Month: April 2022

SIPITANG, April 24 (Bernama) — The state government through the initiatives of Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) is creating as many jobs as possible so that Sabahans will no longer have to look for work in other places including Peninsular Malaysia.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said nearly 200,000 Sabahans, exclusive of dependents, are currently working in Peninsular Malaysia.

“That is why the GRS-BN government is focused on creating an investor-friendly state to attract more investors to come. I want to bring in investors to Sabah so that we can create more job opportunities for our local youths,” he said in a statement here today.

Hajiji said 10 major companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to invest in the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) with investments worth billions of ringgit and when materialised would directly benefit the people, especially youth, in the district from the job opportunities and economic spinoffs.

According to him, despite facing challenges during its early days, the state government managed to prepare the Hala Tuju SMJ, a five-year plan to develop Sabah, which was launched just six months after taking over the helm.

“Within just a year of leading the state government, we managed to attract investors to come and some have already signed an agreement to set up operations in Sabah,” he said.

Among the high-impact projects that have taken off were two in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) and another in Paitan where a high-yield coconut plantation project is being carried out.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KANGAR, April 24 (Bernama) — A total of 138 blood donors have registered to take part in a blood donation programme, ‘Nilai Setitik Darah 10.0’ organised by Padang Besar UMNO Division.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the programme was aimed at giving awareness to the public on the importance of donating blood, especially during the month of Ramadan.

“This yearly programme is in collaboration with Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (HTF) and the HTF Board of Visitors. This is the tenth year that we have organised the programme,” the Padang Besar MP told reporters after attending the programme at the Blood Bank Unit of the hospital here last night.

Meanwhile, HTF Transfusiologist Dr Wan Noor Falah Wan Yahaya said the blood collection rate would drop by 20 per cent every Ramadan compared to the normal month.

“So far, this year we have collected 2,863 bags of blood from Jan 1 to April 23, compared to 2,940 from Jan 1 to April 23, last year.

“We found that in Perlis and Kedah, group O blood-type is relatively low compared to other blood groups,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) — PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) has advised motorists from Klang Valley returning to their home towns far away on April 29 to May 2 for the Aidilfitri celebration to enter the highway before 10 am.

PLUS chief operating officer, Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi said PLUS is calling on the people to comply with the ‘Balik Kampung and Pulang Ke Bandar’ Travel Time Advisory (TTA) on April 29 to May 2 2022 and plan their journey to avoid traffic congestion.

“As this is the first time after two years of Movement Control Order (MCO) that Malaysians are allowed to return to their home villages to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we expect about two million vehicles which is an increase of 25 per cent compared to 1.6 million vehicles a day using our highways currently.

“In view of this, do expect congestion and possibly prolonged duration for your travel. So we urge and advise highway customers to abide by the TTA issued to plan journeys back to their hometowns and to return to the city.

“Highway users heading to faraway destinations such as Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (North) and Johor, are advised to enter the highway earlier which is before 10 am. Those heading to nearer locations or states are advised to enter the highway before 1 pm,” he said in a statement today.

According to Zakaria, based on a study by PLUS, it was found that for the return journey to Klang Valley, highway customers can expect long journeys if they choose not to adhere to the TTA.

“This is based on the festive season travelling pattern simulation for motorists coming from the north to Klang Valley, and they are expected to experience journeys of up to 10 hours or two times longer than the average journey if they enter the highway after 9 am.

“Meanwhile, the journey from the south to Klang Valley is expected to take more than seven hours or twice the duration compared to the average journey if they enter the highway after 9 am,” he cautioned.

The TTA issued by PLUS for highway journeys from April 29 to May 9 is also aimed at distributing traffic and avoid congestion from entering the highways, stopping at toll plazas and rest areas simultaneously.

“The TTA is designed to prevent traffic heading towards further destinations from converging with those heading to nearer places. By adhering to the TTA, it would make a positive difference to one’s travelling experience,” he said.

He added that apart from the TTA schedule, highway customers are also urged to use PLUS application, Waze or Google Map to obtain a better travel plan.

Motorists can obtain the latest traffic information via Twitter@PLUSTrafik, PLUS application, PLUSLine 1800-88-0000, Chatbot PUTRI, electronic message signs (VMS) at selected locations as well as follow the traffic report via leading national radio broadcast.

PLUS also advises customers to adhere to traffic regulations and drive carefully while ensuring their vehicles are in good condition so as to reach their destinations safely to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with beloved families.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, April 24 (Bernama) — Amendments to the FAMA Act 1965 to enable the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) to manage the marketing of livestock commodities will be tabled in Parliament in July, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.

He said the amendments would also allow FAMA to play an effective role in stabilising the supply of livestock commodities.

“At the moment there are no specific agencies tasked with livestock marketing activities,” he told a press conference after opening the national-level Semarak Syawal programme at Medan Niaga Satok here today.

Ronald said apart from this, FAMA would also have a role to ensure that the local food supply chain was not disrupted.

FAMA is empowered by the FAMA Act to supervise, coordinate, regulate and develop the marketing of Malaysian agricultural commodities except pineapple, rubber, oil palm, padi, rice, tobacco and cocoa products.

When asked on the supply of essential goods for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, Ronald said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) would ensure that there would be no shortage.

“Consumers will not have any problems getting essentials like meat, chickens, vegetables and coconuts as departments and agencies under MAFI have made early preparations to ensure continuity in supplies,” he said.

Meanwhile, FAMA director-general Datuk Zainal Abidin Yang Razalli said the Semarak Syawal programme will be held simultaneously at farmers’ markets throughout the country from today until May 2.

“This year, enterprises under FAMA such as Agrobazaar and Kedai Rakyat are also participating in the programme to give consumers an opportunity to get their supplies throughout Aidilfitri,” he said.

MAFI, in a statement, said 15,391 entrepreneurs are expected to generate sales totalling RM25 million through the 797 outlets provided in the Semarak Syawal programme.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

CHUKAI, April 24 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has been urged to play an important role to create a good relationship between employers and employees as such cordial ties can enhance the country’s economic capability.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it is necessary as the roles of employees and MTUC are important to assist the economy recover and pave the way for the nation’s bright future.

“I also hope the labour unions would work with the government to improve the welfare of workers,” he said when speaking at a Presentation of Kemaman Perwaja Workers Compensation at Kemaman UMNO division head office here today.

He said employers also need to continue cooperating to ensure a harmonious environment at the workplace is achieved for workers.

“Usually, in terms of perception, labour unions are considered as against employers…when mentioning union, the people would usually assume unions would not agree with employers and unions would also usually not agree with the government.

“But I am confident the new leadership of MTUC would work with the government in improving the welfare of workers,” he said.

In this regard, Ismail Sabri also called on workers to continue placing their confidence in the government to continue helping them to enjoy better a life.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also stressed that the implementation of the minimum wage would go on from May 1, even though there were various views and objections.

He said the details on the implementation of the minimum wage would be made by the Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan soon.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BALING, April 24 (Bernama) – A nine-year-old girl was killed after being run over by a family car in an unfortunate incident in Kampung Keledang Luar in the mukim of Tawar here, yesterday afternoon.

Baling police chief Supt Shamsudin Mamat said in the 2.15 pm incident, the girl was said to be playing outside the house with her seven-year-old brother and had entered the car which was parked in front of the house.

“According to witnesses, the girl was seen playing in the driver’s seat and was believed to have lowered the handbrake, causing the car to move backwards.

“The panicked girl got out of the car and ran towards the back and tried to stop it from moving but could not and was trapped,” he said in a statement here today.

According to him, the mishap came to the attention of her 29-year-old uncle who was then preparing to go out from the house to work as an ambulance driver of a private company.

“Her uncle who heard his nephew’s screams rushed out and found her under the car before pushing it forward and retrieved the girl but she was unconscious,” he said.

Shamsudin said the girl’s uncle then rushed her to the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, Sungai Petani, but she was reported to have died on the way to the hospital.

He said the girl, who was a Year Three pupil at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tawar, Kuala Ketil lived with her family but during the incident, her father and grandmother were not at home and that she and her other siblings, aged seven to 15, were being taken care of by their uncle.

He said the girl’s body was sent to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar for post-mortem and that the case was classified as sudden death and was being investigated under Section 31 (1) of the Child Act 2001.

She is believed to have suffered internal bleeding and a fractured skull.

“I would like to advise the public, especially caregivers, to always be concerned and protect the safety of children well to avoid unwanted incidents,” Shamsudin said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency