Day: July 26, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) — Malaysia needs a stronger national protection system in place to protect its citizens from old-age poverty, said University of Malaya’s Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC) director Datuk Prof Emeritus Dr Norma Mansor.

She said Malaysians could not afford to retire comfortably and need to be employed even after 60 years old like in Singapore.

“Older people who are staying in the job are not taking over from the young. They are doing something different. Studies have shown it is not substitutability,” she said during a session titled “Old-Age Poverty in Malaysia: Understanding the Societal Impact through Islamic Finance” here today.

The session was part of the half-day Invest Shariah Conference 2020 jointly organised by Bursa Malaysia Bhd and CGS-CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd.

Norma proposed a basic protection system that provides financial security post-retirement.

“Even among those who are financially literate, they do feel financially insecure, and it’s the reason why Thailand introduced the old-age pension post-1997 crisis. When they (the Thai government) interviewed those in the middle-income group and slightly higher, (it was found that) they were insecure if there was no secure basic monthly income for them,” she said.

Norma said the SWRC is recommending a multilayered retirement income, at least for the basic income.

This is shariah compliant, she pointed out, adding that the lowest layer of income should be tax-financed.

“That is the basic responsibility of the government. The second layer that we propose is that make it compulsory for every Malaysian to have social security insurance similar to the Employees Provident Fund. It can be low; in Thailand, it is 500 baht (about RM61) per month,” added Norma.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Parliament today launched a book documenting aspects of the institution’s management in ensuring Parliament continued to sit safely in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The book entitled ‘Dynamics of the Malaysian Parliament in the Face of COVID-19’ launched by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun includes control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Parliament in accordance with the new norms.

According to Azhar, the book could become a reference and guide for all parties in managing and coordinating the legislative body when faced with any pandemic in the future.

“The Parliamentary sittings were successfully held and the impact of contagion was minimal. The Malaysian Parliament had carried out its responsibilities as the country’s legislative pillar when the pandemic hit,” he said when launching the book at the Parliament Building, today.

He said Parliament also expressed appreciation to all parties involved in helping with the documentation, particularly the Ministry of Health, the National Disaster Management Agency, the National Security Council, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Also present at the ceremony were Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri; and Parliament chief administrator Datuk Nor Yahati Awang

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, July 26 (Bernama) — Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Melaka (PKNM) will be known as Melaka Corporation (MCORP) after the Melaka State Development Corporation (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2022 was passed in the State Legislative Assembly today.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the amendment was for commercial purposes and to improve its existing functions as well as add new functions.

“After nearly four decades of utilising the Melaka State Development Corporation 1971 Enactment, PKNM thinks that there is a need to amend some provisions to adapt its functions to the current situation,” he said.

The amendment is also to ensure the economic agenda in the state can be carried out more effectively and comprehensively, he said, adding that it will also allow PKNM to improve its administrative management.

“The amendment is not only definitional as it is also related to operations such as name branding as well as changes in functions that are more extensive and not aimed at specific or limited areas of expertise.

“The rebranding of PKNM to Melaka Corporation or commercially known as MCORP, is aimed at strengthening PKNM in line with the state’s new direction which is ‘Melaka Towards a Sustainable State’ to help the state government drive the economy in a more viable and sustainable manner,” he said adding that it is also to ensure that PKNM remains relevant as the major driver of development in the state.

He said the proposed rebranding is part of PKNM’s strategies to attract local and foreign investors to establish business networks to boost investments, especially in Melaka.

PKNM’s main function is to advance the state’s economic and socioeconomic fields, especially in the four main areas namely industry, tourism, housing, and business and trade.

It was passed with the support of 19 assemblymen, while seven assemblymen voted against it and two were absent.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BANGI, July 26 (Bernama) — Land acquisition for economic development needs to be done carefully so that every action taken does not go beyond Article 13 of the Federal Constitution, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

Article 13 of the Federal Constitution provides for the right to property that is no one can be deprived of his property except in accordance with the law and no law can provide for the taking or use of the property by force without adequate compensation.

“Land acquisition for economic development needs to be done carefully because there is a possibility that its validity will be challenged in court if it is not properly managed,” he said at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Land Acquisition Seminar here today.

In his speech text read by Energy and Natural Resources Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Rosli Isa, Takiyuddin said the land acquisition process at the initial stage includes ascertaining the land area and the amount of compensation that needs to be given, then it involves tax amendments and the issuance of title extension as well as official ownership.

According to him, the land acquisition method is implemented through the Land Acquisition Act 1960 by the state and federal governments to acquire land for the implementation of projects for the benefit of the people and the development of the country’s economy.

“Land acquisition is not arbitrarily used, they are done in the public interest, such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project,” he said.

He said the acquisition of land is also aimed at increasing the use of land at an optimal rate so that economic activities become more productive, thereby improving the standard of living of the people.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) — The Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) continues to prioritise the welfare of its staff despite facing a challenging economic environment since the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LTAT in a statement today expressed its regret at the allegations made by its Staff Union (KKLTAT) that the management of LTAT did not pay attention to the welfare of workers.

“Several discussion and explanation sessions for KKLTAT including through the official forum of the Joint Departmental Meeting have been held to discuss KKLTAT’s demand that staff salaries be adjusted to 15 per cent increase and paid in arrears until 2020,” it said.

Yesterday, KKLTAT was reported holding a picket from 1 pm to 2 pm at the LTAT Building area, Jalan Bukit Bintang, here, claiming that LTAT did not look after the welfare of its staff.

LTAT said the demands made by KKLTAT were indeed in the process of implementation and the salaries would be adjusted not on a flat rate as was the practice before but individually, based on the appropriate salary mapping.

“Because of that, some staff who are below P50 (the market salary benchmark) will enjoy a salary adjustment of up to 36 per cent in addition to a subsistence allowance of RM5,200 each.

“However, the management regrets KKLTAT’s decision to continue with the picket although the salary adjustment plan and subsistence payments had been notified earlier,” it further said in the statement.

According to LTAT, since 2020 and until now, it continued to pay a maximum annual bonus of three months’ pay while the percentage rate of staff annual salary increases from 2020 to 2022 were from a maximum of 5.5 to 7.0 per cent according to their respective performance.

“LTAT also provided the Special COVID-19 Cost of Living aid from 2020 to 2021 to the affected staff with a total amount of RM36,590.

“In addition, LTAT gave a moratorium so that the staff who borrowed from the board did not have to repay the loan for a period of six months,” it added.

LTAT reiterated that no staff lost their jobs and there was no cut in basic salary or monthly allowance during the pandemic.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LABUAN, July 26 (Bernama) — More than 70,000 people in 25 villages here have been affected by water supply disruptions since last Sunday (July 24) due to pollution of their main source of water, Padas River in Beaufort, Sabah.

Almost 20,000 consumer accounts have been affected after the Lawa Gadong water treatment plant (LRA) was shut down following the detection of water pollution at the intake point of Padas River, the raw water source for the LRA.

In a statement on Sunday, the utility provider, Labuan Water Supply Division (BBAL) said the LRA Lawa Gadong operator, MK Services, had detected oil stains at the Padas River water intake, hence, it had to be temporarily shut down for cleaning works.

The level of the main water tanks on this island including at the Rancha-Rancha Industrial Zone has declined drastically except in areas such as Sg Pagar/Sg Miri and Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus (UMSKAL).

Today, consumers in the affected 25 villages and Rancha-Rancha Industrial Zone have yet to receive water and are relying on supply from the water tanks of BBAL while the food business in several areas have also been affected.

According to BBAL’s second statement yesterday, the LRA Lawa Gadong operator has conducted the analysis in accordance with the drinking water standard of raw water at the Padas River intake, with oil stains no longer detected.

Following this, the LRA Lawa Gadong has resumed water supply to Labuan’s Pulau Enoe main distribution water tank, with the level increasing.

BBAL said the water supply recovery in the affected areas would take 48 to 120 hours (two to five days) due to the refilling of the balancing and service tanks, and also taking into account the water pipe bursts and leaks in several areas of the island,

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, July 26 (Bernama) — Twelve Penang City Council (MBPP) employees involved in 3D (difficult, dangerous and dirty) tasks, were awarded state honorary medals in conjunction with the 73rd Birthday Celebration of Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, today.

MBPP mayor Datuk Ar Yew Tung Seang said the council thanked Ahmad Fuzi and the state government for acknowledging the services of 3D workers through the medal awards.

The mayor when met after the ceremony also congratulated and thanked all 3D workers for making Penang a safe, clean and healthy state.

“The medal awards will definitely inspire our team, especially the 3D workers to continue serving MBPP and the state.

“This time around 12 workers received the medals namely Pingat Bakti Setia (eight recipients) Pingat Jasa Masyarakat (two) and Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (two),” he told reporters here today.

Meanwhile, one of the recipients, Abdul Aziz Mohd Kassim, 59, said he has been a 3D worker for the past 34 years and had never expected to receive the Pingat Bakti Setia, adding that he was proud and honoured to be a 3D worker.

He said he was grateful to the state government for selecting him as a medal recipient and hoped that the younger generation would not be afraid to work in the 3D sector to enable the state to progress.

“Penang is clean and beautiful because of the unsung heroes in MBPP among them the 3D workers,” he said.

Another recipient, M. Murugiah, 54, said he has been with MBPP for the past 12 years in the 3D sector and thanked the state government for awarding him the medal today.

“I am just an ordinary worker but the award means a lot to us and encourages us to work harder,” said Murugiah who received the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian.

The ceremony this year will see 1,380 individuals being conferred state awards, medals and honours, the highest number of recipients in five years since 2018 and it is being held for four days until Thursday, at Dewan Sri Pinang.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency