Trump to decide on next China tariffs after G20 summit

US President Donald Trump said China wanted a deal and predicted the two sides would definitely reach an agreement. (Reuters pic)

FRANCE: US President Donald Trump said he’ll decide whether to enact tariffs on another US$325 billion in Chinese imports after the Group of 20 summit at the end of the month in Japan, where he’s expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I will make that decision after the G20,” Trump told reporters at a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Caen, France, on Thursday. “I’ll be meeting with President Xi and we’ll see what happens but probably planning it sometime after G20.”

US and Chinese negotiators hit an impasse in trade talks last month, which Trump said happened because Beijing reneged on provisions of a tentative deal.

He raised tariffs on about US$200 billion in Chinese imports to 25% in response, and at the time hung out the possibility of further action.

China has blamed the US for the breakdown in talks and vowed to reciprocate for the increased tariffs in various ways.

In a Fox News interview taped Thursday, Trump said China wanted a deal and predicted the two sides would “definitely” reach an agreement.

“I will say, I want to get a deal but what they did was very bad,” he told host Laura Ingraham. “We had a deal, and they tried to renegotiate. They can’t do that.”

PAS says public service PSC meaningless after PM’s unilateral pick of MACC chief


Tuan Ibrahim was hopeful that the new MACC chief Latheefa would perform her role well despite her controversial appointment. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Tuan Ibrahim was hopeful that the new MACC chief Latheefa would perform her role well despite her controversial appointment. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — Parliament’s select committee (PSC) on public appointments should be suspended until the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government proves its commitment towards bipartisan consultation as promised, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said today.

The PAS deputy president who is a member of the bipartisan panel said any further activity from now on would be meaningless in light of the prime minister’s unilateral appointment of Latheefa Koya as the new head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“Its president should terminate the committee as soon as possible. It is apparent that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is not taking the board’s role seriously.

“The committee should be suspended until PH respects the board and uphold their manifesto promises,” he said in a statement.

Tuan Ibrahim noted the prime minister has the prerogative in public service appointments, but said the recent incident showed there was no need for the PSC if its members were not even consulted prior to Latheefa’s appointment.

The MACC Act 2009 allows the prime minister to appoint commission’s head. However, the ruling PH coalition had promised parliamentary validation in the appointment of MACC commissioners prior to winning the May 2018 general election to check-and-balance the prime minister’s powers and political appointees in public institutions.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that he did not seek his Cabinet’s views on Latheefa’s appointment as he wanted the freedom to choose the best candidate in his view. He added that consulting others would have constrained his choices when the decision was also his prerogative.

Tuan Ibrahim today expressed his doubts about Dr Mahathir’s promise to step down and make way for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become the next prime minister if the former could rise roughshod over his own coalition’s electoral promise towards transparency in government reforms.

“Unfortunately, from this incident, PH has shown that their promises to the people all this while can’t be taken seriously.

“They also promised that there will be no more political appointments in important public service positions but they disregarded it now,” the Kubang Kerian MP said.

However, he was hopeful that the new MACC chief Latheefa would perform her role well despite her controversial appointment.

Malaysian tipper truck driver jailed two weeks for running over Bangladeshi in Singapore


Truck driver Choo Teck Kuang was sentenced to two weeks’ jail for causing the death of 34-year-old Md Mostafa by a negligent act in court. ― TODAY file pic
Truck driver Choo Teck Kuang was sentenced to two weeks’ jail for causing the death of 34-year-old Md Mostafa by a negligent act in court. ― TODAY file pic

SINGAPORE, June 7 — He knew that foreign workers frequently crossed Sungei Kadut Avenue, but he failed to keep a proper lookout when turning onto the road in his tipper truck.

Choo Teck Kuang ended up colliding into a foreign worker on his bicycle. Md Mostafa, who was heading to work, succumbed to his injuries in hospital about two hours later.

Yesterday, Choo, 55, was sentenced to two weeks’ jail for causing the death of the 34-year-old Bangladeshi by a negligent act. The Malaysian was also disqualified from holding or getting all classes of driving licences for five years after his release.

At the time of the accident, Choo was employed by HSC Pipeline Engineering, located at No. 36 Sungei Kadut Avenue.

The court heard that on Aug 29 last year, at about 7.15am, Mostafa was cycling from his Mandai Estate dormitory to work at the area. The weather was fine, traffic flow was light and the road surface was dry then.

As Choo was about to exit his company’s premises, he stopped for less than a minute to give way to vehicles travelling on Sungei Kadut Avenue. While making a right turn onto the main road, he failed to notice Mostafa cycling in front of his tipper truck.

Choo drove forward, collided into Mostafa and ran him over.

He felt an impact underneath his truck as if he had run over an object, but continued with the turn before immediately stopping his vehicle on the side of the road.

The incident was captured on his company’s closed circuit television camera.

When Choo alighted, he noticed Mostafa lying on the road beside a bicycle, which was bent out of shape.

Mostafa was taken in an unconscious state to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he eventually died from critical injuries at 8.50am.

The tipper truck was inspected after the incident, revealing no mechanical defects or possible mechanical failures.

Although Choo claimed he had checked his blind spot before moving forward, the Health Sciences Authority carried out a blind spot analysis and found that from certain angles, Mostafa would have been partially visible to Choo, and he would have been fully visible in the truck’s circular mirror.

For causing death by a negligent act, Choo could have been jailed up to two years and fined. — TODAY

Japan PM to visit Iran next week

<p>SHINZO Abe plans to travel to Iran next week, officials said today, the first visit by a Japanese prime minister in more than four decades as Tokyo hopes to mediate between Washington and Tehran.</p> <p>A government official told AFP that Tokyo was &#8220;still arranging details, including whom our prime minister will meet there&#8221; but local media have said Abe will hold talks with Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.</p>

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Latheefa’s MACC appointment, excellent choice but flawed process

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) welcomes the appointment of Latheefa Koya as the new chief commissioner of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Over the years Latheefa has proven herself to be a highly principled, courageous and straight-talking human rights defender and lawyer. Such qualities are needed to helm MACC and deal with the scourge of corruption in this country.

Nonetheless, Bersih 2.0 is troubled by the process by which she was appointed as it highlights a structural weakness in our governance and makes abuses of power inevitable. By Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s own admission, he did not even consult his Cabinet, let alone Parliament, on the appointment of Latheefa as he did not want the opinions of his ministers to restrict his choice. He further added that he normally makes the decision himself because he doesn’t have to ask the Cabinet as to whom he approves.

While current laws allow the PM to advise the king to appoint whosoever he wants, such almost absolute power in the hands of the PM does not bode well for our parliamentary democracy system of government. Former PM Najib Razak used the same power to appoint his allies into key positions in his attempt to escape the scrutiny of the 1MDB scandal and cling on to power.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) came to power on the promise of wide-ranging institutional reforms so that there is a separation of powers that restores the dignity of Parliament and the independence of key institutions like MACC, EC, JAC, Suhakam, Span and GLICs.

Bersih 2.0 calls on the PH government to codify into law the independence of these institutions without delay, preferably at the next sitting of the Dewan Rakyat in July. If a two-thirds majority in the house is required to effect constitutional amendments, we call on the opposition members to lend bipartisan support so that institutional checks and balances can firmly be established.

Unless the appointment process is institutionalised, there is a risk that all the good appointments so far could be undone in a day if the next PM so wishes. As a country, we cannot hope for and depend on the good intentions and graces of the PM but we need strong and independent institutions and processes to hold the PM and all public officials accountable.

A sound appointment process would include a nomination committee which receives nominations from all stakeholders (including the public) should be set up to shortlist qualified candidates. These should then be forwarded to a parliamentary select committee (PSC) who will look for a candidate who can command public confidence, then recommend the chosen candidate to the PM or even directly to the king.

While it may not be possible to undo key appointments that have already been installed, Bersih 2.0 urges the PM to respect the institution of the Parliament and allow the PSC on major public appointments to conduct a review of appointed commissioners, chief justice, IGP, director-generals and chairpersons of GLICs/GLCs. The reviews would ratify the PM’s appointment and gives greater recognition and some form of legitimacy to the appointees, especially for someone like Latheefa who has a political background. But if there are strong objections from the PSC and compelling reasons why a person should not be appointed, then the PM has to defend his decision.

Bersih 2.0 also calls on the PSC on major appointments to come out with clear scope of their mandate and process of vetting appointments. These should be made public and stakeholders consulted, especially civil society, before they are finalised.

Once again, Bersih 2.0 lauds the appointment of Latheefa but urges the PM to expedite the legal amendments necessary to institutionalise and democratise the process of major appointments, including the Election Commission in future, make key public institutions independent and empower them so that they can serve as effective checks and balances. If this can be achieved before Mahathir steps down, it will be one of his most important and enduring legacies to this nation.

Satukan Tenaga, Malaysia Baru!

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

Bersih 2.0: PM’s unfettered powers to hire and fire was what gave us 1MDB scandal


Bersih 2.0 said it was concerned over Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s admission of unilateral action in the appointment of Latheefa as MACC chief. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Bersih 2.0 said it was concerned over Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s admission of unilateral action in the appointment of Latheefa as MACC chief. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — The Pakatan Harapan government must formalise the independence of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and others like it, Bersih 2.0 said following Latheefa Koya’s controversial selection as the agency’s head.

While insisting the former PKR member was suitable for the role, the electoral watchdog said it was concerned over Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s admission of unilateral action in the appointment.

Among others, it pointed out that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had used this same prerogative to make changes at key institutions during the height of the 1MDB scandal in 2015.

“While current laws allow the PM to advise the King to appoint whosoever he wants, such almost absolute power in the hand of the PM does not bode well for our parliamentary democracy system of government,” the group said in a statement.

“Former PM Najib Razak used the same power to appoint his allies into key positions in his attempt to escape the scrutiny of the 1MDB scandal and cling on to power.”

Bersih 2.0 also reminded PH that it was voted in on promises to bring about reforms to restore the integrity of the vital pillars of government and institutions.

PH must now move to implement such reforms urgently, beginning by introducing amendments that would permanently remove agencies such as the MACC from under the direct authority of the executive.

“Unless the appointment process is institutionalised, there is a risk that all the good appointments so far could be undone in a day if the next PM so wishes,” it said.

“As a country, we cannot hope for and depend on the good intentions and graces of the PM but we need strong and independent institutions and processes to hold the PM and all public officials accountable.”

Earlier today, the Malaysian Bar expressed similar concerns about how Latheefa was appointed and her suitability for the role, saying that both would expose the MACC to perceived conflicts of interest.

The Prime Minister’s Office unexpectedly announced Latheefa as the new MACC chief on Tuesday to mixed response from Malaysians.

During the government’s Hari Raya open house yesterday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed he made the decision unilaterally and did not consult his Cabinet as he did not want to be bound by their views.

He acknowledged that the appointment was inconsistent with the pact’s manifesto, but argued that it would be unfair if PH could not reward those who had worked hard to help it win the general election.

Bekas bintang bola sepak dunia main perlawanan amal di Johor

Antara bekas bintang bola sepak dunia yang dijangka datang ke Malaysia, iaitu Luis Figo, Claudio Caniggia dan Robert Pires.

PETALING JAYA: Beberapa orang bekas pemain bola sepak paling terkenal dunia, termasuk Roberto Carlos dan Bebeto akan datang ke Malaysia untuk bermain dalam satu perlawanan amal di Johor.

Dalam satu hantaran Facebok, Tengku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim berkata, perlawanan dijadualkan pada 30 Jun itu turut menampilkan nama besar lain seperti bekas bintang Real Madrid dan Portugal Luis Figo dan penyerang Argentina Claudio Caniggia

Pemain lain yang dijangka hadir adalah bintang Itali Marco Materazzi dan penyerang Peranchis Robert Pires. Kedua-dua pemain memenangi Piala Dunia untuk negara masing-masing pada 2006 dan 1998.

Perlawanan itu akan menyaksikan pasukan “Bintang Dunia 11” berdepan pilihan Johor Darul Takzim (JDT).

“Sesi bersama penyokong untuk peluang mendapatkan autograf dan bergambar turut diadakan.

“Semua hasil kutipan akan disumbangkan kepada Yayasan Kanser Tunku Laksamana Johor, Persatuan Kanser Kebangsaan dan Pertubuhan Pertolongan Wanita (WAO),” kata Tunku Ismail.

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