Chinese public wait for consumer protection to catch up with e-commerce
Since then, Ma has been busy calling the market regulator, the local consumer rights protection association and the police. But consumer protection has not matched the country’s rapid economic advance, despite the 2013 revision of its 1994 Consumer Protection Law, and passing 2018’s Electronic Commerce Law, said Janet Hui Xue, a researcher with Oxford University’s Consumer Rights Beyond Boundaries programme. “China has shown remarkable improvement [in consumer rights protection] over the past decade,” she said. Consumer rights protection in mainland China used to be uniformly poor as the country largely tolerated counterfeit and substandard goods during its economic catch-up of past decades. In sectors such as online education, practices including false advertising, unlicensed staff and collecting non-refundable advance payments are rampant.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 06:33 UTC
RM3.5mil cash found in ‘project cartel' Datuk's house, luxury yacht, two helicopters and assets seized
PUTRAJAYA: A total of RM3.5mil cash was discovered at a house belonging to the 47-year-old Datuk, believed to be the ringleader of the "project cartel", following a raid on Monday (April 5). Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators also discovered that the Datuk amassed an extraordinary amount of wealth and assets, including a luxury yacht and two helicopters. The “project cartel” is believed to have been awarded 345 tenders with an estimated value of RM3.6bil from different ministries and agencies nationwide since 2014. Earlier on Tuesday (April 6), MACC arrested the eighth suspect - a senior officer from a government agency - for alleged involvement in the "project cartel" syndicate. The 38-year-old suspect, a quantity surveyor with a Grade 48 position, is believed to have prepared bills of quantity for projects offered by a government agency.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 05:22 UTC
Paul Yong's rape case: Maid was not coached what to say when calling embassy, court hears
IPOH: The maid allegedly raped by former Perak executive council member Paul Yong was terrified and not coached on what to say when she called the Indonesian Embassy, the High Court heard. The trial on Tuesday (April 6) continued with an embassy staff member testifying in court before Judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed in the rape case involving the Tronoh assemblyman. I can say that there was no one else around and coaching her what to say. Riki disagreed with another question from the defence team on whether he had told the maid agency that he (Riki) had received a call from the maid stating that she was receiving unfair treatment from her employer. On Aug 23,2019, Yong claimed trial at the Ipoh Sessions Court for raping his 23-year-old maid.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 05:18 UTC
My Say: Asia could face a sharp rise in protectionism
In addition, the pandemic-induced collapse of world trade also meant that there was less trade to restrict as governments focused on containing the outbreak and not on their trade policies. Global trade will face more headwinds in coming yearsThe forces driving this protectionist bent in trade policies are quite powerful and will probably dominate any more benign forces. This shift in economic philosophy is evident in the Biden administration. The Biden administration has also indicated that it will step up on environmental rules to reduce its carbon footprint. In the 1970s and 1980s, Germany and Japan deflected American trade pressure on them by investing heavily in manufacturing production in the US.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 06, 2021 04:07 UTC
Existence of 'project cartel' syndicate is worrying, says Mohd Zuki Ali
PUTRAJAYA: The existence of a group of people allegedly manipulating the government's delivery system for personal gain is a cause for concern, says the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali (pic). He expressed disappointment over a government tender cartel involving people within the civil service which was exposed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recently. "The MACC's exposure of a government tender cartel syndicate is truly worrying. Mohd Zuki said the Public Service Department had been ordered to rotate its officers, especially those involved in "sensitive positions" where misconduct could occur. "I have repeatedly reminded all department heads to uphold the concept of integrity in its organisational management by strengthening awareness programmes that are in line with the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP)," said Mohd Zuki.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 04:05 UTC
With refined and luxurious features, the Lexus RX and ES are today's ultimate executive-class rides
In the automobile market, both the Lexus RX and Lexus ES embody these qualities. Bold presence: Lexus RX 300 Luxury Special EditionFor 2021, the Lexus RX 300 Luxury Special Edition joins Lexus' stable of luxury SUVs. Enhanced refinement: Lexus ES 250 Limited EditionSimilarly, the Lexus ES 250 Limited Edition offers head-turning styling cues, driven by its sleek coupe-like silhouette. Orders for the Lexus RX 300 Luxury Special Edition and ES 250 Limited Edition are now open. The Lexus RX 300 Luxury Special Edition is priced at RM421,909.50 on the road without insurance while the Lexus ES 250 Limited Edition is priced at RM327,510.50 on the road without insurance.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 06, 2021 03:45 UTC
Genting, GenM seek shareholders' nod for share buy-back
KUALA LUMPUR (April 6): Genting Bhd and Genting Malaysia Bhd (GenM) are seeking the green light from shareholders to buy back their own shares. Shareholders of both companies in the last AGM, held on June 22, 2020, approved the share buy-back. The renewed share buy-back authority will expire at the conclusion of the forthcoming AGM. At 9.52am today, Genting had fallen six sen or 1.15% to RM5.16, valuing the group at RM20.24 billion. GenM, meanwhile, slipped three sen or 0.96% to RM3.10, valuing the group at RM18.47 billion.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 06, 2021 02:15 UTC
A lesson for all: How to tell fake news from genuine news
Photo: Pixabay“Forty-three per cent of Malaysians are young adults and we need to start developing media literacy with the young ones. We get three minutes online but you get to constantly reinforce the message in classrooms,” says ME4A media mentor Chak Onn Lau. Media literacy programmes aim to nurture media users who are critical, discerning and assertive. When then, if not now, do we educate people about media literacy?” says ME4A media educator Hilmi Bakar. A media literacy training portal will help upskill Malaysian educators in media literacy by conducting continuous professional development courses.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 01:52 UTC
Aussie couple freed from house arrest
An Australian couple has been freed from house arrest and allowed to leave the country without charge, one of the two business consultants said. Christa Avery and her husband Matthew O’Kane were refused permission to leave Myanmar last month when they were about to board a flight home. The country has been in turmoil since a military coup on Feb 1 that ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Another Australian, Sean Turnell, an economic adviser to Suu Kyi, has been detained since shortly after the army seized power and is in prison. “I hope that even if Sean cannot be released very soon, he can, at least, be moved to house arrest for his physical, mental and emotional well-being, ” Avery added.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 01:40 UTC
Why shortages of US$1 chip sparked crisis in global economy
The trouble for the chip industry -- and increasingly companies beyond tech, like automakers -- is that there aren’t enough display drivers to go around. Now the crunch in a handful of such seemingly insignificant parts -- power management chips are also in short supply, for example -- is cascading through the global economy. “Every application is short of chips.”The chip crunch was born out of an understandable miscalculation as the coronavirus pandemic hit last year. Wu explained that he can’t make more display drivers by pushing his workforce harder. “We have not reached a position where we can see the light at the end of tunnel yet,” Wu said.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 06, 2021 01:31 UTC
For nature activist, it’s a labour of love to save mangroves
“To keep tides from hitting us, we plant mangroves, forests for animals and oxygen for us to live. “I weave everything into my stories, ” said Samsudin, 50, as he mused about how some people in the area saw mangroves as a “nuisance” and would pull them out. Indonesia is home to over a fifth of the world’s mangrove forests, which naturally help keep out high tidal waters. Data from Indonesia’s forestry ministry from 2017 estimates that more than 1.8 million hectares of mangroves are damaged. Cukup Rudiyanto, another activist in Indramayu who plants mangroves, also blames a lack of sedimentation in this coastal area east of the capital Jakarta for harming mangroves.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 01:30 UTC
Contradictheory: Would you give a kid a credit card?
This particular bank offers the card under the parent’s name and allows them to let the child use it. (Also, it is a debit card which limits what you can spend to what you have loaded onto the card.) Those who received pocket money as a child will also exercise more control over their spending than those who didn’t. The only difference then in giving a child a credit card is that they are spending money electronically. What is interesting is the contrast between the benefits of pocket money for children and the argument about something similar for adults.
Source:The Star
April 06, 2021 01:01 UTC
Voice of the people
“I will continue to be the voice of the people of Myanmar as I consider this my responsibility. “I will use the international platform as well as social media to reach out to the international community, ” she said. Now, there is no turning back as Han Lay would be arrested if she steps foot in her country again. But Han Lay reportedly said she had been on the receiving end of threatening comments on her social media accounts including threats of imprisonment. Although she has won many beauty titles, Han Lay has said that she preferred to be known for her intelligence and confidence.
Source:The Star
April 05, 2021 23:47 UTC
Zii Jia all for proposed shorter but intense scoring format
PUTRAJAYA: All-England champion Lee Zii Jia says aye to the proposed shorter-but-explosive scoring format. Armed with a great attacking prowess, the 23-year-old Zii Jia believes he is one of those players who can ace the 11-point, best-of-five game system. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) are proposing to replace the existing 21x3 with the new 11x5 format after the Tokyo Olympics. While admitting that it will benefit him, Zii Jia does not want to get too excited. “The format will suit my game as attacking is my forte, ” said Zii Jia.
Source:The Star
April 05, 2021 23:41 UTC
Messy end to first day of school
The downpour led to jams outside several schools as students waited for their transport to go home. Controlling the large volume of students at the end of the school day was poor, he said. “Most schools allocate drop-off and pick-up points.”All secondary school students resumed schooling yesterday after five months, starting with those in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu on Sunday. Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka, Form Five student Aina Alyssa Sazali said her school, on the other hand, pulled all the stops to ensure the students study and leave school safely. Although the situation was “slightly disorderly” when school ended, Aina said this was due to the heavy rain.
Source:The Star
April 05, 2021 23:37 UTC