A New Malaysia in the News
Political News from Around: Snippets and Links
The complete coverage of must-read Malaysian political news on current issues that matters. The news snippets are aggregated and sourced from various local mainstream media.
aNewMalaysia in the news is the assemblage of news snippets aggregated and sourced from multiple local mainstream media publications. Get the complete news coverage of political news, new government policies and initiatives. Sources
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Archived Journey of the New Malaysia
Reforms: New Policies to Increase Govt Revenue
Departure Levy
The Departure Levy Bill 2019
Last updated: Aug 05 2019
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What is the new Departure Levy?
A departure levy is a fee charged by a country when the person leaves the country.
Effective September 01, 2019, the Malaysian government will charge air travellers a levy/fee based on the travel destination and cabin class. The departure levy was proposed in the 2019 Budget and the new bill was gazetted on July 17, 2019.
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How much are travellers charged?
Travellers leaving Malaysia for ASEAN countries will be charged RM8 for economy class and RM50 for other classes. As for flights to countries outside of ASEAN, economy class travellers will be charged RM20 while those in other classes will be levied RM150. This fee amount is in addition to a passenger service charge.
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Why is the government imposing this levy?
Currently, travellers are already paying a passenger service charge (PSC) or airport tax of RM35 for flights to ASEAN countries and RM73 for non-ASEAN flights.
The departure levy is different from the existing PSC. PSC is not collected by the government but by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to run the operations of the airport. This new levy is collected by the government and has been projected to contribute a substantial RM1bil a year in revenue to the country's treasury.
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Who is exempted from paying this levy?
The departure levy will not be imposed on
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infants and toddlers aged below 24-months
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Air travellers transiting via Malaysia with the transit period not exceeding 12 hours
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Airline crew on duty
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It has also been clearly stated that other non-air travellers do not need to pay the departure levy
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pedestrians
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anyone driving or riding any type of vehicle for personal use (including aircraft or vessel) and pillion riders or passengers of such vehicles
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News: Flying from Malaysia? RM8-RM150 departure tax imposed from Sept 1 >
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Aug 10, 2019 | Flying out of Malaysia: How does our exit tax compare against Asean neighbours?|Read more >|Malaymail​
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Reforms: Improve Enforcement
The ​​Self-Employed Employment Injury Scheme (SEEIS)
Insurance coverage for self-employed
Last updated: Aug 01 2019
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What is the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) about?
The ​​Self-Employed Employment Injury Scheme (SEEIS) social security scheme was introduced in 2017 to provide protection to the self-employed Malaysians. It is compulsory for self-employed taxi, e-hailing and bus drivers who work full-time or part-time to contribute to this scheme.
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Who needs to make SEEIS contribution?
Ops Patuh will be carried out for one month (starting Aug 01, 2019) to ensure that all taxi and e-hailing drivers registered under the Land Public Transport Agency contribute to the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme under the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
How much is the monthly SEEIS contribution?
Self-employment contributors only need to pay a minimum of RM13.10 per month.
What are the benefits of SEEIS?
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Employment injuries (occupational diseases and accidents during work-related activities) insurance coverage for self-employed contributors.
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Cash benefits to the self-employed and their beneficiaries besides providing medical care, physical rehabilitation and vocational training.
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Medical Benefit
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Temporary Disablement Benefit
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Permanent Disablement Benefit
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Constant-attendance Allowance
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Dependants’ Benefit
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Funeral Benefit
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Education Benefit
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Facilities for Physical, Vocational Rehabilitation and Return To Work Programs
​Quicklink to Self-Employed Employment Injury Scheme >
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Contacts
Ministry: Ministry of Human Resource
Agency: Perkeso
Website:
Email:
Tel: 1-300-22-8000
Fax: (603) 4256 7798
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Reforms: New Policies for Environment
Waste Separation
Compulsory waste separation at source
Last updated: Aug 01 2019
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Waste Separation at the Source
Effective August 01, 2019, the National Solid Waste Management Department has made it compulsory for all industries, commercial organisations and institutions (ICI) to separate their waste.
Informal tier-1 recyclers, also known as waste collectors will also be required to register with the National Solid Waste Management Department. They will be charged a licence application processing fee of RM100 and the licence fee of RM200 annually
The government has made it mandatory for all ICIs to separate their wastes into four categories:-
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residual solid waste
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recyclable solid waste
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garden solid waste and
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bulky solid waste
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How will the policy be implemented?
Phase 1
Beginning August 01, 2019, all ICI located in Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kedah, Perlis and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya must sort their wastes at source.
The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) send out enforcement officers to ensure compliance. The ICIs who fail to comply will be issued a warning.
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Phase 2
Beginning March 01, 2020, ICIs who fail to comply will be slapped with a compound not exceeding RM5,000 or a fine not exceeding RM10,000.
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Why do we need to separate the waste at the source?
By implementing compulsory waste sorting at the source for these large commercial entities which are large scale waste contributors, the government hope to achieve higher recycling rates as separation at the source will make it easier for recyclers down the recycling-chain. The government hope to increase the national recycling rate from the present 28% to 30% by 2020. It was reported that there are 150 landfills nationwide as of 2018 and 74 of them is expected to be filled-up by 2020.
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What happens if these entities do not sort their waste?
The government will impose a fine in accordance with the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007, Act 672. This Act is applicable to the relevant sectors in Perlis, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Pahang.
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Contacts
Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Local Government
Agency: National Solid Waste Management Department
Website:
Email: webmaster_
Tel: (603)-8000 8000
Fax: (603) 8891 3190
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The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp Malaysia) Website
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News: Commercial solid waste separation to be done in stages Read more >
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Contacts
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01/ Government Programmes|
Cost of Living Reliefs
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02/ Government Programmes|
Basic Essentials
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Affordable Housing
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Affordable Home Financing
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Healthcare Assistance & Aid
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Education Assistance & Aid
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03/ Government Programmes|
Safety Nets
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Retirement & Savings
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Employment
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Reforms: New Policies
Sugar Tax
The Departure Levy Bill 2019
Last updated: Aug 02 2019
To be published soon
News: Are you paying the ‘sugar tax’ for your favourite drink?
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