Day: April 11, 2022

— Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have expressed their condolences to the family of former national rugby player Hisham Abdul Rahman, who died yesterday. Hisham was 72.

In a post on the Istana Negara Facebook page, Their Majesties said they were saddened by the death of Hisham and hoped that his family would remain patient and resolute in facing this difficult time.

Their Majesties also described his passing as a great loss for Malaysian rugby.

“Their Majesties pray for his soul to be blessed by Allah and placed among the righteous,” the statement added.

Hisham, who was a national rugby player in the 70s and 80s, represented the country at the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Championship and the 1979 SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The late Johorian was the founder of the Anchorman Rugby Club and one of the individuals involved in the establishment of the Kuala Lumpur Rugby Union (KLRU).

Apart from that, he was also the first Malaysian appointed to the Asian Rugby Executive Council for two years from 2011.

As a member of the council, Hisham played a key role in bringing the 15-a-side Asian Rugby Championship to the country, which was held at the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council Stadium, Selangor.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — Malaysia has been in the ‘Transition to Endemic’ Phase since April 1, which sees the resumption of many economic sectors and activities, as well as the presence of people everywhere.

With the transition to endemicity comes easing of restrictions and standard operating procedures (SOP) previously imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, paving the way for most activities including prayer gatherings to be held as normal.

However, health experts caution the public to not take this for granted and also to not downplay the deadly risks of the virus which is still present in the community.

Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Universiti Malaya, Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, when contacted by Bernama, reminded Malaysians to always wear a face mask wherever they are, particularly in indoor areas and crowded open spaces, such as Ramadan bazaars.

She added that the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes COVID-19 infection) predominantly spreads through the air and as such, it is crucial for such places to have a good ventilation system.

“Hotels that hold breaking of fast functions should ensure that the ventilation in the restaurant and hotel spaces is good..

“Similarly in mosques and suraus, it is best to open all doors and windows,” Dr Adeeba advised.

She also urged eligible individuals to ensure that their doses of the COVID-19 inoculation are completed, including booster doses.

Occupational health, emergency and public health expert from Hospital Kasih Cyberjaya, Dr Hanafiah Bashirun said that everyone needs to keep themselves on their toes and comply to the three basic SOPs, which are to wear a face mask, maintain physical distancing and frequently sanitise the hands.

He said this will be a necessary habit if the nation is to move forward to the full endemic phase.

“It doesn’t matter that the phase has changed, the SOP basically remain, that is wearing face masks, physical distancing and regular use of sanitisers. The bottom line is that we must comply (with the SOP) because the goal is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“However, if we really want to go in the endemic direction, then we must be good at taking care of ourselves and adhere to the three basic SOP,” he said.

Meanwhile, senior lecturer and epidemiologist from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Associate Prof Dr Malina Osman said that the transition to endemicity is a trial phase to ensure safe entrance to the full endemic phase.

She added, apart from continuing efforts in vaccination, all efforts in SOP adherence as advised by the Health Ministry (MOH) need commitment from all individuals in the community as well as cooperation from all organisations.

“Wearing masks, care for hand hygiene and avoiding crowds should always be in place whenever in public areas,” she said.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has reminded the public to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19 in the transition to the endemic phase by continuing to wear a face mask to prevent infection.

He said that wearing a face mask was one of the preventive measures that could reduce the spread of the virus, especially in high-risk areas such as indoor places with poor ventilation, crowded places, and places where individuals have close-range interactions.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — Heze, a city redolent with the fragrance of flowers, not only has the blooming peony but also boasts a culture of 5,000 years.

This spring, an art event will showcase the profound cultural heritage of Heze, which will be sure to arouse strong artistic feelings in the people here, according to a statement.

Hosted by the People’s Government of Heze and co-organised by the Publicity Department of the CPC Heze Municipal Committee, the Heze Federation of Literature and Art, and the Heze Culture and Tourism Bureau, the 2022 Heze Peony Culture and Art Exhibition opened on schedule at the VR Cloud Exhibition Hall on April 7.

Once announced, the call for submissions quickly set off a craze for the competition. The organisers received almost 40,000 works from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and China, with the event reaching new heights in many aspects, such as the scope, number, and quality of the works.

After an impartial open selection by experts from national associations and the Shandong Provincial Federations of Literature and Art, 98 works of fine art, 100 works of calligraphy, 100 photographs, and 300 works of cultural creativity were selected, with their display at the event for review of and appreciation by the public.

“As a high-tech product, the VR Cloud Exhibition Hall brings the exhibition to the cloud, creating a never-ending art event,” said a spokesman for the event.

The Cloud Exhibition model breaks the barriers of distance, time, and space, and greatly increases the popularity of the event, giving flowers that bloom for just 20 days a chance to bloom across the whole year without fading.

It allows artists and enthusiasts from all over China to intuitively feel the details of the entire exhibition hall and the works in 3D on their mobile phones without leaving their homes. They can experience the combination of peony cultural art and information technology.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) today said it has filed a Mandatory Occurrence Report to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) following the technical issue incident involving flight MH2664.

The aircraft made an air turnback to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) while en route to Tawau last Sunday (April 3).

In a statement, MAB said the report was filed as required by Regulation 165 of the Civil Aviation Regulation 2016 for CAAM’s action as part of the monitoring and safety resolution requirements.

It said throughout the past week, the airline had been in close cooperation with CAAM to identify the cause(s) of the incident, as well as in examining the responses taken by its pilots.

“The airline strongly refutes allegations of any concealment from the public, but instead was at all times following the necessary and standard procedures.

“Malaysia Airlines regrets and apologises for the anxiety and discomfort experienced by passengers on the flight,” it said.

MAB reiterated that it is fully committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers and would ensure that all instructions for corrective measures underlined by CAAM to be implemented immediately.

Yesterday, CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Chester Voo was reported to have said that a technical issue occurred during flight was due to a malfunction to the pitot-static system — an instrument that measure pressure differences to determine air speed and altitude.

The malfunction produced a false speed indication, resulting in the aircraft to pitch-up and deactivated the autopilot, he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, April 11 (Bernama) — Datuk Harjeet Singh is the new Secretary-General of the Health Ministry (MOH) and the appointment takes effect today, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

Prior to the new appointment, Harjeet Singh, 59, was the ministry’s Deputy Secretary-General (Management).

Mohd Zuki, in a statement today, said Harjeet Singh has vast experience in planning, human resource management, and policy and had previously served as the Director General of the Public Complaints Bureau.

“I believe that with his experience, knowledge and credibility, Harjeet Singh is able to lead the MOH to provide services with integrity, efficiency and speed in line with the ministry’s slogan ‘Kami Sedia Membantu’ (We Are Ready to Help), said Mohd Zuki.

Harjeet Singh, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University, Columbus, US, has been in the civil service for 33 years. He joined the service as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer on Aug 1, 1989.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — A total of 132,390 children aged five to 11 years have completed the COVID-19 vaccination under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) as of yesterday.

Based on the COVIDNOW website, a total of 1,365,915 children in the age group, or 38.4 per cent of their population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

For adolescents between 12 and 17 years-old, a total of 2,860,287 individuals, or 91.9 per cent of their population, have completed the vaccination, while 2,961,642 individuals, or 95.2 per cent, have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, a total of 67.7 per cent of the adult population, or 15,922,033 individuals, have received the COVID-19 booster dose, while 22,957,184 individuals, or 97.6 per cent, have completed the vaccination and 23,234,427 or 98.8 per cent have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

A total of 38,820 doses of the vaccine were dispensed yesterday, involving 4,079 as first dose, 28,469 as second dose and 6,272 as booster, bringing the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) to 69,221,371.

Meanwhile, according to the Health Ministry’s GitHub portal, 12 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in the country yesterday, with Sarawak recording the highest at five cases, followed by Perak (two) and one death each in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency