Day: June 27, 2022

JASIN, June 27 (Bernama) — In an effort to produce more skilled workforce in the country, the Ministry of Human Resources (KSM) will empower 32 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions under its purview including Industrial Training Institutes (ILP).

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said there was no necessity to build additional educational institutions under the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) as the existing institutions were able to meet demand for TVET programmes.

“However, the ministry will focus on (empowering) the TVET institutions in producing skilled and trained workers who are able to meet the job market especially in the manufacturing sector.

“For the moment, we will fully utilise all the existing institutions and apart from (TVET institutions) under KSM, there are also TVET institutions in 11 other ministries,” he told reporters after attending the Selandar ILP Convocation Ceremony in Selandar today.

The convocation ceremony was officiated by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam who presented certificate and diploma scrolls to 249 graduates.

Awang said skilled workers would be an important asset that could contribute to improved productivity, innovation and the country’s economic growth.

“TVET has been recognised as an enabler that can contribute towards a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable developing nation and TVET institutions especially under KSM will strive to train and produce more quality skilled worker who are able to meet industry needs,” he said.

He said apart from the 23 ILPs nationwide, other TVET institutions under JTKSM were eight Advanced Technology Training Centres (ADTEC) and a Japan-Malaysia Technical Institute (JMTI).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MAKKAH, June 27 (Bernama) — Stepping into the cafeterias located at Abraj Al Janadriah, Qsar Al Janadriyah, and Land Premium Hotel which house Malaysian haj pilgrims in the morning, just feel like being at home.

Popular Malaysian dishes including nasi kerabu, nasi lemak, cekodok pisang, kuih kaswi, teh tarik and hot brewing coffee are available at these cafeterias, to suit everyone’s tastes, especially as the Malaysian haj pilgrims gather to enjoy the atmosphere in the morning with family and friends.

Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), taking into account Malaysians’ taste buds, ensures that the food sold at the cafeterias can satisfy pilgrims’ appetites as they have the opportunity to choose a different menu every day, from 4 am to 11 pm.

Cafeteria supervisor Mohd Haruji Mohd Yahya said all morning dishes were sold out by 10 am before being replaced with another menu and the average pilgrims would buy after the dawn prayers and return in the afternoon and evening, especially for those who are on umrah.

He added that to ensure food quality and hygiene, all food is being prepared by special chefs by maintaining the same recipe, especially traditional kuihs (sweet or savoury snacks).

“This cafeteria is to facilitate the pilgrims to get food and every morning we will sell up to 10 types of dishes and the best-selling dishes are nasi lemak and burgers.

“The response has been very encouraging and we also sell ready-to-eat food by just putting it in hot water,” he said, adding that he plans to increase the products of small and medium industry (SMI) entrepreneurs in the future.

Meanwhile, one of the pilgrims, Zaimah Sulong, 56, said the kuihs sold at the cafeteria satisfy her taste buds, with a similar taste to those sold in her hometown, Kuala Terengganu.

She added that although the price is different and a little expensive, at least it can help satisfy her longing to home as she will be in the Holy Land for more than 40 days.

Another pilgrim, Shahril Fadzli Hanifa, 40, is of the view that the sales in the accommodation buildings provide convenience to haj pilgrims and they do not have to travel far, especially when the weather is hot.

TH provides a cafeteria with a similar concept in all its accommodation buildings – Abraj Al Janadriah, Qsar Al Janadriyah, and Land Premium Hotel, for the convenience of Malaysian haj pilgrims.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) — With the number of people over 65 years in Malaysia projected to triple from two million at present to over six million by 2040, Malaysia needs to learn from Japan on how to manage its ageing population.

Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Katsuhiko Takahashi said Japan, which already has a huge greying population, is keen to share its experience and expertise in managing them in an effort to improve the society’s quality of life.

Takahashi said this to the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama)’s Chairman Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi at its headquarters, during a courtesy call here, Monday. Ras Adiba had asked the ambassador about what Malaysia can learn from Japan’s experience in managing its ageing citizens who are expected to represent 35.3 per cent of the country’s population by 2040.

“Ageing population issue is one variable that I really want to explore on how we can work together. Hence, I would like to encourage here that we pay attention to this aspect to work together as we can give you our success stories and failures in managing the ageing population over the past 50 years.”

Elaborating further, the envoy said: “Ageing is always not necessarily limited to healthcare, there is more room for Malaysia to improve on the matter.

“When it comes to the ageing population, according to the World Bank statistics, you’re 50 years younger than Japan. I think the ageing percentage of Malaysian society today is like when Japan was in 1972.

“Malaysia’s life expectancy today is also the same as Japan 40 years back. The same goes for your gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.

“Malaysia is developing in a good way. Looking back at those facts, let’s work on this aspect together to avoid any problem, which we (Japan) have experienced for the past 40 years. Compared with the number of years, now, you have room for improvement,” he said.

When asked about other potential cooperation that Malaysia and Japan have been working on especially after Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s working visit to Japan in May, Takahashi said both governments have been making progress on new areas of cooperation as discussed and agreed throughout the visit.

“It is still early for us to share the results, but through communications between ministries in charge of trade and investment, as well as in disaster risk management, we are currently trying to come up with more specific actions to be taken based on the agreement made by the two Prime Ministers,” he said.

Last month, Ismail Sabri through discussion with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, both leaders agreed to step up cooperation in fields such as energy, smart city, environment, and climate change.

Japan is also the fourth largest trading partner for Malaysia since 2015. Trade value in 2021 amounted to US$35.9 billion – an increase of about 20 per cent compared to US$29.6 billion in 2020.

Takahashi said Malaysia and Japan have enjoyed excellent bilateral ties since the establishment of Malaysia’s Look East Policy four decades ago.

“When we think about how the 40-year relationship between Malaysia and Japan should progress, I think we should no longer be in the picture of traditional donor and recipient or, rather, giver and the receiver,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, June 27 (Bernama) — Malaysia will share the concept of ‘Keluarga Malaysia, Keluarga Sejahtera’ at the 2022 Southeast Asian Ulama Conference scheduled for Thursday in Subang Jaya, Selangor, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad.

“Malaysia will explain on fostering harmony (in a plural society) by adhering to Islam itself because Islam teaches us to respect others and we hope others can also respect Islam,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference after attending the bi-monthly assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) here today, Idris said the Muslim World League (MWL) chose Malaysia as the host of the conference because the country had succeeded in highlighting Islam as a harmonious, safe and prosperous religion in a multi-racial and multi-religious society.

The one-day conference, which will gather representatives from 20 countries in the Asian region, will share on the concept of unity, justice and harmony between Muslim leaders and the community as well as bring the message of unity of the ummah.

Idris said it would also be attended by MWL secretary-general Sheikh Dr Mohammad Abdul Karim Al-Issa.

At today’s ceremony, Idris witnessed the handing over of the MS ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 Accreditation Certificate to Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) director-general Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff from Department of Standards Malaysia director-general Shaharul Sadri Alwi.

Idris in his speech said the recognition would further boost Jakim as the world’s leading halal certification body.

He also launched the 2022 Tabung Haji (TH) Mobility Programme, which saw TH donating 40 units of dual-purpose vans worth RM5.4 million to mosques, suraus, tahfiz centres and welfare homes.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, June 27 (Bernama) — Islamic dakwah activities in the state should go hand in hand with community service for all to ensure that the message of Islam, bringing peace and well-being, can be conveyed and provide a better life for the people in the state.

Pertubuhan Islam Seluruh Sabah (USIA) president, Datuk Sapawi Ahmad, said that to realise the goal, an Islamic non-governmental organisation (NGO) should not merely look at the context of the Muslim or non-Muslim community to provide services.

On the other hand, he said that services must be provided to all, and further foster good relations between the multi-religious community in the state.

“This dakwah is not only verbal but also in the context of welfare, concern for economic problems and education, and involves the community as a whole, not only Muslims but non-Muslims as well, to ensure that peace and well-being are maintained.

“The responsibility of this Islamic NGO is more to convey that Islam brings peace and well-being, not just looking at the Muslim or non-Muslim context, therefore anyone who lives in this community must have cooperation; must be protected regardless of the situation,” he said in Kepayan here today.

He said this at a press conference at the 35th USIA annual general assembly yesterday, where he was elected as the new president and Abdul Hakim Gulam Hassan as deputy president.

Sapawi said that USIA, which now has about 60,000 members, is more open, and provides (services) to all because in Sabah the multi-cultural community lives in peace and harmony.

“Perhaps, one is a Muslim, and his father is a non-Muslim but Islam emphasises that despite conversion into Islam, family members should not be separated; that the family should remain close-knit,” he said.

He added that with effective dakwah, and the close relationship between Islamic NGOs and communities from various backgrounds, all issues and problems could be resolved peacefully and harmoniously.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUANTAN, June 27 (Bernama) — The KM55.35 to KM55.85 stretch (Lentang) of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak (KLK) Expressway will be closed to traffic for 30 minutes starting 11pm tonight to facilitate the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

ANIH Berhad senior general manager Radzimah Mohd Radzi, in a statement today said roads in both directions of the stretch would be closed to traffic to prevent any untoward incidents.

She said said after 11.30 pm, only the left lane in both directions along the route would be open to traffic and all lanes on the stretch of the highway were expected to fully open at 5 am on Tuesday (June 28).

“The road closure is to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery involved in the construction of an ECRL tunnel in Genting.

“ANIH Berhad would like to advise road users to plan their journey and follow the instructions of the staff at the location as well as ensure that their vehicles are in good condition before starting their journey,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA SAMARAHAN, June 27 (Bernama) — Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) has been tasked to set up laboratories in the rural places in the State to introduce modern and commercial agriculture to the people there.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said exposing the rural farming community to modern technology could lure the community’s younger generation to view agriculture as a business venture and not as a low-class vocation.

He said Unimas, along with other local institutions and government agencies, had the input to provide the new technology to help this community but the greater task would be to change the perception, especially among the young about farming.

“It is just a matter of convincing the farmers, convincing their youngs to take agriculture as a business entity,” he told reporters after gracing Unimas Commemorative Convocation here today.

He said the Sarawak government is gearing towards turning the state into a nett exporter of food products by 2030 and had established agro parks in several places as a strategy to achieve this objective.

Abang Johari said this target would require the State government to plan more basic and digital infrastructures to encourage more downstream agriculture industries to be established.

He said Sarawak could also ride on its vast size of lands to attract overseas investors facing space scarcity to carry out agriculture ventures to come over to the state.

“Private sector from overseas can come and they can become anchor (companies). They can buy from ordinary farmers and they can export it. What is important is the quality of the food which must be of international standards,” he said.

In addition, he said Sarawak is also blessed with natural resources that could be processed and turned into fertilizers or feedstocks, which could then reduce the imports of such materials to meet the needs of its agriculture sector.

“As our population is relatively small, so it is our objective to produce food for export,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency