Good morning. Here are our picks for today.

Key Highlights

  • Higher healthcare fees for the well-heeled

  • HR ministry: We’re not responsible 

  • MACC detainee dies in custody

Higher healthcare fees for the well-heeled

The Health Ministry is proposing increasing the fees for public healthcare services for those in the high-income bracket, according to the Health White Paper by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

The paper noted that while the minimal fees at present allowed the public to have better access to healthcare services, it has led to huge disparity compared to the costs incurred.

Hence the ministry is proposing a fee restructuring to keep public healthcare sustainable.

Worried that the proposed reforms would fail to launch, former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take charge of the matter.

HIGHLIGHTS

Nurses' uniforms too tight, not syariah-compliant: PN MP
PN MPs at odds over MOH's move to increase public healthcare fee
Dr M resurrects DAP bogeyman to warn 'bored' Malays ahead of polls

HR ministry: We’re not responsible 

The Labour Department does not have the jurisdiction to act against companies that outsource migrant workers to third-party employers, according to the Human Resources Ministry.

Migrant labour outsourcing is the practice where companies register as employers but instead supply workers to others for a fee. This practice is condemned by rights advocates for perpetuating forced labour.

The ministry also said the Labour Department has not pursued any legal action against such companies.

The ministry did not clarify which department or ministry was responsible to address the issue or whether such a practice was allowed in the employment of migrant workers in Malaysia.

This was in response to questions from Malaysiakini, following its exposé on the trafficking of migrant workers by unlicensed labour agents.

HIGHLIGHTS

Nearly 30pct of domestic workers in M'sia face forced labour: UN agency
Anwar vs Dr M: Bailouts and family-linked businesses
Political patronage exists for illegal online gambling - minister

MACC detainee dies in custody

A man, in his 50s, detained to facilitate investigations into mineral mining activities in Penang has died in custody.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the incident and told Malaysiakini that his officers had arrested the man last night.

The suspect, who was held at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, before being transferred to a hospital due to being unwell.

He reportedly died while receiving treatment.

HIGHLIGHTS

IRB raids Hamzah’s house
Implementing targeted subsidies for fuel not easy - PM
Bung's exposé against Khairy goes up in smoke as bill retracted

Views that matter

Based on PN's skewed mind, human rights is only for Malays
By S Thayaparan
Some young politicians are groping in the dark
By Francis Paul Siah
All's not sunny in our public school system
By TaMaTer

Other news that matter

  • Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to free his imprisoned predecessor Najib Abdul Razak "for the sake of the people”.

    According to him, this is because, in the scheme of things, RM42 million (the value of corruption Najib is imprisoned for) is "small change”.

  • Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor was again granted a temporary release of her passport so she can go to Singapore to visit her daughter, Nooryana Najwa.

  • In an interview with Malaysiakini, Kelantan DAP chairperson Azaha Abd Rani said it would take novel approaches for Pakatan Harapan to make a dent in the state, which is a PAS stronghold. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Ministry blames foreign agents for labour glut, denies 'zero checks' done
PAC: LCS proceedings disclosure a violation of standing order
Suhakam: We’re diligently working behind the scenes despite being ‘quiet’