Day: November 14, 2021

KUALA KANGSAR, Nov 14 — Post-COVID-19 requires wisdom in leadership as well as dynamic and energetic management in planning recovery strategies that can create a meaningful impact on the people, especially in efforts to eradicate poverty, said Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.

He said the wisdom of past leaders who had formulated poverty eradication programmes during the post-independence era and when the New Economic Policy (NEP) was first introduced, should be emulated and used as reference and guideline.

“Education was the most successful programme to achieve the NEP objectives of poverty eradication and restructuring society. The majority who managed to escape the shackles of poverty and the increase in middle class groups especially among the Malay community, were achieved through educational programmes.

“Following the pandemic, the education platform, namely schools, universities and educational centres were the institutions that were directly affected. Students in schools as well as various training and educational institutions are the casualties or victims who suffered greatly when the Movement Control Order was enforced,” said His Highness.

Sultan Nazrin Shah said this at the investiture ceremony for state awards and medals, held in conjunction with his 65th birthday celebration at Istana Iskandariah here today, which was also attended by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim.

At the ceremony, Sultan Nazrin presented awards and medals to 38 of the 339 recipients, while the second session of the ceremony for the remaining recipients will be held on a date to be approved by Sultan Nazrin, subject to the COVID-19 situation at that time.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad who leads the list of 339 recipients, was conferred the ‘Darjah Dato’ Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak’ (SPMP) award, which carries the title ‘Datuk Seri’.

For the record, of the 339 recipients, 147 are recipients for the 2020 investiture ceremony while 192 are this year’s recipients and the ceremony is organised simultaneously following the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

In his speech Sultan Nazrin expressed concern over the state of education in the country which still lacks sufficient infrastructure to enable the new educational approach to be enjoyed equally by everyone.

“People in the rural areas face difficulties with the home-based teaching and learning PDPR) method due to slow and unstable internet connection.

“While those in the low-income and poor categories face financial difficulties and are unable to provide their children with quality digital devices,” he said.

As such, Sultan Nazrin said it is the responsibility of the country to learn and re-engineer policies and programmes on health, food supply, education, welfare and human resources, especially the over-dependence on foreign workers.

The ruler said the country should be prepared and be brave to conduct audits to assess the strengths and weaknesses of its hardware and software assets as well as its human capital in terms of quantity, quality of expertise, experience and skill sets.

“It is important to speed up improvement measures so that the country is better prepared in the face of future crisis.

“The crisis that hit must serve as an eye opener to spark new thinking, formulate new methods, explore new approaches, place new priorities and introduce a new culture of managing the country,” said Sultan Nazrin.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 14 — When he first got involved in the oil and gas field more than five decades ago, Hamzah Mamat never thought that he would be landing his dream job with an attractive salary.

Recalling his experience, as one of the first locals to work in the oil and gas sector, the 73-year-old said he started his career on an offshore oil rig in late 1968, as an offshore labourer also known as ‘roustabout’.

“I was in my 20s and was working as a labourer in the village. At that time, oil exploration work off the coast of Peninsular Malaysia had just begun and I accepted an offer to work as a ‘roustabout’ with a basic salary of RM225 per month. The schedule was two-weeks offshore followed by a week off,” he told Bernama.

In 1978, in order to gain knowledge and experience, Hamzah accepted an offer to work as an oil rig wireline operator by a foreign company with a salary of RM350 per month.

He said at that time there was no training available for skills related to oil rig maintenance which could only be learned from working with a skilled crew.

Opportunities to explore the oil and gas field became wider when his employer brought in experienced oil well operators from Australia to share their experiences with him and other general workers.

“It is in line with the Petroleum Development Act 1974 which requires foreign companies operating in Malaysia to transfer technology and knowledge related to oil and gas to locals,” he said.

He said around the mid-80s, the development of the oil and gas industry in Malaysia was flourishing as more local companies began to get involved in the sector.

It also led to more locals becoming skilled in conducting offshore operations.

“I remember if there were 10 skilled workers, nine of them were Europeans while only one was a Malaysian. Still, it was something to be very proud of,” he said.

Seeing the development, Hamzah accepted an offer to work at an oil rig maintenance company owned by Malaysians in 1988 to offer his services to locals before joining Petronas in 1993.

Hamzah, who retired in 2008 as a senior oil rig supervisor at Petronas Carigali was grateful to join the company, which offered a lot of opportunities for locals to dominate the oil and gas industry in Malaysia.

He said the younger generation working at Petronas should be thankful because the company gave them opportunities to gain knowledge through the establishment of various institutions including the Institut Teknologi Petroleum Petronas (INSTEP) in Batu Rakit in Kuala Nerus which has trained over 130,000 highly skilled trainees whether in or outside the country.

Asked about the secret of being able to survive for 40 years in the oil and gas industry, Hamzah said he has always remained positive and eager to gain knowledge.

“Don’t complain about the heavy workload or having to work overtime. Take it as an experience that matures us in whatever field we venture into,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA KRAI, Nov 14 — Five babies were among 50 individuals rescued after they were trapped following a water surge incident at the Sungai Kenerong picnic area here, yesterday afternoon.

Operations commander senior fire officer II Mohd Azwan Daud said six personnel and a fire engine from the Dabong Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene at 5.26 pm after receiving a distress call at 5 pm.

He said the rescue operation was carried out using ropes and a boat to evacuate all the victims.

“It is understood that the victims, comprising 35 adults, 10 children and five babies, were having a picnic with their families when the incident occurred,” he told Bernama when contacted.

He added that all the victims were rescued and the operation ended at 8.50 pm.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency