poh, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Datuk Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari - had urged the Bar Council to hold the "Walk of Justice".

One would think that the need for sustainability in all the major processes in human life today would not be controversial. But, to get to the heart of the matter, is the term “sustainability” comprehensible universally? What makes sustainability painfully salient is when for each of these economic realities, the threat of future shortages appears real and undeniable. He needs his supply of clean water, he needs reliable labour, he needs knowledge of his industry’s paths of development. To them, sustainability may then be about middle-class stability and generational social mobility; and unsustainability would essentially be an economic phenomenon.

A senior executive could not tolerate the lackadaisical attitude of an electrical consumer products store in Johor Baru. The 40-year-old claimant had bought a 1HP air-conditioner for RM1,599 from the store in Taman Molek on Sept 19, 2017. “The air-conditioner started giving problems again on April 15, 2021 and technicians came to inspect it but it was still not functioning,” she recounted. She said the technician came on April 18, 2021 to dismantle the air-conditioner but still could not identify its faulty parts. She then called the Kuala Lumpur headquarters again as calls to the Johor Baru store went unanswered once more.

Often, the reason given was that female investors were less active and not as savvy as the men. In 2021, new CDS accounts opened by female investors fell 10.48% y-o-y to 76,164. The ADTV of female investors were RM258 million and RM239.5 million in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Yet, he says people should not look at female investors as a homogenous group, as shown by Bursa’s analysis. “We should not automatically assume all female investors behave the same way and go through similar trading experiences.

PR1MA Corporation Malaysia, the agency responsible for developing affordable housing projects in the country, is seeking a strategic investment from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Is it for investment opportunities that are separate from PR1MA’s affordable housing projects or is it to fund these projects? It is still unclear, however, as to the level of returns that QIA will require from the RM8.1 billion investment. Besides PR1MA, the government also has other affordable housing programmes such as the Perumahan Penjawat Awam Malaysia and Federal Territory Affordable Housing Programme (RUMAWIP). The purpose of the MOU was to explore a potential collaboration between the parties to provide funding for new PR1MA housing projects.

According to Norges Bank Investment Management, the fund’s ownership in BCorp had risen to 1% from 0.32% while its stake in Genting Malaysia was higher at 1.3% compared to 0.7%. Meanwhile, the fund’s ownership in PetChem increased to 0.59% from 0.46%, according to Norges Bank Investment Management. Norges Bank Investment Management said the fund’s ownership in Bursa was cut to 0.85% from 2.59%, while its stake in Top Glove was lower at 0.57% compared to 0.89%. Meanwhile, the fund’s ownership in Serba Dinamik decreased to 0.04% from 0.07%, according to Norges Bank Investment Management. We aim to achieve this in a safe, efficient, responsible and transparent manner, and within government guidelines,” Norges Bank Investment Management said.

PONTIAN: The number of Kampung Sri Gambut flood victims seeking shelter at a temporary relief centre here has gone up to 19 as of 4pm on Wednesday (May 4). According to the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, they are from four families in the village and are all putting up at the relief centre in SK Melayu Raya. "The number stood at 11 earlier (today)," it said in a statement. It was earlier reported that 11 people from two families were moved to the centre after their homes were flooded. This followed two hours of heavy rain from about 3.30am.

LEMANG is a customary treat for Muslims when celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Farid Iskandar Mahlop Ismail said the cost of making lemang had gone up because of an increase in the price of raw ingredients. “We have been selling lemang for about 10 years, except for last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added. Another lemang seller, who wished to be known only as Osman, said lemang cost RM11 per stick in 2019. “I have been selling lemang for the same price in Bercham for about three years and I will try my best to maintain it.