Day: August 29, 2022

SEREMBAN, Aug 29 (Bernama) — Every leader or village head in the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) and the Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) must equip themselves with basic data of the area concerned.

Rural Development Minister, Seri Mahdzir Khalid said this was to make it easier for every programme or aid implemented by the government to be channelled to the target group more accurately and efficiently.

He said such information must also include the area’s population, the number of single mothers and people with disabilities (PwD).

“At the federal level, we will continue to provide aid to residents in villages and towns. When distributing aid, there has to be a channel, sometimes we face problems with delivery, for instance, because the aid was wrongly channelled.

“Part of the federal government’s responsibility is to appoint village chiefs, who play various roles and their most important task is to prepare the big data,” he told reporters after handing over Negeri Sembilan JPKPP appointment letters here today.

In the meantime, he said a total of 123 villages across the country have been nominated for the Prosperous Village Aspiration competition being held for six months from April until this October.

He added that the competition is an iconic concept in line with the Prosperous Rural Vision under the Rural Development Policy.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, Aug 29 (Bernama) — The implementation of the second Variation of Price (VOP 2.0) through Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 9.0 can boost the state’s construction sector, said Senior Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

The Petra Jaya MP and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) parliamentary chief whip in a statement today said the initiative will help contractors in Sarawak in facing the rising prices of building materials and prevent small contractors from going out of business.

He said the VOP 2.0, of which the Sarawak government is estimated to bear the cost of approximately RM700 million, ensures that the government’s projects will not be affected and can be completed according to schedule.

“COVID-19 has caused an increase in the price of construction materials at a global level which, among other things, has affected processing activities that led to the hike in raw material costs,” read the statement.

In addition, he said, policy changes by other countries such as China that decided not to export certain goods also contribute to the issue.

VOP 2.0 involves 25 additional building materials namely 15 materials for construction work and 10 materials for engineering work to cover the increase in the price of building materials for all state government projects.

Fadillah said during a meeting, that the surge in construction material prices was one of the issues highlighted by construction industry players that are burdening them, especially the contractors, to the point of affecting project implementation.

Earlier, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that the VOP 2.0 was one of the five measures taken by the state government under BKSS 9.0 from July to December, with a total allocation of almost RM1 billion.

He said the BKSS 9.0 also involved a 25 per cent discount for annual assessment rate above RM400 and a 30 per cent discount for annual assessment rate below RM400 within the same period, as well as discounts of between 10 and 25 per cent for water supply bills, five and 25 per cent for electricity bill and 50 per cent rental discount for stalls operated under the local authorities.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JAKARTA, Aug 29 (Bernama) — The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) and the Indonesian Naval Force (TNI AL) today commenced a joint exercise to improve professionalism and strengthen cooperation.

Dubbed ‘Malindo Jaya 26AB/22’, the exercise took place in Surabaya, East Java, and was officiated by the Commander of the TNI AL Fleet II, Rear Admiral Hutabarat.

The inauguration of the six-day exercise, which will conclude on September 3, was also attended by the Commander of the TLDM Western Fleet, Vice Admiral Datuk Abu Bakar Mohd Ajis.

In a statement, Hutabarat said the exercise will improve bilateral relations between the two countries and the navy as well as improve the tactics, techniques and combat operations procedures.

The exercise involve TLDM warships, namely KD Sri Indera Sakti-1503 and KD Leiku-30, while vessels on the Indonesian side are the KRI R.E. Martadinata-331, KRI Tombak-629, and Panther helicopters.

At the event, Abu Bakar visited the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine monument to pay tribute to its 53 crew members who had performed their duties.

KRI Nanggala-402 lost contact on April 21, 2021, while conducting torpedo firing exercises in the Bali Sea and was declared sunk on 24 April, 2021, by TNI AL after the discovery of its wreckage.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 29 (Bernama) —A decision on whether to abolish the use of face masks in enclosed spaces will be looked into and decided by the Health Ministry (MoH), National Recovery Council (MPN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said the MPN meeting today raised the issue of whether the use of face masks was still necessary if the COVID-19 situation improves further to Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.

“He (Dr Noor Azmi) said the ministry will closely study the matter. This is not just because Singapore had done it, and so we have to as well,” he told a media conference after chairing the meeting here.

According to media reports, people in Singapore today will no longer be required to wear face masks except on public transport and in healthcare facilities.

Muhyiddin believes that wearing a face mask is the best measure to ensure one is not infected with COVID-19, adding: “It has already become a habit for people in this country after two years of dealing with the pandemic.”

“I believe the use of face masks has become more of a habit rather than a compulsion. If and when the time comes that it is not made compulsory, the people can still continue to use them if they want to feel safe,” he said.

On the implementation of the 2022 Tourism Recovery Plan launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) last May, Muhyiddin believes that the four-year recovery period proposed by MOTAC is too long.

The former prime minister suggested that MOTAC be more aggressive in its plans and actions as failure to revive the tourism industry in a strong manner will affect the country’s economic recovery.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency