Day: May 12, 2022

MELAKA, May 12 (Bernama) — A proposal has been mooted for Uptown Jonker Walk to operate on a daily basis, instead of just the current Friday, Saturday and Sunday three-day-a-week system, to boost the economy of traders and the atmosphere of the popular tourist hotspot, especially during weekdays.

Jonker Walk Committee deputy chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo said the proposal was being discussed with various parties, including the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) and the Tourism Promotion Division (BPP).

He said his committee had conducted a study and the proposal has received the support of traders and businesses in the uptown area.

“We have brought the proposal to MBMB and BPP as the area only comes alive on weekends as there is an ‘uptown’ night market involving 450 stallholders selling various products.

“While at Jonker Walk, we also have 200 traders trading in shop buildings and they hope people will visit Uptown Jonker Walk daily as they would on a weekend,” he said at a press conference here today.

He said the increase in operating hours of Uptown Jonker Walk would also boost the state’s tourism sector and tourists could visit the area without waiting for the weekend.

He said the stage for performances at Jonker Walk will also be reopened for arts and cultural activities in June to enliven the uptown night atmosphere.

Gan also shared that Jonker Walk received an allocation of RM250,000 from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry earlier this year for upgrading work on facilities in the area, which has been open since 2010.

He said the upgrading involved public toilets, gates as well as Jonker Walk World Heritage Park and MBMB had opened tenders to contractors interested in implementing it.

“The upgrading is important to provide comfort and safety for visitors to Jonker Walk as well as to infuse new life into the area,” he added.

He said based on MySejahtera’s QR code scan records to Jonker Walk, a total of 302,939 visitors was recorded going to the Uptown Night Market in the first four months of this year.

He said visitors have increased from month to month, numbering 88,048 people in January, February (66,671), March (69,228) and April (78,992).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has agreed to grant conditional registration approval for the product Evusheld 100 milligrammes per millimetre (mg/ml) Solution For Injection (Tixagevimab 100 mg/ml and Cilgavimab 100 mg/ml) manufactured by Astrazeneca AB of Sweden.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the product was used to prevent COVID-19 infection following pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 to adults and adolescents aged 12 and above weighing at least 40 kgs.

“In addition, it is also used on an individual who may not have an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination or for individuals whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended,” he said in a statement here tonight.

According to Dr Noor Hisham, the approval was made at the 372nd Drug Control Authority (DCA) meeting which convened today.

He said the use of Evusheld was based on clinical guidelines issued by MOH, and the product was not meant to be used as a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination, while compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) was still required.

He said the conditional registration approval required information on the quality, safety and effectiveness of the product to be monitored and evaluated continuously by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA) to ensure that a product’s benefit-over-risk remains positive.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) — Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has refuted allegations that he was taking AirAsia’s side on the issue of the company’s recent flight delays.

Nanta said his ministry understood airline-related issues fell under the Transport Ministry and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM).

However, he said his ministry took proactive steps when receiving complaints from consumers regarding the flight delays and their compensation claims made against the airline.

“Due to the complaints made to the ministry and on the policy of this ministry that oversees consumer affairs, I have contacted AirAsia to seek further clarification on the problems besetting fliers.

“The accusations stating that I favour AiraAsia are unfounded, and I hope it will stop,” he said in a statement here tonight.

Nanta said several statements have been issued on social media to share the results of the ministry’s engagement with AirAsia, including the details of the meeting between the ministry and AirAsia’s top management this afternoon.

He said the statement made was not in favour of AirAsia, and he himself had urged the company prioritise the welfare of the affected travellers.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LIMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) — The debate between PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Sapura Energy Bhd (SEB) and issues related to the country’s future went smoothly tonight.

About 400 people including political leaders, corporate figures, economic experts, academicians, university students and supporters of both leaders attended the debate, which started at 9 pm at Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) here.

The debate comprised three segments, with the first part touching on problems faced by oil and gas company SEB and whether it should be rescued or not.

The second part was about “Malaysia’s Future”, encompassing aspects of the economy, politics and governance and the country’s direction, while the third part was reserved for a question-and-answer session.

To ensure there were no untoward incidents, tight security checks were imposed on those entering the debate hall.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency