Day: November 19, 2021

SIMUNJAN, Nov 19 — The federal government has approved a grant of RM35 million under Budget 2022 for a new oil palm planting scheme for smallholders, said Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Willie Mongin, today.

He said the smallholders would also be given high-quality oil palm seedling clones and fertilisers to enable them to boost the output of their smallholdings.

“If in the past, during the Pakatan Harapan government, the grants had been turned to loans and this had burdened the smallholders but now they can heave a sigh of relief and start their new cultivation,” he said.

He said this in his speech when launching the Koperasi Penanaman Sawit Mampan (KPSM) Daerah Serian Berhad ramp site in Kampung Sabun, here.

In his speech the Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament also urged the people to continue their support for Gabungan Parti Sarawak, adding that the coalition has proven its ability to form a stable state government since 2018.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 19 — The state government through the Penang Health Department (JKNPP) plans to have more facilities to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose in efforts to provide better access for people in the state.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said JKNPP was in the midst of identifying Health Care Organisations (HCOs) that could assist to provide suitable halls for the purpose.

“As of yesterday, 73 private facilities (clinics and hospitals) as well as an HCO with a capacity of over 1,000 shots a day have been operating as booster dose facilities in the state.

“At the same time we need to create more awareness on the need to get the booster dose as only 60 to 70 per cent of people who have been given the appointment through the MySejahtera application turned up for the shot,” he said in a statement today.

In terms of medical facilities for COVID-19 acute cases, he said as of yesterday, 34 per cent of the beds at Penang Hospital (HPP) and Kepala Batas Hospital were occupied.

“Meanwhile, bed occupancy rate in the intensive care unit (ICU) for COVID-19 patients in the state is at 53 per cent and we are always on standby to face any eventuality,” he added.

As for the COVID-19 Low Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC), bed occupancy rate at Mara Centre of Excellence (MEC), Jawi (South Seberang Perai district) is at 17 per cent while the Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang PKRC here has been put on standy and would be activated when needed.

On Oct 18 Penang began administering COVID-19 booster shots to frontliners and this would later be extended to the elderly and those with comorbidities.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, Nov 19 — A total of 217 polling centres involving 1,109 streams will be opened tomorrow to enable 476,037 voters to cast their ballots in the 15th Melaka State Election.

Election Commission (EC) secretary Datuk Ikmalrudin Ishak reminded all contesting political parties and candidates that the official campaign period would end at 11.59 pm today and all forms of campaigning including vote-fishing should be stopped after that.

“No party can appeal for votes, including outside the polling centres and also through social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others.

“The EC would also like to remind that all parties and candidates contesting in the state election are prohibited from opening, building or maintaining ‘barung’ (voters’ reference booth) during polling day. Legal action will be taken against those who commit such offences,” he said in a statement.

All voters are advised to go cast their votes at the proposed time stated on the MySPR Semak application.

“If for a certain reason, they cannot go to the polling centre during the proposed time, the voters can still do so at anytime between 8 am and 5.30 pm. However, voters are advised not to wait until the very last minute,” he said.

Ikmalrudin said employers were obliged to allow their workers who are registered voters, to cast their ballot.

Any employer found to have prevented their workers from going out to vote would be taken action against under Section 25(3) of the Election Offences Act 1954 which provides for a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or one year imprisonment upon conviction, he said.

Voters are required to wear a face mask, have their temperature checked, practise physical distancing and use hand sanitiser on polling day while those with symptoms or body temperature exceeding the normal range will still be allowed to vote in a special tent monitored by health officials.

He said voters who are patients under investigation (PUI) and persons under surveillance (PUS) and wish to vote would be allowed with the approval of the district health officer.

To ensure a smooth voting process, the EC reminds all parties, especially voters, candidates and staff not to wear shirts, hats, face masks or bring materials that display names, symbols, pictures of the parties or candidates contesting or campaign materials and any taglines or campaign slogans to the centres.

Those who fail to comply with the rules will be barred from entering the polling station.

The state polls were called following the dissolution of the 28-seat Melaka State Legislative Assembly on Oct 4 after four state assemblymen withdrew their support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency