14 January 2020: 50% discount for traffic summonses; New minimum wage gazetted

50% discount for traffic police summonses from Jan 18

Police are offering a 50% discount for traffic offenders to settle their outstanding summonses online from Jan 18 to Feb 1, said Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Datuk Azisman Alias. He said this year, police would emphasise e-payments for any party that wants to settle their outstanding summonses, especially during this festive season. “But this time, I try to give special discount of 50%. We never did online payment before which would not require people to queue for hours to pay. You can make payments online via MyEG and Rilex.com,” he said. According to Azisman, 5,763 cases of fatal crashes were reported last year compared to 5,870 cases in 2018. (The Star Online)

New minimum wage gazetted

The controversial RM1,200 minimum wage has been gazetted and will officially encompass 56 city and municipal council areas from Feb 1. The gazette was released by the Human Resources Ministry on Jan 10 under the Minimum Wages Order 2020.It states that the minimum wage rate payable to an employee who works within the 16 city councils and 40 municipal councils will be RM5.77 an hour or RM1,200 monthly. The gazette states that the minimum wage rates payable for those outside the listed areas will be RM5.29 an hour or RM1,100 per month. Those who do not receive basic wages but are paid based on piece rate, tonnage, task, trip or commission must not be paid less than the respective stated minimum wages. Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Samsudin Baradan lamented that the cost of doing business would likely rise with employers having to bear the increase, and the revision of the minimum wages bypassed the National Wages Consultative Council. Samsudin said since the increased minimum wage would only benefit foreign workers, the ringgit would be weakened further. (The Star Online)

Pahang MB: New quit rent rate will not burden low-income earners

The new quit rent implemented in Pahang this year will not burden those in the lower income groups, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. He said the last time Pahang reviewed the quit rent was in 2007, and that new rate is still among the lowest in Malaysia. Wan Rosdy said the new land tax rate is about one per cent of the current value of land over four hectares, with the rates varying according to districts and locations, as well as types of business conducted on them. This new rate will also coordinate two different tax calculations, namely the ones used in 1994 and 2007. Among the states that have reviewed the quit rent rates are Sabah, Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan. He said the new tax rate would emphasise on industrial, commercial and agricultural areas, and does not affect agricultural land of less than four hectares, so as not to burden smallholders, Felda settlers and those in the B40 group. (NST Online)

Hyatt Regency boost for KL Metropolis

The M3.8 billion KL Midtown project within Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd’s KL Metropolis here has reached a new milestone with the entry of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The hotel is designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose projects include the New National Stadium in Tokyo, the Bamboo Wall House in China and the LVMH Group’s headquarters in Japan. KL Midtown is a 70:30 joint venture between Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd and NazaTTDI Sdn Bhd. Naza TTDI deputy executive chairman and group managing director SM Faliq SM Nasimuddin said Hyatt Regency’s presence would add value to the country’s largest exhibition and event space, the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec), in KL Metropolis. He said this is in line with the aim to position Mitec as the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions gateway to Southeast Asia. (NST Online)

Perak MB: MAPS was closed temporarily due to unpaid electricity bills

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu today revealed that Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) was closed temporarily during the recent school holidays after Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) cut its electricity supply due to unpaid bills by the previous administration. Ahmad Faizal said that TNB made the move as it was worried about the overdue bills in light of the status of the animation park which is now under receivership. “When we took over, MAPS didn’t have any visitors, but after offering free entrance, many visitors supported the business.” Ahmad Faizal said the current government could not afford to pay the debts left by the previous administration, including the electricity bills, which amounts to about RM4 million. Visitors were furious over the two-day closure and criticised the management and state government in social media. (Malay Mail)