Day: January 14, 2022

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 14 — The Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) targets to expedite every development project in rural areas this year, said its minister, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said all KPLB members needed to move as a team to realise a paradigm shift and avoid remaining in the same spot.

He added that this was necessary so as to avoid taking too long in implementing the projects, which then affects the people.

“To achieve it, we need a task force that can deliver the goods,” he said in a statement in conjunction with the KPLB 2022 Mandate Council today.

He said the KPLB needed to further improve its achievements by adopting a new tagline, namely ‘Luar Bandar, Luar Biasa’ (Rural Area, Extraordinary).

“This extraordinary achievement can be attained by the KPLB based on its success of implementing development expenditure of more than 99 per cent last year,” he said.

Elaborating, Mahdzir said KPLB also has a mandate in the field of education, namely Early Childhood Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He added that it was time for all relevant ministries to sit together in a task force and think of an Early Childhood Education 2.0 plan that better suits current needs and developments.

“The KPLB TVET institutions must avoid too much overlapping of courses and those not in line with the requirements of the job market.

“We do not want students taking up courses and obtaining certificates but can’t get jobs. We cannot just fill up educational institutions without meeting the needs of the industry,” he said.

He added that internet access at the child care centres (taska) of the Community Development Department (Kemas) should be improved so as to benefit the surrounding areas.

“We have to think outside the box as to how we want to go about it, how we want to collaborate so that we can increase connectivity in KEMAS centres throughout the country,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Jan 14 — The public has been urged to stop spreading on social media a video showing a youth being bathed like he was a corpse by a group of people after he was caught stealing a mosque’s funds.

Selangor Islamic Religious Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Halal Industry Committee chairman Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni said sharing the video did not bring benefits to anyone, in fact, it caused people to hurl negative comments to the parties involved.

“Apart from violating the youth’s dignity, it also creates a bad perception about mosque management,” he said in a statement today.

Mohd Zawawi said Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) has taken necessary action as soon as it received information on the matter, adding that the imam involved in the incident had resigned.

Meanwhile, he urged members of the public especially Muslims in the state to remain calm and not take an aggressive approach when dealing with issues involving Islamic institutions.

“Let the authorities carry out their duties in accordance with the law,” he said adding that the community could help the authorities to do so instead of trying to take over their jobs.

The 19-year-old youth was sentenced to ten days in jail and fined RM4,000 by the Selayang Magistrate’s Court yesterday after he pleaded guilty to attempting to steal a mosque’s donation box.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SIBU, Jan 14 — The flood victims housed at the Kampung Jeriah Community Hall Temporary Relief Centre (PPS) are expected to return to their homes tomorrow due to the receding water level.

According to a statement from the Sarawak Civil Defence Force (APM) operations control centre, the water level in the first affected location, Lot 482 Jeriah Barat 5 Kampung Seduan Jaya, has completely receded, while in the second location in Lot 462 in the same area, the water level is 30.48cm.

Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee who visited the PPS this evening hoped that all 44 flood victims from the five families could return to their homes tomorrow.

“Before that, we need to make sure their homes are safe to live in. If not, they have to be placed in a rented house temporarily,” he told Bernama through his Facebook page.

The APM statement also reported that the water level had receded at Lorong Bahagia 9A, Lorong Bahagia Tengah 6, and Jalan Bahagia Phase 4 in Kampung Bahagia, Teku here and the roads are passable to all vehicles.

Meanwhile, in Kapit, water levels showed an increasing trend in the areas of John Ramba Longhouse, Kampung Bau, Kampung Muhibbah, SK Lepong Balleh as well as the boat jetties in Kapit and locals were advised to be vigilant.

In Matu, residents around SMK Matu, SK Orang Selair, SK Orang Kaya Sergunim, Kampung Jemoreng, Kampung Bertong, Kampung Sekaan Besar, Pekan Matu, Kampung Bawang, Kampung Sekaan Kecil, Kampung Tian were also asked to be vigilant after the water level rose following rain from yesterday afternoon until this morning.

“The situation at the location is still under control. However, the villagers should be aware of the unpredictable weather conditions and rising water levels if the rain continues until next Tuesday and it is likely that the water level will rise sharply,” according to the statement.

Also facing the possibility of floods due to rain and high tide is Kampung Boom, Oya in Dalat district, near here.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 14 — Two local sugar manufacturers, Central Sugars Refinery Sdn Bhd (CSR) and MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (MSM) are being used to hold buffer stocks of refined white sugar, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

In a statement today he said the move was taken since the beginning of the year to avoid future sugar supply issues in the market

“The decision was made after the country experienced sugar supply issues due to various factors such as closure of factories, COVID-19 infection among factory workers, damage to boiler machines and so forth,” he said.

In accordance with Regulation 12A, Supply Control Regulations 1974, CSR and MSM have been directed to prepare a buffer stock of 53,000 metric tonnes (MT) of refined white sugar at all times

“This only applies when there is a shortage of supply in an area in accordance with the Supply Controller Instructions,” said Nanta.

According to him, the buffer stock control mechanism requires CSM and MSM to ensure that the quantity of refined white sugar is kept as floating stocks at a set rate for 11 to 15 days.

He said continuous monitoring would be done based on the reports submitted by the manufacturers to ensure that the stockpile quantity are always at the set rate.

“Failure to comply with the instructions may result in action being taken under the Control of Supplies Act 1961,” he said.

To date, Nanta said the weekly sugar production reports received from four sugar mills showed similar sugar production trends.

“However, as a proactive measure, KPDNHEP has formulated a strategy to ensure the production and supply of sugar in the domestic market is not affected,” he said.

Based on data from the Department of Statistics, he said domestic sugar consumption was estimated at 0.65 kilogrammes (kg) per month per capita and the annual amount required was estimated at 255,450 MT per year to meet the needs of 32.75 million Malaysians.

“For the production of the two sugar manufacturing companies, 1,500,000 MT per year is sufficient for household and industrial use in the country,” he said.

To ensure that the supply of sugar in the domestic market is always sufficient, Nanta said engagement sessions were held with CSR and MSM to prevent further shortages of sugar supply in the market in the future.

“The implementation of this stockpile is expected to help prevent future disruption of sugar supply, thus preventing irresponsible parties from taking advantage by raising prices and keeping sugar stocks during a sugar crisis,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 — The Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in FELDA Keratong 5, Rompin, Pahang will end tomorrow.

National Security Council (MKN) director-general Datuk Rodzi Md Saad said the decision was taken after studying a Health Ministry risk assessment report on the current situation in the locality.

The EMCO was enforced there on Jan 6 and was earlier scheduled to end on Jan 19.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency