22/12/2025

MONDAY | DEC 22, 2025

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Review proposed cuts to regional incentive, govt urged

Ex-minister’s mom laid to rest KULAI: The mother of former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, the late Halimah Yaacob, 77, was laid to rest at the Al-Raudah Muslim Cemetery in Saleng here at 8.30am yesterday. More than 100 family members and close friends were present during the burial, including the late Halimah’s husband, Mustafa Mohd Salleh, 91. Also in attendance was National Unity Deputy Minister R. Yuneswaran. Zaliha said her mother had been in and out of hospital over the past three to four months due to several health complications, including diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke, with her condition deteriorating in recent weeks. She added that her mother’s condition became critical on Saturday. “After doctors managed to stabilise her for two to three days, we decided to bring her home,” she said. “When we arrived home shortly before Isyak prayers, my mother’s condition deteriorated. She passed away peacefully after the azan for the Isyak prayer,” she said yesterday. Zaliha, the eldest of eight siblings, described her mother as loving and caring, who successfully raised her children to become individuals who contribute positively to the community and the nation. Halimah’s remains were transported from Putrajaya to Johor on Saturday. – Bernama Majority of telco scam victims young adults KUALA LUMPUR: Young adults aged between 21 and 30 comprised the highest number of victims of telecommunications fraud from January to November, involving 8,789 individuals. The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) said a total of 28,698 telco crime cases were reported nationwide during the period, with losses amounting to RM715 million. “The 31 to 40 age group recorded the second-highest number of victims, totalling 6,825, followed by those aged 41 to 50, involving 4,977 victims. “In addition, 3,382 individuals aged between 51 and 60 were reported to have fallen victim, while 2,763 cases involved seniors aged over 60,” it said in a statement shared on the CCID Facebook page yesterday. It added that the 15 to 20-year-old age group recorded 1,962 victims. – Bernama Body of newborn girl found in back lane SHAH ALAM: The body of a newborn girl was discovered wrapped in plastic in the back lane near a supermarket in Section 25 here yesterday. Shah Alam police chief ACP Ramsay Embol said a report was received from the public at about 7am, after which officers were despatched to the scene. “Preliminary investigations indicate the baby was delivered elsewhere and later discarded at the location. Investigations are ongoing to gather all available evidence and information from the surrounding area,” he said in a statement yesterday, adding that the body was sent to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital forensics unit in Klang for a post-mortem to determine the cause of death. Those with information related to the incident are urged to contact investigating officer Insp Ahmad Mokhsin Abdul Rahman, at 011-1755 4394. – Bernama

of Sabahans.” Echoing these concerns, MMA Sarawak chairman Dr Ong Eng-Joe said the Public Service Remuneration System should be progressive rather than retrogressive and called for the incentive to be increased instead of reduced. He also urged the federal government to provide a transfer allowance for contract doctors reporting for duty in East Malaysia, citing the high costs involved. “Transferring from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia is more complicated and expensive compared with transferring within Peninsular Malaysia. There are flight tickets and forwarding agents to be paid, which cost thousands of ringgit. “Young doctors, many of whom are repaying loans and supporting families, would face significant financial strain if forced to bear these costs themselves,” he said, adding that the absence of such allowances could further discourage postings to East Malaysia. Ong said the lack of a transfer allowance would further disincentivise doctors from Peninsular Malaysia from accepting postings in East Malaysia. Both MMA branches called on the Public Service Department and the Finance Ministry to restore a fair and progressive incentive structure, stressing that equitable healthcare outcomes require policies that recognise unequal service burdens.

o Move could cause strain to newly appointed medical officers in East Malaysia and worsen staff shortage: MMA

much of the state’s healthcare ecosystem – from staffing gaps and service load to travel demands, living costs and limited professional development pathways compared with major centres,” he said. Brandon added that a fixed, reduced incentive sends a harmful signal to young doctors and may reduce their willingness to accept postings in East Malaysia, weaken retention efforts and increase reliance on short-term staffing solutions that disrupt continuity of patient care. He said Sabah’s healthcare challenges require more than goodwill, as doctors often serve at considerable personal cost, including prolonged separation from family, relocation expenses, limited infrastructure and heavy workloads. “Any policy that weakens incentives, even unintentionally, risks worsening the very shortages the incentive was meant to mitigate. “This is not a call for special treatment. It is a call for equitable policy design – one that recognises that equal outcomes in healthcare require unequal burdens to be acknowledged and responsibly addressed. “Protecting incentives that support staffing in Sabah is, ultimately, protecting the health

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) branches in Sabah and Sarawak have urged the federal government to urgently review proposed cuts to the Bayaran Insentif Wilayah, adding that the move could deepen healthcare inequity and worsen staff shortage in East Malaysia. In a statement, MMA Sabah chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang said while remuneration reforms may be intended to modernise the public service, revisions to the incentive – particularly reductions affecting newly appointed medical officers – warrant immediate reconsideration due to their foreseeable impact on healthcare equity and workforce sustainability in Sabah. He stressed that the incentive is not merely an allowance but a critical policy component designed to offset the financial, logistical and social costs of serving in regions where geography, infrastructure and resource constraints significantly shape daily clinical work. “In Sabah, these realities extend beyond remote interiors, as they are embedded across Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Mohd Zamri checking a motorcycle after the rider tried to avoid a roadblock at Jalan Sultan Mahmud in Kuala Terengganu on Saturday night. – BERNAMAPIC

More than 16,300 penalised for motorcycle offences KUALA TERENGGANU: A total of 16,396 motorcycle owners and riders were penalised for various offences during Op Motosikal carried out in Terengganu from Jan 1 to Saturday. “The most common offences included riding without a licence, lack of insurance and expired driving licences, while technical offences involved improper registration plates, vehicle modifications and missing side mirrors,” he said when met during the operation.

summonses were issued to commercial vehicles for various offences during Op Rentas Sempadan, which took place from Dec 15 to 17. “The focus of this operation was to inspect permits, travel documents, driving licences, road tax validity and vehicle technical compliance,” he said. A total of 342 vehicles were inspected, and 90 were found in violation of the Road Transport Act 1987 and subsequently penalised. – Bernama

State Road Transport Department (RTD) director Mohd Zamri Samion said 81,107 motorcycles were inspected during the operation, which resulted in the issuance of 24,954 summonses and the seizure of 806 motorcycles under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

In addition, Terengganu RTD issued 5,803 notices to motorcyclists for running red lights under Section 114 of the Road Transport Act 1987. Mohd Zamri also highlighted that 193