Day: October 13, 2021

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 13 –The Penang Fishermen’s Association (Pen Mutiara) today reiterated that the fishing community’s position on the three-islands reclamation project in the south of Penang has not changed, with over 6,000 of its members still against the mega project.

Pen Mutiara chairman, Mahadi Md Rodzi said the association’s establishment was subject to the Fishermen’s Association Act 1971, under which it was registered.

“We are still adhering to the decision taken at our previous general meeting, which unanimously decided to object to the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, through the motions taken in a series of general meetings since 2016 until now.

“If there is any proposal to support the PSR project, the matter should go through a formal general meeting,” he told reporters here today.

According to media reports, on Oct 7, a group called Pertubuhan Lestari Alam Sekitar Pulau Pinang (PLASPP) had submitted a petition with 1,521 signatures in support of the PSR project, with 435 of the signatories being fishermen.

On this development, Mahadi said any claim of representation by fishermen outside a motion of the general meeting was invalid because they ignored the fishing community’s collective decision made through the official platform, in accordance with the Fishermen’s Association Act 1971.

“There was no motion brought at the official general meetings of our association that expressed support for the PSR project.

“As such, we would like to urge any party involved to use the proper channels in holding discussions or in making decisions because Pen Mutiara is a legitimate association which has been mandated to ensure the welfare of the fishing community,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, Oct 13 — Flight frequency to Sarawak has been increased to support the state’s economic revival and reopening of the tourism sector, said State Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

He said, to date, the new flight frequency and schedule for major airports in Sarawak which has been approved by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM), was 76 flights per week.

Of the total, Kuching will see 42 flights per week, Miri (19 flights per week), Bintulu (four flights per week), Sibu (six flights per week), Limbang and Lawas (two flights per week) and Mulu (three flights per week).

“In addition, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) Secretariat is conducting engagement sessions with airlines, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad, and other relevant stakeholders on the new process entry to Sarawak.

“This is to further strengthen the process through greater application of IT and user-friendly approaches, as well as monitor the incoming passengers. It will also eliminate congestion and the time-consuming process at airports in Sarawak,” he said in a statement here, today.

Lee added that the engagement with the relevant stakeholders was necessary to ensure the smooth implementation of the new flight schedule.

“It is hope that this will ease the movement of passengers and travellers to Sarawak as we are already in Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan.

“We believe that with the increase in the flight frequency to Sarawak, airlines will offer a reasonable and affordable fares,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — The retail price of RON97 petrol will increase by 10 sen per litre to RM2.87 from tomorrow (Oct 14) until Oct 20, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said today.

In a statement, it said, however, the retail prices of RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged at RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre respectively until Oct 20.

MoF said the prices were set based on the weekly retail pricing of petroleum products using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM).

“To protect consumers from global oil price increases, the government will maintain the ceiling price of RON95 at RM2.05 per litre and diesel at RM2.15 per litre, even though the market price APM for RON95 and diesel have increased beyond the current ceiling prices,” it said.

MoF said the government will continue to monitor the trends of global crude oil prices and take appropriate measures to ensure the continued welfare and well-being of the people.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — The government is urged to empower corporate endowments such as that introduced by the Johor Corporation Berhad (JCorp) involving the Wakaf An-Nur Clinic in Johor, said Senator Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.

He said government and non-government organisations and corporate bodies could play an important role in boosting public health infrastructure in the country.

Taking the example of Ibn Toulon, Zulkifli said Ibn Toulon had established hospitals for the poor in Cairo, Egypt in 913 AD other than obstetrics and gynaecology medical institutions in cities such as Harran, Turkey; Baghdas, Iraq; and Jundishapur, Iran.

“The biggest maternity hospital in the city of Baghdad was built by Caliph Harun al-Rashid.

“He also established a midwifery school and appointed doctors as Health Ministers and Palace Doctors while the biggest maternity hospital in the city of Rayy (in Iran) was built for the whole of Persia.

“Among the famous hospitals in Islam are the al-Muqtadiri, al’Atiq dan al-Mansori Hospitals.

“These hospitals were all financed and managed through endowment sources,” he said during the 12th Malaysia Plan debate session in Dewan Negara here today, as a recommendation to the government to boost public health levels post (COVID-19) pandemic.

In addition, he said it was also apt that the government should give additional special allowances to COVID-19 emergency personnel.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 13 — Former Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian was admitted to the KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital here last night after suffering a mild stroke.

His son, Nornekman, said Osman, who is Kempas assemblyman, was rushed to the hospital at about 10 pm yesterday.

“Alhamdulillah, my father’s condition is more stable now. A while ago, he started talking and answering phone calls,” he told Bernama when contacted while adding that Osman, 70, is in the process of being transferred to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur for further treatment.

Johor Bersatu deputy chairman Senator Md Nasir Hashim said he received the news in Dewan Negara today and it came as a shock, while Permas assemblyman, Datuk Che Zakaria Mohd Salleh said he plans to visit Osman in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

Osman, who is also Ayer Hitam Bersatu division chief, was appointed Johor’s 16th Menteri Besar after the 2018 general election, serving from May 12, 2018 until April 8, 2019.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEREMBAN, Oct 13 — A total 53 civil servants in Negeri Sembilan who have yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccine injection have until the end of this month to do so before action is taken against them by the Public Service Department (PSD), said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

He said the state government hoped the group could quickly get vaccination to ensure smoothness of the public delivery service.

“Prior to this, 64 civil servants in the state were identified as not ready yet to receive the vaccines. However, 11 of them then got vaccinated.

“Indeed, there are those among them who are still against the vaccination. We hope they will rethink it although they view that they have their own rights on this,” he said at a media conference after the State Executive Council meeting at Wisma Negeri today.

The media had reported that the PSD made it mandatory for all civil servants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before Nov 1.

On another development, Aminuddin said the state government would table the 2022 Budget at the end of November.

“The budget which we formulate for next year is realistic. The government will look at the previous year’s budget to be included and harmonised so that the budget tabled this time is more meaningful and gives an economic stimulus to the community,” he added.

Meanwhile, following the go-ahead given to interstate travel, Aminuddin advised visitors to Negeri Sembilan, especially on weekends, to look after the cleanliness and comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency