Day: August 25, 2022

DENGKIL, Aug 25 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Environmental Exploration Programme is capable of producing a generation that is more open to appreciating the importance of flora and fauna in addition to having a long-term impact on the formation of a student’s character.

Deputy Director-General of Education (Policy and Curriculum) Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali said that although MOE has abolished the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) tests, MOE’s will continue to improve the education system through programmes outside the classroom.

“These children will be allowed to learn in a fun and meaningful way that is not confined to the classroom.

“For example, when there is a yearend test, students who have participated in a programme like this can produce the best essay through the experience gained,” he told Bernama and DidikTV after the second edition of the programme at Paya Indah Wetlands in Jalan Dengkil-Banting here today.

The programme organised by MOE in collaboration with Yayasan Didik Negara and FGV Holdings Berhad started at 9 am with the participation of 100 primary school students from four schools under the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) cluster in Selangor.

Pkharuddin said it was a pilot programme under the ‘Sekolahku Sejahtera: Cinta Alam’ initiative to bring students closer to flora and fauna.

He said he was told by the students that they had only seen animal habitats on television and that they had never fed or seen animals up close.

The students visited the terrapin and saltwater crocodile ponds and participated in the Explorace and fed animals such as hippos and porcupines, among others.

“They were very excited about today’s activities. Some had their first experience of feeding hippos and porcupines. In principle, the first experience will have a long-lasting impact on the students’ lives and they will appreciate the environment,” he said, adding that five more series of this programme will be implemented including in Sabah and Sarawak.

Meanwhile, a Year five student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Fajar, Kuala Kubu Baru Wan Nur Alia Wan Muhammad Farid, who has never set foot in an animal conversation centre or zoo before, expressed her joy at being able to witness animal behaviour up close.

“Just now I fed long beans to the terrapins and observed the saltwater crocodiles. It felt great,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA BHARU, Aug 25 (Bernama) — The Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) has recorded more than RM117 million in zakat or tithe collection from January to June this year.

Its president Tengku Tan Sri Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz said the collection recorded an increase of 29 per cent, compared with the same period last year which was more than RM91 million.

Tengku Mohamad Rizam, who is also the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan, said that the collection includes income tithe, business tithe, gold and agricultural.

“From the collection, MAIK has thus far spent more than RM95 million on the target group, including asnaf (tithe recipients), for the period from January to June this year, compared with the same period last year which was over RM83 million.

“This distribution recorded an increase of 14 per cent higher than the previous year, and there were only two categories of asnaf that recorded a decrease, namely Bantuan Al-Gharimin and Al-Riqab and Bantuan Asnaf Amil,” he said.

He said this at the media conference on a special report on MAIK zakat collection and expenditure from January to June 2022, here today, which was also attended by MAIK deputy president, Zulkifle Ab Rahman and state Mufti, Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad.

Earlier, Tengku Mohamad Rizam also presented the MAIK asnaf housing assistance for the year 2022 to 180 recipients statewide, involving allocations worth more than RM10 million.

Tengku Mohamad Rizam said that MAIK would like to express its appreciation to all zakat payers who are consistent with MAIK, and thus far a total of 33 per cent of payers are those aged 31 to 40.

“This group is the largest group in donating zakat to MAIK. It is a signal that the young generation has a high awareness of fulfilling the third pillar of Islam.

“In fact, with the presentation of a report such as today, it also has a good impact on zakat payers, who can find out about distribution activities transparently,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 25 (Bernama) — Most of the employers having problems complying with the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) are from small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were one of the reasons why the employers had difficulties complying with the act.

“Many want to rise again post-COVID-19 globally, so if we were to take immediate action by charging them (employers), the companies may fold.

“Normally, multi-national firms have no problems (complying with Act 446), usually they comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP). The ones we have problems with during the operations (carried out by the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) involved SMEs,” he told a media conference after launching the TVET Outreach Tour Programme 2022 here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the compliance of Act 446 by employers.

Awang said, however, that his ministry would always strive to help by giving employers some flexibility, as in more time, to ensure they comply with the act, especially SMEs affected by the pandemic.

“When we issue notices (employers must comply with the act) as soon as possible. The flexibility (more time) is based on the situation the companies are in, we don’t give it to all the companies,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) — The government will continue to ensure that the chicken supply for domestic consumers remains sufficient, says Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said he would be making an announcement on the next step after the Cabinet decides on the policy in a meeting to be held tomorrow.

“But what I would like to convey to the community is that we maintain the policy where the price of chicken needs to be kept under control, and the supply for the domestic market remains a priority,” he said at a press conference after chairing a meeting of the special task force here today.

According to Annuar, who is also the Minister of Communications and Multimedia, the government has set the ceiling price of chicken at RM9.40 per kilogramme until Aug 31 and was providing poultry farmers a subsidy of RM1.20 for each kg of chicken produced.

He said RM888 million had been paid to farmers so far, and taking into account all these matters, the special team would make suggestions to the Cabinet on the price of chicken and the policy involving subsidies after Aug 31.

According to Annuar, the special team will also need to pay attention to the welfare of the poultry farming industry and strike a balance between a sustainable industry, that is, producers continuing to actively produce a certain number of chickens, and the current domestic needs of about 69 million chickens per month.

“To ensure that our country always has enough supply (of) about 69 million (chickens) per month, we maintain the policy of allowing the importation of whole chickens, that policy is still maintained, while the policy of not allowing exports, for the time being, will also only be decided upon by the Cabinet.

Annuar said the special team had also received views from industry players on the need to allow exports to resume.

“So all this will be discussed (by the Cabinet) tomorrow, and we will inform (about the developments) at the latest by our (task force’s) next meeting, which is next week,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the special team would be getting feedback from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board on the average price of cooking oil for August, and from that information, the team would look at setting the ceiling price for the essential item.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BACHOK, Aug 25 (Bernama) — About 500 residents of the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) campus here came out looking resplendent today dressed in traditional Malay attire in conjunction with the national month celebration at the university level.

UMK vice-chancellor Prof Dr Razli Che Razak said for the first time, campus residents comprising university staff and students celebrated National Day in a traditional Malay village atmosphere.

“The celebration this time is held in a traditional way to symbolise the struggle and spirit of Malay warriors such as Mat Kilau and Tok Janggut.

“UMK residents today are dressed in Malay attire complete with headgear and a loose sarong or Kelantan wrap,” he told reporters after the UMK National Independence Month launch ceremony here today.

Razli said various activities were also held such as poem recitals, speeches on independence, singing of patriotic songs and working together to cook ‘bubur asyura’.

“There was also a parade of six horses carrying the Jalur Gemilang around the campus area.

“The highlight of the celebration is raising the Jalur Gemilang 130 metres high using air balloons,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) — The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) today distributed 500 Jalur Gemilang to the public at Pasar Seni, here, to boost the spirit of patriotism, in conjunction with the 65th National Day which will be celebrated on Wednesday.

Bernama Corporate Strategy head, Mariati Mohd Arif, said that the distribution carried out at the tourist attraction involved 20 Bernama staff from various departments and divisions, including the Editorial Department, Commercial Department and Digital Library Division.

“This is one of Bernama’s approaches to support the government’s policy to encourage all Malaysians to fly the Jalur Gemilang together at their respective premises and residences.

“In addition, it is a two-pronged effort, where we can also introduce Bernama as the country’s main news agency, through the Jom Kenali Bernama campaign, to the community, especially the young generation,” she said.

Mariati said the National Day celebration at the agency-level will be held on Aug 30, and among the programmes lined up are a competition to decorate office space with the spirit of patriotism, a car parade of by staff and the best patriotic costume contest.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR GAJAH, Aug 25 (Bernama) — The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) has paid out more than RM319.4 million in benefit claims to eligible contributors nationwide from January to July this year.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said payments were made to 252,188 cases under various categories such as temporary and permanent disablement, medical, dependant and funeral benefits.

“The highest payment made so far is for the permanent disablement benefit totalling RM128.3 million involving 9,957 cases, followed by the temporary disablement benefit of RM117.9 million involving 197,576 cases.

“Hence, we would like to remind all employers to continue contributing to SOCSO as stipulated under Section 4 and Section 5 of the Employees Social Security Act 1969,” he told reporters here today.

Earlier, together with SOCSO Prihatin Squad, Awang handed over benefit payment and rehabilitation equipment to an Insured Person, Zulkipli Omar in Kelemak here today.

Zulkipli, 59, who has been suffering paralysis on one side of his body since May due to diabetes and high blood pressure, is eligible to receive the invalidity pension amounting to RM891.67 per month and the constant attendance allowance of RM500 per month in addition to other necessities such as disposable diapers, mattresses and milk.

Zulkipli’s wife, Norhayati Mohd Nor, 59, said the monthly assistance helps to ease the family’s burden, adding that she was grateful that her husband had contributed to SOCSO when he was still working.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency