Day: August 18, 2022

KUCHING, Aug 18 (Bernama) — The Sarawak government is prepared to have additional State Legislative Assembly seats as currently, 108 seats have been made available at the assembly hall, says Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.

He said the population distribution at the district level based on the Malaysia Census 2020 enabled the parliamentarians and state assemblymen to determine the number of additional seats required.

“They should benefit from the census results for development planning and prosperity of the state towards a better life for the people.

“The statistics are very useful and it is up to the members of Parliament and state assemblymen to make use of the information for the well-being of people in their respective constituencies. We use statistics data to know how many more parliamentary and state seats need to be created.

“For example, the state seats of Senadin and Tupong with a high population of 132,000 and 91,000 respectively can be broken up. It is easy at the state level but the big challenge is in the Dewan Rakyat as the (federal) government does not have a two-third majority,” he added.

However, Mohamad Asfia said additional parliamentary seats in the state could not be created in time due to the coming 15th General Election.

He was met by reporters today at the Parliamentary and State Assembly Constituencies Tour Series on Key Findings of the Malaysia Census 2020 and on Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2021.

The last demarcation of the Sarawak state constituencies was made in 2015, from 71 seats to 82.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Asfia said the Constitional (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 on preventing party-hopping by elected representatives would be tabled at the State Legislative Assembly sitting this November.

Earlier, Malaysia’s chief statistician, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin when presenting the findings of the census on Sarawak, said the state’s GDP recorded a growth of 2.9 per cent cent buoyed by the services and manufacturing sectors.

The Census 2020 commissioner also said that Sarawak recorded a population of 2.45 million with the annual average growth rate of 0.2 per cent for the period of 2011 to 2020.

“The elderly (aged 65 and above) in Sarawak comprised 7.5 per cent of the state’s population compared with 6.8 per cent at the national level,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, Aug 18 (Bernama) — Toh Puan Zurina Kassim, the wife of former yang dipertua negeri of Melaka, Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob, was laid to rest at the Melaka Heroes’ Mausoleum near the Al-Azim Mosque here at 10 pm.

Her remains were bathed and shrouded at the Sayyidina Ali Bukit Katil Mosque here at about 6 pm before being placed at the Dewan Seri Negeri Hall in Ayer Keroh for an hour to allow for last respects to be paid.

The funeral prayer at the Al-Azim Mosque at about 9 pm was joined by over 1,000 congregants led by the Mufti of Melaka, Datuk Abdul Halim Tawil.

Zurina was then buried near the tombs of the state’s fifth yang dipertua negeri Tun Syed Ahmad Syed Mahmud Shahabudin and eighth chief minister Datuk Seri Abu Zahar Ithnin.

Notable figures present at the funeral ceremony were current Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam and his wife Toh Puan Asmah Abd Rahman, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah and State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Ibrahim Durum.

Zurina died at her residence in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, at 10.10 am today. She was 78.

Born in Duyong near here on July 13, 1944, she married Mohd Khalil on Feb 28, 1965, and the couple was blessed with three children.

Mohd Khalil was appointed as the sixth yang dipertua negeri of Melaka from June 2004 to June 2020.

The late Zurina was always concerned about the welfare of the people during her lifetime. The Toh Puan Zurina Foundation was established in Pantai Peringgit in 2015 to provide free haemodialysis treatment to the less fortunate.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ANKARA (Turkiye), Aug 18 (Bernama) — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, during his visit to Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) here today, expressed hope that Malaysia, too, someday will be able to acquire the technology owned by Turkiye’s leading aerospace industry player.

His Majesty, who expressed his pleasure over the visit and admiration for TAI’s technology, also hoped for closer cooperation between both countries, particularly in aircraft manufacturing and research and development (R&D) in the future.

“This is my first visit to TAI, and I observed there are many types of aircraft and also R&D done… and I am impressed. I was told that some of our young Malaysians have been learning the technology here.

“They (TAI) have made great advances in terms of technology and I have lots of hope that they will be able to collaborate with Malaysia on this,” His Majesty said at the end of the TAI visit.

Earlier, Al-Sultan Abdullah witnessed an air show that featured locally manufactured aircraft developed by TAI, including the T129 ATAK and Gokbey helicopters, the Anka and Aksungur unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the Hurkus training aircraft.

Al-Sultan Abdullah then tried his hands at handling a TAI aircraft simulator.

TAI prior to this had expressed interest in collaborating and developing the Malaysian aerospace industry by bringing in original equipment manufacturing (OEM) expertise to Malaysia.

It plans to set up a production factory for aerospace products such as jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles in Malaysia within a year and make it a base for the Asia Pacific region.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is on a seven-day state visit to Turkiye that began on Monday (Aug 15).

Meanwhile, during the same programme, His Majesty met and mingled with a group of Malaysian students studying in Turkiye, including seven who are undergoing practical training in TAI.

The seven from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) are pursuing aerospace studies at UniKL’s Banting branch in Selangor and are the first group from the university to undergo practical training at TAI.

One of them, Ihsan Jamal, 25, told Bernama that he hopes to be able to use the knowledge and experience gained throughout his month-long stint at TAI in the workplace someday.

The final-year student said he has had the opportunity to gain some insights into the development process of TAI’s aircraft.

“We studied aircraft owned by TAI right from the design stage to the assembling of aircraft components, all in one building.

“In addition, we also learned how TAI developed their aircraft for safe flying,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) — The collaboration between Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) and Yayasan Ekonomi Padang Besar (YEPB) is poised to create more than 5,000 employment opportunities in telecommunication via JENDELA YEPB Career programme.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the strategic collaboration is aimed at training more skilled manpower via the certification of manpower allocated to Bumiputera contractors appointed for fiberisation works under the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA).

“YEPB through the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (K-KOMM) is the coordinator for the fibre optic projects and we will train skilled manpower in stages in the field of telecommunications as well as fibre optics.

“Besides that, there are vendor programmes under TM to provide projects to Bumiputera companies on fibre optic works under JENDELA.

“About 400 companies have applied to become certified TM contractors and as of Aug 1, 73 companies have received their Letters of Acceptance while the remaining are still in the process,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TM and YEPB and a Cooperation Agreement between YEPB with Ikhtiar Factoring Sdn Bhd today.

Commenting further, Zahidi who is also YEPB chairman said through the JENDELA Career Programme, YEPB had coordinated Fibre Optic Manpower Efficiency Certification Course and among the courses held were CA2C and CA1C Fibre Optic Installation Courses as well as National Institute of Occupational, Safety and Health Safety and Efficiency certificate.

In this regard, Zahidi also hoped Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) would carry out programmes similar to TM by providing vendor programmes to Bumiputera companies in the implementation of 5G network in the country.

“Now, DNB has no Bumiputera programmes so if there are in future, the company discusses with us, I estimated more than 400 to 500 employment opportunities can be offered and skilled workforce in this field also needs to be trained,” he said.

In another development, Zahidi said YEPB also coordinates skilled manpower training for the data protection projects which need about 17,000 employment opportunities and training would be conducted with the cooperation of CyberSecurity Malaysia to produce skilled manpower in the field.

At the ceremony, the MoU between TM and YEPB was signed by TM Group Technology and Network Operation and Implementation vice president Ansahari Abdul Kudus and YEPB chief executive officer Aweena Mohd Arshad

Meanwhile, the Cooperation Agreement between YEPB and Ikhtiar Factoring Sdn Bhd was inked by Aweena and Ikhtiar Factoring Sdn Bhd Credit Operation director Khalaif Noor Roslizam.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LUMUT, Aug 18 (Bernama) — The Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) allocates more than RM16 million annually from the zakat (tithe) funds to cover dialysis treatment expenses for about 600 recipients.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini, said that MAIPk haemodialysis funding for patients includes the cost of blood cleaning treatment 14 times a month, at the rate of RM170 per session, and eight injections a month, at the rate of RM60 per jab.

“The total cost of dialysis treatment for one patient is RM34,320 per year,” he said, after officiating the Waqf Perak Ar-Ridzuan Hemodialysis Centre at Alang Iskandar Mosque, Manjung here today.

The RM3.3 million haemodialysis centre, which started operating in December last year, provides 12 dialysis machines and is able to accommodate 36 patients daily.

Mohd Annuar added that the establishment of the Waqf Perak Ar-Ridzuan Hemodialysis Centre (WPAR) since 2015 could accommodate the needs and requests for hemodialysis treatment in line with the increase in the number of patients, especially those financed by MAIPk through zakat collections every year, thus maximising the benefits of waqf property.

According to him, the project manager for the haemodialysis centre is the Ar Ridzuan Medical Group, which is a subsidiary of Perak State Islamic Economic Development Corporation, which is a wholly owned company of MAIPk; it has a team of medical officers, specialist doctors and trained and skilled personnel providing haemodialysis treatment services.

“Waqf Perak Ar-Ridzuan is a legal channel for individuals as well as any organisation to contribute waqf, thus increasing public confidence regarding waqf administration in Perak.

“The implementation of the project in a transparent and tangible way, that benefits the community, will help further develop community members’ understanding of the wisdom of waqf.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEREMBAN, Aug 18 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) is targeting a 2.5 per cent increase in sales for this year’s Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign (KBBM).

Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said the ministry is optimistic that sales of locally made goods will exceed the RM3.2 billion achieved last year.

He said this follows more vigorous economic activity after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Keluarga Malaysia Sales Programme (PJKM) offers items at prices up to 20 per cent lower than usual.

“Mydin is among the industry players who are actively organising PJKM together with KPDNHEP at Mydin branches nationwide since it was implemented on Dec 2, 2021,” he said after launching Mydin’s 65th anniversary themed ‘Bersama Keluarga Malaysia and Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign’ here today.

In the meantime, he said that starting this weekend, the Keluarga Malaysia Cheap Sales programme (JMKM) will be held in 222 Parliamentary constituencies and 600 state constituencies across the country.

Also present was Mydin Holdings Berhad managing director, Datuk Dr Ameer Ali Mydin.

In the meantime, Ameer said in conjunction with the company’s anniversary, Mydin is offering multiple promotions and savings to alleviate the cost of living.

He said Mydin has the cooperation of 84 brands consisting of strategic partners including MyDebit, Atome, PnG, Shopee, Boost and many more.

“The campaign aims to revive local businesses, notably small and medium-sized enterprises that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

He said customers who want to enjoy this discount can register as Meriah Card members and visit the official website mydin.my for more information.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency