Day: July 27, 2022

SHAH ALAM, July 27 (Bernama) — The First Selangor Plan (RS-1) 2021-2025, which is the framework for mobilising state policy for a period of five years, involves projects and initiatives worth a total of RM212.44 billion.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said of that amount, RM92.44 billion was for development projects at the state level with allocations coming from the state government, subsidiaries and private funding.

“For state-level development, an allocation of RM7.16 billion will be from the state government acting as seed capital and catalyst for the implementation of 262 initiatives under RS-1.

“While RM34.26 billion involves development projects (allocated) under the state government subsidiaries and RM51.02 billion involves private financing,” he said in a press conference after presenting RS-1 at the Selangor State Assembly here today.

Amirudin said the remaining amount would include infrastructure projects at the federal level, such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and High-Speed ​​Rail Transit (MRT), worth more than RM120 billion in Selangor.

He said the RS-1 five-year planning effort will focus specifically on economic growth, empowering the people through welfare programmes, sustainable development, and efficient, transparent systems and services.

“This planning is expected to meet Selangor’s desire as a state that contributes 30 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025,” he said.

Currently, Selangor contributes about 24.8 per cent to the country’s GDP.

Amirudin said RS-1 has placed 14 macro indicators as overall achievement indicators for strategic themes to ensure that the strategies and initiatives implemented can be evaluated in terms of their success.

“Among the main targets to be achieved by 2025 is state GDP growth of 6.5 to 7.0 per cent per year; approved investments for main and sophisticated sectors amounting to RM25 billion to RM35 billion a year, and the total employment opportunities targeted between 3.5 and 3.8 million people, equivalent to about 97 per cent of the total labour force in Selangor,” he said.

RS-1 also includes four strategic themes, namely economic strengthening, improving social inclusiveness and people’s well-being; sustainability drive and smart and effective governance; five policy catalysts and 262 projects and initiatives that include 19 change drivers or “game changer projects” for the state.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA BHARU, July 27 (Bernama) — The government through the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) has allocated RM40 million over a four-year period starting this year for the Safe City Programme under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

Deputy Director General (Development) of the Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia) Hassan Yaakob said that the allocation has been distributed to 24 local authorities (PBT) across the country.

He said PLANMalaysia will coordinate by assessing whether the project proposed by PBTs is suitable for the programme in line with the guidelines set by the department.

“For example, there are PBTs that have requested allocation for walkways to avoid accidents or crimes in ‘hot’ areas.

“Usually the data is provided by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM),” he told reporters after attending a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme at Pantai Kundor here today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEPANG, July 27 (Bernama) — Operations at the check-in counter and business outlets at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were temporarily halted due to the power outage this afternoon.

An airline employee at the check-in counter on the fifth floor of KLIA said baggage weighing could not be carried out during the blackout.

“It was affected but because there were not many passengers at that time, the situation was under control. Only the lights at the counter are working,” he told Bernama during a survey at KLIA here today.

Power outages were reported in several areas of Peninsular Malaysia since 12:39 pm including in the Klang Valley, Melaka, and Pahang.

KLIA was also reported to be darkness before power supply was gradually restored according to the location at the airport about five minutes later.

Airport operator, Malaysia Airports, also posted on social media to say that KLIA’s main terminal had experienced a power outage and that the company’s engineering team was in contact with Tenaga Nasional Bhd, which was followed by a statement that the power supply had been fully restored at KLIA.

The power outage, however, did not cause KLIA to be “completely dark” because it is understood that the emergency lights came on during the outage while the computers at some counters were operating normally because there is a ‘back up’ system.

An enforcement personnel who is on duty at the international departure area at KLIA said the entry of passengers who want to go down to the Immigration Centre was not affected when the power supply went out.

“Only the elevators and escalators are not working while the PRS system (Passenger Coordination System) that scans passenger boarding passes is working as usual,” she said.

An Airport Limo staff said the kiosk located on the second floor did not face any problem and the computer was working normally, except that they were working in darkness for a while.

A Twitter user @kultida89988 in his tweet sharing the situation at KLIA said: “After the blackout in KLIA, I have been waiting for my luggage for more than two hours now.”            

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Generally, student leaders at the higher learning institutions (IPT) are against the holding of the #Turun protest gathering in front of the Sogo shopping complex, here, on July 23 over the price increase of goods.

The Student Representative Council (MPP) of a number of local universities, through separate statements, were unanimous in the opinion that the action taken was not the best solution in facing the issue but instead, could create an unpleasant situation and affect harmony in the country.

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) MPP head, Ahmad Fahmi Fazli, said a collective effort by all parties in tackling the issue should be the norm, with the undergraduates also having a role in dealing with the uncertain economic situation currently.

He suggested that the government involve the student representatives in making decisions with regard to the welfare of tertiary institution students and the people as a whole.

“We are prepared to give our views and will also welcome the decisions made that can benefit all the undergraduates in Malaysia,” he said.

Meanwhile, the MPP of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) regarded the action (demonstration) as adding salt to injury while the country was struggling with the uncertain economic situation and opined that any problem should be resolved proactively and amicably.

It suggested the use of various existing channels and spaces between the public and leaders for the views of undergraduates be heard through the right channels so that they would not be easily swayed.

The MPP of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) said the hike in the price of goods should be tackled professionally.

“The best way is to hold discussions and using the proper channels to enable the ideas and aspirations of the undergraduates reach the government for consideration,” it added.

The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Students’ Union (KMUKM) is confident that the best solution can be found through the right channels and mediums as all existing issues can be resolved through negotiations and discussions with the responsible parties.

Earlier, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad reportedly said the Keluarga Malaysia Undergraduates Cost of Living Action Committee through its first meeting, agreed to implement a number of initiatives to support and strengthen governance and boost efficiency in channelling welfare aid to undergraduates.

The initiatives include the Keluarga Malaysia Undergraduate Food Baskets which offered a menu worth RM3.50 and boosting the Undergraduates Food Bank through the establishment of a hub for collecting and distributing the necessities for the students.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency