Day: January 10, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) — Sunway Putra Mall has lined up various activities, performances and decorations with the theme ‘Blooming Happiness’ from Jan 5 to Feb 6 at the Main Concourse, Ground Floor, in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.

Sunway Putra Mall in a statement said among the attractions for visitors includes the Spring Forest-themed decorations featuring enormous trees and flower decorations in the shape of bunnies and delightful lantern arrangement symbolising the Chinese New Year celebrations that provide visitors Instagram-able locations.

“weekends will be packed with activities and performances from Jan 7 to Feb 6. Among them are the 24 Grand Season Drums, Dragon Dance, Rabbit Mascot Walkabout, Traditional Chinese Fan Dance, Silk Dance, Lantern Dance, Chinese Diabolo, AR wishing pond, and many more,” the statement read.

Visitors can also get their Chinese New Year essentials at the Festive Bazaar situated at the Main Concourse throughout the holiday season where a variety of products are available including fashion apparel, accessories, cookies, and hampers.

“Check out the delicious Chinese New Year delicacies that are offered at F&B like Go Noodle, Dolly Dim Sum, Simple Life and others. Enjoy amazing deals on fashion, home decorations, lifestyle, technology, and more offered throughout Sunway Putra Mall,” the statement said.

Visitors can also take part in the Lantern Painting Competition to highlight their creativity as it offers prizes up to RM2,100 and a total of 100 lanterns will be displayed in the Concourse area.

They can also try the Fortune Hopping virtual game which offers cash vouchers as prizes for the highest scores. The Rabbit zodiac-themed virtual game requires the player to play to get coins and gold turtles where visitors have to come to Sunway Putra Mall to scan the QR code provided at Fortune and Blessing Pond, and visitors with the 10 highest scores will win an RM50 cash voucher each.

Shoppers can enjoy the decorations and the activities together in welcoming the year of the rabbit, where Chinese New Year Fortune Rabbit Mascot Walkabout had started since last Saturday to Feb 4 at 2.30 pm, Lantern Painting Competition is on Jan 7 to 8 and Jan 14 and 15 from 2 pm to 4 pm.

“Lantern Collection is at the Concierge Counter, Ground Floor while Painting, Submission and the winner announcement is at the Main Concourse,” the statement said.

Other than that, Dragon Dance will be on Jan 15, Double Lion Blessing Performance is on Jan 22, the Chinese New Year Lantern Dance Show (Jan 23), the Chinese New Year Silk Dance (Jan 24) and the Chinese Mask Changing Performance (Jan 29) at 5 pm respectively as well as Chinese Traditional Fan Dance on Feb 4 at 2.30 pm.

Meanwhile, Sunway Putra Mall has also curated redemption rewards for every visitor who shops and they will stand a chance to win a Proton X70 in the lucky draw and the winner will be announced on Feb 7.

For Tier one – Fortune Bloom Angpow Set, customers can spend RM250 or RM200 in two receipts to redeem; for Tier two – Face Roller Set, customers can spend RM350 or RM300 in two receipts to redeem; and for Tier three – Enamel Kettle, customers can spend RM800 or RM750 in two receipts to redeem.

The aforementioned tiers are only for Sunway Pals members, UOB Malaysia and Citibank cardholders.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 10 (Bernama) — School canteen operators have been asked to adhere to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education (MOE) with regard to allegations of higher food prices at such premises recently.

MOE Minister Fadhlina Sidek said her ministry was always controlling and monitoring canteen operations, including the setting of food prices since it involves significant stakeholders.

“Schools and contractors (canteen operators) are subject to these guidelines…so if there are allegations (of high prices), they have to refer to the set guidelines.

“The stakeholders in this issue (increased food prices) are significant, not only the canteen operators and school authorities but also the MOE as the children’s nutrition and diet need to be looked into,” she told reporters after visiting Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulau Rusa, here, that had been affected by heavy flooding in December.

When asked to comment on the official report on the issue, she said her team would gather information if complaints are received from any party.

“If there are complaints deemed disturbing, whether it affects the canteen contractor and most importantly the children and parents, we will ask them to submit (complaints),” she said.

Recently, the media reported an allegation of increased food prices at school canteens, due to an increase in the prices of raw materials.

Meanwhile, the overall losses for schools affected by floods nationwide have yet to be obtained from the MOE, but initial allocations have been channelled to the critical (cases) and worst-affected schools.

“For SK Pulau Rusa, for example, the MOE has allocated RM150,000 for the maintenance process so that students can have a safe and conducive place to study,” she said.

In the meantime, she also said that she was impressed with the efforts of schools that did the ‘staging’ method in preparation to face floods.

“I think the staging method is very effective in dealing with the issue of flooding… It can also be done in other states that faced the issue of flooding,” she added.

The staging method involves preparing high platforms in schools to house school assets to reduce the risk of property damage.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 10 (Bernama) — Former chief of defence force Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin has been appointed as the new Malaysian chief facilitator for the peace dialogue process in Southern Thailand, effective Jan 1, 2023.

In a statement today, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said Zulkifli is replacing Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor, whose service ended on Dec 31, 2022.

Mohd Zuki also said the government is confident that with his extensive experience as the former Chief of Defence Force, Zulkifli will be able to realise the mission well and effectively, in addition to achieving a positive and significant impact for the country.

“It is hoped that Zulkifli will be able to play an effective role in expediting efforts towards creating peace and security in Southern Thailand,” he said.

On behalf of the government, Mohd Zuki also expressed his highest appreciation and thanks to Abdul Rahim for his service and devotion to the country throughout his service.

Zulkifli was appointed as the 20th Chief of Defence Force on June 20, 2018 before he went on his mandatory retirement on Jan 2, 2020.

Born in Port Weld (now known as Kuala Sepetang), Perak, he began his service in the Malaysian Armed Forces on Jan 30, 1978 with the Royal Malay Regiment.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 10 (Bernama) — The government has agreed to reintroduce the labour recalibration programme and create a more relaxed plan to employ foreign worker as a measure to fulfil the demand for foreign workers in the country.

Both programmes were among the matters agreed upon in the special foreign worker management meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that took place here today.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the labour recalibration programme that ended on Dec 31 last year will be continued for a year effective immediately.

“The programme is extended as it can offer jobs to foreign workers already in the country.

“We impose compounds on foreign workers who participate in the recalibration programme. Last year, we received over RM700 million in revenue through this programme,” he said at a media conference together with Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar following the special meeting.

On the implementation of the recalibration programme, he said that the labour sector in the country, especially in the 3D – dirty, dangerous and difficult – were hard to fill.

The previous recalibration programme was created to legalise existing illegal immigrants in the country so that they could be emplyed by qualified employers and was subjected to stringent conditions set by the government through the Immigration Department and the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia.

On the new relaxed foreign worker hiring programme, Saifuddin said employers will be allowed to hire foreign workers from 15 source countries without needing to go through pre-requisite hiring and quota qualifications.

He said he would head a series of visits together with the Human Resources Ministry and supervising agencies to the 15 source countries selected to discuss safety and welfare issues for the foreign workers.

The plan, however, is a temporary measure to fulfil the economic development needs and detailed information on the plan would be announced soon, he said.

“The government always ensures that foreign worker management in Malaysia is based on the country’s legal provisions and will ensure that the rights of foreign workers in the country are protected fairly,” he said.

Saifuddin added that the meeting agreed that the implementation of the Employment Act 1955, specifically Section 60k that was amended and gazetted on Jan 1 this year, relating to employer compliance,, especially on minimum wage and Social Security Organisation (Socso) payments, will apply.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) will propose the establishment of a special monitoring team to conduct regular monitoring and enforcement of development projects in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.

Its minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the team, comprising various agencies, headed by the Pahang State Land and Mines Department (PTG), is an additional measure taken by the ministry to monitor the field area.

“The setting up of the team is to ensure that any project subject to environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements receives the EIA report from the Department of Environment (DOE) before approval.

“The Mineral and Geoscience Department will also examine the hazard and risk assessment of the landslides by implementation carried out by relevant authorities,” he said in a statement today.

In addition, the JMG will lead the slope monitoring team to monitor the current conditions on the ground and assess the extent of landslide risk, as well as follow up on agricultural works near the area, including mitigation measures.

Recently, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah decreed that all hill-slope development projects in Cameron Highlands be carefully studied and monitored since excessive development can invite natural disasters.

A mudslide incident reportedly occurred in Kampung Raja Pekan Housing, Cameron Highlands, on Aug 30 last year, affecting one house, followed by two more landslides in the same area on Nov 17 and Dec 20, respectively.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the landslides were likely caused by farming activities near the area.

Nik Nazmi said the DOE investigation of development projects in the Cameron Highlands revealed that 16 projects had received EIA approval and are regularly monitored by the DOE.

Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi informed that the DOE had conducted an investigation into the project that caused the mud flood in Kampung Raja town on Dec 20, and found that the project developer did not seek approval for the EIA report before any work was carried out.

Accordingly, he said the DOE has issued a directive under Sections 31 and 37 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (directing the project developer) to stop all work at the site until an EIA has been carried out.

“The project developer has also been directed to take remedial measures to prevent mudflows and investigation papers are being prepared for prosecution in court,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 10 (Bernama) — The changed sitting arrangement of several Sabah state assemblymen at the special Sabah assembly sitting today is only temporary.

Sabah Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M Yahya said the arrangments were made so that the assembly would not seem ‘empty’ as there were assemblymen who were not present at today’s special sitting.

He added the change involved several normal assemblymen, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) assemblymen are now in the government block as backbenchers.

“The arrangements will depend on whether there is a new Cabinet, if they are not included in the Cabinet, if any appointments are cancelled, they will be moved to the left,” he told reporters after the special sitting here today.

The changed seating arrangement had raised questions among the media, especially the position of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Lamag), who is now seated in the Opposition bloc, in the same row with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang).

Bung Moktar was seated next to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in the previous assembly sitting, but that seat is now occupied by the other deputy chief minister, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Bung Moktar and Mohd Shafie had earlier informed several assemblymen from their parties that they would not be attending the sitting due to their respective reasons.

On the absence of UMNO/Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Warisan assemblymen, Kadzim said he did not receive any leave applications from them, except for Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Keruak (BN-Usukan).

He said that he was always open to provide exemptions to every assemblymen who requested leave and they could submit their applications till before today’s special sitting began.

Today’s special sitting was attended by 44 assemblymen, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 10 (Bernama) — A Malaysian-registered cargo vessel, MV Dai Cat 06, with five crew members and ferrying metal pipes, was reported missing in Indonesian waters yesterday.

Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said his team, through the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Johor Bahru, received information regarding this incident from the Langkawi MRSC at 5.13 pm yesterday.

He said the information was received after a police report was lodged by the ship’s agent at 12.22 pm yesterday.

Nurul Hizam said the agent claimed that the cargo ship, operated by three Malaysians and two Indonesians, aged 20 to 57, had left the jetty in Kampung Aceh, Perak, on Dec 23, and was scheduled to arrive in Kuching, Sarawak, on Dec 31.

“The vessel’s last location, detected through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) on Jan 1, was in Indonesian waters, 0.2 nautical miles from the boundary of Johor waters.

“However, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), believed to be from the cargo ship, was detected at 10.42 pm at a position 30 nautical miles northwest of Pemankat, Indonesia,” he said at a press conference at the Johor Maritime headquarters here today.

He added that the emergency signal was detected by the Malaysia Mission Control Centre (MYMCC) and Singapore’s Police Operations Command Centre (POCC).

According to him, the cargo ship was ferrying 527 pipes, valued at RM726,205.

He also called on the maritime community who has information on the incident to contact the state Maritime Operations Centre at 07-219 9401.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency