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Government can’t afford to raise cigarette prices

Oct 31, 2018

Lion Air crash site in Indonesia to be searched

Indonesian divers have been despatched to an area of the Java sea, where Lion Air flight JT610 is believed to have crashed. 

This, after search teams picked up a signal, which they believe reveals the location of the plane's fuselage.

If if is confirmed, it will be a major breakthrough for investigations into what happened, as the Boeing 737 was brand new.

Lion Air flight JT610 was carrying 189 people on board when it crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Jakarta. 

Meanwhile, its Transport Ministry has removed the Lion Air's technical director and several technicians over the crash. 

However, it is unclear whether the removal is permanent or temporary.

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MOH: Government can’t afford to raise cigarette prices

Image source: The Star

The government says it cannot afford to raise cigarette prices, by raising taxes. 

The Health Ministry says doing so will only push more smokers to turn to black market cigarettes, which puts them at a significantly higher risk of non-communicable diseases.

It adds, illicit cigarette consumption is currently at 60 per cent.

In related news, the Health MInistry says the government expects to spend RM7 bil by 2025, to treat major illnesses caused by smoking.

This includes lung cancer and coronary heart disease.

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32 parties agree on lowering voting age to 18-years-old

32 of Malaysia's registered political parties have agreed on the proposal to lower the voting age from 21 to 18-years-old.

A bill on this is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next month.

The Election Commission adds the parties also agreed with the proposal for automatic voter registration.

However, they want the EC to study the process and its effect on voters.

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Marital rape victims can still seek legal recourse

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin says victims of marital rape can still seek legal recourse, under the section of the Penal Code that covers sexual assault. 

This comes a day after he said that there are no plans to criminalise spousal rape.

He admitted that the Penal Code's scope is limited as it only covers violent non-consensual sex within a marriage.

However, the scope may be widened gradually.

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MOE: No more exams for lower primary students

Starting next year, there will be no exams for primary school students in Year One to Three.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik says the exams will be replaced by a more objective form of assessment.

However, he didn't give any further details.