Day: May 27, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today congratulated Khalifa Affnan, a teacher from the Keningau Vocational College, Sabah, who has been named the global winner of the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.

In a post on his Facebook page, Ismail Sabri said that the entire Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) was proud of the success of Khalifa, who has made Malaysia famous in the field of teaching at the international level.

“I understand that Khalifa is the first teacher in the region to receive this award. Well done and congratulations. Good luck and continue your excellence wherever you are,” he said.

According to the Prime Minister, Khalifa’s achievement in initiating a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) project should boost the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia to work hard to succeed in their respective fields.

Khalifa made national history after becoming the first Malaysian teacher to receive the award, and also the first at the regional level, for his achievements in initiating a STEM project.

He was named the winner after beating 7,000 other participants from 113 countries.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, May 27 (Bernama) — The Malaysia Amateur Radio Transmitter’s Society (MARTS) will be holding a special net in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day 2022 (HAWANA) on Sunday (May 29).

MARTS Disaster and Emergency Communication Centre (MDECC) coordinator Hamdan Abu said the special net is to appreciate journalists for carrying out their noble duty in providing the latest information to the people.

Hamdan said he would operate the special net with Mansur Abd Muen as the net controller, adding that they have also invited Utusan Malaysia Melaka bureau chief Amran Mulup to share his experience working as a journalist for 35 years.

“The special net will be transmitted at 10.30 am this Sunday through a repeater nationwide and will be broadcast to the whole world via the Echolink application.

“Those who are not amateur radio operators but wish to follow the net can watch it live on MARTS official Facebook,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

Hamdan said the society had operated a total of 35 special nets this year in conjunction with events such as Warriors’ Day, Nurses Day, World Environment Day, and Children’s Day, among others while throughout last year it had operated a total of 135 special nets.

He said the special nets are being conducted periodically to prepare licensed amateur radio operators to operate radio communication equipment seamlessly in times of need such as during emergencies or disasters.

He said last year, MARTS had assisted government agencies to manage flood communications in areas affected by the disaster nationwide as telephone communications in these areas were disrupted.

“To date, about 14,000 individuals across the country are licensed to operate amateur radio broadcasts with most of them also being members of several amateur radio associations or clubs in the country,” he said, adding that MARTS is always ready to assist any parties in case of emergencies.

MARTS was established in 1952 and is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) — Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to prevent non-traditional security threats along the borders by strengthening information and intelligence exchange among border agencies.

This was among the resolutions laid out during the 55th General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting between Malaysia and Thailand here yesterday.

The Defence Ministries of Malaysia and Thailand in a joint statement said the meeting which was co-chaired by Malaysia’s Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan also agreed to improve the effectiveness of joint operations as a measure to curb the proliferation of COVID-19 infections.

“Malaysia and Thailand also have come together to facilitate legal border crossing activities for economic growth and strengthening border area communities.

“Both countries will also establish communications with the appointment of liaison officers for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) readiness along the common border,” the statement said.

The hour-long meeting also concurred on conducting the 4th Joint-Combined Exercise Committee Thailand-Malaysia (JCEC THAMAL) exercise with the possibility of inviting ASEAN members and allied countries as observers and participants.

“It is expected to be held in 2024 focusing on military assistance from ASEAN member countries against the backdrop of HADR and will especially emphasise promoting the roles of female trainees and the performance of Emergency Medical Services (EMS),” the statement added.

According to the statement, the GBC meeting this year was also satisfied with the progress of activities including operational activities, border management activities and other socio-economic development initiatives conducted along the border that were reviewed and reported by committees from both countries.

“The GBC endorsed the progress report submitted by both countries which presented the planning and conduct of various activities by the stipulated agencies and their counterparts,” it said.

The 56th GBC meeting is expected to convene in 2023 and will be hosted by Thailand.

Before the meeting, Hishammuddin received a courtesy call from Prawit and the Thai delegation at Wisma Pertahanan, here yesterday.

Prawit who arrived at 11 am was received by a guard of honour mounted by the First Batallion of the Royal Malay Regiment involving 104 officers and men headed by Major Mohd Noornazmin Abd Rahim.

This first visit by the Thai delegation to Malaysia after the COVID-19 pandemic among others aimed to boost bilateral ties as well as exchange views and information for mutual benefit in the region.

Also present were Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, Mindef secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz and Malaysian Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

The Thai delegation also comprised Deputy Defence Minister Gen Chaichan Changmongkol, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Chalermpol Srisawat and the Secretary-General of the National Security Council Gen Supot Malaniyom.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SANDAKAN, May 27 (Bernama) — The remaining 19 of the 35 work packages under Phase One of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah will be implemented using allocations from the federal government, said Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said his ministry would not implement the project through the private finance initiative (PFI) as proposed by the state government in order to speed up the project.

“There is no more (PFI). The implementation and procurement methods are currently being finalised through the Ministry of Finance,” he told reporters here today.

Earlier, he inspected work package 27, which involved work to upgrade the road from Kampung Lot M to Batu 32 Sandakan, here spanning 18.1 km, in conjunction with the Ministry of Works’ FTRoadpedia Tour today.

Fadillah said the entire Phase one of the project in Sabah was expected to be ready in the next five years.

On the maintenance of damaged roads in Sabah, he said his ministry would always strive to ensure that public infrastructure, especially damaged roads, was repaired for the safety of road users.

According to him, a total of 47,223 potholes in Sabah have been patched up, especially on federal roads, from 2019 to last month (April).

“There are also roads in Sabah that require resurfacing work,” he said.

The FTRoadpedia Tour which started today until May 29 is being held to check the status of the Sabah Pan-Borneo Highway construction project and address issues related to maintenance of federal roads.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) — A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck Timor Region, Indonesia at 10.36am today.

According to a Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) statement, the depth of the quake which occurred 425 kilometres northeast of Kupang, Indonesia was 61 km.

Based on the department’s initial assessment, the quake does not pose a tsunami threat to Malaysia.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, May 27 (Bernama) — Too much bureaucracy with various conditions set by government departments and agencies in implementing development projects will only stunt the economic development of Sabah, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

Bung Moktar who is also the state Works Minister said it would indirectly cause development projects to be delayed and eventually result in Sabah being left behind compared with other states.

In this regard, Bung Moktar urged all departments, agencies and government-linked companies (GLCs) in the state to practise efficient new approaches, ideas and methods to facilitate and speed up development projects.

“When we delay development projects, all sorts of bureaucracies and conditions are imposed. Of course, this will impede Sabah’s socio-economic development. Indirectly, to me, we are sabotaging our (Sabah) economic development, (but) at the same time we blame other people for not helping develop our state.

“So, we must change because if we don’t, change will not happen,” he told reporters after launching the construction of the Sabah Ports Authority (LPPS) headquarters and The Cove commercial centre here today.

Bung Moktar also witnessed the signing of a letter of confirmation and the exchange of joint venture agreements between LPPS and Deevin Development Sdn Bhd.

LPPS was represented by its Deputy Chairman Aminah Johan and Board of Directors member Dr Ramli Amir, while Deevin Development was represented by both directors of the company – Datuk Chee Chi Vun and Datuk Simon Chee Chi Nyen.

Bung Moktar said the new building which would be built on a 2.58 hectare land near Tanjung Lipat here, will be a game-changer and Sabah’s new landmark that would have a major impact on the state’s economy including providing job opportunities to locals.

“Such development projects need to be continued to ensure that Sabah can also develop economically after the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The RM1 billion development project is expected to begin this year involving two phases of construction, the first phase includes LPPS office space and shopping malls; while the second phase includes hotels and condominiums, with each phase expected to be completed within four and eight years, respectively.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TOKYO, May 27 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida to discuss efforts to boost the cordial Malaysia-Japan relations at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office on Friday.

This is the first meeting between Ismail Sabri and Kishida on the bilateral ties since they both led their respective governments in 2021.

Ismail Sabri and Kishida had earlier held a Japan-Malaysia conference and spoken to each other in a phone call on April 20 which touched on various regional and international issues.

This is also the first time Kishida played host to the Prime Minister of Malaysia since taking the post as Japan Prime Minister in October last year.

The meeting was in conjunction with the official working visit of Ismail Sabri to Japan in which he also participated in the 27th International Conference On the Future of Asia which is an annual gathering of political, economic and industry leaders from the Asia-Pacific region as well as meeting Japanese business and corporate figures on attracting investment to Malaysia.

It is also Ismail Sabri’s first official working visit to Japan since holding the post of prime minister in August 2021.

This year is also the 40th anniversary of the Look East policy which contributed to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency