Day: October 23, 2021

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Muhyiddin, wife get COVID-19 booster shots

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — National Recovery Council chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman received COVID-19 booster dose injections at the Axiata Arena vaccination centre (PPV) here today.

Muhyiddin, 74, and Noorainee, 69, arrived at the PPV at 9.35 am and finished receiving the Pfizer booster dose injections at about 10 am.

While waiting for the observation period to be over, they spent time chatting with some teenagers, who had finished taking their vaccine shots, in the same waiting room.

When met by reporters, the former prime minister said the vaccination process at the PPV was going well and that he did not experience any immediate effects.

According to him, he voluntarily made an appointment through the MySejahtera application a few days ago to get the booster injection.

“After that, I myself made a call to ask the Ministry of Health and was told I could come today,” he said, adding that he sought the booster dose to increase protection as he was 74 years old.

Muhyiddin also reminded the public to continue to adhere to COVID-19 prevention standard operating procedures (SOP) even though most states are currently in Phase Three and Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan.

“Some countries such as the United Kingdom have recorded an increase in new cases and Malaysians should take this as a lesson,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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MAQIS always sensitive to import, export of agricultural products

The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS) is always vigilant and sensitive to the import and export activities of agricultural products so as to ensure the country’s biosecurity is guaranteed.

Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said that, as such, MAQIS would continue to step up control and enforcement at the borders, especially at the country’s entry points, to ensure food safety, disease control and the entry of pests that could threaten the country’s agriculture and livestock industry could be curbed.

He added that MAQIS was also always recommended to enhance the efficiency of services to facilitate agricultural trade at the country’s main entry points and, thus, help the country’s economic development.

“MAQIS has also improved the methods of monitoring imports and exports by strengthening standard operating procedures as well as implementing entry control of agricultural products for transit and transshipment purposes,” he said in a statement today.

Earlier, he had visited the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex to see for himself the import and export operations of the country’s agricultural products to Singapore.

Ronald said that from January to October this year, nearly two million tonnes of agricultural goods worth RM3.48 billion had been exported to the republic through BSI and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex near Gelang Patah.

He pointed out that even the implementation of the Movement Control Order last year did not have a direct impact on the export of agricultural products to Singapore, instead data on export transactions to the republic from the BSI alone showed an increase to 125,151 transactions in 2020 from 56,610 in 2019.

“The increase recorded was 121 per cent, with the number of agricultural exports increasing rising from 279,218 tonnes to 364,012 tonnes. A similar upward trend is expected this year, with transactions up to October having already reached 393,189 tonnes,” he said.

Apart from that, MAQIS has also recorded 37 arrests involving attempts to smuggle in and out agro-food products without permits with an estimated value of RM1.35 million for the period of early this year until Sept 30.

Meanwhile, he said the ministry was finalising several proposed amendments to the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728) aimed at expanding the scope of powers of MAQIS outside quarantine centres, quarantine stations, quarantine premises involving powers to carry out raids, investigations and detentions outside the country’s entry points.

“The amendments will also strengthen jurisdiction for the purpose of biosecurity control over all agricultural commodities related to import and export activities, inter-provincial transfers as well as transits and transshipment,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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96.67 pct of Perlis residents have completed Census 2020 – DOSM

KANGAR, Oct 23 — A total of 96.67 per cent of residents in Perlis have completed the Malaysian Population and Housing Census 2020 (Census 2020) so far.

State Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) director A. Pathmavathi said the success was the result of field activities as well as through the telephone call method that had been vigorously implemented by the Perlis DOSM.

“The deadline to complete Census 2020 is on Oct 31, therefore we are currently in the midst of checking and validating all the information obtained,” she told reporters when met at a field session here, early this morning.

The Social Welfare Department and the Perlis Information Department also participated in the programme.

According to Pathmavathi, the homeless people were not exempted from being enumerated as their data is also important to be recorded.

“No one is left behind as requested by Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin because no matter who they are, all are involved in the implementation of the census so that all government plans and policies can be carried out properly,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Damai Peninsula poised to become major tourist destination

KUCHING, Oct 23 — The story of Princess Santubong and Princess Sejinjang is a local myth that encompasses a perfect recipe for a successful modern prime time soap opera or drama.

The bitter rivalry and jealousy between the two ‘kayangan’ princesses over the love of a prince became the main theme of the story which eventually ended up with Santubong being cursed into Mount Santubong.

The folklore which has been passed down through generations in Sarawak has become synonymous with the Damai peninsula, which is located about 35 km from Sarawak’s capital city of Kuching.

The peninsula, where the 810-metre high Mount Santubong is located is blessed with picturesque sandy beach and tropical rainforest, making it one of Sarawak’s famous tourist destinations.

These potentials have prompted the state government to further invest in developing the peninsula with a plan to build a massive resort city dubbed the Damai Resort City project, which will transform the popular seaside area.

The project will include new resorts, jungle trails and trekking facilities, wellness and health enclaves, marina and commercial as well as residential properties that will be built under the auspices of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

SEDC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Husain explained that this was a long term plan and at the moment the state-owned agency was preparing a comprehensive study for the development of the peninsula which would encompass all aspects including the environmental impact.

“We already have consultants comprising local and foreign experts. This study is expected to take a year and we will have the report ready by early 2022. If all is well we will implement the project,” he told Bernama.

Apart from planning to build new facilities, SEDC which is responsible for leading the development of tourism products in the state is also looking at upgrading its existing facilities in Damai such as the Damai Lagoon Resort.

The renovation will involve maintaining and upgrading work of current rooms and facilities as well as constructing a new Glamping and Rock Chalet Village at the resort.

“This is our vision and we are also looking to have a train or Light Rail Transit (LRT) coming to Damai from Kuching. It will be easier if those arriving at the airport (in Kuching) can take a train straight to Damai,” said Abdul Aziz.

The rich culture of Sarawak is also one of its main tourist attractions and in its tourism drive, the state government also looks to improve the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) in Damai. The 6.8-hectare SCV showcases local culture and lifestyles of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak as well as replica buildings of the Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu, Penan, Melanau, Malay and Chinese.

According to Abdul Aziz, SEDC was also looking to include a herb garden at the village where local spices and vegetables would be planted and used for food preparations before being served to tourists.

The promotion of local culture has also received a significant boost through the support of the federal government when it announced a RM20 million allocation under Budget 2021 to improve infrastructure and step up promotions of cultural village products, particularly those located in Terengganu, Sarawak and Negeri Sembilan.

The story of Princess Santubong will also soon come to life with a special play to be performed at the village’s own theatre where it will feature local actors and actresses.

“The play will be performed in series and we also plan to showcase the performance live. (At the moment) everything is ready including the script and actors, but due to the emergency proclamation and the COVID-19 situation, the play has been postponed,” said Abdul Aziz.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency