Day: November 12, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — A total of 131 parliamentary members (MPs) debated the Supply Bill 2022 at the policy level which ended yesterday after the session continued for the third week of the Dewan Rakyat sitting.

The winding up session of the bill by the ministries will begin this Monday for four days before it will be passed and debated at the committee level.

Among the interesting issues raised in the debate this week was on the party anti-hopping bill by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) who urged all the MPs to support the bill.

Khalid Abd Samad (Pakatan Harapan-Shah Alam), who reacted to it, said the party-hopping moves among politicians resulted in political instability in the country.

The party anti-hopping bill was raised by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) last September who requested that it be tabled soon.

Matters relating to Sabah and Sarawak also stole the spotlight, whereby, apart from issues on the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), matters pertaining to development and education in the two states were also raised by the MPs.

They included by Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (GPS-Batang Lupar) who urged the government to increase development projects in Sarawak following Indonesia’s move to shift its capital to Kalimantan, which borders the state

Meanwhile, Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong (GPS-Hulu Rajang) wanted efforts be made to ensure no students in Sarawak would be left out in the distribution of laptops by the federal government, while Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (PH-Lanang) raised the question on whether the government had fulfilled the target on the placement of 90 per cent Sarawak-born teachers in the state.

Other issues raised included on the withdrawal of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the Melaka and Sarawak state elections, vaccines and the proposal to make Kuala Lumpur an e-games hub.

During the Dewan Rakyat sitting this week, the house was also informed on the amendments to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966, which is expected to be tabled in the third quarter of 2022, and the development of local vaccines which have the advantage of obtaining halal certificate from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

Apart from that, the house was also informed of a new financial assistance programme known as KPT IHSAN to be introduced to improve the existing financing facilities, especially to a larger target group.

Under the programme, financial assistance would be provided for students to purchase devices, pay examination and research fees, as well as settle their outstanding tuition fees.

The house was also told of a national energy policy being formulated to ensure the country’s electricity supply can meet the demand of not only electric vehicle (EV) users, but also the industrial and household sectors,

The Dewan Rakyat sitting this week also saw the Finance Bill 2021, involving amendments to eight acts to implement the Budget 2022 measures tabled for the first reading.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SIBU, Nov 12 –The Sarawak government has allocated a total of RM2.174 billion to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) since its establishment in 2017, thus reflecting the state government’s commitment in making education one of its investments in human capital.

State Education, Science and Technological Research Assistant Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee said even though education came under the federal government, such as in terms of budget and policy, the state government did not leave the responsibility to the federal government alone.

He said MESTR was established for the first time under the leadership of Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to improve the academic performance of students in Sarawak, which is far behind, especially based on the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results.

“This is part of the state government’s initiatives to catch up. That’s why our ministry is not a ministry which is going to implement policies, but it is a ministry to supplement and complement, to help the federal government in whatever we can to speed up the progress of education in Sarawak.

“We are committed to enhance the education development in Sarawak. We do not want to be left behind in Sarawak,” he told Bernama in an interview recently.

He said that the first task of MESTR was to address the issue of dilapidated schools, involving a total of 1,020 schools in the state, as well as enhance the standard and quality of education in Sarawak.

According to Dr Annuar, there are eight initiatives implemented by the Sarawak government under MESTR since 2017, one of which was to repair or upgrade school infrastructure and facilities, involving a total allocation of RM1.4 billion.

“From this RM1.4 billion, RM1billion was advance payment to the federal government to pay for the repair of dilapidated schools in the state.

“Meanwhile, we allocated RM4 million for assistance to schools affected by floods. We have more than 200 schools which are affected by floods every year because they are near riverbanks.

“So, to us, instead of repairing the schools after the flood, we prefer the schools to be built somewhere new,” he added.

He said the Sarawak government also allocated RM11.82 million for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for school leaders and teachers.

“We allocated RM37 million for the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and English language.

“Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia which uses the English Language (STEM) totally as a medium of instruction for Year 1 (2020) and now we are in Year 2,” he said.

He said the state government also allocated RM300 million for the establishment of Sarawak International Secondary Schools, as well as workforce development and promotion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (RM10.7 million).

Others included the establishment of Sarawak Science Centre (RM200 million) and establishment of Sarawak Research Development Council and Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (RM211 million), he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, Nov 12 — The number of flood evacuees in Kedah dropped slightly to 247 people this morning from 256 people last night.

Kedah Civil Defence Force Disaster Management Committee Secretariat chief Major (PA) Mohd Muaz Mohd Yusof said four relief centres are still operating in Pendang and Kubang Pasu districts.

“In Pendang, 100 people from 24 families are at Dewan Rakan Sukan Tanah Merah while 51 others from 17 families are at Dewan Cenderawasih.

“In Kubang Pasu, 75 evacuees from 20 families are still at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Tradisi Lembah Keriang while SK Malau is housing 21 people from four families,” he said in a statement here today.

As the weather was favourable yesterday, some victims were allowed to return home after the flood waters receded, but this morning the weather is cloudy again, he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BA’KELALAN, Nov 12 –Construction of the Ba’kelalan Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex, which has been left abandoned since two years ago, will be re-tendered to get the project completed, said Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said the project, which was supposed to be completed in April 2019, also needed to be reviewed as there were several issues that needed to be rectified, including weaknesses in the proposed building layout and slope safety issues.

“This is a really sick project…What is surprising is that there is no quarantine facility at CIQ, there is also the slope safety issues, parking area, etc.

“I hope the re-tender process for this project will be decided quickly and the project can be continued and completed.” he told Bernama.

He said this when inspecting the project site in conjunction with his recent working visit to Ba’kelalan, which was also attended by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong.

Awang Tengah said it was important that the project plan be reviewed to ensure all important agencies related to services at the country’s border could be located there.

“The original plan of the project only houses the Immigration office, the Customs Department, the Malaysian Volunteer Department (RELA) and the police, but there is no quarantine centre and also the Veterinary Department ,which are very important.

“I hope this matter can be taken into account. This is a very important service and I want this project to facilitate travel to and from the Malaysia-Indonesia border,” he said.

He said the Ba’kelalan CIQ is important as it serves as the country’s gateway, especially with Indonesia planning to shift its capital to Kalimantan.

Based on the project plan under the 10th Malaysia Plan, involving an allocation of more than RM14 million, the Ba’kelalan CIQ will house an administrative block and a two-storey quarters, and was scheduled for completion in May 2019.

In April 2019, the project was classified as a sick project, as the work progress was delayed by 46.58 per cent , following which the contractor was issued termination notice in December 2020.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency