03/06/2026

WEDNESDAY | JUN 3, 2026

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Socso’s new Lindung 24 Jam offers protection for workers o Latest protection fills decades-old gap, covering workers during non-work accidents around the clock

Experts say King’s decree on Rukun Negara timely reminder KUALA LUMPUR: More than five decades after its introduction as the foundation of national unity, the Rukun Negara is still not being fully embraced, as issues involving race, religion and national institutions continue to generate debate in the public sphere. In this context, the call by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, on the importance of adhering to the principles of the Rukun Negara has been described by experts as a timely reminder for Malaysians to return to the nation-building values that underpin harmony, stability and national unity. Legal and constitutional expert Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz said the King’s decree is in line with the status of the Rukun Negara as the nation’s philosophy, outlining national aspirations and the principles that every Malaysian should uphold. “Therefore, adhering to the Rukun Negara also means upholding the Monarchy, which is one of the pillars of the country’s system of governance. “The King’s call is in line with the nation’s aspirations because the Rukun Negara serves as an important foundation for fostering unity, strengthening democratic practices and guiding citizens in appreciating its five principles,” she told Bernama. Shamrahayu, who is also an International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer, said every citizen has a responsibility to know, understand and internalise the essence of the Rukun Negara in order to realise the aspiration of building a united nation. She said appreciation of the principles has become increasingly important as society faces various challenges, including the spread of sentiments that could undermine interracial relations and national harmony. Earlier, Sultan Ibrahim said the Rukun Negara, introduced on Aug 31, 1970, represents the pledge and commitment of every Malaysian to rebuild racial unity and ensure social harmony. The King also reminded Malaysians to take lessons from the May 13, 1969 racial riots, which erupted due to the actions of a small group of individuals who went to extremes, insulted others and lost respect for fellow citizens and the country’s sovereignty. Meanwhile, Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the Rukun Negara is not merely a declaration recited at assemblies or official events, but a social contract and moral compass that guides Malaysians in living harmoniously within a diverse society. The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Policy Research and International Studies senior lecturer said the Rukun Negara’s five principles educate citizens to respect religion, remain loyal to the King and nation, uphold the Constitution, obey the law and practise courtesy and morality. “If truly embraced, it becomes a shield against division, radicalism and politics of hatred. Unity does not exist because we are the same, but because we hold on to the same principles. That is the true strength of the Rukun Negara. “If the Constitution is the pillar of the nation, then the Rukun Negara is the soul that gives it life. Malaysia does not lack diversity, but at times it lacks appreciation of these values,” he said. He added that the Rukun Negara reminds Malaysians that being a citizen is not merely about sharing the same homeland but also about sharing common values, responsibilities and a commitment to preserving national harmony. – Bernama

appoint another person to submit a claim on their behalf, subject to Socso’s rules, if they are unable to do so themselves. Meanwhile, under the scheme, coverage applies to accidents not related to work or employment duties, provided they occur in Malaysia outside working hours, including non-work-related road accidents. Socso said the scheme covers a wide range of incidents, including accidents at home, road accidents outside work-related journeys, injuries sustained during personal activities and other incidents that have no connection to employment. In cases where an accident results in death, eligible dependents may receive funeral benefits, dependents’ benefits and education benefits for children pursuing diploma or degree-level studies. The Lindung 24 Jam scheme is fully funded through employee contributions deducted from salaries and paid to Socso by employers. Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said more than nine million contributors are expected to benefit from the expanded protection. He said all existing formal-sector employees are automatically covered for non work-related accidents without the need for additional registration by either employers or workers. However, employers must register workers hired from June 1, 2026 onwards through Socso’s existing registration system.

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Also excluded are accidents occurring outside Malaysia for personal reasons, foreign workers who misuse valid immigration passes or permits, and incidents already covered under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 (Lindung Kendiri) or the Housewives’ Social Security Act 2022 (Lindung Kasih). Workers on unpaid leave who do not contribute to the Lindung 24 Jam scheme in the month of the accident are generally not eligible for benefits, although exceptions apply if their employment status remains active. These include workers on short unpaid leave, daily-rated employees with unpaid absences, those using remaining annual leave before retirement or termination, and those temporarily absent for personal reasons. Socso said the scheme excludes accidents that happen before a person becomes an employee, before the scheme’s implementation at midnight on June 1, and after July 15, 2026 if no contributions were made despite active employment. In addition, any illness, disease or injury not caused by an accident is excluded from coverage, although injured employees may

PETALING JAYA: For decades, Malaysian workers had no social security protection if they were injured outside of work - whether in a road accident on a festive holiday, a fall at home, or an injury during a family outing. that gap has now been closed. The Social Security Organisation (Socso) introduced Lindung 24 Jam precisely to address this long-standing shortfall. The scheme provides round-the-clock protection for workers involved in non-work related accidents, extending coverage beyond the workplace to include incidents occurring during public holidays, rest days and outside working hours. Under the expanded protection, eligible workers may receive benefits for accidents occurring anywhere and at any time, subject to the terms and conditions set by Socso. However, Socso clarified that the scheme does not cover accidents already recognised as employment injuries under other laws administered by the agency, fraudulent claims, accidents resulting from criminal acts, self-inflicted injuries or suicide attempts. KOTA TINGGI: Malaysia has proposed that Norway prioritise compensation payments following its unilateral revocation of the export licence for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a move that disrupted the country’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Norway’s decision not to approve the export licence was the primary cause of the issue. “The root cause of everything is Norway’s decision not to approve the export licence to Malaysia. Therefore, Norway cannot wash its hands of this matter because it was their decision that caused this problem,” he said. The Kota Tinggi MP said this at a press conference after a meeting with taxi drivers at the Kota Tinggi Bus and Taxi Terminal here yesterday. Mohamed Khaled said he had recently conveyed Malaysia’s firm position on the matter to his Norwegian counterpart, stressing that efforts to expedite the compensation refund would demonstrate Norway’s sincerity in preserving bilateral relations between the two countries. On the payment method, Mohamed Khaled proposed that the Norwegian government advance the compensation payment to Malaysia before pursuing reimbursement claims from the defence company involved. “The company that failed to fulfil this contract is a Norwegian company. Therefore, as a government, Norway can negotiate with its own company rather than forcing Malaysia to wait indefinitely without any certainty,” he said. He said the funds were urgently needed to enable the Defence Ministry to procure an alternative missile system for use by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Bernama reported. Mohamed Khaled also described the unilateral action as more than just a financial loss, saying it had undermined international confidence in legal assurances, global agreements and the validity of defence contracts that had already been signed and

Defence minister seeks quick NSM compensation

Mohamed Khaled meeting taxi drivers at the Kota Tinggi Bus and Taxi Terminal yesterday – BERNAMAPIC

Japan, to replace the missile supply originally sourced from Norway. However, he stressed that any replacement system must already be in active production to avoid lengthy delivery delays. Regarding Norway’s recent apology, Mohamed Khaled said Malaysia accepted the gesture but confirmed that legal action and compensation claims over the procurement failure would proceed. According to the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace website, the NSM procurement contract was signed between the RMN and the company in April 2018, valued at 124 million euros (RM571.9 million), to equip six new LCS vessels.

paid for. Commenting on the financial implications, he estimated Malaysia’s direct losses at more than RM600 million – representing the cost of the missiles – while indirect costs have pushed the overall impact to more than RM1 billion. “These additional costs cover the procurement of a replacement system, integration of a new weapons system on the ships and the need for new training. So who should bear these costs when the supply failure was not Malaysia’s fault?” he said. Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said the ministry is actively evaluating alternative offers from several countries, including Italy, France, Turkiye, South Korea, the United States and