Day: January 6, 2022

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Govt to improve communication, create early warning system for disasters – Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — The government will set up a task force to improve the existing communication system and create a faster and effective early warning system for disasters for the benefit of the people.

Minister of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the matter will be discussed in detail by the KKMM secretary-general and the relevant agencies, including the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

“The Cabinet is of the opinion that the communication system and information delivery to the people need to be improved.

“That is why we strive to have a better system including by adopting the concept of SMS blasting so that we can send early warning quickly and accurately to the people in disaster-affected areas,” he told a press conference after delivering the 2022 New Year’s message for KKMM at Angkasapuri here today.

In the message, Annuar also acknowledged that there were some weaknesses in the existing methods of information delivery during disasters.

Nevertheless, he said complaints and criticisms received for the weaknesses would be looked into for improvements.

On flood aid, Annuar said the federal government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is among the fastest and most proactive in responding to the flood disaster that hit the country.

In fact, he said the KKMM’s Operasi Bantu Hingga Selesai (Ops BAHIS) was among the best initiatives seen to have helped and made a deep impact on the flood victims.

“The flood disaster has opened the door to all quarters to improve their commitment as a Malaysian Family to work together and alleviate the burden of the victims,” he said.

On the issues on implementation of 5G technology, Annuar gave assurance that the issues would be tackled objectively without bias.

The proposal on the implementation is being fine-tuned before it can be tabled to the Cabinet.

“InsyaAllah, it will all be settled this year and we can move forward to improve the quality of information technology, including the 5G, in the country,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Special Dewan Rakyat sitting to discuss flood issues on Jan 20 – PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — A Special Sitting of the 4th Session of the 14th Parliament for Dewan Rakyat will be held on Jan 20 for the government to explain its actions and plans to tackle the flood issue to the people.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the special meeting was the best platform for members of Parliament to obtain feedback on flood issues.

“The Special Sitting was held in line with Standing Order 11 (3) of Dewan Rakyat.

“It is to discuss matters relating to national interests which is the flood and post-flood assistance coordination for the Malaysian Family and the long-term flood management plans,” he said in a statement here today.

Ismail Sabri said the Special Sitting had received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Penang gov’t sets up disaster management unit

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 6 — The Penang state government has set up a disaster management unit in the state to manage any incidents of natural disasters in the future.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the decision to set up the new unit was made at the state executive council meeting yesterday, and the unit would be overseen by the State Secretary.

“We feel that this disaster management unit is very much needed now to mobilise efforts and cooperation among all parties, following the flood situation that has hit several states in recent weeks.

“The state government has also instructed the relevant agencies to strengthen the disaster action plan in preparation to deal with any possible incidents of natural disasters, including a climate crisis,” he said while addressing the swearing-in ceremony of Penang Island City Council (MBPP) council members here today.

Also present were state Housing, Local Government and Town Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, and Penang Island Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.

Elaborating further, Chow said under the new unit, all manpower including from the government to the private sector, non-governmental organisations, local communities, communities and individuals could be mobilised together to serve as a cohesive team to address the global climate crisis.

He said the disaster management unit would discuss issues related to planning, preparedness, and recovery in the face of disasters.

“We (the Penang government) want to put emphasis on the disaster management unit following a string of extraordinary natural disaster incidents, especially floods that hit several states recently.

“Both the local authorities in Penang, namely MBPP and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) will be important members of the said unit,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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UPM convocation to be held under strict SOP

SERDANG, Jan 6 — A total of 5,695 Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) graduates in various disciplines will receive their scrolls at the 44th convocation ceremony to be held physically under strict standard operating procedures (SOP).

UPM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Roslan Sulaiman said among the SOP that will be implemented for the duration of the six-day convocation ceremony, beginning on Saturday, is that only 900 graduates will be allowed into the main hall of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Arts and Cultural Centre at UPM, which has a seating capacity of 4,000.

“We have stipulated that only graduates are to be allowed into the hall where the convocation ceremony would take place, while parents or families of students can only send and pick up the graduates,” he said in a press conference on the convocation ceremony here, today.

“For parents who have travelled from afar, UPM will provide several waiting halls for them till their children’s sessions are over. They will be able to witness the ceremony in these halls via live streaming,” he said.

Mohd Roslan said this was the first UPM convocation ceremony to be held since the country was hit with the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The convocation will involve a total of 398 recipients of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), master’s degree (1,093 recipients), bachelor’s degree(3,544) and diploma (660).

“To prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection during the convocation ceremony, UPM will only hold the ceremony in the mornings in order to allow time for sanitisation work to be carried out in the evening for the next session,” he said.

Mohd Roslan said UPM chancellor, the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, will confer PhD, master’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees as well as diplomas to the graduates in the fifth session on Jan 12.

During the session, Sultan Sharafuddin will promulgate the appointment of the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Ir Muhamad Zohadie Bardaie, and Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim as UPM pro-chancellors for a period of three years from Oct 18, 2021, to Oct 17, 2024.

Sultan Sharafuddin will also bestow the Chancellor’s Gold Medal Prize on Aini Nazihah Hasin@Hassan (Bachelor of Science in Physics with Honours) from the Faculty of Science; Royal Education Award (Bumiputera) to Prince Mohamad Iskandar Jamil (Bachelor of Science in Horticulture) from the Faculty of Agriculture; and the Royal Education Award (Non-Bumiputera) to Chow Heng Yee (Bachelor of Science in Human Development) from the Faculty of Human Ecology.

UPM pro-chancellor Syed Jalaludin will present in the first session on Saturday (Jan 8) the Alumni Gold Medal to Lim Jia Yie (Bachelor of Environmental Management) from the Faculty of Forestry and Environment; Pak Rashid Foundation Gold Medal to Michelle Tiong Chia Weng (Bachelor of Education – Teaching English as a Second Language), Faculty of Educational Studies; and the Putra Agribio Medal to Muhammad Ali Imran Razali (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Syed Jalaludin will also present the Razlan Putra Medal to Syed Mohamad Syafiq Syed Cholan (Bachelor of Science in Human Development), Faculty of Human Ecology; Shell Station Operator Entrepreneurship Award to Ijlali Husna Alias (Bachelor of Education in Home Science), Faculty of Educational Studies; Tun Abdul Razak Award to Chow Heng Yee (Bachelor of Science in Human Development), Faculty of Human Ecology.

He will present as well the Gold Medal of Doctor of Philosophy Malaysian Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals to Farhatun Najat Maluin (PhD Nanotechnology), Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology; Master Gold Medal With Thesis to Sanchez Philip Donald Cabuga (Master of Science in Agricultural Process Engineering), Faculty of Engineering; BasNet Doctor of Philosophy Gold Medal to Dr Nor Sa’adah Jamaluddin (PhD Curriculum and Instruction), Faculty of Educational Studies, and Syed Kechik Prize to Fatimah Marwa Jaapar (Bachelor of Biochemical Science with Honors), Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science.

Mohd Roslan said the convocation ceremony also sees 11 graduates of the inaugural Master of Entrepreneurship programme receiving their scrolls in the first session (on Saturday, Jan 8).

He said among the athletes who would graduate at the convocation ceremony were hockey player Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan; Nur Fatihah Mohammad Tahir (shooting); Mohamed Farhan Hafsyam Zahid (athletics); Priyashankari Hari Sankar (karate); Muhamad Hafzan Bakri Md Roni (rugby); Dzafran Asyraf Zainuddin (rugby) and Muhammad Kamal Ishak (sepak takraw).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Floods: Perzim to carry out repair works on historic mosques promptly

MELAKA, Jan 6 — Repair works will be carried out immediately on three historic mosques that were damaged in the recent round of floods in the state, said Melaka Museums Corporation (Perzim).

Its General Manager Mohd Nasruddin Rahman said the mosques, namely Lubok China Mosque, Brisu Mosque and Datuk Machap Mosque in Alor Gajah were among 56 mosques gazetted as heritage mosques under the National Heritage Act 2005.

He said Datuk Machap Mosque, which was built in 1865, was the most affected, adding that inspections found that the damages were quite serious involving its roofs.

“We have submitted an application to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and God willing, we will get the allocation to repair the mosque which is also gazetted under the Melaka State Heritage Enactment,” he told Bernama here today.

Mohd Nasruddin said besides roof work, drains around the mosque would also be repaired and enlarged.

He said Perzim would repair the other two mosques as well as other affected mosques through the allocation under the state conservation fund, based on priority.

“If it is very bad like the Lubok China Mosque and Brisu Mosque which were hit by the floods, we will make good use of the allocation. However, based on our monitoring, everything is under control despite their old structures,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Ex-Bernama journalist Ban King was a good son – Mother

SEGAMAT, Jan 6 — Former Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) journalist, Yai Ban King, 51, who died of lung cancer on Monday, was a humble and kind person.

Ban King’s mother, Tok Keem Sing, 74, said since childhood, her eldest son was an amiable fellow with a tolerant attitude and was not arrogant, besides being forthcoming in helping family members and relatives who were in trouble.

“Ban King told me that he missed me when he was away and very happy to come home. In a joking tone, he knew that all his pain would disappear when he saw my face,” she said when met at her residence here today.

Meanwhile, Ban King’s father, Yai Siu Tau, 78, said his son was a bright child since his schooling days and had reminded his three younger siblings to study hard to be useful people in the future.

“Ban King liked to read. His favourites were history books, not only on Malaysia but the world. He often advised all his siblings to protect the family’s name as well as the country’s image,” he said.

Ban King’s brother, Yai Ban Tat, 50 said his brother started having a cough around 2018 before being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and in the same year he underwent treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

“My family and I were very shocked, the most heartbreaking was that we were informed that Ban King’s cancer was already at the fourth stage. However, we tried and worked hard so my brother can recover faster. Then, we brought him to the Mahkota Medical Centre, Melaka in 2019.

“At the hospital, he received radiotherapy and targeted therapy treatments, after which he could speak and walk. But, a year later, his condition worsened and he had to undergo chemotherapy. However, last Monday, he left us forever,” he added.

According to Ban Tat, Ban King’s remains were brought back to the family home on Tuesday and a cremation ceremony will be held at Nirvana Memorial Park, Jementah here, tomorrow.

Ban King began his career with Bernama on June 12, 1995, and served for 25 years before retiring due to health reasons last June.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Pahang floods claim lives of over 17,000 livestock, pets

KUANTAN, Jan 6 — The floods in Pahang have claimed the lives of a total of 17,403 livestock and pets, incurring an estimated loss of over RM1.4 million as at yesterday, said state Veterinary Services Department director, Dr Kamaliah Ghazali.

She said the loss involved 100 owners and breeders mostly located in Kuantan, Bentong and Pekan districts.

Poultry recorded the highest number of deaths, namely, chickens at 14,849, followed by ducks (1,100), turkeys (412), cows (307), rabbits (210), goats (132), sheep (64), cats (12), dogs (8), buffaloes (4) and others (305).

“So far, the department has received information relating to 40,473 animals affected by the floods and of that number, 17,403 were reported to have died due to drowning.

“I believe the numbers could be more as there are still owners and breeders who have not reported the death or loss of their animals,” she told reporters after presenting cat food aid to flood victims at Surau Bukit Rangin Perdana 2, here, today.

Apart from that, Kamaliah said in an effort to ease the burden of farmers and animal owners affected by the floods, the department went down to the field to distribute animal food.

“During the floods, we also helped in moving the animals to safer places and during the post-flood period as well. We also donated food to the animal owners, for example, today a total of 24 cat owners received the aid,” she said.

Meanwhile, recipient Nurashikin Mohd Radzi, 41, said she appreciated the assistance which could help her save money to buy food for her 16 pet cats.

“Thank you for this help because in a month, I spend more than RM300 on cat food alone. So with the house inundated (by floodwaters), there are many new things that need to be bought or repaired, hence such a contribution is much needed,” said Nurashikin, who lost seven cats in the floods.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency