Day: June 29, 2021

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Government service counters to resume physical operation Thursday – KSN

— Government service counters, which have not been physically opened during Phase One of Movement Control under the National Recovery Plan (PPN), will resume operation nationwide beginning July 1 (Thursday) with certain operational procedures, says Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

Government service counters have not been physically operating since June 1, excluding health service, police stations and international entry points involving customs, immigration and quarantine.

Mohd Zuki said government decided to do so, after scrutinising the pressing need to open its counters, based on public feedback.

He said the opening will involve services that cannot be carried out online with not more than 50 per cent of counter staff capacity, and is available only on appointment.

“Heads of departments must ensure all COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOP), issued by the National Security Council and Ministry of Health, are adhered at all time, in balancing optimum service delivery to clients and to prevent COVID-19 at the workplace,” he said in a statement today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Steering committee to work on MA63 syllabus – Ongkili

A steering committee has been formed to expedite the collection of data on the historical contents and legal aspects of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

Ongkili in a statement today said the steering committee, comprising members from the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS), Sabah Law Society (SLS) and Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah would be compiling all historical facts that led to the formation of Malaysia 58 years ago.

“The steering committee will develop a syllabus on MA63 and formation of Malaysia for schools, tertiary students, and public references.

“It will be coordinated by BHESS and the drawing up team led by SLS, with inputs from IDS and the Education Ministry, as well as members of academia, to develop the syllabus for the target groups,” he said.

Earlier, Ongkili was chairing an online meeting with senior lawyers from SLS led by its president, Roger Chin and IDS board members, headed by its chairman, Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari.

Ongkili said they aimed to produce what would be legally and academically acceptable, hence helping to eliminate wrong or inaccurate interpretation, and instead provide a true reflection of events and agreements.

“There have been a lot of interpretation on MA63 out there, and we hope this syllabus will set the record right. We want to prevent the public from being misled from the true reflection of the historical agreement,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Data, information sharing on cyber crime trends vital to minimise threats – MCMC

— Data and information sharing on cyber crime trends among countries and law enforcement agencies are vital to minimise cyber threats, said Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chief Regulatory Officer Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin.

He said this was due to the spike of cyber crime cases as the data sharing allows authorities to comprehend the modus operandi in order to prevent malicious activities.

“Information gathering on trends can be done among countries through events analysis or observing emerging activities on cyber space that changes from time to time,” he said during the ASEAN Cyber Security Forum at the Cyber Defence and Security Exhibition and Conference (CYDES) 2021, held virtually today.

Therefore, Zulkarnain said collaboration among countries were needed to be further strengthened in order to overcome the limitation on data and information available to analyse trends.

He said that the countries involved in the collaboration should flag up issues relating to the matter according to the trends and nature of the unforeseen threats.

Zulkarnain also highlighted that each country is facing challenges in preventing cyber crime as they have their own sets of laws not applicable to others.

However, he said this must be resolved to facilitate law enforcement among countries especially involving cross border cyber crimes.

The inaugural CYDES 2021 themed ‘Embedding Resilience Within Our Cyberspace’ is being organised by National Security Council (NSC) and National Cyber Security Agency (NASCA).

Approximately 80 exhibitors and 2,500 trade visitors from 12 countries are participating in CYDES 2021 from June 28 to 30.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Over 300,000 PwDs register for COVID-19 vaccination – Rina

The number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) who registered for COVID-19 vaccination has increased to 306,740 as of June 27 from 280,904 recorded on June 20.

“We will mobilise volunteers to assist in the registration process, whether these PwDs are registered with JKM (Social Welfare Department) (or not) to ensure this group is not left out in the vaccination process,” Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said today.

Speaking to reporters after observing the vaccination process at the Industrial Training and Rehabilitation Center here which involved 26 PwD students, Rina said more than 105,000 PwDs have received their first dose of the vaccine shots and over 38,000 have completed both doses.

On the rising mental health problems, Rina said the ministry would continue to work with non-governmental organisations to address social issues in the country.

Commenting further, she said the Talian Kasih line had received 526 calls seeking guidance and counselling over the past six months.

“Apart from economic problems, many of them need counselling due to affected income, losing their jobs and loved ones because of COVID-19 and some who work from home are also stress because they cannot leave home,” she explained.

Rina said the ministry would also work with 300 registered counsellors to address the issue.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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RMH helps rescue Indonesian fishermen after boat sinks

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) managed to help rescue five Indonesian fishermen who were floating at sea for three days after their boat sank, at its Jarak offshore station about 35 nautical miles southwest of Pangkor Island, yesterday evening.

The Western Fleet Command Headquarters, in a statement, said the victims were then handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency before being brought to the Indonesian embassy for further documentation.

“The five fishermen were believed to have been floating at sea for three days before being rescued by a local fishing boat and were brought to the Jarak Station.

“The victims, who were in a weak condition, were given food and drinks at the station before they were transferred to RMN’s KD Mahamiru that was conducting Ops Benteng and Malaysia-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol Operation (OP Patkor Malindo),” read the statement.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Senate president, Dewan Rakyat Speaker meet Agong

— Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today granted an audience to Senate president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun at Istana Negara here.

Also in attendance were Senate deputy president Senator Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad and both Deputy Speakers of Dewan Rakyat Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon.

According to Mohd Rashid, the one-hour meeting which ended at around noon discussed mostly matters related to His Majesty’s view for Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible.

He said efforts were being done to uphold the King’s decree.

“We will see you soon (in Parliament), InsyaAllah, either in a normal or in a hybrid manner,” he told reporters after the audience.

In a joint statement last Friday, Rais and Azhar said a hybrid sitting of the Parliament can be expected at the end of August or in the first week of September at the latest.

Assuming that all legislative aspects could be resolved by end of July, a Special Parliament session will be convened in early August prior to the sitting.

Meanwhile, Mohd Rashid in a statement said the Malaysian Parliament took note of the royal view and was ready to reconvene as soon as possible and that the matters concerning the preparations had also been tabled to the Leader of the House for consideration.

“His Majesty’s wisdom in upholding the Constitution, giving priority to the people and recognising the hard work of healthcare workers truly touched me.

“For the umpteenth time, His Majesty gives priority to the people and their welfare in the best possible way. Parliament will take the necessary steps to uphold His Majesty’s call in balancing the practice of democracy and the functions of Parliament,” he said.

Mohd Rashid also urged the vaccinations for all Parliament staff and officials of all Members of Parliament to be expedited to enable the Parliament sitting to be held in accordance with the stipulated standard operating procedures.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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IRB extends deadlines for submission of Tax Return Forms

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has extended the deadlines for submission of Tax Return Form for several categories of taxpayers following the extension of the Phase One of Movement Control under the National Recovery Plan.

In a statement today, it said the initiative was taken to give the taxpayers more time in preparing tax documents and information that need to be declared to the IRB.

“Among the taxpayers (with a business income) involved are individuals, partnerships, associations, deceased persons’ estates and Hindu joint families for the year of assessment 2020, the additional time for submission of Tax Return Forms and Payment of Tax Balances is until Aug 31,” the statement said.

It said that more detailed guidelines regarding the submission of the Tax Return Form as well as other tax matters can be found at IRB’s official portal.

According to the statement, the frequently asked questions on tax matters during the Phase One are available at http://www.hasil.gov.my/pdf/pdfam/faq_pkp3_2.pdf.

All enquiries can be directed to Hasil Care Line at 03-8911 1000/603-8911 1100 (overseas) or HASiL Live Chat or Feedback Form on the IRB’s official portal at https://maklumbalaspelanggan.hasil.gov.my/MaklumBalas/ms-my/.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency