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The next Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) payment will be made after the 2019 Chinese New Year celebrations, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. Chinese New Year will fall on Feb 5 and 6 next year. "Now there is a new approach and that is why we need some time to collect and compile information. "As announced in Budget 2019, we are using new methods to collect information but that requires effort, so we need some time. Lim was speaking to reporters when met at the Parliament lobby on Monday (Dec 10). BR1M (1Malaysia People's Aid) was renamed to BSH after Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya. Lim, during the tabling of Budget 2019 in Nov 2, said that the government would maintain the cash aid to assist low-income groups.

Malaysia is in the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup! Harimau Malaya, led by coach Tan Cheng Hoe, fought back to hold Thailand to a 2-2 draw in a pulsating affair at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Wednesday (Dec 5). Malaysia were held 0-0 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Dec 1. Malaysia's goals were scored by Syahmi Safari and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha while Thailand's goals were scored by an Irfan Zakaria own goal and Pansa Hemviboon. Thailand were the first to draw blood when Malaysian goalkeeper Farizal Marlias' save from a Thitipan Puangchan header was accidentally bundled into the Malaysian goal by substitute Irfan Zakaria in the 20th minute. Seven minutes later, Malaysia equalised through a Syahmi thunderbolt. The Selangor right-back, who received the ball from...

A group of Google employees wrote to chief executive officer Sundar Pichai demanding better conditions for the thousands of contractors that make up more than half of the Internet giant’s work force. Last month, Alphabet Inc overhauled the way it handles allegations of sexual harassment and assault, but the updated policies largely left out temporary, vendor and contract workers. On Dec 5, a group of full-time and contract workers sent a letter to Pichai asking for that to change. They also listed other requests, such as access to companywide emails and town hall staff meetings, better health care and benefits, and a more transparent process for applying for full-time jobs. “We will continue to be mistreated and ignored if we stay silent,” the workers wrote in the letter, a copy o...

A national food bank to be launched soon by the government will collect non-perishable food and distribute them to agencies and individuals in need. Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his ministry would spearhead the initiative. Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will launch it on Dec 22 in Penang. “We chose Penang as our launching pad for the national food bank programme because it initia­ted the food bank idea last year. “I am pleased to go back to Penang to launch one of our biggest initiatives to help those in the B40 category (the bottom 40% of households with monthly income of RM3,900 and below),” he told a dialogue organised by the Malay­sian Press Institute with senior editors at his ministry yesterday. Accordin...

Those found guilty of misappropriating funds, especially if it involves the people’s money, will not be spared, says Minister in the Prime Min­ister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa. His comments were in reference to police reports lodged by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) against the fund board’s former top officials and staff. “If the parties are found guilty, they must face justice to restore the people’s confidence in TH,” Dr Mujahid said in a statement yesterday. TH on Friday lodged two police reports against former chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, former chief executive officers Tan Sri Ismee Ismail and Datuk Seri Johan Abdullah, as well as senior management staff. The senior staff in question are chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani, chie...

Resort developer Genting Malaysia’s lawsuit seeking $1bil (RM4.2bil) in damages from Walt Disney Co. and Fox Entertainment Group for alleged breach of contract related to a theme park, is “without merit,” Disney said Tuesday. The lawsuit filed Monday in the Central California District Court cites damages from Fox’s withdrawal from an agreement set in 2013 to license its intellectual property for a Fox World theme park in Resort World Genting, a sprawling facility perched on a mountain in Malaysia. The theme park would have been Fox’s first. According to Genting’s complaint, Fox issued a “notice of default” aimed at ending the agreement. Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox apparently raised issues because Genting’s resort includes a casino, which conflicts with Disney’s stance...

Walt Disney Co and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc were sued for more than $1 billion on Monday by casino operator Genting Malaysia Bhd, which accused them of abandoning a contract related to its planned construction of the first Fox-branded theme park. Genting said “seller’s remorse” induced Fox, with Disney’s help, to breach its 2013 contract with Fox Entertainment Group to license intellectual property for Fox World, a proposed addition to its Resorts World Genting complex, an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Dan Berger, a spokesman for Twentieth Century Fox Film, one of the defendants, declined to comment. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles as Disney prepares to complete its $71.3 billion purc...

The Employees Provident Fund has revised higher the minimum basic savings target for retirement at age 55 to RM240 000. The basic savings target, which represents the amount considered sufficient to support EPF members' basic needs for 20 years upon retirement, was previously set at RM228, 000. According to a statement, the EPF said the new quantum is benchmarked against the minimum pension for public sector employees, which was raised from RM950 to RM1 000 per month. The Basic Savings refers to the amount that is considered sufficient to support members’ basic needs for 20 years upon retirement, between the age 55 to 75, in line with the Malaysian life expectancy. The new quantum is benchmarked against the minimum pension for public sector employees, which has been raised from R...