Day: April 11, 2022

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Penang govt to close pig farms for non-compliance with enactment – Exco

GEORGE TOWN, April 11 (Bernama) — The Penang state government will take stricter action against pig farm operators who do not comply with the Pig Farming Enactment 2016, causing pollution through the discharge of wastewater from these farms into rivers.

State Agrotechnology and Food Safety, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said among the main criteria to be complied with by these operators were closed pigpens and management of farm sewage.

“This enactment serves to prevent odour and water pollution. Beginning January this year, the state government will close and demolish farms that do not comply with these conditions.

“Many farm operators do not take heed to the conditions. We need our rivers to be clean if we are to rely on them as a source of water,” she said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Norlela was asked to comment on Water and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s Facebook post today on the Sungai Gertak Sanggul’s pollution caused by pig farms.

According to Tuan Ibrahim, the Department of Environment has begun investigations into pollution believed to be due to the release of wastewater from two pig farms in Mukim 8, Gertak Sanggul and the farmers have said that they will close operations within three to six months.

Meanwhile, Penang Veterinary Services Department ( (JPVPP) director, Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said the licensing of Penang pig farms for 2022 was only approved for 62 farms compared to 143 farms in 2021.

She said any farms that have achieved 50 per cent progress in the implementation of improvement works to comply with the licence conditions would be considered for conditional livestock licence approval and the farm would be allowed to operate.

“In line with the directive, the department has issued compounds to 54 pig farms and 25 farms have volunteered to stop farming activities and are in the process of vacating the farms,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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COVID: New cases drop below 10,000 mark yesterday – Health DG

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — New COVID-19 cases recorded a downward trend for nine consecutive days and hit below the 10,000 mark yesterday when 8,112 cases were reported, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

Prior to this, the number of new infections decreased to 10,177 cases on April 9 from 14,944 cases the day before. On April 7, the figure dropped for six consecutive days with 11,994 cases reported.

The last time Malaysia recorded new cases below the 10,000 mark was on Feb 5 this year with 9,117 cases, before it soars to reach 32,800 cases on March 8.

Dr Noor Hisham said of the new cases reported yesterday, 8,056 cases or 99.31 per cent were in categories one and two.

“Some 56 cases or 0.69 per cent were in categories three, four and five,” he said in a statement today.

He also said that only one new cluster was reported, bringing the number of active clusters so far to 130.

According to Dr Noor Hisham, the country’s infectivity rate (Rt) decreased slightly to 0.82 yesterday from 0.83 on April 9.

Meanwhile, he said only two states registered COVID-19 critical or intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy of over 50 per cent, namely the Federal Territory of Putrajaya at 100 per cent and Selangor at 53 per cent.

For non-ICU bed usage, he said only Putrajaya had surpassed the 50 per cent mark at 59 per cent, while no state recorded occupancy of more than 50 per cent at COVID-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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UCSI Hospital offering free cancer screening, fertility consultation

SEREMBAN, April 11 (Bernama) – To mark its first anniversary (which took place on March 24), UCSI Hospital is offering free cancer screening to the first 50 people over age 50 to sign up, and free fertility consultation to the first 100 people to sign up.

UCSI Hospital chief operating officer, Abu Bakar Jalaluddin, said the free cancer checks are from April 7 – 14, while the free fertility checks are till May 23.

“The screening is to help spot ovarian and breast cancers in women, and stomach and prostate cancers in men. While fertility counselling will be provided by obstetrics & gynaecology consultant, Dr Sharad Ratna,” he said in a statement today.

He said the initiative is also in support of World Health Day and to show its appreciation to the community in Negeri Sembilan and nearby states.

For more information and to register, call UCSI Hospital’s customer service officers at (06) 648 8888 or WhatsApp 011-3581 8808. May also register for the free fertility consultation via https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYnhF-AidYR-6yc7_3FL4jhLlCUi-a0_VZ-UEWazZ6wes-ZQ/viewform

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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48,000 Paxlovid antiviral pills for COVID-19 treatment arrive Monday – Health D-G

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Health today received a total of 48,000 pills of Pfizer’s antiviral drug for the treatment of COVID-19, Paxlovid (PF-07321332/Nirmatrelvir 150mg film-coated tablets and Ritonavir 100mg film-coated tablets).

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the procurement of the oral drug, which was recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 patients aged 18 and above who did not require oxygen therapy but were at high risk of manifesting severe symptoms, arrived at Pharmaniaga Logistic Sdn Bhd today.

On his Twitter account, he wrote that the antiviral drug is not intended to be used as a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination or a substitute for public health measures to prevent COVID-19 infection.

“Paxlovid is another weapon against COVID-19, which is an antiviral drug for the treatment of COVID-19. It is given immediately after being detected positive for COVID-19 and within five days symptoms onset, for optimal effectiveness,” he said.

On March 5, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported as saying that a total of 11,000 high-risk patients would receive the first batch of the antiviral drug.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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COVID: MDA revokes conditional approval for two test kits

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — The Medical Device Authority (MDA) has revoked the conditional approval for two COVID-19 test kits from Innovac Technology Sdn Bhd and Conan Medical Technology Berhad, with immediate effect.

MDA, in a brief statement and infographic posted on its official Facebook page today, said the revocation (of conditional approval) was made because these two companies had failed to comply with the conditions of the approval given by the MDA.

“MDA would also like to advise consumers not to purchase or use COVID-19 test kits that do not comply with agency requirements for fear of being unsafe to use,” read the statement.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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FRIM’s Herbal Technology Centre gets international certification

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) — The Herbal Technology Centre (HTC) of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has received the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for food and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).

FRIM, in a statement today, said HTC received the GMP certificate for food (MS 1480: 2019) and HACCP MS 1480: 2019 from the KIWA International Certification (M) on Sept 3, 2021.

According to the statement, FRIM HTC also received the TQCSI HACCP Code: 2022 certificate on Sept 16, 2021 for its new extraction facility which was upgraded in 2020 under the 11th Malaysia Plan project.

FRIM director-general Dr Ismail Parlan said the certification proved that HTC’s services in detecting, assessing and controlling sources of contamination were significant to food safety, thus ensuring the products produced were safe for consumption.

“I hope this recognition can further increase the trust and confidence of consumers and the industry towards FRIM’s products as well as HTC’s ability to provide services that are satisfactory.

“The achievement is in line with FRIM’s transformation efforts towards becoming a leading research institution that is capable of providing services to produce and commercialise research and development products and technologies, not only in the country but also globally,” he said in the statement.

FRIM also mentioned that the internationally recognised certification was able to meet the global needs and requirements in food safety issues.

HACCP certification is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) while HACCP and GMP are recognised by the Department of Standards Malaysia.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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YOURSAY | Wan Fayhsal seeks to walk back on ‘protector’ remarks

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Malaysiakini (English)

YOURSAY | ‘Chinese vote for those representing their interests, no matter who.’ Wan Fayhsal: Chinese vote DAP because of communal protector mentality too OrangePanther1466: The Chinese naturally gravitate to DAP because of the oppressive affirmative policies being practised by the majority to the detriment of the minority. The Chinese also support PKR for the multiracialism reformation platform espoused by the party. Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has dug a hole for himself so deep that he is now trying to walk back his hasty words. Why would the 70 percent majority need… Continue reading “YOURSAY | Wan Fayhsal seeks to walk back on ‘protector’ remarks”