03/04/2026

FRIDAY | APR 3, 2026

10 Working together on budgeting plan

calm and consistent is key. Pay attention to possible sensory sensitivities, such as reactions to certain textures, which are common at this age. If you suspect this may be a factor, a pediatrician or specialist can offer guidance. Above all, consistency between both parents is essential. Agree on your approach, follow through and give it time – this will help reduce stress for everyone and support healthier eating habits in the long run. This article is contributed by Focus on the Family Malaysia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and strengthening the family unit. It provides a myriad of programmes and resources, including professional counselling services, to the community. For more information, visit family.org.my. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

0 facilitate flexibility. To set up a budget, you have to discuss and establish your priorities first – which can take you a long way in the direction of relational and financial harmony. Q: How can we get our picky four year-old to eat the meals we prepare? Her selective eating habits have become stressful for us. I tend to see it as a behaviour issue while my spouse worries that pressuring her could lead to unhealthy eating patterns later on. What’s the best way to handle this? Focus on the Family Malaysia : First, make sure that you and your spouse are on the same page and are ready to follow a consistent plan together. And try not to worry – setting reasonable boundaries around mealtimes does not lead to eating disorders.

Begin by setting firm guidelines as to what is served, how meals are eaten and how long mealtime lasts. Let her know calmly that she is expected to eat what is prepared. You can offer limited choices between nutritious options (for example, broccoli or green beans) but avoid giving alternatives like crackers or other preferred “easy” foods. At the same time, aim to keep mealtimes relaxed and free of power struggles. Offer balanced meals, give her a reasonable amount of time to eat, and then move on. If she chooses not to eat, avoid forcing or prolonging the situation – simply put the food away until the next meal or snack time. It is also important not to let her diet become limited to just a few preferred foods. Children are unlikely to let themselves go hungry when healthy options are consistently available, so staying

Under One Roof

Q: How can I convince my husband that budgeting is important? I am a firm believer in it but my husband doesn’t think it will work in our situation. Focus on the Family Malaysia: Finances are a significant issue in any marriage. Disagreements about money can create huge problems between husband and wife but the need for good communication is even more important. In fact, it is absolutely fundamental to the health and longevity of your relationship. Before tackling the question of a budget, take steps to strengthen the foundation of your marriage. Read up on the subject of marital communication and goal setting. That said, your situation is one

that is faced by many families: where bills are bigger than your paycheck and you are spending more than you are earning. The good news is that things are not necessarily as hopeless as they seem. You may need to seek professional assistance but if you can learn to communicate with each other, you and your husband can come up with a workable plan for gaining control of your finances. The key is to learn how to live on less than you earn. A budget will enable you to do this. In the process, it will also: 0 establish a spending plan; 0 encourage savings; 0 reduce stress; 0 allow for the unexpected; 0 encourage charitable giving; 0 discourage debt; and proliferation strengthening across investigation, reporting, supervision and forfeiture. Compliance expectations have also been raised, particularly for designated non-financial businesses and professions such as law firms, accountants and estate agents. In practice, these changes widen the enforcement net and enable earlier intervention, allowing authorities to identify and freeze suspicious assets more swiftly. 0 Companies (Amendment) Act 2024 Beneficial ownership is now firmly embedded within Malaysia’s financing powers while

Economic crime reset: New laws and tools

COMMENT by Leonard Yeoh and Sharon Teo

ECONOMIC crime has long weighed on Malaysia’s economy. Between 2018 and 2023, losses from corruption alone were estimated at RM277 billion (approximately US$60 to US$65 billion) or about RM1,609 per Malaysian – more than a full month of minimum wage for many during that period – putting the real world impact of these statistics into perspective. The shadow economy is also significant, estimated at up to 30.2%

of GDP, driven by smuggling, tax evasion and unreported business activity. On the digital front, reported losses from online fraud reached RM5.62 billion from 2023 to 2025, spanning phone scams, e-commerce fraud and fake investment schemes. Yet, the past 18 to 24 months have marked a turning point. Stronger laws, tighter coordination and more decisive enforcement have begun to deliver

“Taken together, these reforms signal a shift towards earlier intervention, tighter oversight and more effective

corporate framework following amendments to the Companies Act 2016. The new section 60A, together with the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s Guidelines for the Reporting Framework for Beneficial Ownership of Companies (Revised 2025), defines a beneficial owner of a company as the natural

Reported losses from online fraud reached RM5.62 billion from 2023 to 2025, spanning phone scams, e-commerce fraud and fake investment schemes. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

disruption of illicit activity.

disruption of illicit activity. But laws alone do not enforce themselves. Their effectiveness will depend on how well they are supported by institutional coordination, intelligence capabilities and cross-border cooperation, particularly in cases where funds move rapidly across jurisdictions. Malaysia’s economic crime reset is, therefore, not just about stricter rules but also about building a system that can act quickly, operate across borders and deliver real enforcement outcomes where they matter most. Ultimately, stronger laws matter but faster action matters more. Leonard Yeoh is a senior partner and Sharon Teo an associate with the law firm Tay and Partners. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

A national vendor registration framework requires suppliers to meet fit-and-proper criteria, declare conflicts of interest, and comply with codes of conduct, with non compliant vendors subject to suspension or exclusion. 0 E-invoicing Mandatory e-Invoicing adds another layer of control. By requiring invoices and related documents to be validated electronically before issuance, the system reduces fraud risks and improves tax visibility. The result is a more transparent and traceable transaction environment, limiting opportunities for manipulation at the source. Looking ahead taken together, these reforms signal a shift towards earlier intervention, tighter oversight and more effective

instrument without lawful authority; 0 allow another person possession or control of one’s own account; and 0 conduct unlawful transactions using one’s own or another person’s account. These provisions go directly to the operational backbone of scam networks, enabling authorities to act not only against masterminds but also the facilitators who sustain these schemes. 0 Government Procurement Bill 2025 Malaysia is also moving to hardwire transparency into public procurement through its first dedicated procurement law. The Bill standardises tender rules, makes open and competitive bidding the default, and extends coverage to many government linked entities.

results: faster fund tracing, more mule account takedowns, fewer successful phishing attacks and a higher volume of blocked fraud attempts. What is emerging is not just incremental reform but also a broader reset – one that is reshaping how Malaysia detects, disrupts and deters economic crime. Legal toolkit 0 Anti-Money Laundering, Anti Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Amendment) Act 2025 The latest amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA) 2001 expand its reach to cover

person who ultimately or effectively owns or controls a company, whether formally or informally. By cutting through shell structures and layered ownership, these reforms make it harder to conceal illicit proceeds and easier for investigators to trace funds in corruption and fraud cases. 0 Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2024 New offences targeting mule accounts and account-rental schemes address a critical weak point in scam operations. It is now an offence to: 0 possess or control another person’s account or payment