Day: August 19, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) — The Keluarga Malaysia Cheap Sales (JMKM) programme, which commenced today and offers essential items at 10 to 20 per cent cheaper, has received an encouraging response from consumers who do not want to miss the opportunity to purchase the items.

In fact, simultaneous sales for 18 weeks in 639 state constituencies nationwide and 13 parliamentary constituencies in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, are also seen not only to benefit consumers, but also to help increase the income of traders, who are affected by the economic slowdown.

In TERENGGANU, auto parts salesman Azlan Yusof said that the programme was timely, to enable the people, especially the B40 group, to get food items at a cheaper price, as the economic situation has been very challenging.

“Today, I buy chicken at only RM6.50 per kilogramme compared with RM9 per kg previously. Even since the previous programme (Malaysian Family Sales), whenever I knew there was such a programme held, I would go there because I don’t want to miss the opportunity to buy goods at a much cheaper price,” said the father of three to Bernama today.

Meanwhile, Mini 9 Mart manager, Hamizah Mohamad, said that in addition to buying food items and basic necessities listed in the programme, customers will also buy other items at the store.

“Hence, indirectly, the sales at my shop also increased,” said Hamizah who was excited to receive more customers since opening the business premises in Kuala Terengganu at 8 am today.

In SELANGOR, a check by Bernama at the JMKM, held in conjunction with the Keluarga Malaysia Aspirations Tour (AKM) at the Shah Alam Stadium grounds, found that among the most popular items were standard chicken sold for as low as RM10 per bird, frozen chicken (RM5 per bird), one kilogramme of flour (RM3.20), cooking oil 5kg bottle (RM30.50) and 5kg rice (RM12).

A visitor, Siti Aishah Ismail, 42, a housewife, described the purchase as worthwhile because it was much cheaper than the market.

“Besides, the price of the chicken outside is RM9.40 per kilogramme; here we can get as low as RM10 per bird. Buying other necessities is also worth it as they are cheap,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), in a statement, announced that JMKM is implemented at least twice a month in each constituency, involving an allocation of RM80 million.

“Each constituency will be given an equal distribution of RM25,000 per month for each JMKM implementation, for the period from Aug 15 to Dec 31, 2022.

“This is to provide discounted prices for selected essential items such as chicken, fish and seafood, chicken eggs, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, rice, vegetables and fruits,” read the statement.

KPDNHEP said in addition to encouraging premises to give discounts of up to 20 per cent compared with local market prices, all Malaysian Family members are also called upon to take advantage of the cheap prices offered by visiting JMKM at nearby locations.

The public can get the latest information on the implementation of JMKM in selected locations through the official Facebook page of the Jualan Murah Keluarga Malaysia or KPDNHEP and also at the states’ KPDNHEP involved.

Recently, the chairman of the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the JMKM programme, which commenced today, aimed to give people access to get cheaper goods every week.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUANTAN, Aug 19 (Bernama) — The Fisheries Department has launched a Plastic-Free Seas Campaign to ensure that the country’s waters are free from the kinds of pollution capable of affecting the quantity and quality of fishermen’s catch.

Its director-general Mohd Sufian Sulaiman said the effort is carried out in collaboration with several agencies, including the Department of Environment, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and fishermen associations.

“We need to save marine life in our country’s waters from ingesting plastic thrown into the sea because these animals not only eat large plastic items but also microplastic waste.

“When microplastics are digested by marine life, humans who consume them will most likely suffer adverse effects to their health in the long-term,” he said at a press conference after launching the campaign at Pantai Sepat here today.

As part of the campaign, more than 600 participants from various agencies will hold activities, including beach clean-ups, as well as organise a ‘Plastic-Free Seas’ forum to raise awareness about the hazards of plastic to marine life.

Mohd Sufian said they will also record the amount and weight of plastics collected through a nationwide campaign so that accurate data related to marine ecosystem conservation efforts can be known.

According to him, the data can be used as a reference to find a more effective approach to overcome marine pollution related to plastic dumping in the future.

“At the moment, we have almost 20,000 fishermen across the country who can help us collect plastic litter thrown into the country’s waters.

“We will also make sure that this fishing community itself does not throw or leave plastic litter in the sea, including nets and ropes used when catching fish because this also disturbs the ecosystem,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PORT DICKSON, Aug 19 (Bernama) — The public has been advised that vinegar could be used as early treatment for a jellyfish sting.

Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF), deputy director-general (Management), Wan Muhammad Aznan Abdullah said having that knowledge could help avoid any untoward incidents.

He said the effects of a sting by jellyfish could be minimised if fast action was taken to reduce the effects of the poison by applying vinegar, which is a traditional way to prevent the situation from getting worse.

“Traditionally, after being stung by a jellyfish, it is necessary to apply vinegar before seeking further treatment at a clinic to prevent the effects of the marine life’s poison from getting worse.

“It is necessary to immediately apply vinegar, treat it immediately… that’s why in national parks vinegar is provided on the jetties … if we pour vinegar on the wound, it can reduce the effects of the jellyfish’s sting,” he told reporters after officiating the Artificial Cuboid Coral Reef Anchoring (Conservation) here today.

The media had reported that a five-year-old French boy reportedly died as a result of being stung by a jellyfish while bathing at Teluk Nipah beach on Pangkor Island, Perak.

Meanwhile, Negri Sembilan Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Action Committee chairman Datuk Bakri Sawir said since 2008 until today, the federal government had spent RM1.45 million to build artificial recreational and conservation reefs along the waters of Port Dickson.

He said it costs RM300,000 to build and anchor nine units of artificial cuboid coral reefs (conservation).

He also said his department and the Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department are committed to ensuring the sustainability of biodiversity is preserved and able to give satisfaction to divers to enjoy the beauty of the seabed in the waters of Port Dickson.

“Awareness programmes like this are important to ensure people appreciate and care for the marine ecosystem by reducing the use of plastic, and don’t throw rubbish into the sea that is likely to affect the lives of fish and other marine life,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Aug 19 (Bernama) — Two siblings from Korea braved a packed audience and managed to battle their way to the front, just to get a glimpse of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who attended the Selangor Malaysian Family Aspiration Tour.

Ismail Sabri who realised the struggle of the two siblings – Ayman Inwoo Jeon, 10, and his sister Minna Jeon, 7, took time off to chat with the kids who came with their mother Maryam Lee Eun Young.

The Prime Minister who asked the kids if they could speak Bahasa Malaysia was delighted when Ayman nodded his head in a motion of agreement.

“Where is your school?,” asked Ismail Sabri and Ayman said he attends tuition.

Ayman when met by Bernama after the programme said he and his sister were thrilled and proud to have met the Prime Minister and take pictures with him, although they had to battle their way through the crowd to have an opportunity to meet the PM.

“I saw a group of photographers in action. I was excited and wanted to go to the front to see what was happening. I saw the Prime Minister (in white shirt) taking pictures, so I too wanted to take some pictures with him when my mother said the person was the Prime Minister.

“I was pleasantly schocked when the Prime Minister himself offered to take a picture with us although he was about to leave the function,” said Ayman in Bahasa Malaysia.

Earlier about 1,000 people attended the programme which was also attended by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

During the programme, Ismail Sabri also launched COOP, a brand introduced by the government through which initiative, five essential items would be sold at prices that are cheaper than market price, namely sugar, cooking oil, flour, rice and frozen chicken.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Aug 19 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government has always strived to help the people face the rising cost of living and inflation.

After being tested by the pandemic, he said the world was now facing many new challenges including climate change, geopolitical tension and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“The combination of all these factors is one of the reasons for the increase in the price of goods causing cost of living to rise,” he said when launching the Selangor Keluarga Malaysia Aspirations (AKM) Tour here today.

He said the government had implemented various short, medium and long-term strategies which involved the cooperation of all ministries, state governments, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the entire members of Keluarga Malaysia.

“As a result, the country’s economic growth of 8.9 per cent for the second quarter of this year is the best in Southeast Asia,” he said.

As an open economy, Malaysia is not exempt from global inflationary pressure, therefore, an increase in prices of goods cannot be completely avoided, said Ismail Sabri.

“However, the country’s inflation rate is at 3.4 per cent and this figure is one of the lowest in Southeast Asia,” he said.

In order to reduce the inflationary pressure, he said the government had spent RM77.3 billion in subsidy allocations, the largest amount in the nation’s history.

He said Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade also registered a sturdy growth year-on-year of 44 per cent to RM132.8 billion in June 2022.

“This is the highest level since 2013, with a huge jump in motor vehicle sales,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said Malaysia’s total trade had surpassed RM2 trillion for the first time last year, recording a 24.9 per cent increase from the previous year.

“I am confident that foreign investors will continue to invest in our country as a result of the policies implemented by the government.

“For the past nine months until June 2022, our country recorded RM74.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), surpassing the total annual FDI in 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Ismail Sabri said that the successes proved that the country’s economy is now recovering and the government continues to be committed to making the initiatives that were announced earlier a success.

“I really hope that all parties will continue to support all initiatives and programmes implemented by the government for the well-being of Keluarga Malaysia,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said that to date, 400,000 jobs had been filled nationwide since the RM4.8 billion JaminKerja Initiative was launched on Feb 19.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 19 (Bernama) — The Penang government has requested the High Court here to expedite the trial date for four assemblymen who withdrew support for the state government in 2020.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the case had been referred to the Penang High Court for a decision, whereby any ruling made by the court would be part of the process of declaring the affected seats to be vacant.

“In any case, based on the unanimous decision of the Federal Court, Article 14A of the Penang State Constitution is valid, constitutional and should remain as it is.

“Therefore, we request the court to set a trial date soon. We also want to know the court’s decision regarding this issue after the Federal Court’s ruling. Hence, any special sitting (of Penang State Assembly) will have to wait for the court decision,” he told reporters after officiating the Penang Signature Gold & Jewellery Fairs (PSC) 2020 at the Setia Spice Convention Centre here today.

He said this when asked to comment on DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng’s suggestion for the Penang State Assembly to hold a special meeting soon to amend the state constitution and bring it in line with the Federal Constitution, after the federal law to prevent members of Parliament (MPs) from switching parties is given royal assent and gazetted.

Yesterday, Lim was reported to have said that this will enable the anti-party hopping provision to come into effect in time for state assembly seats in Penang when the general election is held and allow the state assembly to amend the state constitution by including a provision prohibiting elected representatives from changing parties, in line with the Eighth Schedule of the Federal Constitution as approved in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

Article 14A of the state constitution stipulates that a state assemblyman shall vacate his seat if, having been elected as a candidate of a political party, he resigns or is expelled from the party; or having been elected otherwise than as a candidate of a political party, he joins a political party.

In 2020, the four assemblymen – Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh), Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifly Md Lazim (Telok Bahang) – had filed three originating summons (OS) against the Penang State Assembly and State Assembly Speaker to challenge the constitutionality of Article 14A(1) of the Penang State Constitution, and to stop the four seats concerned from being declared vacant, pursuant to Article 14A(1).

The Penang State Assembly and Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang then posed a legal question to the Federal Court on whether Article 14A of the Penang State Constitution is void for being inconsistent with Article 10(1)(c) of the Federal Constitution.

The Federal Court, on Aug 3, ruled that Article 14A of the Penang State Constitution is valid and consistent with Article 10(1) (c) of the Federal Constitution.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JAKARTA, Aug 19 (Bernama) — Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to enhance cooperation and partnership in cyber security and telecommunications for mutual benefit.

In fact, leaders and relevant agencies from the two countries would also strengthen cyber security management and develop closer relationships in international forums, such as at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said national security should be given priority amid the rapid technological advancement and various reasons excuses, which include commercial interests and freedom of expression.

“There are things that we acknowledge, but the issue of national security is something that must be given priority,” he said at a joint press conference with his Indonesian counterpart Johnny Gerard Plate.

On ITU, Annuar said both Malaysia and Indonesia, which intend to bid for seats in the ITU Council for Region E – Asia dan Australasia, will support each other at the conference scheduled to be held at the end of September.

Established in 1865, ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for matters related to information and communication technologies and is responsible for facilitating international connections in communication networks.

Meanwhile, Annuar said he and Johnny had discussed various issues during their meeting earlier, including the political will and commitment to strengthening the cyber security legal framework, as well as telecommunication issues and over-the-top (OTT) services.

Other matters discussed were telecommunication infrastructure, satellite technology and online narratives that cloud bilateral relations.

“For Malaysia and Indonesia, I hope more can be done together for us to forge greater consensus at the ASEAN level,” he said.

This was Annuar and Johnny’s third meeting in the past six months with the last meeting taking place in Singapore.

Annuar is on a three-day working visit to Indonesia, which began yesterday. He was accompanied by Charge d’Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia Adlan Mohd Shaffieq and interim chairman of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency