Day: August 10, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) — The government and religious institutions will continue efforts to curb any elements or scenes deemed to be promoting inappropriate culture such as leabian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) in films or social media like TikTok.

Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the government was always monitoring such platforms and would take severe action against individuals found promoting such elements.

However, the government would not be able to control the contents broadcast on platforms like online streaming and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms based abroad like Netflix.

“Provisions in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Akta 588) does not include censorship of such contents which is spelled out under Section 3(3) of Act 588.

“In addition, OTT services like Netflix are not like public broadcast services or private institutions in the country that fall under the existing laws involving licencing and censorship in the country,” he told Dewan Negara during a question and answer session, here today.

Zahidi said this in reply to a question from Senator Datuk Ahmad Yahaya who wanted to know the ministry’s position of a proposal to control contents and programmes broadcast or released on platforms like Netflix, to curb inappropriate culture among the community.

Accepting or rejecting broadcast and streaming of contents on such platforms is the choice of users through subscribtion but subscribers are urged to take self control measures.

Zahidi said parents and guardians can control the exposure of such contents among their children or loved ones by applying special passwords or pin numbers to restrict children from using such platforms.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Cabinet today urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to expedite the investigation into the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) scandal, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the Cabinet which discussed the matter in detail at its meeting today also called on the Attorney-General to prosecute and bring the culprits to justice if there is enough evidence.

“On behalf of the government, I give assurance that the investigation into this matter will be carried out transparently and that the government will not protect anyone involved,” he said in a statement here today.

Ismail Sabri said he had also called Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki after the meeting and asked them to take immediate action in line with the Cabinet’s decision.

While stressing that the government viewed seriously the LCS issue, the Prime Minister said the Cabinet also decided that the report on the issue prepared by the Committee on Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigation (JKSTUPKK) chaired by former Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang is allowed to be made public.

Apart from that, the Cabinet also proposed the LCS Project Forensics Audit Report in 2019 to be declassified, but he said the process would need advice and input from the Attorney-General and Auditor-General first.

“The decision made by the Cabinet today will not affect the mobilisation process under the LCS Project Recovery Plan finalised by the Cabinet on April 20, 2022,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the government also committed to continuing the LCS Project in the interest of national defence in line with the Royal Malaysian Navy requirements.

Last Thursday, PAC disclosed that it had held nine proceedings regarding the LCS issue starting on Nov 18, 2020, and the last one on March 8 this year, by calling several witnesses.

The results of the proceedings found that the LCS project contract was awarded to the Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) in direct negotiation, with the government having paid RM6.083 billion but not even one LCS ship has been delivered.

According to the original schedule, five ships should be ready and handed over by August 2022.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SERDANG, Aug 10 (Bernama) –The MyIsytihar application by the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) was launched today to make it easier for fishermen to make their own declarations using a smartphone, without being bound by the operating hours of the LKIM Fish Declaration and Landing Centre.

Agriculture and Food Industries Deputy Minister II, Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh said the application would speed up the declaration process for fishermen and ease the collection of more accurate data from the government on fish catch.

“My request is for this programme to be adhered to by all parties so that we can be more successful in detecting fishermen’s activities.”

He said this at a press conference after the launching of the application at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism (MAHA) Exposition 2022 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), here, today.

“The application will ensure that all privileges given by the government including subsidies to fishermen are received as best as possible so that the fishermen get better results,” he added.

Meanwhile, LKIM deputy director-general (Development), Kusaidi Salleh said they targeted about 30,000 fishermen registered with LKIM to download the application beginning Sept 1.

“We will engage with them at all the fishing villages and fish landing areas that we have identified,” he said when asked on the approach taken to introduce the application to fishermen.

The application has data integration and an existing e-declaration system where the users can access information on LKIM MyIsytihar in the application.

LKIM is an agency under the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (MAFI).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, Aug 10 (Bernama) — The solo model in a revealing outfit at the ‘Kedah Fashion Week 22’ (KFW22) held at the Aman Central shopping centre here recently, is believed to be a random act after the fashion show had ended.

Kedah health and local government committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman said he had summoned the organiser of the Aman Central showpiece as well as the Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) and Kota Setar District Office to gather information about the fashion mis-step.

From the meeting, he was made to understand that the head-turner was not on the invitation list for the catwalk in KFW22.

“The individual (model in question) was identified to be a ‘maknyah’ (transvestite) with a fancy for modelling in inappropriate fashion to upload pictures and videos on social media,” he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, the picture of a model in an eye-catching outfit at KFW22 went viral, creating a storm among authorities and public in the straight-laced state.

On reflection of the fall-out from old school etiquette, Dr Mohd Hayati said the state government will take appropriate action based on existing provisions and laws.

“The state government also intend to study (how) to streamline minor regulations related to entertainment and shows, so that they are in line with Kedah’s cultural customs and morals,” she said.

Meanwhile, the organiser Aman Central, apologised for the faux pas and said it regretted the sharing of photos from the individuals concerned, which did not necessarily reflect the ethical code it had set for the event.

“We regret the inconvenience caused and will ensure that the etiquette set at any function organised by Aman Central will be monitored strictly from now on. We have also obtained all the necessary approval from the authorities before the ceremony (fashion show).

“This event has been receiving a favourable response from local designers where KFW has become an official platform among fashion designers. This KFW is an annual event at Aman Central and after two years of being cancelled due to the (Covid) pandemic, it is back again,” the organiser said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency