PETALING JAYA, June 6 — Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan met with the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, last week to provide clarification on federal allocations and assistance channelled to the state.

He said the audience enabled him to give a comprehensive briefing covering federal allocations to Pahang, which have shown yearly increases, as well as focusing on priority projects proposed by the state government.

“From the briefing, His Royal Highness was able to see that there is indeed a commitment from the federal government to assist states, including Pahang, through the implementation of development projects, as well as allocations for the state, which have been increasing consistently year by year.

“There were several other proposals expressed by His Royal Highness, and we will review them further. If there is room to improve existing processes, we will work on it,” he told reporters after attending the Micro Credit Outreach Programme here today.

The programme was also attended by Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican, along with strategic partners including Bank Simpanan Nasional, Agrobank, Bank Rakyat, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Companies Commission of Malaysia, Tekun Nasional, the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency and Majlis Amanah Rakyat.

Amir Hamzah said that during the meeting he explained that assistance to the people of Pahang is not only channelled through the state government, but also includes various direct federal initiatives such as the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA).

He added that the federal government’s commitment to Pahang’s development is clearly demonstrated through the implementation of strategic projects on the East Coast, including the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

He said the high-impact project will serve as a catalyst to attract new investments, thereby boosting infrastructure development and industrial areas.

“Once the ECRL is completed, we will also focus on developing industrial zones along the East Coast. Infrastructure has been built, and we want to ensure more new industries can be brought into the area.

“Besides that, we are also looking at how supporting infrastructure can be further improved so that investors can more easily utilise the facilities provided,” he said.

On May 8, the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, questioned federal allocations to the state while opening the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Pahang State Legislative Assembly.

Following that, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed Amir Hamzah to provide a comprehensive explanation to be presented to His Royal Highness. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA, June 6 — The government is using a sound risk management approach by diversifying energy supply sources to ensure the country’s energy supply is sufficient, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

He said the government, through Petroliam Nasional Bhd and oil companies, remains committed to seeking new supply sources, including from South Africa and the United States, to ensure the continuity of economic activities is not affected.

“This also means we have established new relationships. Some of the supply may come from further away and be slightly more expensive, but the important thing is that the domestic energy supply is sufficient.

“For coal, Malaysia continues to depend largely on Indonesia while expanding its supply sources to other countries, including the United States and Australia. This simultaneously reduces dependence on a single source and strengthens overall supply security,” he told reporters after attending the ‘Program Mikro Kredit Turun Padang’ here today.

He explained that the step was a good risk management measure because if there was any disruption in a supplier country, Malaysia would still have the option to increase supply from other sources.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) stated today that the ‘Program Mikro Kredit Turun Padang’ is part of the Madani government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the micro-entrepreneurship ecosystem.

According to the MOF, the programme provides a platform to engage with micro-entrepreneurs at the community level, understand the challenges they face, and disseminate information about various financing facilities, business assistance, and capacity development programmes provided by the government and related agencies.

“The programme is also capable of helping them increase their income, expand business operations, and build more sustainable and competitive businesses,” he said.

The implementing agencies involved in the programme are Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), Agrobank, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), TEKUN Nasional, Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK), and Majlis Amanah Rakyat. — Bernama

swi66 posted a photo:

The Hong Kong government has launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the city’s fire safety law, six months after the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po.

According to a government statement on Tuesday, the one-month consultation aims to enhance “public safety, regulatory coherence, enforcement effectiveness and accountability,” as well as to respond to public expectations for improved fire safety following the deadly blaze in November.

The proposed amendments will cover the Fire Services Ordinance and three subsidiary pieces of legislation on fire safety equipment in buildings, the professionals who oversee them, and the Fire Services Department’s powers to abate fire hazards, a Security Bureau spokesperson said.

“We will also take this opportunity to appropriately enhance the enforcement powers of the Fire Services Department (FSD) in specific areas and combat illicit fuelling activities, among others,” the spokesperson added.

See also: ‘Not good enough’: Key points from gov’t departments’ testimony at Tai Po fire inquiry

Tuesday marked six months since the fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court on November 26.

The blaze, which killed 168 people and displaced thousands of residents, exposed shortcomings in the FSD’s role in overseeing fire safety during major renovation works at densely populated housing estates, with officials pledging reforms at a public inquiry into the tragedy.

Tuesday’s proposals were made by the government’s Task Force on Strengthening Fire Safety Governance, established after the fire and chaired by Secretary for Security Chris Tang.

Members of the public may submit their views on the proposals by email or regular mail until June 25.

According to the statement, the government hopes to finalise the proposals and table a bill in the Legislative Council later this year.

A woman who served as mayor of a California city has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government, the Department of Justice said Monday.

Eileen Wang, 58, the mayor of Arcadia, a city just north of Los Angeles with a population of about 50,000, has agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge, the department said in a statement.

Wang resigned from her post as mayor on Monday, according to the Arcadia City Council’s website.

Acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison in the United States.

The Justice Department said Wang and an accomplice, Yaoning Sun, promoted pro-Chinese propaganda through a website they operated called US News Center serving the local Chinese American community.

“Wang and Sun received and executed directives from (Chinese) government officials to post (pro-Chinese) content on the website,” it said.

Sun pleaded guilty in 2025 to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and is serving a four-year prison sentence.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing this week and meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — The Department of Environment (DOE) acted swiftly to investigate following a viral report on social media regarding the release of orange smoke, believed to have occurred in the Jalan Keluli area of Pasir Gudang yesterday morning.

Immediately upon receiving the information at around 9:45 am, an enforcement and investigative team from the DOE Pasir Gudang Branch was deployed to the location to conduct monitoring, an investigation, and an initial assessment of the incident.

According to a statement issued by the DOE today, patrols carried out around Jalan Keluli revealed that there was no longer any orange smoke being emitted from any premises in the area.

“However, based on information obtained on-site, the emission is believed to have originated from an industrial premises in the Pasir Gudang Industrial Area.

“The DOE investigative team arrived at the identified premises at around 11:10 am and found that the orange smoke emission had stopped. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable odor in the area of the premises while the inspection was being conducted,” the statement read.

Following the incident, the DOE took several immediate actions, including conducting on-site monitoring and investigations in the complained area, as well as coordinating with the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) and the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) for further action within their respective jurisdictions.

The statement also explained that the DOE had requested a safety assessment from JBPM before conducting a detailed inspection inside the premises, in addition to carrying out air quality monitoring in potentially affected sensitive areas.

As a precautionary measure, the Johor State DOE also conducted air quality monitoring at two identified sensitive locations, namely Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Taman Pasir Putih and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pasir Gudang 3.

“Through the monitoring conducted, the air quality readings at both locations were at normal levels and did not show any readings exceeding the established limits.

“The DOE wishes to emphasize that further investigation is underway to identify the actual cause of the incident and to determine if there was any emission of pollutants that violates the provisions of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 [Act 127],” the department said. 

The DOE stressed that if the investigation reveals an offence has been committed under the enforced legal provisions, appropriate enforcement action will be taken against the responsible parties.

The department will continue to monitor the situation in the affected area and work closely with relevant agencies to ensure that public safety and environmental quality are always preserved.

In the meantime, the public is advised not to speculate regarding this incident and to always refer to official information issued by the authorities. — Bernama

TAIWAN: Artificial intelligence (AI) may be portrayed as a threat to jobs for many workers around the globe at present times, but NVIDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang believes that fear is simply overblown.

Speaking at Computex 2026 in Taipei, Huang pushed back against claims that AI will lead to widespread unemployment among software engineers. He described the idea that AI is reducing jobs as “complete nonsense” and argued that the technology is having the opposite effect. Instead of shrinking workforces, companies are hiring more engineers to take advantage of AI’s growing capabilities.

Huang’s remarks coincide with a growing effort by businesses across the globe to integrate AI into products, services and daily operations, raising ongoing questions about how the technology will restructure the workforce.

AI’s profitability is making engineers more productive

Huang’s argument centres on productivity. He said software engineers who use AI effectively can now produce far more work than before. Rather than making engineers obsolete, that increase in output makes them more valuable to employers.

Huang estimated that the world’s 30 to 40 million software developers, who collectively earn around US$3 trillion (S$3.85 trillion) in annual salaries, are now generating roughly three times as much productive output with the help of AI tools.

From his perspective, higher productivity creates more business opportunities. As companies discover new products and services they can build, they need more engineers to develop and maintain them.

He suggested that employers would only reduce hiring if overall output remained unchanged. Instead, businesses are expanding because AI is allowing them to do much more.

AI has become a business tool, not just an experiment

Huang also argued that AI has reached a turning point. He pointed to the rise of “agentic AI,” systems that can perform tasks using tools such as web browsers, spreadsheets and coding platforms with limited human input. Unlike traditional chatbots that mainly answer questions, these systems can plan and carry out actions.

Such upgrades are helping companies generate revenue from AI products and services. To support his view, Huang cited data from GitHub showing that software development activity continues to rise despite rapid advances in AI.

Developers made nearly one billion software updates in 2025, while more than 36 million new developers joined the platform during the year. The figures suggest that interest in software development remains strong even as AI tools become more capable.

NVIDIA’s vision for the next generation of computing

Beyond the jobs debate, Huang used the event to unveil Nvidia’s RTX Spark AI superchip, developed with Microsoft and MediaTek.

The chip is designed to run powerful AI models directly on personal computers without requiring an internet connection. Huang described it as one of the biggest changes to personal computing in decades.

He also outlined a future where dedicated AI systems operate in homes, offices, factories and robots, helping people manage everyday tasks and work more efficiently.

The long-term impact of AI on jobs remains a subject of debate. However, Huang’s message was that workers who learn to work alongside AI may find themselves in greater demand, not less.

As companies continue to invest heavily in technology, the challenge may be adapting skills fast enough to keep pace with the changes ahead.

Read related: NVIDIA to launch its new research hub in Singapore, marking latest boost to city-state’s artificial intelligence drive

This article (‘Complete nonsense’ — Jensen Huang rejects the need for global workers to fear AI-driven job losses, says more software engineers will be needed) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — PAS leaders will meet next week to determine the party’s approach to the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, including whether to explore new political alignments, as Perikatan Nasional (PN) weighs its options ahead of the back-to-back contests.

Harian Metro reported that PN chairman and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said no decisions had been made on forming any new alliances, stressing that discussions within PAS’ top leadership would take place before the matter is brought to the coalition level.

“So far, there has been no decision (to join a new alignment). It is normal during the election process for us to conduct analyses and so on, but no decision has been made regarding any alignment,” he told reporters after launching PAS Kedah’s election machinery at the Kedah PAS Complex in Kota Sarang Semut, Yan, last night.

“PAS’ top leadership will hold discussions next week to determine how we will move forward. We will first discuss the matter among ourselves before convening a meeting with PN.”

The remarks also come ahead of a Reset convention in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, which PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang is scheduled to officiate later today.

Reset is led by former Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, fuelling speculation over whether the movement could align itself with PN ahead of the upcoming state polls.

Ahmad Samsuri, who is also a PAS vice-president and Terengganu menteri besar, said PN had yet to receive any formal application from Reset and that any move to join the coalition would have to follow the established process.

“There have been no official discussions about Reset joining PN. There have only been informal discussions. We have also held discussions with Umno because each side has its own leadership, but no decisions were reached during those meetings.

“The same applies to Reset — no decision has been made. We will wait. If they wish to join PN, they must submit an application. The same goes for any other party that wants to be part of PN; they will have to apply,” he said.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding potential alliances, Ahmad Samsuri expressed confidence that PN remained electorally competitive.

“The PN brand has gone through various elections, including by-elections and the Sabah state election, so it is already a well-established brand and we do not foresee any problems heading into this election. The same goes for the PAS brand, which is also firmly established. There should not be any issues,” he said.

He acknowledged, however, that the upcoming state polls presented a different set of challenges compared with previous contests.

“The only difference this time is that the situation is somewhat unusual compared to previous state elections, as these polls are being held consecutively in different states.

“As such, PAS and PN need to make more careful considerations while we continue to assess the best approach,” he said.

Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun announced yesterday that Johor voters will head to the polls on July 11, with nomination day set for June 27 and early voting on July 7.

Negeri Sembilan will follow on August 1, with nominations scheduled for July 18 and early voting on July 28.

HANOI, June 5 — Vietnam’s foreign ministry said yesterday that the US Trade Representative’s conclusion that it had failed to curb trade in goods made with forced labour does not fully or accurately reflect Vietnam’s mitigation efforts.

Vietnam’s policy strictly prohibits any form of forced labour, and it complies with the regulations of the International Labour Organization, foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang told a regular press conference in Hanoi.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration proposed tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 countries, including Vietnam, after determining they had failed to curb trade in goods made with forced labour, an assertion that US trading partners have rejected.

The probe coincided with a surge in Vietnam’s exports to the US. The US trade deficit with Vietnam reached US$54.8 billion in the first three months of this year, second only to Taiwan and higher than the deficits with major exporters China and Mexico, US data showed.

The Trump administration has repeatedly said it wants to reduce trade deficits.

“Vietnam has been and will continue to exchange and work with the US in a constructive and cooperative manner to resolve existing disagreements, while always trying to protect legitimate interests of workers and businesses,” Hang said.

Vietnam is being targeted by the Trump administration for allegedly distorting trade with excess capacity, intellectual property violations and the use of goods from forced labour. — Reuters

By Danny Kemp

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Donald Trump that missteps on Taiwan could push their two countries into “conflict”, a stark opening salvo as they met in Beijing on Thursday at a superpower summit.

Trump had arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a “great leader” and “friend”, as he predicted that their countries would have “a fantastic future together”.

But beyond the pomp as he welcomed Trump, Xi in less effusive tones said the two sides “should be partners and not rivals”, while highlighting the issue of self-ruled democratic Taiwan — which Beijing claims as its territory — straight off the bat.

“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi said, according to remarks published by Chinese state media shortly after talks began.

“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” he added at the opening talks that lasted around two hours and 15 minutes.

Trump’s trip to Beijing is the first by a US president in nearly a decade, with the grand reception belying a host of unresolved trade and geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

Xi greeted Trump with a red-carpet welcome at the opulent Great Hall of the People, with military band fanfare, a gun salute and a host of schoolchildren jumping and chanting “welcome!”.

Seemingly enjoying the ceremony, Trump said “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before”.

Xi instead referenced an ancient Greek political theory about the risks of war when a rising power rivals a ruling power.

“Can China and the United States transcend the so-called ‘Thucydides Trap’ and forge a new paradigm for major-power relations,” Xi asked, adding that “cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both”.

There has been plenty of the latter since Trump’s last visit in 2017, with the two countries having spent much of 2025 embroiled in a dizzying trade war and at odds on many major global issues.

‘Blunt language’

Taiwan is a longstanding sore point.

The United States recognises only Beijing but under domestic law is required to provide weapons to Taiwan so that it can defend itself.

China has sworn to take the self-ruled democracy and has not ruled out using force, ramping up military pressure in recent years.

Following Xi’s comments on Thursday, Taipei called China the “sole risk” to regional peace, and insisted that “the US side has repeatedly reaffirmed its clear and firm support”.

But Trump said Monday he would speak to Xi about US arms sales to Taiwan, a departure from historic US insistence that it will not consult Beijing on the matter.

Adam Ni, editor of newsletter China Neican, told AFP that while such “blunt language” was not uncommon in Chinese foreign policy, it was unusual coming from Xi himself.

“Xi wants to make it very clear… he thinks the Taiwan issue is the potential powder keg between the two superpowers,” Ni added.

China has been “signalling a desire for US compromise on Taiwan in the lead up to the summit,” the National University of Singapore’s Chong Ja Ian told AFP.

Xi’s demand could suggest “they see some opportunity to convince Trump”, he said.

Iran overshadows

A new addition to the list of contentious issues to be discussed, the Iran war, threatens to weaken Trump’s position, having already forced him to postpone his trip from March.

The US president said he expected a “long talk” with Xi about Iran, which sells most of its US-sanctioned oil to China, but insisted that “I don’t think we need any help” from Beijing.

However, his secretary of state Marco Rubio, historically a fierce opponent of Beijing, said the US side was hoping “to convince (China) to play a more active role”.

Trump is also hoping for business deals on agriculture, aircraft and other sectors.

Elite businessmen in his delegation, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Tesla’s Elon Musk, were on the stairs of the Great Hall of the People on Thursday for the welcome ceremony.

Musk told reporters afterwards the meeting had been “wonderful”, while Huang said the two presidents “were incredible”.

Xi later told the delegation that his country’s “doors to the outside world will open wider and wider” and that US companies would enjoy “even brighter prospects in China”.

On the eve of the summit, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in South Korea to seek progress in ending a long-simmering trade war between the two.

Xi said the talks “reached results that were generally balanced and positive”, and urged both sides to “safeguard the current hard-won positive momentum”.

Trump and Xi are set to discuss extending a one-year tariff truce reached during their last meeting in South Korea in October.

China’s controls on rare earth exports and AI rivalry are among other topics expected to be taken up.

After their morning meeting, the two men took a break from negotiations, heading to the Temple of Heaven, a World Heritage site where China’s emperors once prayed for good harvests.

The two will return to the Great Hall of the People this evening for a state banquet.

GEORGE TOWN, June 4 — Penang will implement new water tariff for domestic and non-domestic consumers starting July 1 after its implementation was postponed for 12 months.

State Transport, Infrastructure and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the average domestic water tariff rate for the first 35 cubic metres (m³) of water used per month has been set at RM0.93 per m³.

He said the adjustment involved a maximum increase in water bills of RM2.55 per month for 82 per cent of domestic consumers or households who use 35 m³ of water or less per month, equivalent to about 8.5 sen per day.

“For the first band, which is the first 20,000 litres (20 m³), ​​the increase is only three sen from 62 sen to 65 sen while for the use of 20,000 litres to 35,000 litres (20 m³ to 35 m³), ​​the rate increases by 13 sen from RM1.17 to RM1.30.

“However, the average calculation is made based on the use of the first 35 m³ because that is the benchmark commonly used in the tariff structure," he said at a press conference at Komtar, here today.

Zairil informed that Penang is still among the states with the cheapest water tariffs, in fact the second lowest in Malaysia after Perak (RM0.89) and is still below the national average (RM1.12).

Explaining further, he said that for non-domestic consumers, the average new tariff rate for the first 500 m³ per month is RM2.28 per m³ and the maximum increase in water bills involves 27 per cent non-domestic consumers such as factories, hotels, shopping malls, business premises and government offices that use 500 m³ of water or less per month is RM77.70 per month or RM2.59 per day.

“Therefore, non-domestic consumers who use 500 m³ per month will pay RM1,141.70 per month starting 1 July 2026 compared to RM1,064.00 per month previously. The difference is lower for those who use less than 500 m³ per month,” he said.

He said the tariff adjustment was necessary to ensure sustainable water supply services and support continued investment in the development and maintenance of water infrastructure in the state.

Meanwhile, Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk K.Pathmanathan said the tariff adjustment only involved domestic and non-domestic consumers while houses of worship and welfare institutions, the shipping sector and other categories would not be subject to any increase with the tariff rates remaining unchanged.

He said for consumers with large households, they could apply for a rebate through the Family Friendly Rebate Scheme offered by PBAPP, which is a rebate of RM20 on each bi-monthly water bill for eligible households.

On July 30, 2025, the federal government gazetted new water rates for Penang as well as nine other states and the Federal Territory of Labuan, however, the State Executive Council had directed PBAPP to postpone the implementation of the new rates for a year until July 1, 2026. — Bernama

ShutterNut... posted a photo:

Please be aware... ALL Photos are purely for entertainment. I am no expert. Titles are from recognition - what I was told - or a quick search. Polite comments or corrections are welcome.