Its chief Cassel Krishnan says among the policies implemented during Steven Sim's time as human resources minister were off-duty Perkeso coverage and increased minimum wage.
(From left) Melaka DAP Youth chief Cassel Krishnan asked former minister Noh Omar if entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister Steven Sim had ever disputed Bumiputera economic policies during his time in government.
PETALING JAYA: Steven Sim implemented policies and measures during his time as human resources minister that also benefitted Bumiputeras, says Melaka DAP Youth chief Cassel Krishnan in response to former minister Noh Omar, who today questioned Sim’s appointment as entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister.
Cassel said these efforts included the introduction of off-duty Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) coverage, the increase of the minimum wage to RM1,700 and improvements to gig worker welfare.
He also asked Noh, who headed the ministry twice, if Sim had ever disputed Bumiputera economic policies during his time in government.
“I challenge Noh to provide one incident as an example, with clear facts and context, and not just general accusations unsupported by facts.
“DAP’s principles remain consistent. No matter which ministry we lead, we serve all Malaysians, including Bumiputeras, who are the majority,” he said in a statement.
Earlier today, Noh said Sim’s reassignment to the entrepreneur and cooperatives development portfolio had come as a surprise to Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
He said Sim being from DAP – a party that champions equality and has frequently questioned the principles of the New Economic Policy – raised concerns about the future protection of Bumiputera micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Noh said the ministry’s core objective was to empower Bumiputera entrepreneurs, develop a robust national entrepreneurial ecosystem and position Malaysia as an entrepreneurial nation by 2030.
However, Sim dismissed Noh’s concerns and emphasised his commitment to serving all Malaysians, saying “a good Malaysian leader is one who looks after all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion”.
Sim took over the entrepreneur and cooperatives development portfolio following Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle. - FMT
The Bukit Bendera MP urges Malaysians to distinguish between genuine governance concerns and political theatrics.
Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid said a Cabinet reshuffle only appears threatening to those whose politics depend on exclusion, control, and fear of sharing power. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid has accused PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan of deliberately creating a climate of fear for political gain following the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
Takiyuddin yesterday claimed that the appointment of two Chinese leaders to the federal territories portfolio was a deliberate strategy to strengthen DAP’s dominance in Kuala Lumpur and other major urban centres in the country.
In a statement, Syerleena today questioned the motives behind Takiyuddin’s alarm over the reshuffle, and urged Malaysians to distinguish between genuine governance concerns and political theatrics.
She said that a Cabinet reshuffle only appears threatening to those whose politics depend on exclusion, control, and fear of sharing power.
“There is nothing extraordinary or alarming about a Cabinet reshuffle. It only becomes a ‘crisis’ when it is deliberately misrepresented as one,” she said, stressing that routine recalibration of the Cabinet is a normal part of any functioning parliamentary system to improve coordination, performance and delivery.
According to the DAP lawmaker, PAS’s narrative – that cooperation equals centralisation, inclusion threatens power, and working together undermines identity – was an attempt to shrink democratic space by turning collaboration into a scare tactic.
“As a Muslim, I state without hesitation: Islam does not teach us to govern through panic and suspicion. It teaches us about trust, justice, and accountability.
“It teaches leaders to be judged by competence and integrity – not by how loudly they shout warnings of imagined takeovers.
“If PAS truly wishes to speak in the language of faith, then it should explain how fear-mongering serves justice, or how distrust strengthens the ummah.”
Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle saw Hannah Yeoh appointed as federal territories minister and Tawau MP Lo Su Fui (GRS) as her deputy. DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming was retained as the housing and local government minister.
Takiyuddin alleged that concentrating urban power in the hands of leaders from the same ethnicity and political party could raise questions about an imbalance of power and the direction of the nation’s administration.
He also said the move could allow DAP to shape urban policies, manage land and housing matters without effective and transparent checks and balances, and push through controversial initiatives such as the proposed Urban Renewal Act and local elections. - Mkini
THROUGH the lens of emerging technologies and rapid innovation, data is fast becoming the world’s most valuable asset. It has become the new currency of economic strength, shaping how industries grow, how institutions compete and how societies advance in the digital age.
Every click and tap contributes to a vast and expanding resource that now influences decisions at every level of modern life.
Modern digital technologies generate and collect more information than at any other point in human history. What once existed in gigabytes and terabytes has expanded into the realm of zettabytes.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, cloud services, connected devices and the Internet of Things, the global datasphere may reach between 450 and 500 zettabytes within the next five years. The scale is astonishing and continues to grow faster than most people realise.
Data today is collected through many everyday digital activities, from browsing websites and using mobile apps to making online payments or shopping on e-commerce platforms.
These interactions generate small pieces of information that help personalise services and keep systems running efficiently.
(Image: The Law Society)
Organisations also use this data to drive innovation, enabling companies to understand customers better, reduce inefficiencies and create new economic opportunities.
On a broader scale, data helps governments plan smarter cities, improve disaster response, enhance transparency and support environmental sustainability. Most of this collection is routine, and the promise of data is undeniable.
Yet the potential for harm becomes significant when data is handled without proper responsibility. Around the world, we are seeing growing concerns over privacy, informed consent, transparency and accountability.
Data breaches, leaks and the unauthorised use of personal information continue to surface, reminding us how vulnerable digital systems can be.
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence adds another layer of complexity. People can now generate or share thoughts, images and even voices with ease, including content that appears authentic but is not.
Deepfakes, manipulated videos and synthetic media have made it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from fabrication. These risks make it clear that responsible handling of data is no longer optional but essential.
Malaysia is taking concrete steps to strengthen governance in this area, including updating legislation and promoting responsible digital practices through national policies.
In 2024, Parliament passed significant amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act, introducing clearer consent requirements, stronger safeguards against data misuse and mandatory reporting of data breaches.
These amendments were gazetted in October 2024, with key obligations such as the appointment of Data Protection Officers and breach-notification rules taking effect throughout 2025.
The government has also introduced the Data Sharing Act to ensure that information exchanged between public agencies is managed securely and transparently.
These reforms are supported by national initiatives under Malaysia Digital, signal a growing national commitment to protecting personal data, improving transparency and strengthening public trust as Malaysia accelerates its digital transformation.
At the organisation level, the responsibility is greater. Businesses and institutions must adopt stronger data governance frameworks, ensure clear consent processes, secure their digital infrastructure and invest in workforce training on data ethics.
(Image: EY)
Clear internal policies, regular audits and transparent communication with users are no longer optional but essential components of good digital stewardship. In a competitive digital economy, the organisations that treat data with care and respect will be the ones that earn long-term public trust.
However, as technologies advance rapidly and data becomes more complex, the responsibility does not rest on policymakers and organisations alone.
Handling data requires more than technical safeguards; it demands ethical judgement, human oversight and public awareness. Each of us—as users, consumers, creators and citizens—plays a role in shaping a safer digital environment.
Responsible data handling begins with simple habits: being aware of what we share online, understanding the permissions we grant to apps, verifying the authenticity of information before forwarding messages and guarding our personal details from unknown sources.
It also means being more discerning about what we read, what we believe and what we spread, especially in a climate where false or manipulated content can move faster than the truth. Digital literacy is no longer a luxury; it is a form of self-protection.
Data may be the new currency of global power, but responsibility is the value that will determine how far it can take us. The choices we make each day may seem small, yet together they shape a culture of responsibility that protects everyone in our increasingly digital world.
The real test is no longer our ability to use data, but our willingness to use it wisely, with care for our own security and the well-being of others. We cannot build a strong digital future without first building strong digital responsibility, and that work begins with all of us.
Sr Dr Nurshuhada Zainon is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
IN a recent public LinkedIn post, the scholar Muhammad Suhail Mohamed Yazid asks: “Why did Malaysia fail to lead the Muslim world?”
In his article, he explained that Malaysia once aimed to lead internationally. But today, sadly, Malaysia is mostly ignored on the global stage.
Statements by Malaysia repeatedly ignored
This month, when Thailand and Cambodia clashed along their border, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for a ceasefire, and suggested sending observers. Both countries’ leaders ignored Malaysia.
Even as the rotating ASEAN chair, Malaysia’s neighbours still act as if it does not exist—hardly the behaviour of a regional leader.
In Bangkok, Thai citizens demonstrated in front of the Malaysian embassy, accusing the Madani government of interfering in Thailand’s sovereignty over the border dispute after clashes wounded Thai soldiers.
Thai citizens demanded that Anwar stop meddling, and told Malaysia to stay out of Thailand’s internal affairs, according to a Thai newsroom.
These and other actions show that Malaysia is sometimes noticed, but not often respected. Instead of being seen as a trusted diplomatic leader, Malaysia’s actions are often seen as naive interference.
ASEAN 2025: Words without action
(Image: Bernama)
Malaysia hosted the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2025. Leaders spoke about inclusion and unity but failed to address regional crises, such as Myanmar and the Thailand-Cambodia clashes, while also ignoring domestic issues.
Madani’s promises remained hollow because ASEAN’s ideals were ignored right in Malaysia’s own backyard.
This week in Doha, Qatar, the primary conference to plan the International Stabilization Force for Gaza excluded Malaysia, while inviting 54 other countries including Indonesia and Uzbekistan.
Similarly, last month in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Muslim world leaders planned the Gaza peace agreement—again without inviting Malaysia. These repeated rejections show that the world still does not look to Malaysia for leadership.
Education and global influence: Malaysia falling behind
Malaysia’s weaker educational outcomes limit its regional and global influence, especially compared with neighbours like Vietnam and Singapore.
For example, despite having fewer economic resources, Vietnamese students consistently outperform Malaysian students in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) across reading, mathematics, and science.
Malaysian students like Edward Wong, who achieved a near-perfect 3.99 GPA but somehow were not accepted into any of their top-choice local universities shines a global light on Malaysia’s weaknesses.
Wong’s experience highlights how Malaysia’s education system struggles to prepare even its best students to compete globally.
Online outrage
(Image: AFP)
When an Indonesian minister recently commented that Malaysia’s tiny disaster aid of US$60,000 was “not much”, it prompted immature, angry online reactions from Malaysians.
Even when Kuala Lumpur provides aid, it is not seen as a leader. Similarly, Malaysians recently criticised former Indonesian President Joko Widodo for paying respects to Pope Francis, and are frequently seen on social media publicly attacking Indonesians. Such childish attacks further reveal Malaysia’s international irrelevance.
Recent global rankings confirm Malaysia’s modest influence. For example, the Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index 2025 places Malaysia 10th in the region for overall power but notes weak military capability, stagnant economic influence, and limited ability to shape even regional decisions.
This is no laughing matter. A country ignored by its own neighbours and overlooked in global decisions should ask hard questions: Why is Malaysia still not a leader? Does anyone really care what Malaysia thinks?
The Madani government needs better leaders—not just speeches, photo opportunities, and empty promises.
If nothing changes, then nothing will change. Malaysia now risks being forgotten as “that country”— the one that quietly vanished from international influence.
Corruption Watch is a reader of FocusMalaysia.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
