Day: January 13, 2022

SHAH ALAM, Jan 13 — #RasuahBusters Team Leader Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub said the investigation into allegations of misconduct against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki should not be the main issue.

He said, instead, Malaysians need to look at the bottom line which is the hollowness in individual and institutional value systems.

Hussamuddin who is also Karangkraf Media Group chairman said it was the right time for people’s transformation and reformations of the value system to produce politicians with high standards of morality.

He said #RasuahBusters submitted six #MalaysiaTanpaRasuah (Malaysia without corruption) demands which include its pledge to fully support the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) as well as urging to expedite the tabling and implementation of the Political Funding Act.

Besides that, he said the group also demanded that the independence and transparency of institutions including the MACC and the Attorney General’s Chambers should be ensured, the introduction of a Recall Election as an immediate alternative to the Anti-Hopping Act, the implementation of Undi18 and Parliamentary reforms.

Hussamuddin said this at the #RasuahBusters press conference here today.

Also present were representatives from BERSIH 2.0, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM), Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre), Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M), Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and Undi18.

IDEAS Chief Executive Officer Tricia Yeoh said the MACC’s structural transformation was important to ensure its independence from the executive and political influences.

“Public confidence is very low and there is a need for proper procedures or processes from institutions such as the MACC when faced with allegations (involving its personnel) whether they need to be rested (from their duties) or not,” she said.

#RasuahBusters Secretariat Chief Nurhayati Nordin said investigative journalism was important despite the dangers and needed to involve changes in the Constitution regarding the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) today received the first working visit from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to the Petronas Twin Towers.

Also present was Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, said the national oil and gas company in a statement today.

According to the company, the Prime Minister’s delegation was welcomed by Petronas chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh, president and group chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik and company’s leadership lineup as well as employees.

It said the Prime Minister was taken to visit the Petronas digital cooperation centre for a briefing on the company’s operations including its efforts in energy transition, local development for oil and gas equipment and services industry, as well as digitalisation of operations.

“The Prime Minister also visit the observation deck on Level 86 of the Petronas Twin Towers as well as ‘Berkembang Maju Bersama’ exhibition which showcases its human capital development efforts and corporate social responsibility contribution,” it said.

The visit ended with a photography session on the SkyBridge at Level 42, it said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — New COVID-19 cases in Malaysia continued to increase to 3,684 today from 3,198 yesterday, bringing the cumulative figure for infections to 2,798,917 as at noon today, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The daily figure was the highest in two weeks since Dec 30 when 3,997 cases were recorded.

He said there were 3,292 more recoveries, raising the total number of recovered cases to 2,726,891.

“Of the 3,684 new cases reported today, 34 cases (0.9 per cent) are in categories three, four and five while 3,650 cases (99.1 per cent) are in categories one and two. COVID-19 is a five-category disease, with category five being the most severe.

“There are 192 cases in the Intensive Care Unit, with 91 requiring ventilators,” he said in a statement today.

He also said the number of active clusters is now 178 following the detection of eight new clusters today, while the national infectivity rate (Rt) was at 0.99 yesterday.

Dr Noor Hisham said the total number of positive cases among flood victims remained at 470 as reported yesterday as there had been no new cases as at 3 pm today.

The Health Ministry also detected four cases of infectious diseases involving flood victims, with two cases each of acute respiratory infection (ARI) and skin diseases.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today congratulated and expressed his appreciation to the Malaysian Family after the country ranked 13th in the latest Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index.

In a post on his Facebook page, he said the achievement was the result of the hard work and spirit of unification of every member of the Malaysian Family in facing the COVID-19 pandemic together.

“Alhamdulillah, Malaysia scored 66.5 points in the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index which is the highest for ASEAN countries and ranked 13th out of 122 countries or regions.

“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Malaysian Family, including our heroes, the #frontliners, who work hard to protect the people and the country from the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Ismail Sabri also called on the Malaysian Family to always maintain the family spirit and face the challenges in the recovery period together.

The Prime Minister also reminded the public to continue to take care of their safety, and that of their families as well as the communities despite the achievement.

Based on the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index as of Dec 31, 2021, Malaysia is ranked number 13 with a total score of 66.5, while Bahrain sits at the top with a total score of 82.0, with Chile second at 76.5 and Taiwan ranking third at 75.5.

According to its website, the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index ranks about 120 countries or regions on infection management, vaccine rollouts and social mobility.

A higher ranking indicates a country or region is closer to recovery with its low numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases, better vaccination rates and less stringent social distancing measures.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — The number of flood victims who are still sheltering at Temporary Relief Centres (PPS) in Johor and Melaka this evening has dropped to 649 people compared to 720 this morning.

In Johor, the number of flood victims declined to 636 people as of 4 pm compared to 705 individuals this morning.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman, R. Vidyananthan said three districts, namely, Muar, Segamat and Tangkak were still affected by floods involving 17 PPS.

He said Muar recorded the highest number of victims with 321 people, followed by Segamat (303) and Tangkak (12).

“Nevertheless, the Sungai Muar Station at Bukit Kepong recorded a warning level after showing a falling trend.

“In addition, the weather statewide was reported to be fair including in the districts affected by floods,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, he said Jalan Felda Bukit Aping in Kota Tinggi is still closed to all vehicles following a landslide.

In Melaka, the Civil Defence Force (APM) director, Lt Col (MCDF) Cuthbert John Martin Quadra said the number of flood victims in Melaka had dropped to 13 victims from three families today at 4 pm.

He said that all the victims were housed at one PPS in Jasin.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, Jan 13 — More than five months of living in a dilapidated hut deep in a farm, the plight of a single mother and her two children caught the attention of the state government which took swift action by relocating them to a more comfortable home.

Syurnida Juliati Mohd Shah, 46, said she was desperate for a roof over her head when she lost her income during the movement restrictions and was not able to pay the monthly house rent of RM400.

She said as a mother, she was not willing to let her children live in poverty and even had to hand over her 12-year-old youngest child to be taken care by her uncle in Triang, Pahang.

“We have to soldier on with our lives, “ she said when met in Kampung Bukit Rambai here, today.

She said she did not expect her eldest son who helped flood victims in Krubong with Rakan Muda volunteers recently would bring about a better life for her family.

Syurnida said after a group of Rakan Muda volunteers visited their hut to deliver aid, her story went viral on social media since yesterday.

She said living in the hut, they were also exposed to the threat of poisonous animals such as pythons, lizards and others.

“We are grateful and thankful to all the parties who cared and helped us get a better temporary shelter to live in.

“It’s more comfortable and safe and it gives me the courage to change the fate of our family for the better,” she said.

Meanwhile, Melaka Chief Minister Community Affairs Department secretary Muhammad Ayyad Abdullah said the family was moved to a transit house at Pangsapuri Pokok Mangga without having to pay rent.

He added Surnida’s two children would also be given educational assistance apart from assistance from the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and the Melaka Islamic Religious Council (MAIM).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency