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Tanjung Piai by-election dates set

Oct 01, 2019

We now know the key dates for the Tanjung Piai by-election in Johor. 

The Election Commission says nomination day falls on November 2nd, early voting on the 12th, while polling day falls on November 16th. 

It's targeting a voter turnout of 70 percent. 

Meanwhile, the EC says 18-year-olds will NOT be able to vote in the by-election, because the constitutional amendment to lower the voting age from 21 has yet to be gazetted. 

However, 18-year-olds can contest as a by-election candidate.

The by-election was called after incumbent MP, Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, of Pakatan Harapan passed away from heart complications last month. 
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An economic think tank has called on the govt to bring back the GST in Budget 2020, but the rate should be slashed, from 6 percent to just 3 percent.

The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research says GST is a fairer tax regime, and adds that GST helped keep the govt afloat when oil prices plunged back in 2015. 

However, there's little likelihood of this happening, as the Finance Minister previously said that there will be NO new tax measures in the budget. 

Separately, Lim Guan Eng says next year's budget will focus on creating job opportunities for Malaysians, WITH reasonable pay. 

He says this will give locals more desire and motivation to work, and lessen the country's dependence on foreign workers. 

Budget 2020 will be tabled in Parliament on Oct 11.

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The bounty for info leading to the capture of the poachers that killed a Borneo Pygmy elephant in Tawau, Sabah has risen to 30 thousand ringgit! 

This is after a UK-based NGO pledged another 10 thousand ringgit to the reward that was already being offered by the Sabah Wildlife Department and anonymous donors. 

The elephant was found dead last week with 70 bullet wounds on its body and both tusks missing.

The Borneo Pygmy elephant is an endangered species, with only 2,000 or so left in the wild.