Day: August 3, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) — The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) is currently reviewing and making improvements to the Beauty Industry Guidelines issued in 2013, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said several engagement sessions had been held with industry players and the Health Ministry (MOH) including the Association of International Certified Aesthetician (AICA).

“The proposed improvement of the Beauty Industry Guidelines is in line with KPDNHEP’s role as the ministry responsible for the unregulated industry, to increase the development of the beauty industry in this country based on existing regulations and legislation,” he said.

He was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Madius Tangau (UPKO-Tuaran) on whether the ministry would recognise AICA as self-regulatory body for beauty industry in the country.

Rosol said KPDNHEP welcomes any suggestions for improvement and they will be thoroughly refined by the ministry through engagement sessions with the MOH, Department of Labour, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industry players in an effort to ensure that the beauty industry can grow rapidly in line with the development at the global level.

Rosol said the ministry also encouraged the beauty industry to develop towards self-regulation in line with the KPDNHEP Roadmap 2022-2025.

“Since the beauty industry involves procedures or activities related to consumer safety such as invasive and non-invasive treatments, the ministry will and has held further discussions with the Ministry of Health and also related bodies to find the best method in controlling this beauty industry,” he said.

Meanwhile, to date, KPDNHEP recorded a total of 661 cases related to beauty and aesthetic matters, he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA BHARU, Aug 3 (Bernama) — Any activity that could affect Tasik Chini, Pahang including new approval for sand and mineral mining has been stopped, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

He said the strict directive was issued to ensure that Tasik Chini could be conserved and restored to maintain its status as a biosphere reserve.

“Both the federal and state governments already have taken measures to protect Tasik Chini,” he told reporters after launching sports tournament at Sekolah Kebangsaan Islah here today,

According to UNESCO’s first periodical review of the lake released recently, Tasik Chini no longer meets the criteria to be part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

However, UNESCO has given the Malaysian authorities until Sept 30 to inform the world body on how it plans to nurse Tasik Chini and its surrounding wetlands back to health.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SANDAKAN, Aug 3 (Bernama) — Tourism Malaysia (TM) launched a gastronomy tourism brochure today to entice domestic travellers, especially food enthusiasts, to explore Sabah’s local cuisines.

Sabah TM Director Ednie Rahma Ab Rahim said the brochure, that can be obtained by scanning a quick response (QR) code via its website www.malaysia.travel, provides a map of Sabah and Labuan, titled ‘SeeEatFood’ Trail Fun Map, showing a trail marking culinary spots and a list of restaurants to explore in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Tawau and Labuan.

“This initiative is part of efforts to attract tourists to Sabah and Labuan which are well known as seafood heaven due to their geographical location surrounded by the South China Sea, Celebes Sea and the Sulu Sea.

“Gastronomy tourism is a main component in domestic tourism that is worth the focus in Sabah, as are the state’s rich cultural heritage and ecotourism,” she told reporters after launching the brochure here.

The QR code could also be scanned via Tourism Malaysia Sabah’s Facebook account and at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport Tourism Information Centre.

Ednie Rahma said TM hoped the brochure could act as a guide for tourists to Sabah and Labuan and enable them to make choices on where to eat during their stay.

She also hoped the brochure could assist bloggers and social media influencers to create content for their blogs and channels and help promote destinations in Sabah at the same time.

In conjunction with the brochure’s launch, a four-day familiarisation trip was organised in Sandakan involving 26 participants, including representatives from the media, tourism agencies and associations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) — A total of 1.76 million or 49.8 per cent of children aged between five and 11 in the country have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of yesterday, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.

He said of the total, 1.5 million or 42.3 per cent of the population have completed the vaccination while 1,030 children in the moderate to severe immunocompromised category within the same age range have received the third dose.

However, Dr Noor Azmi said, the percentage was still low compared to the number of vaccination facilities provided for that group.

“It’s been almost six months since we launched the COVID-19 vaccine programme for children, the staff are doing a good job, the response and cooperation from state governments are also good, the response from private clinics is also encouraging.

“But the arms are not there,” he said when replying to a question from Wong Chen (PH-Subang) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Dr Noor Azmi said the Health Ministry (MOH) was still continuing its efforts to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated including through electronic and social media.

To date, he said there are still 926 private premises that provide vaccination facilities and 14 off-site vaccination centres.

Meanwhile, for children who missed their second dose of vaccine, he said parents can contact the nearest health clinic to make an appointment for the second dose.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PETALING JAYA, Aug 3 (Bernama) — Efforts to eradicate human trafficking should not only solely fall on the shoulders of the government as it needs the involvement of the people as well.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said while enforcement activities are carried out via various approaches including air, sea and land, all parties should give serious attention to the issue as national security is a joint responsibility.

“To ensure the success of the country on the matter, it is of utmost importance that all of us take an interest in the country’s security together and attract more foreigners to come as investors, visitors and workers,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after opening the ‘Aviation Against Trafficking In Persons Conference (AATIP-C) 2022’ held in conjunction with the World Day Against Trafficking In Persons 2022 here today.

Apart from that, Hamzah said the government would continue to tighten border control at all gateways into the country including rat trails apart from stepping up programmes to create the people’s awareness of human trafficking.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Hamzah said according to the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO) statistics, from 2015 to June this year, a total of 1,972 trafficking cases were reported while 2,902 people were arrested in connection with the cases.

“In an effort to combat human trafficking in Malaysia, the government has enacted a special law, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act or ATIPSOM (2007), which was enforced in 2008 and it was recently reviewed with the third amendment coming into force in early 2022,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency