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BANGI: Low financial literacy among young Malaysians is one reason why many ending up as bankrupts, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng (pic)."A study by S&P Global Literacy Financial in 2014 reported that financial literacy rate in Malaysia is only at 36%, compared with 59% in developed countries."The low financial literacy rate is among the factors that has contributed towards high levels of debt – including worrying bankruptcy problems – among the youth," he said in his speech when launching the 'Belanjawanku - Malaysian Individual and Family Expenditure Guide' here on Monday (March 4).He said that between 2013 and 2017, a total of 100,610 Malaysians were declared bankrupt, of which 60% were between 18 and 44 years old.Based on estimates by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), he said that as of 2019, an individual requires savings of at least RM240,000 by age 55 in order to retire comfortably.

"However, based the EPF 2017 Report, active contributors aged 54 have average savings of only RM214,000 in their accounts."What is even more worrying is that two-thirds of contributors age 54 only have RM50,000 and below in their EPF accounts in 2015," he said, adding that this was well below the amount for recommended savings.Lim noted the low amount of savings were inadequate and estimated to run out in five years after retirement, although the average life-span of Malaysians is 75.He said that Malaysians must improve their financial knowledge in order to make the right decisions in terms of spending and investment.

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BANGI: Kerajaan akan mencadangkan satu indeks pengukur kos sara hidup bagi menentukan kenaikan gaji lebih munasabah.Menteri Kewangan, Lim Guan Eng, berkata kaedah pengukuran menerusi Indeks Harga Pengguna (IHP) yang diguna pakai pada masa ini tidak mencukupi untuk menentukan kenaikan gaji sebenar yang diperlukan rakyat."Kita memerlukan satu indeks pengukur lain untuk menunjukkan peningkatan kos sara hidup yang berbeza, bukannya seperti IHP yang mana memasukkan semua perkara."Saya akan mencadangkan perkara ini kepada Bank Negara Malaysia atau mungkin Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) untuk mengadakan satu perbandingan dan model berhubung cadangan indeks berkenaan."Dengan adanya kayu ukur atau indeks sedemikian, kita boleh kongsikan kepada setiap majikan di negara ini, yang mana ia bermanfaat kepada pekerja" katanya ketika berucap pada pelancaran 'Belanjawanku' - Panduan Perbelanjaan Untuk Individu & Keluarga di Malaysia, di sini, hari ini.

Hadir sama, Pengerusi Lembaga Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP), Tan Sri Samsudin Osman.Beliau berkata, indeks berkenaan akan menentukan kenaikan gaji pekerja dan boleh dijadikan titik rujukan lebih tepat, adil dan saksama untuk 15 juta pekerja di Malaysia."Menerusi indeks itu, ia juga membantu kita mencapai aspirasi untuk satu kadar gaji yang membolehkan seseorang menyertai aktiviti masyarakat dan keperluan kehidupan mereka," katanya.Malaysia mencatatkan kadar inflasi yang rendah iaitu 0.7 peratus pada Januari 2019 dan kos sara hidup masih lagi membebankan sesetengah golongan masyarakat.Mengulas mengenai pelancaran itu, Guan Eng berkata, berdasarkan kajian S&P Global Literacy Financial pada 2014 melaporkan tahap kecelikan kewangan di Malaysia hanya berada pada tahap 36 peratus berbanding sekitar 59 peratus di negara maju."Kadar kecelikan kewangan yang rendah antara faktor menyumbang kepada tahap keberhutangan tinggi serta masalah kebankrapan yang membimbangkan di kalangan belia.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan akan segera mengambil inisiatif untuk meringankan beban ekonomi rakyat, kata Menteri Hal Ehwal Ekonomi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.Mohamed Azmin yang juga anggota Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi dalam kenyataannya hari ini berkata, majlis itu akan segera melaksanakan usaha mengurangkan kos sara hidup, memperkukuh pendapatan rakyat, membasmi kemiskinan dan meningkatkan tahap pemilikan rumah dalam kalangan rakyat.“Pakatan Harapan (PH) juga akan menggandakan usaha melaksanakan perubahan sehingga menjadi sumber kekuatan rakyat.“Kita harus berani melaksanakan janji-janji khususnya kepada masyarakat Melayu dan Bumiputera yang juga bahagian integral agenda nasional dan kita akan melaksanakannya tanpa rasa apologetik atau bimbang terhadap kritikan luar,” katanya.Mohamed Azmin berkata, keputusan Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Semenyih ialah mesej jelas daripada rakyat yang menuntut kerajaan PH segera bertindak menyelesaikan masalah dan kebajikan rakyat tanpa perlu menyalahkan mana-mana pihak.

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BENTONG 2 Mac - Rakyat negara ini disaran beralih kepada tanaman lain seperti buluh dan kelapa selaras dengan cadangan kerajaan menghentikan peluasan penanaman kelapa sawit di kawasan baharu di seluruh negara.Menteri Industri Utama, Teresa Kok Suh Sim berkata, langkah itu penting memandangkan tanaman baharu seperti buluh dilihat amat berpotensi dan mendapat permintaan baik.“Saya rasa inilah masanya untuk kita hentikan perluasan penanaman kelapa sawit dan melihat kepada tanaman lain contohnya di Pahang sesete­ngah kawasan terdapat banyak pokok buluh. Buluh boleh dijadikan banyak barangan dan Jepun adalah pasaran terbaik untuk produk buluh.“Ini adalah antara jenis pokok (tanaman) yang boleh kita lihat, lupakan hanya menumpukan kepada penanaman kelapa sawit,” katanya dalam sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Projek The Valley@Bentong di sini hari ini.

Yang hadir sama Ahli Parli­men Bentong, Wong Tack; Pe­ngerusi Bina Puri Holdings­ Bhd. (Bina Puri), Tan­ Sri Ir. Wong Foon Meng; Pe­ngarah Urusan Kumpulan Bina Puri, Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng dan Pengarah Eksekutif Kumpulan Bina Puri, Datuk Mathew Tee.Tambah beliau, selain buluh, pokok kelapa dilihat berpotensi dan boleh mendatangkan keuntungan yang mana Malaysia sendiri mengimport kira-kira RM1 juta kelapa setahun.Dalam pada itu, beliau berkata, langkah menghentikan peluasan penanaman kelapa sawit adalah tepat memandangkan minyak sawit di dalam negara mencukupi bagi menstabilkan harga komoditi itu.Jelasnya, kejatuhan harga minyak sawit hujung tahun lalu menyaksikan ramai pekebun kecil menderita dan terkesan berbanding syarikat besar yang dilihat masih mampu meraih keuntu­ngan.Sementara itu, mengulas menge­nai kunjungannya ke Indonesia baru-baru ini, beliau berkata, perbincangan me­ngenai masa depan minyak sawit dengan Indonesia berjalan baik dan Malaysia bersama Indonesia akan terus membantah usaha Kesatuan Eropah (EU) untuk memboikot minyak sawit.

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KUALA LUMPUR 3 Mac - Rancangan pembinaan sebuah lagi klinik kesihatan di Semenyih akan diteruskan seperti yang pernah dicadangkan biar pun keputusan Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Semenyih tidak memihak kepada Pakatan Harapan (PH), kata Menteri Kesihatan Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad.Beliau berkata, ia perlu direalisasi bagi memastikan penduduk di kawasan itu mendapat kemudahan perubatan kesihatan yang baik.
“Apa yang disebut oleh calon kami sebelum ini adalah sesuatu yang mustahak memandangkan Klinik Kesihatan di pekan Semenyih dan Beranang sudah uzur dan sesak.“Saya yakin kami akan dapat lokasi tanah dan peruntukan daripada kerajaan negeri untuk menjayakan perkara ini,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Acara ‘Run For Rare’ dekat sini hari ini.Beliau bagaimanapun tidak menetapkan anggaran masa berkaitan pembinaan klinik itu.

Sebelum ini, calon PH Muhammad Aiman Zainali dilapor menjadikan pembinaan hospital di Semenyih sebagai agenda utama jika menang PRK itu memandangkan ia adalah permasalahan paling banyak diutarakan oleh masyarakat setempat.Bagaimanapun pada 25 Februari lalu, Dr. Dzulkefly mencadangkan pembinaan sebuah lagi klinik kesihatan oleh kerana dua klinik di pekan Semenyih dan Beranang tidak boleh diperluaskan kerana kekangan tempat selain penambahbaikan fasiliti Hospital Kajang yang merupakan hospital terdekat di Semenyih.Semalam, keputusan PRK DUN Semenyih menyaksikan kemenangan Barisan Nasional (BN) apabila berjaya menawan semula kerusi DUN Semenyih selepas calonnya, Zakaria Hanafi memenangi persaingan empat penjuru pada PRK kawasan itu dengan memperoleh 19,780 iaitu majoriti 1,914 undi.Zakaria menewaskan Muhammad Aiman yang memperoleh 17,866 undi; Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul, 25, daripada Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) (847 undi) dan calon bebas yang juga seorang aktivis masyarakat, Kuan Chee Heng, 56, (725 undi). - BERNAMA 

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KUALA LUMPUR: Keluarga kanak-kanak yang tidak mengambil vaksin seperti ditetapkan menerusi Program Imunisasi (NIP) Kebangsaan (NIP) terpaksa menanggung kos lebih tinggi kerana perlu menjalani pelbagai prosedur rawatan.Pegawai Perubatan Hospital Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur, Dr Marieanne Sundram, berkata sebelum meneruskan rawatan, pakar perlu menjalankan pelbagai penilaian terhadap pesakit berikutan risiko mereka berdepan komplikasi adalah tinggi.Beliau berkata, kanak-kanak berkenaan akan menjalani proses pengasingan untuk melihat tahap keseriusan penyakit dihadapi.

Ketahanan badan lebih rendah

“Sistem ketahanan badan individu terutama kanak-kanak yang tidak divaksin lebih rendah berbanding yang mendapatkan imunisasi.“Sebelum menjalani rawatan lanjut, pesakit yang tidak menerima suntikan akan diasing dalam bilik khas jika rawatan awal tidak menunjukkan tindak balas positif.“Kita menerima kemasukan semua pesakit termasuk yang tidak diberi vaksin untuk rawatan terbaik dalam keadaan kritikal kerana ia prosedur standard di semua pusat rawatan.“Bagaimanapun, sudah pasti mereka perlu menjalani pelbagai prosedur yang dengan sendirinya meningkatkan kos rawatan,” katanya.Dr Marieanne mengulas keengganan ibu bapa menghantar anak mendapatkan suntikan vaksin menerusi program NIP hingga menyebabkan masalah sistem imun badan yang rendah serta mudah dijangkiti penyakit.

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DENGUE continues to be on high alert in Selangor with all the local councils raising the matter at their respective monthly full board meeting.Klang recorded three deaths in January while Petaling Jaya and Ampang Jaya recorded one death each.At the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) meeting, it was learnt that there were 3,199 reported cases.Stating that the matter had gone out of control, MPK deputy president Adi Faizal Ahmad Tarmizi said the council now resorted to issuing compounds to residents instead of its usual warning notices.Since January, MPK has issued 14 compounds to residents.“We are also working with the Klang Health Department to eradicate dengue and noticed that the rise in dengue was due to the lack of public education,” he said.Port Klang assemblyman Azmizam Zaman Huri, who was also present at the meeting, said his office was open to any residents who want to hold a gotong-royong to clean up their neighbourhood.

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) meeting learnt of the one death due to dengue and that the city has almost 300% increase in cases until week eight of this year compared to last year.The death was recorded at Gugusan Melur Section 4, Petaling Jaya Utara in Kota Damansara.There were 1,097 cases recorded since early this year as compared to only 278 cases same time last year, said Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain.“Both Shah Alam and Subang Jaya have higher number of dengue cases as compared to Petaling Jaya, but we are still concerned.“Gotong-royong sessions are important but we need to also inspect inside the houses at all hotspots,” said Mohd Azizi.

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IT has been reported that the government has commenced talks with Gamuda Bhd to negotiate the acquisition of four tolled highways in which this company has a majority stake. Upon acquiring the highways, the government would then reduce the toll rate by 30% during peak hours and to zero during off-peak hours (11pm to 5am).This is the first step towards fulfilling the Pakatan Harapan election pledge to abolish toll charges.We have been hearing for the past many months that the present government is under tremendous pressure to manage the country’s national debt amounting to one trillion ringgit. After the general election victory in May last year, an effort to raise funds was initiated by concerned Malaysians to help the government pay off this debt. A few infrastructure mega projects were also halted or scaled down to save the country from falling deeper into debt.

It seems the government is optimistic of its ability to overcome the national debt now, otherwise it would not initiate a plan to acquire the four highways, which could easily cost billions of ringgit. Is this the right time to commit to such a heavy burden, especially when there is so much uncertainty over the global economic outlook? Economists are of the opinion that the United States may face a recession by 2021.The government shouldn’t forget the annual shortfall of RM20bil after replacing the goods and services tax with the sales and service tax. I therefore urge the present administration to practise more restraint in pampering the rakyat as it could result in collecting less revenue, and then it would be unable to meet its ever rising expenditure. In the US, Democrats are persistently blocking the president from building the US-Mexico wall, which may cost the country billions of dollars.

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PETALING JAYA: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has contingency plans in place in the event the water at dams nationwide reach critical levels, says SPAN chairman Charles Santiago.However, he gave the assurance that water levels at some 70 dams connected to treatment plants nationwide have recorded readings of between 95% and 100% at the moment.“There is a very slight drop, maybe 5% on average. There is enough water to support the rivers just in case there is a massive drop in the river water.“The critical point will start at between 30% and 40% onwards.Santiago said SPAN will activate emergency plans when water levels drop to 50%, but he did not elaborate on the details.

He also said that the water supply from the dams should be able to last until the end of March, unless there are dramatic changes in the weather.Santiago advised Malaysians to be prudent with their water usage during the current dry spell.“I would advise people to go slow on washing cars.“There are about 1.5 million vehicles in the Klang Valley alone, and if people wash their cars every day, then a lot of water is being used.“So maybe reduce it to washing the car once in a fortnight,” he said.He also advised consumers to harvest rainwater and use it for activities such as washing their cars and gardening.Santiago said that SPAN would continue working with state governments to monitor water levels in rivers and dams that supply drinking water.

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PETALING JAYA: Once a week since December 2017, Sivasangaran Ku­­ma­ran will strap his 21-month-old daughter Swathi Nisha Nair in the car seat and make the long drive from Seremban to Hospital Kuala Lumpur.At the hospital, Swathi gets three vials of drugs injected into her body as part of her enzyme replacement therapy.After that, Sivasangaran will drive her home and gets her ready for the next in a medley of treatments, including aquatherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.Little Swathi is battling a rare disease called Infantile Pompe Disease.It is a genetic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down glycogen into simple glucose, causing severe damage to the muscles.“The amount of medication and therapies she has to go through is taxing for a child who is less than two years old and taxing for us pa­rents, too, because it’s costly,” said Sivasangaran, 40, adding that his wife had sacrificed her career to take care of Swathi.

Swathi’s weekly enzyme replacement therapy alone costs RM7,500 per session.Sivasangaran and his wife received the heartbreaking diagnosis when Swathi was only seven months old after a prolonged pneumonia led to the discovery of her failing heart.In trying to secure treatment and funding for Swathi, Sivasangaran saw himself struggling with what every rare disease patient and family face – lack of access to medication, funding, medical knowledge and little protection of the rights and dignity of patients.“In Malaysia, as there is no official registry for rare diseases, we are not able to track the actual number of rare disease patients.“We don’t have statistics and numbers on these diseases,” he said.

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