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PETALING JAYA: Private online healthcare service providers, such as virtual clinics, are now required by the Health Ministry to comply with a set of guidelines that detail the standards and practices for their operations in the digital space.

Under the guidelines, these providers are prohibited from attending to emergency cases involving injury or acute illnesses.

The Health Ministry said in a circular dated May 5 that these guidelines would be an interim measure and could be a precursor to a future law to regulate the Online Healthcare Services (OHS) space.

“It is becoming apparent that healthcare policies and regulations created in an analogue age may be inadequate to cater for the often-disruptive healthcare service models in the digital age,” the guidelines said.

“Ambiguities and lacunas in the law create uncertainty for healthcare professionals, platform providers and patients alike.

“It is crucial for there to be clear standards and requirements to guide those involved in the online healthcare services industry,” the guidelines added.

According to the guidelines that came into effect on May 5, OHS can only attend to non-emergency cases; follow-up management for stable cases; group session counselling services for areas such as psychology, nutrition or rehabilitation; referral or secondary care programme by specialist or consultant; or support services such as the supply of medication, laboratory and imaging services.

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The Malaysian Public Transport Association has demanded a full audit of Smart Selangor following the suspension of five bus routes in Subang Jaya, after the operator failed to submit permit applications on time and comply with licensing requirements. NSTP file / Facebook Malaysian Land Public Transport Fans (MLPTF)KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Public Transport Association (4PAM) has demanded a full audit of Smart Selangor following the suspension of five bus routes in Subang Jaya, after the operator failed to submit permit applications on time and comply with licensing requirements.

Its president, Ajit Johl, described the failure to submit permit applications promptly as a lackadaisical attitude by Smart Selangor, showing a disregard for passenger safety and welfare.

He also called for heavy fines from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) as a deterrent and to remind bus operators, both under Smart Selangor and more broadly, of the importance of adhering to renewal deadlines.

"The very fact of your licence is to do this business, and that (your operator) cannot renew it, leads one to think that we should ask for a full audit of Smart Selangor," he said.

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PETALING JAYA: Many Malaysian graduates are earning just enough to survive, with little to spare for saving or upward mobility, according to a new report by a labour market research group.
Future Studies Berhad said the study also dispelled the notion that tertiary education guaranteed a meaningful wage premium.

The report, titled “The ‘Gaji Cukup Makan’ Economy: When Higher Education Becomes an Economic Risk”, also finds the idea that tertiary education guarantees a better life is being increasingly challenged.

Future Studies said based on its report, the high employability rates – often exceeding over 80% – were misleading as it included all forms of employment, regardless of skill match or wage level.

“In reality, over 70% of employed graduates are in semi- and low-skilled roles, and more than 65% of degree holders earn below RM3,000 monthly,” the report read.

It said its findings highlighted a serious mismatch between qualifications and job roles, and a clear erosion in the returns on higher education investment.

“The mismatch in Malaysia leads to deeper economic vulnerability, limiting upward mobility and reducing the incentive to pursue higher education, particularly among lower-income groups.”

Future Studies said the decision to pursue higher education becomes increasingly risky, especially for low- and middle-income households who are burdened by rising education costs but see limited wage rewards.

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10 Top Car Issues : Know What They Are and How To Fix It - Vin's Automotive GroupA MANAGER sought help from Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal after he was stuck with a highly problematic vehicle.

Ramizi Bajuri, 41, was keen on a Japanese four-door sedan at a dealership in Jalan Parit Bilal, Batu Pahat, Johor.

He contacted a salesman on May 25 last year about the vehicle.

However, the salesman informed him that the car had been sold and proposed another car of the same model with a different registration plate.

“I asked the salesman about the condition of the car and he assured me that it was good,” said Ramizi.

He paid a RM3,000 deposit and submitted documents to secure a loan from the company for the car priced at RM36,313.

Ramizi also traded in his Japanese compact sedan for RM6,000.

In total, he paid RM19,225 and secured RM17,088 in a credit loan for 36 months, with a monthly payment of RM475.

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What's A Mixed Development And Why Are They Popular?PETALING JAYA: Consumers and stakeholders have called for the proposed Real Property Development Act (RPDA) to clearly define what constitutes mixed development, which currently lacks protection under the law.

Voicing their support for the government’s proposal to introduce the RPDA, they say it is a long-overdue effort to protect buyers of commercial and mixed-use properties.

They said mixed developments such as retail, commercial, small office/home office (Soho), small office/flexible office (Sofo) and small office/versatile office (Sovo) developments lack legal protection under the existing Housing Development Act (Act 118).

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association’s (Fomca) chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah, emphasised the critical need for the RPDA to clearly define what constitutes mixed development.

“The Act must clearly state what qualifies as mixed development and ensure that all such projects are fully regulated – just like residential ones.

“This clarity is essential to ensure comprehensive regulation and protection for buyers in this evolving sector of the property market,” he said in an interview yesterday.

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Laporan muka depan BH mengenai rumah berharga bawah RM300,000 kurang laku. KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan perlu mengkaji semula semua dasar sedia ada berkaitan perumahan mampu milik bagi memastikan setiap projek dibangunkan benar-benar menepati keperluan rakyat.

Menurut Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) langkah itu penting bagi mengelak timbulnya masalah rumah mampu milik tidak terjual.

Menurut FOMCA, definisi rumah mampu milik itu sendiri perlu diteliti semula, yang tidak harus hanya ditentukan had harga rumah semata-mata tetapi berdasarkan peratusan kemampuan kewangan sebenar rakyat di sesuatu kawasan.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Dr T Saravanan, berkata satu entiti khusus seperti Majlis Perumahan Mampu Milik perlu ditubuhkan bagi menilai semula dasar dilaksanakan, membabitkan kerajaan, pemaju, pakar ekonomi dan pertubuhan pengguna.

Beliau berkata, masalah rumah tidak terjual dalam kategori harga bawah RM300,000 seperti direkodkan Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta (JPPH) menunjukkan ketidakpadanan antara apa yang ditawarkan pemaju dengan keperluan sebenar rakyat.

"Walaupun harga rumah itu diklasifikasikan sebagai mampu milik, ramai rakyat terutama dalam kalangan B40 dan M40 masih tidak mampu untuk membeli rumah ini.

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Eye on youth and reckless spending | The StarPETALING JAYA: There should be loan thresholds as well as stricter criteria for taking part in buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) schemes on top of a proposed Bill to regulate the industry, say experts.

This is because young Malaysians, they warn, are especially vulnerable to societal pressure to buy expensive goods and impulse buying, driving them into taking part in such schemes.

Putra Business School economist Assoc Prof Dr Ida Yasin said while these schemes target a broad audience, young individuals, lacking stable incomes, are particularly inclined to use them for purchasing items beyond their means.

“This can lead to a life burdened by debt,” she said.

The Consumer Credit Oversight Bureau (CCOB) Task Force reported that in 2023, 2.9 million active BNPL users were young and middle-aged adults.

In the first quarter of 2024, the total outstanding balance of BNPL schemes reached RM1.42bil.

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Tinjauan paparan harga ubat-ubatan sementara di sebuah Farmasi sekitar Bangsar. - Foto NSTP KUALA LUMPUR: Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) melahirkan kebimbangan terhadap perbezaan ketara antara harga ubat di klinik swasta dan farmasi komuniti kerana ia berisiko merosakkan kepercayaan awam terhadap sistem penjagaan kesihatan swasta.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Dr T Saravanan, berkata atas dasar itu pengambilan untung yang keterlaluan perlu dikawal dengan tegas bagi memastikan tiada pihak yang mengambil kesempatan atas situasi pengguna yang mungkin tidak mempunyai pilihan lain ketika memerlukan rawatan segera.

Beliau berkata, dalam usaha bagi menangani perkara itu, mekanisme paparan harga yang lebih telus dan mesra pengguna perlu diperkenalkan.

Katanya, ia termasuklah membangunkan portal rasmi atau aplikasi yang membolehkan orang ramai membandingkan harga ubat antara klinik dan farmasi berdekatan.

"Kita tidak mahu wujud segelintir 'bad apples' atau pemain industri yang mengenakan harga melampau dan seterusnya merosakkan kepercayaan awam terhadap sistem penjagaan kesihatan swasta.

"Dalam menghadapi situasi ini, FOMCA mencadangkan supaya pemantauan dan penguatkuasaan terhadap harga ubat di klinik swasta diperketatkan.

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Klinik swasta mengenakan bayaran ubat biasa dan ubat jangka panjang lebih mahal antara antara 23 peratus hingga 75 peratus berbanding farmasi komuniti. - Foto NSTPKUALA LUMPUR: Klinik swasta mengenakan bayaran ubat biasa dan ubat jangka panjang lebih mahal antara antara 23 peratus hingga 75 peratus berbanding farmasi komuniti.

Berdasarkan tinjauan BH, sebagai contoh klinik swasta menjual ubat paracetamol 500 miligram (mg) pada harga sekitar RM1 sebiji, tetapi ada farmasi yang menawarkan harga serendah 25 sen sebiji.

Pil salbutamol sulphate yang biasa digunakan berkaitan batuk akibat asma pula harganya sekitar RM1 sebiji di klinik swasta namun boleh dibeli di farmasi antara 25 sen hingga 45 sen sebiji.

Begitu juga ubat terkawal bagi kolesterol, atorvastatin 20mg sekotak mengandungi 30 biji yang dijual sekitar RM160 di klinik manakala RM122 di farmasi.

Satu jenama pil antiarlegik 4mg dijual di klinik pada harga RM1 sebiji tetapi diperoleh di farmasi pada harga 30 sen sebiji.

Menurut Presiden Pertubuhan Doktor-Doktor Islam Malaysia (PERDIM), Dr Boi Saidi B Abd Razak, perbezaan ketara harga ubat di kedua-dua premis itu berpunca daripada kaedah pembelian yang mana farmasi lazimnya membeli stok ubat dalam kuantiti besar sekali gus mampu mendapatkan harga lebih rendah daripada pembekal.

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முட்டைகளுக்கான அரசாங்கத்தின் மானியம் நிறுத்தப்பட்டால் முட்டைகளை பயன்படுத்தும் உணவு வகைகளின் விலை உயர்வு காணும் என மலேசிய பயனீட்டாளர்கள் சங்கங்களின் சம்மேளனம் (போம்கா) எச்சரித்தது.


ஆகையால் இந்த விவகாரத்தில் அரசாங்கம் சிந்தித்து செயல்பட வேண்டும் என போம்கா தலைவர் டத்தோ டாக்டர் மாரிமுத்து நடேசன் கூறினார்.
அரசாங்கம் முட்டைகளுக்கான மானியத்தை நிறுத்தினால், ஒரு முட்டையின் விலை 10 காசாக உயரும் என பரவலாக கூறப்பட்டு வருவதாக அவர் சுட்டிக் காட்டினார்.


முட்டைகளின் விலை உயர்ந்தால், உணவகங்களில் முட்டைகளை பயன்படுத்தும் உணவு வகைகளான மீ வகைகள் மற்றும் கடைகளில் விற்கும் கேக் வகைகள் நிச்சயம் உயர்வு காணும் என அவர் சுட்டிக் காட்டினார்.


இந்த விலை ஏற்றும் பயனீட்டாளர்களுக்கு மேலும் சுமைகளை ஏற்படுத்தும் என அவர் தெளிவுப்படுத்தினார். முட்டைகள் தினமும் உணவகங்களில் மற்றும் வீடுகளில் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் அத்தியாவசியமான ஒரு பொருள் என அவர் நினைவுறுத்தினார்.

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