Day: October 27, 2021

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Filthy fucuk factory ordered to close, compounded

NIBONG TEBAL, Oct 27 — A fucuk (thin dried tofu sheets) processing factory near here has been ordered to close for two weeks due to its filthy environment in the food processing area.

Penang Health Department’s Food Safety and Quality Division (BKKM) environmental health officer, Mohd Wazir Khalid, said that the condition of the factory was deemed unfit to operate and it was necessary to stop all food processing work immediately.

“The condition of the fucuk factory is very filthy and worrying … unfit to operate as the cleanliness level of the premises does not meet the hygiene and food safety standards set,” he told reporters in a press conference after ‘Ops Bersih’ conducted at the factory today.

He said that the factory was also found not to have a valid business licence and was believed to have been operating for more than 10 years. Compounds were issued amounting to RM5,500.

“The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued a compound based on offenses including not labelling food, not registered under the MOH and operating without permission, while a notice of compound of RM500 was also issued by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), which participated in this operation, for operating without a licence.

“The closure notice was issued according to Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, effective today,” he said, adding that the fucuk processing plant had previously been ordered to close operations for a similar offense about three years ago.

He said that among other offenses committed were that a factory worker, a Myanmar national, who did not receive typhoid injections, not wearing suitable equipment when handling food, and pets such as dogs roaming on the premises.

“The main reason for this closure is due to flies and cockroaches related to food poisoning, which can cause both bacterial and physical contamination. Hence, it is necessary to close it before food poisoning cases occur,” he said, adding that the fucuk product is believed to be marketed to states in the southern region.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Sabah appoints Lee Chong Wei as tourism ambassador

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 27 — The Sabah government today appointed national badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei as state tourism ambassador.

Chong Wei will play the role of Sabah Tourism Ambassador until December next year.

The appointment was announced by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Arifin during a briefing and luncheon with Chong Wei, here.

Speaking to reporters, Chong Wei thanked the Sabah government over the appointment and hoped that he would be able to help revive the state’s tourism industry which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am very happy. I know Sabah is very famous. I always go to competitions in China, Taiwan and everybody knows Sabah. Sabah is a very big state.

“I hope I will bring my family and kids to Sabah and go to a lot of places here (and with that) I can share more details as well as help promote tourism in Sabah and bring in more tourists,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jafry said Chong Wei was chosen for the role because of his global reputation through his remarkable performances in the international arena, winning trophies as well as fans around the world, especially in the ASEAN region, Asia-Pacific, China, Japan, South Korea, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

“These countries make up part of Sabah’s traditional market and major contributor to tourism arrivals to Sabah pre-COVID-19. This is certainly great news to all and a promising outlook for the tourism industry,” he said.

With Chong Wei’s outstanding accomplishments, Jafry said the ministry is confident that his role as tourism ambassador will help propel the state’s tourism industry to greater heights in the next two years.

In related development, Jafry said that there was a proposal to set up a Lee Chong Wei badminton academy in Sabah and the matter was raised during a courtesy call by his ministry and Chong Wei on Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, yesterday.

“It is good for Sabahans who love badminton and may also be used as a training centre for tourists and players from abroad. If this becomes a reality, it will help the Sabah tourism industry as well,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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National laureate Kemala dies today

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — National laureate Datuk Dr Ahmad Kamal Abdullah, or known by his pseudonym Kemala, died about noon today at the age of 80 at his son’s house in Damansara here.

National Writers Association (PENA) president Dr Mohamad Saleeh Rahamad said the remains were taken to the Surau As Shahabah, Section 7 Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, and buried at the Section 9 Muslim Cemetery in Kota Damanasara after the Asar prayer.

He said Ahmad Kamal had been sick with several chronic illnesses including kidney problem.

“His contributions were not only in the form of literary writing, literature development and producing new writers, but through the Persatuan Sasterawan Nusantara Melayu Raya (NUMERA) which he founded, he had brought literature to the international level and brought together writers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Ahmad Kamal, who received the National Laureate award in 2012, was with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka from 1968 until he retired in 1996.

He was active in literary works and started writing poetry since primary school. His works had been translated into various languages including Chinese, Urdu, French, German, Dutch, Slovenian, Spanish and Serbo-Croatian.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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GMAC unveils first-ever global study of graduate management education diversity

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™) has released a special report, ‘The Global Diversity of Talent – Attainment and Representation’, a first reference guide of its kind to better understand representation for graduate management education (GME) degree attainment worldwide.

Understanding that education systems globally experienced disruption due to the pandemic, GMAC turned to its leading research capability as universities sought to adapt with a renewed attention to issues of student access and equity, as well as diversity and representation in tertiary educational attainment.

The report provides a global overview, seven regional outlooks, and separate reports for 69 locations or countries with an estimated 25,000 or more people in the student-aged population of 20 to 34 who have attained a master’s degree in the subject of business, administration, or law.

In addition to a separate appendix that reviews data on 111 other countries, it also examines the representation of women globally and under-represented groups in the United States, according to a statement.

Key findings include women struggling for representation at graduate business level, falling behind the most in Europe; African American graduates outpacing their white counterparts, driven by their over-representation in U.S. for-profit programmes; and, most business degree holders coming from Asia while Latin America enjoys highest business concentration among graduate degrees.

Globally, more women than men choose their undergraduate study in the fields of business, administration, and law.

The proportions of graduate management degree-holders relative to the student-aged population, or the GME participation rate, differs among the seven U.S. race/ethnicity groups studied in the report.

By region, the highest business concentration among all master’s degree-holders is seen in Latin America (33.1 per cent), the Middle East (27.6 per cent), and East Asia and the Pacific (26.6 per cent).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Heavier punishment proposed for offence of smuggling of migrants

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The punishment for the aggravated offence of smuggling of migrants is proposed to be increased from a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine or both to life imprisonment and shall also be liable to whipping.

The matter is contained in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill 2021 which was tabled for the first reading by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The bill is to provide that a public officer who commits an offence of smuggling of migrants in the performance of his public duties commits an aggravated offence of smuggling of migrants.

The amendment is also to increase the punishment of imprisonment for the offence of smuggling of migrants from a term not exceeding 15 years to a term not exceeding 20 years.

Other than that, the amendment is also to increase the punishment of imprisonment for the offence relating to bringing in transit a smuggled migrant from a term not exceeding seven years to a term not exceeding 15 years.

The bill seeks to ensure that the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670) is consistent with the requirements stipulated in the Palermo Protocol and the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP).

Ismail said the second reading of the bill would be made during this parliamentary session.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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MyDaftar OKU will help improve existing PwD registration system – Rina

MELAKA, Oct 27 — The registration system for persons with disabilities (PwDs) known as MyDaftar OKU was launched today as part of efforts to improve the existing registration system that uses the OKU Information System (SMOKU) platform.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said MyDaftar OKU would also enhance the service delivery for disabled persons, in line with the eighth thrust of the Action Plan for PwDs 2016-2022.

She said the thrust has outlined the need to set up a PwD database and a comprehensive information system to faciliate the registration of the group.

“It is important for all PwDs to register to enable the government to make careful planning and formulate policies that are appropriate to the needs of the group based on accurate and comprehensive data.

“This has also become an important KPI (Key Performance Indicator) to ensure that the PwD community is not left behind in line with the Malaysian Family slogan,” she said in a speech at the launch of MyDaftar OKU today.

Meanwhile, at a press conference later, Rina said through MyDaftar OKU, the ministry targeted to approve 2,000 registration applications next month.

She said prior to getting their own OKU physical card, each applicant would be provided with a digital card through QR code that was equipped with security features to facilitate access to services provided for the group.

“Registration is very important to enable PwDs to get benefits and assistance provided by various parties, including the government and private sectors,” she said.

Rina said as of Sept 30, a total of 582,944 PwDs in the country had registered with the Social Welfare Department.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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11 items listed under Deepavali festival maximum price scheme

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 27 — The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (MDTCA) has listed 11 items under the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) to be enforced from Nov 1 to 7 in conjunction with Deepavali which will be celebrated next week.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the 11 items are live chicken, standard chicken, super, imported mutton ; grade A, B and C chicken egg; red chilli, tomato; coconut and grated coconut.

“The price of these items is controlled to stabilise their price and supply,” he said at the virtual launch of the Deepavali SHMMP 2021 today.

He said the maximum price scheme of the items is applicable in 91 districts in Peninsular Malaysia, 27 districts in Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

For Sarawak, implementation of the scheme only involved four districts, namely Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu, he added.

Meanwhile, Nanta said the ministry would work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry to ensure adequate supply of goods and the price remained reasonable during the festive period.

Enforcement officers from the ministry will also be at shopping locations such as markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets to conduct inspections and monitoring, he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency