Day: July 7, 2022

ANKARA, July 7 (BERNAMA) — Malaysia and Turkiye have agreed to continue to work together to ensure their food supply chains remain adequate and stable.

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan concurred that the food security issue had become increasingly worrisome due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In fact, it has become more critical now because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” he told a joint press conference with Erdogan at the Presidential Complex here Thursday. The press conference was telecast live by several television stations in Turkiye and Malaysia, including Bernama TV.

Ismail Sabri, who is on a four-day official visit to the republic at the invitation of Erdogan, said that among the immediate steps taken by Malaysia and Turkiye to tackle this issue was boosting trade in food products and maintaining their cooperation in sharing information and experiences.

At the same time, the two countries will intensify research and development (R&D) in the food sector to enhance their capacity to produce food resources and ensure the stability and sustainability of their food security.

The prime minister said he had also conveyed to Erdogan the good news that the Malaysian government had accorded recognition to degrees from 208 universities in Turkiye.

“I am confident that this will give a boost to international standard research products from the universities in both countries. Furthermore, this is the (kind of) news being awaited by Keluarga Malaysia children who had studied or are still pursuing their studies in this country,” he added.

Ismail Sabri said he and Erdogan also agreed to step up cooperation between the two countries in the defence industry.

“I informed the President that during this visit I had the opportunity to hold meetings with and make visits to several defence industry players in Turkiye,” said Ismail Sabri, who Wednesday visited two major Turkish defence and aerospace industry companies – MKE Corporation and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

The two Islamic countries were also in agreement on the need for continued support for the Palestinian struggle, said Ismail Sabri, adding that Malaysia appreciates Turkiye’s stand and efforts in championing the cause of the Palestinians.

“The two nations, along with like-minded countries, will continue to coordinate efforts towards seeking an end to the occupation by the Zionist regime and in realising Palestine as an independent and sovereign country,” he said.

On the Russia-Ukraine issue, the prime minister said he praised Erdogan’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and that they both agreed that all parties involved should take immediate action to settle the conflict, which has threatened world peace.

The prime minister said at his meeting with Erdogan he congratulated the president on the United Nations’ recognition of the country’s name change from Turkey to Turkiye.

Ismail Sabri is accompanied on the visit by Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, Chief of Air Force Gen Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan and Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain.

Turkiye is Malaysia’s third biggest trading partner in the Middle East, after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with total trade between the two countries hitting RM16.97 billion (US$4.09 billion) in 2021 and projects implemented worth RM444.59 million (US$130.91 million).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, July 7 (Bernama) — Social media should be optimally used in dakwah activities in the state, especially to reach out to young people, United Sabah Islamic Association (USIA) newly-elected president Datuk Sapawi Ahmad said.

As such, he said full utilisation of social media as one of the approaches for effective dakwah activities in the state would be included as one of the agendas in the association’s three-year plan to be drafted soon.

“We will also use social media as a way to enliven the mosques and lure more young people to get involved in dakwah activities,” he told a press conference after chairing USIA Supreme Council meeting here today.

Sharing his experience, Sapawi said social media was vastly used by the USIA Sipitang division, which he leads, and the division’s Youth Squad had, among others, conducted a Facebook Live session promoting dakwah activities.

“The Facebook Live session which involved a talk by a prominent scholar had received an encouraging response from the netizens. This shows that social media can be used to lure more people to get involved in dakwah activities,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Education (MOE) respects the decision made by the Examination Board (LP) with regard to revoking the results of the History paper for 15 students who sat for the 2021 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said the LP was an independent body that made decisions based on set protocols.

“LP is an independent body, if the minister intervenes, it will trigger a chaotic scenario in the context of the implementation of the examination,” he said in a press conference after officiating the Digital Utilisation and Technology Awards (DUTA) 2021, at Bukit Kiara here today.

A Facebook post regarding the LP’s letter on its decision to uphold the revocation of the results of the History 2 paper for 15 students at a school in Putrajaya went viral on social media today.

According to the post, the cancellation of the examination results for the subject was allegedly due to the students involved bringing their mobile phones into the examination hall.

Meanwhile, on the issue of a school in Sungai Besi here which invited a social media influencer as a motivational speaker, Radzi said the MOE would look into the issue before making any comment.

“I will see what the context of the invitation is… so I have yet to receive in-depth information on this.

The school’s move to invite the individual recently was criticised and even sparked concern among parents who claimed that the individual had a bad influence on students, besides questioning his qualifications as a speaker.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will hold operational and preparedness training in several areas around Tawau, Semporna and Lahad Datu in Sabah from July 12 to 21.

The RMAF in a statement today stated that during the exercise, its aircraft would conduct low-altitude tactical flights in the specified areas.

“The exercise is aimed at assessing the efficiency of the RMAF crew as well as testing the preparedness level of the RMAF assets to ensure operations are implemented more effectively,” read the statement.

The public is advised not to be anxious and worried if they see RMAF planes flying at low altitudes during the training period.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JEMPOL, July 7 (Bernama) — A total of 809 out of 2,613 houses have been repaired under the Rumah Kasih Keluarga Malaysia (RKKM) Initiative while 10 out of 97 new units have been built as of June 17, says Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said it involved seven states affected by the floods, namely in Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Johor and Sabah, with the total cost so far at RM44.8 million.

“Repair and construction of new houses had started since the floods till now, others are still under construction, some have not been completed due to land issues and some (houses are) unsuitable (to be built) on river reserve land.

“So we need to relocate, and in cooperation with the state government ask for alternative land, hence the delay in construction and some are still waiting for approval,” he said after officiating the Knowledge Discourse Programme: 2022 Wanita Inspirasiku (WINS) organised by Kemas Negeri Sembilan here today.

The government had previously allocated RM50 million each to the Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to mobilise the RKKM Initiative to rebuild and repair houses affected by floods.

In the meantime, he said the Community Development Department (Kemas) had allocated RM13.5 million for implementation of programmes to improve the standard of living for underprivileged (B40) families in rural areas this year in the form of entrepreneurship equipment and skills courses.

According to him, since the Kemas assistance was introduced in 2016, it has benefited 18,477 participants nationwide with 16,618 women being the largest number of recipients.

“I am confident that the allocation provided will provide many benefits to the community, especially those in rural areas who are trying to get out of poverty,” he said.

In another development, Mahdzir said KPLB had channelled RM9.5 million to maintain and repair about 300 Kemas (pre-school) kindergartens which were in disrepair throughout the country.

“We do have provisions for that (dilapidated kindergartens) and Kemas has identified these for repairs,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency