Day: April 6, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) — The toll exemption for seven days at the toll plazas in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (Johor Causeway) and Tanjung Kupang (Linkedua), in Johor in conjunction with the reopening of land borders between Malaysia and Singapore which began on Friday (April 1) will end tomorrow midnight.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) in a statement today said toll collection would be carried out as normal from Friday (April 8) and motorists are advised to ensure their Touch ‘n Go cards as well as e-Wallet are active and have sufficient balance to enjoy a smooth journey.

“Highway customers using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag for Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) can also start using the system at RFID lanes at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Tanjung Kupang,” according to the statement.

On March 30, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was reported as saying that the government agreed to give exemption on toll payment for seven days for all types of vehicles at the Malaysia-Singapore checkpoints following the reopening of land borders of the two countries from April 1.

The exemption involved the toll plazas at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (Johor Causeway) and Tanjung Kupang (Linkedua Highway) in Johor.

The statement said Singapore drivers who intend to reload their Touch ‘n Go cards in Johor, can do so at eight reload stations at Linkedua Highway apart from reload centres around Johor Causeway.

“Generally, petrol stations and 24-hour convenience stores provide Touch’n Go reload service. In addition, reload could also be made at self-service kiosks at toll plazas and selected rest areas.

“Highway users can also, plan their journey when they download PLUS application to link customers directly to PLUSLine 1800 88 0000 in an emergency,” said the statement.

Apart from that, the statement also said there are more 120 PLUSRonda personnel stationed at the highway in Johor to assist motorists in need of help.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, April 6 (Bernama) — The Selangor Health Department (JKNS) will conduct food sampling, especially on high-risk foods such as coconut milk, meat and eggs at Ramadan bazaars throughout the state to ensure food safety for buyers.

Its director, Datuk Dr Shaari Ngadiman said this was aimed at preventing the occurrence of food poisoning which could have adverse effects on health.

“To ensure that the food sold at Ramadan bazaars is safe to eat, monitoring and inspection of food premises will be intensified with the cooperation of the local authorities (PBT) on a regular basis.

“Traders are also advised to ensure that the food sold is safe, maintain personal hygiene and hygiene at the sales areas,.

“Also ensure that there is no risk of cross-contamination and the food is prepared daily instead of reheating the unsold food,” he said in a statement today.

Dr Shaari also called on Ramadan bazaar traders to ensure that every food handler involved has attended food handler training and received anti-typhoid jabs.

He also advised shoppers at the Ramadan bazaars to use their purchasing power to buy food from hygienic food vendors and to practise the concept of “Watch and Choose”.

The guidelines on food safety can be obtained from the website http://fsq.moh.gov.my or the Food Safety and Quality Division at www.facebook.com/bkkmhq. For queries, contact the nearest district health office (PKD) or JKN.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BUKIT MERTAJAM, April 6 (Bernama) — The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) in Penang has refuted claims that there has been a shortage of chicken egg supply in the state for the past one week.

Its director, Mohd Ridzuan Ab Ghafar said that based on his team’s monitoring of the situation, the supply of chicken eggs was sufficient during Ramadan, especially to meet the high demand for eggs from traders and entrepreneurs of Raya cookies and cakes.

“If consumers or members of the public are unable to get their chicken egg supply or chicken in the state, they can lodge complaints with the Penang KPDNHEP so that immediate action can be taken. However, for now, based on our monitoring, there is no shortage (of eggs),” he told reporters after ‘Ops Pantau’ at the Perda Mosque Ramadan bazaar here today.

He said this when asked to comment on a newspaper report on chicken egg wholesalers in Penang being worried about the decline in supply and concerned that they could not meet the demand of half of its regular customers.

A chicken egg wholesaler in the Southwest district who wanted to be known only as Zul, 42, was reported to have said that he had to give priority to his regular clientele, namely sundry shops, public markets, supermarkets as well as bakers, but was limiting the number of orders.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ridzuan said his team did not receive any complaints regarding the increase in the price of chicken which was set at RM8.90 per kilogramme, as what happened in several other states during the month of Ramadan due to high demand from consumers.

“Thus far, we observe that the selling price of chicken is according to the set price…KPDNHEP enforcement will monitor the situation from time to time to ensure traders follow the set prices and do not raise prices,” he said.

In the meantime, he said a total of 121 Penang KPDNHEP enforcement officers were involved in ‘Op Pantau’ at 74 Ramadan bazaars in the state during Ramadan at locations that are the focus of consumers.

He said similar operations were also carried out at wet markets, farmers’ markets, night markets, supermarkets, and sundry shops to ensure consumers will be able to buy food and their daily necessities at reasonable prices, without any profiteering by traders.

“From April 3 until yesterday, a total of 749 premises were inspected and there were two cases in which action was taken under the Weights and Measures Act 1972 and the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 involving a compound value of RM700,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) — The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) will only allow 20 per cent of its personnel to go on leave in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri next month

Director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the rest of the staff would be put on standby in case of emergencies.

He said although only 20 per cent were allowed to go on leave, this would also depend on the current situation for the states prone to open burning and fires.

“In states that are likely to experience drought conditions and wildfires over a long period of time, we will ration their (officers and members) leave.

“If we are short of staff, their leave will be frozen,” he told Bernama today.

Meanwhile, JBPM will launch an operation dubbed Ops Raya Bomba on April 26 as a precautionary measure while celebrating Aidilfitri.

Mohammad Hamdan said patrols would be conducted a week before and after the first day of Hari Raya in residential areas that are hotspots for fires.

“The patrols are made to look into fire risk aspects and ensure there are no hazards that could harm the community and the occupants of the houses or buildings.

He said JBPM would also be monitoring the commercial buildings such as shopping malls which are now actively operating following the country’s transition to the endemic phase to ensure that they are safe.

He added that that fire personnel would also be on standby at the rest and relaxation areas along the highway which are categorised as accident hotspots.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, April 6 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) today denied the authenticity of the link https://www.sistemguruonline.my/2022/04/permohonan-laptop-tablet-1.htm for checking of PerantiSiswa eligibility and application.

K-KOMM secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek said it was an unofficial individual website and not from the ministry’s official channel.

“The application system is being developed and will start operating from April 15,” he said in a statement issued today following the announcement that has gone viral on social media entitled “Terbaru: Permohonan bantuan laptop dan tablet dibuka pada 15 April ini!” (Latest: Laptop and tablet assistance applications open on April 15!).

A search of the link found that it had been deleted.

Mohammad advised the public not to easily believe information that has gone viral on social media and, instead, to be responsible digital citizens by referring to official sources to get the authentic and latest information.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEPANG, April 6 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) will continue to hold engagement sessions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) to ensure the issue of rising chicken prices will not continue until the Hari Raya season.

Its deputy minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said he was shocked by the latest development as there was still a shortage of chicken and chicken eggs in several states at the moment.

“I was quite surprised when I found out there is a shortage in the supply of chickens and chicken eggs in Johor and several other states although MAFI had given an assurance that it (supply of chickens and chicken eggs) will not be affected (during the Ramadan month).

“I am also concerned that this issue may prolong until the Hari Raya season. So, we will monitor and hold continuous engagement sessions with MAFI, which handles food supply,” he said.

He told reporters this after attending the ‘Ops Pantau Bazar Ramadan’ (Ramadan Bazaar Monitoring Ops) at the Taman Putra Perdana Ramadan Bazaar in Puchong here today.

As such, Rosol said investigations would be carried out at all levels involving chicken producers from livestock farms to consumers.

“If there is an increase (at any stage), we will consider whether to issue a summons or a compound notice (to those concerned),” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KANGAR, April 6 (Bernama) — A total of 956 paddy farmers statewide who have been adversely affected by the floods from May to September last year received aid through the Padi Crop Disaster Fund (TBTP) via an allocation of RM1.3 million from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI).

These recipients are from five localities, namely Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) Area Farmers Organisation (PPK) A-1 Arau, MADA PPK B-1 Kayang, MADA PPK C-1 Kangar, MADA PPK D-1 Tambun Tulang and MADA PPK E-1 Simpang Empat.

MADA chairman Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman said the floodwaters had damaged the crop resulting in losses to the farmers.

“The high distribution of rainfalls and storms from May to September last year caused floods which damaged the paddy crops,” he said in his speech at the presentation of TBTP assistance at Dewan Warisan here, today.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man and State Secretary Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad.

Ahmad Tarmizi said the rate of assistance provided to each recipient was based on the damaged paddy crop.

“For plants which are from one to 70 days old, the government allocated a payment of RM876 per hectare. For plants which are 71 days old and above, the assistance given is RM1,800 per hectare,” he said.

In the same development, Ahmad Tarmizi said this year, MADA had planned maintenance and development works in Perlis MADA Region 1 with an allocation of RM1.025 million.

“MADA is also planning to develop eight blocks of irrigation (schemes) next year which will benefit 4,900 hectares of paddy planting areas in the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, Azlan, in his speech, said although the TBTP aid was modest he hoped it would, to a certain extent, help ease the burden being faced by the farmers impacted by the floods.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency