GST should be postponed, says Sabah activist

By Ezra Haganez

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government should consider calls to postpone the implemention of Goods and Service Tax (GST) this April, as more than half of  eligible businesses in Sabah appeared not yet ready for it.

A consumer activist who is also a trader, Donny Yapp, in a statement today said many businesses especially in Sabah have yet to register with the Royal Custom Department and that many more have not acquired or installed GST-compliance accounting software.

Brunei bans public Christmas celebrations to ‘protect’ Islamic faith

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray, its religious affairs ministry said today, in a country that last year controversially instituted tough Islamic sharia penalties.

The ban, instituted after Christmas last month when local children and adults were seen wearing clothes “that resemble Santa Claus”, raises fresh concerns of religious restrictions after last April’s announcement of the introduction of a penal code that will eventually include penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning.

Practise True Federation – Dr. Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu:     “The federal government need to decentralize to empower the States and reduce power concentration at its centre and practice true federation not only to reflect the basis of the formation of Malaysia but to ensure the Federation continue to exist with stable federal-state relations” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the spat between Penang MP Zairil and Utusan on federalism.

The federal government should stop its agenda of turning the Malaysian federation into a unitary state with concentration of power and money at Putrajaya.

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The Best for 2015

By Briton Ryle | Monday, January 5th, 2015

Well, here we are in 2015. For Christmas this year, I got a touching handmade card from my 12-year-old son, and my dad sent me eight soft-shell crabs that I ate on New Year's Day. 

I rolled 'em in a little flour, flash-fried them crispy, and made sandwiches. They were delicious.

It amazes me that you can get truly fresh soft-shell crabs delivered overnight. These came packed in styrofoam, with ice packs to keep them cold, but not frozen.

Sabah seats proposal submitted – EC

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Election Commission (EC) has submitted the proposed delineation for Sabah to its headquarters, director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail said.

He however did not disclose the number of additional seats requested for Sabah in the proposal.

“We have submitted our proposal to the headquarters. The recommendations will be put on display at a later date for the public to scrutinize and give their feedback,” Md Idrus said this when asked if the state Election Commission would also be conducting a delineation review as is being done in Sarawak.