Day: September 19, 2021

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Illegal house renovation identified among causes of landslide at Kemensah Heights – Takiyuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — Illegal house renovation has been identified as among the causes of the landslide incident at Jalan Kemensah Heights here, last Friday, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

Takiyuddin, who visited the scene today, said he realised that some owners had to renovate their houses to accommodate a larger family,

“But it had to be carried out in accordance with stipulated guidelines and procedures to avoid an incident like this,” he said when met at the scene of the landslide. Also present was Director General of the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Hishamuddin Termidi.

Takiyuddin said a report on the landslide incident was being prepared by the Department of Minerals and Geosciences and expected to completed tomorrow.

It will be used as reference by other agencies and department for follow-up action, he added.

Three bungalows and 12 townhouses involving 27 families were affected by the landslide at Jalan Kemensah Heights here last Friday. However, no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, Gombak district officer Nor Azlina Abdul Aziz said the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had been instructed to inspect the slopes and construction sites in the Kemensah Heights area to ensure compliance with stipulated conditions and regulations.

Three bungalows and 12 townhouses involving 27 families were affected by the landslide at Jalan Kemensah Heights here last Friday. However, no injuries were reported.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Australia to send officials to provide further understanding on AUKUS – Saifuddin

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 19 — Australia will send its officials to Malaysia to provide further clarification and understanding on the security partnership involving the country, the United Kingdom and the United States, known with the acronym AUKUS, said Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

In a statement on Sunday, he said the matter was agreed recently during a telephone conversation with his Australian counterpart, Senator Marise Payne.

Saifuddin also called for all parties within the Indo-Pacific region and beyond to strengthen further active cooperation in promoting and sustaining the region as a region of peace, stability, as well as of growth and prosperity as espoused in the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific.

He shared Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s concerns that the establishment of AUKUS could lead to the escalation of arms race in the region.

“It could also potentially spark tension among the world superpowers, and aggravate aggression between them in the region, particularly in the South China Sea,” he said.

On Sept. 15, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia unveiled the new security trilateral partnership arrangement AUKUS, where among others Australia will be equipped with a fleet of advanced nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS has raised concerns over the powerplay and nuclear proliferation in the region.

Saifuddin also reaffirmed the prime minister’s assertion for all concerned parties to respect and comply with existing Malaysia’s national regime under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ASEAN’s Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty and Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Treaty (ZOPFAN).

“Malaysia is steadfast in its position on maintaining international peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, including issues related to nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear technology,” he said.

On Saturday, Ismail Sabri had expressed Malaysia’s concern that the AUKUS could potentially spark a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific region.

At the same time, it was feared that the move would provoke other powers to also act aggressively in the region, especially in the South China Sea, he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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More field hospitals needed in Penang – Lim

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 19 — There is a need for more field hospitals to be set up in Penang to accommodate the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today.

The Member of Parliament for Bagan said that Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds utilisation in Penang is currently at 96.6 percent, putting the state as the second highest for ICU beds utilisation in the country.

Lim proposed that Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin look into setting up more field hospitals with more ICU beds in COVID-19 hotspots such as Seberang Jaya, Nibong Tebal and Balik Pulau.

“Penangites are still grateful for the quick completion of a field hospital comprising 96 ordinary beds and four ICU beds at the Penang General Hospital Car Park by the Armed Forces.

“However, with the ICU bed utilisation nearly hitting full capacity, Khairy should consider building more field hospitals for Penang,” he said in a statement.

On Sept 11, Khairy said that a field hospital would be built at the public hospital parking lot to accommodate more COVID-19 patients in Penang.

The Malaysian Armed Forces began the construction of the field hospital on Sept 16 with around 23 tents set up in a 2,300 sqm area and is expected to be operational soon.

Meanwhile, Lim also proposed that Khairy draw on the extra RM5 billion funds allocated to his Ministry as part of the RM45 billion fund injection to fight COVID-19 and the economic recession in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal government and Pakatan Harapan on Sept 13.

He said that the RM5 billion could help to not only conduct mass test screening nationwide but also increase manpower by taking contract doctors on a permanent basis and improve health support services such as ICU beds.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Former Kunak assemblyman Nilwan Kabang dies of COVID-19

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 19 — Former Kunak assemblyman Datuk Nilwan Kabang died of COVID-19 early this morning.

The 71-year-old Sabah UMNO deputy Information chief breathed his last at 3.45am at the Gleneagles Hospital.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, who is also Sabah UMNO liaison chairman confirmed the sad news and said that Nilwan was admitted to the private hospital early this month.

“On behalf of UMNO Sabah, I would like to extend my condolences to Nilwan’s family and his wife Datin Amnani Abdullah. May his family remain strong in facing this difficult time.

“We pray that his soul will be blessed and placed among the righteous,” he said in a statement here today.

Nilwan was a two-term assemblyman for the Kunak tate constituency from 2008 to 2018 before losing to Parti Warisan Sabah candidate Norazlinah Arif in the 14th General Election.

Bung Moktar described Nilwan’s death as a great loss to the Sabah UMNO and the people in the state.

“The late Nilwan was a strong willed person who did not give up easily and always calm in the face of adversity.

“He was also a close friend of mine and we have been involved in politics since the era of USNO,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency