Day: January 8, 2022

TANJUNG MALIM, Jan 8 — The Education Ministry (KPM) is committed to implement Orang Asli Education Transformation programme via the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013 – 2025 to ensure they receive quality and relevant education in line with current needs.

Deputy Education Minister 1, Senator Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said among the initiatives included K9 to K11 Comprehensive Special Model Schools.

He said the government through KPM has set up hostel facilities in schools with 100 per cent Orang Asli student enrolment, special programmes for Orang Asli students as well as education transformation programme for the group with the aim of raising the attendance rate as well as intervention programmes for Orang Asli and Pribumi students.

“KPM is also taking the approach via various engagement sessions with the cooperation of government agencies such as the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA), state Health Departments, parents, community heads, non-governmental organisation as well as the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER),” he said.

Mah said in a statement issued by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) when officiating the 2022 empowerNCER Academic@Perak Orang Asli Integrated programme at the Experimental Theatre organised by NCER with UPSI at Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, yesterday.

Under Budget 2022, Mah said RM275 million has been allocated to the Orang Asli community to raise their standard of living such as providing subsidy, school aid as well as welfare assistance to benefit almost 200,000 people apart from secondary school student pocket money which has been increased to RM4 a day.

In this regard, Mah said the achievement of UPSI in the world university rankings each year sees its capability to realise efforts to develop education in the district of Muallim, Perak and Malaysia.

Therefore, he said the large contribution of NCER in cooperation with UPSI and other education institutions would greatly benefit the community including Orang Asli, parents and educators.

Meanwhile, UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said the university is grateful to NCER and KPM for creating advances in country’s education and making Malaysia as among the best in the region.

Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) Human Capital head Datin Shahdee Ahmad said the programme which began on Jan 2 involved 900 Orang Asli from 15 schools in Muallim, Batang Padang, Kampar, Hulu Perak . Kinta and Kuala Kangsar.

She said the programme is aimed at improving the academic achievement and attendance rate of Orang Asli students especially in the transition phase between Year Six and secondary school via supplementary teaching methods based on UPSI education expert modules such as the basics to read, write and count (3R), sustainability of interest, motivation, soft skills and communication.

Also present in the programme were UPSI deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Assoc. Prof Dr Norkhalid Salimin, UPSI registrar Helmi Zaifura Abdul Rahman as well as the headmasters from 15 schools.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Jan 8 — The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) has provided an initial allocation of RM50 million to 51 local authorities in flood-hit areas throughout the country to undertake repairs of public amenities.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, said this allocation would increase as the floods in certain states had not fully subsided.

“This early allocation of RM50 million is specially for repairing public infrastructure but I wouldn’t say this figure is static. Some states have not recovered yet, including Segamat in Johor where there are still stagnant waters.

“So they (local authorities) will have to come to us on the planning they need to do. But in terms of long-term planning for bigger projects on irrigation and the like, there need to be discussions between the state governments and the Environment and Water Ministry,” he said.

He was speaking at a media conference in conjunction with the Post-Flood Mega Clean-up Programme in Taman Sri Muda, Seksyen 25 here today, which also involved Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid and about 2,000 volunteers.

Reezal Merican said his ministry would hold a joint press conference with the Rural Development Ministry next week to give details on the total amount needed to repair and build new houses.

He said besides search and rescue work by the Fire and Rescue Department, the ministry was also involved in post-flood operations, adding that SWCorp in Selangor had managed more than 77,000 tonnes of garbage in Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Selangor as at Jan 7.

He said an additional allocation of RM12.5 million had been provided by the ministry for solid waste management and public clean-up works in flood-affected states, including more than RM5 million in Selangor.

Today’s post-flood clean-up was focused on disposal of flood debris and clearing of clogged drains, with the operations divided into four zones – Zone A (field near Dewan Kamunting), Zone B (Tzu Chi recycling centre), Zone C (Jalan Ceria 25/113 field) and Zone D (field in front of Pangsapuri Andora).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) will open the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) service counters at all IRB branch offices, satellite offices, IRB service centres, and Urban Transformation Centres on two weekends.

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the move was to make it easier for the people to register for the aid, especially for applicants with no internet access.

“(It is open) on Jan 7, 8, 28 and 29 for Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor, while on Jan 8, 9, 29 and 30 for other states,” he told a press conference after visiting the BKM registration counter in Jalan Duta here today.

IRB premises in Peninsular Malaysia is open from 8am to 4.30pm, while that of Sabah and Sarawak from 8am to 3.30pm.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA BHARU, Jan 8 — There are still a handful of traders around Kelantan who are not complying with the standard operating procedures (SOP) of wearing face masks properly when dealing with customers.

Checks by Bernama in several districts such as Kota Bharu, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas, Machang and Kuala Krai found that the mandatory rule to wear face masks have been completely ignored while some of the traders merely put the face masks under the nose, chin or not wearing face masks at all.

A private sector employee in Kota Bharu, Zulfadhli Rosley, 31, said there should not be such an attitude among traders as the spread of COVID-19 is still a concern and the virus could be transmitted if there is no SOP compliance.

“When I enter their shops, I wear a face mask, but the traders are not wearing them. So much so, that I had to reprimand traders to put on their face masks, I feel very disappointed and angry because these traders are so irresponsible about the health of their customers,” he said when met by Bernama, today.

Meanwhile, a 50-year-old housewife from Kampung Jelatok, Tanah Merah, Norkatini Md Yusuff said when the government allowed the traders to reopen their business, she was very satisfied with the SOP compliance by the traders.

“But, recently, I found some of the shops and stalls I used to patronise, had started to ignore the wearing of face masks by putting them under the nose and chin.

“For me, traders must have awareness, don’t be selfish and think only about profits when such careless attitude could harm the health of customers,” she said.

Meanwhile, an online entrepreneur at Batu Balai, Kuala Krai, Najua Saari, 29, said the enforcement authorities should not bear the responsibility alone in monitoring and inspecting enforcement at business premises.

“As a citizen, I urge all members of the public to be the eyes and ears of the authorities and immediately report the recalcitrant traders who violate and do not comply with the SOP,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency