Day: May 25, 2024

MELAKA, The government does not intend to introduce new taxation instruments but rather aims to implement a more equitable targeted subsidy system that meets the needs of the people, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said the recent announcement regarding targeted diesel subsidy exempts low-income groups such as fishermen, smallholders and taxi drivers from these taxes.

‘I do not wish to introduce new taxation instruments that burden the people. The issue with (current) diesel subsidy is the significant leakage, costing billions of ringgit… the wealthy and large industries still benefit from these subsidies.

‘The implementation of targeted subsidies will (only) affect the wealthy, large industries and foreign nationals. Fishermen, smallholders, Grab and taxi drivers will all be exempt (from being taxed)… potentially exempting nearly a million citizens from the diesel tax,’ he said.

The prime minister said this in his speech at the MADANI Convention here today, Also present was Melaka Ch
ief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Separately, Anwar urged all ministries and departments to adopt the MADANI slogan as a dynamic concept, aligning with technological advancements, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) in the nation’s development efforts.

He also touched on the upcoming Islamic Economic Conference, set to take place from May 28-29 in Kuala Lumpur, which will consider the principles of Syariah (Maqasid Syariah) with a broader and more comprehensive scope.

‘This economic conference will examine the Islamic economy from the wider aspects of Maqasid, meaning how public participation, social inequality improvement, use of opportunities and digital AI technology exploration are involved.

‘This conference will bring a new thinking that I consider as MADANI, as it discusses societal issues encompassing all fields,’ the prime minister said.

Meanwhile, Ab Rauf said 10 resolutions were discussed during the two-day convention that began yesterday.

They include acknowledging that the M
alaysia MADANI initiative can resolve issues affecting the Ummah, meeting current and future needs and fulfilling the potential of the people, state and country, he said.

‘The voices and aspirations of the people and government agencies must be synergised to build a MADANI nation in harmony with dakwah (propagation) activities, ensuring that the RAHMAH message is strategically communicated to the community.

‘The Chief Minister’s Department, as the primary state department, must act as the coordinator for distributing government funds to the people,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Cambodia will hold this year’s celebration of Royal Ploughing ceremony, which marks the beginning of the crop planting season in the country, in Chbar Mon city, Kampong Speu province on May 26.

His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, will preside over the annual celebration.

Senior officials from the government and parliament, as well as foreign ambassadors accredited to Cambodia will attend the ceremony, to be followed by a photo exhibition and an agricultural fair.

Generally, the governor of the host province will play the role of ‘King Meak’ by guiding the royal oxen and plowing around the Royal Field, while his spouse will be ‘Queen Mehua’ by walking behind scattering seeds on the furrowed ground.

Usually held in May, the celebration, mainly intends to flag up the commencement of rainy season among Cambodian farmers so that they are prepared for their farming, and to pray for bountiful harvest for the year.

The Royal Ploughing ceremony is generally organised
at the public square of Veal Preah Merhu in front of the National Museum in Phnom Penh, but since 2013, the celebration has taken place in province.

According to the tradition, the ceremony is annually celebrated to predict the upcoming distribution of rainfall, thus rice harvesting, in the country through the oxen’s appetite of paddy, corn, bean, grass, sesame, water, and wine.

In 2023, this traditional event was held in Kampong Svay district of Kampong Thom province under the royal presidency of His Majesty the King.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia, this morning made a clarification over the schedule for the launch of Funan Techo Canal project, stressing that it is the right of the Prime Minister.

“These days, it has been said that I decided to launch the construction of Funan Techo canal on June 12, 2024. There is no such thing at all. The decision when to break ground for the construction is the exclusive right of Prime Minister Hun Manet,’ he wrote on his official Facebook page.

“Only on social media can the fire be extinguished without worrying about the smoke,” the senate president underlined.

On May 16, Samdech Techo Hun Sen suggested the 7th-mandate Royal Government of Cambodia breaks ground for the construction of Funan Techo Canal as soon as possible as it has many benefits ranging from time consuming for travel and transport to useful irrigation system, flood prevention, better livelihoods of local people, and tourism promotion in the country’s southwestern regi
on.

According to the project’s feasibility study, the US$1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal project is 180 kilometres long and 100 metres wide upstream and 80 metres downstream with two navigation lanes. The construction would take around four years to complete.

The canal will link Prek Takeo of Mekong River to the sea in Kep province crossing four provinces: Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kep with a total of 1.6 million people living on either side of the waterway.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Cambodia and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen their bilateral ties for mutual interest.

This was the spirit of the meeting here on May 24 between H.E. Prak Nguon Hong, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), and H.E. Ms. Caroline Linke, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.

According to the MFAIC, during the cordial meeting, the two sides discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, including security and defence, as well as discussed ways to boost trade, investment, and tourism cooperation through the recently signed Air Services Agreement between the two countries.

In addition, both sides reiterated their commitments to further enhancing bilateral ties and extending support in the international arena, and they also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse