Month: May 2022

DENGKIL, May 27 (Bernama) — All parties should respect the prerogative of the Prime Minister in appointing a Cabinet minister as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, said Housing and Local government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is a consultative person, especially on the appointment of a Cabinet minister.

“The appointment and dropping of a minister is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. This is enshrined in Article 43(2)(b) of the Federal Constitution.

“If possible on the question (of Cabinet minister appointment), we should place our trust with the Prime Minister and let him decide.

“We will leave it to him, as he has the wisdom for he was the Prime Minister who succeeded in creating a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was unprecedented,” he said when asked by reporters about the appointment of a Cabinet minister following the move by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).

He was speaking to reporters after the presentation of Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) recognition to LBS Bina Group Berhad (LBS) here today.

Yesterday, the Ampang MP announced joining PBM and she would be meeting Ismail Sabri soon to discuss her resignation as a minister.

Following that, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was reported as saying that the party would be submitting a new name to the Prime Minister soon for the appointment of a Cabinet member to replace Zuraida who announced quitting the party.

Muhyiddin said the move is taken as Zuraida’s position as Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister was on the party’s quota.

At the ceremony, Reezal Merican witnessed the handing over of the MBOR certificate, which is the Developer Company with the Most Number of Sample Houses in the Sales Gallery for Housing Projects, to LBS Bina Group Berhad.

The MBOR certificate was handed over by MBOR chief operating officer Christopher Wong to LBS Bina Group Berhad executive chairman Tan Sri Lim Hock San.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, May 27 (Bernama) — Five local fishing vessels were detained for various offences under the Fisheries Act 1985 in an integrated operation by the Fisheries Department (DOF) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Air Unit at several locations of our country’s waters.

The five-day operation that began on Monday encompassed waters off Perak, Kedah, Penang, Perlis and Pulau Langkawi resulted in seizures worth around RM2.5 million, including five trawler boats, five Zone C vessels and a Zone B vessel with 900 kilogrammes (kg) of fish worth RM13,400.

DOF announced in a statement today that all the vessels were detained for violating Section 8(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for using unauthorised crew.

“Other offences include conducting fishing activities outside allowed areas and entering another state’s waters,” the department said.

The department added that 68 personnel were involved in the operation, including 53 department personnel and 15 from the police, while three department boats and two police aircraft, a Caravan and King Air were used.

“This operation aims to guarantee the country’s food security and protects the sovereignty of our nation’s waters along with the safety of local fishermen,” the statement read.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Its Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said a total of RM339.14 million would be used to improve infrastructure, cover the cost of raw materials and upgrade technology while the rest would be used for internal expenditure.

He added that an additional RM60 million from the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and Rolling Plan 2022 would be used to expand the capacity of the livestock feed processing plant in Rompin, Pahang.

He said the project was to optimise the basic ingredients for local feed and develop a ‘concentrate’ factory and a ‘silage’ factory to fulfil the requirements of a Full Value Chain.

“The project has been implemented and is underway. This initiative is one of the measures to address the rising cost of livestock, so Felcra took this approach to boost production of livestock feed,” he said at a press conference at the Felcra Mesra Aidilfitri ceremony at Wisma Felcra here today.

Meanwhile, Mahdzir said Felcra Processing Engineering Sdn Bhd was also improving the operation of its factory to increase production of Suri brand palm oil-based coconut milk substitute from 30 tonnes to 60 tonnes per month to meet domestic needs.

“So far, Felcra has two palm oil milk production factories, one in Terengganu and the other in Perak,” he said.

At the same ceremony, he also presented mock cheques of RM3,000 each to five welfare institutions, Abu Ubaidah Al Jarrah Mosque, Surau Jumaat Muhajirin Desad Rejang, Rumah Bakti Al Kausar, Rumah Perlindungan AL-Haq and Madrasatul Faridiyah in Setapak Jaya .

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, May 27 (Bernama) — Datin Seri Feona Sim @ Norjanah, 70, the wife of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, died at a private medical centre here at 6 pm today.

According to a statement issued by the minister’s office tonight, her body would be taken to the residence of Wan Junaidi here tonight and funeral prayers would be held at 9 am tomorrow, before burial at the Samariang cemetery.

Norjanah married Wan Junaidi on Sept 9, 1972 and they were blessed with three daughters.

Bernama learnt that she died after suffering internal bleeding.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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