Day: January 7, 2022

IPOH, Jan 7 — Repair works on the Jalan Ampang-Jelapang road here that was partially closed since October last year due to a massive sinkhole is expected to be completed in three months.

State Public Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said the new contractor appointed will first identify issues plaguing the federal road.

“Among the reasons for the delay is that the state government had to look for a suitable contractor with the expertise on slope and ‘crossing carbon leaking’ work in the area.

He said the repair work was extremely technical and must be carefully done.

Only one lane of the road can now be used as a result of the sinkhole incident, which is believed to have been caused by soil erosion due to water seepage along broken side drains.

The delay in the repair work has caused dissatisfaction among road users as they have had to endure daily traffic congestion.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

HULU LANGAT, Jan 7 — Rohingya nationals who are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders have been reminded not to be stubborn in whatever they do and understand their situation is that of a refugee.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the government sympathised with the situation faced by the group but any actions that caused problems to the country would be dealt with.

He said they held UNHCR cards and should not view Malaysia as a ‘cemetery’ country.

“We only help on humanitarian grounds but don’t become big-headed as I do not like anyone to think they are above our laws.

“We do not want any other problems to arise, like the incident at a traffic light in Kuala Lumpur where members of the public were insulted and this shouldn’t be happening in our country,” he told reporters during the MEKAR Prihatin post-flood programme in Taman Sri Nanding near here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the action of Rohingya children found begging and acting aggressively towards motorists around Cheras as had gone viral on social media recently.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said his ministry would hold talks with all airline companies regarding the entry of foreign travellers infected with the Omicron variant, besides not having any COVID-19 vaccination record.

“It happens where before any individual receives a clearance pass from the airline company, all details regarding their vaccination record must be presented and checked properly while the Immigration Department will then receive it before granting clearance for travelling.

“However, if the clearance pass had been submitted to the Immigration without knowing if they have been fully vaccinated or not, are we going to withdraw it and not allow them to board the flight because how are they going to claim compensation?,” he said.

In the meantime, Hamzah said his ministry had taken note of the police report lodged against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chairman Tan Sri Azam Baki today.

“We just received the report but we will investigate according to certain acts,” he said.

On Wednesday, Azam denied allegations that he had control over many companies, including conglomerates, describing it as a malicious allegation.

Azam was also reported to have said that it was all a big lie to create a negative perception against him.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Jan 7 — The Selangor government has approved an immediate allocation of over RM40 million to rehabilitate and strengthen rivers, slopes as well as road embankments affected by the floods that hit the state last month, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

He said it was approved during the Selangor State Executive Council meeting yesterday, adding that an allocation amounting to RM9.18 million was also approved to fund 13 projects under the state Department of Irrigation and Drainage.

Amirudin said this also involves efforts to strengthen river banks, build river bunds, purchase mobile generator sets and install more flood warning systems in key areas among others.

He said this during a special post-flood press conference here today.

Apart from that, he said a total of RM31.7 million was approved by the state government for critical projects such as clearing landslide debris under the state Public Works Department so that roads that were closed could be reopened.

He said all these rehabilitation and repair works were expected to be completed within a month or two.

Meanwhile, he said as of yesterday a total of 908 units in eight districts have been identified for repair or to be built new.

“We have identified a total of 876 houses that need to be repaired, while another 32 houses need to be replaced. The state government will review the full list that is being finalised and will announce assistance to these families soon,” he said.

In addition, he said houses that were swept away by floods would be reconstructed with the cooperation of the Selangor Zakat Board and the federal government.

On post-flood cleaning operations, he said it was expected to complete by end of the month.

“The first phase of flood-related waste collection will be fully completed by Jan 14, to be followed by two weeks of cleaning up rubbish carried by the floods in affected areas and clogged drains,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 — The government of Japan wants to share its experience and expertise in disaster risk management with Malaysia in an effort to reduce the impact of disasters on people globally.

Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Takahashi Katsuhiko, said the Land of the Rising Sun hoped to develop further cooperation with Malaysia in the field of disaster risk management, adding that it would be an important pillar of cooperation between the two countries.

“Due to the recent devastating floods in Malaysia, ideally I hope we can develop further cooperation as the government of Japan has been actively sharing such experience and expertise globally in an effort to reduce the impact of disasters to people worldwide,” he told a press conference on the Japanese Embassy Post-Flood Relief Mission in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) at the Malaysia Tourism Centre here today.

Takahashi said further assessments were needed to create long-term strategies in disaster risk management cooperation between the two countries.

“It is still premature to specifically mention what we (the government of Japan) can offer… We need to talk with the Malaysian government to find out what can be implemented here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Takahashi also said that Malaysia and Japan have enjoyed excellent bilateral ties through the Look East Policy which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

He said the policy has provided opportunities to enhance close relationships through training programmes and grassroots interactions as well as cultural exchanges among the people of Malaysia and Japan.

“I am convinced that this relationship will continue to grow throughout the coming years and I am looking forward to discussing with my Malaysian friends ways to enhance this relationship for our future generations,” he added.

Takahashi today attended the ceremony for the Post-Relief Mission, which is a joint collaboration between the Japanese Embassy and MOTAC, Japan International Cooperation Agency, The Alumni of Friendship Programme for the 21st Century ASEAN-Japan Malaysia and Homestay Malaysia.

The mission, which was officiated by Takahashi and MOTAC secretary-general Datuk Noor Zari Hamat has raised a total of RM150,000, which will be distributed as cash and flood relief assistance at eight locations in Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan on Jan 8-9.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 – The flood situation in Johor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka has improved with the number of evacuees at relief centres (PPS) showing a decline this evening, while those in Sabah remained changed.

In MELAKA, State Civil Defence Force (APM) director Lt Col (PA) Cuthbert John Martin Quadra said the number of evacuees has dropped to 397 people as of 4pm today, compared with 406 people this morning, all of them being housed at a PPS in Alor Gajah and three centres in Jasin.

In PAHANG, the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat reported that the number of evacuees was down to 656 people from 189 families and they are being placed at 19 PPS, in Pekan, Rompin, Bera and Maran compared with 774 people at 20 PPS this afternoon.

According to the publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my website, the water level in Sungai Bera, Bera has exceeded the danger level as of 4pm today.

In SABAH, the number of evacuees at three PPS remained at 55 people from 15 families.

The State Disaster Management Committee informed that in Telupid, the Kampung Gana Jati Mosque is sheltering 15 victims from six families, while 20 people from five families are at the Maau Village Hall.

In Paitan, 20 people from four families are seeking shelter at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pamol.

Meanwhile, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department thunderstorms are expected in one or two places in Sabah tonight, with temperature ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

In JOHOR, the number of evacuees continued to drop to 4,274 victims from 1,188 families being housed at 57 PPS as of 4pm today, compared with 4,346 people in 58 PPS this afternoon.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said the latest PPS to close was the Balairaya Kampung Pudu PPS in Segamat which stopped operating at 2pm today.

“Segamat continues to record the highest number of evacuees with 2,291 people, Muar (1,115), Tangkak (814) and Batu Pahat (54),” he said in a statement here today.

Vidyananthan said the weather throughout he state, including the districts affected by the floods, was sunny except for Batu Pahat which had cloudy weather.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, based on the Social Welfare Department (JKM) Info Bencana application, only six evacuees from two families are still at the Dewan Orang Ramai Kampung Puom PPS in Jelebu.

State JKM director Rosnah Sardi when contacted said, both families lost their homes in the recent floods.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency