Day: April 14, 2022

ISKANDAR PUTERI, April 14 (Bernama) –The state government today announced a ‘Bantuan Kasih Bangsa Johor’ (BKBJ) special incentive to cover 28 initiatives with an allocation of RM144.36 million, as an appreciation to the people of Johor.

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the initiatives would benefit 3.69 million people in the state.

He said the state government was aware that the people were now adjusting to the new norms, especially now that economic activity is in full swing after the opening of the Johor-Singapore border last week.

“Nevertheless, the Johor government realised that many still need help and support.

“As such, we will strive to be kind and to help all layers of the Bangsa Johor society,” he told a special press conference at Bangunan Dato ‘Jaafar Muhammad, Kota Iskandar, here today.

The special incentive was drawn up with the intention to share good fortune with the people of Johor regardless of race, religion, origin, ethnicity, rank or background, said Onn Hafiz.

The handover of the BKBJ, which covers five categories namely community, welfare, Johor youth, education and economy, will soon be implemented in stages.

“Insya-Allah Johoreans will be receiving the aid ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. Due to time factors, some will receive it soon after Raya. No matter what, the state government will expedite distribution.

“The Exco members and I hope that this contribution will bring a little relief and joy to all. The welfare, well-being and prosperity of the people and the state had always been the state government’s priority,” he added.

Among the initiatives announced is a special Aidilfitri assistance of RM400 to 85,800 tithe recipients involving RM14.2 million in funds.

Assistance will also be given to children who were orphaned after losing their parents due to COVID-19, involving 1,825 recipients with an allocation of RM3 million.

“In addition rent payment exemption for 2022 will be given to 11,511 people’s housing programme (PPR) tenants involving an allocation of RM22.25 million,” he said adding that 3,020 government housing tenants would also be given rental exemption involving funds of RM3.95 million.

The Menteri Besar also announced RM300 assistance to 11,790 gig economy workers, taxi drivers, e-hailing drivers, food delivery riders; 2,400 public and express bus drivers; and 11,267 fishermen registered with the Fisheries Department.

Some 50,830 stall owners will also be enjoying rental payment exemption on premises and stalls owned by the local authority for 12 months, involving a fund of RM26.18 million.

To boost the tourism sector, RM2,000 assistance will be given to 98 budget hotel operators and 98 travel agencies while RM1,000 assistance will be given to 635 tourist guides, 386 homestay operators and 82 tour boat operators.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) — Two new withdrawal facilities, namely Haj Withdrawal and Education Withdrawal, announced today, are parts of the efforts to improve the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) retirement scheme, said board chairman, Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor.

He said the two facilities announced by Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, today, also added value to the well-being of its contributors.

The board was committed to providing the best service to contributors, and supported the government’s aspirations in ensuring their well-being was always a priority, he said.

“The board hopes that both facilities are optimised accordingly to the best advantage, and provide added value in terms of socio-economy, family and spiritual well-being.

“LTAT Haj Withdrawal facility will allow eligible contributors to withdraw part of their retirement savings from the Armed Forces Fund to finance the cost of performing the haj pilgrimage,” he said in a statement today.

Raja Mohamed Affandi said the main terms and conditions for the haj withdrawal include a maximum withdrawal amount of RM10,000, and contributors must have contributed to LTAT for at least 15 years.

“Also, only contributors who have received a haj pilgrimage offer letter from the Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) can withdraw retirement savings for this purpose,” he said.

He said for the Education Withdrawal, eligible contributors are allowed to withdraw part of their retirement savings for reimbursement of the registration fee for Semester 1 of the first year (reimbursement on enrolment fee) for contributors who pursue studies at any local public university.

“This move is an initiative to ease the financial commitment for contributors who want to further their studies to the tertiary level.

“Among the terms and conditions are that contributors are pursuing higher education (Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and Doctor of Philosophy) at a local public university; refund for the first year registration fee (registration fee) only and maximum withdrawal of RM3,200 only,” he said.

According to him, contributors can only make the withdrawal once during the tenure of service and are subject to the available balance in Account 2.

“Effective April 1, LTAT members’ contribution accounts have been divided into Account 1 at 60 per cent and Account 2 at 40 per cent. Application for these two withdrawals can be made starting tomorrow (April 15),” he said.

Earlier today, Hishammuddin announced that LTAT contributors can now withdraw their contributions for the purpose of performing haj and furthering their studies at local public universities, starting tomorrow.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KEPALA BATAS, April 14 (Bernama) — Four houses were destroyed in a fire in Kampung Kuala Muda, Penaga, here today.

However, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

A Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) spokesman said following a distress call at 6.49am, 50 personnel from the Kuala Muda, Kepala Batas and Bertam fire and rescue stations were rushed to the scene.

“Upon arriving at the scene, firemen found four double-storey semi-wooden houses which are located next to each other on fire.

“The fire was brought under control half an hour later and completely extinguished at 8am,” he said when contacted today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEPANG, April 14 (Bernama) — It was not the perfect launch, but funding constraints have not dampened the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia embedded in 10 climbers of the Keluarga Malaysia Everest 2022 (KAME 2022) mission to conquer the world’s highest peak at 8,849 metres.

KAME 2022 mission chief, Azim Afif Ishak, said the team still lacked a sizeable RM1 million in funds, from the estimated RM2.3 million expenditure needed to make the mission a success.

“While the news of the (lack of) funds was still not sufficiently communicated to the climbers, some shed tears and sadness as some had to quit their jobs, and some take three months of unpaid leave and leave their families with small children behind.

“However, because of the will to raise the image of Malaysia as high as Mount Everest, all these climbers gained their flagging spirits back,” he said when met by Bernama at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today before departing for Kathmandu, Nepal.

Apart from Azim Afif, KAME 2022 also ropes in an experienced climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim, 31, who is a person with disability (PwD); former world silat champion Rina Jordana Adnan, 42; Ahmad Murshid Maktar, 35; Ayu Wanirah Naharuddin, 29, and Jack Oh Jin Heng, 37.

Other climbers in the once-in-a-lifetime quest are Kedah Civil Defence Force director, Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub, 54; and three VAT 69 Commando personnel, namely Kanang Usin, 42, Pragash Murugesu, 32, and Mohammad Hanif Che Ahmad, 28.

Explaining the high cost of the daunting mission, Azim Afif said that the permit to climb Mount Everest is USD11,000 per person, and the fee for a Sherpa to accompany the climber is between USD10,000 to USD15,000, while complete clothing for each climber costs RM20,000, to ensure safety.

“Every climber must have adequate equipment because such missions not only test you mentally and physically but also looming are natural disasters like avalanches,” he said.

He said the KAME 2022 team’s journey to Mount Everest will be recorded and documented for Malaysians to see, as well as to be an inspirational guide for younger generations of climbers.

“The mission this time is not just to make the ascent, but for them to understand and immerse themselves in the essence of the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia, which stands for solidarity regardless of race, ethnicity and religion as well as background, so that unity of the people can be further strengthened,” he said.

Meanwhile, Awang Askandar said the spectre of inadequate funds was the team’s burden to be overcome together and is a test for team camaraderie.

“This is because this mission is a national mission to represent Keluarga Malaysia. Here is the beginning of the creation of history in the national climb, represented by climbers from various races and religions as well as uniformed personnel,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) – The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) today advised teachers to use the TikTok application for teaching purposes, instead of to popularise themselves.

NUTP president Aminuddin Awang said the union supported the use of social media, especially TikTok, for learning purposes, but the application should not be used during face to face learning in classrooms.

He said when in the classrooms, teachers should give their full attention to the students who are physically in front of them.

“Making live recording on social media, including Tik Tok, in classrooms during official working hours is s wrong, let alone, if it is to popularise oneself.

“This is very unhealthy and against the rules and it should be stopped. To maintain the image of the teaching profession, school administrators and PPD (District Education Office) need to act firmly, ”he said when contacted by Bernama.

Aminuddin said many teachers in service now were the generation Y and Z who grew up with social media, but they had to abide by the guidelines on the use of social media issued by the Ministry of Education.

He suggested that teachers to use the social media to upload educated-related content for use by their students after school hours.

Yesterday, it was viralled on Twitter of a teacher doing a ‘live’ session on the TikTok app while teaching in the classroom, which invited various negative reactions, especially from parents.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BINTULU, April 14 (Bernama) — Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has urged the Bintulu branch of the National Registration Department (NRD) to immediately address the problem of MyKid (children’s identity cards) applications.

In a statement today, Tiong said the current manual application process made it difficult for the public, with applicants having to wait a long time for the document to be issued.

He said residents need to fill in the application forms at the Bintulu NRD before the forms are sent for processing to the NRD headquarters in Kuching and then returned to the Bintulu NRD upon completion for collection by the applicants.

Those who wished to get it done urgently would need to proceed either to the Kuching NRD or branches at Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) Kuching, UTC Sibu or UTC Miri.

“Please understand how it feels for people to travel to seek services in locations far away from their homes,” he said in a statement here today.

Tiong, who is also the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China, urged the Bintulu NRD to overcome the problems faced as quickly as possible.

“At the same time, I will also raise this matter with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin,” said Tiong, who is also the Dudong state assemblyman.

It is understood that the Bintulu NRD had applied for computers and machines to produce the MyKid cards, however, the approval was given to the NRD branches that operated at the UTCs.

Prior to this, plans to set up a UTC in Bintulu had been scrapped by the Pakatan Harapan government, resulting in the unavailability of the MyKid service in the division.

Therefore, Tiong is hoping that the Finance Ministry will reconsider the plan to establish a UTC in Bintulu for the benefit of the people, including upgrading the Bintulu NRD.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KANGAR, April 14 (Bernama) — The Siamese community described unrecorded leave for civil servants, granted by the government in conjunction with the Songkran festival, as giving more opportunities to its members to strengthen family ties.

The Malaysian Siamese Foundation chairman, Datuk Siw Chun Eam, said that the granting of unrecorded leave also showed that the government was sensitive and close to the people regardless of race, even though the Siamese community was a minority in the country.

“With this privilege (unrecorded leave) opens up opportunities for the Siamese community, especially young people, to spend more time with their families in their respective villages,” she said when contacted by Bernama today.

Yesterday, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in his speech in conjunction with the festival, said that the granting of unrecorded leave to civil servants of Siamese descent to celebrate Songkran was a privilege to those who work together to develop the country.

Siw Chun said that although there had been no massive Songkran celebrations since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, it was still moderately celebrated at Thai “wat” or temples, and their respective homes.

“For the Siamese community, Songkran is a special day for children to seek forgiveness and blessings from their parents for future success, and to strengthen family ties,” she said.

The Songkran, or Water festival is the Thai New Year that is celebrated for three days starting April 13 every year.

There are 60,000 people of Siamese descent in Malaysia, with a large number residing in Kedah and Perlis.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency