Day: April 20, 2022

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Axiata Foundation launches Back To School Programme for B40 students

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) — Axiata Foundation, a nation-building and community outreach initiative by Axiata Group Bhd, has launched a Back To School Programme to enable deserving students from lower-income backgrounds to pursue their education despite facing financial difficulties.

Axiata’s president and group chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Izzaddin Idris said a total of 700 top-performing students from 48 MARA Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) nationwide have been identified and would receive school uniforms, shoes and RM100 in cash.

He said beneficiaries identified for this programme, which is in partnership with Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), were from low-income families, with 60 per cent of them having been orphaned due to COVID-19 and other various reasons.

“Beneficiaries identified for this programme will now have opportunities to be nurtured further through our Axiata Young Talent Programme, mentoring and coaching from AxiataCares Volunteers, and the provision of Axiata Foundation scholarships to pursue their tertiary education, for those who qualify,” he said at the programme’s launching ceremony here today.

He said that he believed assistance and support should be approached in a manner that is holistic, structured, and sustainable with the interests of these deserving students at the core of the foundation’s initiatives.

Izzaddin said Axiata Foundation has also pledged RM115 million for the next 10 years (2022-2031) to be channelled towards programmes under its education pillar initiative in promoting equitable education and nurturing young talent including the Axiata Young Talent Programme.

Axiata Foundation focuses on developing and nurturing future-ready talents and leaders under the education pillar initiative as well as addressing community needs, especially for underserved and vulnerable groups through its community investments pillar.

Meanwhile, Axiata Foundation CEO Kamal Nawawi said its education pillar programme has even expanded into an area known as the Axiata Digital Leadership Programme (ADLP) which aims to reach out to university students, while also working with third parties to look at programmes in schools.

He said programmes for ADLP are in line with the foundation’s aspiration of becoming a digital champion in 2024, which was to provide needed digital skills to Malaysia’s future leaders for them to contribute to the country.

“We also added another area which is Equity in Education Fund Axiata and we are going to launch our scholarship fund hopefully in the next quarter, to reach the target of having about 40 students per year accepted into local universities, including those from the B40 families,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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In-depth study of plan to create job opportunities for Rohingyas – Saravanan

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) — The Human Resource Ministry and Home Ministry (KDN) are carrying out an in-depth study of a plan to create job opportunities for Rohingyas in the country due to security factors.

Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said a detailed review was important to prevent more Rohingya refugees from coming to Malaysia if the plan to create job opportunities was implemented.

“I have discussed with him (Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin) regarding the security factor, where the KDN is worried that if we allow (the creation of employment opportunities) without proper planning, then many more refugees might head to Malaysia.

“So, we must study in detail in terms of implementation. For now, (we) still do not have a decision,” he told a media conference after the Perkeso 2022 breaking of fast ceremony here tonight.

Saravanan was commenting on the incident where 528 Rohingyan detainees escaped from the Sungai Bakap Immigration Detention Depot at about 4.30 am today.

As of 8 pm today, a total of 351 refugees have been rearrested and police are still tracking down the remaining escaped detainees.

Meanwhile, six others were killed after being hit by a vehicle while crossing the road at KM 168 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) heading south near Jawi, Penang.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Special Aidilfitri aid of RM1,000 for civil servants in Kelantan – MB

KOTA BHARU, April 20 (Bernama) — The Kelantan state government has announced a special Aidilfitri financial aid of RM1,000 for all civil servants in the state of Grade 56 and below.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said the aid would be paid out before the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

He said the state government would also channel RM500 to village heads, halaqat (religious gatherings) officers and teachers, council members, ICT coordinators in state constituencies, and coordinators for the armalah group (single mothers) as well as pondok teachers statewide.

“Besides that, RM250 will also be given to Al-Quran teachers, Fardu Ain teachers and Kelantan Women Development Centre (PPWK) teachers (Mudaribbah),” he said in a statement today.

Ahmad also announced that the state government had agreed to declare May 5 as a public holiday for Kelantan.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Golden Jubilee celebration of UM Faculty of Law on June 17

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) — The 50th Golden Jubilee celebration of the University Malaya (UM) Faculty of Law will be held on June 17.

UM Faculty of Law Alumni Association (Parfum) president Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the celebration, organised by the UM Law Faculty in collaboration with the alumni, was scheduled to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also an alumnus of the faculty.

“I would like to thank the Prime Minister, who will be present on June 17 to launch the golden jubilee celebration, and we are very proud that the prime minister is an alumnus of this faculty.

“Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat will also give a special address and anyone who is interested in becoming alumni, can save the date June 17 at 3 pm,” she said on the Selamat Pagi Malaysia programme on TV1 today.

Meanwhile, Dean of the UM Faculty of Law Datuk Assoc Prof Dr Johan Shamsuddin Sabaruddin, who was also a guest on the TV programme, said his faculty would pursue academic activities to enhance the prestige of the faculty and the university.

“Apart from the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme, which has attracted many international students, we also have an external programme where we open this faculty to those who may aspire to study law without having to study full time,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Tighter security at Langkap Immigration Detention Centre following Bandar Baharu incident

IPOH, April 20 (Bernama) — The security and system of the Langkap Immigration Detention Depot will be tightened as a precautionary measure following the breakout by Rohingya refugees from the Sungai Bakap Temporary immigration Depot near Bandar Baharu, Kedah this morning.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the proactive measures need to be carried out to ensure such an incident did not recur or that the escapees may enter the state.

“Even though the matter is not under the purview of the state government, it is hoped the parties concerned would take the necessary measures as what had happened in Kedah may happen in our state.

“As we are aware, they (Rohingya refugees) are very creative in finding ways to escape. The authorities should be careful and cannot afford to be complacent after the incident.

“The detainees are aware of the schedule of depot officers for their plans,” he said.

It was reported that 528 refugees escaped from the depot which was holding 664 detainees with 357 recaptured including six who were killed when crossing Kilometre 168 of the North-South Expressway southbound near Jawi.

Earlier, Saarani handed over Raya goodies to security forces in conjunction with Aidilfitri including Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Sabah to use special grant from federal govt to build 1,500 Rumah Mesra SMJ

KOTA KINABALU, April 20 (Bernama) — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor has announced that the RM125.6 million special grant from the federal government will be utilised to build a total of 1,500 units of Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) in all 73 state constituencies.

He said the Rumah Mesra SMJ, previously known as Hardcore Poor Housing Project or PPRT will be distributed evenly to all the constituencies in Sabah.

“This decision is in line with the state government’s Hala Tuju SMJ initiative to ensure the well-being of the people and that they will have access to affordable housing.

“Excess fund from the allocation would be used to repair roads, suspension bridges and other infrastructures as well as properties damaged by floods,” he said at the breaking of fast event with Bersatu Sabah leaders at the Sabah International Convention Centre here today.

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Hajiji in a joint statement stated that the federal government has agreed to increase the annual special grant for Sabah by 4.7 fold from RM26.7 million to RM125.6 million beginning this year.

Hajiji said it was a good start for Sabah while assuring that the funds would be put to good use for the benefit of the people and the state.

At the same time, he said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) – Barisan Nasional (BN) state government was determined to pursue more through negotiations that are still ongoing to get the 40 per cent as agreed in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63).

Hajiji who is Bersatu Sabah Chief said this was among the many successes achieved by the GRS-BN state government after only three years in power.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Sarawak JBPM to conduct night patrols from today

KUCHING, April 20 (Bernama) — The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Services Department (JBPM) will conduct night patrols from today in a bid to prevent fire outbreaks during the Aidilfitri festive season in the state.

Sarawak JBPM director Datuk Khirudin Drahman@Hussaini said a total of 38 fire stations throughout the state would be involved in the night patrol, which would enable quick response in case of fire.

“Our firemen out on patrol will be able to monitor the situation and react quickly in case of a small fire,” he said when launching the Fire Safety Awareness Campaign in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2022 celebrations here today.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, who officiated at the event, said every fireman at each fire station involved would patrol areas within five kilometers of their respective stations.

“The patrols are very important for our safety, so we can sleep well. We should be grateful to the fire department for this,” she said.

According to Fatimah, as of March 31, assistance worth RM441,305 has been channeled through the Sarawak Welfare Department (JKMS) to 385 victims in 37 fire cases in the state.

“Last year, the department spent RM1,681,325 to assist 1,419 victims of 109 fire cases while another RM2,361,811 was spent in the year 2020 to help 1,934 victims of 118 fire cases,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency