Day: September 28, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) — The number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the country is still low, with less than 1,000 recorded nationwide, says Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim.

He said Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) initially targetted to have 5,000 charging stations nationwide this year with a focus on major towns but to date, the number of EV stations is still far below the target.

“Our initial target for this year is 5,000 EVs nationwide but the number is still less than 1,000 stations.

“Our focus is still at major towns, we also received requests from other states to allow these vehicles to travel from state to state and they need charging station facilities along the way.

“Efforts are being done now with the government calling all stakeholders to meet. This would allow us to look into ways to increase the number of charging stations,” he told the media after officiating six DHL Express Malaysia electric vans today.

Ahmad Amzad said MOSTI is giving emphasis on the technology to accelerate efforts to increase the use of electric vehicles and address the problem of increasing carbon emissions in the country.

“At MOSTI, we are actually emphasising technology that would enable us to expedite this, especially matters related to increasing the number of charging stations which is now still lacking.

“At the same time, various types of research are being carried out, among others related to battery energy storage facilities and so on,” he said.

DHL Express today introduced six electric vans in Malaysia that will make deliveries in the Klang Valley.

The move marks the company as the first logistics provider in the country to switch to commercial electric vehicles.

These new vans are assigned to the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor areas starting from October. DHL will add another 55 vans next year for a total of 61 vans nationwide by 2023.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) — The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has a vital role to play in improving universal connectivity and reducing the digital divide, which demands immediate action, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said.

Annuar said there are almost three billion people around the world who did not have the opportunity to get connected. As such, ITU has a critical task to bridge the gap within member countries and inter-regional disparity.

“For example, poorer or developing countries will be having even bigger problems as technology advances, and unless they keep pace with the technology development, the people of that country will be deprived of the right to technology.

“So I think ITU will have a great challenge to make sure all countries can get connected and all people have equal access to connectivity,” he said in an exclusive interview with ecopoliticnews.com on the sideline of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 in Bucharest, Romania.

Annuar said as far as Malaysia is concerned, connectivity is now becoming part of human rights.

“…which means life can never be the same unless you are connected. All economic activities are influenced by whether or not you have access to good and affordable internet, so it’s becoming something basic like having water or electricity,” he said.

In this regard, Annuar said ITU needs to engage with member countries and offer assistance to ensure that developing countries do not get left behind in accessibility and opportunity to get themselves connected.

Established over 150 years ago, ITU is an intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems.

Asked about plans to develop business in Romania, Annuar said Malaysia is eyeing cooperation that can benefit people in both countries, including telecommunication.

“I think the prospect of making Romania the gateway to Europe is something that is worth looking into. With Constanta port, it will be faster and easier to go to eastern Europe instead of all being dominated by the Turkish ports.

“There are also other areas regarding Malaysian export, especially since we are one of the leaders in the microchips and semiconductors (chain), and I think that is one area in high demand.

“I think the sky is the limit, but we need to work together closely and try to look into other possibilities as well,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 28 (Bernama) — The Sabah Environmental Trust (SET) hopes that the 2023 Budget will take into consideration allocating a certain percentage of fines collected for the offences committed, to the relevant agencies or state government.

It also wants the relevant forest reserves be declared as ‘closed’ forests under the Forestry Enactment 1968.

SET chief executive officer, Dr Rahimatsah Amat said there were several legislations in Sabah, namely, the Forestry Enactment 1968, Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, Parks Enactment 1984 and Environmental Protection Enactment 2002 that could contribute such revenue to the relevant agencies or the state.

He said to date, if found guilty by the court for the offences, fines were imposed with the collection going into the federal consolidated account.

“The agencies of the state or the state itself do not get a single cent. Thus, you get to see more and more of such offences settled via compounds which normally will be so small and with no record.

“Fines under the courts (including taxes) are a federal matter, thus the state has no authority over these fines,” he told Bernama.

However, according to Rahimatsah, there was a precedent with regard to the Tourism Tax Act 2017, whereby the collection from foreign tourists from Malaysian hotel rooms per room per night charges since 2017 was shared with all the states in Malaysia.

“Sabah collected a huge amount, with 50 per cent of that amount returned to the state government,” he said, adding that it was however put on hold during the pandemic in 2020 but hoped that it would be revived in 2023 for the state’s efforts in improving the facilities in Sabah.

Rahimatsah said the matter was also highlighted during a Budget 2023 Roadshow dialogue with Deputy Finance Minister Yamani Hafez Musa on Aug 28, 2022 at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

On the need to declare the relevant forest reserves as ‘closed’ forests, Rahimatsah said currently the forest reserves in Sabah were ‘open’ for encroachment by opportunists or poachers, as only those caught with the ‘forest produce’ could be prosecuted.

“Thus, it is essential that entry into the forest reserves be handled appropriately, such as declaring the relevant forest reserves as ‘closed’ forests.

“Therefore, it is necessary that based on the Rules of Section 42(1) (a) (ii) of the Forest Enactment 1968, the government declare that all the areas identified as of high conservation value, as ‘closed forests’,” he said.

Rahimatsah also hopes that the federal authority will take accommodative steps to work out with the state government on nominating Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon (DaMal) Rainforest Landscape(DRL) as a natural World Heritage Site (WHS).

He said Maliau Basin was initially proposed for nomination as a WHS by the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the motion to table the Mid-term Review of the Eighth Malaysia Plan in October 2003.

During a state cabinet meeting on June 22, 2011 it was approved for DaMal to be nominated as a WHS and to be led by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (MTCE).

“The task force submitted the nomination dossier to MTCE in early 2014 but somehow, there were issues at the national level with the focal agency as the proposed site was not listed under the National Heritage Act 2005.

“Due to the prolonged issues with the focal agency, the state government deferred the nomination via a cabinet meeting on June 22, 2017.

Rahimatsah said on July 18, 2018 the state cabinet approved to reopen the nomination process, thus continuous engagement with the stakeholders and focal agency needed to be continued.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GUA MUSANG, Sept 28  (Bernama) — The daily routine of some 400 Orang Asli in Kampung Bihai Lama, Pos Bihai, here has changed slightly following an incident early this year of a man mauled to death by a tiger in nearby Kampung Sau.

Since then, they have become more cautious and will arm themselves with a spear or a machete, especially when doing jungle activities.

However, they have been placed on alert again with claims on the presence of the animal roaming in their neighbourhood.

Bihai Lama Orang Asli Village Security Development Committee (JPKKOA) chairman  Albet Angkai, 39, said villagers claimed that they found new traces of the animal in the village almost every week.

“We often see tiger footprints every time we enter the forest but no report has been made to the Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) because we don’t see it as a threat yet.

“Going through the forest is the only way for us to get to the river for our fish supply. So, we bring along our spears and machetes to protect ourselves against the wild animals,” he told reporters when met at Kampung Bihai Lama, Pos Bihai here.

One of the villagers,  Mulian Alok, 50, said the villagers were still traumatised by the January incident of a man mauled to death by a tiger.

 “Most of us now have pet dogs as the dogs will bark if it sees a tiger or other wild animals. Their barking will serve as a warning for us,” he added.

 “I still have a phobia and am afraid of another ‘Pak Belang’ attack, so I remain cautious and avoid going into the forest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the department had yet to receive a report on the sighting of a tiger or its footprints in the Orang Asli villages.

He said the forest is the natural habitat of wild animals and their presence could not be denied.

 “The Orang Asli hibernate with animals in the forests, so when they (Orang Asli) see tiger footprints, it does not mean a threat because tigers will run away when they see humans,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA BHARU, Sept 28 (Bernama) — The Kelantan Drugs Eradication Action Council (MTMD) meeting today approved two proposal papers, namely, on the direction in combating drug and substance abuse and the implementation of a programme focused on eradicating social diversion and substance abuse issues in the state.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob chaired the meeting at Kota Darulnaim Complex here.

“The Kelantan MTMD also discussed the problem of drug abuse, drugs and social distractions and arrived at decisions to make several recommendations.

“Meanwhile,  two reports were also presented, by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK),” he said in a statement today.

The meeting was also attended by AADK Enforcement and Security Division director Azmi Mustafa and Kelantan AADK director Rohayu Ahmad.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency