Month: October 2021

Employers are advised to attend Disability Equality Training (DET) workshops to encourage a wider understanding and knowledge of the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) as well as help create an environment and society that is sensitive to the needs of the group.

OKU Sentral president Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi said the training was also able to change the people’s views and perceptions of the PwDs as well as help plan the support that could be offered to them.

“OKU Sentral has a team that provides DET where PwD themselves will teach about their disabilities and needs and how employers can help provide PwD-friendly facilities.

“This effort is important to ensure that all PwDs will have the same rights just like any other Malaysians,” she told Bernama today.

Ras Adiba was commenting on a viral video showing a deaf woman expressing her disappointment over being denied her right to order a meal at the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant.

Commenting further, Ras Adiba said such incidents had been going on all over the world for a long time, including in developed countries where awareness of the rights and needs of PwD is still low.

Therefore, she hopes that awareness towards PWDs would be inculcated since kindergarten to ensure that future generations will better understand and respect them.

“Employers need to understand that PwDs also contribute to the economy, and as customers, they need to be treated equally,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

— Kampung Kuchai here is set to get an art gallery soon.

Perak Housing, Local Government and State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said this was following discussions held previously with famous film director, the late Mamat Khalid and which also involved the Ipoh City Council (MBI) in a bid to add another tourism product, especially around the Old Town of Ipoh.

“Prior to this, we held discussions with the late Mamat Khalid, who had managed his cafe in Tanjung Malim, and we wanted to establish an art gallery akin to the ‘Sarang Hub’ that he owned.

“However, due to his untimely death (last Sunday), we will continue discussions with his next-of-kin and MBI. We will see how we can realise this according to the previous plan,” she said.

She said this after launching the publicity and public participation programme for the 2035 Batang Padang District Local Plan Draft (Replacement) at Dewan Merdeka here.

The late Mamat Khalid, or his real name Mohamad Mohamad Khalid, 58, died while on the way to the Slim River Hospital at about 12.30 am on Sunday (Oct 24) and was buried at the Masjid Kampung Paloh Muslim Cemetery here.

Earlier, Nolee Ashilin, representing the Menteri Besar of Perak at the ceremony, said the direction of the 2035 Batang Padang District Local Plan Draft (Replacement) was to focus on being a sustainable, viable and livable district.

She said that in order to achieve the mission, the development implementation would focus on tourism, education and resource industry activities.

“As such, the tourism sector will become the main economic activity in this district in addition to empowering the education and research sectors while mobilisation of the resource industry’s needs must be given specific attention to further enliven economic development.

“In addition, housing development, business activities, transportation network and support facilities are among the main items that must be emphasised by the implementing agency in developing the district in the future,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Public Services Commission (SPA) has annulled the results of the Public Service Entrance Examination (PSEE) and blacklisted candidates found to be involved in misconduct of integrity while sitting for the examination.

The SPA said in a statement today that as a result of its monitoring and investigation, it found that there were some candidates who were irresponsible when sitting for the PSEE.

“The SPA has identified candidates who breached integrity by creating groups in WhatsApp and Telegram, aimed at offering paid answer services or abetting to commit copying and answer sharing activities for the purpose of passing the PSSE,” SPA said.

The SPA, in taking a serious view on the matter, stressed that the applications of the candidates involved for any other posts would not be considered.

A search on Telegram found there were several groups including ‘PSEE Question Bank’ and ‘PSEE Problem-Solving Ability’ which uploaded a set of questions, answers and working methods for solving problems.

Also seen was a reminder to cohorts that they are prohibited from sending any questions in the group during the course of the examination.

The PSEE is an aptitude test conducted online as an initial screening for job applicants that includes an assessment of general knowledge, ability in problem-solving and an English comprehension test.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The collection of zakat (tithe) in Pahang for this year is expected to reach its target of RM170 million with the number of payers estimated at 97,000 people.

Pahang Tithe Collection Centre (PKZ) senior general manager Datuk Halidan Md Daud said there was an increase of 5.9 per cent or RM5.7 million in the tithe collection involving 3,721 payers this year compared to the same period last year.

“As of Oct 20, a total of 86,828 property tithe payers have fulfilled their obligations with a total of RM102.3 million collected compared to the same period last year where 83,107 individuals and corporate bodies paid their property tithe amounting to RM96.6 million.

“The largest collection of RM47.4 million was from salary deduction, followed by payments by corporate and business sector totalling RM22.3 million.”

Halidan said this at a press conference after attending the Pahang Business Tithe Presentation Ceremony graced by Tengku Panglima Raja Lt Col Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah here today.

At the event, five corporate bodies namely YP Plantation Holdings Sdn Bhd, Pharmaniaga Berhad, Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad and Agrobank presented their tithe totalling RM2.15 million.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Vietnam is the first country in the world to routinely use an innovative method to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) using stool.

The Simple One-Step Stool Method, developed by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, is implemented in 10 healthcare facilities across the country, according to a statement.

“This simple and painless test is an important development for diagnosing TB in children under the age of five and people living with HIV. This can save many lives and reduce suffering,” said Director of the National Lung Hospital and Head of the Vietnam National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP), Prof Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung.

To raise the number of children being diagnosed and treated on time, the NTP decided to start an implementation pilot – financed by the Global Fund – with the KNCV Simple One-Step (SOS) Stool Method.

This turned out to be very successful and made the NTP decide to continue working with the SOS Stool Method routinely.

Worldwide, sputum from the lungs is currently mainly used as a sample to diagnose TB. However, it can be very difficult for many people living with HIV and children to cough up sputum.

“These invasive methods are often traumatising for the children, parents and healthcare workers. Materials for these procedures are not available everywhere and sometimes it is only done when the child is already very ill.

“This results in many children worldwide not being diagnosed or being diagnosed too late,” said executive director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV), Mustapha Gidado.

A stool sample is painless and easy to obtain from children. KNCV laboratory experts dove into the matter and developed the SOS Stool Method, that was first presented during the Union World Conference in 2018.

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation provides online training courses for laboratory staff, so that all countries can start using this method for diagnosing TB in children and people living with HIV. Vietnam sets an example of how this can be done successfully on all levels.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, Oct 29 — The number of flood evacuees in Kedah has risen to 239 from 63 families as of 8 am today as compared to 216 victims from 55 families yesterday.

A Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Kedah spokesman said, two new relief centres were opened in Baling district last night to house 47 victims from 16 families following heavy rains in the district since yesterday evening.

“Twenty-six victims are being housed at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tanjung Pari relief centre which opened at 9 pm while another 21 were evacuated to SK Siong at 10.25 pm,” he said in a statement today.

In addition he said two other relief centres namely the Banggol Derom Community Hall and SK Titi Gantung, which were closed yesterday, were reopened to house 55 victims from 13 families.

Meanwhile the SK Bandar relief centre which housed 12 victims from two families was closed yesterday .

In Pendang, 137 victims from 34 families are still at Dewan Rakan Sukan, Tanah Merah, since they were evacuated on Oct 24.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 29 — The Sabah Water Services Commission will be established to find long-term sustainable solutions to water supply, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

The Sabah Works Minister said the function of the Commission was also to supervise and monitor the quality and efficiency of water and sewerage services in the state.

However, he said before the Commission could be set up, amendments must first be made to the Sabah Water Supply Enactment.

“The establishment of this Commission is one of the matters that will be included in the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) Roadmap. We are confident that with this Commission there will be less bureaucracy and better efficiency in water management,” he said in a statement here today.

He was commenting on the proposal by Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to formulate an enactment to regulate the water supply services industry in the state and ensure separation between its regulatory and operational functions.

Bung Moktar said a forum held yesterday to discuss the establishment of the Commission was also attended by Assistant Works Minister Datuk Limus Jury, Works Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Mohd Jasmin Juplin and Sabah Water Department director Edward Linkapo.

“To address water supply issues in Sabah, JANS needs about RM13 billion to replace and upgrade water supply systems such as old pipelines and problematic water treatment plants.

“JANS is the only water utility in Malaysia still with department status that manages its own water supply without direct assistance from the Federal government,” he said.

He added that through the Commission, the state government hoped that Federal government would assist to cover the high cost of expenses in an effort to improve the water supply system in Sabah.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency