Day: August 19, 2022

KUCHING, Aug 19 (Bernama) — The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) will step up border patrols and focus on advocacy along the Malaysia-Indonesia border areas in a move to stop open burning activities that have resulted in the haze, said its director Datuk Khirudin Drahman.

He said the move followed a report of open burning activity made by an airline, MASwings, to the department yesterday at Long Seridan, a settlement near the border area and located about 275km east of Miri.

“After receiving the report, we sent a helicopter to the area (to put out the fire) which involved an area of approximately 0.4 hectares. We also ask the agency that issued the open fire permit to stop (the activity) for now,” he said when met after attending a Fire Safety Campaign for Children here today.

He also said that joint patrols by the JBPM and the Department of Environment (DOE) have been carried out in nine areas identified as hot spots to prevent open burning incidents.

Meanwhile, he said that today’s campaign was the first collaboration between Sarawak JBPM and Yayasan Farley to raise awareness among students at national-type Chinese schools.

Khirudin said Mandarin will be used to make it easier for the Chinese community to learn about fire safety.

“The JBPM, in collaboration with the Fire Prevention Council Malaysia, will be involved in this programme together with its experienced head coach Lim Kim Len.

“The Batu Lintang Fire and Rescue station will be the main location for the programme. Hence, parents and schools wanting to participate in this programme can visit the station anytime,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) — A public health expert Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman and an archaeologist Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Siti Zuraina Abdul Majid were among six recipients who were conferred the prestigious 2022 Merdeka Award, today.

Dr Adeeba was awarded in the Health, Science and Technology category for her contribution and commitment in leading the mitigation of infectious diseases as well as structuring the policies and responses to HIV/AIDS in Malaysia.

While Siti Zuraina won the award in the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement category for her contribution and role in the discovery of the ‘Perak man’, besides her efforts in promoting the designation of Lenggong Valley as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site.

Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah who is the royal patron and chairman of the Merdeka Award Trust (MAT) presented the awards to the recipients from six categories during a ceremony, here.

Also present were Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim and Petronas president and group chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Kamadjaja Aziz.

A new category, Anugerah Harapan Merdeka was introduced this year which was conferred on PEMIMPIN GSL programe director, Samuel Isaiah for his outstanding contribution and commitment in improving and uplifting education standard among the Orang Asli children as well as in coaching teachers.

The other recipients were Southeast Asia section head at the British Library, Datuk Dr Annabel Teh Gallop (Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia category) and two non-profit organisations namely Teach For Malaysia (Education and Community category) and Global Environment Centre (GEC) (Environment category).

Sultan Nazrin in his speech said whilst recognising these individuals and leaders, MAT also wanted to nurture among young Malaysians the pioneering spirit that has helped to drive our country’s progress.

“The Trust (MAT) also aims to advance the important work that they do, and to amplify the impact they make in the social, economic, and environmental realms,” he said.

Each recipient was conferred a Merdeka Award trophy, certificate of recognition and cash rewards, while the Anugerah Harapan Merdeka recipient received a certificate of recognition and cash reward.

The Merdeka Award was founded on Aug 27, 2007, in conjunction with Malaysia’s 50th independence anniversary to recognise and reward Malaysians and non-Malaysians who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to the nation and the people of Malaysia, in their respective fields.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Aug 19 (Bernama) — The government approved an allocation of RM6.3 billion for the implementation of infrastructure development and service delivery facilities in Selangor, under the Second Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, when announcing the matter, said among the important projects that will be implemented are five flood mitigation projects with an allocation of RM4.7 billion.

“This effort will be expedited to avoid the recurrence of severe floods that affect the well-being of the population, the economy of the state and the country.

“At the end of last year, major floods occurred in Selangor such as in Shah Alam, Hulu Langat and so on; we believe with these flood mitigation projects we can avoid major floods,” he said when officiating the Keluarga Malaysia Aspirations Tour (AKM) Selangor chapter today.

Ismail Sabri said the government also took proactive steps to plan a new approach including the construction of appropriate and more sustainable and comprehensive infrastructure in the state.

The Prime Minister said apart from that, efforts to provide housing for Keluarga Malaysia, especially for the B40 and M40 groups, continue to be an important agenda of the government.

He said that in line with the aspirations of One Family, One House, a total of 14,329 housing units in Selangor had been completed as of June this year through various programmes such as the People’s Housing Project (PPR) and Malaysian Civil Servant Housing (PPAM).

In the meantime, Ismail Sabri also congratulated two Selangorians, namely badminton player M. Thinaah who bagged two gold medals in the mixed team and women’s doubles events and table tennis player Javen Choong who won silver in the mixed doubles event at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SIBU, Aug 19 (Bernama) — An elderly man and his Indonesian colleague died believed to be due to electric shock after the excavator arm transported by the lorry they were travelling in got entangled with an overhead electric cable in Jalan Semalau, Tanjung Manis, about 100 kilometres from here, today.

Tanjung Manis Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) chief Wan Umar Wan Alek said the 61-year-old man was known as Hi Sieh King while his friend has yet to be identified.

The fire department received a distress call of a lorry that caught fire on Jalan Semalau heading to Kampung Jerijih, at 9.15 am and immediately dispatched a team to the incident scene, 18 kilometres away.

“On arrival at the site, an excavator was seen entangled with the electrical cable and there was a fire in the front tyre on the driver’s side. Two victims were found lying beside the truck on the driver’s side,” he said in a statement today.

He said the extinguishing operation could not proceed because there was still electric current passing through both vehicles and it could only start after receiving information from the Sarawak electricity supplier company that the power supply had been cut.

He said a medical officer who carried out an examination confirmed that the two victims had died before their remains were handed over to the Belawai district police for further action.

Meanwhile, the second electrocution victim has been identified as Indonesian Al Bari Mahmud, 34, from Dusun Polaria, 008/004, Sungai Rusa, Selakau, Singkawang, Indonesia. Wan Umar said.

“Preliminary investigations revealed both victims died at the scene due to electrocution when the excavator arm being transported by the trailer got caught in the overhead electric cable,” he said.

The remains of both men have been sent to Sibu Hospital for further action, he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency